http://www.ashura.com/
Every day is Ashura and every land is Kerbala
This site is dedicated to Hussain ibn Ali (A), the Grandson of the Prophet (S),and his sacrifice for Islam at Kerbala.
What is Ashura ?
In the month of Muharram 61 AH (approx. 20 October 680 AD), an event took place in Iraq at a place known as Kerbala on the bank of the river Euphrates. It seemed in those days insignificant from the historical point of view. A large army which had been mobilised by the Umayyad regime besieged a group of persons numbering less than a hundred and put them under pressure to pay allegiance to the Caliph of the time and submit to his authority. The small group resisted and a severe battle took place in which they were all killed.
It appeared at that time that like hundreds of similar events, this battle would be recorded in history and forgotten in time. However, the events that occurred on the 10th day of Muharram in Kerbala were to become a beacon and an inspiration for future generations. In this article, we shall examine briefly the principal adversaries.
Who is Hussain ?
The leader of the small band of men who were martyred in Kerbala was none other than Husain (A), son of Ali bin Abi Talib (A) and grandson of the Holy Prophet (S). Who was Husain? He was the son of Fatima (A) for whom the Holy Prophet (S) said, "Husain is from me and I am from Husain. May God love whoever loves Husain." [1]
With the passing away of his brother Hasan(A) in 50 AH, Husain (A) became the leader of the household of the Holy Prophet (S). He respected the agreement of peace signed by Hasan (A) and Muawiya, and, despite the urging of his followers, he did not undertake any activity that threatened the political status quo. Rather he continued with the responsibility of looking after the religious needs of the people and was recognised for his knowledge, piety and generosity. An example of the depth of his perception can be seen in his beautiful du'a on the day of Arafat, wherein he begins by explaining the qualities of Allah, saying:
" (Oh Allah) How could an argument be given about Your Existence by a being whose total and complete existence is in need of you? When did you ever disappear so that you might need an evidence and logic to lead (the people) towards You? And when did You ever become away and distant so that your signs and effects made the people get in touch with you? Blind be the eye which does not see You (whereas) You are observing him. What did the one who missed You find? And what does the one who finds You lack? Certainly, the one who got pleased and inclined toward other than You, came to nothingness (failed)."
On the other hand, we have Yazid, whose father (Muawiya) and grandfather (Abu Sufyan - the arch-enemy of the Prophet) had always tried to sabotage the mission of the Holy Prophet, and who showed his true colour by stating in a poem, "Bani Hashim had staged a play to obtain kingdom, there was neither any news from God nor any revelation." [2]
Mas'udi writes that Yazid was a pleasure-seeking person, given to wine drinking and playing with pets. It is no wonder that Husain's response to Yazid's governor, when asked to pay allegiance to Yazid was, "We are the household of the prophethood, the source of messengership, the descending-place of the angels, through us Allah had began (showering His favours) and with us He has perfected (His favours), whereas Yazid is a sinful person, a drunkard, the killer of innocent people and one who openly indulges in sinful acts. A person like me can never pledge allegiance to a person like him ..." [3]
The revolution of Husain (A) was an Islamic movement spearheaded by one of the great leaders of Islam. The principles and laws of Islam demanded that Husain (A) act to warn the Ummah of the evil situation which it was in, and to stand in the way of the deviating ruler. As Husain (A) himself remarked when he left Madina for the last time, "I am not rising (against Yazid) as an insolent or an arrogant person, or a mischief-monger or tyrant. I have risen (against Yazid) as I seek to reform the Ummah of my grandfather. I wish to bid the good and forbid the evil." [4]
Hussain (A) was killed on the battlefield as he did Sajdah. His head was removed from his body on the plains of Kerbala, mounted on a spear, and paraded through villages and towns as it was taken to Damascus and presented at the feet of Yazid.
Why remember Ashura ?
Why is Husain (A) regarded as the "leader of the martyrs" ? It is because he was not just the victim of an ambitious ruler. There is no doubt that the tragedy of Kerbala, when ascribed to the killers, is a criminal and terrible act. However when ascribed to Husain (A) himself, it represents a conscious confrontation and a courageous resistance for a sacred cause. The whole nation had failed to stand up to Yazid. They had succumbed to his will, and deviation and regression towards the pre-Islamic ways were increasing.
