In-augurated Today a New Graveyard for the Mumbai Shias

Grand Ayatollah Sistani: Urges Nation to Unite Against Terrorism

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Ayatollah Sistani has met with top Sunni scholars stressing the necessity of unity between Shia and Sunni and urged the Iraqi nation to unite against terrorists.

Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Sistani, in a meeting with Sunni scholars and head of Shafi'i institute called for the Iraqi nation to conjoin and stand against terrorists.

The Ayatollah warned against the enemies and said, "Enemies are looking for separating us," adding that "there was no difference between Shia and Sunni."

In this meeting Shaykh Adnan al-a'ani, prayer leader of Sharjeel Mosque in Baghdad, accused the former Baath party regime of Iraq to spread sedition in the Iraqi nation and stressed that the nation will maintain its unity.

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali al-Hussaini al-Sistani, the highest ranking Shia leader in Iraq, is also the leader of Najaf Seminary.

Apart from his prominent role as Twelver Shia jurisprudent, he plays an important role in political issues of post-invasion Iraq.

Juloos of Amaari at Karari,Allahabad

Majalis Tonight for Pakistani Shohada

Shocking Events after the Passing Away of the Holy Prophet (s.a.)

First is the prophet himself. In the interest of readers’ time I will describe the grand funeral processions held for the prophet in 3 words; ‘There were none’!! The man who saved the idolaters from the brink of self-destruction and pulled them from the darkness of ignorance by enduring every conceivable pain for 23 years, died in his home with no one with him but his immediate family, the Ahlulbayt. His community, headed by a small band of ‘companions’ were too busy plotting their next move and did not even attend his burial which took place in his residence. No funeral, no processions, and certainly no condolences to his only surviving offspring. Prophetic narration after narration have encouraged Muslims to take part in the interment of believers, yet when the time comes for the ‘Master of the believers’.. No one?!

As shocking as it is, this is an indication of something much more sinister than just a sense of collective amnesia. The companions’ neglect of the Prophet at the time of his death speaks volumes about their priorities. What could be more important than offering their due respect to the messenger of Allah? Read Full Article

Mumbai, Mourning the Demise of the Holy Prophet (s.a.)

The month of Safar has 2/3 more days. Tomorrow is the 28th day. The day of martyrdom of the holy Prophet of Islam (s.a.) and Imam Hasan (a.s.) his elder grandson.
At different points of the city, there are processions, Taboot shabeeh, shab-bedaari and majalis.
A procession begins from Yaqub Street and ends up at Moghal Masjid. It is organised by Anjuman-e-Azadaran-e-Husain.
At Zainabia Imambada, Anjuman-e-Asghariya has arranged a shab-bedaari and invited more than 50 city Anjumans for nauha and mataam for the whole night.
Processions at Kurla, Govandi and different areas of the city are held tonight.
Tomorrow after the Friday prayers a procession will start from Sohana compound at Mumbra and will terminate at Shia qabrastan. It is organised by Anjuman-e-Saahebuz Zamaan.
A Juloos From Madarsa-e-Islamiya, Gate no 7, to Madarsa-e-Baqaria, Gate no 8, Malvani, Malad (West). India Maharashtra Mumbai will be held tomorrow at 6.00 PM. It is organised by Anjuman-e-Ghamkharan-e-Karbala.

Khamsa at Malony Malad

First Hijabi News Anchor in America

“No one would hire me." These are the words she recalls the most –  the very words that continued to resonate in her ears as she completed her four year bachelor's in broadcasting.
"I had so many Muslim family members and friends tell me that no one would hire me." She explains this two days before Mnar Muhawesh starts her first day at UTVS, a local Minnesota TV station as a special reporter. Defying those very words and ideas, Muhawesh has become not only a representative for UTVS, rather a representative for Muslims and in particular Shias throughout the country. She has become a role model, being the first Hijabi to be on a local TV station as a special-reporter journalist in the entire United States, if not North America.

Every child at one point in their life fantasizes about who they want to be, what career they wish to pursue, and how they want to live their life – it's only natural. Muhawesh explains how, as a little child, she enjoyed watching the news with her parents. Throughout her high school life, she describes herself as a "news girl", someone who enjoyed debating politics and any other issues that were of importance to her. Living up to her dreams and presenting herself "in a modest yet friendly manner," Muhawesh has accomplished her childhood dream.
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Importance of Arbaeen of Imam Husain (a.s.)

Imam Hasan Al-Askari (a.s.) has said: The signs of a believer are five: 

• Performing fifty-one rakats of salaa daily, 
• Reciting Ziyarah of Arba'een, 
• Wearing a ring in the right hand, 
• Placing the forehead on dust [during sajda], and 
• Saying "Bismillah al-rahman al-rahim" aloud in salaa.” al-a'mal, p. 589, as stated [by Ibn Tawus]

Imam Hasan Al-Askari (A) includes the performance of Ziyarah of Arba’een as one of the five marks for a believer, in addition to reciting 51 rakats of salaa, audible recitation of Bismillah, wearing a ring on one’s right hand and doing sajda on dust. 

