The Political Influences of Ashura: Promoting the Spirit of Perseverance and Liberality

The Political Influences of Ashura: Promoting the Spirit of Perseverance and Liberality

One of the sociopolitical influences of Imam Hussein’s (AS) uprising, the Chief of the Martyrs, was prompting the spirit of perseverance and liberality as well as preserving dignity and self-esteem through all the generations both practically and orally.The Chief of the Martyrs persevered and resisted strongly against the oppression of Umayyad dynasty.Moreover, he taught liberality to all mankind. At the last moment of the event of Karbala, while Imam Hussein (AS) was bleeding and wounded he addressed the enemy “O, the follower of Abu- Sufyan if you do not have any religion, at least be free from tyranny and arrogance.” The event of Ashura has the motto of perseverance, ego strength, and liberality.

As Imam Hussein (AS) was delivering the sermon on the day of Ashura he said “This wicked man and his son asked me to choose between sordidness, Yazid’s obedience, and death. But sordidness is reproved. Such a manner is not admissible before Allah, the Holy Prophet PBUH, sacred people, and those who nurtured us.
Throughout history, the secret of success and triumph of humanity depends on the perseverance through problems. Imam Hussein’s (AS) resistance against idolatry and blasphemy and his scarifying life led to the promotion of spirit of perseverance and liberality. Accordingly, this fact became evident in others’ uprisings.
Imam Hussein’s Uprising as the Pattern of Other Holy Uprisings
The holy uprisings of human have two properties: First, they take place for superior status of humanity, monotheism, justice, freedom, and elimination of tyranny. Second, they are similar to a burst of light into a dark situation that they are not acceptable by “the wise persons of the tribe”. Imam Hussein’s (AS) uprising had both of these features. Consequently, one of the effects of this uprising is its consideration as a pattern for other true movements and uprisings. Imam Hussein’s (AS) uprising has been the fundamental aspects of all the holy revolutions in Islam after his martyrdom. This uprising became the inspiration of other genuine movement. Imam Hussein (AS) mentioned this principle to his companions in “Beyza”, one of the houses between Mecca and Karbala, as follows:
I am a behavioral pattern for you. As far as you are concerned this pattern is rebelling against tyranny and corruption. Consequently, Allah introduced his Holy Prophet (PBUH) as a messenger and model in the Qur’an. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “The great passion that Muslims feel for Hussein’s (AS) martyrdom will develop forever and it will never wane”.
According to “Professor Hassan Ibrahim” the killing of Imam Hussein (AS) influenced the unity among Shiite. Before this event, Shiite was not integrated and being Shiite involved in bleeding as they believed on it deeply.
The uprising of Imam Hussein (PBUH) caused a significant effect especially on his enemies, Umayyad dynasty. In fact, the uprising is similar to boiling water. Before water starts boiling, its bubbles rise up from the bottom of the pot and they burst. Then, it slowly starts boiling. The revolution of a society against tyrannical government is the same. First, criticisms and cries of justice and judgment like the bubbles at the bottom of pot rise up around the country. Then, rebellions rise up gradually. As a result, they influence on the government and make it destabilized, just like when the worthless spume falls out on the ground.
After the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), Muslims started to criticize immediately. This movement was considered as the beginning of Bani Umayyad decline. While Sinan bin Anas was in the shamble of Imam Hussein (AS) his companions told him: You killed Hussein bin Ali, the Prophet’s son and the son of Messenger of Allah’s PBUH daughter. You killed a man who was the best and had the aim of suppressing Bani Umayyad dynasty! Now go to your ruler and obtain your rewards. If they give you all of their property against killing of Hussein it is not enough.
“Hamid bin Muslim” said I saw a woman who belonged to the tribe of “Bakr bin Wael”, along with her husband, she was one of the followers of Omar Ibn Sa’d. When she saw people were attacking to Hussein’s (AS) women and girls, she took a sword and came to the tent and shouted: “O, the men of Bakr tribe, do you spoliate the clothes of Prophet’s PBUH girls? Down with unholy domination, O, the killer of the Holy Prophet.” Suddenly, her husband came and returned her to the tent.
These were among the first reactions of people to the event of Karbala. The spirit of revolution was an inspiration into Islamic doctrine. Consequently, whenever people found a qualified ruler they began to organize an overthrow of the tyrannical government. In addition, the dominant slogan of their revolutions was “revenge for Imam Hussein (AS)”. There are a number of revolutions that we can mention a few of them as follows:
1- Tvabyn revolution: This revolution took place in Kufa in response to the killing of Imam Hussein (AS). The people of Kufa felt guilty because they avoid helping Imam Hussein after they had invited him to Kufa and sent him a letter. So they felt shame for what they had done and decided to start a revolution and take revenge. This event occurred in the 65th Hijri.
2- Medina revolution: The aim of this revolution was not taking revenge. It was an uprising against the tyrannical government of Bani Umayyad. A thousand of people participated in this uprising and they were finally suppressed savagely by Syrian troops.
3- The uprising of Mokhtar Saghafi: The uprising happened in Iraq in the 66th Hijri, in order to take Imam Hussein (AS) revenge on his killers. The revolution was led by Mukhtar and they could kill two hundred and eighty of Imam Hussein’s (AS) enemies in just one day.
4- Ben Mghyrh Mtrf’s revolution: He rebelled against Hajjaj bin Yusuf in the 77th Hijri and deposed the caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan.
5- Ibn Ash-ath’s revolution: He rebelled against Hajjaj and deposed the caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwa in 81th Hijri. This uprising lasted 83 years. At first, it achieved military victories but it failed later.
6- The revolution of Zayd ibn Ali: He was one of the offspring of Imam Sajjad (AS). He arose in the 122th Hijri in Kufa, but he was suppressed immediately by Syrian troops in Iraq.
7- The Uprising of Husayn ibn Ali ( known as Shahid Fakh): “Fakh” is the local name of a valley. It is situated about a milestone west of Mecca. Husayn ibn Ali (owner of Fakh( rebelled against the Abbasid Dynasty in 169th Hijri in Fakh and he was martyred along with his companions. He was one of the descendents of Prophet and religious scholars that influenced on shiite by his martyrdom even a century after the event of Karbala.
This revolution and other revolutions played an important role in the preservation of Islam’s appearance, the holy name of Prophet (PBUH), and respecting the rights of people against improper states. These movements were considered as the one of the important result of Imam Hussein’s (AS) movement. Nowadays, the desired of Islamic Republic of Iran is the commemoration of epic action of Imam Hussein and the event of Ashura. Imam Hussein’s (AS) uprising was the sample not only for Muslims but also for non-Muslims who are seeking liberation from oppression. “Mahatma Gandhi” says I carefully read Imam Hussein’s (AS) life, the great martyr of Islam, and pay attention to the event of Karbala. It becomes obvious that if India wants to be a successful country, it must follow Imam Hussein (AS) as a model.