 Welcome dear viewers to our show on the day of Ashura. I would like to take this opportunity to send my condolences to the Imam of our time on the death of his great-grandfather. I would also like to send my condolences to all the viewers around the world who love Imam Hussein, be it from where a background they come from. The day has arrived, the day where it is hard to talk and the day where the earth shook with what took place upon it. We'll be discussing on this special show the different aspects of Ashura that we can learn from with our esteemed guests Sheikh Abbas Banjoo, Seyed Mohsin Shah and Muntaz-e-Jafar. Truly it's a very difficult day to speak on and truly if you kept us here for the rest of our lives we would not do this event any justice. But to begin with Sheikh, this idea of morning and this day of Ashura what was the purpose of this day? Why did Imam do what he did? I seek refuge with Allah from the evil eye of the regime. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. When there is no better way of understanding the revolution of Imam al-Hussein other than through the words of Ahlul Bayt themselves. Imam al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, points to us this reality in Ziyarat al-Arabain where he points out why Imam Hussein did what he did. And in a part of this Ziyarat we say, the Imam teaches us to say This is that Imam al-Hussein who gave up his soul in order to save your servants and your creation from ignorance and from misguidance. This has a very deep connotation and it shakes the conscience of a person from the core if he contemplates upon these words. Imam al-Hussein walked into the plains of Karbala with his infant, Abdullah al-Radi'ah saw his infant being slaughtered with a three-pronged arrow in his arms took the blood of this infant and wiped it on his beard. For what? So that you and I will have a clear understanding of truth and falsehood such that you and I can come out of the fold of ignorance and misguidance and walk on the path of this deen. This religion that you and I have today is as a result of Imam al-Hussein's sacrifice in Karbala and watching his entire family being massacred. Why did he do that? So that you and I have an opportunity to seek this truth, seek the religion and walk on the path of this religion. Sayed Masin, we hear this story every single year over and over again. How do you not get bored of this? Every single year the same story? I think every year there's something new to learn, especially me. Every time I hear the story of Karbala there's a new element or a new event or a new angle. Which is a miracle, I think, yeah. Indeed, it's a massive miracle in itself. And the other thing is every year we grow as human beings and then we can relate to different characters as we are growing. Whether we're young, we can look at, you know, Hazrat Qasim. When we're in our, what we call Joaniad, we can look at Hazrat Ali al-Aqbal. You know, when we're older, we can look at Abu Fadil, we can look at Imam al-Hussein. We can even look at the ladies that were there in Karbala. And we can relate to their, you know, tragedy. We can relate to their situation. And furthermore, I think a miracle of Karbala, the fact that we don't get bored of it year after year, is the relationship we make with these characters and with Imam al-Hussein. And then it's like after Arba'een and after Farhat al-Zahra, we go back to living our lives and it becomes a bit distant. We become a bit disconnected until it comes again where we have the black cloth on our skin, the black cloth at home, attending majlis after majlis after, and performing the azar. And I think that in itself is a miracle why we don't get bored of it at all. In the holy month of Ramadan, we fast and our God consciousness gets uplifted. But then we, three months later, have another opportunity for our spirit to be raised again, although in a different way. How has it impacted you personally in the sense that you've got the month of fasting and then a few months later, another opportunity to become close to God? I think it's, for me it's impacted me quite a bit in the last couple of years when you see that you go to the same centre, the same centres rather, maybe you go to a few same centres, you see the same people coming to the same lecture to hear the same story year in, year out. But I challenge you to find one person that feels any less sad this year than he felt the year before. Less sad this year than he felt ten years ago even if he, right? It's crazy because every time you find someone that always, they'll always cry, they'll always feel the sadness for Abdullah. And I think the month in the calendar is very much needed for me personally. I seek for myself first before anybody else, but in terms of when these kinds of years, these kinds of times come about in the Islamic calendar, we automatically become more aware of our actions, about our goings around, what we do in life, how we act towards other people, towards ourselves, towards our parents, towards our family members. And for me I think that's a very well needed awareness for myself first. And say the most and you touched upon this idea of different personalities and we become close to them. And I'm sure it changes every single year, but as of recent, which personality in Karbala do you have the hugest affection for or a fairer question would be which story moves you most? I mean it's unfair, we can't give justice to the story of Karbala or to any specific individual because they're unique in their own... I remember one poet says that they are all Hussein. Exactly. So they all have done the same goal. Which personality? For me I always relate to... and the story that touches me the most is the story of Sayyidina, because she witnessed everything from her own children to her brothers, her nephews, don't forget she had 18 brothers and every single one of them was slaughtered on the plains of Karbala and she was very, very close with them on Hussein. Even before Karbala she witnessed other people in her family die. Definitely. And then she was so close to Abad al-Hussein and for her to see what happened to Abad al-Hussein the way he was butchered on the plains of Karbala. But, you know, sometimes we forget, we think that Karbala finishes on Ashura. We forget, we forget when they came and attacked the tents and set the tents on fire. We forget the looting of the jewellery and the redar. So, for me, Sayyidina, because I know what she's about to go through and I know about the journey to Sham. And also, you know, we have, you know, narration say about Imam Sajad. They asked, why do you mourn and cry so much over your father for, you know, martyrdom is in your heritage. And he turned around and said, it's true, martyrdom is in our heritage. And this is an honor. However, the way we were paraded and embarrassed and ridiculed in Sham, it broke his heart and he would, you know, forever torment him. And I think for me, Sayyidina, for what she witnessed in Karbala and then for Sham al-Gharibah and then the journey to Kufa, to Sham and what happened there, for me, Sayyidina, her story breaks my heart every time. Absolutely. We're going to discuss in a few moments the different things that are recommended to do on this day of such grief. And one of their rituals and expressions is poetry, which we've done on most of our shows. So I'd like to ask Muntazid in honor of this day to recite just a few lines of poetry to remember this day of Ashura for our audience and for us in the studio. Ashura. And what can I tell you about the 10th, the day where one by one they went from their tents 24 hours that 1400 years later still alive. The red skies continue to mourn the last of the five. Thirsty. Yet then the enemies brave. Thirsty. Yet then the enemies brave and what else could be expected from the lions of Haidal, the truth on their side removing fear from their hearts perhaps in a far away land. But from their Lord never far apart come look at that far away land today. Come look at that far away land today Karbala. About you what can I say on one side Abbas and on the other Hussain on one side Abbas and on the other Hussain making heaven on earth Haramain. What can I tell you about the 10th day those tragic hours that had a massive display of love of sacrifice of giving of loyalty those hours that turned companions into nothing less than royalty. Princes going to defend their king. Princes going to defend their king for in a world without Hussain what is the point in living for in a world without Hussain what is the point in living? With that Hussain Sheikh with putting the rich wars aside which we have discussed what are the recommended act to do on this day of Allah Shua that the Al-Bait of taught us? There is a number when it comes to the acts that are to be done on the day of Ashura obviously we have the recitation of the Maktal in itself which is recounting the entire tragedy of Imam al-Hussain and then in addition with the letter and the azadari you have the azad twirij that takes place inside of Karbala every year this is a form of azad which has been recorded by ulama of the past like sof marhumatullah bahl ulum rahmatullah aleih where he has seen Imam al-Hujjah Jalla Allahu Ta'ala Farajahu Sharif participate within the azad twirij again on the day of Ashura from the acts that are recommended is the recitation of Ziyarat al-Ahshura and the recitation of Ziyarat al-Nahya Ziyarat al-Nahya is the eulogy of Imam al-Hujjah Jalla Allahu Ta'ala Farajahu Sharif in regards to his grandfather Imam al-Hussain there are many realities of Ashura that are found within this Ziyarat Ziyarat al-Nahya in regards to salawat there is two sets of Turaqa Salas two prayers that are Turaqa as each which is generally recited at some point during the day the first raka person is supposed to recite Surat ul-Hamd and Surat ul-Kafirun the second raka he would recite Surat ul-Hamd and Surat ul-Ikhlaas and then after that you would recite the second set of prayers in the first raka Surat ul-Hamd and Surat ul-Ahzab and in the second raka after Surat ul-Hamd Surat ul-Mulafikun and you find that there is a big hikmah behind this in that the first set of prayers in the first raka and second raka you recite Surat ul-Kafirun and Surat ul-Ikhlaas which is supposed to symbolize your faith and your subscription to Tawheed for which Imam al-Husayn gave his life and in the second you have Surat ul-Ahzab and you have Surat ul-Mulafikun which shows you the different colors of the enmity that Imam al-Husayn faced when a person recites these two Salas my advice is that take few days before or few days after to read through the meanings of these four Suras Surat ul-Ahzab, Surat ul-Mulafikun and through this you are able to understand the type of enmity Imam al-Husayn faced but more importantly we find within the stretch of the enemies of Imam al-Husayn that we try and purify ourselves from Sayyid Muslim, we know in some Muslims fast on this day obviously we as Shias don't believe in that but I do notice in some cultures especially in the Indo-Pak culture people do not eat or drink till usurtime although at time can you tell us a bit why that's done and the meaning behind that in the subconcern we call it al-Farqah and you refrain from eating and drinking only and that is from Fajr until the al-Duhur, al-Aman, al-Assad al-Aman and it's just to symbolize and remember the struggles of Imam al-Husayn in his camp where they had no water so it's not actually a half of fast it's more of a sympathy