Muharram Thoughts

Almost everyone is gone from my residence hall right now. They're all at an event, "Breakfast at Midnight" which is supposed to be fun and relaxing before finals week. My friends urged me to go but I declined. I knew I really wanted to read Dua Kumayl tonight and that is so much more important. Plus I wanted some more time to myself to commemorate the first 10 days of Muharram.

So after I read the Dua and finished listening to a speech. I took a shower. And all during my shower I was singing that Nawha to myself "On that sad and grievous day of Ashura, We are proud to be called the Shia." And that got me thinking again about how truly grateful to Allah that I am Muslim. And more than that, that I am Shia! I am so honored to be a part of such a beautiful, true religion, and to have such a beautiful Shia community of people around me that are like-minded. Mind you, they aren't physically around me but Allah has so mercifully given me the technology to feel that strong connection with other Shias regardless.

While everyone else is always seeking to find ways to have fun and 'get their mind of off things,' we make it imperative to grieve for the martyred saviors of Islam. To seek out tears. Realize our sins and mistakes so we can better ourselves. And not try to escape from it all.

During past Muharram services I remember trying to make myself cry by repeating phrases in my head. One in particular that "Imam Hussain (as) died to preserve Islam and without him I wouldn't be Muslim." The words unfortunately always rang hollow to me before though. But because now that I'm surrounded by so many non-Muslims and I'm blessed enough to realize the beauty and importance of Islam, that phrase is finally beginning to have an impact. I was just reading more of the online book about Ashura that I linked to in my last post, and this is the passage that made it all click:

When Imam Husayn left Madina for Makkah he wrote a testament for his brother Muhammad bin Hanafiya. It has been narrated by Ibn Tawus. In this testament the Imam mentioned the motive for his rising and clarified the policy which he intended to pursue in all circumstances. He also referred to the false motives which instigate a man and make him fight to satisfy his carnal desires and stated that the godly persons are free from such motives. The testament reads as follows:

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

"This is the testament of Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib written by him for his brother Muhammad, known as Ibn Hanafiya. Indeed Husayn testifies that there is no god except Allah and no being other than Him is fit to be worshipped and He has no partner. He also testifies that Muhammad is Allah's servant and messenger, who has brought truth from Him, and that Paradise and Hell do exist and the Day of Judgment is bound to come and there is no doubt about it, and on that day, Allah will bring the dead to life".

What the Imam said consists of the very doctrines which it is necessary for every Muslim to hold, and one who does not hold them cannot be a Muslim. Apparently the Imam meant to say that these very principles were in danger and, if the matters were allowed to continue in that manner, it was possible that the regime of the time might not refrain even from attacking these Principles of Faith. In fact the real motive for the Imam's rising was the protection of these very principles on which other religious and social tenets of Islam are based.

Without Imam Hussain's sacrifice, I would be just like all of the others in the world who wander like drones on this Earth, passing time, questioning their existence, seeking to find temporary satisfaction in trivial things. I wouldn't have Islam. The single most imprtant aspect of my life. The single most important part of being me. I'm starting to get a little bit emotional now because I just know how awful it would be to not have Allah swt in my life. To not realize His Magnificence.  Not that I fully realize His Glory, but at least I get to pray to Him 5 times a day, rely on Him, talk to Him.

I love Allah. I love Islam. I love the Ahlul Bayt. I love Imam Husain (as). Thank You thank You thank You Allah for this religion. You've made it so easy for me. Please guide me to the straight path and never let me wander.