MANCHESTER, Britain: First Ashra (10 days) of Muharram-ul-Haram solemnly concluded in Britain with holding of grand majalis-e-aza and processions.

Throngs of mourning devotees belonging to European, Arab, Asian and African countries attended these programs to pay rich homage to the incomparable sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain (A.S.) and his 72 loyal companions that saved Islam, Shariah and high human values.

Imambargahs, matam, hussainiaat and Islamic centers remained open throughout the Ashura night as azadari was being performed therein.

Speakers and scholars, in their addresses, depicted how Imam Hussain (A.S.) and his companions spent the night in divine worship, and how the chaste ladies of the holy family of Prophet (S.W.) were preparing their near and dear ones for martyrdom the next day.

Matam, or Aza-ul Laatom, was performed afterwards. Renowned dirge-chanters recited dirges.

Ashura Day dawned with Azan-e-Ali Akbar (prayer call by the 18-year-old son of Hussain, Ali Akbar A.S.), a’maal, majalis-e-aza and matam, somewhere with swords.
Muhammad Jawad Al-Balaghi and Basim Al-Karbalayi recited at Al-Hussainiah Al-Balaghiyyeh, Prof. Abdul Hakeem at Hyderi Streathem, Sheikh Hussain Al-Ameeri and Sayyed Hasan Al-Karbalayi at hussainiah Rasool Al-Azam (S.W.) London, Maulana Mirza Sadiq Hasan at Hussaini Mission Isleworth, Sayyed Mustafa Al-Qazvini and Haj Al-Attar at Ahlul Bayt (A.S.) Foundation London, Shaykh Abbas Virjee at Mehfil-e-Ali (A.S.) UK, Syed Muntazar Abbas Naqvi (Islamabad, Pakistan), Nisar Haider and Nadeem Sarwar (Karachi, Pakistan) at Muhammadi Trust, Syed Iqrar Hussain Zaidi and Raees Jarchvi in East London, Syed Raza Haider at Idara-e-Jaferiya, Maulana Mirza Mohammad Ashfaq (Lucknow, India) in Urdu and Syed Mehdi Modarassi (English) at Hujjat Imambargah Stanmore, Principal Jamia Ahle Bait New Delhi India Maulana Syed Mohammad Askari Zaidi at International Islamic Link Sudbury, and Zakira Shazia Naqvi (Leicester, England) addressed ladies majalis at Az-Zahra Centre Watford. Haideri Islamic Center London, Jafferia Islamic Center Manchester, Imambargha Northampton, Sakina Islamic Center, Islamic Centre of England London, Ahlul Bayt Islamic Center London and many other imambarghas and centers also organized majalis and matam programs.

The day ended with majalis of Sham-e-Ghareeban attended by large number of mourners. Speakers highlighted masaib of Sani-e-Zahra (A.S.).

Meanwhile, mourning processions of Zuljinah of Hazrat Imam Hussain (A.S.) and standards of Hazrat Abbas (A.S.) were also taken out from different cities attended by throngs of mourners despite severe cold.

A Juloos-e-Aza (mourning procession) was brought out from Pllatefield Park Manchester, passed via Wilmaslow Road, ending at 404 Jafferia Islamic Center where mourners shed their blood by performing Zanjeer-zani to pay homage to the martyrs of Karbala.

Another Juloos-e-Aza began from Hussaini Islamic Centre, Burton Street, Peterborough, followed by Ashura program.

Several other Juloos-e-Aza are scheduled to held in Burnley, Slough, Leicester, Blackburn, Bradford, Birmingham and Cricklewood.