Imam Hussain and Modern Yazid

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Muharram has arrived again. Azadar world has plunged into sorrow and sadness. Lovers of Hazrat Imam Hussain are now busy recalling the tragedy of Karbala .They will rent the air with slogans highlighting the exalted status of Imam Hussain while attending Majalis and raise banners and placards in processions taken out during Marasim-e-Azadari. Zakirs in their addresses will describe the personality and character of Imam at length. They will exhort devotees to learn from Imam Hussain as to how death can be used an effective weapon against the forces of tyranny and injustice. Imamis themselves will refrain themselves from any sort of rejoicing as a mark of respect to the master of martyrs for two month and eight days.

In reaction to their active participation in Muharram ceremonies, certain elements will oppose Azadari and Taziadari. The more zealot ones may even mastermind bomb explosions at Imambaras and spraying of bullets on Muharram processionists. This will not happen for the first time. Such forces have been active since the martyrdom of Imam and his companions. The ever-lasting appeal of Imam’s greatest sacrifice with has always frustrated men with characteristics of Yazid. His sublime sacrifice with three days hunger and thirst has been inspiring people to thwart attempts to erase Karbala Revolution from the memories of people. Since the days of Umayyad and Abbasid caliphs, countless people have preferred to sacrifice themselves instead of succumbing to state-sponsored pressure to embrace Islam based not on the teachings of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad.

It is indeed unfortunate that the world still is not short of people who follow the fake Islam developed by Yazid. They do so as Yazidi principles suit to their materialist needs. Who can deny that Yazid was not a drunkard, pleasure seeker and much interested in obscene poetry? Did he not declare that no holy book was revealed upon the Prophet and Hashemite had cooked up( Maaz Allah) a story to grab power. Can anyone say that Imam Hussain suffered hardships beyond imagination on the arid plains of Karbala in 680 A.D. Of course no one can absolve Yazid from these charges. All the historical evidences only prove the guilt of Yazid to the hilt. Even a person with average knowledge of Islamic history knows that Yazid was devil in human form.

As Yazid has returned in the name and style of ISIS, mourners of Imam Hussain need to recall tragedy of Karbala this year with a new outlook. They need to understand Imam Hussain’s philosophy with historical and contemporary perspectives. While commemorating Muharram, it is incumbent upon each Imami to highlight ISIS symbolizes the brutality of Yazid. The method used by him during his short-lived caliphate from 680 AD to  eliminate Imam Hussain and persecution of survivors to terrorize the public by raising  heads of martyrs on  spikes are being followed by ISIS. New Yazid’s henchmen are unfortunately educated but misguided youths who reject the institution of Islamic scholarly consensus and believe in  a self-proclaimed puritanical interpretation of the Holy  Quran. The majority of ISIS’s victims have been innocent Muslims, both Imamis and Non-Imamis and they lost their lives for not accepting their fanatical agenda.

Muharram-2015 is a time to ponder and deliberate over the new threat to the humanity. Marasim-e-Azadari should be used as a platform to launch an all out campaign to give a befitting reply to the unholy return of ‘ Kharjis’. Such an attempt is possible only by remembering Karbala as  Imam Hussain’s final stand against the corrupt leader of his time to uphold the ethical and humanitarian traditions of the Prophet Mohammad over the brutality of tyranny and lawlessness. Muharram is certainly not a time to criticize any community or incite sentiments. It is solemn occasion and should be observed in  a manner that propels other communities to enquire about Hussaini Mission.(The article has been contributed in view of the arrival of Muharram-2015 and the need to use it as a weapon against Yazid-Jadeed(Modern) ).