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A small portion of the Farsi is included, but the The following is the full text of the speech delivered on November 11, 2013 by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a meeting with the members of the Soldiers of Islam Mourning Committee. In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful The Soldiers of Islam Mourning Committee is an auspicious phenomenon. The idea that our soldiers form mourning committees is a very auspicious and important idea. The pivot of this committee is mourning for Ashura. The other tasks that you referred to are good and necessary subsets, but the pivot is reviving and understanding the depth of Ashura. One point in this regard is that the connection between the words \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"committee\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" and \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"soldiers\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" has an important meaning. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Soldiers\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" means those people who engage in jihad in the face of the enemy. Jihad includes \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"moqatele\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\". \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Moqatele\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" means a military war. Jihad is a combination of different wars such as military wars, intellectual wars, psychological wars and social wars. A combination of these things is jihad and jihad includes all of these wars. One of the characteristics of jihad is the existence of an enemy. Not any effort is called jihad. It is possible that someone engages in scientific work, but this may not be jihadi work. Jihad is a movement which is launched in the face of a hostile act and a hostile enemy. Those people who engage in jihad in the way of God and who enjoy a jihadi characteristic and spirit will realize that this is a real blessing for their hearts and souls. Jihad is necessary because human societies are not devoid of enemies. They may have few or many enemies. Sometimes, like our society, they have many enemies and sometimes they do not. But in any case, they have an enemy. Therefore, if a society has an internal force for confronting the enemy - this force is comprised of soldiers and mujahids - then it can have a feeling of security. But if it does not enjoy this force, then it will be like a body that suffers from lack of white blood-cells which are in charge of fighting against infection. In such circumstances, all kinds of diseases may afflict this society. The effort of this group of people to revive and commemorate Ashura and to mourn for Hussein ibn Ali (a.s.) is very appropriate and necessary. Therefore, the essence of this connection - that is to say, the connection between mourning committees and soldiers - is very blessed and good. You should not abandon this and you should preserve it as much as you can. Another point is that the word \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"heyat\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" [committee] means lack of order in the conventional sense of the word. They say that such and such a person acts in a heyati way. This means that he acts in a disorganized way. Perhaps we can say that you are the first people to impose order on an organization which is disorderly by nature. This is a very good thing. Well, why does the word \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"heyati\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" mean disorderly in the conventional sense of the word? This is because when someone enters an Imam Hussein (a.s.) heyat, no one tells them where to sit and where not to sit and when to come and when to go. All the movements and comings and goings are based on the will of the people and this originates in faith. This is a very good thing and you should preserve it. You should preserve the committee\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s relationship with what people love and believe in. You should preserve the interest that the hearts of people have in this committee. That is to say, it should not be the case that the committee acts in a formal way. In my opinion, the centers that you should work in are Hussainiyahs. You do not need bureaucratic organizations. Hussainiyahs, heyats and mosques are the centers that you should engage in. If we affiliate this committee to an organization and if we specify a multi-storey building for that with bureaucratic equipment, this is not a committee anymore. I fear that it may face certain problems. I am not saying that it will not be a committee, but in my opinion, the nature of such committees requires the enthusiastic participation of the people in mourning ceremonies for Imam Hussein (a.s.). This is what exerts a powerful effect on them. This is what the Revolution originated from. At least, it can be good ground for growing revolutionary virtues and teachings. The next point which is very important is the issue of nurturing panegyrists and protecting them against errors and mistakes. This is very important. One of our serious problems is really this. Panegyrists have acquired a bad name in this regard, but it is not particular to panegyrists. This issue is not particular to panegyrists and other people in charge of such affairs. It has been witnessed that those people who take the minbar and those who recite eulogies for Ashura - including panegyrists, those who have minbar and other such people - have said inappropriate things. Sometimes you and I have meeting and talk and I may say an inappropriate thing. This is not a problem because it is between you and me. This is not important. But sometimes, we have an audience of one thousand, 10 thousand or 50 thousand people and sometimes, this audience turns into millions of people. In such circumstances, we should see what effect an inappropriate and wrong statement may exert on our audience. A number of people may accept this wrong statement and they may learn a wrong concept. A number of people may reject this statement and they may take an instant dislike towards the essence of religion. Besides, there may be an angry argument between certain groups of people. Notice that certain deviations may emerge as a result of this wrong statement. Since long ago, we have seen that sometimes panegyrists perform rowzas that are obviously wrong, but they continue to perform because in order to make a few people shed tears. This is not particular to the present time. Since I was a child, I have participated in mourning ceremonies and I have listened to people who took the minbar. Should we make people shed tears at any price? You can narrate the event and you can do it in an artistic way in order to produce strong effects on people, but you should not say things which are false. I have heard that, addressing the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) a panegyrist said, \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Whatever you have is because of Imam Hussein (a.s.)\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\". Notice how wrong this is. How can someone talk such nonsense about the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.)? Whatever Imam Hussein (a.s.) has is because of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.). Whatever he has is because of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.). Why do they not understand such concepts? Besides, they claim that they are good panegyrists and they say whatever crosses their mind. In my opinion, we should attach great significance to such issues. The next point is concerning the issue which was raised by Mr. Nejat as well. He is right. Such committees cannot be secular. We do not have secular Imam Hussein (a.s.) committees. Anyone who is interested in Imam Hussein (a.s.) is also interested in political and jihadi Islam and the kind of Islam which engages in fighting, offering blood and laying down one\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s life. This is the meaning of faith in Imam Hussein (a.s.). If a panegyrist takes care not to enter into political discussions, this is wrong. Of course, this does not mean that whatever political event takes place in the country, we should bring it up in rowzas and we should adopt specific orientations - whether revolutionary or anti-revolutionary - towards it. This is not what I mean, but revolutionary and Islamic thoughts and the auspicious guidelines which Imam (may God bestow paradise on him) formulated in our country should be brought up in such ceremonies. This task is a great and important task. The best people who can perform rowzas for Imam Hussein (a.s.) are mujahids in the way of God and these young soldiers. You should appreciate the value of this and you should provide guidance. This can be a bright and shining spring for enlightening the minds of the people and the audience and it can improve them in terms of Islamic and religious teachings. How good it is to pay attention to the issue of reading the Holy Quran in mourning ceremonies. How good it is to employ Islamic, revolutionary and Quranic concepts in mourning ceremonies. Sometimes, when they mourn, people say certain clichés such as \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Hussein vay\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\". Well, this has no value and one learns nothing from repeating \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Hussein vay\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\". When the audience says such clichés, you can raise revolutionary, Islamic and Quranic issues and issues which are related to the present time. When the audience repeats it, this becomes internalized in their minds. This is very valuable. This is a task that cannot be carried out by anyone except you. No media network can inculcate religious teachings into the minds and the hearts and souls of people. Therefore, this is an important and great task. I hope that Allah the Exalted rewards and bestows success on you so that you can carry out this task in the best way possible. Greetings be upon you and Allah\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s mercy and blessings

Sayyed Nasrallah: We, the Twelver Shia, Won\\\\\\\'t Abandon Palestine Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said on Friday that the demise of Israel is a national interest, stressing that the \\\\\\\"Shiite\\\\\\\" Hezbollah will continue to bear its responsibilities towards the Palestinian cause and Al-Quds. In a live speech before crowds marking the International Al-Quds Day in Dahiyeh, Sayyed Nasrallah paid tribute to late Imam Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini who designated the last Friday in the holy month of Ramadan as Al-Quds Day, and said that people are in critical need to commemorate this day. \\\\\\\"On the seventh of August 1979, meaning few months from the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Imam Khomeini issued a statement calling on all vulnerable peoples in the world to consider as Al-Quds Day the last Friday of the month of Ramadan, and this call was confirmed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei,\\\\\\\" Sayyed Nasrallah said. \\\\\\\"The goal of this call was to remind Muslims and the world of the Palestinian cause and benefit from this occasion to mobilize energies in order to save Al-Quds and Palestine from the hands of the Zionists and to highlight what Palestine and its people are suffering from starvation, Judaization and siege,\\\\\\\" He continued. On the second of August 2013, we desperately need to commemorate the occasion, Sayyed Nasrallah said, pointing out that \\\\\\\"Palestine which we are talking about is the whole of Palestine from the sea to the river, which should return fully to its people no one of the world\\\\\\\'s Sheikh or Sayyed or Prince nor King or President or a government to give up or abandon one grain of sand from the soil of Palestine, or a drop of its water, oil, or a piece of its land and does not have a mandate to do so.\\\\\\\" Demise of Israel a National Interest \\\\\\\"Imam Khomeini had described Israel accurately when he called it a cancerous tumor, and it is really a tumor that kills, the only solution is to eradicate it without giving it any opportunity or surrender and eradicate,\\\\\\\" He said, emphasizing that \\\\\\\"Israel represents a constant and enormous threat not only on Palestine and the Palestinians, this is an illusion and misinformation and ignorance. Israel is a threat to all peoples and countries of the region, with its security and sovereignty and he who deny this is an arrogant.\\\\\\\" \\\\\\\"Some might think that the demise of Israel is a Palestinian interest, it\\\\\\\'s rather a national interest of each country of the region, and it is a threat to Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon, thus the disappearance of Israel is a national Jordanian, Syrian, Egyptian and Lebanese interest,\\\\\\\" He said. Credit: ElectronicResistance

Weekly religious gatherings are a source of many blessings for the youths. What should be the objectives of such gatherings? Agha Panahian explains how we should commemorate these gatherings.

WIIRE and Masumeen Islamic Centre (MIC) hosted a successful Muslim Unity Seminar on January 18th 2015 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). The topic of the seminar was “The Noble Prophet (S.A.W.) and the Muslim Ummah” Speakers from Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim enlightened the participants with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and the importance of Muslim Unity. The objective of the Muslim Unity is to create an environment of collaboration and communication among Muslim organizations on issues of interest to Muslim Canadians nationally as well as on the international front. In addition to the eloquent speeches, the seminar also had spoken words and poetry and they were very inspirational. The spoken words and poetry propagated the message of harmony, hope, spirituality, unity and cooperation in an intellectual and creative way. The Muslim Unity seminar ended with participants holding hands of each other and reciting Dua-e-Wahdat (supplication for Unity) among the Muslim Ummah.

[03 June 2012] Israel more vulnerable than ever: Leader - English Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was addressing a large crowd of people gathering in Imam Khomeini\\\\\\\'s mausoleum in south of Tehran to commemorate the 23 passing anniversary of the late Leader. Meanwhile the leader rejected Israeli threats of military strike against Iran as a sign of regime weakness.

WIIRE and Masumeen Islamic Centre (MIC) hosted a successful Muslim Unity Seminar on January 18th 2015 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). The topic of the seminar was “The Noble Prophet (S.A.W.) and the Muslim Ummah” Speakers from Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim enlightened the participants with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and the importance of Muslim Unity. The objective of the Muslim Unity is to create an environment of collaboration and communication among Muslim organizations on issues of interest to Muslim Canadians nationally as well as on the international front. In addition to the eloquent speeches, the seminar also had spoken words and poetry and they were very inspirational. The spoken words and poetry propagated the message of harmony, hope, spirituality, unity and cooperation in an intellectual and creative way. The Muslim Unity seminar ended with participants holding hands of each other and reciting Dua-e-Wahdat (supplication for Unity) among the Muslim Ummah.

WIIRE and Masumeen Islamic Centre (MIC) hosted a successful Muslim Unity Seminar on January 18th 2015 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). The topic of the seminar was “The Noble Prophet (S.A.W.) and the Muslim Ummah” Speakers from Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim enlightened the participants with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and the importance of Muslim Unity. The objective of the Muslim Unity is to create an environment of collaboration and communication among Muslim organizations on issues of interest to Muslim Canadians nationally as well as on the international front. In addition to the eloquent speeches, the seminar also had spoken words and poetry and they were very inspirational. The spoken words and poetry propagated the message of harmony, hope, spirituality, unity and cooperation in an intellectual and creative way. The Muslim Unity seminar ended with participants holding hands of each other and reciting Dua-e-Wahdat (supplication for Unity) among the Muslim Ummah.

