Soon after the accession of Yazeed bin Mu’aawiyah to power, he ignored the Islamic rules and valued the bogus counsel of ignorant and wicked people. It was the time when the galaxy of the Islamic skies were covered with black clouds of power and the rays of the Brilliant were stars almost hiding behind. Due to lack of light of Divine Inspiration, Yazeed and his followers strayed away too far from the right path depriving themselves form Divine Guidance.
The summit of the tragedy of Karbala occurred on the ninth of the Holy Month of Muharram in the year 61 Hijri. Centuries have elapsed but the sad memory of the martyrdom of the grandson of the Beloved Prophet Muhammad swallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam along with seventy one companions including Imaam Hussein’s sons namely Ali Akbar and Ali Asghar Radwiyallahu ‘anhuma, his nephews and cousins is still fresh in the heart of true and loyal believers.
How beautifully the eminent personality Frederic James commented the painful event of Karbala which reads as follows: “The lesson of Hussein ‘alaihis salaam and every brave martyr is that there are eternal principles of justice, mercy and love which are immutable and unconquerable and that if evil is resisted, if men are prepared to make sacrifice for them, those principle will always prevail”.
The real cause of this tragedy is that Yazeed claimed caliphate by dint of his mere heritage, not on account of the Islamic fundamental of righteous character and piety. On the contrary, he was notorious for his depravity, greed and callousness. Pity and justice were alien to his bestial nature. He was a petty-slave of his lust, a pleasure seeker. He never refrained from torturing and killing. His sadistic mentality made him addicted to the grossest vices.
Human suffering was one of his greatest hobbies. On the top of it, throwing to the wind the Islamic principle of consultation and obtaining consensus. He coerced the loyalist of Imaam Hussein radwiyallahu ‘anhu to take oath of allegiance to him.
The circumstance was as such when the days of ignorance seemed to be at the gate of the Muslim world. Yazeed’s sole aim was to transform Khilaafah into monarchy. Imaam Hussein ‘alaihis salaam had no other choice but to rise against him to protect authentic and original Islaam handed to the Ummah by his Beloved “Nana” Muhammad swallalhu ‘alaihi wa sallam. His determination to follow His steps in every march of life, put himself and the life of every kith and kin at risk to stand firmly to defend the Truth.
He sincerely believed that he cannot tolerate a deviated man exercising the highest authority illegitimately in the Islamic hierarchy. He expressed openly that a statesman, representing the Islamic world should be of perfect character and one who promotes the true cause and upholds and wields power with full responsibility. He thus challenged him by advocating drastic reforms and resurgence.
He invited his faithful followers to support the Path of Truth until their last breath with the sole aim of saving the vessel of the Ummah from being drowned in black and satanic impure muddy soil. He declared that he prefers to achieve martyrdom for the reason that it is a crime to live with oppressors.
The battle of Karbala presented two pictures. On one side stood the supporter of plain truth, peace, justice, liberty, loyalty to the Prophet of Islaam swallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam based on original faith led by Imaam Hussein ‘alaihis salaam where fluttered the sacred flag of righteousness focusing straightly unto the Brilliant Light of Islaam. On the other side the stooges of absolutism and autocracy invaded by the vacillating satanic and merciless beast of the earth backing wrong cause led by Yazeed.
Everybody is aware of the historical background of the tragic and monstrous event which occurred in Karbala. Traditional organization of “Majlis” (religious gatherings) took place among the pious believers in Mosques or small locations around the Islamic world based on the expression of unconditional love and compassion and sympathy towards Ahl-e-Bait on the occasion of Muharram. Such gatherings were structured with the aim of bringing awareness of the history of Karbala and reviving the consciousness of the Muslim world about the horrific treatment inflicted upon innocent mothers, sisters, children and even kids and new born babies with no justification.
The world of Islaam should not take this tragedy as an isolated part of our history. We should remember that the Grandson of our Beloved Muhammad swallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam wrote down the basic principle of Islaam, that is unquestioned and unreserved submission and reconciliation to the will of the sole and Unique Creator of the Universe, such as piety, dignity and decorum against all odds with his own blood and that of the unconditional supporters of truth. The painful and heart-piercing atrocities suffered by him and his family should be taken as severe warnings to believers that there can be no circumstances and no situation to justify any compromise on the principles of faith.
Furthermore, he sent a clear message to the followers of his “Nana” Muhammad swallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam that righteousness demands firmness of purpose, indomitable courage, inexhaustible patience and boundless love. Righteousness is not compatible with pride, vanity, coercion and dictatorship anymore.
This heartfelt event pointed out that sacrifices offered in the Blessed Name of the Creator of the Universe and all the sufferings that one may be called upon to endure for the sake of his belief must be free from personal emotion. They are not to be spoilt with protests and complaints. They have to be offered ungrudgingly and without demur.
Too much can be said about Karbala and too much ritual of wailing, chest-beating, recitation of elegies and crying with profuse tears in our eyes could be seen but is it enough? Have we drawn any lesson from this tragic event which has shaken the Divine Throne? The Sacred Soil and Dust of Karbala are still making strong appeal to the Muslim world to follow the spirit of Karbala in order to stand with Justice and Truth to hold fast in the service of humanity at large whatever be the condition and situation in life.
HAFIZ ILMUDDIN KHAYRATTEE