 In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Magnificent, may the peace and blessings of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala be upon the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his Holy Progeny and Allah's eternal wrath be upon the enemies of Muhammad Wa Ali Muhammad. Dear viewers, respected guests of the Imam Hussein television network, peace and blessings be upon you this very night, where we join to discuss the sermon and speech delivered by His Eminence, great Ayatollah Al-Uzma, Sayyid Sadiq Al-Husayni Ash-Shirazi in the city, in the holy city of Qum, where he resides to a congregation of faithfuls and followers of Ahlul Bayt, alaykum as-salam, on Thursday night, the eve of the 11th of Muharram, 1440 AH. And that sermon comes annually, where His Eminence covers a wide range of areas, discussing the most important matters affecting the visitation of Imam Hussein, alaykum and the rituals of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn and all the matters affecting the visitors of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn in this year and the years to come. And inshallah, during the time we have allocated to us, I will do my best to cover the majority of the points mentioned and raised by His Eminence, inshallah. I ask Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala to prolong the life of Ayatollah Shirazi and to enable us to serve Ahlul Bayt, alaykum as-salam and give us opportunity to continue the service that we have towards Allah and Ahlul Bayt, alaykum as-salam. His Eminence started His speech by offering His deepest condolences to the Awaited Imam and Savior, Imam Sahib al-Asri was Zaman and to all Mu'mineen and Mu'minat upon the tragedy of Karbala, the martyrdom of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn, peace be upon him. And he continued in saying, by the nightfall tonight everything came to an end, meaning Abu Abdullah al-Husayn and his family and his loyal companions were martyred on the plains of Karbala this afternoon, meaning Thursday afternoon. And his family started the sad and sorrowful journey of captivity and oppression. His Eminence continued in saying, the Shi'a and lovers of Ahlul Bayt, alaykum as-salam, mourned and honored the martyrdom of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn in the 10 days of the holy month of Muharram, which were days and nights of mourning, concluding on the day of Ashura. Lucky were those who served in the path and on the way of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn. luckier than those are individuals who tired themselves, who went to extreme levels to serve in whatever ways they can, Abu Abdullah al-Husayn, and bad hardship and difficulties in this path. Blessed and lucky were those who became wounded, as his Eminence continued in saying. Lucky are those who became wounded, injured, and even lost their lives and were killed because of the service they offered for the martyrdom of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn. His Eminence Ayatollah Shirazi started his sermon and speech with a passage from Ziyarat An-Nahiyeh, which is allocated to Imam Sahib al-Asr al-Zaman, and he took this passage so he can speak about the important points he wanted to raise. In the Ziyarah there is a passage that says. Peace be upon the innocent and the oppressed one, the one against whom people came together and the one whom these people made lawful and legal, the shedding of his blood and his oppression. Al-Mustabah meaning made lawful, halal, permissible. And this word al-Mustabah had been used as scholars come to describe the positioning of this word al-Mustabah in this visitation of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn. They say al-Mustabah is described here in an absolute and in general manner, which means it covers a wide area of meanings. That meant that the enemies who were present in Karbala on the day of Ashura in the year 61 AH, they permitted themselves and they allowed themselves lawfully and legally according to what they believed to oppress Imam Hussain alayhi Salam with everything that was related to him, peace be upon him. The killers of Imam Hussain alayhi Salam considered themselves as practicing Muslims. In the army of Amr ibn Sa'id, may Allah ask us him, there were people who used to be leaders in congregational prayers in Kufa. There were individuals who were scholars. There were individuals who had memorized the Holy Quran and used to teach and educate people in Kufa with the wordings of the Holy Quran. Those individuals, they allowed themselves to go that extreme path and the extreme length to oppress Abu Abdullah al-Husayn, to kill him and to bring him to martyrdom. These people committed all kinds of crimes in Karbala. Whatever you may think, these people done. They killed Abu Abdullah al-Husayn. They oppressed him. They physically abused him. A group of people stabbed Abu Abdullah al-Husayn severely. A group of people shot arrows to the body of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn. A group of people threw stones on the body of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn. A group of people, they striked and they hit the body of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn with wood. A group of people, they physically came to the body of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn and they kicked with their foot the body of Hussain, alaihi salam. But when it came, when the time came that these individuals, after the death of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn and after trampling with their horses on the body of this