Naal e mubarak N aal is an Arabic word which means a metallic piece which covers the nose and for

ehead of a soldier.It is attached to Khud, the armour cap. The Naal of Hazrat Imam Hussain was broken during the battle of Karbala. Passing through several hands, it came to Bijapur during the reign of Yusuf Adil Shah, it was sent from Bijapur, to Golconda, along with the Asnads (Certificates) to I brahim Qutub Shah. Before the Hyderabad city came into existence the Naal was ke pt in the shape of Arabic Allah as a part of an Alam and it used to be covered w ith sandal paste and installed in Golconda. As mentioned in the Gulzar-e-Asafia , after construction of the city of Hyderabad, the Naal Mubarak was shifted to a portion of the Royal Palace known as Ilahi Mahal near Char Kaman. This is the c urrent location where the Alam is installed every year. The Naal Mubarak is a land-mark of the Moharrum observance in Hyderabad, It is i nstalled on the first of Moharrum with great devotion and comes out in a process ion after mid-night of 9-10 Moharrum. The hereditary carrier of the Alam wraps a white cotton sheet of about 6 to 8 metres around his waist. The Alambardars wil l be bearing the Alam with manifest dignity. The Doribardars carry the rope arou nd the Alam as if they are the retainers of a king circumambulating around the m onarch in his progress along the route of the procession. A little behind the Al am will be the Chatarbardars carrying the umbrella. No sooner the Alam emerges f rom the Alawa the musicians play their pipes and drums. The roads through which the Alam procession passes attract thousands of devotees who present Nazar irrespective of their religion, caste, or creed.

Baad shahi aashur khana The Qutb Shahs being Shi'as realized the importance of the 'Ashur Khanas' in th e life of the people. particularly their Shi'a subjects, and were careful in mai ntaining the air of sanctity that surrounded them. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, therefore planned the construction of an 'Ashur Khana a t the time of building the new city of Hyderabad. The construction of the Baadsh ahi Ashur Khana began soon after the completion of the Charminar in 1001H/1592 A .D. The building was completed in 1005H/1596 A.D. at a cost of 60.000 rupees. It was located near Khudadad Mahal, which no longer exists. The locality is now ca lled Pathergatti. During the Qutb Shahi period, fourteen 'Alams were installed in the 'Ashur Khana , which were made of gold and studded with Jewels. The Dhatties of these 'Alams were of Zarbafti cloth extending to a length of fourteen yards, The Ayats (verse s) of the holy Quran were knitted into them to enhance their beauty. The 'Ashur Khana was decorated with 10,000 lamps placed in ten rows. The Sultan used to light them, a row each night so that on the tenth night total number of 10,000 lamps were lit. In addition to these, huge structures in the shape of tre es each containing 120 lamps were lit. These lights illuminated the 'Ashur Khana to such an extent that it appeared to be bright day during night. Unfortunately we have no account of what had happened to the belongings of the ' Ashur khana and the 'Alams after the down fall of the Qutb Shahs. It was once again during Nizam Ali Khan's period that the 'Alams were made and p ut up in the 'Ashur Khana. It was once again decorated with thousands of lamps. Sikandar Jah during his reign presented English and French glass lamps to the "A shur khana.

The Ashur Khana still attracts a large number of people during the first ten day s of moharram and the Majalis of the Ashur Khana are still conducted everyday. I n addition to these Majalis the birthday Ceremony of the Prophet Mohammad s.a.w. s is celebrated in the Ashur Khana by conducting a Maqasedah in which a large nu mber of poets are invited. BIbi ka alawa The Daughter of the Holy Prophet Mohammed s.a.w.s .Hazrat Fatima-e-Zehra is cal led Bibi. There is a holy relic enclosed in this Alam as well. The relic is a piece of the wooden plank on which Janab Syeda was given her final ablution by her husband b efore burial. This Relic was in Kerbala for a very long time. In the time of Abd ullah Qutub Shah it reached Golkonda. The Relic was preserved in the calligraphi c Alam with Arabic lettering of Allah, Mohammed and Ali. It was covered with an alloy of metals and gold. later Nasir-ud-daulah offered jewellery to the Alam wh ich still exists. There was a Royal decree sanctioning funds for the expenses and award of jagirs for the maintenance of the attendants. The provision for the paraphernalia of na ubat, mahi maratib and the Royal Umbrella for the procession were also made. Thr oughout the year a wooden louvred blind is placed at the entrance Two green pouc hes, in the shape of ear-rings containing precious gems are suspended on either side of the Alam. This is a very ancient Ashur Khana located in the Outer Dabir Pura. The locality is known as Mohalla Bibi Ka Alawa. This Ashur Khana was renov ated by the Seventh Nizam under the advise of Nawab Zain Yar Jung. The main entr ance and its roof remain unaltered on which 1299 H, the year of construction is engraved. The room in which the Alam is installed is a strong room and the Alam is kept in a safe made on the design of a sarcophagus (Zarih).This Alam is the s ymbol of the climax of the observance of the Moharrum mourning in Hyderabad. It comes out on an elephant on the 10th of Moharrum and presents the impression of a Royal cortege in procession. The Alam , as it emerges from the Alawa, the mourners keep chanting 'Ibn-az-Zehr a Wa Waila' which is a protestation against the slaying of Zehra's son Hussain. Since long years it is a tradition of the mourners in the procession to chant th ese words

Bargah e hazrath Abbas In the times of Mohammed Quli two brothers Mir Miran and Noor ul Huda came to t he Deccan and were associated with the courts. These saints were Moosavi Syeds a nd commanded respect of all classes of people. According to the author of Tazkir a-e-Zakireen Hazrat Noor ul Huda went for a pilgrimage to the Mausoleum of Imam Hussain at Kerbala and stayed- there for a long time. During that period, on an indication from Imam Hussain, he received three relics. These three relics have been a piece of the armour of Hazrat Abbas, a piece from Hazrat Qasims spear and the Naal from the head gear of Imam Hussains armour. This is the same Naal Muba rak which IbrahimQutub Shah received from YusufAdil Shah. Hazrat Nur ul Huda gave the Naal Mubarak to the Derwesh at Bijapur who had the p remonition about this offering in his dream. The other two relics he carried to Hyderabad, bought a small plot of land and constructed a house to live in. Near his house there was a banyan tree and a big lake. In fact the Hyderabad city was not built till then. The two relics, in the shape of Alams, used to be installe d in the same house where there is a small pond now. According to the keeper of

the Ashur Khana the land acquired by Syed Nur ul Huda was much larger in area an d it included all the land through which The procession of the Alam of Hazrat Qa sim travels encompassing Pathar Gatti, Gulzar Hauz, Kali Kaman, Panja Shah, Aitb ar Chowk, Purani Haveli, and Alawa. It is believed that the first relic to reach Hyderabad was the piece from the head of the spear of Hazrat Qasim and a piece from the armour of Hazrat Abbas which were brought by Syed Nur ul Huda. They mad e Alams with calligraphy of 'Allah' and 'Ali' incorporating the relics within th em. In fact the relics are enclosed in wooden cases over which the metallic call igraphy has been done.The frame was then fully covered with layers of Sandal. The Qutub Shahs had endowed Jagirs, drum and pipe (Naubat), Royal Standard (Mahi Maratib ) and The Royal Umbrella ( Chatar Shahi ) for these Alams. The Alam is taken out late evening of 8th Moharrum and returns back to the Ashur Khana after a covering a short distance. On the 8th throughout the day and in the night the re will be a continuous flow of devotees who make offerings of sweetened milk. T housands of people get the red cotton thread tied around their right wrists at t he Ashur Khana. On the night of 9th Moharrum there will be continuous majlis gat herings at the Ashur Khana. The Dargah of Hazrat Abbas is a haunt of devotees throughout the year. On every Thursday in particular there will be a flow of devotees throughout the day until late in the evening Alawa e sartauq This Ashoor Khana is situated in Darulshifa a locality named after the great Un ani Hospital of the Qutub Shahi period. The Tauq, or the shackle, which was placed around the neck of Imam Zain al Abide en when he was taken prisoner by the army of Yazeed after the tragedy of Kerbala , was brought by Haji Aga Mohsin Khorasani along with documents of authenticatio n from Syria to Hyderabad. This was in the times of Abdullah Qutub Shah. The Kin g received the relic with due respect and devotion and installed it in Darul Shi fa in the form of a big Alam appointing Aga Mohsin as the keeper. Haji Aga Mohsin has arrived at Hyderabad with the Tauq and the documents of auth entication and presented to the scrutiny of His Majesty who has decreed that the : Tauq be incorporated in a big Alam and installed at Darul Shifa, the Royal Hos pital, that the place is spacious and it would be a good augury for the patients under treatment there for their quick recovery; the Tauq being a holy relic of the Bimar-e-Kerbala ( The Patient of Kerbala ). Also decreed that daily one Hoon is sanctioned from the budget of the Hospital, without any deduction, for the t otal expenses on the incenses and flowers for the Ashur Khana from the date of t he orders. The sanction of One Hoon daily used to be a huge amount. This is an indication o f the devotion and dedication of the Qutub Shahs to the family of the Prophet. A bdullah Qutub Shah did not construct a separate Ashur Khana for the Tauq but dec reed it to be installed in the Darul Shifa itself. In 1357 H the Seventh Nizam constructed the Ashur Khana on the Southern side of the Darul Shifa. This consists of two rooms and two verandahs (Daalans).In the r oom towards the east the Alam of Sartauq is installed throughout the year. But d uring the first ten days of Moharrum the Alam, along with other Alams, is instal led in the adjoining verandah. On the tenth of moharrum after the procession of the Alam of Naal Sahab passes through the Darul Shifa area a Majlis is organised at the Alawa Sartauq. Lot of mourners gather for this Majlis. After the Majlis the Alam is taken round in a procession within the compound of Darul Shifa. Then the Alam is washed and people gathered at the occasion collect the water used f

