The Day of Ashura and the account of Karbala

O devotees of the blessed companions and the Ahl-ul-Bayt! The month of Muharram-ul-Haraam reminds us every year of the martyrs of Karbala and especially the maternal grandson of the Noble Messenger, the leader of the martyrs, the lofty Imam, Sayyiduna Imam Husayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, because on the 10th Muharram 61 AH, a great battle in the history of Islam took place between truth and falsehood, which is referred to as the account of Karbala. The determined way of the martyrs of Karbala رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم gave a great lesson to the people of truth to remain firm in front of evil and to sacrifice one's life for the sake of Islam when needed. If Sayyiduna Imam Husayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ pledged allegiance to Yazeed, then that entire army would have been at his feet, he would have been respected, treasures would have been given to him, and the wealth of the world would have been placed in his feet. But the one whose heart is free from [the desire of] the world; rather, at whose service the world itself is, what would he want to do with the beauty of this world? Sayyiduna Imam Husayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ totally renounced the luxuries of this world and wholeheartedly welcomed the difficulties he faced in the path of truth. Despite facing such an amount of calamities, he did not allow even the thought of pledging allegiance to an open wrongdoer like the wretched Yazeed to come into his blessed heart. He agreed to sacrifice his house and spill his own blood, but he did not allow the dignity of Islam to be tarnished. By Allah! The people of Karbala offering their lives in the battlefield of Karbala for the sake of Islam is a great lesson for the Muslims until the end of time.

Qatl-e-Husayn Asl mayn Marg-e-Yazeed hay

Islam zindah hota hay har Karbala kay ba’d

Whilst embedding the love and affection of the Blessed Ahl-ul-Bayt in our hearts, may we also enlighten our lives in this world and the Hereafter by acting upon their blessed seerah, and may we attain the pleasure of Allah Almighty.

Ghar lutana jaan dayna koyi tujh say seekh jaye

Jaan-e-‘Alam ho fida ay khandan-e-Ahl-e-Bayt

Dolat-e-Didar paayi pak janayn baych kar

Karbala mayn khoob hi chamki Dukan-e-Ahl-e-Bayt

(Zauq-e-Na’t, p. 100)

Aainah-e-Qiyamat

The brother of A’la Hazrat, Maulana Hasan Raza Khan has written a book named ‘
Ainah-e-Qiyamat’ regarding the account of Karbala. A’la Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan states regarding this book, ‘There are authentic narrations in the book of Maulana Shah ‘Abdul-‘Aziz which is in Arabic or the book of my late brother Hasan ‘Aainah-e-Qiyamat’, one should listen to these; as for the rest, it is a lot better to not read or listen to anything rather than listening to incorrect narrations.’ (Malfuzaat A’la Hazrat, p. 293)

What should food and drink (Niyaz) be offered for?

Mufti Muhammad Amjad ‘Ali A’zami رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه states, ‘In the first ten days of the month of Muharram, especially on the 10th, Isal-e-Sawaab [the sending of reward] takes place for Sayyiduna Imam Husayn رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْه and the other martyrs of Karbala. Some [people] read Fatihah over sweet drinks, some over rice pudding, some over sweets, and some over bread and meat. It is permissible to make Fatihah on whatever you wish. Whichever manner is used to convey Sawaab [reward] to them, it is a good act. It is famous amongst some ignorant people that the Fatihah of anyone else except the martyrs of Karbala shall not be made in Muharram; this viewpoint of theirs is incorrect. The way Fatihah can be made for everyone in other days, similarly, it can be made in these days too.’(Bahar-e-Shari'at, Part 3, vol. 16, p. 644)

A’la Hazrat رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه states, ‘Giving the Niyaz of sweets, etc. for the noble martyrs is a means of reward and blessings, and the 10th of the blessed month of Muharram is more appropriate for this.’ (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 9, p. 598)

The practice of Shah ‘Abdul-‘Aziz رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه

There would be two gatherings in the home of Shah ‘Abdul-‘Aziz Muhaddis Dihlavi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه in the year. (1) Mawlid gathering. (2) A gathering of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْه.

Mentioning this second gathering, he states, “This gathering takes place on the day of ‘Ashura or a day before it. Four to five hundred people, in fact even a thousand people gather (in it) and recite Salat upon the Prophet. After that, when this lowly person arrives, then people sit down. The excellences of Sayyiduna Imam Hasan and Husayn رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا which have come in the blessed Hadees are mentioned. Then, a Khatm of the Quran is done and, having recited the five verses, Fatihah is done on whatever food is present.” (Fatawa ‘Azizi, vol. 1, p. 124)

The love of Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnah for the Ahl-e-Bayt

Dear Islamic brothers! Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnah ‘Allamah Maulana Muhammad Ilyas ‘Attar Qadiri Razavi دَامَتْ بَرَكَاتُهُمُ الْعَالِيَهْ is a great devotee of the blessed companions and the Ahl-ul-Bayt; in fact, he دَامَتْ بَرَكَاتُهُمُ الْعَالِيَهْ has made hundreds and thousands of people devotees of the companions and the Ahl-ul-Bayt. A physical portrayal of this is his books and sayings.

Please study these booklets of Ameer-e-Ahl-us-Sunnah comprising of the devotion and seerah of the pure Ahl-ul-Bayt: Marvels of Sayyiduna Imam Husayn رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْه, Bloodshed in Karbala, Husayni Groom, Miraculous Wonders of Sayyiduna ‘Ali رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْه, Thirty Parables of Imam Hasan.

Alongside distributing food and drink on the day of ‘Ashura, sacrifice time and also travel in Madani Qafilah on the 8th, 9th, and 10th or 9th, 10th, and 11th of Muharram-ul-Haraam with the intention of sending reward [Sawaab] to the martyrs and captives of Karbala. One will attain great blessings of this, اِنْ شَاءَ الـلّٰه.

Har Sahabi-e-Nabi

Jannati jannati

Sab sahabiyaat bhi

Jannati jannati