Shia Muslims observe Arfa Day with religious reverence

Shia Muslims of Pakistan observed Arfa Day (9^th Zilhajjah) holding congregations and special prayers in all over the country today (Monday).

Special congregations were held to pray Dua-e-Arfa (or Arafa) and to mourn the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Muslim, a paternal cousin of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) who was assassinated on the orders of Kufa’s tyrant governor of despotic Umayyad dynastic ruler Yazid.   

Religious scholars and hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslims recited Dua-e-Arfa that is considered a holy gift from Imam Hussain (AS) who recited this pray (Dua-e-Arfa) in Arafat.

In Karachi, main congregation was held at Masjid Khair-ul-Amal where Maulana Ali Afzaal addressed and Maulana Mubashir Zaidi (senior) recited Dua-e-Arfa. Shia Muslims also offered special Arfa day prayers before this.

Many Shia Muslims observed a fast as recommended for this day not as an obligatory fast like Ramazan fast. 

Iranians observed Arfa day on Sunday according to Islamic lunar calendar under which there was 9^th Zilhaj on Sunday.

Due to Saudi monarchy’s break-off of relations with Iranian regime, Iranian pilgrims could not go to Hajj. Iranian Hajis regularly held Arafa day congregation  at Arafat desert every year.