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Shaam-e-Gareeba, the night of homeless: – 319 viewsZuljana or Imam Hussains Steed
The juloos has finally reached the podium where Janab Maulana Hasnain Karari just finished his discourse , you can see the crowds.. the kids and media one on top of the other and me with my turban in place and I dont have to search for my slippers as a lot of it are whacked.. you have to be shoeless to paticipate in the matam or the majlis.. lot of pickpockets, petty crooks around..and evil searches for food among the saintly .. this mornings Times of India had a news of a 18 year old strangulated and raped at Juhu Beach a crowded and famous beach especially on a Sunday..religious events in areas that are tension prone like Bandra east is something the citizens and Mumbai Polic e try to appease with kid gloves and see that peace prevails..
update
Iam absolutely fascinated with the mystique of Zuljana, animal faithfulness , valour , human qualities that the humans did not possess during the Ummayad Caliphate.
Tonight at Nakhas will be a majlis called Shame Gareeba recited by Maulana Kalbe Jawad at Imambada Gufra Map,I have given it a miss , I am not much into majlis listening…
I have decided the safety of this Aminabad Cybercafe , opened today on Ashura till 1 am.
Sufferings of Hazrat Zaynab (AS) depicted on Sham-e-Ghariban
By: Sheikh Muhammad Khurasani
HOLY QOM, Iran: Grand majalis-e-aza attended by hundreds of thousands of Husseini mourners were held in all countries on Sham-e-Ghariban – night after Ashura – to commemorate great sufferings of holy Progeny of Holy Prophet (p) in the burning plain of Karbala some 1,400 years ago.
Sham-e-Ghareeban marks the night that came after the unjust slaughter of Hazrat Imam Hussein (p) along with his 72 faithful companions. After the martyrdom of Chief of Martyrs Hazrat Imam Hussein (p), the Yazidi army torched the tents of daughters of Holy Prophet (p), looted the tents and beheaded all martyrs. Hazrat Zainab Al-Kubra (p), granddaughter of Prophet (p) and daughter of Ali (p) and Batool (p), took the charge of guarding other chaste ladies and little children of Holy Prophet (p)’s family throughout the night.
These majalis were held at culmination of Asura processions at the holy shrines, tombs, mosques, husseiniyaat, ma’atam, azakhanas, imambargahs, imambadas and Islamic centers.
The mourners lit the candles and offered their condolences on the sufferings of Saani-e-Zahra (p) whose addresses in the accent of Ali Al-Murtaza (p) in the streets and bazaars of Kufa and Syria shattered the foundations of Yazidi palaces.
Dirges and elegies in commemoration of chained-Hazrat Zainab Al-Kubra (p), who along with a number of chaste ladies and children of the holy family of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (p) was taken to Kufa and then Syria as prisoner, were recited and matam (chest and head beating) was performed.
http://www.jafariyanews.com/2k6_news/feb/11Sham-e-Ghariban.htm
It was after Asr on the day of Ashura. Imam Hussain (pbuh) lay dead. The earth had trembled! Furaat had broken its banks! From the camp of the family of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) such lamentation arose as had never been heard before!
‘Umar son of Saad’ received a letter from ‘Ubayd Allah son of Ziyad’. The Governor of Kufa instructed that they should not be satisfied with the death of Imam Hussain (pbuh). His body must be subjected to the ultimate insult of being trampled by the hooves of horses. And this was done to the Grandson of the Holy Prophet (pbuh)!
As the sun was setting in the horizon, the soldiers rushed to Imam Hussain’s camp in search of booty. They looted every tent. Every lady and every girl was stripped of her veil. Fatima’s daughters were left bareheaded. Sakina’s ear-rings were pulled off her ears, splitting her ear lobes. When the little girl pleaded for her veil to be left untouched, she was slapped.
Surely they would stop now? But they did not. They set fire to all the tents. Bibi Zainab (pbuh) was very distressed. She turned to Imam Zainul Abideen (pbuh) and said “You are our Imam now. Tell us what we should do now, should we stay in our tents and burn, or go out without our veils?” Imam Zainul Abideen (pbuh) told her that it was their religious duty to try and save their lives. Bibi Zainab (pbuh) gathered everyone and waited outside, while their tents burnt down. When the fire was out, they took shelter under one of the tents which had not been completely destroyed.