Why is so much importance given to the performance of the Ziyarah of Arba’een and the observance of Arba’een (40 days of mourning)?
The 40th (Arba’een or Chehlum) marks an important turning point in the movement of Kerbala. This day, which is no less important to the day of Aashura is important for many reasons – the prime being that the Ahlu’l Bayt reached the land of Kerbala on this day and performed the visitation to Sayyid ash-Shuhada Imam Hussain (A) and the loyal family and friends who gave their life for the cause of Islam. 

Ziyarat, as we all know is a visitation, which in essence, is the act of speaking with and visiting our role models.  Of course the physical manifestation of the ziyarat is actually being present in Kerbala to perform the Ziyarah of Arba’een, but, in reality, that is not possible for every believer.  So does making ziyarah while not in Kerbala give one the same benefits?  Ahadith tell us that performing the Ziyarah of Imam Hussain (A) far from Kerbala would hold the same significance as being in the land of Kerbala, as long as the person performing the Ziyarah has truly understood the status of the Imam and seeks to emulate him.
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A) states that the heavens wept over Imam Hussain (A) for forty mornings, rising red and settling red.  As we complete 40 days of remembrance of our Imam, we re-assert our pledge of obedience and loyalty to him, 
“I bear witness that you are the Imam (who is) the upright, the pious, well-pleased (with Allah), the pure, the guide and the rightly-guided.
I bear witness that you fulfilled the pledge of Allah and you struggled in His way…I am a friend of whoever befriends him ...”
By performing the Ziyarah of Arba’een, we pledge that we will continue to follow the path of justice and righteousness and will reject injustice and speak up against the oppressors of the time,
“I am an enemy of whoever is his enemy”
In essence, we make a promise to continue to mould our lives according to the teaching of Imam Hussain (A)
But why is it that we mourn and remember Imam Hussain (A) for a period of forty days and then move on? 
Our Prophet (SAW) has said, “The earth mourns the death of a believer for forty mornings.”   Therefore it appears that the deceased should be remembered and mourned over for a period of forty days. 
Performing an act for a continuous period of forty days is also known to help one to not just form a habit, but also to carry on the practice for the rest of his life. 
If we look at studies dealing with bringing a lifestyle change, we notice the time period emphasized to bring about a change is usually 6 weeks which is about the same time period as 40 days (to be exact it is 42 days).
In the book 40 Days to Personal Revolution: A Breakthrough Program to Radically Change Your Body and Awaken the Sacred Within Your Soul, the author Baron Baptiste explains the significance of forty days:
“Why forty days? Because the number 40 holds tremendous spiritual significance in the realm of transformation. Jesus wandered in the desert for forty days in order to experience purification and come to a greater understanding of himself and his mission. Moses and his people travelled through the desert for forty years before arriving at their home in the holy land. Noah preserved the sacredness of life by sailing his ark for forty days and forty nights. According to the Kabbalah, the ancient Jewish mystical text, it takes forty days to ingrain any new way of being into our system….”

Reciting particular duas for a period of 40 days is highly recommended in our practices as well.  The unit 40 (forty) is said to be very effective. If a particular Duaa is recited 40 times, or 40 people gather to recite it, or it is recited for 40 days then its effectiveness is highly increased. 
It is reported from Imam Ja'fer al-Sadiq (A) that whoever recites Dua-e-Ahad for forty days, after morning prayers will be amongst the helpers of the 12th Imam (A). 
Visitation of the shrine of Imam Hussain (A) as well as Masjid-e-Sahla for 40 consecutive Tuesdays / Thursdays is also very highly recommended and is one of the acts that promise a visit from the 12th Imam (A).

Thus, as we perform the Ziyarat of Arba’een and commemorate the Arba’een, 40 days of mourning of Imam Hussain (A), we hope and pray that this forty days of remembrance of Imam Hussain (A), brings about a transformation in us by which we can continue to follow the path of Imam Hussain (A) and carry on his message of upholding justice with true faith and a strong sense of sacrifice! 

References: 
www.duas.org
www.hujjat-workshop.org
www.world-federation.org
A’maal of Muharram and Safar (Tayyiba Publishers)
Kerbala and Beyond by Yasin T. Al-Jabouri
The Miracle of Ziyarat-e-Ashoora 
Commentary on Ziyarat Ashura, translated by Saleem Bhimji from the work of Ali Asghar Azizi Tehrani
Kitab al-Irshad, translated by IKA Howard, authored by Sheikh Al-Mufeed