and supporters (peace be upon them), knowing that the authorities insist on avoiding large gatherings especially in closed spaces due to the spreading of the Coronavirus.
Answer: In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate the Merciful There are many ways to express sorrow and grief on this painful occasion while showing sympathy towards the holy Prophet (may Allah bless him and his family) and his pure family in that great calamity that befell Islam and Muslims. Here are some examples:
1- Many beneficial Hussein gatherings are broadcasted live on TV stations and on the internet, and religious and cultural centers and institutions should coordinate with good preachers and pioneers in this regard and must mobilize and urge the believers to listen to them and interact with them while they are in their places of residence or similar.
2- Home gatherings held at certain times of the night or day where attendance is restricted to family members and people in contact with them, and some useful Husseini speeches are heard in them, even through what is broadcasted directly on some satellite channels or via the internet. As for public gatherings, they must strictly adhere to health controls, by taking into account the social divergence between those present and the use of medical masks and other means to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus epidemic, with the number of attendees limited to what the relevant authorities allow, which might differ depending on whether it’s held in open or closed places as well as the country.
3- Spreading Ashura appearances on a large scale by raising black flags and banners in the
squares, streets, alleys, and so on from public places, taking into consideration not to violate
the sanctity of private property or others while abiding by the laws in force in the country. It
should include passages from the words of Imam Al-Hussein (peace be upon him) in his great
reformist renaissance, and the masterpieces of poetry and prose that were said in that tragedy. As for the foods that are known to be distributed on this occasion, the necessary health conditions must be taken into account in their preparation and distribution, even if this requires limitation to some dry foods and their delivery to the homes of believers in order to avoid gatherings when distributed. May Allah grant success to everyone for commemorating this important event and offer condolences to the master of the youth of the people of Paradise (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him).
9 Dhul Hijjah 1441 A.H.
The Office of al-Sayyid al-Sistani
The Holy City of Najaf