[jinnzaman]

"Among the believers are Men, who delivered their promise to Allah."
(Surat Al-Ahzab: Verse 23)


"If history has taught us anything, it has certainly delivered a message with unequivocal resonance; Haqq and freedom are not something that is given. Haqq and Freedom are things people take, and people are as free and on the Haqq as they want to be. Islam, the religion of Haqq, justice, and freedom came into a time and a place where oppression was the rule, slavery was a tool to humiliate the weak, killings a way to solve problems. A society fueled by feuds, raging by violence, and merely being born in the wrong family could mean eternal slavery, oppression, and stripping of any and all rights. The Beloved Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) emerged as the voice denouncing those ways while striving to ensure justice and equality. By endangering himself, he (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) gave us one of the most precious monotheistic gifts, namely the collective duty of self criticism: speak the truth though against yourself; support the Haqq, denounce the batil; stand with the Haqq, abdondon the batil; stand up to oppressors and tyrants, no matter of the price. The seerah of the Beloved Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) taken as a whole, may be summarized as a succession of victories of Haqq over batil, of Justice over Tyranny, of Freedom over Slavery. If the Beloved Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) has taught us anything, then among the many, he taught us an important lesson. One that the Qur’an amplified numerously: It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather a profoundly faithful few, who are keen to uphold the truth and sacrifice for it.

To be the example of a candle that burns itself illuminating the way for others, to give the ultimate sacrifice to enlighten the path of the truth, as the truth and only the truth shall set you free. In a very famous Hadith, the Beloved Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) said “Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn”. The meaning entailed by this Hadith is not that I am Husayn’s grandfather, as this is an obvious fact. The meaning sheds light that Husayn is like me, Husayn’s line is similar to my line, Husayn’s message is my message, Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn. The Ayahs and Ahadith about Ahlul Bayt including their Master Al-Imam Al-Husayn are numerous, that most of you know.

We are already in Muharram, and in a few days, the day of Ashura comes. A day where the Beloved of the Beloved demonstrated the highest of nobility, and offered the ultimate of sacrifices. It is no wonder, knowing that he is the grandson of our Beloved Prophet, the son of Amirul-Muminin Ali, brother of Al-Imam Al-Hasan, and a beloved son to Master, the Lady of Ahlul Jannah Sayyidatina wa Mawlatuna Fatimah-Azzahra, sallallahu ala sayyidina Muhammad wa aalihi wa sallam.

There was a noble reason that demanded the martyrdom of Imam Husayn. The simple and obvious reason is simply to preserve Islam. Islam, Haqq, Truth, Justice, Equality and Freedom are all precious values that demanded precious sacrifice. That, to my mind, is the supreme significance of martyrdom. But the highest honor must still lie with the symbol, who faced fearful odds and refused to surrender to evil. Rather than allow a stigma to attach to sacred things, they paid with their own lives the penalty of honor and Haqq. The begining of the batter offered by our beloved Imam Husayn was when he went from city to city, hunted about from place to place, but making no compromise with evil. Then was offered the choice of an effectual but dangerous attempt at clearing the house of God, or living at ease for himself while closing an eye on the ongoing destruction of Islam and its values. He chose the path of danger with duty and honor, and never swerved from it giving up his life freely in the absolute bravest of ways ever known to Mankind.

That briefly is the story. What is the lesson? There is of course the physical suffering in martyrdom, and all sorrow and suffering claim our sympathy - the dearest, nearest, purest, closest to our hearts, souls and minds. The one who the Beloved Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) himself used to interrupt his speeches to pick him up, delay his prostration to honor and not bother him, the one whose face not only is honorable, but it is the face where The Prophet’s honorable lips, face, and body touched, loved, and valued. It is that very same honorable face, that Yazid bin Mu’awiyah humiliated, slaughtered, put on the spears, and kicked . . . there are no words that can describe the pain profoundly felt in every free human’s mind, soul, and heart. But there is a greater suffering than physical suffering. That is when a valiant soul seems to stand against the world; when the noblest motives of Islam are reviled and mocked; when truth seems to suffer an eclipse. It may even seem that the martyr has but to say a word of compliance, do a little deed of non-resistance; and much sorrow and suffering would be saved; and the insidious whisper comes: "Truth after all will never die."

