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Imam Hussain's (A.S.)
Sacred Mission
Hazrat Imam Hussain (A.S.)
was born on the 3rd of Shaban 4th Hijrah in Medinah Munawarra. His
father was Ali (A.S.) and mother was Fatimah (S.A.). When the Prophet
(S.A.W.) heard the news of Imam Hussain's birth he (S.A.W.) became
very happy and came to the house of Fatimah (S.A.). Asma, the
maidservant of Hazrat Zahra covered the child in a white cloth and
brought him to the Prophet (S.A.W.). The Prophet (S.A.W.), picked the
child up in his lap and recited the Azaan in his right ear and Aqamat
in the left one. As if, apparently, he (S.A.W.) made the ears of his
son familiar and acquainted with the name of God for the first time.
On the seventh day of the birth, an angel came from the God and he
said, "Just as Haroon was the brother, sympathizer, and helper in each
and every difficulty of Moosa (A.S.) similarly Ali (A.S.) is your
sympathizer helper and brother in each and every matter of yours.
Therefore, keep the name of this child upon the name of Haroon's son "Shabeer,"
which translated into Arabic becomes 'Hussain'. Thus the name of the
second child of Fatimah (S.A.) was also selected by God. On the 7th
day of the birth Hazrat Fatimah (S.A.) got a sheep slaughtered as the
Aqeeqa and distributed it's meat among the needy and poor. The Prophet
(S.A.W.) quite often hugged Hussain (A.S.) taking him into his lap and
used to weep bitterly, saying, "A very big tragedy will be met by my
son Hussain". The brutals and bloody men of Bani Omyaide will slay my
dear son. I will not interces and mediate for them on the dooms day.
The Love of the Prophet (S.A.W.)
The
Prophet (S.A.W.) loved Imam Hussain (A.S.) very much. His companion
Salman Farsi describes, "I saw that the Prophet (S.A.W.) had picked up
Imam Hussain (A.S.) upon his knee and was kissing him saying, "Oh son,
you are the Imam son of Imams and father of nine Imams, who would be
from your generation and the last one of them is Mehdi. "One can
estimate and guess the amount of love the Prophet had with Imam
Hussain (A.S.) from this sentence of his "Hussain is from me and I am
from Hussain." The one who is the friend of Hassan and Hussain is my
friend and the one who is their enemy, is my enemy.
Imam Hussain (A.S.) the
Best Helper of his Father and Brother
Imam Hussain (A.S.)
spent six years of his life with his grandfather the Prophet (S.A.W.)
and thirty years along with his honorable father Ali (A.S.). He shared
each and every problem and grief of his father. He always defended his
father. Once he went to the mosque and saw Hazrat Omer delivering a
speech on the tribune of his grandfather. He immediately said, "get
down from the tribune of my grandfather and father. What have you got
to do over there?"
During the reign of his father, Imam Hussain (A.S.) playing upon his
life used to be busy defending Islam and fighting against the tyrants
and brutal. He fought against the enemies by the side of his father
like his brother Imam Hassan Mujtaba (A.S.) in the battles of Jamal,
safeen, and Neherwan. He, after the martyrdom of his father, legally
took the oath of allegiance for his brother and accepted him his
leader and Imam. And whenever someone asked him a question he used to
send him towards Imam Hassan (A.S.). And wherever he deemed suitable
he himself would give the answer. Briefly speaking, he considered the
defense of his brother something necessary for himself.
The Rule of Muawiyah
When Imam Hassan
Mujtaba (A.S.) was martyred due to the conspiracies of Muawiyah, Imam
Hussain (A.S.) got the post of Imamate and caliphate at the age of
forty-six. Imam Hussain (A.S.) knew that all the miseries and sorrows
of Muslims were due to Muawiyah who wanted to uproot Islam by his
frauds, cunningness and craftiness. Therefore, Imam (AS.) did not
think it was suitable to fight him openly, as Muawiyah was apparently
Muslim and showed himself to be the supporter of Islam and Muslims.
Therefore, Imam Hussain (A.S.) knew that if I declare a war upon him I
would meet the same fate as my brother did. So he started the movement
of awakening the people from the dream and slumbers of ignorance, and
unawareness. So that they may turn towards him slowly and gradually,
by getting aware and informed. Ultimately. Imam (A.S.) may make them
work for the welfare of Islam. Along with the training of the Momins
(faithful), with which Imam was busy, he occasionally opposed
Muawiyah. And always gave teeth breaking and strong answer to his
scurrilous language particularly when he started making people take
the oath and allegiance of faithfulness for his ignorant, silly,
impure, and bad character, degenerate, and undutiful son Yazeed. The
Imam (A.S.) too started openly and publicly opposing him and wrote
many such letters to Muawiyah by which he disgraced him very much. One
of his letters reads:
i) Oh Muawiyah! You are the claimant of the caliphate and to be the
successor of my grandfather? Did you not slay Hajar bin Addi and his
companions in the land of Azra. You are a criminal, a killer. Then how
do you claim to be the leader and caliph of my Ummah?
ii) Oh Muawiyah! Did you not declare Ziad publicly your brother and
the illegitimate son of Abu Sufian about whose father the Muslims are
unaware? (That who is his father and who is not?)
As such, by declaring him to be your brother, you have yourself
admitted the dirtiness and uncleanness of your family. Then how can
the caliphate be your right?
iii) Oh Muawiyah! The most shameful act of yours is that you have made
such a silly, stupid unable and unworthy person a ruler of the Muslims
whose characterless ness, excesses and aggressions are not hidden and
concealed from anyone. As such, you want to destroy the religion of
God and make the Muslim ummah a toy by forcibly making them take the
oath of allegiance for him (Yazeed).
Imam Hussain (A.S.) and
Yazeed
Although Imam
Hussain (A.S.) did not leave any stone unturned in disgracing and
belittling Muawiyah even then he did not fight or clashed with him.
Nonetheless, after the death of Muawiyah his incapable son Yazeed
being a proud and thickheaded person posed himself as the leader of
the Muslims. And started making the Islamic personalities takes the
oath of allegiance for the sake of establishing and strengthening his
government. He wrote to the governors of the cities and as such wrote
a letter to Waleed who was governor of Medinah that "Immediately take
the oath of allegiance from Hussain (A.S.) And if he refuses to do
that then cut down his head and send it to me". Muawiyah had several
times insistedly warned him that you might dash against anybody except
Hussain (A.S.), in which case you would get destroyed. The ruler of
Medinah summoned Imam Hussain (A.S.) and informed him about the letter
of Yazeed. He said "I am ready for the martyrdom because only Yazeed's
becoming the caliph of Muslims is the death and disintegration of
Islam". When Imam (A.S.) observed the worsened condition and
atmosphere of Medinah he along with his companions migrated to Makka
under the dark cover of the night. His mere act of migration from
Medinah was a great objection upon the people's taking oath of
allegiance for Yazeed. Imam's (A.S.) migration not only created a hue
and cry in Medinah, but it also set up an atmosphere of discussion and
objections against Yazeed in Makka. And the hue and cry raised to the
climax when Imam (A.S.) addressing a gathering of the pilgrims raised
his voice against the obnoxious, dirty, and impure government of
Yazeed. This stand and pledge of Imam Hussain (A.S.) made the people
of the whole area completely aware and understand that the caliphate
of Yazeed is not correct and taking oath of allegiance for him is
dishonesty to Islam and Muslims.
The Invitation of Kufis
When the news of the
migration and objection of Imam Hussain (A.S.) upon the Yazeed's
regime reached Kufa. All of them (Kufis) got themselves prepared to
invite him to Kufa and elect him for the caliphate and the leadership
of Islam. They sent messengers along with letters, rolls and scrolls,
and formally invited Imam Hussain (A.S.) to visit Kufa. But, because
of the fact that Imam (A.S.) knew about the unfaithfulness of the
Kufis and he himself had witnessed their untruthfulness towards his
father and brother so he sent his cousin 'Muslim bin Aqeel' to Kufa so
that he might observe the whole affair closely and invite Imam (A.S.)
if he deemed fit and suitable. Muslim bin Aqeel moved towards Kufa as
desired and ordered by Imam (A.S.) and when he reached there he met a
warm, noisy, grand welcome. Thousands of people took oath of
allegiance and offered prayers behind him. Muslim bin Aqeel wrote a
letter to Imam (A.S.) asking him to immediately move. Imam stayed back
at makka uptill the 8th of Zil Hijj and spoke to the people and
instigated and provoked them against Yazeed. Then he moved towards
Iraq.
