The Ashura Vigil:
Spiritual Awakening, Virtual Pilgrimage,
and Community Grieving
Shias around the world annually commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain in 61 AH/680 CE. While millions flock at Karbala to perform a pilgrimage of his shrine which serves as a poignant reminder of sacrifice, resistance, and divine love, those who are not able to make the journey recreate the aura of solemn reflection and community spirit in their local mosques. Join me as I share insights from participating in the Ashura Vigil held by Masjid Al-Hayy in Florida on July 28th, 2023. The Ashura Vigil embodies collective remembrance, grief, and solidarity, honoring the sacrifice of women, children, and men who supported Imam Hussain’s stand against injustice.
The Significance of Ashura
Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, holds great significance for Muslims. It marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (p), at Karbala (Iraq) in 61 AH/680 CE. While being a dark and uncomfortable historical moment for most Muslims, the event plays a crucial role in shaping Shi’i thought and identity. For Shia worldwide, Ashura is a time of deep reflection and solemn remembrance, symbolizing unwavering faith, sacrifice, and resistance against injustice. As we delve into the Ashura Vigil, we uncover a powerful pilgrimage in place, experienced through emotionally charged rituals designed to transcend time and connect believers to the core values of Islam.
The Vigil
The Ashura Vigil is a night-long event that takes place on the eve of Ashura at mosques, shrines, and community centers to commemorate the sacrifice of Imam Hussain. This Ashura (July 28th, 2023), I was at the Masjid Al-Hayy in Florida. The community youth organized the vigil around “Remembering the Women of Karbala.” The evening began with sunset prayers (salat al-maghrib) held in congregation in the mosque’s main hall.
Then, volunteers handed out candles as everyone made their way to the front courtyard to take their places for the vigil.
The Ashura vigil typically consists of rituals and activities that create a deeply spiritual and emotionally charged atmosphere:
The first order of the evening was the poetry recital. ZD, a female poet, took to the podium and shared her spoken word, depicting the women of Karbala as warriors who demonstrated courage and resilience in the face of hostility and aggression.
It is a common practice among Shia to begin lament rituals with a poetic rendition of the tragic saga of Karbala. The purpose is to journey to the past and visualize the pain and bewilderment of the oppressed.
The poetry recital was followed by a short sermon, known as majlis. Majalis are lectures or speeches that recount the tragedy of Imam Hussain, emphasizing the moral and ethical lessons to be learned from the narrative, encouraging participants to connect past tribulations with present challenges and look back to move forward. The majlis was delivered by a female scholar who spoke about how reverence for the women of Karbala needs to be more than just a historical commemoration. She urged the congregation to embody the ethos of justice by committing to providing equal access and opportunities to women in their families, communities, and larger societies.
After the majlis, the congregation rose to perform a collective grieving ritual known as matam. Matam is a ritual in which participants beat their chests to the rhythm of a lament reciter. It is a performance of pain, a symbolic expression of grief for the suffering and martyrdom of Imam Hussain, his children, and his companions.
The evening started to wind down with prayers and supplications, seeking spiritual guidance, forgiveness, healing, and blessings on the ancestors, the living, and future generations. The final ritual is the collective recital of salutations on the Prophet Muhammad (p) and his family, affirming allegiance to the oppressed and the upholders of justice.
It is customary for people to provide food and drinks to fellow mourners and passersby as a symbol of hospitality and generosity, reinforcing the values of compassion and community. So, after the outdoor vigil, participants left their extinguished candles in marked bins and made their way to the indoor dining hall for a community meal. For the Shia, preparing a meal for mourners, serving it, and partaking in the food constitutes spiritual merit, and the food itself is deemed holy and blessed.
After the meal, mourners prepared to spend the night at the mosque. On Ashura night, mosques, shrines, and community centers are open for mourners to assemble and pay their respects. The Ashura day program begins with dawn prayers and continues until sunset prayers.
Conclusion
The Ashura Vigil is a powerful and spiritually enriching pilgrimage experience that embodies the historical narrative of the suffering and sacrifice of women, men, and children who supported Imam Hussain’s stand for justice and freedom of expression. Participants gather to encounter the tragedy through poems, sermons, and collective grieving and embark on a journey of self-discovery, spiritual awakening, and a renewed commitment to the values of courage, resilience, community, and sacrifice. It is a unique ritual, a pilgrimage in place, transcending time and space to commemorate the sacrifice of martyrs in unity, community, and solidarity.
About Your Guide: Mahjabeen Dhala, PhD
Dr. Mahjabeen Dhala is Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and Director of the Madrasa-Midrasha Program at the Graduate Theological Union. Dr. Dhala’s work focusses on the contributions and challenges of pre-modern Muslim women viz-a-viz Islamic understandings of faith, philosophy, and justice. Having served as spiritual guide on several Muslim pilgrimages, she continues to be passionate about pilgrimage as embodied documentation and commemoration of counter narratives by Muslim minorities and as sites of religious and interreligious encounters with art and material culture.
