By Zahir Jafri on Quora
Imam Hussain is the one who launch an ultimate uprising for the sake of Truth and Justice.
Imam Hussain was the Grandson of Prophet Muhammad SAW, son of Imam Ali and Fatima Zahra the daughter of Prophet (SAW). On the 10th of Muharram on the day of Ashura when he along with all his family rose to fight against that time tyrant ruler Caliph Yazeed. Thus Hussain became a 7th century revolutionary leader who stood for social justice against Opression, tyranny and terrorism. His legacy inspires millions worldwide.
Muharram is the month in which Hussain launch an ultimate uprising against tyranny, injustice, oppression and terrorism.
Muharram is the first month of Islamic calender in which the Tragedy of Karbala occurred when the family of Prophet SAW along with grandson Hussain was brutally killed. Thus this month is the commomoration of the sacrifice of Imam Hussain and his family with his companions on the land of Karbala, Iraq.
Why did Imam Hussain (a.s.) rise up? Did Imam Hussain (a.s.) rise up only for opposing a corrupt ruler like Yazid? Which were the true dimensions of Imam Hussain's movement?
Pic: The holy shrine of Imam Hussain in Karbala, Iraq.
Imam Hussain's (a.s.) movement is, indeed, perceivable via two perspectives—both of which are acceptable. Nonetheless, when put together, the two views show the extensive dimensions of this movement. One perspective involves the appearance of Imam Hussain’s action, which is a movement against a corrupt, deviated, suppressive and oppressive regime: Yazid’s Regime. But, at the heart of his action, there is a more important movement that the second perspective will lead to: the move against ignorance and humiliation of the mankind. In fact, even though Imam Hussain (a.s.) fights against Yazid, his extensive historical fight is not against the short-living and insignificant Yazid. Rather, his main fight is against mankind’s ignorance, abasement, deviation and humiliation. Indeed, Imam Hussain (a.s.) fights against such vices.
Looking at the surface of the events, this uprising was against the corrupt and unpopular regime of Yazid. However, beneath the surface, it is an uprising for the sake of Islamic values, understanding, faith, and dignity. It is for the people to be set free from corruption, subordination, lowliness, and ignorance. It was for this reason that when Imam Hussain (a.s.) left Medina, in a message to his brother Muhammad Ibn Hanafiah, and in reality a message to the history, he wrote: I am not rising out of selfishness, or lust for power, nor to cause mayhem or pain. I rise looking for the correction in my grandfather's ummah. I see that things have changed in the society that the prophet left. It is going towards the wrong direction, towards corruption. It is against the direction coveted by Islam and the prophet had preached. I rise to fight against these [vices].
The main goal was accomplished. This is something that no power can take away from Imam Hussain (a.s.). The power of going to the battlefield of martyrdom; sacrificing oneself and loved ones, the grand sacrifice that is so great that no matter how big the enemy is, it will appear small and unimportant before it. This bright sun will continue to emanate more light in the Muslim world day after day till his light encompasses the whole humanity.
Today, Imam Hussain (a.s.) is known to the world more than he was 5 centuries, 10 centuries ago. Today the situation is as such that when impartial intellectuals learn about the history of Islam, and the story of Imam Hussain (a.s.), they feel humble. Even for those who do not know anything about Islam, yet they recognize the notions of freedom, justice, dignity, elevation, and lofty human values, Imam Hussain (a.s.) is an invaluable role model in seeking liberty and justice, in rising up against vices and evils as well as in fighting ignorance and humiliation of mankind.
(Must watch NDTV report: The Warriors of Hussain fighting ISIS The Warriors Of Hussain: Fighting ISIS)
Today, wherever humanity has undergone some defeat, either political, military or economic, the roots of it can be traced to ignorance or abasement. That is, either they do not have the knowledge and necessary understanding, or they understand but have sold themselves cheap. They have bought into abasement and have submitted to viciousness. Imam Sajjad (a.s.) and Imam Ali (a.s.) have been narrated to have said: “Oh! Man, if your essence and existence is to be sold, it has only one price, which is the divine heaven. If you sell it to anything cheaper than heaven, you are at loss.” Even if you are offered the whole world in exchange for accepting abasement and viciousness, it is not fitting. All those who in different places around the world have surrendered to coercion and money of the wealthy and powerful, and have accepted this abasement, --whatever position they are in: scholar, politician, political or social activist or intellectual-- they have failed to know their value and have sold themselves cheap. Many politicians of the world have sold themselves.
