|
The
Ashura Uprising
by Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini
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Table of
Contents |
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Three Speeches About the Ashura and
Muharram
Imam Khomeini's Statements at a
Gathering of the Ulema of West of Tehran
Imam Khomeini's Statements at a
Gathering of the Ulema, Mass Prayer Leaders, the Clergy and the
Preachers of Qum and Tehran
Imam Khomeini's Statements at a
Gathering of the Ulema, Mass Prayer Leaders, the Clergy and the
Preachers of Qum, Tehran, East and West Azerbaijan Provinces
|
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Muharram, a Red Prelude to Martyrdom |
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Causes and Factors of the Ashura Uprising |
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Objectives of the Ashura Uprising |
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Selection of the Karbala Martyrs with
Awareness |
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Results and Outcomes of the Uprising of Aba
Abdullah - Imam Husain (as) |
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The Ashura Uprising, an Example of Free Men |
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The Philosophy of the Mourning
and Lamentation (For the Martyrs of Karbala) |
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The Significance and Role of Lamentation in
Reviving Islam and Ideology, of the Master or Martyrs - Imam
Husain (as) |
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The Role of Lamentation in Preserving the
Nation and the Country |
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Observance of the Ashura Uprising, A Divine
Rite |
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Recommendations to Preachers, Recitors of
Elegies and Mourners |
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Selected Statements by His Holiness Imam
Khomeini concerning Muharram and the Ashura Uprising
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1- Imam Khomeini's Statements at a Gathering of the Ulema of West
of Tehran: October 22, 1969.
Up to this moment that we are gathered here, Islam has been
maintained by the grace of the Master of Martyrs (Imam Hosein -
a.s.). Master of Martyrs gave his all for Islam in the Path of
God. He had no worldly things to give but he offered himself, his
young ones and his disciples. He rose in support of Islam to
oppose tyranny. He opposed the empire of those days which were
more vehement than modern. Imperial regimes. He rose up against
the tyrant, of his day with very few
fellow-warriors [1]
and, though he and his men were all martyred, he was victorious in
overthrowing that machinery of cruelty arid oppression.
We, who are his (Hosein - a.s.) followers and, by order of
Hazrat Sadeq (a.s.) [2]
and recommendation of other Infallible Imams arrange these sustained
mourning sessions, have the same problem. We face tyranny, we face the
cruelty of oppressors. But we maintained the event of
Karbala [3];
our preachers kept the event of Karbala alive, they kept alive the
issue of the resistance of a small group but with immense faith
vis-a-vis the powerful but arrogant regime. Shedding tears for martyrs
is tantamount to keeping the movement alive. It has been narrated that
he who sheds tears, or make others weep, or even sham lamentation and
grief, will be rewarded by admission to the Paradise. This is because
even he who simulates mourning and lamentation for the event of
Karbala, is helping to preserve the movement and uprising that was
initiated by Imam Hosein (a.s.) via his martyrdom at Karbala. Our
nation has been preserved by these mourning sessions.
This is the reason agents of
Reza Khan [4]
prevented these gatherings for lamentation of the Ashura Event, Reza
Khan was not himself, perhaps, opposed to hold mourning sessions. He
was an agent assigned to stop them. He was assigned by experts who
knew the issues well. Those were enemies of us, of all Muslim nations.
They had studied the circumstances of the nations and knew that they
could not reach their aims as long as such mourning sessions and
recitation of elegies were held and the cruelties of rulers were
revealed and condemned. During the reign of Reza Khan they banned such
gatherings and all passion plays. Obey prevented the Ulema and
preachers from climbing the pulpits in all the country. They
controlled all forms of Islamic religious publicity and propaganda
and pushed us back while they pilfered all our resources. It was
the same during the reign of
Muhammad Reza [5]
only in a different manner, in a different form; not by use of
bayonets. But the problem is the same even now.
Now, a group has appeared demanding that the
martyrdom of Imam Hosein (a.s.) and other Infallible Shiite Imams be
not remembered and commemorated. 'They do not know the outcome and
consequences of recitation of elegies and lamentation. They do not
realize that it is the uprising of Imam Hosein (a.s.) against tyranny
that has been preserved and this day it has set off this movement.
This move is but a ray, a reflection.
They do not know that weeping for Imam Hosein (a.s.) means
perpetuation of his uprising and maintaining the fact that even a
small number could stand up against a great empire. Imam Hosein's
decree is that: "Every
day is an Ashura and each territory is Karbala!" [6]
implies that his movement must be kept alive and active everywhere
and at all times. This statement is our manual of action. Just as Imam
Hosein (a.s.) stood up and said: "No!" to a great empire, his decrial
must be repeated daily and these mourning sessions mean the
perpetuation of the negation. Let our children and youth not consider
this as a mourning matter, it is not that ours is the weeping nation.
'They (the enemies of Islam) fear these mourning sessions for it is a
cry in support of the oppressed. It is an outcry in opposition to the
tyrants.
'These organized bands of mourners march in protest to cruelty and
injustice, their demonstrations must go on. Be not fooled by these
writers, these men who, by different names and ideologies try to take
everything away from you. But they see that these Ashura mournings,
these gatherings for lamentation, recitation of the miseries of the
oppressed and voicing the crimes of the tyrant, place the people
against the oppressors. They do not realize that these mourning groups
and gatherings actually serve the country and Islam. Let our youth be
not deceived by those who call the Ummat the nation of mourners, such
persons are treacherous. Their masters are afraid of these tears that
are shed for Imam Hosein (a.s.) because Reza Khan came and
destroyed everyone but he was nothing but an agent. This was proven
when, after Reza Khan had departed, England announced in radio New
Delhi: "We brought him and we took him
"This was true for they had assigned Reza Khan
[7]
to suppress Islam and away.
One way to do this was to disband these mourning
groups and stop recitation of elegies. Our young people should not
think they'll be doing a service by going to the session for opposing
the one who discusses the issue of mourning the Karbala Tragic event.
He must expose the cruelties of the regime so that people may
understand what goes on. This revelation must be made daily as it has
political and social connotations.
2- Imam Khomeini's Statements at a Gathering of the Ulema, Mass Prayer
Leaders, the Clergy and Preachers of Qum and Tehran. (June 20, 1982)
I would like to advise the preachers that the real significance of
your work at these mourning sessions is little known and to some it is
not known at all. The fact that traditions have assigned so much value
for just one drop of tear shed for the Karbala victim (Imam Hosein -
a.s.) is not because the Master of the Martyrs needs our tears. It is
not because such shedding of tears is a pious act that carries rewards
for those who shed it. In addition to its devotional and spiritual
aspect, an important political point has been involved on the day when
the related narratives were issued. On that day this redeemer group
was plagued by the
Omayyad [8]
and more than that by the
Abbasid [9]
rulers, only a small minority facing major powers.
At that time, in order to organize the political
activity of this minority, a path was devised, a path that had
organizing quality itself and that is, to quote divine sources of
inspiration, these mourning gatherings and the tears shed in them are
highly exalted and have grand rewards. These incentives attracted the
small Shiite minority group to the mourning gatherings and sessions.
