sectarian hate
sectarian strife
humanity and brotherhood
has replaced
allah ho akbar
muslims are a divided race
one hating the other
but all Allah
do embrace
searching for martyrdom
totally misplaced
a jehad they call it
just in case
distorting his teachings
his piety his tolerance
his spiritual base
his holy scriptures
they rephrase
a religion that was once
know for its dignity and its grace
poisonous puritanism
radicalism
beneath a bearded face
for sufism shiasm
has no space
into another world
called akhrat
as we race
Islam
the only path of peace
Truth
always
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Muslims are a Divided Race
The Hijra Menace on the Indian Trains
My wife is a very simple woman,she keeps to herself, but she is sensitive too,She has never been critical or insulting towards my photography of the hijras,She has actually been a good host along with my daughter Samiya when Laxmi Narayan Tripathi the quintessential hijra icon of India came over to our place with her chelas,
My wife went out of her way to extend the hospitality that we as Indians are famous for.
Actually Laxmi was worried about Samiyas views and inquired if she had upset my family with her sudden and unexpected presence,this was in a phone call to me , but Samiya spoke to her and told her , that the visit was an eye opener and hijras are after all human too.
On many a trips to Lucknow my wife has shot me with the hijras and my wife in her own right is a good photographer too.
She has seen a lot of personal pain, the pain of the '93 riots at Khar Dhanda where we lived and the apathy of the cops those days,to a situation that was very new to Mumbai.Specially in our case as we have lived amicably with our neighbors and it did not matter if someone was a Hindu a Christian or a Parsi.
But she forgives and moves ahead ,however this return trip from Lucknow, her parents live there, has put her off hijras completely , at Lucknow Char Bagh Station as Pushpak was leaving for Mumbai a group of hijras created havoc with the young kids going to Mumbai for work, they forcibly ill treated them ganged up,some threatening to bare their private parts all in a second class reservation bogey , the rest of the passengers kept mum, my wife was seething inside seeing this horrendous display of goondaism and hooliganism, and it is in collusion with the Railway cops as they are never around and who some allege are party to the profits of this extortion.
The kids were shaken up, their misery did not end even after each person had paid a sum of Rs 10,at Igatpuri another drunken group of hijras pounced on them and created havoc ,, but the Indian mindset is such that the passengers around the compartment are like eunuchs too not wanting to get into trouble,I think it is time the erstwhile dynamic Minister of the Railways Ms Mamta Bannerji took up cudgels for the travelers who pay for their tickets and are literally taken for a ride,this savagery should stop..its an insult and humiliation of a traveler , an Indian, going out in search of work.
All previous ministers have done nothing to eradicate this problem, this is a terror outfit that has made a persons journey hell.
I have nothing against hijras or hijras begging but forcefully demanding money is a crime and the railway cops turning a blind eye is a far greater crime.
Rehabilitating the hijra is thus important , bringing them into the mainstream so they can stand up on their own, and take up careers in self employment without the two options they normally have begging and prostitution, I speak of the poor grass root level hijra and not the affluent hijras who are million miles away from this depravity and degradation.
Nag Devta Nag Panchami
from wikipedia
'Nāga Panchamī (Sanskrit: नाग पंचमी) is a Hindu festival celebrated by Hindus in most parts of India. It is celebrated on Panchami in Shravan month. On this day, they worship Nāga Devata (Cobras). Cobras are considerderedne in Hindu mythology. People go to temples and snake pits and they worship the snakes. They offer milk and silver jewelry to the Cobras to protect them from all evils. They also fast. This festival is to celebrate the day Lord Krishna defeated the serpent Kalia. On this day swings are put up in the village and people enjoy themselves. The married girls visit their parents during this occasion.
