Introduction
As usual, on the evening of the 10th of Muharram 1445 AH, the esteemed residence of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Sadegh Hosseini Shirazi in the holy city of Qom hosted a gathering of mourners of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him. They had gathered to benefit from guidance of His Eminence.
In this warm and intimate meeting, the esteemed authority provided valuable and fitting guidance, which is as follows:
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the accursed.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
May Allah magnify our rewards and your rewards through our mourning for our master, Imam Hussein, peace be upon him.
May He make us and you among those seeking revenge for him alongside his successor, Imam Mahdi, may Allah hasten his noble rea
At the beginning of this speech, I offer my condolences on the occasion of the arrival of the tragic event of Ashura to the esteemed and lofty position of divine authority and grand leadership, to the remaining proof of Allah, Imam Mahdi, may Allah hasten his noble reappearance. I hope that the Almighty God will hasten his reappearance so that this world, overwhelmed by oppression and injustice, becomes filled with justice and everyone benefits from its blessings.
I also extend my condolences on this great occasion to all believing men and women, as well as to all the oppressed, the oppressed, and the afflicted people in various parts of this transient world.
Furthermore, as a recommended act of the Sharia, I express my appreciation and gratitude to all the servants of Imam Hussein who strive and serve in these days, during the remaining days of the month of Muharram and the month of Safar, in order to honor the rituals of Imam Hussein. They face various challenges, including internal, external, economic, political, social, medical, etc., and I am grateful for their efforts, and I pray for them.
Leaf from the Ashura Pilgrimage Garden
The Ziyarat of Ashura is a sacred visitation and, apparently, the only visitation directly issued by Allah Almighty, in other words, a divine narration. It contains significant themes and important phrases, with one of the most important being: "O Allah, make my life the life of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and make my death the death of them."
Arabic literary scholars have said that the term "Mahiya" is derived from the verb "Mimi" and means "life." The root of this word is the noun "Hayaw" and "Hayya," meaning life and living, and the "ta" in this word is an extra letter. The simple meaning of this part of the Ziyarat is that we ask Allah Almighty to align our lives in all aspects, whether financially, in the passage of time, in our interactions with others, etc., in a way that is in accordance and in harmony with the life of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his pure family. Furthermore, we beseech the essence of the Most High to grant us a death and end to our worldly life similar to the death of the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, and to grant us a good end.
Of course, it is clear that such a thing is not entirely possible and achievable because those great individuals are exceptions and unattainable. However, we ask God to help us as much as possible in this path and in attaining the life and death that are pleasing to the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them). Such a request is similar to the command of the Almighty in the Holy Quran, where it says: "Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example." This means that although we cannot fully emulate the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and perform our actions exactly like his, we must strive to follow his example to the best of our ability. The external analogy supports this interpretation.
Humans Classification in this World
People are classified into one of four categories that are mentioned. The first category is the one we pray to Allah for in this section of the Ziyarat Ashura. These are the individuals whose life and death are similar to the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them). As far as I remember, Ziyarat Ashura is the only ziyarat that is recommended to be recited daily. Some individuals in this category may be committed to reciting this sacred ziyarat every day and make this request to Allah. So, the first group has a life and death similar to the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) and they have a good outcome.
The second category is completely opposite, meaning they do not have a life similar to the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) nor a death similar to theirs. Examples of this category can be the enemies of the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) like Ibn Saad and his companions who confronted Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). They are "unfortunate in this world and the Hereafter."
The remaining two categories are those who possess one of these two characteristics but are deprived of the other. For example, it is possible for someone to not have a life similar to the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) in their family interactions with their spouse and children, or in their social interactions as a buyer, seller, member of the ruling government, employee, merchant, scholar, preacher, or even a religious authority. However, in the end, they have a good outcome. In any case, we are in this world facing all the temptations of the ego, Satan, and the allure of the worldly life, and it is possible that shortcomings may arise in our actions. Ultimately, the criterion is the outcome that we will reach. So, it is possible for someone to experience ups and downs in life and ultimately achieve purification and a good outcome through various means.
