Martyrs Never Die: The Battle Of Karbala

Almost 2000 years ago from now, a battled occurred on the grounds of Karbala in 680 AD which left a long lasting and devastating scar on the Muslim generations to follow and marked a significant milestone in Islamic history. The everlasting pain and impact of the centuries old battle still brings a stream of tears in the eyes of the followers of Islam as they reminisce the sacrifices and sufferings endured by the beloved descendants of the Holy Prophet (p. b. u. h) on their last mission to save the gist of Islam from perishing from the face of planet earth.

The story of Karbala and the sacrifices made by Imam Hussain (R. A) and his family serve as profound lessons of love, sacrifice and devotion towards Allah and his mankind. Their tragedy makes the hearts of not only the Muslims but also of the non-believers to crumble with sorrow to keep the memory of the martyrs of Karbala alive. To express their condolence and acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by Hassan (R. A) and Hussain (R. A), Muslims around the world perform various religious activities in the month of Muharram such as distributing food, especially to the poor and needy (commonly known as Niaaz) and thirst quenchers such as water in the memory of thirsty Shuhada-e-Karbala. Recitations of the Quran and Naats are also organized to pay respect to the martyrs of Karbala. Though such activities are nothing as compared to what they did to keep the flag of Islam up high, yet these activities are ways to symbolically express love towards Hazrat Imam Hussain (R. A) and Imam Hassan (R. A). However, there is one activity performed throughout this month which I have always found hard to come into terms with.

Moreover, as awareness continues to increase amongst the youth, the significance and authenticity of this particular act raises questions amongst the new generations all around the Muslim world. This activity is known as ‘Matam’ which is that people mourn to the extent that they harm themselves in the harshest ways by beating themselves with knives and other blunt tools. The prohibition on causing self-harm is clearly stated in the Holy Quran as Say: “My Lord has forbidden all atrocities, whether overt or disguised, and harm (ithm)” (7:33). At another instance, another verse in the Holy Quran states: “Abandon all harm (ithm), whether committed openly or in secret” (6: 120). These verses together prove that causing any sort of harm is forbidden in Islam altogether. It is not lawful for a Muslim to cause harm to himself or to other people.

Evidence supporting this prohibition is to be found in plenty of other Surahs and Verses as well in the Holy Quran. Hence mourning through self- harm in the in order to commemorate Hazrat Imam Hussain (R. A) is raises questions. So much so that in the recent years self-flagellation and mourning by cutting the body with knives or chains was banned in Iran and Lebanon. However, it is still practiced in varying degrees in countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. The result of such extremism self-flagellation is that often it leaving the people involved into extremely critical conditions due to extreme loss of blood. The most horrible of such sites is when every now and then one spots young children of age 8 to 11 covered in blood as they practice such rituals. Perhaps the reasons and devotions towards such extreme mourning rituals for the martyrs of Karbala would have been more acceptable had they been ascribed in the Holy Quran, the law binding religious scripture for Muslims. However even the Holy Quran states about Shahudas (Martyrs) in Surah Ali-’Imran, 3:169 ‘But do not think of those that have been slain in God’s cause a dead. Nay, they are alive! With their Sustainer have they their sustenance’. Then why must Muslims mourn to such an extent that they bring their own selves close to death through self-harm while knowing that death through self- harm is an unpardonable sin.

The crux of the historic events of Karbala, the sacrifices of Hassan (R. A) and Hussain (R. A) and the torments endured by the last of the Holy Prophet (p. b. u. h)’s family were only to teach Muslims and human beings to love humanity, understand the meaning of absolute sacrifice and devotion and to collectively rise against the Yazids that still exist in our society today. The Holy month of Muharam and the story of the Martyrs should always remind us of the essence of Islam to save which they devoted their lives and sacrificed themselves to the tyrants. Hence it must always be remembered by the Muslims that what is the true essence of Islam, is it about harming oneself without a real cause or is it about love, peace and harmony?