(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Waving religious flags and chanting "We are with you, oh Hussain (a.s)," the crowd commemorated the 7th Century killing in battle of Imam Hussain (a.s), the grandson of Islam's prophet. The 2-mile procession started at the Karbalaa Islamic Education Center in Dearborn and ended at Hemlock Park, where speakers delivered messages in support of Imam Hussain (a.s). They also called for peace in the Middle East.
Dearborn Police estimated about 2,500 attended the parade, bigger than last year's rally. There were no incidents reported. The Dearborn procession took place as millions of people took part in similar ceremonies in Iraq.
Organized by Shia Muslims of Iraqi descent, the annual procession in Dearborn has been held since 2004. It's a vivid display of the growth of the Iraqi-American community. Imam Hussain (a.s) was martyred in Iraq, so the commemoration of his martyrdom has special meaning for many Iraqis. The Karbalaa center in Dearborn is named after the city in Iraq where Imam Hussain (a.s) was martyred by a ruler they say was unjust.
"We love you Imam Hussain (a.s)," Imam Husham (a.s) Al-Husainy, head of the Karbalaa center, said to the crowd in Hemlock Park. "We are coming here to renew our commitment to you because Hussain (a.s), you are the one who taught us the freedom, you are the one who taught us the dignity.... He taught us the meaning of freedom."
Al-Husainy then led the crowd in chants of: "Love live Imam Hussain (a.s)," "Love live Karbalaa" and "Stop the war in the Middle East."
Arbaeen is an Arabic word that means 40th. It marks the 40th day after the anniversary of Hussain's death. In the Arab world, 40 days is the traditional time period that people mourn a person's death.
Shias believe Imam Hussain's (a.s) death was a reminder for people to always stand up to tyrants and injustice, no matter what the cost. Shias are a minority in Islam and sometimes see themselves as victims of unfair attacks.
"Stop the killing in Bahrain. Stop the terrorists in Iraq. Stop the killing in Palestine," Imam Al-Husainy told the crowd. At one point, he noted that Imam Hussain has the same name as the middle name of President Barack Hussein Obama.
"Obama Hussein, no war game," Al-Husainy said. "Learn from your father's name." The middle name of Obama's father also was "Hussein."
Al-Husainy said during his talk: "Stop all the fighting please. Mr. Obama, we want peace."
Many in the crowd waved large banners that carried images of Imam Hussain (a.s) and Arabic words that praised him. They chanted "Labayka, ya Hussain (a.s)," which means "We're with you, oh Hussain (a.s)."
Dressed in black robes called abayas, women were a significant part of the procession. A group of them dramatized how the family and supporters of Imam Hussain were paraded around after they were defeated in an effort to humiliate the losers. Dressed in black and green robes that covered their bodies, some had chains around them in a symbolic representation of how Hussain's followers were chained after their defeat.
One woman in the procession held up a sign that read: "We will never surrender to humiliation."
After the crowd arrived in the park, some drank tea and ate plates of meat stew, rice and fruit. The majority of the crowd consisted of Iraqi-American Shias from metro Detroit, but also included Shia Muslims from Canada, England, India, Lebanon and Pakistan.
/106