Gradually the minority elements, without their awareness, were
organized into bands that regularly attended the mourning sessions and
soon became units of minority resistance opposing the majority. This
perpetuated throughout history all over the Islamic land. In Iran,
which is the cradle of Shiism, these mourning gatherings have
consistently scared the arrogant, cruel rulers who meant to destroy
the Clergy and Islam thereby. These mourning bands and passion plays
demonstrated the divine power that was behind them and threw fear in
the agents of tyrants.
The first time they (agents of the Shah) seized me in
Qum, [10]
on the way one of the agents accompanying me in the car said: "We
had come for you but these black tents (tents set up especially during
the month of Muharram to be used by mourners or passion play bands),
made us fear lest they become aware of our intention and we fail to do
our duty." Not only small elements such as these even the major powers
fear the sight of these tents. Obey fear these tents because they
represent an organization that has developed by itself,
solid and united, having and needing no single hand to manage it.
Moreover, it has moulded the nation and gathered them together, all
over the country, all year, especially in the months of Muharram,
Safar and the blessed Ramazan.
And, if someone makes an offer to serve Islam or
make a conunent related words or messages will be spread to all
corners of the country by the preachers, leaders of mourners from the
pulpits, the imams (leaders) of the Friday Mass and the daily
congregational prayers, in no time at all. The coming together of the
people under the Divine Standard, the Banner of Hosein (a.s.) becomes
organized. If a major power decides to have a very large,
all-inclusive, get-together of the people for some purpose, in some
city, it takes them many days, even weeks with considerable effort,
publicity and expense to bring a crowd of say, 50 or 100 thousand in
the appointed place to listen to some speakers. But as you see if an
issue is raised (in a Muslim society), mourning sessions and meetings
mushroom everywhere in the country and people will thus learn about it
without delay or expense.
People crowd the mourning gatherings as soon as they learn that
the words they will hear are those of the Master of Martyrs (Imam
Hosein - a.s.). One of the Infallible Imams, possibly
Imam Baqer (a.s.) [11]
had said:
"Assign me an elegy reciter at
Mena [12]
that wasn't because Imam Baqer (a.s.) needed such recited personally,
it had political connotation. Just visualize the place Mena during a
Hajj pilgrimage, thousands upon thousands of pilgrims gathered there
from all over the world, picture them observing a pilgrim singly
reciting elegies for Imam Baqer (a.s.), expressing the crime of his
enemies in arranging his martyrdom. Such sight may well reverberate
all over the earth and set off a wave of reactions. These mourning
gatherings have been underrated everywhere.
Perhaps Westernized people call us the nation of
tears and may be people closer to us cannot understand why a drop of
tear can have such high reward or a mourning session to carry such
exalted weight. From the political aspect, these prayers, elegies and
attention to God direct men's attention to one thing and that is, they
mobilize a nation in favor of an Islamic objective. A mourning session
is for people to attend and shed tears for the Master of the Martyrs
(Imam Hosein - a.s.).
Surely they'll be rewarded for their tears by Allah. Another
aspect of it is political for which our Infallible Imams (a.s.) drew
everlasting designs in the early days of Islam. It embodies the
society under one banner, under a single ideology. And, nothing can
make this come about as can the mourning for Imam Hosein (a.s.). For,
if there were no gathering of mourners, no bands of lamentation
demonstrators, no elegy recitations, there would surely have been no
15th of Khordad event. [13]
No power except that of the blood of Imam Hosein (a.s.) could affect
the events of the 15th Khordad the way it did. Similarly, no power
except that of these mourning gatherings can neutralize the plottings
of the major powers against this nation which is under invasion from
all sides.
'Mese meetings or congregations for lamenting,
mourning and reciting elegies in remembrance of the Master of the
oppressed (Imam Hosein - a. s.) and reciting the innocence of an
oppressed person (Imam Hosein - a.s.) who sacrificed in the Path of
God, his own life and that of his own children and attendants, yes,
these mourning sessions have developed young men and youth who
voluntarily go to the war fronts seeking martyrdom and feel unhappy if
they don't achieve it. These Ashura mourning gatherings develop such
mothers who urge their sons to go to the war fronts and if they do not
return, the mothers wish they had more sons to send or say we have
other sons to send to the war fronts.
'These lamentation meetings to observe the Karbala Tragedy the
martyrdom of Imam Hosein (a.s.) and the prayers including
the Komail Prayer [14]
and other prayers were initiated early by Islam and intended to
advance with this idea and program. If others could understand or be
made to understand the raison of the mourning sessions and why so much
value is placed on these special tears that are shed and their reward
with Allah, they surely would not call us the nation of tears, instead
they would call us the nation of epic. If they could understand why
Hazrat Imam Sajjad [15]
(a.s.) lost all that was his in the Ashura at Karbala and while
living under a powerful regime produced such penetrating and incisive
prayers that incite and make people rise to action, they would not
then question the prayers.
If our intellectuals could understand the
sociopolitical objective of these prayers, mourning sessions and
passion plays, they would not then question the holding of these
gatherings or mourning rites. All intellectuals plus Westernized
people and all the power wielders, put together, cannot produce a 15th
of Khordad (= June 5) uprising. 'Me holder of such might is He under
Whose banner all congregate. We who cry "we want Islam and the Islamic
republic", know that it is because all have come together under the
banner which is Islamic and is for God and they all rose, as we all
saw, for God. This Islamic republic enjoys such power which is in
the nation and, in other countries, too.
Our nation must appreciate these mourning sessions as they keep
the nations alive through
the Ashura [16]
lamentation and more so if the session continue in days other than
these blessed days. If they (those opposed) could understand the
political dimensions of these mourning and lamentation gatherings,
even the Westernized persons would set up such gatherings and
participate in the mourning themselves; this they would surely do if
they wish to have a nation and a country. I do hope that these
gatherings be arranged more often on a wider sc,-le. From the grand
orators and deliverers of sermons to the man who just stands by the
pulpit and recites a few lines of elegy all have a share in the
success of these mourning sessions, they all have a natural influence
on the proceedings, though some may not be aware of it.
We have reached the station at which our nation exploded all at
once and set off a revolution. Such an explosion has been matchless. A
nation that had lost everything in the former regime including his
human dignity and had to depend on others for everything. Then
suddenly, that violent outburst and the revolution was on and it was
by the blessings of these mourning sessions that brought together all
the people, all focusing on one issue. This subject should be further
elaborated by leaders of the Friday Mass and daily congregational
prayers so that our foes do not consider us as the weeping nation or
the nation of tears. We are a nation who was able by these tears, to
overthrow the 2500-year-old power.
3- Imam Khomeini's Statements at a Gathering of the Preachers and
Clergy of Qum, Tehran, East and West Azerbaijan Provinces:
Our nation sacrificed itself, from
6-month-old children to 80- year-old men, in the path of God. This
was in imitation of history's great man, His Holiness the Maser of
Martyrs (Imam Hosein - a.s.).
Hazrat Hosein (a.s.) taught us all how to stand up and resist
cruelty and the government of tyranny. Although he knew that the path
he had chosen would cost him his life and the lives of his disciples
and kins and they would all be sacrificed for Islam, he also knew the
consequences that without his uprising
Yazid [17]
and his men would distort Islam and present it to the
people in a perverted form because they did not believe in Islam from
the beginning; and they resented the rightful authorities and were
jealous of them. By this sacrifice the Master of Martyrs actually
defeated the antagonists for in a very short time people realized what
a calamity and tragic event had taken place and their awareness of it
upset the rule of the Omayyads.
