Jazakumullah to Maulana Musharraf Hussein for enlightening us with this invaluable information in one of his majaalis recited in this ashra.
Did Imam Hussein win or lose in Karbala?
When we are asked this question, most of us without thinking, reply; zaahiran he lost because he was martyred but baatinan he won. Is our answer correct?
Now let’s examine our answer with help from Holy Quran. Let’s see verse no 1 of suratul Fath in which Almighty Allah [s.w.t] says: إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُبِينًا {1}
[Shakir 48:1] Surely we have given to you a clear victory.
MashaAllah, exactly the verse we want as it is talking of CLEAR/MANIFEST VICTORY. Now let’s see when this verse might have been revealed.
From all the Jihad fought in defending Islam, let’s examine the most Important ones which might be the cause of the revelation of this verse.
[1]Battle of Badr: The first jihad in defense of Islam in which the faith of Muslims was put to serious test. The number of the army of truth did not exceed 313 whereas the army of falsehood was three times as big as that. The Muslims were poor in numbers, mounts and armor while the enemy had come with full strength to knock down Islam, consisting of 1000 strong men with 700 camels and 100 horses. In spite of all this, however, truth was victorious and the enemy returned to Makkah after having sustained heavy losses.
Regarding this battle the holy Quran says:
[Shakir 3:123] And Allah did certainly assist you at Badr when you were weak; be careful of (your duty to) Allah then, that you may give thanks.
[Shakir 3:124] When you said to the believers: Does it not suffice you that your Lord should assist you with three thousand of the angels sent down?
Now surely the verse in question must have been revealed here, as in this battle the impossible became possible by the help of Almighty and the Muslims were victorious.
But NO this verse wasn’t revealed for this grand victory of Muslims over infidels.
[2] Battle of uhud: As we know how this already won battle was turned in defeat when the Muslims left their position for the plundering the war booty which gave the running infidels time to gather their forces and attack from the rear. History says that this unexpected attack by the infidels put the Muslim in such chaos that they began running from the battle fields leaving only few true in faith like Imam Ali a.s, Hzt Hamzah to protect the Holy Prophet from the attack of the enemies. The hand of Allah (yadullah), Ali, unsheathed his sword; the fearless, unconquerable and ever-overpowering strength of Allah (asdadullah), Ali, demonstrated his singular prowess as the executor of wonders {mazhar al aja-ib). Ali put so memorable a fight that Jibrail gloried Ali's action with the celebrated sentence: "la fata illa Ali" (there is no man save Ali) and "la sayf illa dhulfiqar" (there is no sword save dhulfiqar).
The scene again changed and the three thousand proud warriors/infidels of Arabia ran from the battlefield like frightened rats.
Surely the verse in question must have been revealed here, as an almost defeated battle turned in clear victory.
No again, this verse wasnt revealed for this victory too.
[3]Battle of Ahzaab/tribes or battle of ditch/khandaq: This battle was called Ahzaab because all the tribes/parties of infidels and Jews had formed a united force to wipe out the Muslims. It is also known as khandaq because a ditch was dug around Madina by the Muslims to prevent the invaders from entering it.
When the giant hero/warrior of the infidels ‘’Amr ibn Abd wodd’’ finding a narrow place jumped over the ditch and challenged the Muslims to fight him in a duel, from all the Muslims only Imam Ali [a.s ]agreed to his challenge, [At this moment the Prophet
uttered this historical sentence: "Entire faith is facing entire infidelity,"]
Imam Ali a.s wiped out this GIANT WARRIOR with one stroke, this shocked the enemy forces so much that it led to their retreat, no doubt The Holy Prophet said "[zurbato Aliyyin youmal Khandaq afzalo min ibadatith Thaqalain’’,i.e The one stroke of Ali on the day of khandaq/ditch is superior to the supplication of both the worlds [seen and unseen] .
The holy Quran says regarding this battle:
[Shakir 33:10] When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes turned dull, and the hearts rose up to the throats, and you began to think diverse thoughts of Allah.
Imagine the condition of Muslims plight who were saved by none other than Allah’s help through his beloved one, the hero of Islam, Imam Ali [a.s].
Now surely this was a very CLEAR VICTORY, this must be the battle in which the verse in question was revealed.
But again, NO, this verse wasn’t revealed for this outstanding victory.
[4]Battle of Khaiber: The famous battle against the treacherous Jews of Khaiber.They had built strong forts to protect themselves from any attack. Both Abu Bakr and Umar led the Muslims on separate occasions to try and enter the forts but they were forced to retreat. Umar even demoralized the Muslims by praising the courage of the chief of the Jews, a fearful warrior by the name of Marhab. This action of Umar displeased the Holy Prophet
very much.
