Issue No: 273
19th October 2016
19th Muharram 1438 A.H.
Salamun alaykum,
The moment of Epic :
We have been able to observe the days of azadari in Muharram especially on Ashura : the day of Intense grief. With the events of Azadari still fresh in our mind one needs to reflect on that monumental moment, over thirteen hundred and seventy seven years ago, on the 10th day of Muharram 61 A.H. (680 C.E.) just before 'Asr prayer, when Imam Husayn stood on a sand-dune at Karbala. He had carried several dead bodies of his loved ones into his camp. Blood was flowing all over his body from the wounds he had suffered. He looked skyward and prayed; "O Allah! In You I place my trust amid all grief. You are my hope amid all violence. You are my Refuge and Provider in everything that happens. How many grievances are there that weaken the heart, leaving me with no means to respond; during which friends depart (attain martyrdom) while enemies rejoice……."
The Final Call:
Then the beloved grandson of Noble prophet, standing with blood flowing all over his body from the wounds he had suffered from the Yazidi forces, raised out a cry:
"Is there anyone who will come to assist us?
Is there anyone who will respond to our call for help?"
With the events of Azadari still fresh in our minds reflect:
“Was Imam Husayn expecting any help?
“What was the response from the people present in Karbala?”
“Was the call only for the day of Ashura 10th Muharram, 61 A.H.?”
“Is the call for assistance still relevant to this day?”
Surely Imam Husayn was not expecting anyone there in Karbala to come to his aid. All his close companions had already laid their lives in martyrdom. The previous night, in his address, Imam had freed his loved companions from their allegiance urging them to take advantage of the dark and leave him.
What then was the response? Against a lone man who was deeply hurt in body and heart, suffering in pain and anguish the responses given by the enemy forces under the command of Umar bin S’ad was an increased beating of drums, cheering and jeering at the Imam. This smacks of barbarism.
Did the call end there?
The life span of this call was neither restricted to the day of Ashura in 61 A.H. nor to the land of Karbala. This is amplified in a common narrative that, “Every day is Ashura, every land is Karbala.”
How will you respond to the call?
In an address the Imam explained the purpose for exiting from Madina. His desire was to seek reformation in the ummah of his grandfather, the Noble Prophet.
The world today is still in need of upholding the value of justice and freedom. Man is still striving to achieve leading a life in submission to Allah. So the call for help by the Imam on the day of Ashura still reverberates to this day. Isn’t the struggle to uphold the values for which the tragedy of Karbala occurred continuing and still needs to continue?
As you perform azadari are you reconnecting to the ideals and values for which Imam Husayn a.s. bravely stood up for against Yazid?
As you lift your hands in matam and raise your voice with “Ya Husayn” are you responding positively to this call for help by Imam Husayn?
Are you responding sufficiently in reforming to make you a Husayni?
Are you being along with Imam Husayn for the objectives with which he had set out from Madina?
Does it make you conscious of the role you have to play at all times in being ‘Husayni’
May Allah make great our reward and your reward, for our grief on Husayn a.s. May He place us and you from those who help his cause with His representative, the guided Imam from the family of Muhammad, peace be on them.
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Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat