Mahdi Mahmud :
The Holy Quran has ordained “…Amr bil Ma’ruf wa Nahi anil Munkar”…- the responsibility of enjoining right and forbidding wrong to create a society based on truth and justice.
“…So fear not men, but fear Me…”(Quran 5:44)
“Cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus are those among the children of Israel who disbelieved on account of their rebellion and transgression. They did not prevent each other from committing vile and corrupt acts; surely what they did was abominable.”(Quran 5:78-79)
“The believing men and women are friends and protectors to each others; they enjoin the good and forbid the evil; they perform the prayer and pay the zakat and obey Allah and His messenger. Upon them Allah shall have mercy; Allah is Almighty, All Wise. ” (Quran 9:71)
The Holy Prophet (Sm) said, “It is necessary to help a believer whether he is an oppressor or an oppressed one. If he is an oppressor he should be restrained from oppression and if he is oppressed he should be helped obtaining his rights.”
The Holy Prophet (Sm) said, “One who wakes up in the morning and is not concerned with the affairs of the Muslims, is not a Muslim.”
The historic speech of Imam Husain (Ra) at Mina is a masterpiece to determine the role and duties of the scholars for the upcoming generations from his time to the end of the universe. By reproaching and with advises he shows the people in general and the scholars the role of ideal Muslims.
We are presenting some excerpts from the speech”
“Oh people. Take lesson from the counsel Allah gave to his friends when he rebuked the rabbis by saying:
‘Why do scholars and rabbis not forbid their sinful talk and consumption of what is unlawful? Truly what they have done is evil.”
“….Allah reproached them because they saw with their own eyes the oppressors committing vile and corrupt acts, but did not stop them, out of love for the favors they received from them (oppressors) as well as fear of persecution and injury.”
Imam Husain continued,”….Allah mentions the duty of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil before all other duties, because He knows that if it is performed and established in society all other duties- the easy and the difficult-will also be established…
…The reason for this is that enjoining the good and forbidding the evil means summoning the people to Islam as well as resistance against injustice opposing and struggling against the oppressors, and endeavoring to ensure that public wealth and income derived from war are distributed in accordance with the just laws of Islam, and that the taxes are collected, levied and expended in due and proper form…”
“….O scholars, who are celebrated and enjoy good reputation on account of your learning! You have achieved a good name in society because of your goodwill. It is on account of Allah that men venerate you and stand in awe of you….When the people do not receive their due, they seek your intercession and you just walk in the street with the majesty of kings and princes…”
“…you have taken lightly your duties as leaders. You have neglected the rights of the oppressed and the lowly, but have assiduously pursued what you regard as your personal rights.”
“Nevertheless, you desire-and regard it as your due-that he should grant you Paradise, the company of the Prophet, and security from chastisement in the hereafter. You have such expectations of Allah…I fear that the full weight of his wreath descend upon you, for although it is by His Might and Glory that you have achieved high rank, you show no respect to those who truly know Allah, while you yourselves enjoy respect among Allah’s creature on his account.”
“…The blind, the dumb, the chronically ill everywhere lack protection in towns and no mercy is shown with them. But you neither behave in accordance with your function and rank, nor do you support or pay any regard to those who do. You purchase your safety from the oppressive ruling powers with flattery, cajolery, and compromise…”
“…The calamity that has befallen you is greater than what has befallen others, for the true rank and degree of “Ulama” has been taken away from you…” “…So (O scholars of religion!) you are to help us reach this goal, win back our rights from those powers who have considered it acceptable to wrong you and who have attempted to put out light kindled by your Prophet. Allah suffices us, upon him do we rely, and to him shall we return.”
The teacher of Imam Abu Hanifa, member of Ahlul Bayt Imam Zafar Sadiq once said, “Not helping the oppressed is one of the greatest sins.”
We have to recheck and re-analyze what we think Islam is. Imam Husain rose against the Yazid. Indeed the Prophets, the last Prophet and the members of Imam Hosain’s holy progeny opposed, exposed and fought against the tyrants of their time. We should uphold the legacy to fight against the tyrants to establish justice.
It is the teaching of Karbala that our scholars and we will enjoin the right and by ignoring the minor differences between humanity, civilizations, sects and cultures, nurture the seed of love in our heart. We should not be the subservient of those who are causing disunity among the Muslims and oppressed people.
