Mourning for Imam Hussein (PBUH) and\nholding gatherings in such title is one of the most important and yet simple\nways to keep the movement of Ashura and its culture alive. Such mourning\nceremonies, which are persistent and constant, uphold the memories of the\nMaster of Martyrs and his genuine spirit to fight tyranny. While these reminders increase people\u2019s\nresistance to oppression and deviations, it is essential that they be directed\nin the proper and positive direction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the beginning, both Imam Sajjad\n(PBUH) and Lady Zeinab (PBUH) worked to establish the practice of mourning the\nmartyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH). Their first effort took place in Damascus,\nYazid\u2019s capital. After an awakening session, Yazid changed his strategy, and\ndecided to put on a show expressing his regret for what had happened.\nMeanwhile, Lady Zeinab (PBUH) asked permission to hold a mourning gathering for\nher brother Imam Hussein (PBUH). Imam\nSajjad (PBUH) was very influential in making this matter take place. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yazid felt no choice but to agree, and\nImam Sajjad, along with the women held mourning sessions in \u201cDar al-Hijareh\u201d of\nal-Sham for seven days. Many women participated in those gatherings, and the\ntragedy of Imam Hussein (PBUH) and the martyrs of Karbala spread to crowds and\ncrowds of people. People were so\nemotionally moved that they came so close to attacking the palace of Yazid, and\nkilling him. Marvan, who was in Syria,\nfelt threatened, and told Yazid, its best if Imam Sajjad (PBUH) and those in\nhis company leave Syria and return to Medina. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After seven days of mourning, Yazid\nhad Imam Sajjad (PBUH) and those with him return to Medina on the eighth day.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is therefore customary to say that\nthe key people for establishing the mourning of Imam Hussein (PBUH) were Imam\nSajjad (PBUH) and Lady Zeinab (PBUH). \nThis matter is also seen when the caravan of Imam Sajjad (PBUH) left to\ngo to Medina. It had been ordered that\nthey return directly to Medina, with no stops in between. But instead they went to Karbala first, which\ncoincided with the Arbaeen (40th day) of Imam Hussein\u2019s (PBUH) martyrdom, in\nwhich they mourned for three more days beside the graves of the martyrs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to some narrations, Jabir\nibn Abdullah Ansari was present there, and in these three days people from the\nclan of Bani Hashim and from Kufa had gathered to mourn the incidents. This account became another proof for the\nsignificance of mourning, and perseverance of its practice. After three days, they returned and continued\nthis practice in Medina, until it spread little by little to other places. And today, we can see this practice worldwide\nas a significant act done by the devotees of Ahlul Bayt. Imam Sajjad (PBUH) wanted to remind people of\nthe tragedy of Karbala and the path of Imam Hussein (PBUH), and protect it from\nbeing forgotten.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, Shiites continue this practice,\nmourning in a variety of ways, which in effect strengthens their beliefs, and\nprotects them from going astray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Selection taken\nfrom the book, A Look into the Life of Imam Sajjad (PBUH) by Muhammad Muhammadi\nEshtehardi, with minor changes.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Roshd Website offers condolences\nto all Muslims, especially you dear friend, upon 25th of Muharram, the\nanniversary of the martyrdom of the exemplar of worshipping and the fourth\nImam, Imam Ali ibn Hussain (PBUH).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Nafas\nal-Mahmoom, p. 262<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mourning for Imam Hussein (PBUH) and holding gatherings in such title is one of the most important and yet simple ways to keep the movement of Ashura and its culture alive. Such mourning ceremonies, which are persistent and constant, uphold the memories of the Master of Martyrs and his genuine spirit to fight tyranny. While […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248],"tags":[21055,19465,21059,21054,21056,20431,21058,21060,18418,21057,19831],"class_list":["post-4344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2016-10-27","tag-ashura","tag-culture","tag-founder-of-mourning-for-the-master-of-martyrs-pbuh","tag-holding","tag-imam-sajjad","tag-keep","tag-memories","tag-occasion-letters","tag-simple","tag-title"],"yoast_head":"\n