Salamun alaykum,
The moment of Epic :
We have been able to observe the days of azadari in Muharram especially on Ashura : the day of Intense grief. With the events of Azadari still fresh in our mind we must reflect on that monumental moment, over thirteen hundred and sixty one years ago, on the 10th day of Muharram 61 A.H. (680 C.E.) just before 'Asr prayer, when Imam Husayn stood on a sand-dune at Karbala. He had carried several dead bodies of his loved ones into his camp. Blood was flowing all over his body from the wounds he had suffered. He looked skyward and prayed; "O Allah! In You I place my trust amid all grief. You are my hope amid all violence. You are my Refuge and Provider in everything that happens. How many grievances are there that weaken the heart, leaving me with no means to respond; during which friends depart (attain martyrdom) while enemies rejoice."
Call of 'Ashura :
Then, this beloved grandson of the Prophet, raised a call: "Is there anyone who will come to assist us? Is there anyone who will respond to our call for help?"
Two types of response:
- The enemy soldiers of Umar bin S’ad responded by increased beating of drums, cheering and jeering at the Imam.
- The six month old infant Ali Asghar lurching out of the cradle leading to his brutal martyrdom with a three pronged arrow slitting his delicate neck.
Did the call end there?
Surely Imam Husayn was not expecting anyone there in Karbala to come to his aid since his close companions had already laid their lives in martyrdom. The previous night, in his address, Imam had freed his loved companions from their allegiance urging them to take advantage of the dark and leave him.
The call did not end there. The life span of this call was neither restricted to the day of Ashura in 61 A.H. nor to the land of Karbala as emphasized by the hadith: Everyday is Ashura, Every land is Karbala.
Our response:
On sighting the crescent of month of Muharram our life schedules take a drastic turn. We devote great efforts, time and resources in observing the Azadari of Imam Husayn and the martyrs of Karbala. The commemoration of Azadari every year serves to remind us of the tragedy and the sacrifices by the martyrs of Karbala. Such abundantly rewarding are these sessions, that Imam Ali Zaynul ‘Abdin has stated the reward for tears is accommodation in the elevated rooms of Paradise.
The prime purpose of these sessions is to reconnects us to the ideals and values for which Imam Husayn a.s. bravely stood up for against Yazid. This is to make us conscious of the role we have to play at all times in being ‘Husayni’ for Everyday is Ashura, Every land is Karbala.
Is our response sufficient to make us ‘Husayni’ ?
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
With salaams and duas
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat