Salamun Alaykum,
Days of Azadari:
With the month of Muharram commences another Islamic year (1442 A.H.). It is 1381 years since the tragic event of the martyrdom of Aba Abdillah Imam Husayn a.s. along with a little band of over seventy of his close family members and companions in Karbala that took place on Ashura; the 10th of Muharram in the year 61 A.H.
So profound would be the effect of this martyrdom on man, that the Noble Prophet had foretold, “Surely there exists in the heart of believers, with respect to the martyrdom of Husayn, such a heat that never subsides.”
Unique Azadari:
As the years pass by the commemoration of this heartrending event is observed with even greater fervor. In our lifetime Alhamdulillah we are blessed with another opportunity to take part in the Azadari - mourning ceremonies. This year it is going to be a unique Muharram; one that is being observed during unusual times due to the COVID-19. Just like in Shahru Ramadhan our homes became Mosques so too in these days of Azadari let our homes now become Husayniyyahs. Let us take advantage of this gift of life and utilize this opportunity to be in service of the bereaved mother Sayyida Fatima al Zahra a.s. We will InshAllah commemorate these auspicious days with the same vigour, if not with the same intensity.
Azadari: a Compass:
The various deeds of Azadari during the mourning months of Muharram and Safar, especially the commemoration of Ashura on the 10th of Muharram every year serves to remind us of the sacrifices of the righteous against the brutal tyrant Yazid bin Muawiya. It reconnects us with Aba Abdillah Imam Husayn a.s. and his devoted companions who provide us with a spiritual and moral compass to lead our lives. It makes us aware of the devoted martyrs who bravely stood up to reform the Ummah, enjoin the righteousness, forbid the wrongdoing, establish the laws of Allah which had been neglected.
Reflect:
Whilst it is only Allah SWT who is able to fathom the sincerity of our Azadari, let us look within ourselves and reflect how are we responding to the final call of Imam Husayn a.s. on the day of Ashura: “Is there any helper who will come to assist us? Is there anyone who will respond to our call for help?”
In raising our voices with chants of Ya Husayn how are we responding positively to this call? Whilst performing Azadari will you create time and space to reflect upon how close you are in leading your life based upon the way as guided by Imam Husayn a.s.? Are you being with Imam Husayn a.s. for the objectives he had set out from Madina? How tough are you in shunning the ways of Yazid?
أَعظَمَ اللهُ أُجُورَنا و أُجُورَكُم بِمُصابِنا بِالحُسَين ع
May Allah make great our reward and your reward, for our grief on Husayn a.s. May He place us and you from those who help his cause with His representative, the guided Imam from the family of Muhammad, peace be on them.
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah.
With salaams and duas,
Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat