IEC Houston – History of Azadari Channel

What is Azadari? A tribute to Sayed as-Shuhada Imam Hussain A.S., his family and his companions.

In the sands of Karbala, a timeless saga of sacrifice and unwavering devotion unfolded. Imam Hussain a.s., the grandson of Prophet Muhammad a.s., along with his family and loyal companions, stood resolute in the face of adversity to safeguard the essence of Islam. Their courageous and selfless act of resistance in the name of righteousness has left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions, transcending time and place. Imam Hussain a.s., refused to pledge allegiance to an unjust ruler, Yazid, and instead, he and his family willingly embraced martyrdom in the arid deserts of Karbala. Their sacrifice was not just a stand against tyranny, but a testament to the enduring values of Islam – justice, compassion, and the protection of human dignity.

Imam Hussain’s sister, Lady Zainab s.a., stood by his side with unwavering strength and resilience. She bore witness to the tragedy of Karbala and played a pivotal role in preserving the message of her brother’s sacrifice. His brother  Abu Al-Fadl al-Abbas a.s. and his son Ali Zayn al-Abidin a.s., displayed remarkable valor and loyalty, earning their places as icons of steadfastness in the face of adversity.  The legacy of Imam Hussain a.s. and his companions is a call to uphold the values of justice and righteousness, even when the odds seem insurmountable.

In Tribute to  Imam Hussain, his family, and friends, we honor their legacy and their unyielding commitment to safeguarding the religion of Islam. Their noble sacrifice continues to inspire generations, reminding us that the struggle for justice and the preservation of faith is a journey that transcends time and place.

IEC community has reached to current state through the selfless efforts of many individuals throughout the last four decades.  We have collected hundreds of hours of recordings of our programs. Through these recordings, one can recognize the history of Azadari and this community in the last forty years. Some of the brothers who lead IEC programs are not amongst us anymore. Some of the youths have grown to become community leaders and current active Nohe-khawan.

This IEC project led by Br. Nusrat Zaidi and his group of volunteers from Al-Sadiq Senior Members plans to digitize videos from 1985 to early 2000 (when VHS tape recorders started dying). There are more than 500 recordings, each more than 2 hours. Each tape is individually reviewed for quality and recognition of participants.  This is a work in progress. The team has already converted and posted online tens of hours of recordings.

If you have time and dedication to support this project, please contact:

Director Publications director.publications@iec-houston.org)

PR Director pr@iec-houston.org).

IEC has historical recording of their activities on VHS tapes and audio tape since their inception in mid 1980’s. Some of the recordings such as Quranic translations, various Tafseers, Du’aas are now available on internet, UTUBE etc., so there are no benefits in digitizing them. Most of them will be recycled. We are in the process of digitizing  specific IEC activities such as Jashan Ceremony’s,  Al Hadi School activities, Sunday School activities, Visiting Ulomas,  Scholars, Salams, Nohas, Marsias recited visiting reciters and by community members. This is a humongous task.

 The site has already received more than 24,000 views. While the majority of the recordings are Majalis on the events of Karbala, there are also Wiladat (Birthdays) of Fourteen Masomeen A.S. Celebrations. The recordings are in English, Urdu, Farsi and Arabic. Some of the reciters are brothers who are not amongst us anymore. Please, read a Surah Fatiha as you come across those brothers.

We need to recognize the efforts of all volunteers in this project and in particular, Br. Nusrat Zaidi.

 Wasalam

IEC Publications