Faisal Ahmed
The Holy Prophet MUHAMMAD (PBUH) once said: “Hussain is from me, and I am from Hussain. Allah loves whoever loves Hussain.” (Tirmidhi)
These powerful holy words reflect the profound bond between the Prophet (PBUH) and his beloved grandson, Imam Hussain (RA). This was not merely a familial love but a spiritual and divine connection. The Prophet (PBUH) knew that Hussain (RA) would one day rise as the flagbearer of truth against injustice – a symbol of resistance for all time. But who is Imam Hussain (RA)? Let us ask the poet of the East, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, who pays tribute to him in Ramooz-e-Bekhudi:
“That leader of the AASHIQAN, the son of the holy Batool (R.A), A tall and free cypress from the garden of the PROPHET (PBUH).”
Through these poetic lines, Iqbal reminds us that Imam Hussain (RA) was not just a historical figure but the spiritual axis of love, sacrifice, and freedom. Born of the noble lineage of Hazrat Khatoon e Jannat (RA) & Maula Ali (RA) and raised in the holy household of the Prophet (PBUH), Hussain (RA) was the embodiment of prophetic values – justice, truth, and steadfastness. His entire life and sacrifice were a living commentary on the essence of Islam, and his legacy continues to inspire the oppressed and the righteous across the world.
Yet despite this sacred significance, Imam Hussain (RA) was mercilessly martyred on the scorching plains of Karbala, along with the holy AHL-E-BAIT and companions. Surrounded by the army of tyrant Yazid, denied water for days, and offered false promises of safety in exchange for submission, Imam Hussain (RA) chose death with honour over life with humiliation. His words still ring with power: “Death with dignity is better than life with humiliation.”
Karbala was not just a battle – it was a moral revolution. It was the clearest line ever drawn between HAQ and BAATIL, between oppression and justice, between principled resistance and cowardly submission. Imam Hussain (RA) gave everything – his sons, his brothers, his companions, even his six-month-old infant – for the preservation of Islam’s true spirit. He refused to give allegiance to a corrupt and unjust ruler. His words echo through time: “I did not rise for glory, or to seek power. I rose to reform the Ummah of my holy Grandfather (PBUH).”
As the Holy Prophet (PBUH) taught in another Hadith: “Whoever among you sees an evil, let him stop it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart – and that is the weakest level of faith.” (Sahih Muslim). Imam Hussain (RA) lived this Hadith with the highest level of action – resisting tyranny with his hand, his words, and finally his blood.
In today’s world, the lesson of Karbala is more relevant than ever. The Muslim Ummah is once again witnessing unspeakable cruelty, occupation, and massacre. The oppressed voices of Gaza and IIOJK cry out for justice. The people of Gaza – under an apartheid regime and brutal blockade – face indiscriminate bombings, starvation, and genocide. Their homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques are turned to dust while the world watches in silence.
In Kashmir, the Muslim population has suffered decades of occupation under a militarised Hindutva regime. Curfews, enforced disappearances, demographic changes, media blackouts – these have become everyday tools of oppression. Like the people of Kufa who remained silent and betrayed Imam Hussain (RA), Muslim leaders and nations today have chosen diplomacy over dignity, silence over solidarity.
But Karbala teaches us that silence in the face of oppression is complicity. That resistance, no matter how small, is sacred. Just as Yazid demanded allegiance to falsehood, today’s oppressors seek normalisation of occupation. But the legacy of Imam Hussain (RA) teaches us to say NO – no to tyranny, no to betrayal, no to injustice.
This message is not sectarian. Imam Hussain (RA) belongs to all Muslims. Sunni or Shia, Arab or non-Arab – his sacrifice is our heritage. He is the embodiment of Quranic truth and Prophetic courage. He reminds us that martyrdom is not a defeat, but a victory of the soul. That one Hussain standing on truth can defeat hundreds of thousands of Yazids standing on lies.
The youth of Gaza throwing stones at tanks, the children of Kashmir raising flags of freedom, the women resisting occupation, and the journalists exposing the truth – these are the modern-day Hussainis. They are carrying forward the spirit of Karbala, even as bombs fall and the world turns away. It is our moral and spiritual duty to raise our voices for the oppressed. Dua (prayer) is powerful, but so is speaking truth to power. The least we can do is speak, write, raise awareness, and boycott the tools of oppression. In a world where injustice is dressed in diplomacy, where tyrants wear suits, and victims are labelled as extremists, Karbala gives us a clear compass. Do not side with the oppressor. Do not be silent. Be Hussaini – in your thoughts, in your actions, in your life. Let us not reduce Karbala to tears without action. Let our remembrance of Imam Hussain (RA) become a revival of our courage and conscience. Let the lesson of Karbala become the fuel for resistance in Gaza, in Kashmir, and anywhere tyranny dares raise its head.
The writer is an alumnus of QAU, MPhil scholar and a freelance columnist based in Islamabad. He can be reached at fa7263125@gmail.com.
