Flocks stream into city of Ali (p) marking Prophet (p)’s Demise Day

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Tens of thousands of mourners flocked to the holy city of Najaf to mark Chief of Prophet (p) Prophet Muhammad (p)'s Demise Anniversary despite poising of US forces outside the city gates.

Badr militiamen set up checkpoints at the entrances of Najaf searching the mourners streaming into the city and preventing cars from entering.

The mourning programs remained continue throughout the night between Sunday and Monday at the holy mausoleum of the Commander of Faithful Al-Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb (p), caliph of all Muslims, cousin, son-in-law and testamentary executor of holy Prophet Muhammad (p).

Several Mavakeb Azaiyah, or the mourning groups that chant elegies, from around the country also attended the processions which marched to the holy shrine. Mourners were beating their chests and heads, shedding floods of tears, wailing, crying and sobbing thus offered their condolences to Imam Ali (p).

Mourning flocks warned the US forces from entering the holy city and said: “We have had enough bloodshed here, Moqtada and his followers should take their fight with the Americans elsewhere.”

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