The Humanitarian Banner of Hussainiyat

Imam Hussain AS is the ray that leads me to Allah. Karbala is University that illustrates something to everyone if you have the eye to see and the heart to feel.

PC: Hajij.com

I have been looking for words to write about Ashura and Imam Hussain AS but I couldn't gather the right words that could describe my feelings about Karbala and the family of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. The event of Karbala marks a very important point in the history of Islam. If we look at it from a broader perspective, the uprising of Imam Husain AS was not only a religious obligation but a humanitarian act. It was significant because the event of Karbala distinguishes right from wrong, justice from injustice, and the word of God from the greed of power. Karbala dates back over 1400 years but the impact is still as strong as ever. The voice of the oppressed has echoed over the centuries and the oppressor has been silenced by the predomination of truth.

Many people don't understand the concept of Hussainiyat, let me make it clear: it's standing up for the right when the world turns against you and it's doing everything to protect the truth. Imam Hussain AS sacrificed his family for the sake of shielding the right, the truth. The message of Imam Hussain AS was loud and clear. It has remained alive through the voice of people who remind the world every year about the brutality that took place in Karbala through vast protests and processions. These processions are living proof that truth can not be hidden or suppressed! 

Why do we still commemorate Karbala? 

A few years back in 2016, there was a major terrorist attack in a school in Peshawar. It was a tremendous tragedy, I still remember the gloomy atmosphere throughout the day. To date, remembering the events of that day shakes the nation up. As the news was coming in, everybody felt a shiver in the spine. It was bloodshed of the innocents. That day is still remembered for the injustice and brutality that happened inside the school. Children were killed. The teachers were murdered. The bloodbath is still fresh in the mind of all Pakistanis. Every year, there are programs in the schools and other places to remember the innocent souls who were snatched from us very soon. In some parts of the country, they even observe a holiday. By organizing plays and spreading awareness about that terrorist attack, Pakistan has been able to constantly remind the world about the affliction of terrorism in Pakistan and how severely our country has been affected by it. Let's imply this to Karbala. Although there is no comparison between the two events but my point is when you keep the truth alive, you give voice and life to the whole concept of justice. It is impending to remember and protest against the injustice that happened with Imam Hussain AS and his family so that nobody could spill the blood of the innocents again and get away with it. The consequence would be the same that Yazid faced!

Sectarianism and Inter-faith harmony

I saw a post where some Christians organized water supplies during the Ashura procession. It was a wonderful display of the interfaith harmony which is beautiful. It makes me proud that Hussainiyat brings many religions together. I know a Christian lady who distributed kheer on the 10th of Muharram. Some Sikhs organized Sabeel this year. This is a Universal cause, beyond religion, race, or nationality.

Sectarianism has deep roots in our culture but it has specifically affected our religion from the past 150 years. The enemies of Islam have successfully sowed the seeds of hatred, the illiterate and fragile section of the Ummah fell for it. Through uneducated clerics, they have tried to tarnish the 'brotherhood' in Islam. 

Read in the name of your Lord who created (96:1)

A few years back, I started reading the Holy Quran with translation, and ever since I have discovered a lot that had been withheld from me about the religion of Islam. I developed a bond with Allah like never before because I was reading His word, not through someone else's mouth but reading it. I do not say that I won't need help because Quran and other scriptures are so deep and meaningful that at some point you would need assistance to understand the true meaning of it but I urge the youngsters to read the Quran with translation. It's the first step towards clearing our minds from the wrong concepts that have been embedded in our minds.

Recently, to understand the events of Karbala even more deeply, I started reading a book by a scholar. The book is written by a person who has an educational background and a good history. I have already discussed the importance of reading in my previous blog and from the perspective of learning about religion, it is even more important. Islam allows us to question, to learn about the true values of the religion. I feel we have all lost somewhere trying to justify our version of the truth but nobody is willing to step ahead and learn the real truth. 

Urge your children to read about religion. Everybody has access to the internet, there are books available online and it takes just a click to start reading a book. Everything is served on the plate but nobody will spoonfeed you. You should have an urge to learn, pass that onto the next generation so that they don't suffer the hostility and animosity that this generation is enduring.

My wish...

There are subjects around the world regarding Imam Hussain AS and Karbala, students study the event and analyze it. I really wish that we had this sort of a progressive approach towards religion. I wish there was a research organization that could educate people about Imam Hussain AS and Karbala with references and quotes. I wish people could also see the Universality of Karbala without any sectarian malice blurring their vision. If the world can learn something from Karbala, the non-Muslims, and even atheists, then why can't we?