The festival of Nāga Panchami is celebrated by Hindus to pay respect to Nāgas. The five Nāgas worshipped on Nag Panchami are Ananta, Vāsuki, Taxak, Karkotaka and Pingala. According to a Puranic myth Brahma’s son Kashyapa had four wives. Kashyapa’s first wife gave birth to Devas, second to Garudas, third to Nāgas and fourth to Daityas. (Dainik Jagran, 25 July 2006). The third wife of Kashpa was called Kadroo, who gave birth to Nāgas. So Nāgas are also known as Kadroojā. They were the rulers of Pātāl-Loka. There is a Sanskrit shloka to remember important nine Nāgas as under: (Dainik Bhaskar 30 July 2006)
अनन्तं वासुकिं शेषं पद्मनाभं च कम्बलम् । Anantam Vāsukim Shesham Padmanābham cha Kambalam
शंखपालं धार्तराष्ट्रं तक्षकं कालियं तथा ।। Shankhapālam Dhārtarāshtram Taxakam Kāliyam tathā
एतानि नवनामानि च महात्मनाम् । Etāni navanāmāni cha mahātmanām
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nag_Panchami
The Shias of Mumbai a Unique Race
every day is ashura every land is karbala ,
“The tragedy of Karbala taught humanity a lesson that standing for the truth and fighting unto death for it is more honorable and valuable than submitting to the wrongful, especially when the survival of Islam is at stake.”
Quotations about Imam Hussain (ﮫﻨﻋﷲﺍﻰﻀﺮ) by Non-Muslims
Mahatma Gandhi
"My faith is that the progress of Islam does not depend on the use of sword by its believers, but the result of the supreme sacrifice of Hussain (ﮫﻨﻋﻰﻠﺎﻌﺘﷲﺍﻰﻀﺮ), the great saint."
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
"Imam Hussain's (ﮫﻨﻋﻰﻠﺎﻌﺘﷲﺍﻰﻀﺮ) sacrifice is for all groups and communities, an example of the path of rightousness."
Reynold Alleyne Nicholson
"Hussain (ﮫﻨﻋﻰﻠﺎﻌﺘﷲﺍﻰﻀﺮ) fell, pierced by an arrow, and his brave followers were cut down beside him to the last man. Muhammadan tradition, which with rare exceptions is uniformly hostile to the Umayyad dynasty, regards Hussain (ﮫﻨﻋﻰﻠﺎﻌﺘﷲﺍﻰﻀﺮ) as a martyr and Yazid as his murderer."
[A Literary History of the Arabs, Cambridge, 1930, p197]
Edward Gibbon
"In a distant age and climate the tragic scene of the death of Hussain (ﮫﻨﻋﻰﻠﺎﻌﺘﷲﺍﻰﻀﺮ) will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader."
[The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, London, 1911, volume 5, pp391-2]
Rabindranath Tagore
"In order to keep alive justice and truth, instead of an army or weapons, success can be achieved by sacrificing lives, exactly what Imam Hussain (ﮫﻨﻋﻰﻠﺎﻌﺘﷲﺍﻰﻀﺮ) did."
Dr. Rajendra Prasad
"The sacrifice of Imam Hussain (ﮫﻨﻋﻰﻠﺎﻌﺘﷲﺍﻰﻀﺮ) is not limited to one country, or nation, but it is the hereditary state of the brotherhood of all mankind."
Dr. Radha Krishnan
"Though Imam Hussain (ﮫﻨﻋﻰﻠﺎﻌﺘﷲﺍﻰﻀﺮ) gave his life almost 1300 years ago, but his indestructible soul rules the hearts of people even today."
Swami Shankaracharya
"It is Hussain's (ﮫﻨﻋﻰﻠﺎﻌﺘﷲﺍﻰﻀﺮ) sacrifice that has kept Islam alive or else in this world there would be no one left to take Islam's name."
