Sham-e-Gharibaan majalis depict sufferings of Saani-e-Zahra (p)

By: Raza Ali

WASHINGTON: In commemoration of great sufferings of holy Progeny of Holy Prophet (p) in the burning plain of Karbala some 1,400 years ago, big mourning gatherings were held across the world on Sham-e-Gharibaan.

Sham-e-Ghareeban marks the night which came after the unjust slaughter of Hazrat Imam Hussein (p) along with his 72 faithful companions. After the martyrdom of Chief of Martyrs Hazrat Imam Hussein (p), the Yazidi army torched the tents of daughters of Holy Prophet (p), looted the tents and beheaded all martyrs. Hazrat Zainab Al-Kubra (p), granddaughter of Prophet (p) and daughter of Ali (p) and Batool (p) took the charge of guarding other chaste ladies and little children of Holy Prophet (p)’s family throughout the night.

Hundreds of thousands of grieved mourners congregated in the holy shrines, tombs, mosques, husseiniyaat, ma’atam, azakhanas, imambargahs, imambadas and Islamic centers to hold majales and perform matam.

They recited dirges and elegies in commemoration of chained-Hazrat Zainab Al-Kubra (p) who along with a number of chaste ladies and children of the holy family of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (p) was taken to Kufa and then Syria as prisoner.

The mourners lit the candles and offered their condolences on the sufferings of Saani-e-Zahra (p) whose addresses in accent of Sher-e-Khuda Ali Al-Murtaza (p) in the streets and bazaars of Kufa and Syria shattered the foundations of Yazidi palaces.