great man and great individual, they attacked the camp of Abu Abdullah al-Husayn. They looted whatever it was on the body of Imam Hussain and whatever was in the camp of Hussain, alaihi salam. And finally, they burned the tents and the camp of the women and children who were inside the tents. But Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, as a result of the prayers and the dua of Imam Hussain, alaihi salam, he protected miraculously the family and the women, especially in the camp of Imam Hussain. Imam Hussain prayed on the day of Ashura and said to the women and children, that means that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will protect you. The Imam did not say these people will not attack you or hit you or beat you. The Imam said Allah will protect you, which means that these criminals will not physically attack you on a personal level. These women and children were subjected to heinous torture, beating, had their arms and legs broken. More than that, they had to hear and observe verbal and abusive remarks against Amir al-Mu'mineen and Fatima al-Zahra and Aba Abdullah al-Hussain. His Eminence Ayatullah Shirazi continued in asking, but the question remains as to why all these crimes were and had taken place in Karbala. And the second question being, what were the roots and causes of this tragedy? Ayatullah Shirazi continues in answering this question. He says, as recorded in historical records of that tragedy, 30,000 armed men marched towards Aba Abdullah al-Hussain, towards Karbala, and were present on the eve of Ashura in Karbala, on the plains of Karbala. And these 30,000 armed men armed with weapons that would be used on a fierce battlefield, they came seeking nearness to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala by shredding and shedding the blood of Imam Hussain, alaihi salam. These people, as I said, they counted themselves to be Muslims. By committing this heinous act, coming to confront violently and abusively, Imam Hussain, who is the Imam, sent and allocated upon them by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, and that these people are obliged to follow where he would have guided them to the right path. These people, by committing this act, they proved that the religion or the so-called religion of Islam that they follow and their practicing of Islam is all a mere lie, and it was all false. According to authentic commentary and accounts of the Hellfire which was used, this example was used by Atollah Shirazi, as he said, that in the Hellfire there are different levels, and in the bottom, in the last bottom level of the Hellfire, there is a pit, there is a well, a huge well, and in that well there are 14 tubes, 14 boxes, and these boxes, if they were to be uncovered, as a result of the uncovering of these tubes and these boxes, the inhabitants of the rest of the levels of the Hellfire will receive torment and torture. So try and imagine what kind of of adab and torture lies within these tubes and these boxes at the bottom of the Hellfire, and these tubes are allocated to individuals who were the source of all the oppressions and all the problems faced Islam and Ahlul Mayt, one of those belongs to Muawiyah, where Muawiyah was the cause of all of these problems. What did he do to deserve this punishment, to be in one of these boxes, in one of these tubes, in the pit, in the well, and the bottom of the Hellfire? In the course of 20 years of his rule Muawiyah Ibn Abi Sufial, he committed crimes which were the base of a culture established against Islam and the culture of Ahlul Mayt, of these crimes committed were the cursing and abusing of Imam Amirul Mu'mineen, Ali Ibn Abi Talim, and Lady Fatima al-Zahra, the daughter of the Holy Prophet of Islam. Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain, Ali Hulmasalam were also mentioned and named in these cursings and these abusive words, and these were mentioned upon 70,000 platforms and pulpits around the Islamic States under the rule of Muawiyah Ibn Abi Sufial, and on every Friday where the speaker used to go up the pulpits and the platform to speak and to deliver his sermon in the Friday prayer to the Muslims, they used to start by cursing and abusing Ali Ibn Abi Talim, Fatima al-Zahra, Imam Hassan, and Imam Hussain, Ali Hulmasalam, and that was done during the 20 years, the course of 20 years, every Friday, for 20 years these people used to abuse Amirul Mu'mineen and by speaking against him, until the people of Sham and the inhabitants of the Islamic States under the rule of Muawiyah came to an understanding that the Holy Prophet of Islam did not have any other family members, but the Umayyads and Bani Umayyah and his clan, the Shi'a, the followers of Ahl al-Bait, those who practiced the true message of Islam in the course of history from the day of the martyrdom of the Holy Prophet until today were a minority group and these groups of the Shi'a, they faced many injustices and they were pressured to sometimes disclose their belief once they were found out to be Shi'a and followers and lovers of Ali Ibn Abi Talim, they used to be killed and tortured and deprived of their rights reaching to a level in which if any Shi'a or if anyone in Karbala next to the burial site of Aba Abdullah al-Hussain cursed Yazid ibn Muawiyah, the killer of Aba Abdullah al-Hussain, they were arrested and sentenced to imprisonment and in most extreme cases they were killed. Fortunately today, as Ayatollah Shirazi continued in saying, fortunately today circumstances have changed and the world today is somewhat enjoying better freedom. Today we live in a society and in a world that enjoys some freedom of rights, of speech, of practice, of belief. Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiqa Shirazi continues in asking this very important question which all Muslims, all Shi'a and all followers of Ahlul Mayt should think and ponder about. He says my question to the Shi'a is, oh Shi'a, oh lovers and followers of the commander of the faithful Ameer al-Mu'mineen, Ali ibn Abi Talib, salawatullahi wa salamahu alaihi. When are you going to show the whole world the true picture of those oppresses who oppressed Aba Abdullah al-Hussain in Karbala and those who oppressed Ali ibn Abi Talib, al-Fatima al-Zahra al-Imam Hassan, alaihim al-salam. Whose responsibility is that? Whose responsibility is to convey to the whole world the true image of the oppresses of Ahlul Mayt, alaihim al-salam? His eminence Ayatollah Shirazi narrated a story, a historical story where there was a political leader by the name of Yasin Al-Hashimi. Yasin Al-Hashimi lived at the time of World War I. He served as an Ottoman military officer with the Ottoman Empire and then later came to serve as a prime minister in the Iraqi government. This Yasin Al-Hashimi, he fought aggressively the signs and rituals of Imam Hussain, alaihim al-salam. He fought those who practiced the rituals of Aba Abdullah al-Hussain. Anyone who organized processions, anyone who came out and organized programs and majalis commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, alaihim al-salam, Yasin Al-Hashimi as a prime minister in that government in Iraq at that time ordered for anyone to be seen commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, alaihim al-salam, to be captured and arrested and punished and imprisoned. He also printed and issued and publicized publications, newspapers and materials against Imam Hussain, alaihim al-salam. He openly used to speak negatively against Aba Abdullah al-Hussain, whom his grave and burial site and shrine is in Iraq, the same land that he was a prime minister of. But at the end, what was his consequences? How and where did he die and perish? Yasin Al-Hashimi at the end and the last stages of his rule and government, he faced military uprising against his government, which resulted in him fleeing and running away from Iraq and residing in Sham, in Damascus, in Syria. And in a very terrible and lowly manner, he died a terrible death after two months of him running away from Iraq. And this was the nogum for all the politicians, for all the governments, for all the empires and establishments, wherever they would have been around the world. Anyone that came and stood against Aba Abdullah al-Hussain and the rituals of Imam Hussain, alaihim al-salam, the result of him dying a lowly death, a terrible death was imminent. And not only that, they lived a better life. They lived a life of humiliation, of belittling. Ayatollah Shirazi, he took this example to bring this image and to clarify this image to our minds and to say to those who until today, until this Ashura in Karbala and other places, they stood against those mourners who mourned Aba Abdullah al-Hussain and those who participated in the Azadari and in the upholding of the rituals and the Sha'a'ir of Imam Hussain, alaihim al-salam, alaihim al-salam. Until today, we find establishments from within the school of thought of Ahlul Mayt. And from outside Islam, we have individuals who year by year, they fight and they stand against the believers and the faithful individuals who participate in upholding the rituals of Imam Hussain, alaihim al-salam. Ayatollah Shirazi says, I advise and recommend that everyone investigates and studies the fate and consequences resulting the lives of those who fought and abused and practiced animosity against the rituals of Imam Hussain, alaihim al-salam. They faced nothing but humiliation, betrayal, failing, letting down and those who objected to the rituals of Imam Abdullah al-Hussain and those who opposed the Hussaini rituals, not only those but also those who are able to serve Imam Hussain and are able to support and propagate and fund the cause of Aba Abdullah al-Hussain and the rituals of Imam Hussain, alaihim al-salam, but they back down and they do not support to the best of their abilities. Those individuals as well, they will face humiliation, betrayal and letting down in this life before the, hereafter. Those who deliberately limit their service are also amongst those upon whom will not look at on the day of judgment. The issue and subject of Imam Hussain, alaihim al-salam is a very, very, very important issue and subject and everyone who is able to support in any shape or form, in any way, in any way in their capability and stands and holds back, they will be let down and they will face humiliation in both worlds. There are times where Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala does not bring down his wrath and does not rush in the torments and punishment of the oppressors and the ragdours and he will hold them accountable for their sins and mistakes in the hereafter rather than in this life. But in the case of Imam Hussain alaihim al-salam and anyone that has wronged Imam Hussain in any way, especially those who fight the rituals of Imam Hussain, who stand against the mourning processions of Imam Hussain, against those mourners who come to extreme lengths to organize processions and organize lamentations and majalis and events and programs comprising the Sha'a'ir of Imam Hussain beating of the chest or letting blood or self-lagilation or striking the head with swords and sharp objects to let blood, let blood come down and those individuals who are able to support