‘Humayd son of Muslim’ describes how he saw a little girl with her dress on fire, her ears bleeding, running from the scene of carnage. He says: “I ran after her. I took her by hand. Put out the fire in her dress. I wiped the blood off her ears.” She looked at me and said, “You seem like a kind person, are you a Muslim?” I told her I was. She thought a while and then said, “Can you please show me the way to Najaf?” I asked, “Why do you want to go to Najaf at this hour and in this state?” She said, “I want to go and complain to my Grandfather ‘Ali son of Abu Talib’ about how they killed my father.” Realizing that she was Hussain’s daughter Sakina, I took her back to her aunt Zainab (pbuh).
As the night descended, Bib Zainab gathered all the ladies and children, into one small space in between the gutted tents. Imam Zainul Abideen (pbuh) lay on the ground surrounded by these widows and orphans. There was no fire, no light. Only the moon cast its dull light.
‘Umar son of Saad’ asked Hurr’s widow to take some food and water to the ladies and the children. As she neared to where they were resting, Bibi Zainab (pbuh) recognized her. She stood up, went towards Hurr’s widow and offered her condolences for the death of Hurr. This gesture on the part of Zainab (pbuh), who had suffered so much, lost so many, and carrying so much grief in her heart, is a lesson in Islamic ethics which the world should never be allowed to forget. When Bib Zainab (pbuh) saw the bread and water she cried.
“Imam Hussain and his brave soldiers had died hungry and thirsty, and now the same people who martyred them were bringing bread and water to their widows and orphans.” She looked at the sky and prayed to God to give her courage. Zainab (pbuh) remembered the words of her brother to give water first to Sakina (pbuh). Zainab (pbuh) took the jug of water. She went to Sakina (pbuh) who had fallen into a fretful sleep.
Gently she stroked the girl’s disheveled hair. Sakina opened her eyes. Zainab (pbuh) said, “Here is some water, Sakina. Please drink a little. You have been thirsty for so long!” On hearing the word ‘water’ Sakina cried out hopefully, “Has my uncle Abbas come back?” When she was told that Hurr’s widow had brought the water, she got up, went to Hurr’s widow, thanked her and then asked Zainab: “Have you all drunk water?” Zainab shook her head as no. Sakina asked, “Why then do you ask me to drink water?” Zainab said, “Because, my dear, you are the youngest.” Sakina replied, “No! No! Ali Asgher is the youngest!” Sakina took the jug of water, ran towards where Ali Asgher lay buried, crying “Wa Asghera! Wa Asghera!”
This was how the homeless spent their night in Karbala. They had lost everything. Their men had died. Their children had been martyred. In this desolate desert fourth Imam, the women and the remaining children are huddled where only a few hours before had stood their camp. Abbas, Qasim and Ali Akbar had taken turns to guard the camp. Now Zainab and Kulthoom lay awake to make sure that Imam Zainul Abideen (pbuh) and the children were not attacked.
Suddenly, Bibi Zainab (pbuh) notices that Sakina (pbuh) has disappeared. She is alarmed. She looks around but Hussain’s darling daughter is not to be seen. Zainab (pbuh) slowly walks to the battlefield. She comes to where Abbas (pbuh) lay. “Abbas! Abbas! My dear brother, have you seen Sakina?” There is silence! She makes her way to where Hussain’s headless body lay. There, hugging her father, she finds Sakina, deep in sleep!
Attention of Bibi Zainab (pbuh) towards Imam Zainul Abideen (pbuh) during the Journey:
The night of calamity passed away and the ladies of Imam Hussain’s household were made captives the next day. They were made to wait in the hot sun while the enemy spent the rest of the day burying their own dead. They were made to mount saddle-less camels like common criminals. Imam Zainul Abideen (pbuh) was sent towards Kufa hands and feet clasped together in iron and wearing a barbed iron collar and made to walk barefoot on the hot desert sand, even though he was sick. The caravan passed through the battlefield where the bodies of the martyrs lay without shroud, mixed in dust and blood. It was here that Imam Zainul Abideen (pbuh) would have died of grief. He turned a pale yellow. Bibi Zainab (pbuh) consoled her nephew, “Be patient! What am I witnessing? You are the Imam of the time.” She reminded him of the tradition of Holy Prophet (pbuh) to Umm-e-Aiman which had explained the divine covenant.