or this purpose with the belief that this water has the property of curing illne sses. The Alams are again installed in the Eastern room on the 12th of Moharrum. The Alawa Sartauq is the most important centre for organization of Majlis gather ings in Hyderabad. During the mourning period almost every day such gatherings a re arranged here. The gatherings on the Tenth of Moharrum and Arbaeen, 20th of S afar, are of special significance when there will be huge gatherings of people. In the Deccani Urdu lexicon Sartauq means a heavy Alam made of solid steel. Hussaini Alam During the reign of Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah a religious person, Aga Ali went f or Hajj. During the pilgrimage he had the privilege of acquiring a double edged sword which belonged to Imam Jafar Sadiq. He brought the sword to Hyderabad, Moh ammed Quli Qutub Shah received the sword with Royal honours, got the Ashoor khan a constructed and appointed Aga Ali to install the relic there incorporating it in a specially designed Alam. The monarch also issued a decree for a Mahi Marati b, Royal Umbrella and Naubat for the Ashoor Khana. Aga Ali was endowed with Jagi r and pension for the upkeep of the Ashoor Khana. The area surrounding the Ashoo r khana upto the Chowk was attached to the Ashoor Khana. In 1258 H the Ashoor Kh ana was extended by the grand son of Aga Ali. The Langar of this Ashoorkhana is very famous. As a matter of fact the Langar wa s started by Hayat Bakshi Begum on her boon ( Mannat) coming true. The legend is that when Abdullah Qutub Shah was still a prince, one year the river Musi was i n spate. The Prince was proceeding towards Golkonda from Hyderabad on his favour ite elephant, Moorat. Seeing the strong waves of the river the elephant got wild , threw down the mahout and ran with the Prince into the forest. When his mother , Hayat Bakshi Begum got the news she was very worried. In that time the crescen t of Moharrum was sighted. The noble lady sought a boon that if the Prince retur ned safely she would offer a chain of gold equal to the weight of the Langar( th e chain ) used for tying the elephant of the Ashoor Khana of Hussaini Alam. She vowed that this chain of gold would be tied round the waist of the Prince and he would be made to walk to the Ashoor Khana with it. The elephant was running hit her and tither in the jungle with the Prince. His mother ordered to hang food fo r the prince on the branches of trees in case the elephant passed that way .The prayer of the queen mother got answered. The elephant recovered from its fit and returned tamely to the Fort. In fulfillment of the oath the Queen arranged spre ading of carpet from the Fort Mohammed Nagar to Hussaini Alam , tied a gold chai n of forty maunds around the body of the Prince and he went walking to the Hussa ini Alam Ashoor Khana. The gold and sherbet made out of 40 maunds of sugar was d istributed to the poor people. This established the tradition of the Langar. The description of the traditional Langar during the Asaf Jahi period itself would require a chapter to be dealt in some detail. To put it briefly it was an occasi on looked forward to by the people and the houses on the route of the procession were reserved three months ahead of the occasion by intending visitors from oth er places. This procession was witnessed even by the British Viceroy, Lord Curzo n. Since the Langar reflected pomp and show of wealth and power, the Seventh Niz am thought it was not appropriate to have it during the month of Moharrum and as such, discontinued it. The Hussaini Alam goes round in a procession within the precincts of the building on the night of Ashoora. Panjey shah e vilayat During the period of Abdullah Qutub Shah the impressions of the hands of Hazrat Ali and the feet of the Prophet arrived at Hyderabad. It is said that when the Prophet was returning from the Last Hajj he halted at a place near Ghadeer-e-Qum . The companions in the caravan were thirsty and they wanted to take water from

