The 9th of Rabi’al Awwal (lunar month) marks a turning point in the history of the AhlulBayt (peace be upon them) and their followers. This day, which is affectionately known as Eid-e-Zehra – in reference to the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (may the prayers of Allah be upon him and his family) – is a day of joy and happiness for the lovers of the AhlulBayt (peace be upon them).
The hadith which speaks about this day, refers to it as the ‘Greatest Eid’ in the sight of the AhlulBayt (peace be upon them) and those who love and follow them.
Indeed, it is after going through close to 80 days of grief and sorrow in which we commemorated the murder of Abi Abdillah al-Husain (peace be upon him) and his family and friends in Kerbala and the other Shahadats which we have marked over this period – including the loss of our 2nd Imam, 4th Imam 8th Imam, 11th Imam, and of course our beloved Prophet Muhammad (may the prayers of Allah be upon him and his family) – that we have finally been able to take the black clothes off of our bodies (however the grief and sorrow at the loss of these personalities should still remain in our hearts for the rest of the year) and adorn ourselves with the clothing of piety (Taqwa) which we have learned from the Majaalis over the past two and a half months. We bid a Tearful Farewell to the Mourning period on 8th RabialAwal
One particular hadith which speaks of this day tells us that while in a gathering with the Prophet of Islam, Imam Ali and his two sons, Hasan, and Husain (blessings be upon all of them), the Prophet, with a smile on his face, said, “It is on this day that Allah will destroy your enemies and the enemies of your grandfather and it is on this day when Allah will accept the actions of your Shia and those who love you. This is the day when the words of Allah came true where He said (in the Qur`an): ‘So those are the houses fallen down because they were unjust…’ (27:52) And this is the day when the Pharaoh (Firawn) of the time of the AhlulBayt was destroyed…”
On this day, one of the important things which we should bring to mind is the start of the Imaamate and leadership of our 12th and Living Imam, Al-Hujjat ibnil Hasan al-Askari (may Allah hasten his return). With the tragic death of his father at such a young age, the Awaited Saviour began his Imaamate on this day – and it continues even now during the period of the Ghaybah (Occultation) until Allah permits him to make his advent to establish the universal government of Islam over the entire planet!
We should also keep in our hearts two of the most important pillars of our Furu ad-Din – namely Tawalla and Tabarra – or showing love for the Ahlul Bait (peace be upon them) and those who love them and showing and expressing our hatred for the enemies of the Ahlul Bait (peace be upon them) during this day and the gatherings which we attend. The concept of love and hate is something which is engrained in the Quran in many verses and is something which we must live our life by – we must know who are our friends are and love and support them, and we must know who are enemies are so that we can keep away from them and their wicked plots and ideas.