At the front of the caravan the guards carried spears with the heads of Imam Hussain (pbuh) and his loved ones. The guards beat the prisoners, if they complained of anything. They did not even spare the youngest. Some children died along the way, and their bodies were left in the desert. By the time they reached Kufa they were bruised all over their bodies. When Bib Zainab (pbuh) saw Kufa, remembered the period of her father.
The caravan reached the court of Ubayd Allah son of Ziyad on the 12th of Muharram 61 Hijra. Ubayd Allah son of Ziyad, the governor of Kufa ordered the streets to be decorated, while there was a huge crowd on the streets of Kufa, jeering and making fun of the prisoners. There was commotion in the court of Kufa due to the oration of Bibi Zainab (pbuh). The speeches of Bibi Zainab (pbuh) where she commented on the faithlessness and cowardice of the Kufees made them cover their faces in their clothes in shame and misery.
But when some of the people saw the head of Imam Hussain (pbuh) on the spear they turned their heads and started to cry. They felt guilty that they allowed this to happen to Imam Hussain (pbuh) when this same Imam was ready to help them when they needed him. It was noon and the sun was blazing hot. The children were crying of hunger and thirst. As the caravan reached the Governor’s palace, Bibi Zainab (pbuh) faced the crowds and said “Do you know who your governor has killed? We are the Grandchildren of your Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). When your Governor killed the Prophet’s loved ones, the skies cried and the earth shook. Where were you then?” There was complete silence in the crowd. Some of the people realized their mistake and started to cry with shame. When ‘Umar son of Saad’ saw what was happening he quickly led the prisoners into the palace.
When Ubayd Allah son of Ziyad saw Imam Zainul Abideen (pbuh) in the palace he ordered him to be killed straight away. Bib Zainab (pbuh) ran in front of him and said “You will have to kill me first. How dare you sit on this throne which does not rightfully belong to you and insult us? Listen, O son of Ziyad we are the Grandchildren of the Prophet. You should be ashamed of yourself. You claim to follow the Prophet’s teachings, yet you have done everything to destroy his family.” Ubayd Allah son of Ziyad was surprised at how brave this lady was. He thought that after all that they had suffered; they would not have the strength to face him. More and more people started to realize that what Bib Zainab (pbuh) was saying was true. Ubayd Allah son of Ziyad ordered the prisoners to be taken to the prison next to the palace immediately. He told Shimr and Khooli, who were the leaders of this caravan, to make preparations to take the prisoners to Syria (Damascus) before they had a chance to speak out in public again.
The caravan of Bib Zainab (pbuh) left for Syria on the 13th of Muharram. Along the route, there were several altercations between the forces of Yazid and the supporters of Ahlul Bayt. As the caravan was leaving Kufa, people watched from the rooftops. Bib Zainab (pbuh) and other prisoners continued to tell the people about what had happened in Karbala. Many people started to speak out against Ubayd Allah son of Ziyad. On the journey the prisoners again suffered in the hands of the guards. When the caravan reached Syria, the prisoners had to wait in the hot sun while Shimr went to Yazid’s palace to announce their arrival. Yazid had declared that day as a day of celebration. Every corner of the city was decorated.
http://www.ezsoftech.com/islamic/moharram12.asp
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Zuljana Imam Hussains Steed – 273 viewsDate: 03/23/2006 Time: 07:50 AM Visits: 18
Zuljana Imam Hussains Steed
Buzzwords: chelum, rehmatabad
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Chehlum at Rehmatabad Cemetry mumbai – 185 viewsDate: 03/24/2006 Time: 02:12 AM Visits: 4
Zuljana
This is the Replica of Imam Hussains steed and seeing him the mourners go more wild and start cutting and scourging more fiercly..
