TEARS are a gift. When we don’t know or don’t remember how to shed them, we can pray for the gift of tears. We don’t know the script. We know the Giver.” It is time to know Hussain suffered for each one of us, for all those who are denied justice. It is time to see how suffering is a gift and thank God for it. Let us unfold all these points on the day when the noblest family on earth was massacred for the noblest ideals that ennoble and redeem life.
To be human is to suffer, to grieve and to weep. It is to suffer for the sake of that which is dearer than life, to grieve for that which ideal which humans, our predecessors or we have failed to be loyal to. It is to weep for what overcomes us and undoes all resistance on our part to the decimating embrace of God/Spirit.
God made us humans and not angels. Not to weep in the name of some spiritual or mystical principle would contradict our human, all-too-human status. The Prince of prophets wept. Jesus wept. saints weep. Great men can’t resist tears as no mother or lover can. Fatima (RA) wept – she is said to have wept for months and, for devotees, is still weeping for Hussain (RA) in the majalis of mourners each Muharram. The great Imams likes of which this earth has not known in realizations of stations of acceptance and secret of destiny also wept. God takes account of our concern for the heroes like Hussain as He does of Christ or even . Ghalib spoke
for all humans when he composed the following lines:
dil hī to hai na sañg-o-khisht dard se bhar na aae kyuuñ
roeñge ham hazār baar koī hameñ satāe kyuuñ
it’s just a heart, no stony shard; why shouldn’t it fi ll with pain
I will cry a thousand times, why should someone complain?
qaid-e-hayāt o band-e-ġham asl meñ donoñ ek haiñ
maut se pahle aadmī ġham se najāt paae kyuuñ
prison of life and sorrow’s chains in truth are just the same
then relief from pain, ere death, why should man obtain?
The death of somebody, somewhere makes our heart sink The constant fear of death does not even let us to face the routine life comfortably. But look at the blazing sandy desert of Karbala where the brave, gallant and fearless Imami refused to be taken in by the baseless fears of death. It was not horrifying for him. It had made him and his loyal companions more dedicated, devoted, disciplined and determined. Everyone of Imam Hussain’s (R.A) loyal companions, with unfl inching belief and courage thought it better to fi nish the work earlier and leave the world as satisfied persons. So when death is certainly destined for the great cause, why go pale at its thought? What an unassailable belief!
The message of Karbala is vivid and clear. The battle of Karbala was not meant to grab a patch of land, rather it was intended to secure and uphold core human values. It was a battle between good and evil, between justice and oppression. Muharram marks the anniversary of the battle of Karbala where the Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Imam Hussain (R.A) Ibn Ali (R.A) was martyred. The yearly rituals of remembrance acts as a reset button for all of us.
It is undoubtedly an annual reminder for drilling into minds what is right and raising voice against oppression, no matter who the oppressed or oppressor is. We just need to close our eyes, put ourselves in their place and imagine. Tears will start fl owing. Be it how Hussain (R.A) allowed his 18 years old son to go for battle, but followed him on foot even after bidding him good bye or how Hussain’s (R.A) four years old daughter was tortured after his death with her earrings jerked from her ears. Hussain (R.A) could have easily saved himself and his family from all this torture if only he had been selfi sh. Since Hussain (R.A) was grandsons of Prophet Mohammad (SAW), his character shattered the so called caliph of the Islamic state, Yazeed. Look at the valiant Imam Hussain (R.A) who maintained an attitude of defi ance toward death. Imam (R.A) thought, why not to do something that defeats the very purpose of death. Marhaba Hussain (R.A), son of Moula Ali (R.A) “you have defeated the death in Maidani-e-Karbala”. Thirsty Hussain (R.A) with sun blazing over, earth beneath scorching and lips cracked like a dry desert faced the hard test valiantly. It was the day when the earth trembled and the skies wept blood - the tenth day of the month of Muharram known as Ashora.
It was Hussain (R.A)’s refusal which resulted in the martyrdom at Karbala where only 72 people faced boldly against the huge army of Yazeed. Why? Because standing for right is important even if you have to face death with certainty. This is the only way to defeat injustice and tyranny. Hussain (A.S) was great Imam, great son and great brother who achieved martyrdom for a great cause and served great deal of love for Islam. Hussain (R.A) and his loyal companions are still remembered with grace and gratitude. Certainly who die to serve a great cause never die. Their work, their ideals, their vision still continue guiding us on the right path of life. Without any ounce of doubt the sacrifice of Hazrat Imami Hussain (R.A) became an emblem of resistance to injustice, tyranny and oppression. These sacrifices were not just for one particular sect of Islam but for humanity as a whole.
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