10th al-Muharram al-Haraam
Lailat-e-Ashura
On the eve of Ashura, Syedna al-Minʿaam TUS counselled all Mumineen, including children before they slept, to recite Syedna Taher Saifuddin’s RA marsiyah shareefa, “Ya Sayyida Shohadaaʾi,” in preparation for the day of Ashura.
In his bayaan mubarak, Syedna TUS emphasized that remembering Imam Husain AS is Allah’s greatest blessing and, as such, should never be neglected. Rather, the worldly and spiritual prosperity of Mumineen is gained through the remembrance of Imam Husain AS. He continued by reminding Mumineen to appreciate and be grateful for the efforts of Awliya Allah AS, beginning with Rasul Allah SAW and followed by the Imams AS and their Duat Mutlaqeen RA in preserving this zikr despite the upheavals of time. Syedna TUS then echoed the supplications of Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA and Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA, praying for the health, prosperity, and well-being of all Mumineen.
He then recited verses penned by the 48th al-Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Abdul Husain Husamuddin RA, in which he laments the tragedies that befell Imam Husain AS and his family and describes the hardships and violence they endured in Karbala.
قلق يأجج في الجوانح نارا * ويزيل من خلل القلوب قرارا
"Turmoil kindles within the chest a blazing fire, and strips every trace of peace from the depths of hearts."
Elaborating these verses, Syedna TUS contrasted the courtesy and hospitality that one would ordinarily extend to a guest with the hostility the enemies showed Imam Husain AS. Although it was at their invitation that he journeyed towards Kufa, they betrayed him despite being their guest. Whereas a host would strive to provide a guest with food and comfort, Imam Husain AS was left hungry for three days and even denied a single drop of water.
Syedna TUS continued that the enemies shed Imam Husain’s AS blessed blood in Karbala. Crimson with the blood of his companions, Imam Husain AS carried each of their bodies from where they had fallen in the battlefield. He was struck by spears, arrows, swords, and stones before his raas mubarak was severed from his jism mubarak by the wretched Shimr. One stone was hurled at him with such force that it became lodged in Imam Husain’s AS blessed forehead. Syedna TUS enjoined Mumineen to imagine the pain Imam Husain AS must have endured, not only when he was struck but also when he removed the stone and blood flowed down his face.
Explaining the intense pain that Imam Husain AS must have endured, Syedna explained that a doctor administers an anaesthetic before making even the smallest incision to avoid causing any pain yet, here, the enemy’s cruelty and hostility towards Imam Husain AS was unrelenting.
هذي بنات ابي البتول حواسرا * يسلبن ظلما مقنعا وخمارا
“These are the daughters of the father of al-Batul, unveiled; their head coverings and their veils have been mercilessly torn away.”
Syedna Husamuddin RA then describes the condition of the women and children of Imam Husain’s AS household after his martyrdom. Instead of being afforded the hurmat (dignity and honour) due to them as the family of Rasul Allah SAW, their veils were snatched away, leaving them exposed to public gaze. Their only recourse was to cover their faces with their hair, still leaving their backs uncovered.
Finally, Syedna Husamuddin RA describes the orphaned children who were taken captive:
هذي يتاماه وتلك حريمه * اسرى وحسر في الزحام حيارى
"These are his orphaned children, and those are the women of his household, taken captive, unveiled, bewildered amid the throng."
Syedna TUS added that the children were bound with leather ropes that tightened under the scorching heat of the sun, causing them even greater discomfort and pain as they were taken across the desert plains to Shaam.
Yaum-e-Ashura (Qabl al-Zohr)
On the morning of Ashura Imam Husain’s AS Dai addressed the gathering of mourners as, “ʿaza daaro, matam daaro.” Those gathered in Allah’s all-encompassing, merciful presence; those remembering the suffering of Imam Husain AS and shedding tears. The congregation of naadimeen mustaghfireen (those who repent and seek forgiveness.) On this day all past Anbiya AS sought forgiveness from Allah.
Ashura is a day of nadam and istighfaar, and the morning's discourse was accordingly devoted to these notions — nadam and istighfaar being the foundation upon which success in every other field, occupation and hunar is built. On the day of Ashura, one should seek forgiveness for every sin — small or great, deliberate or unintentional, committed in secret or openly — whether against any form of creation, against a fellow Mumin, against Awliya Allah AS, or against Allah Himself — so that the ledger of sins be erased entirely, and transgressions be replaced with uprightness. Syedna al-Minʿaam TUS counselled Mumineen to sense their sins, feel them, repent and make amends, thereby returning to their original pristine state in jannat.
Syedna al-Minʿaam TUS recalled the story of Fitris, the angel who had neglected a duty entrusted to him and thus had his power of flight taken away. After 700 years stranded on an island, Jibraʾeel AS passed by the island carrying felicitations to Rasul Allah SAW on the birth of Imam Husain AS and Fitris appealed to him to take him to petition Rasul Allah SAW for forgiveness on his behalf. Rasul Allah SAW directed him to crawl on his weakened wings to the newborn and brush them upon him and instantly their power was restored. Fitris flew up to the heavens proudly proclaiming that he was the angel uniquely given salvation by Imam Husain AS and Rasul Allah SAW.
A similar tale of repentance and redemption is found in that of Bani Dhadha’s orchard where the young imams were resting under the watchful eyes of a massive python, who had in its mouth a bouquet of flowers as he sheltered them. When Rasul Allah SAW arrived he submitted that he was not a python but a fallen angel who had asked many to petition for his forgiveness while having remained in this state for many years.
When the young imams awoke they were startled by the sight and took to their grandfather’s lap. Rasul Allah SAW explained who he really was and why he was in this form and told them both to join him in praying for his forgiveness. Rasul Allah SAW prayed two rakʿats. Imams Hasan AS and Husain AS did so as well, and then collectively sought forgiveness for him which was duly granted. Jibraʾeel AS took the angel back to the heavens where he too proclaimed the honour of being redeemed by Imam Hasan AS and Husain AS.
Nadam is to show sorrow for the failure to do something we should have done and the subsequent istighfar is to repent, rectify and undertake not to repeat the same mistake again.
Alluding to the immense generosity of spirit exemplified by Awliya Allah AS, Syedna TUS explained that when a Mumin sins and then strives to make amends, Awliya Allah AS are pleased by their sincere, albeit modest, attempts at restitution. Even after one falters, if nadam is expressed and istighfar attempted, they are pleased by this repentance. They say, “You are nadim mustaghfir; your children are nadim mustaghfir.” To be a nadim mustaghfir is a station of immense honour.
Illustrating the grace with which Awliya Allah receive those who repent, Syedna TUS narrated the account of a man who had committed a grave sin and incurred the displeasure of Rasul Allah SAW. Seeking forgiveness and expressing his nadam, he carried Imam Hasan AS and Imam Husain AS upon his shoulders and approached Nabi Mohammed SAW, beseeching his clemency by virtue of their lofty position and intercession. When he did this, Rasul Allah SAW could not help but smile, no longer looking at his sin but rather at the inherent goodness that guided his attempt at restitution. WIth this smile, Rasul Allah SAW blessed him and welcomed him once more into the fold of those he was pleased with.
Likewise, Maulana Hurr RA had committed a grave wrong when he prevented Imam Husain AS from continuing his journey. Yet, on the Day of Aashura, when Hurr RA came seeking forgiveness, Imam Husain AS welcomed him with open grace. He not only forgave him but honoured him with the distinction of becoming first among the martyrs of Karbala.
Allah Taala states in the Quran Majeed:
الَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا
“Those who bear the ʿarsh (throne) and those around it, praise their Lord, believe in him and implore forgiveness for those who believe.” (40:7)
In one sense, the hamalat al-ʿarsh are those hudood afaadil who sacrificed themselves on the day of Ashura in service of Imam Husain AS. They spent the entire night of Aashura engaged in istighfaar and continued to do so until their final breath. Likewise, the Duat Mutlaqeen AS are also considered hamalat al-ʿarsh because they uphold the throne of Imam al-Zaman AS and continually seek forgiveness for Mumineen. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA would state that: “When a Mumin seeks my forgiveness, I forgive them instantly.” Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA explains that the Duat are hamalat al-ʿarsh and their hudood are man hawlahum (those who surround them). Syedna TUS then named some of the Dawat’s high ranking hudood who demonstrated exemplary service and conduct such as Syedna al-Khattab in Yemen, Maulaya Adam QR, Maulaya Raj QR, Syedi Abdulqadir Hakimuddin QR and Syedi Fakhruddin Shaheed QR in Hind.
