Abode of Wisdom

Directives from the grand Ayatollah Shaykh Ishaq Fayyadh may God prolong his life, Relayed by his son, during his visit, to the Unites States of America in April 2012

3-- In order to avoid such ills, one can found centers for intellectual thought and hold religious sermons. The language of the modern times should be taken into account. Hence, the positives and negatives of western social contract should be pointed out. These should be distinguished from the nature of the religious concepts. The consequences of the negatives and cons of such societies, as well as the fraud of their short-term benefits, should be explained. For it is certain that the more a human being depends on civil society and personal abilities, without connecting to God through worship or remembrance which manifests in action, the more aspects of error become apparent due to this overindulgence. This is sure to reflect upon those societies. If this were to be analyzed and its consequences were to be presented properly, on the one hand, and if the instincts regarding the need for the Absolute Creator – the One toward whom all souls direct themselves – were to be awakened, on the other hand; and if this all were to be coupled with clear-cut proof that the Islamic faith is the truth, this would yield a secure perimeter for the Muslim youth. For others, it would also be a deep signifier indicating the correctness and authenticity of our beliefs.
It is also no secret that reviving the commemoration rituals of Imam Husain (pbuh) has a role in the conscience and depth of the Islamic cause, generally, in the hearts of people and specifically in the school of Ahl-ul-Bayt (peace be upon them) as well. Indeed, generally, societies empathize with the ideals and values which are embodied in the struggle of individuals. In the moments of a human’s interaction with the lofty values manifested in certain stands and actions, the darkness of concepts gained unwillingly or unconsciously due to indulging in a particular way of life is removed from one’s self. This shaking within the souls is a result of the ring (sounded) by the tragedy of the Master of Martyrs, with all of its authentic factors (at play). From the side of Imam Husain and his family (peace be upon them) to what they faced from his enemies who claimed to follow his faith. This will remove those souls from the cloak of plunging to obey evil, such as hoarding, greed, and love of debasing desires, and drag them compellingly to stand in line with the call of humanity’s innate nature. (The call will have them) join up with the caravan of virtue, honor, and lofty meanings with Imam Husain (peace be upon him) and his companions. After which, a human being would not accept for him/herself a surface-level faith which is polluted with sins and faults.

It should be noted that reviving the commemoration rituals of Imam Husain (peace be upon him) is the best guarantee for raising the young generation with religious values and virtues. That is because these (rituals) include practices beloved to their souls. Indeed, the actions of the limbs solidify the gains of their hearts for them.

@AbodeofWisdom

Imam Al-Husein peace be with him wanted to liberate the people who were enslaved by the rulers, and therefore the revolution of Imam Al-Husein peace be with himwas launched based on this humanitarian aspect in order to achieve freedom for the entire mankind.

The dimensions of Imam Al-Husein's revolution:
As we read through the narration of Imam Al-Husein peace be with him, we see that when he went out to the battle to fight those who came to fight him, and when he saw his opponents invading the tents of the women, he addressed them saying: "O You the followers of Abu Sifyan, if you do not follow a religion, and if you do not fear the Judgment day, be free in your lives and return to your origins if you were Arabs."
Imam Al-Husein peace be with him raised two issues here. The first is that he laid emphasis to the freedom of man when he said: If you do not abide by religious values and you do not believe in a creed, at least be free. The free man is the one who does not sell himself or his position or opinion in return for money or positions. Do not be slaves, because you are fighting to obey those who enslave you.
The second issue he raised is that Imam peace be with him tried to provoke in them the feelings of Arabism which Islam approved: "Be Arabs", not in terms of the narrow nationalism, but on the basis of the values the Arabs lived, which Islam adopted some of them and eliminated others. This discourse is not addressed to the followers of Abu Sufyan in particular, but to every human being.