Termination of the Imam's
Representative's Affair
When Yazeed got
informed about the movement of Muslim bin Aqeel and oath of allegiance
being taken by the Kufis, he at once sent Ibn-e-Ziad, who was the most
dirty of his companions, to Kufa with full fledge powers. Ibn-e-Ziad,
who completely knew about the spirit and the character of the people
of Kufa, took advantage and made the most of the weakness and debility
and feebleness of their faiths and double-faced ness hypocrisy and
cowardice. And by terrifying and harassing scattered and dispersed
them from around Muslim bin Aqeel. And turned the events to such an
extent that even those who had written invitation letters to Imam
(A.S.) put on the war dress and got ready to fight the representative
of the Imam (A.S.). "Muslim bin Aqeel" was forced to fight the agents
of Ibn-e-Ziad all alone. After showing surprising and astonishing
bravery he was arrested and martyred. From the very night Imam Hussain
(A.S.) had departed from Madinah he had been giving the news of
martyrdom and said, "Whosoever is ready to lay his life on our way and
make haste to meet God may join us." He again spoke to his friends and
companions about Jehad, holy war, and martyrdom at Makka. To the
extent that even when the poet Farzdak met him on the way and gave him
the news of "Muslim bin Aqeel's" being martyred. He said, "Muslim bin
Aqeel" has met the blessings of God and ended his mission and has laid
the burden of the mission upon our shoulders. We hope to be able to
carry this burden and weight up to its destination.
Imam Hussain's (A.S.)
Sacred Mission
Hussain (A.S.)
described his aim about this mission was to disgrace Yazid's regime
and to uphold and put into practice (Amer bil Maroof and Nahi anil
munkir), to order the correct and right and to stop and refrain from
the evils and to stand up against the brutality and cruelty. This was
the mission God had entrusted him. His grandfather the Prophet (S.A.W.)
and his father Ali (A.S.) had several times described their son's is
being martyred. Imam Hussain (A.S.) himself, by virtue of the
knowledge of Imamate, knew that this journey would end with his
martyrdom. But Hussain (A.S.) was not the one to be afraid of
martyrdom and death, and overlook the command of God. He was the Imam
who considered calamity as magnanimity and nobility and martyrdom as
bliss and blessedness. Ultimately, he moved toward "Karbala" and he
himself and his companions were all martyred. His family members were
taken prisoners. But they gave the message of those martyred to the
people in the streets, and bazars of the cities and thus put the
agents and paid servants of the Bani Omayaid to disgrace and shame.
The face of Imam Hussain
and his Companions on the Ashura Day
Hussain's (A.S.) face glittered and shone like light He gave hope and
courage to his companions. The same Imam (A.S.) whose grandfather the
Prophet (S.A.W.) said, "Hussain (A.S.) is the lamp of guidance and the
escape boat of the ummah". Hussain (A.S.) spoke loudly, "Oh people of
the world! You must know that I have not taken steps for the battle
and did not draw my sword. An unclean, dirty character man from the
criminal family of Omayde named "Yazeed" made me choose one of the two
either I draw my sword and defend my honor and religion or surrender
to shame and humility. But do know, beware! That surrendering with
shame and humility is far away from our family. I am obliged to choose
the first way. Then he stood by the soldiers of Yazeed forces and
said, "It is not expedient and wise both for your world and religion
(the justice day) to kill me and fight against me. So, if you have
taken the decision to fight me. It is better to compose and form a
committee and take views from everyone. Then see who says fight
against the son of the Prophet (S.A.W.) who is the one gone astray and
ill fated, miserable that accompanies and sides with you for killing
me?
