Moharram Processions Should Be Held Indoors
By Altaf Khan • Dec 26th, 2009 • Category: Features • 38 CommentsThe first 10 to 12 days of first month of every Islamic year become a problem for the Pakistanis, as the sectarian tension increases between the Sunni and Shia Muslims.
Especially during the first ten days, Shia Muslims produce procession to mourn the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA). These processions pass through the whole cities and towns and the life comes to a standstill, as these processions are heavily protected and the businesses and shops are orderned to be closed along the path of procession. The secruity remains at high red alert and more often than not, unpleasant events happen.
Just yesterday, a suicide attacker tried to blast himself away around the Muharram procession in Shakaryal, Rawalpindi. Due to the presence of mind and alertness of a police constable, the attack luckily didn’t yield and the Izadars remained safe and sound.
But why put security forces and people in such a hassle? Why not carry out processions of Muharram indoors until the security situation becomes normal? Shia leaders should ponder upon this for the safety and security of Shia Muslims and to save the country from such a tense and hostile situation.
Trackback URL
|
|
|
Click For More Articles By Altaf Khan
All posts by Altaf Khan
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
This is a classic case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. We should be pressurizing the government to protect religious gatherings that are attacked by militants, rather than suggesting we decrease the gatherings.
The problem is that reducing such observations has a dynamic effect on people’s expectations of their importance. If the processions are reduced, and are required to remain reduced for a few years due to the security problems, a generation of Pakistanis will grow up expecting Shias to stay indoors during Ashura, and we may not be able to recover the ability to hold these processions outdoors due to a changed political/social landscape.
Intolerance has to be faced up front, rather than yielded to.
Moreover, the premise that going indoors will add to security is probably false too. A large number of attacks on Shias have been carried out not in processions, but inside Imambargahs. This suggests that keeping Moharram activities indoors is unlikely to decrease the security threat.
Finally, there’s the question of whether Ashura processions should be allowed given the inconvenience they cause others. All societies make accommodations to allow their citizens to observe religious and cultural events. Roads are blocked when carnivals, or weddings are held, often for many days, and traffic flow compromised by cricket matches etc. Given that about 20 to 25% of Pakistanis are Shia, and Ashura is the only time of the year they require special accomodation, it is not unreasonable for the state to make such provisions.
Why Ashura procession on the Street? Why not with in the boundries of a hall/stadium etc.
This is what I am talking to all people that not only moharam now all procession whether religious or social should be banned on roads except for rallies against govt.
Religious ceremonies should be held in relaxed, comfortable and in very cordial way as people love to come these procession,
This is time when the life of common man , police men and security men are at higest risk so what is left in these religious procession that would bring fear and terror in the minds of participants.
This little thing is not coming in the minds of our unpractical and emotional people that this is not a way to pray under the protections of gun men. security circles and with lot of tensions in the minds of security people.
I dont understand as why Ahl-e-Tashee takes their religious affairs to the roads? Why not have it within the parameters of their Imambargahs?
I have same question as number 4. I also wanted to know the origins of such a procession, where, when, how and who started the processions on the streets. Is it something that adds significance to the procession or it is just another one of those customs? As my knowledge of the subject is limited therefore I won’t dare to say it is right or wrong.
Religious freedom is a requisite of a successful state in today’s world.
In a country where people are not safe in their homes or mosques, a foolproof procession can’t be a reality. A warzone where a fanatic’s finger on button may trigger red headlines with stains representing the score of deaths, religious processions, for security sake need to be confined in coverage atleast, no matter the one of Moharam-ul-Haram, Eid-Milaad-un-Nabi etc.
Here, about a few minutes ago my ears just got touched by an announcement of imposing curfew from 12:00 am onward, which is to be lasted for the next two days. The announcement, in true sense, paralysed the city’s life resulting in the poor’s condition being exacerbated.
Whatsoever the potential dangers or security goals, the chief reason behind such action remains a safe and peaceful procession.
In a state where people are not even safe in their homes and peaceful processions are preceded by imposition of banning public activities, the answer remains patience and the path of seeking true faith by heart, not by spending the already-torn state’s machinery to excess or following the rituals of peaceful time.
“Moharram Processions Should Be Held Indoors”
absolutley… and so is tablighi jamaat ijtema
@4
This joke was told to by one of typical syed jaffari about their procession .
Once a foreigner was watching the mournful procession of ashura,He observed all the acts of self infliction, wailing and crying and then asked the people standing by the road that why they all are doing this.
He was explained by few people about the 1400 years old brutalities of Yazeed army to Hazrat hussain in very summarized ways.So he nodded with sorrow and say that how poor these guys who come to know about this truth after 1400 years ago.
So as per my observation other than of ahil tasheeh this point is not understandable that why such a violent scene is created on those who are no way living in such circumstances which was done 1400 years back.
All followers of different Muslim communities are involved in such religious processions but such a processions of ahil tasheeh and ahil sunnah are strongly resembling with Hindu /Sikhs processions where almost same kind of scenes are repeated which sometimes come into matter of shirk.But no doubt in wailing attitude and extreme trends of self infliction there is no match of shia community on any other religion or with in Islamic communities.
While I understand that the above blog entry as well as the various comments are given with good intentions, I have strong reservations about the same. Lately, our country has been enveloped by a cloud of terror thanks to a group of people who should even be called humans, let aside muslims. Bomb blasts, suicide attacks, firing etc have now not even been restricted to or targeted against a particular sect as both the sunni and shia events, masjids have been heinously attacked. The recent time has seen a spurge of attacks on friday prayers at masjids belongs to both the sects of islam. At this point, I’d like to stop and request you to ponder if we should discontinue the most holiest event of the week, the friday prayers due to the increasing tensions during the same. Am sure everyone would in one voice denounce the notion of discontinuing the friday prayers, in spite of the looming threat. In the same way, religious processions, be with during Muharram ul Haram or Rabi ul Awwal should continue like they have always been with a better and fool proof security which over the years has remarkably improved yet still having a few loop holes. One more thing that I’d like to add is that commemorating Muharram ul Haram is not a single sect affair and muslims in general pay their homage to Imam Hussain (A.S.) and his companions for their ever lasting sacrifice for islam. Secondly, neither is Rabi ul Awwal marked by a particular sect of Islam but both the sunnis and the shias join hands to celebrate th birthday of the Greatest Personality on the face of earth, Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W.W.)
As far as inconvenience to other citizens of the city or country is concerned during the course of procession, I humbly apologize to them and also request the authorities to device a system where alternate routes could be effectively used without causing a burden to anyone.
Religion and state should be separate from each other. There must not be any religious procession which may cause inconvenience to the common people. I feel disgusted why people like Nazia brings hindus and sikhs when she says ‘All followers of different Muslim communities are involved in such religious processions but such a processions of ahil tasheeh and ahil sunnah are strongly resembling with Hindu /Sikhs processions where almost same kind of scenes are repeated’…A very common pakistani obsession where anything goes wrong is blamed on others,but not themselves. Try to be little realistic Nazia. Hindus and Sikhs are far more respected in the west than the Pakistanis who are more often associated with terrorism.
I dont want to be little realistic but complete realistic on religious bitterness that is highly arising in our region without any reason.
These days are remembering as bad times of Muslims so all are throwing curses on even simple acts of Muslims.
Hindus and Sikhs have also some dark patches of violence as other religions have but at this moment international media is behind Muslims so all others are ignored.
Dont feel disgusted on my personal comment as it is not saying of some popular religious leader but come from an ordinary person.
[...] only if the Shia leaders could have sensed the coming terrorism threats and would have held processions indoor. Trackback URL Tagged as: Ashura, Denso Hall, Jamia Cloth, MA Jinnah [...]
@Miqdad
Firstly the Jumma prayers are offered in the Mosques and not on the roads Secondly
It is said that Masjid is the best place to be and Bazars/Markets are the worst place to be in—so opting for the worst places to offer religious processions is..well kind of way too much weird whether you are a Shia on 9th and 10th Moharram and other days Or you are Sunni on 12th Rabbiul Awwal flooding through the roads and markets creating hinderances and complication for other people —someone may even need an immediate medical attention but unable to get through the overcrowded streets and roads.
To give a solution—I think separate places or grounds, for that matter, should be devoted to those special kinds of events and days just like Raiwand Ijtema.
This way all the stake holders would remain at peace.
These processions and majalis are the ways through which the Shia Muslims mourn and express their grievance on the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (a.s) and his family.
Just one question to all of you, would you sit back quiet and not wail or cry when your father and brothers are killed mercilessly without drinking water or food for three days? Won’t you scream in pain when u see your own brother being sacrificed in front of you? Won’t you gather with your family and cry when the male members are killed without letting them drink a drop of water and then their dead bodies are ran over by horses and crushed and then their heads are cut off and taken away? And wont u cry when the females are taken away as prisoners, without anything to cover their heads and they are taken in bazaars where men could see and mock them?
Imam Hussain (a.s) was the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H), wasnt he? So all the Sunni and Wahabi were the followers of Prophet Mohammad so why did they kill his grandson so mercilessly??
Today these Shia Muslims are all like a family, who mourn the death of our ancestors Imam Hussain (a.s) and his family together in Imam Bargahs and on the roads. Be realistic! We cant do it restricted in the imam bargahs because there are so many brave shias who come out for mourning and they all wouldnt fit in any imam bargah and no shia is afraid of these bomb blasts. It is an honour for them to be martyred during a majlis or juloos, mourning the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (a.s)
Taking all processions out on roads is also a way to express that the shia are an active group of people who follow an active religion. It is their way of saying that we are here for you, Imam Hussain. We are not like the other so called muslims who dont mourn your martydom but we are your true followers.
Dear Ali,
We are not having a debate on whether one should mourn or not –I mean it would have no end.
The point is that and I didn’t only point out Shia processions but also the Sunnis’ so there wasn’t any discrimination—-I think both kind of processions should be held in specified places not on the roads.
Dear Mr. Altaf Khan and friends, I believe that you have written this with good intentions. But I felt it necessary to furnish some facts and request you and other friends to re-visit given opinion and revise your views after a second thought.
Your main point is “Why not carry out processions of Muharram ‘indoors’ until the security situation becomes normal”.
Reason given by you is security situation (so they should go indoors). Though I also have reservations about safety of Sunni brothers but giving you Shia dominated examples as you only addressed about Shia brothers.
Shia / Muharram processions Indoors….. Are they secure indoors?
Let us try to gather some facts.
Oct 1999: Attack on Fajr Prayers, Masjid-e-Hur, Alfalah Society, Karachi
Oct 2001: Attack on Maghrib Prayers, Masjid Ali Murtuza, Azam Basti, Karachi
Feb 2002: Attack on Maghrib Prayers, Masjid-o-Imambargah Shah-e-Najaf, Rawalpindi
Feb 2003: Attack on Imambargah Muntazir Mehdi, Malir, Karachi
Jun 2003: Attack on Police Cadet Van, Quetta (12 Shia cadets killed)
Jul 2003: Attack on Jamia Masjid Ithna e Asheri (Kalan), Quetta
Oct 2003: Attack on bus carrying Shia employees of SUPARCO, Karachi going for Juma Prayers
May 2004: Attack on Juma Prayers, Masjid-e-Hyderi, Karachi
May 2004: Attack on Maghirb Prayers, Masjid o Imambargah Ali Raza, Karachi
Oct 2004: Attack on Juma Prayers, Masjid Zaynabia, Sialkot
Oct 2004: Attack on Maghrib Prayers, Masjid-e-Kashmiryan, Lahore
May 2005: Attack on Majlis inside Bari Imam Shrine, Islamabad
May 2005: Attack on Masjid Madinat ul Ilm, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi
Aug 2008: Attack on Emergency ward of Civil Hospital, D.I. Khan where Shias converged to visit another Shia who was targeted the same morning
Feb 2009: Attack on Namaz-e-Janaza of a Shia (killed in another attack), D.I. Khan
Apr 2009: Attack on Majlis, Imambargah Sirpak, Chakwal
Above is a very brief list of attacks on “Indoor” Shia gatherings. Attacks on Hundreds of Ulemas, Doctors, Bureaucrats, businessmen etc are other than the above list.
Here I also feel very important to mention Attack on Indoor Sunni gathering of 12th Rabi Ul Awal, Nishter Park, Karachi.
So if Shias apply the logic of stopping something due to security reasons, then they have to stop many other things too. For example, stop Prayers in Masjid, stop Majlis in Imam Bargah, stop going hospital for treatment, stop using buses to go somewhere, stop joining police, stop serving government organizations, stop offering Namaz-e-Janaza, stop being a doctor, stop being an Aalim etc.
My dear friends, I request you to rethink and re-write your views. I will be glad to learn from your opinions too.
A wise man said “The wise are not wise because they make no mistakes. They are wise because they correct their mistakes as soon as they recognize them.”
12 Rabiul Awwal Ka Jaloos bhi Stadium kay ander kerwao gay?
Salam!
the main point of ashura procession is a protest at the one of the biggest crimes in history of human kind……the best of creations the ahlul bayt of Rasul Allah are brutally tried to be subjugated, looting and killings of Imam Hussain (as) by the Evil Mulsim Caliph Yazeed.
To all the fools here trying to sound that ashura processions out door are wrong, inconvenient and so forth:
In the aftermath of Karbala for 60 years or so under the supervision of Banu Umayyah - Hazrat Ali (as) and Imam Hussain (as) were cursed in every juma prayers. No Khutbah in the Muslim Caliphate was considered complete unless the Mulla sent curses upon Imam Hussain (as) for taking wives and kids as ‘protection’ to Karbala and being killed. So therefore whatever you are speaking now is the hatred that was ingrained into your ancestors in those times.
Ashura is a protest to the world - the self flagellation is a protest to this unjust murder done to those who upheld God’s religion in the middle of the desert in Iraq 1400 years back unknown to the world. we do this self beating as a protest as to why he was murdered unjustly?
the muslims till this date have no answer to this - so they either bomb these processions or they tell us to shut up and go ‘inside’
Lastly, I would say to all Muslim (shia and sunni) - all divisions trying to be created in current scenario are from the outside - especially Israel and america - coz they can’t stand our unity. So please be united despite differences against an enemy common to us coz it is the enemy of God. and despite our differences we worship God.
Death to USA
Death to Israel
Death to Taliban
Dear Altaf Khan Sahab, your views are awaited by friends.