Zarih Mubarak at the Shrine of Bibi Zainab in Cairo
Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
What a striking similarity between Sher-E-Khuda Hazrat Ali and his
exemplary courageous daughter Bibi Zainab? Their holy names are associated with
two mosques that are considered to be built over their graves in different
countries by their followers. As faith has no logic, all the mosques are
revered and visited by pilgrims in large number who treat Maula Ali as the spiritual
successor Prophet Muhammad and hold in
high esteem his brave daughter for her role as messenger of Karbala and founder
of the institution of Majlis to mourn the sacrifice of Imam Hussain and his companions.
On the other hand, successors of those who martyred Maula Ali simply
because he wanted to rule in accordance with the will of Allah. It was also their
supporters who also killed his son Imam Hussain when he refused to acknowledge
anti-Islamic rule of Yazid. It was again their soldiers who deprived the women
of Prophet’s family of their coverings and made them pass through the markets
of Kufa and Shaam(Modern)Syria bareheaded. It is their sympathizers again in
the 21st century who consider ever increasing popularity of Maula Ali
and Bibi Zainab’s shrines as a threat to
their sinister aim to cover their Jewish tendencies under the garb of Islam. It is this
apprehension that prompt them to plan bomb attacks at their shrines be it
Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt or Iraq. They have so far failed in their bids only
indicate that truth prevails even against the heaviest odds.
Twelver Imamis consider Najaf-e-Ashraf as the last resting place
of Hazrat Ali. They believe so on the basis of traditions narrated by Imam
Jafar Sadiq. But Blue mosque of Afghanistan is also said to be built over the
grave of Maula Ali. Most Afghanis believe so and give a different version to
the burial of Maula Ali. They are of the opinion on the basis of traditions that
since Maula was martyred and his enemies might have desecrated his grave, hence,
some of his supporters carried his body to Afghanistan and buried it near Mazar-e-Sharif.
Likewise there is difference between Twelvers and Bohra community over
the location of the burial place of Syeda Zainab. While Twelvers has no doubt
about Damascus as the last resting place of Ali’s brave daughter, Bohras
consider shrine mosque of Bibi Zainab in Cairo as the location of her last
rites. Their 52nd Dai Muhammad Burhanuddin
presented a Zarih- Mubarak- a beautifully designed grilled structure surrounding Bibi Zainab’s
tomb in Cairo. Bohras claim that after the massacre of Karbala, and the terrible events
of Damascus Hazrat Zainab led the survivors to Cairo from Damascus where she
was martyred and buried. The shrine in Cairo is decorated with silver dome. The Fatimids ,Bohras and some non-Imamis believe that the Syeda Zainab Mosque in
Damascus is actually the burial site of her sister, Janab-e-Umme
Kulsum who had also accompanied the caravan of imam Hussain and marched with Bibi
Zainab like a shadow after the tragedy of Karbala.
Since Twelvers who are in majority among the Imamis consider Damascus
as the Burial place of Bibi Zainab, terrorists also target it with the
objective of increasing sectarian violence. They make no such attempt for Cairo
shrine but at times succeed in pressurizing Egyptian government to ban Ashura
processions.
Bibi Zainab's Shrine at Damascus
In 2013, the custodian of the shrine in Damascus was killed in a
rocket attack. Prior to it, a car bomb attack had taken place near the shrine. So
aghast was the Sunni Mufti of Syrian Arab Republic, Sheikh Badar Hassone, at
the attack on shrine that he declared “If
the terrorists decide their impure tactics on the Maqaam of Bibi Zainab, they
shall have to cross my dead body". Ever since efforts have been initiated
by separatist forces to topple the regime of Assad, hundreds of youths have taken upon themselves
the responsibility of protecting the shrine of Bibi Zainab. The attacks on
Bibi’s shrine in Damascus are similar to the attacks on Imami Hazaras who were
persecuted by Taliban for their love for Ahle-Bait. This is another similarity between
Hazrat Ali and his daughter for followers of both are still paying price for
being with true tenets of Islam. The Imamis should derive solace from the fact
that both the shrines are revered and visited by people from all over the world
.They are centers of attraction and miracles and spreading the message of Sher-E-Khuda
and his daughter for a society based on equity and justice. So far as the
decision about the exact location of the burial places of both the towering
personalities of Islam is concerned, it should be left with Allah as it is who
only who knows the better. The admirers should go in this context in accordance
with their school of thought.(reference available on request)
No comments:
Post a Comment