Zakat Authority, Yemeni Scholars Association hold Ashura commemoration event in Capital

Sana’a – Saba:

The General Authority for Zakat and the Yemeni Scholars Association organized a speech and poetry event in the capital Sana’a to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, with speakers highlighting the religious significance of Ashura and drawing lessons from the historical event.

The event, held under the theme “Ashura: A Revolution Against Arrogance and a Path to Reforming the Nation,” featured remarks by Grand Mufti of Yemen and Yemeni Scholars Association Chairman Sheikh Shams al-Din Sharaf al-Din, who said commemorating Ashura reinforces values such as sacrifice, courage, martyrdom, and the Islamic principle of enjoining good and forbidding evil.

Sharaf al-Din said the organizers did not intend to promote sectarian or doctrinal divisions and called for prudence in discussing the occasion. He described Imam Hussein’s uprising as a religious obligation undertaken in pursuit of justice and reform rather than political ambition.

Sheikh Shamsan Abu Nashatan, head of the General Authority for Zakat, described Ashura as a painful anniversary recalling the killing of Imam Hussein and the suffering of the Prophet Muhammad’s family. He urged participants to draw lessons from Imam Hussein’s legacy to strengthen faith, awareness, and commitment to the principles for which he sacrificed.

Abu Nashatan also compared contemporary events in Yemen and the wider region to the historical tragedy of Karbala, referring to what he described as “a new Karbala” and attributing responsibility to figures including U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “the Jews,” and what he called their “Zionist Arab followers.” These remarks reflected the speaker’s views.

Sheikh Muqbil al-Kadahi, deputy head of the Hajj sector at the Endowments and Guidance Authority and a member of the Yemeni Scholars Association, said Imam Hussein holds a special place for Muslims across different schools of thought. He added that the killing of Imam Hussein marked a profound turning point in Islamic history and attributed responsibility to the ruling authorities of that era, accusing them of persecuting the Prophet’s family.