Karbala was a battle of truth against falsehood, humanity against villainy, righteousness against evil, justice against corruption. Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) with just 72 loyal men, who fought against an impossible opposition of several thousands to save Islam from the clutches of tyranny. The Battle can inspire anyone to always stand up for what is right, to stand up against oppression. Even if the majority of the world is against you, stick with what is right and you will be victorious. The Holly Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Whoever loves me and loves these two [Hasan and Hussain] and loves their mother and father [Fatima and Ali], will be with me in my station on the Day of Resurrection.” In another occasion the Holly Prophet Said: “Verily Hussain is the shining light of guidance and the ark of salvation. Hassan(AS) and Hussain(AS) are the leaders of the youth of Paradise.” It is why both brothers were steadfast on the path of true Islam – the Islam that does not prioritize rulers or dynasties. Their call for justice and unity of the ummah was central in all of actions, both on and off the battlefield. The Muslim Caliphate came to Imam Hassan(AS) after the martyrdom of Ali bin Abi Talib(AS). But he had ceded his right to rule for the best interest of the community and for the sake of sparing blood. Similarly, Imam Hussain , the much loved grandson of the Prophet (PBUH)stood in the scorching heat of Karbala along with his companions, when the people of Kufa sent letters to him, invited him to Kufa and asked him to be their Imam and pledged their allegiance to him. Imam Hussain took a stand, refusing to give in to the demands of an oppressor. One man against thousands. Rather than choosing the easy way out, Hussain(AS) stuck to his principles and gave his life in the land of Karbala, as did 72 of his companions and family members, whilst the remaining women and children were taken captive.
Indeed this martyrdom has left the life-lasting lessons to learn from Karbala and to follow these teaching till the end of times. One lesson that can be taken from Muharram is how to stand in the face of oppression. There will always exist an oppressor and an oppressed. Hussain showed that it is our duty to stand up to the oppressor no matter the circumstances. We cannot turn a blind eye to everything that is going on, even if the odds are stacked against us. Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) said in Karbala: “Seek peace to maintain the truth, since nothing is more important than truth. However, a peace that cannot guarantee the truth is not peace anymore but oppression. Don’t you see that truth has been replaced by falsehood? We must be prepared to sacrifice everything that is precious in support of truth!” He was happy to remain patient in hardship and endurance and to await his lord’s reward. His patience was not out of weakness or helplessness, but it was a demonstration of his steadfastness and bravery. Those who saw the Imam Hussain (a.s) on the day of Ashura reported that they have never seen a man remaining as composed as Imam Hussain (a.s), whereas his relatives and children were slaughtered before his eyes. Karbala also serves as reminder of the consequences of the corrupt leadership and the dangers of following oppressive rulers blindly. It encourage people to be vigilant in their choices and to be aware of the potential outcomes of their actions. On the night before Ashura, Imam Hussain taught us an invaluable lesson on forgiveness. The commander of the opposition army, Hurr Ar-Riyahi, intercepted the caravan of Imam Hussain AS, forcing them to stop in the land of Karbala. When realising his mistakes, Hurr ran to the camp of Aba Abdallah, throwing himself at the Imam’s feet pleading for forgiveness. Imam Hussain could easily not have forgiven Hurr, after all, it was his doing that left the Imam and his caravan in Karbala – however he forgave him straight away and assured that the Holy Prophet also has forgiven him. This serves as an important reminder that you should always forgive someone no matter what they have done for you if they are sincere in their apology.
Charles Dickens truly said “If Hussain fought to quench his worldly desires, then I do not understand why his sisters, wives and children accompanied him. It stands to reason therefore that he sacrificed purely for Islam.”
The author is a professor of Islamic Studies at Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan.
