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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 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 ...

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 ...

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...

When the sad party of the Holy Family were approaching the hills of Medina, Imam Zayn al-'Abidin asked Bashir to go ahead into Medina to announce al-Husayn's death and tell the people of the arrival of the Holy Family. Bashir reported: 'I mounted my ...

When the sad party of the Holy Family were approac...

When the column of prisoners with the heads of the martyrs arrived in Kufa they were met by what could now be termed 'a popular reception'. Throughout the weeks of tribulation Kufa had been living on its nerves. The beginning had been represented by ...

When the column of prisoners with the heads of the...

Shaykh al-Mufid has reported in Irshad that Yazid ibn Muawiya despatched'Abd al-Malik ibn Abi al-Harith al-Sulami to Medina to take the news of the death of al-Husayn to his governor there. 'Abd al-Malik reported: 'When I went to 'Amr b. Sa'd, he ask...

Shaykh al-Mufid has reported in Irshad that Yazid ...

The hails of the palace of al-Khadra' in Syria witnessed the second occasion for the family's rites of remembrance. It would have been appropriate if Syria had witnessed general spontaneous rites of remembrance as occurred in Kufa when the party of p...

The hails of the palace of al-Khadra' in Syria wit...

The martyrs of the revolution of al-Husayn at Karbala' have a very strong presence in popular consciousness. Their hearts encompass the emotions of love, wonder and sanctity which arise out of their attitude and devotion at Karbala. 46 The scope for ...

The martyrs of the revolution of al-Husayn at Karb...

'Ali ibn al-Husayn was born on 11th Shaban in the year 33. When he was martyred on 10th Muhharram in the year 61, he was twenty-seven years and five months old. His mother was Layla bint Abi Murra ibn 'Urwa ibn Mas'ud al-Thaqafi. Urwa ibn Mas'ud had ...

'Ali ibn al-Husayn was born on 11th Shaban in the ...

Al-'Abbas was born in 26. His mother was Fatima, daughter of Hizam ibn Khalid ibn Rabi' (he was the brother of the poet labid) ibn 'Amir ibn Kilab ibn RAbi'a ibn 'Amir ibn Sa'sa'a, of the tribe of Kilab. She was famous for her kunya 'Umm al-Banin'. T...

Al-'Abbas was born in 26. His mother was Fatima, d...

In the odes of the poets of lament for al-Husayn which they composed in praise of and in lament for the Holy Family, and in lament for al-Husayn, they have given expression to the ritual of the ziyaira since the first half of the fourth century. It i...

In the odes of the poets of lament for al-Husayn w...

The First Example It is reported from Imam Abu 'Abd Allah Ja' far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq that he said: 'When you enter the Ha'ir, 36 say: 1. O God, this is a position by which you have honoured me and distinguished me. O God, through it give me my des...

The First Example It is reported from Imam Abu 'Ab...