On Saturday, 27 June 2026, we held an Ashura program at the Imam Hussain (AS) Centre,in Mutare to commemorate the martyrdom of Aba Abdillah, Imam Hussain (AS).
Program Highlights:
1. Opening: The programme began with a beautiful recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Brother Ibrahim, followed by Ziyarah Ashura and Maṣā’ib recited by Sheikh Khalid. The Maṣā’ib was delivered in our local language, which deeply moved the audience as they reflected on the hardships faced by Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions in Karbala.
2. Prayers & Attendance: After the recitations, we took a break to perform Ṣalāt al-Ẓuhr and al-‘Aṣr. Alhamdulillah, the turnout was excellent, with approximately 150 people in attendance.
3. Youth Participation: Following prayers, the programme continued with four young girls — the daughters of Sheikh Mustafa — who delivered sequential speeches on the events of Karbala. Their eloquence was inspiring and encouraged greater participation of girls in such significant programmes.
4. Sheikh Mustafa’s Address: The second speaker was Sheikh Mustafa. He began his speech by quoting a hadith from the Holy Prophet (SAW):
“إِنَّ لِقَتْلِ الْحُسَيْنِ حَرَارَةً فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَا تَبْرُدُ أَبَدًا
.Indeed, for the killing of Hussain there is a heat in the hearts of the believers that will never cool.”
He outlined two key points from Imam Hussain’s (AS) journey:
1. His Mission Statement upon leaving Medina:
“إِنِّي لَمْ أَخْرُجْ أَشِرًا وَلَا بَطَرًا، وَلَا مُفْسِدًا وَلَا ظَالِمًا، وَإِنَّمَا خَرَجْتُ لِطَلَبِ الْإِصْلَاحِ فِي أُمَّةِ جَدِّي رَسُولِ اللَّه
.I did not rise up seeking wantonness, or to cause corruption, or to be a tyrant. I only rose to seek reform in the Ummah of my grandfather, the Messenger of Allah.
2. His Final Call on the Day of Ashura. “هَلْ مِنْ نَاصِرٍ يَنْصُرُنَا”
.“Is there any helper to help us?”
Sheikh Mustafa explained that this call was not a military plea, but a revolutionary call to all true believers to carry on Imam Hussain’s (AS) message. He traced the historical context: how matters changed after the passing of the Prophet (SAW), the events of Saqīfah, the battles of Jamal, Ṣiffīn, and Nahrawān, the martyrdom of Imam Ali (AS), the peace treaty of Imam Hasan (AS) with Muawiyah, and the poisoning of Imam Hasan (AS). He noted that when Yazid was appointed ruler by Muawiyah, Imam Hussain (AS) refused to pledge allegiance and left Medina for Karbala.
He also highlighted the response to Imam’s call through Imam Sajjād (AS), who bought and freed slaves, taught them the pure teachings of Islam, and authored Ṣaḥīfat al-Sajjādiyyah and Risālat al-Ḥuqūq.
Sheikh Mustafa further spoke about the late Imam Khamenei (RA) and his struggle for justice and support for the oppressed, describing Trump as “the Yazid of our time.”
5. Sheikh Khalid’s Address: The final speaker was our honored guest, Sheikh Khalid, known for his eloquent and impactful style. He connected our lives to the life of Imam Hussain (AS), emphasizing that to follow his path one must understand the deeper meaning of life and strive to refine one’s character. He reminded the audience that Imam Hussain (AS) took his family to Karbala — including women and young children among the 72 martyrs — not because he sought battle, but because he knew martyrdom was necessary to preserve Islam.
Conclusion: The programme concluded with Sheikh Khalid’s speech, after which food was served to all attendees. May Allah (SWT) accept this gathering and make us among those who carry the message of Karbala.
