Husayni Programs vs. Ploys of Colonialists
In one of the Indian cities where the Muslims used to lead a tranquil life,
the British entered one of the Indian cities under the guise of a trade
company. The local governor mobilised his forces to resist the British, but
with all the efforts he made his forces were no match to the British forces.
The result was that British quashed the resistance and killed many of the
forces of the Indian governor. Then they issued a decree to kill the women
and children, and the city was subjected to brutal massacre, and the bodies
of the victims remained unburied for several days such that animals fed on
them. In this way the British managed to rule Indian subcontinent. One of
the laws they instituted was that they banned the Qur’an recitation sessions
and Husayni Sha’a’er programs, whereas the Indian Muslims used to
actively organise and participate in such programs. Under the new British
law anyone who organises such programs is imprisoned for a period of ten
years. However one of the scholars decided to actively oppose this ‘law’
and set up Qur’an lessons for the youngsters and encouraged parents to
send their children to his Qur’an lessons. The man was charged for
breaking the imposed law and imprisoned for ten years. On his release
from prison, and with undiminished determination he continued his
Qur’anic lessons for the youngsters, in addition to organising other lessons
as well as Husayni Sha’a’er. The successes of his programs were such that
similar programs were also set up in other mosques, and they became as
widespread as before. Such programs have a direct role in uprooting
tyranny from the Islamic countries and freeing them from the grips of the
multinationals.
43 The Holy Qur’an, [6: 151]
44 The Holy Qur’an, [18: 102]
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33
The significance of the mourning programs
As for the truths and validity (of the Sha’a’er), they are reflected in the
realities we come across in our daily lives. One of the Maraje’ in the holy
city of Qum narrated to me an interesting account of his encounter with a
Christian priest. He said, “When I was studying in Najaf (in Iraq), I once
went to Baghdad with some of the fellow students. While there we heard
that there is a priest who actively preaches for Christianity, so we decided
to wear normal clothing (not the usual ‘Aba and turban) and attend his
session. At the end of the program, and when the people left the hall, the
priest turned to us and asked us, “Who are you?” we replied, “we are
native” he said, “I don’t mean that, but it seems to me that you are scholars
and I do not think you came here to learn from me.” I replied that we
study theology. I could tell that from the outset, he replied. In our
conversation with him he said, “I shall admit to you a truth that someone
else would not say it, and the truth is that your Prophet (Salla-llahu Alayhi
wa Aalih) was a man of knowledge and reflection and was aware of
reality- and in these qualities he was unparalleled and came second to no
one. Furthermore, your Prophet left behind for you things that no other
prophet left for his people, and if we had just one of those things we would
have made the entire world Christian. The first of those things is the
Noble Qur’an, which is the eternal miracle of Islam; the second of them,
the descendants of your Prophet who are referred to as “Sayyid”. They
always continue to remind the people of the existence of the Messenger of
Allah; the third of those is the existence of the shrines of the impeccable
Imams as well as those of their of springs. These shrines act as a magnet
and a focal point for the people, continually attracting them and giving
them spiritual strength and guidance. The fourth of these things are the
mourning programs that are established to commemorate them, and these
programs are the best centres for making the people adhere to Islam. As
you can see I have difficulty attracting followers of my own faith, whereas
in your case as soon as you put a banner with “Ya Husayn” written on it,
masses of people flock to your assembly.”
The Husayni Sha’a’er, or the mourning programs carry significant
importance, as well as the programs commemorating the birth of the
Ma’soomeen alayhum-as-salam. One of the benefits of such programs is
that the teachings of Islam with respect to all aspect of life are presented to
the people, such as the question of government and leadership, the
Husayn – The sacrifice for mankind
34
characters of the leader, his qualities and attitudes, etc. All such issues
Islam has dealt with in details and the conduct of Rasulollah and Ma’soom
Imams alayhum-as-salam reflect them. Now when such issues are
presented and discussed during such programs, this does not go well with
the plans of the despots and tyrants. When the characters of the Imams
alayhum-as-salam are mentioned such as their bravery and the sacrifice
they made for the sake of Islam, or encouraging the people to follow the
Ahl-ul-Bayt and to have absolute trust in Allah and whole-heartedly
adhere to the teachings of the holly Qur’an, or to fear Allah Almighty
alone and no one else, or awakening the youth and encouraging them to
follow those teachings. Such issues do not go well with the plans and
policies of the tyrants who want to distance the people from Islam and
their Islamic heritage, and to weaken their faith in Islam. They want to
encourage non-Islamic or anti-Islamic values in societies instead of
truthfulness, trust, sincerity and honesty, responsibility, strife, sacrifice,
and adherence to the right path. For this reason the tyrant rulers are in
perpetual war with mourning programs and the Husayni Sha’a’er. And
everyone knows the clear role the Husayni Sha’a’er play in awakening the
nation and boosting their morale, encouraging adherence to Islamic
thoughts and teachings and calling the people to enjoining good, piety,
cooperation, and upholding the cause of Imam Husayn alayhis-salam.
Recommendations for the Husayniyahs
1. To organise programs that emphasise the love and dedication of
the Ahl-ul-Bayt alayhum-as-salam such that this love is out of
awareness and understanding of the truth. The creation of love in
the hearts is the responsibility of the Husayniyahs through the
lectures and programs they organise which give vitality to the
hearts and reduces one’s attention to this world and encourages
the individual to ascend through an elevated soul and with the
teachings and thoughts of the Ahl-ul-Bayt alayhum-as-salam.
2. To emphasise on the Noble Qur’an and to organise recitation
sessions and classes for teaching the recitation of the Qur’an,
especially for the children, since they are the strength of the
future of Islam, and the same goes for the youth and women. It is
imperative that everyone uses this unparalleled source of
knowledge and to disseminate its teaching throughout society.
3. It is also important that programs are held to teach Islamic laws
and acts of worship including all those matters that people come
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35
across in their daily lives, as well as Aqa’ed or Islamic beliefs,
which are obligatory for everyone to know. Other issues should
also be taught such the history of the Math-hab and the lives of
the holy Imams and their struggles against the tyrants of their
times.
4. Such gathering places as the Husayniyahs should be places for
brotherhood, harmony, for remembering Allah Almighty, and
honesty in all our dealings with everyone else ranging from
friends and brothers, to family members and everyone else; the
first and foremost being in our relation with Allah Almighty and
the Ahl-ul-Bayt alayhum-as-salam.
Husayn – The sacrifice for mankind
36
Chapter 5: Benefiting from Ashura
According to the Views of Imam Shirazi45
by
