Karbala an Enduring Paradigm of Islamic Revivalism

BOOK ID

Authors(s): Sayyid Wahid Akhtar

Category: Imam al-Husayn and Karbala

Journal: Vol.13, N.1, 1996

Publisher(s): Ahlul Bayt World Assembly

Topic Tags: Islamic History Karbala Mourning

Person Tags: Imam Husayn (a)

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Language

English

The impact of the mourning of Imam Husayn (a) in Islamic history

Karbala', an Enduring Paradigm of Islamic Revivalism

Dr. S. Wahid Akhtar, formerly Professor and Chairman, Dept. of Philosophy, Aligarh Muslim University, presented the paper at the conference on Imam Khomeini wa Farhange Ashura, (Imam Khomeini and the culture of Ashura), held on June 1-2, 1995 at Tehran.

The martyrdom of Imam Husayn ibn 'Ali ('a) and his companions in Karbala' proved to be the beginning of the downfall of the Banu Umayyah dynasty which had usurped the Islamic khilafah by deceit, repression, and corruption of the Muslim community. Though the Imam ('a) was martyred with his family and companions, and apparently his murderers seemed to emerge winners from the conflict, it was the martyr of Karbala' who was the real victor.

The mourning ceremonies that have been held through the last fourteen hundred years to commemorate this most significant event in the history of Islam are generally known as Muharram ceremonies, as they are held during the month of Muharram in remembrance of the 'Ashura' movement.

This incident has its background whose elaborate details have been given by Muslim historians and I need not cite them here. Briefly, it may be said that Imam Husayn's revolt, staged against the tyranny, injustice, and repression of the regime and torture and

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