Shias to skip celebrations, mourn Khamenei’s death

Pune: Shia Muslims in Maharashtra will not indulge in celebrations on Eid to mourn the death of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israel air strikes on Feb 28.

Members of the community said his death was like a personal loss and festivities would be avoided as a mark of respect. Chief of the Shia Ulema Board of Maharashtra Maulana Aslam Rizvi told TOI that an appeal has been issued to Shias to not celebrate Eid as people across the world are grieving the loss of their leader.





"We are deeply saddened and heartbroken. In the Muslim community, celebrations are avoided if a father or a close family member passes away. Khamenei was like a father figure to us. We will refrain from any activities not directly related to Islam or Sharia," he said.

Rizvi said the community will offer the Eid-ul-Fitr namaz, since it is considered necessary under Sharia. However, customary festivities such as exchanging sweets, wearing new clothes or other celebratory practices will be avoided.

Maulana Shabih Ahsan Kazmi, a senior Shia community scholar of Raza Shah Trust Mosque in Mominpura, said festive gatherings will not take place, this year. "We will wear black bands while offering Eid namaz as a mark of protest to condemn the killing of our leader," he said.

Kazmi said Khamenei was not only a leader of the Shia community, but held influence among Muslims across the globe." All celebratory activities will be avoided to convey to the whole world that our mourning is a protest against oppression," he said.

Junnar resident Habil Hasan Sayyad said, "We usually invite friends and family to our home on Eid, but we have decided not to prepare sweets or celebrate the festival, this year."

Matin Sayyad, a resident of Mominpura, said children in the family eagerly look forward to Eid for new clothes. "This year, we have not bought new clothes for anyone in the family," he said.