Imam Sajjad's 1400th Birth Anniversary & Apathy of Indian Imamis

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

The attitude of Imami scholars and outfits in India has so far remained somewhat lukewarm in commemorating 1400^th birth anniversary celebrations of Imam Zain –Ul-Abdeen. Barring a what’s app message of All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) announcing the publication of souvenir to mark the occasion, there has virtually been no declaration As to how Imami outfits active in India intend to celebrate the 1400^th birth anniversary of Imam Zainul Abdeen who is also popularly known as Beemar-E-Karbala and Syedde-Sajjad. Even the vibrant outfits like Chennai Shia Youth Association, All India Shia Yuva Unit, Kanpur, Hundreds of azadar Anjumans active in various parts of the country and Mumbai based prominent Imami organizations have yet to declare programs to mark the occasion. Prominent centers of Azadari in India like Lucknow, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Amroha, Kolkata, Jaunpur , Bengaluru, Chennai and many other cities have virtually remained silent over the issue.

In sharp contrast to India, Imami outfits in neighboring Pakistan had declared about a month back that 1400^th birth anniversary of Imam Sajjad would be observed in a befitting manner. It has also been decided in Pakistan that Imam Zainul Abdeen year will be celebrated from February 15 2017 to February 15,2018 and programs to commemorate Imam Sajjad will be organized at regular intervals throughout the year. The participation of over 1000 prominent Ulemas from different sects will also be ensured in such programs. Imami scholars like Allama Izhar Bukhari and Allama Hussain Ahmad have even urged Pakistan government to direct   Ministry of Religious Affairs, Interior, Education and ministry of Information and Broadcasting to arrange a comprehensive plan to celebrate the year in memory of Imam Sajjad.

In fact, Pakistani Imamis have responded enthusiastically to the call of International Imam Hussain Council to commemorate the 1400^th birth anniversary celebrations of Imam Sajjad across the globe through variety of programs befitting his exalted status. On the other hand, Indian Imamis and their leaders have ironically given priority to assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. Instead of chalking out any comprehensive plan before the 1400^th birth anniversary of imam Sajjad on February 15,2017,they toured various parts of Uttar Pradesh to garner support of Imamis for a particular party. They addressed a series of public meetings and hosted press conferences as if their political involvement was more important to their duty towards Imam Sajjad. In their political endeavors, they forgot that it was Imam Zainul Abdeen who led first ever long march in human history and travelled 1665 kms handcuffed from Karbala to Damascus. It was he who kept alive the mission of martyrs of Karbala and philosophy of his illustrious father Hazrat Imam Hussain in a hostile environment through worshipping, supplications and patience.        

At a time when Imamis outside India are striving to organize international conferences on the life and works of Imam Sajjad in capitals of Muslim countries and publication of his poetry despite their numerical weakness, the attitude of Indian Imamis , particularly their leaders, is simply appalling and deserves to be severely criticized. They mint money by reciting ‘Masahaib’  (persecution) and don’t mind travelling worldwide to address majalis but finding it difficult to commemorate his 1400^th birth anniversary. Their attitude would lead the community in what direction can only be guessed? The only ray of hope in this context has been Channel WIN that has started telecasting majalis on personality of Imam Sajjad. Another initiative was taken by7 Zehra Charitable Trust,Mumbai.the trust organized a seminar on 1400th birth anniversary of imam and released a booklet on his life in English.Eminent speakers from Mumbai addressed the gathering.But trust has also not revealed any other program in the coming months.Spo is the case with ahle-Bait federation,Mumbai that had supported Zehra Trust in the endeavour. Apart from Mumbai, Imamis have yet to wake up from their slumber to commemorate Imam's 1400th birth anniversary with grandeur. It is high time for religious leaders to convene a meeting immediately to deliberate as to how the 1400^th birth anniversary of Imam Sajjad should be celebrated to create awareness about the tragedy of Karbala and role of Beemar-e-Karbala thereafter. They need to remember that their apathy towards Imam Sajjad will make them accountable before Imam-E-Zamana-the Awaited Savior (A.S.).

(The article is an attempt to shake the conscience of Indian Imami leaders who, of late, are showing more interest in politics instead of their religious duties. The blogger has no intention of hurting the sentiments of anyone. Photo Courtesy Google Images)