Ashura... With a Taste of Victory

Fatima Haydar

It's that day of the year, awaited by longing hearts and yearning souls... for the love of Hussein.

Tears, fists and voices are but a few ingredients of Ashura. Add a pinch of salt, a teaspoon of pepper, dignity and honor to taste and a whole lot of Resistance.

This year's Ashura, though similar to prior years, is somehow different, it has been flavored with victory.

Under the gigantic banner of "O Hussein", thousands of devotees gathered to pay homage and renew the pledge they had undertaken to stand by all what Imam Hussein (AS) - the Grandson of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) - sacrificed his life and those of his household for: to live a dignified life, to enjoy good values and rise from the humiliating earthly lusts.

For Imam Hussein the choice between the easy thing and the right thing was no choice at all.

He said: "I will never give Yazid my hand like a man who has been humiliated, nor will I flee like a slave... I have not risen to spread evil or to show off... I only desire to enjoin good values and prevent evil," as the tyrant Yazid urged him to indorse his illegitimate rule.

Over a thousand years had passed since the martyrdom of the holy Grandchild, yet millions of people from all walks of life around the globe mourn the tragic Battle of Karbala in which Imam Hussein (AS), his family and loyal companions were brutally martyred one by one, until only women and children were left.

However, that did not end there. Nothing ended with the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS). On the contrary, that was the milestone for where everything.

The uprising of Imam Hussein (AS) changed the course of history. His plight is now the greatest school for all of humanity; he is the ark of salvation.

In his speech, on the eve of the 10th of Muharram, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed His Eminence Hassan Nasrallah correlated past events to present situations. He related the Battle of Karbala and Imam Hussein's martyrdom to the political and current circumstances.

The Resistance Leader said, "look at the bodies of our martyrs... some are without heads, some are limbless and others are charred while others are torn apart... just like the companions of Imam Hussein in Karbala."

Accordingly, the Resistance is a mere continuation of the Imam Hussein's uprising. With their strong commitment to the just cause, Hezbollah Revolutionaries were able to score victories throughout this year, for instance, the victory in the Battle for Arsal where they kicked the Takfiri insurgents out of Lebanese territories thus restoring the long desired security.

Look around, look closely... the enemy is hiding around the corner, a couple of years back, it was the "Israeli" enemy; now, it is the Takfiri threat. And liberating the lands and resisting evil are done, not said, not by slogans, not by speeches, and definitely not by diplomacy.

Look at Yemenis. Look at Saudi Shia... What do they have in common? They are being oppressed by tyrants and silenced by oppressors.

And yet, they were all students of the school of Imam Hussein (AS) - in one sense or another even. They offered martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the sake of their countries' welfare.

For instance, thousands of Yemenis had been martyred by the US-backed Saudi-led aggression on Yemen and many other hundreds had been displaced. Children had been orphaned - Buthaina for instance lost her entire family, just like the children in Karbala.

However, the Yemenis did not give up. They stood their ground and fought the Saudi tyrants with all might and courage, believing in Imam Hussein and his companions' stance during the 10th of Muharram, that a pious handful will surely defeat a colossal army.

Not only did Saudi Arabia invade its poorest neighbor, but it had also been engaged in a domestic crackdown on its Shia citizens in its Eastern Province.

These ordinary men of extraordinary piety and convictions in Qatif had sacrificed all that is precious for the sake of what is right. They had put forth Imam Hussein's motto: "Those who are silent when others are oppressed are guilty of the oppression themselves."

They rose up against their Saudi oppressor who has been silencing them for so long. Many had been martyred, and still, they keep on rising.

One way or another, people around the world had learned life-lessons from Imam Hussein (AS). Values are being passed from generation to another by commemorating a thousand year old massacre upon the Prophet's grandchildren via yearly processions and memorial ceremonies.

As a Yemeni living in Lebanon, Abu Ali, a father of two young boys was among the participants in the Ashura annual march in Beirut says "Ashura is in every era. It represents the pivotal cause of every nation. Imam Hussein has risen against unjust. And the Battle of Karbala is present today in Yemen and Lebanon and in Syria and elsewhere."

"We stand by Imam Hussein's path. We sacrifice our lives, money and everything dear to us for the sake of God, our religion and the oppressed people in the world."

None the less, Imam Hussein's cause is not only militarily-related, it has social and humanitarian aspect as well.

Throughout the march, you notice good-doers and alms-givers. Men, women and children distributing water bottles and food for the thirsty participants, who will keep their fast until mid-day in a way to show support for Imam Hussein's plight.

A good-doer who preferred not to be named, said "Imam Hussein died thirsty. He was prevented water by the enemies. We give away water for the love of Imam Hussein who was martyred for the sake of our dignified lives, for us to be where we are today."

As the Ashura procession came to its end, a group of college girls were cleaning the streets. Eventually, people participating in the procession volunteered.

Sarah, one of the girls, explained that "Cleanliness is Godliness" and what we learn from Ashura is respect.

She went on to say that "Imam Hussein (AS) had risen for the sake self-honor which is inseparable from respect and attitude. I respect myself and my surrounding when I preserve it and keep it tidy."

"We should take action and not only speak about doing things," Sarah concluded, adding that "after all, cleanliness is not a degrading."

From Imam Hussein (AS) we learn steadfastness, patients, perseverance, piety, honesty, transparency, democracy and many other virtuous values.

We, the simplest of people, have no courage to be like the great Imam Hussein (AS). Nor do we have the power to be like the tyrant Yazid. But in every one of us, there is an Omar bin Saad, who was hesitant until the 8th of Muharram. He wants to please God, but at the same time he yearns for the worldly pleasures. He wants to support Imam Hussein and Yazid at the same time.

He, like all of us, had been confronted with a choice - a life determining one. To choose between what one's self desires, or to choose what is right and better for humanity.

May God bless us by being rigid believers in Him as Imam Hussein and his companions were. And may the Almighty help us live in this world without allowing the world to live inside us.

Source: Al-Ahed News