Seerah

Imam Reza told one of his followers on the first day of Muharram, “People maintained that fighting was prohibited in Muharram. But these people have no respect for this month or for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). They started a war in this month, they disr...

Imam Reza told one of his followers on the first d...

Imam Hussein (A.S) came to his death on Saturday, the 10th of (the month of) al-Muharram in the year 61 A.H. after the (time for) the mid-day prayer. (He was) killed wrongfully, while thirsty, always showing fortitude but forced to be detained, as we...

Imam Hussein (A.S) came to his death on Saturday, ...

[Simak reported on the authority of Ibn al-Mukhariq on the authority of Umm Salama, may God be pleased with her, who said:] One day while the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, was sitting down, and al- Husayn was sitting on his knee, ...

[Simak reported on the authority of Ibn al-Mukhari...

According to what we have (just) mentioned the Imamate of al- Husayn, peace be on him, was confirmed after the death of his brother al-Hasan, peace be on him, and the obedience of all creatures to him was binding, although he did not summon them to (...

According to what we have (just) mentioned the Ima...

(This is) an account of the Imam after al-Hasan b. Ali, peace be on him, (giving) the date of his birth, the evidence of his Imamate, the age he reached, the period of his succession (khalifa), the time and cause of his death, and the place of his gr...

(This is) an account of the Imam after al-Hasan b....

The words Azadari 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 su...

The words Azadari and Majalis-e Aza have been excl...

F. OBJECTIVES We have to remember that the 'ashra-e-Muharram is a very emotional period and this emotion has to be exploited by the ahle minabir to convey the message of Kerbala, to awaken a hatred against all that Yezid stood for and to rekindle a c...

F. OBJECTIVES We have to remember that the 'ashra-...

In India, the Ashura processions became part of the Indian Muslim culture. Even the Hindus participated in these processions. The Maharajah of Gwalior was always seen walking behind the 'alam of Hadhrat Abbas barefooted and without any insignia of hi...

In India, the Ashura processions became part of th...

Just as Hadhrat Musa Kalimullah had been raised in the palace of the enemy of Allah, Firaun, Bibi Zainab laid the foundation of aza-e-Hussain in the very capital of his murderer ! On their return to Madina, Bibi Zainab took over the leadership of aza...

Just as Hadhrat Musa Kalimullah had been raised in...

A. THE MESSAGE Over one thousand three hundred and fifty years ago, on the 10th of Muharram, just before 'asr, a man stood on a sand-dune at Kerbala. He was bleeding from several wounds on his body. He had lost everything. Since early morning he had ...

A. THE MESSAGE Over one thousand three hundred and...

With the dim light of the crescent moon The New Year unfurls insidiously Like black clouds of Monsoon Casting shadows of doom and gloom Thick shades of black that drape the earth Writhing and bleeding as the wind brings images - A Severed arm, a pier...

With the dim light of the crescent moon The New Ye...

1. Introducing the term innovations (bid"ah) THE 1400th year of the hijra calendar is nearing its end. Since the last two years or more a substantial amount of time, energy and money is being spent of what has come to be known as the commemoration of...

1. Introducing the term innovations (bid"ah) THE 1...

Muharram is commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). Muharram is the first month of Islamic calendar. During this month, while on a journey, Hazrat Imam Hussain, his family members and a...

Muharram is commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat I...

Muharram is the most important Shi’a mourning ceremony and commemorates the death of Imam Hussein. Following the Prophet Mohammad’s death, upheavals and rivalries divided the Muslim community. After the assassination of Ali, prophet’s son-in-law and ...

Muharram is the most important Shi’a mourning cere...

There is no doubt that Karbala' witnessed the first funeral and remembrance for al-Husayn which took place immediately after his martyrdom. These must have been rites which were predominantly of a family nature, made up of the women and young girls f...

There is no doubt that Karbala' witnessed the firs...

In order to understand the phenomenon itself, first of all, and in order to understand its historical significance, we maintain the following: In remembering al-Husayn we come before a historical problem which we read about and listen to. In the ligh...

In order to understand the phenomenon itself, firs...

The phenomenon of weeping gives rise to much criticism. Despite the fact that it is not a phenomenon which is separate from the rites of remembrance for al-Husayn, I was influenced to devote a special study to it in a section which would be separate ...

The phenomenon of weeping gives rise to much criti...

The rites of remembrance for al-Husayn are not in the most favourable situation. Competent men who specialise in them preach from the pulpit and not ignorant parasites as used to happen frequently. They are now one of the greatest Islamic cultural in...

The rites of remembrance for al-Husayn are not in ...

The language of the rites of remembrance is quiet and objective at the beginning of the first stage. It preserves this character for a long period of time during this stage. Then a change began to enter into this aspect towards the end of the stage s...

The language of the rites of remembrance is quiet ...

In the nature of the case, when the rites of remembrance for al-Husayn were founded, they did not exist in any already completed way. They were not fixed in a single form in the centuries which followed. They developed and changed during different hi...

In the nature of the case, when the rites of remem...

The revolution of al-Husayn was a tremendous event which sent a convulsion through the whole of Islamic society, breaking down the false calmness and the silence which had wrapped itself around it. It made Islamic society think again about its view o...

The revolution of al-Husayn was a tremendous event...