A’adhamallahu ujurana wa ujurakum bi musaabina bil Hussain alayhis salaam
(May Allah make our reward and your reward great, for our grief for Husayn, peace be upon him).
In Africa and in many parts of the world the commemoration of the great martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) will take place on Monday night, 3rd November, 2014 and Ashura Day will be on Tuesday, 4th November, 2014 (10th of Muharram 1436 AH) according to the Islamic Lunar Calendar.
KARBALA SHALL LIVE FOR EVER
Imam Hussain (AS) mission was to reform the Muslim Ummah and save the religion of Islam which was in danger at the time under the despotic and unjust ruler from the Umayyad dynasty, Yazid son of Muawiyah ibn Abu Sufiyan, an arch enemy of Islam.
Imam Hussain (A.S.) explains his movement in his own words to his brother Muhammad bin Hanafiya before he left Madinah in 60 A.H.
“I have taken this stand not out of arrogance or pride, neither out of rebellion or worldly passions. I have risen to seek reform in the community of my grandfather. I would like to bid good, forbid evil, and follow the tradition of my grandfather, the Prophet of Allah and my father ‘Ali bin Abi Talib.”
The message of Imam Husain (AS) is universal. It is not limited to any age or place. His message to mankind is that human dignity cannot co-exist with life under tyranny. His message reverberates each year when his martyrdom is commemorated.
On the tenth day of the sacred Islamic month of Muharram – the day of Ashura – in the year 61 A.H., approximately 50 years after the death of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWW), his beloved grandson, Imam Hussain (AS) along with members of his family and the faithful companions were killed mercilessly in the desert plains of Karbala, Iraq. The Karbala massacre is known as one of the darkest and saddest days in Islamic history.
It is important to expose the crimes and atrocities committed by the despotic and unjust ruler Yazid bin Muawiyah and his ruthless army towards the grandson of the Holy Prophet (SAWW), his family members, including the women and children of the household of the Holy Prophet (SAWW) and Imam’s faithful companions.
The memory of this great epic event (Ashura) must be kept alive by our community members wherever they are in the world. The lessons we learn from the events at Karbala brings a source of divine enlightenment and a road to the salvation of mankind. Imam Hussain (AS) stood firm against all odds, atrocities and was martyed in the struggle to save Humanity and Islam from humiliation and from the tyrannical and brutal hands of the despotic and unjust ruler from the family of the Umayyad dynasty.
Aza-e-Sayyidu’sh Shuhadah Imam Hussain (AS) (Commemoration) should be a platform to bring awareness of Islamic Values, Human Dignity, God Consciousness and source of Tableegh in enlightening the masses.
Sir Muhammad Iqbal says:
Imam Husayn uprooted despotism forever till the Day of Resurrection. He watered the dry garden of freedom with the surging wave of his blood, and indeed he awakened the sleeping Muslim nation. If Imam Husayn had aimed at acquiring a worldly empire, he would not have traveled the way he did (from Medina to Karbala). Husayn weltered in blood and dust for the sake of truth. Verily he, therefore, became the bed-rock (foundation) of the Muslim creed; La ila ha illa’llah (There is no god but Allah).
Let us pray to Allah (SWT) for the sanctity and protection of the Holy Shrines in Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia. Let us remember in our prayers during these important days the oppressed people of the world wherever they are for the freedom from oppression, and pray for their safety, peace and wellbeing.
May Allah (SWT) grant us all an opportunity to perform Hajj pilgrimage and to perform the Ziyarat of the Holy Prophet of Islam (SAWW), the Holy Imams (AS), the Martyrs of Karbala and the faithful companions of the Holy Prophet of Islam (SAWW) and the Holy Imams (AS) in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Syria – Ameen.
LABBAYKA YA HUSSEIN – LABBAYKA YA HUSSEIN
SECRETARIAT