The Uprising of Ashura and Responses to doubts
 | |
| Author | Ali Asghar Rezvani |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Published | 2010 |
| Publisher | Cultural Affairs Department Ah al-Bayt World Assembly |
| Pages | 358 |
The book The Uprising of Ashura and Responses to doubts tries to answer the doubts that have been raised in this regard by looking at the event of Ashura and revealing some of the issues and events of that period.
About the author[edit | edit source]
Ali Asghar Rezvani (born in 1331 -Aligudarz), a professor at the specialized center of Mahdism, the seminary of Qom and the Mustafa International University, and has a university and seminary education and has authored many works in the field of geography, including "Lorestan through history" and Wahhabism, including " "Avoiding takfiri thoughts." In addition to his academic education, he has entered the field of religious sciences and has seriously criticized the Wahhabi movement.
About the book[edit | edit source]
This book written by Ali Asghar Rezvani and translated into English by Kelvin Lembani (Muhammad Abd al-Aziz) was published in Cultural Affairs Department Ah al-Bayt World Assembly. It has 358 pages, and presents a detailed account of the life of Imam Husayn and his personality, the tragedy of Karbala and the sacrifice of the Imam and his companions, and a detailed analysis of Shi’i behaviors, like mourning and crying to refute the doubts of being un-Islamic.
Abstract of chapters[edit | edit source]
Chapter 1: Imam al-Husayn’s Personality[edit | edit source]
In this chapter, the author refers to certain parts of Imam al-Husayn’s history according to narratives which have been recorded in Sunni books of hadith.
Chapter 2: The martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn[edit | edit source]
This chapter examines and deliberates upon some authentic hadiths which have been transmitted by both Sunnis and Shi’as from the Holy Prophet about Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn’s exclusive virtues.
Chapter 3: Yazid and His Household[edit | edit source]
This chapter gives an account of the life of Yazid ibn Mu‘awiyah and demonstrates his unscrupulousness and viciousness, especially through the brutal martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn and the incident of Harrah. Before that, the author gives a brief historical account of Yazid’s background. Through awareness of Yazid’s family standing, his actions can better be comprehended. So the author gives a brief life account of his grandfather, Abu Sufiyan.
Chapter 4: Mourning and Lamentation[edit | edit source]
In this chapter the author examines the difference of opinions about holding ceremonies with the intention of paying homage to the signs of Allah. There is no dispute or disagreement among the various schools of thought regarding the essential verdict pertaining to this precept. Disagreement, however, lies in the question of whether application of this verdict must be determined by divine decree alone or whether instances of its application can also be determined by common sense and wisdom.
Chapter 5: Mourning from the Viewpoint of Reason[edit | edit source]
One of the objections raised by some skeptics is why Shiites and lovers of the Ahl al-Bayt mourn or wail for the distresses which befell Allah’s awliya’ [awliya’] and why they cry for their sufferings and hold mourning ceremonies for them. The Wahhabis consider mourning for the awliya’ of Allah to be an act of innovation and heresy and say that there is no evidence in Islam to prove that it is permitted to hold mourning ceremonies. The author in this chapter examines this topic on different levels.
Chapter 6: Mourning as a Manifestation of Love and Hatred[edit | edit source]
The love of some is incumbent upon man. After Allah, the Exalted, who is the first of those for whom love is intrinsically incumbent upon man, in the hadiths, just like in the Gracious Qur’an, love for the Ahl al-Bayt has been emphasized in a clear and explicit manner. We also can deduce from logic and from evidence that has been transmitted to us in traditions that loving certain people is incumbent and binding upon man. The author in this chapter refers to some of the relevant traditions in this regard. And at the end of this part mentions some logical manifestations of love in man’s life as a conclusion.
Chapter 7: The Psychology of Mourning[edit | edit source]
In this section, the author examines and analyzes this issue raised by some people who say that holding mourning ceremonies and having many sorrowful rites during the course of a year deprives the society of happiness and joy. They contend that these practices cause people to feel more unhappy and downcast and in effect bring about more discouragement and depression in the society.
Chapter 8: Reciting Elegies[edit | edit source]
Some people ask: Why do the Shi‘ahs recite elegies when mourning over the awliya’ of Allah? The author in this chapter with attention to history and referring to some examples, comes to the conclusion that reciting prose was a common practice when mourning over the awliya’ of Allah during the early days of Islam.
Chapter 9: Crying[edit | edit source]
The author believes that by studying the Holy Qur’an and traditions [hadiths], realities of weeping and shedding tears become known and various secrets about crying are clarified. In this chapter he refers to some of the Qu’ranic verses and traditions which discuss this issue. Then he examines some of beneficial effects derived from crying mentioned by religious scholars and academics.
Chapter 10: The Effects of Ashura[edit | edit source]
In this chapter the author talks about the event of Karbala and believes that any person who reads about that and carefully ponders what came to pass on the day of ‘Ashura, or hears about it from another person, will certainly be deeply saddened by what befell Imam al-Husayn, his Ahl al-Bayt and the rest of his companions. So the author mentions a few examples of such people.
Chapter 11: Prostration on the Soil of Karbala (The Land of Imam al-Husayn’s Martyrdom)[edit | edit source]
In this chapter the author examines the subject which has attracted the attention of both Sunnis and Wahhabis about why the Shi‘ahs prostrate on soil from Karbala, known as the soil [turbat] of Imam al-Husayn. They question the essence of this prostration and wonder whether it is for Imam al-Husayn or the soil itself.
Chapter 12: Responses to Doubts[edit | edit source]
There is a big accusation that says the Shi‘ahs themselves were the killers of Imam al-Husayn, and then started holding mourning ceremonies for him to show penance for the actions of their predecessors every year in all countries of the Muslim World. The author here analyzes this accusation to show who the real killers of Imam al-Husayn were.