Rasa News Agency reports - On the blessed occasion of the 15th day of the holy month of Sha’ban, the Islamic world celebrates the joyous birth anniversary of Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Mahdi, the saviour of humankind. On this night, the Islamic Republic of Iran is bathed in light and joy as its people celebrate this holy day with great zeal.
The religious people of Iran celebrate this joyous occasion in gatherings at mosques and husayniyah’s across the country where they pray to God to hasten the reappearance of the hidden imam and listen to lectures aimed at teaching the people how to prepare for the arrival of their Awaited Imam and awakening their hearts.
Imam al-Mahdi is present and alive in this world but is in occultation - meaning he is hidden from all, awaiting the divine command to appear and lead the world from darkness and oppression into light and justice.
On the streets and alleys throughout the Islamic Republic, people distribute sweets, pastries and sweet drinks, in celebration of the birth of Imam al-Mahdi. The entire country is in a celebratory mode and a spirit of spirituality and calmness envelops the air despite the intense heat of much of Iran at this time of the year.
The holy city of Qom is a witness to the enthusiasm of those sincerely awaiting the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi. The streets and alleys of this hot and dusty desert city have gained an even greater spiritual atmosphere as its people celebrate in the multitude of mosques and husayniyah’s throughout the city. The presence of the lovers of the Imam in the Holy Shrine of Lady Fatimah al-Ma’soumah and the Holy Jamkaran Mosque reveals the depth of the Iranian people’s love for their Living Imam.
On the 14th night of the holy month of Sha’ban, thousands of the lovers of Imam al-Mahdi gathered at the Holy Shrine of Lady Fatimah al-Ma’soumah, where they were captivated by the sermon of Hujjat al-Islam Mohsen Qara’ati and the beautiful recitation of Du’a Kumayl by Hujjat al-Islam Mahdinejad. Also, a beautiful recitation of the Holy Quran was begun at midnight by Sayyed Javad Hoseini and elegies were read by Sayyed Reza Tahvildar. At a midnight vigil held at Holy Jamkaran Mosque, Hujjat al-Islam Hosein Ansarian delivered a sermon. The holy shrines were all packed with believers.
The Holy Jamkaran Mosque is very important for the lovers of Imam al-Mahdi, as it was constructed on the orders of the Imam by a devout and righteous scholar by the name of Hasan ibn Muthlah al-Jamkarani in 1006 CE. Imam al-Mahdi told him that the land he owned was holy ground and a mosque should be built there.
Similar ceremonies were held in other cities of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Especially mentionable ceremonies were held at the shrine of the eighth Imam, Ali ibn Musa ar-Ridha, in the holy city of Mashhad and at the Shah-e Cheragh Shrine in Shiraz, where tombs of Ahmad and Muhammad, the sons of the seventh Imam, Musa al-Kadhim, are located.
Ayatollah Vahid Khorasani and Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi-Golpaygani issued separate congratulatory messages, where they both stressed the importance of celebrating this important holiday with the great respect that such a glorious holy day deserves to be celebrated.
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