AL-QATEEF, Saudi Arabia: The Anniversary of Birth of Monqez-ol Bashariyah me-nad-dalal wash-sherk élan-Nur wal Iman, or the Savior of Humanity from darkness and ignorance to light and faith holy Prophet Muhammad b. Abdullah (peace be upon him and his pure progeny) and his sixth infallible successor Al-Imam Ja’far As-Sadeq (peace be upon him) was devotedly celebrated in eastern province of Saudi Arabia.

Such celebrations are prohibited by Saudi government in other parts of the kingdom except in oil-rich eastern region where Mo’minin (believers) make up majority.

Marking the dignified occasion, week-long celebrations, conferences, poetry sessions, lectures and symposiums were organized at mosques, husseiniyaat, maatam, and homes; special desserts and dishes were cooked; buildings were beautifully decorated with sparkly lights, fresh flowers and multihued buntings; cake-cutting ceremonies were held and greetings were extended to the holy progeny of holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure progeny) and to each other.

Al-Imam Al-Jawwad (peace be upon him) committee in Shaweykah, Al-Qateef organized a festive gathering titled ‘Melad-un-Nur’ at husseiniyah Al-Aseef on 17 Rabi`ol Awwal. Al-Ostaz Abdelkarim Al-Abbas and Al-Ostaz Bassem Al-Bahraini opened the program followed by Sheikh Saeed Al-Herz who delivered a speech in connection with the occasion. Omm Al-Banin (peace be upon her) group (Sehat), Saeed Al-Ibrahim, Al-Ostaz Adib Abulmakarem, Al-Ostaz Hussein Hasan Al-Jamay and Al-Imam Al-Jawwad (peace be upon him) corps presented eulogies in praise of holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure progeny) and Al-Imam As-Sadeq (peace be upon him). Alhaj Hussein As-Saeedy Abu Ali recited Al-Mauled An-Nabavi Ash-Sharif.

A Melad function was held in Omm Al-Hamam under arrangements of Ar-Rasul Al-Adham (peace be upon him and his pure progeny) organization on 17 Rabi`ol Awwal addressed by Al-Ostaz Hussein Al-Abd Al-Aal, Al-Ostaz Muhammad Al-Mansor and Sheikh Said Al-Herz while Al-Imam Al-Qaem (peace be upon him) corps, renowned eulogist Abdullah Abbas, Ashbaal-oz Zahraa (peace be upon her) faction, Ansar Al-Imam Al-Montadhar (peace be upon him) group, Al-Ostaz Hani Al-Kaibee and Al-Anwar Al-Muhammadiyah group recited eulogies. Later dinner was served.

Al-Ostaz Baqer Al-Baqer, eulogist Salih Al-Mo’min, Nur-ol Borhan group, Baqiyatollah Al-Adham (peace be upon him) unit, Sheikh Ali Al-Farj, Al-Ostaz Muhammad Abdelkarim Hamoud and eulogist Abu-Shaker addressed a celebration held at Sheikh Aqeel Mosque in Al-Hillah on 18 Rabi`ol Awwal.

Two-day (18-19 Rabi`ol Awwal) ‘Hafl An-Nur’ was held at husseiniyah Al-Muhammadiyah Abu Khamseen in Al-Hafouf city. Sheikh Aqeel Ash-Shab’an addressed.

In Safwa city, a grand program was held at Al-Imam Al-Hasan (peace be upon him) mosque on 17 Rabi`ol Awwal addressed by Sheikh Lo’vi An-Nasser, Sheikh Bashar Al-Aali Al-Bahraini and Ammar Qoresh Abu Siraj. Meal from the table of holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure progeny) was served at the end of the program.

Al-Ghadir Council in Tarout organized a four-night annual ‘Prophetic Festival’ at husseiniyah Abdorrahim. Sheikh abbas Al-Mahrous, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Mosalli and Sheikh Mehdi Al-Mosalli addressed while eulogists Sayyed Qassem, Ash-Shakhs, Alhaj Abu-Ali Ashur, Abu Karar Al-Ahsayi, Zaki Aal-e-Fardan and other poets recited eulogies.

Sayyed Abdullah Al-Mousavi addressed a festival on 19 Rabi`ol Awwal at husseiniyah Al-Hojjah (peace be upon him) in Al-Mabraz, Al-Ahsaa.

Al-Husseiniyah Az-Zaynabiyah in Al-Awamiyah organized ‘Unity Week’ (11-17 Rai`ol Awwal) attended by a number of women organizations including Kaukabah Bab`ol Murad (peace be upon him), Talee’a Fatimah Al-Hurrah (peace be upon her), Banaat Fatimah Peace be upon her), At-Talee’a Ar-Risaliyah, Al-Fatimiyaat, Banaat Al-Aqeelah (peace be upon her) and Az-Zaynabiyaat. The other activities of the Week included exhibition of books and art.

Similar programs were also held at Al-Imam Al-Hasan (peace be upon him) mosque in Al-Jaroudiyah, husseiniyaat and mosques in Ad-Damam, husseiniyah Al-Ali in Al-Qarah, residence of Alhaj Abdullah Ad-Dhayf in Al-Mabraz, husseiniyah An-Nasser in Sehat, husseiniyah Az-Zahraa (peace be upon her) in Al-Matirfi Al-Ahsaa and many other venues.