Iran Daily Life Ashoura

Iranians perform their evening prayers in a mourning ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, prior to Ashoura, which commemorates the 7th-century martyrdom of Imam Hussein, one of Prophet Muhammad's grandsons and one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, and 72 of his companions, who were killed in a battle in Karbala in present-day Iraq.

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Shiite Muslims collectively mourn to mark Muharram and Ashoura

Shiite Muslims collectively mourn to mark Muharram and Ashoura

Shiite Muslims in the U.S. and worldwide have been observing a period of mourning leading to the day of Ashoura, which marks the seventh-century killing of Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. To Shiites, the killing is deeply resonant and the annual commemorations during the Islamic month of Muharram symbolize the struggle against injustice. This year, Muharram and Ashoura follow the Iran war and an interim deal aiming to end it. Shiite communities worldwide mourn Hussein and commemorate his legacy through gatherings, processions, and various collective mourning rituals.