Reveiw of Religions: ‘I look always with wonder at this Arab Prophet whose name is Muhammad, thousands of blessings and peace be upon him. How exalted his status was! One cannot perceive the ultimate limit of his station…’1 (Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as), the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi)
The Tragedy of Karbala
The background to Karbala revolves around the refusal of Hadhrat Imam Hussain(ra), the blessed grandson of the Holy Prophet(saw), to pledge allegiance to Yazid, the son of Muawiyah. Muawiyah had rebelled against Hadhrat Ali(ra), the Fourth of the rightly guided Khalifas and father of Hadhrat Imam Hussain(ra), and established his own governance and declared himself a self-appointed Khalifa. Before his demise, Muawiyah appointed his own son, Yazid, as his heir apparent. Whilst many Muslims pledged allegiance to Yazid, Hadhrat Imam Hussain(ra) and some other Companions had rejected this outright. They felt that due to Yazid’s impiety, he was not worthy, nor possessed the right to the Khilafat. The true Khilafat was not a dynasty where the son would automatically become the heir-apparent. Rather, the true Khalifa was chosen by God, albeit through the will of the people. Thus, Muawiyah and Yazid were trying to establish a despotic rule in the guise of Khilafat.
Hadhrat Imam Hussain(ra) eventually set off for Kufa in Iraq on the beckoning of around 18,000 people who written letters pledging their allegiance to him. Although Hadhrat Imam Hussain(ra) had indications through visions and also the information received from others that something was not right, he set off to Kufa, not yet fully aware that the people of Kufa no longer supported him. En route, Hadhrat Imam Hussain(ra)’s party were confronted by a large army in Karbala. The enemy commander said he had been ordered to detain Imam Hussain(ra) and his party and demanded they pledge allegiance to Yazid. Despite the fact that Hussain(ra) explained to the enemy commander that he been beckoned by the people of Kufa, and that he was even ready to travel elsewhere, his plea fell on deaf ears.
The Great Mosque of Kufa. Built in the 7th century, it is considered to be one of the earliest Mosques. It is said to contain the tomb of Muslim bin Aqil(ra), cousin of Hadhrat Imam Hussain(ra), who he sent to Kufa to investigate the 18,000 people who had pledged allegiance. Aqil(ra) was eventually martyred before he could inform Hadhrat Hussain(ra) regarding the treachery of the people in Kufa.
On the morning of Ashura (the 10th of Muharram), judgment day arrived. There were only approximately 72 people with Imam Hussain(ra) against 4000 soldiers. One by one Imam Hussain(ra)’s Companions fell fighting the enemy soldiers, desperately trying to defend Imam Hussain(ra). After, the Ahle Bai’at (family of the Holy Prophet(saw)), one by one also fell fighting. 20 members of the family of the Holy Prophet(saw) were killed in the field of Karbala. Imam Hussain(ra) fought valiantly until his last breath, but he also eventually was martyred. Horse riders rode forth and trampled upon the dead body of Imam Hussain(ra). Imam Hussain(ra) had been hit 45 times by arrows, 33 times by spears and over 40 times by sword blows. Hadhrat Hussain(ra)’s head was severed and sent to Kufa, where the governor had it displayed for public view. This was a tragic day in Islamic history, when the blood of the noble people of God was shed in this merciless slaughter. The people of Kufa also had displayed ultimate cowardice and hypocrisy. However, Imam Hussain(ra) had given his life to uphold the truth, of this there can be no doubt. A full account of the events that transpired at Karbala can be read in the article we featured in the January 2011 Edition of The Review of Religions, ‘Imam Hussain and the Tragedy of Karbala.’ Here, our purpose is to depict how true love for the Holy Prophet(saw) and his family can be expressed.
Muharram and the great status of Hadrat Imam Hussein
Categories: ISLAM