Similarly, there may be individuals who have been good and honorable throughout their lives, leaving behind a desirable life, but in the end, they fall and have an evil outcome. An example of such a person is Zubeir, who was the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) and the cousin of Imam Ali (peace be upon him). He was one of their companions during the time of the Prophet and served under Imam Ali for twenty-five years. I have not come across any evidence of his misconduct during that time. However, after Imam Ali assumed leadership, he became attached to his own lineage and expected to be given a position, authority, or governance over a region, which Imam Ali did not grant. He turned his back on Imam Ali and became one of the key figures in the Battle of Jamal against Imam Ali. This is how someone like Zubeir ended up with an evil outcome after years of righteousness.
Hurr Peace be Upon Him
As for Hurr, if he did not repent turn back from the wrong path that he had taken, and also if it wasn’t for Imam Hussain, peace be upon him, accepting his repentance, he would have been included in the ranks of people like Ibn Ziyad and Ibn Saad. It was he who blocked the way for Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) and his companions with his army, and became the catalyst for the tragedy of Karbala. At that time, he carried out the orders and plans of Ibn Ziyad to stop the Imam and his companions in a place far from water. Even when Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) asked him to allow them to go to one of the villages near Karbala, Hurr did not give permission and did whatever he could to stop them and cut off their access to water. These events were all a test from God for him.
If Hurr had continued on his path without repenting, what position would he have put himself in?! But he realized his mistake and repented, and Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) accepted his repentance.
Important Points
There is much to say about Hurr (peace be upon him) that has been discussed in the past on occasions like tonight. It was previously mentioned that although Hurr (peace be upon him) regretted his actions and repented, the consequences of his deeds remained. Hurr (peace be upon him) confessed at the time of his repentance that he had shaken the hearts of the friends of God, and this was a great sin that became a burden for him. He blocked the path for Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and his companions, along with a thousand armed soldiers, and caused their hearts to tremble. It is true that Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) was aware of the outcome, but the other women and children, except for Lady Zainab (peace be upon him), had no knowledge of what was to come, so they were overcome with fear. Hurr (peace be upon him) said about this, "I have terrified the hearts of your friends; I have made the hearts of your loved ones tremble.
Consequences of Hurr's Peace be Upon Him Actions
There is no doubt that Hurr (peace be upon him) is destined for goodness and paradise, but the consequences of his actions remain. One of these consequences is that he was deprived of the prayer of the infallible Imams (peace be upon them) over his body, and history does not remember who performed the prayer over his body, while prayers were performed over the bodies of other martyrs of Karbala after three days or by the order and representation of the Imams.
Another deprivation for Hurr (peace be upon him) is that his body was buried one farsakh (approximately 4 miles) further from the body of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him), while the other martyrs were laid to rest beside the Imam. Have you ever thought about this fact that among the millions of pilgrims who enter Karbala throughout the year, with the number reaching over twenty million pilgrims during the Arbaeen pilgrimage alone, how many people visit the grave of Hurr (peace be upon him)? Or during the fifty-two Friday nights that we spend, with one specific night being the night of the special visitation of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him), with an average estimate of two million pilgrims visiting the Imam's shrine on each Friday night, which adds up to over one hundred million pilgrims visiting the Imam's shrine throughout the year.
The specific visitations to the Imam's shrine on other occasions such as Laylat al-Qadr, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, and other occasions in the months of Shawwal, Dhu al-Qadah, and Dhu al-Hijjah, as well as the days of Arafah and the days of Ashura, with their extensive and millions of pilgrims, remain. Perhaps during these days, the number of pilgrims to the Imam's shrine reaches approximately two hundred million. The question here is, out of this two hundred million crowd, does even one million visit the grave of Hurr (peace be upon him)? I am not trying to tarnish the image and status of Hurr (peace be upon him), and I have respect for him. Surely, he is among the companions of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him), but there is no escaping from the consequences of his actions. Regarding Imam Hussain (peace be upon him), even if someone is negligent, the consequences of that negligence will affect them, as I mentioned in the sermon of the threshold of Muharram al-Haram with two examples.
The Loving Behavior of Imam Hussein Peace be Upon Him towards Hurr Peace be Upon Him
What is noteworthy about the relationship between Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and Hurr (peace be upon him) is that the actions and words of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) towards him should be presented to the world as a film. Despite my extensive studies in history over the years and my presence in various preaching sessions and sermons, I have not come across such behavior. It is necessary for this interaction to be presented to the world. The prerequisite for this is that young believers, both boys and girls, raise their ambitions wherever they are in the world and take the necessary actions in this regard.
