Pakistan becomes an “azadar country” as Shia Muslims largely attend Moharram congregations

Shia Muslims began attending Moharram azadari (mourning) on 1st day of New Year of Islamic Calendar to commemorate the Martyrs of Karbala in all over the world including Pakistan.

Pakistan, where Shia makes 25 percent of the Muslim population, is considered third largest country around the world, where participants in azadari outnumbered other countries’ Shiites excluding Iran and Iraq.

The first day of Moharram began with the mourning congregation (Majlis-e-Aza) at the residence of Ali Muttaqi Jafari where Allama Aqeel al Gharavi spoke and highlighted the sacrifices of martyrs of Karbala. First 10 days of Moharram is called first Ashra-e-Moharram ul Haram.

Ayatollah Ghulam Abbas Raeesi, another eminent Shia scholar like Mr. Gharavi, addressed first Majlis of Ashra-e-Moharram at Imam Bargah 14 Infallibles where he spoke on the topic of Arafeh (Prayer) to Karbala.

Allama Shahenshah Naqvi, an official of Shia Ulema Council, addressed Majlis-e-Aza at Imam Bargah Madina tul Ilm. Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen’s Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi and Ahmed Iqbal Rizvi addressed at Imam Bargah Shah-e-Karbala and Jamey Masjid Al-Mustafa Abbas Town respectively.

Eminent Shia scholar Allama Talib Johari addressed mourners at Nishtar Park, the main point that is considered the main majlis of the first Ashrah-e-Moharram. Well-known Shia speaker Zameer Akhtar Naqvi who began his Ashrah-e-Majalis at the night of moon-sighting, addressed at Imam Bargah 14 infallibles after Allama Raeesi’s majlis.

Maulana Kazim Abbas, a famous scholar, addressed at Imam Bargah Martyrs of Karbala where Mr. Khursheed Abid spoke after his majlis. Eminent Zakireen-e-Ahl-e-Bait (AS) namely Mr. Abbas Kumaili, Mr. Furqan Haider Abedi, Nawab Haider Abedi, and others are also began their Ashrah-e-Majalis on Sunday.

Allama Javad Naqvi’s majalis-e-aza are being heard via multimedia at Imam Bargah-e-Fatima tuz Zahra (AS) under the aegis of his Tehrik-e-Bedari-e-Ummat-e-Mustafa (AS).

Allama Raza Rizvi of Shia Scholars Association of Europe, Sindh province’s well-known Zakir Qari Manzoor Solangi, Agha Sibt-e-Haider Moosavi, Maulana Hasnain Abbas Rizvi, and several other Shia scholars in all over Pakistan will continue to highlight the salient features of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions who are also known as Martyrs of Karbala.

Clad in Black suits, Shia Muslims reflect them as a united Ummah through azadari. From Parachinar in the FATA on border with Afghanistan, from Quetta in Balochistan province that makes borders with Iran, and from Sialkot and Azad Kashmir and Desert of Thar that make borders with India and those parts of Gilgit-Baltistan that make border with China as well as India to the port city of Karachi that is situated on international sea border, Pakistan becomes a country of azadar (mourner) of Imam Hussain and this is what a Hussaini Culture that Pakistani nation reflected during Moharram’s first Ashrah till the 10th Day that is called Ashura.