“Do you permit me also to ascend these pieces of wood, and to say a few things which may please Allah and also become the means through which the hearers may earn spiritual reward” (Imam Sajjad (AS) to Yazid (la))

***These words of the Imam (AS) are especially relevant for our contemporary times… Yazid (la) had appointed one of his official preachers to abuse the ahlul-bayt (AS) from the “pulpit.” The Imam (in captivity) after listening to the abuse, calls the “pulpit” (mimbar) pieces of wood, because when the mimbar is used to express the official position of an oppressor - then that “mimbar” is no longer a mimbar - it is nothing more than pieces of wood. And words that are expressed at the behest of a tyrant, from such a place, carries no spiritual reward.

We see in our present day, that the puppet regimes of the empire continue to appoint their official preachers, whose only job is to drug Muslims into a deep sleep - and heap abuse on all those who choose to resist tyranny. Or, we see the voluntary “good Muslim” who, to gain favor from the empire, chooses to remain quiet about the tyrant’s crimes - praises the oppressor, and abuses those who struggle.

Pity, yes a thousand pities that you are drunk with this short-lived might and this brief prestige. Worldly power and wealth have enticed you and have made you proud. But be warned that temporal monarchy and power will fade into insignificance and perish. You are not immortal and shall not live forever. Peace and rest you shall never find.

O Yazid! Do you think that we have become humble and despicable owing to the martyrdom of our people and our own captivity? As you have blocked all the paths for us, and we have been made captives and are being taken from one place to another, do you think that Allah has taken away his blessings from us? Do you think that by killing the godly persons you have become great and respectable and the Almighty looks at you with special grace and kindness? For this reason and on account of this wrong thinking you have become elated and arrogant. You have become boastful because you have seen that the matters have taken a turn in your favour. You have, however, forgotten what Allah says: The kufr must not think that Our respite is for their good We only give them time to let them increase their sins. For them there will be a humiliating torment.” (Surah Ale Imran, 3: 178)

On that day it will become known what reward the oppressors earn, whose position is worse and whose party is more humble. O enemy of Allah and O son of the enemy of Allah! I swear by Allah that I consider you to be humble and not fit even to be reprimanded and reproached. But what am I to do? Our eyes are shedding tears, our hearts are burning, and our martyrs cannot come to life by our reprimanding and reproaching you. My Husayn has been killed and the partisans of shaytan are taking us to the fools so that they may get their reward for insulting Allah.

-Sayyida Zaynab (a.s.)

Allah reproached them because they saw with their own eyes the oppressors committing vile and corrupt acts, but did not stop them, because they loved the favours they received, and they feared persecution and injury. Allah says: “Fear not men, but fear Me.” (5:44) (Imam Husayn (AS))

After putting his son (Ali Asghar) down onto the earth, Imam Hussein is said, according to one tradition, to have cupped his hands, letting the blood of his son gather in his palms, and then had thrown the blood up to the sky.

According to another tradition - both the sky and earth refused the blood: the sky said, I will not rain, if even one drop of blood touches me. And the earth said, I will never produce again if even one drop of this blood touches me. Imam Hussein then rubbed his face with the blood of his son.

“O’ Aba Abdillah! The tribulations are great and unbearable and your tragedy is great for us, and for all the people of Islam and unbearable and great is your tragedy in the heavens and for all of the dwellers of the heavens.”

Imam Hussain says to Sayida Zainab: “Sister fear Allah, and take comfort in the consolotion of Allah. Know that the people on earth will die and the inhabitants of heaven will not continue to exist (for ever). For everything will perish except the face of Allah Who created creation by His power (qudra). Hu sends forth creation and Hu causes them to return. Hu is unique and alone. ” (attributed in Kitab al-Irshad)