The Indian newspaper, Amrit Vichar, reported the establishment of a mourning ceremony for Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, in the town of Hakim Agha in the state of Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow district, which has a Shia-majority population.
The newspaper stated, “The ceremony was led by the scholar, Maulana Shams Ali Bijnuri, who confirmed in a speech to the crowds of mourners, that Islam does not teach killing, but rather the protection of humanity,” noting that ” Imam al-Hussein, peace be upon him, left for Karbala, but upon his arrival in the holy city before the advent of Muharram, he and his family and companions were deprived of water at the hands of the Yazidi army, for a period of seven days.”
The local Indian newspaper added, “When referring to the story of the atrocities committed against the pure family of the Prophet, peace be upon them, the eyes of those present filled with tears, and their voices escalated with wailing, while Maulana Shams Ali indicated that Imam Zain al-Abidin, peace be upon him, cried for 40 years in memory of the martyrdom of 72 believers, including his father, the Master of Martyrs, peace be upon him.”
