WHY IS HUSAIN RELEVANT 1400 YEARS LATER?

His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin^RA once stated, while elaborating this verse of the Quran:

الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ

“And those who believe in the unseen”. So, we are from those who believe in the unseen. There are many connotations of “unseen”. Imam Husain and his martyrdom is also “unseen” for us. He was martyred 1400 years ago. We know it through history. So, we believe in it.

But there are people with different mentalities. Some disparage it, criticize it. (They say) You all are gathering and mourning and performing matam over something that transpired 1400 year ago!? Its now but a story!

So, tell them, you do not know the secret. It is Allah’s secret. It may have transpired 1400 years ago, but we believe that Imam Husain’s heir exists on the face of the earth…

…so what was the (Imam Husain’s^AS) martyrdom for? It was for the revival of the Kalematus Shahadah. The martyrdom was for the survival of Kalematus Shahadah. That’s why Husain should be remembered by those who passed (Awwaleen) and those who will come (Akhereen). So, (this is why) we are those who believe in the unseen.

Excerpts from Ashara Mubarakha, 1429H (Colombo)

His Holiness Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin^RA has eloquently dealt with a very fundamental question. He has articulately co-related the relevance of Imam Husain^AS – and his martyrdom 1400 years ago – with the survival of the faith of Islam and the Kalematus Shahadah today. So, before we ponder over the universal relevance of Imam Husain^AS and his martyrdom 1400 years after it transpired, let us first understand how Imam Husain’s^AS martyrdom was important for the very existence of Islam and the safeguarding of its tenets that were revealed through his grandfather Prophet Mohammed^SAW. To do so, we have to objectively delve into the reasons that led to the events of Karbala and Imam Husain’s^AS eventual martyrdom.

The catalyst for the tragedy in Karbala was Imam Husain’s^AS opposition to Yazeed’s elevation as the Caliph. Imam Husain^AS knew that Yazeed was a morally corrupt and tyrannical ruler. But, more importantly, he openly flouted the tenets of Islam and shamelessly violated its doctrines. Imam Husain^AS had personally witnessed Yazeed consuming alcohol and playing with dogs.

Add to that the fact that Yazeed’s father Muawiyah had signed a pact with Imam Hasan^AS (the elder brother of Imam Husain^AS) to surrender the Caliphate back to Imam Hasan^AS or Imam Husain^AS when he died. Thus, leaving Yazeed with no moral, religious or political legitimacy to obtain the Caliphate.

Imam Husain’s^AS opposition was hence, a big hurdle for Yazeed as it made it near impossible for him to validate his claim to the Caliphate. How could he possibly govern the followers of Islam when the only living grandson of their Prophet^SAW was openly opposing him? That is why Yazeed mobilized his entire political and military might to persuade Imam Husain^AS to pledge allegiance to him.

But Imam Husain^AS could see the danger that Yazeed posed to the foundations of Islamic faith, more so than the Islamic kingdom. And, as Prophet Mohammed^SAW had foretold, only Imam Husain’s sacrifice could save Islam from ruin. The sheer injustice and brutality of Imam Husain’s^AS martyrdom was the emotional jolt that awakened the collective conscience of the Ummah.

Imam Husain^AS was not driven by any political aspirations as Yazeed’s apologists would like us to believe. The protection of Islam from immoral forces was the only goal of Imam Husain’s^AS stand against Yazeed and his ilk. And, never has that goal been more relevant for Islam and its followers than in the current political and social environment. Today, Islamic values are being undermined and trampled by political, social, ideological and, in some cases, even military opposition.

In the face of such relentless onslaught, the martyrdom of Imam Husain^AS provides a unifying balm for a fractured Ummah. The citations of Karbala and the bravery of Imam Husain’s^AS 72 martyrs is the inspiration we need today to remain steadfast on the path of Islam in the face of overwhelming odds. The fact that Prophet Mohammed’s^SAW grandson sacrificed his own life and the life of his companions and family members to save the Kalematus Shahadah, should fill our hearts with pride when we recite it today!

As His Holiness Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin^RA stated that Allah’s secret is hidden in Imam Husain’s^AS martyrdom. Imam Husain’s^AS matam and the tears shed in his mourning are the weapon that will help us beat the forces of immorality and an un-Islamic existence. The “unseen” martyrdom of Imam Husain^AS 1400 years ago will reveal the path of salvation and piety. His martyrdom is the “unseen” source from which we will derive the strength to repel the temptations of corruption and depravity.

Thus, when His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin^TUS calls us to the majlis of Imam Husain^AS, it is not just a call to recount an event that transpired 1400 years ago! It is a call to revive our faith, our Islam, our Imaan. It is a call that will provide us with the understanding that Imam Husain’s^AS martyrdom is the reason we are reciting the Kalematus Shahadah today.

When seen through this prism of understanding, it becomes clear why mourning Imam Husain^AS and performing matam on his martyrdom is relevant for a true believer of Islam in particular and a champion of humanity in general. The tears that we shed for him and each of his 72 shohada is hence the only way to cleanse our faith and revive our humanity.

And, though the martyrdom of Imam Husain^AS resonates with ideological, political, social and moral significance even in the 21^st century, the fact remains that without Imam Husain and the sacrifices he made in Karbala, Islam, as revealed by Prophet Mohammed^SAW, would never have survived.

Having established that, we will later discuss the significance and importance of Imam Husain^AS and his martyrdom in Karbala:

1. Ideologically
2. Politically
3. Socially
4. For adherence to Islam
5. Morally

As a continuation of our series: The Relevance of Imam Husain^AS in the 21^st century.

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