The Holy Quran has ordained “…Amr bil Ma’ruf wa Nahi anil Munkar”…- the responsibility of enjoining right and forbidding wrong to create a society based on truth and justice.
“…So fear not men, but fear Me…”(Quran 5:44)
“Cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus are those among the children of Israel who disbelieved on account of their rebellion and transgression. They did not prevent each other from committing vile and corrupt acts; surely what they did was abominable.”(Quran 5:78-79)
“The believing men and women are friends and protectors to each others; they enjoin the good and forbid the evil; they perform the prayer and pay the zakat and obey Allah and His messenger. Upon them Allah shall have mercy; Allah is Almighty, All Wise. ” (Quran 9:71)
The Holy Prophet (Sm) said, “It is necessary to help a believer whether he is an oppressor or an oppressed one. If he is an oppressor he should be restrained from oppression and if he is oppressed he should be helped obtaining his rights.”
The Holy Prophet (Sm) said, “One who wakes up in the morning and is not concerned with the affairs of the Muslims, is not a Muslim.”
The historic speech of Imam Husain (Ra) at Mina is a masterpiece to determine the role and duties of the scholars for the upcoming generations from his time to the end of the universe. By reproaching and with advises he shows the people in general and the scholars the role of ideal Muslims.
We are presenting some excerpts from the speech”
“Oh people. Take lesson from the counsel Allah gave to his friends when he rebuked the rabbis by saying:
‘Why do scholars and rabbis not forbid their sinful talk and consumption of what is unlawful? Truly what they have done is evil.”
“….Allah reproached them because they saw with their own eyes the oppressors committing vile and corrupt acts, but did not stop them, out of love for the favors they received from them (oppressors) as well as fear of persecution and injury.”
Imam Husain continued,”….Allah mentions the duty of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil before all other duties, because He knows that if it is performed and established in society all other duties- the easy and the difficult-will also be established…
…The reason for this is that enjoining the good and forbidding the evil means summoning the people to Islam as well as resistance against injustice opposing and struggling against the oppressors, and endeavoring to ensure that public wealth and income derived from war are distributed in accordance with the just laws of Islam, and that the taxes are collected, levied and expended in due and proper form…”
“….O scholars, who are celebrated and enjoy good reputation on account of your learning! You have achieved a good name in society because of your goodwill. It is on account of Allah that men venerate you and stand in awe of you….When the people do not receive their due, they seek your intercession and you just walk in the street with the majesty of kings and princes…”
“…you have taken lightly your duties as leaders. You have neglected the rights of the oppressed and the lowly, but have assiduously pursued what you regard as your personal rights.”
“Nevertheless, you desire-and regard it as your due-that he should grant you Paradise, the company of the Prophet, and security from chastisement in the hereafter. You have such expectations of Allah…I fear that the full weight of his wreath descend upon you, for although it is by His Might and Glory that you have achieved high rank, you show no respect to those who truly know Allah, while you yourselves enjoy respect among Allah’s creature on his account.”
“…The blind, the dumb, the chronically ill everywhere lack protection in towns and no mercy is shown with them. But you neither behave in accordance with your function and rank, nor do you support or pay any regard to those who do. You purchase your safety from the oppressive ruling powers with flattery, cajolery, and compromise…”
“…The calamity that has befallen you is greater than what has befallen others, for the true rank and degree of “Ulama” has been taken away from you…” “…So (O scholars of religion!) you are to help us reach this goal, win back our rights from those powers who have considered it acceptable to wrong you and who have attempted to put out light kindled by your Prophet. Allah suffices us, upon him do we rely, and to him shall we return.”
The teacher of Imam Abu Hanifa, member of Ahlul Bayt Imam Zafar Sadiq once said, “Not helping the oppressed is one of the greatest sins.”
We have to recheck and re-analyze what we think Islam is. Imam Husain rose against the Yazid. Indeed the Prophets, the last Prophet and the members of Imam Hosain’s holy progeny opposed, exposed and fought against the tyrants of their time. We should uphold the legacy to fight against the tyrants to establish justice.
It is the teaching of Karbala that our scholars and we will enjoin the right and by ignoring the minor differences between humanity, civilizations, sects and cultures, nurture the seed of love in our heart. We should not be the subservient of those who are causing disunity among the Muslims and oppressed people.
