• Activities
• 10 Safar 1438

On the occasion the Arba’een of Imam Hussain (AS) Sayyid Kashmiri says:
• Ziyaratul-Arba’een is ritualistic in dimension, a divine light and a loud cry against oppression and tyrants since 1377 years ago. This is why the Arab and global media ignore it.
• The followers of Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.) paid with their lives and their money in order to maintain the continuity of this ritual.
• Despite the small surface area of Karbala, the number of visitors it hosts is by far many folds than those who go to Haj. The visitors are indifferent to the dangers on the road, inspired only by clam and inner tranquility.
• This year, Ziyaratul-Arba’een coincided with the heroic battles of the Iraqi army and the national mobilization forces in defense of peoples’ rights.

The Allamah was delivering the Friday prayers sermon at Sakina Trust in east London, opening his sermon saying:

These days, we are witnessing the occasion of the Arba’een of Imam Hussein (AS) 1377 years after the event, such that this Ziyara has taken a ritualistic dimension whereby each believer, who has not attended, desires to go; ((and makes the hearts of people desire him)). This Ziyara has become prominent among thirteen specific Ziyaras of Imam Hussein (AS). His devotees are used to walk to his tomb (AS) on foot, from hundreds of kilometers, in order to get the reward and Thawab, as advised by the immaculate ones (AS) on the virtue of walking to visit Al-Hussein (AS) and to console the captives of the house of Muhammad (s.a.w.w.) who retuned from Sham on the twentieth day of Safar.

Here are some of the advantages of this Ziyara:

1. The spiritual dimension and connection to the absolute sacredness of the immaculate Imam (AS). It is also of paramount importance in the hearts of believers, because it is considered as one of the signs of the Believer due to the Hadith from Imam Al-Hassan Al-Askari (AS) in this regard.

2. Over the centuries Shi’as have paid heavy taxes in order to maintain the continuity of this march to Karbala. They gave their money and their lives in order to reach the tomb of Hussein (AS) on the twentieth of Safar.

3- The Arba’een march has illustrated for us, as some would say, a beautiful image of kindness and self-regulation. We see marches that are organised and protected by States and Governments costing money, effort and security, where breaches and scuffles break out and their numbers are not even 2% of the Araba’een march. Whereas the Arba’een march is not organised or supervised by any party and the number of participants exceed a State’s capability to manage them. During twenty days we find the march is maintains its balance and discipline with no accidents, quarrels or conflict. It is a march of silence, calm and inner-tranquillity that is experienced by those on the road towards Al-Hussain (AS).

Beside this, we see the generosity and kindheartedness of the Iraqi people which demonstrate the depth of civilization inherent in them. Offerings that flow like a river in this country is a result of civilized attitudes and the adopted Hussaini culture - breaking records world with such a colossal number of visitors - estimated in the millions – with no need for a procedural authority to organize their affairs. They organize themselves in all areas.

4. The strangest and most astonishing thing here is that everyone is aware of the dangers they face, because they are targets for terrorists who plant the roads with improvised explosive devises and suicide belts. But the visitors do not care about all this and risk their lives in sacrifice for Al-Hussain (AS)

5. The enormous numbers estimated in millions reach many folds than that of the pilgrims who go to Haj. Even with such huge numbers, from forty countries around the world, you will find everything available for them, food, drink and shelter - all marching in one direction with one goal in mind, under the banner of “Labbayka Ya Hussain”.

6. It is strange that the global and Arab media ignores this great event, choosing to be silent. On the other hand we see their intense coverage of events that draw not even 2% of the number of participant [of this march to Karbala]. Maybe the reason is that it is the issue of Al-Hussain (AS), despite the fact that all Muslims of different sects and walks of life believe in his sanctity and that he is the son of the daughter of the Messenger of Allah and master the youth of Paradise who are included in the verses of the Holy Qur’an – Verse Al-Tatheer, Verse Al-Rissala Verse Al-Mubahala, Verse Al-Abrar, as well as other holy verses which Mulims do not deny.

7. It is worth mentioning also, as others have said, that the march of millions towards Karbala has been accompanied by heroic battles of the Iraqi army and the national mobilization forces in defense of human society’s rights to security, education and a decent life and to preserve the Iraqi society with all its ethnic groups and religions and doctrines. Also to display pride in Islam, its power and the purity of its image in the face of the dangerous Daeshi current and to uphold the word of the Marja’iyah that represents the caring and compassionate father for all members of Iraqi society.

These great heroes who have devoted their blood, their efforts, their time and their families to defend our society and our sanctities and our holy places, conform to the Almighty’s saying: ((Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure.)) Holy Qur’an 61:4. Also the as in the following verse ((Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah: of them some have completed their vow (to the extreme), and some (still) wait: but they have never changed (their determination) in the least)) Holy Qur’an 33:23

8. All Momineen are expected to commit to unity of word and transcend internal differences, as the Islamic nation in general and the Shia faith of Ahlul-Bayt (AS) in particular is going through serious and difficult circumstances. The suspicious plots imposes on it to focus on its priorities and its supreme goals without entering into discord that no community and at no time is immune to - especially during the great days of Ashura. The responsibility of all Muslims in general and the followers of Ahlul-Bayt (AS), in particular is to emphasis on instilling the principles of the Hussaini uprising and consolidate it in the hearts of generations to come, for which the master of martyrs (AS) sacrificed himself and the selected elite from the Ansar and the Bani Hashim, and for which our gallant sons and brothers the Mujahideen in the battle arena are continuing to sacrifice their lives and their money in compliance with Almighty’s saying ((And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves;....)) Hol yQur’an 3:103 and ((...and fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart;....)) Holy Qur’an 8:46

It is appropriate for all our Hussaini brothers during this and other blessed occasions to seize the opportunity and strengthen their religious and jurisprudential knowledge and faith and instill the ideals and moral values and not preoccupy the society with their minor differences on some issues. Not to mention that differences of opinion on some jurisprudential and intellectual matters should not be a legitimate justification for vilifying or backbiting any Momin, let alone undermining the Maraji’ of the faith and Hawza lecturers, Hussaini eulogists and well known Alims who have spent their lives in order to spread the message of Imam Hussain (AS)

We ask The Almighty the Exalted to protect the visitors [Zawars] of Al-Hussain (AS) from evil – He is All Hearing and Answers Prayers.