But the whole battle is for mankind in keeping hold of Haqq and Freedom. And that can only be done by the highest examples of man's conduct - spiritual striving and suffering enduring firmness of faith and purpose, patience and courage where ordinary mortals would give in or be cowed down, the sacrifice of ordinary motives to supreme truth in scorn of consequence. The martyr bears witness and the witness redeems what would otherwise be called failure. It so happened with Al-Imam Al-Husayn, the Master of the youth of Ahlul Jannah. For all were touched by the story of his martyrdom, and it gave the deathblow to the tyrant politics of Yazid bin Mu’awiyah and all the oppression it stood for. And Imam Al-Husayn being alive, more alive than ever, not only externally but living profoundly deep in our hearts, in our souls, and in our minds, has still the power to ignite the light of truth in the heart of all free, to send a message to the courageous not to bow down to evil, and to teach people not to surrender to tyranny.

There are those who until today believe that forgeries, fancy words, and booklets can mask the shining truth. Persistent attempts to distance Al-Imam Al-Husayn and his Sirah away from Ahlus Sunnah are ongoing, and more intense, and serious than ever. This Yazidi line, regardless of what banner or name they choose to brand themselves with, can no longer fool the intellectual Muslim. Their scare tactics, labeling, and "intellectual terrorism" are weapons of the past, and no longer effective for those who see. While we must pray for their guidance, we shall never fall as victims to their misguidance.

In the upcoming very sad days in our lives, and the life of every free human being, I urge myself and you to:

1. Express sadness and show sorrow for the massacre of the dearest and purest of the Family of the Beloved Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa sallam). It is customary to many families of Ahlul bayt to show sadness during this month.

2. Expressing sorrow should be manifested by sincere intentions of repentance, and believing that if you were with them, you would have been on the side of Imam Husayn, even if it costs you any and everything.

3. Increasing the recitation of Qur’an, and try to teach your fellow family, friends, and non-Muslims about the revolution of Imam Husayn.

4. Increase your Istigfaar per day, and increase your Durud on the Beloved Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa sallam)

5. Learn the Sirah of Imam Husayn, try to benefit from it, love it, live it.

6. Be generous to your family: bring them water ( and remember on this day Yazid’s army prevented Imam Husayn from drinking water), bring them food and remember the things that happened.

7. Be thankful to Allah, and ask Him to gather you with the supporters of Imam Husayn in this Dunya, and with his supporters and companions in the Akhira.

8. Be on the side of Haqq, Justice, and Freedom and check yourself.

9. Make the month of Muharram a month of Al-Husayn in your life, in a step to eventually make every month a month of Al-Husayn, Grandfather of Al-Husayn, Father of Al-Husayn, Mother of Al-Husayn, Brother of Al-Husayn, and those who love and follow Al-Husayn.

10. This is your chance to abondon the rest and follow the best. This is your chance to connect with Al-Imam Al-Husayn.

His story purifies our emotions. We can best honor his memory by allowing it to teach us courage and constancy.
The sacrifice of Imam Husayn comes after the Sacrifice of his father, sayyiduna Amirul’Muminin Ali bin Abi Taleb, and the sacrifice of Imam Hasan, and the line of sacrifice and martyrs among Ahlul Bayt is still a line enlightening the way for generations to come. They are like stars; you will not succeed in reaching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny.
Al-Imam Al-Husayn’s message was simple and clear: Is life so dear or so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty Allah! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me Haqq, or give me death!

It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.

Wassalamu Alaykum,
Muhammad Bin Yahya Bin Muhammad Al-Ninowy

Yahoo! Groups

[Kadhim]

Very nice. Do you have any link to a page where the text of this can be seen, with this English translation? I would like to link to this text on a website I administer.

