Imam al-Husayn and Ashura in Muhammad Mahdi alJawaheri's Qasida "Amantu bi al-Husayn"

The event of Ashura has since left its prfound mark on literature and resulted in application of various literary forms and genres to this end. Muhammad Mahdi al-Jawaheri, a contemporary Shiite Iraqi poet composed two qasidas, i.e., "Amantu bi al-Husayn" and "Ashura" in which he praised Imam al-Husayn and his ideas and ideals. From his viewpoint, Ashura must be understood and appreciated in its own historical context: it must be preserved from any falsification. In this way, he rebukes all those who wish to resort to Ashura for their own mean, short-term, and transitory purposes. The paper touches upon the literary flavor of the qasidas in question.