INDIANS IN FIJI.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 248, 16 October 1920, Page 17

INDIANS IN FIJI.

. FEAST OF MUHARRAM. CELEBRATION OF THE TAZIA. IBy W.M.C.) SUVA (Fiji i. October 1. The Indian festival celebrated during this last week-end commemorates the death of Hueain, the greatest martyr of the Mohammedan faith. This festival is called Muharram, an Arabic word meaning "forbidden"' or "sacred." The iirst month of the Mohammedan year ie called Muharram, the sacred month, and is so called from the de-it'i of Husain. son of Ali, who was killed at Kerbala on the 10th of that month. It was the wish of Mohammed that his nephew Ali should bo his sui'cwjr, not only 'because he was the husband of his greatly beloved daughter Fatima. but because of his real piety, and in n most public manner he earnmitted to him the charge of his flock. On the death of the Prophet, however. Abu Bakr assumed the position of Caliph, or Leader of the | Faithful. He had given a daughter in marriage to the Prophet. Two parties were thus formed—one called Shia. Tvho acknowledge Ali and his. immediate descendants as the lawful leaders of Mohammedanism, and the other Snnni, -nho declare the Caliphs Abu Bakr, Omir, Osman, etc., to be the Prophet's successors. Ali was treacherously murdered in fid by the machinations of the usurping f'alipil. At that time Yazid. King of Syria, of ilie Snnni seel, was the man of power among the followers of tlie I'roplipl. Hut under his tyrannical rule the people became very unhappy, and sought to call to their assistance a leader from the lineal descendants of Mohammed who would restore the religion taught by the Prophet in its original purity. A petition wa* therefore signed and sent to Husain, one of the two sons of Ali, then Hvine at Medina, asking htm to come to Syria at once and accept his rights as Leader of the Faithful. Husain received the petition, but at the time decided not to accede to the request without very careful investigation. He therefore sent liis cousin, Moslem, to deliver his reply in person, and to discover the true state of affairs in Syria. , and if possible learn the true reason of the petition. Moslem was to send him word as quickly as possible as to whether it would be advisable for him to accept their offer and make'the journey to Syria. Moslem, accompanied by his two «ons journeyed to Syria, and v.-as received with the utmost kindness. Elated ■with the flattering- promises of c many influential people he sent messengers to Medina urging- Husain to come 1 at once. In the meantime Yazid. learning the - turn of allair=. was seriously alarmed c and enraged. He ordered Moslem and U his sons to be taken prisoner. The friends of Moslem managed to hide him for some time, but large sums were offered 8 for his capture, and before long he was j= brought before Yazid. Moslem was tor- '- tured and dishonoured, and subsequently c thrown over a precipice. c 'The disastrous conclusion of Moslem's ( mission had not reached the care of Husain who, pleased with the very fars ourable report sent by 'his cousin, set out at once with his family, relations, and j friends and was hurrying to Syria. Be- ' o Heving the greater number of the people t were waiting to receive him joyfully he had not gathered together aiiy army, g but was travelling as a family party. In the meantime Yazid; having disposed of Jj Moslem and his eons, obtained news that 'Husain had left Medina for Syria, and J! hearing he would be accompanied by a j very large army, he ordered out an g immense force to meet Husain. setting a price on his head and proclaiming honours and rewards of the most tempting nature. Yazid's army met the party c of Husain at Kerbala. Here an awful c slaughter took place. Historian* describe - the carnage and fearlessness of Husain's i party in most glowing terms. During the r> whole terrible day they were without i water, the river Euphrates being blocked s by Yazid's army. In remembrance of i this privation every good Mohammedan ~ distributes sherbet (sugar and water) in . abundance to all present ;.t the celeorai tion of Muharram. Husain was tlie last r of the party who suffered on that day r of battle. He was surrounded in hie own camp, where by the usage of war they i had no right to enter, and there was not t a friendly hand left to assist him. His f body was literalh- hacked to pieces. He - died praying that Ood would have mercy i on his enemies. The tomb of the two > sens of Ali, Hasan and Hu?ain. wliich - is to be found at Kubala, ;" ■ mile- S.TV. 5 of -Baghdad, is. a most sacred >pot and a - revered plaoe of pilgrimage. Ila?an the other bt" the two sons of All was killed • by being poisoned hv an of - Yazid. At the- annual festival of Mvi harraru erections of bamboo and coloured paper are made which are intended to copy the tomb of and Hueain at ; Kerbala. These structures are given the - name of Tazia. and many of them are i very beautiful.