Ashura and Martyrdom of Imam HUSSAIN radiallahu taala anh

Significant Events concerning Ashurah
With the exception of the Martyrdom of Sayyiduna Imam-e-Hussain (radi Allahu anhu) there are also various other incidents which occurred on Yaum-e-Ashurah. It is also for those reasons that this day has received such excellence. In his internationally renowned Kitaab, "Nuzhatul Majaalis", Sayyiduna Sheikh Abdur Rahman Safoori (radi Allahu anhu) explains the following important events which took place on Yaum-e-Ashurah:

1. It was on this day that the Skies earth and the Lauw-e-Qalam came into existence.
2. It was on this day that Sayyiduna Adam (alaihis salaam) and Sayyiduna Hawa were created.
3. Sayyiduna Adam's (alaihis salaam) Tauba was accepted.
4. Sayyiduna Nooh's (alaihis salaam) Ark came on land.
5. Sayyiduna Ibrahim (alaihis salaam) received the status of Khaleelullah.
6. Sayyiduna Yaqub (alaihis salaam) met Sayyiduna Yusuf (alaihis salaam) after 40 years.
7. Sayyiduna Idrees (alaihis salaam) was raised into the skies.
8. Sayyiduna Ayub (alaihis salaam) regained his health.
9. Sayyiduna Yunus (alaihis salaam) was released from the stomach of the fish.
10. Sayyiduna Dawud's (alaihis salaam) Tauba was accepted.
11. Sayyiduna Sulaiman (alaihis salaam) received his Kingdom.
12. Sayyiduna Esa (alaihis salaam) was raised into the skies.
13. Sayyiduna Muhammad Mustapha (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) made Nikah to Sayyiduna Bibi Khadija (radi Allahu anha).
14. It is on this day that Qiyamat will occur.


The Fasting of Yaum-e-Ashurah
Sayyiduna Qatadah (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated, "On the day of Ashurah I hope that through this (Ashurah) Almighty Allah will make it a means of Kafaara for past sins." (Mishkat Shareef, Pg. 179)

Sayings of the Holy Prophet (sawa) During his Lifetime
 with Reference to Imam Husayn (as)

1. Hassan (a.s.) and Hussain (a.s.) are the leaders of the Youths of Paradise.
     
2. Hussain (a.s.) is from me and I am from Hussain (a.s.) , Allah befriends those who befriend Hussain (a.s.) and He is the enemy of those who bear enmity to him.
     
3. Whoever wishes to see such a person who lives on earth but whose dignity is honoured by the Heaven dwellers, should see my grandson Hussain (a.s.).
     
4. O my son! your flesh is my flesh and your blood is my blood

THE MARTYRDOM OF SAYYIDUNA IMAM HUSAIN (RADI ALLAHU ANHU)


THE MARTYRDOM OF SAYYIDUNA IMAM HUSAIN (RADI ALLAHU ANHU) Occured on the tenth of Muharram 61 AH (680 AD).

Who is Imam Hussain (Radiallahu taala anh)

•  That family of the prophet of whom Allah invokes us through the Qur'an; 
  "Say (to the people, O Muhammad)! I ask of you no reward except that you love my family." [Qur'an 42:23]. 
  It was regarding this Qur'anic verse that Imam Shaf'i wrote in his poetry .. 
  Yaaala-bayti Rasulillahi hubbakum 
  Fardun minaalhi fil Qur'ani anzalah 
  Yakfikum min 'azimil fakhri annakum 
  Man lam yusalli 'alaykum la salata lah 
  "O Family of the Prophet! Allah has made it obligatory on us in the Qur'an to love you. It is a matter of pride for you that without saluting you our salutations (salawaat) are invalid."
• That Husayn who, together with his brother, is considered by the Prophet as sayyida shabābiahlil Jannah "leaders of the youth of Paradise" [Sunanal-Tirmidhi] 
• That Husayn who carried the traits of the Prophet and who many companions considered as an image of his grandfather. In the words of the poet Josh Mahalbadi É 
  Of the attributes of the Prophet, the perceiver was Husayn, 
  Of the holiness of the Prophet, the inheritor was Husayn. 
• That Husayn of whom the Prophet said,
   "Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn. Allah loves whoever loves Husayn." [Sunanal-Tirmidhi] 

Yet, Imam Husayn was martyred at the hands of those who considered themselves followers of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, those who claimed to act in the name of Islam yet unremorsefully and shamelessly were prepared to obliterate its true exponent; those who (like so many today) are prepared to kill for Islam yet are unable to live by it. Yes, Imam Husayn was martyred at the hands of those who would kiss the Black Stone (because the Prophet kissed it), yet cut off the precious head of that dear grandson of the Prophet, a head which the Prophet so often caressed and kissed with affection

Continuing the Abrahamic Tradition 

We bade farewell to the old year by celebrating Prophet Ibrahim's commitment to Allah characterized by his valor against Nimrud, and proven through his willingness to sacrifice his patient son, Prophet Isma'il (pbuh). Now we welcome the new year by commemorating the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's beloved grandson, Imam Husayn who fought to uphold the principles of his grandfather Prophet Muhammad and his forefather Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh).

 (O Allah, Bless Our Master Muhammad and the family of our Master Muhammad as You blessed our forefather Ibrahim and the family of our forefather Ibrahim.) The Makkan struggle for the manifesting and upholding the values of Islam was founded with love and veracity by the family of Ibrahim and continued with loveand patience through the family of Muhammad (pbuh), as 'allama Iqbal says; 

Sidq-e Khalil bhi hay ishq, sabr-e Husayn bhi hay ishq Ma'rika-e-wujud mayn Badr-o-Hunayn bhi hay ishq 

"The veracity of Prophet Ibrahim is love, so too the patient perseverance of Imam Husayn is love. Just as Prophet Muhammad's selfless struggle at Badr and Hunayn too was love (for Allah, truth and justice)." 