Mrs. Sarojini Naidu
"I congratulate Muslims that from among them, Hussain (ﮫﻨﻋﻰﻠﺎﻌﺘﷲﺍﻰﻀﺮ), a great human being was born, who is reverted and honored totally by all communities."
the shias of mumbai
a unique race
giving others
a breathing space
bleeding backs
bleeding heads
bleeding face
karbala the holy place
in the hearts of the shias
a watering place
memories of their heritage
journey of their forefathers
they retrace
1400 years a pain
called Ghame Hussain
we wont let them erase
azadari e hussain
in the first place
hussainiyat
Hussain is Humanity
they embrace
remembering
protesting
against Yazidi Islam
the atrocities the disgrace
on the soul of humanity
that they have forgotten
in any case
kule yomin ashura
kule arzin karbala
historical words
just in case
to remind them
another karbala
wont take place
shah ast hussain
as coup de grace
The Shia Blogger of Mumbai
84,898 items / 500,035 views
shot by munna bhai photographer
Lately I have been wearing rubber slippers, though I prefer walking barefeet, the filth , the muck really does not bother me at all, I was completely barefeet at Ajmer and Ajmer Dargah streets are really really bad, more filthier than some of the filthy streets of Mumbai.
As my desicion to go to the Jashn of Wiladat Imam Hussain at Bandra Shia Khoja Masjid was quite spontaneous and out of the blue, I wore a turban, but wife found it to over imposing so I opted for this Sabri cap given to me by Peersaab Fakhru Miya of Hujra No 6 .Ajmer Sharif..
Peersaab a Sunni scholar of repute is a professed lover of Ahle Bayt , and promotes Hussainiyat , wherever he goes, he says quite clearly without Ahle Bayt Islam is incomplete.
He is a lover of Imam Hussain and a firm believer of Hazrat Abbas, so loving Hussain is beyond dogma, loving Hussain is not about Shiasm or Sunnism.
Loving Hussain is loving Humanity..and humanity is the river that flows into the Ocean of Godliness.
I wear saffron , a color that is the badge of my cultural inheritance, and as soon as Moharam begins I wear black and only black for the entire mourning period, 2 months eight days.
Navi or Idd e Zehra switches the black mode to color again for the remaining months.
Ramzan has its quintessential charm , but it is Moharam that the Shia is born for, the tears the matam, the majlis, drenched in blood..and a path of salvation called Ghame Hussain.
Moharam is is Azadari e Hussain within the heartbeat of a Majlis e Aza.
The House Imambada comes to life..resurgence of hope , piety and inner reflection..
I tone down on my jewelery too, I dont wear red , just a bit of turquoise and wooden beads .
Photography takes swirling turn it is shooting the ethos of my persecuted race within the drop of a tear, I say persecuted as much did our detractors try banning Azadari, calling us kafirs heretics, we survived and Moharam is nothing but a protest against everything that is Yazidiyat, a spiritual terrorism on the human soul backed by rabid clergy and the venom of the puritans.
The Shia child needs not learn he knows his birthright , yes Princess Fatima is the Source of our Heritage ..and Imam Hussain rekindles our spirituality...touching the unborn child in the mothers womb too..
The waters of Karbala are found in the human womb of sorrow and as tears in our eyes.. waters that will never dry from one generation to the next..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOw7tzTxJWc
Wiladat Imam Hussain -Bandra Shia Khoja Masjid 2009
Wiladat Imam Hussain -Bandra Shia Khoja Masjid 2009, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Husayn_ibn_Ali
Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (Arabic: حسين بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب) (3rd Sha‘bān 4 AH - 10th Muharram 61 AH; 8 January 626 AD - 10 October 680 AD) was the grandson of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, and the son of ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (final Rashidun Caliph[6] and first Shī‘a Imām) and Fātimah Zahrā (daughter of Muhammad). Husayn is an important figure in Islām as he is a member of the Ahlul Bayt (the household of Muhammad) and Ahlul Kisā, as well as being a Shī‘a Imām, and one of The Fourteen Infallibles of Shī'a Twelvers.
