Shah ast Hussain (as)

Bleeding Faith of a Shia Blogger

Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

This is Ashura.
10th day of Imam Hussain Martyrdom celebrated mournfully on the weeping streets of Mumbai.
The last few days that I was shooting Kaisar Bagh or the 9 th of Moharam Juloos I would get charged an animalistic fiery urge to grab the dagger from the guys hand whom I was shooting and cut my own head,but I kept myself in control, not allowing my Shia emotions to get the better of me as an amateur photographer who shoots nurtured cultivated Shia pain.Yes I am a Shia photo blogger when I shoot images of my faith per se.
I was shooting the Ashura Juloos of Anjumam e Hyderi and Habib Nasser had presented his friends and members of his Anjuman doing the Iraqi Dagger Matam, a slow choreography of bleeding Faith..
The guys synchronised the cutting of their heads , dressed in white aprons that represented shrouds..and this plea of human passion began at JJ Hospital junction and continued till the Rehmatabad Shia cemetery, a long distance on foot..
I requested Habib Nasser for the dagger , and handing him my camera began my Kama Mata, the first of this Moharam.
Habib Nasser has shot these pictures , he is a dynamic and prolific photographer himself.
I will in the next picture explain to you the feelings and the emotions while cutting your forehead .

Posted by photographerno1 on 22 Jan 2008
Filed Under: shiasm | No Comments »

MOHARRAM “THE WAR AGAINST TERROR”by Jalal Kazim

Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

MOHARRAM “THE WAR AGAINST TERROR”

(By- Jalal Kazim)

