From “The Uprising†to “The Revengeâ€

In intellectual fields of the world today, there are a few thoughts which work like a system. That means, it can answer many questions. But IslÄm and specially Shia, have provided a system in which, it can bring a suitable answer for all the questions.

To examine Ashura Movement, it needs to examine two movements:

1.   Banu Umayyah: the movement which was opposed to ImÄm Huá¹£ayn (pbuh).

2.   The movement of ImÄm Huá¹£ayn (pbuh) and his goals for uprising.

Banu Umayyah movement:

Umayyads, from the beginning of Islam, had planned to appoint one of themselves to the caliphate. They were originally from Jewish tribes of Medina. The traces of their conspiracies, can be seen in all the events and intrigues, during the history of IslÄm; from martyrdom of the Prophet’s (pbuh&h) father and grandfather, to martyrdom of Ahl Al-Bayt (pbu th). Mind That, His Majesty Amir al-Mu’minin, after being attacked by Ibn Muljam, stated: “I swear the Lord of the Ka’ba, I was saved. Arrest the Jewish woman’s son (Ibn Muljam)!â€

Also, in Ä€shurÄ Prayer, it reads:

This is the day (the day of ‘Ashura), which Bani Umayyah rejoiced upon. (And is the day when the) the Liver Eater’s son (the son of Hind b. Abu SufyÄn), Mu’Äwiya and his son YazÄ«d); the cursed son(s) of the cursed held a celebration. There, by ‘The cursed son(s) of the cursed’, it means Mu’Äwiya. But Mu’Äwiya was killed, ten years before ‘Ashura.

On the other hand, ‘Ashura exactly coincided with Yom Kippur of Jews. It is the holy day of Jews, in which Jews celebrate it.’

The movement of ImÄm Huá¹£ayn (pbuh) and his goals:

First, in the time of racism, his goal to up rise was beyond clans and tribes. That is why it influenced many cultures. Further, his movement was beyond political reasons. He intended to reform the community, based on the principle of IslÄm.

Besides, his uprising provided true definitions for both words “War†and “Peaceâ€. It taught us that the word “Peace†is not against “Warâ€, but it is against “Corruptionâ€. So Based on the beliefs of Shia, they sacrifice their lives to save IslÄm. The destruction of the accursed lineage of the Umayyads and the influence of the Jews on IslÄm, was possible just by Aba abdillah (pbuh); As After the Ê¿Ä€shÅ«rÄ, the Umayyads never had a good day.

Moreover, he delivered his last message through his uprising. That means, he cleared his goals for the ones who were in the opposite front; he introduced himself and warned them about the after- effects of slaying him. So, there remained no excuse for them to not know him.

ImÄm Huá¹£ayn (pbuh) turned his uprising to a symbol for the right front. Any uprising under the effect of his movement is victorious. And anyone against it, would be in vain.

The uprising of ImÄm Huá¹£ayn (pbuh) separated the right from the wrong, for always. Therefore, by the criteria of ImÄm Huá¹£ayn (pbuh), one can weigh many [current] movements.

Also, following his uprising, there provided an opportunity for religious discourses. Before that, it was prohibited to narrate any HadÄ«th from the Prophet (pbuh&h) and ImÄm Ê¿AlÄ« (pbuh). And some people such as Ibn ZiyÄd and others, had started to narrated [fake] AḥÄdÄ«th from the Prophet (pbuh&h) and ImÄm Ê¿AlÄ« (pbuh).

  • Reviving the Prophet’s and ImÄm Ê»Ali (pbu th)’s names and words

The uprising of ImÄm Huá¹£ayn (pbuh) revived the memories and narrations of the Prophet (pbuh&h) and Imam Ali (pbuh).

After ImÄm Huá¹£ayn (pbuh), Ishmaelites met the same fate as Israelites. Ignoring their prophets (pbu th) by Jews, they distorted their religion, and finally ended in slaying their prophets (pbu th). That is how, they were accursed.

Likewise, the Islamic Ummah didn’t accept and ignored AlÄ« ibn ʾAbÄ« ṬÄlib (pbuh)’s Islamic guardianship; though, he was an infallible ImÄm! Then, they distorted the religion. Lastly, this distortion led to beheading their ImÄm of Time [ImÄm Huá¹£ayn (pbuh)]. And they have been accursed too.

  • Manifesting behavioral effects of some sins

The uprising also manifested behavioral effects of some sins. For instance, the consequences of some sins like profiting and eating Haram, had better be proven for some people, through behaviors:

Ù…Ùلئَت بÙطونَکÙÙ… من مال الحرام… …

“You have earned and eaten ḤarÄm1! That is why, you cannot hear your ImÄm of Time [ImÄm Huá¹£ayn (pbuh)]’s message!â€

They were ImÄm Huá¹£ayn (pbuh)’s last words to his enemies, while they were creating noise not to hear him.