Hurr and his companions, who numbered a thousand, reached Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and his companions near Karbala. According to some historical accounts, one thousand five hundred people also entered Karbala with Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). Given these circumstances, if a battle had taken place at that time, Imam Abbas (peace be upon him) alone could have annihilated the entire army of Hurr, but Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) did not allow Imam Abbas (peace be upon him) to engage in battle. If Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) had not been bound by worldly considerations or if he did not possess infallibility, he would have defeated the entire army of Hurr. He even let the soldiers who came to assist afterwards pass by unharmed.
Someone in this context suggested that Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) did not fight against Hurr's army because they had set out to assist the army of Hurr. However, Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) had the ability to bypass those soldiers as well. One thousand five hundred people were with Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), and only Imam Abbas (peace be upon him) was enough to confront Hurr's army. Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) gave permission for all his companions and supporters to engage in battle, except for Imam Abbas (peace be upon him). Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) himself also fought against the enemy's army, but he was an infallible Imam and possessed great immunity, so he had control over his powers and was self-disciplined. Otherwise, he alone could have confronted the entire army of Hurr and the subsequent armies that came to Karbala, and triumphantly entered Kufa, either passing by Ibn Ziyad or forcing him to flee. But Allah wanted to test humanity and the children of Adam, so He said, "Indeed Allah has willed to test you by means of a hard trial: "Shall I show you the one who is worse in his deeds?"" (Quran 18:103).
The most important reason for the creation of human beings is to test and evaluate them, and the Quran has repeatedly referred to this matter, saying, "So that those who perish may perish upon a clear evidence, and those who live may live upon a clear evidence." (Quran 8:42). The wisdom behind this test is the completion of proof that Allah imposes on all His servants, whether they are destined for Paradise or Hell.
The generosity of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) towards Hurr and his companions
As mentioned before, Hurr opposed all the requests of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and refused to accept his proposals, which included relocating to another place, returning to Medina, or even settling near the Euphrates. Instead, according to the orders of Ibn Ziyad, Hurr stopped Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and his companions in a place far from water.
This action by Hurr occurred even though he and his companions had previously been saved from thirst by Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and his companions. You have undoubtedly heard the story of the noble encounter of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) with Hurr and his companions from honorable preachers. Initially, Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and his companions reached the water before Hurr's companions, and afterwards, Hurr and his army reached Imam Hussein (peace be upon him).
According to historical accounts, at that time, there were one thousand five hundred people accompanying Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). This number gradually increased and joined him during the period when he was moving from Mecca towards Karbala. The journey of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) from Mecca to Karbala began on the 8th of Dhu al-Hijjah and lasted until the 2nd of Muharram when they entered Karbala. This is while under normal circumstances, this journey would take a shorter time, approximately two weeks, or if someone hurried, it could be completed in one week. However, Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) took three weeks to complete this journey. Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) traversed this path slowly so that those who intended to support him could join him. Some people also left the Hajj pilgrimage on the 12th and 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah and joined Imam Hussein (peace be upon him).
He and his companions reached the water earlier, and then the army of one thousand people led by Hurr arrived in that area, while the entire army and even their animals were extremely thirsty. Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) gave them all water to drink, as if he did not, they would all perish. Furthermore, the noble behavior of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) towards one of Hurr's companions who was unable to drink from a water skin is mentioned. Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) taught him how to drink from the water skin and quenched his thirst with his blessed hands. But the story does not end here. History narrates the continuation of the incident with an astonishing phrase that shows the generosity of the heart of that oppressed Imam. History says, "He quenched the thirst of the horses, sip by sip."
It is necessary to examine the linguistic aspects of the words used in this statement. There are subtle messages hidden within this speech. Before explaining this matter and in order to understand the deep emotions, spiritual delicacy, and greatness of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), it is important to know that the horse is a resilient and powerful animal. Therefore, in battles, horses were often used instead of other animals such as donkeys or cows, which also possess great strength. When this animal is in a certain state, it is said that the horse, like a human, becomes overwhelmed by thirst and eagerly drinks water in an irregular manner. Thus, it quickly feels satisfied, although its body actually needs more water. Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) was aware of this habit of horses, so he instructed his soldiers to give the horses of the noble warriors water in small increments, and he also ordered his companions to give water to all the horses in stages, so that the animals would truly become satisfied. I have never witnessed such a noble interpretation and action in history. Where in history do you find someone who, when faced with enemy soldiers, treats them in such a manner and even ensures that their animals are satisfied?! Yes, that Imam (peace be upon him) ordered his companions to bring water containers to the mouths of the horses of the noble warriors in stages, so that the horses could drink the water sip by sip and truly become satisfied, without only feeling partially satisfied.
