Over 80,000 Dawoodi Bohra members from around the world to join congregations in Karachi
BY: WAQAR HUSSAIN
The vibrant city of Karachi welcomed His Holiness SyednaMufaddalSaifuddin, the leader of the worldwide Dawoodi Bohra community, as he arrived today for AsharaMubaraka, the annual Muharram congregation to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Husain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed SAW, a significant event in the Islamic calendar. Syedna was warmly received by Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Chief Minister SindhSyed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Syed Asif Haider Shah, IG Sindh Ghulam NabiHaider and other government officialsalong with senior members of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Karachi.
As DawoodiBohras from around the world gather in Karachi to observe AsharaMubaraka, they bring with them traditions and values that complement Pakistan’s rich socio-cultural mosaic. This convergence is a testament to the dynamism that defines both the DawoodiBohras and the country of Pakistan.
Following an invitation extended by the Government of Pakistan and the local Dawoodi Bohra community, His Holiness has chosen Karachi to host the AsharaMubaraka congregations this year. Over 80,000 DawoodiBohras from Pakistan and around the world are expected to attend the event and benefit from the sermons and discourses.
SyednaMufaddalSaifuddin will deliver a series of sermons over nine days, starting from the 8th of July 2024 at Taheri Masjid, Saddar, and there will be a live telecast to over 21 centres in other parts of Karachi as well as the neighbouring city of Hyderabad.
ShabbirHarianawala, media coordinator for the DawoodiBohras in Karachi said, “SyednaMufaddalSaifuddin chooses a different city each year as the venue for AsharaMubaraka for the Dawoodi Bohra community. We feel particularly blessed that this year Karachi has been chosen by Syedna to host the AsharaMubaraka congregations”
He added, “This year’s AsharaMubaraka event in Karachi is a manifestation of the unity in diversity that defines both the DawoodiBohras and our country as the local Bohra community hosts thousands of members from diverse geographies, professions, and walks of life, all converging for a common cause: the remembrance of Imam Husain. This spirit of unity and selflessness is mirrored in the AsharaMubaraka observance in Pakistan.”
Various committees have been set up to handle accommodation, transport, food, and provide other necessary facilities to ensure that guests coming from all parts of the world are able to participate fully and in the best possible manner. Harianawala continued, “We’re grateful to the government and local authorities for their support and assistance in hosting thousands of attendees, and ensuring that they have a comfortable stay in the city.”
AsharaMubaraka is a ten-day period in the Islamic month of Muharram dedicated to remembering Prophet Mohammed SAW, his grandson Imam Husain, and his family and companions. This event honours their valiant stand and sacrifice for the universal values of justice, truth, and humanity. For the Dawoodi Bohra community, these congregations are a journey of spiritual, educational, and social growth and development guided by His Holiness SyednaMufaddalSaifuddin. The daily sermons touch upon various themes and disciplines and encourage community members to seek knowledge from the Holy Quran and emulate the noble qualities of the Prophet SAW and the Ahl al-Bayt to reinvigorate their faith and navigate the complexities of modern life.
