A Personal Reflection of Imam Hussain’s Last Night On the eve of Ashura the Holy Imam gathered his small band of warriors and gave them his unreserved permission to leave in the cover of darkness as the rise of the sun will mean certain death for them all. Reiterating the enemy was only interested in him they should save their lives by leaving whilst they could. The Holy Imam, the son of Ali Ibne Abi Talib, the Grandson of Mohammed Mustapha, after showing them through his Divine Powers of Imamate a vision of the exalted place they had earned themselves in Paradise through their allegiance to him he released the oath of allegiance they had sworn on his hand to set them free of their obligations under that allegiance. Hussain told them they had already earned Paradise and were not required to lay down their lives for him. He even extinguished the lamps in the tent they had all gathered lest they may feel embarrassment at leaving amidst the glare of the candlelight. However, this small and varied band of courageous human beings fell at Imam Hussain’s feet each claiming his own couplet of support, loyalty and determination to meet death for his sake. With tears rolling down their eyes they declared it matters not whether they fell on death or if death fell on them. They knew Hussain’s path was the righteous one. They would find the taste of death sweeter than honey. Unanimously they declared that if they were killed, burnt and their ashes scattered into the air and this were repeated a thousand times to them even then they would not leave Imam Hussain! They were not supporting Imam Hussain because they were seeking Paradise but they believed in his cause and fully recognised the reasons for which he had taken a stand. They were fully aware of all circumstances. Imam Hussain did not encourage any of them to fight. He did not stir their emotions. He never encouraged them to lay down their lives for him. He didnt deliver a passionate or inspirational speech as is expected of a General before he sends his troops to the battlefield. The Imam did not want his mission to be seen as diluted and become the subject of accusations and allegations that Hussain brainwashed any one of his supporters by his moving and motivating eloquence. It is baffling to attempt to even comprehend the scenario of this night! On the one hand the enemy troops are in excess of 30000 and on the other a group of 72, and even at that the General of the latter is happily relieving them to save their lives by leaving. Yet on the contrary this small group are determined to stay, openly weeping, heartbroken that Hussain could consider himself alone whilst they were alive. Each and every one of them knew that once they will step onto the battlefield tomorrow they will be slaughtered. They knew they were vastly outnumbered. They were fully aware that there would be no return. In fact I have never been able to understand their courage. When they did battle they approached the enemy without an iota of fear like lions and eagles they tore the flanks of the army, pushing them back for miles in some instances. It was these brave warriors that put fear of death in the enemy, causing even the best swordsman and archer to panic. This is real jihad. And these were the ultimate Jihadis. The world has not since seen the likes of these Jihadis which consisted of Christians, Hindus and Muslims; a six month baby, young teenagers and old men in their seventies and eighties. Never has the world witnessed such valour, courage and bravery as was displayed by Hussain’s companions on the day of Ashura in Karbala. Hard to accept that a mere seventy two array of men and children, ill-equipped against a full-fledged blood thirsty army of more than 30,000 soldiers never quivered once. But they didn’t. They remained totally steadfast. This is why Imam Hussain famously said that even his illustrious father and his Grandfather the Holy Prophet (peace be upon them all) did not have such committed and loyal companions as he had. Hussain and his companions along with his family members spent the whole night supplicating and in prostration to Allah. When tomorrow comes the soldiers of Hussains army will have been deprived of water for three days. His braves will be slaughtered thirsty. It will be nightfall after Hussain himself will have been beheaded that the children and womenfolk of the Holy Family will be eventually given water but not before their tents were looted, set ablaze and they were taken as captives. Indeed there is a fire raging in my chest for you Hussain. And indeed there is definitely no other day like yours. There is no sacrifice like yours.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 02:35:09 +0000
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