Braving high temperatures

Expatriates return to Kut for Muharram rituals

KUT — Expatriates from Kut, Wasit, prioritize returning home during the first ten days of Muharram to experience the spiritual atmosphere of the Shia rituals in the Al-Sharqiya area, the old center of the city, despite soaring temperatures.

Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, holds profound significance for Shia Muslims, particularly in Iraq, which has a Shia majority. The first ten days of Muharram culminate in the day of Ashura, a day of mourning commemorating the killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 A.D.

Thair Kareem Al-Khayyat, an expatriate in Germany, shared his sentiments with 964media. He has lived in Germany for 42 years and returns every year in the month of Muharram “to recall the great spiritual atmosphere that Kut has retained throughout the years.” Al-Khayyat noted that this time of year is particularly significant for him.

For Shia Muslims, Ashura is not just a day of historical remembrance but a solemn occasion that symbolizes the struggle against oppression and injustice. Imam Hussein’s stand against the Umayyad caliphate is viewed as a fight for truth and justice, making him a central figure in Shia Islam.

Al-Khayyat added that the high temperatures are not a concern for him, as he is accustomed to them. He also expressed plans to bring his children in future years so they can experience and learn from this environment.

Mohammed Aidan Al-Azawi, an expatriate living in the United States, echoed similar feelings. Living in Tennessee, he always returns to Kut during Muharram to relive the days that remind him of the old times and bring him closer to his faith. “It is better for expatriates to maintain their religion amidst the significant cultural differences in Western societies,” he concluded.

Iraq is home to some of the holiest Shia sites, including the sanctuary of Imam Ali Ibn Talib and Karbala, where Imam Hussein and his companions were killed. Each year, millions of Shia pilgrims from neighboring countries and around the world travel to Karbala to participate in the Ashura rituals, which include processions, reenactments of the Battle of Karbala, and recitations of elegies.

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