"Where will it be this year?!" Just about every mumin asks this question with great enthusiasm around Ghadir-e-Khum. What exactly does this question refer to? It refers to the city that will be blessed by Aqa Moula's (TUS) presence during the holy days of Ashara. Each year mumineen anxiously await any news of Moula's (TUS) decision: they sit by their phones and fax machines, they wait outside for the mailman to drop by; today, they even hover around their computer workstations in anticipation of hearing the "beep" which indicates a new e-mail message in the inbox.
Every year the number of people who attend Ashara Mubarak with our Dai has dramatically increased. 1400H marks the first year in which mumineen were strongly encouraged to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS) with Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS) in Jamnagar. From that year on, more and more people did niyat to hear the Shahadat of Imam Husain (AS) and noorani kalema from their Moula (TUS).
But what exactly accounts for this increase in attendance? One of the obvious answers to this question is the preparations and accommodations that are made for visitors. Things have become so easy for visiting mumineen. All they literally need are some clothes -- everything else is taken care of. Over the years, the jamaats of the host cities have gone out of their way to assure the comfort of their mehman. This is a direct result of Moula's (TUS) farmaan. He is our spiritual parent; it is only natural that he worries about the well-being of his children who have traveled great distances to see him.
In all my Asharas with our Bawa Shafiq (TUS), I have never once experienced any difficulties whatsoever. Despite the thousands of people in attendance, the food served at the mawaid has never caused any problems for me. Extra precautions are taken in order to ensure quality of the niyaz. We have no need to worry about the food -- it is Imam Husain's Niyaz, and it is filled with barakaat and shifa.
A measure our Dai takes to make sure his mumineen are comfortable concerns accommodations. Many mumineen who travel to foreign countries for Ashura with Moulana (TUS) do not have relatives or friends they can stay with. To solve this problem, hotels are booked, apartment buildings are leased, and many of the mumineen residents open their hearts and their homes to the visitors. Often times, the hotels booked are of five-star caliber and would prove to be very expensive for a minimum ten-day stay; however, visiting mumineen are not burdened with such worries. Aqa Moula (TUS) takes care of everything.
This year, Aqa Moula (TUS) bestowed Surat with the sharaf of hosting the first ten days of Moharram-ul-Haraam. One can only imagine the excitement and joy that radiated throughout the city: Aqa Moula (TUS) just blessed Surat months ago to inaugurate al-Masjid-al-Muazaam, and now he has given the mumineen of Surat another opportunity to do khidmat. Imagine the happiness of the people! Imagine the happiness of the masjid! A structure that was brought to life by Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS) now has the opportunity to do khidmat for its Dai; it can now partake in the ghum of Imam Husain (AS) with Moula (TUS) and his mumeneen.
I was not fortunate enough to travel to Surat this year, but my parents and brother were. From my parents' stories and my brother’s great CNN-like video footage, I received a good picture of the event. The first thing my family mentioned to me about Ashura this year was that there was something different about the whole event. Every year is always special in its own right, but I am told that this year was special indeed. I myself had a feeling that there was a different energy flowing in Surat this year. The mumineen of Houston were fortunate enough to listen to the 7th Bayaan Mubarak regarding Moulatena Fatema's (AS) Shahadat. During the relay, I truly felt the power of Aqa Moula's (TUS) bayaan. Every year’s Vaez Mubarak is always a moving experience; but for some reason, I really felt a different vibe from the bayaan this year. The amount of ghum Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS) performed for Moulatena Fatema (AS) was amazing; one could truly feel the pain and sorrow expressed by our Dai, even if they were listening to the relayed bayaan.
Although I had to live the Surat experience vicariously, the Iqtebaasat of the bayaans was very informative and conveyed an excellent account of each day's vaez. The inexplicable aura of this year's Ashura Mubarak was also present in the summaries of the bayaans. The section that stands out the most in my mind is Aqa Moula's (TUS) arzi to Imam-uz-Zamaan (AS). After reading this passage, I felt my heart melting away. I thought to myself, "If Aqa Moula's (TUS) noorani kalema has this effect on paper, I wonder how it would have been to hear these same kalema from our Dai". To witness our Moula (TUS) make such a moving arzi is indeed a special event, and I offer my mubarakbadi to all who were present at the time. This was the first time I heard of such an event.
Each year's Ashura Mubarak with Aqa Moula (TUS) indicates the growing love of mumineen for our Dai and our faith. Every year, more and more people travel with Moula (TUS) to observe and remember the hardships of the Panjatan Pak (AS). The fervor and zeal with which Mumineen do niyat to do Ashura with Moula (TUS) is a result of our Aqa's (TUS) love for us. A day has not passed in which our Dai has not remembered us; every year during Ashura, Aqa Moula (TUS) tells his mumineen that he always does dua for them. In addition, Moula (TUS) states he remembers and does dua for those who are not able to attend. Mumineen, we are truly lucky to be a part of the era of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS); this is the Golden Era in the history of our Dawat. Ziyarats and masjids have been erected and resurrected. —Aqa Moula (TUS) is bringing the past to life for his mumineen. Our history, our heritage, and our culture: these are the elements that distinguish the Dawoodi Bohra quolm from all other sects of Islam.
May Allah grant Aqa Moula (TUS) a long and prosperous life, Ameen!