Passiveness by Husain (A) in this situation would have meant the end of Islam as we know it. Thus Husain (A) took upon himself the responsibility of the whole nation. The greatest tragedy was that one who stood up for the noblest of causes, the defence of Islam, was cut down in so cruel a manner.
It is for this reason that the sacrifice of Husain (A) is commemorated annually throughout the Muslim world. Our sorrow never abates as we relive the tragedy. As Allama Iqbal says in his Baqiyat (in Urdu):
Ronay wala hoon Shaheed-e-Kerbala key gham men main,
Kya durey maqsad na dengey Saqiye Kausar mujhey
I am one who weeps at the plight of the Martyr of Kerbala
Won't the reward be given to me by the Keeper of Kauser (Imam Ali (A))
The commemoration of Ashura on the 10th of Muharram every year serves to remind us of the sacrifices of the family of the Prophet (S). It also makes us aware of the people, then and now, who tried to destroy Islam and the family of the Prophet (S) and all that they stood for - as well as those who watched, listened and did nothing.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Every Day is Ashura Every Land is Karbala
All Night Awake -The Shias never sleep
110,607 items / 715,359 views
Shot near Bargah Hazrat Abbas Diwan Deodi ..
Sometimes the educated Shia of Hyderabad shocks me more than the poor man on the street , the owner of this Sabil told me to delete the picture I had shot of this guy , and knowing that I was a Shia made it really surprising..and he wasn't a wee bit polite to say the least.. arrogant and full of conceit..
But than education comes along with its shortcomings too..
I shoot sabil art and these selfless souls who work and serve humanity round the clock..it takes a Mumbai guy to come to his city and tell his story of Ghame Hussain with 3500 pictures shot in 3 days so the world knows the Azadari of Imam Hussain..
This was one of the main reasons I gave up my room at Hotel Charminar preferring the vicinity and humility of the people of Choti Bargah..at Chatta Bazar
I paid Rs 600 for a room that I had not used completely just to bathe and shower on my arrival..and checked out in the afternoon of the same day
.Well this is the flip side of Hyderabadi hospitality that hit me hard in my guts..
The Taboot of Hazrat Qasim ibn Hassan
http://www.14sayings.8m.com/m20.htm
Hazrat Qasim was the youngest son of Imaam Hassan (A.S.). Qasim was born in 47 A.H., three years before his father was martyred. When Imaam Hussain prepared to leave Madina in the month of Rajab 60 A.H. Qasim mother Umme-e-Farwa asked Imaam Hussain to take her and Qasim with him. Imaam Hussain agreed. Hazrat Qasim, although only 13 years old, had, like his cousins Aun and Muhammad, learnt fencing from Hazrat Abbas and Hazrat Ali Akber. Hazrat Abbas was very fond of Hazrat Qasim.
On the night before Ashura when Imaam Hussain was passing by Umm-e-Farwa's tent he heard Qasim say to his mother, "Mother, tomorrow Uncle Abbas, Ali Akber and I will defend Imaam Hussain. Mother, if I get killed please do not weep for me." Umm-e-Farwa replied, "My son although I dearly love you, I shall not weep for you. Nothing will make me prouder than to see my son give his life for Islam". When Imaam Hussain heard this conversation he prayed to Allah to bless Hazrat Qasim and Umm-e-Farwa.
On Ashura day after Aun and Muhammad had fallen in the battlefield, Hazrat Qasim came to Imaam Hussain and begged for permission to go and fight. Twice Imaam Hussain refused saying "Qasim you are young and your mother's only son". Hazrat Qasim was very disappointed. He went to his mother. When she saw her son so disappointed she remembered that just before he died, Imaam Hassan had written a letter, given it to Umm-e-Farwa saying ,"If ever you find Qasim in difficulty, give him this letter." She gave Hazrat Qasim the letter. In the letter it was written, "My son Qasim, a day will come when my brother Hussain will be facing an enemy army of tens of thousands. That will be the day when Islam will need to be saved by sacrifice. You must represent me on that day."
