The Day Of
Ashura
This is not a protest! It is:
People are beating their chests at the procession because it is:
Imam Hussain was:
Ashura is an annual day of morning on the 10th day of Muharram (the first month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar). It is an annual event which marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (the prophets grandson) in 680AD in Karbala Iraq, for refusing to submit to the tyranny of the Caliph at the time Yazid.
We remember Imam Hussain (as) through the often practiced medium of a procession because it is an effective means to spread awareness about Imam Hussain (as), his cause and his sacrifice for mankind. The movement of people in a coordinated and synchronised manner attracts the attention of any onlookers because it gives the impression that something is happening, something that cannot be achieved by simply standing in one spot. We want onlookers to question what that something is and in doing so whet their appetite for why we are holding the procession. The Ashura Procession comprising of thousands of people from various ethnic backgrounds all wearing black adds to the curiosity in people’s minds as to what is going on and why.
Holding a public assembly (as has been suggested by many) is definitely one way of remembering the tragedy of Karbala, but taking it a step further and holding a procession is a more effective way of spreading awareness to the community at large. In holding and participating in the procession attendees are mirroring an honoured tradition of walking from one’s home to Karbala on the day of Ashura. This is a way for people in the community to connect to Imam Hussain’s (as) sister, Sayedda Zainab (as), feel her pain and remember her long journey as a captive from Karbala to Damascus.
Finally, on this point it is worthwhile to consider that the notion of a procession is not exclusive to those who practice Ashura Processions, it has been utilised as a powerful tool by countless groups around the world – consider the various military, ethnic, social, political, special interest groups, minority groups, sporting and ceremonial events. In these instances we see people walking as a collective for a cause they believe in and celebrate/commemorate while promoting awareness and knowledge to the wider community – the Ashura Procession is no different.
The Ashura Procession aims to unite people from various backgrounds to spread the message of Imam Hussain (as), the message which reached its zenith on the day of Ashura. This day (Ashura) has a special significance to millions across the globe, it has become the day that everyone reignites and spreads the message of Karbala and Imam Hussain (as). That is why the procession is held on the day of Ashura. It is held in the morning as opposed to in the afternoon primarily because Imam Hussain (as) was martyred just after afternoon prayers.
While our intention is to have the procession on the day of Ashura, it may not always work out based on constraints imposed on the procession. There have been many reasons over the years for this. In accordance with local, state and federal laws we must notify all relevant authorities about the details of our Procession and this can often mean that we are at their mercy. Such authorities may place limitations on us in many ways. Our intention is to work with all authorities to achieve the best outcome for the procession and meet all our aims and objections.
Another reason is that due to the nature of the Islamic Calendar (a lunar based system) there occurs uncertainty as to the exact Gregorian date of the 10th day of Ashura, and that can cause some time constraints. A Procession of this magnitude takes months to prepare, yet we may only know the date for certain 10 days before it occurs.
The Sydney CBD is a central place in the heart of one of the biggest cities in Australia. One of our objectives in this Procession is the dissemination of the message of Imam Hussain (as). An effective way to achieve this objective is to hold our Procession in an area that will cause the greatest impact to the wider community, and grab the attention of the entire city, if not the world, especially where tourists and the media are concerned.
There are several ways the message is spread:
We encourage any and all Shia mosques, centres or associations to participate in helping to plan the Ashura Procession. We have, are and will continue to run the Ashura Procession with an open door policy – anyone from any centre, mosque, ethnicity, denomination, background, and religion is invited to take part in helping to plan and run the Ashura Procession.
The most common language used is English. Most things including our chants are in English, the speech, the brochures and banners. While the main strength of the Procession is its visual boldness, the main message is relayed and can be read in English.
While we do have chants in Arabic, English and Urdo, non-English aspects are small in number and generally won’t be heard by the masses. The ultimate aim is also to spread the message, which is why we need to focus on English, the official language of Australia.
We use synchronised chants and main speakers in order to partially control the audibility, tone and content of our chants. The Police have always said that our Procession is safe, secure and well organised. They further add that it is the most peaceful Procession that they oversee.
We embrace the diversity of the participants of the procession who span a plethora of rich ethnic backgrounds and cultures. Multi-cultural gathering and people have slight variation in how they practice the remembrance. The majority of the chanting is soft and synchronised. Chest beating will leave memory and will raise questions in people’s minds as to why they do this. This cultural expression of emotion leaves a lasting and deep impression in people’s minds.
Our marshals, all of whom receive training, are co-ordinated so as to maintain peace and order within the crowd. All our marshals wear safety vests and have set tasks to perform. There is a code of conduct and a great amount of training for each group.
Ladies are at front primarily because we want to show Australia and the world that we hold women in high regard in our families, homes, community and society. They are our sisters, mothers, friends, colleagues. The status of women in Islam and especially during the events of Karbala is best symbolised by having the ladies in front of the procession, leading the procession.
Ashura is an annual day of morning on the 10th day of Muharram (the first month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar). It is an annual event which marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (the... Read More.
