Be free; hadiths from Imam Hossein on uprising against oppressor

Pars Today- Today, Imam Hossein's uprising is known all over the world as the symbol of freedom, truth-seeking and struggle against oppression.

Imam Hossein (Peace upon him), famous as "Aba Abdillah" and "Seyyed al-Shuhada", the younger grandson of Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny), was born in the year 4 AH in Medina. His father was Imam Ali (Peace upon him), the testamentary legatee of the Prophet, and his mother was Lady Fatima Zahra (Peace upon her), the daughter of the Prophet. Imam Hossein got the divine authority of Imamate in 50 AH after the martyrdom of his elder brother, Imam Hassan (Peace upon him). Imam Hossein was the Imam of the Islamic Ummah for nearly 11 years. His period of Imamate coincided with the final years of the rule of the rebel, Muawiyah. Muawiyah's libertine son, Yazid, usurped power in 60 AH in violation of Muawiyah's peace treaty with Imam Hassan and spread his oppressive rule over masses. Imam Hussein (Peace upon him) didn't accept Yazid's tyrannical rule and staged his historical epic uprising against him. Thus, the Imam and his 72 loyal companions were brutally martyred on 10^th of the Islamic month of Moharram 61 AH. Pars Today has taken a look at the roots of his uprising and presented a few hadiths from him.

Philosophy of uprising

Imam Hossein's uprising on the day of Ashura was undoubtedly the most important factor for revival of Islam. His uprising has turned into the symbol of freedom, truth-seeking and fighting oppression across the world even among non-Muslims. Today, we can see that Muslims and followers of the School of the Ahl al-Bayt, taking the role model of the culture and teachings of Ashura, managed to shape numerous resistance groups and train freedom-seeking combatants in the form of a lofty and robust front in the face of the Western savage world and the global Arrogance (whose main symbol is the US regime). Examples of these groups have been made up in Palestine, Yemen and Lebanon which have succeeded to follow Imam Hossein's movement to confront and resist against the illegitimate Zionist regime.

The important and basic issue in Ashura uprising is to learn freedom and non-submission against despotism and tyranny. Today, the world is hungry for these teachings. With the lapse of nearly 14 centuries from Imam Hossein's uprising, hundreds of millions of people all over the world revere this event with mourning and pondering upon Imam Hossein's path and historical decision.

A few hadiths from Imam Hossein (Peace upon him)

1. Refraining from wronging the helpless

Imam Hossein told his son, Imam Sajjad, on the day of Ashura, "My son! Refrain from wronging the one who has no helper except Allah, the Majestic and the Mighty."

2. Death with dignity

Imam Hossein said, "Death with dignity is better than life with humility."

3. Emergence of Imam Mahdi

Imam Hossein said, "If there remains only one day from the world, Allah, the Mighty and the Majestic, will prolong this day so that a man will rise up from my progeny to fill the earth with justice and fairness as it has been filled with oppression and injustice."

4. Be free

The Imam said, "If you do not have any religion and are not afraid of the Hereafter, at least be free in your world."

5. Reason of uprising

He also said, "I have not staged uprising as a selfish, hedonist, corrupt or oppressive person; indeed, I have staged uprising to seek reform in my grandfather's Ummah. I want to bid what is right and forbid what is wrong." 

RM/ME