Iqbal thus concluded; Gharib-o sada o- rangeen hay dastane haram, nehayat is ki Husayn, ibtida hay Isma'il"  
"Strange, simple yet colorful is the story of the haram. It begins with Prophet Isma'iland ends with Imam Husayn."

The leader of the small band of men who were martyred in Kerbala was none other than Husain (Radiallahu taala anh), son of Ali bin Abi Talib (Radiallahu taala anh) and grandson of the Holy Prophet (Alaihissalm. Who was Husain? He was the son of Fatim(Radiallahu taala anh)for whom the Holy Prophet (alihissalm) said, "Husain is from me and I am from Husain. May God love whoever loves Husain." [1]

With the passing away of his brother Hasan(Radiallahu taala anh)) in 50 AH, Husain (Radiallahu taala anh) became the leader of the household of the Holy Prophet (Alaihissalm). He respected the agreement of peace signed by Hasan (Radiallahu taala anh) and Muawiya Radiallahu taala anh, and, despite the urging of his followers, he did not undertake any activity that threatened the political status quo. Rather he continued with the responsibility of looking after the religious needs of the people and was recognised for his knowledge, piety and generosity. An example of the depth of his perception can be seen in his beautiful du'a on the day of Arafat, wherein he begins by explaining the qualities of Allah, saying:

" (Oh Allah) How could an argument be given about Your Existence by a being whose total and complete existence is in need of you? When did you ever disappear so that you might need an evidence and logic to lead (the people) towards You? And when did You ever become away and distant so that your signs and effects made the people get in touch with you? Blind be the eye which does not see You (whereas) You are observing him. What did the one who missed You find? And what does the one who finds You lack? Certainly, the one who got pleased and inclined toward other than You, came to nothingness (failed)."

On the other hand, we have Yazid, who had always tried to sabotage the mission of the Holy Prophet, and who showed his true colour by stating in a poem, "Bani Hashim had staged a play to obtain kingdom, there was neither any news from God nor any revelation." [2]

Mas'udi writes that Yazid was a pleasure-seeking person, given to wine drinking and playing with pets. It is no wonder that Husain's response to Yazid's governor, when asked to pay allegiance to Yazid was, "We are the household of the prophethood, the source of messengership, the descending-place of the angels, through us Allah had began (showering His favours) and with us He has perfected (His favours), whereas Yazid is a sinful person, a drunkard, the killer of innocent people and one who openly indulges in sinful acts. A person like me can never pledge allegiance to a person like him ..."[3]

The revolution of Husain Radiallahu taala anh was an Islamic movement spearheaded by one of the great leaders of Islam. The principles and laws of Islam demanded that Husain (Radiallahu taala anh) act to warn the Ummah of the evil situation which it was in, and to stand in the way of the deviating ruler. As Husain (Radiallahu taala anh) himself remarked when he left Madina for the last time, "I am not rising (against Yazid) as an insolent or an arrogant person, or a mischief-monger or tyrant. I have risen (against Yazid) as I seek to reform the Ummah of my grandfather. I wish to bid the good and forbid the evil." [4]

Hussain (Radiallahu taala anh) was killed on the battlefield as he did Sajdah. His head was removed from his body on the plains of Kerbala, mounted on a spear, and paraded through villages and towns as it was taken to Damascus and presented at the feet of Yazid.

Why remember Ashura ?

Why is Husain (Radiallahu taala anh) regarded as the "leader of the martyrs" ? It is because he was not just the victim of an ambitious ruler. There is no doubt that the tragedy of Kerbala, when ascribed to the killers, is a criminal and terrible act. However when ascribed to Husain (Radiallahu taala anh) himself, it represents a conscious confrontation and a courageous resistance for a sacred cause. The whole nation had failed to stand up to Yazid. They had succumbed to his will, and deviation and regression towards the pre-Islamic ways were increasing.

Passiveness by Husain (Radiallahu taala anh) in this situation would have meant the end of Islam as we know it. Thus Husain (Radiallahu taala anh) took upon himself the responsibility of the whole nation. The greatest tragedy was that one who stood up for the noblest of causes, the defence of Islam, was cut down in so cruel a manner.

It is for this reason that the sacrifice of Husain (Radiallahu taala anh) is commemorated annually throughout the Muslim world. Our sorrow never abates as we relive the tragedy. As Allama Iqbal says in his Baqiyat (in Urdu):

Ronay wala hoon Shaheed-e-Kerbala key gham men main,

Kya durey maqsad na dengey Saqiye Kausar mujhey

I am one who weeps at the plight of the Martyr of Kerbala

Won't the reward be given to me by the Keeper of Kauser 

The commemoration of Ashura on the 10th of Muharram every year serves to remind us of the sacrifices of the family of the Prophet (alaihissalm). It also makes us aware of the people, then and now, who tried to destroy Islam and the family of the Prophet (alaihissalm) and all that they stood for - as well as those who watched, listened and did nothing.

References:

[1] Ibn Majah: Sunan, Hadith 144.

[2] Ibn Jarir: Tarikhu'l Umam wa'l Muluk, vol.13, p.2174.

[3] Sayyid ibn Ta'us: Maqtalu'l Husain, pp.10-11

[4] Al-Khatid al-Khuwarazmi: Maqtalu'l Husain ,vol.1, p.88.

I call you all to have Aesale thawab or Fateha on Imam hussain raz and his Ashabs shuhuda e karbala, and do duva through their wasila.


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