vicious and barbaric in war, immoral and untrustworthy in peace, such that
it is clear and it does not need further clarification. In the process of
exposing Yazid lies a lesson that must be noted. How to stand up to
savagery and how does viciousness appear? Vicious savagery and brutal
barbarity appears when the opponent numbers few, but it does not appear
when there is a large and significant opponent standing before it. A poet
states in his poem in al-Seyouti
and I fear the wolf
when I pass it by alone
Wolf is savage but when does its viciousness appear? It appears when you
are alone on your own, but if you were with a group, the ultimate
viciousness of wolf would not become apparent. If Imam Husayn had
more than ten thousand fighters with him to fight the Umayyad, the latter
would not be able to do what they did with Imam Husayn alayhis-salam
and Yazid's viciousness would not have been exposed, even though Yazid
would still have killed Imam Husayn and his followers. If Muslim ibn
Aqeel had gathered one thousand men with him, ibn Zeyaad would not be
able to hang Muslim upside down. It becomes apparent when the number
of the reformist opponents is few, but if the number were high, this would
strike fear in the heart of the tyrant. You can see how Yazid, twenty days
after Ashura and before everyone present in his court, manoeuvred when
he realized that many people have gathered around Imam (Zayn al-
Abidin)21 in his support. He said, I did not do this! (i.e. the savage killing
of Imam Husayn alayhis-salam and his family members and followers).
So Imam Husayn alayhis-salam knew exactly what he was doing when he
went to Karbala with so few followers and supporters. This was his plan,
so that he could reveal every bit of savagery and brutality of the tyrant
rulers. In future generations you the reformist may say that this despot is
brutal and I cannot confront him. Imam Husayn alayhis-salam would say
to you, if you see any brutality you can stand up against it, since I
confronted a brutal tyrant and I resisted him. If it were not for Imam
Husayn alayhis-salam and the kind of action and stance he took, it would
have been said, “perhaps if Imam Husayn alayhis-salam had seen such
brutality, he would not have resorted to confronting and resisting”. But
this is not the case. Imam Husayn alayhis-salam in a carefully devised
plan, and with amazing precision, revealed all the brutality and savagery in
21 He is the son and successor of Imam Husayn alayhis-salam.
The Roles of Imams Hasan and Husayn
15
the heart of Yazid. In doing so he became the leader and model for all
those in future generations who would face a tyrant like Yazid.
Therefore the statement of Rasulollah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih, "Hasan
and Husayn are two Imams whether they rise up to lead or not" is not
limited only in the sacred sense, and Rasulollah salla-llahu-alayhi-waaalih
does not only want to show that they are two pious Imams, with
knowledge and wisdom so that we could learn the Islamic law from – even
though this is true. Rasulollah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih is also pointing
to their distinct role they had to play. Some people are surprised why
there are so few hadith about Fiqh22 from Imams Hasan and Husayn
alayhum-as-salam. Their role was not to expand on Fiqh, but facing up to
the tyrants of these kinds. Imam Sadiq alayhis-salam had the role of
teaching the Islamic Fiqh. Why? Because he was opposed in particular by
those who used the tools of Fiqh. So the role of Imam Sadiq alayhissalam
was that of a Faqih, and he revealed his Fiqh knowledge.23
We stated earlier that we need at least fourteen sessions, so that in each
session we can talk about the role of each of the Ma'soomeen alayhum-assalam
starting from Rasulollah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih, and Fatima al-
Zahra alayhas-salam through to the last of the twelve Imams alayhum-assalam.
In these sessions we could prove that how each one of the fourteen
Ma'soomeen is a leader and teacher forever. That the role of the reformist
in the future generations would be like that of Rasulollah salla-llahualayhi-
wa-aalih, or Fatima al-Zahra, or Imam Ali, or Imam Hasan, or
Imam Husayn, or any other Imam until that of Imam Mahdi, may Allah
hasten his reappearance. Therefore a reformist must follow the example
of that Ma'soom whose role is similar to his, and any role or conduct the
reformist may need, it should be according to this model, otherwise the
reformist would be in the wrong.
We pray to Allah that he guides us to what He loves and pleases.
22 Fiqh is Islamic law or jurisprudence.
23 Imam Sadiq alayhis-salam is the sixth caliph or successor of the holy prophet Muhammad
salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih. In his role as the sixth Imam, Imam Sadiq taught extensively the
various branches of Islamic sciences including Fiqh or Islamic law. It is recorded that at a
given time he had more than four thousand students, one of was Abu Hanifa who went on to
form “Hanafi” sect. Imam Sadiq alayhis-salam taught for more than forty years. Because of
the detailed and numerous teachings presented by Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq alayhis-salam, and
recorded by his trusted students, the Shi‘a draw on those teachings rather than anyone other
than members of the Ahl-ul-Bayt alayhum-as-salam. For this reason the Shi‘a are also
referred to as Ja‘fari after adhering to the teachings of Ja‘far al-Sadiq.
Husayn – The sacrifice for mankind
16
A glimpse from the ray of Imam Husayn
17
Chapter 3: A Glimpse from the Ray of Imam Husayn24
Allah Almighty states {Think not of those who are slain in Allah's Way as
dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the Presence of their
Lord}25
This noble verse in the holy Qur’an points to the state of those who are
killed in the cause of Allah, and it emphasises that their ‘life’ continues
even after being killed, and that they remain alive. So he who is killed in
the cause of Allah, his life would not be terminated, but he remains alive
and receives sustenance (from Allah Almighty).
Also just as there are categories in this material life, e.g. those who are
happy and those who are not, such classifications also exist in the hereafter
too.
And how can it not be, when we have martyrs who scarified their lives to
uphold the Truth and the Oneness of Allah Almighty. With their blood
they have led other’s lives out of darkness and into light, so that future
generations can receive and adhere to the teachings of Islam.
And what if he who sacrificed himself – as well as being a martyr whom
Allah promised eternal life – was also a pillar of faith and one of the
Imams of the Muslims and mankind, such as Sayyid-ul-Shuhada Imam
Husayn alayhis-salam. What a great martyr he is, and an esteemed station
he occupies! Addressing Imam Husayn alayhis-salam, his son and
successor Imam Zayn al-Abidin alayhis-salam states, “and as for the
Hereafter, it is luminous with the light of your face.