1- It is an Arabic term meaning forbidden. This may refer to: either something sacred to which access is forbidden to the people who are not in a state of purity or who are not initiated into the sacred knowledge, or to an evil thus “sinful action that is forbidden to be done”. Islamic jurisprudence, haram is used to refer to any act that is forbidden by Allah and is one of five Islamic commandments (الأحكام الخمسة) that define the morality of human action.

  • Improving the intellectual level of the people
  • Modeling for all members of the community:

It is possible for all members of society, to be likened to those present at the KarbalÄ incident. Everyone can find their own role, in this great tragedy.

  • Teaching Shiites, how to be ImÄm ZamÄn (mgehr)’s helper:

This uprising [KarbalÄ incident], taught the Shiites how to be ImÄm ZamÄn (mgehr)’s helper; you can join the ImÄm (mgehr) in the middle of the path, like Wahab [al Nasrani] al-Kalbi[2]. Even you can do like Ḥurr Ar-Riyahi3, who joined him at the last moment, and stock to the Imam (mgehr)’s goals.

The Holy Prophet [Muḥammad] stated:

 

O, Ali! People have been created from various trees [different origins]. But you and I are from the same tree. I am the root, you are the trunk, Haá¹£an and Huá¹£ayn are the fruits, and our Shiites are the leaves.†(Ibn ‘AsÄkir, History of Damascus, Vol. 42, P. 384)

Tips related to this Ḥadīth:

*The first characteristic of a leaf; in its relation to a tree, is that the leaf makes the tree beautiful. (Addressing Shiites), ImÄm SÄdiq (pbuh) stated,

“کونÙوا لَنا زَیْنا ÙˆÙŽ لا تَکونÙوا عَلَیْنا شَیْن اâ€.

It means, become an ornament for us [Ahl al Bayt], do not be a disgrace for us! (BiḥÄr al-ʾĀnwÄr, Vol. 65, P. 151)

*The leaves do protect the tree. Dry trees which have no leaves or fruit, will be cut by others.

After the Prophet (pbuh&h)’s death, the IslÄm tree was attacked by the enemies, because it no longer had a leaf (helper). They also cut off its branches. Likewise, Our ImÄms (pbu th) were often oppressed, as they didn’t have [enough] helpers!

 

*The higher the leaves are, the bigger and more beautiful they are; because, they are the first ones to be exposed to rain and light. Moreover, they are the first to be stricken, if any stick and stone are thrown at the tree.

~We must be first and foremost in defending this pure lineage. ~

If we just have Aba Abdullah (pbuh)’s [in our hearts] but we don’t put it into action for ImÄm ZamÄn (mgehr), we have verily done nothing special!

Also if we don’t enjoin What is right and forbid What is evil; though we have this love in hearts, this love is not of the slightest value. The requisites [above] refer to something, that was the goal of ImÄm Ḥuá¹£ayn (pbuh)’s uprising. For that, he sacrificed his family and himself.

The scene of Ashura is still alive [in the history, minds, hearts…], but others play the role of ImÄm Huá¹£ayn (pbuh) and YazÄ«d (Gdh) in their absence. Even today, the whole people can find their roles in the scene.

[It means, by obeying God Vs. Satan, the people who are alive now play their roles above.]

2-Ê¿Abd AllÄh ibn Ê¿Umayr Ê¿Abu Wahab al-KalbÄ«y was one of the Companions of Huá¹£ayn ibn Ali (pbuh), who was killed along with him in the battle of KarbalÄ. Wahab Al Kalbi joined Huá¹£ayn ibn Ali in KarbalÄ and fought alongside him. He belonged to Al Kalb tribe majority of whom were adherents of Christianity at that time. His mother, Umm Wahab was amongst the female casualties in Huá¹£ayn ‘s army at the Battle of KarbalÄ.

 

3-Al-Ḥurr b. YazÄ«d b. al-NÄjÄ«ya al-TamÄ«mÄ« al-YarbÅ«Ê¿Ä« al-RÄ«yÄḥī, was the elite of KÅ«fah, who became a companion of ImÄm al-Huá¹£ayn (pbuh) and was martyred in KarbalÄ. He was a good warrior. Karbala, Iraq

Prevented Imam al-Huá¹£ayn (a) from going to KÅ«fah and from returning to Medina At first, he was the commander of a part of ‘Ê¿Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad’s army in KarbalÄ, then he regretted his action, changed side and joined the camp of ImÄm al-Huá¹£ayn (pbuh), thus gained special reverence in Shi’a tradition. He is regarded as the symbol of hope in repentance, and its acceptance that leads to eternal salvation

 

Lecture: Professor Raefipoor

Subject: From uprising to revenge

Summary of the speech†From The Uprising to The Revengeâ€, 2011

Prepared in the Mahdism unit of “MasÄf Instituteâ€, Mahdiaran   @Mahdiaran

 

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