in god's name
For three consecutive nights, Vadi-ye Rahmat in Tabriz hosted crowds who gathered around martyrs’ graves in the autumn chill. Through Haj Hossein Yekta’s powerful narrations, the history of this land’s resilience and valor was brought to life once more.
The atmosphere transformed after the Maghrib call to prayer. A cold mountain breeze swept through the cemetery as green and red lights illuminated the gravesections. The murmurs of the crowd blended with the call to prayer and Quranic recitation.
While the martyrs’ garden is typically tranquil at night, these evenings were profoundly different. Every generation – from elders to children, veterans to youth – filled the space beyond capacity, as if all of Tabriz had answered the martyrs’ call in unison.
Red carpets guided visitors along paths fragrant with reverence. Service stations dotted the area, with steam rising from samovars into the cold air, mingling the aroma of hot tea with esfand.
Despite the autumn chill, attendees wrapped in coats and blankets sat respectfully on carpets and gravestones. The black stones with youthful portraits seemed to glow, the faces still gazing out from their frames as if witnessing the gathering.
The program began with Quran recitation, the sudden silence embracing the crowd. When Haj Hossein Yekta arrived, people spontaneously rose, greeting him with salawat. With characteristic warmth, he immediately began narrating the enduring stories of this land and its people.
From Sattar Khan to the valor of the Sacred Defense era
He spoke of the Qajar era, of the courage of Sattar Khan and Baqer Khan. He remembered the Azerbaijani woman who gave her life during Reza Shah’s rule for the “crime” of wearing hijab. He recounted the days of the Revolution, of Tabriz’s streets and alleys filled with cries for freedom. The people were completely absorbed in listening. No sound could be heard except his voice—as if time had stood still among the crowd.
When the narrative reached the beginning of the imposed war, the sound of red alert sirens and exploding bombs suddenly echoed through the speakers. Hearts trembled. For the older generation, bitter and intense memories were revived—the same fears that had remained buried in their hearts for years. For the younger generation, however, these sounds were not unfamiliar; Tabriz had just the previous year, during the twelve-day war, repeatedly heard the sounds of explosions and air defense.
Haj Hossein Yekta spoke of Martyr Tajallaei; of Bakri and his companions; of the women who sent off their sons and stood behind the front lines until their last breath. When he spoke of the tens of thousands of martyrs who arose from among these very people, the sound of weeping could be heard throughout the crowd.
He told us about the Ashura Corps: “They created the Ashura Corps, established Ashura, and presented 10,000 martyrs to the Revolution—each and every one of them their mother’s cherished child.”
He wiped the tears from his eyes and added: “One blood after another, one truthful person after another fell to the ground so that we could remain standing today.”
Martyrdom isn’t for everyone!
He spoke with a choked voice: “Martyrdom isn’t for everyone. One must possess sincerity, have piety, and God must will it.” Then he wiped away his tears, and his words settled in hearts like fire.
Remembering the Kind Cleric of Tabriz
His narrative turned to Martyr Hojjatoleslam wal-Muslimin Al-Hashem. Emotions overflowed. A clip from his final day was played. That famous moment Haj Agha, are you ready? moved everyone to tears once more. Martyr Al-Hashem was not just a Friday Prayer Leader for Tabriz; he was a refuge for people’s hearts, a companion who would listen to anyone’s troubles. His absence is still felt in the city; even now, when his name is mentioned, tears flow involuntarily. And these days, we need his presence more than
The Twelve-Day War; The Courage of Tabriz’s Peopl
Yekta addressed the twelve-day defense, describing the city that endured the second heaviest attacks after Tehran yet never retreated. He spoke of soldiers who fought day and night, preventing the enemy from setting foot on our soil. A clip was shown of a young girl whose father was martyred in that war her trembling voice and tears moved the entire crowd. Cries of “Ya Hussein!” rose from the people, filling the sky above Vadi-ye Rahmat.
Haj Hossein Yekta declared with conviction: “The people of Tabriz are followers of Abul-Fazl, they are Imam Hussein’s people, they are Imam Reza’s people.”
He continued: “This country is the land of Imam Reza; Iran belongs to Imam Reza.” The crowd echoed his takbirs. Though eyes were filled with tears, lips recited prayers.
After two hours of storytelling, tears, and smiles, the ceremony concluded. People gradually left the martyrs’ garden some smiling, some with red eyes, but all with calmer hearts. As Haj Hossein Yekta said, the martyrs had invited them, leaving their peace in every heart.
For three consecutive nights, from the 2nd to the 4th of Mehr, Shabhaye Por Setareh placed Tabriz under a transformed skya sky more star-filled than ever, illuminated by the memory of the martyrs.
شماره تلفن همراه خود را وارد کنید تا از آخرین مراسم های حاج حسین یکتا به صورت پیامکی با خبر شوید.
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