Think not
of those who are slain in God's way as dead. Nay, they live,
finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord.
Holy Quran (3:169)
The events of Karbala reflect the collision of the good
versus the evil, the virtuous versus the wicked, and the
collision of Imam Hussain (the head of virtue) versus Yazid
(the head of impiety). Imam Hussain (pbuh) was a
revolutionary person, a righteous man, the religious
authority, the Imam of Muslim Ummah (nation). As the
representative of his grandfather Prophet Muhammad (pbuh),
Imam Hussain's main concern was to safeguard and protect
Islam and guide fellow Muslims. On the other hand, the
staying power of the rulers (Muawiya and his son Yazid)
depended solely on the might of the sword. They used brute
force to rule over the Muslim empire even by all possible
illicit means.
The mission of Imam Hussain
(pbuh) is distinctly unique, political and religious
revolutionary movement in the history of World. His was a
tremendous undertaking which still reverberates throughout
the Muslim nation. He has been a propelling force and a
seminal element in events throughout Islamic history,
particularly in the sphere of Jihad (the holy struggle in
the way of Almighty God). Imam Hussain's example has
remained vividly alive for generations and centuries. His
uprising, movement and ideals still have a deep impact on
the conscience and awareness of the Muslim empire.
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) is
reported to have said: "The best of Jihad is that of a word
of right spoken to an unjust ruler."
Imam Hussain (pbuh)
witnessed the deteriorating political and social situation
and clearly recognized that the general policy of the
authorities did not abide with Islamic principles. He was
aware of the Ummah's numerous and painful afflictions, and
was determined to exercise his religious duty, being the
duly sanctioned leader & central figure capable of restoring
Islamic values. Thus he rose. His revolt is rich in lessons
and divinely inspired attitudes. Imam Hussain (pbuh)
embodied the sacrifice of self, money, family, social status
and the challenge to terror and cruelty. He patiently
traversed hundreds of miles, moving both night and day. The
epic protest he engendered came at the most critical
political juncture. In fact, the Prophet's grandson had
vowed to sacrifice himself.
Thus, Karbala proved to be
a clash involving Islamic truths versus falsehood, belief
versus disbelief, and the oppressed versus the oppressor,
faith against brute force. Karbala was about standing in the
face of oppression, regardless no matter the cost. In
Karbala, Imam Hussain the fifty seven (57) year old second
grandson of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), sacrificed his totality
and all he had, for one goal. This goal was to let the truth
triumph over falsehood eventually, and he did that
brilliantly. His goal was to foil the plan that Muawiya had
expertly developed for his son, Yazid, which was to
establish a permanent Umayyads (Banu Umayya) ruler ship over
the Muslim Ummah (even by sacrificing the Islamic
principles), but doing it in the name of Islam. Brilliantly,
Imam Hussain (pbuh) succeeded in foiling this plan and he
exposed the disreputable nature of Umayyads though this was
at the expense of his life.
Eventually he was martyred
along with his sons, most of his household and all of his
companions. The bodies were mutilated and their heads were
carried from Karbala, to Kufa and finally Damascus. His
womenfolk were taken prisoners and marched across the
desert. He himself was expecting all that, but did not budge
an inch.
An uprising led by the
noblest and best accepted personality in the entire Ummah,
is certainly one which is uniquely distinguished as a
movement abounding with spiritual, moral and religious
ideals. Due to the importance of this personality, we are
honored to present this.
Such a sublime revolution
has to be studied, dissected and fully understood. Lessons
should be drawn from it. Here we note that the backward and
downtrodden nations must one day follow in the footsteps of
Imam Hussain (pbuh) if they are to challenge the despots.
The famous Urdu poet has
prophesized:
Insaan Ku Bedaar Tou Ho
Lene Do, Har Qaum Pukaraygi Hamare Hain Hussain
Give mankind a chance to
gain consciousness, Every tribe will call out, "Hussain is
ours!"
Qatl-e-Hussain Asl Main
Marg-e-Yazid Hai, Islam Zinda Hota Hai Har Karbala Kai Baad
In the murder of Hussain,
indeed is the death of Yazid. For each Karbala is the
revival of Islam.
Karbala garden of swords,
blood and inspiration for innumerable pens.
Karbala is the word of
right...the hymn on the lips of time.
Karbala is a poem...a rhyme
of anguish and pain.
Karbala never passes away.
Its sun never sets in the horizon of history. Its anguish
can never be effaced from the conscience of freemen by the
collective conspiracy of tyrants.
At Karbala clouds of blood
rained and generations of martyrs and revolutionaries took
root and sprouted. The sound of the fearless voice of Imam
Hussain (pbuh) still echoes in the valley of Karbala,
ringing in the ears of time. It is a hurricane that chafes
and shakes the tyrants. It is a volcano of blood, violently
jolting the despots' thrones. It awakens free consciences
and stirs within man the spirit of revolution and Jihad. His
voice is still echoing in the ears of mankind:
"By God, I will never give
you my hand like a man who has been humiliated, nor will I
flee like a slave."
Who actually is Hussain?
What is the background of this exceptionally unique and
great personality? This prominent man of history, the legend
of epics, the word of pride and honor was no less the
Grandson of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) the son of his daughter
Fatimah Zahra (pbuh) and her cousin and husband the
Commander of the Faithful, Ali son of Abu Talib son of Abdul
Mutalib son of Hashim.
Hence the only fact
remains: "There never was a Hussain before him, there has
been none after him."
The object of this work is
only to present with extreme brevity the great historic
event of the matchless sacrifice of the King of Martyrs Imam
Hussain (pbuh), in the seed of Abraham (pbuh) through the
Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), offered to save the Truth and
humanity from getting lost to falsehood forever, for the
apostleship had been concluded with the revelation of the
Holy Quran, the Final Word of God. If anything had to be
done or could be done, to save the Truth, it was only
through the Imamate which was destined to do it, and Imam
Hussain (pbuh) was the divinely chosen one for it. |