The Ma'soom Imams (as)
held Azadari or mourning programs on the day of Aashura, and in fact
the Imams of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) encouraged others to continue to
hold such programs to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (as)
in various forms and styles of remembrance be it those which are
obligatory, or those that are Mustahab or permissible, for this day
is like no other day.
There has been many
traditions from them in this respect; in one narration Imam al-Sadiq
(as) was asked as to why the day of Aashura became the day of sorrow
and grief, lamentation and weeping, rather than the day when the
Holy Prophet (saww) died, or the day when Fatima-al-Zahra (as) died,
or the day when Amir-ul-Mu'minin (as) was killed, or when Imam Hasan
(as) was killed by poisoning? Imam al-Sadiq (as) replied,
“Truly
the day of al-Husayn (as) is the day of the greatest catastrophe,
since As-hab al-Kissa (people of the cloak) (as) who were the
most honourable of creation in the sight of Allah were five, and
when the Holy Prophet (saww) died, Imam Ali, Fatima al-Zahra, Hasan
and Husayn (as) remained, and the people sought solace and comfort
in them, and when Fatima al-Zahra (as) died, people sought
consolation and comfort in Amir-ul-Mu'minin (as), Hasan and Husayn
(as), and when Amir-ul-Mu'minin (as) died people sought solace and
comfort in al-Hasan and al-Husayn (as), and when al-Hasan (as) died
people could find comfort in Imam Husayn (as), but when Imam Husayn
(as) was killed, there remained no other member of As-hab al-Kissa
to seek solace and comfort in, and by the killing of the last of
them all access to As-hab al-Kissa was severed, whereas so
long as there was even one of them amongst the people, it was as if
all of them were amongst the people. That is why the day of al-Husayn
(as) is the most calamitous of all days.”
Thus great rewards have
been reported for establishing and upholding these Husayni Sha'a'er.
Imam Baqir (as) stated, "Imam
Zaynul-’Aabideen (as) used to say, "Any believer who weeps for Imam
Husayn (as) and his tragedy such
that his tears run down his cheek, Allah Almighty shall accommodate
him in Paradise, and any believer who wept for us for what we
suffered at the hands of our enemy in this world such that his tears
run down his cheeks Allah shall accommodate him in a lofty station,
and any believer who suffers hardship in our cause, such that he
weeps for us and his tears run down his cheek, Allah Almighty shall
repel from his face any anguish and protects him from fire on the
day of Judgement".
This was a quick insight
in the role of Sayyid-al-Shuhada (as) in protecting Islam, and a
glimpse of his station in the sight of Allah Almighty, and lofty
station and the eminence of the Imam in this world and in the
hereafter, and how can it not be when he addresses Allah Almighty in
his famous poem that he recited on the day of Aashura, during the
last few moments of his life when he was lying on the ground
overwhelmed by horrific injuries and swords wounds:
I left
all creatures for the sake of You
and I
orphaned the children so that I see You
So if I
am cut into pieces for the love of You
the
heart would lean to none other than You
And these words reflect
the extent of the sincerity of Imam Husayn (as) in his love for
Allah, and his honesty in defending Islam.
We pray to Allah Almighty
to help us succeed in discharging our duties towards Imam Husayn
(as) and his blessed and sacred movement.
O Allah bless Muhammad
and the household of Muhammad, and make for us a position of honesty
with Imam Husayn (as) and the companions of Husayn (as), who gave
their blood for the sake of Imam Husayn (as), and grant us the
intercession of Imam Husayn (as) on the Day of Judgement, for You
have power over everything.
__________________________________________________________
mulla@almahdi.org.uk