The Revolution of Imam al-Hussain
 | |
| Author | Shaykh Muhammad Mahdi Shams al-Din |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historic |
| Published | 2014 |
| Publisher | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |
| Pages | 194 |
The book The Revolution of Imam al-Hussain is a good example of Ahlulbayt Organization’s works with the aim of presenting a faithful picture of the revolution of al-Hussain in Muslim consciousness, in a general way, and of Shi'ite Muslims, in particular.
About the author[edit | edit source]
Shaykh Muhammad Mahdi Shams ad-Din Al-Amili is one of the scholars and illustrious personalities of the Ithna ‘Ashari’Shi’ites. He was educated at the Religious College in Najaf where he studied the Arabic language, rhetoric, logic, jurisprudence, the principles of jurisprudence and Tradition under the great figures and teachers of that college. At the same time, he acquired great knowledge of literature, history and other aspects of human learning. He studied under such great authorities in the sciences of jurisprudence and the principles of jurisprudence as the late Ayatullah Sayyid Muhsin al-Hakim and Ayatullah Sayyid Abu’l Qasim al-Khu’i. He participated in the foundation of some of the cultural organizations in Najaf and the College of Law, where he gave lessons in Islamic history and jurisprudence. He represented the late Ayatullah Sayyid al-Hakim, for a number of years, in the province of Diwaniyya, which is one of the important tribal provinces in Iraq. He also took part in many of the religious and cultural celebrations in Iraq. He supported the Islamic Publishing House with his valuable works. Among those works is this book, The Revolution of al-Hussain.
About the book[edit | edit source]
This book published in CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (February 24, 2014), has 194 pages and best sellers rank of 18,892,558 in Books.
The present book is for non-Muslims around the world to be aware of eternal quality of al-Hussain’s revolution, its social circumstances, and its influence on men. The author in this book tries to show the secret of the lasting nature of this pioneering revolution as a vital agent in creating acts of heroism, embodying self-sacrifice and teaching men the way of noble sacrifice for the sake of achieving a noble aim.
Abstract of chapters[edit | edit source]
Introduction[edit | edit source]
In this section, the author examines the descriptions of history from different perspectives, and different attitudes towards al-Hussain’s determination to revolt. Then he presents a brief picture of the Umayyad activities which were aimed at thwarting the transforming effect of the revolution within the umma.
Chapter 1, The Ziara[edit | edit source]
This chapter clearly reveals the legality of the pilgrimage (ziyara). Muslims, both male and female, in every age, have carried out this practice as being one of the rituals of God. None of their jurists, traditionists or preachers have denounced them for that. Rather they have urged them to do it. The Imams of the Holy Family have made public their great concern to direct Muslims, in general, and the Shi'a, in particular, to make pilgrimages to the Prophet, to the Imams of the Holy Family and to the men and women who have stood the test in the history of Islam, by fighting against his enemies.
Chapter 2, Lamentation Poetry[edit | edit source]
This chapter gives sufficient evidence of the religious background of the poetry of lamentation for al-Hussain and a researcher would find manifestations of this religious background in the poets of lamentation for al-Hussain in all periods from the first century of the hijra until today. Indeed, Shi'ite Muslims have composed poetic works on this subject in any language they speak (Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu and others) and these works are vaster than their compositions in other fields. The author believes that the phenomenon of poetry of lament for al-Hussain in Shi'ite literature did not only arise as a result of the tragedy of al-Hussain having an emotional appeal. In addition to that it also had a religious aim which was to preserve forever in poetry an act of piety.
Chapter 3, Rites of Remembrance for al-Hussain[edit | edit source]
Atrocities committed at Karbala' reached their brutal climax with the death of al-Hussain as a martyr in the afternoon of 10th Muharram in the year 61. This disaster led to the performance of funeral and remembrance rites by the surviving family at Karbala' and in the houses of the Hashimites in Medina and elsewhere. These spontaneous and overflowing rites of remembrance, which were held in Kufa and Medina and at the stopping-places along the route in the journey of return from Karbala ', carry within them the seeds of the public rites of remembrance as an institution. Through the ages, these rites of remembrance developed and passed through various stages until they reached the present form in which they are held today. The author in this chapter aims to explain the factors which led to these spontaneous gatherings being transformed into a cultural and sociological institution which has incomparable influence, namely the rites of remembrance for al-Hussain. He indicates the nature of the objectives and the important issues that the Holy Family wanted to realize through the creation of this institution.
Chapter 4, Weeping[edit | edit source]
The author devotes this chapter to the phenomenon of weeping in order to make it easier to observe and understand this phenomenon. He attempts to become acquainted with this in terms of its basis and its significance.