The remembrance of Ashura has long been linked to a cultural and religious heritage among all the women of the Shiite sect throughout Iraq, as women used to meet in groups daily from noon until evening, accompanying their young daughters in their black clothes as a tradition that these women follow from what they inherited from their mothers and grandmothers.
The rituals begin throughout the month of Muharram until the end of the month of Safar, with scenes commemorating the martyrdom of Hussein bin Ali in the Battle of Al-Taf in the seventh century AD. social and religious heritage of women in Iraq It is agreed to hold women’s Husseini councils, what is locally called (Qarayat al-Niswan), every day in the home of one of them. The women do this as an inherited tradition to revive the Husseini rituals of the Shiite sect or as a response to vows, where one of them requests a vow or a request to fulfill a need such as marriage and pregnancy, and when she gives birth.
With this vow, the women hold the Husseini Majlis in their home as a duty of gratitude to the Imam for answering her prayers as a mediator before God. A woman who uses the excuse of asking for offspring says a prayer, saying, “I asked for you from Abu Fadel,” or she warns another woman to name her first child after the imam’s names for the health and safety of the newborn. social and religious heritage of women in Iraq
“A woman who uses the excuse of asking for offspring says, ‘I asked for you from Abu Fadel,’ or warns another woman to name her first child after the Imam for the health and safety of the newborn.”
Reading rituals
As soon as the women arrive at the site of the funeral gathering in one of the houses, the women coming from all the popular neighborhoods, dressed in black, sit on the floor listening to the reciter or (mullah) who sits in the middle of the guest room as she recites poems and elegies that narrate the details of the Karbala tragedy.
social and religious heritage of women in Iraq Women are commemorating this memory with various rituals that highlight the depth of belonging and expression of sadness and pain over what happened to Imam Hussein and his family, especially the stories of the women who were taken as captives after the Al-Taf incident or the Battle of Karbala in which Hussein was killed.
They begin to cry and wail while others beat their hands on their chests. Their faces express sadness, either recalling what happened with Zeinab the Great, Hussein’s sister, or wailing for the rest of the women who lost their husbands, sons, and brothers, especially during the sectarian fighting and explosions that Iraq has witnessed since the American invasion.
Al-Maliya continues to recite in the form of sad hymns to inflame the women’s emotions as it narrates the injustice and suffering that faced the women of Ahl al-Bayt after the Battle of Al-Taf. There are those who teach women lessons by imposing the hijab and abaya on their young daughters, just like the women of the household. social and religious heritage of women in Iraq
Ashura dishes
The Mullahs end the rituals of the Husseini Council or (Al-Qaraya) by praying for Muhammad and his family, and the women of the house begin serving special meals for the attendees, as the children compete to get their share of the sweets, while the women are keen to get their share of these dishes as blessed food or as they call it from “Sufra Um.” Boys).
social and religious heritage of women in Iraq “Zarda,” which is a dessert made from rice, is served on the day of the martyrdom of Abbas, the brother of Imam Hussein bin Ali, and “al-ash” soup, or (challah), which consists of seven types of legumes and grains cooked with meat. And other dishes that vary according to the financial condition of the housewife who holds the Husseini Majlis. social and religious heritage of women in Iraq
Inherited beliefs
In this context, many beliefs surrounding women emerge during the month of Ashura. These beliefs are linked to popular heritage and ancient traditions, and reflect the social values and customs of societies that remember this religious occasion practiced by women and are certain that it will be fulfilled, which is lighting candles and requesting vows in the hope of fulfilling the request or vow for the coming year and continuing this tradition if the vow is fulfilled.
social and religious heritage of women in Iraq According to what Zahraa Abdel Amir, 24 years old from Karbala Governorate, narrates, some women believe that if they are exposed to any sudden accident while cooking food intended for distribution to Husseini councils and processions, this indicates a sign that the vow will be fulfilled. social and religious heritage of women in Iraq On the side, women are tightening a knot around the black or green flag that the mullah is carrying, which refers to the flags and flags that the soldiers who followed Hussein were carrying during the Al-Taf incident, because they believe that their request will be fulfilled on the same day as next year’s anniversary.
