TEHRAN-On the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Imam Hasan Mojtaba (AS), one hundred thousand people gathered for a grand Quranic assembly at Tehran's Azadi Stadium on Tuesday.

The proceedings, which commenced at 3:30 p.m. and extended till 6:30 p.m., saw enthusiastic participation from families across Tehran. 

According to the Seyed Mohammad Hossein Hashemi Golpayegani, the producer of the Quranic program “Mahfel,” (literary meaning assembly), the event was titled “Imam Hassan's Quranic Assembly” centered around three main content pillars, namely the Holy Quran, Imam Hassan Mojtaba’s birth anniversary, and supporting the oppressed people of Gaza.

Attendees were treated to a diverse array of activities, including Quran recitations, hymns, group chants, and entertaining performances. The program also encompassed a charitable aspect, with 150,000 iftar meal packages prepared for fasting individuals attending the event.

One of the event's primary objectives was to express solidarity with the oppressed, particularly the people of Palestine, with attendees demonstrating their support through various means. Palestinian flags waved prominently throughout the stadium, symbolizing a bond of shared struggle and resistance between the people of the two nations.

A poignant highlight of the event was the screening of images depicting the martyrs of Zionist aggression towards Gaza, serving as a somber reminder of the ongoing plight faced by the Palestinian people.

The current Israeli operation in Gaza has resulted in an unprecedented death toll, destruction of civilian infrastructure and mass displacement of Gazans from the northern to the southern part of the enclave. This, de facto, has doubled the already extremely high population density under conditions of extensively damaged water, sanitation and hygiene system, which may elevate public health risks to dangerous levels.

At least 32,333 Palestinians have been killed and 74,694 others wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, 2023.

Nearly 70% of Gaza’s 439,000 homes and about half of its buildings have been damaged or destroyed. The bombing has damaged Byzantine churches and ancient mosques, factories and apartment buildings, shopping malls and luxury hotels, theaters and schools. Much of the water, electrical, communications and healthcare infrastructure that made Gaza function is beyond repair.

Among the diverse crowd at the Azadi Stadium were Afghan residents of Tehran, notable for their conspicuous display of Palestinian flags during the banquet, a gesture hailed as unique in its expression of solidarity.

The formal proceedings commenced with Resalat Bouzari, the program host, reciting a poem by Saber Khorasani, followed by the Iranian national anthem. Hamed Shakernejad then captivated the audience with his recitation of verses from Surah Al-Insan, extolling the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt.

Ziyad Nakhalah, the Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, was a distinguished guest at the event. Accompanied by Hojjat al-Islam Mohammad Ghomi, the head of Islamic Development Organization, Nakhalah was warmly welcomed by the audience as they entered the main venue of the ceremony.

Nakhalah delivered an impassioned speech reaffirming the enduring bond between Palestine and Iran, rooted in shared faith and resistance against oppression.

“On this blessed day, which is the day of the Quran, and in this huge gathering, I declare that Palestine and the Quran will remain and the Palestinian nation will continue to resist. The people of Palestine always have their hearts with the people of Iran, and the Quran always unites us, the same Holy Quran for which this magnificent meeting has been held. Those who resist in Palestine are memorizers and reciters of the Quran and they resist by relying on the Quran,” he said.

“With this noble Quran, we will endure and, with the blessings of Iran's support for the Palestinian people, we will defeat Israel,” Nakhalah concluded.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), is a Palestinian Islamist paramilitary organization formed in 1981 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood and was influenced ideologically in its formation by the Islamic regime in Iran. It is a member of the Alliance of Palestinian Forces, which rejects the Oslo Accords and whose objective is the establishment of a sovereign Islamic Palestinian state.

Continuing the program, Hossein Taheri, a eulogist of the Ahl al-Bayt, took the stage amidst the cheers of the attendees at Azadi Stadium. Positioned in the center of the grass field, Taheri performed the piece “Hassan Mola,” which was met with enthusiastic participation from the audience.

At the end of the luminous event, Tawasheeh performances of the beautiful names of the Ahl al-Bayt were conducted by Hamed Shakernejad, Ahmad Abolghasemi, Hassanein Al-Helou, and Hojjat al-Islam Qasemian. The program concluded with a recitation of Rabbana verses from the Holy Quran.

Regarding the event, Alireza Fakhari, Tehran's governor, stated, “Today, we witnessed the national fervor of a united nation on the anniversary of the birth of Imam Hassan Mojtaba (AS) at Azadi Stadium.”

“Tehran Governorate is fully prepared to hold cultural and artistic programs on national and religious occasions. Today's social and religious fervor among the people was truly pride-inducing,” he added.

It is worth mentioning that this program is part of the “Living with Verses” initiative, launched simultaneously with the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan. The initiative aims to elucidate 30 life-affirming verses of the Quran, selected by a group of Quranic scholars, which can strengthen the foundational beliefs of the audience.

The celebration of Imam Hassan's birth anniversary at Tehran's Azadi Stadium was a testament to the enduring legacy of faith, unity, and resilience. Through Quranic recitations, spirited performances, and expressions of solidarity, attendees reaffirmed their commitment to the teachings of Imam Hassan (AS) and the timeless principles of the Quran. As they departed from the stadium, hearts aglow with the warmth of shared devotion and camaraderie, they carried with them the spirit of Imam Hassan's message - a message of compassion, justice, and unwavering faith in the face of adversity.

While the celebration was filled with moments of joy and reverence, it also served as a platform to express unwavering support for the people of Gaza, who continue to endure hardships amid conflict and instability. 

SS/