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?
I am in total agreement with Ibrahim regarding Muharram, which is a sacred month. This occasion has been usurped by bidaats, which will never be accepted by Allah, as confirmed in the Hadith in Sahih Bukhari. The problem in Pakistan is that the people have neglected the Quran and Sunnah, disregarded Imam Abu Bakr, Imam Umar, Imam Uthman and Imam Ali (RA), as confirmed in one of many ahadith including “the best of mankind is my generation, then those that follow them and then those that follow them… (Tirmidhi, Sahih). Until we return to the ways of the salaf, our miserable situation looks set to remain.
Watan e Aziz,
dil khush keeta yaar.
“shah ast husain, padshah ast husain”
“deen ast husain, deen panah ast husain”
“sar dad na dad dast, dar daste yazeed”
“haqqa binna la illah as husain”
Q: Maybe you can share what the message of Ashura means to you in a world that continues to be unjust and unjustly violent?
A: The family of Imam Ali is incomparable.
From Imam and his progeny, there has been nothing but a commitment for democracy, justice, equity and education.
I do not share the Shia principles of appreciation of their accomplishments, but do know that the world is a better place due to their examples.
That Imam Ali offered to “resign if my election is in dispute with a call for another election” was unheard of for man of that immense power.
And even more amazingly, still remains as the only example.
Nishapuri,
I agree with what you are saying, with a caveat that Salafis have a dominant streak of inbuilt extremism which needs to be checked by themselves with internal mechanism and outsiders must be cognizant of this fact. I came across a good book that you may want to read, “Siege of Macca”.
Hamza Yusuf said something to the effect that Wahabhi creed with political fusion is a disaster.
We belong to two different schools of thoughts but still can agree on essence on which society rests.
Well, bad people are e where, and in every religion. extremist jews, avengilists in christians, and some extremist groups and ideologies in muslims. Some of them as rightly pointed out by sidhas are spilling there poison here too. This post was to pay homage to Hussain, but they came here spitting out venom at shias, and who is muslim and also posting fake verses of Iqbal.
I am also impressed by my friends who are showing spirit of a civilized man such as @sidhas, nishapuree and all others who have said nice things about right of shias to mourn Hussain as they please. and I am also impresses by how our friend in NY @ali abbas explained our “rituals” to non-muslims. Maybe hater monger like @mazbut (in hatred) who were earlier complaining that they cant explain breast beating to anyone can learn something from you.
@adnan so did you find out the reference for iqbal’s verse. which book and which poem. I have all the books handy, as soon as you give the reference, i would like t check it in my library. And if you cant provide the refernce, are you ready to apologize to everyone for spreading lies and hatred?