If such an encounter was presented in the form of a film or television production, wouldn't it shake the world?! The present era is the era of film and media. The enemies of truth take advantage of this achievement for their own purposes, which include misguiding and leading astray. They release millions of films into the world and have influenced the world. Unfortunately, Islamic countries remain unaware and do not make use of this necessary power.
Addressing these issues and using the media to convey religious teachings to the world is an obligatory duty, and it has not yet reached its full potential in the present era. The story of the encounter between Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and the repentance of his enemies is one of the subjects that can transform the world and undoubtedly attract disbelievers towards the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) and bring those who have distanced themselves from the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) closer to them. Imam Ridha (peace be upon him) has mentioned a statement in this regard that is extremely accurate and true. He said, "If people knew the beauty of our words, they would follow us."
In our time, most non-Muslims and even many Muslims who have distanced themselves from the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) are not familiar with the true essence of the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them). The reason for this distance is a lack of proper familiarity with the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them). The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said about Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), "I am from Hussein, and Hussein is from me." As we can see, there are no traces, names, or signs left from the majority of the divine prophets, including Prophet Ali (peace be upon him and his progeny). However, the symbol of the perpetuity of Islam and the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his progeny) is Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). If there are signs of Islam, worship, prayer, fasting, piety, and goodness in various parts of the world, it is due to the blessings of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). This slogan of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny), "I am from Hussein," must become universal and reach the world so that people do not distance themselves from Islam and faith, as we are witnessing. There should be no opportunity for falsehood and deception to be given to the people of misguidance and astray.
Those who are familiar with media and satellite know that in today's world, more than ninety percent of satellite networks are used to mislead people. Research in this area and you will find astonishing statistics. Why don't the Shia have proper activities in this field, while Shia Islam is flourishing worldwide and Shia Muslims are present in most parts of the world, both in Islamic and non-Islamic countries? Shia Muslims should make an effort to present the story of Imam Hussein and others like him through media and satellite. From my years of study and research, the behavior of Imam Hussein in those circumstances is unparalleled and I have not found anyone like him. It is true that such a project requires a lot of expenses, but it should be pursued, even if it means borrowing money and seeking the cooperation and participation of many individuals, even hundreds. The production of such works will transform the world.
Curse or News?!
Another point I would like to mention about Imam Hussein is related to a sentence that Imam Hussein said to Hurr before his repentance. According to historical accounts and narrations, Imam Hussein repeatedly asked Hurr not to prevent his relocation to another place or his return to Medina, even though Imam Hussein knew that Hurr would not give him permission. However, the divine tradition of testing creation made Imam Hussein repeat his request. In response, Hurr treated Imam Hussein harshly and prevented his return or relocation. At that moment, Imam Hussein said to him, "Thakaltak Ummak."
Most people interpret this statement as a curse, meaning that Imam Hussein cursed Hurr's mother to mourn him and sit in mourning. But what comes to my mind is that based on Imam's knowledge of the future and knowing that Hurr would repent and be martyred, and as a result, his mother, who was alive at that time, would mourn him, it is possible that this statement is an inform, not a curse. The use of such interpretations is common in Arabic rhetoric and is referred to as "muhqiq al-waqi" when used in a past context.
For further explanation, it should be noted that if Imam Hussein wanted to inform Hurr about his death in a normal way, he would have said, "Tathkolka Ommak." In Arabic language, it is common to use the past context to refer to an upcoming event. With this assumption, the interpretation of "Thakaltak Ummak" would mean " Tathkolka Ommak" and has been used in this sense.
