Salaam friends and here is an interesting feature on the enthusiasm of the people of Iran for pilgrimage to the Islamic holy sites during the Nowrouz or New Year holidays.
The final moments leading to the beginning of the New Year in Iran on the exact time of the Spring Equinox, when Planet Earth completes its yearly revolution around the Sun by spinning on its axis, are indeed very exciting. People assemble in hundreds of thousands, if not millions, at the holy shrines to usher in the New Year with prayers and supplications to God Almighty.
The largest such gathering is of course at the spot which is the most blessed in Iran. It is the shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the 8th Infallible Successor to Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). This year at this holy shrine in Mashhad, over three million people were present when the New Year started at 20:27:07 hours. The people prayed to God for blessings and for the reappearance of the Lord of the Age, Imam Mahdi (AS), the Prophet’s 12th and Last Successor, in order to remove oppression and corruption from the Planet, and to establish the global government of peace, prosperity and justice.
In Islam, whether amongst the Sunnis or the Shi’ite Muslims, pilgrimage to the shrine of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and the shrines of his blessed progeny, is of paramount importance. The Muslims make it a point to be present at these holy sites on special occasions, including the start of the new solar hijri year, which is the Calendar Year in Iran, Afghanistan, and several other countries. Presence at the holy shrines is actually a renewal of allegiance to God, to the tenets of Islam, to the monotheistic message of the Prophet, and to the dynamic instructions of the Ahl al-Bayt for guidance of the Islamic societies.
Pilgrimage is also a firm slap on the face of the enemies of Islam and humanity, including Global Arrogance and its clients, the Takfiri Salafi heretics. At these blessed spots, God the All-Merciful, Who is Omnipresent, grants special blessings and forgives the sins of the penitents. By contemplating on the life of these holy personages, we build in our selves the Islamic resolve to be righteous servants of God Almighty. It was the habit of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) to visit the grave of his mother Hazrat Amenah (SA) and to pray for exaltation of her soul. He also used to visit the graves of the martyrs and his righteous companions who had predeceased him. While visiting the graves of martyrs the Prophet would recite ayah 24of Surah Ra'd which says:
"Peace be to you, for your patience.’ How excellent is the reward of the [ultimate] abode!"
Two acts are highly recommended for pilgrimage to the holy sites. One is to perform the Ghosl or ritual bath and wear clean clothes. Second is the presence of heart and internal enthusiasm for seeking the proximity of God Almighty. In other words, pilgrimage requires both inner and outer purification. For this reason, the pilgrim recites the recommended Ziyarah or standard form of salutation at the holy site, for the soul of the departed. For instance, in the Ziyara in Mashhad at the shrine of Imam Reza (AS), we read:
“Peace on you, O the representative of Allah! Peace on you, O the evident proof of Allah! Peace be on you, O the light of Allah in the darkness of this (ignorant) world! Peace on you, O the mainstay of the religion! Peace on you, O the Inheritor of Musa ibn Ja'far! Peace on you, O the virtuous and pious guardian!
I bear witness that indeed you established the prayers, gave the prescribed share to the needy, commanded to do that which is right and lawful, not to do that which is wrong and unlawful, sincerely served Allah, till the inevitable came unto you
Peace on you, O Abal-Hasan, and mercy and blessings of Allah be on you.
O Allah I seek Your nearness through my love and friendship for them (the Ahl al-Bayt), I love each and every one of them, from the first to the last, and avoid intimate association with anyone other than the Ahl al-Bayt…
Blessings of Allah on you, O Abal-Hasan! Blessings of Allah on your soul and your body! You suffered patiently and exercised self-control, (although) you were truthful and your truthfulness had been confirmed; Allah destroyed him who gave the orders to kill you, and him who carried it out.”
In all, during the Nowrouz holidays, spread over a fortnight, an estimated six million pilgrims would be paying their respects at the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS). In addition, millions of Iranians also assembled in Qom to usher in the New Year at the next blessed spot in Iran, that is, the shrine of the 8th Imam’s sister, Hazrat Ma’souma (SA).
Because of its central location, Qom which lies at the crossroads of roads leading to the southern parts of Iran, especially the historical cities of Isfahan and Shiraz, millions of people make a stop to visit the shrine of this Immaculate Lady, and pray to God by invoking her high and meritorious status. In Qom is the holy Jamkaran Mosque, associated with the Lord of the Age, Imam Mahdi (AS). Here also millions of Iranians converge every year on the day of Nowrouz, as well as on the subsequent days of the New Year holidays to renew their allegiance to the Awaited Saviour of mankind.
In Tehran the rendezvous of most of the faithful at the start of the New Year is the shrine of Seyyed Abdul-Azeem al-Hassani in Rayy, while in Shiraz, it is the holy shrine of the 8th Imam’s brother, Seyyed Ahmad, known popularly as Shah Cheragh or the King of Light, which attracts people of the region for Nowrouz.
In addition, most towns and cities of Iran are dotted with the mausoleums of many of the descendants of the Infallible Imams, known as Imamzadeh, and people make it a point to visit their graves to seek the proximity of God. Many Iranians, who can afford, also visit the holy cities of Najaf, Karbala, Kazemayn and Samarra in Iraq, to pay respects at the shrines during Nowrouz.
The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS), holds special reverence for the seekers of truth, and the day of Nowrouz is also associated with his merits. The shrine of the Chief of Martyrs, Imam Husain (AS) is another favoured rendezvous for the devotees during the New Year holidays.
Also many Iranians were fortunate to be present at the holy Ka’ba in Mecca and at the shrine of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) in Medina on the start of the New solar hijri year 1393.
source : irib