Hazrat Qasim read the letter. He smiled. He rushed to Imaam and gave him the letter. After reading the letter Imaam Hussain said, "O my brother's son, how can I stop you from doing what your father wanted you to do. Bismillah, go. Allah be with you".
Imaam Hussain tied Imaam Hassan's turban on the head of Hazrat Qasim and helped him mount his horse.As Qasim was riding out, Imaam Hussain said "Inna Lilla-hi Wa Inna Ilai-hi Raji'oon". Hazrat Qasim said "O my uncle - Do not be upset. I do not fear death. Death for Islam will be sweeter for me than honey". Hazrat Qasim came to the battle field. He was a very handsome boy. When the enemy saw him, they began to murmur, "How can we kill someone whose face is shining like moon?"
In a loud and a clear voice Hazrat Qasim introduced himself and cried out a challenge for single combat. He killed several famous warriors who came forward.
Every time he felled an enemy Hazrat Qasim would stand on his stirrups, look behind and wave to Hazrat Abbas, just as a pupil would seek approval of his teacher on any assignment, Hazrat Abbas would proudly wave back. When the enemy saw his bravery and realized that they could not possibly over power him in single combats, they came from behind and one of them hit Hazrat Qasim on the head with a sword.
Hazrat Qasim tried to go on fighting but alas he was so young and he was so very thirsty! He fell from his horse crying out, "YA AMMAHO, ACCEPT MY LAST SALAAMS." Imaam Hussain and Hazrat Abbas rode out. The soldiers tried to stop them, when finally they came to where Hazrat Qasim had fallen they saw a dreadful sight!! Hazrat Qasim's body had been trampled by the horses of the soldiers who had tried to stop Imaam Hussain and Hazrat Abbas. Hazrat Abbas was so angry when he saw this that he began to shake with fury. He took out his sword and wanted to attack the enemy. Imaam Hussain restrained him saying "Abbas, have patience, dear brother. Do not give them an excuse for saying that we attacked them first".
Was Qasim body carried to the camp to his mother? This is not very clear. It is reported, however, that Imaam Hussain took off his abaa, spread it on to the ground, gathered the pieces from the ground as one gathers flowers from a garden!
Resting The Alam Abbas Choti Bargah
110,582 items / 715,289 views
After the matam , the Alam Abbas is covered and rested..and the entire Alam takes on the contours a shape of a dead person beneath the winding sheet..people pay obeisance, make wishes , hope for the realization of their dreams..
One has to scrape the top layer of a photograph, with the mind to understand the message of peace hope and harmony in the picture..I could never criticize someones religious practice or their rituals , I would not even pass an adverse comment even if the ritual was not appealing to my human senses.
Till I saw the comments and the Shia bashing that I got day after day on my Shia sets and collections at Flickr..at first I attacked them, but than I came to the conclusion , if your parents gave you poison than it is poison you would spew..my parents were migrants from Lucknow , and Mumbai had made them overcome everything, my parentage made the difference in my childrens life too.
I locked up my Flickr and Blogspot comment boxes forever...I dont need to take a hit on my knuckles for a service I do free of charge..
Our servants in the early days of our childhood at Wodehouse Road were Goans or Mangloreans , and we were taught to treat them with respect, our main servant was a Maharashtrian lady and we called her Aiee.. yes Mother is universal to all..
Hinduism and Christianity existed side by side with our Shia faith.
My Koran classes were supervised by a Sunni Maulana who would beat me black and blue for not memorizing the verses, till my parents sacked him, as the beatings persisted..so I think it was my destiny to have undergone all this..and those days at Colaba of the early 60s Shia Maulanas were a rarity unless you poached them from Bhendi Bazar..
I became a blogger by accident..and I definitely dont rue my decision of giving up elitist decadent camera clubs for the humility of a photo blog.. yes we give free without charging per column or per photograph..We give to Caesar what belongs to God and we give to God what belongs to Caesar.. Amen.
Matam E Hussain at Choti Bargah 8 Moharam
Photography makes different demands to different people , for me the camera is nothing but an extension of my psyche..it keeps me sane though sometimes it pushes me over the edge..
