| REMEMBRANCE
OF ASHURA Imam
Husayn (as) is regarded as "chief of the martyrs." There is no doubt
that the tragedy of Karbala, was a criminal and satanic act on behalf of the murderers.
However when we reflect upon the nature and action taken by Imam Husayn (as) at
Karbala, then we realize that he represents a conscious confrontation and a courageous
resistance for righteousness, for Truth and Justice. The whole Ummah had failed
to stand up to kaffir Yazid. They had succumbed to his will, and deviation and
regression towards the pre-Islamic ways of Arabia were increasing. Inaction
in this situation would have meant the end of Islam. Thus Husayn (as) took upon
himself the responsibility of the whole Ummah. The greatest tragedy of Ashura
is that one who stood up for the noblest of causes, the defense of Islam, was
cut down in so cruel a manner. It is for this reason that the sacrifice of Husayn
(as) is commemorated annually throughout the Muslim world on Ashura. For all Shi'as
this is, without a doubt, a time of mourning. Allama Iqbal says in his Baqiyat: "I
am one who weeps at the plight of the Martyr of Karbala. Won't the reward be given
to me by the Keeper of Kauser?" - Imam Ali (as) The
commemoration of Ashura on the 10th of Muharram every year serves to remind us
of the sacrifices of the Ahl al-Bayt, but as well, to remind us of those who stood
by and did nothing as the ways of kufr continuously encroached upon the path that
was paved by the Prophets and Imams before their day. Many
spend the time of Ashura in a state of weeping and inflicting injuries upon themselves,
as an act of empathy with the wounds of Imam Husayn (as). But this is not the
nature of Islam. Islam is a revolution. There is no need to weep for the dead
who have passed on from the oppressions of this world. The tears that we should
shed are that some, even most, stood idly by as these atrocities were carried
out. Even today, so many Muslims are oppressed throughout the world and next to
no one intervenes through taking DIRECT ACTION against the oppressive forces. "Shi'ites
take their slogans from the embodiment of the tribulations and hopes of the masses
of the oppressed. Aware of the rulers, and in rebellion against them, they cry
out:-
'Seek the leadership of Ali and flee from the leadership of cruelty.
'Choose Imamate, and stamp 'cancelled,' 'disbelief' and 'dispossession' upon the
forehead of the Khalifatate.
'Choose justice, and overthrow the system of
paradox and discrimination in ownership.'" - Dr. `Ali Shariati Notes
: Taken from the book: "Red Shi'ism vs.Black Shi'ism" Shi'a
Islam is characterized, if by nothing else, by the fact that we as Shi'a do not
hold that the majority is incapable of going astray. Even if there was only one
single believer upon the face of the Earth, and the rest of the masses were kaffirun
masquerading as Muslims, then Shi'a Islam holds that this one individual would
alone be following true Islam. It
is this revolutionary notion that endangers the status quo. This is a status quo
of both western forces of Ad-Dajjal, and also of so-called "Islamic"
complicity. This is not a difficult reality for the Shi'a of Islam to see in the
face of masjid after masjid being erected at the hands of Wahabi and Salafi kaffirun.
The kaffirun seek complicity. Islam is the primary target of Ad-Dajjal, not only
because it is the Truth, but also because it is an active revolutionary Truth,
that will not back down or cower in the face of oppression and global deceit.
