The 9th of Rabi'al Awwal marks a turning point in the history of the Ahlul Bait (A.S) and their followers. This day is a day of joy and happiness for the lovers of the Ahlul Bait (A.S). The hadith which speaks about this day refers to it as the ‘Greatest Eid in the sight of the Ahlul Bait (A.S) and those who love and follow them.
Indeed, it is after going through close to 70 days of grief and sorrow in which we commemorated the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (A.S) and his family and friends in Karbala and the other martyrdoms which we have marked over this period - including the demise of our 2nd Imam, 4th Imam 8th Imam, 11th Imam, and of course our beloved Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H&H.P) – that we have finally reached this day of blessings when we can adorn ourselves with the clothing of piety which we have learned from the ceremonies over the past two and a half months.
One particular hadith which speaks of this day tells us that while in a gathering with the Prophet of Islam, Imam Ali and his two sons, Hasan, and Husain (A.S), the Prophet, with a smile on his face, said, “It is on this day that Allah will destroy your enemies and the enemies of your grandfather and it is on this day when Allah will accept the actions of your Shia and those who love you." This is the day when the words of Allah came true where He said (in the Qur`an): ‘So those are the houses fallen down because they were unjust…’ (27:52) and this is the day when the Pharaoh of the time of the Ahlul Bait (A.S) was destroyed…”
On this day, one of the important things which we should bring to mind is the start of the Imamate and leadership of our 12th and Living Imam, Al-Mahdi (A.S). With the tragic death of his father at such a young age, the Awaited Savior began the mission of his Imamate on this day – and it continues even now during the period of the Occultation until Allah permits him to make his advent to establish the universal government of Islam over the entire planet!
We should also keep in our hearts two of the most important pillars of our Furu ad-Din – namely Tawalla and Tabarra – or showing love for the Ahlul Bait (A.S) and those who love them and showing and expressing our dislike for the enemies of the Ahlul Bait (A.S) during this day and the gatherings which we attend. The concept of love and hate is something which is engrained in the Quran in many verses and is something which we must live our life by – we must know who our friends are and love and support them, and we must know who our enemies are so that we can keep away from them and their wicked plots and ideas.
This is the day of Eid for faithful and marks the end of the mourning period after the events of Karbala. According to Ulema, this is the day when the key murderers of Imam Hussain (A.S), Umar Ibn Saad and Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad were killed and sent to the Hell. When their heads were presented to Imam Sajjad (A.S) by the forces of Mukhtar Al-Saqafi, Imam (A.S) prostrated and thanked Allah (S.W.T) that he had granted him long enough life that he could see the heads of the killers of Imam Hussain (A.S).
This was the first time since the events of Karbala that the people saw smile on the face of Imam Sajjad (A.S). Therefore, the faithful of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H&H.P) and his Ahlul Bait (A.S) should celebrate this day as an Eid day. Allah (S.W.T) has reserved great reward for anyone who declares and celebrates this day as Eid day.
This Eid day achieves more heights of honor, glory and excellence as on this auspicious day the crown of Imamate is passed to Imam of our era, the last 12th Imam Al-Mahdi (A.S). A saying of Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) goes: "One, who dies without knowing the Imam of his time, dies a death of ignorance.”
Imam Al-Mahdi (A.S) is our Imam, Imam of our time and as the verse 71 of chapter Bani Israel of holy Quran says: "(Remember) the day (of Judgment) when we shall call every people with their Imam". we will be called and presented with our Imam on Resurrection Day.
Friends of Muhammad (P.B.U.H&H.P) should celebrate this day with great happiness, for our joys are with the joys of Ahlul Bait (A.S) and our grief and sorrows are for them alone.