The 9/11 episode brings a major interest for the West to learn about Terrorism & its causes. And without going into the deep the lazy brains of most of them bring the conclusion that Islam is responsible for all this bad. And a War against Terror is announced by the Whites. I might say that it is not Islam who is responsible. They are so called Muslims who are involved in these acts. The worst who suffered from these activities is Islam itself. Islam is bleeding from 14 Centuries. Only American and Western Lives are not suffered from this but Islam and the Family of Prophet Mohammad(pbuh) itself has been targeted by these radical thoughts. The world is now talking about the War against Terror, but they never tried to know about the real War against real Terror which is been underway since the demise of Prophet(pbuh) himself. Prophet (pbuh) announced his successor to be Ali (pbuh) who carries the Laws and teachings of Qoran and Prophet (pbuh) to the Muslim after him. But soon after his demise the Real and the Ancestors of today’s Terrorists disobeyed Prophet (pbuh) and elected their own Caliph. And those radicals were not true lovers of Islam but they were more interested in making wealth and monarchy in terms of leading the Muslims which was totally against the teaching of Islam. While Ali (pbuh) was the true successor so he spent his life in real teaching of Islam. But these radicals find Ali(pbuh) as their biggest enemy in their unIslamic deed so they attacked his house and burnt the door, due to which Imam Ali(pbuh) lost his Wife(Daughter of Holy Prophet pbuh). That was the first attack of Terror by these so called Muslims. It is said that Omar was leading those people who attack and torched the house of Ali(pbuh). We the Shia Muslims followed the teachings of Prophet(pbuh) and accepted Imam Ali(pbuh) as true successor of Islamic Laws and teachings. So we condemned that deed of those terrorists. And they don’t even stop there, That Hatred for Imam Ali (pbuh) continued to his Children and his Family. Ummayad Dynasty was the first outcome of that radical thought into the politics. They were much interested in Wealth, Kingdom, Wine & Womanizing that Islam. While Imam Ali(pbuh) and his Family was following the True Islam peacefully. The difference between the life styles of these two was telling the truth to the Islamic World that who is right and who is wrong. This caused a big unrest for Ummayads and their supporters. And conspiracies were cooked against the Ahlulbaet(pbuh) The biggest outcome of that was the Martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain(pbuh) Son of Imam Ali in the battle of Karbala fought between the 72 Thirsty men of Imam Hussain(pbuh) and Thousands of Soldiers of Yazeed’s Army. Yazeed was the Son of Muawiyah who was the founder of Umayyad Dynasty. Yazeed thought that he will call the Imam Hussain (pbuh) from Medina and will kill him in some remote Area where no body will know about this and he will continue his UnIslamic activities in the name of the Amer of Muslims. But Imam Hussein (pbuh) stands strongly against him as Islam was not the toy of Yazoo’s hand. It was the great religion and Imam Hussein (pbuh) was the True successor of its Laws. He knew that if Yazeed get his support in becoming the Caliph then there would be no one remains in the World who should be called as a Muslim. So he came out in opposition of Yazeed and never feared the death for him or his family. The Yazeedi Terror was at its peak as Yazeed found himself defeated by Imam Hussein(pbuh) in his mission. He ordered his army to Kill Imam Hussain(pbuh) and brings his head to his court. Imam was traveling with his family and few companions and they were brought into the deserts of Karbala in Iraq. Imam Hussain (pbuh) was brutally martyred by the Yazeedi Soldiers along with his family and companions who were in all ages of life. The Youngest was Ali Asghar, 6 month old Son of Imam Hussain (pbuh) and the Oldest was Habib Ibne Mazahir a.s. That was the Biggest Terrorist incident of the Islamic History. Zainab(pbuh) & Imam Zainul Abideen (pbuh) were in the few of the survivors of the terrorist attack of Karbala. They were captured by the Yazeedi army and were kept in the prison of Syria for no reason except one that they were the Family members of Prophet (pbuh). When the news spread among Muslim world about this harsh treatment given to Ahlulbaet (pbuh) then a kind revolution came. The lovers of Ahlulbaet (pbuh) started agitating against Yazeed and his people. People gathered in public places and the incident of Karbala was shared among each other with grief and sorrow. People cried and wept on the barbaric deeds of Yazeedis. That was only the beginning of this War against terror. This was fought without any weapon. That was the protest against terror and brutality. A very strong agitation against the cruelty and unhuman activities. The people with Heart stood against Yazeed and his thinking. It continued till today. We Shia Muslims stood against Yazeed and we are the ones who started this real War against Terror. Moharram is that War against Terror. We Mourn the Martyrs of Kabrala. Our way of mourning is more deadly for Yazeedis and radical thoughts than any other weapon exists. The tears which we shed in memory of Imam Hussain (pbuh) are more lethal than any chemical for Yazeedis. We beat our chest but it hurts like a slap on the face of Yazeediyat. We cut our heads but the scar appears on the face of Yazeedis. They have killed Imam Hussain (pbuh) and his companions who were thirsty & hungry so we distribute water and Food in Moharram. This is their defeat as well. Moharram is also a War against thirst and Hunger. They can not bear this. As our act of mourning let these Yazeedi to recall their sins. They feel guilty. They want this war to be stopped. But we will continue this great service till a single Yazeedi is alive on this planet. Imam Hussain (pbuh) not died only for Islam, his sacrifice is saviour of humanity and universal brotherhood. So its duty of all human beings to get together on the common cause of unity under the light of Karbala which is a true mirror of humanity. Come and be a Soldier of this Great War against Terror. Say “Ya Hussain (pbuh)”

BY-

JALAL KAZIM

Posted by photographerno1 on 22 Jan 2008
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One Man Army Babu of Moghul Masjid

Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

Babus story is tragic, of pain and human calamity , and unpredictable path of human destiny.
Babu had polio on one of his legs and moved about on crutches reciting Noha and taking his Anjuman based at Moghl Masjid to different parts of the suburbs of Mumbai..
The Shabbedari of his Anjuman takes place at Moghul Masjid..
Being an invalid never stopped Babu from Shia traditions, I have a lot of love and respect for him,the moment he sees me he lights up..
Not very long ago his other good leg was smashed in an accident at Lucknow, I came to know of it I rushed to Habib Hospital, he was in tears when he saw me, and begn to cry saying he must have hurt someone that he is being punished and took this with stoic faith in the Imam..
Babu is human quality, kindness, that you rarely see these days, Babu lives with the dignity of his affliction..Not just me others love Babu more intensely, he is the mascot of our pride in our Shiasm, because it will take him time to reach the entire distance of Amin Imambada from Mohgul Masjid I saw one of his friends lift him up and cradling him with care dropped him at Amin Imambada..
Yes this is Shia bonding , layers and layers of lessons to be learnt..
Babu does not know I am writing this story about him, I am not witing a story of Babu , but yes I am crying as Babu is writiing the story of my Faith..
Crying is a very poetic human emotion, we all laugh and consider laughter a medicine , but crying is holistic healing , we Shias were born to cry for Imam Hussain..
This is our pledge that we call Maksade Fatima for a Maksade Hussain..
Tears from the pitchers of our eyes like the running waters of Euphrates flowing from the leather pouch of Hope called Mashke Sakina - and not far away you will notice Abbas Alamdar with his hands chopped , lying on the beachy shores …away from the trials and tribulations that the women folk of Imam Hussain will face at the court of Yazid, shamed , snatched ridas and chadars, all from the first family of the Holy Prophet mocked taunted and ridiculed by the Yazidi hordes.
This is a black chapter of a misguided shame filled moments of Islam under Yazid.
Yes Shiasm is a emotional display based on humanity kept alive after death by a single sacrfice of Imam Hussain..
To understand Shiasm you need to be human -throw away your blinkers read the message beneath our blood that we shed year after year..

