‘Not in my name.’ย These are words we Muslims have become more than familiar with, words that distance us from an inhumane, appalling misuse of our religion. Words that beseech non-Muslims to see the truth and see Islam for what it really is – a religion of peace and as far as imaginable from an evil group such as ISIS.ย The beauty of these words is how they unite all Muslims, every sect, to defend the sacred name of Islam from the filth that do not seem to tire in their attempt to damage it.
Words that 1400 years ago, a man named Hussain, the beloved Grandson of the Prophet, was martyred defending. His stand was so much more than a mere defence of his faith. The tyrant, Yazid, was the Caliph of the Muslim world so the religion of Islam in its entirety was at risk of corruption.ย Think about that for a moment.
Now let me ask, has the entire religion of Islam ever been at risk of complete and utter corruption and disfigurement in our day and age? Absolutely not; yet we Muslims have all united in distancing ourselves vocally from those who tarnish our faith. Then tell me, why do my brothers and sisters in Islam of other sects not mark this tragedy as it should be marked?
The tragedy of Karbala – when Hussain, who was loved by the Prophet so dearly, was slaughtered in the most savage way, along with his family and companions including his six month old child because he did not accept for our religion to be tarnished. He fought to keep Islam pure for you and I.ย These savage beings that claim to represent Islam in every act of horrific terrorism are breeds of Yazid.
Where is the Hussain in you and I?
Is it fear that stops us from acknowledging one of the greatest men of our faith and his epic stand? Is it fear that allows the days of Muharram to pass and what is marked isย a celebration of a new year? Is it fear that has made you forget?
Delve in to the history of your religion and you will see that the masses mourned Hussain and the tyrants used fear to silence his revival, for his death was the greatest revival of our faith. He rekindled the love for the Prophet in even those who were silent witnesses to his murder that they regretted and came back to true faith afterwards. How great can a man be that his name has rekindled hearts of non-Muslims through the ages? Yet my Muslim brothers and sisters from other sects are silent?
I plead with you, break your silence.
Listen without fear and feel with love. Hear the words of our beloved Prophet when he said, ‘Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain.’ That thirst for justice in you and I in this world that is full of oppression and grief was first felt by Hussain and he faced it with the strength of His Lord and braved tyranny of thousands of men with his family and a small group of companions. The story of Hussain is one written in history for you and I to read – read it, it will empower you to seek justice no matter how rough the journey is.
‘Not in my name.’
I will not stand here and let fear engulf my faith so that our history is erased from our minds and we do not know one of the greatest stands in our history. I will not kneel to a rewriting of my history that leaves out the most important parts so that my brothers and sisters do not even know what really happened in Karbala on Ashura. For if they knew what truly happened,ย they would mobilise to rise against injustice as a mighty force. Silence is the greatest tool of the oppressor – do not let it be used against you.
ย ููุฑููุฏูููู ููููุทูููุฆููุง ูููุฑู ุงูููููู ุจูุฃูููููุงููููู ู ููุงูููููู ู ูุชูู ูู ูููุฑููู ูููููู ููุฑููู ุงููููุงููุฑููููThey desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths but Allah will perfect His light, though the unbelievers may be averse.(Surah As-Saff: Verse 8)