Thousands of Turkish Shia braved freezing temperatures to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein on the day of Ashura. They walked through Istanbul streets beating their chests as is the religious ritual to feel the suffering of Imam Hussein at Karbala. The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the commemorations this year, a first since his party came to power in 2002. Erdogan's message was one of unity between Shia and Sunni Muslims, he himself a follower of the Sunni hanife faith. People here told us that although they were in mourning, the Prime Minister's message was one of hope. The former Iranian Foreign Minister echoing this message by calling on Muslims to stand stead fast in the face of those who want to spread havoc in the Islamic world. This perhaps a reference to the latest attack in Iran. An attack the Turkish prime minister strongly condemned. Every year, Turkish Shia reenact the battle of Kerbala as is their tradition, however blood letting is forbidden here. Turkish Shia perform their religious duty by donating blood to the Turkish red crescent. Ashura is an important day on the Shia calendar, and this year it was also acknowledged by Turkey's Sunni leadership.

Muharram 2012 promo for al-hadi ungdomförening program with Sheikh Mansour Leghaie and Sheikh Dawod Sodagar

WIIRE and Masumeen Islamic Centre (MIC) hosted a successful Muslim Unity Seminar on January 18th 2015 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). The topic of the seminar was “The Noble Prophet (S.A.W.) and the Muslim Ummah” Speakers from Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim enlightened the participants with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and the importance of Muslim Unity. The objective of the Muslim Unity is to create an environment of collaboration and communication among Muslim organizations on issues of interest to Muslim Canadians nationally as well as on the international front. In addition to the eloquent speeches, the seminar also had spoken words and poetry and they were very inspirational. The spoken words and poetry propagated the message of harmony, hope, spirituality, unity and cooperation in an intellectual and creative way. The Muslim Unity seminar ended with participants holding hands of each other and reciting Dua-e-Wahdat (supplication for Unity) among the Muslim Ummah.

Tens of thousands of people have marched through the streets of Beirut, waving flags and banners to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shia Imam Hessein (PBUH). The outpouring over the martyrdom of Prophet Mohammad's grandson reached to a crescendo in the Southern Suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech. Ashura in lebanon has come to symbolize the conflict with Israel.This occasion according to hezbollah and many of the masses commemorating Ashura should serve as a reminder to certain sides not to surrender to the will of Israel. Sayyed Nasrallah once again underscored the importance of not surrendering to Israel, and called on Arab leaders to embrace the choice of resistance rather than negotiating with Israel, which he described as a waste of time. Sayyed Nasrallah stressed the importance the teachings of Imam Hussein who was martyred in 680 AD by his enemies. Imam Hussein's teachings are considered by Muslims around the world as the basis of resistance against what they believe to be the current forms of occupation and imperialism. The Hezbollah leader also said there is a new western conspiracy against the resistance and its people. Many wore black as a sign of mourning and chanted slogans in support of Hezbollah. The element of Ashura and specifically the effort to fight injustice has been considered by hezbollah as one of its main building blocks. Today with an international tribunal that could indict some of its members hezbollah views itself as a victim of what it believes to be international injustice and has set out to confront this with what it believes to be the real meaning of truthfullness.

Leader of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says Saudi Arabia is arming and funding terrorist Takfiri groups in the Middle East region. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, during a ceremony to commemorate the martyrdom of resistance commanders, noted that the Saudi-backed Takfiri groups were bent on sowing the seeds of sectarian discord in the whole region. He described al-Nusrat Front and the militants associated with the group called the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant or I-S-I-L as the best examples of the Saudi-backed Takfiri mindset. Elsewhere in his speech, Nasrallah said that Saudi athorities have launched a campaign of recruiting and dispatching youths to Syria to fight against the Syrian government. Warning against the foreign meddling in Syria, Nasrallah said that the fate of the country should be decided by the Syrian people themselves.

There has been a massive blast in Karbala, Iraq. Many Muslim pilgrims are on their way to Karbala to commemorate the 40th day after the Martrydom of Imam Husayn(A), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad(S) on the Day of Ashura. Recorded on February 03, 2010 at 1800GMT

How long have we called ourselves the followers of Imam Ali (A)? And yet, have we taken heed to his complaint? This Holy Month of Ramadan, where we commemorate the martyrdom of our beloved Amir ul-Mo’mineen, let us remember the pain in his heart. And let us allow that pain to change us. \\\"Is it not time for the hearts of the believers to become humbled by the remembrance of God and by the Truth which has been revealed?” -The Holy Qur\\\'an (57:16) #ImamAli #ImamAliShahadat #ImamAliMartyrdom