On the humanitarian level, we also read his speech when he was asked to give legitimacy to Yazid. He said: "The illegitimate, son of the illegitimate, has settled between two: between unsheathing [the sword] and humiliation, and how impossible is humiliation from us." So it is about being honored in all your life. Imam As-Sadiq peace be with him was quoted as saying upon interpreting the following Quranic verse: "God has the glory and His Prophet and the believers." (63:08) Imam As-Sadiq peace be with him said: "God has allowed the believer to run all his affairs, but he did not authorize him to humiliate himself." Glory is based on power: "The power is wholly Allah's". (02:165). So, to be honorable is to be strong and defending you humanity and freedom.

Then he said: "Do not you see that no one abides by the right and everyone embarks on the wrong?" He is talking about the righteousness which people should abide by, and righteousness is the concept that exists in all the issues of human beings, which ascend his position at the individual, political and social levels.
Therefore, we have to present Ashoura to the entire world in its humanitarian aspect, rather than restricting it to a sectarian aspect because Imam Al-Husein peace be with him is the imam of all Muslims and he obtained his Imamate from Prophet Muhammad (p.) with whom Al-Husein peace be with him lived his early childhood. He also lived with his mother, Sayyeda Az-Zahra and his father Ali peace be with him. So, he enjoyed all the elements and characters of spiritual faith these figures enjoyed. Prophet Muhammad (p.) said: "Husein is from me, and I am from Husein", which reveals the spiritual integration between the Prophet (p.) and Al-Husein peace be with him.

The values of reform in the revolution of Imam Al-Husein peace be with him:
Imam Al-Husein peace be with him said: "I revolted neither for wickedness nor for fame. Verily I rose only to seek for reform in the nation of my grandfather; the messenger of Allah." He did not speak about a certain family or region, but about the entire nation, because he was shouldering the responsibility of the whole nation through his Imamate. "I want to enjoin good and forbid wrong and evil", he said. So, he noticed the deviant situation of the nation, because the rule prevailing at that time damaged the humanitarian aspect of the people who used to love Imam Al-Husein peace be with him and his family, but at the same time, they were fighting to earn money or obtain a certain position in the authority, such as Omar BinSa'ad

Imam Al-Husein peace be with him wanted to integrate reform into the nation, with all its individuals and diversity. He said: "Whoever accepts me by accepting the truth, surely God rewards him for supporting the truth. And whoever rejects me, I will be patient until God judges between me and these people justly. Surely, His Almighty is the Best Judge of the judges." It is reported that the first statement Imam Al-Husein peace be with him gave when he went out of Mecca was: "O' people, the Messenger of God said: Whoever sees an aggressive tyrant legalizes the forbidden acts of God, breaches divine laws, opposes the tradition of the Prophet, oppresses the worshippers of God, but does not concede his opposition to God in word or in deed, surely Allah will place him with this tyrant." It is our religious duty to topple an unjust regime, and God shall punish anyone who abstains from fulfilling this duty and reward he who does. Imam Al-Husein peace be with him adds: "Those have obeyed Satan…" So, Imam Al-Husein peace be with him wanted to change the reality, laying emphasis to two points:

First: the sovereignty of the law, after they stopped applying the punishment system put forward by Islam; a punishment system that must be applied under an Islamic state.

Second: Releasing the money of the nation from their hands, after they have monopolized it, because the money of the nation of that of Allah.

Therefore, we are not allowed to give Ashoura a sectarian aspect and regard it as a Shiite issue. Ashoura is an Islamic occasion and the slogans raised by Imam Al-Husein peace be with him are all Islamic and humanitarian ones. Imam Al-Husein peace be with him was also loved by the Muslims and he used to love them all. Everyone used to repeat: "

Al-Hasan peace be with him and Al-Husein peace be with him are the masters of the youth of Heaven."

Ashoura is an occasion that rests on the Islamic and humanitarian values that characterized the personality of Imam Al-Husein peace be with him. These values embodied the leader and the leader embodied the values. So, if you see Imam Al-Husein peace be with him, you see Islam in itself and if you study Islam, you will come across Al-Husein peace be with him, without feeling any kind of duality, because Al-Husein peace be with him integrated in Islam and Islam lived in his mind, heart and movement. Even in his Jihad, Imam Al-Husein peace be with him was a martyr for the sake of Islam.