In addition, Imam Hosein's example taught us all
that his is the true path in all history, - do not mind the inadequacy
of numbers. It is the quality that counts not quantity. It is the
quality of the jihad of numbers that triumphs. Let the great powers of
the world and those who are either in the Eastern or in the Western
blocks be our enemies. Let all communications mass media of the world
continue to write and spread lies against this Movement, but the truth
shall remain clear and evident throughout. The day Imam Hosein (a.s.)
was martyred some elements called him a revolter who had risen against
the rightful sovereign rule of the time. But, Almighty God's divine
light shines and it will go on shining and shall enlighten the world.
What are we to do at the threshold of the holy month of Muharram?
What is the duty of other layers of the people during this month? And
what must the grand Ulema and noble preachers do in this month? Imam
Hosein (a.s.), his family and disciples taught us our duty and task
(by sacrificing their lives), - it is to offer our lives in the battle
field and to propagate the faith when away from it. The sermons of His
Holiness Imam Sajjad (a.s.) and those of
Her Holiness Zainab [18]
(a.s.) (sister of Imam Hosein) have done as much or nearly as much
to propagate the movement of Imam Hosein (a.s.) and are equivalent to
it before God. They made us understand that neither men nor women
should fear the rule of tyranny.
Hazrat Zainab (a.s.) stood up before Yazid and
humiliated him beyond measure. Their talks en route (from Karbala to
Sham - now Syria), in Kufa and Sham and the sermon of Hazrat Sajjad (a.s.)
from the pulpit, made it clear that the issue is one of the unjust
fighting the just, in other words, they wanted to portray the Master
of Martyrs as one who had risen against the Caliph of the Prophet of
God. Both Hazrat Sajjad and Hazrat Zainab (a.s.) made this clear in
their speeches.
Today, our country faces a similar situation,
the Master of Martyrs has made our duty clear, - we must not mind
numbers on the battle field nor should we fear martyrdom. The
sufferings of a man must be proportionate to the greatness of his
ideals. Again, we cannot understand the magnitude of our victory, the
world will later comprehend it. The struggles we have to face must be
proportional to the magnitude of our victory, and, similarly, the
calamities should have a larger volume. We should not expect to
receive no blows from the powers whose hands and interests we have cut
off from our land and hopefully from the region.
We must not expect to remain absolutely safe and
enjoy our victories without a scratch. We must remain, everyday, as in
former days. The duty of the clergy, whether they preach from the
pulpits or not, and leaders of Friday and Daily prayers and the duty
of all those who have dealings with the people is to make people
understand the conditions that led to the uprising by Imam Hosein (a.s.),
inform the people of the reason, what was the uprising for, the number
who took part in it, the tragic events that they met with and in which
the uprising ended and it will not be final.
The preachers and all of us must bear in mind
that without the uprising by the Master of Martyrs, we would not be
victorious today. All this unity of the word that formed the basis of
our victory was for the sake of these mourning gatherings as they tend
to promote and propagate Islam. The Master of Martyrs provided an
instrument by which the nation can come together without difficulty.
Islam has designated the mosques as strongholds. From these
strongholds, these crowds, from the Friday and Daily mass prayers, all
things that advance Islam and the uprising, are prepared.
Especially that by his conduct, the Master of
Martyrs has demonstrated to us how conditions should be in the battle
field and how they should be at places other than battle field; how
should those who fight with arms and weapons carry themselves and how
should those behind propagate the cause. His Holiness the Master of
Martyrs has further taught us how the mode of fighting between a small
and a large group must be; how should the uprising against a despot be
conducted. And, members of the household of this noble person and his
exalted child showed us how to behave when a calamity takes place.
Should one surrender? Or, should one minimize the challenge? Or should
one stand up as Her Holiness Zainab (a.s.) did, after that great
tragedy, and resist and speak out against paganism and polytheism
wherever necessary as did Hazrat Ali lbn Hosein (Imam Zeinal Abedin
Sajjad - a.s.), in his convalescent condition, propagate the Faith.
All of you clergymen of the country, have a duty
to preserve this divine gift and offer thanks for the blessing by
making efforts to publicize and propagate the Faith. Explain to the
people the achievements of the Master of Martyrs, his ideals, his path
and the victory that accrued to him and to Islam following his
martyrdom. Let all understand that the issue to fight in the path of
Islam is that which Imam Hosein (a.s.) performed. He knew that with a
small number below 100, it was impossible to fight such a tyrant!
It is Muharram, gentlemen, keep this month
alive! Whatever we have is by the blessings of this month and these
mourning sessions. Our publicity meetings, too, are due to Muharram
and to the martyrdom of Imain Hosein (a.s.) (on the 10th of this
month). We must fathom the depth of this martyrdom and its influence
on the world to this day. Were it not for these preaching and mourning
sessions and meetings, our country would not have become victorious.
We must be aware that the influence of His Holiness Imam Hosein (a.s.)
is active to this day. Our people rose under Imam Hosein's banner.
And, as you can see, right now, our men keep the war fronts warm by
their love for this Infallible Imam.
Any how, in these lamentation gatherings during
the months of Muharram and Safar and at other times, our propagators,
the grand Ulema and speakers must delineate the duties of the people
in a time like now that we are facing so many enemies. To this end,
they ought to explain the political and social problems to the people.
Let people know that we are only halfway through and must, God
Willing, traverse the path to the end. If we continue the arrangements
so far pursued, with the country and all its people available and on
hand, we shall achieve absolute victory, but we must not relax.
Our country began its uprising by declaring its
mottos of "Islamic Republic; Total Independence; neither East nor
West" to the world. We declared we are under the aegis of God and the
banner of Towhid or Monotheism only and this is the banner hoisted by
Imam Hosein (a.s.). Such declaration will surely be met with
opposition by the world. We must bear in mind that we, too, should
follow the example set by Imam Hosein (a.s.) that is, we too, shall be
ready to embrace martyrdom. You all observe that following the
martyrdom of a number of our Friday Prayer Leaders, those who
still alive declare: We are ready, with all our hearts, to attain to
martyrdom! All should be like this.
Muharram, a Red Prelude
to Martyrdom
The month of Muharram is the month of
epic action, the month in which blood triumphed over the sword; the
month in which the power of Truth forever condemned falsehood and
stamped the faces of tyrants and wicked government with the brand of
vanity and falsehood; the month that teaches all generations
throughout history, the way to victory over bayonet point; the month
that registered, the defeat of the arrogant powers vis-a-vis the Word
of Truth; the month in which the Imam of the Muslims taught us how to
fight history's tyrants; the month in which the clenched fists of the
rightful, the seekers of freedom and independence must overcome the
tanks, the machine-guns and the forces of the devil and the Word of
Truth expurgate falsehood.
* * *
Muharram is the month in which Justice rose,
against Injustice and Truth stood up against Falsehood and proved
that, in the course of history, Truth has always Triumphed over
Falsehood.
* * *
Muharram is the month in which Islam was revived
by the Master of Challengers and the Innocent and was rescued from the
plotting of the corrupt agents of Bani Omayyad who had driven Islam to
the brim of fall. From its inception Islam was watered and nurtured by
the blood of the martyrs and mujahedin (crusaders).
* * *
For the Shiite Faith, Muharram is the month in
which victory was achieve amid blood and sacrifice.
* * *
What a tragic and yet destructive as well as
creative month is Muharram!? Muharram is the month of the Master of
Martyr's great uprising. The lord of all saints and divine authorities
by his uprising against the Taghut (Tyrant) instructed mankind how to
destroy and how to build or create. He saw the path to the
annihilation of the tyrant in giving martyrs and sacrificing lives.
This point is an epigraph to Islamic teachings for our nation of the
time.
* * *
It Is by the grace of Muharram and Safar that
Islam survives.
* * *
We must keep the months of Muharram and Safar
alive by recitation of the calamities that befell the household of the
Prophet (SAW). It is by such recitation and mourning that this
Religion has lived to this date.
* * *
Muharram is a month during which people are apt
to hear the words of Truth.
* * *
Now that the month of Muharram, as a divine
sword is in the hands of soldiers of Islam, the grand clergy, the
honorable preachers and the noble followers of the Master of martyrs,
it must be put to best use and, by reliance on divine power, uproot
the residue of this woody plant of cruelty and treachery for it is in
the month of Muharram that powers of arrogance and evil are
destroyed.
Causes and Factors
of the Ashura Uprising
Soon after the ascension of the Seal of
the Prophets, His Holiness Muhammad (SAW), founder of justice and
liberty, by wrong doings and deviations of the Omayyads, Islam was on
the verge of disappearing within the throat of the tyrants and justice
being crushed under the stampede of evildoers. It was at this point
that Imam Hosein (a.s.) set out on the great Ashura Uprising.
* * *
The cruel rule of Yazid and his men was about to
cross the shining face of Islam away by a red line and the agonies and
troubles suffered by the great Prophet of Islam (SAW) and the
early-day Muslims as well as the blood of the self-sacrificing
martyrs, were about to be forgotten and gone to the winds.
* * *
'Me scums of paganism and (their) calculated
programs of nationalism and Arabism were going to eradicate the ideology
with slogans like "Nothing happened! No divine revelations
descended [20] and, in the place of divine Islamic rule, build a system of Shahanshahi (imperialism) and isolate Islam and divine revelation.
However, all of a sudden, a great personality, nourished by the gist
of divine inspiration, trained in homes of the Lord of Messengers,
Muhammad Mustafa and the Master of the Pious Ali Murteza and raised
in the laps of Siddiqa Tahera (a title of Her Holiness, Fatima), rose
up and by his matchless sacrifice and his divine movement caused a
great event to take place.
* * *
The Omayyads meant to destroy Islam.
* * *
The decadent regime of the Omayyad was going to
represent Islam as a despotic regime and its founder someone other
than what he was. Moaviyya and his cruel son (Yazid) in the name of
caliph to the Prophet of God did to Islam that which
Chagiz [21]
did to Iran and subverted the essentials of ideology of revelation
into a satanic regime.
His holiness Imam Hosein (a.s.) noticed that
Moaviyya and his son Yazid (may God's curse descend upon them) were
destroying the ideology, were misrepresenting Islam, the Faith that
had come to reform mankind not accumulate power for itself. They -
this father and son - like this
father and son [22]
were misrepresenting Islam, were given to the
use of wine. They were also leaders of the congregational prayers;
their social gathering featured both debauchery and mass prayer.
Indeed they were gambling leaders of daily congregational and Friday
masses and ascended the pulpits as preachers. As caliphs of God's
Messenger acted and spoke against him. Their outcry was: "La elaha
ellal-lah" (there is no God but the one God) and yet, they rose
against Divinity. Their behavior and conduct was satanic but their cry
was that of the Messenger of God.
* * *
Yazid was powerful and he was a sultan. I say,
he had all the things needed for sultanate. He placed next to Moawiyya.
Why did His Holiness Imam Hosein (a.s.) oppose the sultan of his time?
Why did he rise against the Zellullah (lit. the Shadow of God, a title
for the sultans
or shahs [23] ) . The sultan
may not be touched! Why did this Infallible Imam stand up against the
sultan, a sultan who professed his belief in God and His Messenger
(SAW) and claimed he was the Caliph of the Prophet but he wanted to
exploit the nation, to swallow the properties of the nation, he and
his kins.
* * *
Monarchy and succession to the crown is that
ominous, false rule which the Master of the Martyrs (a.s.) rose to
prevent its establishment and sacrificed his life. He rose up against
it because he did not want to be crown prince to Yazid. He rose
because he did not want to recognize the monarchy of Yazid and he
invited all Muslims to rise. Islam does not have nor does it recognize
the system of monarchy.
* * *
The usurpation of caliphate by Yazid and
Moaviyya did not pose such a danger to Islam as did their attempt to
turn Islamic rule into a system of monarchy; they meant to convert
morality into the arrogance of despotism. As sham successors to the
Messenger of God (SAW) they meant to convert Islam into tyranny or the
rule of Taghouts. This was important. Their predecessors did not harm
Islam as much as these two (Moaviyya and his son Yazid) did or wanted
to do. They meant to overturn and change the basic principles of
Islam. Theirs was the rule of monarchy with wine and gambling as
relish in their parties and gatherings.
Imagine that! The caliph of the Messenger of God
in meetings with wine and gambling? And, again, the successor to the
Messenger of Allah leading congregational prayers in the mosque!? This
was the great danger that threatened Islam and this, the Master of
Martyrs repelled. The issue was not the mere usurpation of the
caliphate.
'Me rise of Imam Hosein (a.s.) was an uprising
against the sovereignty of the tyrants, -- that regime of tyrannical
monarchy which meant to pollute Islam with such taints as mentioned
above. Had they succeeded, Islam would have become something else,
something like the dictatorial monarchy regime with
a sovereign rule of 2,500 years [24].
Islam had come to break the idols and replace
them with Allah; destroy the regimes of tyranny and to institute the
divine rule of Allah. But they wanted to remove Allah and replace Him
with the taghout, with the same problems as in the time of pagan rule.
The killing of the Master of Martyrs (a.s.) was no defeat for it was
an uprising for God and divine uprising admits no defeat.
They (the Omayyads) meant to remove Islam and
create an Arab state but the rise of Imam Hosein (a.s.) made Arab and
non-Arab Muslims all realize that the issue was not ethnic, rather,
Islam and God were at stake.
Imam Hosein (a.s.) seeing that they (the
Omayyads) are polluting the Islamic school of ideology and commit acts
of cruelty and oppression while calling themselves the caliphs of
Islam, and, realizing that their vicious acts will reverberate in the
world as the works of the caliph of Islam, therefore, he deemed it his
duty to rise up against it, to go out, get killed and thus wipe out
the works of Moaviyya and Yazid.
