Ashura: Reflections on human rights (II)

The event focused on the remembrance of Imam Hussein, the third Caliph and grandson of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, his family and close companions who were martyred in 680 AD. Imam Hussein was on a journey to Kufa to defend human rights. Sheikh Hamzah Muhammad Lawal, the founder of Althaqalain Foundation reminded us in his […]

The event focused on the remembrance of Imam Hussein, the third Caliph and grandson of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, his family and close companions who were martyred in 680 AD. Imam Hussein was on a journey to Kufa to defend human rights. Sheikh Hamzah Muhammad Lawal, the founder of Althaqalain Foundation reminded us in his presentation that Imam Hussein had high moral principles that were far above that of his enemies, such as Yazid. The Imam made it clear that he would resist tyranny. He said ‘I will not flee from oppressors nor cringe before them in humiliation like slave. I will not give them power with my hand’. Sheikh Hamzah drew a comparison between the stand taken by Imam Hussein at Karbala and our situation today where government terrorises innocent people. It sponsors terrorists who invade towns and villages, slaughter the people and occupy their homes.  As if to confirm Sheikh Hamzah’s observation a procession that was organised to commemorate Ashura in Yobe was bombed and several people died.
Sheihk Hamzah said all this is happening because people have jettisoned principles. It happened before in Egypt and Algeria when reform movements were infiltrated and hijacked by tyrants and enemies of Islam. However a time will come when people will resist this mass slaughter by government and will emulate Imam Hussein who made the supreme sacrifice rather than live in humiliation. That is magda, standing up for principles. Imam Hussein was a voice for justice; he promoted Islamic principles and was a voice for humanity in general. His principled stand was distinct from that of those that were not upright and lacked principle. Yazid was not a companion of the Prophet SAW nor was he an upright man so why should a principled person cringe before him?
Shekh Hamza said ‘unfortu-nately that is what is happening in our country today where religious leaders have put principles in abeyance and cringe before political leaders who have derailed from the path of truth and do not fear God.  Due to this subjugation of principles to tyranny and oppression by the religious leaders, the politicians have devalued their worth and they no longer respect them. Imam Hussein had given us the guideline for coping with such times when he said In whatever you do suppress your own interests and let principles be your guide. The Imam not only preached this but actually lived it. He was a self sacrificing leader who stood by his people and made reform and promotion of human rights a priority. He protected the poor and vulnerable people and in a remarkable feat carried the elite along with him in his struggle.
Poor and oppressed people are usually the majority in most reform initiatives but surprisingly the frontline supporters of Imam Hussein’s reform movement for defence of human rights were the elites. They were drawn from his household and from Banu Hashim, the Prophet’s clan and they were kill along with him.  Sheikh Hamzah rounded up by drawing our attention to the need for deep reflection on Ashura Day. He stressed the fact that it is more beneficial than just wearing black and marching without really knowing the deeper lessons of Karbala and its importance in our lives today. After the reflection speech, Ummu Shahida asked me whether I learnt something from the event.  I told her I did because one would always learn something from any intellectual activity attended. I viewed it as a local level of a global activity and felt that we in Kaduna were not alone in our sober reflection on that sad incident at Karbala. Ummu Shahida told me the message delivered at that event was recorded and would be disseminated to those who were not able to attend the lecture. She later sent a copy to me.
 In another part of the world, others were also sharing thoughts on that historic tragedy.  Prof. Mehmet Görmez,  the President of Diyanet in Turkey  ‘said the pain of Karbala which sent fires into the hearts is the common sorrow of all the believers who feel affection for the Prophet SAW, for his companions and for his household. He underscored the fact that ‘to understand what happened in Karbala means to feel deep affection for righteousness, for the truth, for freedom and justice. Karbala is the name of the resistance against injustice.’ Like Sheikh Hamzah he also compared the current situation of Muslim worldwide to what happened in Karbala.
Professor Gormez said ‘Karbala shows us how those who hold power in their hands become tyrants when they distance themselves from faith, from morals, from virtues and from human values. It shows us how tyrants disregard all values for the sake of preserving their power. A
Believer is the person with conscience, who stands up to the tyrant to help the oppressed, no matter where they are. ‘ He also highlighted the violence that is widespread in Muslim communities “Muslims, irrespective of the sect they belong to or their disposition, still have not read Karbala, Hazrat Hussein and his companions properly and understand what they stand for. That is why so many Karbala incidents are being experienced in our geography of the heart. Muslims blood is being spilt by brothers. The dignity, honour and pride of Muslims is being destroyed by their very own brothers in a way that has never been experienced in history. Millions of people are being driven out of their homes and their lands or losing their lives because of wars, terrorism and oppression. Children are losing their hopes and their dreams for the future. Too many of our innocent, oppressed and deprived brothers and sisters are losing their lives in the deserts of Karbala, like our beloved Imam Hussein.
Professor Gomez spoke on Muslim unity. ‘We have to review our methods of educating our people. We have to put the saying “no person who prays towards the Kaaba can be declared an unbeliever” into practice and remind everyone that those who declare “I am a Muslim” remain in the circle of Islam and no one has the authority to declare them a non-Muslim. We have to put an end to the course of events. That is why there is a necessity for the Muslims to develop a common language, a common culture, a common thought and a common unity of the hearts and souls irrespective of their sects, disposition, language, cultures or lands so that we do not experience other Karbala incidents.’

(Editor’s note: The article, ‘Nigeria: stepping to the edge?’ published on this page yesterday was written by Timawus Mathias; the mix up is regretted.)