Karbala’s Spirit: Reawakening of Muslim Ummah

২৯ শে মে, ২০১৩ দুপুর ১২:৫৭

Introduction

Karbala is a historical word. It contains a stream of blood in its root. Muharram is the month for a profoundly somber engagement with what happened at Karbala—in present-day Iraq—on the tenth day of the 61st year of Hijra (10 October 680 CE). On that day, barely fifty years after the Prophet Muhammad's (s) death, his beloved grandson, Husain®, was martyred on the battlefield, together with several members of his own family. Their struggle was aimed at the ultimate goal of awakening human beings of all times to uplift the human spirit beyond short-sighted materialistic pursuits, and establish a just and equitable order in society.

Context of Ashura:

With just 72 valiant followers and family members, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad(s.) faced the military might of the Muslim empire ruled then by a despot, Yazid bin Mu‘awiya. Hussain(R.) refused to sanctify Yazid's reign through baya'a (allegiance) and consequently, he and his small contingent were martyred in the most brutal of fashions. The accompanying women and children were imprisoned for months in the dark alleys of Damascus. On every Ashura, the 10th day of the Muslim calendar month of Muharram, many Muslims all across the world commemorate Hussain's great sacrifice, but tragically the central message of Karbala appears to evade the broader Muslim thinking today.

Imam Hussain, the spiritual custodian of Islam at the time, staunchly stood against the shifting tide, deviation and his unprecedented sacrifice was intended to shake the Muslim conscience and expose the misleading path introduced in the name of Islam. It was a matter of principle for him - one of human dignity and honor. Challenging the newly introduced monarchical system of government was another important feature of this struggle. In his last sermon before departing from Madina on his journey towards Karbala, Iraq, he made clear his mission: "I seek to reform the Ummah of my grandfather." An armed struggle for that purpose was never his intended route. He believed in conveying the message through love and compassion. It was a message motivated truly by humanity.

Karbala is an example

Karbala has imparted a new meaning to the term struggle and left an example for the humankind to strive with patience and constancy in the face of extreme situation without losing standards and self esteem. It has given a meaning that comfort and safety should not to be an obstruction in the higher struggle for the rewards of the hereafter. Imam Hussain (R.) did not give up his struggle even though he was abandoned by the multitudes that had offered him support at the start nor did he surrender while facing unbeatable odd consequences. He not only gave his life in the name of Islam but also sacrifices all his family for the cause of Allah. Imam Hussain (R.)had declared his noble mission right from the birth to fight for Islam and save its value and traditions all over the world. Also the date associated with the Battle of Karbala, 10th of Muharram has come to occupy a special place in Muslim history till today. Seemingly, for hundreds of years, generations would rise, invoking the name of Hussain ibn Ali, to uphold justice and to fight against cruelty.

Significance of Karbala

The event of Karbala always evokes strong emotions and deep intellectual thoughts which touch and affect the whole existence of those who seek to find a path through it. But the significance of this event goes much beyond the mere unveiling of the corruption and deviations. Karbala changed the course of history and continues to inspire all truth-seeking revolutionaries.

The remedy to the malady lies in mainstreaming the message of Karbala both within the worldwide Muslim communities and among those who are interested in deciphering the foundational themes of Islamic discourse. At a higher level, Hussain's message of defiance against oppression and personal sacrifice for the cause of humanity is applicable for a broader audience for generations to come.

Recklessness makes man worse than animals. It deprives him of his biggest gift given by Allah – the faculty of intellect. The Holy Qur'an regards the heedless people as worse than animals and declares that the hell is the destiny of such people:

"And certainly We have created for hell many of the jinn and the men; they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear; they are as cattle, nay, they are in worse errors; these are the heedless ones." (7:179).

Another significant of Karbala is that we have to engage women in our movement. We know tireless struggle of Hussain's sister Zainab ibne Ali, who as an eyewitness of the tragedy propagated details of the event far and wide among Muslims. While in chains, she courageously challenged Yazid's policies on his face in his court in Damascus soon after the battle at Karbala. Many Muslims -- some out of ignorance and others out of bigotry -- avoid appreciating the crucial role of a woman in this grand struggle.

Reawakening of Muslim Ummah

Karbala killed the heedlessness of the masses. Water can bring back an unconscious man into consciousness, but to awaken a heedless community from the deep slumber of ignorance, blood is required. The blood of Imam al-Hussain (R.) affected the collective consciousness of a sleeping Ummah and caused tremors which shook the very foundations of the Umayyad regime and led to their complete uprooting in the period which followed.

The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) has said: "Surely there exists in the hearts of the believers, with respect to the martyrdom of Hussain, a heat that never subsides."

This heat of faith and awakening of consciousness has led to innumerable revolutions in human history, both in individual lives and in society as a whole. The message of Imam Hussain(R.) still resonates in the hearts of truth seekers. It inspires leaders to fulfill their obligations with respect to opposing evil and protecting goodness. It enjoins all those who heed the call of truth to rise against the unjust powers and confront evil: Many Muslim societies have been ruled by the dictators and monarchs who are just forwarding the western agenda. “They are suppressing their own people just to please their western masters. West is attempting to continue its hegemony over Muslim countries using the power leverage. Karbala is definitely a source of inspiration for awakening in Muslim Ummah. Palestine is burning, Kashmeer is crying, Arakan is lamenting, Afgan is waving. Common situation with various dimensions exists in every Muslim land. Yet we have all heard: Every day is Ashura, every land is Karbala. So there is no choice to Muslims without Unity. They will have to awaken. Karbala is the power house to supply energy for this purpose.



Conclusion

It is not necessary to go to the bank of Forat to learn the lessons of Karbala. It can be earned by observing any Muslim land today.

The spirit and revolution of Karbala, like all teachings of Islam, require a pure heart and a sincere truth seeking soul to affect. Karbala can bring about revolution in our lives only if we observe it along with all other teachings of Islam.

May Allah make our souls adapt to the teachings of Karbala, allowing it to bring a revolutionary change in our lives, eliminate ignorance, illuminate us, and lead us to salvation in both worlds.

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