Page 164 - Pure Life 07

72 PURE LIFE, Vol.3.No.7, (Safar Al-Muzaffar 1438. Azar 1395. November 2016)
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The Tragedy of Karbala is a microcosm which
encompasses what it means to be human by
providing a depiction of the choices every human
being must make throughout his or her life. It
illustrates choices of truth and falsehood; the choice
to sacrifice for the next world or surrender one’s
humanity for the temporary rewards of this world.
The Day of Ashura reflects two potentials for
human nature: the side of animals and the side of
angels. It illustrates what it means to use one’s
intellect, to make the (often difficult) choice to
uphold the key tenets of humanity. In this paper, I
intend to explicate the choices that were made on
the journey to Karbala, during Karbala, and after
Karbala (through the depictions of historians), in
order to demonstrate the microcosmic nature of all
of humanity, encompassed in a single event.

2. The reasons of Imam Hussain’s mission
Imam Hussain’s mission does not begin with the
instatement of Yazid’s caliphate. His mission
begins with the creation of his soul, as the son of
‘Ali, and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad,
peace be upon them. His mission, from the very
beginning, is to “seek to enjoin what is good and
forbid what is evil and follow the traditions of [his]
1
grandfather and [his father].”

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