It doesn't make sense

martha wrote: Asalam alaikum, I understand the history/ religious meaning etc behind muharram and ashura. I have recently been reading about Hussein bin Ali. And I understand that Shia's and sunni's have different reasons for observing ashura.

Wa'alaikum Salaam,

Yes Sis  -  the only significance that Muharram has for us non-shias is that Muharram is kind of a 'holy' month, the 9th & 10th of which is a Sunnah to observe a Fast on. This dates back to Prophet Musa's time. So we are basically following a sunnah of both Prophet Muhammad & Prophet Musa (Moses). The importance of it for Shias is that Hussain (R.A) was martyred on this day - whereas orthodox Islam does not encourage muslims to lament over the deaths of fellow muslims, especially when it is long lost in the past and the 'dead' people in question were actually martyrs.

So this time of the year is a bit 'tense' - since two ideologies are clashing. Some Zealot Shias and Non-Shias tend to get carried away and end up protesting in thier own ways against the other's belief. Especially in countries like Pakistan where Shias & "Sunnis" co-exist.

Today and during these past few days there have again been suicide bombings, the most recent in Karachi today. Is this a case of some muslims being misguided as this is supposedly a month in which muslims are not supposed to fight?

One can definitely say it is a case of misguidance and gross lack of islamic awareness. Not only is fighting discouraged in this particular month - but so is killing of innocents 365 days of the year. . . and to kill a fellow muslim!!!

Is it a case of sunni's and shia's not getting along together? I have been told time and time again that it matters not which Islamic sect we belong to as we are all muslim    Many thanks.

Like Hayfa said, many of the perpetrators are pawns of political greed. People even speak of Mossad & RAW conspiracies. It is also possible that the misguided perpetrators actually think they are doing a service to Islam. Allah Knows.

For the most part, Sunnis & Shias do get along, except for ideological differences. Tiffs are bound to happen, understandably and cannot be avoided.

Also - rather then saying "it does not matter what sect you belong to" I tend to agree with the opinion that says "you should not belong to any sects" - since you are a MUSLIM. Which is why I don't even like calling myself a "Sunni" even though that is what people call themselves if they are not "Shia". Hope I did not confuse you there.

Salaams Martha,