Laughter and tears, joy and sorrow, defeat and victory, and even one step higher—life and death—cannot be interpreted unless we understand their origins and the sources from which these concepts spring.
There exists laughter that is hollow and destructive to the human soul. Similarly, there are tears that revitalize the spirit of humanity. There is a life that resembles death and a death that is eternal and embodies life. Therefore, to evaluate these phenomena correctly, we must look at them more profoundly.
Among these, defeat and victory are pivotal concepts in human life. Defeat is not synonymous with departing from this earthly realm. Whenever we hear the term “defeat,” we should not assume that someone who has departed this world has been defeated. Conversely, just because someone’s natural existence has occupied the earth for years—or even a century—it does not necessarily mean they have triumphed. What grave errors exist in humanity’s use of crucial words…
On the other hand, if by victory we mean absolute victory, who in this world has ever attained such a state? Which ferocious wolf have we seen that another fiercer wolf has not torn apart with its claws? Ultimately, for every powerful being, there exists another equally or more powerful.
On the day of Ashura, Imam Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him), in a profoundly magnificent declaration of proof, cited the following verses:
“If we triumph in this battle, we have always been victorious. And if we are defeated (as you claim), we have never experienced nor shall we ever experience defeat.
Our nature is not rooted in fear, even as we know that being drenched in blood foretells the rise of our nation after (martyrdom) and the vengeance that will follow.
If the arrow of fate does not strike one man in the chest, it will inevitably strike another who stands beside him.
And this very messenger will convey the tidings of annihilation to the great ones of the tribe, just as it has forewarned many others before.
If kings were eternal and the noble ones of this fleeting world enjoyed permanence, we too would have had everlasting lives and boundless longevity on this earth.
Say to those who criticize, ‘Awaken from the slumber of heedlessness, for they too shall depart this world.[1]’”
The Imam declared that defeat was never an option for them and never would be. Where are you, he asks? If victory means remaining confined to the earthly realm, then, in the end, all humanity—including kings, nobles, and all types of people—will face nothing but defeat. For, in the end, the arrow of death will strike everyone. So, where is true victory to be found?
Victory begins when a person first discovers themselves. One must first explore the continent of their existence, discover the center of their movements and thoughts, and understand who they are. Even if someone only achieves a small portion of this self-discovery, they must still strive to uncover it. For their victory starts from this very realization. When human actions and behaviors revolve around this axis, even if they are killed and resurrected half a million times, they remain victorious.
Can a person who has first come to know themselves and then connected their spirit to the grandeur of divinity ever be defeated? Can someone who, in communion with their Creator, declares, “My God! I am content with Your decree and submit to Your command; there is no deity but You,” ever truly experience defeat? Indeed, the sublime love of God elevates a person beyond these superficial notions of defeat and victory. Such a person cannot even be extinguished by death itself.
This is the meaning of victory because this individual has managed to bring forth the primary melody of their existence. Others, however, remain uncertain about their true purpose in this life.
Oswald Spengler, in his book “The Decline of the West,” provides a subtle reflection, saying that sometimes we err in our use of words. He gives the example:
“The victorious man is someone whose radiance begins only after his existence transitions from the earth to beneath it—not one who departs leaving behind only a shadow that becomes the sharpest weapon used against his name.”
Thus, we assert that true victory belongs to the prophets (peace be upon them). Otherwise, as stated before, no wolf exists in this world without a fiercer wolf to confront it. Therefore, victory must be connected to something eternal.
Furthermore, when free-spirited people, with sighs from the depths of their hearts, exclaim, “Oh Hussein! If only we were with you,” it reflects how human souls, at their highest point of ascent, surrender to the spirit of that man. If swords possess the physical bodies of people, he possesses their spirits. While others may claim our physical forms, he has dominion over our free consciences. So, whose victory is this? Does it belong to the one who owns the bodies, or to the one who reigns over the liberated souls?
Upon reflection, we can see that every aspect of the Karbala tragedy, from the smallest to the greatest events, signifies the victory of Hussein (peace be upon him). Despite the immense suffering he endured, did his character waver? Never. The concepts of death, loss of children, and infant suffering are trivial when viewed through his lens. He stands far above all such concerns.
Yes! The meaning of victory transcends mere survival on this earth. One whose essence begins above cannot end in the soil…
Oh Hussein! Eternity belongs to you. Oh traveler of eternity, victory has always been yours and will remain so. Your ideals are triumphant; the mission you presented to humanity is victorious and knows no defeat. The life and death of a person depend on the axis of their existence. Your axis is God, the Eternal, and so you too are eternal and victorious.
Excerpted from the book “Hussein (Peace Be Upon Him): Martyr of the Leading Culture of Humanity,” authored by the late Allama Muhammad Taqi Jafari.
Footnote:
[1] Lohuf, pp. 98-99