BISMILLAHI RAHMAN RAHIM

Assalamu Alaikum my Muslims brothers and sisters in Islam

It is indeed a sad day and month; for all the followers of the Households of the Holy Prophet (SAW). Sadness have evolve the heart of all people who aspire for justice and Allah’s felicitation; because on this month and on the 10th of Muharram the beautiful and purest creation, the light of the households and the leader of the Youths in Paradise and the grandson of the Holy Prophet (saw) Imam Hussein (AS), was murdered and mutilated by the humiliated, and the curse son of a cursed Yazid Ibn Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (May Allah inflict more punishment on him) at Karbala. The Massacre of the Households of the Prophet (saw) represents the greatest injustice ever done to any family in the historical development of the world; talkless of the purified households of the Holy Prophet (saw).

Indeed Ashura is a day and month of mourning for all lovers of the family of the Prophets (saw). We mourn today and as always because of our concern for, how the family of the holy Prophet were mutilated and humiliated by the spoiled child of a tyrant Yazid and the Bastard son of Marjanat the notorious prostitute Ibn Ziyad (May Allah increase His punishment on them and those than participated). The uprising by Imam Hussein (as) shown the strengthen of convictions, courage and determination of a Man of destiny to challenge historical injustice and destruction of the Islamic creeds and tradition of the Holy Prophet (saw) by the despotic, tyrannical, and morally bankrupt leader of the Islamic nation Yazid Ibn Mu’awiyah who succeeded his cursed father Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan after his death.

It understandable that, immediately after the death of Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan and his subsequent appointment of his Drunkard, womanizer and murderer son Yazid, everyone knew leadership had been given to the wrong and the most unfit person to led the Muslim ummah. Ironically no one had the courage and tenacity to challenge this social misdemeanour on the ummah. And Yazid out of mischief demanded the Governor of Medina to seek allegiances of Imam Hussein (as) and Abdullahi ibn Az-Zubayr the Umayyad ach-enemy. Which Imam Hussein (as) declined and declared that; “if everyone were to pay allegiance to Yazid say goodbye to Islam”. This to show to all sundry that, Yazid was the most unfit and unqualified person to led the Muslim ummah.

This necessitated the Imam to undertake the historic journey to Kufa after receiving 120,000 letters from the people of the city to support him and fight against the tyrannical rule of Yazid ibn Mu’awiyah. Imam departed Madina to Mecca to seek alliance against Yazid; but, unfortunately the people were all afraid of dying for the purification of their religion and the tradition of the Holy Prophet (saw) except some few group of people that sacrifice this idles world for a better and prosperous world and follow him in this historic journey that change the destiny and purity of Islam. Imam declared that;

“In the name of God, All Praises to God…. Death is written on the children of Adam as a necklace designed for the neck. I see myself to be torn by beasts between Karbala and Nawains. Whatever God likes, we will do, and we are patient with his test. We are not going to deviate from the teaching of the message of God. Whoever wishes to come with us he may? I am going to leave tomorrow.”

Then Imam Hussein set out to confront the forces of injustice amidst discouragement from both people of good intention and cowards alike. But, the Man of destiny, the star and the shining example of courage and sacrifice remained undeterred to carryout his destiny to it logical conclusion. It is very interesting to say, Imam Hussein knew from time, that, the people of Kufa will betrayed him and he will be killed; but Imam knew he has the responsible of purifying the religion of Islam and show to people how crude and wicked Yazid could be in pursuing his evil whimsical desires including killing the grandson of the Holy prophet (saw). He counseled the people that;

