Islamic Martyrdom promoted in Ashton-Under-Lyne

During the first 10 days of the Shia holy month of Muharram, a series of religious programs were organized in different cities of the United Kingdom. These meetings are traditionally held by Shia Muslims in remembrance of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, and his family members who were killed in the Iraqi city of Karbala after they declined to pledge allegiance to the then-ruler Yazid bin-Mu'awiya. At these remembrance meetings, Shia clerics commonly deliver speeches emphasizing the significance of the ‘sacrifices and martyrdom' of Imam Hussein and his family members. The programs culminate on Yaum-e-Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram. The occasion is also considered important for Sunni Muslims. In the United Kingdom, the population of Shia Muslims is considerably less than that of Sunni Muslims. In the run-up to Yaum-e-Ashura this year (January 20, 2008), a number of Sunni organizations of mostly Pakistani and Indian origin held a series of programs in the U.K. where their leaders preached the significance of Imam Hussein's ‘martyrdom.' One of the largest series of remembrance meetings was organized across England and Scotland by a Sunni organization called the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat. This group is also known in popular lexicon as Barelvi Islam, a movement among Sunni Muslims owing their allegiance to Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, who preached at Bareilly, a town in northern India, during the second half of the 19th century and after. During the run-up to the Yaum-e-Ashura, the clerics of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat fanned across the United Kingdom and delivered lectures emphasizing the significance of "martyrdom."

"Martyrdom Is One Pious Activity That the Prophet Himself Longed For"

"In Edinburgh, Qazi Abdus Salaam Khurshid said that martyrdom is one pious activity that the Prophet himself longed for. In Glasgow, Maulana Habibur Rahman said that the second Caliph [Umar] wished: ‘O Allah, offer me martyrdom in your path.' This prayer proves that martyrdom is pious, not a tragedy or difficulty. In Dundee, Qari Noorul Islam said that martyrdom is a great honor. "In Manchester, Maulana Muhammad Iqbal Rangoni said that those who offer sacrifice of lives in the path of truth are fortunate. In Rochdale, Abdul Majeed Anwar lauded the greatness... of Islam's martyrs. In Ashton-under-Lyne, Maulana Syed Abdul Kareem Shah said that the greatness of a martyr is also mentioned in the Koran. In Oldham, Qari Abdur Rasheed said the [followers of] Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat worldwide believe that the Prophet's Companions and Members of his Household are two eyes of Islam and love of them is real faith. Maulana Amjad Hussein, Maulana Shamsur Rahman, [and] Mufti Hilal Mahmood also saluted the greatness of Islam's martyrs. http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=IA42008