Ashura is an annual day of morning on the 10th day of Muharram (the first month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar). It is an annual event which marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (the prophets grandson) in 680AD in Karbala Iraq, for refusing to submit to the tyranny of the Caliph at the time Yazid.
The portrait of Karbala started from a piece of land on the outskirts of a very large desert. A person by the name of Hussein was isolated in an open field in this desert. He was with his family and companions (whom did not muster even 70). On the other side stood an army that has been sent to fight him from various regions in the area reaching in excess of 30,000 soldiers (based on even the weakest of narrations).
At one place on the field lie many palm trees and behind them a small river called the Al Alqami River, which branched from the Euphrates River. This place was where the animals quenched their thirst, the plants sourced their nutrients and humans got their sustenance that God has provided as a gift.
This large army prohibited Hussein’s camp from drinking water after he was asked to choose between submitting to the rule of a thoughtless tyrant named Yazeed. Yazid knew nothing about Islam except the name of the religion. So Hussain made a choice. He chooses to die beloved and strong rather than being killed whilst weak and humiliated. He chose to be killed and cut into pieces to show to all mankind that this tyrant (Yazeed) who ruled the people and who’s followers were not Muslims and the path they follow is not related to Islam at all. He chose to be killed so that the pure Islam would last in perpetuity with his martyrdom, as the honored Prophet Mohamed stated:
“Hussein is from me and I am from Hussein”
Hussain and his companions have become eternal in front of the face of time. One would say how? The incident has occurred more than 1360 years ago so how are the personalities of the story still present with us today?
Its simple.
Look around you and witness the elements of righteousness and the elements of oppression. You will find that the light (of righteousness) is ever so bright where as the darkness (of oppression) is dark, despite the passing of time and other changes.
Who is Imam Hussain (a.s)? The Son of Fatima Al Zahra, daughter of the Prophet of Islam, Mohammed Ibn Abdullah The Son of Ali Ibn Abu Talib, the leader of the Faithful, the... Read More.
“Say (O Mohammed, unto mankind): I ask you no fee therefore except loving kindness towards my kinsfolk {42:23 Holy Qur’an}
Despite the great personality that Hussein was, the tragedy that followed is incomparable to any other throughout human history. A brief summary of the tragedy goes as follows:
This is a lesson that every human can take from this great personality.
On top of all which has been mentioned about Hussein, the opposing army also saw the greatness of Hussein themselves.
Hussein knew the intentions of the army of 1,000 knights who had come in the night to kill him. They had acquired such a thirst from marching through the desert to kill him, that by the time they met Hussein on his way to Iraq from Arabia, they were exhausted. How did he treat them?
He gave them and their horses water to drink with his own holy hands.
1300 years ago, it was Hussein who put his cheek on the cheek of his black servant while he was dying in the same way that he put his cheek on the cheek of his son Ali Al Akbar when he was dying.
Various theologians, politicians and others have discovered the greatness of Hussein and his revolution: Ghandi “I learnt from Hussein how to be oppressed yet victorious” "When ... Read More.
Various theologians, politicians and others have discovered the greatness of Hussein and his revolution:
“I learnt from Hussein how to be oppressed yet victorious”
“When called upon to surrender, they refused. They knew at the time that this would mean death for them. If, however, they were to submit to injustices they would disgrace their manhood and betray their religion. In these circumstances, they yielded to the embrace of death. The heads of these fine young men rolled on the battlefield. In my view, Islam did not attain its greatness by the power of the sword but entirely through the self-immolation of its fakirs.”
“ If Husain had fought to quench his worldly desires, then I do not understand why his sister, wife, and children accompanied him. It stands to reason therefore, that he sacrificed purely for Islam ” , “Charles Dickens’ Miscellanies”, p.61.
“Hussein accepted and set out from Mecca with his family and an entourage of about seventy followers. But on the plain of Kerbela they were caught in an ambush set by the … caliph, Yazid. Though defeat was certain, Hussein refused to pay homage to him. Surrounded by a great enemy force, Hussein and his company existed without water for ten days in the burning desert of Kerbela. Finally Hussein, the adults and some male children of his family and companions were cut to bits by the arrows and swords of Yazid’s army; his women and remaining chilfren were taken as captives to Yazid in Damascus. The renowned historian Abu Reyhan al-Biruni states; “…then fire was set to their camp and the bodies were trampled by the hoofs of the horses; nobody in the history of the human kind has seen such atrocities.”” [Ta’ziyeh: Ritual and Drama in Iran. New York, 1979, p. 2].
The Annual Ashura Procession Australia is a procession held every year, since 2004, to remember and promote Imam Hussain and his legacy... Continue Reading.
- To reflect and announce the legacy of Imam Hussain.
- To promote Imam Mahdi’s message of world peace and harmony.
- To unite people from various... Continue Reading.
The Annual Ashura Procession in Australia is guided by the following principles:
Religious supervision is under His Eminence Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammad Hussein Al-Ansari.
Our intentions are only to get closer to Allah... Continue Reading.
