PREFACE.
WehavetheproudprivilegetobringoutthispublicationshowingtheimportanceandadvantageofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheHolyAhleBait(A.S.)SuchaPublication,wethinkisessentialparticularlyinviewofthefactthatasectionoftheothersectistryingtobelittleitsimportancebydeclaringittobeanunfortunatelyofthereligioussignificanceofthisvaluableassetof(weepingandwailing)inheritedbyusfromourgrandancestors.WearesureastudyofthisbookwillenlightenthemandmakethemshakeofftheirignoranceandcomethepathshownbyAllahandHisHolyMessenger(S.A.)whichleadsnottoanygoalbutparadise.
Unfortunatearethosewhoentertainthenegativeviewsaboutweepingandwailingunderthecobwebsofmisunderstandingconfusionbroughtaboutbythepre–Islamicbeliefsregardingtheprohibitsofweepingandwailing.Secondly,itwasAbuSufyanwhoafterthekindandhadforbiddenthepiratesfromcomposinganyelegyoverthosewhodiedduringthebattle.
ThosewholabourundersuchpainfulthoughtsforgetthatnothingisprohibitedunlessitisexplicitlyexpressedintheHolyQuranorbytheHolyMessenger(S.A.).ItistobenotedherethatthepracticeofweepingwasinexistenceeveninthedaysoftheHolyMessenger(S.A.)becausetheeyesofhismindforesawthetragedyofKarbalaandthegrief'sandafflictionsthatweretofallonImamHusain(A.S.),canfurtherberealizedfromtheoftenrepeatedassertionoftheHolyProphet(S.A.)thatHusain(A.S.),wasfromhimandhewasfromHusain(A.S.).TostrengthenourargumentsinfavourofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheHolyImamHusain(A.S.)weliketobringforwardoneofhisownsaying"Iamthemartyrwhodeservestobeweptfor.Nofaithfulpersonwillremembermebutwillshedtearsforme."WecanneverforgetthehistoricalfactwhentheprocessionoftheparishionersofKarbalareachedDamascus.ImamZainulAbedeen(A.S.)firstaskedforthepermissiontoweepfreelyoverthe"deadofKarbala"andthusheheldthefirstMajlisandforeightdaysandnightshealongwithmanymenandwomenmournedthedeathsofthosewhoinKarbalasacrificedtheirlivesforupholdingthecauseoftruthandnothingbutthetruth.AaisabinteShatiofEgyptthereforewritesthatitwasZainulAbedeen
(A.S.)wholaidthefoundationofmourning.InviewoftheabovefactsweareoftheoptionthathistreatieswillgoalongwayinmakingtheothersectsrealizethatthementionofHusain(A.S.)oughttobeanessentialroutineofourlifeandthatweepingovertheafflictionsofAhleBait(A.S.)isoneofthenoblestformsofworship,withwhichwecanpurchasetheprosperityofthisworldandtheworldHereafter.
MaulanaSyedMohammadAmeedSahibtheauthorofthisbookisanassiduouswriteronreligioussubjects-particularlythoseinwhichprevailingtheoryofpracticeinvolvesaninconsistencywithdeep-rootedMuslimBeliefswhichhavebeenheldsacredthroughoutthecenturies.Hehasbeenwritingpapersandarticles;oneofhisworkisnowbeingprintedintheformofthisbookforthegeneralbenefit.
trusteesof
PeerMahomedEbrahimTrust.
Karachi-5.
1stMoharram,1393A.H./5thFebruary,1973
PUBLISHER'SNOTE
TheTrusteesofthePeerMahomedEbrahimTrust,haveundertakentopresenttothegeneralpublicgoodreadingmatter,suitedtotheirphysical,mental,moralandspiritualneeds.Thesensationalpornographicreadingmaterialthatgoesbythenameofliteraryproductioninthemarkethasservedtovitiatethewholesocialmilieusothattherestraintsonsocialconductareever-morebeingrelaxed,withresultantindisciplineinthehomeatmosphere,nolessthaninthewiderfieldsofhumanactivitiesoutsidethedome.Ifsuchasituationisallowedtogoonflourishinguncheckedaveritablebellonearthisthenaturaloutcome,aswearewitnessinginthewavesofcrimesweepingoversomeoftheso-calledcivilizedcountriesoftheWestwhicharealreadyaffectingus."BACKTORELIGION"isnowthewatch-wordofthesanerelementsamongthem.Itiswiththissenseofperturbationthatthetrusteeshaveembarkedontheventureofpublishingbooks,whicharecalculatedtooffsetthebanefuleffectoflow-grade,anti-socialformsofreadingmaterial,andtoinculcateatasteforandappreciationofsoundandhealthfulmentalfood.
Nocommercializationisaimedatbythisventure,aswouldbeapparenttoeventhemostsuperficialobserver,fromthestandardofpricesofthebooks,whicharefixedbelowtheactualcostandthattoo,becausefreedistributionofbooksdepreciatestheworthofthesameintheeyesothegeneralreadingpublicandarealsowaste.
TheTrustees,areconsciousofthefactthatinsideofallprecautionsontheirparttoavoiderrorsifsomethinggoesarmiesintheformoferrorsofjudgmentinvoluntarilyfornoonecanbeinapositiontocomprehendtheentirefieldofknowledgeonanysubject.Ofonethingtheycanassurethediscreetreaders,towit,thatthematerialforthebenefitofthepublicandforthepleasureoftheAlmightyAllah.Ifanyreaderfindsanythingwhichcontradictsthisobjective,hisobservationsinthebehalfshallreceivethemaximumpossiblecaretoredressanyremissionsthatmaybepointedoutashavingcreptintothereadingmatterwiththebestofwishesforthereader,weremain.
BISMILLAHIRRAHMANIRRAHIM
THEEMPORTANCEOFWEEPINGANDWAILINGINOURCONDOLATORY
OBSERVANCE.
(AHMIYAT-E-BUKADARMARASIM-E-AZA)
WITHTHENAMEOFHIMWHOISHOLLOWED.
"Iamthemartyrwhodeservestobeweptfor.Nofaithfulpersonwillremembermebuthewillshedtearsforme",(Husain,theChiefoftheMartyrs).
ThesightofcertainmourningprocessionsandgatheringsinconnectionwiththetragedyofKarbalahasbroughthometomethepainfulfactthattheelementofweepingandwailingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheholyAhleBait,averyvaluableassetwhichweinheritedfromourgoodancestorsandretainedwithusthroughcenturiesisgraduallypassingawayfromourhandsandnowtheweepingandwailingisnotasnatural,asfrequentandasimpressiveasitwasinthepast.Ifwepassivelyallowthepresenttrendtocontinue,itisfearedthatatimewillcomewhenwemaybecompletelydeprivedofthisvaluableasset.Godforbidthatsuchatimecomes,butifitcomesthennodoubtweshallsufferalosswhichwillnotonlyhamperthepropagationandexpansionofourdearreligionbutwillalsomarthechancesofoutsalvationandtranquilityintheHereafter.TheweepingandwailingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBaitisoutpricelessassetwhereupondependstoalargeextentourtemporalaswellasourspiritualprogressandwellbeing.Itisregettablethatduetolackofforesightonourparttheappreciationofthispricelessassetisdiminishingdaybyday.ThesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBaitarestilldescribedandnarratedinourMajalisandothercondolatoryobservance;Taboot(Coffin)andZuljinah(thesteedonwhichImamHusain(A.S.)rodeonthebattle-fieldofKarbala)processionsaccompaniedbyrecitationofclergiespoemsarestilltakenoutfora
roundincommemorationofthetragedyofKarbalabutthereisnomorethesamefervor,excitementandappealtocompassionoftheonlookerswhowouldinstinctivelyandquiteun-intentionallyshedtearsoratleasthaveweteyesandthusthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBaitandthemartyrsofKarbalagraduallyinfusedintheirheartssympathyfortheAbdulBaitandthemartyrsofKarbalaandevenothersindistressoraffliction.Repeatedsightsofthecondolatorymeetingsandprocessions,etc.helpedthissympathytobefirmlyrootedintheheartsoftheonlookerswhichresultedintheirferventaffectionforAhleBaitandanadditiontothenumberofthesincerefollowersoftheAhleBait.
Thegradualdecreaseoftheelementofweepingandwailinginourcondolatoryritesorobservationisbynomeansanegligibleorunnoticeablematterofslightimportance. Ontheotherhand,itconstitutesthecentral"pointandistheveryessence"ofallcondolatoryritesandisthemosteffectivemeansofthepropagationofourreligion.Todaywedonotrealizethemagnitudeandimportanceofthelossthatmayaccruetousfromtheextinctionofthiselement.ButifwecontinuesleepinguponitnowwewillonedayeitherwakeuptofacetheshockingrealityofahugeandirreparablelossofanenviablepossessionorbeawakenedbysomeoneboldenoughtospeakofthiselementofweepingandwailingandtopointouttousitsimmensevalueandthushelpingustorealizethattheassetwhichAllahandHisMessengerandthepurifiedImamshadblesseduswithwasanextremelypreciousandbrilliantgemwhichdispelleddarknessbyemittinglightandenabledustoseethingsinacorrectperspectiveandnotaworthlessstufforapieceofrubbishwhichwehadmistakenitfor.
OncethisfactdawneduponmeIbegantoconsideroverit,thoroughlyrevolvedtheprobleminmymindanddiscoveredavarietyofcausesofthisdiminishingappreciationofweepingandwailing.Toenumerateallthesundrycausesandtosuggestmeasuresforcounteractingthemallwillbenotonlyatedioustaskformebutwillalsomakethediscussiontoobulkyforthetimeandspaceatmydisposal.I,therefore,confinemyselftopointingoutonlyoneveryconspicuouscauseofthisdiminishingappreciationandsuggestingremedialmeasuresforthesame.
Theconspicuouscauseistheusebytheso-calledenlightenedpersonsofexpressionsandquotations(mentionedlateron)intheirspeechesandwritingsaimedatbelittlingtheimportanceofthepricelessassetofweepingandwailingforHusain(A.S.),intheeyesoourunintelligentmasses.Theexpressionsand
potationswhichshouldnotordinarilydiminishtheimportanceoweepingandwailing,aregenerallysosophisticatedandutteredorwritteninsuchanimpressiveandemphaticmannerthattheycapturetheimaginationofundiscerningcredulouspeoplewiththeresultthatintheeyesofthemassestheimportanceofweepingandwailingdecreasesdaybydaytilltheycometoregarditasamereshowservingnousefulpurpose.AsthisisoneofthemostpotentcausesofthedecreaseinweepingandwailingIconsideritverynecessarytoadoptearlyandeffectivemeasuresforcounteractingit.TosatisfythispressingneedIsetmyselftopreparethistreatiseinspiteofmydisturbinganddiscouragingcircumstanceandbyandbygraceoftheAlmightyAllahIamnowinapositiontopresentittomyreadersinaneasilyintelligibleformandhopethatthiswillhelpthemtorealizetheimportanceofweepingandwailingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBaitandthustoreainourvaluableinheritanceandtorecapitulateourforgottenlessonofweepingandwailingandrevivingthepatheticandinspiringsightsofweepingandwailingonwhichdependstoalargeextentourmaterialandspiritualprogressandsalvation.Merelytoassertthattherearemanyargumentsindicatingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingcannotcreateasdeep,durableandindestructibleimpressiononthemindsofthemassesaswecanexpectafteradvancingirrefutableargumentsfortheimportanceofweepingandwailing.I,thereforetakeupbrieflysomeoftheargumentsshowingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingandthenmentionanddiscussthesophisticexpressionsandquotationsusedbythesocalledenlightenedpersonssimultaneouslypointingoutthatthesameshouldnotadverselyaffecttheimportanceofmourning.Finallytherewillserveasasupplementtothistreatise.
ARGUMENTSSHOWINGTHEIMPORTANCEOFWEEPINGANDWAILINGFORTHEAHLEBAIT.
Theseargumentsareoftwokinds:(i)Traditionaland(ii)Rational.Ibeginwithtraditionalarguments.
TraditionalArguments:Thetraditionalargumentsareagainoftwokinds:(i)theargumentswhichindicatetheimportanceofweepingandwailingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBaitintheeyesoftheAllah,and(ii)theargumentswhichindicatetheimportanceofweepingandwailingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBaitintheAhleBaitthemselves.TheargumentsindicatingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBaitintheeyesofAllah:
OutofthenumerousargumentsfallingsinthiscategoryItakeuponlyfourarguments.
ArgumentsNo.1:AllahattachessomuchimportancetotheweepingandwailingforHusain(A.S.),thatHemadeHismostbelovedservants-HisMessengersandtheirexecutorsofwillweepandwailforHusain(A.S.),longbeforetheheart–rendingtragedyofKarbalatookplace.FatherAdam(S.A.),weptforHusain,(A.S.),Nooh(A.S.),weptforHusainIbrahimandhistruthfulsonIsmail,(A.S.)weptforHusainMosesandJesus,(A.S.)weptforHusain(A.S.),Mohammad,thelastProphet,(A.S.)weptforHusainandAliandFatimaandHasan(A.S.)weptforHusain(A.S.).TheyallweptforHusain(A.S.)beforethetragedyofKarbalahappened.AfterthetragedyalltheeninImmaculateImamsamongthedescendantsofHusain(A.S.),weptforHusain.(A.S.)eitherbeforeorafterthetragedyofKarbalaweptforhimbitterlyandfrequently.Booksonpre-Islamicaswellassubsequenthistory,particularlythebooksspeciallywrittenonthetragedyofKarbalacollectivelyknownas‘Maqatil’bear
witnesstotheirlamentationsforHusain(A.S.). IftheweepingandwailingforHusain,(A.S.),hadnoextraordinaryimportanceintheeyesofAllahHewouldnothavecausedtoestablishthispracticefromthedaysofAdamandwouldnothavecausedHischosenservantstoweepandwailforHusain(A.S.),eversince. ArgumentNo.2:Abriefclarificationasapreambleofthisargumentappearstobenecessary.Lexicographicallyweepingmeansexpressionofgriefbysheddingtearsandwailingmeansexpressionofgriefinwordsoraplaintivecry.Metaphoricallyweepingandwailingmeansexpressionofgriefoverone’sownsufferingsorthesufferingsorlossoflifeofanotherpersoninwhateverformitisManexpresseshisgriefbysheddingtears,whileothercreaturesexpressestheirgriefintheirowndifferentways.Ariveroraseaexpressesitsgriefbystormyrushofwaterorviolentsurgingofwaves.Afishexpressesitsgriefbycomingtothesurfaceofwaterandrunninginagitationtoandfro.Theairexpressesitsgriefbyblowingintheformofastormyyelloworredorblackwing.Theearthexpresseshergriefintheformofbloodgushingforthfromofanearthquake.Theskyexpressesitsgriefbyviolentpouringofwaterordust.Thesunexpressesitsgriefbyturningpaleorintheformofaneclipse,andsoonwithothercreatures. TheSecondargumentisthateventhosebeingmournedorexpressedtheirgriefovertheslaughterofHusainwhichdonotexpressgriefonthedeathofanybody,e.g.,theheavensandtheearth.AmeerulMomineenAliIbneTalib,(A.S.),hadforetoldthattheearthandtheheavenswouldmournovertheslaughterofhisson,Husain.(A.S.).TherearenumeroustraditionsandreportstotheeffectthattheearthandtheheavensdidnotmournthedeathofanyoneotherthanYahyaBinZakariahandHusainIbneAli.HolyImamJafer-e-Sadiq(A.S.).hasbeenreportedtohavesaidthatforfortydaystheskykeptsheddingtearsofbloodforHusain,(A.S.).TherearemanyothertraditionsstatingthatallthecreaturesmournedthedeathofHusain,(A.S.)e.g.,‘Behar-ul-Anwar’and‘AvalamcontainalengthytraditionfromthesameImamwhichconcludeswiththefollowing: “WhenthepureandImmaculateLadyFatima(A.S.)cametoknowfromherillustriousandcaressingfather,theHolyProphet(S.A.),thatherchildHusainwouldberuthlesslyslainonthebattlefieldofKarbalashewasverymuchshocked.TheHolyProphet,(Allah’sblessingsandpeacebeuponhimandhis
holyposterity),thensaidtoher:“Areyounotsatisfiedwiththisthattheholyangelswillmournforyourchildandeverythingelseinthisworldwillmournforhim”‘Avalam’quotesalengthydiscoursefromMaisameTammar(averyfaithfulcompanionofAli(A.S.),whosetonguewaspulledoutandthenhisbodywasstonedandhangedtodeathasapunishmentfoholdingAliingreatesteemandaffection)endingwiththewords:“Mymasterandguardian,AmeerulMomineen,hadinformedmethateverythinginthisworldwouldexpressitsgriefforHusain.” Toosiinhis‘Amali’hasquotedImamJafer-e-Sadiq(A.S.),as”ImamHusain,(A.S.),hadsaidthateverythingwouldmournforHusain(A.S.)andthateventhewildbeastswouldroaminagitationinjunglesandforest. AccordingtosomeothertraditionImamHasan,(A.S.),hadsaidtoImamHusain,(A.S.).“Youwilbemournedbyeverycreatureincludingthewildbeastsandaquaticanimals.” Kamil-uz-Ziyaratcontainstwotraditionsofimamjafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.),whereinhesaid:“AlltheVisibleandinvisiblecreaturesofAllahweptforHusain”.“Toosiinhis‘Amali’quotesthefollowingtraditionofImamJafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.),“EverythingvisibleorinvisibleweptforHusain.” TheexpressionofgriefforHusainbymostcreatureswasnotliketheexpressionofgriefbymanbysheddingtearsorraisingplaintivecries.Neverthelessitwasallmourningontheirpart.OtherwiseAllah,theHolyMessengerandtheinfallibleImamswouldnothavecalledtheexpressionofgriefbyothercreaturesas‘weeping.’ForAllahhathsaidintheHolyBook: “Neithertheskynortheearthweptonthem(thePhareoites)44:29.
TheskyandtheearthdidnotweeponthedestructionofthePharaoiteswhowerenotworthyofbeingweptfor.Thismeansthattheskyandtheearthweptorcanweeponthedeathofaneminentgodlypersonbysheddingwaterortearsofbloodorpouringoutbloodordust.Inmanyatraditionsafewofwhichhavealreadybeenmentioned,theImmaculateImamshavecalledthissheddingoftearsofbloodorpouringoutofbloodasweepingormourningbytheskyandtheskyandtheearth.We,thereforecannothelpbelievingthatthecreaturesotherthanmanalsoweptandmournedforHusain(A.S.),althoughtheirweepingandmourningwasofadifferentformandthateverythingweptaccordingtoitsown
naturalformofexpressinggrief.Sincetheweepingbyjinn,men,angelsandotherearthlyandheavenlybeingswasduetothesecretcommandormysteriousworkofAllahi.e.Allahmadethemallexpresstheirgriefthroughweeping,theinescapableconclusionisthatweepingandwailingforHusain(A.S.),isamatterofextraordinaryimportanceintheeyesofAllah.OtherwiseHewouldnothavemadeallHiscreaturestoweepaccordingtotheirownnaturalforms. ArgumentNo.3:AllahHimselfhasmadearrangementsforthecontinuanceofweepingandwailingforHusain(A.S.)tilltheLastDayoftheendoftheworld.ShaikhAbdulQuadirJeelanionpage62:Vol.11ofhisbookGhuniyat-ut-Talibeen,printedinEgypt,writes “OnthedayHusain(A.S.),wasslaughteredseventythousandangelsdescended(withthepermissionofAllah)onhisgravetoweepandtheywillcontinueweepingforhimtilltheDayofjudgement.”ShahAbdulAzizDehlviinhisbook‘SirrushShahadatain’writes.” Allahhasdestinedthecontinuanceorpreservationinthis(Muslim)nationtilltheDayofJudgmentsofweepingandmourning(forHusain)andthementionofissufferingsandafflictionsandofthedreadfuleventsthatoccurredonhisslaughter.”
Bythedreadfuleventshemeansemittingofbloodbytheearth,sheddingtearsofbloodbythesky,lamentationandelegiacrecitationbyjinnandotherinvisiblebeings,protectionofthemulti-woundedandslaughteredbodyofHusainagainstwildbeasts.Thesnake’senteringandcomingoutofthenostrilsofthemurderersofHusainwasoneofthesedreadfulevents.
AllamaMajlisi,(MayAllahbemercifultohim),hasstatedinhiswell-knownbook‘Beharul-Anwar’thatwhentheMessengerofAllah,informedFatima,(A.S.)theChiefLadyofalltheworlds,oftheuniquesufferingsandafflictionsandsubsequentslaughterofHusainatKarbalatheladywasstrickenwithViolentgrief.Sheweptbitterlyandsaid:“Whenwillthiscalamitybefallmychild?“TheMessenger(S.A.)repliedthatthetragedywouldhappenatatimewhentherewouldbeinthisworldneitherhenorFatima(S.A.)norAli.(A.S.)thisreplypainedtheladyalltheraisedplaintivecriesandenquiredthedutyofholdingmeetingincommemorationofhisafflictionsandtragicdeath?”“TilltheDayofJudgmenttherewillalwaysbegroupsofmenandwomenamongmyfollowerswhowillweepforhimandboldmeetingstocommemorate
hisslaughter,”ANSWEREDTHEMessengerofAllah(S.A.),thisarrangementforcontinuedweepingandwailingforHusainyearafteryeartilltheDayofJudgmentisasureindicatoroftheextraordinaryimportanceofweepingforHusainintheeyesofAllah.
ArgumentNo.4:ItisarecognizedfactthattheknowledgeofAllahisreflectedbytheactualhappeningofincidentsandthefactofthematterorthefactofthematteroftherealityofeverything,i.e.,allincidentsoccurandallrealitiesexistortakeplaceasAllahhaswilledorwillsthem.ItisalsogenerallyacknowledgedthattheknowledgeoftheImmaculateandInfalliblebeings,theHolyProphetsandtheHolyImams,reflectstheknowledgeofAllah,fortheirknowledgeisadirectgiftofAllah.ThisleadstothenecessarycorollarythattheHolyProphetsandtheHolyImamsknowledgeofsomethingisthesameastheknowledgeofAllah.SincetheweepingandwailingforImamHusain(A.S.),wasofgreatimportanceintheeyesoftheHolyProphet(S.A.),andtheholyImamsinhisposterity,asweshallsoonprove,itisimpossiblethattheweepingandwailingmaynotbeimportantintheeyesofAllahalso.OutofthenumerousargumentsindicatingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingforHusain(A.S.),intheeyesofAllahmethinksthatthefourargumentsadvancedabovewillservethepurpose.
Inowproceedtotheothersetofarguments.
ArgumentsIndicatingtheImportanceofWeepingandWailingforHusain,(A.S.),intheEvesoftheHolyAhleBait:Theseargumentsalsoareoftwokinds:(i)ThosebasedontheutterancesorwordsoftheAhleBaitand(ii)thosebasedontheirdeeds.
(1)ArgumentsBasedontheWordsoftheAhleBait:TheseargumentsarethesayingsortraditionsoftheHolyProphet(S.A.)andtheholyImams(A.S.)indicatingtheimportanceofweepingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBait.OutofscoresofthemIrefertoonlyoneutteranceoftheeightImamAliIbneMoosaAr-Raza(A.S.),whosays:
Hewhowillrememberoursufferingsandafflictionsandwillweepandwailforuswillbewithusinthesame(special)wardofParadise.”
ThisveryimportantutteranceoftheImamindicatesnotonlytheimportanceofweepingandwailingfortheAhleBaitintheeyesoftheImambutalsoproves
thattheweepingandwailingforthemisaformofthehighestorderofdevotiontoandworshipofAllah.AformofworshipistoberegardedasacceptableorunacceptableorofloworhighorderifAllahhimselforHistrustedservants,i.e.,HisProphetsortheirexecutorsofwillandsuccessorsdeclareinclearandunequivocaltermsthatfromofworshiptobeacceptableorunacceptable,orofloworhighorder.TheaforesaidutteranceoftheImam(S.A.)impliesthatweepingandwailingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheholyAhleBaitisaformofworshipofthehighestorder.Thisisimpliedbyhiswords,“withusinthesamewardofParadise”forthebestwardofParadisewillbethewardwheretheHolyAhleBaitwillputup,called‘Maqami-Vaseela’(theplaceofagencyofpositionofinstrumentality)or‘Maqami-Mahood’(praiseworthypostorposition)andthewords“inthesamewardwithusdenotethemournerswillalsobeinthewardoftheAhleBait.AstheweepingtothebestwardofParadiseitmustnecessarilybethebestformofworshipofAllah.TheweepingandwailingmayconductthemournerstothebestwardofParadiseeitherasamatterofrightestablishedbytheworshiporasanactofgraceonthepartofAllahorHischosenservants,theAhleBait,inappreciationofthisformofworship.TheImam’sassertionthattheweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBaitwillenablethemournerstoreachthebestwardofParadiseleadsustotheconclusionthatweepingandwailingfortheAhleBaitisthebestformofworship.ThisindicatestheextraordinaryimportanceofweepingandwailingfortheAhle-BaitintheeyesoftheAhle-e-Baitthemselves,foritisanacknowledgedfactthatthegreatertherealimportanceofathingthegreateritsimportanceisintheeyesoftheAhleBait.
ADOUBT:TheprecedingargumentbasedontheutteranceoftheeighthImam.(A.S.)maygiverisetosomedoubtsinthemindsofmyreaderswhichevidentlyIcannotexamineandremoveunlessthesameareconveyedtome.HereIwanttoremovethedoubtthathasoccurredtomymindandwhichappearstohavesomeweight.Itisthis.TheconclusionthattheweepingandwailingfortheAhleBaitisaformofworshipofthehighestorderisbasedontheoutermeaningoftheword,“inthesamewardwithus”,whichapparentlymeanthatthemournerswillbeinthesamespecialwardofParadisewhichispermanentabodeoftheAhleBait.Butthewordscannotandmustnotbeunderstoodintheiroutermeaning.ThewordshavenotbeenusedinthesensethatthemournersalsowillbeinthesamewardinwhichtheAhle-Baitwillreside.Thisisevidentlyimpossible;fornobodyelsehaseverundergoneorshalleverundergosomanyandsoterriblehardshipsinhisdevotiontoAllah,inresigninghimselftoHisWillandcarryingoutHiscommandsatallcosts,and
madeorshallevermakesonumerous,soselflessandsotremendoussacrificesinsuchtruingcircumstancesinthewayofAllahastheHolyAhleBait.Allahhas,therefore,awardedtothemthespecialprivilegeofresidinginthebestwardofParadisecalled‘Vaseele’or‘Maqami-Mahmood’wherenobodyelsecango.HowcantheutteranceoftheImamthenmeanthatthemournersalsowillbeAhleBaitintheirspecialward?Theinescapableconclusionthereforeisthatthewords“inthesamewardwithus”arenottobeunderstoodintheiroutermeaning,buthavesomedifferentinnermeaningandcallforanintelligentinterpretation.Thenwhatisthecorrectinterpretationofthewords?Someonemaypossiblysuggestthatthestateof‘beingwithsomebodyorsomething’isofseveralkinds.Oneofthemis‘beinginthesameplacewithanotherpersonorthing.’Youmaycallitphysicalassociation.Anotherkindof‘beingwith’istheexistenceinthevicinityorneighborhoodofapersonorthingwhitherfacetofacewithit,oradjacenttoit,oranywhereit.Thewords“inthesamewardwithus”intheImamsutterancecannotmeanthatthemournerswillbeinthesameplaceinParadiseastheHolyAhleBaitbecauseitisimpossibleforanybodyelsetoenterorreachthat‘place.’ashasalreadybeenexplained.Themeaningapplicationtotheutterance,therefore,isthatthemourners,willbeataplaceorinawardintheneighboarhoundofthespecialabodeoftheAhlulBaitinsuchproximityofthe'Vaseela'or"Maqami-Mahmood",thatthemournersandtheHolyAhleBaitwillbeabletoenjoythesightofeachotherconvenientlywhenevertheywillsodesireoratalltimes.Asanexample,theoutermeaningofthefollowingverseoftheQuran:
HewhoobeysAllahandtheMessenger(Mohammad)shallbewiththoseuponwhomAllahhathbestowedHisfavors,oftheprophets,andthetruth(thoughtfulofthetestifiersoftheProphets),andthewitness(ormartyrs)andtherighteousness:andexcellentarethoseascompanions:TheisthegracefromAllahissufficientastheknower"(i.e.knowethwellwhodeservesgraceandhowmuch).4:69.