Husayn ibn ‘Alī is revered[by whom?] as a martyr who fought tyranny, as he refused to pledge allegiance to Yazīd I[7], the Umayyad caliph. He rose up to create a regime that would reinstate a “true” Islāmic polity as opposed to what he considered the unjust rule of the Umayyads.[7] As a consequence, Husayn was killed and beheaded in the Battle of Karbalā in 680 (61AH) by Shimr Ibn Thil-Jawshan.[8] The anniversary of his Shahid ("martydom") is called ‘Āshūrā ("tenth" day of Muharram) and is a day of mourning for Shia Muslims. Revenge for Husayn's death was turned into a rallying cry that helped undermine the Umayyad caliphate, and gave impetus to the rise of a powerful Shī‘ah movement.[7]
According to the most reports, Imam Husayn ibn Ali was born on 3 Sha'aban 4 AH/10 January 626 CE.[9]
He and his brother Imam Hassan were the only descendants of Muhammad who remained alive. Many of the accounts about Muhammad's treatment of his grandsons and his great love for them deal with them together and at times confuse them.[9] Muhammad is reported to have said that "whoever loves them [his grandsons] loves me and whoever hates them hates me" and "al-Hasan and al-Husayn are the sayyids of the youth of Paradise". The latter saying has been particularly important for Shias who used it in support of for the right of Muhammad's descendants to the imamate. Muhammad, according to other traditions, is pictured with his grandsons on his knees, on his shoulders, or even on his back during the prayer at the moment of prostrating himself.[10] According to Madelung, Muhammad loved them and declared them as his Ahl al-Bayt frequently. The Quran has accorded the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet an elevated position above the rest of the faithful.[11]
In addition to these traditions, a number of traditions also involve presence of angels. From a Muslim point of view, these traditions do not create any problem but to non-Muslims they as appear legends created under the Shi'i influence.[10]
[edit] The Incident of Mubahala
Main articles: Mubahala and Hadith of Mubahela
According to hadith collections, it is narrated that during the 9th - 10th year after hijra an Arab Christian envoy from Najran (currently in northern Yemen and partly in Saudi Arabia) came to Muhammad to argue which of the two parties erred in its doctrine concerning Jesus.[12] After likening Jesus' miraculous birth to Adam's creation[13], Muhammad called them to Mubahala (Cursing), where each party should ask God to destroy the lying party and their families. Muhammad, to prove to them that he is a prophet, brought his daughter Fatimah(Taiba,Tahira) and his surviving grandchildren, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain ibn Ali, and Ali ibn Abi Talib and came back to the Christians and said this is my family (Ahl al-Bayt) and covered himself and his family with a cloak.
Christians felt afraid as Prophet Muhammad was so confident about his teachings that the Christians felt that if they come on face to face with the Prophet, they would be proved wrong and Christianity might end. So they formed a peace treaty and told Prophet Muhammad that they would not come. It is written and confirmed by hadiths. [14]
[edit] Husayn and Caliphate
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Shias proclaimed that his eldest son Hassan, who was the successor to Ali's Imamate, should be the caliph and the Islamic tradition should not be discarded again. Muawiyah had fought Ali for the leadership of the empire and now prepared to fight Hassan. After a few inconclusive skirmishes between the armies of Hassan and Muawiyah, Hassan reminded his followers of Ali's position that Imamate is sufficient for successorship of the prophet and that leading the Muslim state was not a criterion. Thus, to avoid agonies of another civil war, he signed a treaty with Muawiyah and relinquished the control of what had turned into an Arabian kingdom; while not having pledged his allegiance to Muawiyah. Even after taking such a stance, Hassan was poisoned and killed in 669 by Muawiyah. This left Husayn as the head of the Alids, the successor to Hassan's Imamate.