the well nearby. When they tried to put a bucket and rope in the well to draw th e water, these things were sucked into the well. The people informed the Prophet about the happening. The Prophet arrived with Ali and stood on a stone that was lying near the well and asked Ali to descend into the well and do battle with t he genies there. This is called the Battle of Bir Al Ilm which is recorded in hi story. Hazrat Ali put his left hand on the black stone, descended into the well and fought a long battle with the Genies. He emerged from the well putting his l eft hand again on that stone. The imprints of the Prophets feet and Hazrat Ali's hands remained on the stone. These relics were in Iraq with Syed Aman Ullah Rizvi. When Abdullah Qutub Shah h eard of these he registered the cooperation of the Safivid Kings to acquire them from the nephew of Aman Ullah, Darwish Ali Rizvi. According to the tradition of his family the King received the Holy relics with great respect and dignity. He got a Ashoor Khana constructed to house these relics and appointed a pious pers on to be the keeper. He also decreed provision of the paraphernalia of Mahi Mara tib and Royal Umbrella for the Ashoor Khana. A large chunk of land around the As hoor Khana was endowed along with it. The Asaf Jahs renovated the Ashoor Khana a nd the income of the Mandi Mir Alam of every Thursday was earmarked for the upke ep of the Ashoor Khana. There is lot of property under this Ashoor Khana. One of the impressions of the feet of the Prophet was preserved in this Ashoor K hana and the other was in Bijapur. From Bijapur the second impression was brough t back to Hyderabad and is in the Hussaini Alam. It is kept for public viewing i n the Ashoor Khana during the first ten days of Moharrum. The Panja Shah Wilayat is looked after by the descendants of Syed Darwesh Ali Razvi. In the outer compound of this Ashoor Khana there is a long chain of steel on whi ch four tablets are attached. On these tablets are engraved some Quranic verses and some markings. They say there were five tablets and one of them disappeared mysteriously. There is a black plate in the court yard of the Ashoor Khana on wh ich a couplet is engraved in Persian saying that those who visit the Ashoor Khan a with true hearts their wishes will be fulfilled. In the middle of the compound there is a pond carved on to a monolith black stone in semi-circular shape. Its depth is 72 centimeters and the internal and external diameter is 72.5 and 68 c entimeters respectively. According to the keeper of the Ashoor Khana the pond, t he tray and the chain have all been offered by Hazrat Mir Mehmood. Hazrat Mir Me hmood was a prince from Iran. He was pious and a religious person of very high c alibre. He had to perforce leave Iran and came to Hyderabad. The Qutub Shahi Kin gdom provided succour to all such persons whom circumstances forced to leave the ir native lands. Hazrat Mir Mehmood had fixed the chain in the Ashoor Khana with the belief that the troubles of those who visited the place would be resolved a nd their problems solved. khadam e rasool The 'Ashoor khana is situated opposite Panja-e-Shah on the Eastern side of Gulz ar Houz near the Charminar. It is said that Syed Muhammad Ali Asfahani brought an impression of Prophet Muha mmad's foot from Madina in 1006/1693 along with him. The relic was first placed in a small house build for the purpose. Mir Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII got the present building built. The 'Ashoor khana has two Houz cut in black stone. The i nner and outer circumference of the Hauz is fortyseven and fiftyseven cms. While the thickness of the stone is three cms. One of the two Hauzs is broken. It is to this ' Ashoor khana that the Bibi ka 'Alam comes on tenth of the Moharr am. The Ashoor Khana attracts a large number of devotees in the first 10 days of Moharram.

