hussain's (as) revolution

8/8/2019 Hussain's (as) Revolution

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IMAM HUSSAIN'S (as) REVOLUTION:

REASONS AND MOTIVES

All those who are familiar with Imam Hussain's life do

certainly realize that his role in serving Islam had started veryearly in his life. He has contributed to the rising Islamicmovement when he was a boy, and played a significant role,when his father, Imam Ali (as) was the Commander of thefaithful, taking part in all three wars (Jung-e-Jamal, Jung-e-

Siffin and Jung-e-Nahrwan) that his father fought along with the rest of thefaithful companions and followers.

When his brother Hassan (as) became Imam, he obeyed and followed him inall what he said or did. Then his role entered a new stage with the passing

away of his brother. And since the role of any Imam of Ahlul Bayt (as) isdefined in accordance with the nature of the social and political conditions ofhis age, the Imam drew a new course in determining the direction of theIslamic movement.

Winds of Revolution or Islamic Movement:

When Muawiyah died in the middle of Rajab of year 60 (Hijrah), and his sonYazeed took power, and ordered his walis to ask for the people's pledge ofloyalty and especially that of Imam Hussain (as), a wave of rejection and

opposition to the policy of betrayal and tyranny mounted, and the Imamdecided to rise to his religious responsibilities as the lawful Imam and theleader of the Islamic nation entrusted with the task of preserving its divinemessage.

Imam Hussain (as) went to his grandfather Prophet Muhammad's (saw)grave, and recited the following prayer:

"O God, This is the grave of your Prophet, Muhammad (saw) and I amhis daughter's son, and I have come to know what you undoubtedly

know. O God, I like to enjoin the good and reject the evil. I ask you OAll-Mighty God by this grave and by who is in it to choose for me whatwould please You and Your Prophet".

Thus Imam Hussain (as) pledged that he would defend the messagewhatever the cost, as long as it would lead to Allah's (SWT) satisfaction.

Imam Hussain (as) went on to meet with his relatives and followers andinform them of his intention to leave to Makkah. He was met by a lot ofopposition of those who tried to dissuade him, either because they were

afraid that he would get killed, or because they were not courageous enoughto follow him. But his resolve to uphold the right was not shaken by such


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objections or threats.

He declared his first revolutionary communiqu which took the form of a willhe wrote to his brother, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah:

"...I did not revolt for the cause of evil tyranny or corruption, but toreform my grandfather's (Prophet Muhammad (saw)) nation. I want toenjoin the good and denounce the evil, and take the course of my fatherand grandfather".

This eternal communiqu was the official declaration of his revolution.

Imam Hussain (as) traveled to Makkah and there he chose to stay at thehouse of Al-Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib, where the faithful believers of Makkah,as well as those outside it, started to visit him and pledge loyalty to him.

News about the political uprising in Kufa reached Makkah, and the leaders ofthe city wrote a letter in which they declared their opposition to the Umayyadrule, and they would not accept anybody else but Imam Hussain (as) to rulethem. This letter was followed by many other letters asking the Imam tocome to their city to assume his rule as an Imam of the faithful.

On the way to the Greater Martyrdom (Zibhe Azeem):

Yazid son of Muawiyah became so worried that he decided to send an armyled by Amr bin Saad bin Al-Aas, to kill the Imam wherever they found him

and whatever the costs. When Imam Hussain (as) heard that Yazeed's armywas heading towards Makkah, he was afraid that they would violate thesanctuary of the City, so he decided to leave to Kufa although he knewbefore hand the ultimate destiny he was to face.

Imam Hussain (as) and his companions headed towards Iraq; although hewas certain that he was going to be killed. But he believed that the truevictory of Allah's message would be realized through his martyrdom, sincethere was no one else to stand up for the oppression. He knew that thenation would not wake up except by such a great shock. Therefore, let this

shock be his martyrdom, along with Ahlul Bayt (as) who went all the way withhim.

Reasons of the Revolution or Islamic Movement:

Imam Hussain (as) did not possess the necessary force that would enablehim to win; he did not even rely on those who wrote to him from Kufa. For hedeclared his revolution before he received their letters and delegates. Al-Hijaz too did not give him enough support to be able to stand against theUmayyads. Therefore he decided to leave to Iraq for the sole reason of

preventing any blood shedding in the Holy City of Makkah. Moreover, heknew that he was destined to die; yet he went on.


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Why then did he insist; and why did he declare his revolution?

