Mehndi Procession Before its Start
Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
Mehndi processions form an integral part of Muharram
ceremonies in Indian sub-continent. They are taken out on 7th of
Muharram in memory of groom of Karbala Hazrat Qasim, son of second Imam Hasan.
He was born on & Shaban in 47 AH, corresponding to September 19, 668
AD. It is authentically narrated that when circumstances forced Imam Hussain to
leave Medina and set out for Karbala, umm-e-Farwa, widow of Imam Hasan and
mother of Hazrat Qasim, expressed her willingness to accompany him with her
son.
Born three years before the death of his father, Qasim was
about 13 years old when he reached Karbala with Imam Hussain. Though young, he
was a brave warrior, for he too had learnt fencing from Hazrat Abbas and
cousin, Hazrat Ali Akbar along with his cousins, Aun and Muhammad, sons of her
aunt Hazrat Zainab. Mehndi (Henna) is associated with him following his
marriage with the daughter of Imam Hussain on the arid plains of Karbala. Some
narrations suggest that Imam married his daughter just to fulfill a wish made
to his elder brother. In Indian sub-continent, the marriage has found much
acceptance among the devotees for centuries in the wake of its uniqueness. As
there was no water in the Hussaini camp, Mehndi was prepared with holy tears.
It was solemnized not amidst the beating of marriage band or songs but to the
tune of Matam and Nauha. At the solemnization, people usually pray for the long life of the couple. But
In Karbala groom was seeking permission to die and bride was aware of what was
going to happen to her as prisoner. After the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, she
knew that she would be tied with a rope and onlookers would pelt stone at her in
Kufa and Damascus.
There is unanimity among the scholars that Imam was
reluctant to grant permission to Hazrat Qasim to fight as he was very young. The
very thought of something worst happening to the young son of his deceased
elder brother was beyond his imagination. He repeatedly refused to entertain Qasim’s
request. A disappointed Qasim then retired to the tent of his mother. When
Janab Umme Farwa found her son upset she gave him an amulet containing a letter
that was written by his father before his death. The letter read “ "My
son Qasim, a day will come when my brother Hussain will be facing an enemy army
of tens of thousands. That will be the day when Islam will need to be saved by
sacrifice. You must represent me on that day." Qasim read the letter and gave to his uncle. After
reading the letter, Imam said “ Now I can’t stop you from doing what your
father wanted you to do. I grant you permission in the name of Allah”. Hazrat
Qasim fought bravely and killed many a soldiers before attaining martyrdom. Later
on his body was also trampled by blood thirty and heartless Yazidi soldiers. Since
then, he is one of the most revered martyrs of Karbala and devotees remember him
by taking Mehndi procession on 7th day of first 10- day phase of
Muharram mourning. Lucknow, Kanpur, Lahore, Hyderabad Deccan, Moradabad, Karachi,
Rawalpindi and several other cities of India and Pakistan are famous for their
Mehndi processions. In Hyderabad Deccan, Abdulla Qutb Shah is believed to have
started Mehndi procession in early 17th century. In North India,
Mehndi processions gained popularity after establishment of Awadh kingdom in 18th
century by Saadat Ali Khan Burhan- U-l Mulk. Even almost all large villages of
erstwhile kingdom has Mehndi processions till date with Mohan leading the in
grandeur and scale.(References available on request. Photo Courtesy- Google Images)
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