A Quranic Example
More than fourteen hundred years ago, Allah mentioned the blowing of the trumpet in the future in the Holy Quran, using the past tense, saying, "Wa Nufikha fi as-Soor." This event has not yet occurred, and we do not even know how many years will pass before it happens. According to narrations, after the emergence of Imam Mahdi, peace be upon him, and after he ruled the earth, was martyred, and Imam Hussein prepared his body and buried him in his grave, and then after thousands of years, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family, will return... this event will happen. This process may take thousands of years, and the blowing of the trumpet will not occur until that time. However, the Holy Quran has used the interpretation of "Nufikha fi as-Soor" in the past tense. Scholars and those familiar with rhetoric and the Arabic language know that this interpretation is used in the context of an upcoming event, so it is used in the past tense.
This type of interpretation is still used in Arab countries like Iraq. If you pay attention to the conversations of Iraqis, you will see that they use the past tense to express a future event. For example, when someone asks another person for a favor, such as asking them to serve at their wedding, the other person uses the past tense and says, "Sar," which means "it happened." This is despite the fact that there is no ceremony happening at that moment, and it may even take place years later or later. But since the matter is a certain event, the past tense is used. This is part of the rhetoric of the Arabic language. Therefore, Imam Hussein's interpretation regarding Hurr may also be of this nature.
A Hussein-like Attribute
One of the commendable habits and traditions that has been prevalent among scholars since ancient times is that some of the scholars, the authors of treatises and the followers, would appear on the day of Ashura without a cloak and with bare feet. I myself have witnessed several of the past marja's in Karbala and Najaf appearing with such reverence on the day of Ashura. This practice has a special reason from the narrations. I will briefly mention this topic and those who are interested in studying and researching can refer to the narrational books for more details.
In narrational books such as Wasa'il al-Shi'a, Bihar al-Anwar, and other books regarding the person who has been afflicted, for example, has lost his father or brother, it is mentioned that it is recommended to be in such appearance. This narration is also mentioned in the book Urwat al-Wuthqa. The interesting point is that there are very few narrations in this book that have not been commented on by a scholar, but even though I have more than fifty commentaries on Urwat al-Wuthqa, I have not seen any scholar commenting on this narration.
In this book, it is mentioned that a mournful and afflicted person should go out barefoot and without a cloak: "Yakhruj hafiyan wa dhia'an redaah." On the other hand, in an authentic narration narrated by Abdullah ibn Sinan with a reliable and unblemished chain, it is recommended to be in the form and appearance of the afflicted and the mourners on the day of Ashura: "Kahiyyat as-hab al-masa'ib."
By putting these two narrations together, it can be concluded that the followers of Imam Hussein on the day of Ashura should be barefoot and without a cloak, just like the afflicted and the mourners.
In another narration from Imam Sadiq, it is recommended to be without a cloak and barefoot on this day: "Bila ridaa' wa la hizaa'." This act is also one of the commendable practices of the day of Ashura, which, thanks to Allah, has to some extent been established among the believers. Therefore, those who use a cloak or abaya, which was previously part of the general attire of the people, it is recommended that they set it aside on the day of Ashura and also be barefoot. In the book Wasa'il al-Shi'a and other narrational books, it is also mentioned that the Holy Prophet, during the funeral procession of Sa'd ibn Ma'adh, participated barefoot and without a cloak to show himself as the one afflicted and mourned.
In any case, coming in the form and appearance of the mourners on the day of Ashura is one of the attributes of Hussein, which I have not found in the books written on this subject. As I mentioned before, if we gather all the attributes of Hussein, it will be more than several volumes of books. Is it recommended for believers to be barefoot and without a cloak on the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Holy Prophet after fourteen hundred years? What about in the affliction of the martyrdom of Lady Fatimah Zahra? I have not come across such a thing in any of the narrational books, nor have I seen any scholar doing so in these afflictions. Similarly, I have not found such a thing regarding the martyrdom of Imam Ali or Imam Hasan or other infallibles. However, Imam Sadiq, after many years of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, says to one of his companions named Abdullah ibn Sinan to be like the afflicted on the day of Ashura, that is, without a cloak and barefoot.