Its been a week since I came back from Hyderabad , and though I limp to work , festered wounds on my feet, I had completely walked barefeet in Hyderabad..
My grand daughter Marziya gives me company to work as we both cut through a neighboring slum called Indiraji Nagar a short cut to my workplace, I continue to shoot our adventures on route, we meet all kinds of people, beggars, the transgenders the poor kids , and Marziya absorbs them in her child's mind..and I continue to talk to her explaining things ,she shaking hands with all known faces..first it was Marziya on Bandra Bazar Road now the venue has changed to Bandra Hill Road..
She is still friendly with goats but ever since her return keeps Lucky the Labrador at arms length..Lucknow trip has made her too vulnerable and fearful..
So I am trying to get her back in the Mumbaikar mode..
At home the ladies matam continues every day in the evening..and the rest of the house is busy with the annual Moharam house majlis..
My eldest son is back from Karbala and time passes on listening to his travails as Karbala is a land of sorrow touching us all in one way or another..
Its True I Blog When I Dont Get Sleep
beyond man made
barbed wires
a darkness
at dawn
that creeps
both sides
of the fence
a path so steep
karbala a pact
a pledge
we weep
ghame hussain
our souls neck deep
from the fire
into the flames
we walk we leap
shah ast hussain
badshah ast hussain
touches us both
in a single sweep
unlike fleeting beauty
a thought skin deep
its true
I blog when I dont get sleep
a mothers tear
through the window
of my soul does peep
to my friend Hasan Raza
Alam Abbas On 8 Moharam Choti Bargah
This was the most tense moment filled with pain , anxiety, and the Alam Abbas comes alive, it moves sidewards, sometimes forward and at times its not in the Alamdars hands , so electrifying is this 8 Moharam moment at Choti Bargha Hazarat Abul Fazlil Abbas Chatta Bazar Civil Court lane..
I had shot this in 2003..and this was my second attempt to capture memories of a 1400 year old pain , a seismic pain that bursts forth spilling blood as lava on the soul of Shiasm..Ghame Hussain..
Once this in house event is over and the Alam covered in a white shroud is placed on the dais , it takes on the contours of a dead body..this might sound like jarring jargon to the skeptic, but for the Shia it is a metaphoric experience taking him back ,as a toddler on the waist of his mother..the number of Moharams , the showers of tears he shed and this will continue like an unbroken pledge from father to son , mother to daughter and so on..a genealogical history of pain.. enshrining the Shia body in black shrouds..
Sometimes I think even Ravan was human as compared to Yazid and the Arab Barbarians that smothered the voice of humanity on the sands of Karbala.. even the dignity of dying was taken away from the Martyrs of Islam..
Martyrs that carried their Faith unlike the misguided suicide bombers of modern times.. who kill like their forefathers did 1400 years back..yes our black clothes for two month eight days signifies the Black Chapter of Islam.. and the eunuch silence of the people that watched while arrows fell on him , he who was the blood of the Holy Messenger ..and we remind the world of this heinous deed...and it continues unabated even today, yes I reiterate the only community that loves killing its own .. are Muslims..
Who follow One Allah , One Holy Prophet One Holy Book...yet they kill without remorse , without fear , without a pang of guilt... searching for virgins is a tough one mind you .. even in the Paradise of your choice..
Tears for Hussain
My life's goal has been to capture the human tear falling as a drop of pain from the eyes of a Shia person , it was this quest , this trail of a tear I followed , I wanted to understand this tear that uniquely symbolizes Ghame Hussain.
I came to Lucknow during Athvi as someone told me nobody cries like a man from Lucknow for Imam Hussain and during Athvi at Kazmain when the Alams are put to rest the Shia cry is like a soul being pierced alive in the womb..so armed with film cameras I shot this in black and white, I ran from one majlis to the next and it was a drop of tear tantalizing my camera eye..seducing the spirituality of my restless wandering soul.
I came to Mehmoodabad shot the royal tear that fell on the thirsty earth from the Raja of Mehmoodabads eye, yes more than blood I wanted to glorify the human tear..
