Iraq: Millions of Shia Muslims mark martyrdom anniversary of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad
Millions of Shia Muslims gathered today in the holy city of Kadhimiya, Baghdad, to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jawad (peace be upon him), the ninth Imam of the Ahl al-Bayt. The observance falls annually on the 29th of Thul-Qi’dah, and this year’s commemorations drew massive crowds from across Iraq and abroad, reflecting the deep reverence held for the Imam.
A symbolic funeral procession was held early Tuesday morning, with mourners carrying a symbolic coffin through the streets leading to the shrine where the Imam is buried. Participants, dressed in black, chanted elegies and religious slogans, recalling the tragic circumstances surrounding the Imam’s martyrdom by poisoning.
Many also drew parallels between the Imam’s suffering and the events of Holy Karbala, particularly the injustice of his body being left unattended for three days—a sorrowful echo of the martyrdom of his grandfather, Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him).
In addition to the funeral procession, mourning rituals including religious lectures, Qur’anic recitations, and chest-beating ceremonies took place both in Kadhimiya and in Karbala, where thousands gathered around the shrines of Imam al-Hussain and Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas (peace be upon them). Pilgrims from various provinces and countries joined local residents in honoring the Imam’s legacy and expressing their spiritual solidarity with the Ahl al-Bayt.
The events were conducted under the guidance of prominent religious authorities, including Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq al-Husseini al-Shirazi, who has previously stressed the importance of commemorating the lives and sacrifices of the Imams. He views these rituals as acts of devotion and a means of glorifying divine values and preserving Islamic history.
The commemorations were broadcast live in multiple languages by Imam Hussein Media Group, enabling millions more around the world to partake in the occasion spiritually. Participants described the rituals as not only expressions of grief but also reaffirmations of loyalty to the path of the Imams and their enduring message of justice, sacrifice, and resistance to oppression.