IsthathewhoobeysAllahandtheMessengerwillbeinthesameplacewiththeProphets;thismeaningwasnottestifiers,martyrs,ect.Butasthewords"withthose"asacceptableImamFakhruddinRazihadtointerpretmeaningintheirvicinityorneighborhood.
ThegistofwhatFakhuddinRazimeansisthatthewords"shallbewiththose"intheaboveversedonotmean'inthesameplace'orphysicalassociationwiththeprophets,etc.,forthatwillbeplacinghesuperiorandtheinferioronthe
samefootinganddrawingnodistinctionbetweenthosepreferredandthoseonwhompreferencehasbeengiven,whichisimpossible.Hetherefore,saysthatthewords,"shallbewith"meanthathewhoobeysAllahandMessengershallbeintheneighborhoodoftheProphets,theirtestifiers,etc.Inotherwords,hemeanstosaythatthoughtheProphetsandtheirtestifiers,etc.,uponwhomAllahhathbestowedHisspecialfavors,willbeinawarddifferentfromthewardofthoseotherswhoobeyAllahandtheMessenger,yetthedevotionandobedienceofthelatterwillspirituallyraisethemtosuchadegreethatinspiteofbeinginadifferentwardatsomedistancefromthespecialwardoftheProphetsandtheirtestifiers,etc.,theywillbeablenotonlytoenjoythesightoftheProphetsandtheirtestifiersetc.,butwillalsobeabletomeetthemwhentheywillsodesire.InthelightofthisinterpretationoftheQuranicversetheutteranceoftheeighthImamimpliesthatthereareinParadiseotherthanthespecialwardoftheAhl-e-BaitthattheywillbeputupinthoseprominentwardsandnotinthespecialwardoftheAhl-e-Bait.
NowthepointisthatwhentheutteranceoftheeighthImamisnottobeunderstoodinitsoutermeaning.buthasaninnermeaning,theargumentbasedontheoutermeaningoftheutterancecannotbetreatedasavalidargument;andwhentheargumentisinvalidhowcanitberegardedasaproofofmourningovertheafflictionsoftheAhl-e-BaitbeingthebestformofworshipofAllahorasproofoftheimportanceofthemourningintheeyesoftheAhleBait?Buttheseareconclusionsdrawabovefromtheutterance.
ClarificationoftheAboveDoubt:ItistruethattheargumentwasbasedentirelyontheoutermeaningoftheutteranceofImamRaza(A.S.),andnowwehavetoconsiderwhetherornottheutterancecanbeunderstoodinitsoutermeaningMethinksthatanexaminationofthefollowingthreepointswillenableustomakeandeasyandcorrectdecisioninthisregard:
(1) Isitrationallyimpossibleofatleastimpropertounderstandtheutteranceinquestioninitsoutermeaning?OnemaysaythatevenifitisnotquiteimpossibleoftheProphetsandtheirexecutorsofwillbeinthesamewardwiththeProphets,andtheirexecutorsofwill(i.e.successors).Butthisisnetherneitherimpossiblenorimproper.Itisquitepossible.
(2) Incaseitispossible,i.e.,someotherpersonscanalsobewiththeprophetsandtheirexecutorsofwill,themwillthis'beingwith'beinthesamewardorplace,orintheirneighborhood?
(3) Ifthis'beingwith'willbeinthesamewardorplacethenwillitbeasamatterofrightorasanactofgrace?
HereunderIbrieflyexaminetheabovepoint.
PointNo.1:TheapplicabilityoftheoutermeaningoftheImam'sutteranceisneitheraltogetherimpossiblenorquiteunlikely.itisnotimpossiblebecausethereisnoargumentdismissingitspossibility.Itmust,therefore,bepossible.AstotheargumentstatedundertheCaption'ADoubt',itdoesnotofferanutternegationofanybodyenteringorreachingthespecialwardoftheprophetsandtheirexactorsofwill.Therearetwowaysofrightacquiredthroughone'sowndevotiontoAllahandobediencetoandaffectionfortheAhleBaitandotherrighteousactions,orbygraceofAllahforthesakeoftheAhleBait,i.e.,.eitherAllahmaygraciouslyallowamournertoenterthewardoftheAhleBaitinordertoaffordfurthersatisfactiontotheAhleBait,ortheAhleBaitmaythemselveskindlyadmittheirmournertotheirownwardinappreciationofhiscompleteobediencetoandsincereregardforthem.
IfthepersonentertainingthedoubtconsidersimpossibletheentryofamournerfortheAhleBaitintheirspecialwardasamatterofrightthenweagreewithhim.Wetobelievethatnobodyelsecanentertheirspecialwardasamatterofright.Butthisdoesnotimplythathisentrythereisaltogetherimpossible.Itonlyimpliesthathisentryasamatterrightisimpossible.Theremaybeotherwaysofentryopenohim.IfhethinksthatthereisnopossibilityatallofamournerenteringthespecialwardeitherbywayofgraceofAllahorbywayfappreciationbytheAhleBaitthenheiswrong;becausetheargumentonwhichthedoubtisbaseddoesnotimplyutterimpossibility.Itonlyimpliesthatnobodyelsecanenterthespecialwardasamatterofright.Itisnotrightthinkingtodiscardthepossibilityaltogetheronthebasisofthatargument.Again,thereareargumentstoprovethatthereisnotonlyapossibilitybutastrongpossibilityofmournerenteringthewardoftheAhleBait.HereIbrieflystateonlythreeofthosearguments.
ArgumentNo.1:ReasonaffirmsthatAllahforbiddennotanyofHisservantstoseekwhatisimpossibletoget;forseekingthatwhichcannoteacquiredisactinginvainanditisunbecomingofAllahofperfectwisdomtoorderapurposelesseffortButHehasdirectedHisfaithfulservantstoprayforentryintotheholyprecinctsof'Maqami-e-Mahmood'oftheHolyAhleBait.In
Ziyarat-i-'Ashoora'(SalutationaddressedtothemartyrsofKarbalaonthetenthdayofmuharram),whichliketheQuranhasdescendedfromAllah,Hehasdirectedtheperformerofsalutationtosayamongotherthings:"Isolicit(thefavorof)Allahhas(specially)allottedtoyou."ThissolicitationclearlyindicatesthatitisnotaltogetherimpossibletoreachthewardoftheAhleBait.Haditbeenaltogetherimpossible,Allah,theWise,wouldnothavedirectedaperformerofthesalutationtoincludethissolicitationinhissalutation.Similarly,noneoftheInfallibleImamswouldhaveadvisedaperformerofsalutationtoprayforentryintotheMaqam-i-Mahmood.'ButanInfallibleImamhasadvisedaperformerofthesalutationaddressedtoAliAkbar(A.S.)(aneighteenyearoldsonofImamHusain,Peacebeonthemboth,whoinappearance,speechandgaitverymuchresembledtheHolyProphet(S.A.)andwhosechestwaspiercedwithaspearonthenumerousotherwoundscausedhisdeath),whoisnotamongtheAhleBaityetwillbewiththemintheirinspecialward,toincludeinhissalutation"IprayAllahforyourcompanyintheeternalparadise."Thesamesalutationconsiststheprayer"MayAllahgrantmetheprivilegeofbeingyourvisitorandcompanionandacompanionofyourfatherandgrandfather."
MuhammadYaqoobKulaini,theleadingShiatraditions,hasrelatedthroughachainofreliablereportsthatAmeerulMomineenAliIbneAbiTalib,(A.S.),advisedhisfollowerstorecitethefollowingsolicitationaftereveryNamaz(dailyprayers):
"O'Allah!MakemeacompanionofMuhammadandhisholyprogenyinallplacesofsafetyandhisholyproeminalltheirabodesandresorts!O'Allah!Linkmylifewiththeirlifeandmydeathwiththeirdeathandkeepmeintheircompanyonalloccasionsanddonotseparatemefromthem!SurelyThouartPowerfuloverallthings."
ThismeansthatthereisadefinitepossibilityofamournerfortheAhleBaitenteringtheirspecialward.
AHLEBAITHAVEMOREAFFECTIONATEREGARDFORTHEIRLOYALFOLLOWERS
ArgumentNo.2:IthasbeengenerallyacceptedthattheAhleBaithaveamoreaffectionateregardfortheirloyalfollowersandadmirersthenparentshavefortheirchildren.InfactchildrenofthefaithfuldonotgenerallyholdtheirparentsinthesameardentaffectionasthesincereadmirersoftheAhleBaitholdtheAhleBait.Therehavebeenandareveryfewchildrenwillingtosacrificetheirlifetheirproperty,consorts,childrenandhonorsfortheirparents,butyoushallfindmanyasincereadmireroftheAhleBaitpreparedtosacrificetheirallinthewayoftheAhleBait.ThecompanionofAmeerulMomineenAliandImamHusain,(A.S.)arewell,-knownexamples.ItbehavesthenoblestmindedAhleBaitofmostmagnanimoussoulstohavegreaterloveandmoreaffectionfortheirsincereadmirersthanparentshavefortheirchildren.ThereareseveraltraditionstotheeffectthatparentswouldnotliketheirchildrentobeinaplaceorwordinParadisedifferentfromtheirown.OntheotherhandtheywouldliketoseetheirchildrenintheirownwardbeforetheireyesandAllahwillmercifullyallowthechildrenofthefaithfultoenterthecomparativelysuperiorwardoftheirparentsforthelatter’ssatisfactionthoughtheactionsofthechildrenmaynotentitlethemtoentrythere.AllahhathpromisedthistothefaithfulwhenHesays:“Andthosewhobelieveandtheiroffspringsfollowtheminfaith;Wewillunitetheiroffspring’swiththem………………….(52:21).WhenAllahwillbesomercifultothefaithfulastoallowtheirlessdeservingchildrentoenterthesuperiorwardoftheirparents.HewillundoubtedlybegraciousenoughtoallowtheAhleBaittoadmittheirtruefollowersandsincereadmirerstotheirspecialwardortotheprominentwardsintheirimmediateneighborhood.Itit,therefore,notonlypossiblebutdefinitelysurethatbesidestheAhleBaitsomeotherpersonswillalsofindtheirwayto'Vaseela'orthe'Maqam-e-Mahmood'forthesakeoftheAhleBait.TheadmissionofothertothespecialwardwillinnowaydiminishtheprestigeordistinctivehonorsoftheAhleBait.Ontheotherhand,thefactthatnotonlytheirchildrenbutalsotheirfollowersandadmirerswillhaveaccesstotheirspecialwardwilldemonstrate
theirunrivalledprestigeandtheuniqueesteeminwhichAllahholdeththem,forthisspecialdivinefavorswillbeconfinedtotheAhleBaitandnotextendedtoanyotherindividualorgroup.
ArgumentNo.3:AllahneverfaithHisPromiseIthasbeentakenforgrantedthatthereisneverabreachofpromisebyAllah.Inotherwords,itisimpossibleforadivinepromisetoremainunfulfilled.NotfulfillingapromiseisamoraldefectandasinwhileAllahisAbove-all-Defects.Again,HehathsaidintheQur’an:"AllahneverfaithHispromise"(22:47).Wehavetherefore,tobelievethatallthepromisesmadebyAllahareboundtobefulfilled.Hehaspromised:"ThosewhoobeyAllahandtheMessenger(Mohammad)(S.A.)theyshallbewiththoseuponwhomAllahhasbestowedHisfavoreroftheProphetandTruthfulandwitnessandtheRighteousones.andexcellentaretheseascompanions!"(4:69)alreadyreferredtoabove.There'areseveralpointsinthisversewhichcallfordetailedexplanation.Iamnotgoingintothesedetailsandconfinemyselftothatmuchwhichisessentialformypurpose.ThisverseclearlyindicatesthatAllah,inordertoencourageHisservants,toobeyHimandtheMessenger,(S.A.),andtoinfusethemwithapassionforobedience,hathpromisedthatwhosoeverobeysAllahandtheProphet(S.A.)ofhisnation.SincetherewillneverbeabreachofpromisebyAllah,asalreadystated,thenecessarycorollaryisthatpersonsofthisnationwillbeinthewardofthesomeprophetandthetruthfulnation.SinceoursisoneofthenationwhichobeysAllahandtheMessengeritisnotonlypossiblebutalsocertainthatsomepersonsofthisnationwill'bewith'theHolyProphet(S.A.)andthetruthfulofthisnationTheforegoingargumentshaveclearlyprovedthatHereaftersomeofthefollowerswillbewiththeProphetsandthetruthfuloftheirnationinthey:ward.ItisdefinitelywrongtoregardasimpossibletheentryofotherstothespecialwardoftheAhl-e-Bait.
Itisalsonotimprobable–improbableneitherofoccurrencenorimprobableofimplication.Inonerespecthetwoimprobablearesimilar:forsolongasanimprobableisofrareoccurrenceitisdifficulttoacceptastrue.Withitsfrequentoccurrencethisdifficultydisappearsandtheonetimeimprobablebecomesprobable.Whenyoureceivethereportofanincidenthighlyimprobableofoccurrenceofexistenceyounaturallyrefuseorfindithardtobelieveinit.Butwhentheincidentbecomesoffrequentoccurrenceandyoureceivereportsatintervalsofitsoccurrencethereyesterdayandheretodaytheyimprobabilityofitsoccurrenceorimplicationvanishesawayandyoufeeleasilyinclinedtoacceptthereportastrueandifthereporteristrustworthypersonyoureadily
believeinit.Thetelephoneandtheaeroplaneareincommonusenow.Soaretheradioandthetelevision,etc.Hadsomeonetoldyouatthetimetheirinventionwascompletedthataninstrumentenablingtwopersonsatalongdistancetotalktoeachotherhadbeeninventedorthatamachinewhichcanflyintheairandcanloverlongdistancesatagreatspeedalongwithanumberofpassengersinithadbeeninventedwouldyouoranybodyelsereadilyoreasilybelieveinthem,becausesolongasthesethingswereregardedunlikelytoexistorwereofextremelyrareoccurrencethesewereconsideredtobeimpossibleoratleastimprobableandyoudidnotbelieveinthemonthebasisofmerenewspaperreports.Butthementionoftheseinventionsorotheiruseisnolongerimprobable.
Inshort,attemptsaremadetointerpretanimprobableofimplicationonlywhentheimprobablestatementshasbeenreportedbyasingleorinasingleplacebutnointerpretationisattemptedafteritsimprobabilityisremovedbynumerousconfirmatoryorsupportingstatements.Similarly,ifothers'beingwiththeAhleBaitinParadisehadbeenmentionedonlyintheaforesaidofsayingofImamRiza(A.S.),wewouldhaveregardeditasimprobableandsoughtorofferedaninterpretationofit.Butwefindthatother'sbeingwiththeAhleBaitinParadisehasbeenmentionedinmanytraditions,e.g.:
(i) TheyHolyProphet,(S.A.),said:"Whoeverisdesirousoflivingmylifeanddyingmydeathandoflivingwithmeintheresidentialgarden(inParadise)arrangedformebyAllahheoughttorecognizethemerits,virtuesandhonorofAliadhissuccessorsandtobefriendthemandrepudiatemy(or,their)enemies."
(ii) AmeerulMomineenAli(A.S.)saidtosalman-e-Farsi:"Hewhoacquiresthoughacquaintancewithme(i.e.knowsmymerits,virtuesandhonor)willbewithmeintheassemblyonhigh"(i.e.,inthecelestialcity).
(iii) ImamRaza(A.S.),andtoBinShabeeb:"IfyouwishtobewithusinthemostdistinguishedwardofParadisethenfeelourgriefasyourownjoy."
(iv) ImamRaza(A.S.),alsosaidtoBinShabeeb:"IfyouearnestlydesiretolivewiththeHolyProphet(Allah'sblessingsandpeacebeuponhimandhas(holy)posterity),intheupperchambersofParadisethendetestandkeepcursingfrequentlythemurderersofImamHusain(A.S.)."
(v) ImamRaza(A.S.),saidtoDaybal:"HewhocomestovisitmygraveawayfrommyhomehissinswillbeforgivenontheDayofJudgmentandhewillbewithmeinmyward(inparadise)"
(vi) ImamJafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.),saidtoSowoadBinParqad:"HewhovisitsthegraveofImamHusain,(A.S.)everyFridaynight(i.e.,thenightprecedesday)willhavehissinsforgivenandwillbeinParadisewithImamHusain(A.S.),whichofyoudoesnotwishtobewithImamHusain(A.S.)"?Hewhodoesnotwishtogetsalvation."answeredDawood.
(vii)TheHolyProphethassaid:"HewhoweepsovertheafflictionofHusainon'Aashoora'(i.e.,thetethdayofMuharram)hewillbeontheDayofJudgementwiththeProphetsendowedwithgreatfortitude."(IsaabaFeeTameezi-Sahaaba,Vol.I,Page533,CairoEdn.),
(viii)TheHolyProphet:(Allah'sblessingsandpeacebeuponhimandhisholyposterity),whileholdingHasanandHusain(A.S.),byhandssaid:"Hewholovesmeandthembothandtheirparentswillbewithmeinmyward(inParadise)ontheDayofJudgment(SabeebTirmizi)
(ix) ThetraditionreportedbyUmmayAymanandwhichBibiZainab(theilderofthetwodaughtersofAliandFatima)relatedtoSaiyid-i-Sajjaad(S.A.),inordertoconsolehimontheirwayfromKarbalatoKufa,mentionsaparticularoccasiononwhichtheHolyProphet(Allah'sblessingsandpeacebeuponhimandhis(holy)posterity)wasveryhappyatthesightofhisAhleBait.ItwasonthisoccasionthatAngelGabreildescendedtohimandsaid:'O'Muhammad:InviewofyourintensefeelingofhappinessinthecompanyofyourbrotheranddaughterandyourgrandsonsAllahhasbeenpleasedtoperfecthisblessingsandhassenttoyouthegoodnewsthehewillkeepthem,theirdescendantsandtheirShias(i.e.,staunchfollowers)isParadisewithyouandthatHewillgrantthemwhatHewillgrantyouandtheywillyougetwhatyoursatisfaction."
PointNo.2.NowthatithasbeenprovedthatthebeingwithofothersinthewardsoftheProphetsandtheirexecutersofwillisneitherimpossiblenorimprobablebutquitepossibleandofprobablepossibilitywenowproceedtoascertainwhetherthe'beingwith,mentionedintheverseNo.69ofCh.IVmeanscloseandimmediateassociationor'beingwith'mentionedintheverseandthetraditionsmeanscloseassociationandnotbeinginthevicinityorneighborhood.HereunderIadvanceonlythreeargumentswhichwillmakethe
matterasclearasday.
ArgumentNo.1.
BEINGWITHMEANASSOCIATIONANDNOTNEIGHBORHOOD
Accordingtoauniversallyacceptedruleitisnotpermissibletounderstandastatementinitsfar-fetchedorobscuremeaninginpreferencetoitsevidentmeaningorthemeaningwhichsuddenlyoccurtomindonhearingofreadingit.Failuretoabidebythisrulewillnotonlymakeitdifficulttoargueathingconvincinglybutwillalsoresultinthetremens/ourslossofsettingatnaughttheentirecodeofreligiouslaws,Itissobecausethereisaverysmallnumberofverseortraditionsofdefiniteorclearimplications.Most,ofthemareofgeneralnatureandthedeductionandextractionoftheexistinglawsisbasedontheirevident(andnotfar-etchedorobscure)meaningofastatementinpreferencetoitsevidentmeaningnotonlymanyreligiouslawsbutalmosttheentirecodeofreligiouslawswillundergoametamorphicchange,forthelawsaremostlybasedontheevidentorobviousmeaningoftheQuranicversesandtraditionsoftheHolyProphet(S.A.).Theobviousmeaningofastatementcannotbediscardedsolongasthereisnopowerfulinterdictionagainstitoranobstacleorevilinfollowingit.Thereisnodoubtthat‘beingwith’obviouslymeansbeingincloseassociation’withandnot‘inneighborhoodofsomething.Theopponentthinksthat‘beingwith’meansneighborhood.HeconsideredthisinterpretationtobenecessarybecausetheevidentorobviousmeaningcannotbediscardedintheabsenceofapowerfulinterdictionorobstacleandthereisnothingofthissortherethepossibilityorimprobabilityofothersbeingwiththeProphetsandtheirexecutorsofwill,therefore,vanishesawayandtheopponenthastoadmitthatthe‘beingwith’inquestiondefinitelymeans‘closeassociation’andnot‘neighborhood.
THEEXACTMEANINGOFCLOSEASSOCIATION.
ArgumentNo.2:
Closeassociationisnotonlytheobviousmeaningorthemeaningthatsuddenlyoccurstothemindof‘beingwith’occurringintheverse“WhoeverobeysAllahandHisMessenger……………………”andinthetraditionofImamRiza,(A.S.),“……………………hewillbewithusinourward(inParadise)”butitisthepositiveandexactmeaning,forthewardsandexcellentaretheseascompanions”intheverseandinourward”thetraditionofImamRaza(A.S.),clearlyindicatesthattheexactmeaningof‘beingwith‘is‘closeassociation'andnotinneighborhood'.AllahhascalledtheProphets,etc.
'Companions'.oftheirfollowersandacompanionisanassociatewhoisfrequently,ifnotconstantly,withanotherpersonandisalsolenientandsympathetictohim.Morethanonepersonlivingtogetherinthesameplaceandlenientandsympathetictooneanotheriscalled'Rafeeqs'(Arabicwardforcompanionandcomrade)ofoneanother.BycallingtheProphetsthecompanionsoftheirfollowerstheversepointsouttheexactmeaningof'beingwith,tobeincloseassociation.'Ithasnoothermeaning.
Similarity,AmeerulMomineen,(A.S.),hascalledsomepersonsthecompanionsofProphets'.TheauthorofTafsee-i-Saafi,whilecommentingontheverse"He(Allah)knowwhatthereisinwombs"hasquotedfromNahjulBalagha"whetheramalechildorafemalechilduglyorbeautifulandgenerousormiserly,andwhichofthemshallbethefuelofthefire(ofhell)oracompanionortheProphetsinParadise."ThesewordsofAli(A.S.),arealsoaclearproofofcloseassociationofsomeotherswiththeProphets,etc.IncaseImamRaza(A.S.),hadfinishedthetraditionwiththewords"withus"onecouldhaveinterpreted'beingwith'asbeinginneighborhood,buthehasalsoadded"inourward"andthisiswhatcloseassociationexactly'beingwith'asbeinginneighborhood.
ArgumentNo.3.
MARTYRSOFKARBALAWILLBEWITHIMAMHUSAIN(A.S.),INTHESAMEPLACEINTHE
SAMEWARDOFPARADISE
Thishasbeensoconvictiveprovedbyalargenumberofconsecutiveandconsistenttraditionsthathereisleftnoroomforanydoubtorscruple.ThegreatresearchscholarAbulFazlinhiscommentson"Peacebeonyouandonthesoulswhichdisembodiedinyourcourtyardandendedtheirjourneywithyourjourney"occurringinthesalutationrecitedonAashoora'day,sayscourtyardmeanstheloftysanctuary,inthevicinityofAllahintheassemblyofangelswhichistheplaceofhislikingforsurelyhiscompanionsareinhiswardandhavetheirabodesadjacenttoorborderingtheresidenceofthatImamofloftyrankasitappearsfromalargenumberoftraditions,e.g.,'ourShias(followers)willbewithusisourwardinParadise'(OAllah:Keepuswithbewithusintheirward!)ThiscommentclearlyindicatesthatallthemartyrsofKarbalawillbewithImamHusain(A.S.),inthesamewardofParadise.TheonlydifferencewillbethatImamHusain(A.S.),willbeoccupyingthecentralseatandtheothermartyrswillbeonseatsaroundthesealoftheImam.Agatheringofthisnatureiscloseassociationor'beingwith'inthesameplaceandbeinginneighborhood.Thisalsoleadstotheconclusionthatthewords'willbewith'occurringintheQur'anicverse69ofCh.IVandinthetraditionofImamRaza(A.S.),meanbeinginthesameplacewithandnotinneighborhoodoftheProphetsortheImams.Theprecedingthreeargumentshaveconfirmedbeyonddoubtthat'beingwith'intheseinstancesmeansbeingwithinthesameplaceandnotbeinginthevicinityorneighborhoodofthespecialwardsoftheprophetsoftheAhleBait.
AfterremovingtheobjectionthatanyargumentsprovingtheimportanceofmourningoverheafflictionsoftheAhleBaitwerebasedontheoutermeaningsoftheQuranicverseandthetraditionofImamRaza(A.S.),Inowproceedto
examinethecommentofImamRaza(A.S.)ontheQur'anicverse.Hiscommenthasalreadybeenindirectlyansweredintheprecedingparagraphsbutafurtherelucidationappearstobeadvisable.Besidesthefactthatthosewhoregardpreferenceofaninferiortoasuperioraslawfulorpermissibleshouldnotobjecttoplacingtheinferioronthesamelevelasasuperior,theanswertothecommentisthattherearetwoformsoftwopersonsbeinginthesameward.Eitherthetwopersons,oneofwhomissuperiortoauthor,resideinthesamewardonequalterms,i.e.,havingsimilarentitlementandenjoyingsimilarprivileges,ortheyareallowedtoliveinthesamewardorcompartmentwithdifferenceofentitlementandenjoyingdifferentprivileges,e.ge.,oneresidesthereonthebasisofhisrightandtheotherbywayofgrace,oronelivesthereasaprincipalandtheotherasaparasiteoftheformer,oroneislodgedthereasamasterandtheotherkeptthereashisservantorattendant,oroneoccupiesthemainorcentralpartofthebuildingwhiletheotherisallowedtoliveinaprojectionorout-houseorashedbelongingtothemainbuilding.Thefirstformofbeinginthesameplacemaybeunlawfulorimproper,butonecannotreasonablyregardthesecondformof'beingwith'asunlawfulofimproper,becauseinthelattercasethedifferencebetweentheirentitlementsandprivilegeswillmakethemunlike,unequalandofdifferentstatus.Oneofthemwillbeentertainingtheideahattheotherpersonwhohasbeenkeptthereforhissakewouldnothavebeenthereotherwise,whiletheotherwillbethinkingthatitwasonlyforthesakeoftheformerthathecouldhaveaccesstotheplacetowhichhewasnotentitled.Thusthelatterwillbedevoidofthefeelingofsuperioritycomplexoftheformerwhiletheformerwillbeabovethefeelingofinferioritymarkalltheaspectsoftheirlivesthatnotonlytheywillbefeelingthenotonlytheywillbefeelingthedifferenceintheirstatusbutalsootherwilleasilyrecognizeoneofthemtobethemasterandtheownerofthatwardandtheothertobehisservantorattendnt.Withthisrealdifferenceintheirstatushowcanthetwopersonsberegardedtobealikeorequalsimplybecauseoftheirbeinginthesameplaceorward?Andhowcanthisbeingwithberegardedasunlawfulofimproper?ThisKindof'beingwith'isconsideredpermissibleinthisworldandwillbesoconsidersalsointheHereafter.Dowenotcomeacrosscasesofthefirstclassrailwaypassengerspurchasingfirstclassticketsalsofortheirservantsinsteadofservantclassticketsbecauseoftheirownillnessofwithaviewtohavetheservantavailableforanyemergencyofsimplytomakeapageantryoftheiraffluentcircumstances?Suchcasesarequitefrequent.Intelligentpersonswouldnotactlikethisifitwasunreasonableorimproper.AndintheHereafter,willtherenotbeGhilman(i.e.,handsomeyouthsofParadise)inthesamewardwiththeProphetstoworkastheirattendants?SurelytheywillbethereinthesanewardwiththeProphets.Thisissupported
notonlybyholytraditionsbutalsobyQuranicVerses.HadthisKindof'beingwith'orcloseassociationbeenunlawfulorimproper,Allah,theWise,wouldnothaveKeptGhilmaninthesamewardwithProphets.Thisgoestopointoutthatmere'beingwith'theProphetsinthesamewarddoesnotnecessarilyimplythatGhilmanarealiketheProphetsorequaltothem.Such'beingwith'orassociationcannotberegardedbyanystretchofimaginationasunlawfulorimproper.ProbablyImamRaza,whilemakinghiscommenthadinhismindonlythefirstformof'beingwith'andthatiswhyherejectedtheoutermeaningoftheverseandofferedaninterpretation;whereasthisaspecialformofcloseassociation.Itisauniversallyacceptedrulethatthenegationofaparticularformdoesnotnecessarilyimplythegeneralnegationofallotherforms.Thismeansthatthesecondformof'beingwith'isunquestionablypermissibleandproperanditisdoubtlesslythisformofassociationwhichthewords'beingwith'intheQuranicverseandthetraditionofImamRaza(A.S.),implyandImamRazi'soutrightrejectionandcanneitherbeanobstacleinourwaytounderstandingthewords'beingwith'intheouterandevidentmeaningnorasupportforthedoubt.