Khilwat mubarak The 'Ashoor Khana is a complex having a group of twelve 'Ashoor Khanas in it. I t is situated right behind the Panch Mahals towards the Western side of the Char minar. The first five Asif Jahi Sultans lived in Panch Mahals and built a palace each for their residence. The 'Ashoor Khana is right behind the Khilwat Mahal, covering an area of about two acres of land The Seventh Asif Jahi Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur, soon after the completio n of' Aza Khana began building the 'Ashoor Khanas one after the other over this land. The construction seems to have no plan as the 'Ashoor Khanas are scattered all over the area. The buildings of the 'Ashoor Khanas, in general, are simple structures consisting of a rectangular room. The entrance to the room is through an arch way. In the middle of each room is a nich having a raised platform. The Golden 'Alam is installed over this and remains all through the year. The entrance to the complex is through an iron gate at the back of Panch Mahals. Close to the entrance gate on both sides of the small ground are two 'Ashoor Kh anas. Towards the right side is 'Ashoor Khana-e-Ibnan-e-Muslim, which has an 'Al am made of Gold and two Zaries coated with Gold. These are ascribed to two sons of Hazrat Muslim. Right opposite this, 'Ashoor Khana is 'Ashoor Khana-e-Zainabiya. It is a big hal l having half of its roof built in traditional style with English tiles. It has a golden 'Alam covered with a cloth right in the middle. Beside this 'Alams a Za ri ascribed to Imam Hussain is placed over a decorated platform. Infront of this 'Ashoor Khana is a hall, which is known as Niaz Khana. This hall has a wooden Zari in it alongwith five 'Alams. According to the information car ried through for years, this Zari was made with the wood brought from the Rauza of Hazrath Ali in Najaf, by a noble of the Nizam's court Shaheed Yar Jung Bahadu r. The 'Alams installed in every nich belongs to different periods and are of diffe rent pattern. The biggest 'Alam which is in the central nich resembles the 'Alam at Alawa-e-Sartooq. The three niches totally have seventeen 'Alams and are know n as Tipu Sultan's 'Alams. These are the replicas of the real 'Alams which are p reserved in the strong room, as they are studed with very costly jewels. The 'As hoor Khana beside these 'Alams have a Nishan or Zari which is the replica of the outerside of Imam Hussain's Rauza. This Zari is made of pure gold and is the ma sterpiece of craftsmanship. Its beauty is its proportion. It is made in the same proportion with which the Rauza of Imam Hussain was built. Beside this Zari there are six more Nishans or Zaries, one each in Ashoor Khanae-Abbasi, Ashoor Khana-e-Raza-e-Gareeb, 'Ashoor Khana-e-Hussaini. 'Ashoor Khanae-Judi 'Ashoor Khana-e-Kazami and 'Ashoor Khana-e-Bibi Batool. These Zaries too are the replicas of the Rauzas of the Imams to whom the 'Ashoor Khanas are ascri be. They are all made of pure gold and are made keeping the same proportion with which the Rauzas were built. Every Zari is a master piece of craftsmanship. One of its unique feature is, that the grave of the Imam can be seen through the ar ch ways made in the Zari. These Zaries are kept in a glass box in the 'Ashoor Kh anas. The Imam Bara is decorated with number of Chandeliers made out of the colo ured cut glass, hanging from the roof. In addition to these there are three Tugh ras, having the names of Panjetan. Two of them are cut out from the wood and the third is written in beautiful Kufi script. A three dimensional painting hanging over the wall behind the Zari, adds to the beauty of the 'Ashoor Khana. The 'Ashoor Khana preserves in its strong room, three most pious relics. A small

piece of the Rida or Chader (a sheet of cloth used to cover the body over the c loths) of Shahzadi Fatima Zehra the daughter of the prophet. It is enclosed in a small wooden box with a convex lense at the top to help the viewers to see it c learly. A thick paper. Which carries signatures of twenty one Sultans, testifyin g the authenticity of the relic is preserved alongwith it. Beside this there are two rectangular pieces of cloth. One piece, is with the ve rses of Quran embroidered over it. This cloth covered one side of the Holy Kaba before it was changed. It was brought during Afzal-ud-dowla's period and present ed to him. It is now preserved in a wooden frame in the Imam Bara. The other one is also a rectangular piece of cloth with Quranic verses written o ver it with gold. This cloth was at the Rauza of Imam Hussain at Karbala. This w as presented to the Nizam and now is preserved in a room in Imam Bara. The Ashoor Khana also preserves a page of the letter written in Kufi Script by H azrat Ali himself. KOH e moula ali Koh-e-MoulaAli, situated near Malkajgiri in Secunderabad, about ten miles away f rom the city, is one of the most pious 'Ashoor Khana of the Qutub Shahi period. It is built on a hillock two thousand seventeen feet above the ground. It differ s from the others. In two aspects. 1) It does not have any 'Alam but an impression of Hazrat Ali's right hand. (2) It attracts pilgrims not only during Muhrram, but throughout the year. This 'Ashoor Khana was built in 986 H/ l578 A.D. during the Ibrahim Qutb Shah's period. Therefore its construction preceded the construction of the city of Hyde rabad. It is believed that the construction of the 'Ashoor Khana was the result of one of the miracles (Mojiza) of Hazrat 'Ali. Khaja Gulam Hussain in his book Gulzar-e-Asafia writes that Yaqut was a Khajasar a (employee of the royal palace) of Ibrahim Qutb Shah. Despite his constant atte ndance at the court. Yaqut being a deeply pious and religious person, took Thurs day nights off to spend it in prayers in his garden at Lalaguda, away from the f ort where the court was. One Thursday on the Seventeenth of the month of Rajab a fter his prayers when he was asleep Yaqut saw in the dreams, an Arab dressed in green costume. The Arab informed Yaqut that Hazrat 'Ali was calling him. Yaqut f ollowed him and found Hazrat 'Ali sitting at the top of the hillock, resting his right hand on a rock. Yaqut paid his respect to Hazrat 'Ali, but before he coul d say anything he awoke from his dream Yaqut felt very happy at what he had drea med and felt that he was indeed blessed to have had the unique honour of Ziarat (vision) of Hazrat 'Ali. Yaqut then went with his followers to the hillock, and to his joy found that his dream was true as he found the impression of Hazrat 'Ali's hand on the rock. Ya qut wept and with great devotion kissed the imprint of the holy hand. He then ca lled the stone cutters and ordered them to cut the rock with the imprint of the holy hand. The rock was placed in a rivaq (arch) built at the top. Yaqut returne d to the court and informed Sultan Ibrahim of the Mojiza. Sultan Ibrahim visited the 'Ashoor khana and paid his homage. From that date til l today, the 'Ashoor Khana has become a centre of pilgrimage for people of all r eligions. Almost every Sultan, who ruled over the Kingdom of Golconda or Hyderab ad took pride in paying homage to the 'Ashoor Khana and made some additions to t he existing buildings. This example set by the sultans was followed by the noble s whether Hindus or Muslims. Quite a few buildings of the 'Ashoor khana were bui lt by Hindu nobles. These still exist giving a unique characteristic to the 'Ash oor khana.

ASHOOR KHANA HAZRAT ABBAS, NEEM BOWDA, MAULA ALI: This Ashoor Khana was established two years before the City of Hyderabad was mad e the Capital of Golkonda Kingdom in 1182 H. Neem Bowda is the reservoir of wate r at Maula Ali. Before the Municipal water became available at Maula Ali thousan ds of devotees visiting there utilized water from this well. Even now people con sider this water to have healing properties. At this Ashoor Khana the Alam of Ha zrat Abbas has been installed. In the year 1182 H by Nisar Ali arrived from Iran and permanently settled down at the neem Bowda. He installed the Alam at the sa me place. The present Keeper, Mir Mohammed Ali Khan, has been serving the Ashoor Khana since 1380 H. People residing in the neighbourhood of Maula Ali regularly attend Majalis gatherings at the Ashoor Khana.

ASHUR KHANA BAGH-E-ZEHRA. This Ashur Khana is located at the foot of the Moula Ali Hill in the vicinity of the Government School. The compound of the building is very spacious. The Alam is kept installed round the year. On special occasions arrangement is made for M ajlis and Jashan gatherings by the managing committee. This Ashur Khana was also founded by the Late Amir Ali Rehmatullah.

Aashur khana e musheerabad This Ashoor Khana is located at Musheerabad.The Alam at the Musheerabad The dila pidated building of this ancient Ashoor Khana too was renovated by the Seventh N izam. Ashoor Khana comes out in procession on the 30th day of Moharrum even if t he Crescent is sighted on the 29th day. The carrier of the Alam, a Hindu devotee , carries it through shouldering embers. This Alam is famous throughout the worl d for the unique feature that at no place there is so much of fire through which the Alam is carried. People keep piling up dried wood to keep the flames alive and growing. The fire is lighted around noon on the 30th of Moharrum. By the tim e the Alam is brought out the fire will be in an area of about 30 by 60 feet and the height is about six inches. Great crowds of people visit the place to witne ss the spectacle. Even foreign tourists are seen there on the day. Before taking out the Alam the carrier takes a bath in a well and proceeds immed iately to the Ashoor Khana takes the Alam in his hands and enters the platform o f fire described above. He keeps moving on the fire as if he is walking on a bed of rose petals. After him hundreds of people chanting 'Ya Ali' follow in his fo ot steps on the fire. The carrier of the Alam makes seven rounds on the platform of fire and then returns to the Ashoor Khana. But thousands of devotees keep wa lking on the fire till the emergence of dawn. Small children play with the fire as if they are playing with flowers. The scene is incredible for the foreign tou rists who happen to be there. The Editor of Sada e Jafaria recounted about this in detail to Ayatollah Abul Qasim about this miraculous event when he visited hi m during his pilgrimage to the Holy Sites in Iraq. The Ayatollah expressed his w ish that if the opportunity presented itself he would like to personally witness the event. aashur khana e sanksar The author of Bustan e Asafia writes that a snake used to live in the well at Sa nksar. It is said that on the 20th of Moharrum 1310H an Alam emerged from its mo uth. The Alam is installed every year on the 20th of Moharrum and lowered on the 10th of Safar. This Alam is located in the property of Wahed un Nisa Begum the

