TODAY is the Holy Ashura, a day of noble sacrifice of Imam Husein, the grandson of the holy Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) on the 10th Muharram 61AH (October 11th 680 AD). The Muslim Ummah observes the day and great solemnity is paid to the Imam (R) and the community commemorates the supreme sacrifice of ‘Karbala’ against the tyranny and misdeeds of the Yazids. The brutal forces of Yazid assassinated the Imam and 71 of his family members and loyal companions on that day at Karbala on the bank of river Euphrates in Iraq. The Imam had travelled the long way from Madina to Iraq to organise the people against Yazid who had declared himself as the Caliph of Islam introducing monarchy in the State of Madina.
The Muslims remember Ashura because Imam Husein had sacrificed his life for the sake of truth over falsehood. The tragedy of Karbala represents a conscious confrontation and a courageous resistance to the illegal rise to state power by corrupt and dishonest persons like Yazid bin Mu-awiyah. Imam Husein took the responsibility upon himself to save the Islamic nation from falling into the hands of an unelected tyrant for which he was killed in such a cruel manner.
History said, Imam Husein took the decision to travel to Iraq at the invitation of the people of Kufa to rescue the Caliphate from the tyrannical hand of Yazid who was an evil person posing a serious threat to the Islamic State of Madina. It is for this reason that the sacrifice of Imam Husein is commemorated annually throughout the Muslim world. The tragic event had shocked the very foundations of the Islamic ideologies and nationhood. It acted as a guidance on how to run the state by rightfully elected leader.
Imam Husein left behind a rich legacy to be cherished by the Muslim Ummah. The Imam gave his life for truth over falsehood over a thousand years back, we still believe his lessons still remain valid for present and coming generations. We have also tyrants in our times and Imam Husein has left the message that usurpers’ and undemocratic rulers must be resisted unitedly to establish the rule of law and justice in public life.
Muslims are now globally facing Karbala like brutality of in-fights in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Philistine, Turkey and many other regions. These have become possible due to the disunity and absence of the religious essence and unawareness about Islam. Islam is a religion of peace and values democracy more than many others in running state affairs. Islam denies any kind of hypocrisy and unjust or crude practices in electing leaders. Imam Husein sacrificed his life in defence of this high honoured principles. We remember his great sacrifice. May Almighty Allah keep his soul in peace. Ameen.
