Issue No: 248
23th October 2015
9th Muharram 1437 A.H.
Salamun alaykum,
You are free to leave:
On the plains of Karbala, as the night was drawing to a close and Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, approached Imam Husayn a.s. addressed his companions saying, “….I thank Allah to the best of my ability and praise Him during the time of injury and affliction. O Lord! I thank You because You have honoured us by means of Prophethood, taught us the Qur'an, made us comprehend the religion and its commandments, granted us eyes, ears and hearts; kept us free from the pollution of polytheism and then enabled us to thank You for Your blessings.
It is a fact that I am not aware of any companions more faithful and honest than my companions and any relatives more righteous and kind than my relatives. May Allah grant all of you a good reward.
I think that the day of our fighting with this army has arrived. I permit all of you to go away. You are free to depart without any restriction and should take advantage of the darkness of night….."
What was the response of the companions?
His brothers, sons, nephews and the sons of Abdullah bin Ja'far led by Abbas bin Ali said first of all with one voice: "Should we go away to live after you? We pray to Allah that the time may not come when you may be killed and we may remain alive". Other companions also expressed similar views.
Imam Husayn a.s. invoked Divine blessings for them and returned to his tent.
It is a fact that none of the historians who recorded this incident mention that any companion of Imam Husayn a.s. present in Karbala went away.
What is your response?
If one had been present in Karbala seated in the assembly of companions listening to the address by Imam Husayn a.s. what would have been the reaction to the offer by Imam Husayn a.s.?
Would the response be similar to the one that had taken place in the year 61 A.H. as described ? OR Would one have taken up the offer of freeing one of all allegiance to the Imam and to head for safety?
The key determinant to one’s response in the above scenario lies in how great one is committed today in upholding the values for which Imam Husayn a.s. and his noble companions achieved martyrdom.
Will you respond ’Labbayk ya Husayn.’: O Husayn, here I am at your service?
Tomorrow: 10th Muharram : Remember each other in duas:
Whilst presenting our hajat during the A'mal of Ashura, kindly remember to pray for the Marja taqlid, Ulama, parents, family, community, Ummah, oppressed, deprived, sick, widows, orphans, refugees, the suffering due to conflict and oppression, those struggling to seek livelihood, beloved departed souls, our leaders and for all to have their hajat fulfilled.
??????? ????? ????????? ? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?
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, S.A.W.W.
Fazle Abbas Datoo
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat