In every gathering, majlis, and visitation of Imam al-Hussain, we say to his eminence, “We wish we were with you, so we would achieve great success.” Additionally in our visitation or commemorations of his companions, we say, “You were blessed, and the land in which you were buried was blessed, and you achieved, by Allah, a great victory. I wish I was with you, so that I would be with you in paradise in the company of the martyrs and the righteous, who are the best companions.”[1]
How Can We Achieve Great Success With al-Hussain (a)?
Success and victory in this world and the next on the path of Imam al-Hussain can be gained through many means such as:
- Jihad: presence in the arenas of jihad in all its forms (military-political-economical-educational) and not evading responsibilities in these fields
- Responding to his call: “Is there a defender who defends the sanctuary of the Messenger of Allah? Is there a monotheist who fears Allah concerning us? Is there a helper who seeks Allah’s help in helping us?”[2]
- Achieving his goals of reform: “And I did not rise to do evil, or be arrogant, corrupt or unjust, but I have set out to seek reform in the nation of my grandfather, the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, and my father Ali bin Abi Talib, peace be upon him. I want to enjoin good and forbid evil”[3]
What Is Reform?
Reform has two categories:
1- General reformation: It is done through reforming society by performing the duty of enjoining the good and forbidding evil as stated in the will of Imam al-Hussain, peace be upon him, to his brother Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiya before his departure from Mecca.
Why enjoin the good and forbid evil? The Imam answers that in the rest of his speech: “Do you not see that the truth is not acted upon! And that falsehood is not forsaken! The believer desires to meet Allah, and I do not see death but happiness! And life with the wrongdoers is nothing but bitterness.”[4]
2- Specific (self-reform)
- Parting and abandoning corruption
- The determination to repent
- Work on self-education and refinement
- Willingness to sacrifice
Based on the above, and with the advent of the Muharram and Ashura season, we must seize the opportunities if we want to achieve success:
– Because al-Hussain, peace be upon him, invited us to his gatherings to hear his biography and his words and this is an opportunity.
– Are we serious by saying, “I wish I was with you so that I can achieve success” and “I’m ready to answer your call O al-Hussain?”
– We did well by coming to the Majalis of al-Hussain, peace be upon him, but let’s complete this work and finish it by starting the process of reforming ourselves.
“Verily, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” (The Noble Quran (13:11)
[1] Iqbāl al-A‘māl, p. 335; Ziyarat ‘Arafah.
[2] Riḥlat al-Shahādāt, p. 153.
[3] Al-Hussain’s will, to his brother Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah before his departure from Mecca.
[4] His first sermon with his companions.