PointNo.3:Nowthatithasbeenclearlyprovedthatthewords'beingwith'intheverseandthetraditionmeancloseassociationorcompanionshipandbeinginthesameplacewenowproceedtoconsiderwhetherthisassociationofthefollowerswiththeirProphets,etc.,andofthemournerswiththeAhleBaitwillbebywayofrightestablishedbythefollowersandthemournersthroughtheirgoodactionsorasamatterofgrace.Thisisnotdifficulttodecidebecausetheverseandthetraditionhavealreadymadeiteasyofdecision.Theversecontainsthesignificantwords:“ThisisthegracefromAllah”implyingthatthefollowerswillbeinthesamewardwiththeirProphetsbythegraceofAllahandnotbywayofright.InthetraditiontheImamdidnotsaythattheImamsandmournerswillbeinthesameward.Whathesaidwas‘hewillbewithus’whichimpliesthattheImamswillbeinthesuperiormostwardofParadiseandtheirmournerswillalsobewiththemi.e.,eitherAllahwillbesogracioustotheImamastoallowtheirmournerstoenterthespecialwardoftheImamsortheImamswillbesoaffectionatetotheirmournersastoadmitthemtotheirownward.So,thefollowerswillbeinthesamewardwiththeirProphetsandthemournersinthesamewardwiththeAhleBait(A.S.)bywayofgraceandnotbywayorright.Thereareothertraditionswhichsupportmycontention,e.g.,No.IXoftheforegoingtraditionsassertingtheassociationofthemournerswiththeAhleBait(A.S.),hasthewords‘Tillyourfullsatisfaction,nay,evenbeyondyoursatisfaction’meaning‘O’Messenger!WeshallshowerourblessingsonthefollowersoftheAhleBait(A.S.)tosuchanextentaswillnotonlycompletely
satisfyyoubutevenoverandabove.AllthismeansthatthemournerswillbeadmittedtothewardofImamHusain(A.S.),forthesakeoftheImam,i.e.,asamatterofgrace.
TheQuranicverseandthetraditionreferredtoaboveunanimouslyandunambiguouslypointouttothatthefollowerswillbeadmittedtothewardoftheirProphetsandtheexecutorsofwilloftheirProphetsandthemournerstothewardtothewardoftheAhleBaitbywayofgraceandnotbywayofright.IfonekeepsinviewtheabovepointsandargumentsitwillnotatallbedifficultforonetodecidewhetherornotthetraditionofImamRaza(A.S.),istobeunderstoodinitsoutermeaning.Theaboveargumentshaveconclusivelyprovedthatthereisnorealobstacleinourwaytounderstandthetraditioninitsoutermeaningandtheso-calledobstacleswereimaginary,unrealandspurious,AndwhenthetraditionistobeunderstoodinitsoutermeaningassupportedbytheverseandothertraditionitwillcertainlyprovethatweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.),isthebestformofworshipofAllahandthemostimportantsignoffaithintheeyesoftheAhleBait.
InconnectionwiththisargumentwhichisbasedontheutteranceoftheeighththeImamitappearsadvisabletopointoutthattherearenotonlythosetraditionswhichspeakofthemeritofmourningovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)andindicateitsimportanceasaformofdivineworshipbyalsosuchtraditionsasopenlycommandustomournovertheirafflictions,e.g.,“O”IbneShabeeb!IfyouwishtoweeponaccountofsomesorrowthenweepovertheafflictionofHusain(A.S.),”and“MournersoughttomournforagrievedandoppressedpersonlikeHusain.”ThetraditionsofthislattercategoryareperhapsstrongerargumentsindicatingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.),intheeyesoftheAhleBait(A.S.),themselves,thantheargumentswhichspeaksimplyoftheexcellenceandmeritofweepingandwailingbecauseoneisgenerallycommandedtodowhatisimportantanddesirablewhateverbethedegreeofitsimportanceanddesirability.
WhathasalreadybeensaidabouttheargumentsbasedonthewordsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)issufficientforthepurposeandnowIproceedtotheargumentsinfavorofmourningfortheAhleBaitbasedonthedeedsoforpracticalexamplessetbytheAhleBait.(A.S.),
ARGUMENTBASEDONTHEDEEDSOFTHEAHLEBAIT.
TheseargumentsaretheexamplesofmourningbytheImmaculateandInfallibleAhleBaitthemselvesovertheirafflictions,providingotherswithoccasionsformourningbyholdingcondolatorymeetingsandpracticallyencouragingtheirmourners.ForthesakeofbrevityImentiononlyafewoccasions.
MOURNINGBYTHEHOLYPROPHET(S,A.):
Sadooq(A.R),hasrecordedalengthystatementbyIbne‘Abbas,ThegistofthestatementisthatonedaytheHolyProphet(S.A.),wassittinginthemidstofhisrelationswhenHasan,(A.S.),camethere,thenHusain(A.S.),theImmaculateLady(Fatima)(A.S.),andAmeerulMomineenAli(A.S.),arrivedthereoneaftertheother.TheProphet(S.A.),weptonseeingeveryoneofthem.They(therelations)enquirediftherewasnoneamongthemonseeingwhomtheProphet(S.A.)wouldfeelhappy.TheProphet(S.A.)thenrelatedthemeritsandvirtuesofeveryoneofthemandthenadded:InspiteofallthisIweptonseeingthembecauseIforesawthegrief’sandafflictionswhichwillbefallthemafterme”.Thenhebrieflyrelatedthegriefandafflictionsofeveryoneofthemandweptandthosepresentalsoweptwithhim.
MOURNINGBYAMEERULMOMINEEN(A.S.):
Sadooq,(A.R.),hasrecordedanotherstatementbyIbneAbbasthathewasincompanyofAmeeruMomineen(A.S.),onhiswaytothebattlefieldofSiffeen.WhentheyarrivedatNainevah(Karbala)aglimpseofthesoilcausedAmeerul
Momineen(A.S.),toweepwhosaidinaloudvoice,“o’IbneAbcbas!Doyouknowthisplace?”WhenIbneAbbasrepliedinthenegativehesaid.”IfyouknewthisplaceasIknowityouwouldnothavehelpedweepinglikeme”.Hesaidthisandcontinuedweepingforalongtimetillhisholybeardbecamewetwithtearswhichfloweddowntohischest.Hiscompanionsalsoweptwhentheysawhimweep.ThereafterAli(A.S.)relatedoneofhisominousdreamsandasorrowfulincidentofEisa(Jesus),(A.S.),andagainheweptwithhim.Hewassooverwhelmedwithsorrowthathefellprostrateonthegroundandhadalongfitofswoon(vide‘MajaalisulMomineen,.)
MOURNINGBYIMAMHASAN(A.S.):
Sadooq,(A.R.),recordedareportbyMufazzalIbneUmaraccordingtowhichonedayImamHusain(A.S.),cometoImamHasan(A.S.),ImamHasan(A.S.),begantoweepwhenhesawImamHusain(A.S.).Whenthelatterenquiredthereasonofhisweeping,ImamHasan(A.S.),answered:”Thesufferingsecretlybutthesufferingsafflictionstowhichyouwillbesubjectedwillbeoutofallproportiontomyafflictions.ThenhebrieflydescribedthefuturetragedyofKarbalaandthegreatanduniquesacrificebyImamHusain(A.S.),
MOURNINGBYIMAMHUSAIN,(A.S):
ImamHusain(A.S.)himselfweptprofuselyonhissufferings.Excessiveweepingbroughthimalmosttothevergeofdeathforhehassaid”:Excessivesheddingoftearskilledme.”Similarly,othermembersoftheAhleBaitalsoweptnotonceortwicebutonnumerousdifferentoccasions.ButImamZainulAbdee,(A.S.),surpassedallothermourners.
MOURNINGBYIMAMZAINULABEDEEN(A.S.):
ItisrecordedinbooksthataccordingtoImamJafer-e-Sadiq(A.S.),therewerefivemostexcessiveweepers–Adam,Yaqoob(Jacob),Yabya(JohnthesonofZakariyah),FatimabinteMuhammad(A.S.),andAliIbnulHusain(i.e.,ZainulAbideen)(A.S.).Wheneverhewasservedwithmealhewouldweeponseeingit.Accordingtoareportonedayisclavesaidtohim.”‘O’myMaster!Ifyouwillcontinueweepinglikethisitwillonedaycauseyourdeath.”IcannothelpweepingwheneverIremembertheslaughterofBaneFatimaatKarbala.
Accordingtoanotherreporttheslavehadsaid,‘O’muMaster!Hasthetimenotyetcomeforyourmourningtoend?TheImam’sreplywas”Woetoyou!KnowthatYaqoob(Jacob),(A.S.)hadtwelvesons,onlyoneofwhichAllahhadconcealedfromhissight.TheseparationfromthatonegrievedYaqoobandmadehimweepsomuchthathiseyesturnedwhiteandhisbackgotcrooked,inspiteofthatonesonbeingaliveandinthisworld,whileIsawwithmyowneyesmyfather,mybrother,myuncleandseventeenandkilled.Howcanmymovingforthemcometoanend?”
Ithasbeensaidthatwheneverhepickedupamugoranyothervesselfordrinkingwaterheweptsomuchthatthevesselgotfilledwithtears.Onedaysomebodysaidtohim:“Whydoyouweepsomuchthatwas;”WhyshouldInotweep?Itisthiswaterwhichwasallowedtoanimals,beastofburdenandwildbeastsbutwaswithheldfrommydearfather.”Theysaythathisgriefmadehimweepsomuchthattheyfearedlossofhiseyesight.
AccordingtoonereportheweptfortwentyyearsafterthetragedyofKarbala.Accordingtoanotherreportheweptforfortyyears.i.e.,notasingledaypassedwithouthisweeping.Saiyidinhisbook‘Malhoof’andShaikhinhis‘Muntakhab’haverecordedastatementfromImamJafar-e-Sadiq,(A.S.),thathisweepingcontinuedtillhejoinedAllah,theAlmightyweptnotfortwentyoffortyyearwhichhelivedafterthetragedyofKarbalaandthathisweepingwasincessant.
WhathasbeensaidabovewasaboutthedaysoftheyearotherthanthefirsttendaysofMuharramspeciallytheninthandtenthdaysofMuharramwhentheInfallibleImamsusedtoweepexcessively,theirheartsmeltedwithgriefandtearsincessantlyflowedfromtheireyesandallotheraffairscametoastandstill.AboutImamJafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.),ithasbeenrecordedin‘Muntakhab’thatwheneverhesightedtheuewmoonofMuharramhebecamerestlessandpain
stricken.HisfaceindicatedhisoverwhelminggriefandmostofhistimewasspentinweepingovertheafflictionsforImamHusain(A.S.).ThosewhowerefriendlytotheAhleBait(A.S.)wouldgatherathisplace,weepandwailwithhimforImamHusain,(A.S.)andreciteelegiesaboutthetragedyofKarbalaandthenofferhimtheircondolenceandtrytoconsolehim.
Accordingto‘Jalaul0Uyoon’RaihanIbneShabeebwenttoseeImamRaza(A.S.),onthefirstofMuharram.TheImamsaidtoham:“O”IbneShabeeb!MuharramisthemonthwhichwasconsideredsacredevenbythePagansofpre-Islamicdayswhousedtoabstainfromfightingandkillingandoppressionandvictimizationduringthismonth.ButthisnationviolatedthesanctityofthismonthandutterlydisregardedtherightsoftheUniversalLeader(i.e.,theHolyProphet,S.A.)ItwasProphet(S.A.)madecaptivesoftheirwomenfolkandrobbedthemofalltheirbelongings.”
IbneBabvaihhasrecordedinhis‘Amali’ontheauthorityofIbrahimBinMahmoodthatimamRaza,(A.S.),said“Muharramisthemonthinwhichquarrellingandfightingwasconsideredunlawfulevenbythepre-IslamicPagans,but,alas:theydeemeditlawfultoshedourblood,tofireourtentsandtorobusofourbelongingsinthismonth.Theyutterlydisregardedtherelationwithandloveforus.‘O’IbneShabeeb:ThetragedyofHusain,(A.S.),injuredoureyesandmadethemPerennialconduitsofourtears.Theydisgracedoureminentandrespectablepersonsandcausedeternalsorrowtous.OurpeopleoughttoweepandwailforImamHusain(A.S.).Healsoadded;“WheneverthemonthofMuharramarrivedmyfatherbecamesadandonthetenthdayonwhichourgrandfather,ImamHusain.(A.S.),wasslain”.AndShaikhhasrecordedinhis‘Misbah’thefollowingreportfromAbdullahBinSalaam:
“IwenttoseeImamJaafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.),onthetenthdayofMuharram.Isawthathisfacehadgrownpalewithgriefandtearswereconstantlyflowingfromhiseyes.IsaidtotheImam:‘O’myMaster:Allahsaveyoufromweeping:Whatmakesyouweep?Hesaid‘youdonotseemtorememberthatitisthesamedayonwhichmanyfiercecalamitiesbefellImamHusaininquicksuccession………………………….”
Accordingto‘Kaafi’oneAbdulMalikenquiredfromImamJaafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.),whetherornotoneshouldobservefastontheninthandtenthofMuharram.TheImamanswered:”NinthofMuharramwasbesiegedalongwithhisrelationsandfriends.TherewerecampsoftheSyrianarmyallround.Ibne
ZiyadandUmar-e-S’adwerehappyandproudoftheirlargearmyandregardedImamHusainandthesmallbandofhisfaithfulcompanionsasweak.TheyweresurethatnobodycouldcometotheaidofHusain(A.S.),fromIraqorfromelsewhereMaymyparentsbesacrificedforthatforsakentraveler,Hecontinued:”WhilethetenthofMuharramwasthedayonwhichImamHusain,(A.S.),waslyingwoundedandslainanduncladinthemidstofhisfaithfulcompanionswhosedeadbodieswerealsolyingunclad.Isthisdayfitforobservingfast?No:byGod:Certainlynot.Thisisthedayofsorrowandgrief.ThisthedayofthegreatestcalamitywhichbefellthedwellersoftheearthandthedayofrejoicingforIbneZiyadandhispeopleandthepeopleofSyria…………."
TheHolyImamswerenotcontentwiththeirownweepingandmourning.Theyusedtoholdcondolatorymeetingsforprovidingothersalsowithoccasionsforweepingandmakingotherweep.TheimportanceofweepingandwailingforHusain,(A.S.),nay,itsutmostimportanceintheeyesofHazratZainab,(A.S.),isevidencedbythefactthatonbeingsetfreeshepostponeddepartureforMadinabythreeoraccordingtoothersbysevendaysandremainedinDamascusforweepingandwailingotherstheafflictionofHusain(A.S.),andmakingothersweepingbyrelatingthetragedyofKarbala).InthesecondolatorymeetingstheHolyImameitherdescribedthegrievoushappeningsofKarbalaorinvitedotherstodescribethemortoreciteelegiacverseaboutthetragedyandencouragedthespeakers,resistersandmournersinvariousways.e.g.,bysayingwelcometothemontheirarrival,askingthemtositclosetothem,callingthemhelpersandfriends,invitingthemtospeakontheafflictionsofImamHusain(A.S.),andorothermembersoftheAhlulBaitortoreciteelegiacversesaboutHusain(A.S.),conveyingtothemthegoodnewsofsalvationandadmissiontoParadiseandofthegatheringandweepingofangelsonhearingtheirspeechesrecitationsaboutKarbala.Theyalsousedtoadvisethemournerstoseethattheirhelpintheformofparticipationintheirgriefbyweepingandwailingneverdiminished.
Kishi(R.A.)hasrecordedthefollowingreportfromZaidShahham:
"AgroupofweKufiswaswithImamJaafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.),whenJafarIbneAffancametheretheImamaskedJafarsitclosetohimandsaid:'O'J'afar:IhaveheardthatyoucomposegoodelgiaecpoemsaboutHusain(A.S.),Jafaranswered:'O'myMaster!MayIbesacrificedforyou!Itis.TheImamthenaskedhimtorecitesomething.WhileJafarwasrecitinghiselegiacversestheImamwasweepingprofuselyandhischeeksandbeardwerewetwithtears.We
werealsoweepingwithhim.ThereaftertheImamsaidtohim.'O'Jafar!ByGodtheholyangelsarealsohereandareweepingandwailingonhearingyourrecitationasmuchasweareandevenmore.'O'Jafar!GoodnewstoyouthatAllahhasforegivenyoursinsandassuredyouradmissiontoParadise."
Accordingto'SavabulA'amal'bySaddoq(R.A.)ImamSadiq(A.S.),askedAbuHaroontorecitationanelegyonImamHusain(A.S.).WhenAbuHaroonstartedhisrecitationtheImamsaidtohim.“Donotchangeyourusualdeliverybecauseofmypresence.Reciteinthesamemake-weepmannerinwhichyoureciteamongyourpeople.“AbuHaroonsays”Ibegantoreciteascommanded.TheImamweptincessantlythroughouttherecitation.WhenIfinishedtherecitationofoneelegyheaskedmeforfurtherrecitationandIrecitedanotherelegy.DuringthisrecitationtootheImamcontinuedweepingasbeforeandIcouldeverhearthewailingoftheladiesbehindthecurtain.WhenthesecondrecitationwasalsoovertheImamsaid:
‘O’AbuHaroon!KnowthathewhocomposesasinglecoupletaboutImamHusain,(A.S.),andweepsandmakestenotherperson,nay,onlyfive.NayonlyonepersonwealwillsurelybeadmittedtoParadise.ItisincumbentuponAllahtodecompensatehimwhoonhearingthesufferingsofHusain(A.S.)shedssosmallatearasawingofamosquitoandHewillcertainlygranthimadmissiontoParadise.”
SimilartothisistheincidentofAbuImam.HealsowasaskedbyImamJafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.)toreciteanelegyonImamHusain(A.S.)TheImamincessantlyweptduringtherecitation.Abu‘Imamsays!“SolongasIcontinuedtherecitationtheImamcontinuedweepingandIcouldhearthewailingoftheladiesfromtheinteriorofthedwelling”.ThereaftertheImammentionedthesamemeritsandvirtuesofcompositionandrecitationofelegiesonImamHusain(A.S.),asmentionedinthecaseofAbuHaroon.
HowImamRiza(A.S.)treatedDeybalisquitewellknown.Tareehihashasrecordedinhis‘Muntakhab’thefollowingasrelatedbyDeybalhimself:
“OnceIwenttoseeImamRiza(A.S.),duringthedaysofmourning(i.e.fortydaysfromthefirstofMuharram).TheImamwassittinggloomy.Hiscompanionswerearoundhim.Whenhesawmehesaid:”Deybal!Youarewelcome’!ThenheofferedmeaseatbyhisownsideandaskedmetoreciteanelegyisincumbentuponAllahtorewardhimwhomadeevenonepersonweep
overourafflictionsandhewhoweptonourafflictionswillberaisedinourgroupontheDayofJudgment’.Thenhegotupanddrewacurtainandaskedtheladiestositbehinditandhearmyrecitation.Thenhesaidtome:‘Yes!Nowbeginyourrecitation.Yuareoutfriendandeulogist.‘O’Deybal!Seethatthishelptoousisnotdiscontinuedordiminishedsolongasyoulive’.ThesewordsoftheImamcausedtreatstoflowspontaneouslyfrommyeyesanditwasinthisconditionthatIstartedmyrecitation.”
Thesearetheinstancesofpracticalencouragement.AsinglesuchinstanceisaworthycauseofprideandgloryforaslaveoftheAhlulBait.Howluckyisthepersonwhoreceivesseveralsuchencouragements,anassetpreferabletogettingapermanentsuzerainty?
TheencouragementbytheImamswasnotconfinedtopolitewordsandcourteoustreatment.TheyusedtoencouragethecomposersofelegiesonImamHusain(A.S.)byvaluablemonetaryawardsandawardsintheformofvaluablecommodities.WhatwasthepurposeofthevaluablegiftbyImamMoosaBin‘Jafar.(A.S.)toanoldmanwhocomposedonlythreeelegiaccoupletsandofthepreciousBinAliandIbrahimBin-alAbbasifitwasnotforencouragement?
TheaboveargumentsbasedonthedeedsoftheAhleBaitwhichhavebeenbrieflymentionedclearlyindicatethatweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBaitisnotonlyimportantbutmostimportantintheeyesoftheAhleBaitotherwisetheywouldnothavemadesoelaboratearrangements,asdetailedintheabovereports,fortheperpetuationandwidetheAhleBait.Wetherefore,cannotescapetheconclusionthatweepingandwailingovertheirafflictionsisamatterofgreatimportanceintheeyesoftheAhleBaitasitisintheeyesofAllah.
IconsiderthesetraditionalargumentsbasedonthewordsanddeedsoftheAhleBaittobesufficientforthepurposeandnowIproceedtorationalarguments.
RationalArguments:WhatIhadtoprovewiththehelpoftraditionalargumentshasbeenfullyandsuccessfullyproved.StillsomeonemaysaythatIhavesofaradvancedonlytraditionalargumentsindicatingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionoftheAhleBaitandhavenotsupportedmycontentionbyasingleargumentbasedonreason.Thetraditionalargumentsalonetonotprovidefinalsatisfactionaslongasthesamearenotsimultaneously
supportedbyreason.Forinthatcasethereisroomleftfordoubtthatreasonmaydisprovewhathasbeenprovedbytraditionalarguments,makingitnecessarysotointerpretthereportedwordsanddeedssotomakethemcorroboratewithreason.Ishouldhave,therefore,advancedrationalargumentsinordertomakemytraditionalconvincingandsatisfactory.OnemaythinkthatIshallofbeabletodosobecauseapparentlyreasonisnotinfavorofweepingandwailing.Accordingtoreasonthestandardofimportanceofanythingisthateithersomegreatbenefitaccruesfromitoritisbeneficialinmultipleways.Whileneitheranygreatbenefitaccruesfromweepingandwailingnoritisbeneficialinmultipleways.Buttheonlybenefitthataccruesfromweepingandwailingisthatitsoothesasuffocatingheartandcoolsandcalmstheheartandliverburningwithgrief,whichisneitheragreatbenefitnormultiplebenefits.Reason,therefore,cannotsupportweepingandweepingandwhatisnotsupportedbyreasonisnotacceptableinspiteoftherebeingtraditionalargumentsoutwardlysupportingit.ThusImaystillbeconsideredafailureandunsuccessfulinmyattempttoprovetheimportanceofweepingandwailingintheeyesofAllahandtheeyesofAhleBait.BeforeIproceedtorefutetheobjectionIhavetopointoutthatreasonbeingopposedtosomethingisonethingandreasonnotbeinginfavorofitisanotherthing.Thereisavastdifferencebetweenthetwoaspects,onebeingcontradictoryofanother.Whatisopposedtogoodreasoniscertainlynotandcanneverbeacceptableinspiteoftherebeingtraditionalargumentsoutwardlysupporting.Butthesamecannotreasonablybesaidofwhatreasondoesnotfavor.Itissobecauseourintellects,limitedastheseare,cannotencompassallfactsandrealities.Therearealotofthemwhicharebeyondourknowledgeandimagination.Againwearenotfullyawareofthebenefitsandharms,realityandfalsehoodandthevalueanddegreeofimportanceofmostofthosethingswhichareinourknowledge.Howcanourlimitedintellectsthenbeexpectedtoagreewithallofthem?Andhowcanourintellectsnotfavoringthemornotagreeingwiththemcandisprovetheirexistence?Thehardfactsandrealitieswillremainfactsandrealitiesdespitesourcesweshallhavetoacceptthemthoughtreliablesourcesweshallhavetoacceptthemthoughourintellectsmaynotbeinagreementwiththem.Itisforthisreasonthatwisemenofalltimeandplacehavegiventheirunanimousverdictthatitisinevitableformantobelieveincertainthingstherealcausesandthevariousadvantagesanddisadvantagesofwhichmaybebeyondhiscomprehension.Everybodyhastobelieveincertainthingstherealcauseandvariousadvantagesanddisadvantagesofwhicharenotknowntohim.Itissobecauseeveryoneofuscannotbeamasterofeverybranchofknowledgeandindustryandcompetentenoughtoformasatisfactoryopiniononallquestionsconnectedtherewith.Reason,
therefore,demandsthatforallquestionspertainingtothosewhoaremastersofthebranchesconcernedandshouldbelieveandactcordingtotheirguidancenomattertherealreasonbehindtheguidanceisorisnotintelligibletoone.Itisincompliancewiththisdemandofreasonthatonehoweverwisetakestheadviceofasuccessfulbarrister-at-law,askilledphysician,anexperiencedcolonelandexpertsandspecialistsinthosebranchesofknowledgeandindustrywhichoneisinterestedinandactsaccordinglywithouthesitationandconsidersthispracticetobequitereasonableandwiseandbotagainstreasonandalsosympatheticallyadvisesotherstofollowthepractice.Itistheexpositionofthisrulethatthewell-knownPersianpoet,HafizofShirazsays:
‘Daytheprayercarpetwithwineifthechiefmagisobedsyou.Becausetraveler(guide)isnotunawareofthepracticesandmannersprevailingatthevariousstationsontheway.’
Peoplewithareligiousbentofmindinparticularfollowthispractice.Oncetheyembraceareligionconsideringittobeasurepathtosalvationandattackthemselvestoareligiousguidetheybegintofollowthecommandmentsofthereligionandtheguide.Theyhave,asamatteroffactnoalternative.ReasonandtraditionbothhaveprovedthatlawsofreligionareframednotaccordingtoourdeficientandimperfectintellectsbutaccordingtotheWillofAllahandthesuperiorintellectandforesightoftheProphet(totheheightsofwhichourdeficientinflectscannotrise)whichforeseemanyathingwhichevenourmind’seyecannotseenorourdeficientintellectscanperceiveorunderstand.Thisiswhytheinvestigatorsoftruthgaveagreedthatthegreatestmeritoforbenefitaccruablefromreligionisthatitguidesuswhereourdeficientintellectseitherfailtodiscerngoodfrombad,usefulfromharmfulandimportantfromunimportantorhavenoaccessatall.Ifthiswasnotthebenefitofareligiontherewasnoneedofbelievinginaheavenlyreligionandpeoplewouldhaveshapedtheirreligionsaccordingtotheirownintellects.Theneedforaheavenlyreligionisgenerallyfeltandunanimouslyrecognizedbecauseourdeficientintellectsarequiteunabletoframeitsrulesandregulationsandtoenunciateandarrangeitsgeneralprinciplesandparticularcommandments.Itis,therefore,upontheomniscient,All-ComprehendingandAll-WiseAllahtoframeandarrangethem,forHiseyealonecanseeeverythinginitscorrectperspective.Itisbecauseofthisfactthatwearenotallowedtorejectorconsiderimproperareligiouscommandmenttherealcauseorpurposeandadvantageofwhichweareunabletounderstand.Ontheotherhandwemustacceptitasjustandworthyofcompliancewithconfidencethattheremustbesomegoodreasonbehinditand
someadvantageaccruabletousfromitwhichourimperfectintellectscannotcomprehend.Oncewearesatisfiedthatacertainbelief,ritualorobservancehasbeencommandedbyAllahandtheProphetwemustgladlyandsincerelyacceptitandsincerelyacceptitandintelligentlyputthecommandmentintopractice,keepinginviewthefactthatwehavebeengiftedwithintellectnotforframingthefundamentalsoffaithandmakingthelawsofreligionbutforthepurposeofdiscerningatruefromafalsebeliefandtryingtounderstandtherealcauseorpurposeandtheadvantagesofwhatwehavebeencommandedtodo.Thisisthefinaldecisionofthosewhohavebeengiftedwithrightjudgmentandtheunanimouspracticeofmenofintegrityofpurposewhichisuniversallyfollowedfromtheearliesttimestothisdayasifitisapartofhumannature.Accordingtothisdecision,if,forexample,wecometoknowthroughreliablesourcesthatbothAllahandHisMessenger(S.A.),attachgreatimportancetoweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait,weshallhavetoacceptitastruewhetherornotweunderstandthereasonbehinditanditsadvantagesandwhetherornotourintellectsagreewithit.Otherwise,itwillnotbesurprisingifonedaywehavetoregretandrepentourattitude,renounceourfancifulideaandbepenitentforitlikethemanIwhoseincidenthasbeennarratedbyAllamaMajlisi(R.A.)in‘BiharulAnwar’andwhohadtoabandonhisideaandtodopenanceasunder:
1. TheAllamahasrecordedareportfromSaiyiAliHusaini.Thereportinitsabridgedformisasunder:
“IandafewpersonswereinspecialattendanceattheshrineofImamRiza(A.S.),oneofuswhileaddressingacondolatorymeetingaboutImamHusain(A.S.),onthetenthofMuharramquotedImamMohammadBaqir(A.S.),ashavingsaidthatAllahwouldforgiveallhissinswhoonhearingofImamHusain(A.S.)shedsevensosmallatearasasingleswingofamosquitoalthoughhissinsbeasplentifulasseafroth.Presentinthemeetingwasamanofourowngroupwhowasboastfulofhisknowledgeandlearning.AfterthemeetingheremarkedthatthewordsattributedtoImamMuhammadBaqir(A.S.),werenotgenuinebecausereasondidnotagreewiththem.Thisbecamethetopicofaprolongeddiscussionamongusbuthedidnotdesistfromhislineofthoughtandbones.WhenthemanwhowasboastfulofhisknowledgehadgonetobedandwasasleephehadadreamthattheDayofJudgmenthadarrive,allthecreatureshadgatheredinavastplainforreceivingjudgment,thescaleforweighingofactionshadbeenfixed,thebridgeof‘Sirat’erected,thepeoplewereaccountingfortheirdeedsintheirearthlylifeandtheParadiseandtheHellappearedintheir
owngloriousandglowingformwhilethedreamerwasfeelingoverwhelminglythirstyandrunninghereandthereinsearchofwaterwhichwasnowhereavailable.Whilelookingaroundhecaughtsightofalargecisternwhichhethoughtwastheretwomenandawomanallwithradiantfaces,cladinblackmourninggarments,sorrow-strickenandweepingandsheddingtears.HeenquiredwhothethreepersonswereandwastoldthattheywereMuhammadMustafa(S.A.)Ali-e-MurtazanandFatimatuzzahra(A.S.).hethenenquiredwhytheywearcladinblackgarmentsandingriefandsheddingtears.Hewastoldthatitwasthe‘Ashooraday,thedaywhenImamHusain(A.S.)waskilledandbecamemartyr.Theyareinmourningforhimandlamentingoverhisafflictions.OnhearingthisheapproachedtheChiefLady(i.e.,Fatimatuzzahra.S.A.)andsaid:‘O’theDaughterofMessengerofAllah!Iamextremelythirsty.Letmehavesomewatertodrink.ThepureLadysaid:‘Areyounotthesamepersonwhodeniesthemerits&importanceofweepingandwailingforHusain.(A.S.)’?Themanwhowasboastfulofhisknowledgetoiledusthatthedreamhadsomuchfrightenedhimthathisentireframewastremblingwhenheawoke.HewasaseamedofhisremarkandinthemorningwenttohisfriendswithwhomhehadthediscussionthepreviousnightandrelatedbeforethemhisdreamanddidpenancebeforeAllah”.