Islam is the enemy of Ad-Dajjal because so many within it extol the virtues embodied
and promulgated by the Holy Imam Husayn (as). In
the face of so much oppression of Muslims and non-Muslims alike, in the face of
liars and infidels in the seats of ruling power of the Ummah, in the face of lies,
slandering, and blasphemies against the Ahl al-Bayt and their Shi'a, in the face
of the fulfillment of Prophecies relating to the era of ad-Dajjal's reign and
the immanence of Al-Mahdi's Rise, so many Shi'a brethren and sistren are still
content with the "black Shi'aism" of excessive mourning, and of inflicting
injury upon themselves and their children! This is madness! Ashura is a time of
mourning, and more importantly a time of mobilization against the ruling oppressive
powers of the global empire of Dajjal. Ashura is a time of "Red Shi'aism,"
the Shi'aism of the martyrs! Ashura is a time when we should make certain that
we are among those who take a stand and fight along with the Imams. For the day
of the Imam's Rise is only as far away as we allow it to be. "If
our Shias would be firm on their promises wholeheartedly, our meeting would not
be delayed". - Imam Al-Mahdi (as) "Sahl
Ibn al-Hasan al-Khurasani who was one of the followers of Ahlul- Bayt in Khurasan
(a province in Iran) came to Medina to meet Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (as). Sahl al-Khurasani
said: "O son of the Messenger of Allah! You are of the Imams of Ahlul-Bayt.
What prevents you from getting your right (i.e., the rule) while you find more
than one hundred thousand Shi'a who are ready to fight for you?" The Imam
(as) asked him to sit down, and then ordered to turn on the oven that was in the
house. After the oven became very hot and turned red, the Imam (as) said: "O
Khurasani step into the oven and sit in it." The Khurasani said: "My
master, O son of the Messenger of Allah! Do not punish me by fire and make it
easy for me." At this time, Harun al- Makki (ra) entered the room, and after
the greetings exchanged, the Imam (as) told him to put down his shoes and to sit
down inside the oven. He did so and the Imam (as) started talking to Sahl about
Khurasan as if nothing has happened. After some time, the Imam (as) said: "O
Khurasani stand up and look inside the oven." Sahl looked into the oven and
saw Harun sitting cross-legged inside the fire. Then Imam al-Sadiq (as) asked
Harun to come out of oven and he came out healthy with no burn or injury. At this
time, the Imam (as) asked Sahl: "How many individuals do you know in Khurasan
like this man?" Sahl replied: "By Allah, not even one." The Imam
(as) confirmed his saying and said, "We do not rise at this time when we
do not even have five helpers (like him). We know better about the proper time."
Notes
: al- Bihar, v47, p123, Hadith #172; also in Manaqib by Ibn Shahr Ashub Even
in Imam Sadiq's (as) day there were not even 5 of such Shi'a which we necessary
for his Rise. The Ahl al-Bayt tell us that for Imam Al-Mahdi to Rise there must
be 313 of such Shi'a. This is a fundamental necessity. We, Brothers and Sisters,
are all that is delaying the return of Al-Mahdi. So let us gather our senses and
our numbers. Let us reflect upon the meaning of Ashura, and let us finally stand
up and wage this Jihad al-Akbar. Instead of cutting our own flesh on Ashura, let
us cut the flesh of the wicked. Instead of beating ourselves, let us come together
and beat those tyrants who murder without facing consequences of their actions
in this world. And let us know, that like the Holy Imam Husayn (as) before us,
if we are caught in this Jihad then we will fight until we can fight no more,
and when we die we will die a glorious death that took with it the strongholds
of iniquity in this world, and secured our reward in Paradise. "Remember
Ashura, to humiliate the ruling group who call themselves the inheritors of the
traditions of the Prophet, for the remembrance of it will prove that they are
the inheritors of the killers and murderers of the Prophet's family. It will show
you a path of action, and provide an answer to the recurring question "What
should be done?". It will help you to decide on the best agenda for the struggle
against the rule of tyranny. It will avoid allegiance to cruelty. It will provide
a pattern for the unbroken continuity of history. It will declare an unending
struggle between the inheritors of Adam and the inheritors of the devil. Ashura
reminds us of the teaching of the eternal fact that the present version of Islam
(in1972), is a criminal Islam in the dress of tradition, and that the real Islam
is the hidden Islam, hidden in the red cloak of martyrdom." - Dr. `Ali
Shariati Notes
: Taken from the book: "Red Shi'ism vs.Black Shi'ism" | 
