Conference on Message of Imam Husayn's Martyrdom

Report by: S M Pakistani
Translated by: Muhammad Hanif

Minhaj-ul-Quran International held a conference on 9th Muharram at its headquarters in honour of Imam Husayn. The programme was entitled "Lord of Martyrs, our Imam Husayn's (may Allah send peace on him) Martyrdom". The following leaders of Minhaj-ul-Quran International participated in the conference: Nazim-e-Ala Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi, Sayyid Ali Ghazanfar Kararvi, Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz, Allamah Ahmad Nawaz Anjum, Anwar Akhtar Advocate, Dr Shaid Mahmood, Khawaja Peer Ghalib Lahori, Allamah Muhammad Usman Sayyalwi, Shakeel Ahmad Tahir and Sahibzadah Muhammad Husayn Azad. Besides, prominent scholars, spiritual teachers, especially Shiah scholars and zakirs, were also present. The vast gathering included the Shiah community, too.

The programme commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Haydri brothers from the College of Shariah sang the praise of the Holy Prophet (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him). Minhaj Nat Council sang the praise of the Holy Prophet (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) and Imam Husayn (may Allah send peace on him). After that the Bulbul-e-Minhaj Muhammad Afzal Nushahi sang verses on the excellence of Imam Husayn.

Secretary general of Tehreek-e-Ulma-e-Pakistan Allamah Ali Ghazanfar Kararwi said in his speech: "Even after the passage of centuries, the fans of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) are at war with the Yazids of time and Yazidi powers. Husayni voices are speaking, but mischief-makers are bent on eradicating Husayni ideology and passion. The sacrifice of Imam Husayn was a unique and everlasting chapter of Islamic glory."

Nazim-e-Tarbiyyat Tehreek-e-Minhaj-ul-Quran, Allamah Sayyid Farhat Husayn Shah also addressed the audience. "Today it is Tehreek Minhaj-ul-Quran which is highlighting the message of Islam for which Imam Husayn sacrificed his life. Amid Shiah, Sunni, secretion and political rifts, Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri is promoting peace and harmony."

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri's telephonic speech was the most important. He said Imam Husayn and his household offered their lives to Allah at Karbala and illumined the face of Islam until the end of time. Referring to the term "Ahl-ul-Bayt", he stressed it included the Messenger of Allah (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him), Fatimah, Ali, Hasan and Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them). Some people, out of malice for the "Ahl-ul-Bayt", confine them to the pure wives of the Allah's Messenger (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him), which is completely wrong. To establish this point, he quoted many verses of the Holy Quran and sayings of the Holy Prophet (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him).

He also said that Allah's Messenger (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) made his wife Umm-e-Salmah (may Allah be pleased with her) a witness to the tragedy of Karbala before its occurrence: he was witnessing through his Prophetic insight that, at the time of tragedy at Karbala, his only alive wife would be Umm-e-Salmah. That is why he gave her a bottle which contained earth from Karbala and informed her: When this earth turns into red blood, understand that my Husayn has been martyred. Umm-e-Salmah narrated that she saw Allah's Messenger (may Allah send greeting and salutations on him) in a dream on 10th Muharram with a bottle containing blood. Allah's Messenger (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) said: (Today I have been at Karbala all day long. Wretched Yazid has martyred my grandsons.) This is the blood of Husayn and his companions which I have been collecting today." He quoted numerous references of the Hadith. He categorically stated that it is a fact that his sacred person was also present at Karbala tragedy.

In the end he said that the need of the hour is highlighting that Ashur Day, sacred Muharram and martyrdom of Imam Husayn teach us peace and calm. This aspect of Islam must be underlined. Unfortunately, law and order in the country in this holy month is disturbing. Murders, sectarianism, bomb explosions, suicidal attacks and civil war are against the very spirit of Islam.

Evildoers of this type are neither Muslims nor humans. Today on Ashur day we should resolve to try to establish international peace.

The conference ended with sending Salam (greetings) on the Crown of Martyrdom, Imam Husayn.

During the programme more than 40 million greetings and salutations sent on the Holy Prophet (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) were offered to him with due respect. Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi made the concluding supplication with all the humility which moved the participants of the spiritual programme.