International Shia News Agency
Religious Articles

The message of Imam Hussain’s (AS) movement (Part Three)

SHAFAQNA – Encouraging good deeds is necessary when it is effective. Sometimes this requires martyrdom but it must be effective. Sometimes the person is killed, his blood is wasted, this has no use; this type of encouragement is ineffective. Imam Ali (AS) was aware of the oppression of the Omayyads, he was aware of the oppression of Thaqifees (those present in the events of Thaqifeh).

Imam Ali (AS) said: Now, I saw that people’s culture was not ready, they (Omayyads) also had a politician who could portray the situation bad and introduce us as the followers of the falsehood; in that case our blood would have been wasted. Imam Ali (AS) said: I considered the situation and I saw that I have been left on my own with my family; if I start the uprising, all will be killed and buried in Medina, they will commemorate us and then everything will be forgotten [1].

I was not ready to commit to such a situation where our blood would not be effective. We are not escaping from martyrdom, in fact we have always welcomed it; basically Taha and Yaseen are children of martyrdom but martyrdom has its time and has an effect [2]. After the martyrdom of Imam Hassan (AS), Imam Hussain (AS) stayed silence for 10 years, he was watching the situation very closely, and he saw that Moawiyeh as the Islamic Caliph was engaged in selling idols.

Is there anything worse than selling idols? If Ibrahim (AS) was present, he would have taken hold of the axe, as mentioned in Ayah 58 of Surah Al-Anbia. And as the grandfather of Imam Hussain (AS), the prophet (PBUH) said: Throw away all these idols from the roof of the Ka’aba and bury them under the Bani Shaibeh entrance (door).

You have read that when Hajis want to enter Masjidul Haram, it is recommended (Mostahab) that they enter through Bani Shaibeh entrance so that Hajis walk over the idols. Of course the current Bani Shaibeh entrance which is located between Safa and Marwah is not the same as the original one. Imam Hussain (AS) saw the same situation that Moawiyeh was selling and distributing idols.

[1] Nahjul Balaghah, Sermons 26 and 217.

[2] Beharul Anwaar, Vol. 45, Page 118 and Al-Lohoof, Page 162.

Translation of the speech by the Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli in Amol on 01/02/2005.

Leave a Comment