Did the incident of Karbala really affect the history and legacy of Islam? Would Islam be different as an idea, as a system of life and as a value and belief system if Karbala had NOT happened in the then circumstances? These questions are asked by Muslims in an attempt to reclaim their shrouded past. The short answer is undoubtedly ‘Yes’.
But why did it happen?
The story starts when a family (Umayyads) wanted to sabotage the system of Khilafah (caliphate) left by the Prophet ﷺ and usurp the political authority for their own selves. But we don’t find people calling a spade a spade that often. Remember, that is important because it happened for the first time after the death of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. If the first believers and the companions of the Prophet ﷺ would’ve accepted this change then they would’ve established a tradition of succumbing to the authority above and the injustices of the rulers. Islam promotes accountability where even the khalifa is not above the Rule of Allah and no son can become the king just because his father was. It gave the right of choosing their ruler to the people long before any modern democracy could even imagine so. It was in these circumstances, that Hussain(AS) went in to the battle field to face the ruler with only 72 supporters. He knew he was going to be martyred, but this had to be done. The Ummah was asleep and the blood of Prophet’s ﷺ own family was needed to awaken it, so that it would go down in history that no one is above the Shariah of Allah.
The dissent/protest of Hasnain Kareemain(AS) and their march to battle establishes an example for all Muslims facing similar situations till the day of Qiyamah. This was indeed a fight of Haqq (truth) versus baatil (falsehood).
An Imperative for Us
Finally, a very scorching idea is that the first Muslims were not like the Muslims of today who would justify all falsehood (in history and in present) just because it is done by their fellow Muslims or respected seniors. The irony is that even those who claim to be followers of Hussain and observe this day with great pomp and show are vehement supporters of oppressive, un-Islamic regimes merely on sectarian grounds. When even the Caliphate established by the Prophet ﷺ was opposed when it got corrupted, then certainly no other rule is bereft of that. Most Muslims justify and rationalize their history saying that both factions were correct, it was a turmoil etc., being oblivious to the injustices of the Umayyad Dynasty which actually portrayed Islam to the world as an Imperialist cult akin to man-made systems. It is interesting to note that a faction of ideal ‘leftists’ or ‘communists’ condemn the first Communist state of Russia established under Lenin and Trotsky, because it was not emblematic of true Communist ideals and value systems. It is equivalent to a Muslim criticising the rightly guided (rashidoon) caliphate if it had failed to live by true Islamic principles (hypothetically, of course!), let alone later states and societies. It is sad to see that a lot of Muslims (in fact, most) cannot muster the same courage that idealistic leftists can when it comes to introspection, and hence forfeit the biggest trait of safeguarding the truth a lot of times as a result of age-old perpetual and deliberately crafted confusions regarding our history. Karbala shows that a true Muslim like his forefather Ibraheem(AS) can sacrifice everything for Truth and even jump into the fire, literally and metaphorically, if need be.
Ironically, the story of Karbala most often is either told circumventing its true essence or completely ignored. A people who can’t decide and agree on their past can’t fix their present or change their future. And the past can be reclaimed only through relentless research. Our history is not only a source of our identity, it is like a mirror in which we see ourselves. No wonder that we have an identity crisis today and a systemic outburst of vicious sectarianism. When we cannot decide if anybody was right or wrong 1400 years ago, how can we decide about the factions of today.
The Path Ahead
This is a bid to reclaim what was lost and rekindle the flame that was extinguished from the hearts of men as a result. Yes, we dare to know our past and we will change our future. The days of the final azaan which will unite all factions are coming close. The trumpets are ready to be blown, the bugle is about to be sounded and the call is ready to be given loud and clear. The flame of Ibraheem’s sacrifice shall be soon rekindled in the hearts of men to burn all doubts and fallacies. We remember the sacrifice of Ahl-e-Bayt who were on truth not just because of their bloodline but because of their uncompromising stance. The leaders of the youth of paradise (Hasan & Hussain) were called so not because of inheritance, but because standing up against Taghoot is not easy for everybody. A Hussain is needed to toss his head and an Ibraheem to jump into the flames. The truth shall come and falsehood shall be defeated because it is in its nature to be defeated… but only through sacrifices of the youth.
With this we march…. On, and on and on…. until we hope to meet Hassnain in Paradise, Insha Allah!
Mein dekhta hun haq o baatil rubaru hone ko hai
Aur Karbala ki wadiyan phir surkhroo hone ko hain!
Ribat 