Yusef Jalali
Press TV, Tehran
Music is mixed with the art of painting here to narrate a tragic story from the past. The story of assassinating Imam Ali, the first Shia Imam, who was killed while he was praying in a mosque in the Iraqi city of Kufa some 14 centuries ago.
Now using the universal language of art, these artists seek to relay messages about the personality of Imam Ali. Shia Muslims have 12 Imams or religious leaders, all of whom are highly revered. Imam Ali is recognized for his justice during his rule as the fourth Muslim caliph.
The martyrdom of Imam Ali falls on the second night of destiny, a special night that is believed to be the time when the holy Quran was revealed to the prophet of Islam. No exact date for the night of destiny is provided, but all Islamic references are unanimous that the revelation of the holy Quran falls on one of three different dates: the 19th, the 21st, or the 23rd nights of the holy month of Ramadan.
On these special nights, Muslims go to religious sites and listen to eulogies about Imam Ali. To Muslims, the night of destiny is a once in a lifetime chance to make wishes, as they truly believe that their prayers are fulfilled on this night. It's the second year in a row that the occasion is overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic, so on top of the wish list of many is to ask God to save humankind from the deadly virus.