Conveying the Voice of Imam Husayn to the World
There are therefore certain duties that we must discharge with respect to
the movement of Imam Husayn alayhis-salam, some of which are:
1. We must present the movement of Imam Husayn alayhis-salam,
as well as his principles and aims to the world through modern
media such as Radio and Television, books, internet, etc. in the
way that Imam Husayn alayhis-salam would want it. We must
glorify the Sha’a’er which the Husayniyahs32 facilitate
commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husayn alayhis-salam.
It is also desirable that the days of Ashura are declared public
holidays and signs of sadness and mourning being publicly
displayed. Imam Ridha alayhis-salam said, “even the
Jahiliyyah33 – the pre-Islamic era – used to regard Muharram as a
scared month, thereby forbade war and fighting in it, whereas our
sanctity was violated in this month! Our blood was shed, our
dignity breached, our women and children were taken prisoners,
our tents were torched; and all their contents looted, our dignity
were not saved even for the sake of (our grandfather) Rasulollah
salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih . . . , truly the day of Husayn
wounded our eyelids34, shed our tears, humiliated our revered one
in the land of Karb (anguish) and Bala’ (affliction), and you (O
land of Karbala) have left us with anguish and affliction until the
last day of this life. So for the likes of Husayn the weepers
should weep, for crying and weeping destroys the great sins”.
Then Imam Ridha alayhis-salam said, “With the start of the
month of Muharram, my father could not be seen smiling, every
day his heartache and anguish would increase until the tenth day,
which was the day of sorrow, grief and weeping; saying this is
the day Husayn alayhis-salam was killed”. Imam Ridha alayhissalam
is also reported as saying, “he who does not concern
himself with his business and occupation, or seek to sort out his
affairs on the day of Ashura, Allah Almighty would see to his
needs in this world and in the hereafter, and he for whom the day
of Ashura is the day of mourning and sorrow, Allah would make
the Day of Judgement the day of joy and happiness, and he would
32 Husayniyah is a religious centre where Husayni commemoration programs are held.
33 Literally means ignorance, it refers to the pre-Islamic era.
34 Meaning we wept blood.
Husayn – The sacrifice for mankind
26
be pleased seeing us in Paradise. He who considers the day of
Ashura the day of barakah - blessing and good fortune – and
stores food stuff etc. in his house, on the day of judgement Allah
would resurrect him and accommodate him at the bottom of hell
with Yazid, Obaydullah ibn Zeyad, and Ommar ibn Sa’d – may
the curse of Allah be upon them”.
2. Just as Imam Husayn alayhis-salam strived to implement the
teachings of Islam and the laws of the holy Qur’an, so too we
must follow in his footsteps and implement the teachings and
laws of Islam throughout the Muslim land.
3. It is imperative upon us, wherever we may be, to hold programs
for Imam Husayn alayhis-salam, in the best possible manner,
since the survival of Islam until the end of time is the aim which
Imam Husayn alayhis-salam died for. Islam shall remain alive
by virtue of the blood of Imam Husayn alayhis-salam and the
blood of those who were brought up in his school, defending
Islamic values and teachings, throughout history.
In short, commemorating the memory of Imam Husayn alayhis-salam by
holding mourning programs of Ta’ziah in the days of Ashura, giving food
on those days, etc. all of such programs help keep the memory of Imam
Husayn alayhis-salam alive, and it is such programs that have protected
the spirit of Shi‘a35 and adherence to the holy Qur’an and the Ahl-ul-Bayt
alayhum-as-salam.
Imam Zayn al-Abidin and Ashura
Imam Zayn al-Abidin alayhis-salam also manifested the essence of this
duty by his prolonged grief and weeping for his father. It is reported from
Imam Baqir alayhis-salam, “ . . . and he (Imam Zayn al-Abidin) wept for
his father for twenty years, and every time he was served food and drink,
he wept for Imam Husayn alayhis-salam, until on one occasion his servant
said to him, "Is your sorrow and grief not going to end?", Imam Zayn al-
Abidin, alayhis-salam replied, "Woe unto you! The prophet Jacob had
twelve sons, and (when) Allah made one of them disappear, his eyes
35 Literally Shi‘a means ‘follower’, and this term was first used by Rasulollah salla-llahualayhi-
wa-aalih when he referred to Imam Ali alayhis-salam by pointing to him and said,
“He and his Shi‘a are the prosperous ones” From then onwards the followers and devotees
of Imam Ali alayhis-salam become known as the Shi‘a.
A glimpse from the ray of Imam Husayn
27
turned white (i.e. blind) because of his increasing crying for him, his head
turned grey because of grief, and his back humped because of sorrow, and
all this while his son was alive in the world. Whereas I saw my father, my
brother, my uncle, and seventeen members of my family killed around me
. . . so how can my grief and sorrow end?" It is reported that Imam Zayn
al-Abidin alayhis-salam cried and wept so much for Imam Husayn
alayhis-salam that it was feared that he would loose his eyesight. Every
time he was given water to drink, he wept such that his tears poured into
the water cup, and when he was asked about this, he replied "how can I not
to when my father was denied the water that was absolutely free for the
beasts and wild animals".
