Up to 10 million expected to converge on Karbala for Ashura

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: Hundreds of thousands of mourners are descending at the holy city of Karbala to mark the martyrdom of grandson of holy Prophet Muhammad (p), Al-Imam Al-Husain bin Ali bin Abi Talib (p).

More than ten million mourners are expected in this holy city, which houses the holy mausoleums of the Chief of Martyrs Al-Imam Al-Husain (p) and his brother and Commander of his Army Hezret Al-Abbas (p), on the day of Ashura – the darkest day of human history when the Chief of Youths of Heaven Al-Imam Al-Husain (p) was martyred along with his 72 near and dear ones some 1400 years ago in the burning desert of Karbala at the hands of Yazid.

This is the first Muharram after the ouster of the worst oppressor Saddam. Therefore, after 35 years, Muslims are observing the martyrdom of Al-Imam Al-Husain (p) with freedom as it was practice of Saddam regime that he who even uttered “Ya Husain (O Husain)” in this month of grief was sent to jail for six years as a punishment or was killed.

Majalis Al-Husainy were continue at the shrines, mosques, husainiyaat, cultural halls as well as grand rooms of schools and mawakeb Al-Azaa touch the streets of this holy city marking the saddest occasion.

The speakers highlight the objective of Qayam of Al-Imam Al-Husain (p), the narrative of holy Prophet (p)’s migration from the holy city of Mecca to Medina and his grandson Al-Imam Al-Husain (p)’s migration from the holy city of Medina to Mecca and then to Iraq as well as the circumstances in which backdrop the two migrations occurred.

Marking the martyrdom month, black standards were placed at houses, while banners were hanged at streets and public places inscribed with husaini slogans and sayings of Al-Imam Al-Husain (p) and pledges of Iraqi people in Arabic language as “By God O Zahraa we haven’t forgotten Husain”.

END