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Virtues of Muharram: A Message from Dr. Sheikh Sayyid al-Ninowy
Below is a message from
Dr. Sheikh Sayyid Muhammed bin Yahya Al-Ninowy (damat barakatuhum) on
Muharram from his Khalwa, asking everyone to make Du'a for him, and
all Muslims.
The Sheikh, may Allah
preserve him, said:
Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim
"Among the
believers are Men, who delivered their promise to Allah" (Ayah
23/Surat Al-Ahzab)
If history has taught us
anything, it has certainly delivered a message with unequivocal
resonance; Haqq and freedom are not something that is given. Haqq and
Freedom are things people take, and people are as free and on the Haqq
as they want to be.
Islam, the religion of Haqq,
justice and freedom came ito a place and time where oppression was the
rule, slavery was a tool to humiliate the weak, killings a way to
solve problems. A society fueled by feuds, raging by violence, and
merely being born in the wrong family could mean eternal slavery,
oppression, and stripping of any and all rights. The Beloved Holy
Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam, emerged as the voice
denouncing those ways while striving to ensure justice and equality.
By endangering himself, he
–sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam, gave us one of the most
precious monotheistic gifts, namely the collective duty of self
criticism.
Speak the truth though
against yourself. Support the Haqq, denounce the Batel. Stand with the
Haqq, abdondon the Batel.
Stand up to oppressors and
tyrants, no matter of the price.
The Seerah of the
Beloved Holy Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam, taken as
a whole, may be summarized as a succession of victories of Haqq over
Batel, of Justice over Tyranny, of Freedom over Slavery.
If the Beloved Prophet,
sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam, has taught us anything, then
among the many, he taught us an important lesson. One that the Qur’an
amplified numerously: It does not require a majority to prevail, but
rather a profoundly faithful few, who are keen to uphold the truth and
sacrifice for it.
To be the example of a
candle that burns itself illuminating the way for others, to give the
ultimate sacrifice to enlighten the path of the truth, as the truth
and only the truth shall set you free.
In a very famous Hadith,
the Beloved Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam, says:
“Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn”. The meaning entailed by
this Hadith is not that I am Husayn’s grandfather, as this is an
obvious fact. The meaning sheds light that Husayn is like me,
Husayn’s line is similar to my line, Husayn’s message is my message,
Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn.
The Ayahs and Ahadith about
Ahl ul Bayt al-Athar including their Master Al-Imam Al-Husayn are
numerous, that most of you know.
We are already in Muharram,
and in a few days, the day of Ashura comes. A day where the Beloved
of the Beloved demonstrated the highest of nobility, and offered the
ultimate of sacrifices. It is no wonder, knowing that he is the
grandsone of our Beloved Holy Prophet, the son of Amirul-Muminin Ali,
brother of Al-Imam Al-Hasan, and a beloved son to Master, the Lady of
Ahl ul Jannah Sayyidatina wa Mawlatuna Fatimah-Azzahra, sallallahu ala
sayyidina Muhammad wa aalihi wa sallam.
There was a noble reason
that demanded the martyrdom of Imam Husayn. The simple and obvious
reason is simply to preserve Islam. Islam, Haqq, Truth, Justice,
Equality, Freedom and Liberty are all precious values that demanded
precious sacrifice. That, to my mind, is the supreme significance of
martyrdom. But the highest honour must still lie with the symbol, who
faced fearful odds and refused to surrender to evil. Rather than
allow a stigma to attach to sacred things, they paid with their own
lives the penalty of honour and Haqq. The begining of the
batter offered by our beloved Imam Husayn was when he went from city
to city, hunted about from place to place, but making no compromise
with evil. Then was offered the choice of an effectual but dangerous
attempt at clearing the house of God, or living at ease for himself
while closing an eye on the ongoing destruction of Islam and its
values. He chose the path of danger and hardships with duty and
honour, and never swerved from it giving up his life freely in the
absolute bravest of ways ever known to Mankind.
That briefly is the story.
What is the lesson? There is ofcourse the physical suffering in
martyrdom, and all sorrow and suffering claim our sympathy, ---- the
dearest, nearest, purest, closest to our hearts, souls and minds. The
one who the Beloved Holy Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa
sallam, himself used to interrupt his speeches to pick him up, delay
his prostration to honour and not bother him, the one whose face not
only is honourable, but it is the face where The Holy Prophet’s
honorable lips, face, and body touched, loved, and valued. It is that
very same honorable face, that Yazid bin Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyaan al-Ummayadi
humiliated, slaughtered, put on the spears, and kicked…….. There are
no words that can describe the pain profoundly felt in every Free
Human’s mind, soul, and heart.