Therefore, we should not separate between the person and the cause; because many people, particularly those who carry out certain backward customs, such as those who practice the bloodletting ritual, do not realize the meaning and significance of Ashoura and Karbala, nor do they understand the reality of the Islamic state, in terms of the threats of the tyrants and arrogant powers. This is how we should approach Ashoura; we should look at the problems and threats overshadowing the Islamic world, because the Islamic world should not remain at the sidelines of the arrogant world.

💠Ayatollah Mutahhari:

✔️Notes from "Hamasa e Husaini", pg. 23:

🔹"This remembrance, this memory should never be forgotten, and people should always shed tears over this.

🔸However, in the lamentation of a hero, firstly his existence as a hero should be well established, and then mourning should be performed for him. If not, then superficially lamenting over a trampled, armless, legless, and innocent individual has no potential for the true shedding of tears, and a lamenting nation will have no impact.

🔹Mourning over the hero should be so that you can feel that heroic experience, so that the radiation of the Hero's spirit may shine onto your spirit, so that to an extent you could find a relation of bravery to truth and reality.

🔸You too (like the hero) should be pro-Justice, battle against oppression and the oppressor, be advocates of freedom, have utmost respect for freedom. Do you even understand what human nobility even is, what honor and humanitarianism are, what dignity means. If we read the bright page of the Husaini history, we could then be able to truly benefit from the mourning processions, if not then it will prove useless.

🔹We think Husain ibn Ali (peace be with him) is waiting in the hereafter so that people feel sorry for him- or nauzu billah- Hazrate Zahra (peace be with her) is also waiting in the shade of Gods mercy in the hereafter after 1300 years for a few people to cry for her so she feels consoled".

@AbodeofWisdom

🔺Ayatollah Sayed Kamal al Hayderi:

✔️I imagine that the walk to Imam Hussain (peace be with him’s shrine) on Arbaeen is from the most important keys and strongest (activities) of this blessed movement for spreading the message of (Imam) Hussain (peace be with him). However, subject to conditions, (it is) to benefit and profit (people) in knowledge, thought, education, and awakening of the Ummah. however, is this happening or not?

✔️We see all the tents (during the walk), (so) what is their purpose? Is their purpose and aim intellectual and educational? Or is their purpose just to give food and other services? Which one of them? May God reward those who are presenting these services (of food, water, and other services to the pilgrims)!

✔️However, the issue (at hand) is greater than (just) these services (of food etc). Imam Hussain (peace be with him’s objective) wasn’t just for people to walk to him 500 km or 5000 km. Rather he wanted his cause to be a torch that gives light to the path, to humanity. That is why if you were to refer to Imam Hussain’s (peace be with him) speech in Karbala, you will find him saying,

✔️ “If you don’t believe in the last day (day of Judgment), then (at least) be free men in your world!”

✔️(If) These words aren’t directed to me, (then) who is it directed to? To the Shi’a… No! To the Muslims… No! To those who believe in God… No! (Rather) it was directed to all of humanity, even to those who don’t believe in the Day of Judgment.

✔️This is who Hussain (peace be with him) is. (So) what I say now is directed to all those millions that go to the grave of Abi Abdillah al Hussain (peace be with him). We find the (above) hadith very clear… even if there isn’t a narration, we don’t need it, the Quranic text suffices. Are we at the present moment able to benefit (truly) from these rites and send a message to humanity, or do we find (with great regret) that this holy act and this sacrifice (of Imam Hussain peace be with him) of which there is none like it in history and even till the Day of Judgment a like will never come, has it (instead) fallen into the hands of ignorant people?

✔️I say ignorant, however I don’t doubt the intentions of anyone. I’m not saying that those who call towards some of these acts are like this or that… Never! But what I want to say, is that these acts are in reality in opposition to the movement of Imam Hussain (peace be with him) and it is upon the religious institutions (which) I shout and say again (that it is) upon the religious institutions to take these affairs relating to Imam Hussain (peace be with him) and to make them the most important thing for humanity, and to wake up the Ummah to reach the aims that Imam Hussain (peace be with him) wanted.