consort of Nawab Afzal ud Dowlah and the expenses were met from her estate Aashur khana e baara imam This Ashoor Khana was established in the year 1198 H, which date is engraved on the Alam. That was in the period of the second Nizam. The Ashoor Khana is locate d in the lane opposite Chotey Naal Sahab in Chatta Bazar. hussainia nawab inayat jung The Hussainia was constructed by the Nawab Sahab in the year 1290 H. His son, Sy ed Inayat Hussain, Nawab Inayat Jung, gave the present shape to the Hussainia in the year 1934AD. It was Nawab Tahwar Jung who was the first to invite Maulvi Mohammed Ali of Luck now for Rouza Khani. Then he invited the great Poet Mir Anees from Lucknow as we ll to publicly recite his requiems (marsias) which is remembered even to this da y. The people of Hyderabad received him with open arms. Mir Sahab was received b y Nawab Tahwar Jung at Gulbarga to accompany him from there. Mir Anees was so mu ch impressed with the response he received during his recitations that he is on record to have said that it was like the response he received from people back h ome. The other authors of Marsia who performed in Hyderabad were Uns, Urooj, Dul ha Sahab and Laddan Sahab who presented their fresh works at the Hussainia. In 1931 A.D. the tradition of Hadees Khani (oratory) was introduced. Besides the local scholars most of the eminent speakers in the field have been visiting Hyd erabad ever since then. These scholars definitely address some of the Majalis at Hussainia even if they come with invitations to speak at other venues. Besides the gatherings of Moharrum the commemorative majalis for the martyrdom o f all the Holy Imams are also organized at the Hussainia. The necessary arrangem ents are completed in the month of Zil Hijjah for the on-coming Moharrum. With t he commemorative Majlis of Hazrat Muslim Ibne Aqeel the season of mourning comme nces at the Hussainia. The last Majlis of the long series is on the 8th of Rabi al Awwal. The Ashur Khana however is used frequently for organizing Majlis gathe rings and celebrations on the birthdays of the members of the Prophet's family o n regular basis. The Hussainia is also made available for marriages to the commu nity. Another main feature of this Aza Khana is that the author's grand father started the movement for the discontinuance of the superstition of married women contin uing to wear bangles and bead necklaces during the period of mourning. Nawab Tah war Jung gave whole hearted support to this movement and he was the first to ask the ladies of his house to remove the beads and break their bangles with the si ghting of the crescent of Moharrum. This is now a tradition followed by all the Shia ladies of Hyderabad. The women of Hyderabad deserve all the respect that with open hearts they accept ed the appeals for doing away with their finery during the period of mourning. I t was also Nawab Tahwar Jung who propagated the wearing of black habits during M oharrum. As the public observance of Moharrum mourning progressed the tradition of chest beating with hands and also with chains also came in vogue. It was at the Hussai nia that the first public chest beating sessions were conducted. On the 8th of M oharrum there used to be a special gathering of Matam-dari (chest beating) when there would be no lectures or orations. The proceedings would start with recitat ion of elegies by Moulvi Abrar Hussain followed by sessions of chest beating by devotees. The Alam of Hazrat Abbas is taken out at this Majlis. This gathering i s arranged every year on the 8th of Moharrum. Such gatherings are got together a lso on the 10th of Moharrum and on Arbaeen, that is 20th of the month of Safar.

Nawab Tahwar Jung and Nawab Inayath Jung never spent a day without shedding tear s in the memory of the Great Martyrs of Karbala. Their dedication and devotion t o the Holy Family of the Prophet was so deep and intense that their last wish to get burial in the precincts of the Mausoleum of Imam Husain was fulfilled. yeteemon ka alawa This Alawa is located in the Outer Dabir Pura. It is so called because a replica of the Sarcophagus of the orphan sons of Hazrat Muslim, the cousin of Imam Huss ain, who were slain in Kufa, is kept here. This Ashoor Khana also originated dur ing the reign of Abdullah Qutub Shah. Its internal court yard is old. The roof o f the court yard is crumbling. On the Tenth of Moharrum large number of mourners visits this Ashoor Khana after dusk. There was a time when the Sarcophagus used to be taken out in an imposing procession with a Standard carried as an advance guard on an elephant. These da ys it remains within the Ashoor Khana. Sand, sea shells and small change is spre ad under the Sarcophagus. It is believed that these would bring prosperity to th ose who take small quantities home and keep with them. Aza khaney zehra his magnificently built Ashur Khana is located in Darul Shifa In the year 1360 H , in connection with the 1300th Anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, a group of eminent Shias of Hyderabad, consisting of Nawab Zain Yar Jung, Nawab Sh aheed Yar Jung, Nawab Inayat Jung and Allama Rashid Turabi made tireless efforts for the construction of a Ashur Khan to be a humble but fitting tribute to the memory of the Greatest of martyrs. They started collecting donations in full swing. During that period the Seventh Nizam's mother, Amtul Zehra Begum, also known as Badi Begum Saheba, passed away. The Nizam was deeply attached to his mother and used to call on her every after noon at the Purani Haveli. He was so particular about this visit that he would n ot miss the trip even when he was personally indisposed or if he had to attend a ny important function of the State. After the death of Badi Begum Saheba" the Nizam wanted to build a magnificent As hur Khana in memory of his departed mother. Since he had personally liked the sp ot and the group of the eminent Shias too willingly consented, he arranged const ruction of the Aza Khana-e-Zehra there. He also announced that if people from th e Community wished to have the privilege of contributing to the noble cause they could make donations of Rs. 1,000 each. People of all faiths in the City came f orward with donations. This Ashur Khana is built on several thousand square yards of land. As the outer elevations are magnificent so are the interiors of the edifice. The pillars of the Ashur Khana divide it into three sections. Along the two walls there are two court yards and a very big courtyard extending from the main entrance upto the podium. On the sides of the large court yard there are beautiful balconies const ructed at suitable height where there is arrangement for seating a large number of ladies during Majlis gatherings. The capacity of Aza Khana Zehra could be gauged from the fact that without any c ongestion 10,000 people can be seated there on any occasion. The walls of the Az a Khana have been decorated with the verses from the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Holy Prophet in praise of Ali and his progeny. These panels have been don e by master calligraphists of the period and have been fixed on the walls with s uch expertise that at a glance it appears as they have been engraved on the wall