Buzzwords: chelum, imam hussain, rehmatabad, zuljana
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Zuljana mehfil juloos – 310 viewsDate: 03/06/2006 Time: 06:14 AM Visits: 31
Zuljana
This juloos traverses the entire Bandra Bazzar and its night time and the cops have a hectic time trying to keeo all this within the allotted time ..and it never happens.. the cops too are human and respect the relgious sentiment and instead of 10pm.. it goes past midnight..
And the Bandra Hill Road police guys are really helpful and Inspector Samad Shaikh who is a net savvy guy is always givinga helping hand .. this is the soft and human side of Mumbai Police.
And the Zuljana is in the safe hand of this guy who dresses the zuljana and the spear head with the lime is for wish , you ask a wish pierce it on the spear and take it home as a tabbaruk.
And women and kids love the Zuljana and are in and around his legs..
Buzzwords: bandra bazzar, mumbai police, samad shaikh
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Zanjir Matam on the Streets – 293 viewsDate: 03/23/2006 Time: 01:16 AM Visits: 4
Zanjir Matam on the Streets
This is zanjir matam on the streets on the way to the cemetry..and this is where I too scourged myself but the passerby who shot me
just shot part of me..and I shall post it after this..
Buzzwords: chelum, mumbai, zanjir matam
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Zanjir Matam – 263 viewsDate: 03/23/2006 Time: 01:49 AM Visits: 5
Zanjir Matam
This little kid is trying to imitate an elder, the stance, and the look and very stylistic..and I shot him ..the way I saw him.
Buzzwords: chelum, mumbai, zanjir matam
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Chehlum at Rehmatabad Cemetry mumbai – 194 viewsDate: 03/24/2006 Time: 03:36 AM Visits: 6
Unmasked Faith
This guy was not happy that I was taking his picture and the crowds kept pushing me and I had sever problems with focussing but it is the reflection of his faith that I captured and I would have captured it even if it was out of focus completely.. and none of these are pictorial quests..
Buzzwords: chelum, rehamatabad
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Chehlum at Rehmatabad Cemetry mumbai – 213 viewsDate: 03/23/2006 Time: 06:55 AM Visits: 4
Unforgettable
I was crying as I shot this and just could not stop howling, but I was not alone the whole arena was howling, and Ya Ali, and Ya Hussain, Ya Abbas and ech one was trying to take strength from the other, and the guy profusedly bleeding is Ghulam from Habib Nassars anjuman and he goes wild, people have to stop him, and bodies kept falling down, no stretcher on the backs of the volunteers of JUS a social shia help group, and this is one place shots , there is chaos and my camera vision is limited.. this is my kind of photography..wounded shooting wounds..
Buzzwords: chelum, ghulam, rehmatabad
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Bandra East/9th Moharam Nakhas Lucknow – 357 viewsThe Zuljana
This is the replica of Hazrat Imams warrior horse and you can barely see his face , he is considered auspicious , people place flowers on him and feed him.. he will be a part of most of the procession ..of Moharam held everywhere in India.
update
9 moharam in Nakhas Lucknow
last night two guys who were from Mumbai, got into a spat with me for shooting pictures at the Juloos , almost insinuating that I sold pictures of Moharam.
But Munna,Shahids brother put them in their place..
This morning they apologised to me at the Nakhas Ashura Juloos, I told them nothing hurt me more than the selling picture thought, I told them in my pedestrian language , who cares a fuck for shia blood , or shia events, the only thing that people want pictures is of Naga lings , even that I gave free on my web sites..
I am not into shooting porn or nudes, but this is the problem with peoples minds and these guys were from Lokandwala Andheri…
Today was the Ashura Juloos that began at 10.30 am , I met a French photographer Laurent Salesse who had arrived to Lucknow to shoot the Ashura Juloos,, I took him to my in laws house , he shot my in laws ,house Imambara, we were together till the Juloos , with alams, zanjir zani,kama zani , reached Talkatora cemetry, than I lost him, there was another French photographer Philipe , his camera was stolen at the Ardh Kumbh , a Minolta digital Slr, he was shooting Moharam with a plastic point and shoot..
It hurts , I am a photographers best friend, specially foreigners , whom I help , as and when I meet them.