His Holiness the Master of Martyrs set out with
a small number of fellow challengers and stood up against Yazid who
had the power of government in his hands; his rule was despotic and
yet he professed faith in Islam and he was
a relative [25]
of the Master of Martyrs. Yazid, pretending he was Muslim claimed that
his rule was Islamic. He thought he was a successor to the Prophet
(SAW) but, the trouble was that he was a cruel man who had acquired,
unjustly, domination over the fate or destiny of a territory. Imam
Hosein (a.s.) rose up, with few men, against tyranny because he had
reckoned it as his duty to forbid evil.
Seeing that a cruel ruler is over the people,
his holiness clearly stated, "One must rise and oppose that and halt
the infliction of cruelty alone, if he must, or, with many like-
minded men even if it means fighting a multitude, an army." His
Holiness Hosein (a.s.) did exactly that, to demonstrate to us that no
excuse is admissible for not challenging evil acts of the tyrants. He
fought Yazid, who had armies at his command, with a handful of
supporters and all were martyred. Hazrat Imam Hosein (a. s.) had
preached the cause [26]
and explained to the people that he had risen against that man (Yazid)
because he had breached the covenant of Allah, opposed divine
traditions, had behaved ignobly toward saint and sacred objects and
the Prophet (SAW) has said, "Anyone who remains silent and refuses to
help change such a condition shall see himself associating with Yazid
in Hell."
Now we see what Yazid had done that made Imam
Hosein (a.s.) rise against him, presented his sound argument and
progrwn. That which the Master of Martyrs has said belongs to all and
is for the public. It means that anyone who sees a cruel monarch
perform devilish acts and remain silent and motionless, such a
person's place (in the Hereafter) is by the side of that cruel Sultan.
Yazid was a man ostentatiously Muslim. He considered himself successor
to the Prophet (SAW) and said his prayers and did all of the things we
do. However, he was also a sinner, opposed to the prophetic
traditions. His conduct towards the people was opposed to that of the
Prophet (SAW). In Islam peoples' blood must be safe and immune, yet
Yazid shed Muslims' blood. Muslims properties are immune but he wasted
them just the way his father Moaviyya squandered peoples assets which
made Ali (a.s.) rise up in opposition. While Hazrat Ali (a.s.) had
forces at his disposal, Imam Hosein had just a few men.
The day
Islam's reputation was threatened with blots or blemishes, that is the
day Islam's grandees sacrifice their lives for it. Moaviyya and his
son Yazid did all they could to make Islam appear foul and shameful.
As caliphs of Muslims and successor to the Prophet (SAW), they
committed all sorts of crimes, their gatherings, as said above, were
given to lewd conduct. It was at this point that duty demanded that
authorities of Islam take action and fight against the ugly face
Moaviyya and Yazid had presented of Islam. 'This was the danger to be
warded off by one's life, if necessary.
Objectives of the Ashura
Uprising
Prophets have all been sent to reform societies.
They all knew that the individual must be sacrificed for the sake of
society. The individual, no matter how great, even the highest person,
more valuable than all, must be sacrificed if he opposes the good of
the society. 'The Master of Martyrs rose up on this basis, sacrificed
himself, his disciples and aides. 'The society must be reformed,
"that men Might deal With fairness". [27]
Justice must be done and realized among the
people and in the society. Imam Hosein's martyrdom was to establish
divine peace and to safeguard the House of God.
The lives of the Master of Martyrs, that of
Hazrat Sahib (a.s.) (a title of the 12th Shiite Imam now in
occultation) and of all prophets, from Adam to the present, all meant
one thing, that is, to establish the rule of justice in opposition to
cruelty.
* * *
Imam Hosein (a.s.)'s
motive from the first day of uprising was to establish justice. He
remarked that the good is not carried out but evil is being done.
[28] The aim is
to establish the good and eradicate evil. Perversions are all caused
by performance of things that are interdicted. Whatever there is,
apart from the straight path of monotheism, is evil and taboo (monkarat)
and must be eradicated. And, we who are followers of the Master of
Martyrs, must see how he lived. His motive, his uprising was aimed at
destruction of all that is bad and evil including the rule of
cruelty.
* * *
The Master of Martyrs (a.s.) spent all his life
in eradicating evil, preventing the rule of cruelty and suppression of
the vice and corruption that governments had produced in the world.
This is how he spent his entire life, -- doing all he could to do away
with the cruel rulers, to promote the good and destroy evil.
The Master of Martyrs (a.s.) knew what he was
doing in his uprising. He forsake his own prestige and life and that
of his children. He knew what the outcome would be. Whoever was with
the Imam (a.s.) from the time they left Medina, entered Mecca and left
Mecca again to the end, could see all and hear all that His Holiness
had said and thus realize that Imam Hosein (a.s.) knew very well what
he was doing. It isn't that he was going to see what it is like (to
rise with a handful of men against trained armies), rather, he had
risen even to wrest the government (from the usurpers). This was the
essential purpose. Some wrongly think that the Imam (a.s.) had no
government in mind. He had come to retrieve Islamic government for
government was the thing to be in his hands and in the hands of his
Shiite followers.
* * *
The Master of Martyrs saw that the ideology was
being destroyed. The rise of Imam Hosein and the Master of the
Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) against Moaviyya, the rise of prophets
against the mighty (despots) and pagans is not a question of
conquering a country; for, the entire world is nothing to them; they
have had no intention to conquer lands.
* * *
That which drove Imam Hosein there (Kufa,
Karbala to fight evil and injustice) was the ideology. It was his
Faith that made him give everything for its sake; he was killed for
his Faith (Islam) and beliefs and in his killing he defeated the rule
of tyranny.
* * *
Hazrat Imam Hosein
(a.s.) rose against Yazid and perhaps he was sure he could not
overthrow the monarchy of Yazid, it is narrated that the Imam (a.s.)
was aware of this and yet, he rose knowing he had to fight a despotic,
cruel regime even if he has to give his life. so, he did rise,
sacrifice lives, killed a good many and was
slain himself. [29]
His Holiness was concerned
about the future of Islam and the Muslims. He challenged, fought and
sacrificed so that his holy defense and his sacrifice of lives in the
battle arena would be publicized and it's sociopolitical order could
be established in our society.
* * *
The Master of Martyrs deemed it his duty to
oppose this power and be killed so that conditions be stirred up and
by his sacrifice and the sacrifice of those with him, the oppressive
power be exposed and disgraced publicly. He noted that an oppressive
power had dominated the destiny of his country and recognized that his
divine duty was to oppose and decry it at any price although it was
clear, by known rules, that such a small number (Imam Hosein and his
men) could not stand against such large numbers, but it was divine
duty.
* * *
But (for the Master of Martyrs) it was a duty
to rise up, give his own blood so that the nation could be reformed
and the flag of Yazid be lowered and this is exactly what happened, --
he gave his blood and the blood of his sons and children, he gave his
all for Islam.
* * *
Imam Hosein (a.s.)
rose while he did not have an appreciable force. If, God forbid, he,
too, was lazy, he could sit and say, "it is not my legal duty to
rise." That would have made the Omayyad court happy. 'They would
rather have him sit and say nothing so that the opponents could
continue their vicious ungodly acts. But Imam Hosein (a.s.) despatched
Muslim ibn Aqil [30]
to invite people to swear allegiance to him in order to form an
Islamic government and do away with corrupt government (of Yazid). The
Imam (a.s.) could easily have remained in Medina and, God forbid,
could have said yes to Yazid's agent and sworn allegiance. that would
have made them (Yazid) happy and they would kiss the Imam's hand.