s. On different dates during the hijra year different Alams are raised at the Aza K hana. Most of these Alams are made of gold which have been studded with precious stones. Darbar e hussaini This Ashoor Khana is situated in a very spacious and imposing building. The Iran i community of Hyderabad has constructed this Ashoor Khana in the neighbourhood of the house of Maulana Askari Jaafari. The building is located within the premi ses of Dewdi Baqar Nawaz Jung. Darbar-e-Hussaini serves the dual purpose of a mo sque and Ashoor Khana. The five compulsory congregational prayers are offered he re every day. Round the year Majlis gatherings and commemorative festivities are arranged as the occasion requires. Every Thursday night recitation of Hadees-eKisa and Majlis is attended by a good gathering. During the first ten days of Mo harrun Majlis meetings take place from afternoon till mid-night every day . Thes e meetings are generally addressed by scholars from Iran in the Persian language . baitul qayam This Ashoor Khana is constructed on a Zenana(ladies) portion of Devdi Kamal Yar Jung on an area of several thousand square yards. It was constructed by the Khoj a Ithna Ashari Jamat during 1956-57 A.D. They have a management committee to run the affairs of the Ashoor Khana. Alams are raised during the first ten days of Moharum. But throughout the year o ne Alam along with a Zarih (Sarcophagus) is kept installed. At the time of Majal is or Jashan the Ashoor Khana is kept open to facilitate the people to offer the ir obeisance. Besides the Majlis gatherings organized by the Khoja Community other Momineen al so can arrange Majalis with the consent of the managing committee. Bait ul Qayam has the pride of place amongst the centres for Majlis gatherings in the City. T he Khoja Jamaat arranges Majalis during the first ten days of Moharrum, 17th to 19th of Safar during the observance of Arbaeen when eminent speakers come from o ther centres to give talks. Generally the weddings in the Khoja Community take place here. The place is also made available to others for this purpose. This Ashoor Khana is ideally located and thus after the Hussainia Inayat Jung, which is very nearby, it fulfills the most important congregational needs of the Shia Community. yaadgaar e hussaini This Ashoor Khana is located at the back of Alawa Sartauq in the Qateeb Lane. It has been constructed by the women's association, Barkat-e-Aza. The well planned building spreads over an area of several thousand square yards. In the peripher al area of the complex many shops have been constructed and houses have been bui lt in the land adjacent to the Ashoor Khana. This has been done with a view to p rovide recurring revenue for the maintenance and upkeep of the Ashoor Khana. Bec ause of this far sighted planning the financial position of the Ashoor Khana is sound. Lateef un Nisa Begum, Begum Mehdi Yar Jung, Fatima Begum took active part in successfully implementing the project. The maintenance of the building is immaculate. The floor is always kept covered with clean white linen. The roof has been decorated with chandeliers and glass l

ight domes from Belgium. In the first ten days of Moharrum and throughout the ye ar sarcophagi and Alams are kept for the ladies who wish to visit the Ashoor Kha na for paying their respects. Ladies keep visiting the Ashoor Khana in good numb ers every day. Entrance of men to this Ashoor Khana is prohibited. Only on one d ay, 6th of Rabi-al-Awwal, men are permitted to attend a Majlis gathering at this Ashoor Khana. koh e qayam This hill is situated in the West of the Charminar at a distance of about 5 mile s near the Pahadi of Mir Mehmood Sahab. Maulvi Syed Abbas Ali Shareef made inval uable efforts in the development of this shrine. The hill is about 40 to 50 feet high and the building of three floors has been constructed with the efforts of Abbas Ali Shareef. Although the shrine is of special significance for the Shias. Every year on 15th of Shaaban a Jashan is celebrated on the Auspicious occasion Viladath of Imam-e -Zamana (a.t.f.s) which is attended by 40 to 50,000 persons.