Message of the Eminent Marje' Ayatollah al-Udhma Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi

on the occasion of Ashura 1424 Hijri

The aims of the movement of Imam Husayn alayhis-salam

All Praise is to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and the Blessings of Allah be upon the most eminent of the messengers, Muhammad the Chosen One and his purified Progeny, and the Curse of Allah be upon their enemies until the Day of Judgement.

Rasulollah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih is reported as saying:

“It is written on the right hand side of the ‘Arsh [throne] of Allah Almighty, “Truly, al-Hussayn is a Torch of Guidance and a Ship of Salvation”. [1]

These days we are approaching Ashura of Imam Hussayn alayhis-salam whom Allah Almighty made him a Torch of Guidance and a Ship of Salvation. It is imperative upon us all to set out to establish what Allah Almighty wants us to do and would accept it from us, which would be in line with the aims and objectives of the Master of the Martyrs, blessings of Allah be upon him.  Some of these are as follows:

ONE: Instilling the fundamentals of Islamic beliefs such as tawheed – the attributes of Allah almighty, prophethood in general and in particular the mission of the Seal of the Prophets salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih, imamah or leadership of mankind and related issues, and resurrection and related issues and consequences such as rewards and punishment, Paradise and Hell.

For one of the most important aims of the movement of Imam Hussayn alayhis-salam is the revival of the fundamental Islamic beliefs amongst the masses and in their minds, and if it were not for his blessed uprising, peace be upon him, the practices and policies of the Umayyad, as well as the early rulers and their likes, would have uprooted Islam and totally eradicated it.  Their grandfather, Abu Sufyan, had said,

“By he whom Abu Sufyan swears to, [there is] no Paradise , and no Fire.” [2]

When he heard the name of Rasulollah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih being mentioned, Abu Sufyan's son, Mo‘awiyah, said,

“No! by god [I will not rest] until I bury him! until I bury him!” [3]

Abu Sufyan's grandson – Yazid the son of Mo'awiyah went on to say,

[the tribe of] Hashim have played around with power,

for there has been no Message revealed, nor any Revelation made. [4]

I therefore urge my brethren scholars and theology students – may Allah Almighty support them – to explain and disseminate the truth about the fundamentals of Islam, and explain and fend off the doubts and distortions created around them for the youths and the new generation.  I also urge the youths – anywhere they may be – to use the scholars in this field, and to put all their questions to them, so that – in this way – they would implement the most important aims of Imam Hussayn alayhis-salam.

SECOND: Reinforcing the Islamic ethical morals is another one of the aims for which Imam Hussayn alayhis-salam sacrificed the most precious thing on the face of the Earth, his glorious soul, and those of his relatives and companions.  He emphasised on upholding them by preaching them and practicing them.

When the battalion headed by Hurr ibn Yazid al-Riyahi confronted Imam Hussayn alayhis-salam, and informed him of its mission to hand him over to ibn Zeyaad, Imam Hussayn alayhis-salam found the battalion suffering from sever thirst, and he instructed [his companions] for them to be given all the water the battalion needed [for the all soldiers and horses alike] . . . But would anyone other than Imam Hussayn alayhis-salam and his like do such a thing under that unique situation when he fully knew that many members of this battalion would in few days time take part in his killing and the killing of his household and companions?

Therefore it is imperative for the faithful who follow Imam Hussayn alayhis-salam to decorate themselves with virtue and moral values, and to adhere to them in all their conducts in social life with relatives and strangers, with friends and foes.

Also some of the issues that please Imam Hussayn alayhis-salam is to see the programs that are held in his name are accompanied – in all aspects – with virtue and Islamic morals, even in responding to those critics who do not observe such values.  This would be in compliance with the order of Allah Almighty:

[Repel evil with that that is best] [5]

THIRD: Venerating the Husayni mourning programs, building and establishing Husayniah's, organising Aza or mourning programs and forming Aza groups (or Hay'at) to globalise the outpouring of grief and tragedy in all mostahab forms and means in the streets, houses, public places and such likes.  For such programs are an ideal means to attract the people to religion, so that these could open their minds and souls to it and be inspired by it for every good, thus attaining all prosperity in this world and in the hereafter.

FORTH: Prosperity of this world and the hereafter is within the bounds of a ‘triangle', two sides of which are Healthy Economy, and Just Politics, and the third side is Virtue.

