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Martyrdom of Hussein, Enemies of Islam

Tanveer Jafri - 12/14/2011

I. Martyrdom of Hussein reminds of victory of truth

Whether it is the English Calendar or calendars adopted by different religions of the world, the beginning of most of them is welcomed with joy and happiness.

But unfortunately, the first month of the Islamic year, i.e. the month of Muharram brings to life the black episode of Karbala which not only became the first act of religious terrorism in the world, but also put forward an example of sacrifice for truth, symbolized by the determination of Hazrat Imam Hussein. Like every year, the Muslim world is observing the martyrdom of this grandson of Prophet Mohammad Sa. and son of Hazrat Ali and Bibi Fatima, which took place more than 1331 years ago.

This is a day of gloom for the Muslims, particularly the Shiites. Requiems are held and people hurt themselves with swords and knife chains and walk on fire, just to mourn the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussein and his family. Food and drinks are freely distributed among the poor to remember the three day hunger and thirst of Hussein.

According to the Islamic history, in 680 AD or 1331 years ago, Yazid, the king of Shaam (present day Syria), asked Hussein for his recognition as a Muslim king, since at that time, Hazrat Imam Hussein was the lone legitimate inheritor of Prophet’s legacy i.e. Islam. Yazid was a cruel, raffish, characterless and destructive minded despot. Hussein didn’t want to recognize a despicable person like Yazid as the king. Shaam is said to be one of the most powerful kingdoms of those times. Initially, Yazid sent his messengers and ambassadors many a times to convince Hazrat Hussein to provide him recognition as an Islamic ruler. But Hussein refused to get impressed by Yazid’s allurements and his big army. Hussein wanted to foster true spiritual Islam. He was worried that posterity would talk how the heir of the Prophet degraded Islam by handing over its reins to a characterless person like Yazid. Rather, he wanted that Islam should be presented to the world in its original, pristine form. He wanted to tell the world that Islam is a religion, whose true believers never bow down to tyranny, oppression, mendacity, cruelty and fear. Hussein used to say, “It’s better to die respectfully rather than living a life of notoriety.”

After being rejected, the furious Yazid decided to go on war against Hussein. Yazid wanted to kill Hussein in Medina. But in order to avoid bloodshed in this holy city, Hussein decided to leave for Karbala (in today’s Iraq), along with his 72 family members and colleagues. Before starting, he made known to his companions that there is every possibility that they would be killed by Yazid’s humongous army. Hence, every person in his group was not only a true and dedicated Muslim, but also a saviour of Islam and a real ‘Jihadi.’ On second day of Muharram, Hazrat Hussein reached Karbala and camped on the bank of river Furaat (Euphrates). On 7th Muharram, Yazid’s army removed them from the riverbank. It is said that the summer season was on and heat was at its peak in that desert area. In such a condition, Hazrat Hussein and his companions were denied food and water for the next three days. At last, on 10th day, known as Youm-e-Ashura, all the males of the group were martyred by Yazid’s troops one after another. Those killed by Yazid’s men included Hussein’s brother Hazrat Abbas, his 18-year old son Ali Akbar and 6-months old innocent son Ali Asghar. According to the folklore, Hazrat Hussein himself went to the enemy to ask for water for that innocent child. Instead of giving water, they killed Ali Asghar right there in Hussein’s lap. Only Hussein’s son, Zainulabideen, who was ill at that time, remained alive and later on he was declared the heir of Hazrat Imam Hussein. After killing all the male members, including Hussein, on the evening of 10th Muharram, all the female members and Zainulabideen were captured by Yazid’s men. Their wrists were tied with ropes and they were publicly insulted on way from Karbala to Kufa to Shaam. This black evening of 10th Muharram is known as Shaam-e-Garibaan.

