Salaam dear young friends. We are here with our weekly chat. Autumn has started in Iran, and with it, the chilling of the air and the falling of the leaves.
     Few days back on Friday, the 5th of Safar, we commemorated the martyrdom anniversary of the less-than-4-year old daughter of Imam Husain (AS), the Martyr of Karbala.
     She was Hazrat Ruqaiyya (SA), who in the aftermath of the tragedy of Karbala and forced march of the noble captives towards Damascus in Syria, she suffered the pains of the arduous journey, often through hot desert terrain, during which she was subjected to scolding and whipping by the Omayyad ruffians.
     In Damascus, she was mocked in front of the whole court by the Godless Yazid as he blasphemously hit with his cane the severed head of her noble father that was placed in a tray.
     The Prophet’s family was confined to the ruins of a dilapidated edifice, where her wailing in the night disturbed the tyrant’s sleep and forced him to send the head of Imam Husain (AS) in a bid to calm her down.
      At the sight of her father’s head, little Ruqayya (SA) rushed and took it in her lap, and placing her own head upon it, recounted the pains, sufferings, and tortures she had endured for the past 25 days since the fateful day of Ashura (Muharram 10). She suddenly became motionless as her soul flew to the ethereal heavens. Her brother, Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS) laid her to rest in the ruins.
     Today, her resting place has been transformed into a spacious shrine in the heart of the Syrian capital, and pilgrims of all ages, especially children, stream in to pay their respects to her and beseech God Almighty for their lawful and legal needs.
     Well friends, are any of you going to Karbala?
     Perhaps some of you have already departed, since Arba’een or the traditional 40th day of commemoration for the Chief of Martyrs, Imam Husain (AS), is due on Saturday, October 19 in Iraq.
     Daily, tens of thousands of Iranians will be crossing the border, after having obtained the necessary documents. This year over two million Iranian Muslims will be among the 22-million plus pilgrims expected in Karbala for the Arba’een. Many are marching on foot, especially from Najaf after visiting the shrine of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS).
     It is the world’s greatest annual gathering, and despite the threats from the terrorists and their Godless masters, the number of pilgrims are increasing, in a grand display of devotion to the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), who was tragically martyred by those shamelessly claiming to be not just Muslims but the followers of the self-styled caliph.
     May God curse them eternally in the hottest place in Hell, and cast into the Inferno the present day Yazidis, such as the Takfiri terrorists, and the ungodly regimes the killings of the innocent.
     Insha Allah (God Willing) the end is near for the enemies of humanity, and the day will soon come for the freedom of Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and thousands of others languishing without any offence in the dungeons of Nigeria, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and other places. Amen
     God bless you and goodbye.