Flags of Mourning Raised on Domes of Karbala Holy Shrines

IQNA – The red flags of the holy shrines of Imam Hussein (AS) and Hazrat Abbas (AS) were lowered and black flags of mourning were raised on the domes of the shrines on Monday.

Today marks the first day of the lunar Hijri month of Muharram in Iraq. 

Mustafa Murtadha Ziyaeddin, the custodian of the mausoleum of Hazrat Abbas (AS) in Karbala, replaced the red flag in the shrine with the black one in a ceremony according to a long-standing tradition.

The black flag symbolizes Shia Muslims’ mourning for the martyrdom of the third Imam (AS).

Muharram is the first month in the lunar Hijri calendar.

Shia Muslims, and others in different parts of the world, hold ceremonies every year in the month of Muharram to mourn the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions.

The third Shia Imam (AS) and a small group of his followers and family members were martyred by the tyrant of his time - Yazid Bin Muawiya, in the battle of Karbala on the tenth day of Muharram (known as Ashura) in the year 680 AD.

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