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Revisiting Karbala
By Syed Wasi Imam
The events in Karbala leading to the
Martyrdom of Imam Husain grandson of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) is a
saga of sacrifice for the sake of upholding the tenets of Islam and a fine
example of complete submission to Almighty God’s will, so much so that
it became synonymous with the sacrifice of humankind against tyranny and
falsehood.
On his way to Karbala Imam Husain got the bad news of the death of his
cousin Muslim-bin-Aquil. Muslim had gone to Kufa to inquire if the people
were really interested in playing host to Hazrat Husain, as their letters
reached Madina in thousands, each one asking Imam Husain to visit Kufa and
be their guest. When Muslim reached Kufa people warmly welcomed him but
gradually all of them refused to give shelter for fear of the ruler, who
had ordered severe punishment for anybody who gave him shelter. Muslim and
his two young sons, who were with him, were mercilessly killed by Ibn
Sa’d army, hunted like an animal, with no one to bother for him.
Even after getting the sad news, Imam Husain proceeded towards Kufa but
could not reach there. Imam Husain knew that he was on his final
destination, about which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had foretold long ago. On
the 4th of Muharram Imam Husain’s caravan reached Karbala. Hurr, a
general in the Yazid’s army prevented them from going any further.
Hurr’s army was coming after covering a long distance and was very tired
and thirsty. Imam Husain, who could not bear anybody’s distress, ordered
his younger brother Hazrat Abbas to give water to the enemy camp. Having
reached Karbala and being prevented from proceeding any further, Imam
Husain decided to pitch his tent near the river but that too was denied to
him and he had to pitch his tent far away from the river. Imam Husain and
his companions were denied access to drinking water, however, they managed
somehow for sometime.
By 7th of Muharram there was no water in their tents. The young and the
older people could understand the situation, but children are children and
with the desert heat, the thirst was at its climax. The youngest of the
lot was a six-month old baby who cried for milk and his mother stood near
his cot staring helplessly. A bit grown-up children would look at the
faces of their elders with anticipation.
By 9th of Muharram, the tents wore a look of mourning. There were so many
people inside it but hardly any sound could be heard. It was thirst that
was killing them and a mere mention of the word ‘water’ for a moment
would send a flash on their faces. On 9th itself, Ibn Sa’d again
repeated Yazid’s proposal before Imam Husain, that in brief meant: If
Imam Husain put his seal of approval on every act of Yazid as Islamic, he
would not just be set free but may even get a high place in Yazid’s
court. But as always Imam Husain rejected his un-Islamic proposal with
more firmness. Because Imam Husain’s acceptance of Yazid’s proposal
meant the defeat of religion and humanity and the failure of mission of
Adam and all Prophets and the defeat of good and the victory of evil.
On the 9th Muharram, Imam Husain and his companions prayed to the Almighty
Allah for all of them knew that the coming day would be their last, the
day of supreme sacrifice. Mothers spent the night having a last look at
their children with the looming fear that they could not behold them
anymore, and at the same time exhorting them to sacrifice their lives for
the cause of Islam.
The dawn of 10th Muharram was greeted by a rain of arrow from the army.
Imam Husain and his companions offered their Fajr namaz. The Azaan of
Hazrat Ali Akbar, son of Imam Husain who resembled the Prophet (PBUH) in
his physical features, echoed in the desert fields.
Hurr who now understood the evil designs of Yazid and Ibn Sa’d could not
stop himself anymore. He knew he was on the wrong side. He left his army
and moved towards Imam Husain’s tent, his brother and son came along
with him. He begged forgiveness for his sin of stopping Imam Husain near
Karbala. He was readily forgiven and was the first to lay down his life
and became a martyr. Then one after the other, all went to the field and
were martyred.
Those who still have doubts that Imam Husain had not come to fight but to
sacrifice his life can understand from the fact that instead of all of
them attacking the Yazid’s army at a time they went to the battlefield
one by one and laid down their lives.
Imam Husain’s motto was to save Islam whatever the consequences. He was
ready for any sacrifice. He was doing what God willed him to do and what
he had promised his grandfather, the Prophet of Islam.
Imam Husain laid down his life and his family was taken as prisoners of
war and they had to face many hardships and humiliation to save Islam for
eternity. The battle of Karbala was not a battle for power but for Islamic
values. Hazrat Husain refused to bow down to the dictates of Yazid because
he knew what Yazid stood for. Hazrat Husain made it known to Yazid and his
commander, and to the world at large that he had no interest in making any
worldly gain, nor was he interested in becoming the caliph but he was
against distortion of Islam. Yazid was violating the esteemed laws of
Islam and there was no way Imam Husain would have accepted him as caliph
and put his word of approval for him. The tragedy of Karbala taught
humanity triumph of truth is permanent and worldly gains are of transitory
nature. q |
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