I have been asking this questions to all Sunni and Shia brothers, if they can provide me one example of annual remembrance of any death, loss, defeat or any thing close to it.
There had been many occasions in Prophet Muhammad SAW’s life which caused grieve. To name the few that come to my mind…
Aamul huzun or year of sadness in which both his beloved wife Khadija R.A and dear uncle Hz Abu Talib passed away, just about when the things were getting tougher for Muslims and both of these personalities were a great support.
The ordeal in Tai’f.
Shahadat of Badri Sahaba R.Ajmaein.
His daughter’s death.
His son Ibrahim’s death.
His Uncle Hz Hamza R.A’s shahadat in Uhud.
Since Prophet Muhammad SAW covered all aspects of life specially related to religion, daily prayers, rituals and fine details of daily life in general and in Quran also Allah says that he is the best of Men and the best example to follow. How can the importance of annual remembrance or commemoration of a sad event or tragedy be left out. If there was any such thing the significance of 17th of Ramadhan would have been highlighted and He PBUH must have arranged a gathering or visit to the Badr site for Fatiha khwani for Shuhuda on that day. Similarly for Hamza R.A’s loss was the biggest of his life atleast in Medina. But we see 7 more years passed by but no such annual gathering or remembrance happens.
Why is that?
Subsequently, does anyone’s death on a certain day changes the status of that day or increase its significance in the years to come?
[4:148] Allah does not love the public utterance of hurtful speech unless (it be) by one to whom injustice has been done; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing. (Al-Quran)
Allah (swt) loves the public utterance of speech if done to protest against injustice. Now slaying of Prophet's family (love of whom is a demand of Allah Himself) is a major injustice if not the greatest. Not to mention imprisonment of the others including the children and womenfolk of the Prophet's family who were made to travel more than 1,500 kms on the back of camels (one may still visit graves all along the route), paraded through public and denounced as 'rebels' against the accursed caliph of time, Yazid ibne Muawiya, before being put in prision.
These public processions are symbolic reenactment of the tragedy as well as an everlasting shout of protest that is echoed from the every corner of world. Lovers of Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt from all the sections of humanity take part in these processions. E.g., in the Karachi Ashura bombings in 2009, out of the 43 martyrs there were 15 Sunnis, 1 Christian, the rest of the souls being Shia.
Interestingly though is it not always the case that protests of different kinds, regardless of the great causes and aims behind them, slow down and eventually die down over time! But this global protest and rememberence of this tragedy keeps growing bigger and stronger with passing time. In my view this fact is another testimony of the promise to Prophet (saw) by Allah (swt) to grant his habib (and those"of him") in 'abundance'.
And if one thinks that processions were not part of life during the early days of Islam then open a good book and check again. You may wish to read the accounts of the return of Muslim armies from various battles, the event of the arrival of Prophet (saww) in Madina, the occasion of Hajj particularly Hujjatul Widda, the many funerals of notable shohada like Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib where Prophet himself ordered or even led large numbers of people in processions. And if you wish to forward time a little and you may find a certain wife of Prophet (saww) leading processions of armies to battlefields (despite explicit prohibition by Allah in Quran and His Prophet via prior warnings). The king of Syria also organised processions to lament the murdered caliph, Uthman bin Affan (see: Sunni Imam Ibn Qutayba's Al-Imama wa Siyasa).
^that is what I wrote couple of years back. As to your question about the need of annual remembrance then there are several ways to explain it from both theological and social POV and perhaps someone more knowledgeable like sa1eem can shed some light on it from Sunni perspective. From Shia view, there is strong emphasis on remembrance of tragedy of Karbala from Imams of Ahlul Bayt.
Generally happy events are annually commemorated and sad events were commemorated once at the occasion ... Hijrah was a happy event and the calendar was formed ... Each Islamic year is the remembrance of the Hijrah ... Likewise, the two Eids ...
This is because Muslims are positive people and focus on optimism ... Also, taking omens - it was common for RasoolAllah (SAW) to take positive signs, but he (SAW) never took negative signs ... or bad omens ...
Fasting is a good way to remember both happy and sad moments ...
And if one thinks that processions were not part of life during the early days of Islam then open a good book and check again. You may wish to read the accounts of the return of Muslim armies from various battles, the event of the arrival of Prophet (saww) in Madina, the occasion of Hajj particularly Hujjatul Widda, the many funerals of notable shohada like Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib where Prophet himself ordered or even led large numbers of people in processions
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Borther Pagluu** – The processions that you mention were one-off events and were not performed annually as a religious events.
And if you wish to forward time a little and you may find a certain wife of Prophet (saww) leading processions of armies to battlefields (despite explicit prohibition by Allah in Quran and His Prophet via prior warnings). The king of Syria also organised processions to lament the murdered caliph, Uthman bin Affan (see: Sunni Imam Ibn Qutayba's Al-Imama wa Siyasa).
Strange that you are quoting the examples of people you despise. You don’t want follow their ‘Sunnah’. Do you? Then these two ‘events’ were ‘one-offs’ too.
Pagluu mian, can you read the title again and read my post again please. Where is the annual processions example to commemorate the great losses during Prophet SAW's time.
