Muharram 1423 message of Grand Ayatullah Muhammad Saeed Al Hakeem

By: Office Of Ayatullah Al Uzma Sayyed Muhammad Saeed Al Hakeem

In the name of Allah the beneficent the merciful

"Day of Ashura freshens our wounds, and caused our eyes to water, subdued our dear ones on the land of Karbala, and give us troubles and grief till the Day of Judgment.

So, this is Hussein, people should cry (and mourn) for him." (Imam Ali Raza (a.s.)

We and all of our brothers remember and recall (in this very place) and in these very days the events of Imam Hussein's (a.s.) Islamic revolution from its different aspects, led by Him (a.s.), His Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S.) and companions, men, women, old, youth and children, and likewise its horrific aspects done by the oppressors who carried out this brutal crime.

We would like to throw light on some points to take some lessons from this Hussein's (a.s.) mission, which shook the thrones of oppressors in every age and enliven Islam for coming generations.

1. Demonstrating grief and sorrow following the path Ahl-ul-Bayt (a.s.). In a Hadith from Imam Raza (a.s.), he said "In the beginning of Moharram, my father would not laugh, and he was very dejected for ten days and when the tenth day of Moharram came, the day of troubles, and difficulties and mourning. He would say " This the day when (Imam) Hussein (a.s.) was killed (mercilessly)". 

2. Preparing to partake in Aza-e Hussein (a.s.) in mosques, Husainias etc. for ten days, because it is like observing honor for the signs of Allah as Qur'an says: 
"And whoever holds in honor the signs of Allah such should come truly from piety of heart." (Hajj: 32)
3. Picking out the ways to attract the youth to Aza, Husainias and reviving Hussein's (a.s.) mission and lessons in their hearts. (But these ways should not be Islamically prohibited) 

4. It is of great importance, for scholars and orators to bring out and present the personality of Imam Hussein (a.s.) and his companions distinguishing him from other leaders and revolutionaries and mentioning his lofty and high position mentioned in the Qur'an and other Islamic sources which revealed and came in their honor and holy life, in this way their unique lives and leadership which makes them distinguished from others could be saved. In a Hadith from them (a.s.) they say: 
"We are Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S.), no one could be compared with us".

5. Bringing out the horrific crimes done against Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S.) and their followers in Karbala and other events to disclose the oppression of tyrants their corruptions, who tried their failed efforts to destroy Islam. Similarly, it is important to stress upon the affectionate relationship with Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S.), because it plays an effective role in the life of Shia, against difficulties, who are always ready to face it generation to generation. 

6. Clarifying the different aspects of Hussein's (a.s.) mission, describing its importance and activeness in saving Islam from corruptions and oppression and drawing the guideline for generation to come. (And it is worthy of attention that in this work we should discuss only logical ways and useful subjects.) 

7. It is the duty or orators and scholars to emphasize the necessity to take lesson from Imam Hussein's (a.s.) movement. 

8. Participants must organize the social and Islamic religious environment with its numerous aspects such as Aqa, ed (beliefs), Jurisprudence, and upbringing and likewise they should try to remedy the Muslim environment from the malice, which are found in them and difficulties, which Muslims have to face. 
9. Procuring love and affection between Muslim brothers through Aza-e-Hussein during this period in this manner trying to delete minor and major differences with frequent gatherings and contacts. 

10. Presenting the message of this mission before other sects and Non-Islamic societies because it is also a cause from those causes for which Imam (a.s.) Hussein sacrificed. 

In conclusion, we present our heartily grief and condolence before Imam-al-Mahdi and brothers in Islam on the difficulties of Sayyid-ul-Shuhada Imam al Hussein and his companions. We pray Allah to select us from the people who wish to avenge the blood of Imam (a.s.) Hussein with Imam (a.s.) Mahdi (a.s.) who will be from Ahl-ul-Bayt (a.s.).

May Allah grant us to visit his holy shrine in this life, give us paradise, and resurrect us with them on the Day of Judgment. Moreover, please do not forget to recite his supplication on the day of Ashura. We are ending it on describing some lines from his supplication.

O' my Lord you are my only hope in every difficulty, you are my only desire in every hardship, it is you who bestowed me with confidence and preparation in every deed, How many pains and troubles there are, which weaken us and there is no device to come out of it, (and how many difficulties there are in which) leave the friend, and gloating of the enemies and then I presented it before you and complained of it to you having hope in you rather than in others, and then you drove me away from them and saved me from them.

Therefore, you are giver of every favor (and blessing) and ending point of every hope.

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Beirut summit begins with record absences

By: Sultan Ahmad

BEIRUT, Lebanon: The 2-day Arab League summit, slated to adopt a Saudi peace initiative with Israel, began in Beirut on Wednesday.

Palestinian president Yasser Arafat, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordanian King Abdullah are not attending the summit.

According to Arab League official, President Mubarak and King Abdullah have declined to participate in the summit after receiving information that they incurred risks for their security during their presence in Beirut.

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Afghanistan invited to special OIC meeting

By: Jafariyanews

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Afghanistan has been invited as a guest to a special three-day meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) foreign ministers on terrorism in Malaysia starting on Monday, Malaysian state Bernama news agency reported Wednesday.

In December 1996, Afghanistan was suspended from the 57-member body at the 24th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Jakarta after the fall of the then government to the Taliban.

Afghan interim foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah will head a 3-member delegation to the session.

Afghan embassy spokesperson Sayed Roohullah Qureshi said: "We will try to talk to as many OIC member countries as possible at this meeting on the issue of terrorism and the impact on Muslims and also discuss the suspension (from the OIC) ... to get back our seat."

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Pak not to let US troops cross border

By: Salman Alvi

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Islamabad would not allow American troops chase al Qaeda and Taliban fighters fleeing neighboring Afghanistan into its territory, foreign office said Wednesday.

Talking to a foreign news agency, foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said the US had not asked to deploy troops on Pakistani side of the border to prevent such escapes.

Aziz said: "Neither they have requested nor will we allow this."

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Washington, Moscow begin talks on Iraqi sanctions

By: Special Reporter

MOSCOW, Russia: In a continued effort to get Russia's backing for a new smart sanctions regime against Iraq ahead of a May 30 deadline, a top American diplomat opened two days of talks with a Russian team on Wednesday.

US Undersecretary of State John Wolf, chief of the State Department's non-proliferation bureau, is leading the US delegation in a third session of talks with a Russian team headed by Yury Fedotov of the foreign ministry's international organizations department.

The negotiations, aimed at resolving the issue of humanitarian aid to Iraq, were to continue until the end of Thursday.

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