Causes and Factors of the Sacrifice of Imam Husayn(a.s.) at Karbala (Ashura)

[Basharat]

The Seal of the Prophets, His Holiness Muhammad (s.a.w.) was the founder of Justice and Liberty and brought a revolution , a movement in the history of mankind in the shape of Islam.A great personality,nourished by the gist of divine inspiration, trained in homes of the Lord of Messengers, Muhammad Mustafa(s.a.w.) and the Master of the Pious Ali Murtaza (a.s.) and raised in the laps of Siddiqua Tahera, Fatima Zehra (a.s.), rose up to save the principles of Islam and its ideology, from the Moaviya and his son Yazid (may Alllah's curse upon them) who were misrepresenting Islam and its FAITH, that had come to 'reform mankind' and not to accumulate power for itself. They were claiming the Caliphate and successor ship of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.). The cruel rule of Yazid and his men was about to cross the shinning face of Islam away by a red line and the agonies and troubles suffered by the great Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.) 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.
The usurpation of Caliphate by Yazid and Moaviya 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 while Islam does not have nor does it recognize the system of monarchy. And now at our present period most Muslims adhere to the rule and recognize monarchy of Saudi Arabia and other Sheikhs, who are exploiting Umma, swallowing the properties of the nation, bowing their knees before Israel, America and Western countries.
Was anyone at that time throughout the Islamic nation, rose against Yazid except Imam Husain (a.s.), Farzande Rasool. 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 in a drunken state? This was the great danger that threatened Islam . So Imam Husain (a.s.) rose against the sovereignty of the tyrants - that regime of tyrannical monarchy which meant to pollute Islam. Had Yazid succeeded, Islam would have become something else. The revolution of Imam Husain (a.s.) was an uprising for Allah and divine uprising admits no defeat. The Omayyads meant to remove Islam and create an Arab State but the rise of Imam Husain (a.s.) made Arab and non-Arab Muslims, throughout the history to be recorded, all realize that the issue was not ethnic, rather, Islam was at stake.
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 for establishing good and eradicating evils.
The martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.) and of the supporters of Quran on the Day of Ashura was the beginning of the eternal life of Islam and the Quran. They were killed but their Islamic ideological school remained intact and survived. The ideology advanced and did not face defeat rather it made progress, that is, it defeated the Bani Omayyad and their nefarious designs for ever. As the uprising of Farzand-e-Rasool and his supporters at Karbala was for God; they defamed and ruined the monarchy of that time. If we work for God no defeat awaits us even if we get killed.
Imam Husain (a.s.) by his action taught that throughout history the rise up against cruelty and against tyrannical government will be the path to be taken. He 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. He taught us our duty and sacrifice on the battle ground. He gave a directive and a command for action that : "Every day 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 Imam Husain (a.s.) himself, that is, everything may be sacrificed and nothing to be spared in the cause of Islam." Everyday is Ashura" means that we all must stand and fight oppression everyday if it so exists, the command of Imam Husain (a.s.) is unlimited in terms of time and location or place; whether it is Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon or elsewhere. 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.
LAMENTATION AND MOURNING:
Lamentation of the martyrs means preservation and perpetuation of the Movement of Ashura. A Muslim or any other person having human conscience who appears sad at the tragedy of Karbala, whose face shows his affectation by tears, is actually helping to preserve the uprising and movement of Imam Husain (a.s.).Muslims weep, lament and arrange mourning meetings and gatherings to unite the people and give them direction; a united aspect to move in one direction. The issue is not shedding of tears at all but to unite and mobilize the nations, to bring them together by various ways so that they won't be vulnerable.When people at mourning gatherings their attention is gained towards Islamic ideology and it gives solidarity to the move and safeguard the "faith". The social and political aim of the lamentation, tears and prayers is to draw people together and their collective attention to God that will result in their unity and mobilization for an Islamic aim. A lamentation gathering is for people to cry for the Master of Martyrs and be rewarded for it in the Hereafter.To get all the people gathered under one single banner, one single ideology and nothing can bring about such unity among whole mankind as readily as the mourning for Imam Husain (a.s.) This lamentation ( in honor of the Infallible, Fourteen Masoomeen) builds up human beings, develop the men. These Ashura mourning sessions, are propaganda against tyranny, against the arrogant "taghuts": it is reciting the oppression of the oppressed and it must go on indefinitely. It preserves the "nationality" of the Muslims.
It is the blood of Imam Husain (a.s.)that sets fire to the bloods of all Muslim nations, excite the people and prepare them for sacrifice to understand and preserve Islam and Islamic purposes. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said : " I am from Husain", meaning that the sacrifice of life by Imam Husain (a.s.) has preserved the Religion of Islam and, we, too, must protect it. Surely, there is a group who are injected with the idea that there should be no mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.) This is because lamentation for the martyrs of Ashura moves the people to such extent that they get ready for anything for the sake of Islam.
If a (political) party member gets killed, they hold processions, screams are raised to high heavens, meetings are arranged for lamentations. Imam Husain (a.s.) saved Islam by his blood, should we remain silent while he sacrificed so much to perpetuate the true Islam? In all Islamic countries, Muslim nations and through out the world where Muslims are in sizable majority or in minority, on the day of Ashura, live up in well coordinated manner and mourn Imam Husain (a.s.), you will meet this orderly, well coordinated parades or demonstrations of mourners.
The great revolutionary leader of Iran, Ruhulla Khomeini said : " Let the lamentation gatherings to honor the Master of the Oppressed and the Lord of the Free, meetings in which wisdom and intellect overcome ignorance; justice overpowers cruelty and oppression; trust rules out treason, and Islamic rule supersedes the rule of tyranny, be held as elaborately as possible to overflow of attendance and let the blood-smeared banners of Ashura be hoisted to the utmost height and mark the dawn of day to avenge the injuries of the oppressed".
And only the progeny of Muhammad (s.a.w.) can save Islam and give such type of sacrifice and be the medium between the mankind and Allah till the last day of this universe. Imam Husain (a.s.) said at Karbala : "...... I summon you to the book of Allah and to the way of His Prophet. If you hear what I say and follow me I will lead you to the path of righteousness"." Now I summon you to revive the features of the truth and to slay innovation. If you answer my call then you will be guided to the ways of righteousness.........". " I have not come forth out of pride or arrogance, nor to cause corruption, nor as an oppressor, but I have come forth to seek the reform of the nation of my grandfather Muhammad (s.a.w.). I wish to order the good and forbid the evil and follow the way of my grandfather and my father Ali Ibn Abi Talib."..... Imam Husain (a.s.) said : "Your wealth does not belong to you unless you spend it in the way of Allah. Therefore do not leave it as a store for those who come after you, when you yourself will be held responsible for it. Know that you will not survive to make use of it and it will not remain for you, so consume it before it consume you."
Quran says : " And surely Allah will help him who helps His cause; most surely Allah is strong, Mighty", and " Those who strive, strive for their own good........".
Imam Ali (a.s.) said : " I adjure you by Allah to organize your affairs". He further says :" He who has knowledge of his times cannot be taken "unawares".

