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By Syed Hussain
Ali Sajjad
11 AUG 2020
The Shia Ithna Ashari Community all over the world every year conduct mourning ceremonies (Majalis) in the remembrance of sacrifice of Imam Hussaina.s and his followers at the plain of Karbala for a period of two months and eight days beginning with Moharram-ul-Haram the first lunar month of Islamic Hijra Calender continued in the month of Safar and conclude it on the 8th of Rabi- ul- Awwal.
City of Hyderabad (India) is well known all over the world for its Azadari of Imam Hussaina.s and Martyrs of Karbala. Quli Qutb Shah’s the founders of the city were Shia’s and laid a robots foundation for Azadari in their reign. They took the pains to convey the tragedy of Karbala in the local language and presented it before the people and it is due to that today we can see that almost all the villages in the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh the Azadari is observed not only by Shia Muslims but Muslims irrespective of their sect and Hindus participate in large numbers to mark the day of Ashura.
It’s a huge responsibility on the shoulders of Shia Ithna Ashari Community not only to maintain Dignity and Grandeur during the Azadari which they inherited but also take it to new altitudes and propagate and convey the message of Imam Hussaina.s to the Humanity among its fellow citizens irrespective of cast creed and religion.
The Clerics (Olama), head of Grough’s/Anjuman’s and Zakreen (Marsi-e-Khawn (reciter) and Noha Khawn (reciter) can play a pivotal role by practicing exemplary manners while participating and conducting Majalis in order to maintain Dignity and Grandeur during the Azadari. They should see that necessary quantity of public address system is installed, vehicles are properly parked so that the traffic is not disturbed, etiquette of Majalis are observed by the Azadars and the fore most thing is that all of them should inculcate and exhort the Azadar to be seated in the place of Majlis by themselves practicing the same. The current commemoration of tragedy of Karbala during this Pandemic will be very different and community bears the responsibility of maintaining and implementing the guide lines issued by the Government in view of the Pandemic Covid-19 while performing the Azadari.
In the present scenario an important role will be played by the cable TV operators, various religious TV Channels or You Tube Channels and all live streamers on FaceBook, Zoom or any other platforms who will be broadcasting the Majalis. They should observe a unanimous decision that they will focus their broadcast on the reciter and restrain from coverage of the attendees.
Unfortunately the Olama, Khutaba and Zakereen either feel shy or have ego problem in attending Majalis that are being recited by other Alim, Zakir and Khateeb. With the exception of Hyderabad in all other prominent places the Olama’s participate in large numbers in Majalis and in fact are seen at the forefront of the Azadari Juloos taken out on various occasions during the period of mourning.
It has been seen that during the Majlis the Azadars and as well as prominent personalities Clerics (Olama), Zakreen and some head of Grough’s/Anjuman’s (Marsi-e-Khawn and Nauha Khawn) stands outside and indulge in smoking, chewing tobacco or engage themselves in worldly talks. At the time of their recitation, they rush inside the place of Majlis trampling over the already seated Azadars.
The Shia community of Hyderabad lacks in central leadership and it is represented by an amalgamation of fragmented groups. In this scenario the responsibility rest on the front runners spear heading various segments of Azadari to cultivate and motivate the youngsters to practice highest degree of etiquettes during the period of Azadari.
In my opinion the representation given to the Government should have the inputs and feedback from all sections of the community by holding consultations, meetings and discussions. Under no circumstances any Alim or Politician try to hijack the whole community and represent on their behalf without taking the opinion of the community members representing their specific organization or political party.
As a writer I know that truth is bitter, many people may not like what I have written, but it reverberate majority of the community voice to maintain Dignity and Grandeur during the Azadari. The community people should come out of the clutches of the sycophant of such Olama, Zakreen and Khutaba who are exploiting the Azadari of Imam Hussaina.s to enhance their personal and political ambitions. Thus this has compelled me to write this article. I am aware that I will be vilified from the pulpits and stages but there should be someone who has to show mirror and try to explain the gravity of the problem facing the community.
