Re: Why people wear black during Muharram
No one said, not to look at Imam's shahadah. If you read posts above, you will see the message from his life and the reasons why he chose to embrass shahadah over bait to a tyrant. The message is clear and will shine until the day of qiyamat.
I think one should remember (by the way everyone reads durood e Ibrahimi in every namaz thus remember Aaale Muhammed by default) Imam and his sacrifice throughout the year. I don't see significance of remembering him on day of Ashura. As prophet didn't teach us the concept of 'barsi' or annual commomeration of the dead ones or shuhuda. Please pardon my ignorance if I missed any practice from early Islamic era of such things. The things that are repeated every year are two Eideyen, Shab-e-Qadr and Shab-e-nisf-al-shabaan. There is no barsi or other festive of any kind.
Shias can ignore this, because its not applicable to them as I said before.
My approach is less (home made) rituals and more practical. The best way to show respect to anyone is to please him by following his path and teachings.
Lusi, I have seen Sunni taking out taaziye like Shias do and some confused do even matams. Sabeel competetion is also very common in Pakistan/India, but very few Sunnis were doing it before partition as some elders told me. Its all got popular in last 30 years or so. Funny thing is I have seen some people who don't shave during these 10 days 'for respect'. Some don't buy anything but grocessary out of respect. I don't get it. What is the concept. Does Allah swt creates the whole scenario spritually during these 10 days. I don't know what is the concept behind all this. When I pray I remember and call Prophet Muhammd, all prophets, all companions, ahle bait, shuhuda e badr, uhud, other gadwaats and shuhudae karbala and all momineen and muslimeen. So I pretty much remember them throughout the year. I read about these leaders and try to memorize their saying and use them in my conversation as balaagh. I don't feel doing special rituals or things in 10 days. These are normal days for me. Ashura is the day Prophet asked us to keep fast, thats something we all should do. Please guide me if you have any proof of annual commomeration. I may be wrong and you will get reward of correcting me. Again its not for Shia brothers, please just take it as request of a Sunni brother to other Sunni brothers. I just wanna make sure what I do is 'Islam' not some cultural thing.