Every Day is Ashura, Every Place is Karbala: A Fight between Virtue and Vice

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Muslims worldwide observe Muharram as the start of the Islamic New Year. It is thought to be a holy and significant month. After Ramadan, this month is the second holiest of the divine months. Along with the seventh month of Rajab, the eleventh and twelfth months of Dhu al-Qi' dah and Dhu al-Hijjah, and the month of Muharram, four holy months are mentioned in the Quran.

The first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram also brings back painful memories of the brutal martyrdom of Imam Hussain (a.s.), the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) grandson, and his followers by the army of Yazid Ibne Muawiya, the Umayyad ruler at the time, at Karbala in southern Iraq. On 10 Muharram 61 AH (9/10 October 680 CE), the Battle of Karbala took place at Karbala, specifically close to the Euphrates River, or the region now known as Iraq.

Imam Hussain (a.s.), the son of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and Bibi Fatima (a.s.), confronted the army of the Yazid for the final time to persuade them to abandon their intended massacre on the day of "Ashura" the tenth day of Muharram. Even though Hussein passed away during the battle, his message of fairness, equality, and kindness was shared by the people who adored him; as a result, this day is observed in his honour.

Don't you see that Truth has been replaced by falsehood?

Imam Hussein (a.s.)

Notably, when Yazid died under mysterious circumstances three years later, history reveals that his empire was destroyed. There is no sign of his final resting place today in Damascus. Instead, Yazid's rule ended after his passing when his son, Muawiya Ibne Yazid, quietly abdicated soon after taking over as the new king.

Additionally, this battle is among the most enduring for Muslims because, despite leaving a lasting scar throughout history, it also taught them valuable lessons. For Muslims who experience oppression, Hussain (R.A.) and his companions' bravery in the face of oppression is an inspiration to take action and combat oppression in all its forms.

The Karbala incident is a tale of the truthiness, courage, fundamentalism, and self-sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A.) and his Ehl-e-Bait, inscribed with their blood. 13 centuries have passed, but the lessons of Karbala still hold relevance today. We must live by these deep seams of meaning because they are lessons in God's obedience.

Moreover, Karbala's tragedy has been remembered vividly, attesting to its unusually unique character in world history. This narrative is devoid of all worldly desire and interest, and this is why its brilliance grows more brilliant with each passing second. The tragedy of Karbala, in contrast to other enduring moments that lost their impact over time, continues to inspire both Muslims and non-Muslims.

The seventy-two martyrs of Karbala serve as a shining example of how the themes of that battle are still relevant today because of this. Seeing as history does indeed repeat itself every day, every year, and time after time, every day is Ashura, and every place is Karbala.

This lesson covers more than just Muslim history. It serves as a lesson for everyone, including believers, of any faith, to walk the path of Truth while avoiding the temptations of evil; one must decide what that means.

Furthermore, Karbala was a literal and figurative venue where the Truth clashed with the Lie, justice spoke out loud and cleared against prejudice, and bravery, passion, and devotion came before connectedness, worldliness, and stubbornness. It tells us that integrity and honesty will always withstand the test of time in contrast to the fleeting and Pyrrhic victory of injustice, as demonstrated by the fact that Imam Hussein's (AS) life is currently celebrated by millions around the globe while the history of his adversaries is all but forgotten.

For those fighting for justice worldwide, Imam Hussain (a.s.) continues to symbolize perseverance in the face of adversity. Therefore, it is not surprising that courageous Muslims have repeatedly sought solace in Imam Hussain's (a.s.) and his followers' example in volatile places like Kashmir or Palestine.

Significantly, Karbala offers numerous lessons for humanity to learn and try to incorporate into our lives to build a society based on the refined principles and ethos that Imam Hussain (R.A.) fought for on the field of Karbala, although it is a sad narrative full of numerous traumatic events. The battle of Karbala exemplifies the dispute between virtue and Vice, and Truth and lies

The lamentable event of Karbala undoubtedly hurts every human heart. However, Imam Hussain's persistence and encounter with the Yazid serve as both an example and a caution to all humanity that majority opinion is not always accurate. The army of Truth may be small, but it is mighty in what it stands for. This is a story of the divine embrace and the price of what it means to remain steadfast in the face of all adversity. The religious community should peruse this narrative.