Husseini mourning on peak in Iraq as Ashura nears

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: As the 10th of Muharram-ol-Haram is approaching, Hussaini mourning programs are on peak in the holy cities of Iraq.

Mourning processions one after the other march on the streets of this holy city reciting dirges and elegies, expressing condolences to Aal-ul Bayt (as) on this sad occasion and then culminating at the holy shrine of Al-Imam Al-Hussein (as).

One can feel the atmosphere here in Karbala grieved and mournful as huge big banners are hanging on streets and walls of buildings inscribed with sayings of holy Prophet (saw) about Al-Imam Al-Hussein (as) as well as words of Master of Martyrs (as) while some with words of condolences.

Walking on the streets of Karabala one can hear the mournful voices coming out of loudspeakers which announce the martyrdom of the grandson of holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) and his 72 near and dear ones.

Al-Imam Al-Hussein (as) lives in the hearts of every conscious man and they feel pain on his sufferings as if the tragedy of Karbala occurred today and not 1400 years ago.

Several organizations are engaged to facilitate the mourners. They serve them with food and tea from the table of Al-Imam Al-Hussein (as).

With the ouster of Saddam regime, many associations who were living abroad in exile returned home. One of these is Khadamah Ahlul Bayt organization.

On 5th day of Muharram, Khadamah Ahlul Bayt organization organized a mourning procession which ended at the holy shrines of Abil Ahrar Al-Imam Al-Hussein (as) and his brother Hadrat Al-Abbas (as) in the holy city of Karbala.

In Kazemiyah, thousands in black mourning dresses marched on Saturday Muharram 7 towards the holy shrines of Imam Mousa bin Jafar Al-Kazem (as) and Al-Imam Muhammad bin Ali Al-Jawwad (as) in observation of Husseini mourning. On reaching the holy mausoleums, the mourners extended their deep condolences to the holy Imams on the martyrdom of their grandfather Al-Imam Al-Hussein (as).

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