Shafaqna English- “Reflections on the Ashura movement” is a book written by “Rasul Jafarian” in Persian, published by Ansarian Publication. Shafaqna English has translated some sections of this book.
The Spiritual Dimension of Karbala
Unfortunately, the political aspect of Karbala has at times and during certain historical periods, been overlooked among Shia Muslims. This issue stems from a misreading of our narrative and devotional texts—a confusion between means and ends.
In this distorted view, Karbala is no longer seen as a mirror reflecting the battle between truth and falsehood or as a means toward noble human goals. It is no longer a source of reflection and moral lesson, but is regarded as inherently important in and of itself, without these dimensions.
Yet in Ziyarah Ashura we read: “O’ Allah (SWT), make my life the life of Muhammad (PBUH) and the family of Muhammad (PBUH), and my death the death of Muhammad (PBUH) and the family of Muhammad (PBUH).”
Sadly, many Shia Muslims from various social backgrounds, when reciting Ziyarah Ashura, approach this sentence superficially, treating the act of merely reciting it as a meritorious deed in itself. This group sees the many narrations on the merits of visitation and mourning, but draws an incomplete conclusion from them.
Of course, even the mere act of reciting Ziyarah Ashura has spiritual reward—because it renews the memory of Imam Hussain’s uprising and helps immortalize Ashura, which contains within it those same sacred objectives. It is like saying: even if someone does not understand the meanings of Quranic verses, the act of reciting them still carries merit.
In other words, when emphasis is placed on the visitation of Karbala, the matter has two aspects: one is the act of visitation and its reward, and the other is the purpose behind it—the influence this practice has on keeping the religion and justice alive. We see this clearly from Imam Hussain’s (AS) own words. The problem arises when these two aspects are separated from one another.
This kind of imbalance can be seen in other religious matters as well. Whenever the Imams (AS) sensed that a religious ruling was being forgotten, or that a heretical innovation (Bidʿah) was taking its place, they encouraged Shia Muslims to uphold the true practice and resist the innovation.
When Imam Baqir (AS) spoke of visiting Imam Hussain’s (AS) grave, the Umayyads were still in power. Thus, the act of visiting Imam Hussain (AS) at that time was in itself a form of resistance against the Umayyads and a way of preserving the goals of Ashura.
Indeed, Ashura must be eternal—its rituals must also endure—because we will always be in need of the goals of Ashura.
The Essential Point in Explaining Ashura to the Public
A key point that must be emphasized when explaining the event of Ashura to the masses is linking the event of Ashura to the objectives of Ashura. When this connection is established, Karbala’s role as a model and a lesson becomes far more tangible.
It should also be noted that if weeping for Imam Hussain (AS) is said to erase sins, it is because of the spiritual power of Karbala to create conditions for inner transformation—preparing a Shi’a to defend and uphold the religion, and if necessary, to sacrifice and give their life for it.
Nonetheless, it must be stressed that while we emphasize the political dimension of Karbala, this should not diminish our view of the event as a transcendent, eternal reality—a divine phenomenon ordained and defined by God Almighty. Karbala is not merely a worldly revolution. It is part of Divine Revelation and the living embodiment of the Quran.
Just as the Shia Islam doctrine of Imamate is not purely political, so too the uprising of Ashura is not solely a political movement.
Part of the Book Reflection on the Ashura movement by Rasul Jafarian