and sustain financially and physically and because of their power and position, the cause of Aba Abdullah but they don't and they back down, these individuals will face torment, humiliation and disappointment in this life sooner than the hereafter. I inform you young men and women, young people and those who were able to during the 10 nights of Muharram to practice, to uphold the Hussain rituals, the Sha'a'ir of Imam Hussain alaihim al-salam, do not be afraid in confronting the oppressors, those who come forward to oppress you, those who come forward to refrain you and stop and stand against you from preventing you in practicing the Sha'a'ir of Imam Hussain alaihim al-salam, do not be afraid to stand up to them and confronting them. If one does not encounter any troubles or tribulations in this path, then it means that they have not done enough. We should be patient, we should be ready to encounter trials, tribulations and troubles in this path, in the path of Hussain, in the path of the establishment of the rituals of Aba Abdullah al-Hussain. This will result in the happiness and success in this life and the eternal happiness in the hereafter. Allah al-Ahl al-Mate have promised to fulfill their promise and obligations towards those who face trials and tribulations in the path of Hussain and rewarding them in this life before the hereafter. The whole world must know and learn who is Imam Hussain and why and how he was martyred. Who killed Imam Hussain? We must produce literature to inform the whole world of Imam Hussain and about the personality of Imam Hussain and about the movement and reform of Imam Hussain al-Hussain. Today Ayatollah Shirazi says we have to execute our responsibility towards Imam Hussain in this path and on this way. The violence, harm and injustices practiced against the lovers of Ahl al-Mate is not the same as it was before. In the past we have companions and we have ulama and scholars who sacrificed their lives and their bloods of their hearts were shed for the sake that these rituals and the signs and practices of the Hussain rituals reached us. So we have to make sure that with all our existence we make known to the whole world the holy sacrifice of Imam Abdullah al-Hussain and the sacredness of his rituals. In today's world there is a percentage of freedom and we are benefiting from the modern technologies open to us but it is not in the quantity required. I repeat as he says we must endure all types of difficulties for the sake of Imam Hussain. We must inform the world about the dangerous culture of the Umayyads and the oppressors of Imam Abdullah al-Hussain and why they committed these violent acts and who was behind it and what were the reasons behind these actions. Innocent blood was shed until these sacred rituals reached us and this is compulsory upon us to convey to others and I say again all actions need to be practiced and conducted in this path and in this way so we inform the whole world about about Abdullah al-Hussain. The other issue which Ayatullah Shirazi emphasized and concluded his speech with was the 40th visitation of Imam Hussain al-Salam al-Arba'een. Every year millions and millions of lovers and faithful followers of Imam Abdullah al-Hussain they attend the city of Karbala and the 40th day after the death and martyrdom of Imam Hussain al-Salam. The 40th day and the 40th visitation of Imam Hussain al-Salam is one of the signs and attributes of the believer and I warn those who say what effect will be not going to visit Imam Hussain on the 40th will have upon the millions who visit Imam Hussain on this day. We should not neglect and lose sight of propagating for the 40th of Imam Hussain al-Salam. Everyone should do what they can in this path even if it's teaching the fundamentals and pillars of Islam to those going on foot to Karbala on the 40th of Imam Abdullah al-Hussain. All abilities should be freely provided and facilitated for the programs of Imam Hussain on the 40th. There are poor people who have passed that test by welcoming and inviting and hosting people to their homes. Today those who are wealthy and those who are able to provide and support and sustain financially should do more, much more. They need to provide and prepare thousands of hotels and places for the well-being and resting of the visitors of Abdullah al-Hussain al-Salam. It does not make sense that political entities and establishments and governments today place visa requirements upon the visitors of Karbala. There will be a day as Ayatollah Shirazi says, there will be a day in which this visa will be removed and abolished and passports will be removed and well without a doubt. But why is it not happening today? Ayatollah Shirazi says governments today should abolish visa for all visitors of Abdullah al-Hussain. Ayatollah Shirazi says no to visa and no to passports for those wishing to visit Karbala and visit Imam Hussain al-Salam. But why is it not happening today in our time now? The officials should not let this opportunity and this blessing and source of eternal happiness escape from them. Officials must do everything possible to secure the visitors and to secure their movement freely from their homeland to Karbala and to Iraq without needing to pay or receive visas to go to Karbala. I pray, Ayatollah Shirazi says at the end of his speech, I pray that a day will come where all governments will cancel and remove visas and passports requirements for those who wish to visit Imam Hussain al-Salam upon him in Karbala and record this achievement and happiness for themselves. May Allah's peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his holy progeny.