Moharrum is the first month of the Islamic-Hijri New Year. The moon of the New Year rises with the memory of grief and sorrow and the message of the triumph of Good over Evil. It reminds the Muslims worldwide of an event that took place 1350 years ago (640AD - 61 Hijri), when on the sandy burning plains of Kerbala situated on the banks of river Euphrates, some miles away from Baghdad / Iraq, the closest scion of the holy family of Prophet Mohammed (SAW), Imam Husain (AS) fell a Martyr, along with his kith and kin and comrades all numbering seventy-two. This tragic day is commemorated throughout the Muslim world, as the 10th of Moharrum, more appropriately known as the day of Ashura, when the events of that historic day are recalled with devout fervour. The Dawoodi Bohra fraternity, with characteristic unity of its Faith, re-enacts this great tragedy with single-minded devotion and dedication, the impact of which is vibrantly felt by each and every believer throughout the globe.
Each year, a few weeks before the advent of Moharrum, there arises an air of expectation and palpable excitement in the community, as to which center al-Dai-al-Fatemi Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS) would choose, to lead the Ashara congregation, as the innermost desire amongst the followers is to participate in the waaz Majlis led by Syedna himself.
So, when it was announced that this year - Hijri 1415 / 1994AD - Huzurala (TUS) had graciously chosen a chity in India for Moharrum waaz and that too the city of Bombay - where teh highest domination of Dawoodi Bohras reside - there was an electrifying reaction, boundless joy and deep satisfaction throughout India and amongst the residents of Bombay, in particular.
This much awaited announcement at once posed a great challenge to the organisers and the band of selfless khidmatguzars, to organise, manage and evolve a system, whereby the maximum could participate in this congregation and get the barakat of this solemn spiritual occasion.
Let us first reflect on the background to this unique Ashara celebrated in Bombay this year. Recounting the Kerbala tragedy and remembering the great, noble and ultimate sacrifice of the Prince of Martyrs, Imam Husain (AS) with tears and 'Matam' during 9 days of Moharrum, culminating in Ashura, has been an essential form of Prayer / Ibadat for the faithfuls of the Fatemi Din. Nine days of Moharrum are observed as days of griefs and prayers and the faithful assemble in large numbers to listen to the sad tale of pathos and agony, of courage and bravery, in a battle for upholding the principles of Truth and Justice. This auspicious event has become indispensible part of the Dawoodi Bohra character and commitment to a noble cause.
This waaz is a philosophical discourse which has been evolved to reflect the best Fatemi traditions, where after 'Hamd' (Praise to Allah) and 'Salawat' (Praise to the Prophet and His appointed Successors), and philosophy of religion, history of other 'Anbia' (Prophets), Imams and Duat, the meaning and message of Islam and the Shariat, social problems, human behaviour and interaction, advices (naseehat), economic welfare, Doa and recitation of Quran along with the Qaseedas, and Marsiya, especially the most famous, "Ya Sayyedus Shohodae", a literary masterpiece composed by Muqa-ddas Syedna Taher Saifuddin (AQ) are all interwoven with the finest of oratory, delivered in 'Lisanul Dawat' (a stirring refined languaged evolved by absorption of Arabic, Persian and Urdu words and usages, woven like an artistic tapestry in the Bohra Gujrati language. In every Majlis, the different episodes form the saga of Kerbala is related, culminating in the narration of Shahadat of Imam Husain (AS) with tears and continuous 'Matam' and chanting of 'Ya Husain", "Ya Husain". In between, when permitted, Zakire Husain recites the Marsiyas, full of pathos and pain, in a sonorous voice. The whole day of Ashura the faithfuls abstain from taking food and water, in rememberance of the three days thirst and hunger of Shohadae Kerbala in the burning heat of the Arabian desert.
The Syedna's waaz is full of scholarship and learning on the theological and philosophical tenets of the Faith, his sincerity, and masterful oratory on innumerable topics of concern and interest to every strata of society leaves his listeners spell-bound marvelling at the vastness of his knowledge and wisdom. Everyone, young and old, stands truly benefitted spiritually having found solace in this troubled world and which he could ponder and profit by in meeting his obligations to Allah, his neighbour and himself.
This year all previous participation statistics paled into insignificance when over 2 lakh Mumineen gathered in Bombay for the entire Ashura waaz. The devotees flocked from all over India, from big cities to small towns and villages, from neighbouring and foreign countries of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Europe, USA, Africa, Middle East and the Far East to seek Syedna's blessings and barakat. During these two weeks, the central area of Bombay came alive and buzzed with people in their flowing white robles, the traditional cap or turban and the ladies in their 'rida' (a Bohra woemn's cering signifying modesty and virtue). It was a scene Bombay would remember for a long time.
