Shahadat-e-Hussain (رضي الله عنه)
When to Act on the Principles of Life Derived from the Quran and Hadith?
Every intelligent person wants to understand when and what to act upon in life based on the principles derived from the Quran and Hadith. Every nation has its own traditions and ways of practicing their beliefs. Similarly, what should we do?
If we think about it, some might say we should fast more, some might say we should pray, some might emphasize giving charity, and everyone might have their own opinion. This can lead to confusion.
It is clear that neither human opinions nor analogies can determine the right course of action. Therefore, every person should adhere to the teachings of their religion and act accordingly. In this matter, there is no need to form committees, hold votes, or seek the consensus of the masses. The solution is found in the Quran itself. Allah Subhanahoo Wata’ala says:
‘But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves.’ (4:65)
Therefore, we should understand and act upon the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). It’s not just about acknowledging the knowledge; it’s about obeying it. Allah says that unless it is accepted from the heart and followed, one cannot truly be a believer.
Our present circumstances are such that people might acknowledge the teachings but find it difficult to act upon them. However, Allah says that unless you accept it from the heart and do not feel any discomfort, then you are not a believer.
This is why the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) would not only see what the Prophet did but also observe how he acted in certain situations. For instance, when the solar eclipse occurred, they saw that the Prophet (ﷺ) offered a special prayer. It was the time of Salat al-Kusuf, and they joined him in the mosque.
We can see from these incidents how the Companions closely followed the actions of the Prophet (ﷺ) in different situations. When it comes to the principles and teachings of the religion, they are not limited to any particular field of life. Jihad, injury, birth, death, trade, and education—all aspects of life have guidelines in the religion.
A believer’s job is to adopt the correct way of doing everything, based on the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ). Even though it may seem difficult to act upon these teachings, Allah Almighty says that unless you accept it from the heart, you are not a believer.
Thus, when someone says that they accept a particular teaching but finds it hard to act upon it, it means that they have not truly embraced it in their hearts.
In conclusion, the incident of the martyrdom of Hazrat Hamza (رضي الله عنه) and the way the Prophet (ﷺ) acted during this time serves as an example for all of us. It demonstrates that we should follow and act upon the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ) in all aspects of life.
Actions of Sayyid al-Shuhada and the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them
When the month of the Battle of Uhud approached every year in front of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ), did anyone recite the martyrdom account of Hazrat Hamza, (رضي الله عنه), or did you (ﷺ), his companions, or his family commemorate it in this way? Imam Hussain (رضي الله عنه), is known as Sayyid al-Shuhada. Our saying is that your saying, and the Holy Prophet (ﷺ), gave the title of Sayyid al-Shuhada to Hazrat Hamza (رضي الله عنه). Now, this title is given by you (ﷺ). Yes, we do not call Hazrat Hussain (رضي الله عنه), Sayyid al-Shuhada, there is no sin, but the Holy Prophet (ﷺ), gave the title of Sayyid al-Shuhada to Hazrat Hamza (رضي الله عنه). Now let’s see how you (ﷺ), his lovers, his companions, and his family commemorated the memorial of Hazrat Hamza (رضي الله عنه). To this day, there is no event in history that has led to such devotion, such mourning, and such gatherings of any mourning or gathering, although their love and sacrifice had a special place in the hearts of all the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them.
