After the demise of prophet Muhammad (SAW) the muslim ummah was successful in geographical expansion of Islam but gradually lost out on other front. They suffered from degradation of morals and values which the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had taught them and practiced with during his Holy Tenure. A tyrant ruler Yazid ibn Mauviya from Umayyad dynasty appointed by his father in 680 CE nearly after 50 years of prophet’s demise taking the reins of the power through liberalism transforming divine system of Governance into Yezidyat leading to the degradation and metamorphosing of Islamic and human values. Hussain ibn Ali the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) took a stand against yazid`s illegitimate rule, mindful of this, yazid decided that he would demand Husain’s allegiance, hoping to gain some form of legitimacy for his inherited rule. Hussain had a choice to make. To endorse Yazid would no doubt mean a handsome reward and a life of luxury. To refuse would invariably lead to his own demise.
Hussain said: “I will never offer my hand to a man who is not befitting for the post, nor will I flee like a slave… I have not risen to spread evil or to show off… I only desire to enjoin good values and prevent evil.” The war of power is fought with powerful warriors combatants High tech weapons, tanks explosives, Huge armies and war game policies, But the battle of Karbala was not against the personality of power but against the enemies of values “wars of values”. Herein a six months old infant soldier, Ali asgar also comes to be of use, When Hussain ibn Ali started the war of values he took the women also along with him, though he was advised not to take with him the women, the daughters of prophet, the daughters of Ali in this journey.
The blood of Imam Hussain(A.S) affected the collective consciousness of a sleeping ummah and caused tremors which shook the very foundations of the dishonesty, debauchery, malice, tyranny, barbarity, injustice, intolerance, depravity and above all inhumanity.
The event of Karbala is such an epic for which the hearts of Muslims as well as non Muslim bleeds, Fatigued, without given a drop of water in the scorching heat for three days heavily wounded fell to the ground as the women and children looked on, killed mercilessly, yet he died holding on firmly to his principles not for the cause of wickedness, amusement, pelf, corruption or oppression, but stood in front of the death clad to reform the ummah of his Grandfather prophet Muhammad (PBUH) so as to promote virtue and prevent vice.
Islam is a religion of values and the privilege of human beings in the world and hereafter lies in the possession of values and attributes. Honour, sacrifice, covenant, patience, generosity, sacredness are examples of these values which need to be possessed and practiced by human beings in their entire life.Hussain revived these values in the heart rending incident of Karbala and the process which Hussain (A.S) adopted became a Supreme Court law for all the generations to come till the end of the world. Even today we see in many instances that the basic human values are not present in societies and get concerned since we can`t find any solutions on how to resolve this and how to reform ummah. In fact the solution is present in Karbala and Aashura.It just needs to be excavated and brought in its true form and the entire world can be reformed for the establishment of righteousness.
The incident of Karbala is not limited to a single dimension , It has several dimensions, Multiple chapters and several angles. The blood of Imam Hussain(A.S) affected the collective consciousness of a sleeping ummah and caused tremors which shook the very foundations of the dishonesty, debauchery, malice, tyranny, barbarity, injustice, intolerance, depravity and above all inhumanity. It contains pure and unique realities, esteemed teachings, deep recognition and lamp of guidance, knowledgeable discourses and several lessons.
——–(The author a teacher in J&K Government’s School Education Department is writing on current events and social issues exclusively for “Kashmir Horizon”. The author’s views are personal)