A unique featuer introduced since last several years has been to relay part of the waaz to many distant places in India and abroad including Baitul Muqaddas (Jeruselam), Sweden, London, Paris, Karachi, Singapore, Cairo and many cities in America, several other countries including the wartorn capital City Sanaa of North Yemen. This was certainly an astounding achievement overcoming all logistic problems, the aim being to give the benefit of barakat of Syedna's (TUS) discourses to others who could not be near His Holiness leading the Moharrum Majlis.
Another path-breaking feature this year apart from the extraordinary arrangements and management of the Ashura, was the plan that all those who had gathered in Bombay and its suburbs, would get the benefit of listening to their Dai's waaz during the entire 9 days of Moharrum, thus giving them the intense and spiritual satisfaction of being with the Daizzaman Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS) during the Ashara, even without necessariy going to the main Masjid-Saifee Masjid on Raudat Tahera Street, as all could not be accommodated in the main Masjid. A relay system was devised and the Mumineen (followers) attended the waaz in Masajid / Centres allocated to them. Forty-nine such centres were identified throughout Greater Bombay and Mumineen were issued passes to enable them to attend their allocated centres and get the benefit of Syedna's (TUS) discourses. At several places closed circuit T.V. with large screens were provided giving the Mumineen intense satisfaction of participation in the spiritual experience with their beloved Rehbar, getting the barakaat of deedar of Aqa Moula (TUS). This arrangement was a sign of the community's awareness of the rapid technological advancement and the benefit to be derived from such advancement for the material and spiritual development of mankind.
Another satisfying feature introduced by the organisers was the system whereby almost every Bohra assembled in Bombay would get an opportunity atleast once during the Ashara, to attend the waaz in Saify Masjid itself. This was a unique arrangement and so finetuned, that hundred and hundreds of Mumineen who would have otherwise hardly got an opportunity to be a participant in the Majlis at Saify Masjid, attained the ultimate satisfaction of doing 'matam' with their Dai.
It is estimated that along with the residents of Bombay, the total gathering numbered about two-and-a-half lakhs +. They were all provided with accomodation at several places, hotels, hostels, halls, musafirkhanas and of course Mumineen's houses. Every comfort of the Mumineen was scrupulously taken care of so that they can listen to the waaz in comfort and without any owrries whatsoever, thereby totally participating and inbibing the gems of knowledge and wisdom flowing from Syedna (TUS).
These arrangements were accomplished through various dedicated committees, in many instances chaired by the Shahzadas themselves, and through the establishment of an efficient office network at Badri Mahal, through which several committees worked in complete unison and harmony.
The State Government and its administration, the City Authorities, the Police, the B.E.S. & T Undertaking, the Press, the Media and various other relevant departments gave full-hearted help, support and co-operation to the organizers. This sponteneous help and understanding attitude demonstrated in bold relief the secular character of the Nation in its full majesty.
To meet the expenses of organising this spiritual congregation, Mumineen from all walks of life readily came forward to contribute handsomely to this noble cause and thereby earned the 'sawab' of contribution in 'niyaaz'.
In such a brief narration, how is it ever possible to analyse or summarise the exalted discourse of al-Dai-al-Fatemi Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS0 delivered for almost four hours every day for eight days and for eight hours on the Ashura day. The truth lies in the fact that it is beyond the capacity of the narrator's pen to capture the tapestry of these discourse. His message was simple, coming straight from the heart, asking Mumineen (followers) to translate the lessons and meaning of the Martyrdom of Kerbala into their daily lives and thus making it a living ethos. By so doing, each Mumin will be able to bring within himself a spiritual and moral revival, by understanding the purpsoe of this earthly creation and fulfilling his correct and just role in an increasingly troubled world. This realisation will truely fortify him to meet the continuing challenges of his daily life with inner strength, ever remembering the time tested tenets and pricniples of Islam as enshrined in the holy Quran. He wanted his followers to be good believers, clean, civil and pure, upholding moral and human values and to follow the Shariat and Fatemi Din in their purest form. By achieving all these, by imbibing his mission and message of Love and Din, would ultimately lead the believer to 'najat' -- the salvation -- the supreme goal of this mortal existence, and thereby to eternal fulfillment.
During his discourses, Syedna (TUS) offered prayers (Doa) for the wellbeing of the country in particular and society in general; also praying for the country speicalling invoking Allah's pleasure that there may be good rain and a plentiful harvest. Then the heavens opened and the rains poured down upon the country.