By Danish Reyaz,
Mumbai: Historic and aesthetic, Mughal Mosque, situated in the heart of the city, is a center for Shia Isna Ashri Muslims in south Mumbai. Bhendi Bazar is largely Muslim dominated area with mixed population of different sects of Islam, like Shias, Bohras, Khojas and Sunnis.
Near to the completion or breaking of fast, Maulana Mohsin Ali Nasri, waiz of Mughal Masjid started a brief sermon explaining the importance of Fasting. He said, “We are the Guest of Allah in this Holy month of Ramzan that contains lots of benefit for Muslims. It is the month of “Tazkiya e Nafs” (Purification of self). Allah Subhanahu Taala has appointed angels to give Ajr for every good deed, but for fasting he will give the Ajr personally.”
Preaching a huge gathering he said “it is important to protect our soul from evils. Our six Imams have clarified that there is no difference between the rich and the poor in this month and both are in similar condition. God asked both of them to observe fast, so that they know what the hunger is.”
After the sermon, Imam led people in Maghrib and Isha salah. Everyone then came together with their Iftar and the Dinner.
It is very interesting that among Muslims different sects celebrate this Holy month with different traditions. According to Maulana Mohsin Ali Nasri “Our prayer will begin with tahajjud i.e. before the dawn, Dua and Tilawat. And after Sehri we pray Subah Salah (Fajr).”
Mid day we offer Zohrana namaz where we club Zohar and Asr Salah. After every namaz we recite various duas. In the meantime one Majlis is organized where we preach Islami Ahkam and Masail e Diniya.”
He further explained, “If it is Friday Salah then we are going to ziyarat of Imam e Zamana. In this Mughal mosque we do not offer Friday Salah because within the three miles we have only one Jama Masjid and according to our Fiqh it is necessary to offer Friday Salah only in one mosque so we go to Khoja Shia Masjid.”
After Magrib and Isha salah usually we do Daura e Quran and then they go to eating whatever is available.
Mr Sayed Mohammed Ali Kausar explains “We follow two traditions, where one is allowed to break his fast before magrib Salah but it’s better according to our fiqh to eat after the “Maghrebain.”
He said “in our shariah, fast is automatically broken and not important to eat something to break it. Because the fast is important within the period it gets completed automatically after that period is over.”
He also informed “We offer “Qaza e Umri Salah” in this month. After 9 or 10 PM Imam offers Salah for those people who could not offer it on time.”
Sunnis have Shab e Qadar in one of the odd nights of the last 10 days i.e. from 21 to 29 Ramazan, but for Shias Shab e Qader is on 19, 21 and 23 of Ramzan. Rivayat of Shab e Qader of 27 Ramzan is poorer in our fiqh,” he further explained.