MASTER OF THE MARTYRS IN THE EYES OF NON-MUSLIMS

The Grand son of The Prophet of Islam, Imam Husayn (A.S.) is revered and respected by the Muslims for centuries for his matchless sacrifice in the annals of human history.

Imam Husayn (A.S.) did not belong to Muslims only. As the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.)

said, “Hussayno Minni Wa Ana Minal Husayn “meaning “Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn”. As the Prophet of Islam was sent by Allah as “Rehmat” for the universe, hence Imam Husayn’s sacrifice had universal appeal. Imam Husayn was introduced to NON-Muslims on the eve of Mubahalah when Christians from Najran came to Madina and discussed about unity of God.

Another case of a non-Muslim influenced by Imam’s stand for truth and righteousness was a Christian, Wahab Al-Kalbi who met the Imam on the way to Karbala. When his mother learned about Imam Husayn (A.S.), she narrated that when she was pregnant, the physicians told her that the delivery will be fatal. Wahab’s father went to Imam Ali (A.S.) and requested him to pray who agreed to do so. Hence Wahab was born safely. She persuaded Wahab to go and sacrifice his life for the Imam. Infact, Wahab was married for two months but ultimately the whole family joined the Imam at Karbala. Wahab sacrificed his life first and his wife followed by becoming the first female martyr of Karbala.

In the court of Yazid, when he was misbehaving with Imam Husayn (A.S.)’s head, the ambassador of Rome was watching it. He enquired from Yazid as to whose head was that. On learning his connection with the Prophet of Islam he told Yazid that he was from the lineage of Prophet Dawood and that people still respect him and it was tragic that Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.)’s grandson was being disrespectedby Muslims. Yazid threatened to kill him whereupon the Christian ambassador said that was not afraid of death and that he had seen the Prophet of Islam in his dream. He bravely declared his conversion to Islam.

 Reproduced below are the compliments of Non-Muslims about him:

Mahatma Gandhi of India:

            I wanted to know the best of the life of one who holds today an undisputed

            sway over the hearts of millions of mankind…I became more than ever

            convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days

            in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement

            of Hussain, the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his

            friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in

God and in his own mission to save Islam. During the famous “Salt March” 

Mahatma Gandhi took 72 companions with him to achieve victory!

Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru of India (The first prime minister):

            Imam Hussain’s sacrifice is for all groups and communities, an example of

            the path of righteousness.

Dr. Radha Krishnan (Former President of India)

            Though Imam Hussain gave his life years ago, but his indestructible soul

            rules the hearts of people even today.

Rabindranath Tagore (Freedom fighter of India)

            In order to keep alive justice and truth, instead of an army or weapons, success

            can be achieved, by sacrificing lives, exactly what Imam Hussain (A.S.) did.

Charles Dickens (English Novelist)

            If Hussain wanted to quench his worldly desires…then I do not understand

            why his sister, wife and children accompanied him. It stands to reason

            therefore, that he sacrificed purely for Islam.

Thomas Carlyle (Scottish historian and essayist)

            The best lesson which we get from the tragedy of Cerebella is that Hussain and

            his companions were rigid believers in God. They illustrated that the numerical

            superiority does not count when it comes to the truth and the falsehood.

            The victory of Hussain, despite his minority, marvels me!

Edward Gibbon (English historian and Member of Parliament)

            In a distant age and climate, the tragic scene of the death of Hosein will

            awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader.

Edward G. Brown (Professor at the University of Cambridge)

            “…..a reminder of the blood-stained field of Karbala, where the grandson of

            the Apostle of God fell, at length, tortured by thirst, and surrounded by the

            bodies of his murdered kinsmen, has been at any time since then, sufficient to

            invoke, even in the most lukewarm, and the heedless, the deepest emotion,

            the most frantic grief, and an exaltation of spirit before which, pain, danger,

            and death shrinks to unconsidered trifles.” (A Literary history of Persia, London)

Antoine Bara (Lebanese writer)

            No battle in the modern and past history of mankind has earned more

            sympathy and admiration as well as provided more lessons than the

            Martyrdom of Hussain in the battle of Karbala. (Husayn in Christian Ideology)

Dr. Rajendra Prasad (The First President of India)

            The sacrifice of Imam Hussain is not limited to one country, or nation

            but it is a hereditary state of the brotherhood of all mankind.