The governor of Iraq, son of Marjana, is an unclean and power seeking
person. He wants to make you helpless. I know you will repent after my
being martyred and will rebuke each other. Therefore, before taking
steps for the battle, think and ponder about the result of your
action. Be aware, God is my supporter and I am not harassed and
bewildered by any coming event. I have heard from my grandfather that
"World is the paradise of the infidel and the prison for the
faithful." Death is the beginning of our joy but it is the start of
your misery. There is only one bridge between this world and the other
world and that is death. If you initiate and take steps towards
battle, we would also stand up along with our friends and worthy sons
for defense. If we are victorious it will not be anything new for us
and if we are killed world knows that we are not defeated. "Oh
helpless people! The informed and knowledge full people try and
endeavor to provide themselves with a lamp, so that they do not loose
their way, and I am the lamp of this ummah. But you want to put your
lamp off. Do you know against whom do you fight? You are not fighting
against me but you fight against God! Against your Prophet (S.A.W.)."
After the speech of Imam Hussain (A.S.) an enthusiasm, humming, and
murmuring movements took place in the army of the enemy. The war
provokers saw that if they would not start the battle, Hussain (A.S.)
will shatter the army by his speech and will finish all their
planning. Therefore, the order for the battle to be started was
issued. Hussain (A.S.) called out, "Oh my worthy and great friends
rise up, this is the time for the combat. His friends like Habib and
Zuhair were happy that Imam issued the order. Each one of them
requested the other to be allowed to go for battle first, hence take
the lead. The family members of Imam (A.S.) such as the Qamer-e-Bani
Hashim (Abbas [A.S.]), Ali Akbar, Qasim and all the rest got prepared
for the battle. They attacked the flanks of the enemy like tigers.
Whosoever came their way would be killed. Imam Hussain (A.S.) himself
showed such a bravery, courage and manhood that as Ibn Sheher Ashob
wrote; he slew two thousand men of the enemy. Whenever and whichever
of the friends and relatives was martyred, Hussain (A.S.) would become
stronger, and more resolved and determined. One of the soldiers of the
enemy said about the astonishments and wonders of Ashoora, "on the day
of Ashoora instead of becoming broken and sorrowful whenever Hussain
(A.S.) lost a person by martyrdom his face would glow and shine more
than before and he became more determined and stronger in the battle
and combat. The thirsty and hungry, but selfless and dedicated, holy
warriors showed such bravery and ferocious fight that son of Saad the
Commander of the enemy shouted, "If you want to fight like this, all
of you will be killed by the swords of Hussain (A.S.) and his
companions". Therefore, he ordered all the arrow men, who were nearly
four thousand in number, to throw arrows simultaneously and
harmoniously. The battle got flared up and reached a climax whosoever
out of the Imam's companions would fall down he would utter these
words, "Oh God do accept our sacrifice." The blessings of God be upon
thou souls, oh movers and travelers of the way of God and Hussain
(A.S.). Oh the venture some defender of the Quran's path. Hussain
(A.S.), wherever blood flew out of his body, he would raise his hands
towards the sky and say, Oh God, who is the source and stock of my
hope and aspiration, I depend upon you. My hopes are focused upon you.
Oh God! Accept these sacrifices from us." Finally, as per the
tradition of Shiekh Mufid, Hussain (A.S.) and his great honorable
companions were martyred on Saturday the 10th of Moharram, of 61
Hijrah, and laid to rest side by side, to each other. They gave the
lesson of honor, dignity, manhood and bravery to the future
generations.
Why Imam Hussain (A.S.) is
not forgotten?
The
one whose martyrdom, grief, pain, sorrows and children's captivity
were all only for God will never fade out of the memories. Instead, by
the pace of time and age his love, fascination, and charm will grow in
the hearts of people. And each year the love and fascination of the
people with respect to that "pure and chaste revolutionary" increases.
Hussain (A.S.) spent 57 years of his prolific life for the sake of
God's love and God's search. Many times he traveled, to the God's
house for pilgrimage, on foot. He was very fond of prayers confessions
and supplication talking intimately. So far so, that on the last night
of his life, he asked for respite only that he might sit all alone and
make confessions and supplications, to his God. One of his companions
said about Arafat prayers and supplications of Imam Hussain (A.S.), On
the 10th day of the month of Zil Hijj Imam Hussain stood in the
burning and scorching desert of Arafat facing Holy Kaabah and prayed
with painful and aching heart, "Oh God! I turn my face towards you
(focus my attention) and give evidence about your being God. O God!
