Photos: Ashoura – a day of remembrance

Posted Nov 25, 2012

Ashoura day is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam’s prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis.(AP)

1 of 41

A Lebanese Shiite woman, bleeds from self inflicted wounds during Ashoura day in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Sunday Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura day is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
2 of 41

Iranian mourners cover themselves with mud, during Ashoura, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Hussein, one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, was killed in a 7th century battle at Karbala, Iraq. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
3 of 41

Among men, an Iranian woman, center, beats her head, during Ashoura rituals, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Hussein, one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, was killed in a 7th century battle at Karbala, Iraq. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
4 of 41

Iranian mourners chant slogans, as they cover themselves with mud, during Ashoura rituals, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Hussein, one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, was killed in a 7th century battle at Karbala, Iraq. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
5 of 41

Iranian mourners chant slogans, as they cover themselves with mud, during Ashoura rituals, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Hussein, one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, was killed in a 7th century battle at Karbala, Iraq. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
6 of 41

Iranian mourners beat their heads, as they cover themselves with mud, during Ashoura rituals, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012,. Hussein, one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, was killed in a 7th century battle at Karbala, Iraq. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
7 of 41

Iranian mourners cover themselves with mud, during Ashoura rituals, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Hussein, one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, was killed in a 7th century battle at Karbala, Iraq. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
8 of 41

Men help carry a mourner, during Ashoura rituals, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Hussein, one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, was killed in a 7th century battle at Karbala, Iraq. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
9 of 41

Iranian mourners cover themselves with mud, as people watch, during Ashoura, to mark the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Hussein, one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, was killed in a 7th century battle at Karbala, Iraq. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
10 of 41

Iranian mourners cover themselves with mud, during Ashoura rituals, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012,. Hussein, one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, was killed in a 7th century battle at Karbala, Iraq. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
11 of 41

A Lebanese Shiite man bleeds from his head from self inflicted wounds during Ashoura day in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Sunday Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura day is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
12 of 41

A Shiite Lebanese woman, right, beats her head with a sword as she stands next to a man who bleeds from self-inflicted wounds, during Ashoura in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Sunday Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
13 of 41

A Lebanese Shiite boy, bleeds from self inflicted wounds during Ashoura day in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Sunday Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura day is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
14 of 41

Lebanese Shiite men bleed from self inflicted wounds during Ashoura day in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura day is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
15 of 41

A Lebanese Shiite infant cries during Ashoura day in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura day is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
16 of 41

Lebanese Shiite men bleed from their heads from self inflicted wounds during Ashoura day in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura day is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
17 of 41

A Lebanese Shiite woman, bleeds from self inflicted wounds during Ashoura day in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Sunday Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura day is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
18 of 41

A Lebanese child cries during Ashoura day in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura day is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
19 of 41

Shiite Muslims re-enact the seventh century battle of Karbala during the climax of the festival of Ashoura in the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. The festival of Ashoura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, The grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala, Iraq, in the year 680 A.D. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
20 of 41

Shiite Lebanese, left, beat their heads with their hands as they bleed from self-inflicted wounds, during Ashoura celebrations in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Sunday Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
21 of 41

A Bahraini girl rides a horse in Manama, Bahrain, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, during a procession to mark the holy month of Muharram, when Shiites mourn the killing of Imam Hussein, grandson of Islam's 7th-century founding Prophet Muhammad. Bahrain has been rocked by nearly two years of unrest, which remains strongest in Shiite areas. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)
22 of 41

Iranian mourners beat themselves around burning tents, which represent tents of Imam Hussein and his family, during Ashoura rituals, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Hussein, one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, was killed in a 7th century battle at Karbala, Iraq. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
23 of 41

Shiite Muslim worshippers, stained by their own blood from self inflicted wounds, hold knives during a procession to mark the Muslim festival of Ashoura, an important period of mourning for Shiites in Basra, Iraq's second-largest city, 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. The festival of Ashoura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, The grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala, Iraq, in the year 680 A.D. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)
24 of 41

Shiite Muslim worshippers, stained by their own blood from self inflicted wounds, hold knives during a procession to mark the Muslim festival of Ashoura, an important period of mourning for Shiites in Basra, Iraq's second-largest city, 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. The festival of Ashoura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, The grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala, Iraq, in the year 680 A.D. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)
25 of 41

Shiite Muslim worshippers, stained by their own blood from self inflicted wounds, hold knives during a procession to mark the Muslim festival of Ashoura, an important period of mourning for Shiites in Basra, Iraq's second-largest city, 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. The festival of Ashoura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, The grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala, Iraq, in the year 680 A.D. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)
26 of 41

Shiite Muslims re-enact the seventh century battle of Karbala during the festival of Ashoura in the Shiite neighborhood an important period of mourning for Shiites, in the Kadimiyah area of Baghdad,Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. The festival of Ashoura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, The grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala, Iraq, in the year 680 A.D. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
27 of 41

Shiite Muslims re-enact the seventh century battle of Karbala during the festival of Ashoura in the Shiite neighborhood an important period of mourning for Shiites, in the Kadimiyah area of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. The festival of Ashoura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, The grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala, Iraq, in the year 680 A.D. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
28 of 41

Shiite Muslims re-enact the seventh century battle of Karbala during the festival of Ashoura in the Shiite neighborhood an important period of mourning for Shiites, in the Kadimiyah area of Baghdad,Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. The festival of Ashoura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, The grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala, Iraq, in the year 680 A.D. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
29 of 41

Shiite Muslims re-enact the seventh century battle of Karbala during the festival of Ashoura in the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. The festival of Ashoura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, The grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala, Iraq, in the year 680 A.D. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
30 of 41

Shiite Muslims re-enact the seventh century battle of Karbala during the festival of Ashoura in the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. The festival of Ashoura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, The grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala, Iraq, in the year 680 A.D. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
31 of 41

Shiite Muslims re-enact the seventh century battle of Karbala during the festival of Ashoura in the Shiite neighborhood an important period of mourning for Shiites, in the Kadimiyah area of Baghdad,Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. The festival of Ashoura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, The grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala, Iraq, in the year 680 A.D. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
32 of 41

Shiite Muslim worshippers light candles to mark the Muslim festival of Ashoura, an important period of mourning for Shiites near the holy shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday Nov. 25, 2012. The festival of Ashoura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala, Iraq, in the year 680 A.D. (AP Photo / Khalid Mohammed)
33 of 41

Shiite Muslim worshippers light candles to mark the Muslim festival of Ashoura, an important period of mourning for Shiites near the holy shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday Nov. 25, 2012. The festival of Ashoura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala, Iraq, in the year 680 A.D. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
34 of 41

Shiite Muslim supporters of the Hezbollah, raise their fists as they chant slogans in support of pro-Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah during a march to mark Ashoura Day, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura day is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
35 of 41

Pakistani Shiite Muslims raise their hands while as they chant religious slogans during Ashoura in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)
36 of 41

Pakistani police officers stand guard at rooftop of a building as a helicopter monitors during Ashoura in Rawalpindi, Pakistan on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rival cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
37 of 41

A Pakistani Shiite Muslim flagellates himself during Ashoura in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rival cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
38 of 41

Pakistani Shiite Muslim women touch a horse, symbolizing the horse that carried Imam Hussein during the battle of Karbala, to pay tribute during Ashoura in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rival cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
39 of 41

Pakistani Shiite Muslims raise their hands to get free food distributed by a businessman during Ashoura in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rival cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
40 of 41

A Pakistani Shiite Muslim flagellates himself during Ashoura in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rival cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
41 of 41

Pakistani Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves during Ashoura in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. Ashoura is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rival cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)