Virtue is the concept that the Holy Qur'an emphasised upon more than once, and Rasulollah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih and Amir-ul-Mu'minin alayhis-salam taught throughout and practiced during their ideal and unique governments. It is this which was the foremost of the aims of Imam Hussayn alayhis-salam in his uprising against the Umayyad who had crushed all noble values, corrupted the land, and humiliated the masses.  Amongst other measures, they imposed such severely harsh monetary scheme and oppressive political system upon the Ummah, so that the general state of the Ummah became other than that Rasulollah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih had brought to them, and had heralded to the world, and implemented during his noble lifetime.

Imam Sadiq alayhis-salam is reported as saying in the du‘a of Ashura,

“O Allah! The Ummah has opposed the imams . . . and had abandoned the Book that You have ordered [them] to know, and the [the prophet's] Successor You have ordered [them] to obey.  Thus they killed the Truth . . . and have deviated from justice . . . they have adhered to falsehood and lost the Truth.” [6]

If the world – today – were to know this ‘triangle' and understand its dimensions and hold on to its boundaries as prescribed clearly in Islam, it would race to adhere Islam, and subsequently millions of people would enter the religion of Islam, just as it happened before, when the Prophet salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih was in the holy city of Medina, presenting Islam completely with open hands.  In this way the idolaters, the atheists, and the non-believers accepted Islam willingly and with enthusiasm, such that Allah Almighty stated in the holy Qur'an,

[And you saw the people entering Allah's religion in throngs] [7]

As examples of many of these in Islam, I shall a few of them:

A)    In the holy city of Medina, the supreme leader, the Prophet Muhammad may Allah bless him and his family, announced three legislative articles:

1.      No tax may be levied on inheritance, and all the inheritance shall go to the heir.

2.      If one dies and leaves behind an unprotected family without the means to live on, “they must come to me for I shall be responsible for their well being”.

3.      Whenever a Muslim dies and leaves behind a debt, which was not due to extravagance or corruption, then it is imperative upon the leader to pay off that debt, and if he does not he has committed a sin. [8]   

It is also reported from Imam Sadiq alayhis-salam,

“If one dies and leaves a debt behind, we shall be responsible for [paying off] his debt and for [taking care of] his family, and if one dies and leaves behind wealth and possession, then it is for his heir” [9] .

These three issues remain unprecedented throughout history and even up to the present time.  Today, in most of the countries of the world, we do not find the law that “inheritance is not subject to taxes”.  Nowhere in the world toady we find the law “the government guaranteeing the debt of the deceased”.  Similarly we do not find any government “accepting the responsibility of meeting all the needs of the family which does not have a breadwinner nor an income”.

When the Prophet Muhammad may Allah bless him and his family, announced these laws, great many non-believers embraced Islam. Imam Sadiq alayhis-salam states, “the reason many non-believers embraced Islam was this declaration of the Prophet Muhammad may Allah bless him and his family, .” [10]   This is in addition to the guarantee of the Islamic government towards any debt that the debtor is unable to pay – even if the debtor is alive – according to the declaration of the Glorious Qur'an,

[The alms are for the poor . . . and the debtors . . .] [11] , who are the debtors who are unable to pay off their debts, as detailed n jurisprudence texts.

Given the existence of such a law, it would be rare that one would not lend others [money] since the lender is guaranteed to get back his money; either the debtor would pay back the lender or the government of the Glorious Qur'an.

B)     When Khalid bin Waleed unjustly invaded [the tribe of] Bani Juthaym, the Prophet Muhammad may Allah bless him and his family, sent the Commander of the Faithful (Amir-ul-Mu'mineen) Ali alayhis-salam to redress the situation.  Imam Ali alayhis-salam took the following measures.

1.      paid the blood money of everyone killed to his heirs

2.      paid the blood money of every unborn child miscarried as a result of shock, fear, or blow in the process of the raid to its heir.

3.      compensated in full for every loss or damage.

4.      compensated in full for every animal and cattle foetus miscarried.

5.      compensated in full for all goods, produce, or possession that was lost.

6.      compensated in full for the ropes that were cut or lost.

7.      compensated the women who were terrorised as a result of the raid.

8.      compensated the children and youngsters who were terrorised as a result of the raid.

9.      compensated those who did not know how much damage they had sustained as a result of the raid.

10.  compensated for the loss or damage of the dogs' water pot.

11.  gave them money over and above that so that they would be contented and pleased with Rasulollah salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih. [12]

Is there an example of such exalted and humane approach in history or even in the world today? Measures that even take into account the fear and apprehension of women and children, and secure the dogs' water pot.

