Srinagar- Thousands of fasting Muslims thronged shrines and Imambargahs on Saturday to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS), one of the most revered icons of Islam.
Every year, on the 21st day of Ramazan, mourners gather in mosques and religious centers across many parts of the Muslim world to attend ceremonies commemorating the martyrdom anniversary of first Imam and fourth ‘Rightly Guided’ Caliph.
The biggest gathering was witnessed in Najaf al Ashraf, in Iraq, the resting place of Imam Ali. Iraqi officials said hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all across the world have assembled in the holy city to pay tributes to great companion of the Prophet of Islam (Pbuh).
It was on the 19th of Ramazan 40 AH (27 January AD 661), Imam Ali was struck on the head with a poison-coated sword during the morning prayers in the Great Mosque of Kufa. He passed away two days later. The night preceding Imam Ali’s martyrdom is considered to be one of the threefold Qadr (Destiny) Nights, when the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) more than 14 centuries ago.
Muslims hold night-long vigils on Qadr Nights, reciting the holy Quran and praying until dawn.
In Kashmir major functions on the occasion were held at Hazratbal, Zadibal and Hassanabad in Srinagar, Mirgund in Baramulla and in Budgam town.
Thousands joined the procession at Mirgund, Pattan after Shia leader Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari gave his sermon eulogizing the great personality and highlighting importance of his teachings for the present era. Maulana emphasized on the need for Muslims to study the heroic life of Hazrat Ali (AS) in order to come out of present chaos and confusion.
“We should follow the teachings of Imam Ali in these difficult times. He was not only a brave warrior but a kind ruler as well. He possessed the best qualities in battlefield and outside,” Maulana Masroor said.
He said that Imam Ali was guardian of orphans and friends of the poor and needy.
“The need of the hour for our youth is to follow Imam Ali’s footsteps for a successful life,” he said.
Peoples Conference leader and President Shia Association Imran Raza Ansari also addressed a gathering at Zadibal Imambargah.
“Imam Ali was the sea of patience and tolerance,” Ansari said.
He said that towering personality of Hazrat Ali had this honor of being born in the house of Allah Kabba – and also achieving his martyrdom in the house of Allah Masjid Kufa.
Similar commemorative functions were held at Budgam and Bemina by two factions of Anhjuman-e-Sharie Shiayan. Processions and night long prayer meets were held in villages across length and breadth of Kashmir, reports said.
In Ladakh division massive processions were brought out in Kargil, Zanskar and Leh.
In Kargil thousands of people took out a procession to pay rich tributes to Imam Ali.
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