Finally, the Holy Prophet (S) announced a famous message. He declared,
"Tomorrow I shall give the standard to a person who loves Allah and the Prophet and who is loved by Allah and the Prophet, and Allah will accomplish the conquest of this fort at his hands. He is a man who has never turned his back to the enemy and does not run away from the battlefield”, and yes that person was no other then Imam Ali [a.s] who at that time was suffering from severe eye pain which were cured by the prayers of The Holy Prophet [s.a.w.w.] The Jews best warriors like Marhab were wiped out by Imam Ali and when during the fight someone struck a blow at Imam Ali (A), breaking his shield. He turned to the gate of the fort and wrenched it off its hinges and used it as a shield. When he finally threw it away, even 10 Muslims could not lift it. Imam Ali (A) later commented that he had lifted the gate by the strength granted to him by Allah due to his firm faith in the Day of Judgment.
As a result of the bravery of Imam Ali (A), the fort was taken and soon all forts were within the hands of the Muslims.
Now surely this must be the battle after which the verse in question must have been revealed.
But again, NO.
Then when was this verse actually revealed???
AFTER THE TREATY OF HUDAIBIYAH.
WHAT! Isn’t this the same treaty in which the second Khalifa said and this is even mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Tazkirat al Karim and Rawdat al Ahbab that Umar bin Khattab expressed himself plainly that he had never before suspected so strongly the truth of Muhammad being the messenger of Allah (it means he had doubted many times before); and said: "Are you not a true messenger of Allah?
Isnt this the same treaty in which the muslims had to agree to a truce and sign a treaty with the infidels of makka and had to return to madina without performing the pilgrimage they had come for? Does this look like a clear victory or manifest loss???
Leaving aside all the battles won by the Muslims, the Holy Quran says after this treaty ''Inna fathana laka fathan mubeenan—Indeed we have inaugurated for you a clear victory! The Holy Quran deems the Treaty of Hudaibiya as Fath e Mubeen—a clear victory. How is that so???
Unbelievable as it sounds lets find out the answers from the treaty itself.
The following terms were put down in the treaty.
(i) There shall be no aggression on the part of any of the two parties for the next ten years, neither shall attack the other or their allies.
(ii) Whosoever wishes to join Muhammad and enter into a league with him shall have the liberty to do so. Likewise whoso wishes to join the Quraysh shall have the liberty to do so.
(iii) If any one goes over to Muhammad and is claimed back by his guardian he shall be sent back; but if any one from the followers of Muhammad returns to the Quraysh, he shall not be sent back.
(iv) Muhammad and his followers shall go back this year without entering the holy precincts.
(v) Next year Muhammad and his followers may visit Makka for three days, when the Quraysh shall retire therefrom. They will not enter it with any arms, save with a traveller's sword
Now, Read carefully the first two conditions of the treaty. History proves that because of these two conditions people from both sides were free to visit one another and this event led to infidels entering into the folds of Islam after being attracted by the genuiness of the true faith. Hence records tell us that In the 2 years which elapsed between the signing of the truce and the fall of Mecca more people accepted Islam than in the whole period since the beginning of the Holy Prophet's (S) mission.Islam crossed the borders of Arabia into other lands in four directions. SUBHANALLAH.
Now,what was the main aim of The Holy Prophet of Islam? To spread the religion of truth/Islam to mankind and this treaty fulfilled this aim, hence Almighty refers to it as ‘’CLEAR VICTORY”.
IN LIGHT OF THIS WE COME TO KNOW THAT CLEAR/MANIFEST VICTORY IS WHEN ONES AIM IS ACHIEVED.
Now lets return to KARBALA and see whose aim was achieved:
Yazeed aim was to take bayyat/allegiance from Imam Hussein
and to make him accept yazeed as the rightful Khalifa. Was his aim fulfilled? NO.
Imam Hussein’s aim was not to do allegiance/bayyat of yazeed and not to accept him as the rightful khalifa at any cost. Did Imam a.s achieve his aim? YES.
Yazeed’s aim was to remove the name of Allah s.w.t and his Holy Prophet and claim that there was no message nor messanger sent from Allah s.w.t .Was his aim achieved? NO
Imam Hussein’s aim was to spread the message of ‘’There is no God save Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet’’.Did he achieve his aim? OH YES and what clear proof then in yazeed's own Palace,when yazeed wants to silence Imam Ali ibnal Hussein
he tells the muezzin to give adhaan and when in his own palace the muezzin recites Ashhaduanna Muhammadur Rasulullah,the 4th Imam turns to yazeed and asks him whether Muhammad is your grandfather or mine???Yazeed is speechless.
Yazeed’s aim was to suppress the event of karbala and the message of Imam Hussein
by belittling/making fun of family of Holy Prophet/ridiculing them in the eyes of people but again the question is ,was his aim achieved? NO as when he has no choice but to free the family of Holy Prophet from his prison,the same people of Syria who had thrown stones and fire on the family of Holy prophet when they were brought as captives are now coming to pay their respects and offer condolences for the martyred ones from the family of Holy Prophet.
The same Syria which was the ruling place of yazeed ,which had been decorated and was engaged in merry making at the arrivals of these captives is now clad in black mourning clothes with sounds of wailings and grief for the martyred family of the Holy Prophet
. For three days the whole city mourns and The message of karbala is told and retold. The first majalis/commemoration of shohada-e-karbobala takes place in the same city.
Who achieved his aim/purpose, Imam Hussein or yazeed [laanatullah]???
إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُبِين}
HUSSEINIYAT.