The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Imam Hussain's martyrdom

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 19, 2005

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Imam Hussain's martyrdom

Muharram, the New Year for Muslims the world over, ushers in the Tragedy of Karbala, a saga of human dignity and unparalleled source of moral strength, steeling the determination of seekers of truth of all ages not to cave in against any odds but carry aloft the beacon light of righteousness. History bears eloquent testimony of many examples of patience under sufferings exhibited by followers of every caste and creed. It is under such glittering illuminations and galaxy of immortal souls, for "the admiration of wondering posterity", the sacrifice of Imam Hussain, the scion of the noble family of Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the second son of Hazrath Ali, the Fourth Caliph, by Hazrath Fatima, the beloved daughter of the Holy Prophet, stands apart. On the Tenth of Muharram, called Yome-Ashura, he laid down his life, at the prime age of 55, at the altar of Truth, in the arid plans of Karbala on Friday, Tenth October, 680 AD (61 A.H.) leaving behind the imprint in the life of man of unadorned and selfless dignity that lies in utter surrender to the Almighty Allah.

Muawiya becoming the Caliph, after Hazrath Ali, more by connivance than by the Common Consent of the people, marked the end of the Islamic Republic and with his nominating his profligate son Yazid, as his successor, much against the concept of democratic rule of Islam, the First Muslim Dynasty in Islamic history took root never thereafter to be entirely abandoned, thereby leading to political fragmentation and undermining the solidarity of Muslim Umma.

Under such circumstances when the residents of Kufa, the centre of political activity then, invited Imam Hussain to deliver them from the cursed rule of Yazid, he considered it his duty to respond to their appeals, motivated to uphold the concept of religion as a moving force, in the path of Islamic Sharia. Had power been his objective, he would not have set forth so ill-equipped with hardly 72 of his close companions, kith and kin. He was forced to encamp at Karbala, near River Euphrates, when the murderous hordes of Yazid, under the command of the governor of Kufa, Obaidullah bin Ziayed, fell on him and his retinue. They carried off their heads as trophies to the castle of Kufa. Hussain's supreme sacrifice instils courage in humanity... . to stand up and fight against all injustices.

K.S. Ahmed Pasha
Ambur

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Miscellaneous

News Update

Stories in this Section

Cartoon

The Hindu Crossword 8221

Solution to puzzle 8220

Imam Hussain's martyrdom

dated February 19,1955: Cabinet crisis in Nepal

dated February 19,1955: Polling in Andhra

dated February 19,1955: UK to make hydrogen bomb

dated February 19,1955: Mr. Speaker, please

Weather