The great sermon which Imam Husain (a.s.) delivered at the time of Hajj between 59 A.H and 60 A.H. reveals the revolutionary, economic and social conditions of the society in such a way as if the voice of Imam Husain (a.s.) is echoing everywhere. Who can deny the announcement of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that the Holy Quran and the Infallible Imams (a.s.) will not separate from each other. They are the safeguards of the straight path who will continue to guide till Hauz-e-Kauthar.
One of the styles of the Holy Quran is that it proves its words through evidences. The Noble Quran opposes blind faith. The style of the Ahle Bait (a.s.) who are at par and partners of the Book of Allah, is the same. They also prove their truthfulness through evidences and convey it in such a manner that everyone is speechless. Imams (a.s.) have, time and again on appropriate occasions, established their truthfulness through irrefutable evidences and arguments.
Imam Husain (a.s.) went for Hajj one year before the death of Moaviyah. Abdullah ibn Abbas and Abdullah ibn Jafar were also accompanying him in this journey. At that time, Imam (a.s.) assembled all the men, women, children and slaves from the Bani Hashim and all other Shias present there and called the helpers (Ansaar) who recognized the position of Imam (a.s.). After that he (a.s.) invited the companions of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) who were present there at the time of Hajj through his representatives.
At that time, more than 700 people were present in the tents of Mena in which 200 were the companions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and majority were of the Tabe’een (those who saw the companions but did not see the Prophet (s.a.w.a.)). When all of them gathered, Imam Husain (a.s.) delivered the sermon in the following way:
“Now then, you all are very well aware and witness that how the rebels are behaving with us and with our tribes. I’m asking you one thing, if I’m right then verify my truthfulness and if not then deny it. Listen to it carefully and write it down and when you return to your cities and tribes and those amongst you who are trusted and reliable, invite them to our rights that you know, I fear that these facts are not neglected. Truth is destroyed and falsehood prevails ‘Allah will definitely complete His light although the polytheists may be averse to it. I’m asking you keeping Allah as a witness and considering him as Omnipresent, that do you not know that (my father) Ali (a.s.) is the brother of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.)? When the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) established brotherhood between the companions, at that time he made Ali (a.s.) as his brother and said that you are my brother and I’m your brother in this world and the hereafter.” All present testified that it is like this. “I ask you in the name of Allah that do you not know that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) purchased a land for a Mosque and his house and constructed a Mosque and built 10 houses, 9 for himself, one of which was in the middle was built for my father and closed all the doors except that of my father.At that time people starting discussing various things among themselves. At that time Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said ‘Neither I have closed your doors nor opened his (a.s.) door but Allah has ordered me to close all your doors and keep his door open. Moreover, he (s.a.w.a.) prevented all from sleeping in the Mosque except him (Ali a.s.). His house was in the house of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his children were born there.” All of them agreed. “Do you know that Umar wanted to make an eye hole in the wall towards the Mosque but was denied the permission? At that time, he (s.a.w.a.) delivered a sermon: Allah has ordered me to keep the Mosque pure and nobody can reside in this Mosque except me, my brother Ali (a.s.) and his sons.”
All agreed without exception. “I ask you in the name of Allah that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had appointed Ali (a.s.) in Ghadeer-e-Khum as the Master and declared his Mastership and said that it is the responsibility of those present here to deliver this message to those not present here.” All of them agreed that it was like this. “I ask you in the name of Allah, that you know that at the time of the battle of Tabuk, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said to Ali (a.s.) that you have the same relation with me as Haroon (a.s.) had with Moosa (a.s.) and after me you are the Master of the believers.” All of them agreed that it was like this. “I ask you in the name of Allah that do you not know that when Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) invited the Christians of Abyssinia for a malediction (mubaahilah), at that time he only took Ali (a.s.) and his children?” All of them were in unison. “I ask you in the name of Allah, that he (a.s.) was given the flag in Khyber and said I will give this flag to the one whom Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.a.) love and he also loves Allah and His Prophet. He attaches fearlessly and will never run away from war. Allah will hand over victory and success to him.” All of them agreed that it is like this. “Whether you know that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had sent him with Surah Taubah and said that I should deliver this surah on someone like me? All of them said, ‘By Allah! It is like this. “Do you know that when the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had any difficulties, he used to put him (a.s.) forward and trusted him and Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) did not call him by his name rather he said: Call my brother, call my brother.”
