Our roots of Sacrifice

Month of Muharram need some attention. As we are aware that the first month of the Hijri commences with the event when Prophet Mohammed (p.b.u.h.) migrated from Mecca to Medina. The revolt by the Makkans forced him to leave the place. His youngest daughter, Bibi Fatima Radiallahu Anha, His son-in-law, Maula Hazarath Ali, and their sons, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein, were the true Gurus. All the eminent ones were sacrificed in a segregated manner, but Imam Hussein was martyred on the battle field at the end, and He experienced the blood shed of all His kinsman, before His last breathe. Though he was one with the Allah, and He could have managed to receive some considerations from Allah, but He accepted His death as a will of Allah. When He was young, His grandfather, Prophet Mohammed (p.b.u.h.) told the brothers that They would be tested in the world, where They could lose his life, but they were guided to follow the path of righteousness, under all circumstances. He had many brothers and sisters. His family was more pure than a lotus, with respect to character. During those days, people mistreated women, rights for women were meagre. There was a woman, who was mistreated beyond the verge. To save her life, Maula Hazarath Ali married her. She bore few children, one of them was Abbas Alamdar. When Maula Ali was about to leave the physical abode, he gave the young children to His other children (who were born by Bibi Fatima Radiallahu Anha), for they would leave like true brothers, irrespective of being partial siblings. Abbas Alamdaar was called so, as he played of a powerful Commander-in-chief, who gave off each and every droplet of his blood for the sake of Allah. Imam Hussein used to preach about Oneness to the people, but the rulers of the land were unhappy with the instructions. A large proportion of the mob was moved by the thought of Islam, and the virtues began growing, and the sins began disappearing. The rulers, who flourished under the canopy of the sins, became restless. They wished to abolish Imam Hussein. But, the opposition was overpowered by the harmony of followers of Islam. The people poisoned by the thought of hostility plotted an evil plan to kill Imam Hussein. One of the rulers who was the major politician amongst the protesters was King Yazid. He sent a letter to Imam Hussein, saying that he was inviting Him to his kingdom, for he and his subjects wished to understand about the Oneness. Imam Hussein replied that He was not the preacher, and He asked him to follow the scriptures. The king sent one of his trusted ministers to fetch Imam Hussein. The minister visited Him, and pleaded to Him, for He accepts the invitation. The man even offered Him, to bring His entire family with him to the kingdom, for if he worried about the risk. Imam Hussein realized that His time of death was nearby. He was aware that the words of His grandfather were becoming palpable. He thought that the king was becoming purer by the expression of virtues by his subjects. He decided to go to the kingdom in Iraq, with his entire family.

The journey began. His sisters, brothers, and the rest were the part of the caravan. The camels were loaded with water sacks, for the long journey under the shelter of the scorching sun. They travelled for about two to three days, suddenly they landed up in a village, which was facing severe water crisis. The dwellers of the hamlet begged for the help, Imam Hussein helped the villagers with the water they had, halted in the village for a night, and then resumed the journey, next morning. The women of the family had little infants with them. They needed water. As they reached at the borders of the kingdom of King Yazid, Imam Hussein’s horse halted abruptly. He made several efforts to force him to move ahead, but in vain. He announced that they would halt at the site that night. The tents were spread, and the family halted. That night, the soldiers of Yazid surrounded the refuge site of Imam Hussein. He tried to convince them about the virtues, which need to be expressed before the guest, but the arrogance of Yazid persisted. Yazid wished for a war. Imam Hussein tried again, but in vain. But, few of the members from Yazid’s party mingled with Imam Hussein, as they got the guts to face their king, for the sake of righteousness. He returned to the camp, and said that they had to fight next morning. Next day, the men of the family emerged out of the tents, left for fetching water from the river Euphrates. But, the soldiers of Yazid adorned the banks, and were ordered to kill the people belonging to the camp, if they approached the banks. Again, Imam Hussein tried again to convince them. One of the bold members of the family, Abbas Alamdaar was the commander of the little though strong army of Imam Hussein. He rode his horse, and his sturdy physique trembled the opposing soldiers in fear. He jumped off the horse’s back and filled the water sack with water, and began returning for the tent. The horse didn’t drink even a sip of water, for it was aware that its master and His family were thriving for life. Abbas Alamdaar’s arm was mutilated, while he was returning. He held the rope of horse’s headgear with his clenched teeth, and the water sack was held in the another hand. As he proceeded, the another arm was mutilated as well. The water sack fell off his hands, and splashed on the sand, with a thundering sound. As he was just about to enter the camp, his head was decapitated. He was martyred. Other men from the tent made efforts to cross the swarm of terrible soldiers, but in vain. The martyrdom continued. Soon, the eighth or the ninth day of Muharram appeared. The women of the family were bold, and were even ready to sacrifice their lives for righteousness. The women even gave their new born children to Imam Hussein for they are also martyred for the sake of virtues. Seventy-two men were the part of the camp, and all were killed except Imam Hussein and another man, who was unconscious. The tenth day appeared. The time of Asr (late afternoon prayers) fostered with a bright scorching sun in the sky. Imam Hussein hailed in a strong voice that he was ready to face the death, for the righteousness, and was even ready to forgive the opposing army. He prostrated before Allah, and Yazid decapitated his head with a sword. Rivers of blood and tears (the women of the family were stricken by deep grief, but were fixed in virtues) flooded the city. The women from the camp were chained, and were ill-treated. But, they had the faith in the virtues, and their reliance over Allah was unstirred in all conditions. The head of Imam Hussein was skewered in a rod, and was carried across the streets of the city, in grand processions of false victory by Yazid. Each and every drop of blood which dribbled from the flesh, it echoed in “ALLAHU AKBAR”. The women were not killed, and were finally freed. Zenab, one of the sister’s of Imam Hussein carried out the teachings of Islam, and made Islam blossom to its fullest. The followers of Islam grew with leaps and bounds, the wish of Allah to show the path to Oneness was accomplished.

We might think that goodness brings death, but Imam Hussein is immortal in our hearts. Righteousness in all turns of life in inevitable.