Imam Hussain: mankind's saviour and liberator for all times

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Imam Hussain ibn Ali's message is immortal. Reiterating it is not customary or ritual, but an indispensable necessity to reawaken mankind and let it reappraise itself of the dire requisite to stand fast against tyranny, callousness and repression.

That is what the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and scion of Ali and Fatima stood for in the barren deserts of Karbala in 61 Hijra (680 AD), and did not blink even for a nano-second in sacrificing his kith and kin, among his 72 righteous comrades, to uphold the glorious message of emancipation of humanity.

Hussain fought the barbaric mercenaries numbering no less than nine lakhs, who had encircled the pious family from Kufa to Euphrates, and was unrelenting as he went down fighting, acclaiming his stature as a divine legend unparalleled in living history.

Hussain's determination and conviction, thus, is worth-emulating for all eras and all times to come. The Iman's resoluteness drives inspiration to all without any consideration of race or religion.

The 10-hour epic of Karbala is a lesson from absolute divinity and disseminates the spirituality of faith in oneness of Almighty (towheed), the sacred script of Islam as promulgated by the Holy Prophet (PBUH), and the irresistibility to attain salvation.

That is why in the last 1400 years, the maximum amount of prose and poetry written in the world of literature has been on Karbala — the bravery, solitude, courage, pride and gratification displayed there.

As the world endeavours in search of redemption, justice and liberty - tired of oppression, hunger, disease and poverty — the last resort is Karbala and Hussain.

The reason is simple: Hussain embraced martyrdom not in a war imposed on him, but in a self-sought struggle to drive the point till the Day of Judgment that human beings cannot be enslaved and there can never be a compromise on the injunctions and dictums of Almighty. That was Hussain's high moral character, sound footing in his grandfather's teachings, self-integrity and honesty.

The son of Ali's power of decision-making was incredible, and that too in adversity, an aspect that turned the battle of Karbala into a marvelous piece of human treatise.

Hussain's defiance against subjugation will keep on guiding humanity. Famous poet Josh Malihabadi was apt as he wrote: "Insaan ko baidaar tou ho lene do; Har qaum pukaray gi hamare hain Hussain." That is so because the clarion call of Hussain resonates worldwide, as after having picked up 71 bodies within a span of 10 hours, the 57-year-old Hussain had the spirit and determination to challenge and cry, "Hal min nasirin yansorona?" i.e. "Is there any helper to help us?"

This call will keep on echoing, molding the human conscience to walk the extra few steps for seeking rightful guidance, as well as freedom from despotism, terror and fascism — the pestering menaces of all times. That is the relevance of Karbala and the 72 lionhearted men who stood for Hussain, died for Islam, and shall be remembered by the selfless, upright and freedom-lovers.

Iqbal was articulate as he wrote: "Haqiqat-e-abdi hei muqaam-e-Shabiri; Badalte rahte hein andaaz-e Kufi-o-Shami" That is an endorsement of the Holy Imam's virtuousness, one that made him call on the asr (afternoon) of 10th Muharram after having seen his six-month infant, Ali Asghar, pierced: "Hal min nasirin yansorona?", establishing that the Family of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was victimised, and in aftermath, maimed, bruised, slaughtered and had their pious remains stampeded. Hussain, likewise, proclaimed: "Nahnul min al haq?" (Are we not on truth?), seeking its veracity to be replied in affirmative even by his assassins who wanted to put him down under their swords.

If tributes of valour to the martyrs of Karbala can be summarised, it would be suffice to recall that it is not a human endowment to take along women and children when the exalted, righteous and infallible Imam knew his destiny.

That means for Hussain, securing the scripture of Allah and Prophet (PBUH) was above everything, as the tyrants sought his allegiance. That was not Hussain's trait; and he refused to submit and gave up all he could in humility for the glory of Islam and human values — a sacrifice that will be honoured, admired and remembered by every generation.