[MuslimZ]

Shaykh Ninowy is my hero .

[jinnzaman]

Originally Posted by Kadhim

Very nice. Do you have any link to a page where the text of this can be seen, with this English translation? I would like to link to this text on a website I administer.

I provided a link at the bottom.

[Kadhim]

Thought people might enjoy the following as well:

================================================== ====
The Martyrdom of Imam Hussain (as) and protection of the

Islamic Institution.

by Sayyed Abul A'la Maududi

Today is the first day of the sacred Moharram and the respectable persons gathered before me include both Shias and Sunnis. They have gathered here because they have deep and heart-felt love for Ahl-ul-Bait, Hussain (as) and Islam. They are desirous to know the very purpose, or goal, for which the exalted Imam Hussain (as) not only offered his own life but let his kith and kin be slain at Karbala. Now the most important question is: What made Imam Hussain (as) to choose this line of action? Was it because the religion (Deen) of the Millat had changed? Had it (Millat) given up Islam and reverted back to Kufr Had people declined to believe the Unity of God or had they stopped accepting the Nubuwat of Prophet Mohammad (saw)? No, there was nothing like that! What had happened was that the Constitution, the Islamic system of the country, its very spirit was altered; its basic purpose was changed and given up altogether. The exalted Imam had risen to rectify it.

The Constitution on which Prophet Mohammad (saw) established the Islamic state and on which the government was being run during the period of Khilafat-e-Rashida, was based on (these tenants): The country (the government or the state) belongs to Almighty God. He is the one to give laws. He is the real Master, the Supreme Lord. The ruler, who has the reins of government in his hands, is in fact entrusted with the job of establishing the supremacy and governance of God and make His laws operative. The law of the country is to be applied not only to the people alone it is to be enforced with equal weightage on both the governor and the governed, the herd and the shepherd, alike.

The second principle of it was that the ruler should come to power by the consensus of the subjects. The people should appoint him as their ruler (Hakim and Ameer) before he has assumed the power and after it they pay their allegiance (Bai-at) to him. He is not to seek their vote when he has already assumed power. Obvi*ously, who is going to oppose him and not offer Bai-at to him when he is already ruling? Apparently, any pious and God-fearing man with a sense of responsibility would not accept it in a hurry. To come to power through Bai-at is entirely different from obtaining it after coming to power. Imam Hussain (as) felt that the cart was being harnessed before the horse of that time.

Now what was happening was that first the rulers grabbed power and then obtained Bai-at from the people.

The third principle of Islamic constitution is 'Shoora' (the Counsel). The Qur'an as advised 'do your jobs with counseling between yourself. The correct Islamic way of 'Shoora' is that those persons who are considered reliable on the basis of their sound judgement, trust, learning (Ilm) and virtuousness (Taqwa), are taken into confidence for all actions (of the ruler). This was the method adopted by Prophet Mohammad (saw). But there is a wrong way too of the 'shoora'. That is shoora (the advisory committee) is composed of 'Yes' men and flatterers (of the ruler). Imam Hussain (as) felt that the wrong way has been adopted in place of right way. The 'shoora' is present, no doubt, but it is formed of the people of (ruler's) own clan, from his own hangers-on, military generals and government officials appointed by him: meaning that a few men of vested interests have come to power and they have chosen their advisers such persons who themselves were men of vested interests. It was evident that when the men in power and their advisers, both, have vested interest they would do nothing but conspiracy against the Umma.

Further, the Islamic concept of Bait-ul-Maal (treasury) in the constitution is that all wealth belongs to God. It is only in the trust of the ruler. The ruler, his officials and all concerned are nothing but its trustees; they have been appointed to spend it on the nation and they have to render its account, to the last penny, to God.

