Jahane Rumi In search of the unsearchable: O, my soul! where would you find your house?

30Jan/0710

Shah Ast Hussain

10th Moharram is a day of mourning for all Muslims. The tragic incident at Kerbala where the righteous Hussain refused to submit to the autocracy of Yazid is an event laden with deep symbolism. Hazrat Imam Husain and his faithful companions preferred to die on the banks of river Euphrates and upheld the struggle of good against the evil.

Khawaja Muinuddin Chisty's powerful verses epitomise the reverence and devotion of Muslims towards Imam Hussain:

Shah ast Hussain, Badshah ast Hussain

Deen ast Hussain, Deen Panah ast Hussain

Sardad na dad dast, dar dast-e-yazeed,

Haqaa key binaey La ila ast Hussain

Loosely translated

Ruler is Hussain, Emperor is Hussain,

Faith is Hussain , guardian of faith is Hussain .

Offered his head and not the hand to Yazid.

Truly, the mirror of faith is Hussain

As Adil Najam writes on All Things Pakistan:

Growing up in Pakistan, the night of Ashura was always defined for me by the Majlis i Shaam i Gharibaan (often by Allama Naseer ul Ijtihaadi) on PTV on the night of dasveen Muharram, which was followed immediately - and at right about midnight - by Syed Nasir Jahan's soulful recitation of Salam-i-Akhir.

Bachay to aglay baras hum hain aur yeh gham phir hai

Jo chal basay tou yeh appna salam-i-akhir hai

His soulful voice, so pregnant with a deep and heartfelt pain, always echoes in my head when I read of continuing sectarian violence and the instigation of sectarian hatred.

However, the ugly face of sectarianism is now haunting the entire Islamic world. There have been deaths in Pakistan recently and I have forgotten the number of people dying each day in Iraq. Forgotten? Yes, it sadly increases by the day..

And the true spirit of this sacrifice by Prophet's family gets clouded by politics and imperial projects.

And for the poor Iraqis, Kerbala is not an event from their distant past.

Comments (10) Trackbacks (0)
  1. I came across your blog today and was suprised, pleasantly, by that picture of Dara Shikoh.

    Knowing he was a spiritual seeker, possibly via Sufism, while trying to benefit from all religious traditions, I’ve always wondered what would have been Delhi’s and India’s destiny had he and not Aurangazeb climbed the throne! If you have ever given this theme treatment in your writings, or come across other writings, can you post them here?

    Thanks.

  2. Brilliant article! I don’t know too much about sufis and I have been meaning to learn about sufis from the subcontinent. This was a great introduction. I have something to start with. Thanks.

  3. Assalaam Alaikum brother Raza,

    Alhamdulillah! Thanks for sharing this informative article.
    I wish to include another great sufi saint from Delhi,
    Shah Waliullah Muhaddis Dehlvi(1702-1760) who repeatedly emphasized “all men are equal and every man regardless of faith or religion, colour or creed has an inherent and equal right to freedom and liberty.” This saint’s dargah is in Delhi at “Kabaristan-e-Mehdian.” where great theologians, Ulemas, scholars of Islam are also resting.
    Shah Waliullah has not only bridged the gulf between the Sufis and the Ulema but also harmonized the differences prevalent among different sects of Sufis. His principles on the subject were put into practice in the great theological college of Deoband, which had among its patrons such well-known Sufis like Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi and Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi.

    Jazaak Allah Khair,
    sf

  4. Salaams Brother Raza,

    Delhi’s yet another sufi Hazrat Inayat Khan whose tomb at the Sufi Centre by Hazrat Nizamuddin’s dargah in Delhi is worth a mention, for his exemplary influential spiritual character, blending the East and the West.

    Br. Raza, I was not fortunate as you to be able to see the Library and the Meditation corners of the Sufi Centre, as there were closed on that Sunday afternoon. Due to my father’s illness, i could not make it another time. But i wish i could visit it during my next trip to India and be able to spend more time in those peacefully serene surroundings.

    InshaAllah, in my next visit to India, i intend to visit the above mentioned dargahs and also ” Kabristan-e-Mehdian” where now my beloved father is also resting in peace.

    May Allah reward your efforts and deeds in this world and the hereafter. Ameen
    sf

  5. i love every sheeya people i willpray for all sheeyaa’ss
    be happy always
    ALI will sae’s us
    when u r in trouble’s say YAA ALI MADATHD
    he will sae u

  6. ?????? ????? (YA HUSSAIN AS)
    Ager hussain nahee hte to 124000 umbia ki mahnat mati men mil jati
    sub ka noor he (HUSSAIN AS)
    ae Hussain tum pe Sari qaenat ka salammmmmmmmmmmmm………………………………..

  7. Ek batt Afsoss ki he k jab logu ne (ali waris) k logo use kiy to us k zid men logu ko allah waris ka khyal aya is se pahle kahan they
    ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
    (ALLAH to Ek Qafir/munker ka B waris he)

    Ali as ki warsi ka maza le k dekho dunia ka phlsafa samjh men
    aa jaega (ya ali madad)

  8. i love every sheeya people i willpray for all sheeyaa’ss
    be happy alwayspray for every shia
    Plz visit my link sawan9_007.webs.com I want your views and u become member to my link and give me solid ideas how i would use better of bettter

  9. Hussain has given us the meaning of Islam. “Islam is not only a religion, its a way of Life. You live Islam.”
    Long Live Ya Hussain. The King of Shaheeds.

  10. We the Muslims living in this world are always obliged to grate son of prophet because He tells us how to live and die with honour.


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