You created me and continuously remained along with me and provided me
with sustenance and livelihood with several kinds of blessings and
bounties. Praise is for the God; nothing can change whose desire and
stop His munificence and generosity." Oh God adjudge and fix in my
soul the independence and freedom from desires and faith and
confidence in my heart, and sincerity in my practice and light in my
vision and awareness in my religion."
Imam Hussain (A.S.) in the
Hearts of Friends
The
respect and regard which people had and still have in their hearts for
Hussain (A.S.) is due to this that he lived with the people and did
not consider himself aloof and segregated from them. As such, one day,
he was passing through a way, a group of poor, oppressed and afflicted
people was sitting with a food cloth, spread with a certain quantity
of dry bread upon it before them and they were eating it. They invited
him to sit along with them and eat that food with them. Imam (A.S.)
accepted their invitation and sat down besides the food cloth and took
the bread with them.Saying, "God does not like the proud ones." Imam
Hussain (A.S.) has hundreds of such examples and specimens of
character, which keeps his memory and martyrdom alive in the memories
of the people. With every passing year, people strengthen and deepen
their relations with Hussain (A.S.). Otherwise Hussain (A.S.) did
neither possess magnificent palaces nor had soldiers or many types of
servants. He never closed and blocked the ways and roads to stop the
movement of people like the tyrants and imperialists, and Shrine of
Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) was never vacated for him. One of his friends
said about him "Hussain (A.S.) had the signs of scars of callosity and
hard flesh on his back" When his son Imam Zain ul Abidin was
questioned about it he said, "These are the callosities and signs of
hardened flesh which is due to my father's carrying sacks of food at
night time, to the houses of widows and orphan children and poor
families." One of the scholars says about Hussain (A.S.), "In the
history of humanity we come across men who were prominent and
distinguished in one human quality, a few in bravery, a group in piety
and another one in generosity, but Hussain (A.S.) was not
distinguished and eminent in one quality and few qualities instead he
was distinguished in all the qualities and ethics and possessed all
the human perfections and accomplishments included in his personality.
Yes, such is the person who is the heir of Mohammad's (P.B.U.H.)
Prophetic mission. Who is the heir of Ali's (A.S.) justice and
bravery? Who is the heir of his mother Fatima's (S.A.) modesty and
chastity?
He was the reflection of all the merits, accomplishments. Self
sacrifices, piety and God's love.
What day is the Ashura?
Ashoora was a formal Arab Eid day in the days and era of ignorance.
People used to keep fast and make merry, and hold ceremonies of joy in
the same manner as Nauroze was considered to be the Eid day in Iran.
In the Arab history, Ashoora day (10th of Moharram) was the historical
and customary Eid, when the various tribes of Arab put on new clothes
and decorate the cities. Still, a group of Arabs, who is known as the
"Yazeedi" group celebrates this day as a joyous festival. When the
incident and anguish of Karbala took place in the year 61 Hijrah, the
mode and line of tendencies, and views of Arab and the Muslims was
changed. Moharram, which was taken to be as one of the (Haram)
prohibited months. War and killing was prohibited in it because the
martyrdom day of the best of the sons of Adam i.e. Hussain Ibn-e-Ali
(A.S.) and for the Shias it became a day of sorrow and grief, the day
of honoring and celebrating the memories of the martyrs. In the very
first year of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (A.S.) his friends nearly
thousands in number gathered around his grave and recited alleges.
From the ushering of the era of Bani Ommayide and Yazeed unto this
day, hundreds of thousands of the friends of Ahl al-bayth (A.S.)
celebrate the mourning meetings and caravans move towards Karbala.
Those whose cities are away and at long distance from Karbala shape
their cities as Karbala and hold mourning gatherings. The Fatimydes of
the Egypt announced the Ashoora as the day of mourning of Imam Hussain
(A.S.). As such, men and women gathered around the grave of Ome Kulsum
(S.A.) and mourned and recited the alleges. All along the Fatimyde Era
in Egypt Ashoora remained the official and formal day of mourning and
grief. Moez ud duala Delmi ordered that Ashoora be celebrated
officially in Iran and entire population and government officials must
refrain from work and celebrate the mourning rituals. This is the very
reason why the mourning rituals in Iran, Egypt, Iraq and India have
brought about a spiritual movement and ideological change among the
Muslim masses so that today's movement of Muslims is the sequence of
the same. With every passing year, it is becoming more fruit full.
