17/09/2022
SIGNIFICANCE OF ASHURA AND ARBAEEN
What is Ashura and Arbaeen?
Ashura means the tenth, while Arbaeen means the fortieth. In Islamic history, Ashura refers to the tenth day of Muharram, the first month on the lunar calendar, while Arbaeen refers to the fortieth day counting from the tenth of Muharram, which corresponds with the twentieth of Safar every year. The tenth day of the month of Muharram is the day in which the grandson of the Prophet of Islam, Imam Husain (a.s), was martyred on the plains of a place called Karbala in Iraq in the sixty-first year after Hijra.
Arbaeen, on the order hand, is the fortieth day after the event of Ashura, which falls on the twentieth day of the month of Safar every year. These two days are significant in the history of Islam. The followers of the household of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a), commemorate these two events with all reverence.
Activities such as blood donation, charity offers, consolation gatherings, recitation of elegies, trekking on streets, etc, are held to mark the event every year. Many reports have been recorded of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a) as giving importance to the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s), since the first day he was born, about 57 years before the event. Various angels are reported to have descended many times on various occasions to report the martyrdom of Imam Husain (s.a) to the Prophet. The Prophet had on all occasions, wept soberly upon hearing the report. Moreover, the Prophet never traveled across Karbala in his lifetime; but on almost all occasions, an angel descends to report about the martyrdom and they bring along the soil of the place where the Imam will be killed. All these indicate how significant the issue of Imam Husain and his martyrdom is.
What Husain (a.s) stood for
Imam Husain (a.s) in his own words explains what he stood for. He said: “I am not going out on account of stubbornness, rebellion, worldly passion, or instigation by Satan. It is not my aim to create trouble or oppress anyone. I am going out to seek reform in the affairs of the followers of my grandfather, eradicate corruption, undertake to enjoin to the good and restraining from evil, and follow the tradition of my grandfather, the Prophet, and my father Ali”
Husain stood for reform.
Husain stood for justice.
Husain stood against oppression and oppressors. Husain stood against tyrants and tyranny. Husain stood for Humanity.
Even on the eve of that fateful day, Imam Husain (a.s) called out to the army of the enemy who is going to kill him to act as free human beings, not slaves; to act and think as humans, not like other animals. He told them when they were about to attack the tent of his women: “O followers of the family of Abu Sufyan, if you have no religion and do not fear the Hereafter and Resurrection.
SIGNIFICANCE OF ASHURA AND ARBAEEN
then at least be free and noble in your world...” This is how Imam Husain (a.s) calls for respect for humanity.
Why we must walk on this day?
This walk is a walk for humanity that should be done every day, and for this reason, the Prophet of Islam started the walk many years before the event occurred. Nonetheless, it is also important to specify some days or a day for the event, because as life demands one cannot be free at all times. This notwithstanding, the essence is not only to come out on the streets to create awareness but to also walk the talk in our daily life. On his part, the holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a) upon being informed of the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s), walked from his house to meet his companions and inform them of the unfortunate event. Thus, religiously, it is like an act of worship to walk in commemoration of this event, in emulation of the action of the holy Prophet (s.a.w.a).
It is therefore a religious duty to trek around the world to inform the world of the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s) as far as Islam is concerned. Karbala may be far from here, Ashura may have gone by, but we are here, and the theory of Imam Husain (a.s) exists today. Let us make each day a day of Ashura, and each land the land of Karbala.
We must walk for what Imam Husain (a.s) stood for. Walking for Imam Husain (a.s) is advocating what the Imam stood for. The world today is in utmost need of the campaign of Imam Husain (a.s) than it did yesterday. Wherever there is oppression and corruption, there should be the likes of Imam Husain (a.s) to save the world.
Walking for Imam Husain (a.s) is a campaign against oppression, tyranny, corruption, and injustice. Husain’s walk is a walk of reforming a corrupt society from corruption to virtue and morality. It is a solidarity walk in support of the oppressed, less privileged, the poor, and the vulnerable. It is a walk of saying NO to oppression, NO to injustice, and NO to corruption. It is an act of showing support for justice and freedom for the whole of humanity.
To crown it, Imam Husain stood for humanity. He saved humanity at that time. And the fight continues today with me and you. We must support the oppressed against the oppressor. Let us be the pioneers of justice and goodness wherever we find ourselves. Let us avoid corruption.
The absence of ethics and moral education in our societies today is a key factor in the moral decadence and corruption the world is witnessing, especially in politics. Let us undertake to enjoin one another to goodness and restrain evil in our daily activities.
ASSALAAMU ‘ALAL HUSAIN, WA ‘ALAA ‘ALIYYI BNIL HUSAIN, WA ‘ALAA AWLAADIL HUSAIN, WA ‘ALAA ASHAABIL HUSAIN.
By: Muhammad Kabir
Contact: 0246717763, 0244133000
