“India is a country with many religions. We should live together in harmony and be loyal to our country. The Prophet Mohammed had said that love for your country is part of your imaan [integrity],” said syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin, spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community.

The 98-year-old syedna gave this message before starting the Moharram discourses for the first time at the Saifee Mosque in Marol.

The Dawoodi Bohras, who are Shias, mourn the 10-day period of Moharram — also known as Ashara Mubaraka — during which they remember the battle of Karbala in which Imam Hussain, grandson of Mohammed, sacrificed his life for the cause of Islam and humanity.

Hussain and 72 others were killed by the army of Yazid, the then ruler of the region.
While the syedna spoke of the martyrdom of Hussain, Bohris recited prayers in his memory while beating their chests.

The mourning period began on December 16 and gets over on Saturday.

“Dawoodi Bohras from South Asia, the far East, the Arabian Gulf, east Africa, Europe, America and Australia have gathered here. The venue will see a rotation system of 23,000 people daily,” said Shaikh Abdeali Yamani, executive secretary to the syedna. “We have also set up 45 centres across Mumbai where live speeches can be heard by him. On Tuesday, around two lakh people heard him.”

Lodging and boarding arrangements have been made for all those from outside Mumbai.