What to learn from history?
After any battle or political conflict there is the feeling of unease amongst the different parties involved. The worse and bloodier the battle the harder that it becomes.
But on the occasion of Ashura which is on the 10th of Muharam (the first month on the Islamic calendar) there should be a certain focus on the lessons to be learned from history, rather than focusing on religious differences between sects. We have to put sensitivities aside and try to understand what happened? why? and how it could have been avoided perhaps?
We have to draw lessons so that we would not, unknowingly, repeat a similar atrocity. And I emphasize on the “unknowingly” bit because not everything can be measured by the extent of bloodshed. Also, we have no guarantees or ways to test on which side of the battle would we stand. It is much easier to say things and choose sides in retrospect. So instead of pointing fingers let us share the blame and learn few lessons together.
I learned from the story of Hussain a few of many lessons to remember. Ones that can be incorporated in daily life and I use them as a guideline to my conscious living; I learned,
1) To stand up to what I believe is right and ethical, as we constantly enter into many battlefields. The lack of supporters does not deter me from achieving my objectives.
2) To have compassion and think before targeting a group based on their ethnicity. That does not only include bodily harm but also social discrimination.
3) To stand with the oppressed, to give them a voice, and to always echo the voice of justice. As history echos the words of its people, priority should be given for the truth to be echoed.
4) To not let the clouds of destiny frighten me into submission. I might not escape it, but rather die with my conscious than live with someone else’s mind.
5) That a political up-rise cannot be silenced through killing and in doing so you would only create martyrs respected by the living. Not all is won by the sword.
6) That you should not wait for a person to be dead and just weep over him in support. For what use to him is weeping alone. Instead I should spread justice as I live through a conscious mind and a heart that throbs in support of humanity.
7) That a tragic loss is not limited by one community, rather it should be shared by humanity.
Finally, I leave you with this quote from a non-Muslim;
Dr. Radha Krishnan
“Though Imam Hussain gave his life almost 1300 years ago, but his indestructible soul rules the hearts of people even today.”