@AbodeofWisdom

Letter of Imam Ali to Malik-e Ashtar
(Part Nine)

2. The Chief Judge [Supreme Court Justice]

🔰🔰For the settlement of disputes among people, select one who is the most distinguished among your subjects in your view. The cases (coming before him) should not vex him, disputation should not enrage him. He should not insist on any wrong point and should not hesitate to accept the truth when he perceives it; he should not lean towards greed and should not content himself with a cursory understanding (of a matter) without going thoroughly into it.

🔰🔰He should be most ready to stop (to ponder) on doubtful points, most considerate of arguments, least disgusted at the quarrel of litigants, most patient at probing into matters and most fearless at the time of passing a judgement.

🔰🔰Praise should not make him vain and elation should not make him lean (toward any side). Such people are very few.

🔰🔰Then, very often check his decisions and allow him so much money (as remuneration) that he has no excuse worth hearing (for not being honest) and there remains no occasion for him to go to others for his needs. Give him that rank in your audience for which no one else among your chiefs aspires so that he may remain safe from the harm of those around you.

🔰🔰You should have a piercing eye in this matter because this religion has formerly been a prisoner in the hands of vicious persons when action was taken according to passion and worldly wealth was sought.

🔰🔰@AbodeofWisdom🔰🔰

Imam Zain-ul Abideen:

“.And the right of your father is that you should know that he is your root and you are his branch. And without him, you would not be.

Whenever you see anything in yourself which pleases you, you should know that your father is the root of its blessing upon you.

So praise God and thank Him in recognition of that. And there is no power but in God”

Book of Rights; Imam Sajjad Zain-ul Abedin peace be with him.

@AbodeofWisdom

💠💠💠﷽💠💠

Imam Sadiq (peace be with him) quoted on the authority of his fathers upon the authority of Imam Ali (peace be with him) that God's last Prophet said:

“One of the signs of certitude is that you do not displease God to please the people, and do not admire the people for the daily food that God has granted you through them, and that you do not blame the people for God depriving you of your daily bread.

No one's greed will bring him an increase in his daily sustenance, and no one's jealousy will stop one's daily bread.

If one tries to escape from his daily bread as he escapes from death, one's food seeks its owner faster than death does.

In fact, God the Almighty has established comfort and peace of mind in certitude and contentment, and has established sorrow and discomfort in anger and doubt.”

📚 Mishkat-ul Anwar Fi Ghurar-il Akhbar (The Lamp Niche for the Best Traditions)

@AbodeofWisdom

🌹Imam Husain (peace be with him) asked his father, Imam Ali (peace be with him) in regards to the silence of the Prophet (peace be with him and his progeny):

🍃"His silence was based on four things:

1) Forebearence
2) Caution
3) Consideration
4) Contemplation

🔹As for (his silence in) consideration, this was in order to look and listen to everyone carefully.

🔹As for contemplation, it was about what remains and what perishes [awe of the permanent reality of God, and the finitude of the universe and nature].

🔹He had a perfect balance of forebarence and patience. Nothing would enrage him or upset him

🔹He was cautious in four things: in his doing a good deed so that others would emulate him, in his abandoning evil so that others would also reject it, in his struggle to make the best decisions to reform his community, and in his performing that which secures the good of this world and the next".

📚Reference:
-Ma'āni al Akhbār: 83
-Uyūn Akhbār al-Ridha, 1:246
-Sunan an-Nabi p. 46

@AbodeofWisdom

🍂🍃🌾🍂🍃🌾🍂🍃🌾🍂🍃🌾

Given to One of His Officers Whom He Sent for the Collection of Zakat and Charities.

🔰✍🏼 He (Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be with them) ordered him to fear Allah in his secret matters and hidden actions, where there is no witness except the One and only Who watches over all.

🔰✍🏼 He also orders him that whatever he does in obedience to Allah openly should not be different from what he does secretly.

🔰✍🏼 Anyone whose hidden attitude is not different from his open one and whose action is not different from his words has discharged his obligation and his adoration is pure.

