"Verily, people are the slaves of the (material) world and their religion is superficial, only on their tongues. They are attentive to it as long as their material benefits are provided, but when they are tested, the number of true devotees dwindles.
This world has changed, snubbed, and its good has turned tail. Nothing has remained from it except a thing that is as scanty as the leftover of a cup and a mean life that is like a noxious grazing. Have you not noticed that the right is ignored and the evil is not forbidden? This is sufficient for making the believers desire for meeting Allah rightfully. I consider death as happiness and life with the wrongdoers as boredom."
من خطبة الإمام الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب (ع):
إن الناس عبيد الدنيا، والدين لعقٌ على ألسنتهم يحوطونه ما درّت معائشهم، فإذا مُحِّصوا بالبلاء قلَّ الديانون. إن هذه الدنيا قد تغيرت، وتنكرت، وأدبر معروفها، فلم يبق منها إلا صباية كصباية الإنا، وخســيس عيش كالمرعى الوبـيـل، ألا تــرون أن الحق لا يعمل به، وأن الباطل لا يتناهى عنه، ليرغب المؤمن في لقاء ربه محقاً، فإني لا أرى الموت إلا سعادة، والحياة مع الظالمين إلاّ بَرَمَا.
Few days ago was the beginning of new Hijri/Islamic year 1431H, Inshallah it will be a blessing and happy year for all Muslims around the world. Also, it was the sad anniversary of Ashura where Imam Hussain along with some of his household and companions revolutionized against the worst tyrant the Islamic world had ever known Yazid bin Muawiyah bin Abi-Sufyan and were brutally martyred at the Battle of Karbla on 10th Muharram 61H (10th October 680AD). In this legendary and tragic battle Imam Hussain and his companions represented the most beautiful forms of humanity and true principles of Islam, they challenged Yazid's fascism by refusing to bow down to his tyranny and sacrificed their precious souls for the revival of moral order, human rights, law and justice and civil liberty of the good at large.
Shia Muslims around the world always commemorate this event the first 10 days of every new Hijri/Islamic year. This year, I attended four different centers (called Hussainya) where Ashura rituals took place, as usual Islamic scholars preached about the merits and principles of Ashura, standing up against the tyrants, liberty, civil reforms, morals and ethics, etc .. concurrently during Ashura was the anniversary of Gaza War but ironically I never heard any of them mentioning the word 'Gaza'!
Our Palestinian people are still under siege dying and suffering every moment! Yet we are doing nothing to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, actually we have almost forgotten them completely! The least we could do is to commemorate the anniversary and expose the monstrous ugliness of the Zionists! Isn't for that Imam Hussain sacrificed his divine life for?! To teach us as Human beings and Muslims we have to practically stand against tyranny and stand in solidarity with the oppressed?! To teach us that life without principles and dignity is worthless?!
Ashura is what inspired the Lebanese and managed to liberate their land from the Zionists, Ashura is what revolutionized the Iranian and could overthrow the King of Kings (Shah of Iran). Nonetheless, I believe for most Shia Muslims, Ashura is becoming merely rituals and customs that's isolated from real life, Imam Hussain reflected the bitter reality of religious people by his vivid words:
However, I'm not criticizing Shia Muslims only but because they love Imam Hussain and embrace his revolution and principles and commemorate it every year they should be admonished more. Having said that, in the same anniversary day of Gaza War I called a Palestinian friend who is a Sunni Muslim originally from Gaza itself and is an activist in the community, I asked him if there's any program for commemorating the anniversary of Gaza War, he was a bit stunned and embarrassed a bit because there was nil.
Shia Muslims around the world always commemorate this event the first 10 days of every new Hijri/Islamic year. This year, I attended four different centers (called Hussainya) where Ashura rituals took place, as usual Islamic scholars preached about the merits and principles of Ashura, standing up against the tyrants, liberty, civil reforms, morals and ethics, etc .. concurrently during Ashura was the anniversary of Gaza War but ironically I never heard any of them mentioning the word 'Gaza'!
Our Palestinian people are still under siege dying and suffering every moment! Yet we are doing nothing to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, actually we have almost forgotten them completely! The least we could do is to commemorate the anniversary and expose the monstrous ugliness of the Zionists! Isn't for that Imam Hussain sacrificed his divine life for?! To teach us as Human beings and Muslims we have to practically stand against tyranny and stand in solidarity with the oppressed?! To teach us that life without principles and dignity is worthless?!
Ashura is what inspired the Lebanese and managed to liberate their land from the Zionists, Ashura is what revolutionized the Iranian and could overthrow the King of Kings (Shah of Iran). Nonetheless, I believe for most Shia Muslims, Ashura is becoming merely rituals and customs that's isolated from real life, Imam Hussain reflected the bitter reality of religious people by his vivid words:
Verily, people are the slaves of the (material) world and their religion is superficial, only on their tongues. They are attentive to it as long as their material benefits are provided, but when they are tested, the number of true devotees dwindles.In fact that's the case for most religious practices where religion is basically a set of rituals and customs are passed down from generation to generation rather than being true belief and principles to base our life on. Hence, usually the first followers of any religion are the most sincere and devotees to their religious belief but that devotion gradually decline in the succeeding generations because for them it became just rituals and customs they inherited from their ancestors rather than something they truly believe in.
However, I'm not criticizing Shia Muslims only but because they love Imam Hussain and embrace his revolution and principles and commemorate it every year they should be admonished more. Having said that, in the same anniversary day of Gaza War I called a Palestinian friend who is a Sunni Muslim originally from Gaza itself and is an activist in the community, I asked him if there's any program for commemorating the anniversary of Gaza War, he was a bit stunned and embarrassed a bit because there was nil.
"Ye were the best nation (people) that evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah." Quraan 3:110
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ
آل عمران : ١١٠
No comments:
Post a Comment