AZADARI & THE AHLUL-BAYT (A.S.)

The Ma'soom Imams (as) held Azadari or mourning programs on the day of Aashura, and in fact the Imams of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) encouraged others to continue to hold such programs to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (as) in various forms and styles of remembrance be it those which are obligatory, or those that are Mustahab or permissible, for this day is like no other day. 

There has been many traditions from them in this respect; in one narration Imam al-Sadiq (as) was asked as to why the day of Aashura became the day of sorrow and grief, lamentation and weeping, rather than the day when the Holy Prophet (saww) died, or the day when Fatima-al-Zahra (as) died, or the day when Amir-ul-Mu'minin (as) was killed, or when Imam Hasan (as) was killed by poisoning?  Imam al-Sadiq (as) replied,

“Truly the day of al-Husayn (as) is the day of the greatest catastrophe, since As-hab al-Kissa (people of the cloak) (as) who were the most honourable of creation in the sight of Allah were five, and when the Holy Prophet (saww) died, Imam Ali, Fatima al-Zahra, Hasan and Husayn (as) remained, and the people sought solace and comfort in them, and when Fatima al-Zahra (as) died, people sought consolation and comfort in Amir-ul-Mu'minin (as), Hasan and Husayn (as), and when Amir-ul-Mu'minin (as) died people sought solace and comfort in al-Hasan and al-Husayn (as), and when al-Hasan (as) died people could find comfort in Imam Husayn (as), but when Imam Husayn (as) was killed, there remained no other member of As-hab al-Kissa to seek solace and comfort in, and by the killing of the last of them all access to As-hab al-Kissa was severed, whereas so long as there was even one of them amongst the people, it was as if all of them were amongst the people.  That is why the day of al-Husayn (as) is the most calamitous of all days.”

Thus great rewards have been reported for establishing and upholding these Husayni Sha'a'er.  Imam Baqir (as) stated, "Imam Zaynul-’Aabideen (as) used to say, "Any believer who weeps for Imam Husayn (as) and his tragedy such that his tears run down his cheek, Allah Almighty shall accommodate him in Paradise, and any believer who wept for us for what we suffered at the hands of our enemy in this world such that his tears run down his cheeks Allah shall accommodate him in a lofty station, and any believer who suffers hardship in our cause, such that he weeps for us and his tears run down his cheek, Allah Almighty shall repel from his face any anguish and protects him from fire on the day of Judgement". 

This was a quick insight in the role of Sayyid-al-Shuhada (as) in protecting Islam, and a glimpse of his station in the sight of Allah Almighty, and lofty station and the eminence of the Imam in this world and in the hereafter, and how can it not be when he addresses Allah Almighty in his famous poem that he recited on the day of Aashura, during the last few moments of his life when he was lying on the ground overwhelmed by horrific injuries and swords wounds:

I left all creatures for the sake of You

and I orphaned the children so that I see You

So if I am cut into pieces for the love of You

the heart would lean to none other than You

And these words reflect the extent of the sincerity of Imam Husayn (as) in his love for Allah, and his honesty in defending Islam. 

We pray to Allah Almighty to help us succeed in discharging our duties towards Imam Husayn (as) and his blessed and sacred movement.

O Allah bless Muhammad and the household of Muhammad, and make for us a position of honesty with Imam Husayn (as) and the companions of Husayn (as), who gave their blood for the sake of Imam Husayn (as), and grant us the intercession of Imam Husayn (as) on the Day of Judgement, for You have power over everything.

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Released by:

Mulla Mujahidali sheriff