The Arbaeen of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) is approaching, causing many people to gaze in astonishment at this great epic. Indeed, why has the epic of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) remained as luminous and captivating, repeated and honored, even after so many years? What is the secret behind his immortality and this sacredness?
Some view Hussain (peace be upon him) as a freeman who refused to submit to the oppressive government and defended his freedom, calling the people toward the pursuit of liberty. While this is true, it is only a small part of the whole story, as there have been many free individuals throughout history, and many have lived and died freely. However, why are they not sanctified and honored like Abu Abdullah al-Hussain (peace be upon him)?
Others believe the eternal significance of the Karbala tragedy lies in its tragic nature, thinking no event has been more devastating, painful, or sorrowful throughout history. To such an extent that it is said, “O Abu Abdullah, no day is like your day[1].” Yes, the day of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) is the greatest day, for it burned hearts and made tears flow. However, this alone is not the secret of its greatness and immortality, for tragedies and disasters abound throughout history. For example, in Islamic history, many like Hussain, such as the martyr of Fakh and Zayd ibn Ali, along with their families, were tragically killed. Yet, we see that many people pay little attention to them or know little about their stories.
Some others view Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) as a person who fought for the establishment of a divine government, for the establishment of justice and the revival of the religion, spreading the spirit of Qur’anic values within the community. This is also true, but it does not reveal the whole story, for many people have revolted to establish a divine government and have been killed in the process.
Therefore, the greatness of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) is not merely in his being a revolutionary freedom fighter or in facing tragic misfortunes for the establishment of justice. So, what is the secret of his greatness?
To answer this question, we must understand that God, the Creator of the universe and the Owner of the heavens and the earth, is the one who governs all matters. He raises whomever He wills and leaves others to their own devices. Whomever clings to His rope, He elevates, and whomever turns away from His guidance, He abandons.
As is evident, Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) held firmly to God’s rope and acted with the utmost sincerity for God’s sake. For this reason, God exalted him, purified the love of believers for him, and implanted the fervor of love for him in the hearts of every Muslim. Thus, Imam Hussain’s (peace be upon him) value lies in the fact that his actions were done with the utmost purity and sincerity for God. For, even if he had thousands of sons like Ali Akbar (peace be upon him) and it was decreed to sacrifice them all in a single moment for God’s pleasure, he would never have hesitated in carrying it out. Hussain (peace be upon him) had purified himself from worldly desires and, although his beloved son, who resembled the Prophet (peace be upon him) [2] most in both appearance and character, was martyred for the sake of God, his love for God was greater and deeper. As God says, “But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah” [3].
He knew and saw that everything in the world, and all values, are embodied in love for God and the knowledge of Him. It should be noted here that each of the sons, brothers, and companions of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) who fell in the blood of Karbala were shining stars in the horizon of monotheism, each of whom was martyred one after the other, and with the martyrdom of each, the face of Imam (peace be upon him) became even more radiant, while his heart was torn apart with grief for them.
Nevertheless, after fulfilling his duty, Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) took a handful of the soil of Karbala, placed it on his noble forehead, and said: “Patience upon Your decree, O my Lord! O You who is the only true God, O You who answers the calls of the helpless, I have no protector or deity except You.”
Indeed, what has made the memory of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) eternal is the depth of his sincerity to God Almighty. And everything that is for God will remain eternal.
(Taken from the book: “Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) – Manifestation of Truth”, by Ayatollah Seyed Mohammad Taqi Modarresi, with modification and condensation)
Footnotes:
[1] (Al-Amali of Saduq, p. 116; Muthir al-Ahzan, p. 4)
[2] (Luhuf, p. 113)
[3] (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:165)
[4] (Maqtal al-Muqarram, p. 357; Yanabi’ al-Mawaddah, vol. 3, p. 82)