Leader of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says Saudi Arabia is arming and funding terrorist Takfiri groups in the Middle East region. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, during a ceremony to commemorate the martyrdom of resistance commanders, noted that the Saudi-backed Takfiri groups were bent on sowing the seeds of sectarian discord in the whole region. He described al-Nusrat Front and the militants associated with the group called the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant or I-S-I-L as the best examples of the Saudi-backed Takfiri mindset. Elsewhere in his speech, Nasrallah said that Saudi athorities have launched a campaign of recruiting and dispatching youths to Syria to fight against the Syrian government. Warning against the foreign meddling in Syria, Nasrallah said that the fate of the country should be decided by the Syrian people themselves.

Some of Imam Khomeini's (r.a.) famous quotes about the religious and political importance for the Iranian people to commemorate Ashura. From Imam Hossein's (a.s.) martyrdom at Karbala, to the 15th Khordad movement and then the Islamic Revolution, the Muharram mourning ceremonies (azadari, nohe khani, sinezani / sineh zani) provoke political tears, a bullwark against global arrogance and oppression.

WIIRE and Masumeen Islamic Centre (MIC) hosted a successful Muslim Unity Seminar on January 18th 2015 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). The topic of the seminar was “The Noble Prophet (S.A.W.) and the Muslim Ummah” Speakers from Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim enlightened the participants with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and the importance of Muslim Unity. The objective of the Muslim Unity is to create an environment of collaboration and communication among Muslim organizations on issues of interest to Muslim Canadians nationally as well as on the international front. In addition to the eloquent speeches, the seminar also had spoken words and poetry and they were very inspirational. The spoken words and poetry propagated the message of harmony, hope, spirituality, unity and cooperation in an intellectual and creative way. The Muslim Unity seminar ended with participants holding hands of each other and reciting Dua-e-Wahdat (supplication for Unity) among the Muslim Ummah.

Leader of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says Saudi Arabia is arming and funding terrorist Takfiri groups in the Middle East region. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, during a ceremony to commemorate the martyrdom of resistance commanders, noted that the Saudi-backed Takfiri groups were bent on sowing the seeds of sectarian discord in the whole region. He described al-Nusrat Front and the militants associated with the group called the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant or I-S-I-L as the best examples of the Saudi-backed Takfiri mindset. Elsewhere in his speech, Nasrallah said that Saudi athorities have launched a campaign of recruiting and dispatching youths to Syria to fight against the Syrian government. Warning against the foreign meddling in Syria, Nasrallah said that the fate of the country should be decided by the Syrian people themselves.

Conference to commemorate Imam Khomeini and other great personalities of Islam for the contemporary world. Held at Calgary on June 22 2008

Leader of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says Saudi Arabia is arming and funding terrorist Takfiri groups in the Middle East region. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, during a ceremony to commemorate the martyrdom of resistance commanders, noted that the Saudi-backed Takfiri groups were bent on sowing the seeds of sectarian discord in the whole region. He described al-Nusrat Front and the militants associated with the group called the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant or I-S-I-L as the best examples of the Saudi-backed Takfiri mindset. Elsewhere in his speech, Nasrallah said that Saudi athorities have launched a campaign of recruiting and dispatching youths to Syria to fight against the Syrian government. Warning against the foreign meddling in Syria, Nasrallah said that the fate of the country should be decided by the Syrian people themselves.

The leader of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says Israel and the United States have infiltrated terrorist Takfiri groups operating in the Middle East region and are using them to promote their own interests. Nasrallah, speaking at a ceremony held to commemorate the martyrdom of resistance commanders, noted that the Saudi-backed Takfiri groups are seeking to sow sectarian discord throughout the entire region. He described the al-Nusrah Front and the militants associated with the group called the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria -- or ISIL -- as the best examples of the Saudi-backed Takfiri mindset. Nasrallah defended the fact that Hezbollah members are fighting against Takfiri groups in Syria, saying that the Lebanese resistance movement has not changed its policy in this regard.