A Comparison between the Pilgrimage to the House of Allah and the Pilgrimage to Karbala
I have often discussed the differences between the pilgrimage to the House of Allah and the pilgrimage to Imam Hussein in Karbala on various occasions. In this brief discussion, I will touch upon this topic. As mentioned before, one of the ten conditions of the validity of Hajj, as stated in various books, including "Urwat al-Wuthqa," is "safety of the route." This means that the path to Hajj must be secure, and if the journey to Hajj lacks the necessary security and involves potential danger, the validity of Hajj cannot be achieved. Additionally, according to a group of scholars mentioned in the book "Urwat al-Wuthqa," if someone goes for Hajj in such a condition and, by chance, nothing happens to them, their Hajj will not be accepted as a valid Hajj al-Islam. However, if in the future they fulfill the conditions of validity, they must perform the Hajj al-Islam because "if the condition is absent, the conditioned is absent."
With this explanation, let us examine the visitation of Imam Hussein in a state where there is no security. From the time of Imam Zain al-Abidin until the period of Minor Occultation, which lasted for more than one hundred and fifty years, was there ever a time when Shia Muslims could visit Imam Hussein without fear and with security? No, there wasn't. Nevertheless, the infallible Imams always recommended and encouraged the visitation of the sacred shrine of Imam Hussein, and according to common narrations, they urged people to do so. This was despite the fact that tyrannical rulers would kill or imprison the visitors of Imam Hussein or even cut off their limbs. Except for a short period when the Banu Umayyah and Banu Abbas were occupied with other matters, the situation was always the same. During that time, if someone intended to visit Karbala, they would inform their family and friends or leave a written will because this journey usually had no return. The visitors of Imam Hussein in that era would either be martyred or imprisoned in dreadful prisons.
In past occasions, I mentioned that during the reign of Mutawakkil, some people gathered around the holy shrine of Imam Hussein. The government officials told them to disperse from this place according to Mutawakkil's orders, otherwise, anyone who stayed here would be killed. One person from the crowd shouted and declared that they would not leave the shrine of Imam Hussein. For a while, Mutawakkil was preoccupied with his own affairs, and he called off his plan. However, he later came to Karbala and announced that anyone who did not leave this place would be arrested and taken to the "Matabiq" prison. According to historical accounts, after hearing this threat, all the people fled. The "Matabiq" prison, the details and length of which are mentioned in various books, including "Bihar al-Anwar," was a form of torture worse than death and beheading. Nevertheless, even in such circumstances, the infallible Imams did not prohibit people from visiting Imam Hussein. On the contrary, they always encouraged Shia Muslims to perform this visitation. For example, there is a narration that someone came to the presence of an infallible Imam and expressed their fear of visiting Karbala. The Imam said to them, "Do you not want Allah to see you afraid in our path?"
However, regarding Hajj, not only did such statements not come from the infallibles, but they have also stated that performing Hajj in a state of fear and insecurity makes it invalid.
And as for the fortieth of Hussein,
I have repeatedly recommended the sacred pilgrimage of the fortieth of Hussein in this very place. Once again, I draw the attention of all believers and lovers of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, to the holiness and significance of this sacred pilgrimage. The Holy Quran advises Muslims to emulate the disbelievers in one instance. The story goes that the polytheists of Mecca intended to annihilate the Muslims while they were on their way from Mecca to Medina, a distance of four hundred kilometers. At that time, the Messenger of God, peace be upon him and his family, called upon the Muslims to prepare for defense, but some of the Muslims responded negatively. The Quran refers to this event with the following interpretation: "They say, 'Our houses are exposed,' while they were not exposed. They only intended to flee" (Quran 59:13).
Some Muslims, being familiar with the ethical teachings of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, used to make excuses and evade their responsibilities. In response to this group of Muslims, the Almighty God revealed a verse and said, "If you are in pain, surely they too are in pain as you are in pain" (Quran 2:140).
In this verse, the Almighty God admonishes the Muslims and reminds them that if confronting the disbelievers is difficult for them, then going to war, leaving their homes and families, and wandering in the desert is also difficult for the disbelievers. However, they make it easy for themselves. It should be noted that in all the wars imposed upon the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, the polytheists killed, wounded, and captured more Muslims than vice versa. Nevertheless, they did not harm the Muslims and, above all, the Messenger of God, peace be upon him and his family.
