Mourning Imam Hussein Q & A: Ayatullah Al Hakeem

Mourning Imam Hussein

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Q [1] Is Azadari – Mourning Imam Hussein – permissible or recommended? 

The commemoration of the Ahlulbait (Peace be upon them) is amongst the best deeds that the religious texts emphasized on and it was narrated that there is great rewards for those who perform it.

Q [2] What are the best deeds of the month of Muharrum?
Participating in the mourning of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him).

Q [3] What is obligatory for me to do in Ashura? I have only recently joined the school of thought of the Ahlulbait (Peace be upon them) over a year ago, please explain to me my duties in Ashura.
The greatest and the most tragic calamity to the friends of Allah and His righteous slaves happened on the day of Ashoura. The son of the messenger of Allah's daughter, his companions and family members including the nursed child were killed and their bodies were scattered afterwards. The enemies attacked the tents in which gathered the women and children who were the closest family members of the messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The Imams of the Ahlulbait were remembering this day by mentioning the tragedy and expressing their sadness and grief for it. They also ordered their followers to do the same. They also emphasized visiting the grave of the oppressed Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) on this day or recite the Ziyara if visiting his grave in Kerbela is not an option.

Q [4] What is your opinion on tatbeer knowing that it has been used by the non Muslims as a way of attack and insult towards the Muslims?
The slander against shia does not stop even if they stopped performing tatbeer as it was for centuries against them because of their commemoration of the tragedy of Ashura. The reason behind this is obvious because it places the role of the Islamic caliphate in a question since the authorities eliminated the grandson of the prophet (Imam Hussien) in such a massacre way after the death of the founder of the religion, the messenger of Allah by fifty years only. The act of tatbeer is not a general practice of the shia in the day of Ashura since those who perform it is limited in number with respect to the population of shia that celebrates the tragedy every year. From that, one can conclude that the slander against the shia is not limited by the tatbeer.

Q [5] Is the practice of Tatbeer (striking swords on head, slitting it open to stream blood) permissible?
As the act of Tatbeer and other kinds of slogans is performed to populate the right principal and express emotions towards it then it is religiously recommended from this side. Yes, it can be prohibited because of secondary reasons like if it causes personal harm, public disadvantage or similar reasons. There is no set criterion for such prohibition as it differs from place to place and from time to time. It can also be different because of difference in opinions. We ask Allah Almighty to guide us and all devotees in all of that as we only depend on Him.

Q [6] I have a question regarding donation of money to mourning Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). Can we spend this money in other good deeds like constructing a Hussaniya or a mosque?
Donations must be spent in the way the donor wants. However, if the donation is more than what the beneficiary requires and if postponing their spending leads to wasting the donation, it is permissible to spend them in other ceremonies of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him).

Q [7] It is permissible to include in the reenactment of the tragedy of Karbala a horse as a symbol of the horse of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him)? It is permissible as long as it does not associate with another prohibited act.

Q [8] Is it permissible for me to play a speech of a preacher on a cassette player and put its speaker before a microphone that is connected to a loud speaker, so that it could be played loudly for my neighbors and people living in my vicinity to hear? The said act is permissible, but one should not annoy others as this may harm the reputation of the acts of remembering the anniversaries of the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them).

Q [9] Our blood is Najis. So why do our brothers mourn by shedding blood?
Mourning Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) as an expression of sadness and grief for the tragedy of Karbala is recommended. Some believers during such ceremonies bleed. The fact that our blood is impure does not effect this expression of condolence. Yes, whoever's body or clothes becomes impure by blood - or any other impurity – he should purify them before offering the prayer.

Q [10] Participants in some mourning ceremonies shed blood. Is it recommended to do so?
Religious rituals that Shias perform to mourn the tragedies of the Imams of the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) and present the oppressions that they suffered are recommended. It is obligatory to avoid what cause harm to the soul or the body. If it does not result in harm, it remains being recommended. One should avoid performing them in a place where the reputation of the Shia is damaged.