* * *
Imam Hosein (a.s.) offered his life to Islam.
* * *
The Master of Martyrs (a.s.) rose to strengthen
Islam, to oppose cruelty, and to stand up against the empire of those
days that were beyond the scope of modern day empires. In doing so he
sacrificed his young children, his disciples and his own life and
blood, he had no worldly things to give.
* * *
The Master of Martyrs, too, got killed, he did
not act for the reward. Reward was somewhat out of question for him.
He proceeded in a manner to save the ideology, to advance Islam and to
revive it.
* * *
The Prophet (SAW) was defeated in some wars. His
Holiness Ali (a.s.) suffered defeat in his war with Moaviyya.
Hazrat Hosein (a.s.) was killed but it (the
getting killed) was in obedience to God, it was for God. It was all
honor and prestige for him and, therefore, he faced no defeat, he had
obeyed (God's command).
Selection
of the Martyrs of Karbala with Awareness
As the Ashura (10th day of
Moharram, the day on which Imam Hosein - a.s. - was martyred) drew
nearer and nearer, Imam Hosein (a.s.), aware of his martyrdom, his
countenance became more and more glowing and aflame. His young ones
vied with one another for attaining to martyrdom. All knew they would
be martyred within an hour or two. They were eager because they knew
where they would be taken after they are martyred, they understood
where they were going. 'Mey knew why they had come (to Karbala, site
of their martyrdom). They were well aware that they had come to
perform a divine duty, to save Islam.
* * *
As you note, some
traditions relate that Imam Hosein (a.s.)'s face glowed more and more
with excitement as the Ashura drew closers [31].
For he could see that his jihad or crusade is in the path of God and
for God. And, as his jihad was for God's sake, he would not lose his
dear ones who offered their lives for he knew these were treasures for
the eternal world.
* * *
The news of the
martyrdom of Imam Hosein (a.s.) cover an account that he had seen the
Prophet (SAW) in a dream. The Prophet (SAW) had told Imam Hosein that,
"There is a station assigned for you in Paradise, you will not achieve
it unless you are martyred." [32]
* * *
Amid the throes
arising from a knowledge that all are destined to be killed in the
struggle between Imam Hosein (a.s.) and Yazid; Ali ibn Hosein is said
to have asked the Imam (a.s.): "Are we not in the Right?" [33]
His Holiness said, "Yes, we are!" He then said,
"Why fear death when we are in the Right!"
* * *
At noon time on the
day of Ashura while the fighting was going on and all were in danger,
one of the disciples announced that it was noontime. Hazrat Hosein
(a.s.) said, "You reminded me of
Nemaz prayer. [34]
May Allah count you as a performer of nemaz! " He then stood and said
his prayer then and there. He did not say "let's go on with the
fighting." No, the fighting was for the sake of nemaz.
* * *
Always consider God's pleasure and regard
yourselves as his servants. You shall be content with things as they
take a turn by God's will. God's great saints and authorities were
content with things that were by His will. It is narrated that as the
noon hour on Ashura drew nearer, and the young ones of the Master of
Martyrs were, one after the other, destroyed, the countenance of the
Imam (a. s.) glowed brighter for he knew he was advancing toward the
objective.
* * *
The warring and brave youth of the army and the
Sepah and other armed forces are followers of that immortal martyr
whose holy face, as history says, glowed brighter and marks of bravery
and determination appeared more brilliantly in his countenance with
the fall and martyrdom of each one of his youth and disciples.
Results and Outcomes of the Uprising of
Aba Abdullah (Imam Hosein (a.s))
If it were not for the Ashura and the sacrifices
of the Prophet's progeny, the tyrant of the time would have destroyed
the prophetic mission and the painful efforts of the Prophet (SAW),
were it not for the Ashura, with Abu
Sufyanians' [35] pagan logic attempts
which would have been made to cross out the divine revelation and book
with red ink, and, with Yazid, this residue of the era of idolatry who
had thought that by killing the children of Divine Revelation, he
could do away with the foundation of Islam and openly declared: "there
was no word, no revelation!", we wouldn't know what would have
happened to the Holy Qur'an and the beloved Islam. But, God's
Divine Will has always been, and still is, to maintain the liberating
Islam and the light-giving Qur'an immortal, to protect and revive them
with the blood of martyrs such as the children of Revelation. It was
by divine Will that Hosein ibn Ali, this essence of prophethood and
memento of leadership (Walayat) rose to sacrifice his dear life and
the lives of his dear ones for their faith and belief and for the sake
of the grand ummat of the noble Prophet (SAW) so that, throughout
history, his pure blood would boil and water God's religion and
safeguard the Revelation and its fruits.
* * *
The martyrdom of the Master of the Innocents
(Imam Hosein- a.s.) and of the supporters of the Qur'an on the Day of
Ashura was the beginning of the eternal life of Islam and the Qur'an.
The martyrdom of the Innocent ones of Divine Progeny and their
captivity, devastated for ever the throne and crown of Yazid and his
line who, in the name of Islam, tried, in their immature fancy, to
eradicate the Divine Revelation and, it, also, wiped the Sufyanians
off the scenes of history.
* * *
That day (the
Ashura) Yazid and his men dug their own graves by their criminal hands
and for ever registered their own perish and buried their cruel,
criminal regime. On the 15th of Khurdad, 1342 (June 5, 1963)
the Pahlavis [36]
and their criminal supporters dug their own
graves by the hand of cruel monarchy and left behind their eternal
shame and fall on account of which the brave Iranian nation, thanks
God, with power and victory curses their damned graves.
* * *
Were it not for this movement, the Uprising of
Hosein (a.s.), Yazid and his followers would have presented Islam
upside-down to the people. From the beginning they did not believe in
Islam and were jealous of the authorities of Islam. By his sacrifice,
the Master of Martyrs not only defeated them for, a short time after,
the people realized what a great disaster and tragic event had taken
place and this calamity disrupted the fate of the Bani Omayyad.
* * *
The great personality who was nourished on the
gist of divine inspiration in the homes of the Master of Messengers,
Muhammad Mustafa (SAW) and Ali Murtaza (a.s.) and raised on the lap of
Seddiqa Tahereh (s.a.), rose up and, by his matchless sacrifice and
his Divine Movement, caused a great event to take place and overthrew
the oppressors' palace and thus saved the school of Islam.
* * *
Imam Hosein (a.s.) set off the great Ashura
Uprising and, by sacrificing his own blood and that of his dear ones,
rescued Islam and justice; condemned the machinery of the Bani
Omayyads and devastated its pillars.
* * *
Were it not for the sacrifices of the great
protectors (lit., guards) of Islam and their brave martyrdoms, the
strangulating, cruel regime of the Omayyads would have presented Islam
upside-down and all efforts of the Prophet (SAW) and his devout
disciples would have been wasted.
* * *
The Innocent, Infallible Imams (a. s.) all were
killed but their ideologic school remained intact. The Master of
Martyrs was killed, his ideology survived, rather revived. By his
getting killed, his ideology remained safe.
