Hussein is the great martyr of the Shi'a. The Grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, Hussein's father was Ali, Mohammed's son-in-law and the fourth Caliph (earthly leader of the Muslims). The great schism in Islam between Sunni and Shi'a begins with Ali's claim that Mohammad intended his family to inherit the title of Caliph. After Ali's death, another group, the Umayyads claimed the Caliphate. In 680, at the battle of Karbala, Hussein and a mere 70 followers took on the massed thousands of the Ummayads. Hussein and his sons were all killed. The guilt felt by followers of Hussein about not joining their leader for the great battle transformed itself into Shi'a ritual. To this day, Shi'a beat their breasts while listening to singers tell the story of Hussein's martyrdom. On Ashura, the day the Battle took place, hundreds of thousands of Shi'ites take to the street. They flagellate themselves with chains until blood is drawn.
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