🔰✍🏼 He also ordered him that he should not harass the public. He should not be harsh to them and should not turn away from them because of the superiority of his official status over them because they are all brethren in faith and assist in the recovery of taxes:

🔰✍🏼 Certainly, you have a fixed share and a known right in this levy, and there are others who are poor, weak and starving. We shall discharge your rights. So, you should [first] discharge their rights. If you do not do so, you will have the largest number of enemies on the Day of Judgement.

🔰✍🏼 How wretched is the man whose enemies in the view of Allah are the needy, the destitute, the beggars, the turned away, the indebted and the (penniless) travellers?! Whoever treats the trust lightly, indulges in treachery and does not keep himself and his faith untarnished by it has certainly secured humiliation in this world while his humiliation and disgrace in the next world will be much greater.

🔰✍🏼 Surely, the greatest treachery is the treachery against the believers community, and the most ugly deceit is deceiving the faithful leaders, and that is the end of the matter.

@AbodeofWisdom
🍂🍃🌾🍂🍃🌾🍂🍃🌾🍂🍃🌾

💠Things that Imam Ali (peace be with him) did NOT do...

✅Part 1/2

🔹Our arguments (in defense of) Imam Ali is mostly about his sayings and beautiful actions, and we hardly speak or hear about what he did not say and what he did not do. We have taken his general traits for granted, such that anyone can easily apply those generalities and place themselves in the shoes of this (most) prominent man in (the pages of) history, where we attempt to rival him.

🔹I've criticized (the concept of) introducing individuals like Imam Ali and (the concept of being unable to be like him in) a different time , however if we wish to (truly) learn from the ways of Ali (peace be with him), one of the most important points is to refer to the actions that this honorable man did not do even to the slightest, even though he could have (easily done so for his advantage and interests).

🔹Ali (peace be with him) in times of battle, during the peak of victory and domination, did not block the source of water to enemy forces; and while sword fighting and/or shield defending, he did not ask for his elite soldiers to cover and protect him (fought bravely like a warrior alone); and he did not slip (or escape) due to fear of losing his life;

🔹Ali did not allow any excess praise (about him) to make a difference to him. He never surrounded himself to the social circles of ego-centered persons and never made a lens of perceiving the world from their outlook.

🔹He never limited himself only with his “close-ones”, nor did he ever make them his “special-ones”.

🔹He was never negligent of realities (and occurrences behind the veil), and he never sought the aid from superstitions.

🔹He never behaved fraudulently with anyone, nor did he see any of his opponents with bias and prejudice.

🔹He never created space between himself and the poor, nor did he build a palace. He did not use the public treasury even for matters such as the grave of Prophet Mohammad and Sayyida Zahra (peace be with them both and their progeny), in that he did not make a shrine with flower hands, and a tomb enclosing their graves, though a vault and porch were necessary (and he did make that using public funds).

🔹He never boasted and showed off to someone because of his sacrifices and all (noble) abilities. Never boasted, nor stressed (about worldly affairs) and (never expressed undue) anger. He never showed off his piety for his publicity, and never dressed like rulers and caliphs.

🔹Nor did he sell anyone's reputation (or his own) to others. He did not display his asceticism (and piety) to the public)

🔹He never conceived of others or himself to be the criterion for the truth, nor did he see himself as (more knowledgeable and non-criticizable).

Imam Zain-ul Abideen:

“.And the right of your father is that you should know that he is your root and you are his branch. And without him, you would not be.

Whenever you see anything in yourself which pleases you, you should know that your father is the root of its blessing upon you.

So praise God and thank Him in recognition of that. And there is no power but in God”

Book of Rights; Imam Sajjad Zain-ul Abedin peace be with him.

@AbodeofWisdom

🌹Imam Husain (peace be with him) asked his father, Imam Ali (peace be with him) in regards to the silence of the Prophet (peace be with him and his progeny):

🍃"His silence was based on four things:

1) Forebearence
2) Caution
3) Consideration
4) Contemplation

🔹As for (his silence in) consideration, this was in order to look and listen to everyone carefully.

🔹As for contemplation, it was about what remains and what perishes [awe of the permanent reality of God, and the finitude of the universe and nature].

