The last part looked at the events of The Day of Ashura, the day on which Hussain and his small number of supporters were massacred in The Battle of Karbala.
This part will look at what lessons we can draw from Hussain's sacrifice and continuing legacy...
The aftermath of Ashura
Whilst Hussain died in the battle, he was victorious through his legacy. His actions and the stand he made at Karbala triggered a series of small uprisings against the tyrannical regime of Yazid which led to his eventual demise. Yazid’s army took the women and children from Hussain’s camp as war prisoners and marched from Iraq to Syria where they were held captive.
Hussain’s sister Zainab and his son Zain Al-Abideen, defied Yazid in his own courtyard in famous sermons which unnerved even his closest allies. Thereon, the remaining members of Hussain’s family spread the word to the people about the massacre which took place and the crimes that were committed on The Day of Ashura.
Hussain ibn Ali's epic legacy
Till today, any positive change in society can always be traced back to one person, or a group of people, who stood up in the face of injustice and suffered for it. In recent history, Martin Luther King and Gandhi are but two examples of people who dedicated themselves to a difficult path in the face of much opposition and oppression.
Yet on a much smaller scale, we all face daily challenges in our lives, where we need to make a stand against some form of oppression and injustice; at work, in social situations or even at home. Like Hussain, we too have a choice: the easy way or the right way. It is our choices that determine our legacy, just as it was Hussain’s choices that determined his.
Ultimately, Hussain’s stand was more for the people and society in general than for himself. He was a man of status and influence, who was unaffected by the corruption and sleaze of the government in his day-to-day life. His own interests would have been served by accepting a generous bribe, and his life would have been preserved. Society’s interests, however, were best served by his stand for the rights of the voiceless, the poor and the weak; by his sacrifice.
Hussain ibn Ali todayThe Day of Ashura is mourned and remembered by millions of people across the world as the day Hussain and his supporters were killed in The Battle of Karbala. Today, pilgrims from all across the world visit the shrine of Hussain ibn Ali in Karbala where he is buried, to pay their tribute to his courageous stand.
On the day of Ashura many Muslims partake in large peaceful gatherings where they recite poems in memory of Hussain and his sacrifice whilst lamenting and beating their chest as a cultural tradition to display their grievance. Many people use the day of Ashura as a day to perform acts of kindness and charity as a way for them keep alive the very same principles and values Hussain gave his life for.
Hussain's legacy lives on... |
|
| The next part of the information pack will take a closer look at Hussain's faith and religion and how it played a role in his uprising |
|
|
Comments
Dear Amin
Well written and the blog contains nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Peace be on you, O Aba Abdellah, and on those souls who came to your camp to put themselves at your disposal. So far I am alive and the days and nights follow each other I invoke Allah to send blessings on you for ever and ever. May Allah not make my this pledge of close association, physical as well as spiritual, with you the last fulfillment. Peace be on Husain, and on Ali son of Husain, and on the children of Husain, and on the friends of Husain.
Halet chetore Amin Saeedi, wa mamnoon! I used to fast during Ashura day. I fast one day after or before it. History will always record plenty of bad and good events.