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?
Let us please not allow just 2-3 people poison everyone’s mind with their jahalat and hatred. The enemies of Islam have always sought to make muslim fight muslim, just like the Taliban are now doing. Let us not fall into the traps of these Muslim haters who want to impose their own wierd beliefs on everyone else by making muslim fight muslim.
Mr. mazbut. I am a Shai. And in my whole life I have never seen or heard a single Shia say anything at all disrespectful about the Prophet (PBUH), the Ashaba or Bibi Aisha. Never.
There may be some exceptions who have just as I think there are some exceptions who try to abuse the Shia traditions as you do. So what you are saying has no purpose except to spread hatred it seems.
If your other comments are as inflamatory, I am glad they are in moderation and frankly I wish ATP administrators will put all the comments that are divisive in moderation.
@ Adnan Siddiqi
I take your point on reciting Darood Shareef( I recite the same!) and that religious self-torture tends to promote extremism.
Let us Muslims get out of our differences on personality worship and abide by the teachings of the holy Quran (without distorting or misinterpreting its commands, ameen!)
I regret to note that my earlier point of view has been held up for moderation….
I have never come across any Muslim who would curse ( and abuse) the friends of the holy Prophet or Bibi Aisha other than the Shiites. This is a fact on record and no Shiite can deny it.
At the same there is NO Muslim in the world who would dare talk against Ahl-e-Bait….whom they sincerely hold in as much honor or more as the Shiites ostensibly try to do!
@Sidhas: you cracked me up. Your name suggests you ain’t a Muslim so you should be forgiven. For your kind information, every Sunni recites Darood Ibrahimi in namaz and otherwise. Read below:
O God! Send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the House of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Abraham and upon the House of Abraham; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious. O God! Bless Muhammad and the House of Muhammad as You blessed Abraham and the House of Abraham; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious
If Wahabis/Debandis had issues then they would not have recited it every time.