Martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain R.A

Islam is filled with stories of sacrifice but the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain R.A is no doubt, the great sacrifice. Hazrat Imam Hussain R.A sacrificed his life, family, and all he has, but he didn’t accept the rule of oppressor and self-declared caliph of Islam.

In 61th Hijri, after the death of Hazrat Muawia R.A, Yazeed took over the Islamic Caliphate and appointed himself as “Ameer ul Momineen” which is Caliph of Muslims. He demanded allegiance from Hazrat Imam Hussain R.A who was the grandson of Prophet Mohammed Peace be upon him.

Yazeed was the oppressor and his character was not good to represent the Muslims as Caliph of Muslims. Hazrat Imam Hussain R.A had a very good reputation in Medina and his allegiance was very important for Yazid to become ruler of the Islamic world. The people of Kufa (Iraq) were also not happy with Yazid’s rule so they invited Hazrat Imam Hussain R.A to their territory so that they can show allegiance to Hazrat Imam Hussain R.A.

Hazrat Imam Hussain R.A set out for Kufa to with his family to a mission of peace but on his way to Kufa, his small caravan of family and associates was intercepted by Iraqi forces of 10,000 to 20,000 armed men. The people of Kufa also turned their faces away didn’t support him.

He never wanted to fight them because he always thought that whatever they are doing but they belong to Ummah of Prophet Mohammed Peace be Upon Him and they call themselves a Muslim. He tried to make peace and his terms were simple, mentioned as follow:

1. He is allowed to return to Medina.
2. He should be taken to Yazid for a direct one to one talk
3. He should be sent to a Muslim land.

But they turned down his terms of peace and kept Hazrat Imam Hussain and surrounded his camped caravan but 20,000 armed men. He was forced to accept the allegiance of Yazid by depriving him of food and water in the desert-dry land of Karbala. On the 10th day of Muharram that is the day of Ashurah, Shimr was given orders to kill him or force him to accept the allegiance of Yazid.

All male members of his family and his associates were killed one by one including his 6 months infant son Ali Asghar and his 18-year-old son, Ali Akbar. He was last to be killed and he let them kill himself at the time of Asr prayer but didn’t bow to accept the rule of Yazid. Including him, 72 persons were beheaded and their heads were taken to Yazid at the tip of spears across the desert to Damascus to face Yazid. The prisoners of war were mostly women including his Sister Hazrat Zainab R.A, children, and one man in his twenties Zainul Abedin who was very sick in the camp.

Lessons from the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain.

1. Hazrat Imam Hussain could have saved his neck and his family and most likely he could be given a high post by Yazid but he didn’t accept the rule of the wrong person and he saved the Islamic caliphate system from corrupting through his blood. He was the grandson of a prophet who said,

   " One of the greatest jihads is to stand up to a tyrant ruler and say a word of truth. " Therefore, Imam Hussain in one of his speeches on the way to Karbala said, " To live with an oppressor is a crime in itself "

2. The second lesson that our lives are a gift of God and we should not be reluctant to sacrifice it for his cause. Life has to be an end someday so it’s better to use this life in way of Allah SWT to whom it belongs. There is a great reward for martyrdom. A martyr is next to Prophets in heaven.

   "Those who leave their homes in the cause of Allah and are then slain or die, on them Allah will bestow good provision. Truly Allah is He who bestows the best provision."(2:58-59)

3. We should stand up for trial when called by Allah SWT. All prophets of Allah SWT were tested and the passed their tests. This has to be a criterion for entering into Jannah. Allah says in the Quran:

   "Do you think you will enter the Garden (of Bliss) without such (trials) as come to those before you."(2:214)
   "Allah has purchased of their believers their persons and their goods. For theirs (in return) is the Garden (of Paradise)."(9:111)

4. The next lesson we learn from the story of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) is to give life in the cause of Allah and this is the ultimate Sacrifice.
   Muharram is not just for 10 days to remember the Great Sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain R.A. He gave us an ideology to live upon. Today we see a lot of bad things in our society and most of the time we lack the moral courage to stop evil things in our society. We should follow the way given by Hazrat Imam Hussain R.A and defeat all bad things that are Yazid of our time.