[03 June 2012] Iran hosts international confab on Imam Khomeini - English Thinkers and scholars from 60 world countries have taken part in the conference. Iran has hosted an international conference to discuss ethics and politics from the viewpoint of the late Imam Khomeini. The conference comes as Iran is preparing to mark the 23rd anniversary of the demise of late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini on June 3. Thinkers and scholars from different world countries have already arrived in Tehran to commemorate the occasion. Thinkers believe that the teachings of Imam Khomeini will continue to inspire Muslims around the world in the years to come. Imam Khomeini, who overthrew the Shah regime back in 1979 and established the Islamic Republic believed that the keys to the victory of the Islamic revolution were the faith in God, reliance on the people and unity in words and action. Imam Khomeini died on June 3, 1989.

Every year on the last Friday of Ramadan, Muslims commemorate al-Quds day and show their solidarity with the people of Palestine. The Palestinian cause is an indisputable aspiration shared by almost every Muslim in the world, regardless of their national, lingual and sectarian diversities. Their wish to liberate Palestine and al-Quds from the Zionists goes beyond all their differences. This year's al-Quds day, in the aftermath of revolutions and political turbulences in the Muslim and Arab world, and in the prospect of sectarian conflicts and civil wars ignited by the western powers, is a unique opportunity to forget all differences, to use the spiritual and liberating experience of Ramadan and to come together as brothers and sisters. Muslims traditionally tend to ignore the material life and worldly pleasures and to restrain themselves from any dispute during the month of Ramadan. This week's Islam and Life asks: How important is the international Al-Quds day for Muslim unity? An interview with Sayyed Ali Raza Rizvi.

Addressing the crowd gathered to commemorate Ashura Syed Hasan Nasrallah has expressed Hezbollahs readiness for any Israeli aggression.

[09 Aug 2012] Pakistan beefs up security ahead of Shia mourning - English The Yom-e-Ali or 21st of Ramadan is the day when Shia-Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of Imam-e-Ali, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the first Shia Imam. Muhammad Toori, Press TV, Karachi

[10 Aug 2012] International Al Quds day for Muslim unity - Islam And life - English Every year on the last Friday of Ramadan, Muslims commemorate al-Quds day and show their solidarity with the people of Palestine. The Palestinian cause is an indisputable aspiration shared by almost every Muslim in the world, regardless of their national, lingual and sectarian diversities. Their wish to liberate Palestine and al-Quds from the Zionists goes beyond all their differences. This year's al-Quds day, in the aftermath of revolutions and political turbulences in the Muslim and Arab world, and in the prospect of sectarian conflicts and civil wars ignited by the western powers, is a unique opportunity to forget all differences, to use the spiritual and liberating experience of Ramadan and to come together as brothers and sisters. Muslims traditionally tend to ignore the material life and worldly pleasures and to restrain themselves from any dispute during the month of Ramadan. This week's Islam and Life asks: How important is the international Al-Quds day for Muslim unity?

Millions of Shia Muslims in Iran mark Arba\\\'een ceremonies across the country. Iranians have marked one of the most important events on the Shia religious calendar, Arbaeen. This marks 40 days since the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shia Imam. Forty days is the usual length of mourning in many Islamic cultures, and the fortieth day is marked with a mourning ceremony. Imam Hussein is immortalized by Shias for choosing death instead of subjugation to a tyrant. His movement has come to symbolize resistance against tyranny and oppression. The movement of Imam Hussein is one of the central aspects of the Shia Muslim belief and still after hundreds of years Shia Muslims commemorate this day.

They cried and beat their chests in mourning for the loss of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. Hussein was killed in 680 AD along with his supporters by the army of the caliph Yazid in the Iraqi city of Karbala. And ever since, Shia Muslims especially have commemorated the event by reliving the pain and sorrow endured by Hussain and his family. The congregation was told that the events of Karbala are still relevant today in 21st century Britain. And they were reminded that Imam Hussain sacrificed his own life in the cause of justice. Later, a well attended march was held in central London, despite it being the middle of the working week and the miserable weather. As you can see behind me thousands of Shia Muslims are marching through central London to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. And according to them, the message of this day is the duty of all Muslims to stand up against tyranny and oppression. The marchers told me that the message of Ashura is particularly relevant in a world where Muslims are still being oppressed. And where sectarianism is being promoted by some parties. They vowed to learn the lessons from this momentous day and to implement them in their lives.