Theabovestoryprovidesagoodillustrationofhowthesoledependenceonone’sownintellectmayproduceasundesirableresult.ThemanwhowasboastfulofthisknowledgefailedtoattracttheattentionoftheImmaculateLadyandwasdisappointedatatimewhenheverybadlyneededherfavor.Finally,hehadnotonlytorepentofhisattitudeofjudgingeverythingaccordingtohisownintellectandabandonthisattitudealsotodopenanceinviewofthemostsacredpersonalityoftheImpeccableLadyandalsotobelieveinthetraditionofImamMuhammadBaqir(A.S.),withoutfurtherexaminationofit.
Thishasmadeclearthefactthattwothingsoneofwhichisopposedtoreasonandtheothermerelynotsupportedbyreasoncannotbeplacedinthesamecategoryandgovernedbythesamerule.Thatwhichisopposedtoreasoncannotbeacceptedwhilethatwhichisnotsupportedbyreasonisacceptableundercertaincircumstances,e.g.,evenifthereitwemayhavetoacceptit.
AfterthisclarificationIproceedtorefutetheobjection.
EvenifreasondoesnotattachanyimportancetoweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBaitwehavetoconsidertheweepingandwailingas
importantonthebasisofthetraditionalargumentsinsupportofit.Accordingtotheclarificationthefactthatreasondoesnotsupportastatementcannotneutralizeatraditionalargumentinsupportofthestatement.Eventhedoubtthatreasonmayopposeitcannotcounteractatraditionalargument.Thatwhichcancounteractitisonlythatrationalargumentwhichopposesitandnotmerelythedoubtthatreasonmayopposeit.Hadthisdoubtanyplaceinreasoning,atraditionalargumentalonewouldhaveneverbeenadvancedinsupportofanystatementorbeliefbecausenotraditionalargumentcanbeabovesuchdoubt.Buttraditionalargumentshavebeenfrequentlyadvancedinthepastandarestilladvancedinanticipationoftheirbeingtreatedassufficientlyconvincing.ThetraditionalargumentsofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionstheimportanceofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsofAhleBait,must,therefore,beconsideredasconvincingandsatisfactory.
Theaboverefutationisbasedonthesuppositionthatreasondoesnotsupportoragreewiththeimportanceofweepingandwailing.Butthesuppositionitselfisincorrectandcontrarytotruth.Asamatteroffactreasonagreeswithweepingandwailingandagreespositivelyandfully,becauseweepingandwailingfullycorrespondstothestandardtothestandardsetbyfortestingtheimportanceofanything.Ithasnotonlyoneimportantadvantagebutnumerousmostimportantadvantages.EvenweepingfortheSakeofweepingisnotcompletelydevoidofadvantage.ButIdonotwanttoprolongmydiscoursebydwellingontheadvantageofweepingforitsownsakewhichisoutsidethesphereofthepresentdiscussion.Ifanybodyisdesirousofknowingthesameheshouldcarefullyperuseandconsidertheargumentsadvancedhereunderinsupportofweepingandwailing.ThetopicofmydiscussionisweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBaitand,therefore,whatIhavetoexamineiswhetherornotweepingandwailingforthisparticularpurposehasanyadvantageIemphaticallyassertandcanloudlyproclaimthatthisweepingandwailinghasmanyimportantadvantages.HewhohasnotyetunderstooditsadvantagesduetolackofinsightimportanceorotherwiseoftheadvantagewhichIdetailbelow:
AdvantageNo.1:
ADVANTAGEOFWEEPINGANDWAILINGOVERTHEAFFLICTIONSOFAHLEBAIT(A.S.),
THISKEEPSALIVETHEIRGREATDEEDS.
ThestiflingcircumstanceswhichtheAhleBaitwerereadtoliveinandhadtospendtheirentirelivesdidnotpermitthemtoteachandguidethepeoplefreely,forthroughouttheperiodpowerrestedinthehandsoftheirenemies,whomadelifeunbearableforthembysendingthembehindthebarsindungeonsasmostcondemnableprisonersorallowingthemoutwardfreedomunderstrictvigilanceofspiesanddetectiveswhowouldbringtothenoticeofthetyrantrulesalltheirengagementsandactivitiesofthedayandnightsothattheirenemiesmightfindanexcuseforputtingtheirlifetoanendbysomemeansorother.TheresultwasthatnoneoftheHolyAhleBaitdiedanaturaldeath.AfewofthemweredonetodeathwiththehelpofaswordoradaggerwhilemostofthemweremurderedbysecretlyadministeringdeadlypoisonasanImmaculateImamhasasserted:“Everyoneofushasbeenslainorkilledbypoisoning.”Thustheycouldnotperformtheirdutyasteacherandtemporalandspiritualguidetotheirownsatisfactionoraccordingtotheneedofthenation.Still,whattheydidinspiteofthemostdifficultandtryingcircumstancesspellingdangersandthreateningtheirlivesisnotonlyconsiderablebutsurprisinglylargeinquantity.Theiroralinstructionsandpiecesofadviceandguidancetotheirfollowersandotherseekersoftruthwereinsuchabundancethatwhathasbeenleftafterthepassageoftimeanddestructionandconcealmentbytheirenemiesiscontainedinnumerouslargevolumeswhiletheirpracticalguidancewaslikealimitlessandneverendingtreasurefromwhichintelligentpeoplereceivedbenefitinthepast,arereceivingtodayandwillcontinuereceivingbenefittilltheendoftheword,e.g.
(i) ItweretheAhleBaitwhodemonstratedthehighestformsofpatienceandsubmissiontoAllahformerlyunknowntotheworld,asstatedbyapoetinhisaddresstoImamHusain(A.S.):
Mancametoknowtheextentofhispatienceandsubmission(toAllah)after,(seeing)your(uniqueandlimitless)patienceand(absolute)submission(toAllah).
Whonowstrivestoattainpatienceandsubmissions(toAllah)ofhigherdegreeshastofollowtheexamplessetbythosepioneersoftruedevotiontoAllahandself-surrenderandthusreceivesthebenefitoftheirguidance.
(ii) ItwastheAhleBaitwholivedanidealandexemplarylifeinspireofbeingconstantlysubjectstotormentsbythetyrantrulersoftheirtime.TheirperilouscircumstancescouldnotpreventthemfromlivingalifeofpietyanddevotiontoAllahandservicetohumanity.ThebrighttracesthattheyhaveleftofdisciplinedandvirtuouslifeinextremelydifficultcircumstancesandwillserveasaBeaconLighttogenerationaftergenerationuptotheDayofJudgment.
(iii) Themarvelousandeternallyeffectivestrengthatthecommandofpersonssufferingfrominjusticeandoppressionwaslittleknowntotheworld.TheAhleBaitbroughtthisspiritualandhiddenbutoverwhelmingstrengthtotheknowledgeofmanbymakingadiscreetuseofitandtheworlddidwitnesshowthekingdomsandempiresoftheircruelenemieswithvastmaterialresourcesweredestroyedandup-rootedbytherevolutionscausedbytheacutesufferingsoftheAhleBaitandalsohowthegreatandever-increasingvenerationgainedbytheAhleBaitthroughtheirunparalleledsufferingsstillrulesovertheheartsofthepeoplewithinsight.
Thetreasureconsistsofcountlessotherbrilliantjewelsofwisdomandknowledgefromwhicheverynationoftheglobeisdirectlyorindirectly.Knowinglyorunknowinglyreceivingbenefit.
TheenemiesoftheHolyAhleBaitwereaskeenlybentuponconcealingandthrowingintoobliviontheirgoldendeedsastheywereupondestroyingtheAhleBait.Theydidtheirutmosttoachievethisnefariouspurpose.Theseattempts,needlesstopointout,werenotconfinedtotheperiodsoftheUmayyadandtheAbbasidsdynastiesbutarestillgoingoninfullvigor.NotonlyspeechesaremadetoconcealthetruthandfactsandtopropagateuntruthandfictionandarticleswritteninsupportoftheinjusticemetedouttotheAhleBaitbutalsobooksaresometimeswrittenandpublishedforjustifyingtheunjustifiable.Allthathappenedinthepast,thatishappeningnowandwillhappeninfuture
wasintheknowledgeoftheOmniscientAllahwhowouldneverallowtheunparalleledsacrificesofthosewhosuffereduntoldnurturesandgaveawayeverythingevendearlivesinHiswayandHewouldneverpermittheirgoldendeeds,whicharedestinedtoserveasmilestonesandtorchesofguidancetotheseekersoftruthuptotheDayofJudgment.tobecompletelyobliteratedlikeamisplacedletter,He,therefore,decidedtogiveeternallifetotheexampledeedsoftheAhleBaitandtodefeatthecombinedeffortsoftheiropponentsbycausinganimpressiveandpermanentritualorobservancetobeestablishedwhichwouldsavetheirexemplarydeedsfromgoingintooblivionandthecongenialatmosphereandlife-givingairofwhichwouldkeeptheirdeedsfreshinman'smemoryandsimultaneouslydefeattheeffortsoftheirenemies.Thebestwaytoachievethispurposewastopersuadeandencouragepeopletoadoptaformofworshipwhichwouldensurepermanentremembranceoftheirdeedsandavoidanyconflictoftheirfollowerswithfoes.TheformofworshipdecidedwasweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhlebaitwhichentailedmentioningeverynowandthenoftheirgreatdeedsofguidanceandsacrifices.ThisofrepeatedmentionwouldpreventtheirgreatdeedsfrombeingtreatedasantiqueandfromgoingintoobscurityandalsokeepawaythechancesofinterferencebyorconflictwithenemiesoftheAhleBait;becauseintheperformanceofthisformofworshipwehavetoshedourownbloodtobeatourownheadsandbreastsandtoscratchorwoundourownbodieswithchainsorbowiekniveswhilenoinjuryiscausedtootherswhich,mightresultininterferencebyorconflictwiththemAllah,therefore,madeHisManifestations,theHolyProphet(S.A.)andtheInfallibleImams(A.S.)topreachweepingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBaitandtoannouncewiththeirtongues,whichusedtoutterdivinerevelations,theextra-ordinaryheavenlyrewardforthemournersinordertomaketheloyalfollowersoftheAhleBaitedgerofpracticingthisritualwithallthezealattheircommandandtorestrainthemfromgrowingindifferenttoitorsluggishinitsperformance.Further,thesemanifestationsofAllahlinkedthelifeintheHereafteroftheirmournerswiththeirownholylivessothatthepracticeofweepingandwailingovertheirafflictionsmaycontinuetotheDayofJudgmentasprophesiedbytheHolyMessengerofAllah,(S.A.)quotedabove.
ItisthisarrangementbyAllahwhichisthemostdependablefoundationstoneoftheedificeofrecordofthegreatdeedsoftheAhleBaitanditisonethestrengthofthisindestructibledivinelylaidfoundationthattheirdeedschallengeallthehostileforcetodoeverythingtheycanforobliteratingthem.ButtheywillneversucceedforthefoundationofthegreatdeedsoftheAhleBaitiseternal.
'Oureternalexistencehasbeenrecordedinthejournalofworld'.
Themoreyoutrytocrushusbrighterwillbeourglitter.Themoreyoutrytosuppressusthehigherweshallrise.Ifyouprepareoneplotforourdestructionthatoneplotwillopentenmoreroutesforoureternalexistence.Ifyoupossessinsightthenyoushouldstudythewonderfulworksofnatureonthecanvasoftimeandseewhatisbeingdoneinyourownhomesfordefeatingyourmachinationsandhelpingustoprogress.(ThevilifyingstatementsanderroneousobservationscontainedinthenotoriousbookbyMahmoodAhmedAbbasihavebeenexposed,scathinglycriticizedandvindicatedmorebytheSunnisthanbytheShias).Ifyouwillcoollyconsideroverityouwillcontinuouslycryout:
'ITWASTHELAMPOFTHEHOUSEITSELFTHATSETTHISHOUSEONFIRE'.Andshallbeforcedtoadmit:
EventhewindwillservethepurposeofaglasschimneyandsavefromextinguishingthecandlelightedupbyGod.'
Inshort,weepingandwailingfortheAhleBaitislikeafighterinthewayofAllahwhichalongwithallitscondolatoryritualsinspiteofweaknesskeepouropponentsnonplussedbydefeatingalltheirnegativeeffortsandrefreshingandrevivingthegreatdeedsoftheAhleBait.ItisbecauseofthisweepingandwailingthatthegreatdeedsoftheAhleBaitarestillconsiderablyfreshinspiteofthestormyeffortsoftheirenemiesfordestroyingthem.
So,oneoftheadvantagesorbenefitsofweepingandwailingfortheAhleBait,(A.S.)isthepreservationoftherecordoftheirgreatdeeds.
AdvantageNo.2:
ITENABLESUSTO
IntroducetotheworldsimultaneouslytheAhleBaitandtheiropponentandthustopavethewayforpropagationofthetruereligion.
Weepingishighlyattractiveperformance.Whenyoufindsomebodyweepingnotonlyyouonlyyourattentionisdrawntohimasbyanaturalimpulsebutyoualsobegintofeelarestlessnesswhichpromptsyoutoenquirethecauseofhisweeping.Cananybodydenythis?Certainlynot.Ifitisnotonlyanindividualwhoweepsandwailsbutaclassofpeople,andtheclassismadeupofdistinguishedindividualsandrespectablepersonsknownfortheirqualitiesofheartandregardedamongtheintelligentsiaoftheworld,andifthisclassisconfinednotonlytoaparticulartownorlocalitybutisfoundineverycountryandspreadallovertheworldandifthatclassweepsandwailsnotonlyononeortwoparticulardatesbutonmostofthedaysoftheyearandnotindividuallyorsecretlywithinthefourwallsoftheirhousesbutcollectivelyatcondolatorypublicmeetingsheldafterspendingagooddealoftimeandmoneyandundergoingnumerousinconveniencesandalsoweepsandwailsinprocessionsonpublicplaceslikethroughfaces,etc.,whilebeatingtheirbreastsandsheddingtheirbloodbyscratchingorwoundingtheirbodieswithchainsandbowieknives,willnottheattentionofthewholeworldbeattractedtowardsthatclass?Surelytheattentiontotheworldwillbedrawntowardsitbecausetheclassisfullyequippedwiththemosteffectivemeansofattractingattentionandtheattentionwillnaturallykindlethedesiretoknowthecauseofweepingandwailingoftheclass.Thustheattentionoftheworldwillbedrawtowardsthisclassofweepingandwailingpersonsandthepeopleoftheworldwillspontaneouslydesiretoknowthecauseofweepingandwailing.Whenasaresultofthisdesiretheywillcometoknowthatmournersweepandwailnotovertheirownafflictionoftheirspiritualguidestheworldwillbefurtherdesirousofknowingaboutthespiritualguides,theirafflictionsandthecauseoftheirafflictions.
Thiswillleadtheworldtoknowbywhomtheafflictionswerecaused,whattheviewsandmotivesoftheirenemieswereandwhattheircharacterwas.InthiswaytheworldwillonlycometoknowtheAhleBaitbutalsotheirgreatqualitiesofheadandheartfortheyweresubjectedtoallsortsoftorturesandafflictionsforpossessingincomparablyvastknowledgeandwisdom,stickingtotheirnobleprinciples,maintainingtheirloftycharacter,reflectedbytheirselflessdevotiontoAllah,unlimitedsympathyforHiscreatureinadversecircumstancesandallpossiblehelptothem,glitteringguidancetoallseekersoftruthanduniquesacrificesforthemoralandspiritualupliftofman.ThesegreatqualitieshadamagneticeffectonallthosewhocameincontactwiththeAhleBait.Thisannoyedtheirdespoticenemieswhowantedtoenjoyabsoluteauthorityoverthemasses.SotheydidtheirbestfortpreventingallsortsofcoercionarymeasuresagainsttheAhleBaitandtheirstaunchadmirersandfinallyfinishingthemopenlybydaggerorsecretlybypoison.Whentheworldwillcometoknowthesegreatqualitiesofourgreatleaderstheworldwillbegintoadmirethemandtohavesympathyforthemforitisbutnaturaltohavefeelingsofaffectionandsympathytowardstheoppressedparticularlywhentheyarepersonsoftoweringnobilityandmerit.Again,thewholeworldwillnotonlycometoknowtheenemiesoftheAhleBaitbutalsotheirignoblenatureandmeancharacterforalltheirtyrannyovertheAhleBaitwastheoutcomeoftheirself-aggrandizementandlustforpower,asuresignofmeanandignoblenature.ThisinturnwillmakethewholeworlddespiteanddetesttheenemiesoftheAhleBaitforitishumannaturetodespiseoppressorsandbadcharacters.
Whathasbeenstatedintheprecedingparagraphisnotafreeplayofimaginationormeresuppositiondevoidofreality.Thesearethestrongnaturechainsofcauseandeffectandnumerouslinksofhardfacts.SincethisclassofmournersweepsandwailsmostlyovertheafflictionsofImamHusain(A.S.),causedbytheoppressiveandtyrantYazeedandhasaffectionandrespectforImamHusain(A.S.).TheyhateYazeedtosuchanextentthattodayhardlyanybodyispreparedtocallhisorherchild'Yazeed'andasthepoetJoshMaleehabadihassaid:
'TheverynameofYazeedisnowarevile,awordofabuseandcurse'.AndtheyhavesomuchaffectionandrespectforImamHusain,(A.S.),thatthebrightmindedindividualsofeverynationregarditasanobledutytopraisethegreatdeedsoftheImamandtakeprideinexpressingtheirappreciationofandbeliefinhisleadershipofhumanity.
Todaynothingcanbesaidwithcertainaboutthefutureextentofthis
appreciationofImamHusain(A.S.)buttheabovenamedpoet,Josh,hasmadethefollowingforecastinthisregard:
‘LETMANKINDWAKEUPTHENWILLCOMETHETIMEWHENEVERYNATIONOFTHEWORLDWILLCLAIMTHATHUSAINBELONGSTOHER’.
Thisisaproofoftheintrinsictruthofthestatementsintheprecedingparagraph.ThisindicatesthatifthisclassofmournerswouldhavebeenmourningovertheafflictionsoftheothermembersoftheAhleBait-AmeerulMomineenAli.(A.S.),theChiefofAlltheWomenofAlltheWorld,Fatima,ImamHasan,etc.,(A.S.)withthesamefervorandardorasitmournsovertheafflictionsofImamHusain(A.S.)(forallthemembersoftheAhleBaitweresubjectedtoprocessionandmurderedorpoisonedtodeath)andinthatconnectionthenames,specialtraitsofcharacterandthemotivesofthosewhosubjectedthemtooppressionandkilledthem,onecannotestimatetheextenttowhichtheknowledgeofthevariousnationsoftheglobeabouttheAhleBaitandtheirenemieswouldhavereachedbynow,ortheheightofthepitchtowhichaffectionandvenerationoftheAhleBaitandhateandcondemnationfortheirenemieswouldhaverisen.Sufficientinformationaboutboththeparties,theAhleBaitandtheirenemies,ingreatcontrastwithwitheachother,wouldhaveresultedinsoextensiveandaffectionfortheformerandsointenseahateforthelatterabouttheAhleBaitandtheirenemieswouldhavereachedbynow,ortheheightofthepitchtowhichaffectionandvenerationoftheAhleBaitandhateandcondemnationfortheirenemieswouldhaverisen.Sufficientinformationaboutboththeparties,theAhleBaitandtheirenemies,ingreatcontrastwitheachother,wouldhaveresultedinsoextensiveanaffectionfortheformerandsointenseahateforthelatterthatitwouldhavedestroyedforgoodallthepropagandaofouropponents.SometimeswedoweepandwailovertheafflictionsoftheothermembersofAhelBait(A.S.)butforfearofquarrelandconflictwithouropponentswedonotandcannotweepandwailovertheirafflictionsasfrequentlyandardentlyasovertheafflictionsofImamHusain(A.S.).Theresultisthatsocongenialanatmosphereforthepropagationofourreligioncouldnotbecreatedaswedesiredittobe.Stillourcondolatoryrituals,restrictedastheyare,haveconsiderablypavedthewayforitspropagation,aproofofwhichisfurnishedbythesefrequentwritingsandspeechesoftheleadingpersonsofacknowledgedmeritamongthevariousnationsandreligioussectsoftheworldwhichconveytheiradmirationfortheAhleBait(A.S.)andsupportforandappreciationoftheirflawlessguidanceandrighteouswayoflife.Thewarmthandglowofour
condolatoryritualshavemeltedtheheartsofotherstosuchanextentthatnowtheyarelikesoftandfertilesoilforsowingtheseedsofourreligion.Ifourintelligentandeloquentspeakersonreligioussubjectstrytomakeconsiderateuseofthissoftandfecundsoillikeanexperiencedformertherearesufficientlybrightprospectsfortheirsuccess.Itmust,therefore,beadmittedthatanimportantadvantageofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)istopavethewayforthepropagationofourreligionbyintroducingtotheworldtheAhleBait(A.S.)andtheirenemies.
AdvantageNo.3:
Tocreatetoourownpeopleaninsightintoourreligionandthustosavethemfromfallingapreytotheirreligiouspropagandabyothers.
AprerequisiteofweepingandwailingandmakingothersweepandwailovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)mayfilltheirheartswithsteamwhichinturnmaymovetheireyestosheddingtears.Onlysuchintroductionsascompriseofreligionsmatters,i.e.,amentionorexpositionofabasicprincipleoffaithorareligiousobservance,andalsootherwisesuittheoccasioncanservethepurpose.Whenlectures,addressesordiscoursesonthelifeandafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)inourcondolatorymeetingswillbeinvariablyaccompaniedbyamentionorexpositionorexpositionofareligioustopicandtheaudiencewillhearthesementionsandexpositionsfrequentlyandinavarietyofstylebyvariousspeakerstheirknowledgeofreligionwillgoonincreasingdaybyday.
ThisiswhyaveragememberoftheShiacommunityhappenstohaveabetterknowledgeofhisreligionthananaveragememberofanyotherreligioussectintheworldhasofhisreligion,andeveryShiapossessesquiteastockofreligioninformationwhichhecanturntogooduseatthespurofthemoment.
Again,evenanunletteredShiahasreligiousinsighttosuchanextentasyoucannotfindevenamongthemajorityofeducatedpersonsofotherreligiouscommunitiesandasaresultofthisevenwilleducatedmembersofothersectsfeeldisinclinedtotheirintoareligiousdiscussionwithaShiaandtryaavoidit.WhentheyareforcedbycircumstancestoenterintoareligiousdiscussionwithanaverageShiaoftenerthannottheygetashamedandconfounded,whentheyeitherembracethetruereligionorstoopsolowastoindulgeindestructiveefforts,socialboycottandbarbarousactivitiesagainstourcommunity.TheeverincreasingreligiousknowledgeandtheevergrowingreligiousinsightoftheShiasmaketheirreligiousbeliefssofirmandconstantthatstronggustsofunfavorablewindscannotmakethemwaver,thecharmingsnaresofreligioussophistrycannotentrapthemandsinisterthreatsofeconomicboycottcannotforcethemtodeviatefromtherightpath.Theyfirmlysticktotheirreligionbeliefsevenwhenfixedlikeasironpegbyahammer,evadelikeaclevercockthenetspreadforcatchingthemandretaintheirtruecolorevenwhencrushedandpowderedlikecollegiumantimony.Theirveinsseemasiftoreverberatethe
wordsoftheirmaster,AmeerulMomineen(A.S.)."ShallIturninfidelafterembracingthetruefaith"?Suchechoesresoundingintheirmindsaretheplayoftheplectrumofardentfollowingoftheirguide,theImam.Thesearefactswhichnowell-informedpersoncandeny.One,therefore,mustadmitthatoneoftheadvantagesofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)iscreatereligiousinsightamongthemembersorourowncommunityandtosavethemfromfallingapreytothesophisticatedtalkofothers.
TOKEEPPRODUCINGINOURCOMMUNITYEMINENT
SPEAKERSANDPOETSINALARGENUMBER.