Based on this and drawing inspiration from the words of God, I also recommend that Muslims who neglect the commemoration of the fortieth of the holy Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, learn from and emulate the disbelievers. In the past, I mentioned an example, and once again, I refer to it briefly without elaboration. Every year, the disbelievers around the world commemorate their religious occasion and have established laws and facilities for it that are remarkable. I have researched and studied the details of this ceremony, but I am not going to discuss them. In a piece I read about this ceremony, it was mentioned that the disbelievers have abolished passport laws and fees for this religious event, and anyone can participate in this ceremony from anywhere in the world without a passport.
Another point mentioned was that all items, without exception, are sold at a lower price during the days of this pilgrimage, although this goes against the economic principles prevailing in the world. When the demand for a product increases, its price naturally rises in the world economy. However, since this ceremony is religious and attended by many people, a law has been enacted to make goods cheaper than ever. For example, during the days of this ceremony, the cost of hotels, restaurants, and even souvenirs that people buy is offered at a lower price and sometimes at a discount of forty, fifty, or even eighty percent. In the article I read on this subject, the Lebanese author listed the names of the items that are discounted during those days and mentioned that even beverages are offered at a lower price than usual.
Muslims around the world have no problem learning such activities from the disbelievers. Why should Iraq charge fees for participating in the sacred pilgrimage of the fortieth of Hussein? Why do other Islamic countries charge pilgrims excessive amounts during the fortieth of Hussein? Why don't they provide free passports for traveling to Karbala for the believers, while the disbelievers do not charge people for issuing passports for their religious ceremonies that are currently being held?
If you are not familiar with this event and its details, I suggest researching and studying about it. Usually, people who are involved in politics are aware of this event. Arab speakers use the term "Hajj" to refer to this event, and they say, "Al-Hajj ila ziyarah..."
In Arabic, "Hajj" means visitation intention. Even the polytheists used to perform Hajj and Umrah before Islam and referred to their actions as "Hajj." The Quran also used this name for the rituals of Islamic Hajj.
Two needs of the holy pilgrimage of Arbaeen
Now, with the efforts and determination of the majority of the Iraqi people, whom God will surely reward, especially during the holy pilgrimage of Arbaeen, they provide food and nourishment for the pilgrims free of charge. It is appropriate that other needs of the pilgrims also be provided free of charge. One of the necessary and essential matters for the pilgrims of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) is the free availability of hotels in the holy city of Karbala and its surroundings. For this purpose, equipped hotels should be built for the pilgrims of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and made available to them free of charge. It is a disgrace for all of us that the pilgrims of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) have to rest on the ground in cold and hot weather. If someone is capable of serving Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and his pilgrims on this path and falls short in this regard, they will be failing and falling into the curse of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). Dealing with this issue is the responsibility of governments and major Shia merchants. I am aware that some major Shia merchants have provided services in this regard, but some others fall short in this area. Therefore, great efforts should be made to provide hotels and accommodations free of charge to the pilgrims during these days.
Another need of the holy pilgrimage of Arbaeen is transportation, including airplanes, trains, cars, ships, etc. Based on the Quran's recommendation for Muslims to emulate non-Muslims, I also recommend everyone to follow this example in this matter. If you are unable to address these issues, encourage and motivate others. Dear youth living in non-Muslim countries should make continuous and proper efforts to demand special facilities for the Arbaeen pilgrimage from their respective governments. Non-Muslim countries respond positively when faced with frequent and persistent requests.
India is a non-Muslim country where the majority of its population consists of non-Muslims, and Muslims and Shias in India are a minority. According to what Indian Muslims have told me, official holidays have been designated for Muslims and Shias in this country (such as the birthday of Imam Ali). Among these, there are also official holidays for the entire country, including the day of Ashura. Such a day is an official holiday in a non-Muslim country, but unfortunately, this is not the case in most Islamic countries. Achieving this ideal requires continuous effort and determination. Every Shia in every country they reside in should utilize the level of freedom they have to work towards this goal and strive with their words and pens. These efforts will ultimately yield results. These activities, as the scholars interpret, are the prerequisites for existence.
I hope that the Almighty God grants success to everyone so that with great determination in the remaining days of (month of) Muharram, The Forbidden (Month), and Safar, (the month) of Sorrows, they serve Imam Hussein peace be upon him more than ever before, and make these two months in the coming years more glorious than the past years.
May Allah's peace be upon our master and prophet Muhammad and his pure family.
Lecture Source: alshirazi.org/news-item/38735?langs=FA
Machine Translation.
