Chehel Minbari is a special tradition practiced in Iran's western

Lorestān Province Lorestan province () is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. Its capital is the city of Khorramabad. Lorestan is in the western part of the country in the Zagros Mountains and covers an area of 28,392 km2. In 2014 it was placed in Region ...

, in which thousands of women commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of

Imam Hussein Husayn ibn Ali (; 11 January 626 – 10 October 680 CE) was a social, political and religious leader in early medieval Arabia. The grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and an Alid (the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muhammad's daughter ...

. Women from cities and towns across Lorestān Province cover their faces completely with black cloth and walk in silence as they knock on the doors of 40 houses and light candles in 40 spots as mourners beat their chests in their grief over the suffering and martyrdom of Imam Hussein along with 72 of his loyal companions in

Karbala Karbala is a major city in central Iraq. It is the capital of Karbala Governorate. With an estimated population of 691,100 people in 2024, Karbala is the second largest city in central Iraq, after Baghdad. The city is located about southwest ...

southern Iraq The geography of Iraq is diverse and falls into five main regions: the desert (west of the Euphrates), Upper Mesopotamia (between the upper Tigris and Euphrates rivers), the northern highlands of Iraq, Lower Mesopotamia, and the alluvial plain ...

, in 680 CE. The Chehel Minbari tradition is upheld every year on Tasu'a (which is on the 9th of

Muharram Al-Muharram () is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year when warfare is banned. It precedes the month of Safar. The tenth of Muharram is known as Ashura, an important day of commemoration in ...

), as a show of solidarity with the sister of Imam Hussein, Hazrat Zainab. Shia mourners throughout the world gather on Tasu'a to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein. The Chehel Minbari ritual starts after participants have said their dawn prayers and ends at dusk prayers.

References

{{Mourning of Muharram Lorestan province Islam in Iran Shia Islam Mourning of Muharram Culture of Iran Islamic terminology

See also

References