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Imam Hussein, the Guiding Lantern to Islam

Imam Hussein, the Guiding Lantern to Islam
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 By Siraj Kobeissy and Fatima Shaito


With lanterns of right, they stepped through the valley with no harm done.

They went through all hardship on their journey seeking truth and faith. It was not easy, because obstacles went in their way, yet they overcame these obstacles as they thought about Imam Hussein.


They are those who found Islam through the power of their love to Allah, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his blessed household.


A journey of self discovery took years from their lives, but surely was it profitable in all means, especially that all their questions were answered, and all doubts became certainties.


Islam comes from the word peace, and Ashoura'a symbolizes the act of attaining peace. When people follow Ashoura'a and convert to Islam, they are to find their inner peace.


Athenian Nikolas... Ashoura'a Enhanced his Deep Trust in Islam


Nikolas Anastasiadis, a Greek, now named Hassan, converted with his own will to Islam.


When I got acquainted to him, almost 2 years ago, he still had the idea of Islam growing in his mind, a notion which he sought to take care of so that it would prosper into life.

My first meeting with Hassan revolved around Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his blessed household, and most of all, his grandson, Imam Hussein.


A year later, Hassan converted to Islam with the spirit of a believer who finally found his long-lost treasure, which not once he would think of leaving.

Imam Hussein, the Guiding Lantern to Islam


He told me that initially, and in an indirect way, Islam was familiar to him, mainly because the Islamic culture has influenced the Greek folklore, language, literature, poetry, music, etc...

Hassan added that rapid 21st century changes, like the US wars, brought many Muslim immigrants to Greece.


Hassan is currently pursuing his studies in philosophy, which also played a role in having the idea of Allah's power and Islam grow deeper day after day.


He was never close to Christianity or any other religion, and chose to seek the truth of existence of human beings and all living things.


"I don't feel I converted to any new religion, but on the contrary, I feel that I freed myself from religions by embracing their completion", Hassan said.


He also added, "Islam starts beyond the borders of religion, it is the end of religion and at the same time its integration, since it overcomes all ideologies, politics, social categories, and aims which separate the people and enslave their faith within dark formations and dead deductions".

With an enlightened faithful heart, Hassan said, "Islam is the return of faith to its identity; it's the reconciliation with the real".


As Ashoura'a arrived this year, I sought to ask Hassan how was his journey affected by Ashoura'a, and what role did it play in his conversion to Islam.


Hassan's words echoed as he said that Ashoura'a made his trust in Islam stronger. For him, Ashoura'a is not considered a historic event, but rather a rift on "history, a narrative of power".


"Ashoura'a, instead of being a tragedy, frees the human, and reveals the human freedom at its highest degree and quality", Hassan expressed, adding that in Karbala, Imam Hussein comes in total rapture with oppression.


Hassan's love to Islam has grown so much after being introduced to the deep stories of Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) household. To him, Imam Hussein and Ashoura'a are a symbol of truth against injustice, so it is the reason behind humanity's survival.

"Islam will never betray the people. In the end, Islam all alone will stand for Justice", Hassan cited with faith.

The Greek Muslim, after being introduced to Ashoura'a and all its notions, believed that what most attracted his attention in Ashoura'a was the notion of mourning.

Hassan explained his point of view saying, "Ashoura'a rituals where pain and redemption define a zone of reciprocity, a deep area of mental purity, are not a simple representation of martyrdom, but an honor to "Husainiyya" as life; a life which beats the tyranny deep to its roots".

He pointed out that what Imam Hussein and his follower faced during Ashoura'a, in Karbala, against the Tyranny of then, is being repeated now with the oppression practiced by the arrogant powers and governments of the world against the innocent nations.

The arrogant powers, Hassan believes, are even trying to practice authority on death and mourning.

He said, "We are allowed to mourn for authors, academics, singers, activists, demonstrators, and for everything else limited within the framework power. On the other hand, it is forbidden to see the war dead, to learn their names, and honor their memory".

Hassan reveals his spiritual attachment to Islam through Ashoura'a and the true meaning of it saying, "Ashoura'a rituals compose the restoration of this profane injustice; here the power cannot decide who deserves public mourning and who doesn't. Every hit is a name, a Martyr, a mother, innocence...Hussein, Hussein, Hussein and the chest burns...Then you burst into tears..."

Not only mourning took a great deal of his attention and devotion from Ashoura'a, but so did the concept of resistance.

Hassan was and still is a great supporter of the Palestinian cause and anti-colonial struggle, and has been defending those causes since before he was introduced to Islam.

In this context, Hassan is overwhelmed with the notion of resistance where he said, "Thinking on resistance I always thought that it's much more worth to appreciate what you have and fight for not losing them, than to fight for an unknown utopia and sacrifice in its sake everything humane".

