Muharam is a most sacred sacred month after Ramadan and the first month of the Islamic callendar. In this month every fight is forbidden by law. During Muharram some Muslims fast. The day of Ashura is part of Mourning of Muharram for Shia Muslims and it is the tenth day of Muharram. Sunni Muslims fast also because of Musa’s victory over Egyptian Pharaoh, which occured the 10th day of Muharram. They say Muhammad asked them to fast but to add day more to their fast, either before or after that day which will make them different than Jews who fasted on that same day.

Fast is very different among Muslims. Shias stop to eat and drink with the rising sun and don’t eat until the evening while Sunni Muslims fast all 10 days, only 10th day or both 9th and 10th day of Muharram. That way they are trying to go through sufferings of Husayn ibn Ali, Muhammad’s grandson. On that day some of them even perform self-flagellation.

Self-flagellation is beating, mostly whipping of the human body. Many people perform chest beating in public to express their devotion to Husayn and show they are remembering his suffering. In some Shia societies in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bahrain and Iraq, those who participate in self-flagellation use razors, knives or chains.

Mourning for Shia Muslims start 1st night of Muharram and goes for 2 months and 8 days. The most important were last days when Husayn was killed with his family and followers by Yazid’s army. They say Yazid’s forces killed 72 people who fought and women and children were imprisoned and sent to court in Damascus. That happened at the Battle of Karbala. Those who survived spread word that Husayn was captured and taken to Damascus to be imprisoned there.

The same way as Shia Muslims observe Muharram also observe Dawoody Bohras practicing prayers. They pray on the tenth day for Husayn until the magrib namaz after which Husayn becomes a martyr and killed by Yazid. 10th day of Muharram is also mentioned in a book as the day when this world will be over. It is said it would occur on Friday the 10th day of Muharram. Muharram is month mentioned by God in the Quran as one of four sacred month.

Twelver Alevis mourn keeping fast 10-12 days during Muharram. They are wearing black clothes, stop shaving and restrain from any kind of pleasure or entertainment. Long way back they didn’t even bathe and even to change clothes was forbidden, but these days this is not followed. Mosques offer free meals on special nights of this month and such meals are believed to be holy because they are given in the name of Husayn. That meal is a way of being united with Husayn and Allah.

Shia scholars say that mourning started Muhammad’s family after Husayn ibn Ali died at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.  Mourning started Zaynab bint Ali, Muhammad’s granddaughter and Husayn’s sister speaking against Ibn Ziyad and Yazid. A word about Husayn death was also spread by Zain-ul-Abideen and Zaynab who told not only about Husayn’s death but also death of 72 of his followers and Husayn’s six month old son Ali Asghar. They told that women were taken to Syria as Yazid’s prisoners. After these words reached Yazid he decided to release imprisoned women and asked Zain-ul-Abideen and Zainab is there anything else he can do for them. Zaynab asked for some place where they can mourn for Husayin and his family and followers. Yazid provided house and Zaynab began first mourning of Muharram.

Zaynab promised that until people understand the meaning of Karbala, all who follow Husayn will continue their protest. Shias believe that Husayn knew that Yazid will kill him and sacrificed his life to preserve Islam against innovations.

Zaynab bint Ali is born as the daughter of Ali, first Imam and Fatimah, who was a daughter of Muhammad. She is very important for Muslims because of her sacrifice and modesty. Zaynab was born in Medina. According to one she was born on the 5th of Jumada al-awwal, and according to others on the 1st of Sha’aban. Muhammad gave her name same as he gave names to her brothers, Hassan and Husayn. She was only seven years old when she lost her mother and her childhood she spent growing with her brothers Hassan and Husayn which made her become very close with them.

Zaynab married her cousin Abdullah ibn Ja’far who was her father’s nephew. Their wedding was very simple. They gave most of their property to charity and lived very simple and modest life. Even Zaynab was married, she was very attached to her family, father Ali and brothers Hassan and Husayn. Her father Ali was very attached to Zaynab and her husband, and after he became caliph and moved to Kufa to live there, his daughter and son in law followed him. Zaynab had four sons and their names are Ali, Aun ibn Abdulla, Mohammad ibn Abdullah and Abbas, and Umm Kulthum was her daughter.

When Muawiyah died, Husayn had to leave Mecca. He was actually forced to leave because the Muawiyah’s son Yazid sent people to kill him. Husayin went to Kufa to claim his leadership and become leader of the Muslim community. His sister Zaynab decided to join him to help with housing. When her brother Husayn was killed by Yazid, at the battle of Karbala, and 72 members of Husayn’s family and followers along with his 6 month old son, Zaynab was imprisoned by Yazids army. Zaynab was with other survivors taken to Damascus where Yazid kept them as hostages. Damascus was Yazid’s capital then. It is told that Zaynab was forced to walk without her veil which was too much for woman who already lost her brother and sons Aun and Muhammad.  After some time Yazid released them and they could return home to Medina.

Few dates are connected to her death, some say it was 24th of Safar, some 11th or 21st of Jamada al-Thani and some 16th of Dhu al-Hijjah. Zaynab is buried in Damascus, Syria, in Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque. But many Sunnies say her grave is some other mosque with same name, the Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque in Cairo. Same believe Dawoodi Bohra.  It is because some say she went to live in Cairo in her last days.

Yazid ordered Zaynab to leave and she decided to go to Egypt and stay in Cairo. There she was received by mass of Muslims and the governor Mouslima Ben Makhled Al Ansari who invited her to stay at his place. She accepted and remained there more than 11 month until she died which was March 27th, 682 AD. Death found her in Al Hamrae Al Qoswa where is her mausoleum located, and became a big mosque and the name is changed to ”the district of Sayeeda Zaynab”. There are many books that show her arrival in Egypt and Cairo.

Zaynab was the person who started mourning of Muharram and she promised that will be repeated until people understand the importance and meaning of Karbala. She even managed to get place from Yazid where mourning can be held for Husayin, his family and 72 followers killed by Yazid’s army.

Sayyida Zaynab along with Sayyida Ruqayya and Sayyida Nafisa is a patron saint of Cairo. Sayyida Ruqayya was daughter of Ali and Sayyida Nafisa was daughter of al-Hasan al-Anwar who was son of Hasan, Husayn’s brother.