Labbaik Ya Hussain!
“Everyday is Ashura and every land is Karbala”
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Contrary to global trends where New Year is marked with merriment and celebrations, Muslims commemorate the tragedy that befell the household of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and his progeny.
The grandson of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w); Imam Husayn son of Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s) and Fatimah (a.s) bint Muhammad (s.a.w.w) was martyred on 10th Muharram 61 A.H in the plains of Karbala by the army of Yezid bin Muawiya.
This tragedy of Karbala, as is famously known, presents the everlasting struggle between right and wrong – justice and injustice.
This struggle is inevitable in every human being. There exists an inner voice in us that tells us to do good and act justly on one side. And on the other hand, another tempting voice that commands us to do the opposite. It takes an independent minded person like Hur ibn Ziyad Riahi (r.a.) who, all along was serving under Yezid’s army to change his mind and join Imam Husein’s(a.s.) camp.
TEN DAYS MAJALIS AT BILAL HALL MOMBASA
The Mission organized for special program in the evenings during the first 10 days of Muharram. The program started with recitation of the Holy Qur’an followed by matam and poem in Kiswahli. A speech was delivered thereafter. The speeches dwelt on understanding the household of the Prophet (s.a.w.w), the Husayn and the Yezid of today and the importance of emulating Imam’s life. The program ended with recitation of ziyarat and niyaz.
BMMK CENTRES
In all the 15 BMMK centres, majalis were conducted after Asr prayers. Centre muallims and officers from the Quality Assurance and Standard Department (QASD) joined hands to make the majaalis in the centres successful. Different QASD officers were assigned to different centres.
Special programs for ladies were conducted by the centre mubalighat in collaboration with Zahrah Madrasah students from Mombasa who visited the centres.
MEDIA OUTREACH
The Mission, through the media department prepared a five part series of radio programs which were broadcasted on Pwani FM 104.7 between 8th and 12th October 2016. The main objective of this series of radio broadcast was to enlighten the general audience on the personality of Imam Husayn (a.s), what he stood for and the lessons derived from his holy life.
ASHURA DAY
The Mission joined other Muslims globally in marking 1,377 years since the tragic martyrdom of Imam Husayn bin Ali (a.s) by the army of Yezid. Observing this important day in the Islamic history, mu’mineen walked long distances carrying banners and reciting masir in their respective languages and dialect.
In one of the BMMK centres where the media department visited, the walk attracted close to 3,000 mu’mineen from seven madrassahs within Samburu zone. The walk started at Al Mahdi centre passing through the small town of Samburu. For about an hour, the small town was awash with mu’mineen in their black attire affirming their allegiance to the Imam, saying “Labbayka yaa Husayn!” Brief lectures were delivered at various stop overs, describing who Imam Husayn (a.s) is and also explained to the anxious residents the reason for the walk.
The walk ended at Al Hujjah Centre Chengoni – about six kilometres from Samburu Township, with a lecture depicting the last hours of Imam’s life. Mu’mineen wept as Sheikh Ali Gereza took the mu’mineen on a mental journey to Karbala.
Mu’mineen were served food, juice and water – the same water that Imam Husayn (a.s) was denied by the insensitive army of Yezid ibn Muawiya. Similar programs were conducted in all the other BMMK centres.
The Mission wishes to thank you for your continued support in all our activities.
Bilal Muslim Mission of Kenya
P.O Box 82508 -80100
Mombasa – Kenya
Tel: +254 222 9641
Email: admin@kenbilal.org
Web: www.kenbilal.org