On the occasion of the martyrdom of the daughter of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), Hazrat Zahra (pbuh), the Islamic Centre of England hosted the mourners for three nights.
In a ceremony that was held at the Islamic Centre of England, in Arabic and Farsi for three nights on 15th-17th December 2023, a large number of Shiites of the Family of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) participated in the mourning ceremonies of Hazrat Zahra (pbuh) to shed tears of grief.
HIWM Seyed Hashem Moosavi, the Imam of the Islamic Centre of England, spoke in Persian ceremonies for three nights giving lectures on Imamology using Hazrat Zahra (pbuh) as an example.
On the first night of the mourning ceremonies, he explained the position of Imamate and pointed to its superiority compared to the position of Prophethood (pbut). He said that according to what is obtained from the verses of the Qur’an, some Prophets (pbut), including Hazrat Ibrahim pbuh), after achieving great success in the position of Prophethood (pbut) as a promotion, they reached the position of Imamate (pbut). Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Seyed Hashem Moosavi, referring to the importance of Imamate, considered it as being the first concern of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), from the very beginning of his mission.
He clarified this by saying that according to some verses of the Qur’an, if there was delay in this divine matter, the Prophet’s (pbuh) mission would have been left incomplete and half-finished. For this reason, after the events of Ghadir Khum, God Almighty declared Islam as the perfect religion for humanity.
The Imam of the Islamic Centre of England continued by using the verses and narrations that introduce Hazrat Zahra (pbuh) as one of the best role models and examples of behaviour to examine her performance as a superior exemplar in introducing the Imam of her time (pbuh) and defending the position of Imamate (pbut).
Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Seyed Hashem Moosavi, on the second night of the mourning ceremony of Hazrat Zahra (pbuh), continued his speech and discussed the lessons of Imamology from Hazrat Zahra (pbuh). He added, the Holy Qur’an and the traditions of the Infallible (pbut) identify one of the most important duties of the believers and thatis the realization of the Imam’s Imamate (pbut) and protected it from being rejected.
The Imam of the Islamic Centre of England explained the position of the Imam (pbuh) and the importance of the position of Imamate (pbut) by using the innovative method of Hazrat Zahra (pbuh) in defending the Imam (pbuh) and said: From the point of view of Hazrat Zahra (pbuh), the position of Imamate (pbut) is like the Kaaba, which should be circled around and not wait for the Imam (pbuh) to come to the people. He also cited the words of Hazrat Zahra (pbuh), and said that the Imam (pbuh) is the centre of attention of all mystics, the inheritor of the Prophets (pbut), and the source of order and unity of the Ummah
On the third night of the mourning ceremony for the martyrdom of Hazrat Zahra (pbuh) at the Islamic Centre of England, Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Seyed Hashem Moosavi continued to describe the life of the daughter of the Prophet of Islam (pbuh) in defense of the Imam of her time (pbuh) and said: the blessed existence of Hazrat Hujjat (atfs) is also introduced to the people of His (atjs) time and the position of Imamate defended in the style of His (atfs) honorable mother Hazrat Zahra (pbuh) and made her His (atjs)’ role model.
HIWM Seyed Hashem Moosavi, the Imam of the Islamic Centre of England, applying some of the practices of Imam Zaman (atfs) to the life of Hazrat Zahra (pbuh), said that one of the things that Imam Zaman (atfs) does with the encouragement of Hazrat Zahra (pbuh) is to pray for His (atfs) followers. Even if they have wronged or neglected the Ahl al-Bayt (pbut).
Referring to Imam Zaman (atfs)’ great love for His (atfs) Shiites, he said in a narration quoted from that Imam (atfs), Imam Zaman (atfs) about the Shiites, in the following manner, “If you supplicate, I will say Amen to your prayers, and if you do not pray, I will pray for you. I will request for your forgiveness for your slips, and I even appreciate your aroma.”
In the end, the Imam of the Islamic Centre of England said, “Therefore, having such an Imam (pbuh) and a role model, it is our duty to make an effort to get to know such an Imam (pbuh) and defend His (pbuh) position and bring Him (pbuh) out of exile.”
In the Arabic part of the mourning ceremony for the martyrdom of Hazrat Zahra (pbuh), Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Sheikh Ali Masood recited for two nights and Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Sayed Qasim Jalali on the third night. They gave a speech explaining the role of Imamate (pbut) and the role of Hazrat Zahra (pbuh) in unquestionably supporting the Imam of his time (pbuh). They discussed and listed the struggle of that Imam (pbuh) in introducing the position of Imamate (pbut) as a model and a road map for the Shiites of the Ahl al-Bayt (pbut) of the great Prophet of Islam (pbuh).
In this ceremony eulogy, hymns and lamentations of the Ahl al-Bayt (pbut), were recited in mourning the martyrdom of Hazrat Zahra (pbuh).