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It was almost 3 hours before the Pehli Raat that I got the Taqleed Mubarak and it was very far off. RAIGARH in Chhattisgarh is 2 hours by train from Bilaspur. The nearest International Airport is Nagpur. Immediately after booking the ticket which had a 60+ waiting list I lost hope for a confirm ticket but I had to make it and travel was of 26 hours from Mumbai. I did manage to get through to RAC and the journey was quite easy. 15 families and a total of 72 Mumineen including children it was a very small place in terms of a moze but I had to do what I had to. A lot of things did need a close look and I think it must have been my fate to be there to resolve certain issues and matters.
Looking back at the last day of my visit I feel satisfied of the number of things that were accomplished in such a sort trip. Issues of Madrasa, afternoon niyaz which will be done by a family for now on for 3 years, Iftar during Shehrullah will be done by a Mumin for 3 years. I feel satisfied if all goes well. The rest is all just not to be remembered.
The sharaf of praying on the takht of Daiz Zaman on the day of Ashura by his raza is so enormous that one cannot account for it, may Allah fullfil our wishes to serve His Dai and grant him a long life. Ameen

Photography is an art just like any other. A paint brush in the hands of a child does not create marvels and neither does a novice understand the true depth of a painting that might get sold for a 100K and might think it as a waste of money. Photography used to be a pretty expensive hobby and I remember my first camera at the age of 12 used to cost somewhere around a 4 MP digicam nowadays and the cost of its photo processing was far more then todays so called children in the field would afford.

With cameras growing cheaper nowadays and the pixel rate of the digicam rising upto 15 Mp and even more it is not surprising that every other person today acts like a photographer. With the DSLR in fashion today and the ease at which any other person would afford it, the amateurs just pretend to be Pros.

Point to shoot and DSLRs, there are several places where you could easily find the differences of both and their pros and cons, google is your best friend I would say. The DSLR is not for fashion or for show biz its a real pro's game tool and ammo. Some one said that most of the cat walkers on the ramp don't even know what DSLR stands for!!!

I have seen people just shoot and keep shooting without focus or without any meaning. When one acts like a pro photographer one should choose before releasing the shutter. If for example one is trying to capture a majlis scene you should take care of the proper poses and postures of all those who will be seen in the picture, not that someone is touching the bread or standing for raza or so on. Its the timing that matters and the entire pictures that matters not just the focus point of the picture. Also if you are not aware with handling the DSLR then you are sure to land into a bad situation.

Here are a few links for all those who have bought a huge canon to shoot wit:

Photos by Mohammed (First Digital Shoots him with a FujiFilm Digicam)

Family Pics on the Mamzar Beach

Where thousands of eyes starred, just watching the way to karbala that their naseeb lead them to the land which prides itself on the heavens, only a few hundred were blessed with the opportunity to be present on the hill of heaven with the Dai of Imam Husain (AS) although no Mumin was left from availing the barakaat of observing the moments that filled the eyes with tears, the heart with joy of dua being heard and wishes being fulfilled as Mumineen worldwide watched the live relay of the ziyarat of Amirul Mumineen (AS) and his beloved son Imam Husain (AS) done by Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Aqa (TUS).


Mala’ekat lay their foreheads on the land on which these pious souls of Aimmat Tahireen AS and Duat Kram AS walk. Why not then Mumineen lay their eyes on this pathway.

The word Kun is taken from the Quran which denotes Allah's command to His creation, "Kun Fayakoon", Be and it happens. Here the word was derived from the alphabets Kaaf of Karbala and Noon of Najaf, making the word KUN. Indeed the safar was a KUN for many who were waiting for their number to be called for the pious trip and once they got the raza it was a KUN. Things started happening and soon they were in Hazrat Aliyah, wondering if it was the Hazarat of Amirul Mumineen (AS) or of Imam Husain (AS) or was it Molana Ali Zainul Abideen (AS) narrating the incident of Karbala or if it was Molatena Zainab describing what she had witnessed with her own eyes.

It may be too much if I were to write my personal experiences but to mention the nemat is a part of shukr. I was at the last wajebaat bethak held in Mumbai and that too on a short notice of a few hours. Huzurala (TUS) was to depart to Karbala in 2 days and here I was wishing to be there in Khidmat throughout the safar. All seemed to be a dream as I was sure I could not even be there in a round of Mumineen who were supposed to be there. Right from the time Huzurala (TUS) arrived in the bethak I was just doing dua and nothing more wishing to be in Karbala but then asking from within that Maula (TUS) please remember us in Ziyarat. Following the Qadambosi which I have no memory except that some Bhai Saheb was trying to ask me something which I could not reply to. I did araz in khidmat of Shz Saheb that I had this ummeed of going to Karbala. At that time I thought it would never happen and I tried to calm myself down. In a few hours from then, suddenly, I got a call from the Jamaat office that you have to register immediately and make the payment. It was a KUN.

The day arrived, it was the 1st of Zil Qad and a feeling of sadness was there within that we would miss the Qadambosi bethak. It is still a dream that we were at Najaf Airport at maghrib time and no sooner we found ourselves in the last queue of qadambosi. Shz Sahebs DM were told by the guards that these Mumineen have just arrived directly from the Airport, all of us were reciting salawat and niyat of Nazrul Maqam (AS). It all happened so quickly that suddenly I found myself in front of Maula (TUS) speechless. In fact after doing qadambosi I sat down right in front of the chair, don’t know why and it still remains a mystery. The fact that Huzurala (TUS) blessed all of us with this azeem nemat that day was for us all “KUN”. Doing deedar, qadambosi before even seeing the roza of Imam Husain (AS) was a sign of Imam Husain (AS) blessing us all that day.

The above is just a short memory merely in shukr of the nemat Huzurala (TUS) has bestowed on all Mumineen during this safar in some way or another. In the wada bayan Huzurala (TUS) said to Mumineen that your duas will be heard by Imam Husain (AS) and he will ask his Dai to plan for the fulfillment of their ummeed. These words of Huzurala (TUS) are the justification of the fact that “Karbala is a place where sins are forgiven and wishes are brought closer”.

The Dai of Imam Husain (AS) walking towards the Zarih Mubarak, a view in which one can look at the way Amirul Mumineen (AS) used to walk. One could visualize Imam Husain (AS) kissing the forehead of his Dai with pride as Maula (TUS) lay his head of the Zarih Mubarak. One could see Jabir bin Abdullah al-Ansari walk in humbleness towards the Zarih Mubarak in a pious manner. One could witness the cry of Molatena Zainab (AS) as Maula (TUS) wept and did matam at the very place where hundreds of years ago the incident of karbala occurred.

In olden times distances between places was measured in the time it took to travel. The distance of time is almost of 14 centuries yet Mumineen witnessed it. Mumineen all over the world heard the echoes of the Khutbas of Amirul Mumineen (AS) in Masjid al-Aazam bil Kufa when they listened to the waaz mubarak. Mumineen witnessed the ibadat and tadarro of Amirul Mumineen (AS) as they heard Huzurala (TUS) pray to Allah in the mehrab of Kufa. We witnessed the sultanate of Amirul Mumineen (AS) and his eminence in providing tosha of aakherat to all Mumineen (AS). The voice of Amirul Mumineen (AS) during the last azan was heard in every household and it was witnessed by Mumineen when we listened to the takbirah of his Dai in his mehrab. Amirul Mumineen (AS) saw that two stones were struck together by Jibraeel which was interpreted as being his matam done in every home. The distant fact had now become a reality for Mumineen as they did matam of Amirul Mumineen (AS) with Huzurala (TUS) in Kufa and Najaf. Mumineen witnessed the sajdah of the Husaini Dai (TUS) both in Kufa and Najaf which is the bisharat of Fauze Azeem for all of us.

It would be worth to quote a few abayat of Syednal Moayyad al-Shirazi (RA) to describe the longing of Mumineen towards the land where the Dai of Imam Husain (AS) is present. The land is no lesser then Karabala but what if he is in Karbala and Najaf.


Syednal Moayyad says that I have a longing of being at the doorsteps of my beloved Maula (TUS), which will fulfill my wishes, bring me peace and cure my heart, when I see the good omens rising upon me.

