Updated 14 December 2011

On Saturday December 3, 2011 over 120 adults and children gathered to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a) in a program organized by the Husseini Islamic Center Workshop team of Sanford, Florida.

The children recited their anthem "We are marching ahead in unity..." as they marched toward the crowd as a symbol for the united army we should be preparing for the reappearance of the Mahdi (atfs). Moving words of poetry by the Workshop children and Drs. Shabbir and Abbas Tejani and a speech by student Ammaar Virjee lead the program on to Dua Faraj for the safety of Our Imam (a). The program concluded with a candle light vigil in which each child carried a candle to the tent placed in the front of the crowd.

The significance of the final part of the program is very clear: the tent first symbolized the tent of Imam Husain (a) from which the call of "Hal min Naasirin Yansurna" was heard. The candles which the children placed around the tent represent the light that they brought as an answer to Imam Husain's call. However, time has kept us away from our third Imam (a), so instead the children paid allegiance to bring the light to the camp of Imam Mahdi (a) when he reappears after rising against injustices in the world. Therefore the tent is also a representation of Imam Mahdi's (a) camp.

While it rained periodically throughout the program, both the children and members of the community remained calm and supportive. The PowerPoint presentation and handmade banners served as visual aids for the attendees. It is hoped that our acts of service are accepted and instill the love of the Aimmah (a) in the hearts of our young friends.