Ahl-ul-Bayt and Ashura
The Ma'soom Imams alayhum-as-salam annually held Azadari or
mourning programs commemorating the day of Ashura, and in fact the
Imams of the Ahl-ul-Bayt alayhum-as-salam encouraged others to
continue to hold such programs to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam
Husayn alayhis-salam 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 hadith from them in
this respect; in one narration Imam Sadiq alayhis-salam is asked as to why
the day of Ashura became the day of sorrow and grief, lamentation and
weeping, rather than the day when Rasulollah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih
died, or the day when Fatima-al-Zahra alayhas-salam died, or the day
when Amir-ul-Mu'minin36 alayhis-salam was killed, or when Imam Hasan
alayhis-salam was killed by poisoning? Imam Sadiq alayhis-salam
replied, “Truly the day of al-Husayn is the day of the greatest catastrophe,
since As-hab al-Kissa (people of the cloak) alayhum-as-salam who were
the most honourable of creation in the sight of Allah were five, and when
Rasulollah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih died, Imam Ali, Fatima al-Zahra,
Hasan and Husayn alayhum-as-salam remained, and the people sought
solace and comfort in them, and when Fatima al-Zahra alayhas-salam
died, people sought consolation and comfort in Amir-ul-Mu'minin, Hasan
and Husayn alayhum-as-salam, and when Amir-ul-Mu'minin alayhissalam
died people sought solace and comfort in Hasan and Husayn
alayhum-as-salam, and when Hasan alayhis-salam died people could find
36 Amir-ul-Mu’minin, meaning the Commander of the Faithful, is the title that was
exclusively awarded to Imam Ali alayhis-salam by Rasulollah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih.
Thus Imam is usually referred to as Amir-ul-Mu’minin.
Husayn – The sacrifice for mankind
28
comfort in Imam Husayn alayhis-salam, but when Imam Husayn alayhissalam
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 Husayn alayhis-salam is the most calamitous of all
days.”
Thus great rewards have been reported for establishing and upholding
these Husayni Sha'a'er. Imam Baqir alayhis-salam stated, "Imam Zayn al-
Abidin used to say, "Any believer who weeps for Imam Husayn alayhissalam
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".
And thus tyrants and despots throughout history tried to stop these sacred
ceremonies and Husayni Sha‘a’er, as is the case of the (Ba‘thist) regime in
Iraq. The regime first began by banning the mourning ceremonies in the
capital city – Baghdad – and it then extended this ban to all other cities of
Iraq. It then went on to ban the people Basra and other cities from coming
to Karbala on religious occasions such as on Ashura and on the day of
Arba‘een.
The Ba‘thist regime then gained enough courage and confidence to
arbitrary arrest the Ulema, scholars, and public speakers of the Husayni
Sha‘a’er, and subject them to brutal torture, before executing great many
of them. All of this is in aid of suppressing and killing the spirit and the
will of the Ummah, which emanate from the religious and Husayni
Sha‘a’er.
This was a quick insight in the role of Sayyid-al-Shuhada alayhis-salam 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 saying:
I have left the entire world for the sake of You
and I have orphaned my children so that I see You
A glimpse from the ray of Imam Husayn
29
So if I am cut into pieces for the love of You
my heart would lean to none other than You
And these words reflect the extent of the sincerity of Imam Husayn
alayhis-salam in his love for Allah, and his honesty in defending Islam.
Husayn – The sacrifice for mankind
30
Chapter 4: Upholding the Husayni Sha‘a’er
Introduction
Allah Almighty says in His Glorious Book:
{On that account, We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone
slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the
land - it would be as if he slew the whole people, and if any one saved a
life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.}37
In some of the Tafsir (exegesis) it is stated that one of the meanings of
“saving life” of the above noble verse is “leaving and exiting the darkness
of aberration to the Light of being guided”, as the Almighty states,
{Can he who was dead, to whom We gave life, and a Light whereby he can
walk amongst men, be like him who is in the depths of darkness, from
which he can never come out? Thus to those without Faith their own deeds
seem pleasing.}38
So this noble verse considers he who is distant from faith – iman – to be
distant from the light or the knowledge with which one lives amongst the
people. Therefore the Light that is in fact knowledge or faith as presented
in this noble verse is one of the meanings of “giving life”.
This kind of giving life has many manifestations; one would be for
individuals who are alive, i.e. to endeavour to guide someone to the right
path. In Another case this “giving life” would be for individuals who are
dead; for example in a meeting one might highlight the virtues and the
good qualities of a mu’min – a believer – who is dead, this act would also
be considered “giving life” to the individual concerned. The gatherings
that are arranged on the occasions of the birthday or the death of the
Imams alayhum-as-salam are also considered a manifestation of “giving
life” to those occasions and to their respective owners. This “giving life”
is no doubt considered as the Sha’a’er that Allah Almighty refers to in His
Glorious Book:
37 The Holy Qur’an, [5:22]
38 The Holy Qur’an, [6:122]
Upholding the Husayni Sha‘a’er
31
{And whoever holds in honour the Sha‘a’er – Symbols – of Allah, for they
truly reflect the piety of the heart.}39
In fact upholding and “giving life” to the Islamic occasions is one of the
Sha’a’er that Islam calls for. So when highlighting the virtues of a
believer means keeping his memory alive, it is far more significant when
we attempt to keep alive the memory of Rasulollah and his Ahl-ul-Bayt
alayhum-as-salam. And this is clearly noticed in the tale reported in the
holy Qur’an when Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) alayhis-salam said,
{Grant me honourable mention on the tongue of truth among the latest
generations}40.
This means that “O Lord I ask to make the people after me remember me
and keep my memory alive – “giving life to me” – so that my teachings
and religion remain alive amongst the people – which are Tawheed and the
law of Allah – and at the end of the day the religion that you revealed to
me shall be the cause for the guidance of the people.”
Benefits of the Husayni programs
In the same way the mourning programs have great importance and they
may not be ignored, and the Husayni Sha’a’er have a significant role in
revitalising the nations and no one can deny this fact. So too are the
Qur’an recitation sessions, as the words of the Qur’an resonate in the
hearts of the believers and occupy their entire existence such that the
Qur’an verses become their aims and objectives. For the Qur’an rejects
tyranny and oppression, or transgressing upon others’ rights or suppressing
their freedoms or sending them on exile. Allah Almighty states in His
Glorious Book,
{Those who do not judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they
are the transgressors.}41
{And do not transgress for Allah does not like the transgressors}42
{Take not life, which Allah hath made sacred, except by way of justice and
law.}43
39 The Holy Qur’an, [22:32]
40 The Holy Qur’an, [27: 84]
41 The Holy Qur’an, [5: 47]
42 The Holy Qur’an, [2: 190]
Husayn – The sacrifice for mankind
32
{Do the Unbelievers think that they can take My servants as protectors
besides Me? Verily We have prepared Hell for the Unbelievers for (their)
entertainment.}44
When the Muslims read such verses from the Qur’an, Allah opens their
hearts and they realise that the reality (of their society and of their country
and circumstances) is contrary to what the Qur’an calls for. It is for such
reasons that the tyrants endeavour to prevent the Husayni programs, since
these programs expose the criminals and reveal the truth to the people. I
shall mention an account from history in this respect and then come back
to our discussion.