Each Mumin was during these days with Maula (TUS) as he held the zarih mubarak of Amirul Mumineen (AS) and Imam Husain (AS) in his hands. Each Mumin was in Maula’s dua when he offered sajdah right at the place which Imam Husain (AS) blessed with his last breath while in sajdah. May Allah subhanahu bless our beloved Maula (TUS) with a long life in the best of health and happiness for which every Mumin’s tears on Imam Husain (AS) pray. Ameen

Huzurala (TUS) in the Zikra waaz connoted the nasihat of Amirul Mumimeen (AS) to Kumail bin Ziyad in a very unique way by comparing it to the istetar (seclusion) of Imam al-Tayyib (AS) and the Qiyam of Duat Mutlaqeen al-Kiram (AS). Amirul Mumineen (AS) compares ilm with wealth and thus the situation of satr is described in the narration. Duat were handed over the wirasat of ilm which is eternal compared to the worldly estate of the Fatemiyeen Aimmat (AS) which was lost by the person who claimed Imamat for himself, ie Abdul Majid. While the Duat have always shown their servitude to the Aimmmat (AS) even after a thousand years and the wirasat of ilm remains alive. Syednal Moayyad al-Shirazi who barakaat has passed on to the Duat Kiram (AS) has several times noted the hardships faced by the mohabbat and walayat of Aimmat Tahereen (AS). As a tutor of the Duat Kiram (AS) we see that they have adopted his seerat and have never looked upon the worldly treasure with an eye of greed nor even interest in it.
Syednal Moayyad's Qasaid are full of emotions and deep love for the Aimmat (AS) enclosed and wrapped in the patience over hardships. One qasida which has fascinated me and I think all khidmat guzaar should make it his/her principle in life is, the Qasida:
The first stanza itself suggests what the whole qasida is about. He says that I am happy with a bitter and tough life, and have subjugated the greed in me. Later he continues to say that he has parted with status and governance for those who fall on their knees in front of the mass. How true are these words today for those who call themselves the leaders of the world. be it the politicians or the diplomats. Its not that Syedna has parted with the throne but he continues to point out that he is glad enough to serve Allah and his Wali, and he need not serve any human servant. He has never buttered any hand to just for the sake of availing the opportunity of worldly gain.
The lofty thinking of Syedna further states that if his own virtues does not help him gain the status of a qualified leader then he does not accept leadership by any other means or any recommendations, for he has ever sought forgiveness of Allah and never raised his hands in asking any favours from anyone else. Never has his respect ever been dirtied by false accusations nor has he fed on bribery.
The above is a narration of his life in the Khidmat of Imamuz Zaman (AS) and his love for ilm and hikmat that he has passed on to the Duat Kiram (AS) in wirasat.
Today the waris of Syednal Moayyad (RA) is indeed ilm impersonified and our heads always bow in sajda for the dua of his long life. Ameen

Amirul Mumineen (AS), who had been privileged of being brought up by Rasulallah (SA). He had be in the company of the prophet ever since he was born and the impact of that company and its barakat was so laid on the his life, especially with the barakaat of wahye that Amirul Mumineen (AS) was called the prominent jurist by Rasulallah (AS). Jurisprudence does encompass many fields of knowledge as a judge is needed to finally decide on any subject brought forth to him. Since a very young age Amirul Mumineen (AS) had seen Rasulallah (SA) strive for Islam and its cause. He had seen Rasulallah (SA) differ with Molana Abu Talib when he was told to keep away from preaching Islam by Quresh, that if he would be given the sun in his right and moon in the left he would not bother to bend towards materialistic wealth. Ali (AS) had seen how Abu Talib (AS) supported Rasulallah (SA) in the Sha'b of Abu Talib during the days of Quresh's boycott. Ali (AS) had seen the Nabi's beloved and wealthy wife Khadija drain her wealth for the cause of Allah. From an age when a person does not even come to his senses, Ali (AS) had seen the facts of life and felt the world closely. Such a person of high stature in knowledge, upbringing, amal, closeness to the Nabi (AS), akhlaq and many vritues has described the worldly pleasures and it materialistic nature in a few but deep words that need to be quoted here for his love and remembrance.