Bleeding Hearts

"Just as the body can not exist without blood, so the soul needs the matchless and pure strength of faith."
~ Mahatma Gandhi

Yesterday I went with some friends to downtown Manama. It was the 10th day of Muharram which marks the final and most important day of Ashura. The Day of Ashura marks the climax of the remembrance of Muharram. It is commemorated by the Shi’a as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husain ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala on 10 Muharram, October 10, 680 AD.

This day is of particular significance to Shi'a Muslims, who consider Hussein the third Imam and the rightful successor of Muhammad. Many Shi'as make pilgrimages on Ashura to the the shrine in Karbala, Iraq. that is traditionally held to be Imam Hussein's tomb. On this day Shi'a are in remembrance, and mourning attire is worn. They refrain from music, since customarily in Islam when death has occurred music is considered impolite. It is a time for sorrow and respect of the person's passing, and it is also a time for self-reflection, when one commits oneself to the mourning of the Imam Hussein completely. Weddings and parties are also never planned on this date by Shi'as. Shi'as also express mourning by crying and listening to poems about the tragedy and sermons on how Hussein and his family were martyred. This is intended to connect them with Hussein's suffering and martyrdom, and the sacrifices he made to keep Islam alive.

It is a period of intense grief and mourning. Mourners, congregate at a Mosque for sorrowful, poetic recitations lamenting and grieving to the tune of beating drums and chants. Sheikh of the mosque retells the Battle of Karbala to allow the listeners to relive the pain and sorrow endured by Hussein and his family. Some Shi'as express mourning by flagellating themselves on the back with chains, beating their head or ritually cutting themselves. This is intended to connect them with Husayn's suffering and death as an aid to salvation on the Day of Judgment. Many Shia believe that taking part in Ashura is to be absolved of sin. A popular Shia saying has it that, `a single tear shed for Hussain washes away a hundred sins.

So my friends and I went downtown to experience this day. We could smell the blood as we approached the part of town were the march would take place. There had already been some marches and we could see the blood and blood stained clothes on the road. We found our spot and waited. First came the sound. The drums were beating...boom, boom, boom....boom, boom, boom. Then came the sound of the men chanting...Ya Haydar, Ya Haydar (Husain, Husain). The first to arrive were the ambulances. There was one between every 50 to 100 marchers. Then came the men. You could feel the hopelessness as they walked passed. It was overwhelming.

As I stood on the curb watching the men, youth, boys, children...walking by I was overcome with so many emotions. Repulsed that they would do this to themselves and that their mothers, sister, wives wanted them to. Nauseate by the smell of blood and the amount spilled. Sad for the small children watching....participating. Heartbroken over the amount of lostness that was all around me. Bewildered by anyone who would choose to follow and mourn a dead Imam, when there is a living God that they could serve. Distraught and weeping over the fact that they don't know or understand that it was Jesus who gave the real sacrifice so that they could live. Determined to do what ever it takes to bring those I know and love to the truth about Jesus and salvation.