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9th Moharam Amin Imambada/SHIASM

Mumbai is a migrant city...a cauldron of mixed religiosity each one connected to their faith , a faith that touches the human nature of Gods spirituality.

Every festival has a message of peace love of mankind woven in ritualism , tradition or custom..every festival touches on the triumph of good over evil..

The Shias of Mumbai are a unique breed , settled all over the city, but congregate at Bhendi Bazar to partake in Ghame Hussain , remembering the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain the favorite grandson of the Holy Prophet ,.

The area at Bhendi Bazar specially in the vicinity of Moghul Masjid is a Shia stronghold , sabils dressed in black, people dressed in black.Moharam is a mourning moment that lasts for two months and eight days.

The first ten days from 1Moharam the Shias make a beeline to hear the Shia scholar
Mirza Athar Saab, who has been reciting Majlis at the Moghul Masjid since last 50 years.
There are other places close to Moghul Masjid where other Maulanas hold fort, Imamia Masjid, Khoja Masjid at Pala Galli , Kaiser Bagh, Zainabia are the other important ones too..
The Shias are a very peaceful lot , they are absolutely focussed and Moharam is a pledge to Bibi Fatima the mother of Hussain to shed tears in his memory .

Nothing is more important to the Shia than this holy covenant , unbroken for 1400 years, accused of heresy, ostracized for their bloody rituals , the Shias never gave up Imam Hussain..his Marytryrdom a recleansing of the tenets of Islam that were badly misused for personal vendetta by Yazid the Caliph of the Ummayad dynasty.

The so called Muslims at that time were equally responsible for the cruel acts perperated on the Imams family , the genocide and the act of spiritual terrorism .

Yazidiyat is nothing but Terrorism against lovers of Hussain lovers of Humanity...

In the words of Khwajah Ajmeri Garib Nawaz..

“Shah ast Hussain, badshah ast Hussain Deen ast Hussain, deen panaah ast Hussain Sar daad, na daad dast dar dast-e-yazeed Haqu-e-binney la ilaahaa ast Hussain”

“King is Hussain, King of Kings is Hussain/ Faith is Hussian, Protector of Faith is Hussain/ He gave his head but not his hand in the hand of Yazid/ Verily, truth is but Hussain.”

Shiasm is a cry againast terrorism, of Yazid , and it has never changed its tenor or tone , the blood they shed a reminder of Karbala , but this powerful metaphor is misinterpreted by the so called hardened puritans , giving rise to the fragmentation of Islam and sectarian strife..
I reiterate Muslims love killing Muslims per se..
I am not a religious scholar , as an Indian Shia , I know that even Imam Hussain wanted to come to Hindustan to avoid bloodshed and killing of believers of Allah and his Faith..
Imam Hussain was aware that Hindustan was the land of Brahma Vishnu Mahadev..
but the noble Imam was also aware that this land believed in Hospitalty and Tolerance,..
Yes like the rest of the Shias of my country we love our Hindustan dearly..and this love of our motherland is itself a chapter of Humanity..
Imam Hussain with his sacrifice bought us closer to our Maker and this path of Truth we Shias call Hussainiyat.

On 9th Moharam , the Shia juloos starts from Savoy at Byculla . a majlis by Maulana Yasoob Abbas son of Maulana Athar Mirza , the scourgings the kama matam take place , and from here the procession moves to Zainabia , from Zainabia to Shustri Imambada , from Shustri to Fotowat finally snaking its way to Amin Imambada.

Moharam in Mumbai is unique , its survived because of the sacrifice of great leaders like Late Abbas Rizvi and others , we as Shias owe much to our ancestors who gave us this relay baton to carry it forward to the Generation Next..
Moharam is molten tears on the hardened soul of Mankind.
Moharam is Ahle Bayt
Moharam is a 24/7 statement resounding a warning against the lovers of Yazid , our Matam is a challenge to those who are nothing but living men with evil designs..who try very hard to erase Imam Husains contribution to Islam and the black chapter of their evil deeds at Karbala.
We as Shias year after year remind this with a chant Ya Hussain Ya Hussain..

So once in your life time come and see the Azadari of Imam Hussain in Mumbai..you will want come back again and again and again..

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