Secondly, leaving aside Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (رضي الله عنه), all our great martyrs are here. Now, if from that time to today, mention of only martyrs is made, more than 365 martyrs will be mentioned somewhere. (Farooq-e-Azam, رضي الله عنه, was performing the prayer as an imam but after his martyrdom, immediately other companions came forward to fulfill the duties of imam. The first prayer was offered, and after that, the news of the Caliph was brought to you, but you were unconscious. All precautions were taken to regain consciousness, but no one said ‘recite the prayer.’ As soon as you said ‘As-Salatu As-Salatu’ in your ear, your eyes opened, and you said that undoubtedly, whoever abandons the prayer, he has no part in Islam. There are seventy martyrs in Uhud, nearly twelve in Badr, then how many battles took place in front of you, and how many martyrs were there? Whose mourning will you do, Hazrat Uthman, Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Hasan, may Allah be pleased with them? The fact is that even if one martyr is mentioned once an hour throughout the year, the names of the martyrs will not be complete. For Islam, those martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Holy Prophet (ﷺ), are a source of pride for his ummah. Will it be a sin to mourn them? This is indeed a source of pride given to the ummah of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ), that whoever became a martyr, he achieved success and eternal life. This is the example of the brave ones. They fulfilled the right of life, then how many degrees did the Quran preserve, scholars, Caliphs, and people of all ranks attain through martyrdom? What did the Holy Prophet (ﷺ), and his companions do? What did the noble companions do?
Fasting on the Day of Ashura and Extravagance
The fasting of Ashura is an optional fast, and it falls on the 10th day of Muharram. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), recommended that we should fast on this day, along with fasting on the 9th or 11th day to be different from the Jews. However, the current practices and extravagance associated with this day, such as games, entertainment, drinks, processions, and gatherings, are contrary to the Sunnah.
The Example of the Martyrdom of Hussain
The historical events surrounding the martyrdom of Hussain are complex, and there is no clear consensus on who was responsible and why it happened. Even among the noble companions, there were disputes and conflicts, such as the battles between Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Muawiya, which involved family members. It is important to remember that the Quran has praised the companions, and they were pleased with Allah, and Allah was pleased with them. It is not for us to hold grudges against them. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), said, ‘My companions are like stars; whichever one you follow, you will be guided.’ Therefore, if reading these historical accounts disturbs our hearts or causes division among us, it is better to avoid them.
Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Muawiya had a disagreement, but it is not our place to judge who was right. You have no right to be dissatisfied with them. Getting emotionally involved in these historical events can lead to confusion and division. The Prophet (ﷺ), said that those who have hatred for my companions are in danger of going to Hell. So, if these historical events cause even a slight disturbance in our hearts, our faith is at risk. It is not necessary for us to pass judgment on Hazrat Muawiya and Hazrat Ali. You should be grateful that the hadiths have not been tampered with so far. Otherwise, true Islamic teachings would not have reached us.
Furthermore, we are not obligated to make a decision. On the Day of Judgment, we will not be asked whether we considered Hazrat Ali or Hazrat Muawiya to be right. You do not need to delve into the details; just focus on maintaining your faith. In the grave, you will not be questioned by Munkar and Nakir about these matters. You will be asked about the answers to questions that determine your fate in Paradise or Hell.
Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz said, ‘Thank God that no companion’s blood is on our swords.’ So, do you want to stain your tongues with the blood of the companions?
Summary of the Martyrdom of Hussain (رضي الله عنه)
Now, let’s understand the incident in general terms. It is important to note that Hazrat Hussain (رضي الله عنه) was stopped by all the noble companions in Mecca. That is, all the noble companions who were present at that time stopped him, and he did not proceed. Some misunderstandings arose from this incident, as some believed that he was going to seek rulership, which was incorrect. One incident during this journey is when a person stopped you and explained that, you (رضي الله عنه) turned a sack upside down, revealing all the letters, approximately 900 of them, to show that people from Kufa had compelled you through invitations, and the general public had shown their support. It was only you who could stand against falsehood, as others from the Prophet’s family would not be suitable for this task in comparison to other companions. Undoubtedly, your aim was to uphold the word of truth and protect the faith. The noble companions were concerned because they thought these people were deceitful and would betray you, and that’s exactly what happened. However, doubting Hazrat Imam Hussain (رضي الله عنه) is strictly forbidden.
If you wanted to judge their disloyalty, Yazid did not provide you with an opportunity for reconciliation. Nevertheless, this incident happened as it did. However, it was not the duty of the common people to risk their lives for it.
