Ashoora? Can’t be!

Can’t believe the change happening to Ashoora over the last 3 years. I think this is probably the first or only second year that an excellent effort was made not only to commemorate this very special event but attempts are being made to explain its significance to foreigners who normally viewed Ashoora is “it’s when the Bahraini people go crazy hitting themselves for a few days in a year!”

They also started art exhibitions, plays, blood donation drives and various other cultural events to draw the public – both shi’a and sunna – to experience Imam Hussain and his sacrifice.

Another fact, which to me is much more important that the English language seminars, is that there is a real attempt by leaders of the community for real rapprochement between the two main factions in Bahrain (shi’a and sunna) led by leading members of the Royal Family. A “Letter to Imam Hussain” [arabic] from the undersecretary of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Khalifa written and read by him himself at one of the ma’atems (Al-Qassab) a few days ago thrilled the public who listened to it, and created a lot of goodwill for him personally and to the Royal Family when the letter was subsequently published in the local papers.

We (the shi’a) never thought we’d hear anything close to the passion that letter contained from not only a Sunni, but a member of the Ruling Family.

Another article appeared by the founder and chairman of “Bayt Al-Quran” (house of Quran – which is a museum containing early scripts of the Holy Quran and other Islamic artifacts) Abdullatif Kanoo entitled “Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain” [arabic] had the same effect.

There has been also an inordinate number of visits by various members of the Royal Family and other dignitaries to various ma’atems and art workshops all over the island.

It is traditional that food is offered to everyone during Muharram (the first month in the Islamic calendar in which Ashoora falls within as the tenth day.) Four years ago the king ordered that all ma’atems should receive food and meat free of charge, financed by him directly. This was a good gift especially to the smaller ma’atems in the country.

I’m astounded. I know some of you will think that I have flipped and have become a “raging royalist”, I assure you that I have not, but am genuinely pleased and surprised by the creativity of the Bahraini people and the rapprochement efforts of people who for decades were regarded as the staunch anti-shi’a.

Times are achanin’ and I hope that it will change more so that Bahrain can be a leading light in this dark area of the world not only for its emerging democracy, but that we as Muslims can and shall live outside our differences.