Hoping that a day will come when people will mend their perverse
nesses and misbehaviors and make up their deficiencies and faults and
enhance their strength and values. One of the scholars says about it
"Mosques are the relics and vestiges of the Prophet (S.A.W.) but the
monasteries of mourning and Hussainias (centers of mourning) are the
relics of the Ahl al-bayth (A.S.). The Shias prattle and tell their
secrets to God in the mosques and in the mourning centers they prattle
to the lovers of God and those who were martyred for Him and on His
way. All along the passage of history no power could stop the movement
of the Caravan of Hussain (A.S.) and history has shown that during the
entire length of thirteen centuries this enthusiastic movement could
not be hushed up and cooled down. For the same reason, because the
martyrdom of Hussain (A.S.) and his friends took place on such a day
then Joyous ceremonies and decorative measures, joyous and happy
celebrations, and lightings and keeping of fast became prohibited and
haram on that day. Ibn-e-Kaseer writes, "Ashoora was announced as the
public and national mourning day in Baghdad in the approximates of 400
Hijrah. People used to keep cold water and cold drinks on the highways
and through fares for the thirsty ones to drink and to commemorate the
thirst of Hussain (A.S.) and people of Iraq used to become mournful on
the Ashoora day just like the death day of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.).
Who was the Winner of the
Karbala Movement?
Although a group of
simple people think that Yazeed won the Ashoora battle and Hussain
(A.S.) was defeated. But by studying the history deeply and thoroughly
they would appreciate that the situation was reverse and opposite of
it. For, winning and succeeding does not mean that a person must
remain unharmed and intact and the enemy be killed. But it means
success in achieving one's objects and goals and aspirations and
ideology although one is killed. Defeat does not mean being killed and
loosing life in the battlefield. But it means the death and
annihilation of objective, aspiration and belief. Hussain (A.S.)
himself and his friends were martyred in the Ashoora's tragic event,
his family was taken prisoner, their properties were plundered and
looted but the aim and objective of Hussain (A.S.) remained alive,
because, his aim was the spreading and expansion of Islam and stopping
the cruelty, tyranny and aggression, which has been carried forward
during the entire length of history and millions of men are the
holders and carriers of the flag of this belief and aspiration. Hut
the aim of Yazeed was annihilated and perished; because his sole aim
was not killing Hussain (A.S.) and his friends instead it was
finishing Islam and the end and termination of the teachings of the
Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) of Islam. Since Hussain (A.S.) was on that track
and way, Yazeed thought by killing Hussain (A.S.) and taking his
family as prisoner the story will finish and his ends will be
achieved. Not knowing and unaware of this fact that God himself is the
guard and custodian of Islam and Quran and the teachings of the
Prophets. The tyrants, arrogant, and powerful of the history who
always stood up against the Prophets and fought them, killed them or
banished them, had the same obnoxious aim but none of them succeeded
neither Nomrod and Pharos nor anyone else of them. What success can be
better and clearer than this that many centuries have passed and there
is no name and signs of those tyrants of the history among the people.
But the Prophets of God and the, religious leaders still have their
places in the depth of the hearts of the informed, aware, and human
loving people. People praise them regarding their greatness and they
do not cherish the memories of the kings. Today we observe that the
graves of religious leaders and the real movement makers of history
have got devoted lovers who travel long distances after bearing the
inconveniences and discomforts, to bow down to their graves and tell
their secrets to them. But the graves of the tyrants of history do not
have any visitors because they do not have anything to give it to
anyone. After, the catastrophe and calamity of Karbala the signs of
the triumph of Hussain (A.S.) and defeat of Yazeed became evident and
clear, because where ever the remaining family members of Hussain
(A.S.) would set their feet people would exhibit their emotions, of
love and attachment with them and curse their enemies, to such extent,
that even the family members of Yazeed did not give him any respect.
Instead, a few of his near relatives raised objection and rebuked,
reproached and blamed him.
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