* * *
Similarly, divine authorities, most of them,
were defeated but their ideology survived. The Master of Martyrs
together with his kin and disciples were all massacred but they
advanced their ideology. The school did not face defeat, rather it
made progress, that is, it defeated the Bani Omayyad for ever. The
Master of the Martyrs gave his life but saved Islam, the religion that
the Bani Omayyad caliphs meant to pervert.
* * *
God's Saints, too,
suffered defeat. Hazrat Amir (a title of Ali - a.s. -) lost a war
[37] to Moaviyya, it goes without
saying, Imam Hosein (a.s.) was defeated in the war with Yazid and got
killed but in reality, he was victorious. The defeat of these men was
superficial, their victory was real.
* * *
Islam has survived to this day by the Grace of
the Master of Martyrs (a.s.)
* * *
Islam was so dear that the Prophet's children
gave their lives to it. Hazrat Imam Hosein, the Master of Martyrs,
those children and youth and with such companions, fought for Islam,
sacrificed their lives but revived Islam.
* * *
The fight of His Holiness the Master of Martyrs
(a.s.) with the government of the time, which was tyrannical, and his
martyrdom did not harm Islam a bit, they advanced it. Were it not for
his martyrdom, Moaviyya and his son (Yazid) would have presented
Islam in perverted form. In the name of caliph to the Prophet
(SAW) they attended the mosques, conducted daily congregational and
Friday mass prayers. In name only, theirs was the rule of Islam, the
content was un-Islamic, so were the rulers. The Master of Martyrs (a.s.)
cancelled out their plans "to revert Islam to the ways of paganism and
thus say: this, too, is like the former days and systems."
* * *
The martyrdom of the Master of Martyrs revived
the school, He himself was martyred, the school came to life and
buried the despotic regime of Moaviyya and his son. The martyrdom of
His Holiness Imam Hosein (a.s.) did Islam good, it revived the
Religion.
* * *
Were it not for Imam Hosein (a.s.), this
tyrannical regime would be supported by them and restored to pagan
age. And today you and 1, if we were Muslim, would be oppressive
Muslims, not a Muslim of Imam Hosein (a.s.). Imam Hosein (a.s.) saved
Islam.
* * *
The Master of Martyrs was defeated in fighting
but he achieved the final victory. His school did not suffer by the
loss of men, they drove the enemy back. They overthrew Moaviyya's
machinery which meant to return to pagan era and turn Islam into an
empire. Yazid and his men were forever buried and the curse of people
is theirs, and so is God's curse.
* * *
The Master of Martyrs insured the Religion, by
his action.
* * *
As narrated the
Prophet (SAW) had said: "Hosein is from me and I am from
Hosein..." [38] This means that Hosein (a.s.) is a part of the
Prophet and the Prophet is revived through Hosein. This has reference
to the blessings that accompanied Imam Hosein's martyrdom as it had
upset the evil plans of caliph Moaviyya and his son Yazid to do away
with Bani Hashim [39] and roll up and put Islam away and replace it
with an Arab state.
* * *
The entrance of the
Master of Martyrs into Mecca and his departure [40]
from it, at a time when all were going to Mecca, was a political act.
It was this and other religio-political acts of His Holiness that
destroyed the Omayyad caliphate. Islam would have been perished were
it not for such religious and political moves.
* * *
Imam Hosein sacrificed himself, and all his kin.
Islam, however, was strengthened by it after their martyrdom.
* * *
The Master of Martyrs was slain, not defeated
but, he defeated the Bani Omayyads in such a way that they could not
rise again. His blood drove them away so thoroughly that even today,
defeat is registered in name of Yazid and his subjects while Islam
thrives by the victory of the Martyrdom of Imam Hosein (a.s.)
* * *
Imam Hosein (a.s.) was justified. He rose and
opposed cruelty and, while, he, his children were all martyred, Islam
was revived and rendered Yazid and the Bani Omayyad infamous.
* * *
The Master of Martyrs (a.s.) rose up with a
handful of disciples and his household including several women. As the
uprising was for God, they defamed and ruined the monarchy of that
devil (Yazid). Outwardly, they all got killed but their sacrifice
caused the overthrow of the corrupt regime which meant to turn Islam
into a tyrannies, corrupt monarchy.
* * *
If we work for God no defeat awaits us even if
we get killed. Imam Hosein (a.s.) was killed, but was he defeated? His
standard flies high today while there is no Yazid about!
* * *
If the Master of the Martyrs had not made that
uprising, we could not be victorious today!
The Ashura
Uprising an Example for Free Men
(All days
are Ashura, and all lands are Karbala)
His Holiness Imam Hosein (a.s.), the Master of
Martyrs, by his action taught us all how to rise up against cruelty,
against tyrannical government. He knew from the begging that the path
he had taken was one in which all his disciples and his family members
would be sacrificed and that these loved ones of Islam will be
immolated to Islam. But, he also knew the end - result. Moreover, he
taught that throughout history this will be the path to be taken; that
inadequacy of number is no cause for fear, that it is not the
quantity, it is the quality of numbers that counts, the quality of the
jihad of numbers against an enemy is what counts. Numbers may be large
but deficient in quality, or be inane. A ' again the number of men may
be few yet be efficient and successful due to their superior quality.
* * *
The Imam of the Muslims taught us to stand up
and decry whenever a despot rules over Muslims with cruelty even if
our power or force be inadequate. And if the standard of Islam is in
danger, we should give our lives in its defense.
* * *
The Master of Martyrs (a.s.) by his action
instructed us what the conditions should be in the arena of action and
challenge and how they should be outside the field of engagement.
Furthermore, how should those adept in armed conflict act and how
should those behind the lines conduct themselves with regard to
propagation and how should the fighting with a superior force by a
small group be carried on. We are taught how to rise up in opposition
to a despotic rule, a dictatorial government that has all things in
its clutches.
The Master of the Martyrs and his family, also
his noble son, taught us what to do and how to do it, when the tragic
massacre at Karbala was over, that is, how the survivors to conduct
themselves in captivity. Should they surrender and accept
submission!'? Should they let up on the challenge!? Rather, they
should stand up as Her Holiness Zainab did in bondage after the tragic
event that belittled all other tragedies. She stood up spoke out
against atheism and paganism whenever and wherever necessary. Or, like
Hazrat Ali ibn Hosein, Imam Sajjad while recuperating from illness
propagated the Faith in worthy manner.
Imam Hosein (a.s), the Master of Martyrs, his
disciples and his household all taught us our duty, sacrifice on the
battle ground, propagation when away from the arena. The sermons and
exhortations of Hazrat Sajjad (a.s.) and Her Holiness Zainab (s.a.)
were as effective in advancing the cause of Islam as was the sacrifice
made by Imain Hosein (a.s.) and are equivalent to it in the
consideration of Allah. They taught us that neither men nor women
should be afraid to oppose tyrannical rule.
Hazrat Zainab (s.a.) got up before Caliph Yazid,
spoke out and so belittled him that the Omayyad Dynasty had never
before been so belittled. The speeches they made (as captives) on the
way to Kufa and Syria, the sermon by Hazrat Sajjad delivered by him
made it quite clear that the issue is not opposition of the unjust to
just. They had wanted to portray Imam Hosein (a.s.) as a man who is
against the established government of the day, that he opposed the
caliph of God's Messenger. Hazrat Sajjad (a.s.) revealed this point in
the presence of a crowd, so did her Holiness Zainab (s.a.). And, the
Master of the Martyrs has specified our duty - do not fear your
inadequacy of men when you are at a battleground, do not fear
martyrdom. A man must tolerate hardships proportionate to the
greatness of his aim and idea.
