By Kulsum Mustafa,
Lucknow: The name of Shia cleric Maulana Mirza Mohd Athar, President, All India Shia Personal Law Board, has been added in LIMCA BOOK of Records 2011. The Maulana, who has his roots in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, has been bestowed with this honor for his longest continuous series of lectures Khateeb e-Akbar.
Starting at the young age of 22 years the Maulana has since delivered 530 majlis sermons during 53 years at the historic Mogul Masjid Imambara in Mumbai since 1960. Each majlis is for one hour duration and has the slated time 9 to 10 pm for ten days every year during Muharram. The majlis sermons are based on the tragedy of Karbala and the sacrifice of Imam Husain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad who died along with 72 of his friends and relatives fighting to protect Islam.
The cleric has a great fan following and over the years, the throng of listeners in the narrow lanes of Imamwada has grown many fold. Devouts come from far and near to listen to the sermons every Muharram. Maulana Athar who became the first president of the All India Shia Personal Law Board acquired his speaking skills from his father Mulla Mirza Mohammad Tahir, a popular speaker in his times.