PEACE BE ON YOU, O SON OF MESSENGER OF ALLAH (S.A.W.A.)
It’s a fact that today, if the holy religion of Islam continues to survive and subsist, it is only on account of the sacrifices of the Ahle Bait (a.s.) in general, and Imam Husain (a.s.), in particular. But for the sacrifices of the Ahle Bait (a.s.), the religion of Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.w.a.) and its teachings would easily have been the victim of distortions and alterations just as the constitutions of the previous Prophets (a.s.) and their teachings were subject to total misrepresentations and fabrications. The best instance for this is the creed of Trinity. All the Prophets and Messengers of Allah (a.s.), without exception, invited the people towards divine monotheism and advised them to stay away from the rebellious devils. But the nation of Prophet Jesus (a.s.), after his departure from amongst them, distorted the belief of Monotheism to the extent that they converted it into Trinity, although they were of the view that he is alive and will certainly return one day. Therefore, if Monotheism survives in the religion. of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) till date, it is only because of the sacrifices of the Ahle Bait (a.s.), and Imam Husain (a.s.) in particular.
Human nobility and dignity demands that the entire Muslim Ummah, with all the strength and power at its disposal, must strive to keep alive the remembrance of the Ahle Bait (a.s.) and not allow such elements to live who detest such life-giving memories. Among our most important duties in the present era is that we fill the hearts of our children and kinsfolk with the love of the Ahle Bait (a.s.). We must relate their virtues, merits and excellences, the difficulties and tribulations that they bore in the way of Allah, just to protect His religion. Moreover, we must also make it a point to mention the evil traits and moral temperament of their enemies. Why? So that it becomes clear for one and all that the love of the Ahle Bait (a.s.) and hatred against their enemies is not a family ritual or custom but the prerequisite of a true believer, nay a real Muslim. We don’t bear any personal animosity against the enemies of the Ahle Bait (a.s.), rather, we hate them because they subjected the Ahle Bait (a.s.) to their tortures only because the latter were a guarantee for the preservation of Allah’s religion and the Shariat of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.).
We love the Ahle Bait (a.s.) because they were a picture of all desirable traits, noble ethics and beautiful attributes. There is not a single positive characteristic that is unavailable in these holy beings (a.s.) and there is not a negative trait but that it is millions of miles from them.
Allah the Almighty has appointed them as His representatives on the earth. He has made them as leaders of the entire humanity and deemed their obedience obligatory on everybody. He has prohibited the people from opposing them and restrained them from their disobedience. Anybody who does not enlighten his heart with their love, or refuses to obey them or defies submitting before them, has in fact, disobeyed Allah’s command and harmed his own self.
Regarding the Ahle Bait (a.s.), Ameerul Momineen Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (a.s.) states,
“…they are the life-spring of knowledge and death of ignorance. They are the people whose commands will disclose to you the (extent of) of their knowledge, their silence will disclose their (capacity of) speaking and their outer appearance will disclose their inner self. They do not go against religion and do not differ from one another about it, while it is among them a truthful witness and a silent speaker.”
(Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 147, p. 540)
The mourning (azaadaari) of the Chief of the Martyrs, Imam Husain (a.s.) is a great bounty of Allah, through which we can acquaint ourselves, our children and our relatives with true Islam and save from being drowned in the cesspool of deviation in these turbulent times. Through this very mourning, we can make their hereafter a huge success. It would be highly recommended to keep the following points in consideration while observing the mourning of Imam Husain (a.s.):
1) To explain for the masses the role of the direction and leadership of the Ahle Bait (a.s.) in the guidance and salvation of humanity. We should strive to clarify that Allah has appointed the Ahle Bait (a.s.) as His representatives for the entire humanity, nay, the entire universe. None, without exception, has the right to oppose them, leave alone to claim their position or demand allegiance from them.
2) To relate the virtues and merits of the Ahle Bait (a.s.) and in particular, those of Imam Husain (a.s.), his perfections, his journeys and the great display of Islamic teachings and divine ethics by him in the battlefield. These qualities amply proved that if there is any medium in this world to reach to Allah, it is the Ahle Bait (a.s.), nobody else. Such commemoration strengthens faith, awakens the fervor to act and reinforces religion.
3) To relate the atrocities and injustices perpetrated on him (a.s.) and to establish that those who stood against him (to call them as humans would be an insult to humanity), did not possess an iota of Islamic teachings in them and were completely devoid of humanity. To show how the right of the Ahle Bait (a.s.) was usurped and injustices and oppression were inflicted on them! It was such reminders of Imam Husain’s (a.s.) mourning that converted numerous people to Islam. Since the Ahle Bait (a.s.) bore all these atrocities, tortures and oppression in the way of Allah, their listening, relating and making others hear, are all acts of worship.
4) To remember the characteristics and attributes of the Ahle Bait (a.s.), and Imam Husain (a.s.) particularly, so that our children and the coming generations may establish the majaalis of azaadaari with the recognition of Imam (a.s.). Thus, they will do so not simply as a family ritual but consider it as an important religious obligation, that has to be fulfilled.
Allah the Almighty has regarded the Ahle Bait (a.s.) as a “good example” for us and has made it compulsory for us to tread in their footsteps. For this, it is essential to narrate the individual and social life of Imam Husain (a.s.), his worship before Allah, mode of supplications in His presence, his attitude towards his relatives, his treatment of his enemies, his dealings with his neighbors, his behavior with his children, his conduct with his wives, his stand before the oppressors and tyrants, his demeanor with the oppressed, the poor and the destitute, his zest to act on Islamic teachings, his manners with the non-Muslims, and so on and so forth.
Although such discussions may sound dry for some but they definitely go a long way in training the younger generation in emulating the character of the Ahle Bait (a.s.). Our greatest success and fortune lies in passing over this mourning with the recognition of the Ahle Bait (a.s.) to our offspring and light this lamp in their hearts.
For achieving success in these affairs, we sincerely pray in the service of the heir of Imam Husain (a.s.), Hazrat Mahdi (a.t.f.s.). Paying our condolences to him for the martyrdom of his great ancestor, Imam Husain (a.s.), his relatives and his companions, we invoke Allah the Almighty thus: O Allah! Grant us the grace to sacrifice our lives for the Imam of our time, just as you bestowed for the martyrs of Karbala! Aameen!
