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Syedi Abdeali Imaduddin (QR), in one of his verses on Imam Husain (AS), says, “If a soul is devoid of any deed worthy of ensuring him a place in jannat except the grief of Imam Husain (SA), then this one deed will suffice.” It is due to the sacrifice of Imam Husain (SA) that the Kalemat ush shahadat prevails today as does the identity of its followers.
Years before Imam Husain (SA) was born, the pious fasted on the 10th of Moharram considering it a sacred day.
After the shahadat of Imam Husain (SA), Aashura came to be commemorated every year with renewed grief.
During the reign of Aimmat Tahereen (SA) in Misr, Imam-uz-Zaman (SA), the son and heir of Imam Husain (SA), assembled a majlis for buka and matam on Yaume Ashura. The Imam (SA) sat on a haseer (straw mat) abandoning the grandeur of the royal throne. He would be surrounded by ministers and learned men who donned clothes of mourning and came bare-foot to court. They were served simple maize bread for iftaar.
Duat Mutlaqeen (RA) continued to commemorate Aashura every year. During the period of the early Duat, Ashara Majalis were conducted for only three days. Later, the number of majalis was increased to eight. However majlis was not held on the seventh of Moharram, the Urs Mubarak of the 38th Dai-l-Mutlaq, Syedna Ismail Badruddin (RA). This custom continued until Syedna Taher Saifuddin (RA), increased the number of majalis to nine consecutive days due to the volume of bayan.
Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin (RA) strengthened the tradition of bayan during Ashara by allowing the delivery of authenticated accounts only, putting an end to those derived from dubious sources. During his time, Ashara Majalis would commence early in the morning. It is related that the people who recited marsiyah (elegies), did so with the help of candles. The waaz would end in 2 ½ to 3 hours. His successor, Syedna Mohammed Ezzuddin (RA) followed this tradition.
Formerly, waaz on the day of Aashura would end around zohr. Syedna Abdul Qadir Najmuddin (RA) made it a tradition to continue the bayan after zohr culminating in the shahadat of Imam Husain (SA)—which indeed took place after Zohr. Today, the same tradition is followed by our Maula Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS). Every year mumineen by the hundreds of thousands gather for the Ashara Majalis, seeking a place at the feet of their Maula yearning to hear their Dai’s heart rending cry-“Ya Husain! Ya Husain!”
At the birth of Imam Husain (SA) Jibraeel had informed Rasulullah (SAW) that a time would come when a faction from amongst his followers would grieve the martyred Imam and perform matam every year. “Indeed we are those mumineen,” exclaimed Maula (TUS).
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