The wealth of the Bait-ul-Maal is not the personal property of the ruler, his governors, officials, courtiers and the members of his family; and it is not meant to be spent over their person. But the exalted Imam saw that the nation's treasury has been taken for granted as the personal property of the ruler's family. As if, the nation is their tax-payer; it has only to pay its dues but is not entitled to ask for their accounts. It is not supposed to ask anything about as to from where the wealth came; how it was acquired; and how and where it was spent. The status of the nation had been reduced to merely a milk cow from which the maximum amount can be milked with whatever twists and turns and tyranny it could be possible.

The concept of law and justice in the Constitution, besides the above tenets, was that every one is subordinate to, and not above the law. No family, no clan, no group, not a single person has a status on which the law is not applicable. The justice is undaunted and uniform for all, and the judge, after being appointed, should be entirely free in giving his judgments in the light of knowledge (Ilm) and according to his own discretion.

There should be none to put any sort of pressure on him.

The situation was just as mentioned above, in the preceding period. But now in the changed milieu two concepts had been developed for the law and judiciary:

Firstly; that the king and the members of his family, his governors, officials and his entourage were for the law, the law was not for them; and secondly, that such judges were not appointed who were free to do justice. They were sent letters from above asking them to give such and such judgement. In fact, the judiciary had become subservient to the administrative wing of the government.

This was the scenario, the exalted Imam felt, being established about the Islamic constitution.

If it was a question of personalities only it could be endured, since the individual's life is after all less (or limited). But he felt that the entire system was changing, and if a wrong system is established it will be impossible to revert it and the reality (truth) will be lost for ever.”

[jinnzaman]

Maulana Maududi is not considered from Ahl us Sunnah, just thought I should point that out.

[Kadhim]

Originally Posted by jinnzaman

Maulana Maududi is not considered from Ahl us Sunnah, just thought I should point that out.

I'm sorry, I can't be expected to keep up with Indo-Pak takfeer politics. Too crazy for me.

[Jamroll]

Originally Posted by jinnzaman

Maulana Maududi is not considered from Ahl us Sunnah, just thought I should point that out.

Hmm... I knew a lot of people objected to some of his views on certain topics, but I wasn't aware that he'd been takfir'd by the mainstream.

Also, looking at the article Kadhim posted, I can't see anything immediately that conflicts with the mainstream Ahl us-Sunnah wa'l Jama'a view (apart from the placing of (as) after Husayn's (ra) name).

[DrDynamite]

Ahl us-Sunnah wa'l Jama'a view (apart from the placing of (as) after Husayn's (ra) name).

Actually, it may interest you to know that the likes of Mohammed Bukhari wrote (as) after mentioning the names of the Ahlul Bayt (as)

[jinnzaman]

Originally Posted by Jamroll

Hmm... I knew a lot of people objected to some of his views on certain topics, but I wasn't aware that he'd been takfir'd by the mainstream.

Also, looking at the article Kadhim posted, I can't see anything immediately that conflicts with the mainstream Ahl us-Sunnah wa'l Jama'a view (apart from the placing of (as) after Husayn's (ra) name).

I didn't say he was an Apostate, I just said generally speaking, the 'Ulema reject many of his views because he has a tendency to make derogatory comments about Prophets and Companions. He also has many other unorthodox views as well regarding politics, the Shari'ah, and warfare. This is why many people don't consider him to be from Ahl us Sunnah in the specific sense.

[jinnzaman]

Originally Posted by Kadhim

I'm sorry, I can't be expected to keep up with Indo-Pak takfeer politics. Too crazy for me.

Hmm, well it would be prudent to research the backgrounds of people before posting article. I understand you liked the article because it spoke highly of Imam Husayn, but its not really a good way to "bridge the gap" by quoting someone with aberrant beliefs.

[Ugur]

I have just read this article here. Thank you for posting it.

[Jack_Sparrow]

Originally Posted by jinnzaman

Hmm, I understand you liked the article because it spoke highly of Imam Husayn, but its not really a good way to "bridge the gap" by quoting someone with aberrant beliefs.

You are not a good way to "bridge the gap" friend. I see you more of a "increase the gape" type o fella.

[AbuAlAbbas]

The lighter side of muharram
YouTube - Shia Scholer !!!!!!!!