Karbala Series: Between Secrets and Lights
- Anonymous
- Oct 12
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 18
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Muhammad Sa'eed al-Hakeem (RH) says amongst historians, there are two major theories with regards to the tragedy of Karbala. One group states that Imam al-Husayn (AS) was orchestrating a revolt driven by worldly ambitions; overthrowing the Umayyads and attaining power. Some of them will even say that al-Husayn's actions were short-sighted and a result of poor judgement, and that despite the oppression he faced, they will assert that Husayn - God forbid- committed a mistake and so his blood was lawful to shed.
The second group of historians, however, completely reject this claim. They argue, based on numerous evidences, that al-Husayn’s actions were not driven by worldly ambitions but were part of a divine plan he sought to fulfil. His uprising was not intended to overthrow the Umayyads but to attain martyrdom. The aim of his martyrdom was to establish a powerful testament to the truthfulness of Islam and the creed of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS).
Imam al-Husayn (AS) was, therefore, successful in the Battle of Karbala as he established the truth, while his enemies established that they were upon falsehood. And what is a greater victory than this?
Indeed, it is as the Qur'an describes:
وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the victorious. [3:104]
The Qur'an, in fact, does not stop at calling it just a mere success or victory, but says the outcome of this act is so great, that it infact is:
وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be admitted by Him to gardens [in Paradise] under which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein; and that is the greatest victory. [4:13]
While he enjoys being the master of heaven and at its highest rank, they shall dwell in the lowest depths of Hell. So who is the real victorious one from the Battle of Karbala?
Table of Contents
This series presented before you is not a simple retelling of the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (AS), but rather a comprehensive study of its historical, theological, and moral significance. Instead of focusing on 'what' happened in Karbala, we focus on 'why' did it happen and 'why' it's as significant as we claim it to be, with compelling evidence from both Shi'a and Sunni sources.
Below is a list of the chapters included in this series:
[Press on whichever Chapter you wish to read]