Hassan here refers to the sacrifices Imam Hussein has presented in Ashoura'a through resisting tyranny and defending Islam.

"Every victory, every flag, every Martyr of the resistance is part of us, the imperfect human beings who participate at any moment between life and death. We cry, we laugh, we love, we pray, we feel, we think, and we believe...This is our dignity...Resist!" Hassan concluded.


Spanish Maria... Imam Hussein, an Everyday Faithful Notion


Also from Europe, Spain in particular, Maria Antonia Savadero talks about her experience in converting to Islam, an act which she would never ever regret.

Iman, which means faith, is the name she chose for herself after converting because she believed it represents her deep life after she got introduced to Islam.

Imam Hussein, the Guiding Lantern to Islam

Iman's path towards Islam was innate and divine. She was introduced to a couple of Spanish people who converted to Islam before her attempt, despite the wrong idea drawn about Islam in her former society.

At that time, the Islamic Revolution in Iran was in its peak, and thus played a role in Iman's understanding of the real image of Islam, especially after being touched by Imam Khomeini.

"I saw in Islam the right path, and chose to leave everything behind me, including my family that abandoned me after I declared I was a Muslim, and my friends who started avoiding my presence", Iman said.

To her, none of these were important, because she had found what assembled all her human feelings; she had found Islam, which she became committed to after being touched by Imam Hussein and his household.

Iman recalls herself attending Ashoura'a rituals, and how she used to break into tears at the notion of Imam Hussein and his household, who sacrificed their lives to defend Islam. Imam Hussein had become part of her everyday life.

From then on, Iman expresses how Sayyeda (Lady) Zeinab became a daily notion in her new life with Islam, thinking of all sacrifices and patience she presented, setting her as a role model through her journey.

Ahoura'a to Iman is a single school from the schools of Islam that offer the perfect way to live a beautiful, faithful and just life.

Reminding herself that Karbala is the right place to be, and Ashoura'a is the right path to follow, she continued her path in enhancing her knowledge about Islam.

Iman got married to a Lebanese man and came to Lebanon with him, where in the year 1982, she witnessed the "Israeli" occupation of Lebanon. At the same time, Iman understood the true meaning of resistance illustrated by the Islamic resistance fighters who chose to struggle on the same path of Imam Hussein.

Over the years, she truly comprehended the Islamic Resistance's history in Lebanon, in the concept of Jihad, which to her, was not something new, for she had it growing in her being ever since she believed in Islam.

Twenty years have passed since Maria became Iman, and still, as the month of Muharram approaches every year, holding within the spirit of Ashoura'a, Iman recalls all images of Karbala she had learned, and Islam grows deeper in her heart.


A WAKEUP CALL... Blessed with Imam Hussein


Anna, a Croatian lady who converted to Islam after she got married to a Muslim, tells a wakeup story of how she was introduced to Imam Hussein.

"I came to Lebanon 25 years ago, and back then I didn't really understand the true meanings of Ashoura'a. Once, and during the month of Muharram, I was helping one of my Lebanese friends in preparing the Hriseh (a dish served in Ashoura'a).

"After we finished I was serving it to someone and I said that it is in the memory of Imam Hussein. He thanked me and then asked me, "What do you know about Imam Hussein?"

"The man's question puzzled me and I noticed that over ten years, I didn't bother look for the great meaning of Imam Hussein. Since then, I have been attending mourning events to get to know the notions of Karbala deeper", Anna said.

These people were enlightened with the true meaning of Islam and Ashoura'a, and this is considered to be a blessing which will accompany them their whole lives.


Imam Hussein... A Gate to Islam

On his part, Sheikh Hassan Ghabris, who has guided many foreigners who converted to Islam, said that many of those who became committed to Islam were touched by the incident Karbala, precisely the figure of Imam Hussein.

Sheikh Ghabris said that to some people, Ashoura'a was the brutal death of Imam Hussein and his household, which on its part moved sympathy in people's hearts, pushing them to search for the meanings of Ashoura'a.

Imam Hussein, the Guiding Lantern to Islam

Ghabris referred that year after year, flocks of non-Muslims, mainly foreigners gather to mourn the memory of Imam Hussein's martyrdom in different regions and countries. Some of those people, according to Sheikh Hassan Ghabris, spot in such moments their lantern that guides them to Islam.

On another level, Ghabris noted the issue of resistance acknowledged by Ashoura'a and Imam Hussein, saying that the Islamic Resistance has presented a true representation of the resistance and sacrifices of Imam Hussein and his household in Karbala.


It is true that Imam Hussein has touched people around the globe. He is truly the guiding lantern to Islam, Imam Hussein and his household will forever be the true exquisite meaning of Islam.

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