Last evening there was a videographer , I came to know his name later , a fuck head called Papu, I accidently climbed a platform from where he was shooting the juloos ,this commercial shit head, lashed me for spoiling his frame, I thought of using the filthiest language but kept myself under control, he knew I was a Shia like him, or unlike him, as my wound was still bleeding from my forehead..
I have shot a lot of pictures, the burial of the Tazias at Talkatora, this morning at the house my mother in law removed all the Tazias, there was a Alvidai Majlis, farewell to the Imam, took me back to my childhood spent a my maternal grandmothers house at Pata Nala..
the melody of the age old matams
Eh Shiaon ke mehmaan khuda hafiz o nazir .
I will post the words from my mother in laws 60 year old Biyas , where all this written for posterity.
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The Zari – 242 viewsThis is a Zari and incense and loban, frankincense is lit and here I shook the camera slightly while the Zari was moving, and folks dont take kindly to shooting burkha clad women. and there is no excuse. but I can deal with rough elements, I was walking after the juloos and a few guys cat called me on my baldness thinking I was alone and in the night I immediately turned back and abused them waiting for them to say something and I had my scourging blades.. they just ran away. and todays time you give the other cheek they want your , other cheek too.,
I have learnt. not to get intimidated at all..Fist first talk later
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The Taste Of Faith – 281 viewsDate: 03/24/2006 Time: 07:42 AM Visits: 8
The Taste Of Faith
I used to really get annoyed seeing little kids on their dads shoulders at Kaisar Bagh and the heat, the crowds, the sheer euphoria I thought unconducive for kids, but I am wrong.
It is this participation to our traditions, our beliefs, that gave the young fella the taste of his faith, and his future life bonded to that faith
My dad Mohomed Shakir Lakhnavi was a Sartorial artist accomplished gentleman,lived with the English Burra Saabs, so we were not taken on such spiritual excursions, I too never took my kids, but they went themselves thanks to their mothers upbringing..and I remember I went to the fire walk for the first time at Bandra Supari Talao to shoot pictures and while I was shooting I saw Asif unknown to me walk the fire and I was dumbstruck and just could not hit the trigger and the moment and Asif both passed me by..and the next year I walked the fire to emulate my eldest son..
And shia kids is what I love to shoot, untutored and street smart..
and the forceful future of our race..thanks to their mothers of course
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Buzzwords: asif, english burra saabs, mohomed shakir, shia kids
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Kule Yomin Ashura – 271 viewsThe Taboot
This is the replica of the shroud of the Fourth imam Zainul Abedeen.. here it has reached the end of the podium, Itoo had climbed up the podium , later when the scourging started I jumped into the main arena with my turban in place, the technique is how you you tie it..a my head is olive oiled so its quite slippery and no innuendoes of my style on religious posts.
I was hoping if MarcBrown boss of Buzznet makes a E book of my posts it would be a bestseller among those who have nothing to do.. are seeking solace of body and mind .
Ashura
Every day is Ashura and every land is Kerbala
This site is dedicated to Hussain ibn Ali (A), the Grandson of the Prophet (S),and his sacrifice for Islam at Kerbala.
What is Ashura ?
In the month of Muharram 61 AH (approx. 20 October 680 AD), an event took place in Iraq at a place known as Kerbala on the bank of the river Euphrates. It seemed in those days insignificant from the historical point of view. A large army which had been mobilised by the Umayyad regime besieged a group of persons numbering less than a hundred and put them under pressure to pay allegiance to the Caliph of the time and submit to his authority. The small group resisted and a severe battle took place in which they were all killed.
It appeared at that time that like hundreds of similar events, this battle would be recorded in history and forgotten in time. However, the events that occurred on the 10th day of Muharram in Kerbala were to become a beacon and an inspiration for future generations. In this article, we shall examine briefly the principal adversaries.
Who is Hussain ?