🔹He had a perfect balance of forebarence and patience. Nothing would enrage him or upset him

🔹He was cautious in four things: in his doing a good deed so that others would emulate him, in his abandoning evil so that others would also reject it, in his struggle to make the best decisions to reform his community, and in his performing that which secures the good of this world and the next".

📚Reference:
-Ma'āni al Akhbār: 83
-Uyūn Akhbār al-Ridha, 1:246
-Sunan an-Nabi p. 46

@AbodeofWisdom

Imam Al-Husein peace be with him wanted to liberate the people who were enslaved by the rulers, and therefore the revolution of Imam Al-Husein peace be with himwas launched based on this humanitarian aspect in order to achieve freedom for the entire mankind.

The dimensions of Imam Al-Husein's revolution:

As we read through the narration of Imam Al-Husein peace be with him, we see that when he went out to the battle to fight those who came to fight him, and when he saw his opponents invading the tents of the women, he addressed them saying: "O You the followers of Abu Sifyan, if you do not follow a religion, and if you do not fear the Judgment day, be free in your lives and return to your origins if you were Arabs."

Imam Al-Husein peace be with him raised two issues here. The first is that he laid emphasis to the freedom of man when he said: If you do not abide by religious values and you do not believe in a creed, at least be free. The free man is the one who does not sell himself or his position or opinion in return for money or positions. Do not be slaves, because you are fighting to obey those who enslave you.

The second issue he raised is that Imam peace be with him tried to provoke in them the feelings of Arabism which Islam approved: "Be Arabs", not in terms of the narrow nationalism, but on the basis of the values the Arabs lived, which Islam adopted some of them and eliminated others. This discourse is not addressed to the followers of Abu Sufyan in particular, but to every human being.

On the humanitarian level, we also read his speech when he was asked to give legitimacy to Yazid. He said: "The illegitimate, son of the illegitimate, has settled between two: between unsheathing [the sword] and humiliation, and how impossible is humiliation from us." So it is about being honored in all your life. Imam As-Sadiq peace be with him was quoted as saying upon interpreting the following Quranic verse: "God has the glory and His Prophet and the believers." (63:08) Imam As-Sadiq peace be with him said: "God has allowed the believer to run all his affairs, but he did not authorize him to humiliate himself." Glory is based on power: "The power is wholly Allah's". (02:165). So, to be honorable is to be strong and defending you humanity and freedom.

Then he said: "Do not you see that no one abides by the right and everyone embarks on the wrong?" He is talking about the righteousness which people should abide by, and righteousness is the concept that exists in all the issues of human beings, which ascend his position at the individual, political and social levels.

Therefore, we have to present Ashoura to the entire world in its humanitarian aspect, rather than restricting it to a sectarian aspect because Imam Al-Husein peace be with him is the imam of all Muslims and he obtained his Imamate from Prophet Muhammad (p.) with whom Al-Husein peace be with him lived his early childhood. He also lived with his mother, Sayyeda Az-Zahra and his father Ali peace be with him. So, he enjoyed all the elements and characters of spiritual faith these figures enjoyed. Prophet Muhammad (p.) said: "Husein is from me, and I am from Husein", which reveals the spiritual integration between the Prophet (p.) and Al-Husein peace be with him.

The values of reform in the revolution of Imam Al-Husein peace be with him:

Imam Al-Husein peace be with him said: "I revolted neither for wickedness nor for fame. Verily I rose only to seek for reform in the nation of my grandfather; the messenger of Allah." He did not speak about a certain family or region, but about the entire nation, because he was shouldering the responsibility of the whole nation through his Imamate. "I want to enjoin good and forbid wrong and evil", he said. So, he noticed the deviant situation of the nation, because the rule prevailing at that time damaged the humanitarian aspect of the people who used to love Imam Al-Husein peace be with him and his family, but at the same time, they were fighting to earn money or obtain a certain position in the authority, such as Omar Bin

