The Martyrdom of Imam Hussain and His Ijtihad

Hussain (RA) was the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He was martyred at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE by the army of Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph. He had left Medina for Kufa after receiving letters from the people of Kufa inviting him to be their leader and Imam. However, he was unaware that the situation in Kufa had changed and that his envoy, Muslim ibn Aqil (RA), had been killed by the governor of Kufa, Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad. He was intercepted by Yazid's army near Karbala and prevented from accessing water from the Euphrates river. He and his family and companions faced a siege and a massacre on the day of Ashura, the 10th of Muharram.

As for whether Muslims believe that Hussain (RA) made a wrong ijtihad (independent reasoning) by going to Kufa, this is a matter of difference of opinion among various sects and schools of thought. Some may argue that he made a mistake by trusting the people of Kufa or by risking his life and the lives of his family and companions. Others may argue that he acted according to his best judgment and intention, and that he was following Allah's will and standing up for justice and truth. It is not appropriate to question or criticize his decision.

Hussain (RA) chose to stand up for justice and truth against tyranny and oppression. Hussain (RA) did not intend to cause any fitnah (discord) or bloodshed, but he wanted to reform the Muslim society and leadership. He was following the example of his father Ali (RA), who fought against those who deviated from the truth and justice.

Imam Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him) did not make a mistake going to Kufa. He had a noble intention of reforming the Muslim community and responding to the invitation of the Kufans who asked for his guidance and leadership. He did not seek war or violence, but rather peace and justice. He was ready to return to Madina if the Kufans changed their mind and disliked his presence. However, he was betrayed by the Kufans who switched their allegiance to Yazid and surrounded him with a large army. He was left with no choice but to defend himself and his family against the oppression and tyranny of Yazid.

Abdullah ibn Umar was one of the people who tried to dissuade Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him) from going to Kufa. He wrote a letter to Hussain warning him about the danger of Yazid and the treachery of the Kufans. He also advised him to stay in Makkah or Madina and not to expose himself and his family to harm. However, Hussain replied that he had a dream in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ordered him to do something, which he would not reveal until he completed it.

Abdullah ibn Umar was not the only one who resisted Hussain’s journey to Kufa. Others who tried to persuade him not to go included his brother Muhammad al-Hanafiyya, his uncle Ibn Abbas, and some of his companions like Zayd ibn Arqam and Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with them all) They all feared for his safety and reminded him of the fickleness and unfaithfulness of the Kufans. However, Hussain  (may Allah be pleased with him) was determined to follow his vision and his conscience, and he refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid, whom he considered an unjust and immoral ruler. He left Madina for Makka to preserve the sanctity and dignity of the blessed land of the Prophet (PBUH). He faced the enemy troops with courage and conviction. He reminded them of his lineage and his virtues. 

He left a legacy of inspiration and martyrdom for generations to come. His sacrifice became a symbol of resistance against injustice and oppression. His story motivated many Muslims to strive for the cause of Allah and defend their faith. His martyrdom also fulfilled a prophecy of the Prophet (PBUH) that he would be one of the leaders of the youth in Paradise.

He left a legacy of sacrifice, bravery and martyrdom that left a mark on humanity till the Day of Judgement. His message was to uphold justice and oppose oppression. His story motivated many Muslims to strive for the cause of Allah and defend their faith.

Palestinian Islamist preacher Abdullah Azzam was inspired by Hussain (RA) in his struggle for global jihad. He considered Hussain (RA) as a role model of sacrifice and resistance against oppression and injustice. He often invoked the story of Karbala and the martyrdom of Hussain (RA) and his family and companions in his speeches and writings. He also named one of his sons Hussain. 

Abdullah Azzam helped found al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Lashkar-e-Taiba. He is often referred to as the father of global jihad, and was instrumental in recruiting foreign fighters to Afghanistan in the 1980s. He theorized that Muslims should fight a single, global jihad against their enemies as opposed to smaller, separate national fights. He was assassinated in Pakistan in 1989 by unknown assailants.

The martyrdom of Imam Hussain was not a mere accident of history; it was a movement that he planned and executed with full awareness of its consequences. He wanted to awaken the conscience of the Muslim community and to stir it from its apathy. He wanted to establish a great principle: that truth cannot be defeated by falsehood, even if it has all the power and authority in its hands.

مِّنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِینَ رِجَالࣱ صَدَقُوا۟ مَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَیۡهِۖ فَمِنۡهُم مَّن قَضَىٰ نَحۡبَهُۥ وَمِنۡهُم مَّن یَنتَظِرُۖ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا۟ تَبۡدِیلࣰا

Among the Muslims are the men who have proved true what they had covenanted with Allah; so among them is one who has already fulfilled his vow, and among them is one still waiting; and they have not changed a bit.

This verse was revealed concerning the martyrs of Uhud, but it applies to all the martyrs of Islam in every time and place. It applies to those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of Allah, such as Hamza, Mus'ab ibn Umayr, Ammar ibn Yasir, Bilal, Khabbab, Sumayyah, and many others. It applies to those who faced death with courage and patience, such as Ali, Hassan, Hussain, Zayd ibn Ali, and many others. It applies to those who carried the banner of Islam to distant lands and fought for its cause, such as Khalid ibn al-Walid, Amr ibn al-As, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, Muhammad ibn Qasim, Tariq ibn Ziyad, and many others.

The leadership of this religion is not a privilege or an honor; it is a heavy responsibility and a trust. It is not a means of enjoyment and luxury; it is a test and a trial. It is not a worldly position; it is a position before Allah. Those who seek it for worldly reasons are not worthy of it; those who are worthy of it do not seek it for worldly reasons. The best example of this is Imam Hussain, who refused to acknowledge Yazid as the leader of the Muslims, even though he knew that this would cost him his life and the lives of his family and companions. He did not do this out of personal ambition or pride; he did this out of loyalty to Allah and His Messenger. He did this to preserve the purity and integrity of Islam. He did this to fulfill his duty as a grandson of the Prophet and an Imam of the Muslims.

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