Ramadan activities in City of Imam Ali (p)

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Chain of religious and spiritual activities continued in the holy city of Najaf, home to the holy shrine of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (p), in connection with the holy month of Ramadan, known as the Month of Allah.

These religious activities are being held by different scholarly, cultural and religious organizations.

Offices of Al-Marja’iyaat Ad-Diniyah organize gatherings of preaching, guidance and Zikr of Ahlul Bayt (p) attended by flocks of people from all walks of life.

Meanwhile, doors of holy Haydari shrine remain open till 10:00 PM. Devotees remain engaged in recitation of holy Quran, Ad’iyah, prayers and zyarah at the holy mausoleum.

A Majlis-e-Ahlil Bayt (p) is daily held at Husseiniyah Al-A’samiyah every night in which renowned reciter Abou-Bashir An-Najafi recites Duaa Al-Iftatah.

Hujjatul Islam Wal Muslimin Sayyed Sadruddin Al-Qabanji delivers a lecture every night at Husseiniyah Al-Fatemiyah. During the lecture, he interprets Duaa Abou Hamzah As-Sumali. According to reports Al-Imam Ali Bin Al-Hussein Zayn Al-Abidin (p), holy Prophet (p)’s fourth infallible descendant, was used to recited this duaa during the fasting month of Ramadan.

Office of Ayatullah Sayyed Muhammad Said Al-Hakim organizes a majlis attended by renowned reciters and people from different stratums. Khateeb Al-Husseini Sheikh Shaker Al-Qarshi delivers lecture.

Hujjatul Islam Wal Muslimeen Sayyed Mehdi Al-Khurasan holds daily majlis. Husseini speakers deliver religious guidance lectures.

A majlis (sitting) is held in Diwan Al-Khakani, near the office of Ayatullah Al-Hakim. The lectures focus on interpretation of Islamic laws.

Large number of people attends a spiritual gathering at the shrine of martyred Ayatullah Sayyed Muhammad Baqer Al-Hakim.

In short, no part of the holy City of Najaf is spare of spiritual and religious gatherings during the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

On Sunday night, Sanctuary Martyr Foundation for Islamic Preaching arranged an iftar banquet. All religious and cultural organizations in the Holy Najaf were invited.

After offering Maghrebayn Prayers and taking iftar, representatives of the organizations spoke on Iraqi situation from different angles. Later, Sayyed Ammar Al-Hakim, Secretary-General of the Foundation, addressed on the topic of upcoming Iraqi election and urged the need of Iraqis’ full participation in it highlighting its importance in specification of political future in Iraq.

Marking the month of Ramadan, special traditional dishes for Sohor and Iftar are cooked at homes while markets are full of special Ramadan sweets, pastries, drinks and other food stuff.

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