Again, we are on the eve of Ashura in Muharram, the month on the Islamic calendar during which the faithful Muslims and followers of Ahlul Bayt organize mourning ceremonies in remembrance of Imam Hossein (PBUH), the grandson of the holy prophet of Islam.
The event of Ashura which presents great symbols of pure faith, humanity and bravery, also adds to the spirit of the Islamic revolution.
Muharram and Safar which provide great opportunity for self-training and purification and proximity to God the Almighty, also kindles pure feelings among faithful people.
Highlighting the significance of these two months, Imam Khomeini also said in a famous message that the holy months of Muharram and Safar have kept Islam alive.
Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic through his historic speeches and messages had linked the Islamic Revolution with movement of Ashura. According to him, the Islamic revolution was largely inspired by Ashura and Imam Hossein’s dynamic school of thought.
The late founder of the Islamic Republic once said in a historic message that it is the blood and martyrdom of Imam Hossein (PBUH) which continues and inspire all Muslim nations and bring enthusiasm to them.
Imam Khomeini, the great leader of contemporary Muslim world deems Ashura as great treasure as it teaches the humanity how to carry out their divine duties and make them learn significance of the culture of martyrdom in order to shield values.
On another occasion, the contemporary Muslim leader highlighted that the month of Muharram is of a great significance for Shia Muslims who learn that the victory in this month emerged out of great sacrifices and martyrdom. Ashura teaches us to embrace martyrdom and imprisonment, but reject all types of humiliation.
This thinking has motivated and strengthened the Islamic Revolution which emerged victorious under the wise leadership of Imam Khomeini in 1979. It was then the Iranian people stood against the western backed regime and overthrew Shah by rendering numerous sacrifices.
God Almighty say in the verse: Those who believed and fled (their homes), and strove hard in Allah’s Way with their property and their souls, are much higher in rank with Allah And those are they who are the achievers (of their objects).
While speaking about the martyrdom in the intellect and the blessed path of Imam Khomeini, we should definitely point out to a lot of essential titles which the Imam had stated such as the recompense of the martyr, and how can the person attain to the martyrdom rank for the sake of Allah.
“Above every goodness is goodness, until that time that a person is killed for the sake of Allah. So then when he is killed for the sake of Allah, there is no other goodness greater than this”, by this well-known prophetic tradition which is related to Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him and his household), Imam Khomeini starts his talking about the martyr’s recompense.
Imam says: “If the writers and the fluent ones and I wanted to count the value and the recompense of the martyrs and the strugglers and their sacrifices and consequences for the sake of Allah, we should confess that we are weak; so how if we want to count the moral degrees and the humanitarian and the divine issues that are related to martyrdom, no doubt that we will feel so confess and slacken”, Imam Khomeini adds saying: “Whatever we say about those who had emigrate from the nature and the present life to go to the Messenger of Allah and have the honor to be in the God’s paradise, we will not give them their right”.
Under the guidance of Imam Khomeini, the people of Iran were able to topple the Westernn backed Shah regime because they were equipped only with the love of Hossein (PBUH) and a desire for truth or martyrdom.
On November 23, in 1978, just months ahead of the victory of the Islamic revolution, one week before the beginning of Muharram, the Imam Khomeini issued a declaration in which he likened the month to “a divine sword in the hands of the soldiers of Islam, our great religious leaders, and respected preachers, and all the followers of Imam Hossein, the Doyen of martyrs’.” They must, he continued, “make maximum use of it; trusting in the power of God, they must tear out the remaining roots of this tree of oppression and treachery.” As for the military government, it was contrary to the Shari’ah and opposition to it a religious duty.
Therefore, the victory of the Islamic Revolution and Muharram are closely associated with each other. The followers of Imam Khomeini had been inspired by message of Ashura and with such an enthusim they could defeat all colonial powers and their puppet elements.
Martyrdom for the sake of Allah is one of the ways in order for you to let God be pleased with you and to be close to him. The concept of martyrdom means to be killed for the sake of a lofty and a noble goal for the obedience of God the Almighty.
Read more:
Imam Khomeini highlighted global perspectives of Ashura message