Imam Hussain’s Birthday: A Reminder to Radicals of the true meaning of Jihad
By Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi
24 June 2012
Today is one of the most remarkable days in Islamic history, the birthday of the saviour of Islam from the clutches of evil, Imam Hussain ibn Ali. He was the son of the 4th rightly guided Caliph Hadhrat Ali (R.A) and Hadhrat Fatima (R.A)
Imam Hussain is viewed as an icon of lofty principles in the Islamic history. He strongly refused to surrender to the unjust and tyrannical ruler Yazid, who walked away from the Islamic concept of leadership through consensual democracy and created a completely dictatorial dynasty. However, the sacrifice of Imam Hussain is looked up as the revival of the faith and Islamic principles of freedom, democracy, fairness and justice.
Imam’s birthday serves as a reminder today to tell the people about the real objective of his sacrifice. If we Keep this in view, we will easily realize that the present day Muslims who make false claims of being Mujahidin (fighters in the path of Allah) and commit the barbaric acts of violence calling themselves Muslims, are just terrorists as these acts go completely against the true essence of Imam Hussain’s Jihad.
Imam Hussain distinguished the truth from the falsehood for once and all when he said to the ambassador of Yazid," A person like me would not give the oath of allegiance to a person like Yazid.", which implies that the truth cannot bow down to falsehood or evil, no matter how powerful the tyrant or the dictator is.
In a sermon while proceeding towards Karbala, Imam Hussain said to his followers," O' people, The Prophet of Islam has said that if a person sees a tyrannical ruler transgressing against Allah and oppressing people, but does nothing by word or action to change the situation, then it will be just for God to place him where he belongs. Do you not see what low level the affairs have come to? Do you not observe that the truth has not been adhered to and falsehood has no limits? And, as for me, I look upon death but as a means of attaining martyrdom. I consider life among transgressors an agony and affliction."
Ever since, Hussain has been an epitome of justice and tolerance not only for the Muslims but also for every human being with whom injustice is being perpetrated, no matter to which religion he belongs and in which form is the injustice. Nearly each and every remarkable revolution of the world got inspiration from the martyrdom of Imam Hussain. Although his sacrifice occurred on Karbala some 1400 years back, it still remains as a symbol of an universal struggle for peace and justice and elimination of violence and terrorism.
One of the most inspiring words ever said is that of Imam Hussain which he spoke while addressing the enemies in Karbala: “If you do not have religion, at least be a free man in your life of this world," because a free man can differentiate between the good and evil more easily than a biased one.
Imam’s birthday serves as a reminder today to tell the people about the real objective of his sacrifice. If we Keep this in view, we will easily realize that the present day Muslims who make false claims of being Mujahidin (fighters in the path of Allah) and commit the barbaric acts of violence calling themselves Muslims, are just terrorists as these acts go completely against the true essence of Imam Hussain’s Jihad.
Imam Hussain distinguished the truth from the falsehood for once and all when he said to the ambassador of Yazid," A person like me would not give the oath of allegiance to a person like Yazid.", which implies that the truth cannot bow down to falsehood or evil, no matter how powerful the tyrant or the dictator is.
In a sermon while proceeding towards Karbala, Imam Hussain said to his followers," O' people, The Prophet of Islam has said that if a person sees a tyrannical ruler transgressing against Allah and oppressing people, but does nothing by word or action to change the situation, then it will be just for God to place him where he belongs. Do you not see what low level the affairs have come to? Do you not observe that the truth has not been adhered to and falsehood has no limits? And, as for me, I look upon death but as a means of attaining martyrdom. I consider life among transgressors an agony and affliction."
Ever since, Hussain has been an epitome of justice and tolerance not only for the Muslims but also for every human being with whom injustice is being perpetrated, no matter to which religion he belongs and in which form is the injustice. Nearly each and every remarkable revolution of the world got inspiration from the martyrdom of Imam Hussain. Although his sacrifice occurred on Karbala some 1400 years back, it still remains as a symbol of an universal struggle for peace and justice and elimination of violence and terrorism.
One of the most inspiring words ever said is that of Imam Hussain which he spoke while addressing the enemies in Karbala: “If you do not have religion, at least be a free man in your life of this world," because a free man can differentiate between the good and evil more easily than a biased one.
The Holy Prophet had very often insisted upon his Umma not to forget Hussain. This insistence of Prophet Mohammad clearly suggests that those who tend to forget Karbala and the Martyrdom of Hussain will cause compromises in his mission. Today, the radical Muslims who claim to be custodians of Islam and go on killing innocents in the name of Jihad have forgotten Imam Hussain and his martyrdom.
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