The Women Empowerment Committee of Shia National Network of Australia organised the celebration of the birthday of Sayeda Fatima Zahra (r)  on Sunday 7 January 2024 at Granville Town Hall attended by more than 300 people from all walks of the life and from different ethnic background.

The wife of His Excellency Ahmad Sadigh, the Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran in Australia with her friends had travelled all the ways from Canberra to participate in the blessed event.

Sayed Jaffar Miski from Ar-Rahman Mosque, Sayed Ahmad Zaki from Nabi Akram, Sayed Shoaib Naqvi from Muhammadi Welfare Association, Dr Sheikh Hossein Javaheri from Masjid Al Rida, Sheikh Abu Rehana from Hussainyia Al Yaseen and Sheikh shahid Hussain, a visiting scholar from India  were among other prominent guests at the event.

Councillor Sabrin Farooqi from Sutherland Council, Scientologists Matt Reeve and Lara Aldegani, Dr Shabbir Haider, and Zain Sheriff, trustees of Muhammadi Welfare association, Rana Abbas from Alamdar Association besides many representatives of various communities also attended the event.

A nasheed was recited by Fatima Dirani and Samah Dirani was one of the highlights of the event organised by Sabah Dirani.

Alina Sayed Jafar was the master of Ceremony while the first speaker was Bushra Abdi who pointed out that  that Sayeda Fatima (r) was an embodiment of many virtues that it was very hard to pick one of her traits.

She quoted Ayatullah Sayed Khomeini, ” The position of Fatima Zahra (r) is one of the positions that is either impossible or difficult for ordinary people to imagine. Her life exemplified the essence of empowerment, serving as a guiding light for the women and youth transcending timely boundaries.”

Another speaker Jawwad Imam said that in her night prayers she was heard praying for her neighbours and when asked by her son Imam Hassan, she said that neighbours come first before even her own households.

Youth Empowerment Committee member, Rawasy Al Zubaidi reported that Shia Network had a speech contest among the youth holding two youth conferences and organising two events in the state Parliament. She further added that the committee is thinking to arrange an youth contest about Imam Hussain in the state Parliament  during the month of Muharram.

Australian Aboriginal solicitor Cheryl Orr said that Sayeda Fatima (r) was beacon of courage and steadfastness who stood against all odds in her life. Her strength was not in words but in her actions. At the death of her father, she was very depressed, but she had handled it with courage and conviction.

At the end Dr Sheikh Javaheri spoke about Sayeda Fatima (r) saying that a woman has three roles, a daughter, a wife and a mother where she was brought up by Prophet Mohammad (s), was a great virtuous partner of Imam Ali (r) and a loving mother of Imam Hassan (r) and Imam Hussain (r). So, she was a role model for the entire women folk.

He prayed that we all can follow up in her virtuous footsteps.