[edit] Husayn and Rashidun
At the time of the siege of the caliph Uthman's residence in Medina by rebels from Egypt, when Uthman asked Ali to join the defender of his house, Ali sent Hassan and Husayn. When Uthman asked Husayn if he thought he would be able to defend himself against the rebels, he demurred, and Uthman sent him away.[9]
During Ali's caliphate, the brothers Hassan, Husayn, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, and their cousin 'Abd Allah ibn J'afar appear as his closest assistants within his household.[9]
[edit] Muawiyah era
See also: Muawiyah I and Umayyad
When Imam Hassan ibn Ali agreed to a peace treaty with Muawiyah I, the first Umayyad caliph, he left Kufa and went to Medina with his brother Imam Hussein.[15]
According to Shia belief, he lived under the most difficult outward conditions of suppression and persecution. This was due to the fact that, first of all, religious laws and regulations had lost much of their weight and credit, and the edicts of the Umayyad government had gained complete authority and power. Secondly, Mu'awiyah and his aides made use of every possible means to put aside past disputes and move out of the way the Household of Muhammad and the lovers of Imam Ali and his sons and thus obliterate the name of Ali and his family.[16]
Muawiyah I ordered for public curses of 'Ali and his major supporters including Imam Husayn and his brother.[9]
According to Shia belief Imam Husayn became the third Imam for a period of ten years after death of his brother Imam Hassan in 669. All of this time but the last six months coinciding with the caliphate of Mu'awiyah.[16]
[edit] Yazid caliphate
Muawiyah designated his son, Yazid I, as his successor before his death in 680CE.[17]
[edit] The significance of Husayn's allegiance
When Yazid I became caliph he forced Husayn ibn Ali and Abd Allah ibn Zubayr to pledge alliance with him, but they refused and migrated from Madina to Mecca in that year.[18][19]
[edit] Uprising
Husayn left Medina with his households, his sons, brothers, and the sons of Hasan. He traveled the main road to Mecca, refusing to avoid being pursued by taking a side road. In Mecca Husayn stayed in the house of `Abbas ibn `Abd al-Muttalib and remained there for four months.[9]
Husayn rose against Yazid I and declared Umayyad rule was not only oppressive but also religiously misguided. In his view the integrity and survival of the Islamic community depended on the reestablishment of right guidance.[18]
When Husayn was in Mecca open revolt began in Kufa, due to the fact that succession of Yazid I was the first attempt to establish a hereditary dynasty. Religious attitude against Umayyad and Iraqi tendencies to recapture power inspired people alongside with those who believe that leadership of the Muslim community rightly belonged to the descendants of Ali to rose and invite Husayn to Kufa to establish his caliphate.[17] They urged Husayn to join them, since they had no imam. They informed him that they did not attend the Friday prayer with governor of Kufa, No'man ibn Bashir and would drive him out of the town as soon as Husayn agreed to come to them. They sent him in short order seven messages with bags of letters of support by Kufan warriors and tribal leaders. Husayn wrote the Kufans that he understood from their letters that they had no imam and they wished him to come to unite them by right guidance. He informed them that he was sending his cousin Moslem ibn Aqil to report to him on the situation. If he found them united as their letters indicated he would speedily join them, for it was the duty of the imam to act in accordance with the Qoran, to uphold justice, to proclaim the truth, and to dedicate himself to the cause of God. The mission of Moslem was initially successful. The Kufan Shias visited him freely, and 18,000 men are said to have enlisted with him in support of Husayn. He wrote to Husayn, encouraging him to come swiftly to Kufa.[9]
Husayn was also visited by a Shia supporter with two of his sons from Basra, where Shia sentiment was otherwise limited. He then sent identical letters to the chiefs of the five divisions into which the Basran tribes were divided for administrative purposes. He wrote them that Muhammad's family were his legatees and heirs of his position. People had illegitimately claimed the right which belonged exclusively to Muhammad's family. The family had consented to their action for the sake of the unity of the Ummah. Those who had seized the right of Muhammad's family had set many things straight and had sought the truth. The contents of the letter closely reflected the guideline set by Ali, who had strongly upheld the sole right of the family of Muhammad to leadership of the Muslim community but had also praised the conduct of the first caliphs Abu Bakr and Omar. While most of the recipients of the letter kept it secret, one of them suspected that it was a ploy of the governor Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziad to test their loyalty and turned it over to him. Ubayd-Allah seized and beheaded Husayn’s messenger and addressed a stern warning to the people of Basra.[9]
In Kufa the situation changed radically when Yazid replaced Noman ibn Bashir by Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziad, ordering the latter to deal severely with Moslem ibn Aqil. Ubayd-Allah succeeded in intimidating the tribal chiefs. A revolt collapsed when the rebels failed to capture the governor’s palace. Moslem was found and delivered to Ubayd-Allah, who had him beheaded on the top of the palace and his body thrown down to the crowd. Yazid wrote to Ubayd-Allah, commending him highly for his decisive action and ordering him to set up watches for Husayn and his supporters and to arrest them but to kill only those who would fight him.[9]
On the other hand Yazid perceived Husayn's refusal to pledge allegiance as a danger to his throne. He plotted to kill the grandson of Muhammad during the Hajj, in the precincts of the Holy Kaaba, thus defiling and desecrating it (killing a person in Mecca is prohibited in Islam). In order to avoid this sacrilege, Husayn took along his wives, children, a few friends and relatives and headed towards Kufa to fulfill the responsibility of the bearer of Imamate and to fulfill his destiny as was prophesied by his grandfather, Muhammad.