AdvantageNo.4:
InordertoweepandwailandtomakeotherweepandwailovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)itisnecessarytodescribetheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.).Thedescriptionoftheirafflictionspresupposesaknowledgeoftheirafflictions,foronewithoutanyknowledgeoftheafflictionscannotdescribethem,andadescriptiontobesuccessfulmusteffectivestyleisnecessarybecausethespeakerhastoarousethefeelingofpathosamongtheaudienceandmakethemweepandwailovertheafflictionswhichtheyhaveheardoverandoveragain.AcommunitythedistinguishingtraitofwhichistoweepandwailovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)willnaturallykeepproducingpersonpossessinggoodknowledgeoftheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)andatthesametimecompetentenoughtodescribetheminproseorpoetryinanattractiveandeffectivemanner.Necessityisthemotherofinvention.Whenthehall-markoftheShiacommunityisweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)toringtrueofitshall-markthestandingandmostimportantdemandofthecommunitywillbeforpersonspossessingthesaidqualities.Thisdemand,asarule,willkeepproducinginthecommunityhighlytalentedandproficientspeakersandpoetsatalltimesandinallplaceswithapopulationofthecommunity.WhenShiasaretheprofessedmournersovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)andweepandwailnotoncertainspecifiedoccasionsbutalltheyearround.Andonvariousoccasionstheirconstantdemandforspeakersandpoetsisboundtokeepproducingamongthemproficientspeakersandpoetsisalargenumber.Experiencebearstestimonytothefactthatsolongasweepingand
wailingwasinavigorousformthecommunitycontinuedtoproducemasterspeakerslikeMaulanaSaiyidSibteHasan,anenchantingspeaker,rhetoricianandoratorandmosteminentpoetslikeMeerAnees,aversatilepoetoftoweringeloquenceandmasterofaninimitablestyle,andtherewereinthecommunityeminentspeakersandpoetsinalargernumberthaninanyothernationoftheglobe.EvennowwhenweepingandwailinghasconsiderablydeclinedthereareinthecommunityhighclassspeakerslikethemasterpreacherMaulanaSaiyidIbneHasanofMaunegra,thegreatoratorMaulanaSaiyidMohammadofDelhi(sincedeceasedandtheleadingoratorJanabRasheedTurabuiofHyderabad(Deccan)andtoprankingpoetslikeJanabNajmEaffendi,ageniusinpoetryandcomposerofeveryvarietyofverseandJanabQaisZangipuriSincedousedpoetofoutstandingmeritandmasterofanelegantstyle,whilethetotalnumberofspeakersandpoetsinthiscommunity(PraisebetoGod),issolargethatthereishardlyanycountryoftheworldaltogetherlackinginspeakersandpoetsofhiscommunitywhocanaddresscondolencemeetingsorelegiacpoemsintheformofa'Quatrain,Qaseeda,SalaamorMarsiya'.Ontheotherhandtherearemanycountriesoftheworldwherethechiefsourcesandaddressesbythespeakersorcollectionsofmelodiousandexhilaratingpoemsbythepoetsofthiscommunity:Thisissoobviousafactthatnosensibleandwell-informedpersoncandenyit.IfthepresenceofmanyhighrankingspeakersandpoetsineveryperiodoflifeofhiscommunityisnotoneoftheblessingsofWeepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)thenwhatisitdueto?TheinescapableconclusionisthatoneoftheadvantagesofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)istokeepproducinginthecommunityhighclassspeakersandpoets.
TOMAKEANDKEEPOURCOMMUNITYALIVE,
PROGRESSIVEANDGLORIOUS.
AdvantageNo.5:
Thelife,progressandgloryofanycommunitydependuponapassionforunityamongitsmembersandtheirwiseorganization.Thestrongerthepassionforunityandthewisertheorganizationthemoreprogressiveandgloriouswillbethecommunity.WhatsawstheseedofpassionforunityandorganizationinthecommunityandhelpsittogerminateanddevelopisthisverypracticeofweepingandwailingwhichhasearnedforusthenicknametheCommunityofWeepers.’Itisthispracticethatkeepsphysicallyinvigoratingandspirituallyexhilaratingthecommunityanditistheheatgeneratedbythispractice.Itkeepstheindividualsinthecommunityway.Allthesymptomsofunityandco-operationinthecommunity-thepartiesofbreast-beaters,thebandsofNauha(i.e.versifiedexpressionsofsorrowforadepartedsoul)reciters,annualcondolencemeetingandprocession,organizationofvolunteersforfacingthosewhoareopposedtoourcondolatoryobservanceandcounteractingtheirmischievouspropaganda-areeitherthedirectproductortheindirectresultofthissamepracticeofweepingandwailing.Itisso,becausetheonlyassetinthetreasurehouseofthecommunitywhichkeepsaliveandalertourcongregationalfeelingsandexcitesthemwhenevernecessaryisthispracticeofweepingandwailingandthevariousritualsconnectedwithitanditisthispracticewhichisthevitalforcebehindallthesymptomsofunityinthecommunity.Thisiswhythosewhostudythecausesofprogressanddeclineofnationsandcommunitiesconsiderthispracticeofweepingandwailingasthemainfactorofprogressofourcommunityandpropagationofourreligionanditisbecauseofthesemournfuldemonstrationsthattheyregardthecommunityasprogressiveandprominent.Moreover,theyappeartoconsideritriskytomolestorattackthiscommunityofweepers’becausesometimesthetearsshedbythecommunityassumetheform
ofamightyfloodwhichnotonlydrownsanydissensionordisunityinthecommunitybutalsosweepsawaylikerubbishandstalksofstrawthestrongestdamsandweirsconstructedbyrivalcommunitiesashasbeenwitnessedonvariousoccasionsinthehistoryofthecommunity.Nobodywithathoroughknowledgeofthehistoryofthiscommunityandthedeedsofvelourandsacrificewithwhichitisrepletewilldisagreewiththeaforesaidapprehension,becausethehistoryofthecommunityrecordsmanyaninstanceofallouteffortsforthepreservationofourreligiousandreligiousobservances.
Nowwhatwehavegottoconsideriswhytheware-houseofthecommunitytodayisnotsowellstoredasitshouldhavebeenwithstable,progressiveandgracefulritualsandthesatisfactionandprosperityofthecommunitywhichthepassionforunityandorganizationkindledbythepracticeofweepingandwailingcanproduce.Inotherwords,whythepracticeofweepingandwailingisnotaseffectiveandinspiringtodayasbefore.Inmyopinionthereareseveralcausesofthisdeterioration,afewofwhicharementionedhereunder:
(i) Properadvantageisnottakenofthepassionforunityandorganizationkindledbyweepingandwailing.Ignoranceorself-interestoftenmoundsthepassionintoselfishmotiveswhichcausedissensionanddisintegrationinsteadofunityandorganizationandthusthepassionbecomesasourceofharmtothecommunityinsteadofbeingasourceofbenefitwiththeresultthatsomeofushaveerroneouslybeguntoregardthepassionastheultimatecauseoftheeverandanondissensionandquarrelsinthecommunityandthinkthattherewillbenodissensionsandquarrelsifthepracticeofweepingandwailingisstoppedandthepassionisabsent.
Idisagreewithsuchpersonsandbelievethatthedissensionsandquarrelsinthecommunityarenotthedirectresultofthepassionkindledbyweepingandwailingwhichexhortsusonlytoharmonyofrelationandintegrationbutaresultofthemotivesintowhichignoranceofself-interesthavemoldedthepassion.Letmeillustratethepoint.TheMuslimexegetistsoftheQuranhaveoffereddifferentinterpretationofnumerousversesinordertoservetheirownselfishpurposesandtoachieveworldlygainsandhavemadethoseinterpretationsthefoundationoftheirreligiousbeliefsandobservanceswhichhasresultedintheirsplittingupintoasmanyasseventythreesects.CananysensiblepersonassertthatthemaincauseoftheirdifferenceanddisintegrationistheQuran?Certainlynot.TheQuranasamatteroffactdescendedforendingoldinternecinefeudsandcreatingaccordandunityamongtheMuslimsandorganizingthemintoa
singlewill-knitnationandnotforcreatingdissensionsanddiscordamongthem.
AlltheinternaldissensionsanddifferenceswefindintheMuslimnationtodayaretheresultofstickingtotheirselfishinterpretationsofQuranicverseandclingingtotheirgreedofworldlygainsandnottheresultoffollowingtheinstructionscontainedintheQuranicverses.Isit,therefore,justtoblametheQuranfortheinternaldissensionsanddiscordandtotry(invain)todestroyit?UnfortunatelytheMuslimhavebeenusingtheQuranasaninstrumentofdissensionanddisintegrationandassuchtheHolyQuranmayberegardedasanindirectcauseofthesedifferences.Similarly,Ifsomeselfishandmischievousindividualsmakeuseofthepassionkindledbythepracticeofweepingandwailingasaninstrumentforcreatinginternaltensionandquarrelsinthecommunitywhichsometimesmakethewholecommunityrestlessonecannotreasonablyregardthepassionasacauseofdissensionanddisintegrationinthecommunity.Thepassioninitselfisagreatunitingandintegratingforce,thoughdiscordanddisintegrationsometimesoccurinthecommunity,insteadofaccordandunity,duetowronguseofthepassionbysomeselfishormischievousperson.Therightcourseoftacklingtheproblemofdiscordanddisintegrationinthecommunitywillthereforebetomendthewaysandtocorrectthebehavioroftheselfishmischievousindividualsinsteadofstiflingoruprootingthenobleandbeneficialpassion.
So,oneofthesensesdeteriorationisthatuseisnotmadeofthepassionforunityandorganizationkindledbythepracticeofweepingandwailing.InthisconnectionIcannothelpremarkingthatproperuseofthepassionismainlytheresponsibilityofthoselearnedpersonswhoaddressourcondolencemeetingsandtheworthypresidentsofcondolatoryassociations.Hadthesepersonsbeenturningthepassiontoitsrightusetheconditionofthecommunitytodaywouldhavebeenquitedifferent.Itwouldhavebeenlikeabrightlightonthehighminaretontheedificeofprogress.Butthemostbitterandregrettabletruthisthatsomeofthemdonotknowthecorrectuseofthepassionwhileafewothersknowandmakecorrectuseofit,butthemajorityconsistsofthosewhoareeitherunawareofthecorrectuseofthepassionorintentionallymisuseitforachievingtheirownpersonalendsoftheirpartyattheexpenseoftheprestigeofthecommunity.Thiswhysuchbenefitsasshouldnaturallyaccruefromthepassionarenotaccruingtothecommunityasawhole.
(ii)Thatsomethingisthepurposeofanactionisonethinganditistheultimatepurposeofanactionisanotherthing.Astudentsworkharddayandnightsothat
hemaypasstheexaminationinthefirstdivision.Thesuccessinthefirstdivisionisofcourseapurposeofhishardworkbutnottheultimatepurpose.Thepurposeofhishardworkistosecureeasilyalucrativeemploymentandtoacquiresufficientwealthbywayofremunerationandthepurposeofhisacquiringwealthistoenablehimselftoliveahappyandrespectablelife.Thebrightsuccessinexamination,lucrativeemploymentandacquisitionofwealtharetheseverallinksofachainofpurposeofhishardworkbuthisultimateorfinalpurposeisahappyandrespectablelifewhichisdesirableforitsownsake.Weepingandwailingiscertainlyapurposeofourcondolatoryritualsinsofarasritualsmoveustoweepingandwailingbutthisisnotthefinalandultimatepurposeoftherituals.Theultimatepurposeofweepingandwailingareunityinthecommunityanditsorganization,preservationofrecordsofthegreatdeedsoftheAhleBait(a.s),smoothpropagationofourreligionandproducingofeloquentspeakersandeminentpoetsinthecommunity,etc.Weshouldnot,therefore,becontentedwithweepingandwailingonlyandthinkittobeourfinalaim.Itisonlyamidwayhousebetweenourcondolatoryritualsandtheadvantagesmentionedabove.Wehavegottoascertainwhetherornotthoseadvantageshaveaccruedtous.Ifnot,whynot?Andhowcanweavailourselvesofthoseadvantages?Butweareapttoignoresuchself-appraisalandconsequentlywedonotgettheadvantage.
‘OurattitudeinthisrespectissimilartotheattitudeofalmostalltheMuslimstowardsHaj,theannualpilgrimagetoMecca.TheyregardstheperformanceofthevariousritesofHajastheultimatepurposeofHajandthinkthatbyperformingoftheseritestheyhavedischargedtheirduty.AsamatteroffacttheultimatepurposeofHajismaintenanceandstrengtheningtheIslamicfraternityprescribedbytheHolyProphet(S.A)andtheestablishmentofcloseassociationofandrelationamongallthebelieversintheunityofGod.HadallthepilgrimstoMecca,particularlytheheadsofMuslimsstates,keptinviewatthetimeofpilgrimagethispurposeofourlaw-givertheunityamongtheMuslimstatesthepressingneedforwhichwasfeltbyJamul-ud-DinAfghani.FrequentlypointedoutbyDr,MohdIqbalandwhichKingFaisalisnowtryinghislevelbesttoachieve,shouldhavebeenachievedcenturiesago.ButtheunityhasnotachievedandthetrulyfraternalrelationsamongtheMuslimstatesoftheworldhavenotbeenestablishedbecausethepilgrimsarewonttoregardtheirperformanceoftheritesofHajasapurposebyitselfanddonottrytoachievetheultimatepurposeofHaj.TheresultisthatthebenefitswhichshouldhaveaccruedtothenationfrompilgrimagetoMeccahavenotaccrued.Thesameistrueofourpracticeofweepingandwailing.
HereweshouldbearinmindthatthebenefitsaccruablefromweepingandwailingorHajarenotanegationoftheirbeingaformofworshipjustasthebenefitsaccruablefromNamaz(dailyprayers)mentionedbyAllahintheQuranisnotanegationofNamazbeingaformofworship.Ontheorderhandtheseformsofworshiparetheformsofworshipbecauseofthebenefitsaccruablefromthemandwouldnotbeformsofworshipiftheyweredevoidofanybenefitoradvantage.Theaccompanyingbenefits,therefore,arenotanegationofNamazorweepingandwailingbeingformsofworship,theultimatepurposeofwhichisanapproachtoAllah.
(iii)TheplayofthepassionforunityandorganizationKindledbyweepingandwailingiskeptconfinedtoourcondolatoryrituals.Thepassionshouldhavebeenemployedasstimulantinallthespheresoflifespeciallyintheeconomicandsocialspheressothatcompleteharmonyandsecondwhichmarkourcondolatoryobservationwouldhavemarkedoureconomicandsocialactivitiesalso.Hadtheysoemployedthepassionthesamepompandaccordwouldhavemarkedallothersspheresoflifeofthecommunityandtodaywewouldhavebeenaninfluentialandsplendidcommunity.
Thereareothersobstaclestooduetowhichnotonlythelikelybutalsothesurebenefitofweepingandwailingdonotappeartobeaccruing.Oncetheseobstaclesareremoved,thereisnoreasonwhyallbebenefitsmentionedabovedonotaccruetoourcommunity.Duringthe‘Tabarra’agitationinIknowwhentwoleadingShiaprelates,viz,Nasir-ul-MillatandNajmalUlema,exertedtheirpersonalinfluenceandremovedtheseobstaclesthepassionkindledbythepracticeofweepingandwailingproducedsuchasadmirableeffectsthatitamazednotonlythemembersofthiscommunitybutalsootherswhowitnessedtheeffects,particularlythoseregardedweepingandwailingasacauseorsymptomoftimiditycowardice.Thisindicatesthatifourdefeatsandshortcomingsareremovedthispracticeofweepingandwailingissuretomakeusaliving,Progressiveandsplendidcommunity.
TOMAKEGOODOURLIVEINTHEHEREAFTER
Advantage6:
Onewhoadoptsthestyleofdressormannerspeculiartoacommunityisregardedasbelongingtothatcommunity.Thereisarecognizedpracticesupportedbyawell-knownsayingoftheHolyProphet(S.A).“Hewhomadehimselfresembleacertaingroupbelongstothatgroup”.IthasweepalreadybeenprovedthattheInfallibleImamusedtoandwailovertheafflictionofImamHussain,(a.s)andthispracticewhichwaspeculiartothemdistinguishedthemfromtheirenemies.IfwecontinuethepracticeofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsofImamHussain(a.s),weshallcometoresembletheInfallibleImamsinthisparticularrespectandwhenweshallresemblethemwewillcometoberegardedasbelongingtotheirgroup,asconfirmedbyImamRiza(A.S.)whosaidDeybal:“HewhoweepsoverourafflictionsAllahshallraisehimondayofjudgmentinourgroup.”ItisnotonlyweepingwhichcanhelpustoenterthegroupoftheAhlebait(A.S.)butalsoputtingonasemblanceofgriefandassumingtheappearanceofaweeperfromthem,fromAmeerulMomineenAli(a.s.)says:“ifyouarenotactuallypatientthenputonasemblanceofpatience(i.e.appeartobepatient)forveryoftenhewhoresemblesacertaingroupinregardedasaoneofthatgroup.(LooLoowalMarjan,P31)whenonewithasemblanceofpatiencecanberegardedasapatientpersonwhyonewithasemblanceofgriefandtheassumedappearanceofaweeperfortheAhlebait(a.s.)cannotberegardedasaweeperandwailerovertheiraffrications?Onewiththeassumedappearanceofaweeperwillcertainlyberegardedasaweeper.NowthereareplentyofargumentstoprovethatthelifeofthosewhoareinthegroupoftheAhlebait(a.s.)inthehereafterwillbecomfortable.ThelearnedwriterMullaNazarAliNalqanihasmadeoutanelegantpointinhisbookKaashifulAsrarwhenhesays:“Ifyouareinvitedasaguestandaskedtotakewithyousuchofyourattendantsoffollowersasyoulikeyouhavetodecidewhomtotakewithyou.Doyounotdeservetobeblamedandcensuredifyougotothefeast
withouthimwhoisyourfriendatheartandregardsyouashismaster?WilltheAhlebait(a.s.)leaveusbehindandnottakewiththemwhentheywillgotoParadise?Surelytheywilltakeuswiththemastheirfollowersandattendantsandthusourlifeinthehereafterwillbecomecomfortable.ThisisanotherblessingofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhlebait(a.s.).
TOTAKEUSTHEMOSTSUPERIEDWARDSOFPARADISEINORDERTOMAKEOURLIFEINTHEHEREAFTERMOST
COMFORTABLE
AdvantageNo.7:
whenonhappensoffindorknowthatsomebodyisindistressandismovedtoweepingoutofsympathyforthedistressedoratleastfeelspityforhimnaturallythepersonindistressimaginesonetobesympatheticandfriendlytowardshim.One’sweepingoverhisdistressandfeelingsorrowforhisevilplightmovesthepersonindistresstohaveforoneasoftcornerathisheartofhearts.Hethinkslikethis:Thepersonmovedbymydistresstopityorweepinghasleftmydistressashisown,otherwisehewouldnothavesplithisbloodlikewater,shedwarmtearsindicatinghisexcitedfeelingsofsympathyandhischeekswouldnothavewitheredandlosttheirfreshness.Butheisweepingtearsareflowingfromhiseyesandhisfaceindicatesthathesharesmysorrowheisnotarelation,thoughastrangertomeyethisfeelingsmydistressashisownandhissympathyformehaveactuallybroughthimnearermeandnowheisasclosetomeasmyrelationsandfriendsandassuchisentitledtothesamewarmfeelingsofafflictionandwell-wishingIhaveformyrelationsandfriends.Suchatrendofthoughtofthemanindistressbringshimclosetothepersonwhoweptonhisdistressandmakesformerasympathizerandwell-wisherofthelatter.Itisalawofnatureprovedtobetruebycountlessexamplesofalltimesandgovernstheentiremankindthoughaconsiderablemajorityisnotainclinedtoactaccordingly.IfwekeepweepingandwailingonhearingtheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s),splittingourbloodlikewater,recitingelegiacpoems.Sheddingtearsandbeatingourbreastslikemournersandgrief-strickenpersonwillall
thesethingshavenoeffectontheAhleBait(a.s).Willtheynothaveasoftcornerforusintheirheartsandnotwishuswellandseekourwelfare?WilltheynotdesiretotakeusastheircompanionswhentheygotoParadise?Accordingtothesaidlawofnaturetheyaresuretohaveaffection,regardsandsympathyforusadesireforourwelfareandformakingustheircompanion.Theirwell-wishingisthebestmeansofmakingcomfortableourlifeintheHereafter.TheirfaintestaffectionateglanceisanelixirandapanaceaforallevilsinthetwinklingofaneyeitcanconveyuseventothemostsuperiorwardsofParadise.
Whathasbeenstatedintheproceedinglinesisnotamoreconjecture.ItisnotonlyinkeepingwiththeaforesaidlawofnaturebutisalsoatruthsupportedbymanytraditionsoftheHolyProphet(S.A)andtheInfallibleImam(a.s).ForthesakeofbrevityIreproducedhereunderonlythreeofthem;threebecausetherearethefollowingthreestagesofacomfortablelifeinthehereafter.
(i) Forgivenessofoursinstosaveusfromthetormentsofhell. (ii) AdmissionintoParadiseforenjoyingexternalblessingsthere. (iii) AccesstothesuperiormostwardsofParadisewhichisthelastandthehigheststagesofacomfortablelifeinthehereafter.
IreproduceonetraditionpertainingtoeachofthethreestagesinordertoshowthatwhathasbeensaidisatruthconfirmedbytheworkoractionoftheInfallibleProphet(S.A)ortheImam.
Asregardsforgivenessofsins,ShaikhSadooqinhis‘bookAmali’hascopiedatraditionrecordedbyShaikhMufeed(A.R)hereinImamJafereSadiq(a.s),whilespeakingofImamHussain(a.s),hassaid“He(Hussaina.s)keepsaseyeonthosewhoweepforhimandprayfortheforgivenessoftheirsinsandalsorequesthiselders(theHolyProphet(S.A),hisparentsandelderbrotherHusan(a.s),topraywithhimfortheirforgiveness”(p.34of‘Majalis-e-Mufjeyal).
AsregardsadmissionintoParadise,AllamaMajlisihasrecordedatraditionontheauthorityofreliablepersonsinwhichtheChiefoftheUniverse(theHolyProphet(S.A)saidtotheInfalliblelady(Fatima(A.S)“WhosoeveramongmyfollowersweepforHussainweshalltakehimbythehandandadmithimintoParadise(Majlisi-Mufjeya.P31).
Astotheaccesstothesuperior–mostwardsofParadise.IrefertothewordsofImamReza(a.s)alreadyquotedabove“Hewillbeinourwards.”
DothesetraditionsnotprovethatourweepingovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s),affectstheirheartsandmovesthemtowishuswellandtohelpus?Thesetraditionssurelyprovethis.”
IneednotpointoutthatwhattheAhleBait(a.s)maydesirewillcertainlycometohappenbecauseitisawell-recognizedfactthatalltheirrequestsandprayersaregrantedandtheirintersessionisaccepted.Theyoccupythehighrank,denotedbythewords“WhenwedesiresomethingtobeortodoGodalsowillsitandwedonotdesireanythingunlessGodalsowillsit.”TheirdesiresmustbefulfillalsobecauseAllahhasappointedthemMastersoftheDayofResurrectionandJudgment.PurgatoryandtheMasterofthePurgatory.MasterofParadiseandHellandAwarderoffire(ofHell)andtheGarden(ofParadise).Therefore,whatevertheymaydesiremusthappenandtheywilladmitintoParadisewhomsoevertheywouldlikeandretainwhomevertheylikeintheirsuperior-mostwardsastheirownattendants.Oh!whatagoodsuccess1!
So,onemostimportantadvantageforweepingandwailingovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s)ismakingourlivesinthehereaftermostcomfortablebytakingustothesuperior-mostwardsofParadise.
HavingpointedoutsomeoftheadvantagesoftheweepingandwailingInowrequestfair-mindedtruthlovingpersonstojudgeandannouncewhetherornottheadvantagesareimportantanddesirable.IncasetheyreplyinthenegativeIwouldlikethemtoletmeknowtheadvantagesorbenefitswhichtheyconsidertobemoreimportantandmoredesirablesothatImaycompareandcontrastthemwiththeadvantagesenlistedaboveandknowwhichofthetwosetsofadvantagesarebetterandmoredesirable.ButIdonotthinkanybodycanpointoutbetteradvantages.ThemostimportantadvantagesonecanpointoutcannotbemoreimportantthattheadvantageswhichIhavepointedoutabove.IftheadvantageswhichIhavepointedoutareimportant,whichsurelytheyare,thenReasonwillalsoconfirmtheimportanceofweepingandwailingbecauseweepingandwailingwithitsseveralimportantadvantagesconformstothestandardofimportancesetbyReasonAndwhenargumentsbasedonreasonwillagreewiththeargumentsbasedontraditionsitwillbeunnecessarytoseekinterpretationofthetraditionquotedbymeandtheywillhavetobeacceptedattheirface-valueandunderstandintheirexternalmeaning.SimultaneouslyItwillhavetobeadmittedthatgreatimportanceofweepingandwailinghasbeenprovedbyveryvalidargumentsforthebestpossibleproofoftheexistenceofanythingisthatbothconversationandconviction.I.e.traditionandreason,prove
it,NowthatthegreatimportanceofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.),hasbeenprovedbyargumentsbasedontraditionsaswellasreasononehasnoalternativeotherthantobelieveintheimportanceofweepingandwailingandintheintrinsicworthoftheadvantagesthereof.IfanybodystillrefusestobelieveintheImportanceofWeepingandWailingandrealityoftheadvantagesthereofthenheisguiltyofdiscreditingtheholytraditionsandgoingagainstreason,anunpardonablecrimewhichnosensiblepersoncandaretocommit.So,onehasnoothercourseopenthantobelieveintheimportanceofweepingandwailingovertheaffectionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.).
HereImaypointthattheadvantagesmentionedabovehavebeenpickedoutinarapidsurveybymyshortandslowintellect.NoneknowshowmanyandgreataretheadvantagesofweepingandwailinginthedeeplypenetratingeyesofourInfallibleGuidesofimmeasurablevastknowledge.Butthismuchmustbedemittedthattheybelievedourweepingandwailingoverimportantandthatiswhytheymadeelaborateverbalandpracticalattemptsforpersuadingtheirfollowerstoadoptandpropagatethispracticeasevidencedbyplentyoftraditions.Ifthisepitomeofadvantagesispursuedinconjunctionwiththeadvantagesmentionedbyme,theutilityofweepingandwailingwillappeartobemuchgreaterandanadmissionofitsimportancewillbecomeunavoidable.Asmychiefaimwastoprovetheimportanceofweepingandwailingwhich,(PraisebetoGod),hasnowbeenprovedbeyondalldoubt,Inowclosethischapterandturntoanexaminationoftheelegantsophisticatedexpressionsandquotationsimpressivelyandemphaticallyusedinspeechesandwritingsbytheso-calledenlightenedpersons.
OBJECTOFCONDOLENCEMEETINGWEEPINGANDWAILING
Ishallgiveabriefintroduction,reproducetheexpressionandquotationsandthendrawtheconclusions.
InviewofthevirtueandrewardofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsofHusain(A.S.),asstatedinthetraditionsofourInfallibleGuidesourancestorsandpredecessorsusedtoholdcondolencemeetingsaboutImamHusain(A.S.),weepandwailonhearingofhisafflictionsanddrawthemeetingstoaclosewithtearsinfliereyesandthendisperse.Thiswasthepracticeforseveralcenturiesduringwhichtherealobjectandultimatepurposeofthesecondolencemeetingsneveroccurredtotheirminds.Afterthelapseofalongtimesomepersonstriedtodiscovertherealobjectofthecondolencemeetingsandstartedthediscussionwhichmadeitacontroversialsubject.
AgroupofconservativemindedpeoplewasoftheopinionthattheidealpurposeofthecondolencemeetingswasweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.),andtofeeltheirsorrowandgriefforthecondolencemeetingswereheldincompliancewiththerelativeinjunctionsincludedinthetraditionsregardingweepingandwailingandtomakethementitledtoheavenlyrewards.Accordingtothemtheprincipalobjectofthecondolencemeetingscouldbenootherthanweepingandwailing.Theyregardedweepingandwailingasastandardofsuccessofthecondolencemeetings,themoretheweepingandwailingatameetingthemoresuccessfulthemeetingwasconsideredtobe.
“Themainpurposeofacondolencemeetingisweepingandwailing”wastheirmotto.
Theothergroupcomposedoftheso-calledenlightenedpeoplewasopposedtotheviewthatweepingandwailingwasthemainpurpose.Sometimethegroup
saidonething,sometimeanotherthing.Thedifferentopinionsexpressedbythegrouparereproducehereunder:
SOMESOPHISTICATEDELEGATESTATEMENTSANDCLEVERQUOTATIONSBYTHESO-CALLEDENLIGHTENEDPEOPLE:
(i) ContradictoryStatements:
(a) Thepurposeofanoptionalactivityshouldalsobeoptional.WeepingandwailingistheresultofanuncontrollableandirresistibleemotionandismuchastheafflictionsofHusain(A.S.),aresoheartrendingandsoul-stirringthatonhearingamentionofthemoneweepsandwailsspontaneouslywithoutanyintentionofdoingsoandunattempttearsflowfromone’seyes.Howcanweepingandwailing,whichisnottheresultofone’sintentionorattempt,bethemainpurposeofourcondolencemeetingswhichareheldandorganizedatourwill?
(b) Weepingandwailingisspillingourbloodlikewater.Thishappensasaresultofasuperiorinstinctiveforcebeyondone’scontrolasitoftendoesbutnosamepersonwouldvoluntarilyindulgeinweepingandwailing.Howcanweepingandwailingthenbethemainpurposeofourcondolencemeetingswhichweintentionallyholdandorganizewithacertainpurposeinview.
(c) Themainpurposeofourcondolencemeetingsmustbeanoblesandmoreimportantonethanweepingandwailingsothatthemeetingmayassumeagracefulformofworship.Sinceweepingandwailingisnotanobleandimportantpurposeitcannotbethemainpurposeofourcondolencemeetings.
(d) Themainpurposeofanythingoractionisitsultimateorfinalpurpose.Weepingandwailingisonlyanadditionalorsecondarypurposeofourcondolencemeetingsandnotthemainorultimatepurposewhichissomething
else.Howcanweepingandwailingthenberegardedasthemainpurposeofourcondolencemeetings?
(ii) StatementsFixingthepurposeofcondolenceMeetings:
(a) ThemainpurposeofthecondolencemeetingsisandshouldbethesameasthatofthetragedyofKarbalaandthemartyrdomofHusain(A.S.),ofthetragedyandthemartyrdom.SincethemainpurposeofthetragedyofKarbalaandthemartyrdomofHusain(A.S.)wastodefendthefaithofIslamandtomaketheservantsofGoddutiful,themainpurposeofourcondolencemeetingmustalsobethedefenseofIslamandreformationofmanandnotweepingandwailing.
(b) ThemainpurposeofthecondolencemeetingsistostudytheunderlyingpurposesofthemartyrdomofHusain(A.S.)andtoactforachievementofthosepurposes.ThemartyrdomofHusain(A.S.)hasinitstraininnumerablehiddenpurposes,properactionforachievementofwhichwillleadtosuccessinboththeworlds.Butactionforachievementofthosepurposesisnotpossibleunlessoneunderstandsisofnouseuntiloneachievement.
Theprincipalpurposeofthecondolencemeetingscan,therefore,betostudythemultiplepurposesofthemartyrdomofHusain(A.S.)andtotrytoachievethem.
(c) Themainpurposeofthecondolencemeetingsistogivewidepublicitytothevaststoreofinformation,wise-sayingsandpiecesofgoodadviceoftheAhleBait(A.S.),andtheirinstructionsfortheguidanceofman.Accordingto‘Qurbul-Asnaad,’ImamJaafaer-Sadiq(A.S.),askedFuzailIbneYasaar:Doyoufrequentlyspeakaboutusinthecompanyofyourrelationsandfriends?‘Yes!MayIbesacrificedforyou’answeredFuzail.TheImamadded:’Suchmeetingsareverydeartomewhereintheyremindpeopleofourpurposeandthus,reviveit.‘O’Fuzail!MayAllahbemercifultohimwhoremindspeopleofourpurpose.
RevivaloftheAhleBait(A.S.),meansgivingpublicitytotheirknowledge,for,accordingto‘Miratul-Ulooq(A.R.)(hasrecordedinhisbook‘Maali-ul-Akhbar,areportfromAbdusSalaamwhosaysthatbeheardImamRiza(A.S.),saying:MayAllahbemercifultohimwhokeepsrevivingourpurpose.'Howcan
yourpurposeberevived?'askedAbdusSalaam.Byacquiredknowledgefromusandimpartingitorother.Thesewhowillcometoknowofourvaststoreofinformationandexcellenttalkwilljointhebandofourfollowers,repliedtheImam,AsimultaneousconsiderationofthesetwostatementsbytheImamobviouslyleadstotheconclusionthattheprincipalpurposeofourcondolencemeetingsisthepublicityofthewisdomandinformationoftheAhleBait(A.S.).
CONCLUSION
ThediscussionaboutfixationofapurposeforthecondolencemeetingsisafairsubjectofdiscussionbyitselfbutitisimpropertointerminglethiswiththediscussionregardingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.),withaviewtobelittletheimportanceofweepingandwailingbydislodgingitasthemainpurposeofcondolencemeetings,becausetheargumentswhichprovetheimpotenceofweepingandwailingarenotbasedonitsbeingthemainpurposebutareindependentargumentsfreefromsuchconsideration.Evenifweepingandwailingisnotthemainpurposeofcondolencemeetingstheargumentswillinevitablyproveitsimportanceincondolencemeetingsandinothercondolatoryrituals.Itisnotanappropriateoccasionfordiscussingthepurposeofcondolencemeetings,becauseifitisprovedthatweepingandwailingisthemainpurposethenitwillbeanadditionalargumentinfavouroftheimportanceofweepingandwailing,ifnotproved,itwillinnowaydiminishtheimportanceofweepingandwailing,fortheindependentargumentsinitsimportance.IftheystillinsistondiscussingthepurposeIshallusetherightofadvancingcounterargumentsbecausethediscussionislikelytoinfluencetheimportanceofweepingandwailingthevindicationofwhichisthesoleobjectofthisbooklet.HereunderIbrieflyexpressmyviewonthepurposeofourcondolencemeetings.
InearliercenturiesoftheIslamicerathemainpurpose,naytheonlypurpose,ofthecondolencemeetingswasweepingandwailing.InthecondolencemeetingsheldorattendedbytheInfallibleImamsonlytheafflictionsoftheAhleBaitweredescribedandtherewasnomentionofanythingelse.Evidentlytherecouldbenootherpurposeofdescribingonlytheafflictionsthanweepingandwailing.Ifweepingandwailingwasnotthepurposethanthecondolencemeetingsofthosedayswerepurposeless,whereasnowordoractionoftheInfallibleImamswaspurposeless,i.e.,invain.AvainactionisnegationofInfallibility.Itis,therefore,inevitabletoadmitthattheonlypurposeofthecondolencemeetingsofthoseandwailingwasweepingandwailingandalsothatweepingandwailingwastheprimaryandnotasecondarypurpose.Itwouldhavebeenasecondarypurposeonlyiftherewassomeotherpurposeofprimaryimportance.SinceonlytheafflictionsoftheAhleBait.(A.S.),weredescribedin
thosemeetingsandnothingelse,therefore,therecouldbenootherpurpose,nothingtosayoftheprimarypurpose,ofthesemeetings.
Butthemainpurposeofourmoderncondolencemeetingsis,sotosayacompoundoftwoingredients-weepingandwailingwhichwasformerlytheonlypurpose)andteachingandcorrectionofreligiousbeliefsandobservance.ThesecondingredientwasaddedwhenwediscoveredthatourcondolencemeetingsbegunabruptlywithanaccountofafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)oftenprovetobeineffectiveanddonotmovetheaudiencetoweepingandwailing.Itwas,therefore,conedrednecessarytogivesomesuitableintroductionasapreliminarytothediscourseonafflictions.InerrortofulfillthisneedandalsotomakeourcondolencemeetingsmoreusefulweincludedsomeofthemostimportanttopicsinIslam,i.e.,thebasicDivineInstructionsregardingbetterspiritualandtemporallifeandothertheologicalprinciplesoftheJ'afrisect(Ie.,Shiareligion)toserveasintroduction.So,thetwoingredientsofmoderncondolencemeetingsare:
(i) thesubsequentlyincludedintroductionorpreliminarydiscourse,generallyknownas:Faza-yel'adescriptionofthesuperiorvirtuesandmeritsoftheAhleBait(A.S.),and,(ii)theotherthesameoldingredientwhichfollowstheintroductionandisgenerallycalled'Masa-yebl'anaccountoftheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.).Thetwoingredientsservetwodifferentpurposes,oneimpartstotheaudiencetheoreticalandpracticalreligiousknowledgewhiletheothermovesthemtoweepingandwailing.Thesetwoingredientswhichtogethermakethemainpurposeofmoderncondolencemeetingsarenotonlyimportantbutveryimportant.Eachoneofthemismoreimportantthantheotherfromseparatepointsofview.Thefirstingredientbeinganintroductiontotheother,i.e.,themainthemeofacondolatoryspeech,isoflessimportancethantheotherwhilebyitselfisamoreimportantingredientbecausethisconsistsoftheveryspiritofIslam,theDivineCommandmentsandProhibitions;whiletheotheringredientofthejointpurpose,weepingandwailingpertainstoritualsandobservancesofIslamandisthusofsecondaryimportance.Thoughweepingandwailingbyitselfisnotasimportantastheintroductionbuthereitisofgreaterimportancebecausethemainthemeis,asarulemoreimportantthanitsintroduction.Soboththeingredientsareofgreatimportanceandnoneofthemshouldbetreatedastriflingorinsignificant.
MyaboveopinionthrowsafaintlightonthefactthatIneitheragreenoraltogetherdisagreewithanyofthetwoaforesaidgroup.TosomeextentIagree
withboth,tosomeextentIdisagree.IagreewiththeconservativegroupinsofarasIbelieveweepingandwailingtobethemainpurposeofcondolencemeetingsanddisagreewithitwhenitconfinesthemainpurposeofcondolencemeetingstoweepingandwailingandsays,"Weepingandwailingaloneisthepurposeofcondolencemeetings."IfthegroupmeanstosaythattheprimarypurposeofcondolencemeetingsisweepingandwailingasaresultofhearingoftheafflictionoftheAhleBait(A.S.),andtherestisofsecondaryorsubsidiaryimportancethenIagreewithit.Butthisdoesnotimplythatthefirstingredient,theintroductionor'Fazayel',asitiscalled,isofnoimportance.Itsimportanceisinherent.IfthegroupmeansthatweepingandwailingisallinallandtheintroductionisofnosignificancethenIdisagreewithitbecausetheintroductiondealswiththemostimportanttopicsinIslam-DivineCommandmentsandProhibitions,thearticlesoffaithandreligiousobservancesandothertheologicalprinciples.Noreligiousmindedpersoncandenytheimportanceofthesetopicsandregardtheintroductionasofnosignificance.Hewhoregardsuchanintroductiontobeunnecessaryorimmaterialwillbeopposedandcontradicted.Myagreementanddisagreementwiththeothergroup,brieflyforeshadowedbytheopinionIhaveexpressedabouttheconservativegroup,willbefullyexplainedbythefollowingcriticalexaminationofthesophisticatedandelegantstatementsandquotationsbytheso-calledenlightenedpersons.
ACRITICALEXMINATIONOFABOVESTATEMENTSANDQUOTATIONSBYTHESO
CALLEDENLIGHTENEDPERSON
TheyexpressinafewsentencesalreadyquotedtheirdenialofweepingandwailingbeingthemainpurposeofcondolencemeetingInowproceedtodiscussthepointcontainedinthosesentencesonebyone.
StatementNo.1:Theysaythatitisonlyinthecaseofanoptionalactivitythatwehaveanidealormainpurposetoserve.Thereisnoidealtoachieveinacaseofnatural,instructiveorobligatoryactivity.WeepingnWailingisalmostalwaysanaturalinstinctiveactivityandrarelyadoptsanoptionalvoluntaryactivityasameansofachievingthepurpose,weepingorwailingormakingothersweepandwail.Awrestlerwantstobecomepowerfulbutitisnotpossibleforhimtobecomepowerfulallofasudden.Hetherefore,startsphysicalexercisetobecomepowerfulonday.AservantofGodwantstoapproachhisCreatorandtobecomeHisfavorite,butitisnotpossibleforhimtowinthefavorofhisLordimmediately.HethereforestartspayinghomagetoGodmorefrequentlyworshippingHimmoredevotedlyandrenderingasmuchservicetoHiscreaturesaspossiblesothathetheywinDivinefavor,andsoon.GrownpowerfulorwinningfavoroftheCreatorarethenaturalidealsorultimatepurposeachievedbymeansbyoptionalorvoluntaryactivity.Thisgoestopointoutthatanidealingenerallynaturalorobligatoryandbeingnaturalorobligatoryisnotanobstacleinthewayofanideal.Evenifwesupposeeveryformofweepingandwailingtobenaturalorinstinctivestillitcanbeaproperidealofcondolencemeetings,justasbecomingpowerfulorwinningfavouroftheCreatorwhichareuncontrollableachievementscanbetheidealsofphysicalexerciseorfrequentandmoredevoteworship.Similarity,weepingandwailingwhichisaninstinctiveornaturalactivitycanbefitidealcondolencemeeting.Butitiswrongtosupposethatweepingandwailingisalwaysinstinctiveandnaturalactivity.Itisoptionalaswellasnatural.Therewouldbenorewardfor
weepingandwailingifitwasnotoptional,becauseanaturalactivityisneitherrewardablenorpunishable……….Ithasbeenadmittedthatweepingandwailingwillberewardeditmustalsobeadmittedthatweepingandwailingisnotalwaysnaturalsometimesitisoptionalasweepingandwailingincondolencemeetings.Sincethe…….Optionalactivityshouldalsobeoptionalasadmittedbythemnotinstinctiveornatural,whyweepingandwailinganoptionalactivity,cannotbetheidealofcondolencemeetingsheldororganizeatwill?Itcanbeand………..isanidealormainpurposeofcondolencemeetings.
StatementNo.2:Weepingandwailingbyitselfisgenerallynotafitobjectforbeinganidealbecauseitis,asstatebymyopponent“Spillingone’sbloodlikewater”.Butthisdoesnotimplythatweepingandwailingcaninnocaseserveasanideal.Noformofworshipbyitselfitfitforbeinganideal,becauseitentailsphysicalexertionwithoutcomfortandexpenditureofmoneywithoutincome.NomaterialbenefitaccruesfromthevariousformofDevineworship,stilltherearethemainpurposeourcreationandtheidealsofourlifebecausethereserveasmeansofapproachofGod.Similarity,weepingandwailingwhichisspillinginourvaluablebloodaswater,byitselfmaybeincapableofbeinganideal,butthisdoesnotcompletelyruleoutthepossibilityitsservingasanideal.Sincethereaccruesfromweepingandwailingnumerousmostimportantbenefitwhereupondemandstoagreatextentandsuccessandprosperityofourspiritualtemporalreligioussociallifeweepingandwailingcanbeandcertainlyisaverysuitableidealofourcondolencemeetings.
StatementNo.3:DotheythinkthattheidealofourcondolencemeetingsshouldbeasimportantastheidealoftheentireteachingsofIslam-ourperfectreformationandsuccessinthislifeintheHereafter?.Buttheidealofnoneofthevariousbranchesoffaith,I.e.religiousobservance,issoimportant.ThereisanidealeachofNamaz(DailyPrayers),Roza(RamzanFasting),Zakat(Annual2…%Tax,payabletotheindigentMuslims)andHaj(AnnualPilgrimagetotheHolyKaba),butsomeoftheseidealsisanimportantasidealoftheentireteachingofIslam.NosensiblepersonwillassertthattheidealofthevariousreligiousobservancesarenotidealssimplybecausenoneofthemisofgreatimportanceastheidealsoftheentireteachingofIslam.SimilarityifweepingandwailingasanidealisnotofasgreatimportanceastheidealofentireteachingIslamitdoesnotsufferitspositionasanideals.Ifbyimportancetheymeansbareimportancebyitselflikethatoftheidealsofotherreligiousobservancethenwhycanweepingandwailingnotbeasimportantandloftyaimandavaluableidealinspireofthenumerousimportantbenefitsaccruablefrom
it,themostimportantbeingtheeasiestmeansofmakingthesuperior-mostwordsofParadiseaccessibletous?.Itcanbeandcertainlyisthevaluableideal.Justasthepurposebehindtheconstructionofamosqueisthatthefaithfulmayhavethefacilityofsayingtheirprayersthere,thepurposeofestablishingaschoolforreligiousstudyisthateducationinreligioussubjectsmaybeimpartedthereandthepurposeofholding“Mehfils”(meetingofmanifestationofjoy)isthatwemaycollectivelyexpressourjoyonhearingthegreatvirtuesandmeritsofourInfallibleSpiritualGuides,sothepurposeofholdingacondolencemeetingsisthatonhearingoftheunparalleledafflictionoftheAhleBaih(a.s),wemaycollectivelyexpresstheirgriefonwhichdependstoalargeextentourspiritualandmaterialprogress.Soweepingandwailingiscertainlyimportantasidealsofcondolencemeetingsandwhentothisimportanceisaddedtheimportanceofthepurposeofintroduction,I,e,preliminarydiscussofcondolencemeetings,thentheidealofcondolencemeetingsassumeafargreaterimportanceandwhenitisso,whycannotweepingandwailingbeasplendidandgracefulformofworship?.
Hereitwillnotbeoutofplacementionthatthegroupsometimessaysthatitdoesnotdenytheimportanceofweepingandwailing,perhapsitwasexpedientforthegrouptosayso.Ifsomebodyblamesthegroupdenytheimportanceofweepingandwailinginthefaceofcountlesstraditionsconfirmingitthegroupmaydefenditselfbysayingthatitdoesnotaltogetherdenytheimportanceontheotherhands,ithasalwaysbelievedintheimportanceofweepingandwailing.Thisdoubtoccurinmymindbecauseitthegroupsincerelybelieveintheimportanceofweepingandwailingthenitshouldpointoutthereasonsforitsbeliefandifthebeliefintheimportantisbasedoncertaingoodreasonswhydoesthegroupnotdeclaretheirimportanceone-tenthoftheliteraryeffortsthatitmakesindismissingweepingandwailingasanobleidealofcondolencemeetings?.Andwhyisthegroupcontentwithsayingthatitdoesnotdenytheimportanceofweepingandwailing?Ifthey….Believeintheimportanceofweepingandwailingbecauseofthemanytraditionofpointingoutitsimportanceandfornootherreasonsthenwhydoesitsaythatweepingandwailingitacceptedasanidealofcondolencemeetingsmarsthegraceofthesemeetingsanddoesnotassumessplendidandgracefulformofworship?.Arethebrief!;mentionedreasonsonthebasicofwhichtraditionpointouttheweepingandwailingtotheimportancegroupbloodyregardsittobesowithoutproperlyconsideringthem,notsufficienttomakeweepingandwailingtonobleidealandoutcondolencemeetingsplendidandgraceful.Ifthesereasonsarenotsufficientwhyistoso?Ifsufficientwhywillthecondolencemeetingnotbea
splendidandgracefulformofworship?.Whydoesthegroupreactweepingandwailingasanidealonthelameexcusethatitadversaryeffectsthesplendorandgraceofourcondolencemeeting?.Thedoubtthatthegroup’sadmissionsoftheimportanceofweepingandwailingisamatterofpolicyappeartobereal,particularlywhenthegroupregardsweepingandwailingasmorespillingasourvaluablebloodaswater.Icannotreasonablythinkthatthegroupssincerelybelieveweepingandwailingtobeimportant.
StatementNo.4:Ithasbeensaidthatthemainpurposeoridealoranythingoractionisitultimateorfinalpurpose.Asweepingandwailingisonlyanadditionalsecondarypurposeofourcondolencemeetingitcannotbethemainorprimarypurposeofthemeetings.Ihavealreadyprovedweepingandwailingtobemainandprimarypurposeofcondolencemeetingsandfurtherdiscussionofthepointisunnecessary.Thecontradictorystatementshavealsobeendiscussedbriefly.Inowproceedtodiscussthestatementsandevocationsusedbythegroupaboutfixingthepurposeoridealsofcondolencemeeting.
Statement(a):TheysaythatthemainpurposeoridealofcondolencemeetingsshouldbethesameasthatoftragedyofKarbalaandthemartyrdomofImamHussain(a.s).IftheymeantosaythatthereshouldbeapracticaldemonstrationoftheeventsofKarbalainthemeetingsthentheymustbedisappointed.Ithappennowhere.TheydonotsetuptwoarmiesoneforYazeedandotherforHussain(a.s),theformersubjectingthelattertooppressiontocruelty,violently,attackingandfinallyfishingitandtheletteroppressedbutthesteadyandundauntedforsacrificingeverythingforthesupportanddefenseofthetruefaith.Thepracticaldemonstration,whichisrare,isconfinedonlytoadisplayofpicturesandportraits,imitationarmsandbiersandthecondolencemeetingcannotbeinthissensetruememorialsofthetragedyofKarbalaandmartyrdomofHussain(a.s).IfbyatruememorialbymeanthattheaggressionandviolencetowhichImamHussain(a.s),hisrelationsandfriendsandmembersofhishouseholdweresubjectedshouldberelatedandtheaudiencemovedtoweepingandwailingsothatthetragedyofKarbalamaynotgraduallysinkintooblivionthenourcondolencemeetingsarenodoubttruememorialofthetragedyofKarbalaandthemartyrdomofImamHussain(a.s).Butinthiscasethemainpurposeofcondolencemeetingisobviouslytokeepaliveandafreshthetragedyandmartyrdombymeanweepingandwailinganditspreliminariesandtogetthebenefitaccruablefromitandnotwhichwastheprimaryobjectandmainpurposeoftheactualtragedyandthemartyrdom.Thatindirectlythisisalsothepurposeandanidealofourcondolencemeetingisadifferentmatter.
ThismakeitclearthatdespiteofadifferenceoftheprimaryobjectandthemainpurposeourcondolencemeetingsarethememorialofthetragedyofKarbalaandthemartyrdomofImamHussain(a.s),andthisdifferencedoesnotadverselyeffectstheirmemoryandalsothattheprimaryobjectofmeetingscannotbethesameasthedirectprimaryobjectoftheactualtragedyandmartyrdomofHussain(a.s).
Statement(b):ItisliterallytruethatthetragedyofKarbalaandmartyrdomofImamHussain(a.s)arerepletewithobviousandimpliedmoralswhichmayleadustoprosperityinbothofworlds.Butthosemoralsarenotthemainorultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetingsbecauseeverythingthatisjustandtruecannotevidentlybetheultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetings.Again,hadthosemoralsbeentheultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetingstherewouldhavebeenonrecordcountlesswordsandactionsofourInsatiableGuidespointingoutanddwellingupontheimportanceandvirtuesofthosemorals;andwhenthecondolencemeetingswerefirstorganizedbythoseGuidestheywouldhavebegunthemeetingswithdiscourseonsameofthoseobviousandimpliedmoralsofthemartyrdomofImamHussain(a.s)andalsoaskedandemphatically,persuadedotherstospeakonthosemoralssothattheirfollowersmighthavetreatedmoralsastheultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetings.ButneithersuchwordsandactionsarerecordsnorthosemoralswerementionedordiscussonthecondolencemeetingsforcenturiestogetherafterthedaysoftheInFaithfullImam.AsamatteroffactthosemoralsdidnotoccurinthemindofthemournersofAhleBait(a.s),nothingtosayofthementionsordiscussionthereofontheotherhandthereareplentyoftraditionsandreportregardingwhattheImamorderedtheirfollowerstokeepaliveandthereareallaboutfrequentmentionoftheirvirtuesandmeritsandtheirafflictionandnotaboutthestudyandunderstandingoftheobviousandimpliedmoralsofthemartyrdomandmentioningthemandputtingthemintopractice.Itcannot,thereforebeconcludedthatastudymentionandpracticeofthosejustandtruemoralsistheultimatepurposeofcondolencemeeting.ThetragedyofKarbalaandthemartyrdomofImamHussain(a.s),arenodoubtrepletewiththosemoralswhichmayleadtoprosperityinboththeworldsbuteventhisfactdoesnotqualifythosemoralsforbeingtheultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetings.
Secondlyreligiousduties,asaruledonotdemandausterityandrigorinthesamemeasurefromeveryone.Thesedutiesbeliefsandobservancebothareelasticenoughtosuittheindividualconcernedandhisenvironment.Thereisa
traditionwhichsaythatifAbuZaidwereawareoftheconditionoftheheartofUmar,I.e.,hisinnermostthoughtsandbeliefs,hewouldhaveeitherdeclareUmaranInfidelorputhimtodeath.PerhapsthereisanothertraditionsayingthatifUmarwereawareoftheconditionoftheheartofAbuZaid,Umaralsowouldhaveactedsimilarity.Itistobecauseofthedifferenceintheposition,constitution,temperamentandenvironmentofindividualandwhatisincumbentupononindividualistheperformanceofthatelasticformofdutywhichconformtohisspecialcircumstances,whetherthedutyismoreorlessrigorousthanthesamedutyofanotherindividual.InthecaseofNamaz(dailyprayers),forexample,whatisincumbentuponthepiouspeopleistoperformNamazinsuchawayasmaykeepthemawayfromallprohibitedandforbiddenthingsashasbeensaidintheQuran.“VerilyNamazrestrained(one)fromfaithandevil”.Butitisnotincumbentupontocommon……toperformNamazinasimilarway.WhatisincumbentuponthemistoperformthedailyprayersregularlyandpunctuallywhetherornottheNamazkeepsawayfromfaithandevil.Again,asregardsrecitationofQuran,thedutyofthepiouspeopleistoobservemeticulouslytheetiquetteofrecitationoftheQuranandtoponderoverthemeaningandimplicationsoftheverseswhilereciting.WhatisincumbentsuponthecommonfolkisonlytoreciteQurancorrectlywhetherornottheyobservethefulletiquetteoftherecitationandunderstandthemeaningandimplicationoftheverses.
So,themostdifficultdutyofstudying,relatingandputtingintopracticetheobviousandimpliedmoralsofthetragedyofKarbalaandthemartyrdomofHussain(a.s),couldnotbemadeincumbentsuponallthepeople,thepiousandthecommonfolk.Thedutywasnotmuchtooexactingforcommonfolkbutalsobeyondtheircapacityandtherefore,couldnotbemadeincumbentsuponthegroups,thepiouspeopleandthecommonfolk.Howcoulditthentoregardastheultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetings?Oneis,therefore,compelledtoconsulatethatitisincumbentsuponthepiousandintelligentpeopletoweepandwailovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s),andatthesametimetostudyandrelatealsotoputintopracticethemorals;whilethedutyofcommonfolkistorelateorlistentotheafflictionsoftheAhlaBait(a.s),andtoweepandwailovertheafflictioninordertokeepaliveandfreshinmemoryofthepeoplethetragiceventofKarbalasothatthosewhoarecapableofdeepcorrectthinkingmayfindanoccasionforstudyoftheimpliedmoralsandexploringwayofputtingthemintopractice,thoughthecommonfolkmaynotfollowthemoralspracticallyinspiteoftheunderstandingthem.Tosumup,itisnodoubtdesirabletotrytounderstandthemoralsofthetragedyandthemartyrdomandalsotoputthem
intopractice,butthisisnotpossibleforallofus,hence,itcannotbetheultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetings.Theultimatepurposemustbesuchasmaybepossibleforallofustoachieve.
Statement(c):Theword‘Majlis’inArabichasameaningdifferentfromthatinurdu.InArabic‘Majlis’meansanyplaceoroccasionwheresomepersonsittogetherirrespectiveofthepurposeoftheirgathering,whileinurdu‘Majlis’meansameetingwherethetragiceventofKarbalaarerelated.So,theword‘Majlis’occurringinArabicdoesnoteverywheremeansameetingorganizedinmemoryofthePrinceofmartyrdom,ImamHussain(a.s).Theword‘Majlis’occurringinthetraditionquotedfrom“QurbalAsnad“and“MiratulUqool”conveytheusualArabicsenseofaplaceoroccasionwheresomepersonmeetbyaccidentlyorintensionandsittogether,andthosetraditionmeansthatwhereverorwheneverwehappentomeetandsittogetherweshould,amongotherthinkspeaksofthemissionoftheAhleBait(a.s)andparticularlyrelatetheiraffliction.Neithertheword“Majlis”occurringinthosetraditionsmeanscondolencemeetingsnorwhatisstatedthereisthedirectandultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetings.SincetheexistenceormentionofaparticularnecessarilyimpliestheexistenceormentionofageneralwithallitsaccessoriesorrequirementsasthereshouldalsobeamentioninthecondolencemeetingsofthemissionoftheAhleBait(a.s),andpublicityoftheirvastknowledgeandstoreofinformation.Butthisisusuallyoneofthetopicsofdiscussioninourcondolencemeetings.RejoicingonhearingthevirtuesandmeritsoftheAhleBait(a.s)andweepingandwailingonhearingoftheirafflictionarethemosteffectivemeansofkeepingalivetheirmissionandthesearetheimportantconstitutionofourcondolencemeetings,butthisdoesnotprovethepublicityoftheknowledgeandinformationoftheAhleBait(a.s)isthesolepurposeofthecondolencemeetings.PossiblythemainpurposeofthecondolencemeetingsissomethingwhichalsoentailsapublicityoftheAhleBait(a.s),e.g.weepingandwailingovertheirafflictionwhichdirectlykeepalivetheirmissionandalsoentailsapublicityoftheirotherfunction.Inshort,aforesaidtraditiondonotopposeweepingandwailingsothemainpurposeofcondolencemeetingsandcannotreasonablybeadvancedasargumentsagainstweepingandwailingasthemainpurpose.
TheforegoingdiscussionmakeitclearhowfarIagreeanddisagreeforthestatementsandquotationsofthesocalledenlightenpersonsandalsothatsomeofthestatementsandquotationsareincorrectwhileotherarecorrectbutarenotopposedtotheimportanceofweepingandwailing.Thestatementsofthelatter
categoryarecorrectandalsotheimportanceofweepingandwailinginjust.
Inowreverttothemainthemeofmydiscourse.
IntheintroductiontothispamphletIhavestatethatasimportantcasteofthedeclineinweepingandwailingistheimpressioncreatedonthemindsonourpeoplebytheelegantandsophisticatedstatementsandquotationofthesocalledenlightenpersonswhichwasgraduallybelievingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingintheireyes.Thepurposeofthispamphletistoeffacethatinpressionandthiscouldbedonebydiscussionsthosestatementsandshowingthatthesameshouldnothavesoimpressedourpeople.
NowthatthestatementshavebeendiscussedIagreetopointoutthatthesamedonotadverselyaffecttheimportanceofweepingandwailing,primarily,becausetheimportanceofweepingandwailingisbasedonthosevalidargumentswhichareindependentofitsbeingthemainpurposeofcondolencemeetings.Secondarily,someofthestatementsareofincorrectimplicationandbeingadverselyimpressedbythemsignifiesignoranceandfolly.Ifthestatementsarecorrectinimplicationbutnotopposed,toweepingandwailingthesameshouldnotadverselyaffecttheimportanceofweepingandwailing,foronlyoppositethingsproduceanadverseeffectandnotthosewhicharefavorableorareneitheroppositenorfavorable.Thus,thereisnoreasonwhyweepingandwailingshouldbeadverselyeffectedbythosestatements.Butthesadexperienceisthatnowthepeopledonotattachthesameimportancetoweepingandwailingastheyusetodointhepast.Itistherefore,necessarytodiscoverthereasonofthedeterioration.Apparently,eitherthereasonisthatthesocalledenlightenedpersonsmakestheirstatementssoelegantlyandlaysomuchemphasisonthemthatthestatementappeartobesuppuratingtheimportanceofweepingandwailing,orilliteracyandignoranceofthepartofthepeople.
Aremarkablecharacteristicofthecommonpeopleisthattheyaresoimpressedbythestatementsthatwithoutanygoodreasonstheybegintothinkweepingandwailingtobeunimportantandinsignificant.Ihavetherefore,tosayawordeachtothesocalledenlightenedpersonsandtothecommonpeople.
ThesocalledenlightenedpersonIhavetoadversarytheyshouldfirstthoroughlyandcarefullyresolvetheirpopulist.Ideasintheirmindsandseeifthesearecorrect.Iftheyareconvinceofthecorrectnessoftheirideas,theymayfreelycommunicatethemtoothers;buttheyshouldseethattheexpressionof
theirideasdoesnotadversaryaffecttheimportanceofweepingandwailing.
Amoredesirablecurseisthatwhileexpressingtheirideastheymaysimulatepointouttheimportanceofweepingandwailingtothattheimportanceofweepingandwailingthatnotappeartobesinking.
To,thepeopleIhavetorelatedthatiftheycontinuetobesoimpressedbythestatementofthesocalledenlightenedpersonastothinkweepingandwailingtobeunimportantandinsignificantswithoutanygoodreasoneverysensiblepersonwillhavetoregardthemasignorantandlackingincommonsense.
Ifuarenotagreeabletothis,andindeedyoushouldnotbethenforGod’ssakechangeyourattitudeceasetobeimpressedbythesestatementsandadoptthatattitudeofyourForefathersandrefusethestatementsbyactingagainstthem.Theimpressivesightofyourweepingandwailingsimilartotheseofthepartwillreflectthechangeofyourattitudeandtheneverybodywillregardsyouassensibleforesightedintendofignorantandlackingincommonsense.
WhenthesewordsareadviseandwarningIclosethediscussionandbeginasermononweepingandwailing.Whathasbeensaidsofarwillremaindeficientandincompletewithoutthissermonwhichisanessentialcomplementandindispensiblepartofmydiscourse,becauseactionaccordingtotheobviousrequirementofthediscourseindependentofthesermonwillbelikeactionaccordingto“Approachnotprayer”neglecting“Whenyouareindexcatted.
THESERMONONWEEPINGANDWAILING
Inspiteofmyattemptforbrevitythroughoutthispamphlethasbecomequitevoluminous.Itwillbeanythingbutdesirabletomakeitstillmorevoluminous.
Ishall,thereforeconfinemyselftoafewpointsinconnectionwiththesermonandeventheseIshallmentionasbrieflyaspossible.
(i) ThediscussionabouttheimportanceofweepingandwailinghasmadeitclearthatweepingandwailingovertheafflictionofAhleBait(a.s),isnotonlyaformofworshipbutalsothebestformofworship.
ForGod’ssakedonotallowthisnoblestformofworshiptobestainedorspoiltwithanythingthatmayimpairoraltogetherruinitsgoodaffects,e.g.
Hypocrisy,Itmeansdoingagoodactionwiththeintensionofbeingseenbyothersbyothersknowingofhisgoodactionlateronsothattheymayrespecthimforhisgoodactionsympathizewithhimandholdhiminafflictionandifhealreadycommandstheirrespectandhaswontheirsympathyandafflictiontheymaybebecomemoreardentintheirrespect,sympathyandafflictionforhim.ThisHypocrisyinanyformofworshipisstrictlyorforbidden.ThereisaconsensusofopinionamongthetheologianabouttheforbiddanceinadditiontoverseoftheQuranandtheHolytraditions(placerefertoMerajusSadat).Hypocrisyspoilsthebeautyofworshipanddeprivesitofitsefficacy.Aworshipbasedonortintedwithhypocrisycannotbearightandrewardableformofworship.Possiblymaynullifytheworshipandmakeitcauseofdivinewrathandpunishment.Ifonweepsandwailswiththeintensionofimpressingothersasazealousmournerandbeingpraisedbythem,orimpressingtheorganizerofcondolencemeetingandexpectingfromhimsomefavororhassimilarotherendinviewthenonceweepingandwailingwillnotbearightformofworship.Itwillnotonlydeprivetheweepingandwailingofitsefficacybutmayalsochangeitintoasevilactionandmakeitacauseofdivinewrathpunishment.Itis
saidthatweepingandwailingistheformofworshipwhichcannotbenullifiedbyhypocrisywhichisquitedesirableinthiscase.Hypocrisycannotspoilthebeautyandefficacyofweepingandwailingbecausethetraditionsemphasizingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingalsodirectustoputontheappearanceofaweeperifwedonotorcannotreallyweep.Thepurposeofputtingontheappearanceofaweepercannotbeanythingotherthanmakingotherbelievesthatweareweepingwhileactuallywearenotweeping.Thisisavenomousideaandaruinousproductoftheperversemindofanignorant“Zakir”(thepersonwhorelatesthetragiceventsofKarbalainaCondolencemeeting.)ThereisnotasingleargumentinfavorofthisexceptionAgaintheword“Tabaki”(puttingontheappearanceofaweeper)occurringintraditionsdoesnotmeanwhatthe“Zakir”hassupposedittomeanandevenifthehasthesamemeaningindoesnotconveythesamesenseasthe“Zakir”understandsorwantstoconveytohisaudience.Scholarshavenotincludedweepinginthelistofexceptionalcases.Hadtherebeenanyargumentinfavoroftheexceptiontheywouldhavecertainlymentionedit.Theword“Tabaki”meanseither
(i) Totrytoweepasstatedinsehah,Qamoos,andMajmaulBahrain,standardArabicdictionaries.Theword“Tabaki”occurringintraditions,therefore,meansmakinganattemptatweepingsothatonemayactuallyweepandnotputtingontheappearanceofaweepiersothatothersmayseeoneweeping,whileonisneitherweepingnorwishtoweep.Thereisagulfofdifferencebetweenthemeaningof‘Tabak’expressedintheabove,inspiredbysomevenomousideaandthemeaningstatedbymeandwhichareaccordingtothestandarddictionariesofArabiclanguage.Ifyouwishtounderstandmoreclearlythedifferencebetweenthetwomeaningyoumaypleaserefertotheexplanationoftheword‘Tabaki’ascontainedinLoolonValMarjanbyAllamaNoori.Theword‘Tabaki’intraditiontherefore,doesnotmeanputtingontheappearanceofaweepiertomakeothersbelievethatweareweeping.Itiswrongtoassertthathypocrisyorpresencetoweepdoesnotdepriveweepingandwailingofitsefficacybutitdesirableinthisformofworship.Or,itmeans
(ii) expressionofweepingwhenactuallythereisnoweeping,justanTaghoofulmeansexpressingignorancewhenthereisactuallynoignorance;asappearastheworkofeminentgrammarianswhensaythatacharacteristicfeatureoftheverbsinthecategoryofTufaulisthattheyconveyasenseofaffectationorundertakingofatasklike‘Tashajjo’and‘Tahalum’.Buttheverseinthecategoryof‘Tafaul’doesnotconveythesenseofaffectationofundertakingofatask.Theyconveyasensedifferentfromthoughsomewhatakintothesense
conveyedbytheverbsintheformercategory.IbneHijabinhisbook‘Shafiya’hasincludedforaffectationamongthecharacteristicsoftheverbsinthecategoryof‘Tafaul’butnotmentioned‘affectation’amongthecharacteristicsoftheverbsinthecategoryof‘Tafaaulinseteadhesaystheverbsincategoryof‘Tafaaul’arealsousedtoconveythesensethatsubjecthasperformedanactionwhereashehasnotactuallyperformedit,e.g.‘Taghafulto’means“IshowedmyignorancesothatthepersonspokentobymemaythinkmetobeignominywhenIwasnotactuallyexplainedandthegreatresearchscholarRazihasexplaineditas:“IshowedmyselftobeignorantandIwasignorantwhereasIwasnotatallignorant”.ThesenseofaffectationconveyedbytheverbsinthecategoryofTafaulinquiteadifferentthingandthesubjectoftheverbattemptsastheperformanceoftheactionandwantstohaveitperformedlikeTahallamawhichmeansattemptingtobecomeforbearingsothatthesubjectoftheverbTahallamamayactuallybecomeforbearingandnottomakeafalsedisplayofforbearancetomakeotherbelievethatheisforbearingwhenactuallyheisnotforbearing.Thecharacteristicimplicationoftheverbsinthecategoryof‘Tafaaul’asmentionedaboveisthatthesubjectdoesnotwishtobecomewhatheafflictandshowhimselftobe.Heafflictshimselftobewhatactuallyheisnotasamatterofpolicy.Similarly,‘Tamarazto’meansthatIafflictedmyselftobesickwhileIwasneitheractuallysicknorwishedtofallsickbuttheoccasiondemandedmetoafflictsicknessandIafflictedit.Theword‘Tabaki’accordingintraditions,therefore,meansafflictiontoweep,butcertainlyitdoesnotmeanpretenseofweeping.Accordingtotheetiquetteofthecondolencemeetingseveryonepresentshouldotheractuallyweeporappeartobeweepingifhecannotactuallyweep,sothatthesightofthemeetingsasawholemayindicateittobeacondolencemeeting.Anythingthatisanti-condolatoryshouldbestrictlyavoided.So,onewhocannotactuallyweepinacondolencemeetingshouldputontheappearanceofweepiernotwiththeintensionofbeingsuchtobeweepingwhileoneisactuallynotweepingbutwiththeintensionofseekingthepleasureofGodandatthesametimemakinganattempttoweepactually.Weepingsoqualifiedwillnotbehypocrisy.Thefollowingexampleswillmakeclearthedifferencebetweenthesetwoformsofweeping.Theetiquetteof‘Namaz’(dailyprayers)demandsthatinthecaseof‘Qayam’(standing)thepersonsayingtheprayershouldsoposehifacethathemayappeartobelookingattheplaceonthemator‘Sajdagah’(tabletmadeofwoodorthedustofKarbala)wherasherestshisforeheadinprostrationandinthecaseof‘Ruhoo’(gemflection)hemayappeartobelookingbetweenhisbigtoes,whereastheactuallypurposeisneithertolookattheplaceofrestinghisforeheadandbetweenthebigtoesnortopretendtobelookingattheseplaces.Therealpurpose,however,ittoseekthe
pleasureofGodbysoposinghisfacethatanybodylookingathismaythinkhimtobelookingattheplaceofrestinghisforeheadorbetweenthebigtoes.Similarly,itoneattendingacondolencemeetingcannotactuallyweepheshouldatleastappeartobeweepingsothatothersmaythinkhimtobeamourner.ButhisintensionshouldbenottomakesothersbelievethatheisweepingwhileactuallyheisnotweepingbutputontheappearanceofaweepierinordertoseekthepleasureofGodwhoapprovessuchappearanceonthepartofamournerwhocannotactuallyweep.
Fromtheaboveitfollowsthatinwhatevermeaningtheword‘Tabaki’occurringintraditionsisunderstooditdoesnotinanycaseconveythesenseofweepingandputtingontheappearanceofaweepierwiththeintensionofbeingseenbyothersandreceivingsomematerialbenefits.Whenweepingwiththeintensionofbeingseenbyothersinforbiddenonecannotsaythathypocrisyisdesirableorallowedinthecaseofweepingandwailing.TherealpurposeofputtingontheappearanceofaweepieriseithermakinganattemptatweepingsothatonemayactuallyweeporseekingthepleasureofGodbyappearingtobeamourner.Andwhenhypocrisyisneitherdesirablenor……….Inweepingandwailingbutforbiddenitissuretospoilthebeautydestroytheefficacyofweeping.Itissufficientwailingasinthecaseofanyotherformofworshipandtoprovetheideasexpressedbythe‘Zakir’tobevenomousanddestructive.
HavingprovedhypocrisyinanyformtobeforbiddennowrequestmyreaderstoabstainfromitforGod’ssakeandtoseethattheirweepingandwailingisnotbasedonorlimitwithhypocrisywhichdestroytheefficacyofallformofworship.Theyshouldactuallyweeporputonappearanceofaweepier(whenactualweepingisnotpossible)withtheintensionofseekingthepleasureofGodsothattheymaydeservetheextraordinaryandvaluablerewardofthisgreatformofworship.
(b) Lie,itisstrictlyforbiddentospeakaliesaveinexceptionalcases.Notonlyallthesensiblepersonsareunanimousabouttheforbiddancebutalsoallkindsoftheologicalargumentsprovealietobeforbidden,(fordetailedinformationregardingprohibitionofaliepleaserefertoLoolanValMarjanbyAllamaNoori).Theuseofalieisforbiddenbothinthecaseofweepingandexhortingotherstoweep.
FromthetheologicaldissertationbyMolviGhufranMaabreproducedbyMolvilllyeenMakaas,inMajalis-i-Mufiya,itappearthatwhilemourningthe
deathofapersonmentioningofvirtueswhichthedepartedsouldidnotpassesorwhilelamentingoveradeadbodyattributingtoitthevirtuesitdidnothaveareeithersynonymsorcloselyrelatedinmeaningandareunanimouslyregardedasforbiddenlies.TheyareoffalsereportsinordertoweepandwailovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s),isoneoftheabovetotwoformoffalseattributionofvirtuesandknowinglyusingfalsereportsasastimulantforweepingandwailingandmakingothersweepandwailshouldalsobeconsideredaforbiddenlieaccordingtotheunanimousdecision.MolviGhufranMaabhasclearlystated.PeopletakeagreatdiedofpainandtroubleforweepingandwailingandmakingothersweepandwailineverypossiblewayasiftheyarequiteunawareofthesinanddisobediencetoGodinspeakingalieorusingfalsereports.Theydonottakecaretoavoidtoliesandfalsereports.Butthismustnotbeoverlooked.Thisstatementmakesitquiteclearthatuseofalieorafalsereportevenforweepingandwailingothersweepisquiteforbidden.
AndtheideasthatislieorafalsereportswhichisgenerallyforbiddenbecausepermissiblewhenthepurposeofthelieorthefalsereportistoweepmakesothersweepovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s)isasvenomousanddestructiveastheideathathypocrisyinweepingandwailingovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s)isnotonlyallowedbutdesirable.TheprominentscholarShaikhMurtazaAnsari(R.A),hasexplainedin‘Makasib’thatadesirablediscussionoractionmayhaveonlyapermissibleandnotaforbiddenspeechoractionasitsprefaceorintroduction;andhispupils,theresearchscholarAbulFazlTehraniinhis‘Shifa’-us-SadoorandAllamaNooriin‘Looloo-Val-Marjan’hasproducedthesubstanceofhisexplanation.Alieorafalsereport,therefore,cannotserve,andshouldnotbeused,asaprefaceorintroductionforweepingandmakingothersweep.Ifitissoused,themnotonlyitwillnotbecomepermissiblebutitwillalsomakeweepingandwailingaforbiddenaction,avice,MaulviIiliyeenMakaanhasalsorecordedthefollowingstatementsfromGhufranMaab;“Makingaforbiddenactionameansofanyformofworshipdoesnotmaketheforbiddenactioninvalid.Ontheotherhanditnotonlydestroystheefficacyoftheformofworshipbutalsochangetheworshipintoahereticinnovation”.Andthisiswhyalmostallthegreatscholar,exceptShaikhAliandhisfewfollowers,regardsrecitationof“Marsiya”(elegicpoems)inmusicalwayasforbiddenthoughitmaycauseincreasedweeping.
So,weepingandmakesothersweepcannotmakelegalthatlieorfalsereportswhichisusedinordertomakepeopleweeportocauseincreased
weeping.Itwilldepriveweepingandwailingofitsefficacyandchangethisnoblestformofworshipintoanevilaction,avice.
Itistherefore,incumbentuponustoabstainfrommakingalieorafalsereportsameansofweepingorincreasedweeping,MaulviIlliyeenMakaaninhisdiscussionontheprohibitionofcomposingorreciting‘Marsiya’basedonalieorfalsereporthassaidafter“Afterthesediscussionitmusthavebecomecleartoyouthatitisincumbentupononetoavoidspeakingalieorusingafalsereportevenasameansofanobligatorydutyoradesirableaction”.AccordinglytheideathatlieorafalsereportwhichisgenerallyforbiddenbecomespermissiblewhenthepurposeofthelieorthefalsereportistoweepormakeothersweepovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s)venomouslyanddestructive.
Nowthatithasbeenprovedthattheuseofalieorfalsereportsisstrictlyforbiddenandtheideaofpermissiblyinthecaseofweepingandmakingothersweepisahighlymisleadinganddestructiveidea.
Irequestmyreadersnottomakeuseoflieinordertomakesuccessful(intheiropinion)theircondolencemeetingthroughincreasedweepingandwailing,otherwisetheywilldeserveseverepunishmentintheHereafter,insteadofagoodrewards,bychangingweepingandwailingthenoblestformofworshipintoaforbiddenevilactionbyusingalie.PossiblyweepingandwailingmayontheDayofJudgmentcomplainsagainstyourchangesitintoaforbiddenactionwhenyouwillnotbeabletomakeamendsforyoursins.
ItisparticularlymostperemptorilyincumbentuponustoabstainfromattributingwordsorstatementstoanInfallibleGuide(Imam)whichhehadnotutteredbecauseitisoutofthemajorsins.In‘KahImamJafareSadiq(a.s)hasbeenreportedtohavesaid“AttributingalietoAllahandhisMessengerisoneofthemajorsins”i.e.shouldknowinglyattributealietoAllahandHisMessenger.So,pleasenevercommitsuchasins.
Hereitwillnotbeoutofplacetopointoutthat;
(i) Theweepingandmakingothersweepwhichhasbeenpraisedintraditions,meansweepingonlyovertherealandnotsupposedafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s).InthisconnectionMaulviIlliyeenMakaam,says“thetraditionsmentioningthevirtuesofweepingandwailingareabouttherealafflictionoftheAhlrBait(a.s)asdescribedinreliablereportsandnottheirsupposedafflictions
ortheafflictionsfalselyattributedtothem.
(ii) Weepingandwailingwhichresultsfromreadingandhearingreliablereports,thoughleas,isbetterthanincreasedweepingandwailingresultingfromreadingandhearingfalsereports.ImamZainulAbedeen(a.s)says;“ThebestactionintheeyeofGodisthatwhichhasbeendonestrictlyaccordingtothewayorpracticeoftheHolyProphet,(s.a)thoughtitmaybeasmallandpettyaction.
(c)Singing;Theologiansdifferintheirdefinitionsofsingingormusic.Onedefinitionofsingingisthatitisthatkindofvoicewithtunefulnotewhichispeculiartomerrymakersandreveller.Thisisalsocalledsportiveorenchantingvoiceandintonationbyprofligatesandliberties.TheotherdefinitionwillshortlyappearinthewordsofMuhaqqiq.Thereiscompleteconcernofopinionaboutitsbeingtotallyprohibited.MaulviGhufranMaabhassaid“prohibitionofsingingisoneoftheessentialrequirementsofourreligionandIsoneofthoseprohibitionsaboutwhichthetheologiansareunanimous.Thereisnodoubtabouttheprohibitions.SomeofourUlemashavesaidthatprohibitionsaboutsingingaresoobviousthatthereisnoroomfordoubtaboutit.Theprohibitionsaresuchadistinctivefeaturesofourreligiousasitspermissibilityisadistinctivefeatureofthereligionofouropponents”,(fordetailspleasereferto‘MinhajulYaqeenandMajaliseMufjiya’).
MUSICORSINGINGiseveryformofprohibited,beitinrecitationofpassionate,enologistormysticpoemsortherecitationoftheQuranorelegiacorlamentationpoems.MuhaqqiqhassaidthatinShara’ay;Singingisthatprolongingofvoicemixedwithintonationwhichmakesonebesideoneselforoutofonemind,whichmakeitperformerdissoluteordebauchandrendershisevidenceunacceptable,nomattersuchanenchantingvoiceisusedintherecitationofpoetryortheQuran.”AndthegreattraditionsShaikhYousuf,hasstated,inHadayedthataccordingtotheexplanationbythegroupofcompanionsingingisprohibitedandtheuseofsingingvoicetotherecitationoftheQuranorprayerorpoetrydoesnoteffectstheprohibitions.ItisprohibitedinallformandcasesMaulviIlliyeenMakaanhassaidinMajalis-e-Mufjiya.“Letitbeknownthattherightviewisthatsingingineveryformprohibited,nomatteritisusedintherecitationoftheQuranortheelegiacpoemsaboutthePrinceofmartyrs,ImamHussain(a.s)andMuhaqqiqAbulFazlTehraniin“Shifa-us-Sadoor”inconnectionwiththesentence”.
“ThisisthedayonwhichthepeopleofZiyadrejoiced…………………”hassaid;“itiswellknownthattheuseofintonationinrecitingelegiacpoemsonthePriceofthemartyrsisassuchprohibitedasinanyotherform,”i.e.intonationisprohibitedin‘Marsiyas’(elegiacpoemsonthetragedyofKarbala)aswellasinotherforms.CertainUlemaareoftheopinionthattheuseofintonationinMarsiyasisanexceptionandpermissiblebuttheirargumentinfavoroftheexceptionisweak,andthemajorityofUlemaisdefiniteaboutitsbeingaltogetherprohibited.MaulviIlliyeenMakaansays“SomeofourUlemasregardtheuseofsingingvoiceorintonationinrecitingtheQuranandMarsiyasasexemptfromtheprohibitions.Butthisopinionisnotsound.”Proceedingfurtherhesays“Ithasnowbecomecleartoyouthataccordingtodictionaryandusagebothsingingisaspecialtypeofvoiceanditisprohibitedwhateverbeitsuse,anyformofworship,sermonorrecitationofpoetry.ItisprohibitedintherecitationofMarsiyasandalsotheQuranRecitationofMarsiyaortheQuraninsingingvoicewillnotmakethevoicepermissible.
SincesomeoftheUlemasdisagreewiththeprohibitionofmusicorintonationin‘Marsiya’ithasbecomeasubjectofcontroversyandthereadersareadvicetoturnforguidancetotheMujtahid(distinguishedeminentscholarofTheology)whomtheyfollow.Ifhedeclarestobeprohibited,theymayregardmusicin‘Marsiya’aspermissible,butifhealsodeclaresittobeprohibited,asdoesthelargemajorityofShiaUlemas;thentheyoughttoregardmusicin‘Marsiya’asprohibitedandforbiddenandcompletelyabstainfromitparticularlyfortworeasons.
Firstly,thishasthroughoutbeenadistinctivefeatureofthereligionpracticeofweShias(followers)ofAli(a.s)thatinfollowingtheAhleBait(a.s),wehavebeenregardingsingingandplayingonmusicalinstrumentstotallyprohibitedandameansofentrytotheHell.Thisdistinctivefeatureshouldnotbeallowedtodisappear.
Secondly,theuseofmusicandsingingvoicebeingtotallyprohibited,itsuseinaformofworship,i.e.‘Marsiya’oralamentationthanitsuseinrecitationofpassionpoems.TheUlemahavealso,offeredanexplanationofthisAlamaNoori,e.g.,saysin‘LoolonValMarjan’.
ThissinsisusingalieorsingingvoiceinMarsiyaorrecitationoftheQuranandsimilarotherformofworshipisabiggersinandapunishmentforit
issevertimeharder.”AndthemosteminenttheologianofhistimeAaqaAbulHasanIspahani(R.A)inconnectionwiththeprohibitionofthemusicinhisbook.“Zakheerat-ul-Ibad”hasstated.TheuseofmusicandsingingvoiceinrecitationoftheQuranMarsiyaandthelike,e.g.Azaan(thecallforprayer)isnotdifferentfromitsuseinrecitationofpoetry.
TheuseofitintherecitationofQuranad‘Marsiya’etc.,ismorestrictlyforbiddenandabiggersinmuchmoreseverelypunishment.”
Theabovetworeasonsmakeitnotonlyobligatorybutimperativelyobligatorytoobserveperfectabstinencefrommusicorsingingvoice. Whenthishasbeenmadeclear,Irequestyoutohavemercyuponyourselvesandnottomakethesole-invigoratingfoodofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionofAhleBait(a.s),utterlydestructivebymixingintoitthedeadlypoisonofmusic,otherwiseyourlifeintheHereafterwillbenothingbutmiserable.
HereIwishtorecordinwritingwhatisverylikelytoraiseastormpfoppositionagainstme.Still,IamnotdeterredbecausethehopethatitmayperhapscorrectthewrongpracticeofsomeGodfearingpersons.Nodoubtthehopeisfaintbecauseenchantingattractionofmusicandthesupporttoitbyprominentpersonswillhardlyallowanybodytolistentome.ButthiscannotbeconsideredasimpossibleandIproceedtoputonrecordwhatIhaveinmymind.Yearsagomusicencroacheduponsomeofourreligionsobservance,forinstance.‘Sozkhwani’Butisourtimesmusicismakingrapidprogressdaybyday.Itsinfluenceisraisingandexpandinganditsuseisnolongerconfinedtoourpermissiblecelebration(likepoemsonmarriagesgarlands,chronogrampoemsondeath,etc.)butisalsoextendingtoseveralothersformofworship__________________________________________________________1TheverdictofmusicAayatullahAlhajSayedMuhammadKazimShariyatMadaarandalothersprominentUlemais“thevoicewhichispeculiartothegatheringofmerrymakersandrevellersismusicandastrictlyforbiddenthing.Itisforbiddentorecitelamentationpoems,‘Marsiya’oreventheQuraninmusicalvoice.Butitispermissibletorecitethesethingsinanagreeablevoicewhichisnotmusicalorsingingvoice”(Al-Muntazar).
(‘Qasidas’oreulogiapoemsinpraiseoftheAhleBait(a.s),‘Nauha’orlamentationpoemsonthetragiceventsofKarbala,etc.,andwhatisstrangerstill
isthatsomescholarlypersonsincloaksandturbansalsofeeldelightedwithitscharmingtunes.Whentheyareasked“Whydoyoulistentotheserecitationsinasingingvoiceandwhydoyounotexpressyourdisapprovalofsuchrecitationsevenafteracondolencemeetingisover?”Theyreply;“Tounderstandwhatthesingingisvoicedependsuponknowledgeofmusicwhichwedonotpossessandasmuchcannotdecidewhetherornotarecitationisinasingingvoice.So,weheartheserecitationswithoutexpressingourdispleasureordisapprovals”.Ihavenothingtosayaboutthisreply.IsimplyreproducedtheglorioussermonbyFazil-i-GulistanaAlauddinMuhammad(R.A),whichMaulviIlliyeenMakaanhascopiedinhisvaluablebook,’Majalis-i-Mufiya’.