To answer this question, one should be aware of the following facts:

First: Yazeed represented a real danger to the Islamic nation, for he was not

a true Muslim. He was not properly educated with the teachings of Islam.And he used to drink alcohol, gamble, and commit all other sins according tohistoric sources. He said: Banu Hashim staged a play to obtain theKingdom. Actually, there was neither any news (from Allah) nor anyrevelation. Such a man could not be entrusted with the affairs of the nation.Nevertheless, the faithful forces, with Imam Hussain (as) as their leader, hadbenefited a lot from these points of weakness in the personality of such anevil ruler.

In these circumstances it might not be strange to see many Muslim

dignitaries trying to convince Imam Hussain (as) to avoid the confrontationwith Yazid, although they bore witness to the corruption of the Umayyads,and they also realized that it was the Imam's duty and right to face it. He wasthus approached by Abdullah bin Umar bin Khattab and Abdallah bin Al-Zubair, as well as some of his family members. These are some of themanifestations of the absence of the militant spirit among most Muslimleaders.

As for the common people, this negative spirit spread among them to aterrifying extent. The people of Kufa, for example, broke all their pledges

promises and oaths, once they were subjected to the wave of terror led byUbaydullah ibn Ziyad, as well as seducing them with promises of wealth andpower. These factors were among the main reasons that led to theannouncement of the revolution. The Imam wanted to shake the deadconsciences because he knew that there was no reason what speeches andtalks to galvanize and mobilize the people and solidify their morals.

Second: The general level of the nation as a whole was below the requiredto stand up to the current of sweeping deviation. A tendency to treasure thepleasures of this world began to be visible in all sections of the nation, as a

substitute to the spirit of sacrifice for the cause of Allah (SWT). And thisenabled the opportunistic current to win and hold the positions of ruling andguidance.

Third: It was necessary that the nation should learn about the true Islamicconception of the Imamate; it's true role and its dimensions. The dangerouseffects of undermining the Islamic conceptions which was played by theUmayyad rule was never emerging from the grass root level, but rather fromthe high levels of leadership that monopolized all means of guidance.Therefore, in accordance with the demands of the Islamic message, and the

qualities that have to be available in a Muslim ruler, Imam Hussain (as) hadto explain these issues to the Muslim masses in every speech he made or


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any other opportunity he had: "O people you have to be pious believers,and know the right. That is better for you. We the members of the familyof Muhammad (Ahlul Bayt (as)) are more entitled to be the rulers thanthose who claim what is not rightfully theirs; those oppressors andtyrants".

With such roaring words the Imam Hussain (as) revealed that the Umayyadswho have deviated from the right Islamic path are not fit to be rulers, andexplained to the nation the foundations of the course an Islamic traits that areembodied in the Imam himself that qualify him to be Imam of the nation.Thus, underlining the Islamic conception of the Imamate and revealing thefalsehood of the Umayyad claims were among the fundamental reasons thatmade the Imam declare his revolution.

Fourth: The Islamic message offers no justification for the Muslim to relief

him from performing his duties as a man who has obligations towards themessage he believes in. Man in the Islamic society is not an independentindividual but rather a person who is integrated in his society and who shouldperform his duties towards the Islamic message. But to fulfill hiscommitments towards Allah's Shariah in enjoining the good and forbiddingthe evil meant that he had to follow the path of the revolution, because it wasthe only way that provided any hope for reform in his grandfather's (saw)nation.

These are the main reasons that gave Imam Hussain (as) and his

companions the right to declare the victorious revolution, which immortalizedIslam and inspired the coming generations to defend it and to hold fast in theHoly Wars of Jihad.

Imam Hussain (as) the symbol of peace and Justice taught us how importantis to seek the truth even thought it's not good for our own benefits. ImamHussain, peace be upon him, always wanted to guide people, Muslim or non-Muslim, enemy or friend to the path that ends to Almighty Allah (SWT). Hehad taught us that we are the ones who had to fallow his way and bringpeace to the society and become a Muslim freedom lover. Whoever listens to

the Tragedy of Karbala, gets to realize that Imam Hussain (as) had saved theactual Islamic world, and made everyone think that life is not just aboutthinking about our own good and having time for enjoying and caring moreabout ourselves. In addition, we all know that Imam Hussain and his family(peace be upon them) had been through a hard journey, however after allthese years everyone remembers them and the values that they had stoodup for. The day of Ashura represents the victory of blood against sword.

hussain's (as) revolution

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