My dear Pakistan--the adopted land where I grew up until I was 6 yrs old...What has happened to you? I cry thinking about the danger that must be prevalent on the streets of my dear homeland, today, on this day of Ashura. Until I was a 6 year old in Karachi (and then we moved to Dubai) I remember seeing this marsiya on the TV--on the one and only channel of the land--on the day of Ashura. There was nothing else to watch on TV on the day of Ashura but majalises. The streets were filled with people flocking to majalises. Juloos were everywhere. Not just Shia but also most of the Sunni would join us to pay respects to the Holy Family (a.s) at Masjid Shahe Khorasan, Mehfil Murtaza, Soldier Bazaar and other places. The day of Ashura was a truly solemn day throughout Pakistan and was commemorated by ALL Muslims--Sunni, Shia and otherwise. The tv stations carried marsiya all day and true Islam was recognized: It was understood that the family of Ahlulbayt (a.s) should be respected and loved by ALL Muslims and the tragedies that befell them touched all of us because we ALL loved the Holy Prophet (saww) and felt his pain for he loved his family so very much--and so of course, did Allah swt In those days--just 30 years ago, not only was the life of Imam Hussein (a.s) considered precious but the life of every HUMAN BEING was considered sacred. It was a crime to kill anyone. I cover my ears and my eyes with the thought of the streets of Karachi today. The juloos of Shia are carried out with fears of bombs and gunfire and are met head-on by large large processions of fellow Muslims dancing to loud music with booming drums--with all of them carrying huge odd models of mockery complete with sparkling lights and symbols of festivity. My dear land of Pakistan what has happened to you? My dear religion of Islam, what has been done to you?
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 16:06:43 +0000
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