empathizing with their thirst indeed, I've looked up in the Dara Salah and there are indications of refraining from drinking and eating from that time so it is backed and supported it's not wajib, it's mustahab it's out of respect you know, who are we to eat on this day for abab al-Husayn could not eat on this day and who are we to drink water if little Suqeen and Urya couldn't drink on this day even when a family member passes away the last thing you eat of is food and drink when the funeral happens so it's about that sympathy and empathy apart from the recommended acts that have been passed down to us what else do you like to do on this day I mean what comes to mind is that obviously the night of Ashura before the battle actually commenced Imam did ask for one more night for what he likes to converse with his Lord so the night proceeding and the day of and even the night after what are the things that you personally like to do or maybe think about so Ashura as much as it's a historically very rich event it's a very commemorative event it's a very sad event but also part of it in our community especially I'm not sure about how it is with you guys but a lot of us, they go to the cemetery in between so once Ashura day program finishes before the Shami Ghareeban program start they head to the cemetery it's a time for introspection it's a time to reflect once you're there at the cemetery you will also probably have some sort of Marsha'a recitation, some sort of yuleji but also it's a quiet time it's a time to reflect think about how Imam Hussein spent this day pleasing his Lord and every action he did his Lord was at the centre of his mind and think about how you can then implement that in your life that's something I like introspection is something very much emphasising Islam in general Shraik to wrap up and I'm sure as someone who speaks in the pulpit every single year this is a very important question to you but if you could pick maybe just one key lesson out of infinite amount of lessons from this day maybe the one most relevant to us today what would you tell us in the studio and the viewers at home of the most key lesson today to take from this moment to stay we need to harness our love and our loyalty to Ahlul Bayt in everything that we do from our actions the lifestyle choices that we make the manner in which we dress the manner in which we understand Allah obey Allah everything revolves around Ahlul Bayt and demonstrating this loyalty nurturing this loyalty in others in our families extended families propagating the message of Ahlul Bayt in particular the wilaya of Amir al-Mu'minin this is one of the greatest lessons we can take and when you look into the day of Ashura the manner in which the companions sacrifice themselves this is because of their deep deep unconditional love for Ahlul Bayt this willaya that they had inside of them and this is a lesson that we need to to take from the many lessons of kalbada that hopefully when our Imam reappears and when the time comes where a sacrifice is needed we do not hesitate either we will be amongst those who are in the front lines and this can only start with unconditional love, nurturing it and more important propagating and spreading it as well I think looking at the whole story I think the day of Ashura is the greatest love story we will ever ever see and the love is between Imam Hussein and God in the end and then the love it provides to us as human beings who follow him and the love we have and I think it will be unfair to end here but my other two guests what's the most profound lesson that you take from Ashura after hearing it every single year I think it would be nice to wrap up with what you what's the biggest lesson for you so please of the many lessons the one I would like to convey to the audience is the lesson of Hazrat Hur the door of repentance I'm not saying that Hur was a sin I'm not saying that but to turn back to Allah and return and turn back to the Ahlul Bayt even if it's at the final moment you can and you should someone like Hur began Ashura going to hell and ended up going to heaven making his decision to join Imam Hussein and never to lose hope in the mercy of Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala in reforming who you are just following on from that I think one of the things we can see is the varying ages that you had in the army of Abiyadullah al-Hussain from the life of Habib ibn Madaher a very close companion of ibn Abdullah to the likes of Abdullah al-Razi' Ali and al-Lasqar al-Hassan six months old you had ranging ages 13 year olds, 18 year olds youth, young adults I think it's never too early never too late to give everything that you had in the way of Allah dear viewers thank you for joining us today is not the day where I will wish you all to have a good day it's not that kind of day today today is the day where I ask you all as those who try to seek God or even on a humanitarian level to take a moment out on this day to remember this great sacrifice no matter where you come from what your background is this is one of the greatest stories to ever happen in the history of humankind and we implore all viewers to look this up more take time to read about it take time to learn about it and implement it in your lives many people search for God throughout their lives some find God in a pilgrimage some find God in prayer but I speak for many people we found God in Karbala through the love story of Imam Hussain and I would like to invite brother Munta Zik to recite a poetry and a eulogy as tradition says to us to do on this day the eulogy is a very painful one a very historic a legendary one for those of you that know it it's talking to the Hussain and saying you know where is Hussain where have you taken our prosecutor