A brief sketch of the events, on the kind advice of Shahzada Alivaqar Idris Bhaisaheb Badruddin:
On the day of chehlum of Imam Husayn (SA), Aqa Mawla opened the main door to the ewan and was then brought by a procession on a miyana through the ewan to the door of the masjid. There, he performed the iftetah of the masjid by opening the lock on the door.
Before the chehlum majlis began, Shaikh Abidali, whose sons had built the masjid part of the complex read his wakf araz, in which he relinquished all rights to the masjid for posterity and requested Aqa Mawla (TUS) to accept the masjid, perform its wakf and name it.
The chehlum waaz then began with account after moving account of zulm against Imam Husayn (SA) as against the sharaf and azamat he was bestowed by Allah and His Rasul (SAW). In one breath he would say "Husayn's head was put on a plate whilst Yazid sat on a throne" and in the next he would say "When the worthy enter paradise, they shall hear paradise say to Allah - `You promised me dignity' and Allah will say: `I bestow you dignity through Hasan and Husayn'".
What can one say about the atmosphere and the bayan? This was Husayn's Dai on the takth of a new sparkling masjid, on the one side of which was the gurfah of Ummul mumineen, Amatullah Aisaheba. The fortunate audience were even given a detailed sabaq in haqiqat. He showered mumineen with dua and blessings - at one point he said that "Ali, the master of zohd, has taught us that one should live in this world in comfort and yet prepare ourselves fully for the hereafter. The Imam shows us how to prepare ourselves for the hereafter without even disturbing the comfort of this life".
Then returning to the London Masjid, Aqa Mawla (TUS) acknowledged the continuous araz of mumineen in London and particularly that of Shahzada Alivaqar Qaidjoher Bhaisaheb for Ashara in London. This year though, he chose Karachi. He said that the khidmat guzaro of London and other mumineen were "azurda". Then in a heart rending way, the bawa shafiq said: "If a mumin is in despair, I am too - because I am the father. If a child seeks from his father, how much would the father wish to bestow? So I have given to you this day of chehlum. Just as the tashahud is part of the namaz, so is chehlum part of Ashara."
This project, Aqa Mawla (TUS) said, was an international one. He mentioned the coming of Prince Charles and how Charles was touched by his message. This he said, promoted good relations. Aqa Mawla (TUS) said dua on behalf of all participants in the project and particularly mentioned Shahzada Qaidjoher Bhaisaheb as having done the greater part of this khidmat. He then accepted the masjid on behalf of Imam al-Zaman (SA) and declared it wakf "lewajhilla". "It shall not be sold or gifted or inherited. The inheritor of the masjid shall be Allah himself." He then named it "Al-Masjid al-Husayni". Aqa Mawla (TUS) also announced that the replacement of the temporary qibla with a marble one will be his personal bestowal. He showered Shaikh Abidali and his family with much dua and sharaf and mentioned their khidmat in London, Misr and Colombo and advised them (which is an advice all mumineen) that along with this khidmat, do the khidmat of mumineen for - "they too are my children".
The next day, (Sunday) in the ziyafat of Anjuman-e-Burhani, the various khidmat guzar who had done khidmat of the masjid were bestowed with sharaf. One could perceive the hapiness flowing from Aqa Mawla's (TUS) countenance. In the same majlis, Aqa Mawla (TUS) announced his intention to be in USA for Milad al-Nabi (SAW).
The events of the weekend were undoubtedly the most important in the history of mumineen in Europe. May Aqa Mawla (TUS) ever continue to bestow many more to all mumineen, wherever they may live.
Mustafa