لطفا منتظر باشید ...
INTRODUCTION
Karbala
presents a clear and inspiring example of a great sacrifice for Islam and humanity.
The example of martyrdom set by Imam Husayn (Peace be upon him), the members
of his family and his companions will continue to provide lofty values to human
hearts which make man attain that exalted position of humanity which Allah expects
from a true Muslim.
Islam is the name of a continual movement and revolution which is a perfect
system in the ideological field -a living movement in the journey of historical
continuity.
The following Qur'anic verse goes to show that ideologically Islam is a perfect
system: ...On this day I have perfected your religion, completed my favours
to you and have chosen Islam as your religion. ...(Surah Mai'dah, 5:3)
In the passage of history the following Divine verses bear witness to Islam
being a perpetual movement: you are the best of the nations that existed among
men. You command people to follow the Law and prohibit them from committing
sins and you believe in Allah. (Surah Ali Imran, 3:111)
Let there be a group among you, who will invite others to do good deeds, command
them to obey the Law, and prohibit them from committing sins. (Surah AI-e-Imran,
3:104)
As in the caravan of history Islam is a perpetual movement and a constant revolution,
it offers unending sacrifices. From its very beginning it presented martyrs
to combat the forces and evils of ignorance to achieve success and even after
the perfection of religion it made sacrifices successively against the powers
of alteration and destructive elements to safeguard its success; During every
revolution the number of martyrs continued to increase and opposition to its
aims and objects also increased. The object of this opposition was to annihilate
the revolution and its future. And it is here that the greatness of martyrdom
against the forces inimical to revolution becomes manifest, because it was the
martyrdom of those 'victors' 'who were not avaricious of the honors of victory
but who stuck to their ideal even after achieving victory so that they might
attain the great blessing of martyrdom.
Imam Husayn (P) belonged to this very 'victorious' family and taking advantage
of the honors of 'victory' he could lead a comfortable life in the Islamic society.
However, he saw that anti-Islamic movement was progressing in the guise of Islam
itself, Islam had fallen a prey to intellectual pollution and profanity and
as the Holy Prophet had warned the Muslims, the Islamic Caliphate had changed
into despotic anarchism.
Islam which according to Imam Husayn's concept is a perpetual revolution was
always faced with the danger of being desecrated and destroyed by the anti-
Islamic forces of the suppressive movement of autocratic rule. It was on the
basis of this concept that Imam Husayn chose the path of martyrdom so that the
spirit of Islam might remain alive and be protected from the pollution of the
anti-Islamic government.
Islam, for the sake of which Imam Hu'sayn (P) chose martyrdom, is not an idle
concept but a perfect system, which has been introduced for the benefit of Mankind.
It brings into existence a Muslim society which looks after the needs of the
people, protects their human rights and promises a life of prosperity in this
world and the Hereafter.
Imam Husayn (P) and his companions did not become martyrs after being slain,
but they were martyrs even during their lifetime. Martyrdom is not attained
only through death but it also takes place during one's life. To take a just
stand and to stick to it firmly for the welfare of the entire society, rising
above personal, family and party interests, to make it the stand for the present
and future generations of the entire Ummah, to connect that stand with Allah
according to the Divine teachings and to follow the principles of political
virtue, gives the meaning of martyrdom to life, and it is this act which adorns
them with martyrdom.
The material life is for all the people, but the future of a martyr is connected
with the spiritual uplift of man. It is this thing which gives man the distinctive
sign of martyrdom and this is the reality of the highest rank of martyrdom of
the martyrs of Karbala. This martyrdom is a landmark in- the history of human
dignity defying all sorts of communalism, regionalism or nationalism. It was
the noblest feat of humanity because it was the interpreter of the stand taken
by an honourable creation like man -the same man who is entitled to honour,
prosperity -and good future. The Almighty Allah says: We have exalted the children
of Adam, carried them on the. land and on the sea, given them pure sustenance
and exalted them above most of My creatures. (Surah Bani Israel, 17: 70)
Hence, it is the universal recognition of the Tragedy of Karbala,which has made
it everlasting (and) (it is present) in the annals of History as a living memorial
( of the martyrs) till today and leads them to those sublime human values which
take man out of the narrow circle of his ego and bring him into the field of
effort and action for the honour, welfare and future of the entire society.
The Holy Prophet says: "Every one of you is responsible and every one will
be questioned about his subordinates."
When we study the revolution., brought about by Imam Husayn (P) and the martyrdom
of his kith, and kin we understand the reality of the events which have taken
place in the world of Islam and we also come to know where it has reached now
and what dangers threaten it. Under the manifest spirit of human sacrifice staged
in Karbala, a Karbala is taking place for every man and every group of men even
today. Today man is standing at the parting of the ways: Either he should remain
steadfast in his belief in Monotheism and should, relying on Allah, lead his
life on His Path by turning away his face from the East and the West, controlling
his temptations, helping the weak in seeking proximity to Allah, defending the
faith, fostering brotherhood, love and unity, and make Islam honoured, or he
may submit to Satan and choose the path of cruelty, treachery, fanaticism and
dissension. In any case every one of us is standing at the crossroads to decide
his line of action.
In the past many persons who were at the crossroads, failed. However, if we
fail it will be the death of our religious existence because the deceitful enemy
is sitting in ambush.
Shaykh Muhammad Mahdi
Shamsuddin Vice President, Al-Majlis-al-lslami al Shi'ie al-A 'la (Lebanon)