I rushed to Kolkatta searching for a drop of tear and here I was shocked and astounded I was beaten at my own game I saw a Shia tear in a Hindu womans eye , with vermilion on her head , she placed her new born child beneath the legs of Zuljana the replica of Imam Hussains steed..crying as she wished for his long life , I was told the child was sickly since birth..I saw Hindu mothers collecting the milk that was given to Zuljana to drink, picked up from the dirty ground and dabbed on the child's lips..till I noticed tears in the eyes of Zuljana..
I came to Hyderabad broke the cordon of the caparisoned elephant that carries the Bibika Alam to shoot the tear in a elephants eye..
So shooting Moharam is nothing but searching for humanity within the soul of Hussain..
I was told about an incident a very senior Indian Maulana long since dead was to recite a Majlis in China, when he entered the Imam Bargah he was shocked to see hijab covered women instead of men , he refused to recite the Majlis till the organizer told him they were all men covered in hijabs as they did not want want to see Bibi Zainab.. whom they say invariably comes to hear the Majlis..on the Farshe Aza..
I thought perhaps it was their tears they wanted to mask from her.. Ever since I began shooting Moharam I too have been crying , cried in every city I visited be it Kolkatta, Hussain Tekri, Lucknow ,Delhi , Hyderabad Mumbai , and crying bought out the angst of my spiritual ancestry embedded in Ghame Hussain.
So this is my humble tribute to a drop of tear .. the search continues..beyond the click on my Google web browser.
Ya Bab Ul Murad - Door of Wishes
This is the Choti Bargah of Hazrat Abbas at Chatta Bazar near Civil Court of Hyderabad.
It was here that I first came in 2003 and made many friends , this Bargah belongs to Baqar Saab , and his sons take care of it, Akthar Bhai one of his son works in Bahrain but comes here every year for the Ashura Azadari..this is a family run Bargah.. every member pools in the help quotient..
Naqi Bhai one of Akthar Bhais brother in law takes care of the common kitchen and everyone is fed, for those who want to participate in the celebrations here there is a homely hotel to Crystal Palace..rooms starting from Rs 700, I was told.. I was deciding to move in here but than Naqi Bhai requested me to share lodgings at his house.
I felt much at home at Choti Bargah, it is not as old or historical as the main Bargah of Hazrat Abbas at Diwan Deodi...and close to this Bargah is the Hotel Charminar rooms starting from Rs 700 too..
Hyderabad Ashura is an event or at least several event to be seen from 8 Moharam onwards ..Actually on 7 Moharam there was a huge event commemorating the Mehndi of Hazrat Qasim at the Choti Bargah.. I was in the train on that day...
After my return I have shot a lot of stuff but I am not downloading it, simply because my blogs are a thread , like a story board and I dont want to break the sequence..
My feet are in bad shape, and infected too,I am treating it at home..with Bethedene. ointment.
My dear friend Habib Nasser called me today , he has made the CD of Mumbai Ashura and though I was not there , he has added a clip of mine..as I am very close to Habibs Iraqi Kama Matam..that I have shot from the day of its inception.
Uploading pictures is a very slow process at Flickr and takes time but it is more efficient than Facebook a million times over..
I used to blog my stuff and than add the link to Alpha Inventions a blog promoter and blog generator , but than I gave it up as the average views on my pictures at Flickr is 9000 per day without adding the same to Alpha Inventions ..and there is no product I am selling its my world through my eyes shot as poetry...I am a blogger and I do this as a passion without earning a dime.. and I dont begrudge those bloggers who make money...I love my country , and it is my country that I show you as a photographer synchronizing peace and harmony in its religious diversity.
I have no other agenda , I dont proselytize my Shia faith .. but yes I show it to you much better than it is shown on Wahhabi and other Shia hating sites...
Allah Ho Akbar Allah be Praised..
And I dedicate this to Mr Jethmalani Senior the only man who at least calls a spade a spade..and adds to my belief that Muslims love killing Muslims more than anyone else...and this also dedicated to the soul of departed Mr Feroze Khan who explicitly voiced this on stage in a neighboring country...about the hate and bigotry in our beliefs..
So I end this with a balm to the human soul..
Har Kaum Pukaregi Hamare Hain Hussain
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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...
