Husseini Mourners in Najaf hold Mashq ritual

The traditional ceremony of “Mashq e Shamshir” (Sword drill) on the eve of Ashura is held every year in the holy city of Karbala.

This ceremony is also performed in Holy Najaf from the sixth of Muharram for three nights until the Day of Ashura.

Mashq e Shamshir is a traditional ritual of mourning for the people of Karbala and Najaf. According to historical accounts, Habib Ibn Mazahir al-Asadi, along with Abalfazl al-Abbas, peace be upon him, and the companions who remained to defend their Imam gathered and walked with raised swords towards the tent of Aba Abdullah al-Hussein (peace be upon him) to appease the heart of Zainab al-Kobra, peace be upon her.

At this point, Habib Ibn Mazaher shouted: “O group of women and honorable ladies from the Messenger of God, these are the swords of your chivalrous men who have taken an oath not to be sheathed unless they strike the necks of the enemies, and these are the spears of your chivalrous men who have sworn not to fall to the ground unless they are in the chests of the enemies”.