LONDON, United Kingdom: The 26th annual Arbaeen (Chelum) Procession
of Imam Husain (AS) took place on Sunday 11th March 2007 (21st Safar
1428) at Marble Arch, Central London, commencing with Zuhrain
Namaz-e-Jamat’ Followed by recitation of Sura al-Dahar in Arabic and
English, Majlis in Arabic, English and Urdu.
At 2pm, the maatami procession proceeded along Park Lane and
returned to Marble Arch 4:45pm.
This event has been organised by the Hussaini Islamic Trust UK since
1982 with the encouragement of Sayed Mahdi Al-Hakeem (Martyr), son of
Grand Ayatullah Sayed Mohsin Al-Hakeem.
The Trust founded the very first annual Muslim Procession in
Central London and the very first Arbaeen/Chelum Procession of Imam
Hussain (A.S) in the western world (USA & Europe).
The Procession is held every year on the nearest Sunday to Arbaeen at
Marble Arch, London. This year, despite many momineen having traveled
to Syria for Arbaeen, there was a huge turnout men, women and children
from across the Shia community, numbering about 7000. (Pakistan,
India, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, etc) Also,
over 20 Ulema attended. This procession has now become the largest
annual Muslim procession in the UK.
Accompanying the procession there were three large Shabbihs
(replicas) of the shrines of Imam Hussain (AS) and Hazrat Abbas (AS)
which accompanied the mourning procession, along with many alams,
flags, drums and zanjeer maatam.
After the recitation of ziyarat Arbaeen (5pm), Khakh-e-Shifa
Sajdigahs were distributed and refreshments were served.
