“Let there be a group among you who call others to goodness, encourage what is good, and forbid what is evil—it is they who will be successful.” (Quran, 3:104)
“Let there be a group among you who call others to goodness, encourage what is good, and forbid what is evil—it is they who will be successful.” (Quran, 3:104)
Imam Hussain (A.S.) has set a clear and eternal example for the world to distinguish between righteousness and falsehood through his courage, fearlessness, steadfastness, determination, and resoluteness.
Every process has a beginning and conclusion. Just like any other process, the journey of martyrdom also has a commencement and conclusion. Countless battles have been fought between righteousness and wickedness. However, it is a clear fact that history is unable to find a precedent for martyrdom like that of Imam Hussain.
Who Was Hussain?
Hussain Ibn Ali was the grandson of the Last Messenger of Allah (swt). Hazrat Ali (a.s) and Sayyida Fatimah (s.a) were those high-status personalities whom Allah blessed with a great son like Hussai (a.s), who gave new energy to the fading values of truth with his holy blood.
Hussai Ibn Ali (a.s) was the one who stood up against oppression, illegality, and injustice. When everyone preferred to tolerate Yazid’s cruelty and brutality for the safety of their lives, only the beloved grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, the brave son of Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s), Hussai, with his small army of 72 people, stood up against the Yazid’s army of 30,000 people.
Allah (SWT) says in the Glorious Quran:
“And from amongst you, there must be a community comprising the people who invite mankind towards piety, enjoin righteousness, and forbid evil. And they are the successful people.” [3:104]
The Story of Sanguine Essence
1400 years ago, Hussain stood alone in the scorching desert of Karbala, against a large army of corruption. Now 1400 years later, I’ll tell the story of his bravery.
Karbala is a battle of truth and falsehood that took place in 680 AD. This battle was fought in the blazing desert of Karbala between the army of Hussai ibn Ali (a.s) and Yazid ibn Maviya. Yazid was violating the rights of humanity, and the people of Kufa were fed up with Yazid’s persecution and started writing letters to Imam Hussain.
When Imam Hussain saw the violation of his grandfather’s religious values, he started his journey towards Kufa. His family members were also with him. Yazid’s army stopped Hussain’s convoy in Karbala and cut off the water for them. Yazid wanted Imam Hussain to pledge allegiance to him, but Hussain refused, saying that he would not pledge allegiance to a transgressor.
Yazid was so frightened by the bravery of Hussain and his family that he sent an army of thousands to fight against Hussain’s army of 72 men. But still, he failed. He couldn’t bend even a single person of Hussain’s army in front of him.
The tragedy of Karbala is not only a heartbreaking incident of brutality, but also a great movement for freedom of thought, enforcement of justice, and restoration of basic human rights. This movement will continue till the end of the world.
Every year, people from different religions come to the shrine of Hussain where he was eventually murdered, which is proof that every person who will stand against oppression, regardless of his religion, finds a leader in Imam Hussain.
History is a witness that the violation of basic human rights gives rise to an authoritarian mindset. Every notion of freedom of expression is crushed. Imam Hussain taught that truth should never compromise with falsehood at any level.
Imam Hussain lit 72 lamps of greatness and courage on the road to martyrdom. These lamps will continue to be a beacon of light for the subjugated nations, inspiring them to fight for freedom against oppressors till the end of the world.
Hussain had numerous options. If he had wanted to, he would have pledged allegiance to Yazid like other people, and would have saved his life and that of his family. But Hussain was the son of Imam Ali, a brave and courageous person like his father, and he willingly chose the difficult path in which his life was in danger but his faith remained safe.
Imam Hussain told the world: “Standing against the oppressor is victory. Truth and falsehood can’t be decided by who gets a royal seat and who embraces martyrdom”. Hussain won the battle of Karbala with his unruffled courage. Hussain won the Battle of Karbala with his unruffled courage. Hussain’s fight was not for power; instead he fought to raise awareness among the people about their rights and duties, as they were morally dead.
Imam Hussain said, “It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.”
Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him, we’ll return.
1400 years later, the name of Imam Hussain still mesmerizes humankind. Hussain ibn Ali ٔ not only inspires the Muslim community, but we can also see many non-Muslims praising him. Charles Dickens was fascinated by Hussain’s personality to the extent that he paid tribute to him in these words: “Hussain’s sacrifice is for all groups and communities, an example of the path of righteousness.” While Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a German writer, also said “Hussain Ibn Ali is the hero of all heroes, the leader of all leaders.”
Conclusion
Many non-Muslims express their love and devotion for Imam Hussain, clear evidence that the love of Hussain is not a legacy of one religion or sect.
Every year, the number of visitors to the shrines of Imam Hussain and his companions is increasing. It’s evidence that the love of Hussain can unite us all.
