Shia Communities Commemorate Sorrowful Martyrdom Anniversary of Sayyida Fatima (peace be upon her)
Shia communities across Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and the United Kingdom marked the anniversary of the martyrdom of Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra (peace be upon her) with major ceremonies, processions, and gatherings, drawing millions worldwide and reaffirming devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).
In Iraq, the city of Najaf witnessed some of the most significant commemorations. Tens of thousands took part in a symbolic funeral procession near the shrine of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), where mourners recited elegies and honored the legacy of Lady Fatima (peace be upon her). On the same day, millions of pilgrims from across Iraq and various countries converged on the holy shrine. According to reports viewed by Shia Waves Agency, the al-‘Ataba al-‘Alawiyya organized extensive programs including mourning assemblies, sermons on the life and virtues of Lady Fatima (peace be upon her), and broad participation by religious service groups. Officials described this immense turnout as a renewal of allegiance to the teachings and values of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).
In Samarra, the al-Askari Shrine held a special mourning ceremony in the Courtyard of Imam al-Hadi (peace be upon him). Pilgrims gathered to commemorate the martyrdom of Lady Fatima (peace be upon her) through elegy recitations and traditional rituals that expressed their reverence and emotional connection to the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).
In Iran, the city of Qom hosted the annual Fatimiyya walking procession from the residence of Grand Ayatollah Hussein Wahid Khorasani to the shrine of Sayyida Fatima al-Masuma (peace be upon her). This long-established tradition, rooted in the practices of leading Shia scholars including the late Ayatollah Mirza Jawad Tabrizi, again drew large crowds. Participants engaged in elegy recitation, sermons, and chest-beating rituals as they honored Sayyida Fatima (peace be upon her).
In a similar act display of devotion, a 2,000-person Iraqi pilgrimage caravan arrived on foot at the Holy Shrine of Imam al-Ridha (peace be upon him) in Mashhad to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Sayyida Fatima (peace be upon her) according to the third narration. These Iraqi pilgrim mourners entered the Holy Shrine of Imam al-Ridha (peace be upon him) after walking hundreds of kilometers as part of pilgrimage caravans. The caravan held mourning ceremonies and offered condolences to the son of Sayyida Fatima (peace be upon her).
In Kabul, the Chindawol Takya was the site of a major mourning gathering that drew large numbers of Shia residents. The venue was draped in black, and participants recited Ziyarat, listened to religious sermons, and took part in mourning rituals. Organizers described the gathering as a powerful expression of devotion, unity, and historical remembrance within the Afghan Shia community.
In the United Kingdom, Shia residents of London commemorated the anniversary with a mourning procession through the city’s central streets. According to Shia Waves Agency, participants carried flags, banners, and blessed images while chanting religious slogans, reciting elegies, and performing chest-beating rituals. Organizers emphasized that the procession aimed to honor the memory and oppressed status of Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra (peace be upon her), while also introducing her ethical example to wider Western audiences. Families and children were notably present, reflecting the deep attachment of the Shia community in London to the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).
