Fortnightly Gift: Remember Samarrah
Zaheer Abbas Karim
"I have risen (against Yazid) as I seek to reform the ummah of my grandfather. I wish
to bid the good and forbid the evil, and follow the way of my grandfather and my father,
Ali bin Abi Talib." - Imam Husayn [a]
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A'dhamallahu ujoorana wa ujoorakum bimusaa binaa bil-Husayn `Alayhis salaam
The following is the latest MYA Fortnightly Gift entitled, REMEMBER SAMARRAH.
Fee amanillah,
ظﻫﻴﺮﻋﺑﺎﺲ ﻋﻠﻲﺮﻀﺎ ﺍﻣﻴﺮﻋﻠﻲ ﻜﺮﻴﻢ
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Abu Baseer narrates that Imam Baqir [a] said: The humans, the jinn, the birds and the wild beasts (all) mourned and wept over (the tragedy which befell) Husayn Ibn Ali [a]
(Kaamil al-Ziyaraat, pg. 79)
M.Y.A. Fortnightly Gift
15th Muharram, 1428 AH: Remember Samarrah
All praise belongs to the Almighty [swt], the Master of the Universe.
As the days of Aza continue, Muslims are reminded of a very dark phase of modern history that brought back daunting memories from the past: namely the destruction of the Shrine of Imamain al-Askariayn [a] in Samarrah [Muharram 1427 - February 2006]. While we have heard and read of the historic destructions of Baqi and Kerbala, the attack on Samarrah continues to resonate as it practically occurred in front of our eyes...
Referring to the Holy Qur'an, immediately after the Ayah of Noor, the Almighty [swt] declares the following (An-Noor: 36):
"(this lamp is lit) in houses which Allah has permitted to be exalted, and His name to be remembered therein. He is glorified therein in the mornings and in the evenings.."
Imam al-Baqir [a] said: "The houses referred to in Verse 36 of An-Noor are the Houses of Prophets and the Holy Imams." Furthermore, when the Holy Prophet [s] recited this verse in Medina, a person pointed towards the house of Imam 'Ali [a] and Sayyida Zahra [a], and asked whether that house was included in the houses referred to in this verse. The Holy Prophet [s] replied: "Yes, and it is better than other houses to which this verse refers."(Tafseer S.V.Mir Ahmad Ali).
Surely, the Shrines of the Imams are from the houses mentioned in the above verse. Muslims must therefore ask; why did those who destroyed Samarrah commit such a horrendous act? Do those who commit such destruction think that they can diminish the light of the Ahlul-bayt [a] from this world? They are indeed mistaken because as mentioned in the verse 24:35, this light is light upon light which does not diminish, rather it will only increase.
Plans are underway to rebuild the Shrine in Samarrah so that lovers of the Ahlul-bayt [a] can once again visit and pay their respects to Imam al-Hadi an-Naqi [a] and Imam Hasan al-Askari [a]. Whereas the images from Samarrah bring pain to the hearts of the followers of the Imams [a], the level of pain that Imam al-Hujjah [a] is experiencing is unimaginable! Thus, we call upon the Almighty [swt] to hasten the reappearance of our Imam [a] so that he can establish justice in the world; and we make a pledge never to forget the destructions of Baqi, Kerbala, and Samarrah.
Muslim Youth around the world are encouraged to organize a Samarrah Day in order to remember the tragedy, gather funds for rebuilding, and to discuss issues raised herein.
For a copy of the new book, Qa'em in the Qur'an, visit www.shiabooks.ca
--Muslim Youth Association
www.MuslimYouth.ca
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