Imam Al-Husein peace be with him wanted to integrate reform into the nation, with all its individuals and diversity. He said: "Whoever accepts me by accepting the truth, surely God rewards him for supporting the truth. And whoever rejects me, I will be patient until God judges between me and these people justly. Surely, His Almighty is the Best Judge of the judges." It is reported that the first statement Imam Al-Husein peace be with him gave when he went out of Mecca was: "O' people, the Messenger of God said: Whoever sees an aggressive tyrant legalizes the forbidden acts of God, breaches divine laws, opposes the tradition of the Prophet, oppresses the worshippers of God, but does not concede his opposition to God in word or in deed, surely Allah will place him with this tyrant." It is our religious duty to topple an unjust regime, and God shall punish anyone who abstains from fulfilling this duty and reward he who does. Imam Al-Husein peace be with him adds: "Those have obeyed Satan…" So, Imam Al-Husein peace be with him wanted to change the reality, laying emphasis to two points:

First: the sovereignty of the law, after they stopped applying the punishment system put forward by Islam; a punishment system that must be applied under an Islamic state.

Second: Releasing the money of the nation from their hands, after they have monopolized it, because the money of the nation of that of Allah.

Therefore, we are not allowed to give Ashoura a sectarian aspect and regard it as a Shiite issue. Ashoura is an Islamic occasion and the slogans raised by Imam Al-Husein peace be with him are all Islamic and humanitarian ones. Imam Al-Husein peace be with him was also loved by the Muslims and he used to love them all. Everyone used to repeat: "

Al-Hasan peace be with him and Al-Husein peace be with him are the masters of the youth of Heaven."

Ashoura is an occasion that rests on the Islamic and humanitarian values that characterized the personality of Imam Al-Husein peace be with him. These values embodied the leader and the leader embodied the values. So, if you see Imam Al-Husein peace be with him, you see Islam in itself and if you study Islam, you will come across Al-Husein peace be with him, without feeling any kind of duality, because Al-Husein peace be with him integrated in Islam and Islam lived in his mind, heart and movement. Even in his Jihad, Imam Al-Husein peace be with him was a martyr for the sake of Islam.

Therefore, we should not separate between the person and the cause; because many people, particularly those who carry out certain backward customs, such as those who practice the bloodletting ritual, do not realize the meaning and significance of Ashoura and Karbala, nor do they understand the reality of the Islamic state, in terms of the threats of the tyrants and arrogant powers. This is how we should approach Ashoura; we should look at the problems and threats overshadowing the Islamic world, because the Islamic world should not remain at the sidelines of the arrogant world.

Though as Muslims we represent 1.5 billion of the world's population, we are still living at the sidelines of the world's decisions. We do not have the right to participate in any of these decisions. How powerful are other countries? This is because we lost the sense of direction, represented by the civilized and tolerant Islam, which is open to the issues of freedom, justice and human rights. Every year, we come up with a new backward ritual, which does not represent Islam or Al-Husein peace be with him.

Things that Imam Ali (peace be with him) did NOT do...

PartOne

Our arguments (in defense of) Imam Ali is mostly about his sayings and beautiful actions, and we hardly speak or hear about what he did not say and what he did not do. We have taken his general traits for granted, such that anyone can easily apply those generalities and place themselves in the shoes of this (most) prominent man in (the pages of) history, where we attempt to rival him.

I've criticized (the concept of) introducing individuals like Imam Ali and (the concept of being unable to be like him in) a different time , however if we wish to (truly) learn from the ways of Ali (peace be with him), one of the most important points is to refer to the actions that this honorable man did not do even to the slightest, even though he could have (easily done so for his advantage and interests).

Ali (peace be with him) in times of battle, during the peak of victory and domination, did not block the source of water to enemy forces; and while sword fighting and/or shield defending, he did not ask for his elite soldiers to cover and protect him (fought bravely like a warrior alone); and he did not slip (or escape) due to fear of losing his life;

Ali did not allow any excess praise (about him) to make a difference to him. He never surrounded himself to the social circles of ego-centered persons and never made a lens of perceiving the world from their outlook.

He never limited himself only with his “close-ones”, nor did he ever make them his “special-ones”.

He was never negligent of realities (and occurrences behind the veil), and he never sought the aid from superstitions.

He never behaved fraudulently with anyone, nor did he see any of his opponents with bias and prejudice.