As per various hadith, we were ordered to mourn for only three days and not beyond that. There is no issue if we remember those incidences in a way of discussion i.e., to pass/gain knowledges from one another, which doesn’t necessary means should be on the same day in every year but it could be at any day. Moreover, There is no such remembrance of someone’s death on specific day/year is proven from hadith.
However, Prophet Muhammad informed us that when you pass from those places where in past, torment of Almighty Allah were ever sent then don’t forget to make dua and that that torment shall not repeated on us and also to ask forgiveness.
I agree with the OP and would include fatiha khwanis, jashan-e-milad and various other contraptions that muslims of Pakistan have come up with.
If ashoora jaloos is to protest the shahdat of Imam Hussain (ra), who are they protesting against and what relief are they seeking? The people responsible for that are long gone. Moreover, the processions include things, such as beating and bleeding oneself, that seem to serve no purpose and an argument could be made that they are prohibited.
I agree with the OP and would include fatiha khwanis, jashan-e-milad and various other contraptions that muslims of Pakistan have come up with.
If ashoora jaloos is to protest the shahdat of Imam Hussain (ra), who are they protesting against and what relief are they seeking? The people responsible for that are long gone. Moreover, the processions include things, such as beating and bleeding oneself, that seem to serve no purpose and an argument could be made that they are prohibited.
Would you include the Jalsa Salana by the Ahmadi community in that list as well?
If ashoora jaloos is to protest the shahdat of Imam Hussain (ra), who are they protesting against and what relief are they seeking? The people responsible for that are long gone..
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Read Islamic philosophy, sir. Read Allama Iqbal who summarizes this when he says;
Musa o Firaun-o-Shabbir or Yazid
Een do quwwat az Hayât âmad padid
Zindah haq az quwwat-e-Shabbiri ast
Bâtil âkhir dâgh-e-hasrat miri ast
Battle between good and evil is an ongoing one. Dushman shanasi is a topic covered widely in Quran with more than 155 verses covering the topic. Imam Hussain's sacrifice is the pivotal point in this battle.
Asif, you are repeating the obvious here. Nobody here arguing about the importance of ideology and message of Imam Hussain R.A. He is Imam of all Muslims in the battle of Haq and Batil.
This thread is about annually celebrating an event and examples from Prophet SAW's life. Read my post again.
Read Islamic philosophy, sir. Read Allama Iqbal who summarizes this when he says;
Musa o Firaun-o-Shabbir or Yazid
Een do quwwat az Hayât âmad padid
Zindah haq az quwwat-e-Shabbiri ast
Bâtil âkhir dâgh-e-hasrat miri ast
Battle between good and evil is an ongoing one. Dushman shanasi is a topic covered widely in Quran with more than 155 verses covering the topic. Imam Hussain's sacrifice is the pivotal point in this battle.
It is my belief that Sayyiduna Musa (AS) is better than Sayyiduna Hussain (RA)
It is also my belief that Firaun is worse than Yazid ...
I do not see any pivotal point between good and evil here ...
Asif, you are repeating the obvious here. Nobody here arguing about the importance of ideology and message of Imam Hussain R.A. He is Imam of all Muslims in the battle of Haq and Batil.
This thread is about annually celebrating an event and examples from Prophet SAW's life. Read my post again.
I follow Jafari fiqh, sir. Pagluu has already answered the question. If you have any question from Shia understanding of deen then I will be happy to answer if he isn't around.
give us an example of an event that can match the Battle of Kerbala in its brutality and inhumane nature, prior to Islam, and we shall produce you the answer you seek.
Okay, thank you for your thoughts though you have not quite understood my comments.
The version that you posted is different to the one I have found ...
Zinda Haqq Az Quwwat-e-Shabbiri Ast Batil Akhir Dagh-e-Hasrat Meri Ast
Bahr-e-Haq Dar Khak wa Khoon Ghaltida Ast
Pas Banae La Ilah Garweeda Ast
Moosa wa Fir’aun wa Shabbir wa Yazeed Aen do quwwat az hayat amad padeed
Sateeza kaar raha hai azal sey ta imroz
Chiragh-e-Mustafwi sey sharer-e-bu lahbi
As an avid Iqbal fan I have most of his collection in my own personal library. I plead once more to people to familiarise themselves with the work of hazrat e Iqbal. He has said much more and deeper things on Karbala and islamic ideas and ideals. I have searched a good site for people that are interested to go through, Allama Iqbal and Ahlul-Bayt
There is no example of barsi of any of Prophet Muhammad's family member during His time, though a lot of them died during that time including his son, his daughters and his Uncles. If a person's death or a tragedy makes a day so special (every year, same day) then it makes sense to remember it. If not then remembering it through out the year is the best way. More so the ideology and message is more important than crying out like women, shirtless mattam and zanjeerzani. This is not Islam, and you and I know very well what Prophet's reaction would be if these Mattami processions were held in Medinah over Badr and Uhud Shuhada. Can you imagine his reaction?
When things don't make sense, it is easier to say I follow this fiqh and this is our understanding. Answer it with example from Prophet's life and his own conduct in such situation when they happened.
As for the processions on street, since you brought fiqh Jafria in the discussion, these have poiltical (show of power) motivations. We all know what happened in Lucknow and how it all started. The history is well documented.
& Peace smooth_guy;
informed us that when you pass from those places where in past, torment of Almighty Allah were ever sent then don’t forget to make dua and that that torment shall not repeated on us and also to ask forgiveness.