Issue No:
16th December 2011
20th Muharram 1433 A.H.
Salamun alaykum,
The Crescent announces mourning:
On sighting of the crescent for the month of Muharram, Muminin around the world are set for observing the mourning ceremonies of Azadari for the tragic martyrdom of Aba Abdillahi Husayn, his close companions and family members who had submitted to martyrdom on the day of Ashura. These occasions of Azadari are commonly held up to the day of Arbain in Safar. In several communities the days of mourning conclude with celebrations for the Eid Zahra on 9th Rabi Ul Awwal.
Collective:
To display the atmosphere of mourning a marked change takes over in the Community Centres. A solemn and somber atmosphere prevails. The walls are adorned with black material. The tabut, alam are prepared and banners with ahadith or ziyarat/ salutations are displayed. By default the choice of colour for dressing becomes black or dark and the donning of Hijab by women increases.
Personal:
On an individual level the listening to nasheeds, qasidas, manqabats, and for those habituated to the prohibited music / songs is replaced with quran, marsiyas, nawhas and majlis lectures. The viewing of TV soap operas and movies from Indian Channels is no longer appealing. Time is specially made for participating in the majlis aza sessions. The desk top themes, background and profile pictures in social media such as facebook is changed from attractive colours to dark / black scheme. The posting of ahadith takes over from the jokes, perky, frivolous comments on Sms texts, and facebook status, wall.
The above is an outline of the many changes that take place on collective and individual levels to revere and mourn the tragic martyrdom which took place at the plains of Karbala on the day of Ashura in 61 A.H.
This effect of the martyrdom had been foretold by Aba Abdillah Imam Husayn a.s.," I am the one who will be killed in such a brutal manner, none shall remember me save that he will shed tears (upon me).
Certainly this gesture of Azadari in sharing the sorrow that befell upon the house of Sayyida Fatima Zahra a.s. is a manifestation of our love for the Ahlul Bayt a.s. May Allah SWT accept our efforts and grant us the pleasure of the Ahlul Bayt a.s.
End of mourning:
During the solemn periods of Azadari great efforts were done to make time specially for attending sessions such as majlis which promote spiritual development and consciously keeping away from listening to the prohibited music / songs, viewing vain soap operas and Indian Channels movies and making significant changes in our behavior such as dressing in hijab, refrain from worthless postings on the social media.
At the conclusion of Azadari period, the various edifices of mourning in the Centres are lowered and replaced with flags and decorations to celebrate the festive occasions on the Hijri Calendar. Likewise the listening by individuals to marsiyas, nawhas and majlis lectures is replaced with tracks of nasheeds, qasidas and manqabats.
A Tough Question:
Will all these wonderful and immense efforts of leading our lives in the way of Imam Husayn a.s. come to an end with the conclusion of the period of Azadari in Muharram and Safar?
Is our response to the final call for help by Aba Abdillah Imam Husayn a.s. restricted only to the days of Azadari?
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
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat