المجالس العاشورية في المآتم الحسينية

The Ashura Councils in Husayni Mourning Gatherings

Authored by Sheikh Abdul Wahab bin Al-Haj Hasan Al-Darwish

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

"Say: I do not ask you for it any reward except love for kinship." (1)

Narrated from Abu Anbasah bint Ghalib, from Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) who said: The breath of a sorrowful person for our oppression is glorification, and their concern for us is worship, and concealing our secret is striving in the path of Allah. Then Abu Abdullah said: This hadith should be written in gold.
(Source: Al-Amali, Al-Mufid: 338, Hadith 3, Bihar al-Anwar, Al-Majlisi 44/279, Hadith 4)

And it is narrated from Imam Al-Ridha (peace be upon him), who said: Whoever recalls our calamity and weeps for what has been done to us will be with us at our level on the Day of Judgment. And whoever remembers our calamity and weeps and causes others to weep, their eyes will not shed tears when eyes weep. And whoever sits in a gathering that revives our matter, their heart will not die on the day when hearts die.
(Source: Al-Amali, Al-Saduq: 131, Hadith 4, Bihar al-Anwar, Al-Majlisi: 44/278, Hadith 2)

Preface by the esteemed scholar and eminent researcher, author of valuable works, His Eminence Sheikh Baqir Sharif al-Qurashi, may God Almighty support him and perpetuate his benefits.

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

The monumental revolution ignited by the father of the free, peace be upon him, against the Umayyad rule characterized by oppression, tyranny, and despotism, has been clarified by God Almighty through scripture, making it a lesson for those who possess understanding.

This blessed and eternal revolution changed the course of history and awakened the Islamic world from its slumber and sedation. Previously, it languished under the oppression, humiliation, and subjugation of Umayyad rule. However, with newfound vigor, determination, and resolve, it raised the banner of freedom while shouting for the downfall of the Umayyad rule and worked towards its removal and the destruction of its thrones. This led to popular uprisings initiated by some of the Alawites and others, ultimately overthrowing it and demolishing its foundations and fortresses.

The great Husaynid revolution stands firmly in the hearts of Muslims and in the depths of their souls, driving them towards liberation, dignity, and freedom from colonialism and its agents and minions. We urge Muslims to benefit from its light during this decisive phase in their history, to become a unique example for other nations and to join the convoy of developed nations.

Among the good deeds, we should praise the esteemed scholar, Sheikh Abdullah Hassan Al-Darwish, for his contributions.

He authored some beneficial books, such as debates and others, and I specifically refer to the book for which I wrote these words: "The Ashura Sessions in Husayni Mourning Gatherings." It is one of the good books that objectively presents the revolution of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him). He excelled in this book; may God elevate his status and grant him generous rewards, and peace be upon him.

Baqir Sharif Al-Qurashi, 21st of Rajab, 1424 AH

Introduction of the Book

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, and by His aid we seek assistance. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad and his pure, virtuous family. Henceforth:

One of the blessings bestowed upon us by the Almighty is the establishment of gatherings that are held to commemorate the matters of the infallible household, peace and blessings be upon them all. These gatherings highlight their virtues and the trials that befell their honorable presence, especially the Husayni mourning assemblies held every year during the first ten days of the sacred month of Muharram. Undoubtedly, these gatherings are beloved by Allah, His Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and His household (peace be upon them). Through them, we fulfill our duty of commemorating their memory, reviving their matters, sympathizing with them in their grief and the tribulations they endured. We also familiarize ourselves with their righteous and straight path and follow in their footsteps, teachings, and guidance. These gatherings serve as the primary source of our religious and ethical culture, as they present the teachings, guidance, and counsel of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), the inexhaustible wellspring.

This intense devotion, felt by anyone among the followers and Shia of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) in their attendance of these gatherings held on various occasions linked to the history and life of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and in their preservation and high regard for them, undoubtedly stems from their sincere loyalty to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and their sympathy and loyalty to his family and Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), who were wronged and displaced.

And they were killed in the cause of Allah Almighty, and whom the nation was advised to follow and hold onto. It has been reported authentically that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: “I am leaving among you two things, you will never go astray after me if you hold onto them: the Book of Allah and my progeny, the members of my household. Indeed, the All-Knowing and Subtle has informed me that they will not be separated until they return to me at the pond like these two...”

There have also been many noble narrations urging the revival of their cause, weeping over their calamities, grieving with their sorrow, and rejoicing with their joy (peace be upon them), among which are:

It is narrated from the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) who said: "Indeed, God, the Blessed and Exalted, looked upon the earth and chose us, and chose for us followers who support us, rejoice in our joy, grieve in our sorrow, and sacrifice their wealth and lives for us. They are from us and towards us."

It is narrated from Abu Abdullah Ja'far bin Muhammad (peace be upon them), who said: "Speak about us and there is no harm. May Allah have mercy on those who revive our matter."

It is also narrated from Mu'tab, the servant of Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him), who said: "I heard him say to Dawood bin Sarhan: 'O Dawood, convey my greetings to my followers, and tell them that I said: May Allah have mercy on the servant who gathers with others to discuss our matter. For the third among them is an angel who seeks forgiveness for them both, and whenever two people gather to mention us, Allah the Almighty boasts of them before the angels. So when you gather, engage in remembrance. For in your gatherings and discussions, our matter is kept alive, and the best among people after us are those who remember our matter and call others to mention us.'"

It is narrated from Aban ibn Taghlib, from Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him), who said: "The soul of the one concerned for our suffering..."

Glorification is a form of worship, and concealing our secrets is a striving in the way of Allah. Then Abu Abdullah said: This hadith should be written in gold.

It is narrated from Imam Al-Ridha (peace be upon him) that he said: Whoever remembers our suffering and weeps for what was inflicted upon us, will be with us in our rank on the Day of Judgment. And whoever remembers our suffering, weeps, and causes others to weep, will not have eyes that weep on the day when all eyes will weep. And whoever sits in a gathering where our affair is revived will not have a heart that dies on the day when hearts will perish.

And other such noble stories and reports regarding this matter.

Based on this matter, and in response to the noble initiative of Hajj Abd al-Salam al-Dakhil, who presented to me the idea of composing this book, and due to the desire of some brothers from among the readers of the Husayniyah biography to realize this idea, I consulted our esteemed teacher, His Eminence, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Taqi al-Qomi, may his noble shade be prolonged, regarding the subject of writing this book. I informed him of the desire of some brothers who are readers of the biography to compose a book that includes sessions on the Husayniyah biography and its related topics that can be read in the Husayni gatherings and mourning ceremonies during the ten days of the sacred month of Muharram. He, may his shade be prolonged, encouraged me to proceed with writing this book and said: "It will be an aspect of your happiness, and it will secure the reward of those who weep for the loss of Husayn (peace be upon him) whenever it is read in the Husayni gatherings." He also said to me: "I will pray for your success in this." May Allah reward him with the best reward for his kindness and compassion. After all this, I proceeded to prepare this book as it stands, responding to their wishes.

In this book, I have compiled what I was able to gather from books of Hadith and the biography of Husayn, specifically concerning the biography of the Master of Martyrs, Husayn (peace be upon him). This includes the events starting from his departure from Medina until his martyrdom (peace be upon him), as well as what happened to his family and women in captivity and exile. I have also included some of his noble virtues and the heartrending tragedies that befell him.

The news came through the words of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and his household (peace be upon them), as well as some narrators, and I also added a series of Husayni poems in appropriate places.

This book has been organized into two sections. The first section focuses on various gatherings for each of the ten days of Muharram. I have dedicated a particular gathering to each day, and have included in it relevant sayings of the noble Hadith, details from the life of Hussain, and some virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) as well as their illustrious history.

As for the second part of the book, I presented several additional sessions suitable for reading during the days of Ashura. They contain a collection of the history of Hussein (peace be upon him), his noble biography, and the traditions and reports narrated about him. Additionally, some matters related to the history of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and their injustices are also mentioned.

I also extend my sincere thanks to everyone who contributed with me in producing this book, and I ask Almighty God to grant them success in what He loves and is pleased with.

I pray to Almighty Allah to accept this humble effort from me, to weigh it in the scale of good deeds, to make it sincere for His noble face, and to benefit me with it on a day when neither wealth nor children will be of any use, except for he who comes to Allah with a sound heart. Indeed, He is the Hearer of prayers. I hope that this book fulfills the wishes of my fellow believers, readers of the Hussaini biography, and achieves their desires in this field. I also hope they do not forget to include me in their sincere prayers at the times of their supplications. Allah is the grantor of success; He is the best protector and the best supporter. Exalted is your Lord, the Lord of might, above what they describe. Peace upon the Messengers, and praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Abdullah Hassan Al-Darweesh
Sunday, 14-4-1424 AH

The First Section:

Private Gatherings for the Tenth of Muharram

The First Gathering, on the First Day: The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) informing about the future tribulations of his family (peace be upon them) in terms of murder and exile.
So let those who lament, mourn the pure family of Muhammad and Ali, peace be upon them and their progeny. Let the mourners cry for them, for they are deserving of such tears. Let the lamenters raise their voices and let the wailers cry out. Where is Hasan? Where is Husayn? Where are the sons of Husayn, the righteous, one after another, the truthful, one after another? Where is the path after the path? Where are the choicest among the chosen? Where are the rising suns, the radiant moons, and the shining stars? Where are the standards of religion and the foundations of knowledge?

It is narrated that it was said to Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him): "My master, may I be your sacrifice, when someone dies, mourning is held for them after their death or killing, yet I see you and your followers holding gatherings from the start of the month for mourning and lamentation over al-Husayn (peace be upon him)." He (peace be upon him) replied: "O you, when the crescent moon of Muharram appears, the angels spread out the garment of al-Husayn (peace be upon him), which is torn from sword strikes and stained with blood. We and our followers see it with insight, not with sight, causing our tears to flow."

May Allah greatly reward you, O believers, and may He console you for the loss of the Master of the Youth of Paradise. The month of Muharram has come upon you with its sorrows, so it is fitting for you to mourn Hussein (peace be upon him) and weep for him with flowing tears. Show your sorrows, abandon celebrations, and gather for the commemoration gatherings as recommended by the Master of the Youth of Paradise (peace be upon him). It is narrated that he (peace be upon him) advised his son, Imam Zain al-Abidin (peace be upon him), saying to him: "My son, convey my greetings to my followers and tell them: My father died as a stranger, so mourn him; he was martyred, so weep for him."

It is narrated that Sukaina (peace be upon her) embraced her father, Al-Husayn (peace be upon him), after his noble martyrdom, rubbing her face on his body while weeping until she fainted. Then, the enemies of God came and pulled her away from him and took her. Sukaina said: I heard my father (peace be upon him) say to me while I was unconscious:

To commence with the month of Muharram, Sheikh Abdul Karim Al-Faraj, may Allah have mercy on him, used to say:

Sheikh Al-Saduq, may Allah have mercy on him, narrated from Ibn Abbas, who said: One day, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was sitting when Al-Hasan (peace be upon him) approached. When the Prophet saw him, he wept and said: “Come to me, my son.” He continued to draw him near until he seated him on his right thigh. Then Al-Husayn (peace be upon him) approached, and upon seeing him, he wept and said: “Come to me, my son.” He continued to draw him near until he seated him on his left thigh. Then Fatima (peace be upon her) approached, and when he saw her, he wept and said: “Come to me, my daughter.” He seated her in front of him. Then the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) approached, and upon seeing him, he wept and said: “Come to me, my brother.” He continued to draw him near until he seated him to his right side.

His companions asked him: “O Messenger of Allah, you do not see any of these without weeping. Is there not among them someone whose sight delights you?” He said (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): “By the One who sent me with prophecy and chose me over all creation, they and I are the most honored of creation to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. There is no creature on the face of the earth more beloved to me than them.”

As for Ali ibn Abi Talib, he is my brother by kinship, the one in charge after me, and the holder of authority.

He is my successor in both this world and the hereafter, the bearer of my pool and intercession, the custodian for every Muslim, the leader for every believer, and the guide for every pious one. He is my trustee and successor over my family and community during my life and after my death. Loving him is akin to loving me, and hating him is akin to hating me. Through his leadership, my community has become blessed, and opposing him renders the opposition accursed.

I wept when he approached because I remembered the betrayal he would face from the community after me until he is separated from his place beside me, although God has ordained it for him after me. Thus, he will continue to face events until he is struck on his head with a blow that soaks his beard with blood, in the best of months, "the month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion." (1)

As for my daughter Fatimah, she is the leader of the women of the worlds, from the first to the last. She is a part of me, the light of my eyes, the fruit of my heart, and my soul within my body. She is the heavenly being in human form. When she stands in her prayer niche before her Lord, the Exalted, her light illuminates the skies as the stars illuminate the earth. Allah Almighty says to His angels: "O My angels, look at My servant Fatimah, the leader of My maidservants, standing before Me, trembling out of fear of Me, fully devoted to My worship. I bear witness that I have protected her followers from the fire."

Indeed, when I see her, I am reminded of what will befall her after me, as if I see her dishonored and her sanctity violated, her rights usurped, her inheritance denied, her side broken, and her unborn child lost. She will call out: "O Muhammad" but will not be answered, seeking help but not aided. She will remain sorrowful, distressed, and weeping, remembering the cessation of revelation in her home once, and my absence another time. She will feel estranged when night falls, missing my voice that she used to hear when I recited the Qur'an in prayer. Then she sees herself humiliated after having been honored during her father's days. At that moment, Allah, the Exalted, will comfort her with His angels. They will call out to her as they called out to Mary, the daughter of Imran, and will say: "O Fatimah, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you, and chosen you above the women of the worlds." O Fatimah, "devote yourself to your Lord."

And bow down and prostrate with those who bow down.

Then, pain begins with her and she falls ill. God Almighty sends Mary, the daughter of Imran, to nurse her and console her in her sickness. At that moment, she says: "Oh Lord, I have grown weary of life and I'm fed up with the people of this world. Join me with my father." Then God Almighty joins her with me, and she becomes the first to follow me from my family. She comes to me saddened, troubled, distressed, oppressed, and killed. At that point, I say: "Oh God, curse those who wronged her, and punish those who usurped her rights, and humiliate those who humiliated her. Condemn to eternal fire those who struck her side until she miscarried her child." And the angels will say at that moment: "Amen."

And may God's mercy be upon Sayyid Saleh Al-Hilli when he said:

And another said:

Continuation of the hadith: The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: "As for Al-Hasan, he is my son, my offspring, from me, the delight of my eye, the light of my heart, and the fruit of my soul. He is the master of the youth in Paradise, and God's proof upon the nation. His command is my command, and his words are my words. Whoever follows him is from me, and whoever disobeys him is not from me. When I look at him, I recall the humiliation that will befall him after me, until he is killed by poison unjustly and aggressively. At that moment, the angels and the seven heavens will weep for him, as will everything including the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea. Whoever mourns for him will have their eyes delight in the day when eyes are blinded, and whoever grieves for him will find their heart not sorrowful on the day when hearts are saddened. Whoever visits him in his resting place..."