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10 NIGHTS
The first ten nights of Muharram - What are the main themes and sub-topics of the speeches
1st night - Muharram moon
Main themes:
- The Imams and the memory of grief.
- The mourning rituals and ceremonies of the Imams.
- The Muslim world after Imam Ali's martyrdom.
- The peace agreement after Muawiya's poisoning of Imam Hassan.
- Imam Hussain's Imamat and position towards Yazid.
Examples of subtopics:
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Remembering the joy and sorrow of Ahlul Bayt.
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Brotherly friendship; the road to paradise.
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The escape from the clock and its implications and responsibilities.
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Identity and attachment to the environment and homeland.
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Care and its role in people's lives.
2nd night -Imam Hussain's departure from Medina
Main themes:
- Muawiya's transfer of the throne and the caliphate to his son Yazid.
- Yazid's letter to Imam Hussain, Abdullah ibn al-Zabayr and Abdullah ibn Omar ibn al-Khattab about oath and loyalty.
- The Imam's parting with his grandfather; the Prophet Muhammad and his mother; Mrs. Fatima al-Zahra.
- The Imam's farewell to his family and the state of the caravan.
Examples of subtopics:
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The grief and its legitimacy.
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The rewards of mourning for the leader of the martyrs.
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The sources and accounts of Muharram.
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Crying, grief and their impact.
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The observance of Ashura throughout the year, except Muharram.
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The victory of justice and its sacrifices.
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To preach good and forbid evil.
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The struggle of the Imam and its preconditions.
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The act of mourning Imam Hussain and his companions.
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The articulation of Hussain's oppressionsee of his own people.
3rd night - The Ambassador
Muslim ibn Aqeel
Main themes:
- Muslim ibn Aqil's relationship with Imam Hussain.
- The secret behind ibn Aqil's appointment as messenger and ambassador to Kufa.
- Kufa clan leader and martyr Hani ibn Urwa.
- Kufa's situation after Ubaydillah ibn Ziyad's arrival.
- Hussein's ambassador alone without supporters.
Examples of subtopics:
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Betrayal and its forms and incentives.
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The household of the Prophet and the doctrine of self-control.
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Sincerity in action and upholding principles.
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Examples of unity in Islam.
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The wisdom of the imams and sense of surroundings.
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The prioritization of awareness in a busy everyday life.
4th night - Course towards Kufa
Main themes:
- The route from Mecca to Medina.
- Yazid is informed about Kufa's uprising and the Imam's invitation.
- Damascus prepares and pays for an army in Kufa.
- The meeting with the army commander Hur at the outskirts of Kufa.
- The routing of the Imam and his caravan to the plain of Karbala.
Examples of subtopics:
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Choices in life and its constant search for truth.
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Human destiny and the ability to change.
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Islam's ethics and morality in war and peace.
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Life's journeys and challenges.
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God's rewards follow the effort.
5th night - Companion of the Prophet;
Habib ibn Mudhahir
Main themes:
- Habib's life as a companion to the Prophet and Imam Ali.
- The connection to Imam Hussain's caravan.
- The other companions' (Sahaba شاهبة) several backgrounds and stories up to the conclusion of the Imam's journey towards Kufa.
- Habib's call to the neighboring clans and the support for Hussain.
- Habib's clan Banu Asad and their role after Karbala.
Examples of subtopics:
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The rank and diversity of the companions, for better or for worse.
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The role of the Prophet and the Imams in the education of the Companions.
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The good friendship and its influence.
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The hard choices in life and contradicting evil.
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To detach from all the negative in culture and traditions.
6th night - Martyrs of the plain of Karbala
Main themes:
- Ms. Zainab's children; Aun and Mohammad.
- Zainab's relationship with Imams Hussain, Hassan and Abbas.
- The story of the promise before the start of the journey towards Karbala.
- Other companions of the Imam are mentioned such as Muslim ibn Awsaga, Burair al-Hamadani, Zuhair ibn al-Qain, John ibn Hawi etc.
Examples of subtopics:
God's sign as breadcrumbs and burden of proof.
Trust in God; The best planner.
The intention and the human interior.
To be remembered as a human being for one's actions.
Temporary suffering and eternal reward.
7th night - Al-Abbas and his brothers
Main themes:
- Um Al-Banin (Abbas's mother) and her choice of Imam Ali as a wife after the martyrdom of Mrs. Fatima al-Zahra.
