Hussaini Islamic Trust

London Arbaeen Procession - 2010 — *Women and children were marched into captivity from Karbala*

London Arbaeen Procession: On Sunday 7th February 2010 around five thousand Shia Muslims met at Marble Arch for the 29th annual Arbaeen procession in London.

The procession celebrates the sacrifice made by the grandson of Mohammed, Imam Husain, who was killed with his family and companions at Kerbala in 61 AH (680 CE.)

Hussain ibn Ali is regarded as “a 7th century revolutionary leader who sacrificed his life for social justice“. He refused to accept the rule of Yazid, “a corrupt ruler who was violating the basic rights and dignity of the people.”

Husain and his family and supporters were surrounded by an army of the tyrant but refused to surrender, choosing to fight to the death for their beliefs rather than to compromise. Their stand is seen by Shia Muslims as symbol of freedom and dignity, and an aspiration to people and nations to strive for freedom, justice and equality.

Many Sunni Muslims also mourn for Imam Husain and regard the actions by Yazid’s men as unacceptable in Islam, but the events are not an important part of their observances. A small minority apparently still revere Yazid and suppot his actions.

Many of the banners and placards carried in the event call for and end to crimes against humanity – and in particular for various attacks on Shia Muslims around the world.

The London procession organised by the Hussaini Islamic Trust UK since 1982 is the oldest and largest in Europe. It takes place on the Sunday following the end of 40 days of mourning the martyrdom of Husain.

*Men beat their breasts in mourning* on Park Lane

I photographed the procession every year from 2007 to 2007-2012 and there are other accounts and pictures from these years on My London Diary.

Much more about the event at London Arbaeen Procession.

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Arbaeen Procession in London: On Sunday 15 January 2012 around 5000 Shi’ite Muslims gathered at Marble Arch for London’s 31st annual Arbaeen procession.

Arbaeen Procession in London - 2012 — *The cradle commemorating Imam Husain’s murdered baby son and people at prayer before the procession.*

Organised by the Hussaini Islamic Trust UK, the process with its colourful flags, large gold and silver replica shrines and men and women beating their breasts in a symbol of mourning for Imam Husain went along Park Avenue.

Imam Husain, the grandson of Mohammed, was killed with his family and companions at Kerbala in 680AD. Shi’ites celebrate his martydom with 40 days of mourning each year, beginning with Ashura and ending with Arbaeen.

Husain is seen by Shia Muslims as making a great stand against the oppression of a tyrant and representing the forces of good against evil. Although hugely outnumbered he and his companions chose to fight on to death rather than compromise their beliefs.

Their stand remains a symbol of freedom and dignity, and an aspiration to people and nations to strive for freedom, justice and equality. Among many who have admired Husain are Ghandi, Charles Dickens and historians Edward Gibbon and Thomas Carlyle.

Arbaeen also celebrates the return of the wives and families of the martyrs to Kerbala the following year from Damascus where the had been marched as captives.

Millions now attend the annual Arbaeen event in Kerbala although it was banned when Saddam Hussein was in power.

The London procession was first held in 1982 and is the oldest Arbaeen/Chelum Procession of Imam Husain in the west. It was the first annual Muslim procession to take place in Central London and is still one of the larger annual Muslim processions in the UK, attracting Muslims from across the UK.

I arrived at Marble Arch in time for the prayers, recitation, speeches and chanting at the start of the event and to admire the three large gold and silver replicas of the shrines of Karbala; known as Shabbih, over 10 feet high and the largest in Europe,the decorated and blood-stained white horse Zuljana, the cradle remembering his 6 month old child Hazrat Ali Asghar and a ceremonial coffin before the procession began.

Both men and women on the procession beat their breasts – the men with great energy and the women much more decorously as they moved slowly down Park Lane.

The event was continuing when I left hours later.

You can read more about the procession and follow it in my pictures on My London Diary at Arbaeen Procession in London.

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Tag: Hussaini Islamic Trust

London Arbaeen Procession – 2010

Arbaeen Procession in London – 2012