Among the numerous pathways to forgiveness are sadaqa and travelling to the presence of Wali Allah AS, both of which are observed in the timeless narrative of the ʿaarabi who came to Rasul Allah’s SAW presence seeking a bride. By giving sadaqa on the night of his wedding, he was purged of his sins and his life, which had come to its end, was prolonged as a result.
Before the customary retelling of the burya’s (old woman) touching narrative and her immense longing for the ziyarat of Imam Husain AS, Syedna TUS urged those Mumineen residing in the western hemisphere to make it a point to travel for ziyarat, especially to their homeland, India.
Maulana al-Minʿaam TUS then counselled Mumineen to abstain from all those substances and practices which the Shariat has declared haraam including alcohol, intoxicants, e-cigarettes, interest and usury, and adultery. Amirul Mumineen AS states:
ان الله أحل حلالا وأعان عليه وحرم حراما واغنى عنه
“Indeed Allah has made what is halal permissible and provided the means to attain it, and has forbidden haram and spared any need to resort to it.”
He strongly cautioned against suicide, counselling vigilance on the taking of, and overdosing on, sleeping pills or other medication, for instance.
Following the shahaadat of Imam Husain AS, his Ahle Bayt finally reached Shaam (present-day Syria), after an arduous and punishing journey. There, the sayyidaat were brought to Yazeed’s court and the severed heads of the shohada were placed before him. He expressed his joy at this sight, examining and mocking each martyr. When he came across Maulana Ali Akbar’s AS, he expressed his amazement at its fairness and asked who it belonged to. He was told that it was Ali Akbar’s AS, Imam Husain’s AS son, who resembled Rasul Allah SAW so closely that people came to see him when they wished to look upon Rasul Allah SAW. Seeing Maulana Ali Akbar’s AS raas mubarak in the hands of Yazeed, a young servant of Ali Akbar AS, who had been captured and was present in the court, let out a painful cry which caused the Ahle Bayt to weep. When Yazeed asked who he was and why he expressed such grief, the young servant recalled the kindness of Ali Akbar AS and his benevolence towards the servant in all matters. Anguished by the disrespect he beheld, the young servant vowed to blind Yazeed, sever his limbs and set his palace ablaze if ever he found an opportunity to do so. Enraged, Yazeed ordered for the young servant to be killed.
Syedna TUS concluded the majlis with the shahadat of Imam Husain AS.
Yaum-e-Ashura (Baʿd al-Zohr)
Syedna al-Dai al-Ajal TUS then commenced the maqtal—the narration of the martyrdom of Imam Husain AS and his companions—addressing Mumineen with unparalleled energy and force. His address distilled the essence of the teachings that had unfolded throughout the preceding sermons, leaving Mumineen with the enduring message that would support them until the arrival of the next Ashara Mubaraka.
Syedna proclaimed:
O Husaini people!
O Husaini devotees!
O Husaini fidais!
O attendees of a Husaini majlis!
O followers of the Husaini path!
O those who progress in deen and dunya through Husaini knowledge!
O those who live their lives through Husaini ʿamal!
O those who adorn themselves with Husaini attire!
O those who protect themselves with Husaini armour!
O those who fulfil their aspirations through Husaini duʿa!
O those who draw near to Awliya Kiram AS through Husaini sajda!
O those who prosper through Husaini zikr!
O followers of the Husaini Imams!
O those who are immersed in muhabbat for Husaini Duat!
O those who attain victory by proclaiming: “Ya Husain! Ya Husain! Ya Husain!”
Today is the Day of Ashura! Today is the Day of Qiyamat!
Drawing together the central theme of this Ashara Mubaraka, Syedna TUS stated that throughout these discourses, various skills, trades, and professions (hunar) had been discussed. He prayed, “May Allah grant you success in every hunar. Yet today is the time to practise the one hunar that is their essence: to lament in the remembrance of Imam Husain AS, to weep for him, to wail in his grief, and then to render maatam. May Allah grant you success in this hunar!”
May Allah Taʿala bless Syedna al-Dai al-Ajal al-Fatimi TUS with a life filled with health and happiness until the Day of Qiyamat.