Muharram puts an end to India’s Shia Sunni clashes

Society of Shia Scholars in India has asked some Sunni clerics to join Muharram mourning ceremonies in a bid to send the message of Islamic unity to Muslim communities across the country.

In a maiden move to put an end to religious divisions in India and also strengthen solidarity of different Islamic denominations, Society of Shia Scholars in Lucknow have demanded Sunni figures to attend the mourning ceremonies of Muharram and perform part of the sermons for the atherings, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

The main part of the ceremonies, Majlis, is a series of sermons and lectures which are going to be subject to a great change by giving the floor to Sunni scholars and bridge the gap between Shia and Sunni communities.

The move is expected to put an end to some disagreements between Islamic denominations in a city which bears a history of clashes between these religious groups.

Asefi Husseiniya, Shah-e-Najaf Husseiniya and National PG College are the centers for Majlis meetings.

Molana Ali Hassan Qomi, secretary general of Society of Shia Scholars in Lucknow said the objective behind the move is to send the message of Islamic unity across the country and say that there is no more clash among the two denominations.

He also announced the confirmation of some Sunni scholars to attend the ceremony quoting the Sunni cleric as,” We are under pressure due to the religious divisions and it is high time that we stopped the misuse of others from Shia Sunni disagreements.”

Muharram is the first month of Muslim lunar year and quite important among Shia community due to the Martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), third Shia Imam and grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) martyred in the battle of Karbala back in 61 AH.

Contrary to the minor disagreements between Shia and Sunni Muslims, the latter express deep affections for the third Shia Imam and the ceremonies for the ceremonies held during Muharram.