HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: Hundreds of thousands of Husseini mourners poured to participate in the famous historic procession of Taweraj about which it is authentically narrated that once Imam of Era Al-Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) was seen in it bare-footed and -head in profound grief over the sufferings of his grandfather Al-Imam Abou Abdellah Al-Hussein (p).

The annual procession is taken out from Taweraj city, 20 kilometers from the holy city of Karbala, on Ashura Day.

Carrying black, green, yellow and red standards as well as black banners inscribed with condoling statements, the black-dressed wailing mourners were chanting ‘Wa Husseinah, Wa Husseiniah…”.

Soon after they arrived here, the flood of mourners – men, women and children – while chanting “By God! We haven’t forgotten Hussein” entered the holy mausoleums of Al-Imam Al-Hussein (p) and Al-Abbas (p) as well as the husseini camps, a few kilometers from the holy shrine.

On their way to Holy Karbala, the mourners offered Ashura prayer in dusty desert.

The detail of the authentic narration which is the talk of the town here is that once when this procession led by grand Ayaat and scholars reached holy Karbala, home to the holy shrines of Master of Youths of Paradise Al-Imam Al-Hussein (p) and his brother and commander of his army Al-Abbas (p), the Husseini mourners who were standing there to welcome the procession saw the grand Ayaat naked headed with their Ama’im (religious turbans) in their hands, their abaas (long robes) not tied up and they were bare-footed. They were inquired about this, and they replied that when Imam-ol Asr Al-Imam Al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) is participating in this procession in such a mournful condition that his feet and head are bare, Abaa un-tied with dust in his hair, why should we not be so?”

Imam Al-Mahdi (p) was in that mournful condition following on the sunnah of his grandfather Holy Prophet Muhammad (p). It is reported with a chain of authorities on the authority of Omm-ol Momeneen Omm-e-Salma (may Allah be pleased with her), that she said: “One evening the Apostle of God left us and was away for a long time. He came back, he was disheveled and dusty and his hand was holding something. I said to him: “Apostle of God, why do I see you disheveled and dusty?: He said: “I have just been on a night journey to a place in Iraq called Karbala. There I saw the death of my son, Al-Hussein, and a group of my children and the members of my family. I could not stop myself from gathering some of their blood and here it is in my hand.” He opened his hand and said: “Take it and look after it”. I took it. It was like red soil; I put it in a phial, fastened its top and kept it. When Imam Hussein (p) left Makkah on his way to Iraq, I took out that phial every day and night: I used to smell it and look at it, then I would weep. On the 10th Muharram, the day on which Imam Hussein (p) was slaughtered, I saw Holy Prophet in my dream while disheveled and dusty. He didn’t have Imamah (turban) on his head, his Qaba (long coat) was untied and his eyes were flowing with tears, I asked the reason. He told me: “My Hussein has been killed in Karbala” I woke up of my sleep and took out the phial, behold, it was fresh blood. I shrieked with grief and wept.”

Other genuine reports also tell that Za’far jinn also attend this historic husseini procession.

Za’far jinn when at the time of his coronation ceremony was informed that the grandson of Chief of Prophets Prophet Muhammad (p), Al-Imam Al-Hussein (p) has raised his voice ‘hal min nassero yansoronaa’ for help in the scorching plain of Karbala, he threw his crown and went out for Imam (p)’s help with his army. He saw earth and sky are crammed with armies from every species of creatures for Imam (p)’s help, he wondered and asked Imam (p) about all this and the Imam (p) told him that it is our trial… otherwise we are able to do everything by the leave of Allah.  

Ashura observed with blood streams to mark Karbala tragedy HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: 10th Muharram-ol Haram and the darkest day of universal history known as Ashura, marking the gruesome tragedy of Karbala in which the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (p), Hussein bin Ali (p), along with his 72 faithful near and dear ones was slaughtered unjustly 1,400 years ago, was commemorated in various parts of the globe on Saturday February 19 with religious reverence and solemnity.