Shiites consider themselves the descendents of Hazrat Imam Hussein. But the martyrdom of Hussein shouldn’t be seen as the legacy of any one sect or religion, particularly in today’s scenario when once again same kind of terrorist forces are asserting themselves on Islam. The incident at Karbala inspires us to bravely combat and expose these terrorists. Not only the Shiites or Muslims, rather modern day’s educated people, intellectuals, historians and experts, all have been influenced by this sacrifice at Karbala. In India, Mahatma Gandhi, Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Sarojini Naidu, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru et al have paid their homage to Hazrat Imam Hussein in one way or the other. Mahatma Gandhi’s decision to take 72 people along with him during his famous anti-British Dandi March is said to be influenced by Hussein’s group of 72 people. Even today, in different parts of India, a large number of non-Muslims pay homage to Hazrat Hussein on this sad day. The sacrifice of Hussein and his colleagues is not only more relevant today than any other time in the history; this immortal story also reflects the Islamic principles in true form.

II. Opponents of education are the enemies of Islam

Reports such as blowing up of school buildings and torturing school going children by the Taliban are common in Afghanistan and Af-Pak border region. They are particularly opposed to the education of girls. According to an estimate, the Taliban have attacked and destroyed more than 500 educational institutions in the last five years. On 13 September this year, they attacked a school van carrying students. Five innocent kids were killed by these cruel Taliban in that terror attack. Similarly, last month they blew up a school, just 75-kms from Pakistani capital Islamabad. Notably, the Taliban takes responsibility for all these strikes and also warns of such attacks on education in future. Certainly, their main objective is to keep the Muslims, especially girls, bereft of modern education.

Does the Islam, the holy Quran or the holy Hadith (set of instructions) of the Prophet suggest any opposition to education? Or rather this kind of deplorable and inhuman act on the part of the Taliban is due to their own version of Islam? The Prophet said that those who have a daughter should respect her and treat her no less than a son. Female education in Islam is stressed upon because an according to the Islamic beliefs, educated woman is an integral part of a happy home and a developed society. No society can expect to be developed unless its women are educated. True Islam not only endorses women education; it also spreads the message of peace and wellness for all. Education is important for the progress of Islam itself.

It is ironical that the terrorists who themselves are engaged in illegal drug trade, buying weapons from money earned by that trade and spread terror using those weapons, are killing the school going children and blowing up school buildings. How can the Islam, which considers murder of a person as the murder of mankind, be responsible for such shameful acts of these terrorists? It was the high character of the Prophet and his message of love and brotherhood that helped the spread of Islam in the world, not the horrendous acts of the Taliban. But in order to pursue their petty interests, the self-appointed guardians of Islam have started presenting it in such a distorted form that Islam today is becoming synonymous with terrorism and violence.

While education is being obscenely opposed by the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan; on the contrary in India, the fatwa (decrees) are being issued by the clergy to make girl education mandatory. Referring to the holy Quran and Hadith, the Muslim community is being made aware of the pros of modern education. It is said in such fatwas, “a human’s duty is to spread the light of knowledge in the world.” The established view in Islam is that an educated woman can educate the entire society. The Prophet has said that people who make their daughters well educated and get them married in a better way, are entitled to the Jannat (heaven). Islam not only provided for education for one’s children, but also for the education of serfs & slaves prevalent during ancient times.

The question is when Islam is a religion spread across the world and its teachings apply equally to the entire Muslim world, then why is there a sea of difference in the fatwas of Indian Muslim clergy and the violent opposition to education by the Taliban? At present, along with the religious education, the modern and vocational educational is being imparted in the Indian Madrasas. Every year, while there is news of many Muslim students passing the most reputed Civil Services Exam of India. This year this exam was cleared by a student of Deoband Islamic Seminary. Last year, Shah Faisal, a Muslim student from the restive state of Jammu and Kashmir made Indian Muslims proud, when he topped this exam. Interestingly, Faisal’s background is intriguing. His father was killed by militants in Kashmir. Defying all odds, his mother educated Faisal and inspired him to compete in this biggest exam of the country. Her efforts ultimately paid off, when her son topped the exam.

But the kind of cruelty and brutality witnessed in Afghanistan and Waziristan area of Pakistan since last two decades is a blot not only on Islam but the entire human civilisation. These terrorists themselves survive on illegal drug trafficking, which is completely anti-Islamic in the first place. Their daily acts include insulting, torturing, killing women, making human bombs and using them to kill innocent people. The fact is that these forces are not able to call Muslims but the biggest enemy of Islam and the mankind.