Every Day Is Ashoura Every Land Is Karbala

By Mohammed Khaku

ccun.org, December 21, 2008

Once again, the Islamic month of Muharram will be here in a week, and Shi'i Muslims around the world will be dressed in black. The mosques will be jam-packed and decorated in black wall coverings with flags (A’alam) and replica shrines (Taziyas). Majalis (Assemblies) will be held every night during the first twelve days with poetry recited and speeches made pertaining to the martyrdom of Al-Hussain Bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. The day the battle of Karbala took place is known simply as ‘Ashoura’, which means 10th (of Muharram).

Why hasn’t Ashoura faded from history after a passage of 14 centuries? Why do Muslims gather every year to mourn for Al-Hussain and his companions? Should this uprising/movement  (Qiam) by Al-Hussain be remembered every year and why? Why hasn’t the battle of Karbala faded away into history like thousands of other battles and events? Will Ashoura be forgotten by our next generation? And lastly is rekindling of Ashoura only an emotional and illogical act by shi'is?  

The answer is that the uprising and the martyrdom of Imam Al-Hussain is not limited to a one day battle between epic heroism and self-sacrifice where truth condemned falsehood, but it is a universal and everlasting divine message for humanity that can be used at all times. The message is FREEDOM for all mankind from oppression and tyranny. The enemies of Islam are continuously attacking the revolution and message of Imam Al-Hussain, particularly the principle of social justice. 

Years after Karbala, one of the descendants of Al-Hussain stated that:  'Every day is 'Ashoura; every land is Karbala.' Indeed, for any one who cherishes truth and justice above all else, every day must be 'Ashoura, and every land is Karbala.' The battle for truth and justice is an ongoing one, and must be fought daily. In physical terms, Hussein lost the battle of Karbala, but n spiritual terms, it was one of the greatest victors the world has seen. The movement of Ashura is to bring awareness of oppression and fighting against the ignorance in the society. One of the famous quotes of Imam Al-Hussain is “If you do not believe in religion, at least be fee in your world”. The message of Al-Hussain continues, and his followers reject

The political backdrop of Karbala has lost much of its significance to today's generation of Muslim including the Islamic scholars. Yet, the brutality and humanitarian aspects of the story continue to haunt the souls of Muslims until today, as we ponder and reflect the meaning of Imam Al-Hussain's martyrdom, we should also reflect upon what is happening to the contemporary Muslim community today, and ask ourselves "why”? We must look out at the Muslim world, and see if there are any patterns that might suggest that there is a Karbala taking place in our time, and like the Muslims during the time of Imam Al-Hussain, perhaps we are ignoring or failing to respond to the call to stand and to fight against the enemies of Islam.

Today, there is a place where a legitimate Muslim government was elected. There is a place were Muslims and Christians including children’s and women are held in open prison and are being denied food and water, just like at Karbala. The real tragedy of the Muslims is not that we are oppressed and our lands are occupied, but there are too many Yazids and no Imam Al-Hussain among us. Year after year the sacrifices of the great Imam will be commemorated all over the world; even the rulers of some Muslim countries and communities will participate in ceremonies of "Ashoura" to pay tribute to Imam Al-Hussain's principle stand against injustice and oppression. Yet these same rulers & leaders perpetrate corruption, oppression and injustice in their own societies daily. It is this hypocrisy that is at the root of much of the suffering of Muslims today.  

 The Muslim world is dominated by Yazids who have pledged themselves to the modern-day Pharaohs and before I draw parallels between contemporary problems of Muslims and the tragedy of Karbala, let us be clear about Imam Al-Hussain's sacrifice was about. He did not struggle for worldly gain or power, but only to reform the community (Ummah) of his grandfather and not to pledge allegiance to Yazid. He preferred to die rather than compromise with injustice and oppression.   

 Today, Karbala is in Gaza. Several years ago, this same tragedy played itself out in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya Kashmir and Algeria. As we can see clearly in respect to Zionist Israel, and the support it receives from the Arab governments in its persecution and genocide being carried out in Gaza, The issue today, is as it was at Karbala is who has the right to authority, leadership and guardianship over the Muslim Ummah? Is it Israel? Is it the US, or the UN, or the corrupt Arab governments that have helped and supported the US and Israel in the genocide of the Muslim and Christian Palestinians of Gaza? Today, Gaza is Karbala. Where is the so-called "democracy" of the US? Where are the loyalty and the commitment to Islam of the Arab leaders who are today calling for normalized relations through interfaith while Zionist Israel is killing through ethnic cleansing and genocide the people of Gaza? The time has come for the Muslim Ummah to take the responsibility to end the illegal siege on Gaza. We must act to save the people of Gaza, and to break the siege not only upon Gaza, but also upon Muslims everywhere who have been denied rights, persecuted, murdered, tortured and humiliated.

Today, it is our turn to answer the call of Imam Al-Hussain. Who will go to Karbala? Who will stand with the 1.5 million people of Gaza who are being killed today because they voted for an Islamic movement into power? Who will stand for the Qur'an which says that we must oppose those who kill and deprive people of rights, and who would starve innocent people to death because they don't share their ideology.