Ashara Mubaraka 1417 h.

8th Zilhajjah, 1416 h.
April 26, 1996

Dear Moumineen Mukhliseen of the United States and Canada,
Salaams!

Allah Subhanahu says in the Quran-e-Majid: " Are the blind and the sighted person equal? Or is darkness equal to light? " ( Ar-Ra'ad, 16) Further, Allah Subhanahu says, " Are those who know, to be considered equal to those who do not know?" Rasulullah (SA) said that " I am the city of knowledge, and Ali (AS) is the gate to that city." Rasulullah further said, " Quest for knowledge is obligatory on every man and woman," and there is only one road to that knowledge, that is Maulana Ali (AS).

Today, the gate of that knowledge is Maulana Ali's (AS) Dai, Aqa Maula Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS). Day and night, our Maula guides us and says that "Mumineen, receive and learn that rightful and true knowledge and remain steadfast on the path of Imaan ( faith )." With that sole purpose, Huzur A'la (TUS) prepares each year on a remarkable scale and for 10 days, delivers knowledge of such magnitude, that for all munineen, it becomes a treasure for their entire life.

Amongst all Duat Mutlaqueen, Maulana Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS) 's stature and glory is unique. One of that uniqueness is gathering all momineen in the name of Imam Husain during ten days of Ashara. In the months preceding Ashara, mumineen are constantly anxious to know where Aqa Maula (TUS) will perform Ashaara this year. Each year, Aqa Maula selects a different province and geographic region so that the momineen of those different areas treasure the maximum knowledge and gather Barakat. In addition, mumineen from all corners of the world flock to that region to treasure that too.

For the past several years, mumineen of the West have been yearning for Huzur-e A'la (TUS) to deliver Ashara Mubaraka Vaez in their region. This year too, we are anxiously awaiting Aqa Maula's (TUS) decision and at the same time we are making a fervent Arz to Aqa Maula (TUS) that Aqa Maula (TUS) favor the western hemisphere for Ashara 1417 h. and perform this Ashara in London in the new Masjid Complex that has been built with Aqa Maula's (TUS) Miracle, so that in the 1400 year old history of Islam and Imaan, it can be recorded, Imam Husain's Dai for the first time performed Imam Hussain's Shahadat in the west. We, the mumineen of the western hemisphere are joining our mumineen brothers and sisters of UK to make this Arz that Aqa Maula (TUS) select London for Ashara 1417 h. We, the American and Canadian mumineen will flock to London, not as guests, but will whole heartedly join the mumineen of London in hosting all the mumineen of the world, who will flock to London for Ashara and we Americans and Canadians will rush to London to offer all kinds of khidmat to our beloved Maula in the name of Imam Husain.

In this competition and race for hosting Ashara Mubaraka for 1417 h., the mumineen of the following cities are fervently making all their efforts to win this race:

1. Ahmedabad backed by the whole Gujrat
2. Karachi backed by the whole of Pakistan
3. Rajkot backed by the whole of Kathyawad
4. Madras backed by the whole of South India

Come on,oh American and Canadian mumineen! Let us join in this race for hosting Ashara for 1417 h. in the western hemisphere. We are not any less than all those mumineen who are also equally earnestly preparing for making Arz to Aqa Maula to grace their respective regions or Ashara.

Once Aqa Maula performs Ashara in the western hemisphere, we will see the bounty of the knowledge and Barakaat in our Imaan, in our occupations and trade and in all aspects of our worldly and spiritual life. It has been our experience from the past and it is our firm conviction, based on experience, that wherever Aqa Maula performs Ashara that land and region becomes purified and a fountain of prosperity begins flowing in the people's worldly and spiritually lives for many times to come.

Oh American and Canadian mumineen ! Let us together do Arz in Aqa Maula's Darbar that Aqa Maula favor London for 1417 h. Ashara Mubaraka so that its bounty and Barakaat may be felt on this continent of North America, for us as well as for the future generations to come.

On May 27th, America observes Memorial Day, commemorating those who lost their lives at war for America's freedom. This year,Memorial day falls on Ashura day, thus increasing the prestige of Memorial day manifold. Because Imam Husain was martyred not only for the spiritual preservation of mumineen but for the preservation of mankind and for the real freedom of the entire human race in all eras. There is no day more memorial than the day of Ashura, and we earnestly make this Arz to Aqa Maula (TUS) to give us the opportunity to spend these most memorial 10 days in London listening to Aqa Maula's (TUS) Noorani voice describe Imam Husain's shahadat and do Matam in front of Aqa Maula (TUS).

Mumineen, with the following all three (3) ways, we must fervently plead our plea to Aqa Maula that Aqa Maula (TUS) observe the Ashara of 1417 h. in London:

1. As each Jamaat,
2. As each Committee, ( Shabab, Burhani Women's Association, Qardan Hasanah Committee, Madrasah Committee Mohalla Committee, etc. ) and
3. As each individual.

It is our hope that Aqa Maula (TUS) will heed our pleas and observe Ashara in London and we will join the mumineen of London and lend them our total support and efforts. It will be our duty to go to their side and support them totally. As the mujineen of whole of Africa stood in duty and contributed financially when Mombasa was the venue for Ashara, so the mumineen of the west must and will line up morally, physically, and financially for their London brethren. Every mumin of the USA and Canada, young and old, will attend in London. Colleges will close by 1st Muharram and college students will all be able to attend without exception and without difficulty. Those students who are at school must make prior arrangements to attend also, as attending vaez with Aqa Maula (TUS) is more important than attending school, more than college, more than university. This is an opportunity for a mumin's true education, for the preservation of his Imaan.