A history lesson worth remembering
There has been no greatest sacrifice in the history of mankind, not before, not after the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (RA) and his family. He is the daylight for the dim caverns of persecution, a breeze for the hot air of tyranny and a light in beat-up pathways of hopelessness. Imam Hussain (RA) altered the course of history by not bowing down to oppression, by not shaking hand with feral ruler. He was never out of options. He could have settled down; he could have marked an agreement yet he opted for a stand, a stand which would become a sheer light of guidance for every human who would live on earth till doomsday. A truth which would become hope for every beleaguered, a principle which would carry a legacy of Imam Hussain (RA) interminably paying little heed to country, nation or religion.
He belonged to highest descent, a noble by birth, son of His Excellency Ali (Ra) and grandson of Prophet (PBUH). He had the mighty power, the power of faith and reliance in God. He could have prayed for skies to fall, for earth to fall short on Yazid but he prayed for strength to bear the misfortunes when his child named Abdullah (RA) became lifeless by the bolt of foe which tore apart his ear. Imam Hussain (RA) knew the defeat is certain but he refused to pay homage to Yazid, a ruler who was contaminated with stinking haughtiness and rancid scheme.
If the defeat of Hussain is defeat, it is far glories defeat, for victories are merely judged upon by the rule of existence. In the battle between the truth and falsehood, despotism and justice, good and bad, Imam Hussain (RA) has set an example of valor, gallantry and heroism. As long as the universe breathes, Yazid will be cursed and Imam Hussain (RA) will be honored.
The message of Karbala is loud and clear. Every one of us has a role to play in the society. It is our obligation to speak and stand against felony. If we are not moving our tongues against the wrong, we are disabling the society to evolve in a right direction. Such societies are then ruled by the individuals who seldom care for the wants and will of people. They are driven by the fact that the people of the society are quiet, coward and asleep. They are dominated with irregularities of law and order. These societies filled with deaf and dumb are often blinded by another force which quench the thirst by blood of individuals. I don’t find Pakistan different from such societies. We are slowly becoming a flock of people who are blind to inequity, dumb to morality and deaf to cruelty.
Today Yazid lives amongst us and in every one of us. He stands taller when we facilitate subjugation. He laughs when we surrender to infraction. He celebrates when we succumb to corruption. We have perhaps overlooked the message of Karbala and sacrifice of Imam Hussain (RA). We cannot overpower Yazid within ourselves without practicing sacrifice.
We should start by refusing to pay oath of allegiance. We should start by marching toward the truth, no matter what it may cost. We should believe in advocacy of honesty and upholding of law irrespective of circumstances. The honor and glory rests with Allah. It doesn’t come to anyone without His will. But if you have struggled against enslavement and suppression, you will be honored and your opponent will cease to exist.
Allama Iqbal puts the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (RA) as follow:
Ghareeb-o-Sada-o-Rangeen Hai Dastan-e-Haram
Nahayat Iss Ki Hussain (R.A.), Ibtada Hai Ismaeel (A.S.)
Iqbal terms the elevation of Islam began with Hazrat Ismail (A.S) who was ready to sacrifice himself but was replaced by a ram. The sacrifice was not overturned as it was met thousands of years later by the glory of mankind, Imam Hussain (RA), the best.
Imam Hussain (RA) was, is, will be the shelter for the pained. He will be celebrated till eternity. His legacy is beyond the cruel constraints of time. He the greatest, incomparable, noble, distinguished and loved will always be the light for the humanity.