On his way, he was offered military support by the tribe of Banu Tayy as well as sanctuary in their hills from where he could (if he wanted to) safely lead a revolt and overthrow Yazid. But Husayn refused the offer and continued his journey with his few companions.[citation needed]
[edit] Battle of Karbala
A series of articles on
Imam of Islam
Husayn
Life
Family tree · Battle of Karbala
Remembrance
Maqtal Al-Husayn · Mourning of Muharram · Day of Ashura · Arba'een · Imam Husayn Shrine · Hussainia · Majlis-e-Aza · Marsia · Noha · Soaz · Ta'zieh · Tabuik · Hosay
Perspectives
The Twelve Imams · The Fourteen Infallibles
v • d • e
The Imām Husayn Mosque in Karbala, Iraq
Main article: Battle of Karbala
See also: Maqtal Al-Husayn.
Husayn in his path toward Kufa encountered the army of Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad, the governor of Kufa, led by al-Hurr al-Riyahi (a top commander in the Umayyad army who later changed sides).
At the Battle of Karbala it is recorded that seventy two people were killed.[20] On his way toward Kufa, Husayn encountered the army of Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad, the governor of Kufa, which was led by Hurr. When he clashed with them he said[21]:
"... Don't you see that the truth is not put into action and the false is not prohibited? The believer should desire to meet his Lord while he is right. Thus I do not see death but as happiness, and living with tyrants but as sorrow."
On 10 October 680 (Muharram 10, 61 AH), he and his small group of his followers and family members, who were between 72 or more, people of Husayn ibn Ali (the grandson of Muhammad).[22][23], fought with a large army of perhaps 4000 men under the command of Umar ibn Sa'ad, son of the founder of Kufah. Husayn and all of his men were killed and beheaded. The bodies were left for three days without burial and survivors from Husain's family were taken as prisoners to al-Sham (Syria and Lebanon today) to Yazid.[19]
Part of his speech on Ashura[citation needed]:
"Behold; the illegitimate, son of the illegitimate [by birth], has settled between two, between unsheathing [the sword] and humiliation, and how impossible is humiliation from us! Allah refuses that for us, and his messenger, and the believers, and laps chastified and purified, and zealous noses [expression: heads that do not bow in humility], and repudiating souls [who repudiate/refuse oppression], that we desire obedience to the mean ones, than the killings of the honourable [martyrdom]. Behold that I move slowly with this family, despite the little number and deserting of helpers."
Today, the death of Hussein ibn Ali is commemorated during every Muharram by Shiite muslims, with the most important of these days being its tenth day, Ashura. Ashura is also commemorated by Sunni muslims, but not like Shia.
[edit] Burial
Husayn's body is buried in Karbala, near the site of his death. His head is said to have been returned from Damascus and interred with his body.[24]
Husayn's grave became the most visited place of Ziarat for Shias. The Imam Husayn Shrine was later built over his grave. In 850 Abbasid caliph, al-Mutawakil, destroyed his shrine in order to stop Shia pilgrimages. However, pilgrimages continued.[25] It is now a holy site of pilgrimage for Shia Muslims.
[edit] Commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali
Main articles: Commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali and day of Ashura
See also: Mourning of Muharram, Arba'een, and Husaynia
[edit] Shī‘ah
Day of Ashura is commemorated by the Shi‘a as a day of mourning for the death of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala. In some countries and regions such as Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Bahrain, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica Commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali has become a national holiday and all ethnic and religious communities participate in it.
