Millions of Shias converge in Kadhimiyya to mark Martyrdom of Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (a)
Friday, 10 August 2007
Millions of Shiite pilgrims converged on a golden-domed shrine in northern
Baghdad on Thursday, some beating their heads and chests with their hands and
others lamenting in groups to honor an eighth century saint known for his piety,
humility and ability to restrain his anger. Imam Musa Al-Kadhim, the fifth
descendant of the Holy Prophet of Islam and the seventh Imam of the Twelver-Shiites,
was imprisoned and later killed by the ruler of the Muslim caliphate in 799 AD.
The procession on Thursday took place under tight security with guards checking
each pilgrim as they reached the green iron gates of the Imam Musa Al-Kadhim
mosque and a citywide driving ban in effect until early Saturday to prevent
suicide car bombings.
Shiite religious festivals have become easy targets for Wahhabi insurgents
trying to provoke an all-out civil war between Iraq's main Muslim groups. This
festival was struck by tragedy two years ago, when an estimated 1,000 pilgrims
were killed in a stampede after reports spread that a suicide attacker was among
them — the biggest single loss of life since the U.S.-led war began in March
2003.
The festival also faced violence last year when snipers firing from rooftops and
a cemetery killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens in a series of attacks
on the pilgrims as they walked through Sunni areas.
Still, women shrouded in black abayas and men of all ages walked for hours or
even days from holy cities south of Baghdad and volatile Diyala province to the
north to reach the mosque with twin golden domes and four minarets that sparkled
in the unrelenting summer sun. Boats ferried pilgrims across the Tigris to the
eastern banks in the neighborhood of Kazamiyah.
"I have come here to get the blessing of the martyr imam and to challenge the
terrorism of the Wahhabists," said Hussein Mizaal, a 21-year-old college student
from southeastern Baghdad. "We are not afraid of anyone except God. Our faith is
getting stronger despite their mean attacks," he said, referring to the austere
Wahhabi sect of Sunni Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia.
In scattered attacks reported by police, seven pilgrims were killed and four
wounded when gunmen in a speeding car opened fire and threw hand grenades at
them as they were en route to Baghdad from the Dabouniyah area, 75 miles to the
southeast.
Gunmen fired on Iraqi soldiers guarding pilgrims in the predominantly Sunni
neighborhood of Yarmouk in western Baghdad, prompting a battle and panic that
left one attacker dead and one soldier and three pilgrims wounded.
A bomb exploded near the house of a Shiite family, killing a man and his wife,
and wounding three, including a 5-year-old child, in the volatile, religiously
mixed neighborhood of Baiyaa in western Baghdad,
A Shiite pilgrim also was killed and six others injured when a fire broke out on
a train running from central Baghdad to Kazimiyah. Police said the blaze was due
to an electrical problem.
The ceremony honoring the anniversary of Al-Kadhim's death is important in the
Shiite faith, and has gained increase significance in Iraq since such
commemmorations and expressions of public sorrow were banned under Saddam
Hussein's regime, which looked upon these gatherings as threats to the regime.
Imam Musa ibn Jaafar Al-Kadhim, who died in the year 799, was the seventh of 12
principal Shiite saints, known for his patience and his ability to suppress his
anger. The mosque was built atop the tombs of Al-Kadhim and his grandson, Imam
Muhammad Al-Jawad.
Crowds waved green Islamic flags and the Iraqi standard as they massed around
the mosque in the Kazimiyah neighborhood. Green coffins symbolizing the imam
were carried overhead and pilgrims reached out to touch the walls of the mosque.
Parents put green headbands or armbands on their babies, and men linked arms as
they walked down the street. People rushed to help lift wheelchairs and
strollers over checkpoint barriers.
Tents strung with colored lights and flowers provided shade and water, while
vendors offered pilgrims egg sandwiches, soup, yogurt and tea. Many pilgrims had
arrived a day early and slept in the street or in tents provided for women.
Loudspeakers played religious eulogies across the city of 6 million people.
Haider Farhan, 23, was finally beginning his trek from Sadr City to the shrine
after spending most of Wednesday distributing food to pilgrims along the route.
"I am so tired, but I am determined to visit the shrine today," he said. "We are
heading to the shrine in order to show our respect to the Imam Al-Kadhim and to
our religion. We are expecting death any minute, but this will never deter us.
God willing, all will be safe."
Hassan Hadi, a 24-year-old college student, said he and seven friends took about
four and a half hours to walk from Sadr City to the shrine in Kazamiyah.
"This is a very dear day for the Shiites. We have come here to commemorate the
martyrdom of al-Kadhim who sacrificed his life for the sake of supreme
principles of Shiites," Hadi said. "We are not afraid of explosions, which we
are used to. I am very happy to see this number of believers gathering here
today. This shows the unity of the Iraqi people."
The local Iraqi army command estimated the crowd at about 3 million people, but
there was no way to verify that.
More than 1,800 Iraqi security forces were guarding the mosque complex,
including 625 agents inside the shrine, officials said. Shiite security men also
were known to be deployed throughout the area.
U.S. troops took a lower-key security role, staying away from the mosque at the
pilgrimage's heart to show respect, said the top U.S. ground commander in the
area, Lt. Col. Steve Miska, the leader of Task Force Justice.
The Iraqi military spokesman for Baghdad, Brig. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, said
security forces were on high alert, with helicopters on the lookout for
mortar-launching teams.
"The security measures are tight and there is a high coordination with the
Multi-National forces and local committees and other ministries," al-Moussawi
told the Shiite Al-Forat TV station. "We can expect anything from the terrorists
on this day."
Authorities also imposed an indefinite vehicle ban in the Shiite city of Hillah,
south of Baghdad, which has been hit by some of the war's deadliest bombings.
Comments (6)
1. Written by kumail five on 10-08-2007 02:32
Watch www.presstv.com Thanks
2. Written by khamis on 10-08-2007 08:45
God protect you.
3. Written by Ahmed on 10-08-2007 12:17
Condolences to all on the martyrdom of Imam Musa Al-Kadhim [as].
4. Written by Husayn on 11-08-2007 03:14
Condolences to the Imam of our Time [atf] and to the Muslim Ummah on the martyrdom of Imam Musa al-Kadhim [a]
5. Written by Zaynab on 13-08-2007 18:52
Asalamou ahlaykoum wa rahmatollahi wa barakatouh, condolences to our Prophet ( peace be upon him and his pure family), to the Imam Al Mahdi and to all the Ummah. A sister from Belgium
6. Written by Imran on 14-08-2007 07:42
Salaaumn 'Alakum. AhlulBayt Islamic Mission is one of the few unbiased news sources today. Thank you AIM for these news and excellent pictures. May Allah hasten the appearance of Imam Mahdi (S).
Write Comment
Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article.
Comments posted are the sole opinion of the author and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of AIM.