- Abbas and his mother's clan lineage as well as characteristics, qualifications & heroic deeds.
- The strength in faith until their martyrdom in Karbala.
Examples of subtopics:
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The choice of a suitable life partner.
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The life examples of the prophets in partnership.
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The true brotherhood reflected in Ashura.
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The role of parents in raising children.
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Marriage as an institution in society.
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Sacrifice and its many forms.
8th Night - Son of Imam Hassan;
(al-) Qasim
Main themes:
- Martyrdom of Qasim at a young age.
- Qasim's mother and the desire to see one's son marry and start a family.
- The loss of Qasim and the heartbroken mother.
Examples of subtopics:
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Growing up of young people and the impact of the environment.
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The parents' wishes and the reality.
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The debate on marriage at a young age.
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Loss of young family members.
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Martyrdom as a message.
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The maintenance of trust in Allah during crises and losses.
9th Night - Children of Imam Hussain;
Ali (al-) akbar & (al-) asghar
Main themes:
- Martyrdom of Elder Ali (الأكبر) and Younger Ali (asghar/ ألأصغر).
- Mthe day's battle (10th Muharram) against the enemy.
- The state of the camp on the night of Ashura day.
- Farewell to and between the Imam's companions.
- Companions' renewal of oath to the Imam and his household.
- The camp in memory of God, fate and family ties.
Examples of subtopics:
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The role of healthy communities in society.
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The relationship between a leader and followers.
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Scholars (maraji) and their attributes.
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Unity and its results.
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Children, as one of life's benefits and enjoyment.
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Offspring between blessings and challenges.
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Care in worship and care in loyalty.
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Cost of accompanying justice
Ashura day (10th day)
Local events:
- Today's morning lessons start with the recitation of the Karbala Battle (Maqtal/ مقطل). The best known is Abul-Zahra al-Qabi's version and audio recording. (Sources: Al-Azdi, Ibn Sa'ad, al-Baladhuri, al-Dinouri)
- After midday prayer (dhur and asr), the mourners gather for a peace march in, among other things, Copenhagen (Ashura procession) .
Main themes:
- Ashura today's preparations in both camps .
- The first martyrs and their famous poems, including Habib and Hur.
- The midday prayer (Dhuhr and Asr) and the defense of the worshipers against the attack against the Imam and the camp.
- The second wave of martyrs and their famous words.
- Abbas and the water collection from al-´Alqami (Euphrates) river.
- Martyrdom of Imam Hussain; the decapitation of corpses and the trampling of horses.
Global Events:
The city of Karbala is flooded with mourners.
Millions of mourners turn up in holy cities such as Karbala, Najaf, Samarra, Kadhemiya, Mash'had and Damascus .
Peace marches and processions mark Ashura Day in capitals around the world to commemorate Hussain's fight against injustice and sacrifice for justice and Islam's return to the prophet's call.
10th night - Ashura night
Main themes:
- Mrs. Zainab's loneliness in Karbala.
- Imam Sajjad's unforgettable descriptions of the camp.
- The grief of the women and children is embraced by Mrs. Zainab.
- Dispossession of the camp and burning of tents.
- Sukaina's cry over the loss of her father; Imam Hussain.
- The survivors were captured without consideration or respect.
Examples of subtopics:
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Tragedies and the restoration of trust in God.
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The importance of caring in Islam.
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A person's heart and the maintenance of mind and soul.
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Judgment Day and the accounting of people's actions.
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The implicit and ignorant support for injustice.
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The results of silence in the face of the clock.
Subsequent nights -
The road to Kufa and Damascus
Main themes:
- The temporary imprisonment of the prisoners.
- Kufa's state between grief and guilt.
- Yazid's order for the prisoners to be moved to Damascus.
- Hspirit brain, chains and the humiliation of the prophet's family.
- The Ashura tragedy and its consequences for the Umayyads.
Examples of subtopics:
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The role of women and patience.
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Ignorance and its impact.
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Year round Ashura and its values.
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Household of the Prophet and their principles.
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Rituals as a means and not as an end.
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Ashura as necessary shock and movement of mind in the Muslim world.
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Tawabin (توابين) the movement after the Karbala battle.
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Al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi and the revenge.
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