Rabi-ul Awwal 9, the day of glory, honor, dignity and blessings, is a great Eid known as "Eid-e-Shuja’a", "Eid-e-Zahra (A.S)” or the Feast of Zahraa (A.S.). Many traditions from holy Prophet (S.W.) and his Ahlul Bayt (A.S.) have been reported in its merit.

Ibn-e-Taous narrates in Zawaed-ul Fawaed that Holy Prophet (S.W.)’s companion, Hazrat Hozayfa Yamani (R.A.), said that he went to holy Prophet (S.W.) on 9th of Rabi-ul Awwal and witnessed him smiling while he had his eyes on the faces of his grandsons Imam Hassan (A.S.) and Imam Hussain (A.S.). He said to them: ‘Surely on this day, Allah will ruin His enemy and enemy of your grandfather, and prayer of your mother will be accepted on this day, and this is the day when Allah accepts deeds of your followers and your devotees…”

Imam Ali (A.S.) told Hozayfa Yamani (R.A.) 72 names of this Eid Day. Some of these are: Youm-ul Eid As-Sani, Youm-ul Istaraha, Youma Raf’il Qalam, Youma Eid-Ullah Al-Akbar, Youma Ijabatid Duaa, Youma Farh-ush Shia, Youma Eido Ahlil Bayt (A.S.) and Youma Saroor-e-Ahlil Bayt (A.S.).

This was the day, when pained Ahl-e-Bayt-e-Rasool (holy Progeny of holy Prophet (S.W.)) ended their mourning following the gruesome tragedy of Karbala and for the first time after the massacre of his father Imam Hussain (A.S.) and his companions, the 4th Imam (A.S.) Ali bin Al-Hussain Zayn-ul Abideen (A.S.) smiled.

It is reported in Behar-ul Anwaar, Vol 45 and Jame-ur Ruwaat, Vol 02 that it was this time of the year when Ahle Bayt-e-Rasool (A.S.) brought their mourning to an end as Hazrat Mukhtar Saqafi (R.A.) - one of the great companions and true followers of Ahlul Bayt (A.S.) - took revenge from killers of Imam Hussain (A.S.) by killing them all in the same manner as they did, and then he sent to Beemar-e-Karbala Hazrat Imam Zayn-ul Abideen (A.S.) the heads of the slaughterers of Imam Hussain (A.S.) including Ibne Ziyad and Umer bin Sa'ad. Umer bin Sa'ad was the first to shoot the arrow towards Hussaini camps and he then proudly said: "Be witness that me the first to shoot the arrow."

Receiving heads of these tyrants, Imam Zayn-ul Abideen (A.S.) paid thanking prostration to Allah saying, “Thanks to Allah for He took revenge from our enemies" and prayed for Hazrat Mukhtar (R.A.) in these words: "May Allah reward Mukhtar good.”

In another narration Sahib-e-Nasiq writes that on the moment when these two heads were brought to Imam Zayn-ul Abideen (A.S.), the holy Imam said: “I thank God who kept me alive to this day when I could see the heads of the tyrants who killed my holy father Imam Hussain (A.S.)”.

History tells that from Ashura - the day when Imam Hussain (A.S.) was slaughtered - till the day the heads of the killers of Imam Hussain (A.S.) were brought, no one of the Ahlul-Bayt (A.S.) paid any time to their own like combed their hair or anything like that, neither did anyone see smoke coming out from the house of the Ahl-e-Bayt-e-Rasool (A.S.).

It was Mukhtar (R.A.) who managed to bring happiness after years of mourning in the house of the Ahlul Bayt (A.S.).

Chief of Prophets holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (S.W.) said, "Train your brood in three things; the love of your Prophet, the love of his progeny i.e. Ahlul Bayt, and recitation of Quran."

A saying of Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (A.S.) goes, "The best means through which servants can achieve closeness to Allah, Mighty and Glorious, is the obedience of Allah, the obedience of his messenger, and the obedience of those charged with (spiritual) authority." Then, he added; “The love of us (Ahlul Bayt) is Faith and the hatred for us in infidelity.

Sixth infallible descendant of holy Prophet (S.W.), Imam Jafar As-Sadiq (A.S.) said; "Verily there are various degrees of serving Allah, but love (and cordial inclination) for us, Ahlul Bayt, is the highest one."

This Eid day achieves more heights of honor, glory and excellence as on this auspicious day the crown of Imamat is passed to Imam of our era, the last 12th Imam Al-Mehdi (A.S.). A saying of Holy Prophet (S.W.) goes: "One who dies without knowing the Imam of his time, dies a death of ignorance.”

Imam Al-Mehdi, Al-Qa'em, Saheb-ul Asr (A.S.) is our Imam, Imam of our time and as the verse 71 of chapter Bani Israel of holy Quran says: "(Remember) The day (of Judgment) when we shall call every people with their Imam", we will be called and presented with our Imam on Resurrection Day.

Friends of Muhammad (S.W.) and Aal-e-Muhammad (A.S.) should celebrate this day with great happiness, for our joys are with the joys of Ma'soomeen (A.S.) and our grief and sorrows are for them alone.

Some Aamaal of this day as reported by scholars are as under:
* Dress in new and fine apparel,
* Perfume oneself,
* Throw feast for Momineen (believers),
* Make them (Momineen) happy,
* Greet each other,
* Recite Ziarat Imam-e-Zamana (A.S.)