- Unfortunately, the message of Karbala remains to be interpreted and understood
Every year, thousands of people rally together in the month of Muharram. Clad, mostly, in black clothes these people gather and commemorate the 10th day of Muharram, commonly known as Ashura.
The purpose of gathering in these days is to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) the beloved grandson of the Holy Prophet (SAW) who was martyred on the burning lands of Karbala. His family was massacred along his side and the women and children were left thirsty, for days.
1400 years later, the grief is alive within the hearts of people. Imam Hussain (AS) is not the property of any one particular sect. He is a symbol of love and peace who taught lessons to people from all walks of life, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Before we embark on a journey to comprehend his message, there is immense need to emancipate from societal defects that have bound us for so long. In order to understand Karbala, we need to be able to understand that Hussain was and is for everyone. The household of the Holy Prophet (SAW) is to be respected by all.
The Umayyad’s, Abbasid’s, Ottoman’s and our very own ‘scholars’ of Islam have pigmented the chain of events and have carried forward the narrations with their own depiction of events. All these years, history has been distorted in plenty of ways. The vast majority which commemorates the martyrdom every year claims to comprehend the message of Karbala. Unfortunately, the message of Karbala remains to be interpreted and understood.
Our brains remain inbreeded with societal concepts that have pulled us down. Itehad e Bainul Muslimeen is a concept, never been taught nor been understood. What has been preached till date is hatred. Differences among belief have been profusely sermonised. Using the power of the loudspeakers, the scholars of Islam have brewed hatred in the hearts of Muslims. Not only toward the non-Muslims but venom is spit amongst the believers.
Hussain (AS) preached the message of peace and love. More importantly, he highlighted the importance to stand for Haq and opposeBaatil.
Rather than learning from the sacrifices of Karbala, the people have scattered away from the essence of Karbala. The Muslims as a whole have distorted the concept and purpose of religion and have created the existing problems of the Muslim world. There were no Sunnis and Shias in Karbala. There was only right or wrong. Haq or Baatil.Nothing else. Both sides were in a hurry to offer their prayers. Yet, one is praised and the other is despised. That is the question which we need to analyse and answer. What was the difference? What would have been the impact, had things played out differently?
The problem which we have immersed ourselves in is the traditional practices which have clouded the jist of our religion. The teachings of Islam have been coated with traditions and fatwas of today. Hate and resentment are planted in the minds of our children. Love and peace remain forgotten.
Karbala was the essence of love. The message of peace. The lesson till the end. We do recall and narrate the events that transpired. What we do not practically evaluate is the consequences of those events. The message delivered by the blood of Hussain (AS). Blood, which was spilt to protect the veins of Islam. To deliver to the people the true message of Allah and save it from being distorted. Hussain (AS ) didn’t care about his family or his children. Let’s not take it in the wrong context. He loved his family dearly. But he loved his Creator more.
For Islam, a true sacrifice was rendered. Ironically, to protect the message of Karbala, thousands more have rendered sacrifices. Their crime: Labaik Ya Hussain (AS). Hussain (AS) the beloved grandson of the Holy Porphet (SAW) taught us the virtue of sacrifice. The very sacrifice we have never fully understood. We have bifurcated the religion amongst ourselves and have divided the teachings, conveniently. Some of us have even suspended the concept of Islam and await divine guidance. The others rely upon illiterate guidance readily available today.
Even the month of Muharram which is observed with the utmost sanctity is meant to be a remembrance of the message. Did Imam Hussain (AS) render his sacrifice only so we would weep in sorrow? Indeed, we are bound to weep for the blood of Ahle Bait. But is that the only point? Days after Muharram is over, we are back on track. Living our lives with the utmost comfort, practicing the teachings of Yazid more as opposed to those of Hussain (As).
Unfortunately, the remembrance of Karbala has become more ritualistic rather than being a message. Karbala is a book which teaches you a new concept each time you read it. It is a sea full of lessons. Each wave brings forward a new lesson to be learnt. Every second which passed in Karbala left a message, not just for Muslims but for humanity.
There is immense need to emancipate from societal bounds which hold is with strings of hatred. We need to replace those strings of hate and fill them with love and peace. The Ahle Bait even in the darkest of their hours didn’t lose hope and strictly remained steadfast to their virtues. According to one narration, even Yazid himself was given the solution through which he could gain forgiveness for the atrocities committed in Karbala. Though his own fate didn’t allow him to actually seek forgiveness.
Hussain (AS) preached the message of peace and love. More importantly, he highlighted the importance to stand forHaq and oppose Baatil. The blood of Hussain (AS) which was spilt in Karbala runs through the veins of Islam. It is not an option but a duty that the blood of Hussain (AS) should be remembered and commemorated. The following words need to analysed and comprehended before embarking on the debate of religion and belief:
Ajab Mazaaq Hai Islam Ki Taqdeer Ke Saath
Kaata Hussain (AS) Ka Sar , Naar e Takbeer Ke Baad
