Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is significant religiously and historically for Muslims worldwide. Investigate the meaning of this holy month and the ceremonies linked with it.
The Sacred Month of Muharram
Understand the historical significance of Muharram, which commemorates Prophet Muhammad’s journey (Hijra) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. Discover the significant events that occurred during this exodus and their long-term impact on the Muslim community.
The Day of Ashura: Commemorating Tragedy in Karbala
The 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura, is extremely significant for both Sunni and Shia Muslims. Discover the two faiths’ various historical viewpoints on Ashura and how they perceive it.
Ashura in Sunni Tradition: Fasting and Gratitude
Ashura is a day of fasting and introspection in the Sunni religion, representing thanks for divine rescue. Investigate the significance of fasting on this day, as well as the spiritual truths it teaches.
Ashura in Shia Tradition: Mourning for Imam Husayn
For Shia Muslims, Ashura is a day of great sadness commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husayn, Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, in the Battle of Karbala. Discover the rituals and processions used to demonstrate sadness and solidarity during this time period.
Muharram, a period of mourning for Muslims over the martyrdom of Imam Husain, grandson of Prophet Muhammad, is going on these days ( today is the 8th day of a 10 day period which will end on 29th July )
On the last (10th) day of Muharram, known as Ashura, Muslims take out the Tazia procession to bury the Tazia ( a replica of the mausoleum of Imam Husain ) at a ground called Karbala ( named after the city in Iraq where Imam Husain and others were martyred in 680 AD ).
In this connection I may refer to a judgment on the Tazia procession which I gave in 1999 when I was a Judge of the Allahabad High Court ( Imambara of Mulnapur vs State of UP )
The facts were these : there is an Imambara ( the building from where the Tazia procession is taken out ) in village Mulnapur, Tehsil Handia, district Allahabad. Every year Muslims of the area would take out the Tazia in a procession on the 10th day of Muharram for its burial at Karbala.
However, in 1999 some anti social elements allegedly obstructed the path of the Tazia procession by occupying and constructing unauthorisedly on it, and hence a writ petition was filed before me.
After hearing the parties I allowed the petition, observing : ” This is a free, democratic, and secular country. Article 25(1) of the Constitution states ‘subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this part all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion’. Tazia is a part of Muslim religion and Muslims are fully entitled to take out Tazia procession. Hence, we direct that there should be no obstruction and the authorities will ensure law and order in peaceful taking out of Tazia.
However, we have repeatedly held that religion is a private affair and must be carried out peacefully without causing harm or harassment to anybody, and hence Tazia cannot be taken out through the private land of anybody. It can only be taken out peacefully on a public path and in a manner which does not cause inconvenience to anybody. The path of the Tazia has been recommended by the S.D.M., Handia and the map is Annexure-2 to the petition. The petitioner is agreeable to this path suggested by the S.D.M.
Hence, we are of the opinion that the Tazia procession can be taken over on the aforesaid path as suggested by the S.D.M., Handia, Allahabad but we direct that no private property or trees should be damaged during the course of Tazia procession.
The petitioner and the authorities will also maintain law and order. With these directions the petition is finally disposed of ”.
Moharram, an important occasion for Muslims, is going on these days, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muharram I may tell an interesting story in this connection related by Intizar Husain, an eminent Pakistani novelist, short story writer, and poet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intizar_Hussain This is in his own words : WITH the arrival of Muharram this year, I was reminded of an encounter I had with an unusual, intelligent girl in Delhi. I recalled referring to Prem Chand’s play ‘Karbala‘ in one of my addresses, which was based on a legend. The legend was about a group of eight Hindu brothers who had somehow reached Karbala determined to die fighting for the cause that Imam Husain stood for. They fought bravely and sacrificed their lives in devotion to Imam Husain.
It was in this context that I was talking about Husaini Brahmans, who seemed to have vanished from the social scene in India.
All of a sudden, a girl from among the audience stood up and challenged my statement. She said, ‘Here I am before you. My name is Nonica Dutt. I belong to a Husaini Brahman family.’ It was clearly a pleasant surprise for me, something like discovering a rare bird while walking through a jungle.
The girl promised me an exclusive meeting to enlighten me with interesting information about the Husaini Brahman background of her family. But the proposed meeting kept on being postponed for one reason or the other. Finally, on the last day of my stay in Delhi, I received a call from her.
‘Let us meet now,’ she said
‘But I have no evening to spare for you. Today is the last day of my stay in your city,’ I said.
‘But I am already in the lounge and I must meet you,’ she said.