It is especially mourn on the first ten days of Muharram, first month of the Islamic calendar, and ends by the 10th day. Although, the mourning continues through the whole month and well into Safar till eighth rabi-ul-awal, the third month in the Islamic calendar.
[edit] Sunnī
Sunni Muslims fast on this day of Ashura based on narrations attributed to Muhammad. The fasting is to commemorate the day when Moses and his followers were saved from Pharoah by Allah by creating a path in the Red Sea. The Jews used to fast on the 10th day. So Muhammad recommended to be different from the Jews and recommended fasting two days instead of one. 9th and 10th or the 10th and 11th day of Muharram.
[edit] Hindu
In India, Mohyal Brahmins also called Hussaini Brahmins (Brahmins are the highest caste in Hindu society) proudly claim that though being non-Muslim, a small number of them fought in the Battle of Karbala on the side of Husayn.[26] Some Mohyal Brahmins migrated eastward and became as some sub-divisions of Bhumihar Brahmins, some of whom are also descendants of Hussaini Brahmins and mourn the death of Husayn.[27] The Bhumihar Brahmins, of whom many, though not all, belong to the Saryupareen Brahmin division of Kanyakubja Brahmins.[28]
[edit] Shia views of Husayn
Shias regard Hussein as an Imam (Spiritual leader) and a martyr. He is believed to be the third imam. He set out on his path in order to save Islam and the Ummah from annihilation at the hands of Yazid. According to Sunni belief he was a willing sacrifice to religious necessity, and Sunni view Hussein as an exemplar of courage and resistance against tyranny. Ashura, a day of mourning and self-reflection, is held in honor of his suffering.
The saying, "Every day is Ashura, every land is Karbala," is a reminder to live one's life as Husayn did on Ashura, with total sacrifice to Allah and for others. This saying also signifies "We must always remember, because there is suffering everywhere".
[edit] Sayings of Muhammad about Hussein ibn Ali in Sunni books
* "Al-Hasan and al-Hussein are the chiefs of the youth of Paradise and Fatimah is the chief of their women."[29]
* Muhammad said, " Hussein is from me and I am from him."[30]
* Muhammad looked toward Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Hussein, and then said, "I am in war with those who will fight you, and in peace with those who are peaceful to you."[31]
[32]
I Inch Towards 500000 Views on Flickr in 21 Months 84900 Photo Blogs
I Inch Towards 500000 Views on Flickr in 21 Months 84900 Photo Blogs, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
84,889 items / 499,957 views
In a short while I will complete 500000 views on Flickr, I have posted over 84900 pictures in about 21 months..its been a long smooth journey..from Buzznet to Blogspot, Wordpress to Flickr.
But my oldest blog site is Fotothing that I began in August 2005 ..and Webshots..
My home site Photographerno1.com in Nov 2005...which now serves as an archive only..it has a link from my homepage to Flickr..
www.photographerno1.com/
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All my Shia sets and collections including Shia poems are on Flickr , some I reposted or cross blogged to my Shia site Shah Ast Hussain
shah-ast-hussain.com
From time to time I add my links to Twitter and Facebook.
Raju Shresta - Son of Yusuf Ajani
Master Raju, Raju Shresta the grieving son of Yusuf Bhaijan,or Yusuf Ajani too was at the Jashn, he later came home too see my posts on Flickr about his dad, and was extremely touched by the tributes to his dad by my Flickr friends and Syed Zaghamuddin of Facebook.
He added me as his friend on Facebook.
