Archive for month: October, 2015

Shiite begin mourning from the first night of Muharram and continue for ten nights, climaxing on the 10th of Muharram, known as the Day of Ashura. The last few days up until and including the Day of Ashura are the most important because these were the days in which Imam Hussein and his family and followers (including women, children and elderly people) were deprived of water from the 7th onward and on the 10th, Imam Hussain and 72 of his followers were martyred or subjected to humiliation by the army of tyrant Yazid I at the Battle of Karbala on Yazid’s orders. The surviving members of Imam Hussein’s family and those of his followers were taken captive, marched to Damascus, and imprisoned there.

The Mourning of Muharram, Remembrance of Muharram, or Muharram Observances, is a set of rituals associated with Shia Islam, which takes place in Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Many of the events associated with the ritual take place in congregation halls known as Hussainia.

The commemoration of the event during yearly mourning season, from first of Muharram to twentieth of Safar with Ashura comprising the focal date, serves to define Shia communal identity. At present, Muharram Observances are carried around the world from East to West and from North to South.

The words Azadari (Persian: عزاداری) which mean mourning and lamentation; and Majalis-e Aza have been exclusively used in connection with the remembrance ceremonies for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain. Majalis-e Aza, also known as Aza-e Husayn, includes mourning congregations, lamentations, matam and all such actions which express the emotions of grief and above all, repulsion against what tyrant Yazid stood for.

The following photos are the beginning of Muharram mourning in Malaysia. (1437-2015)

The martyrdom of Imam Husayn, his family and companions on the plains of Karbala provided a great investment to the Islamic world such that during its own time, the tragedy became a great scandal for the Umayyad Dynasty and during subsequent periods, became an important movement to combat all deviations and oppression, Ayatollah Makarem said during his speech at a meeting of the Central Council of Religious Delegations.

The revered source of emulation added that the Umayyad Dynasty’s are considered as the main enemies of the Muslims and that, Abu Sufyan was the first enemy of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad and that the wars fought against the fledgling Muslim community were fought due to his encouragement. After the victory of Islam, the Umayyad’s joined the hypocrites in order to influence Muslims and achieve their goals.
“Unfortunately, they were successful in spreading their influence,” he said.

His Eminence explained that the many uprisings that occurred after the martyrdom of Imam Husayn were inspired by the tragedy of Karbala and that through Imam Husayn’s uprising, the Umayyad Dynasty was not able to return Islam to the Days of Ignorance as they sought to.

Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi added that the Ahlul-Bayt strived to keep the flame of mourning for Imam Husayn burning and added that during the minor and greater occultation’s of Imam al-Mahdi, this is the duty of the religious scholars.

He pointed out the difficulties in mourning for Imam Husayn throughout history, saying that during the kingdom of Reza Pahlavi, no one in Iran dared to hold mourning ceremonies on Ashura and those who dared to mourn would do it behind closed doors with the curtains drawn but today, mourning for Imam Husayn is widespread and has even reached everywhere in the world.

The teacher in the Islamic Seminary of Qom said the enemies have realized the power and capacity of mourning for Imam Husayn and this bothers them as when the lights of mourning for Imam Husayn are turned on, their illegitimate interests are at stake.

“Therefore, they have decided to be antagonistic toward this culture,” he said.

Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi stated that the enemies have two strategies to combat the culture of Ashura – the promotion of open conflict among Muslims and the deviation of their mourning ceremonies to turn them away from their true meanings.

The renowned source of emulation warned against the enemies’ attempts to “sow deviation in our mourning ceremonies.”

Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi said that the enemies believe that if they can infiltrate religious groups and ceremonies, little by little, people will distance themselves from these rituals.

The Iranian scholar stated that foreign media do not show any images and videos which exemplify the grandeur and glory of our Muharram mourning ceremonies but rather they broadcast videos of the damaging practice of tatbir (self-flagellation) on television and satellite channels as they seek to equate the image of tatbir with Ashura.

Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi said that young people are more at danger from the enemies’ plots and called on religious groups to try to attract young people to mourning ceremonies, adding that lecturers should use these opportunities to encourage the youth to fulfill their religious duties.

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According to different estimates, up to 2,000 protesters took to the streets of New York on Sunday, carrying Palestinian flags.

The protests were organized by the NYC Students for Justice in Palestine, which is part of a wider movement called NY4Palestine. The protesters chanted “Free Palestine” as they made their way down Manhattan to the Times Square, where the crowd grew larger.

The protesters condemned Israel’s violence against Palestinians and its surge of aggression during the past few weeks.

Jewish activists also joined the rally in support of the Palestinian cause and against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aggressive policies.

Tensions rose at the Times Square as Palestinian activists were confronted by a pro-Israeli rally that was also held at the center of Manhattan. No major accidents were reported between the opposing sides.

Another rally in Chicago also attracted thousands of people who descended on the streets while bearing placards and Palestinian flags to voice their support for the oppressed nation.

The large crowd, organized by the Coalition for Justice in Palestine, marched downtown near Congress and Michigan Avenue. They, too, demanded an immediate end to the Israeli aggression and occupation.

The protesters urged the US government to stop using their taxes to support Israel. They also called for boycotting the Israeli regime and holding it responsible for its numerous human rights violations against Palestinians.

The latest wave of tensions in the occupied territories was triggered in August, by the Israeli regime’s new restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque.

According to Palestinian sources, at least 45 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the new conflict broke out at the beginning of October.

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