Page 158 - Pure Life 07

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78 PURE LIFE, Vol.3.No.7, (Safar Al-Muzaffar 1438. Azar 1395. November 2016)

3. The true nature of Imam Hussain
followers and Yazid’s army
The next choices to be made were by the companions
of the Imam. Two options remained: to leave the
Imam and protect themselves and their and families,
or to stand by Imam Hussain to protect Islam.
It is interesting to analyze the relationship of
Imam Hussain and his companions, the choices he
provides them with, as well as the choices they
make. After all, a decision to face Yazid’s army
“[is] a personal decision...it was not incumbent on
him to ask others to team up with him.”
1
Imam Hussain did not have to force men to fight
with him. Those who chose to stand by him were
moved by his spirit, and chose to stay with him based
on following truth. It is perhaps for this reason that
history will not forget the names of such martyrs, as
their stance was truly, and purely, for the sake of Islam.
Yasin T. Jibouri relays the famous narration of “the
eve of the ninth of Muharram [where] Imam al-Hussain
gather[s] all his companions together and [says] to them,
‘Whoever remains with me will be killed tomorrow; so
consider this opportunity as Allah-sent and take
advantage of the darkness and go home to your villages.’
He then extinguished the light so that those who
wanted to go away might not be too embarrassed
when seen by others.

1. Mutahhari, https://www.al-islam.org/truth-about-al-Hussain-s-
revolt-ayatullah-murtadha-mutahhari.