All of them concurred, ‘By Allah! It is like this.’
“Do you not know that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) while doing judgment between him (a.s.), JanabeJa’far and Zaid said: 0 Ali, you are from me and I am from you. After me you are the Master of every believer.” All of them said, “By Allah! It is like this. “Do you not know that he (a.s.) used to meet Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) daily in the mornings and evenings in solitude. When Ali (a.s.) used to ask he (s.a.w.a.) used to answer, when he (a.s.) was quiet then Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to initiate the talks.”
All of them exclaimed, ‘By Allah! It was like this.’
“Do you know that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) preferred Ali (a.s.) to his uncles Hamza and Ja’far al-Tayyaar at the time when he said to Janabe Fatima (s.a.): I have arranged for you marriage from the best of my relatives, who is foremost in Islam, best in forbearance and the most knowledgeable.” All of them said, ‘By Allah! It was like this. “Do you know that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: I am the leader of all the sons of Adam (a.s.) and my brother is the leader of all the Arabs, Fatima (s.a.) is the leader of the women of Paradise, my two sons Hasan (a.s.) and Husain (a.s.) are the leaders of all the youths in Paradise.” All of them said, ‘By Allah! It is like this. “Do you know that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) ordered Ali (a.s.) to give him the funeral bath and Jibraeel (a.s.) will help him?” All of them agreed that it is like this. “Do you know that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had announced in his last sermon: I am leaving behind amongst you two weighty things, Holy Quran and my Ahle Bait (a.s.). Hold fast unto them, you shall never be deviated.”
All of them agreed that it is like this. Then he (a.s.) asked them by the oath of Allah that had they not heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) say:
“The one who thinks that he loves me and hates Ali (a.s.) is a liar. It is not possible that he loves me but hates Ali (a.s.).” At that time a person asked: O Prophet of Allah! How is this possible? He (s.a.w.a.) said, “Because he is from me and I am from him. Whoever loves him, loves me and whoever loves me, loves Allah. Whoever hates him, hates me and whoever hates me has hated Allah.”
All of them agreed that it is like this, we have heard the very same thing.
“Take lessons from the guidelines given by Allah to His servants. Allah has condemned the praising of Jewish priests and scholars: Why do their scholars and priests not stop them from committing sins? Prophets Dawood (a.s.) and Isa Ibn Maryam (a.s.) have cursed the people of Bani Israel because they were disobedient and transgressors; they did not stop the people from committing sins and were very much engrossed in sins.”
[Surah Maedah (5): Verses 78-79]
“Allah has condemned them because of this. These people used to see the oppressors oppress and perpetrate evil deeds but never prevented them due to the favours they received from the unjust people and due to the fear of the news that these favours shall be stopped from them. Whereas Allah says, ‘Do not fear people, fear Me’ and also says, ‘Believing men and women are friends of each other. They tell each other to perform good deeds and abstain from evil deeds.’ Allah, the Almighty, first conveyed the order of ‘Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil’ and made it obligatory because Allah knows that if these things are done and this obligatory act is fulfilled completely then all the other easy and difficult obligations will be established and this is because enjoining good and forbidding evil call towards Islam and abstain from injustice, oppresses the unjust, common wealth and war booty is distributed properly, collects charity and taxes and spends in a proper way.