“O people! The Messenger of God said “whoever see an unjust Governor who change the forbidden to allowed and who break his promised, who acts unjustly and does not do anything against it in action or in words, God will enter him where the unjust person enter. Indeed, these people follow Satan and have left the obedience of God. They spread mischief, they abandon all rules, they misuse wealth, and they make illegal legal and the legal illegal. I deserve this leadership more than anyone else. Your letters came to me and your deputies came to me offering allegiances to me, saying that you will not betray me and that if I lead you, you will succeed. I am Hussain, son of ‘Ali and Fatimah, daughter of the Messenger of God. My soul is with your soul, my family is with your family, and I am one of you. If you do not do so and change your promise and your allegiances to me, that would not be a surprise to me. You have done so before to my father, my brother, and my cousin (Muslim ibn Aqil).if you do that, you have missed your chance and you have lost your share and whoever break his promise he break it against himself. Peace be upon you” P.55

He (Imam Hussein (as)) set out with his family members and the remaining households of the holy Prophet (saw) to Kufa. Although there have been conflicting information but it is believe the Imam follow this routes before arriving Karbala. From Tan’im- Safah- Dhat Al-Irq- Hajir-Khuzaymiyyah- Zarud-Tha’labiyyah-Shuquq-Zubalah-Batn Al-Aqabah- Shiraf- the Imam was challenge by the army of Hurr al-Riyahi (as) and re-directed their direction to Baydhah-Ruhaymah-Adhib Al-Hajanat-Qasr-Bani Maqatil – Naynawa to Karbala. On arrival at Karbala; Hurr army blocked the Imam Caravan from going further. On arrival the Imam asked the name of the present location; which he was told as “Taf”, he asks again another name and Zuhayr (as) said “it is also called Karbala”. The Imam’s eyes watered and he said:

“O God! I seek refuge with God from Karb (Grief) and Bala (tribulation). Here is the place in which we will set our camp; here is the place where our blood will be shed. Here is the place where our grave will be. This is what my grandfather had told me”

Imam Hussein (as) knew this was the moment they have to faced with certainty. While the development at Karbala was taking place Ubaydullah Ibn Ziyad, was perfecting his plans of sending more armies to confront and killed Imam Hussein (as). Imam gathered his family members and his followers and addresses them with all the mastering and the eloquence of infallible Imams of the households of the holy prophet. Imam said to his followers that;

“O God! We, the family of the Prophet Muhammad, were chased out of our homes in the city of our Prophet (Madina). The children of Umayyad harmed us. O, Lord! Secure our rights for us and help us against the unjust people…. (Because), people are slaves of this world. The religion is just what they say. They used it as long as it provide them with their living. When they are tested, the rue religion people are few…. All of you know what has happened to us and you know how the world has changed its face towards us. The good is now considered bad and no good remains except for a little. You see that truth is not acted upon and the wrong is not prevented. Indeed, a believer does not wish anything but to meet his lord. Indeed, I do not see death as but happiness and life with unjust people as nothing but grief”
This is a testimony to the fact that Imam Hussein; remained undeterred about death while remaining resolute on the tasked ahead of him. Imam Hussein (As) try everything within his powers through admonishing the people from the other side, not to begin a war with the household of the prophets because of the wrath of Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (saw); he admonished the soldiers from the enemy camp with this kind words;

“Praise to God and the messenger of God, and His angels. O! People! Fear God and be afraid of this world. No one would live in this world forever. If there were someone who could live forever, the prophet would deserve that more than anyone. But all of them died. Everything of this world goes in vain. Be fearful of God in order to be successful…… O people! God has created this world so that it may be destroyed. The deceived person is the one who is deceive by the world. You are gathered here for a matter, which is not right. If you do what you do, you will bring the anger of God upon you. You believe in God and the Messenger of God, and then you try to kill the children of His Messenger”

With all this persuasions by the Imam (as); the soldiers remained unmoved with the kind gesture of the Imam. With the passage of time and the possibility of death; the courageous Imam (as) still wanted to avoid blood splitting among the ummah; in an attempt to protect the sanctity of Islam. The 7th, 8th and the 9th of Muharram were the most difficult days in the lives of the Imam (as), Members of the Households and their followers. This is as results of thirst and the refusal of the enemy to allow them access to the only source of water. Imam and his followers were totally cut off from water and their throats burned from thirst. That Imam had to shown to his Son Ali ibn Akbar his tongue so that he can see the dryness of his mouth.

Furthermore, brothers and sisters in Islam; it is out of this, hopelessness and despairs and thirsty that Imam commanded his followers on the 10th of Muharram to fight the enemies. Imam made it a point of duty not to start the war, but allowed the enemy to start their aggression first; which goes in line with the tradition of the Holy Prophet (saw). The most remarkable of all this episode is the sympathy the Imam had for his followers by given them the permission to scrape through the night to avoid been killed. He said;

“….. Indeed, I think tomorrow will be the decisive day with this people. I have allowed you all to leave me alone and go on your own way. During this night, any one of you may take your horses and camels and leave. Any of you make take one of my family and leave and you may scatter in the cities and villages. Indeed, I am the one they want. When they get me, they will not go after anyone.”

This is the hallmark of leadership in the sight of Allah; a leader that is not concern about his safety but the safety of his followers and family members. On the 10th of Muharram the war started. A war between truth against falsehood, light against darkness, purity against impurity, courage against cowardice, symbol of Islam against symbol of unbelievers. One by one the followers and the family of the noble Prophet were massacred amidst thirsty and hardship. From Zuhayr, Habib, Burayr, Abdullahi, John (the only Black among the companion of Imam Hussein), Ali akbar ibn Hussien, Anas Ibn Harith, Amr Ibn Junadah, Qasim ibn Hassan Ibn Ali Talib, Abdullahi Ibn Muslim Ibn aqil, Abbas etc. the most dramatic events was the killing of the infant son who needed water; because he could not sucked from his mother as result of lack of milk in her bosom.

This was a moment of decision for the Imam; as he was the only one left; and he called to the heaven and earth that “is there anyone to take care of the family of the prophet? Is there anyone who fears God? Is there anyone to help us?” then Imam realized this was his destiny. Then Imam confronted the armies led by Umar ibn Sa’ad (May Allah increase His punishment on him). This symbolizes courage and determination; Umar knew confronting Imam Hussein just like that will be suicidal for them; they decided to surround Imam from all side. A total of about four thousands (4000) arrows were shot at him. The Imam fought bravering with all the power at his disposals; but the forces were overwhelming on him and he has lost a lot of blood, so the enemy were able to overcomes him with the used of catapulted stone at him which hit his forehead and blood dripped into his eyes. Zur’a hit the Imam’s left shoulder with his sword. Hosayn Ibn Numayr shot an arrow into his throat, another soldier hit him on his chest and Sinan speared him on his Collarbone. With all the suffering and pains of injury Imam Hussien never lost hope in his creator when he called upon Him to salvage and punished all those that participated in his killing. He said that;

“O God! I am in need of You and ask help from You, and rely only on you. O God! Judge between us and these people who invited us then turned against us and killed us. O God! I am patience on whatever is written for me”

Umar ibn Sa’ad called upon his army to go down and finished Imam Hussien and Shimr Ibn Dhil-Jawshan (May Allah increase His Punishment on him) went to the Imam and kicked his chest and sat on it and stabbed him with his sword twelve times and then cut off the Imam’s head. “In God we come and in Him we shall return”. This was really a glomming day in the historical development of Islam. Imam Hussien Attained his martyrdom just as prophesize by the Noble Prophet (saw). After his death the soldiers looter his belongings in his body and molested the women of the households of the Prophet (saw). The Day Imam Hussein was killed; the sky was red like blood and represents the hardest night for the households of the Noble Prophet (saw). According to a tradition related by Umm Salamah; that she had a dream in which she saw the Prophet; he was upset and dust was on his head. When Umm Salamah asked him why he was so dusty, the Prophet relied, “my son was killed and I was digging a grave for him”. The women were herded together with a spear and marched towards Kufa to meet the bastard son of Murjanat the notorious prostitute, Ibn Ziyyad (may Allah increase him in punishment).

This day was the hardest and most difficult time for the households of the holy Prophets; they were not only murdered, mutilated and suffered the consequences of thirsty before death; the Ibn Ziyyad army further humiliated the women of the households by exposing them to the public eyes.

It is ironic to counter the argument of some of our Sunnis brothers who tends to mis represent facts and figures. Yazid Ibn Mu’awiyah did what he did in order to avenge the disgrace his family suffered as result of expansion of Islam and the bravering of Imam Ali (As); because on seeing the head of Imam Hussein on the Spear he said I quote

I wish my ancestors were here to see
How there enemies are in fear.
They would be happy
And they would tell me: Yazid, you did a good job!
We have taken their heads, and gotten even
For the battle of Badr
The Hashim (Family of the Prophet Muhammad) Played with politics
There is no revelation and no messenger.
They lied just to get the leadership.
I am not from my tribe
If I do not take revenge on the descendants of Ahmad.

Imam Baqir (a.s) say that on this day, the follower of Imam Hussain should offer condolence saying “May Almighty God reward you on the massacre of Imam Hussain and make us all demanding his way with the Mahdi”. This is significant to all to know that the crisis and the killing of Imam Hussein (as) and members of his households and followers was meant to avenge the victory of the Prophet (saw) against the unbelievers which the family of Umayyad represented even when they converted to Islam out of fear not based on conviction and acceptance of Islamic creed and the love for the prophet (saw) and members of the Households; which Yazid had just executed their long time ambition.

It is imperative to say, that we are living in the Yazid era in Nigeria, let see the challenges and lessons of Ashura and the sacrifices, courage and determination of Imam Hussein as a shining examples to us and challenge the situation we found ourselves in this country Nigeria today. In our place of work, in our business transactions and our worldly dealings let imbibe the culture of truths, justice and confront tyranny wherever it is. With unity, commitment and courage we can overcome our greatest fear and build a vibrate actions/coalition to change our situation for better. We have to be discipline and remove unnecessary fear about this sinful and unworthy world we are head bent to accumulates her treasures and comfort. There is no comfort as long as we continue to tolerate the pseudo confusion we found ourselves.

The lessons of Ashura are bounds, for us all to see and implement; if we truly belief in the real essence of the day. Asking Allah for punishment on all those that participated in the gruesome murdered of Imam Hussien and his household will not be enough except we allow and imbibe the really sacrifice amidst despairs, hopelessness, intimidation, harassment, thirsty, homeliness, fear and coming face to face with death, to be our guiding principles. Dear brothers and sisters in Islam; if we don’t discipline ourselves to accept this challenges and imbibe the good manners, commitment, courage amidst intimidation and harassment, determination and the fear of God in our dealing in this life; I assure you by the time Imam Mahdi (as) appears, must of us will be among his enemy that will fight against him; May Allah protect us from such calamity Amin.

As we mourn yet another Ashura. May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon His Noble Prophet (saw) and members of the household and all those who hold unto the rope of Allah, His Massager and members of His Households. May Allah Increase His punishment on Abu Sufyan, Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan, Yazid Ibn Mu’awiyah, Ubaydullah Ibn Ziyad, Umar Ibn Sa;ad, Shimr Ibn Dhil-Jawshan, Marwan and all those that participated in the genocide against the households of the Prophet. Woes! unto those who denied this historical episode. Woes unto those who try to bring excuses, to justified this killing of the centuries. While we pray to continue been the adherence of the Households, we also pray for courage in helpless situations, determination in pursuer of what is right and the sacrifice when our religion needed us against the tyrannies, oppressors and the various Yazids of our time that surround the corridors of our national life from the political class, to civil servants, traditional rulers, Religious leaders and the disgruntle masses that are head bent on assisting these Yazids, Ibn Ziyad Amin.