The Annual Ashura Procession Australia is a procession held every year, since 2004, to remember and promote Imam Hussain and his legacy. The various guides and aims of the event are stated in the sub-headings below. Through his reform, Imam Hussain paved the path for human unity by helping those who were oppressed. The process of bringing people together to remember him in turn fulfils this great vision.
The Annual Ashura Procession in Australia is guided by the following principles:
This is not a protest! It is:
People are beating their chests at the procession because it is:
Imam Hussain was:
Ashura is an annual day of morning on the 10th day of Muharram (the first month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar). It is an annual event which marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (the prophets grandson) in 680AD in Karbala Iraq, for refusing to submit to the tyranny of the Caliph at the time Yazid.
We remember Imam Hussain (as) through the often practiced medium of a procession because it is an effective means to spread awareness about Imam Hussain (as), his cause and his sacrifice for mankind. The movement of people in a coordinated and synchronised manner attracts the attention of any onlookers because it gives the impression that something is happening, something that cannot be achieved by simply standing in one spot. We want onlookers to question what that something is and in doing so whet their appetite for why we are holding the procession. The Ashura Procession comprising of thousands of people from various ethnic backgrounds all wearing black adds to the curiosity in people’s minds as to what is going on and why.
Holding a public assembly (as has been suggested by many) is definitely one way of remembering the tragedy of Karbala, but taking it a step further and holding a procession is a more effective way of spreading awareness to the community at large. In holding and participating in the procession attendees are mirroring an honoured tradition of walking from one’s home to Karbala on the day of Ashura. This is a way for people in the community to connect to Imam Hussain’s (as) sister, Sayedda Zainab (as), feel her pain and remember her long journey as a captive from Karbala to Damascus.
Finally, on this point it is worthwhile to consider that the notion of a procession is not exclusive to those who practice Ashura Processions, it has been utilised as a powerful tool by countless groups around the world – consider the various military, ethnic, social, political, special interest groups, minority groups, sporting and ceremonial events. In these instances we see people walking as a collective for a cause they believe in and celebrate/commemorate while promoting awareness and knowledge to the wider community – the Ashura Procession is no different.
The Ashura Procession aims to unite people from various backgrounds to spread the message of Imam Hussain (as), the message which reached its zenith on the day of Ashura. This day (Ashura) has a special significance to millions across the globe, it has become the day that everyone reignites and spreads the message of Karbala and Imam Hussain (as). That is why the procession is held on the day of Ashura. It is held in the morning as opposed to in the afternoon primarily because Imam Hussain (as) was martyred just after afternoon prayers.
While our intention is to have the procession on the day of Ashura, it may not always work out based on constraints imposed on the procession. There have been many reasons over the years for this. In accordance with local, state and federal laws we must notify all relevant authorities about the details of our Procession and this can often mean that we are at their mercy. Such authorities may place limitations on us in many ways. Our intention is to work with all authorities to achieve the best outcome for the procession and meet all our aims and objections.
Another reason is that due to the nature of the Islamic Calendar (a lunar based system) there occurs uncertainty as to the exact Gregorian date of the 10th day of Ashura, and that can cause some time constraints. A Procession of this magnitude takes months to prepare, yet we may only know the date for certain 10 days before it occurs.
The Sydney CBD is a central place in the heart of one of the biggest cities in Australia. One of our objectives in this Procession is the dissemination of the message of Imam Hussain (as). An effective way to achieve this objective is to hold our Procession in an area that will cause the greatest impact to the wider community, and grab the attention of the entire city, if not the world, especially where tourists and the media are concerned.
There are several ways the message is spread:
We encourage any and all Shia mosques, centres or associations to participate in helping to plan the Ashura Procession. We have, are and will continue to run the Ashura Procession with an open door policy – anyone from any centre, mosque, ethnicity, denomination, background, and religion is invited to take part in helping to plan and run the Ashura Procession.
The most common language used is English. Most things including our chants are in English, the speech, the brochures and banners. While the main strength of the Procession is its visual boldness, the main message is relayed and can be read in English.
While we do have chants in Arabic, English and Urdo, non-English aspects are small in number and generally won’t be heard by the masses. The ultimate aim is also to spread the message, which is why we need to focus on English, the official language of Australia.
We use synchronised chants and main speakers in order to partially control the audibility, tone and content of our chants. The Police have always said that our Procession is safe, secure and well organised. They further add that it is the most peaceful Procession that they oversee.
We embrace the diversity of the participants of the procession who span a plethora of rich ethnic backgrounds and cultures. Multi-cultural gathering and people have slight variation in how they practice the remembrance. The majority of the chanting is soft and synchronised. Chest beating will leave memory and will raise questions in people’s minds as to why they do this. This cultural expression of emotion leaves a lasting and deep impression in people’s minds.
Our marshals, all of whom receive training, are co-ordinated so as to maintain peace and order within the crowd. All our marshals wear safety vests and have set tasks to perform. There is a code of conduct and a great amount of training for each group.
Ladies are at front primarily because we want to show Australia and the world that we hold women in high regard in our families, homes, community and society. They are our sisters, mothers, friends, colleagues. The status of women in Islam and especially during the events of Karbala is best symbolised by having the ladies in front of the procession, leading the procession.