Shah ast Hussain, Baad Shah ast Hussain,
Deen ast Hussain, Deen Panah ast Hussain,
Sar dad na daad dast, dar daste Yazeed,
Haqqah ke binaaye La Ilaha ast Hussain!

Posted by photographerno1 on 22 Jan 2008
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Munnas Daughter-Beginnings of Terrorism

Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

Munna is a Shia devout of a humble origins and stays close to Moghul Masjid.
Munna is widely known all over India in the Shia world.
Munna recites the Namaz on fire , he bows on a piece of inflammable rubber so as not be seen as fire worship..
This Namaz on Fire is only metaphoric Shia symbolism.
It shows the conditions the Imam went through at Karbala before his Martyrdom, praying on the hot sands , and arrows hitting him, while bowed in prayer, his protection the noble body of his steed the faithful Zuljana.
These were not infidels taking pot shots , nor were they Christians or Jews , no they could not be Hindus understandably, the Hindus follow Dharma and Karma , and never killed the defenceless as much of the history Iknow.
So we have valorous Imam Hussain at the mercy of a greater and much powerful Yazidi force , while Imam Hussains foot army and cavalry numbered a band of 72 warriors.The battle of Karbala is the most turbulent and oppressive part of Islam and the show of Arab barbarism.Muslims indeed love killing Muslims..This was not a sectarian battle between Shias or Sunnis.. this was political imperialism and hegemny of the greatest terrorist more cruel than Attila the Hun more manic than Hitler , this was Yazid of the Ummayad Caliphate.He wanted to subjugate Imam Hussain , he wanted allegiance of the Imam that would quell the unrest he had created and give him complete control over the early Islamic Empire ..The allegiance of the Grandson of the Holy Prophet was important at all cost..
Imam Hussain did no give him that allegiance , instead moved out of Medina to avoid killing of Muslims and moved towards Karbala in Iraq.
He also did not want blood shed here and made a wish to th Yazidi forces to allow him to go to Hindustan , the land of the Hindus, the land of Brahma Vishnu Mahesh, as he said its a land where Mankind lives in Peace..
Yes now you know why I shoot pictures of Hinduism, my cultural inheritance and I am proud that the roots of my birthright are pride in Hope and Hindutva.. Yes I am an Indian Shia Muslim..read me as such..
So Munna carries his little daughter dressed as Bibi Sakina in chains, Islam of Yazid was the starting pont of betrayal of Muslim womanhood..
I wont go much in detail, the Imam was martyred at Karbala and Muslim womanhood was massacred in Sham Damascus..
Yes we are Shias ..
Please read us a such..
Tolerance is one aspect of Islam that died on the sands of Karbala too.
Now for Gods sake dont ask me the beginnings of Jehad and early Jehadi Terrorism..
This should suffice to all..
That is why we shed our blood to show our solidarity with the sufferings of our Imam
and our perpetual hate for universal resurgence of Yazidiyat..

Shah ast Hussain, Baad Shah ast Hussain,
Deen ast Hussain, Deen Panah ast Hussain,
Sar dad na daad dast, dar daste Yazeed,
Haqqah ke binaaye La Ilaha ast Hussain!

Posted by photographerno1 on 22 Jan 2008
Filed Under: shiasm | No Comments »