One million gather at Karbala shrines to mark 15 Ramadan

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: Nearly one million devotees descended at the holy shrines of Al-Imam Al-Hussein bin Ali bin Abi Talib (p) and Al-Abbas bin Ali bin Abi Talib (p) in the holy city of Karbala marking the birth anniversary of Sibtor Rasul Al-Akram (p) and Chief of the Youths of Paradise Al-Imam Al-Hassan Al-Mujtaba (p) on 15 Ramadan.

The devotees began thronging at the holy mausoleums from Friday night (night between Thursday and Friday) 14 Ramadan as it has been a practice to gather at the Husseini Shrine on every Friday night and also on the occasion of birth anniversary of his elder brother Al-Imam Al-Hassan Az-Zaki (p).

It were holy Prophet (p) and infallible A’immah from his progeny (p) who encouraged people to visit the Chief of Martyrs Al-Imam Al-Hussein (p) giving them glad tidings of reward for this. Al-Motawakkel Abbasi, 10th of Abbasid imams, was used to behead those who went for visit of Chief of Prophet (p)’s grandson Al-Imam Al-Hussein (p), while Imam Al-Hadi (p) from the progeny of holy Prophet (p) used to persuade and support people to visit his grandfather Al-Imam Abi Abdellah Al-Hussein (p) despite all these atrocities.

Even this day, devotees face many problems, even in traveling from Baghdad to Holy Karbala, but all this could not stop them from visiting the fruit of heart of Sayyedah Fatimah Az-Zahraa (p) and Al-Imam Ali Al-Murtaza (p).

Sheikh Ja’far Ash-Shushtari writes in his book “Al-Khasa’es Al-Husseiniyah” about the rewards of the visitor of Al-Imam Al-Hussein (p) some of these are that proof for love for Hussein (p) is being his visitor, Allah shows mercy to the visitor, he will be the one to whom Allah speaks on his throne, he is written in “illiyyeen”, he will be in paradise in the company of holy Prophet (p) and his Ahlul Bayt (p) and will eat with them from their table, he will be written ‘pious’ even if he was ‘Shaqi’, he will be counted among Karrobeen and Chiefs of Angels, he is helper of Sayyedah Az-Zahraa (p) as she visits Hussein (p) everyday, he is considered as visitor of Allah and Prophet (p) and many other rewards.

The visitors offered zyarah rituals, prayers, invocations besides holding grand celebratory programs at the shrines. Speakers threw light on the holy life of Al-Imam Al-Hassan (p), his characteristics and holy Prophet (p)’s love for him.

Marking the auspicious occasion, various organizations organized festive gatherings, arranged feasts and Sahour and Iftar banquets, devotees extended gifts offered greetings to each other and the holy family of Prophet Muhammad (p).

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