HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: Millions of Mo’minin (believers) got the honor of celebrating the birth anniversary of the awaited imam from the progeny of Prophet Muhammad (s) Al-Imam Mahdi Al-Montadhar (A) under the holy dome of Sibt Al-Mostafa (S) Al-Imam Al-Hussein (A) in the holy city of Karbala on Sunday night.

Each and every inch of the two Husseini and Abbasi shrines, the area between them as well as the whole city was filled with Ahle Iman who have flocked here from across the globe.

Pilgrims from Gulf states, Asia, Africa and Europe poured in the holy city to observe Laylatu Nisf min Sha’ban (night between 14 and 15 Sha’ban).

Many of the pilgrims walked for days in temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) to mark the birth of Imam al-Mahdi (A).

As soon as one stepped into the holy city, he was attracted by colorful flags, glittery lights and shiny buntings at buildings and streets plus sweet eulogies on mike marking the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Al-Imam Al-Mahdi (A).

Iraqi security forces, backed by helicopters and hundreds of snipers on rooftops, had said they will search pilgrims and use sniffer dogs to help find explosives. U.S. forces have virtually no troops stationed in the Kerbala area.

Police in fatigues and red berets checked identity cards and searched the faithful entering the golden-domed Imam Hussein shrine, strung with brightly colored lights. Nearby, makeshift clinics were set up in tents.

Atmosphere in the holy city was filled with further spirituality, bliss and happiness.

Zeyarah Ash-Shabaniyah is the best amal (deed) of the blessed night of 15 Sha’ban.

Since the beginning of the month of Shaban, devotees from across the country and other parts of the world – young and old, men and women, mostly on foot, some individually, some in caravans -, carrying white, green and red banners were heading to the holy city to achieve the honor of visiting Imam Al-Hussein (A) marking 15 Sha’ban.

Narrations from A’immah Ahlul Bayt (A) tell that fifteenth night of Sha’ban is the best after the night of Qadr. The birth of Prophet Muhammad (S)’s last descendant Al-Imam Al-Hujjah bin Al-Hassan Al-Mehdi Al-Montadhar (A) in Sorra Mann Ra’a, Iraq, in 255 AH, increased the honor and excellence of this night.
According to a saying of Chief of Prophets (S), Al-Imam Al-Mahdi (A) will return to deliver humanity from darkness and strife, and he will fill the earth with justice and equity as it would have been filled with oppression and injustice.

The fifteenth Sha’ban A’maal culminated with the floating of thousands of candles and scented letters to Imam Al-Mahdi – Imam of the Era (A) - on a river in Holy Karbala at 15 Sha’ban pre-dawn.

Karbala residents cooked unique meals in giant pots at open places for the devotees outside the Al-Imam Al-Hussein (A) shrine. Food and drink stands were set up for the pilgrims.