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Toronto Star,
Ontario
ed.
RELIGION
Saturday, May 25, 1996
While most cultures and religions ring in their new year with
parties, the Islamic new year brings with it deep contemplation
and reflection.
Last Sunday was the first of Moharram (the first month of the
Muslim calendar) and the onset of the Islamic new year - 1417
Hegira (Hegira meaning migration). Dating from the time the
founder of Islam, Prophet Muhammad, migrated from his birthplace
Mecca to Medina in Saudi Arabia (622 A.D.), the Muslim 12-month
calendar is lunar.
In the year 61 Hegira (680 A.D.) something happened in
Kerbala, Iraq, that shook the foundations of Islam. It was 50
years after the Muhammad's death, and the religion of Islam, as
taught by him, was being faithfully practiced and preached by
his family and disciples. But political power had shifted to
mercenaries who were eager to rule the fast- growing Muslim
empire.
Yazid, a tyrant against all Islam stood for, wanted to become
king of all Muslims. He demanded allegiance by force, but
Hussain, grandson of the Prophet, resisted him. Hussain was
well-respected by the Muslim community, and Yazid thought that
if he could coerce Hussain into accepting him, he would become
the unchallenged ruler.
Hussain was aware that the life of his supporters were
endangered by refusing allegiance to Yazid. So, he decided to go
to Kufa (a small town in Iraq) with 72 followers, all of whom
were against the despotism of Yazid. Yazid got wind of the trip
and intercepted the group on the banks of the Euphrates, at the
plains of Kerbala. Once again Yazid demanded that Hussain and
his followers pledge allegiance to him, but Hussain was a
righteous man and refused. He chose instead to stand up for
justice and rebel against the hypocrisy of Yazid, even if it
meant putting his small group of followers at risk.
WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER
While Hussain camped in the plains of
Kerbala, asking only to
be allowed to pray in peace and reach Kufa, Yazid, with an army
of 30,000 soldiers, cordoned off the water supply for Hussain's
people, leaving them parched in the desert's sweltering heat.
Yazid then relentlessly slaughtered the small caravan, including
children and infants.
The battle of Kerbala was a clash not between personalities,
but between two principles - love of truth and justice against
lust for power and the perversity of
tyranny. The symbols of
human dignity that Islam preaches - peace, humanity, tolerance,
patience, brotherhood, forgiveness and equality among human
beings - were in danger of being obliterated. Hussain sacrificed
his life and the blood of his family to keep these qualities
alive, and in his death they were realized.
Today, Muslims look upon the incident at Kerbala as an
example of good over evil, of justice over injustice, of truth
over falsehood and of bravery over cowardice. Throughout the
siege, Hussain remained calm and continued to pray with his
followers. He never lost his faith in God or his religion.
During these first 10 days of the Muslim new year, Muslims
pray for the Kerbala martyrs' souls. Their stories of valor - of
mothers sending their sons into the battlefield to face certain
death, of infants dying of thirst and mostly of sacrifice and an
unshakable faith - are told in mosques and homes.
On Wednesday, the 10th day of
Moharram, Muslims in many parts
of the world, relive and enact the tragedy of Kerbala. It is
important to take the lesson that Muslims learn from Kerbala and
apply it today. Everywhere in the world where injustice, cruelty
and inhumanity are being practiced - Chechnya, Rwanda, Bosnia,
Kashmir - another Kerbala is taking place. To denounce all acts
of violence against humanity is what the tragedy of Kerbala is
about. To relive it through discussions, lectures and prayers is
what the Muslim new year is all about.
Copyright
© 1996 Toronto Star, All Rights Reserved.
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