Hawzah News Agency - (Mashhad - Iran) - Mashhad has always been the center of Muharram mourning ceremonies and every year in these days, mourning groups from far and near and even neighboring countries come to Mashhad to prepare for the mourning of Hussein (AS), the third Imam of Shia Muslims.

According to an old tradition, the mourning bodies of Mashhad start covering the religious centers with black fabrics on the last Friday of the month of Dhu al-Hajjah, but the beginning of Muharram in Mashhad becomes official by changing the flag of the dome of Imam Reza (AS) holy shrine. In this ritual, which is held on the last night of the month of Dhu al-Hajjah, under the title of Permission for Mourning, the servants remove the green flag of the golden dome and hoist a black flag instead. However, due to coronavirus pandemic, the ceremony was held in a special atmosphere and in compliance with health and social distancing protocols.

The highlight of this ceremony was the recitation of Quran verses, and then Mohammad Atapour, a eulogist of the Infallible Imams (AS) read the Vareth and the special prayer of Imam Reza (AS). Other eulogists and preachers performed chants and prayers and the pilgrims answered by chanting Labeyk ya Hussein and Labeyk ya Abolfazl (Here I am to submit to you, O Imam Hussein and O Abolfazl (his brother)).

Hoj. Mohammad Qomi, the head of the Organization of Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organization in a speech pointed to the need for physical health and dealing with spirituality at the same time, saying: “Razavi school has clarified the duty of Muslims regarding the contrast between health and mourning. Science and religion and also reason and religion have elaborated these matters.”

He considered the mourning of Imam Hussein (AS), the wish of all the people of Iran and called the mourning an unavoidable spiritual need of the society which guarantees its vitality.

In another ceremony, the green flag of the holy shrine’s dome was changed along with the cover of the holy Zarih as a sign of mourning for the martyred Imam; the flag and cover were changed to black.

Furthermore, in the presence of Hoj. Marvi, the chief custodian of Astan Quds Razavi and the servants, the flag of the dome, on behalf of 50 Mashhadi religious bodies and 130 provincial ones were bestowed symbolically to seven bodies consisting of two from Mashhad and two from Bahrain and Afghanistan.

According to an AQR old ritual, the black flag will be hoisted over the dome until the third of Rabi al-Awwal, three days after the martyrdom of Imam Reza (AS).