Re: The Husseini Lesson
Peace Nussairee
As far as question of my following a particular sect, etc is concerned I was brought up in a very open-minded family. My Grandmother used to follow Barelvi maslak and believed in karammat of the saints. She was very much into going on mazaars and celebrating Giyarhween Sharif, etc. My grandfather on the other hand followed Devbandi maslak and was against going to Urs, etc, but the couple did never interfere in each others religious matters. I never saw them even arguing about these issues. My father used to bring books from the libraries of Devbandi Madarsa as well as Imam Bargah. My personal bookshelf is currently occupied with Tafseer e Quarn by Maulana Modoodi (I started with Tafseer written by Imam Raza Barelvi), Sahih Bukhari, Nihjul Balagha and Shah jo Risalo ( by Shah Abdul Lateef who was considered as a liberal sufi who dedicated a complete chapter of his Risalo to event of Karbala).
Having said the above, I heard and read many of the events in various books saying that the Prophet (SAW) and his family knew what is going to happen in Karbala, but it is somewhat difficult to understand why Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) sent his Qasid (Muslim bin Aqeel - RA) and taken all his ahl e bayt with him on such a dangerous journey knowing what is going to happen.
I’m currently unable to open the link provided by you from Tabri about Hazrat Hussain (RA) knowing about Karbala. As far as I remember from my last day’s study of Tabri, it was mentioned that after departure of Hazrat Hussain’s from Makkah Abdullah bin Jafer (RA) went to Umro bin Saeed (Governor of Makkah) and asked him to write a letter to Hazrat Hussain (RA) granting Amaan. Umro Bin Saeed agreed to this and asked Ibn e Jafar (RA) to write a letter and bring it to him for official stamp (muhar). When Abdullah Bin Jafar (RA) bring that letter to Hazrat Hussain (RA), he said I have been ordered (through dream) by the Prophet (SAW) to move and I’ll do so whether it is good or bad for me.
Hazrat Hussain didn’t say this thing to anyone before his leaving of Makkah even when Muhamad bin Hanfiya and Ibn e Abbas (RA) insisted for not leaving for Kufa. It is also mentioned in Tabri that Ibn e Abbas advised Hazrat Hussain to go Yemen instead of going to Kufa. In reply Hazrat Hussain said that he has finalised his decision to go for Kufa.
It is mentioned in Tabri that when Waleed bin Utbah asked Hazrat Hussain for bayat of Yazeed and he came back from Waleed’s home, he asked Muhammad bin Hanfiya what to do and where to go. Muhammad bin Hanfiya advised for going to Makkah and if you feel danger there then leave for Raigistan (deseart) or kohistan (hills) and decide as per the situation. At this Hazrat Hussain (RA) said that ‘you advised correctly and I hope this advice of yours will be correct and suitable’.
This all shows that Hazrat Hussain did not know what was going to happen.
I don’t have any issue whether Hazrat Hussain knew it before or not about what is going to happen, but I do have issues when myths and supernatural things are connected with such events to make people believe it. I think event of Karbala does not require support of these things, it was a big cause in its very objective.