On the tenth day of Muharram 2025, the Islamic Centre of England in London became a symbol of unity and profound Hussaini consciousness through the establishment of the Noon Prayer of Ashura.
During the Ashura mourning ceremony held on Sunday, 6 July 2025, the martyrdom narrative (Maqtal) of Aba Abdillah al-Hussain (peace be upon him) and his loyal companions was recited in three separate gatherings in Arabic, English, and Persian. The strong turnout and emotional participation of mourners displayed their deep devotion to Imam Hussain.
In the Persian-language gathering, Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Sayyed Hashem Mousavi, the Imam of the Islamic Centre of England, recited the Maqtal of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him). Following this, the Noon Prayer of Ashura was performed in congregation with a large assembly of Shia Muslims residing in London.
Before the prayer, mourners expressed their grief over the tragedy of Karbala through elegies and chest-beating, led by the eulogist Haj Behzad Molaei, a reciter devoted to the Ahlulbayt.
The Ashura Noon Prayer was also held in all Shia centres across London. In the afternoon, various religious processions and groups organized mourning rituals—including chest-beating, chain-beating, and recitations of lamentations—through central London. The procession began at Marble Arch and concluded at Trafalgar Square and the UK Prime Minister’s office.
Addressing the large gathering of Shia Muslims at Marble Arch, Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Mousavi described Ashura as the ultimate declaration of loyalty to the camp of truth and disassociation from falsehood. He emphasized that in the confrontation between truth and falsehood, neutrality means siding with falsehood. Referring to the statement of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) on the Day of Ashura to a man from Kufa—”If you are not going to help us, then go somewhere where you cannot hear our cry for help”—he explained that the Imam intended to convey that whoever hears the plea for help from the camp of truth is duty-bound to respond; otherwise, they will be counted among the supporters of falsehood.
This year’s Muharram commemorations and the spiritually uplifting Ashura Noon Prayer were broadcast live via the Islamic Centre of England’s social media platforms. Thousands of Shia Muslims across the UK, who were unable to attend mourning gatherings in their own towns or in London, participated nightly in the centre’s online programmes to commemorate the tragedy of Karbala.
