Imaam Hussein AS & What He Sacrificed His life For.
With the name of Allah, most Beneficient, ever Merciful
Even before the army of the tyrant yazid surrounded the small group of Hazrath Imaam Hussein (AS), yazid already had political and military control of the entire Islamic empire and there was no need for him to cut off their water supply or even to murder them.
Why then would he go to the extent of torturing and murdering the family of the Prophet ﷺ at the risk of an uprising or the risk of total failure? There was something more that he desperately wanted. Something that only Hazrath Imaam Hussein (AS) could give.
When the Prophet ﷺ and his four righteous caliphs ruled, they had the blessings of everyone else including those that had the potential of becoming leaders. These potential leaders would pledge allegiance (take baith) and swear fealty to the leader. They accepted the ruler whole heartedly and backed him totally.
This is what was lacking in the rule of yazid and this is what he wanted. He wanted Hazrath Imaam Hussein (AS) to submit to him by swearing allegiance to him and accepting him as the ruler as this would have given him the credibility he so badly lacked.
When he could not coerce him to do this freely or by bribing him, he then used force in order to try to get this submission.
Hazrath Imaam Hussein (AS) did not want to back a tyrant, unrighteous person. Had he given in to him and pledged allegiance to him then he would have set a new precedent. It would then have been acceptable for the coming generations of Muslims to accept tyrant, corrupt rulers.
This would defeat the very nature of what Islam set out to establish a free world. “and Fight them on until there is no more persecution…” AL Quran Sura AL Baquaraa 2:193
Although he could have absolved himself by saying that his submission was made under duress, he still did not submit. By him standing his ground even at the suffering and brutal murder of his children and grand children before his very eyes, he showed the world how important it is to stand up for truth and justice even when the odds are stacked against us.
There is no other in the history of humanity that had made such great sacrifices in the cause of Justice and freedom. He is the example and the hero of freedom fighters for all times. It is through his example that there always will exist some hope for freedom and justice in our world today.
Whenever truth and justice is established on earth then, with the passage of time, corruption takes its place. “In time: Verily, man is at a loss, Except such as have faith, and do righteous deeds, and join together in the mutual enjoining of Truth, patience and consistency.” Al Quran Sura Asr 103.
Arabia was set free from tumult and oppression by the Holy Prophet ﷺ and with time, it began to slide back into chaos. Hazrath Osman e Ganie (RA) and Hazrath Ali (RA) were assassinated and there were factions and power struggles which culminated in an unrighteous person taking hold of the reigns of the Islamic leadership.
Although Hazrath Imaam Hussein (AS) stand seemed futile at that point, in time, it fueled the fall of yazid and the rise once more of Truth and Justice. In time, yazid and everything he perpetrated became that which all Muslims hated while Hazrath Imaam Hussein (AS) became the hero of not only Muslims, but all humanity for all times.
G.H. Thomas writes: “The events that followed the tragedy of Karbela proved beyond doubt that Hussein succeeded in upholding the principles of equality, brotherhood and freedom. It was a lesson for all castes and creeds. Imaam Hussein is therefore the hero of the entire humanity.”
More importantly than physical freedom he ensured that spiritual freedom lasts forever. The concept of “baith” or pledging allegiance is a sacred practice in Islam that ensures that only the sincere are worthy of receiving people’s pledges of allegiance.
Had the steadfast Imaam given his hand instead of his head then it would have been acceptable to have a pir like yazid. Then the rope that descends from Allah Subhanatallah would have been severed. “Hold fast to by the rope (or the means of access) to Allah all together,…” Al Quraan Sura Al Imran 3:103,
Sainthood and sincerity would have come to an end and we today would have been bereft of the spiritual insights of our religion. It is only a person that is travelling the spiritual path that can truly appreciate the greatness of sacrificing one’s head instead of giving one’s hand.
Hazrath Khwaja Gareeb e Nawaaz (RA) writes in relation to giving the hand (baith): “A ruler is Hussein, an emperor is Hussein. Faith is Hussein, guardian of faith is Hussein. He offered his head and not the hand to yazid. Truly, Allah’s true mirror of faith is Hussein.”
The pledge of allegiance as described in the Holy Quraan is not just an ordinary pledge but it is a pledge sanctioned by the Hand of Allah. (see our article: “Baith – The Pledge of allegiance” to learn how important “Baith” is)
How can a tyrant oppressor be allowed to receive such a sacred pledge. The Mighty Imaam made far more than the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that this pure practice remained untainted by the wicked hands of yazid and it is because of this sacrifice that saints still exist today.
Islam teaches us again and again to remember our history by certain practices. Stoning the pillar during Hajj is symbolic of Hazrath Ebrahim (AS) and his family, being on the plains of Arafaath on the 10th of Zil Hajj is in memory of the repentance of Hazrath Adam (AS).
Why should we not then have an event to remember the great Imaam Hussein (AS)? Why should we not be proud of our great Hero who outshines all other heroes? Why should we not have an event to rejuvenate our commitment to freedom, justice and all that is good?
The memory of Hazrath Imaam Hussein (AS) is not mourning, for mourning is for the dead. Hazrath Imaam Hussein (AS) is ever living for “Think not of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead. Nay they live finding their sustenance from their Lord.” Al Quran Sura Al Imran 3:169
The Prophet ﷺ has said that Hazrath Imaam Hussein (AS) would be the leader of the youths in heaven. He was quite old when he was brutally slain in Karbela: Why then should he be the leader of the youth. His stance in Karbela was that which a young person would take.
O youth, we should be proud of being associated with Hazrath Imaam Hussein (AS). We should be proud of talking about him and we should be proud of telling others about him. Just as we need to be grateful to the Prophet ﷺ for teaching us our religion we should be just as grateful to Hazrath Imaam Hussein (AS) for he revived our religion when it was at deaths door.
Had Imaam Hussein (AS) given in to yazid, Islam would not be as it is today. Our world would not be the same for Islam today. because of Him, is the benchmark that all other religions try to emulate. It sets the standards when it comes to prayer, right and wrong, charity, equality, freedom and fighting for justice. It is because of him that our world still has some semblance of Justice today.
The poet Josh Malihabadi writes: “Let man but awaken: then all people would proclaim: Hussein is ours.” And the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaad said: “The tyrant dies and his rule ends, the martyr dies and his rule begins.”
If non Muslims could write so highly of Hazrath Imaam Hussein (AS) then I do not see how we should fail to do the same. A non Muslim, Solishini says “If Hussein was in our religion we would have made him a god”
For all that the Prophet ﷺ did, he never asked anything in return. It was Allah Subhanatallah that instructed him to say what his heart felt and all he wanted was for us to love his family.
“Say, (O Prophet): “No reward do I ask of you for this (bringing guidance to humanity) except the love of those near of kin.” Al Quran Sura Ash Shura 42:23.
Peace and Salutations be upon Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi.
Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi was founded by Dr/Hakim Hazrath Khwaja Sayed Shareef Ahmed Ali Shah RA, (lovingly known as Hazrath Poona Wale Shah Saib RA).
Author: Mohammed Hassan Gaffoor. You can contact him on WhatsApp: +27 84 910 1486