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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Martyrdom: Arise and Bear Witness Martyrdom It is difficult for me to speak today about martyrdom as today marks the Shiites anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn ('a). There has been much written and said and much continues to be written and said about Imam Husayn ('a) and the role he played in history. The ancients have explained him one way and the innovating intellectuals in another.

But as I realized recently, we cannot know what Imam Husayn ('a) has done without understanding what the meaning of martyrdom really is. The greatness of Husayn ('a), on the one hand, and the individualistic views of him have caused that which is greater than Husayn ('a) himself to be concealed by the radiance of his charisma. That which is greater than Husayn ('a) is that which Husayn ('a) was sacrificed for.

We have always spoken about Husayn ('a) but we have rarely spoken about the purpose for which Husayn ('a) so generously sacri­ficed himself. Today I intended to speak about the concept of the sacrifice which Husayn ('a) and those like him have made and the greatness of such self-sacrifices in the history of mankind and our religion.

And so, in the presence of the people, the created and of the Creator, I would like to cite that idea and say something of its meaning as it has been demonstrated by the sum total of their lives and deaths, that idea called 'martyrdom'. It is a difficult task. To begin with, my knowledge and my intellectual capability do not permit me to per­form such a difficult assignment.

The contradictory pattern which this issue follows (at least with respect to myself) makes my position even- more difficult. On the one hand, I must present martyrdom from an intellectual, scientific and philosophical point of view. I can only use my head. Only science and logic can assist me. On the other hand, the story of martyrdom and that which martyrdom challenges is so sensitive, so belovedly exciting that it pulls the spirit towards the fire. It paralyzes logic. It weakens speech.

It even makes thinking difficult. Martyrdom is a mixture of a refined love and a deep, complex wisdom. One cannot express these two at the same time and so, as a result, one cannot do them justice. In particular, for a person such as myself, who is emotionally and spiritually weak, it is even more difficult. But I will try my best and 1 hope to succeed in commu­nicating some of the things which it is my intention to express.