A TINY baby looks terrified as a giant blade is placed on its head during a bloodletting Islamic ritual.

Muslims around the world are taking part in the unusual ceremony to mark the religious day of Ashura which commemorates the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Imam Hussein.

12 A baby has his head sliced in Bangladesh Credit: Barcroft Media

12 A young Shia Muslim child is flagellated during the mourning procession on the tenth day of Muharram, which marks the day of Ashura, in Chennai

12 Iraqi Shiite Muslim boy is seen before being cut on the head Credit: Getty Images

These incredible pictures show small children having their heads sliced open as part of the ritual.

The adorable baby in the first image was taking part at an event in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

While other pictures taken in India, Lebanon and Afghanistan show men using whips, kitchen knives and even chains with blades attached to them to slice open their bodies in the ultimate display of faith.

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Hussein was killed during the 7th century Battle of Karbala in modern-day Iraq.

The death led to the current division between Shia and Sunni Muslims, who mark the event through fasting.

Shia men have been pictured flagellating themselves with chains and blunt swords.

This highlights “the suffering of Hussein shortly before his beheading."

12 Iraqi Shiite Muslim men are seen after flagellating themselves

12 A Shi'ite Muslim child reacts as he bleeds after he was cut on the forehead with a razor Credit: Reuters

12 Lebanese Shiite Muslims take part in a flagellation ceremony marking Ashura Credit: Getty Images

12 Shi'ite Muslim mourners cut themselves during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura Credit: Reuters

12 A Lebanese Shiite Muslim boy pictured with blood running down his face during the ceremony Credit: Getty Images

On Wednesday, ISIS claimed responsibility for a mass shooting that killed at least 18 worshippers at a shrine in the Afghan capital, raising fears of sectarian violence after a string of attacks on the country's Shi'ite minority.

The claim to Tuesday's attack, released online, came as the community observed Ashura - although commemorations have been subdued because of security fears.

On Wednesday afternoon, an explosion outside a mosque in northern Afghanistan killed at least 14 people and wounded 24 at a similar gathering. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for that assault.

ISIS had earlier targeted members of Kabul's Shi'ite community in a suicide bombing in July that killed more than 80 people and wounded 130.

The attacker in Kabul, said to be wearing a police uniform, entered the Karte Shakhi mosque on Tuesday night and opened fire on a crowd of Shi'ite Muslims marking Ashura.

12 A Kashmiri Shi'ite Muslim mourner pictured whipping himself with blades Credit: Reuters

12 Iraqi Shiite men perform a reenactment of the Battle of Karbala Credit: Getty Images

12 Iraqi Shiite Muslim drenched in their own blood Credit: Getty Images

12 Iraq Shi'ite Muslim men bleed as they gash their foreheads with swords and beat themselves Credit: Reuters

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