C)    It is reported that when Amir-ul-Mu'mineen alayhis-salam prohibited the people in Kufa from performing the Taraweeh prayers that were invented as a Bid'a after the death of the Prophet Muhammad may Allah bless him and his family, a group of them demonstrated against Amir-ul-Mu'mineen alayhis-salam. When Imam Hassan alayhis-salam came to Imam Ali alayhis-salam, he asked him, “What is this shouting”, He said, “they are protesting [about the banning of the Taraweeh]”, Amir-ul-Mu'mineen alayhis-salam said, “tell them pray [as you like]. [13]

D)    In the Islamic country, under the governorship of the correct Islam, not even one destitute must be allowed to exist, for the social security in Islam obligates the leader of the country to eradicate poverty completely.

It is reported that during his reign, Amir-ul-Mu'mineen alayhis-salam passed by an old blind man who was begging.  Amir-ul-Mu'mineen alayhis-salam asked his companions, “What is this?!” they said, “O he is a Christian!”  Amir-ul-Mu'mineen alayhis-salam said, “You used him until he grew old and disable, and then you deny him [his rights] . . . Give him from the Bayt-al-Maal (treasury) [all he needs]. . . [14]   Thus even if a non-believer found begging in the Islamic country is a strange phenomenon, the supreme leader enquires about this unaccustomed phenomenon as, “What is this?” not “Who is this?” for it is not important as to who is doing this but the phenomenon is odd and unacceptable.

But is there room for poverty when the economy is healthy, the politics just and the society virtuous?

Is there, today and in the richest countries of the world, a country in which there is no one beggar?

These are some quick glimpses of the Islam that Imam Husayn alayhis-salam made his sacrifices for, and on various occasions he specifically declared this, and one of these is when he writes to his brother Muhammad al-Hanafiyyah when he says,

“I do not rise seeking excitement or corruption, nor being arrogant oppressor, but I do so seeking reform in the Ummah of my grandfather salla-llahu-alayhi-wa-aalih. I wish to promote virtue and prohibit vice and go down the path of my grandfather and my father Ali ibn Abi-Talib alayhis-salam.” [15]

Thus, if this Islam is established and implemented – the Islam of Rasulollah, the Islam of Amir-ul-Mu'minin, the Islam of Imam Husayn and the Islam of Ahl-ul-Bayt alayhum-as-salam – in any country, in a relatively short period, poverty, oppression and all kind of corruption and deviation would be eradicated and instead virtue and prosperity would predominate.  And this is the state that would be implemented in the best form possible when the awaited Imam al-Mahdi alayhis-salam reappears.

It is imperative that more than before, modern media and communication are used extensively to broadcast and disseminate the teachings and aims of Imam Husayn alayhis-salam.  These could range from books, and newspapers to Internet sites, theatre, movies, satellite channels, and any other means to convey – with utmost subtlety – the message of Imam Husayn alayhis-salam to all mankind.

In this respect, our elder brother [the late Ayatollah al-Udhma Imam Muhammad Shirazi] may Allah exalt his station, through books and lectures used to insistently urge the promoting of the laws of Allah that have been practically forgotten, such as those of

• The One Ummah, as Allah Almighty says: [This, your Ummah, is indeed a single Ummah] [16] ,
• The brotherhood of Faith – with no difference between different members of nationalities, races, etc. for Allah Almighty says: [Surely the believers are brothers] [17] ,
• Upholding consultation with regards to managing the affairs [of the countries], for the Almighty states: [their affairs being a counsel among themselves] [18] ,
• The true and correct Islamic Freedom, for the Almighty states: [he (Prophet Muhammad) releases them from their heavy burdens and from the shackles that were upon them] [19] ,
• Pluralism – as in accordance with the Islamic framework, Allah Almighty states [but verily man transgresses [all] bounds in that he considers himself free from want.] [20] ,

and many other such laws.

As for the wounded Iraq, the Iraq of Ali and Husayn alayhum-as-salam, the Iraq of the shrines of the Ahl-ul-Bayt, the Iraq of the Islamic universities, the Iraq of culture and intellectuals, the Iraq of the Believers, the Iraq of civilisation and long history, and this horrifically oppressed nation: its state of oppression has reached a level that it is rare and unique in history. While I pray to Allah Almighty to rescue Iraq from the clutches of the oppressors, I urge my Iraqi brothers of various groups and sects to unite, strengthen their forces, adhere to the teachings of Allah, so that Iraq is liberated by them, without any attack or encroach on the oppressed nation, or the pure land, or its wealth and resources.  I also call upon all the believers to give all the help needed – in all forms – to the noble and honourable Iraqis in these difficult and brutal times that they patiently and steadfastly go through.

Sadiq Shirazi

1^st Muharram 1424 Hejri