Re: The Undefeatable General.
As I said Imam Hussain ah's time and situation is too complex to be added in this debate.
If you truly believe in Islamic teachings, then try to understand the arabic khutba recited before every Friday prayer.
One specific line in that Khutba is "Whomever disobeys Sultan (sitting president), disobeys Allah" [trans of : Man Ahanas Sultan, Ahan Allah].
Back to Imam Hussain's example. If you are OK with a frank analysis (and not running to the mods with Blasphemous charge) then here is a summary for you. The idea is to prove that Imam Hussain's role was not even close to bringing any sort of dhoom-cracy in the Arab world. In fact it was petty tribal warfare that is common even now in FATAns and PATAns (just follow news of the recent & ongoing parachinar's tribal clash and the death of 100+ FATAns).
Important Note: While reading the summary below please say "Allayhe Salam" or "razialla unho" with the names of sahaba and Khulafa. Thank you.
Imam Hussain's murder (and resulting shahadat) was the result of the second phase of a long running dispute that started with the murder (and resulting shahadat) of Usman.
Hazrat Usman belonged to Moawia tribe (or triblet). Whereas Imam Hussain belonged to Banu Talib clan.
Usman was murdered because BAnu Talib felt they had the right to run the government by making Ali as Khalifa.
In fact if you read Shibli Nomani's treatise of Khalifa as-hab (Al-Farooq), the tussle among Arabs started right after Messenger pbuh's death.
First phase of tribal dispute between Moawia clan and Banu Talib clan
Banu Talib and their supporters wanted Ali to be Khalifa #1
Other Arab tribes wanted Abu Bakar to be Khalifa #1. Omer stepped in, and used his power to install Abu Bakar and he succeeded.
This particular act started the schism in Arab world and translated into Shia (Ali's supporters) and Sunnis (Abu Bakar's supporters) and it survives until today.
After Abu Bakar, Ali's supporters tried again and failed and Omer became Khalifa #2.
After Omer, Banu talib again tried and failed and Usman became Khalifa #3.
Second phase of tribal dispute between Moawia clan and Banu Talib clan
Banu Talib had had it by then, and they (at least according to Hazrat Aysha) conspired and murdered Usman.
Finally Ali was installed as Khalifa #4, but the tribal warfare raged on.
10,000 sahaba got killed in the ensuing battle between Aysha and Ali (Jange-Jamul).
After Ali, Moawia clan struck back and assumed the power. It went on until Yazid (again from Moawia clan) became "Khalifa" (but not a Khalifa Rashid). At this time the same ongoing tribal animosity lead some Arabs to challenge Yazid's rule.
One such Arab group was based in Southern Iraq (Koofa area), and encouraged Imam Hussain to take the lead of Banu Talib clan's tussle against Mowia's clan.
Imam's older brother Imam Hassan didn't want to continue this tribal feud so he stayed on the sidelines.
Thus Yazid and Imam Hussain collided as a result of a long running tribal anarchy and ultimately lead to the sad demise (shahadat) of Imam Hussain.
And as they say, rest is history.
p.s. I hope you understand this as a half page summary of a 100+ years of tribal rivalry. And yes they were all human beings and thus committed a lot of mistakes.
And the only thing we can learn from this tribal feud is "not to be petty tribals in 21st century".
I haven't heard these words in the Khutba at my mosque. LOL by this, Musharraf is guilty of disobeying his Sultan in the first place.
And i ma not interested in YOUR twisted two bit understanding of Islamic history, you can teach that to your kids.
The point i made was simple, the constitution of Pakistan gives its people the right to voice their opinion and of political activity.