THE UPRISING OF IMAM AL-HUSAYN (A.S.)

The decree of Allah is good for the believer।"- Imam al-Baqir (A.S.). THE UPRISING OF IMAM AL-HUSAYN (A.S.) Islam clearly stipulate...

The decree of Allah is good for the believer।"- Imam al-Baqir (A.S.).

THE UPRISING OF IMAM AL-HUSAYN (A.S.)

Islam clearly stipulates that the leader of the Islamic nation must abide by the principles of justice and equity. He should hold the laws of Islamic Sharia’h and the will of the Islamic Ummah in highest esteem and at no cost, should he compromise them. A leader must refrain from ruling oppressively and misappropriating his power as a way to gain wealth, luxury and a monopoly of property and privileges. Leadership ought not to be given to anyone who lacks the ability of being an exemplary leader in his deeds, morals and understanding of the important divine laws. In addition, he should also be politically efficient.

Yazeed, son of Mu’awiya bin Abi Sufyan was well known to both, Imam Husayn (as) and the Islamic nation to be unfit to lead the Muslims. He was also extremely corrupt and bent upon making mischief. History describes him as a debaucherous man engrossed in womanising, drinking wine, playing with monkeys, reciting poetry, horse-racing and hunting. Above all, he openly scoffed at Islam and its tenets that are depicted from his poems.

Husayn (as) viewed questions of state, politics, the Ummah, leadership and Imamate from the perspective of Quran. As opposed to that, Yazeed viewed these questions from his castle of oppression. Leadership in the eyes of Husayn (as), was a vehicle to place the Ummah on the road of guidance and reform, a means to nourish people with divine laws and build their characters and a tool to organize life and develop it towards good and perfection.

In his view, the Islamic state had the underpinnings of Islam, according to which it formulates its regulations and its cultural values. The state organs are assigned the task of protecting the principles and aims of the Ummah. These organs are authorized by the Ummah to institute rules, uphold justice and provide services. In all this, they are answerable to the Ummah and Allah, the Almighty. (Imam Husayn (as) & the Day of Aashura)

It is for these reasons that Imam Husayn (as) refused to swear an oath of allegiance to Yazeed and took up arms against him and challenged the legitimacy of his rulership of the Islamic Ummah.

In his letter to Muhammad al-Hanafiyya, Imam Husayn (as) wrote:

“….I am not taking up arms in order to make merry, or be ecstatic over what I possess. I am not making mischief, nor exercising oppression. But I am ready to fight for the sole goal of seeking reform of the Ummah of my grandfather, the Apostle of Allah. I want to enjoin good and forbid evil and guide the affairs of the people as my grandfather and father were doing…” (Maqtal al-Husayn)

Giving reason to his refusal of accepting Yazeed as the leader of the Muslim Ummah, Imam (as) said:

“Yazeed is a corrupt man, who imbibes wine, puts to death the soul which Allah forbids to be harmed and declares his debauchery in public. A man like me will never give pledge of allegiance to a man like him.” (Ibn Tawoos)

In his letter to the people of Kufa, Imam (as) mentioned the qualifications of a true Imam, so as to nurture their political awareness and make them identify the true leader. He (as) wrote thus:

“…For by my life, what is the Imam except one who judges by the Book, one who upholds justice, one who professes the religion of truth and one who dictates himself to the essence of Allah.” (Al-Mufeed)

To the key leaders of Basra like Malik bin Masma al-Bakri, al-Ahnaf bin Qays, al-Munthir bin al-Jarood and others, Imam Husayn (as) wrote:

“…I call you to abide by the Book of Allah and the practice of His Apostle (saww). The Prophet’s practice has now been put aside, and heterodoxy revived. Should you grasp my words and obey me, then, I will most certainly lead you along the path of righteousness. And may Allah bestow peace and mercy on you.” (Maqtal al-Husayn)