Shia Community Commemorates Martyrdom of Imam al-Hadi (peace be upon him)

Shia Community Commemorates Martyrdom of Imam al-Hadi (peace be upon him)
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The holy city of Samarra became the epicenter of a profound spiritual gathering over the past 24 hours as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims arrived to observe the martyrdom anniversary of the tenth Shia Imam, Ali al-Hadi (peace be upon him).

According to reports seen by Shia Waves News Agency, the Al-Askari Holy Shrine was enveloped in a deep atmosphere of grief on the eve of the martyrdom, with the courtyards and surrounding areas of the shrine filled to capacity. Devotees organized traditional mourning rituals and elegies within the sanctuary, expressing their enduring loyalty to the Imam at his final resting place, and extending their condolences to the Imam of the Time, may Allah hasten his reappearance.

The commemorations extended to other major centers of the Shia world, including the holy city of Qom. The residence of the preeminent religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq al-Husseini al-Shirazi, hosted a significant mourning assembly on Wednesday, December 24. The gathering was attended by a distinguished group of scholars, seminary students, and international pilgrims. During the sessions, Hujjat al-Islam Mudarrisi, Hujjat al-Islam Najafi Nia, and Hujjat al-Islam Khani detailed the virtues and intellectual contributions of Imam al-Hadi (peace be upon him). They particularly highlighted the Imam’s patience during his forced residency in Samarra and his efforts to preserve the constitution of the Shia community. The assembly concluded with collective prayers for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him) and the relief of oppressed Shia communities globally.

In the holy city of Karbala, the mourning took a more public and ritualistic form through a massive symbolic funeral procession. Thousands of mourners and processions marched toward the shrines of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) and The Honourable Abal-Fazl al-Abbas (peace be upon him) while carrying a symbolic bier to represent the Imam’s funeral. This public display of grief drew pilgrims from around Iraq, turning the streets of Karbala into a sea of black banners.