The leader of the small band of men who were martyred in Kerbala was none other than Husain (A), son of Ali bin Abi Talib (A) and grandson of the Holy Prophet (S). Who was Husain? He was the son of Fatima (A) for whom the Holy Prophet (S) said, “Husain is from me and I am from Husain. May God love whoever loves Husain.” [1]
With the passing away of his brother Hasan(A) in 50 AH, Husain (A) became the leader of the household of the Holy Prophet (S). He respected the agreement of peace signed by Hasan (A) and Muawiya, and, despite the urging of his followers, he did not undertake any activity that threatened the political status quo. Rather he continued with the responsibility of looking after the religious needs of the people and was recognised for his knowledge, piety and generosity. An example of the depth of his perception can be seen in his beautiful du’a on the day of Arafat, wherein he begins by explaining the qualities of Allah, saying:
” (Oh Allah) How could an argument be given about Your Existence by a being whose total and complete existence is in need of you? When did you ever disappear so that you might need an evidence and logic to lead (the people) towards You? And when did You ever become away and distant so that your signs and effects made the people get in touch with you? Blind be the eye which does not see You (whereas) You are observing him. What did the one who missed You find? And what does the one who finds You lack? Certainly, the one who got pleased and inclined toward other than You, came to nothingness (failed).”
On the other hand, we have Yazid, whose father (Muawiya) and grandfather (Abu Sufyan - the arch-enemy of the Prophet) had always tried to sabotage the mission of the Holy Prophet, and who showed his true colour by stating in a poem, “Bani Hashim had staged a play to obtain kingdom, there was neither any news from God nor any revelation.” [2]
Mas’udi writes that Yazid was a pleasure-seeking person, given to wine drinking and playing with pets. It is no wonder that Husain’s response to Yazid’s governor, when asked to pay allegiance to Yazid was, “We are the household of the prophethood, the source of messengership, the descending-place of the angels, through us Allah had began (showering His favours) and with us He has perfected (His favours), whereas Yazid is a sinful person, a drunkard, the killer of innocent people and one who openly indulges in sinful acts. A person like me can never pledge allegiance to a person like him …” [3]
The revolution of Husain (A) was an Islamic movement spearheaded by one of the great leaders of Islam. The principles and laws of Islam demanded that Husain (A) act to warn the Ummah of the evil situation which it was in, and to stand in the way of the deviating ruler. As Husain (A) himself remarked when he left Madina for the last time, “I am not rising (against Yazid) as an insolent or an arrogant person, or a mischief-monger or tyrant. I have risen (against Yazid) as I seek to reform the Ummah of my grandfather. I wish to bid the good and forbid the evil.” [4]
Hussain (A) was killed on the battlefield as he did Sajdah. His head was removed from his body on the plains of Kerbala, mounted on a spear, and paraded through villages and towns as it was taken to Damascus and presented at the feet of Yazid.
Why remember Ashura ?
Why is Husain (A) regarded as the “leader of the martyrs” ? It is because he was not just the victim of an ambitious ruler. There is no doubt that the tragedy of Kerbala, when ascribed to the killers, is a criminal and terrible act. However when ascribed to Husain (A) himself, it represents a conscious confrontation and a courageous resistance for a sacred cause. The whole nation had failed to stand up to Yazid. They had succumbed to his will, and deviation and regression towards the pre-Islamic ways were increasing.
Passiveness by Husain (A) in this situation would have meant the end of Islam as we know it. Thus Husain (A) took upon himself the responsibility of the whole nation. The greatest tragedy was that one who stood up for the noblest of causes, the defence of Islam, was cut down in so cruel a manner.
It is for this reason that the sacrifice of Husain (A) is commemorated annually throughout the Muslim world. Our sorrow never abates as we relive the tragedy. As Allama Iqbal says in his Baqiyat (in Urdu):
Ronay wala hoon Shaheed-e-Kerbala key gham men main,
Kya durey maqsad na dengey Saqiye Kausar mujhey
I am one who weeps at the plight of the Martyr of Kerbala
Won’t the reward be given to me by the Keeper of Kauser (Imam Ali (A))
The commemoration of Ashura on the 10th of Muharram every year serves to remind us of the sacrifices of the family of the Prophet (S). It also makes us aware of the people, then and now, who tried to destroy Islam and the family of the Prophet (S) and all that they stood for - as well as those who watched, listened and did nothing.
http://www.ashura.com/
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