Black Mourning Flag Raised at Imam Reza Shrine to Mark Start of Muharram
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Imam Reza (AS) shrine in Mashhad held its traditional “permission to mourn” ceremony, marking the first night of Muharram with the raising of the black flag and the start of weeks of ceremonies honoring Imam Hussein’s martyrdom.
As sunset closed the final day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the atmosphere in Mashhad turned solemn.
The black mourning banner was raised atop the shrine’s golden dome, symbolizing the grief over the events of Karbala and the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali (AS), the third Shiite Imam.
Shrine servants, pilgrims, and residents gathered in Enqelab Courtyard to take part in the ritual that has become a central tradition before Muharram.
Ayatollah Ahmad Marvi, Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi; Mostafa Feizi, deputy custodian; and Reza Khorakian, senior shrine director, attended the ceremony along with managers, religious groups, and worshippers.
Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Baqer Heydari Kashani offered condolences and called Imam Hussein (AS) the embodiment of the “tranquil soul” referenced in Surah al-Fajr.
“Those who walk the path of truth will attain paradise and eternal blessings, while those who follow the path of evil will face dire consequences in both this world and the hereafter,” he said.
During the event, the shrine’s dome flag and the tomb cover were formally replaced.
Astan Quds Razavi distributed 145 blessed flags to mourning groups across Iran.
Visual presentations depicting Karbala, devotional recitations, and elegies honoring the Ahl al-Bayt were also part of the gathering.
The black flag will remain in place until the third of Rabi al-Awwal, as the shrine becomes a center of devotion and mourning throughout the period.
