“Indeed, Husayn is the lamp of guidance and the ship of salvation.”
The uprising of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) and the event of Ashura are not merely historical episodes within Islam, but rather an ever-living current in the life of Islam and in the beliefs of Muslims. It is a moment rich with reflection and lessons for all humanity—especially for those who consider freedom an essential requirement for human perfection and happiness.
Our best source on this matter is the very words of Imam Husayn himself, in his will to his brother Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah. He stated:
“I rose up to seek reform in the nation of my grandfather.”
Thus, one of the most important reasons for his movement was this: “to seek reform in the nation of the Messenger of Allah. He further stated that he wished “to enjoin good and forbid evil.”
After the demise of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), many problems arose. During the time of the first and second caliphs, there was an outward adherence to Islam, but during the rule of the third caliph, circumstances drastically changed. The form of governance completely diverged from the model established by the Prophet. These developments marked a clear deviation, which continued and escalated into the time of Mu’awiyah and his son Yazid—creating conditions in which both of them effectively struck at the very roots of Islam.
Mu’awiyah, on one hand, was someone with deep ideological and doctrinal problems; he had fundamental issues with Islam itself, though he did not openly express them. Yazid, however, not only held such corrupt views but also openly displayed them. During his caliphate, Yazid would shamelessly repeat that the Banu Hashim were merely playing with kingship, that there was no Gabriel, and that revelation and the Qur’an were lies. Thus, the distortion and corruption of Islam intensified significantly during this period.
In such a situation, Imam Husayn (peace be upon him), facing these extraordinary circumstances, had only two options: either to pledge allegiance to such a government and submit to Yazid’s rule, or to accept martyrdom. Given that no third option was available, the Imam declared:
“I have been given the choice between death and humiliation—and far be it from me to accept humiliation!” He further said that the dignity of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) does not allow me to submit to humiliation.
1 محرم 1447
26 June 2025