Muharram 1435

Well, hello.

It's been a year since I posted, and life has had it's ups and downs and challenges. C'est la vie.

The reason that I refrained from posting was only one; I wanted to write a post describing my visit to Iraq during Arbaeen, and I don't know why I decided that until I had done that, I would not write anything else. So even when ideas came to me - for poetry, for fictions, or even essay-length musings on whatever topics I felt like writing about, I gently put them to one side and told myself I would only write them after this post was done.

That such a post doesn't exist yet means I failed to do just that, though I still work on it here and there. Part of the delay is in the inadequacy of my words, and in knowing that I have to write at least 7-8 thousand words to describe everything. However, I can't not write about Muharram, so this one post has to be written.

I am both better than I was this time last year, and, paradoxically, worse as well. I hope my handful of readers are doing well.

-----------

Muharram is upon us again, and last year I gratefully seized upon the opportunity to commemorate it as part of two communities. This year, I have to choose just one, as both centres are running their programmes at roughly the same time. This dismays me, but Alhamdulillah for even the opportunity to be part of just one.

One of the crucial things we must remember (and I tell this to myself first) when commemorating the supreme sacrifice of Imam al-Husayn (as) is to be cognisant of his station, of his rights upon us. Imam al-Husayn (as) was martyred, yes. Imam al-Husayn (as) was martyred in the most horrible way that any human being will be, again yes. And we should shed tears over this, because in these tears lie our salvation.

But add to this also.

Imam al-Husayn (as) was martyred despite his station. And what is his station? One of the 5 of Ahlul Kisa, one of the 5 of the event of Mubahila, one of the Leaders of the Youths of Paradise, the Divinely appointed link between heaven and earth of his time....he was no ordinary man.

It is our duty to obey the Imam of our time, yet Imam al-Husayn (as) was killed by the people who should have been following him.

These establish  fact that the tragedy of Karbala was no ordinary tragedy, and that it's effects are seen today, both in the commemoration of millions, and in the fear of the enemies of Islam who try and stop the Azadari of Imam al-Husayn (as) attest to this.

So, go forth and commemorate Imam al-Husayn's (as) tragedy. Do whatever you can to spread awareness of this event, however little it may be.

--------

Last year, I mentioned a metaphor from Lubb al Lubab (Kernel of the Kernel). One of the few items of progress I've made in this year is in actually finishing this book (only a couple of days ago, actually), and having finished it, I definitely recommend it.

Mentioning the (paraphrased) metaphor again:

Imagine a muddy/dirty glass of water. If it is in a calm place, not disturbed at all, eventually the dirt and stuff will begin to settle down. One may even be able to see through it. The very top layers of the water may even be regarded as clean. But if a little disturbance were to happen, then all the dirt will rise from the bottom, and the water will again show itself to be dirty. For the water to be completely pure, the gunk and junk needs to be extracted or filtered out.

This is us. I accept it. The path to perfection is not linear with a slow, gentle gradient. It is ups and downs, challenges and strife, and in these mixtures of tests and blessings is our true nature revealed to us. If we accept this without any excuses/justifications, then we know where we are, and how to make progress from there.

Consider though, the example of Imam al-Husayn (as). Whatever tests he was placed under, he did not yield, remaining upright and firm, and always seeking the pleasure of Allah. This, if you will, is the end goal, and though we may fall short of it, this is what we should seek to mould our characters into.

Ya Hussain (as)

--------

My apologies if this is a bit disjointed and rambly. inshaAllah the next posts will make up for them, if ever I get round to writing them.