Karbala symbolises one of the most touching episodes in human history. The annals of Islam are replete with inspiring instances of trials and tribulations in the way of God. But what has etched out for the martyrs of Karbala an eternal place in history is their courage to struggle for it in the face of the most adverse circumstances.
For Hazrat Imam Husain life was a commitment and belief. His lifetime mission was to protect and preserve the spirit of Islam. By offering the supreme sacrifices the Imam presented to the world an example of how resistance against tyranny and injustice can be adopted as a way of life for upholding the ideology of Islam.
The ideology of Islam embodies firm belief and its practical manifestation in man's relationship with Allah and his fellow-beings as two basic complementary concepts of the Islamic way of life. Belief is the basis of all religions. To have firm belief in religion and to lead one's life strictly in accordance with its guidelines and principles are the best means for achieving success in this world and the world hereafter.
Amongst the revealed religions Islam is acknowledged as the most comprehensive and complete which has set forth a systematic code of life to follow in words and deeds.
The Islamic society is a revolutionary society committed to promote certain values in life aimed at establishing God's kingdom on earth. Islam is a pledge, a submission, a covenant with God to promote those values. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has said, " God does not accept belief, if it is not expressed in deed; and does not accept deed, if it does not conform to belief." Hence both belief and action must be integrated for the attainment of success and happiness in this world and the hereafter.
The integration of the concepts of belief and action calls for sacrifices and complete surrender to the will of God. As the universal, rational and revolutionary religion, Islam demands from its followers a total commitment and complete surrender to the pleasure of God.
"O ye who believe! Enter into submission wholly (ie adopt the way of life consisting of total submission to the will of God.)(II: 208)." Thus the foremost duty of the Muslims is to actualize the will of God in high and noble actions. Islam regenerated the spirit of conduct of submission to the will of Allah.
Yazid's ascendancy to the pulpit of the founder of Islam as his successor was one of the darkest nights of Islamic history. With his attainment as Khalifatul Muslimeen in 60 A.H. the Muslim world saw the apex of the crises which shook the moral foundations of the Islamic polity.
The ideological revolution brought about by the teachings and tenets of Islam was faced with serious crises of degeneration and annihilation . Corruption was penetrating into the entire society and the ideas and ideals of Islam were being set aside.
Yazid's character and conduct made him least suited for the office of the caliphate. His reputation for licentiousness and lust was known throughout the realm. He flouted the tenets of Islam with impunity. He questioned the claim of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) to be the messenger of God, and dubbed "Wahi" as hallucination. He corrupted the influential people with money and terrorised simple people with show of force. Above all this cruel, callous and unscrupulous person had the audacity to ask the grandson of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) to offer him allegiance (bait) which implied complete obeisance for the usurper of the prerogative of the Caliphate.
With the demand for bait, the world of Islam came to a new crossroads of history. Through usurpation Yazid had become the temporal ruler and was now claiming the spiritual leadership of the Muslim world.
The Muslim Umma had deviated from the right path to such an extent that it could not be remedied except by rising and revolution. Either the interpretation repugnant to the moral foundations of Islam was to be accepted as the true teachings of religion or else a powerful challenge was to be thrown to the proclaimers of the new gospel of morality, tyranny and injustice.
At such a critical juncture of the history of mankind, it was the duty of all the faithful to stand against the designs aimed at uprooting the edifice of Islam. The higher the status, the greater the responsibility to protect Islam and Islamic values. Hazrat Imam Husain threw the most vociferous challenge.
Brought up and nurtured under the loving care of the Holy Prophet, Hazrat Imam Husain was a proof of God's being. Every action of Husain Ibne Ali was Prayer for it was done out of a sense of duty with a view to earn the pleasure of God. His adoration of God presented an unapproached example of devotion to Him. An idea of the degree of his deep - rooted attachment to God's worship may be had from what he said in the afternoon of the ninth day of Muharram at Karbala when he made a request for the cessation of hostilities to allow him to spend the night in worship and remembrance of God.
As a revered member of the House of Muhammad (PBUH), Husain ibne Ali, the grandson of the Holy Prophet, considered it his duty to rise and protect the "Din" of his grandfather. The Imam, therefore, announced in unequivocal term his firm opposition to the despotism and unislamic authority of Yazid.
In resisting the tyranny and oppression of the enemy, Hussain ibne Ali had firm conviction in Devine Justice and had unbending determination, magnanimity and robust faith that the final victor would go to the principles of Truth and Justice, independent of what may be the outcome of the occasion.
The Imam had before him the highest aims and the most refined purpose of life. He believed that it was better to die an honourable death than to live life of disgrace. By offering supreme sacrifices at Karbala he gave his belief the practical manifestation.
It is said that in every war truth generally becomes the first casualty. The event at Karbala is unique in which truth never became a casualty but triumphed as a victor. The most glorious of deaths is to die in the way of God. Of all the heroes who died in the way of God, Imam Husain's sacrifice appears to be the most outstanding. Husain died that his blood might cement the structure of Islam.
The supreme sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Husain offered on 10th Muharram in 61 A.H. on the burning sands of Karbala preserved the sanctity of Islam and its eternal principles of truth and justice. Karbala, which signified victory of religion over heathenism, good over evil, truth over falsehood and spirit over matter thus became a turning point in the history of Islam.