“IcannotimaginewhatexcusetheywillofferontheDayofJudgmentwhosaythattheydonotunderstandwhatasingingvoice;reallyisandwiththisexcuseliketohearsinging.IsaythatIcannotimaginebecauseAllahhasnotmadeincumbentuponanybodywhathecannotunderstandandhasnotleftanybodyinthevalleyofamazementtowanderforever.Ontheotherhand,HehascommandedeverybodytoturntotheQuranandtheholytraditionsforguidanceinallmatter.Ifhefindsthereananswertohisquestionheshouldregulatehisactionaccordingly,ifnotthenheshouldturnto…………..andusageandfollowtheirguidance.Ifhefindsnoguidanceindictionariesandusagetheheshouldturntothelearnedlexicographersandscholarofunquestionableintegrity.Bothlexicographersandtheologiansareunanimousthattheessenceofsingingisthatriseandfallofvoicewhichcontainsintonationandcharmsandmakesalistenerforgetfulofself.Hewhohasdefinedsingingasmerelyprolongingofvoicecausingarefrainorburdensofsongshasattemptedonaliteraldefinition.Singingisalexicographicratherthanatheologicalquestions(evenanonMujtahadcanunderstandit).WhensuchisthecasehavecanI“understandoranticipatetheexcusetobemadeontheDayofJudgmentbythegroupwhichpretendstobeignorantofmusicandmakestheignoranceanexcuseforlisteningthemusic.”
NotonlythescholarlypersonsincloaksandturbansbutalsoalltheZakirandtheiraudienceoughttothinkoverthisglorioussermoncalmlyandquietlysothatthepresenceofsomescholarlypersonsinacondolencemeetingswithmusicalrecitationsmaynotmakethemdoubtfulabouttheprohibitionsofsingingthatitmaycounteractthewhimwhichmayresultresultfromthereplyofthescholarlypersonsthattheydonotunderstandwhatismusicandwhatisasweetagreeablevoice,andalsothattheymaybesurethatneithertheprohibitionofmusicisdoubtfulnortheirexcuseofignoranceofmusicisacceptable.Incase
ofcertainpersonindeeditispossiblethattheymaybedoubtfulaboutcertaintypesofvoiceevenaftercarefulconsideration.Insuchcaseswhichareraretheexcuseofignorancemaybeacceptable.
‘Ihavebrieflymentionedtheforegoingfewpointsonlybywayofillustration.Therealpurpose,however,isthateveryoneshouldtryhisbesttokeepthisgreatformofworship–weepingandwailingovertheafflictionofAhleBait(a.s)completelyfreefromallsortsofprohibitedandforbiddenthingsandpractices.ItwillbeourgreatestmisfortuneifwearedeprivedoftherewardsofaformofworshipwhichcantakeustothespecialwardsoftheAhleBait(a.s),byspoilingitwithanyoftheprohibitedactivities,hypocrisy,lie,musicetc.,whichmaychangetheworshipintoaprohibitedactivityoronlyadefectiveactivityorevenanunacceptableactivity.
ThoseformofworshipontheperformanceofwhichentrytotheParadiseispromisedintraditions,e.g.visitingtheHolyShrineofinfallibleGuidesorweepingandwailingovertheafflictionofAhleBait(a.s),shouldnotberegardedanabsoluteconditionsoressentialqualificationforentrytotheParadise.Therearemerelysubsidiaryconditionsoradditionalqualification.ThisistosaythattheseformsofworshipsareameansoftheentryofParadiseprovidedthereisnootherprohibitedactiontopreventtheentry.IfthereisanymajorandforgivessinstoprevententrytotheParadisetheaforesaidformofworshipwillbeofnoavail,e.g.,ifanybodymurdersafaithfulpersonwithoutanylegalexcuse,oraltogetherstopssayingthedailyPrayersandthinkthathevisittotheHolyShrineorheweepingandwailingovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s)willenablehimtoentertheParadisethiswillbeavainandridiculousidea,because:
(I) Thisiscontrarytotheverse:“VerilyAllahdoesaccept(anoffering)fromthosewhofearHim(andguardedhimselffromevils)”andalsocontrarytothetraditionsof“RagheefainvaRummanian(twoloavesandtwopomegranates)andthetraditions”.IfNamazisacceptedother(good)actionsmayalsobeacceptedotherwisenoactionswillbeaccepted.
(II) Itisconveytoalltheverseandtraditionspeakingofgooddeedsgoinginvain.Certainsinsaresoruinousthattheyreadersineffectiveevengoodactions.
(III)ImamHussain(a.s)undertookthejourneytoIraqforencouragingpeopletogoodactionsandpersuadingthemtoguardthemselvesagainstevilsashehimselfrecordedinhisinjunctiontoMohammadIbneHanafiyaandconsented
tpmartyrdominordertosetfreefromignorancetheignorantbyhisteachingsandtoguidetotherightpaththosewhowerewanderinginthevalleyoferror.AsanInfallibleImamhassaidin‘ZiyarateArbeen.AndtheideathatweepingandwailingovertheafflictionofAhleBait(a.s)willenablethemtoentertheParadiseisdiametricallyopposedtothepurposewhichImamHussain(a.s)setbeforehim,becauseintentionalomissionofobligatorydutiesandindulgenceinforbiddenactionsiscertainlyignoranceanserrorthepurposeofImamHussain(a.s)wasthereformationofsuchdefaulters.
(IV)Moreover,theideaisperhapsthemostoffensiveandcontemptuousasitimpliesbeliefintheabolitionorcancellationofthenoblereligiouslaws.So.NobodyshouldentertaintheideasthatanyofthoseformofworshipisanessentialqualificationwhichisboundtosecureforhimentrytheParadise.Theideaisborderingonus–godliness.Nay,itisdefinitelyun-Godly.ThoseformofworshipmustberegardedasadditionalqualificationsforentrytotheParadiseonlywhenthereisnothingtoprevententrytotheParadise(e.g.,disbelieforcommissionofamajorsin)asImamReza(a.s),whilerelatingtheholytradition“HewhosaysthatthereisnodeitybutAllah………….remarkedoneofitsessentialconditionsisthebeliefismytrusteeshipof‘Allah’meaningthattherecitationofandbeliefin“ThereisnodeitybutAllah…………..”wasnoavailwithoutthebeliefintheImambeingaTrusteeofAllah.
Briefly,thepurposeisthatoneshouldnotimplicitlybelieveintheliteralversionofthetraditionholdingoutpromisedforentrytotheParadisebutshouldtrytounderstandtherealmeaningofanInfallibleGuidesinthecontextofthefundamentalprinciplesofreligion.
(d) OnemustkeepuseyeonallthestratagemsofSatanandbeononesguardagainsthistreacherydesigns.Oneofthedevil’sstratagemsisthathedoesnottrydissuadingfromcertainformsofworshipthosepersonswhomheknowsforcertaintobetoostrictlyregulartogiveupacertainformofworshipunderanycircumstance.Whathedoesinsuchcasesistotrytoincludeinorminglewiththatformofworshipsomeprohibitedorforbiddenactivitieswhichmayspoilthatformofworshipandrenderitineffectivesothattheperformanceofthatformofworshipmayturntobeinvainandunreadable.
Anotherstratagemisthatinthecaseofpersonswhomthedevilknowstobetoorigidtoallowanyprohibitedorforbiddenactivitytospoiltheformofworshiptothemhemorecraftilymakestheevilssuggestionthatitisagainst
theirpietyandsanctitytoparticipateinanyformofworshipaboutwhichtheremaybetheslightestdoubtofatingeofanyforbiddenactivity,nothingtosayofsuchformsofworshipasaremarkedwithobviouslyprohibitedactivities.E.g.condolencemeetingwhere“Sozkhwani”isdoneinamusicalwayoruntrueorunreligiousreportsorirreverentlytowardstheAhleBait(a.s),arerecited,ortheprocessionsinwhich‘Nauha’arerecitedinasingingvoiceoranymusicalinstrumentsareplayedupon.Thedevilmakesthembelieveitisnotonlyunbecomingholymenofpietytoattendssuchcondolencemeetingsorprocessionsbutadefinitenegationofpietyandsanctity.Thedevilmakesthecraftysuggestionsothatthoseholypersonsmayabstainfromattendingsuchcondolencemeetingsorprocessionsandthusthedeprivedofthegreatheavenlyrewardsofthoseformsofworship.
Thisissuchanalluringratifiesthatevenpersonsofconsiderablesanctityandpietyareentrappedunawareanddonotfeelthattheyareinatrap.Whensomekeenlyintelligentmanoflearninginformsthemoftheirbeingentrappedandtheyrealizethattheyhadbeendeceivedtheyfeelashamedandexcusethemselvesbysaying“Igetentrappedbecausethenetwasthesamecolorasthegroundonwhichitwasspread”.
Itisthereforeverynecessarytokeepaneyeonthismajorstratagemofthedevilandalsototryone’slevelbesttokeepawayfromhistrapwiththisendinviewonemustbearinmindthateveryprohibitedactivityfoundintheseformsofworshipdoesnotnecessaryspoiltheentireformofworshipandreaderitaltogetherineffective.Theevileffectofsomeoftheprohibitedactivitiesisidenticalwiththeactivities,thataretheeviloftheprohibitedactivitiesdoesnoteffectstheoriginalworship.Forinstancethecondolencemeetingsinwhich‘Nauha’isrecitedor‘Sozkhwani’isdoneinanunlawfulwayoruntrueorasirreligioustraditionorreportoranythingunbecomingoforirreverentlytowardstheAhleBait(a.s),isrecitedbuttheentiremeetingisnotmarkedwithaprohibitedactivitytheevileffectsoftheprohibitedactivities(NauhaorSozkhwani)willbeconfinedtotheactivitiesandwillnotrendertherestofthecondolencemeetingineffectiveandtheattendancethereinun-lawful.Aprohibitedactivity,singingorlie,forexample,willnotthechangetheoverallcharacterofacondolencemeetingwhichwillstillbeaformofworship.Similarly,inattendingacondolenceprocessionwherein‘Nauha’arerecitedinmusicalwayormusicalinstrumentsareplayedupontheprohibitionwillbeconfinedtohearingtherecitationortheplayofmusicalinstrumentsandwillnotextendtotherestoftheprocession.AllamaMirzaHussainNa-yeeni,themost
learnedmanofhisdayhadclarifiedthispointinoneofhiscircularsandafterhisdeathalmostalltheeminentscholarsofthedaywhocompletelyagreedwithhisviewpoint,gotthecircularrepublished.Attendingsuchcondolencemeetingsorprocessionsshouldnotbeasunbecomingofholypersonsorinconsistentwithsanctityorpiety.Ontheotherhanditisquiteinaccordancewiththerequirementsofsanctityorpiety.
Havingunderstandthesethings,oneshouldcultivatethehandofattendingacondolencemeetingsafter‘Sozkhwani’where‘Sozkhwan’isdoneinasunlawful,I.e.musicalwayandtoleavethemeetingbeforemusicalrecitationof‘Nauha’.
Astountruetraditionorreportsrecitedinordinarygatheringsuchasareheldinhouses,hotels,orparksetc.IamoftheopinionthatonemustwalkoutofitforsolongasanuntruetraditionorreportsisrecitedasadvisedinseveraltraditionandalsointheHolyQuran:“AndindeedHehassentdowntoyouinthisBook(TheQuranthatwhenyouhearthesignofAllahdiscreditedandmockedat.Thendonotsitwiththemuntiltheyenteruponsomeotherdiscourse,otherwiseyouwillbecomelikethem”.(4:140).
Butthisdoesnotapplytodesirablemeetingslikeacondolencemeeting.Itisnotincumbentupononetowalkoutsuchmeetings.Itisenoughtoabstainfrombearingasuntruetraditionorreportandtopointitoutandexpressdisapprobationofitafterthemeeting.Itissobecauseofthedifferenceofopinionregardingthetruthofcertainreports,e.g.,thereportaboutthemarriageofQasimIbneHsan(a.s),orthereportsaboutthebodyoftheMartyrsofKarbalabeingtroddenunderthehoofsofhorse.
Ifitwereincumbenttoabstainfromhearingallsuchexceptionablereportstheitwouldbecomedifficulttoheardiscoursefromevenscholarsoforganizedmeritnothingtosayofordinary‘Zakir’becauseofthepossibilityofonegreatscholarincludingthereportsinhislectureordiscoursebelievingittobetrueandanothergreatscholarorhisdisciplesbelievingittobeuntrue.Insuchacaseitwouldbeprohibitedforthelatterscholarorhisdisciplestohearthereportandsotheywouldnotattendsuchameetings.Besidestherule‘Exercisetoleranceaboutargumentsregardingthetruthoftraditions,probablytheHolyExponentofLawdidnotconsiderthescopeondiscourseonorhearingofthevirtuesandafflictionoftheAhleBait(A.s),tobesorestrictedastomakeitimperativefortheaudiencetowalkoutofacondolencemeetingswhereanuntruetraditionsor
reportismentioned.ItisnotincumbenttowalkoutofsuchmeetingsandprobablythisiswhyprominentUlemaanddemonstrationofIslamattendscondolencemeetingsaddressednotonlybylearnedscholarsbutallbyordinary‘Zakir’,andkeepsittinganddonotwalkoutinspiteofthediscourseorthelecturecontainingareportwhichtheyknowtobeuntrue.Whattheydoatthemostistopointouttheuntruereportandtoexpresstheirdisapprovalofitaftermeetings.
Theaboveismypersonalopinionnotnecessarilytobefollowedbyothers,whoshouldreferthequestionsoflisteningtountruereportsinacondolencemeetingandofsittingoutthelectureordiscourseorwalkingoutofittotheA’alamwhomtheyfollowinreligiousobservanceoranyotherscholarwhopossessallthenecessarilyqualificationsofaMujtahidandactaccordingtohisverdict.
However,therecanbenotwoopinionaboutparticipatingasfaraspossiblethesenobleformofworshipforsolongastheyarefromaprohibitedactivity,sothatSatanmaynotdeceiveanddepriveusofthemagnificentheavenlyrewardsofthosenobleformsofworship.
ThesubjectmatterofthistreatisecalledforamoreexhaustivedealingandthepurposeofwhatIhavewrittenonthesubjectisjusttodrawtheattentionofmyreaderstothevariouspointstatedbymesothattheymayascertaintheirdutyinrespectsofthosepoints.
IclosethesermonwiththesolicitationthatAllHolyAllah,may.ForthesakeoftheInfallibleGuides,grantthefaithfulthegoodfortuneoftryingtofollowtheHolyAhleBait(a.s)byweepingtheirnoblestformsofworshipandmostprominentemblemsofourreligion,completelyfromallundesirableactivitiestothatlearnedmenofsanctityandpietyandotherconscientiousandscrupulouspersonswhosepresenceisornamentalforsuchmeetingsmayalsogracethemeetingbytheirpresencewithconfidenceandouropponentsmaynotfindfaultwithourcondolencemeetingsorthepracticeofweepingandwailing.
SYNOPSIS
Thefollowingisabriefsummaryofthecontentsofthistreatise;
(i) ThepracticeofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s),isofalmostimportanceintheeyeofAllahandtheeyeoftheMessengerandtheHolyImam,anditisclearthanthedaythatnobodyisbettertruthlovingthanthemorevenequaltothem.ThefollowersoftheHolyMessenger(s.a)andtheImam(a.s)cannot,thereforeoverlooktheimportanceoftheweepingandwailingifanybodytriestobelittleitsimportancebydeclaringittobeanundesirableorunwholesomepracticetheyaresuretocontradicthimoutrightandrejecthisremarksinthefaceofthedeclarationbyAllahandtheMessenger.Asamatteroffact,noneofushasthecourageofspeakingofitwithcontemptandeverybodyadmitit,throughoutwardly,tobeimportant.Regardingtheweepingandwailingasworthlessandofnoconsequence,attheinstanceofothers,will,thereforeisanunforgivablesinofgreatmagnitudewhichmustnotbecommittedinanycase.
(ii) WeepingandwailingovertheafflictionofAhleBait(a.s),isoneofthenoblestformofworship,which,notanabsoluteoressentialqualificationforentrytotheParadise,iscertainlyameansoftakingustotheParadiseintheabsenceofotherobstacles.We,therefore,mustdoourlevelbesttopracticethisintherightwaywithoutassociatingwithitanyactivitywhichmayreadersthisofworshipunacceptable.Otherwise,weshallbemostunfortunatetobedeprivedofitsmagnificentheavenlyreward.
(iii) WeepingandwailingovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s),isaninvaluableassetwithwhichwecanpurchasetheprosperityofthisworldandtheworldhereafterandthisiswhySatanisalwaysonthelook-outforanopportunitytorobusofit.Itis,therefore,verynecessarytoexercisealmostcautioninsafeguardingitagainstallstratagemsofSatan,however,attractiveorfascinatingtothatwemaynotbedeprivedofthisinvaluableasset;ForthelossofthisassetwouldbesocolossalastomakeourlifeinthisworldandtheworldHereafterquitemiserable.
InowbringtreatisetoafinishandexpressmysorrowtomyinabilitytopresentitisthebeautifulforminwhichIwishedtopresentitbecauseofunitedmittenillness,particularlyeyetrouble.Thelaterpartofthetreatisewhichbeginswiththecleverquotationandsophisticatedstatementsbythesocalledenlightenedpersonshasbeenhastilywritteninoutlinesandcouldnotberevised,forwhichfaultIbegtobeforgives.
ThementionofHussain(a.s)oughttobeanessentialroutineofourlife.WhyshouldweconfineittotheconventionalmourningdaysofMoharram?’
WEEPTOGAINLONGIVITYANDWEEPTOYOURHEARTS
CONTENT.
LETTHETEARSFLOWFROMSCIENCETIFICPOINTOFVIEW
TwotypesofcriticismisthrownagainstmourningafterImamHssain(a.s)thedearestgrandsonoftheHolyProphet(S.A)Onetypeofcriticismissocialwhiletheotherisreligious.
Answertocriticismofreligioustypeshasoftenbeengivesbyreligiousauthorities.Inthesamemanneranswertosocialtypesofcriticismhavealsobeengiven.Thisarticlebelongtothesecondcategory,thatis,itanswerssocialobjectionlike(a)weepingisasignofcowardice,itdeadensonesheartetc.Thisarticletrice’stoshowthatmentalhealthandphysicalwellbeingarebenefitedbyweepingandinthelongrunhaspositiveeffectonlongevity.HereunderweenumeratetheexperienceofLeonardGrassasAmericanwriteraboutweeping.
ANAMERICANEXPERIENCEPASIFIEDHISEMOTIONAL
SHOCKBYWEEPING
LeonardGrasswrotethatonedayhewasgoingtohisstudyroom,heheard“Dhum;Dhumhewasstartledandrantowardsthestair,hesawthathissmalldaughterwasfallingoffthesteps.Herantowardsherandtookherinlap.ThebabygirlhadjustIlearnttocrawlandbyoversighthehadforgottentoclosethedoorsofthestairs.Hecriedindespair;‘O’God,‘O’Lord,Tearsfledbythenoticehiswiferantowardshimandtookthebabyfromhislap.Hethenphonedthedoctorandthefirstquestionthedoctoraskedwas;howisherconditionnow?“Sheisweepingnow”saidLeonardOh!Itisgoodsignsaidthedoctor.Thebabybecomessilentaftercryingforafewminutes.Shewashardlyhurt.ShebegantoplayafterawhileandwhentheywentcrawlingtoLeonard,heliftedherandshepressedhertinyhandsonLéonard’sfaceandatthemomenthecouldnotcontrolhimselfandbrokeintotearssaying“Ohmydear”.
Whydidhistearsflow?Theanswertothisquestionhasbeengivenbyphysiologists.ThereisacontrollingCentreinthebrainwhichactivatestearsglandsandeyesbecomebrimmed.
TherearephysiologicalaswellasphysiologicalcomplicationregardingtearsLeonardGrasswasablebodiedAmericanYoungmaninchildhoodhewastaughtthat,menneverweepandthosewhoweeparebutchildishwomanish.Yetitisafactthatnothingcouldexpresshisprofoundemotionsfullyasitwasdonebyweeping,throughitwasagainstsocialcustomofAmerica.
Leonard‘sloveforhischildwasexpressedbyaninvoluntaryact.Heknewthattheaccidentwascausedbyhisfaultandhewasalsocontentthatthechildwasunhurt,hisintrinsicdesiretobeforgiveswasalsoexpressedbyhisweeping.
OPINIONOFDOCTORWEEPINGGOODFORBABYMEANTBABY
HEALTHY
Really,weepingdidmorethanthistheopinionofthedoctorthatweepingwasgoodforthebabymeantthatthebabywassohealthythatshecouldexpressheremotionsofpleasureaswellasdispleasure.Thedoctors,opinionwassignificantforLeonardalso,becausehehadpacifiedtheemotionalshockedbereceivedbegivingoutlettotears.He,impartedpsydiosomayictohimselfbyweeping.TherearemanymedicalevidencesinfavorofthegippedeffectofweepingandnothingcouldbetterrelieveLeonardbodyandmindasdidweeping.Itistherefore;evidentthatinthiseraofcutthroatcompletionandhightensiontheutmostessentialistoshedbigmanlytears.
RELVIVESANDFRIENDSWEEPAFTERDEVD
Allofusknowthatwearewoundedinourpersonallives.Frustrations,despairsandgriefareenoughtomakeusweep.Ithereanybodywhohadnotaccompaniedthefuneralofarelative?.Isthereanybodywhohadnotseenamotherweepingindespairafterherdeadchild?Isthereanybodywhohadnotseenachildweepingforhisbrokentoy?Atsuchcircumstancesthatbestandthemostnaturalmethodtoexpresssympathyistoshedtears.Everybodyknowsthattearsdonotwashthegriefout,buttheydohelpinmakinggriefbearable.
Inpresentdaysociety,generallymendonotweepDaybydaysocietyisbecomingextraordinarydisciplinedandhardskinard.Evenifachildweeps,heistermedascrybaby.
THOSEPARENTSWHOPROHIBITWEEPINGTOTHEIRCHILDRENINVITETROUBLE
Dr.SilvisBroadwayafamouspsychotherapistofNewYorksaysrepressedtearsgenerallytaketheformofillness.Thoseparentswhoprohibitweepingtotheirchildreninvitelotsoftrouble.
CAUSEOFSKINDISEASENOTEXPRESSINGEMOTIONVIATEARS
Toexpressemotionsandcontrolweepingisamatteroffalsepride.AwomanpatientofDr.Broadwaywassodownwithskindiseasesthatherlifewasindanger.Thecauseofherdiseasewasthatshewasaverseinexpressingheremotionviatears.
Dr.EricapsychotherapistinMassachusettsGeneralHospitalhasmarredratedthecaseofayoungnursewasforbiddentoweepafterdeathofherfatherlesthermothermightnotdespair.Theresultofthisimposedcontrolwasthatshewascaughtwithadeadlyintestinaldiseasewhicheventuallyprovedfatalforher.
HEADACHEANDFEVERAREALSOCAUSEDBYCONTROLLINGTEARS
Manyofthebadhabitsarecausedbyreluctancetoweep.ApatientcametoDr.Broadway,clinic.Hewasasuccessfulbusinessmanbuthecouldnottalkexceptinawhisperingsound.Dr.Broadway,toldhim;youcannottalkproperlybecauseyouhaveneverlearnttoexpressyouremotionsthroughtears.”
MENTALPATIENTSAREMADETOWEEPTEARSAREMORE
BENEFICIALTHANLAUGHING.
PsychotherapistgenerallytrytomakepatientsweepandthisistheonlyremedysofarfoundinthesphereofmentalhealingDr.Broadwaysays;--Youpatyournewbornchildtomakehimweepandinthesamemanneryoushouldtrytocreatesuchastateofmindinyourpatientsthattheymayweep.Tearsaregenerallyunwelcomebutnodoubttheyaremorebeneficialthanlaughing.
Whyisoursocietyagitatedagainsttears?Indeeditisamatterofgreatcomplication.Theobviousreasonoftheseunhealthytrendsisthatthereisanestablishedsocialnormthatthosewhoweepareweak,oventhroughthisnormisentirelyfalse.HistoryiswitnessthatEmperorAwyustusQeasorwasaverybraveman.Hehadsentthreedivisionscomprisingtwentyfivethousand(25,000)mercenariestoSermonic.Whenheheardthathiswholearmywasdestroyedhefaintedandwhenhegotconsciousnessheburntintotears.
Tearsdon’tflowwhenthebodyistenseandgriefisintensebuttheydowhentensionandgriefdecrease.
SCIENCEINCLUDINGWEEPINGBENEFICIALFORGENERALWELLBEING.
Modernpsychosomaticsciencehasreachedtheconclusionthatifmenlearntoweepitwillbeneficialtotheirgeneralwell-being.Torelievetensionarewholethereisnobetterremedythanlettingthetearsflow.
WOMENLIVELONGERASTHEYGIVEVENTTOTHEIREMOTIONSBYTEARS
Itisgenerallyobservedthatwomencontinuetolivelongerandlongerwhilethelifespanofmenisbecominglesserandlesser.Menarepronetocatchheartdiseaseandmanyotherstypesofailmentsduringthemiddleagethatitcutsshorttheirlives.Thereasonofthisphenomenonisthatmodernlifehasbecomeharderformenandeasierforwomen.Medicalsciencehaslessenedhazardsofpregnancyanddeliveryforwomenandgenerallythefairsexgiveventtotheiremotionsbytears.
Lettingthetearsflowrelieveextremeofemotionsandeasesphysicaltension,butmodernageteachesthatitisagainstmanlinessweep.Asaresultofthistypeofteachingmencontroltheiremotionsandinhabit,thefreeflowoftears.Duetotheilleffectsofthiswronginhibitionmensuccumbtoavarietyofdiseasesinadultagewhilewomenremainimmunetoallthisbylettingtheirtearsflow.
WEEPANDWEEPMOREANDBEHEALTHY
Whenaboyweep,hisparentsorteacherstaunthim,saying;Oh,donotcry,youareaMAN.Itwouldbeproperiftheytellhim;weepandweepmoreandbehealthy.
Wivesshouldalsolettheirhusbandsweepandstopthembytauntingandnagging,becauseitwillbebestinsuranceagainstwidowhoodthatisitwillprolonghusbandslive.
SIRWINSTONCHAUCHILNEVERINHIBITED
Wehaveseenthatitisamatteroflifeanddeaththenwechangeourattitudestowardsweeping.Wemustfullyutilizeourtensionrelievingmechanism,andremainassuredthatIwon’thurtourmanhood.AcquaintanceofSirWinstonChurchillknowthatheneverinhibitedhistearsbutlettheflowwhenoccasiondemanded.
HOLYPROPHET(S.A)SAID;
Thefollowingfivefacultiesareconsideredvirtuesamongstmen;justice,knowledge,generosity,patienceofforbearance,modestyorbashfulness.Knowledgepossetedbyascholar.Justicedispensedbyamonarch,generositypracticedbytherich,forbearancedisplayedbytheneedyandmodestydisplayedbywomeneachoneofthesewasreallycommendable.Knowledgewithoutpracticeislikeahousewithoutrofoverit,akingwithoutjusticeashisworkingmottoislikeariverwithoutwaterinit,arichmanlackinggenerositywillbelikeatreewithoutbearingfruits,aneedypersonwithoutthefacultyofpatienceorforbearancewillbelikealampwhichemitsnolightandawomanwithoutmodestywillbelikeagoodservedwithoutsalt.
Thereareseventhingswhichifamanperformsthemeritsforthosewillbewrittencontinuouslyinhisfavorevenafterhisdeath:(1)theplantingofatree
(2)doggingawell.(3)diggingacanal(4)buildingamosque(5)writingaQuran(6)leavingbehindaknowledge(invention,discovery,etc.)(7)Leavingbehindagoodcharacterchild,whowillbeseechAllahtoforgivehisparents.
Withholdyouhandfromstrikingandfromtalkingthatwhichisunlawfulandbad.Whosehonorsthelearned,honorsme.
Whatactionsaremostexcellent?–Togladdentheheartofahumanbeing,tofeedthehungry,toholdtheaffliction,tolightenthesorrowofthesorrowfullandtoremovethewrongoftheinjured.
Makepeacebetweenmenwhentheyarefightingandunitewhentheyaredisunited.
Hethatdoesgoodtotheneedy.AllahwilldogoodtohiminthisworldandtheHereafter.
Bepersistentingoodactionsandrefrainfromevilsdeeds.
Ifyouhaveexcessivestrengthdonotinjuretheweak.
Returnsofhandbutrespectableandhonorablelaborofacraftofprofessionthoughsmallinquantityarebetterthanthewealthwhichyoumaymassthroughsinandwickedness.
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