On the 23rd of October 2016, Minhaj Women League (Rotterdam, Netherlands) held the event to commemorate the sacrifices by the Martyrs of Karbala and to spread the message of Karbala. About eighty women and sisters attended this program and benefitted from the knowledge shared by the speakers in the spiritual program. The chief highlight of the even was a lecture by Mrs. Sumaira Faisal on the subject of “The Message of Karbala”.

The program commenced with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by Mrs Aisha Nazir Qadri. After the recitation of the Holy Quran the Qasida Burda Shareef was presented by all and then Mrs. Safina Ilyas praised Allah Almighty in a Hamd Shareef. A young group of girls also presented the gifts of glories and exaltations in the honour of our beloved Holy Prophet (SAW). Mrs Badar Bari recited a kalaam on the blessed family of our beloved Holy Prophet (SAW). Throughout the program many women recited Naat or Kalaam and sent greetings and salutations on the Holy Prophet (SAW) and his family (RA). Sister Zienat delivered a short speech in Dutch on the personality of Sayyida Fatima-tu-Zahra (RA).

After this session Mrs Sumaira Faisal started the lecture “The Message of the Karbala”. She beautifully explained the real message behind the supreme sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) in the holy month of Muharram. After she told what happened on the Day of Ashura she continued to explain the story behind the supreme sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS) and his whole family (RA). His (AS) supreme sacrifice was to save the Deen of his beloved grandfather, our beloved Prophet (SAW), and to show us, the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (SAW), how to spend our lives and what the actual aim is of life. She explained through an Ayat of Surah Al-Fajr that the Nafs (self) is our actual enemy and that the Almighty Allah says to return to Him (to seek His pleasure and He will seeks yours). Besides the book of Shaykh ul Islam "Shahadat e Imam-e-Hussain" the book of Ghauwth ul Azam (RA) "Ghunyat ut-Talibeen" was also given as reference.

Ghauwth ul Azam (RA) described four enemies: 1. Nafs; 2. Shaitan; 3. Dunya; 4. Sohbah (all the people around you, even family and friends). We all have to understand our Nafs and fight against it every time before it ruins everything and so we may keep walking on the straight path (which we recite in every prayer): that’s the way of spirituality. We not only have to love our Deen, but also love the One who saved the Deen and gave the real meaning of how to spend our lives. If Imam Hussain (AS) wanted he could get everything he desired. Instead, he (AS) sought the pleasure of the Almighty Allah and returned to Him. We've to understand the message and we can learn a lot more of Imam Hussain (AS), his Salah, his character, and his dealing with the nafs and so on. The real worship is the one done with prayer, love and tears, which is one of the many ways to feed the soul. And while fighting our Nafs we have to preserve ourselves from the Shaitan, avoid the bad influence of the world and company. She explained that backbiting, jealousy, envy, greed is all the work of your nafs. Leave your Nafs and return to Allah SWT, because after this world, you can only take good deeds with you and the money that you will spend in the way of Allah SWT (only those will be beneficial in the life after death). And in the light of Surah Hūd, always put your trust in Allah SWT, He is also Al Razaaq. Allah SWT can give you sustenance in all possible ways you deserve or need, because He SWT is all-knowing and knows what in every heart is.

This is also quoted by Ghawth ul Azam (RA). The advice is to clean your heart so that you can find Him there. Shaykh ul Islam says that every person knows better about himself than anyone else, so reflect every day to improve yourself as person and in imaan, especially by walking the path of Hussainiyat.

Mrs. Sumaira Faisal urged to spare time on a regular basis to gain knowledge about our Deen and listen to lectures of Shaykh ul Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir ul Qadri about spirituality and feed our souls. The gathering concluded with greetings and salutations upon the Holy Prophet (SAW) and the family of the Holy Prophet (SAW) by all, followed on with a beautiful Dua by Mrs Aisha Nazir Qadri.