• Activities
• 29 Thul-Hijja

General Recommendations for Preachers and Religious Speakers for the Month of Muharram 1448 AH

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful**

All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and may blessings and peace be upon Muhammad and his pure and immaculate family.

Indeed, Husayn is the lamp of guidance and the ark of salvation

The sacred month of Muharram arrives carrying with it the memory of the greatest epic in human history: the uprising of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him), which preserved authentic Islam and charted for future generations the path of dignity, honor, and sacrifice in the way of Allah, the Almighty.

While Muharram represents an exceptional season for believers in general, it carries a greater responsibility for the speakers of the Husayni pulpit and religious preachers, especially in Western societies that face complex intellectual, cultural, and educational challenges. In such environments, the Husayni pulpit has become not merely a means of commemorating a historical event, but a comprehensive institution for education, guidance, and the construction of religious identity for future generations.

Accordingly, the Imam Ali Foundation (London), together with the Office of Liaison to His Eminence Grand Ayatollah al-Sayyid al-Sistani (may his shadow endure), has issued ten recommendations that every Husayni preacher should keep in mind during these days of mourning.



First: Maintain Sincerity Towards Allah

The Husayni pulpit is an act of worship before it is a profession or a social activity.

Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "Be callers to the people without your tongues."

The first thing a preacher needs is to continually review his intention and ensure that his goal is to guide people and bring them closer to Allah and the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), rather than seeking fame, praise, or worldly gain.

A pulpit founded upon sincerity is blessed by Allah, and a single sincere word may transform a person's life or become the means of guiding an entire family.

Second: Understand the Particular Nature of Western Society
It is not wise to transfer the discourse of Muslim societies to the West without considering the differences in circumstances.
A preacher in the West addresses a generation born and raised in a non-Muslim environment, young people exposed daily to complex intellectual and doctrinal questions, families struggling to balance integration with the preservation of their identity, and non-Muslims who may attend gatherings or follow them through various media channels.
For this reason, the success of the Husayni pulpit in the West requires a deep understanding of the realities faced by its audience and the ability to connect the message of Karbala to their actual needs.

Third: Present Imam Husayn as a Project of Guidance It is a mistake to reduce the Husayni movement solely to its tragic dimension.
The tragedy is indeed an essential component of commemorating Ashura, but Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) did not rise merely to be martyred. Rather, he rose to uphold religion and reform the community.
He stated: "I did not rise out of arrogance, vanity, oppression, or corruption. Rather, I rose to seek reform in the nation of my grandfather."
Therefore, the pulpit should focus on themes such as reform, justice, responsibility, resistance to oppression, and the development of the individual.
In this way, the younger generation will understand that Ashura is a project for life, not merely a historical remembrance.

Fourth: Address Youth in the Language of the Age
Young people in the West need a discourse that understands their questions and concerns.
Many of the challenges they face relate to:
* Atheism
* Intellectual doubts and misconceptions
* Gender and sexual identity issues
* Family disintegration
* Digital addiction
* Psychological and emotional pressures
The successful preacher is one who transforms the Husayni pulpit into a space where such questions can be addressed through the guidance of the Qur'an and the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).

Fifth: Uphold Scholarly Accuracy
Access to information is now available to everyone.
Any inaccurate information can lead people to question the credibility of the entire religious discourse.
Therefore, the preacher should verify narrations, distinguish between what is well-known and what is authentically established, avoid unsubstantiated exaggerations, and properly attribute statements to their sources.
Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) does not need unsupported claims to magnify his cause; the truth alone is sufficient to demonstrate the greatness of Ashura.

Sixth: Preserve the Unity of Believers
One of the most important functions of the Husayni pulpit in the West is to unite believers rather than divide them.
Muslim communities there are relatively small and face many common challenges.
Accordingly, preachers should avoid provoking personal disputes, marginal conflicts, and fruitless arguments that create division within the believing community.
The Husayni pulpit exists to build the Ummah, not to fragment it.

Seventh: Use the Language Understood by the New Generation
Many second- and third-generation Muslims in the West do not possess sufficient proficiency in Arabic.
Therefore, it is important to provide portions of lectures in the local language, prepare translated summaries, utilize modern media, and encourage programs specifically designed for youth and children.
Conveying the message of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) to the younger generation is more important than limiting ourselves to traditional methods that may not effectively reach them.

Eighth: Present a Positive Image of Islam and Shi'ism
In many cases, the preacher serves as a representative of religion before non-Muslims.
For this reason, his words, conduct, and manner of presentation should reflect mercy, wisdom, good character, respect, and thoughtful openness.
People often come to know Islam through the behavior of its followers before they ever read its books.

Ninth: Utilize Modern Media
The influence of the pulpit is no longer limited to those physically present in a gathering.
A lecture may reach thousands through live broadcasts, social media platforms, short-form videos, and digital applications.
Accordingly, preachers should think not only of the local audience but also of a global one, recognizing that every word may reach people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Tenth: Remember the Greatness of the Trust
The Husayni pulpit is not an ordinary platform.
It is a continuation of the mission of Lady Zaynab al-Kubra (peace be upon her) and Imam al-Sajjad (peace be upon him) in preserving and conveying the message of the Husayni movement.
Therefore, the preacher should always remain conscious that he carries a tremendous trust. A single word may guide a person or lead him away; it may strengthen the faith of a generation or weaken its connection to religion.
Allah, the Exalted, says: "And who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah, does righteous deeds, and says, 'Indeed, I am among the Muslims.'" (Qur'an 41:33)
May Allah make us and you among those who follow the path of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) and adhere to his noble example.
Peace be upon Husayn, and upon Ali ibn al-Husayn, and upon the children of Husayn, and upon the companions of Husayn.