Dignity is not simply represented by holding high positions like a king or a boss. Sometimes a person is sitting on a throne, bullying a thousand people boastfully. Meanwhile, he is under the coercion of another power or center. He might be a captive of his own desires and lust; but today's political captives will not reach the latter, because they are captives of major powers.
The movement of Imam Hussain (a.s.) was a movement of such nature. He said: “I rose up to reform the Muslim community of my grandfather [Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)].” (Bihar Al-Anvar: V.44, P. 329) He also said: “Whoever observes a ruler legalize what God has made unlawful, violating the covenant of God, opposing the Sunnah of the Messenger of God, and treating the creatures of God sinfully and oppressively; he who does not oppose him with his speech and action, God has a right to bring him to the same fate as that of the tyrant.” (Bihar al-Anwar, v. 44, p. 381)
Imam Hussain (a.s.) knew what would his silence, his endorsement and his indifference would do to Islam if he did not take any action. When a power takes all the capacities of a community or some communities under control, and acts tyrannically, if the men of truth do not oppose him, refuting his actions, they have actually endorsed his actions. That is, oppression is endorsed by the men of truth, without them really wanting it. This was a sin committed by the elites from among the Bani-Hashem, and the children of the prominent figures of the early years of Islam. Imam Hussain, however, would not tolerate it, and hence he rose up.
Why did Imam Hussain (a.s.) take his family to Karbala? Why didn't he refuse to fight with several thousand-fighter army of Yazid, in spite of having only 72 people in his army? Why didn't he try other methods?
Imam Hussein (a.s.) brought his dear ones to the desert of Karbala in order to clarify the truth. He knew what was going to happen, yet he brought Zeinab, his wives, his children, and his brothers with him. Like the day of Mubahila, it was again a matter of clarifying the truth and promoting Islam in the real sense of the word. That shows the importance of promoting Islam. "If someone comes across a ruthless sultan who mixes up halal with haraam and breaks his promise to God, they deserve living with the sultan in the hereafter." That is to say, when someone sees such a person, they should clarify the truth through their words and actions just as Imam Hussein (a.s.) did - and he paid the price for it. Imam Hussein brought his dear ones and his wives and children to Karbala in order to clarify the truth.
Imam Hussein (a.s.) was aware of the consequences of his movement. He was an infallible Imam. Imam Hussein (a.s.) stood up against the deviated current of his time, which was extremely dangerous. He said that he had to express his opposition, no matter what the consequences were. He said, "It is good if my destiny is a victory and if my destiny is martyrdom, so much the better." This was how Imam Hussein (a.s.) acted.
This was a perfect instance of self-sacrifice and it safeguarded Islam. This move preserved Islam. This move institutionalized values in society. If Imam Hussein (a.s.) had not accepted this danger, if he had not made a move, if he had not taken action, if his blood had not been shed, if those great tragedies had not happened to the shrine of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.), to Imam Ali's (a.s.) daughter and to the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) descendents, this event would not have gone down in history. The event that could have prevented that great deviation had to shock people and history as much as the deviation did. This shows Imam Hussein's (a.s.) self-sacrifice.
Why is the uprising of Ashura different from all the uprisings and movements of the world?
Many have risen up in the world; they have had a leader, and they were also killed. Among them, numerous were children of the prophets and Imams (a.s.). However, Imam Hussain (a.s.) was unique. The event of Karbala was extraordinary. The martyrs of Karbala have a special position. Why? The answer is to be searched in the nature of the event, which gives a lesson to us all, including and maybe, in particular, to you, dear [disabled] war veterans.
One characteristic of the event is that Imam Hussain's movement was solely and truly for the sake of God, the religion and rectifying the society of Muslims. This first feature is very important. Imam Hussain (a.s.) stated: "I did not rise up out of self-interest, for the sake of seeking pleasure, corruption or oppression;”—that is, it was not for swaggering, selling himself, desiring something for himself, or a pretentious spectacle. There was not even a bit of oppression or corruption in this movement. “I rise up only for the sake of rectification of the nation of my grandfather, the Messenger of Allah."
There are some people who do not believe that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the grandfather of Imam Hussain (a.s.) and that he follows in his path; yet, they believe in Imam Hussain (a.s.)! Some do not believe in his father, Ali (a.s.), yet, they believe in Imam Hussain (a.s.)! They do not believe in God—the God Imam Hussain worshipped, yet, before Imam Hussain (a.s.), they are humble and respectful! This is the outgrowth of Imam Hussain’s purity.
Last but not least:
The Month of Muharram gives Hope to Oppressed accross the world, a hope to fight against Injustice.
“Hussain Is Hope For Humanity.”
Sources: http://www.ImamHussain-lib.com
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