[Mohammad]

One of the best article written on karbala and its summary is Quran says : " And surely Allah will help him who helps His cause; most surely Allah is strong, Mighty", and " Those who strive, strive for their own good........".
Thanks Bashrat for this valuable piece. I would like to take your permission to add this in my blogs.

Karbala- Muharram -mourning, remembering sacrifice of Imam Husain (a.s). we all remember this and act sincerily BUT we forget cause of Karbala, Teachings of karbala, Reason of Sacrifice.
Jazakallah
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[Basharat]

My brother Mohammad: Salam alaykum:warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu:
I thanks for your comments on the articles. You may please add this to your block... I shall feel highly grateful to you. I shall try to give articles for the purpose to awaken our masses and to divert their attention towards their religious duties. Being the followers of our Holy Imams (a.s.) it is incumbent upon us to promote the cause of Islam throughout the world. You may please please go through an attachment on this web site and read a very short book "Karbala Calling".. which is very short but contains some thought provocative articles. If you like it you may please refer other brother and sisters for reading it. On our web site "www.internationalislamicthoughtforum.ning.com", you may also read some other articles and a short book namely "The Greatest Defender of Faith and Justice - Imam Ali (a.s.)". This books contains in one chapter some Muslims and non - Muslims views on the personality of our Holy Imam Ali (a.s.), specially the views of former United Nationals General Secretary, Kofi Annan. Besides this book you may also read "Spiritual Message of Shiism". It is also a very short book. All these books are the compilation work taking reference from our learned scholars' books from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and India..... Wassalam : Basharat