So we finally had a meeting. She entered my room with two large volumes under her arm. I proposed a detailed sitting on my next visit, which was due after a month or so. ‘But in the coming months, I will not be in Delhi. I am moving to Germany and will spend four months at the Humboldt University.’ Nonica Dutt taught history at Jawahar Lal University, Delhi and had been honoured with a fellowship from the Humboldt University. Hence she was on her way to Germany.
She said, ‘ I told my mother about your comments regarding Husaini Brahmans and how I introduced myself as one. To that she said, did you tell him that we don’t perform the rituals the Brahmans are obliged to perform. That we don’t go to the temples?’
‘Should I presume from this,’ I asked, ‘that you have turned Muslim.’
‘No, we are not Muslims,’ she exclaimed.
‘Then what are you?’ I inquired.
‘We are Husaini Brahmans,’ she said with a certain sense of pride and added, ‘Now, I will tell you about a sign each and every Husaini Brahman carries with him/her. On his/her throat s/he bears a line of cutting, which is indicative of the fact that s/he is the descendant of those Brahmans whose throats were cut in the battle of Karbala.’ Then she told me about the ritual carried out on the birth of every child in her family. She said, ‘Among Brahmans, after child birth, the ritual of Moondan is performed. In our family this ritual is performed in the name of Imam Husain.’
She then went on to tell me the historical facts. ‘I will now tell you about the history of our martyred forefathers.’ Pointing to the two books placed on the table she said, ‘Our entire history is conserved within these two books. When needed, I will quote from them.’ Considering their worn out and pale pages, the books, which were written in English, seemed to be centuries old.
The history of Husaini Brahmans, as told by Nonica Dutt, begins with ten Brahmans going to Karbala with the determination to die fighting for Imam Husain. Among them were Rahib Dutt and his seven sons who fought bravely and resolutely. They met their death in a heroic way. Rahib Dutt was the lone survivor of the battle. From Karbala he escaped to Kufa, where he stayed for some time. It is said that Rahib had the privilege of meeting the members of the Imam’s family after the massacre. He introduced himself by saying, ‘I am a Brahman from Hindustan.’ The reply came, ‘Now you are Husaini Brahman. We will always remember you.’
Rahib went from Kufa to Afghanistan, and from there came back to India where he stayed for a few days in Nankana. Nonica paused for a while and then spoke, ‘In the Sialkot district there is a town known as Viran Vatan. That place is our ancestral home. We are the descendants of Rahib Dutt. She then recited a few couplets from the book she had brought along with her, in which these incidents have been recorded. ‘These couplets,’ she said, ‘are very popular among the Husaini Brahmans.’
Nonica shut the book and said ‘Let me inform you that Sunil Dutt, the famous film actor, was also a Husaini Brahman. And the father of his wife Nargis too was a Husaini Brahman.’
She got up saying ‘Now I must go.’
‘I think,’ I said, ‘after you return from Germany, I should make a point to come to Delhi so that you can introduce me to your father. I will perhaps be able to know much more about your ancestors from him.’
She said goodbye and left hurriedly. I had been under the impression that the story of the eight Brahmins was just a legend. But Nonica said it is a historical fact. And it is the belief of Nonica and her community that really counts. For them the event is a reality.
The ‘9th Nizam’ Azmet Jah at the Chowmahalla palace. (Image: By Arrangement)
Hyderabad: Mir Azmat Ali Khan Azmet Jah, the eldest son of the titular eighth Nizam Nawab Mir Barkat Ali Khan Walashan Mukarram Jah Bahadur was ‘crowned’ as the IX the head of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty. The coronation ceremony was held at the coronation hall in the Chowmahalla Palace on Saturday.
A declaration was issued by the office of the Walashan Azmet Jah Bahadur. It stated “In terms of the desire and the decree made by Nawab Mir Barkat Ali Khan Walashan Mukarram Jah Bahadur H.E.H the VIII th Nizam of Hyderabad during his lifetime anointing his eldest son Mir Mohammed Azmat Ali Khan Azmet Jah as his successor in title and to accede his father as the IX th head of Asaf Jahi Dynasty for all symbolic, ceremonial, titular and ancillary purpose.”
It further added, “Following the customs and tradition of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty in existence for 299 years, a simple ceremony with prayers was held in presence VIII the Nizam of Hyderabad the family members, trustees, close friends, well-wishers and staff members of the.”
Mukarram Jah Bahadur, 89, passed away in Istanbul on January 14 and was buried at the Asaf Jahi mausoleum in Makkah Masjid’s compound in Hyderabad on January 18. His body was flown into the city in a special chartered flight and kept for two days at the Chowmahalla Palace to allow the public to pay their last respects.
The Telangana government had announced a state funeral and among other persons, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had visited the Chowmahalla Palace and offered their last respects.