He never created space between himself and the poor, nor did he build a palace. He did not use the public treasury even for matters such as the grave of Prophet Mohammad and Sayyida Zahra (peace be with them both and their progeny), in that he did not make a shrine with flower hands, and a tomb enclosing their graves, though a vault and porch were necessary (and he did make that using public funds).

He never boasted and showed off to someone because of his sacrifices and all (noble) abilities. Never boasted, nor stressed (about worldly affairs) and (never expressed undue) anger. He never showed off his piety for his publicity, and never dressed like rulers and caliphs.

(nor did he sell anyone's reputation (or his own) to others. He did not display his asceticism (and piety) to the public)

He never conceived of others or himself to be the criterion for the truth, nor did he see himself as (more knowledgeable and non-criticizable)

🌹Imam Husain (peace be with him) asked his father, Imam Ali (peace be with him) in regards to the silence of the Prophet (peace be with him and his progeny):

🍃"His silence was based on four things:

1) Forebearence
2) Caution
3) Consideration
4) Contemplation

🔹As for (his silence in) consideration, this was in order to look and listen to everyone carefully.

🔹As for contemplation, it was about what remains and what perishes [awe of the permanent reality of God, and the finitude of the universe and nature].

🔹He had a perfect balance of forebarence and patience. Nothing would enrage him or upset him

🔹He was cautious in four things: in his doing a good deed so that others would emulate him, in his abandoning evil so that others would also reject it, in his struggle to make the best decisions to reform his community, and in his performing that which secures the good of this world and the next".

📚Reference:
-Ma'āni al Akhbār: 83
-Uyūn Akhbār al-Ridha, 1:246
-Sunan an-Nabi p. 46

@AbodeofWisdom

🔺Ayatollah Sayed Kamal al Hayderi:

✔️I imagine that the walk to Imam Hussain (peace be with him’s shrine) on Arbaeen is from the most important keys and strongest (activities) of this blessed movement for spreading the message of (Imam) Hussain (peace be with him). However, subject to conditions, (it is) to benefit and profit (people) in knowledge, thought, education, and awakening of the Ummah. however, is this happening or not?

✔️We see all the tents (during the walk), (so) what is their purpose? Is their purpose and aim intellectual and educational? Or is their purpose just to give food and other services? Which one of them? May God reward those who are presenting these services (of food, water, and other services to the pilgrims)!

✔️However, the issue (at hand) is greater than (just) these services (of food etc). Imam Hussain (peace be with him’s objective) wasn’t just for people to walk to him 500 km or 5000 km. Rather he wanted his cause to be a torch that gives light to the path, to humanity. That is why if you were to refer to Imam Hussain’s (peace be with him) speech in Karbala, you will find him saying,

✔️ “If you don’t believe in the last day (day of Judgment), then (at least) be free men in your world!”

✔️(If) These words aren’t directed to me, (then) who is it directed to? To the Shi’a… No! To the Muslims… No! To those who believe in God… No! (Rather) it was directed to all of humanity, even to those who don’t believe in the Day of Judgment.

✔️This is who Hussain (peace be with him) is. (So) what I say now is directed to all those millions that go to the grave of Abi Abdillah al Hussain (peace be with him). We find the (above) hadith very clear… even if there isn’t a narration, we don’t need it, the Quranic text suffices. Are we at the present moment able to benefit (truly) from these rites and send a message to humanity, or do we find (with great regret) that this holy act and this sacrifice (of Imam Hussain peace be with him) of which there is none like it in history and even till the Day of Judgment a like will never come, has it (instead) fallen into the hands of ignorant people?

✔️I say ignorant, however I don’t doubt the intentions of anyone. I’m not saying that those who call towards some of these acts are like this or that… Never! But what I want to say, is that these acts are in reality in opposition to the movement of Imam Hussain (peace be with him) and it is upon the religious institutions (which) I shout and say again (that it is) upon the religious institutions to take these affairs relating to Imam Hussain (peace be with him) and to make them the most important thing for humanity, and to wake up the Ummah to reach the aims that Imam Hussain (peace be with him) wanted.

@AbodeofWisdom