But there is a greater
suffering than physical suffering. That is when a valiant soul seems
to stand against the world; when the noblest motives of Islam are
reviled and mocked; when truth seems to suffer an eclipse. It may
even seem that the martyr has but to say a word of compliance, do a
little deed of non-resistance; and much sorrow and suffering would be
saved; and the insidious whisper comes:
"Truth after
all will never die"
But the whole
battle is for man's keeping hold of Haqq and Freedom. And that can
only be done by the highest examples of man's conduct - spiritual
striving and suffering enduring firmness of faith and purpose,
patience and courage where ordinary mortals would give in or be cowed
down, the sacrifice of ordinary motives to supreme truth in scorn of
consequence. The martyr bears witness, and the witness redeems what
would otherwise be called failure. It so happened with Al-Imam
Al-Husayn, the Master of the youth of Ahlul Jannah. For all
were touched by the story of his martyrdom, and it gave the deathblow
to the tyrant politics of Yazid bin Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyaan al-Ummayadi and
all the oppression it stood for. And Imam Al-Husayn being alive, more
alive than ever, not only externally but living profoundly deep in our
hearts, in our souls, and in our minds, has still the power to ignite
the light of truth in the heart of all free, to send a message to the
courageous not to bow down to evil, and to teach people not to
surrender to tyranny.
There are those who until
today believe that forgeries, fancy words, and booklets can mask the
shining truth. Persistent attempts to distance Al-Imam Al-Husayn and
his Sirah away from Ahlus Sunnah are ongoing, and more intense, and
serious than ever. This Yazidi line, regardless of what banner or
name they choose to brand themselves with, can no longer fool the
intellectual Muslim. Their scare tactics, labeling, and "intellectual
terrorism" are weapons of the past, and no longer effective for those
who see. While we must pray for their guidance, we shall never fall
as victims to their misguidance.
In the upcoming very sad days in our lives, and the life of every free
human being, I urge myself and you To:
- Express sadness and show sorrow for the massacre of the dearest
and purest of the Family of the Beloved Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa
aalih wa sallam. It is customary to many families of Ahlul bayt to
show sadness during this month.
- Expressing sorrow should be manifested by sincere intentions of
repentance, and believing that if you were with them, you would have
been on the side of Imam Husayn, even if it costs you any and
everything.
- Increasing the recitation of Qur’an, and try to teach your fellow
family, friends, and non-Muslims about the revolution of Imam Husayn.
- Increase your Istigfaar per day, and increase your Durud on the
Beloved Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam.
- Learn the Sirah of Imam Husayn, try to benefit from it, love it,
live it.
- Be generous to your family: bring them water ( and remember on
this day Yazid’s army prevented Imam Husayn from drinking water),
bring them food and remember the things that happened.
- Be thankful to Allah, and ask Him to gather you with the
supporters of Imam Husayn in this Dunya, and with his supporters and
companions in the Akhira.
- Be on the Haqq. Just, Freedom side,and check yourself.
- Make the month of Muharram a month of Al-Husayn in your life, in a
step to eventually make every month a month of Al-Husayn, Grandfather
of Al-Husayn, Father of Al-Husayn, Mother of Al-Husayn, Brother of
Al-Husayn, and those who love and follow Al-Husayn.
- This is your chance to abandon the rest and follow the best. This
is your chance to connect with Al-Imam Al-Husayn. Take time, purify
your heart and connect.
His story
purifies our emotions. We can best honour his memory by allowing it to
teach us courage and constancy.
The sacrifice of Imam
Husayn comes after the Sacrifice of his father, Sayyiduna
Amirul’Muminin wa Imam al-Mutaqqeen Ali bin Abi Taleb al-Hashimi, and
the sacrifice of Imam Hasan, and the line of sacrifice and martyrs
among Ahlul Bayt is still a line enlightening the way for generations
to come. They are like stars; you will not succeed in reaching them
with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters,
you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your
destiny.
Al-Imam Al-Husayn’s message
was simple and clear:
Is life so dear or so sweet
as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it,
Almighty Allah! I know not what course others may take, but as for me,
give me Haqq, or give me death!
"It is better
to die on your feet than to live on your knees"
Wassalamu
Alaykum,
Muhammad Bin Yahya Bin
Muhammad Al-Ninowy (May Allah forgive him)
The Holy Prophet looked towards Ali, Hassan, Hussein, and
Fatimah, and then said: "I am at war with those who will fight you,
and in peace with those who are peaceful to you"
- Narrted by Abu Huraira, Sahih al-Tirmidhi
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