--- title: "[7] Shahada (Witness) - Nothing More Precious Than Independence and The Hands at the Euphrates" event: "Shahada (Witness) - Ashura 1448 (2026) Series" session_number: 7 published_at: "2026-06-21" canonical_url: "https://www.truthpromoters.com/events/7-shahada-witness-nothing-more-precious-than-independence-and-the-hands-at-the-e" event_url: "https://www.truthpromoters.com/events/shahada-witness-ashura-1448-2026-series" type: "event-session" scripture_reference: "Sahifa Sajjadiyyah, Prayer 27: His Supplication for the People of the Frontiers, Verse 8" --- # [7] Shahada (Witness) - Nothing More Precious Than Independence and The Hands at the Euphrates *Session 7 of [Shahada (Witness) - Ashura 1448 (2026) Series](https://www.truthpromoters.com/events/shahada-witness-ashura-1448-2026-series) — 21 June 2026* "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom." Tonight, our theological journey takes an anti-colonial turn. Shaykh Shabbir Hassanally looks at global struggles for sovereignty—such as the historical resilience of Vietnam—to explore the universal human impulse to resist empire, demonstrating how Karbala serves as the blueprint for anti-colonial witness. This high structural standard of loyalty and liberation meets its peak in the Maqtal segment, "The Hands at the Euphrates." We bear witness to the final stand of al-Abbas ibn Ali (peace and blessings be upon him), the legendary standard-bearer and water-carrier of Karbala, whose selflessness remains unmatched in human history. The evening features the moving Nohe "Ode to Abbas" and our poetic English recitation of Ziyarat Ashura. Ideal for those analysing liberation theology, anti-imperialist history, political resistance in Islam, and the epic loyalty of Hazrat Abbas. ## Scripture > اللَّهُمَّ وَقَوِّ بِذَلِكَ مِحَالَ أَهْلِ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَحَصِّنْ بِهِ دِيَارَهُمْ، وَثَمِّرْ بِهِ أَمْوَالَهُمْ، وَفَرِّغْهُمْ عَنْ مُحَارَبَتِهِمْ لِعِبَادَتِكَ، وَعَنْ مُنَابَذَتِهِمْ لِلْخَلْوَةِ بِكَ حَتَّى لَلا يُعْبَدَ فِي بِقَاعِ الْأَرْضِ غَيْرُكَ، وَلَا تُعَفَّرَ لِأَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ جَبْهَةٌ دُونَكَ > > O God, through that strengthen the prowess of the People of Islam, fortify their cities, increase their properties, give them ease from their fighting to worship You and from their warfare to be alone with You, so that none will be worshipped in the regions of the earth but You and no forehead of theirs may be rubbed in dust for less than You! — *Sahifa Sajjadiyyah, Prayer 27: His Supplication for the People of the Frontiers, Verse 8* ## Programme - [Watch the full session](https://youtu.be/sZMZqsG5yH8) - [Trailer (Official Anthem for Ashura/Arbaeen 1448/2026)](https://youtu.be/IGE5CQlLvkA) - [Qur'an Recitation: Quranic Verses - Night 7](https://youtu.be/Y8y2vJ2Uny4) - [Couplets: Poetic Couplet - Night 7](https://youtu.be/E4zwcMf075s) - [Sermon: Nothing More Precious Than Independence](https://youtu.be/ZoonE0dfLvk) - [Maqtal: The Hands at the Euphrates](https://youtu.be/3XHAx2GfOkg) - [Nohe/Nasheed: Ode to Abbas](https://youtu.be/xC_V9uObjWc) - [Ziyarah: Ziyarat Ashura - A Poetic Translation](https://youtu.be/SxIXsJ_yMRI) ## Other sessions in this event - [Session 11 — Ashura Day 1448/2026 - Special Program](https://www.truthpromoters.com/events/ashura-day-14482026-special-program) — 25 June 2026 - [Session 10 — [10] Shahada (Witness) - Husayn, Heir of Adam and Peace Upon You, O Aba Abdillah](https://www.truthpromoters.com/events/10-shahada-witness-husayn-heir-of-adam-and-peace-upon-you-o-aba-abdillah) — 24 June 2026 - [Session 9 — [9] Shahada (Witness) - The False Shahada (Witness) and the Silent Witness](https://www.truthpromoters.com/events/9-shahada-witness-the-false-shahada-witness-and-the-silent-witness) — 23 June 2026 - [Session 8 — [8] Shahada (Witness) - To Die Like Falling Cherry Petals and The Lamps that Would Not Flicker](https://www.truthpromoters.com/events/8-shahada-witness-to-die-like-falling-cherry-petals-and-the-lamps-that-would-not) — 22 June 2026 - [Session 6 — [6] Shahada (Witness) - The Wretched and the Witness and Cherry Blossoms at Dawn](https://www.truthpromoters.com/events/6-shahada-witness-the-wretched-and-the-witness-and-cherry-blossoms-at-dawn) — 20 June 2026 - [Session 5 — [5] Shahada (Witness) - The Cross and the Witness and Two Who Crossed Over](https://www.truthpromoters.com/events/5-shahada-witness-the-cross-and-the-witness-and-two-who-crossed-over) — 19 June 2026 - [Session 4 — [4] Shahada (Witness) - Every Day is Ashura and The Ambassador](https://www.truthpromoters.com/events/4-shahada-witness-every-day-is-ashura-and-the-ambassador) — 18 June 2026 - [Session 3 — [3] Shahada (Witness) - Five Kinds of Death and The Farewell of the Heart](https://www.truthpromoters.com/events/3-shahada-witness-five-kinds-of-death-and-the-farewell-of-the-heart) — 17 June 2026 - [Session 2 — [2] Shahada (Witness) - The Oldest Covenant on Earth and The Inherited Tear](https://www.truthpromoters.com/events/2-shahada-witness-the-oldest-covenant-on-earth-and-the-inherited-tear) — 16 June 2026 - [Session 1 — [1] Shahada (Witness) - Where Is Your Brother? and The First Martyr Abel (Habil)](https://www.truthpromoters.com/events/1-shahada-witness-where-is-your-brother-and-the-first-martyr-abel-habil) — 15 June 2026 --- _Read this session on the web: https://www.truthpromoters.com/events/7-shahada-witness-nothing-more-precious-than-independence-and-the-hands-at-the-e_