O those present here, you are that group which is famous for its knowledge, you are remembered for your good actions and your names are cited as examples. Due to Allah, there is awe in the hearts of people concerning you. Good people are afraid of you and the weak ones respect you. Upon those whom you do not have any upper hand give preference to you and you do not have any right upon them. When the needs of the seekers are not fulfilled, you recommend them. You walk in the streets as if you are the kings and behave as if you are the respected ones. All these things are for you because the rights of Allah are related to you even after you yourself are negligent in the rights of Allah. You have undervalued the right of Imams, you have violated the rights of the weak people and mouth your own rights as per your understanding, neither have you spent your wealth nor have you worked for the aim with which you were created and neither did you bear enmity with any nation or tribe for the sake of Allah. In spite of all this, you are desirous of Allah’s Paradise, you want to sit near Allah’s Prophets (a.s.) and claim that you are protected from the punishment of Allah’s wrath. O people attributed towards Allah, I fear that you are not seized by Allah’s chastisement because due to the grace and favour of Allah, you have obtained a very high virtue and position. You do not respect the one who possesses Allah’s recognition and you want to be respected amongst the creatures of Allah due to Allah. You are observing that pledges and agreements of Allah are being breached and still you are not fearful? If pledges and agreements of your father and ancestors were breached you become very displeased and feel offended. But when the pledges and agreements of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) are being breached, you choose to become a silent spectator. In cities, there is no one to inquire about the blind, the dumb and the poor. Neither you are having mercy on them nor are you giving them place in your houses and nor help them with any of your actions. You are coming closer to the oppressors by your flattering talks and flamboyances, while Allah has prevented you from all such talks and you are heedless of it. The greatest misfortune for the people is that you all have occupied the position of the scholars. I wish you would have realized this! The reason for this is that execution and enforcement is in the hands of the scholars who are the trustees of Allah regarding His permitted and forbidden acts. This status and position has been snatched from you because you differ and are divided into various groups concerning the truth. In spite of clear proofs, you are different from each other in terms of following the sunnah. Had you been patient over calamities, tolerated difficulties in the way of God for His sake then the Divine commandments would have returned to you. They would have been enforced through you and would eventually return to you. But you helped the oppressors by using your status and position and handed over the Divine commandments to them. They follow their doubts and tread the path of their desires. Your efforts to escape death and love for life, which would eventually end has empowered them over you. You have handed over the weak ones to them. There are some who are facing troubles in prisons while some others can’t even provide for their basic needs. These oppressors are acting as they wish and are spreading disgrace through their desires. They are obeying the wicked people and are always prepared for Allah’s disobedience. In every town, they have their speaker who screams from atop the pulpit. The earth is filled with their oppression. They are generous and people are their slaves. They cannot defend themselves in any way. The clutches of the oppressors, despots and famous people are deepening over the weak ones. These are monarchs who are unaware of the beginning and the end. How amazed I am and why should I not be amazed? The earth is filled with oppressors. The merciless have been made rulers of the people. Allah will judge between our disputes and He will only decide between our differences. O Allah! You know that none among us crave for kingship or for this world. We only want to see the flag of Your religion flying high and reform Your cities so that your oppressed servants can live in peace and harmony. So that they can act upon your obligatory and recommended acts as well as Your laws. If you people do not help us and do justice unto us then these oppressors will overpower you even more. They will try to extinguish the light of your Prophet (s.a.w.a.). Allah is sufficient for us. We trust only Him and to Him is the return.
[Al-Imam al-Husain (a.s.) Simaatohu wa Seeratohu by Syed Mohammed Reza al-Jalaali, pp. 106-212; Limaaza Nahaza al-Imam al-Husain (a.s.), pp. 26 to 31]
Let us read this esteemed sermon very carefully, use it as a mirror and look at our present. It shouldn’t be that we ourselves are among those people.
Come, let us face the difficult times and seek the pleasure of Imam Husain (a.s.) by preparing the ground for the illuminated reappearance of Hazrat Vali-e-Asr (a.t.f.s.)!