Adil Najam
I write these lines as midnight strikes in Pakistan on the night between 9th and 10th Moharram. I write these lines as the news on television flashes news about blasts and bombs all around. How much more poignant could the message of Ashura be than it is today? Each year, it seems, the message of Ashura becomes more poignant and more important than the year before. But each year, it also seems, that the message becomes less understood. Each of us has to understand what that message means to us. All I can do today is to repeat my own understanding, in the very same words I had used the last two years.
To me, Ashura commemorates a struggle that is steeped in deep spiritual meaning, not only for Islamic history but for all humanity. It is a struggle between good and evil, between just and unjust, between weak and powerful, between immediate and the eternal, between principle and ambition. The power of Ashura is not only in the epic events that it commemorates, it is in the narrative of those events, in the symbolisms that we construct. Ultimately, it is in the meanings that we derive from those events.
Muharram is, of course, of special significance to Shias. But the events and meaning of Ashura is of significance and relevance to all Muslims, and I would suggest, to all humans everywhere.
Like so many others growing up in a Sunni household I grew up observing ehteram-i-Muharram and am always drawn in these days leading up to Ashura towards thinking about the meaning of religion and of faith. To me these have always been days of deep spiritual reflection; especially of intellectual enquiry into the meaning of justice (the concept of ‘adl’ holds a deep significance to me given the name I was given at birth and therefore I have always interpreted Ashura particularly as a time to reflect on what justice is).
Growing up, the night of Ashura was always defined for me by the Majlis i Shaam i Gharibaan (often by Allama Naseer ul Ijtihaadi) on PTV on the night of dasveen Muharram, which was followed immediately – and at right about midnight – by Syed Nasir Jahan’s soulful recitation of Salam-i-Akhir.
Bachay to aglay baras hum hain aur yeh gham phir hai
Today, as I listen to him again, so many more layers of meaning unfold. So many deep wounds open up. So many new thoughts come flooding in. And, yet, I have nothing new to say. Maybe you can share what the message of Ashura means to you in a world that continues to be unjust and unjustly violent?
What transpired on the 10th of Muharrarm 680 AD was the ultimate statement of what must be sacrificed in order to stand for truth and justice, that the Islamic faith demands of us as believers. It is difficult to think of many instances where a leader and his followers have made a more bold and unequivocal statement, with unparalleled courage, by drawing a line, once and for all, that cannot be allowed to be crossed (by believers) in opposing the pursuit of tyranny. The precious life itself was not deemed too high a price to pay for upholding that principle.
Perhaps, Socrates accepting the cup of hemlock, rather than compromising on what he held to be sacred, is the only other example; and it does not come close.
It may be too much to expect that believers today face what the noble grandson of Muhammad(SAW) faced on that fateful day nearly 1400 years ago. But the least we can do is to ensure that no tyranny can erase, EVER, the line etched in the sands of Karabala with the blood of Hussain(RA) and his brave companions.
sar dAd na dAd dast dar-e dast Yazid
haQQA ke binA-e la ilah ast Hussain(RA)
Ben castle: You very rightly pointed out that Taliban apologists (who also happen to be Yazid apologists – no suprise) are mis-attributing a verse to Iqbal.
In fact here is what Iqbal wrote in Imam Hussain’s memory:
Ay sabâ ay payk-e-dûr uftâdagân,
Ashk-e-mâ bar khâk-e-pâk-e-oo rasân
Iqbal’s intense love for and faith in Imam Husayn is apparent from this couplet. Fondly addressing himself to the breeze, which proverbially carries the message of the lover to the beloved, who is at a remote place. Iqbal asks her to carry his tears to the sacred tomb of Imam Husayn. Dr Iqbal weeps in sad and blessed memory of Imam Husayn and wishes to place his tears over his Imam’s grave
Also, Iqbal wrote:
Roney wâlâ hoon shahid-e-Karbala kay gham may mayn
Kyâ durrey maqsûd na daingay Sâqi-e-Kauthar mujhey
Here is a comprehensive resource:
http://criticalppp.org/lubp/archives/688
Lets be clear. The love of Ahle bait is part of Sunni religion.
It is Pakistani Deobandis, Wahabhis, and Neo-Kharjities who have different views.
Regardless, all people have right to express their opinion without using hateful speech and everyone has freedom of religion. Needless, may I remind everyone has right to life.
My own opinion is that today the center of terrorist activity revolves around Deobandi, JI, and Ahle-hadith.
Sunnis have come out to condemn suicide but other non-shia and non-sunni groups have been beating around bushes.
It is time we hold them responsible. When will we go beyond religion to stand for life, liberty and justice.
this year i am seeing this quote every where
“روئیں وہ جو منکر ہیں شہدات حسسیں کے
ہم زندہ و جاوید کا ماتم نہیں کیا کرتے”
I am kind of surprised that people are attributing this verse to iqbal. Iqbal has written a lot in Hussain, and very deep philosophical thoughts. This partcular verse that is being ascribed to allama iqbal seems to be agaisnt his general style, and seems to promote sectarinism and condemnation of shias. I doubt that this is allam’s shair. Can someone confirm which book and poem it is from. Mr adnan you quoted it what is your refrence.
also note that allama iqbal is held in very high esteem in Iran. cause his best work is in persian. Iqbal enjoyed writing in persian. I doubt that iqbal had this kind of narrow-minded style he would have been v popular in a vast majority shia country. Iranian’s simply love iqbal for his poetry and hussain.
@ mazbut
learn civilization. your argument is just as faltered as it could be…so if security cannt be provided by state, we should stop religious freedom.
by the way by just saying i am with Hussain, you dont prove anything. But by terming his commemoration as “a show”, you say a lot about what is hidden in your heart, and by making fun of people who lament over the oppressions and trangressions of yazeed against Prophets family…..you also speak volumes about with whome your true sympathies are.
well you may wish but Hussain’s Islam and his devotees, will never stop to remind us of Karbala and what it stood for. and when kafreen made fun of prophet for not having a son so his name will persish………..but see neither his name persihed, nor hussain’s name will, and nor remembering him e where in muharrum.
deal with this fact of life.