Raju Shresta was one of the finest child artiste of Bollywood than known as Master Raju, all the films he did with the actors of repute and each one is memorable.
www.imdb.com/name/nm0557625/
Kitab 1977
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitaab
Kitaab is a 1977 Hindi movie. Produced by Pranlal Mehta and Gulzar the film is directed by Gulzar. The film stars Uttam Kumar, Vidya Sinha, Shreeram Lagoo, Keshto Mukherjee and Asit Sen. Musical score is by R. D. Burman
Babla (played by Master Raju) is a kid who lives in a village with his mother (played by Dina Pathak). His mother sends him to his sister's (played by Vidya Sinha) place (in a city) so that he can go to a good school. Initially, Babla likes both school as well as sister's home very much and becomes a good friend with Pappu (played by Master Tito), his classmate. They roam around in streets, watch street magic show and wish they could do such tricks, look inquisitively at how sweets are made, make fun of teacher etc. They enjoy, as any kid will, all these things thoroughly. But Babla gets reminded of the harsh reality of life when his sister and brother-in-law starts scolding him for his disinterest in studies and complaints from the school regarding his so-called irresponsible behavior (like making fun of teachers, singing in the classroom etc). He gets to realize that nobody understands kids, their innocence, their view of life and he will have to grow up to enjoy life fully. One thing leads to another and one day Babla decides that he will be better off living with his mother in village. He runs off and get on a train. Since he does not have any ticket, ticket-master catches him and makes him get off on the next station. In the night he feels cold and look around for some shelter. He finds an old woman sleeping in a blanket and lie down besides her sharing the blanket. In the morning, finding the old beggar woman still sleeping, he picks up a coin from her container and goes off to drink water. While drinking water he sees that lots of people have gathered around the old lady. He goes there and finds out that the lady he had been sleeping with was dead. He gets scared to his core and realizes that life is, in fact, not that simple for those who are poor. He puts back the coin he had taken and run off to his mother's place. There he finds his mother, sister and brother-in-law worrying about him. They are overjoyed to see Babla back and Babla promises to everyone that he will study sincerely and never create troubles for anyone.
Though a box office debacle, Kitaab remains one of the favourite movies of Gulzar.[1]
3 Shaban Wiladat Imam Hussain
Perhaps I was missing my grand daughter Marziya Shakir who left for Lucknow this evening, perhaps I wanted to bond with my Shia brethren, that I went to the Bandra Shia Khoja Mosque to take part in the Jashn of Wiladat Imam Hussain.
3 Shaban is the birthday of Hazrat Imam Hussain the Martyred Grandson of the Holy Messenger of Islam.
This is a very auspicious day for the Shias all over the world..and the lovers of Imam Hussain..and there was a short discourse on the beloved Imam, by Maulana Ali Mehdi..who recited some lofty lines in praise of this noble soul we also call Hussain is Humanity..Ali Mehndi Saab stressed there is two type of Islam , the Hussaini Islam and the Yazidi Islam, one that respects life and the other that takes life in the name of Misplaced Martyrdom...
After the short discourse it was the turn of the Urdu poets to recite their shairis in praise of Imam Hussain..I shot several pictures , but left early without partaking off the niyaz as my camera battery was very low and so were my spirits..I am not keeping too well..because of my diabetes.
So this is a new set at my Flickr photostream, I met Raju Shresta son of Yusuf Bhaijan also known as Yusuf Ajani who died recently..Raju came home after the Jashn , to read my Flickr posts on his father, he and I , both had tears in our eyes , as we remembered this selfless soul, a foot soldier of our Shia faith, a great human being..
My Disillusioned Hand
searching for her
like a mad man
my disillusioned hand
but she lies in a no mans land
the workings of her devious mind
I simply cant understand
our parting our sorrow
our misery totally unplanned
our hopes devoured by
castles sinking in the sand
one sided love
not a one night stand
unquenchable her thirst
her uncharitable demand
from her nefarious network
my IP is banned
once like her favorite pug
I was slavishly
at her beck and command
a blog goddess
doing samba in a dance band
karma and dharma
go hand in hand
a medicine wheel
replaced at a bicycle stand
Adonis takes my place
her sleight of hand
freedom manacled
my soul back in remand
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Shah-e-Mardan Sher-e-Yazdan Quwat-e-Parwardigar Lafata Ila Ali La Saif Ila Zulfiqar , originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1 ....
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Dargah of Hazrat Syed Ali Mira Datar Unava Gujrat , a photo by firoze shakir photographerno1 on Flickr. HAZRAT SYED ALI MIRA DATAR'S G...