* * *
With a handful of companions, Imam Hosein (a.
s.) sacrificed his all, stood up against a large empire and said:
"No!"
* * *
While the loss of the Master of Martyrs was the
greatest loss, he knew what he was doing, where he was going and what
his aim was, therefore, he made sacrifices and was martyred. We must
count on those sacrifices, bear in mind what he did, what a torture
machinery he destroyed. And what have we done!?
* * *
The Master of the Martyrs on seeing that a
despotic, cruel tyrant rules among the people, clearly advised them to
stand up and oppose him, prevent and stop cruelty as much as possible
with as few men as are available. Is our blood more worthy than that
of the Master of the Martyrs? Why should we fear offering blood and
lives? And, for that matter, in the issue of evicting a cruel monarch
who claims to be a Muslim. Yazid was as good a Muslim as the Shah, if
not better! But, as he treated the Ummat savagely, was cruel and
oppressive, the Master of Martyrs deemed it necessary to do away with
him even at the cost of his own life.
* * *
This is a directive, a command for action that
the Master of Martyrs has issued: "Everyday is Ashura and every land
is Karbala! " It means that the Uprising and movement must continue
everywhere and at all times in the manner pursued by the Master of the
Martyrs himself, that is, everything may be sacrificed and nothing to
be spared in the cause of Islam.
* * *
"Every day is Ashura, and every land is
Karbala!" These are great, immortal words, mostly misunderstood and
misused. Some think it means lamenting every day, but it isn't so!
What was the role of the land of Karbala on the Ashura Day? All lands
should be like that! The part or role of Karbala was this: The Master
of the Martyrs accompanied by a few men rose up against the tyranny
and oppression of the cruel regime of Yazid, against the emperor of
the time, fought him but as their number was too small, they
sacrificed themselves and were all killed, thus they did not submit to
cruelty and this meant a defeat for the oppressor. And, the motto
"Every day is Ashura" means that we all must stand and fight
oppression every day if it so exists, the command is unlimited in
terms of time and location or place. The Karbala event occurred on a
site that was limited in dimension and number of challengers - 70 plus
persons. But this is symbolic. All lands should perform the role that
Karbala did, that is, people must resist oppression whenever and
wherever it occurs, and fight it without regard to forces available.
* * *
Be not upset, do not worry, throw away fears for
you are followers of Imams (leaders) who faced and withstood
calamities! What we see today is nothing in comparison. Our noble
leaders have been through events such as the Ashura (the 10th day of
Muharram) and the night of the 11th of this month. They tolerated such
hardships in the path of God. What have you to say, today!? What are
you afraid of? What are you worried about? It is a shame for those who
claim to be followers of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and Hazrat Imam Hosein (a.s.),
to be distressed in facing these disgraceful infamous acts of the
governments.
* * *
The moves and demonstrations on the 12th of
Muharram (=15th of Khordad) were in pursuit of the holy uprising of
Imam Hosein (a.s.), pounding and creative as they gave the society
fighting and sacrificing men who, by their activeness and devotion
made the oppressors, and traitors miserable, and rendered the great
nation alert, active and united. These events turned the theological
centers, the university and the bazaar into a fortress in defense of
justice, Islam and this holy religion.
* * *
Today, the issue is important, so important that
lives must be sacrificed for it. It is the same issue for which the
Master of the Martyrs gave his life. It is the same issue for which
the Prophet (SAW) of God struggled and suffered pains more than 23
years. It is the same issue for which Hazrat Ali (a.s.) fought for 18
months against Moaviyya. Why? Because, Moaviyya was a cruel monarch,
his machinery was oppressive. He had to be grounded. He made many of
his noble disciples give their lives for the Cause and had many men
killed in the enemy camp! Why, because, he wanted to reinstate the
rule of law and justice.
* * *
We are in no way above the Master of the
Martyrs. He performed his duty and got killed.
The bitter memory of
the 17th of Shahrivar, 1357 [41]
(=
September 8, 1979) and the bitter memory of the great days that the
Ummat faced, have produced the sweet fruit of overthrowing the palaces
of dictatorship and arrogance and replacing them with the banner of
the Republic of Islamic Justice. Is not the command that "Every day is
Ashura and every land is Karbala!" binding on us!? This educating
decree must be our lesson, a lesson for the entire Islamic Ummat.
Collective uprising any where, any day against tyranny was the
uprising of few men who were looking for justice with mighty faith and
great love standing in opposition to the arrogant and the oppressors
of palaces.
The days we have been through were repeat Ashura
days and the city circles and intersections, the streets and boroughs
in which the blood of the youth of Islam was shed are repeat of
Karbala. This command teaches a duty and conveys a tiding. It is a
duty in that the oppressed (mustadh'afin), though few in number must
rise against the arrogant regardless of their number and equipment.
Yes, the oppressed are charged with such a duty, that is, to rise in
the manner of His Holiness Imam Hosein (a.s.).'Me Command is also a
tiding in that it has equated our martyrs with those of Karbala, and
that martyrdom is the secret of victory.
The 17th of Shahrivar is a repeat of Ashura and
the Shohada square is a repeat of Karbala; our martyrs are repeat of
martyrs of Karbala and the opponents of our nation are a repeat of
Yazid and his men. Karbala bloodshed destroyed the palace of cruelty,
our Karbala overthrew the palace of the devilish monarchy. Now is the
time that we, who are inheritors to our martyrs' blood and survivors
of the young martyrs, not rest until we bring to fruition their
sacrifices and, with clenched fists, and determined will, bury under
the feet of the martyrs the remains of the oppressive regime and the
hired plotter of the East and the West.
* * *
Inspired by the Ashura event, the noble nation
of Iran set off that devastating uprising which was coincidental with
the 15th of Khordad, 1342 (=June 5, 1963). If the Ashura had not taken
place and its explosive warmth was absent, such unprecedented and
unorganized rise, in all probability, would not take place. The great
Ashura Event, from a.h.1. 61 to Khordad 1361 and thereafter, to the
universal upheaval of the Baqiyyatullah Imam Mahdi), will produce
revolutions at each and every step and stage,
* * *
You can witness their loving devotion to Imam
Hosein (a.s.) at the war fronts today.
* * *
Our nation has understood that the slogan "Every
day is Ashura, and every land is Karbala" revives, in the hearts of
the faithful, the getting together for prayers and recitation of
elegies for the disciples of Imam Hosein (a.s.) on the day of the
Ashura Event.
* * *
Imam Hosein (a. s.) revived Islam by his blood.
You as his followers, guarantee Islam and the Revolution.
* * *
While we lost many worthy young men and
specialists but we gained something the price of which is beyond these
considerations. It is that for which the Master of the Martyrs (a.s.)
sacrificed his wife, children and himself. It is that for which the
Prophet (SAW) spent his life and for which, our Infallible Imams (a.s.)
suffered so much hardship.
The Philosophy of
Mourning and Lamentation< |
