We are the sons of Imam Hussein, and the name of Ali is always on our tongues.”

Aug 5th, A tribute on the 34th anniversary of Shaheed Arif Hussain. MZM production of film “Farzand e Imam”

The crescent of Muharrum will lit the sky on July 30th. The first month of Islamic calendar known as Muharram which will emerge, bringing along with it all its grief, sadness, and mourning.

The crescent of Muharrum reminds me of the poetry like “Jab Chand Muharrum Ka Dekha” (when I saw the crescent of Muharrum I remembered the tragedy of Hussain), which my dad used to recite in Mombasa, Kenya.

It is sad that year after year we commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain and yet we have not created the Hussain of our time.

What good are these majalieses (lectures), Azadari (rituals) and crying year after year and yet we are not able to reform our character to the likes of Hussain nor we speak up or fight for justice.

We cannot even call our elected officials or write letters to the editors or attend rallies. How are we going to put our neck for Hussain or be the part of Imam Mahdi’s army?

When Imam Hussain was alone on the plains of Karbala, he made a final call: “Hal min nasirin yansurna”. Is there anyone who will come to help?

Today, there are calls from oppressed Muslim Ummah for help from every corner of the globe from Palestine to Yemen to India, and Kashmir to China.

This call is not bound by time, space, sect, religion or language. The Hussain invitation stands. The question is are we willing to respond with a resounding “Labbaika Ya Hussain”? I will hear it every night for next 12 days. Is it a genuine cry or lip service?

What good are those Tabarukat (giving’s) where generation after generation will cry and beat their chest and yet we have failed to create Hussain of our time. 

My own “Khoja” community, which is the best organized, and structured is in disarray with its leaders playing musical chair for power, nepotism, $ and are corrupt. Our leadership has let us down. Forgive me for being so blunt.

I look around in around our Khoja community I don’t see the next great leader like Marhum Mulla Asghar M. Jaffer. The older generations have let us down by not grooming the young generation.

I remember very vividly that at one of the constitutional conferences where Mulla Saheb proposed a resolution of Muttaqi leadership. Below is the link of his speech. A must listen for all current office bearers. Mulla Asghar at The WF Conference – 1990.

However, the so call armchair critics, western-educated heretics agents known as Khoja Protestantism or Luther of Khoja communities derailed the resolution.

They have created a nightmare of lawsuits and infighting. They have failed to hand the keys to an incredible talented young generation who are fearful of taking positions.

All across our community worldwide young generation are not willing to take Jamaat position because they feel they will be humiliated and when they speak up in the AGM they have been disgraced.

It’s not that I am not proud of WF or NASIMCO our parent organization which is battered to death by hate, jealously and stupidity of criminal mismanagement.

My role models are the Prophet Muhammad and Ahl al-Bayt and my mentors/leaders are like Imam Khomeini, Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Baqir al-Sadr, Baqir al-Hakim, Musa al-Sadr, Sheikh Al-Nimr, Syed Arif Hussain, and Mulla Asghar M.M. Jaffer.

Many have labeled me as too political, anti-USA, anti-Zionist, Khomeini fanatic, categorized me as Vilayat-e Faqih group or Palestinian sympathizer. Surely, I am proud of these labels.

But most honorable and the greatest label I have is I am proud to be a SHIA, and the follower of Prophet Muhammad, Ali, Hassan and Hussain, peace be on all of them.

I can’t understand what type of opium we Muslims are on. There’s absolutely no courage to be found, no fortitude in the face of adversity, and no love for Mustafazin (Oppressed), or downtrodden but only a heedless impulse for this Duniya. Everyday we are moving towards death.

How beautifully said:

Duniya jise kehte hai jadoo ka khilona hai,Mil jaye to mitte hai,Kho jaye to sona hai.

The world is a magical toy, it’s only good as soil, however once you lose it, you begin to crave for it as if it were as valuable as gold.

Why do Sunnis not attend the gatherings commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain?

It is sad to see of all the tragedies, Karbala rank as one of the greatest falsification and distortion in the Islamic history by Wahhabis who are trying to re-write the history praising Yazid and Muawiya. 

My question is, are we Shia’s prepared to draw the appropriate lesson from it or keep the tragedy as passion plays within our four walls of the Islamic center and reducing this great historical event by trivializing with rituals - Azadari.

And why do Sunni’s turn the tragedy of Karbala into a political and partisan issue nor attend the Shia gathering for first twelve days of Moharram?

Wasn’t Hussain the grandson of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, the son of the fourth Caliph, and the master of the youth of paradise.

So, what is preventing my brothers from Ahl al-Sunna to attend at Al Ahad Islamic Center. It is not a Bida’ah (innovation).

It is in fact quite remarkable how similar are the Sunni and Shia traditions except for religious authority and political rivalry. Both read and interpret Quran and look at the Prophet’s traditions (Sunnah).

Read the book on Martyrdom of Syeduna Hussain (RA) by Syed Maududi.

My humble request to the leader of the Islamic Centers in Lehigh to attend the lectures at Al Ahad Islamic Center for the first twelve days of Muharrum starting Saturday July 30th. Let’s all be the students seeking knowledge (Talib-e-llm).

And for the Shia brothers and sisters humble request to invite your Christian neighbors and Ahl al-Sunna brothers to attend first twelve days at Al Ahad Islamic Center to learn about “Who is Hussain.” Dinner/Tabaruk might be served on somedays.

Program details can be found on the website:

http://sijpa.org/

To Be Continued:

Documentary Film Farzand-e-Imam Allama Arif Hussaini | Imam Khomeini's Forgotten Letter

Imam Khumeni's Message on Martyrdom of Shaheed Allama Arif Hussaini