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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Ashura Imam Husayn (As)’S Portrayal of Islamic Society During Umayyad Rule Imam Husayn (as) delivered this speech in Karbala: “The world has changed beyond recognition: its goodness has receded and nothing remains of it except for drops, like the drops of water that remain in a jar [when it is emptied of its contents] and a despicable sustenance like unwholesome pasture. Don’t you see that truth is not acted upon and falsehood is not refrained from?

Let the believer earnestly desire meeting God, for I do not consider death to be anything but bliss and living with the oppressors anything but humiliation.” Sayyid Ibn Tawus has recorded this speech of Husayn in Al-Luhuf , adding that he delivered it in Karbala. It is also reported by Ibn Abd Rabbih in Al-Iqd al-Farid (2: 312), Abu Nu’aym al-Isfahani in Hilyat al-Awliya (3: 39), and Ibn Asakir (4: 333), all indicating that Husayn (as) gave it in Karbala, as did Sayyid ibn Tawus in Al-Luhuf .

Al-Tabari has also related it in Al-Tarikh (6: 229) and said that the Imam (as) spoke those words along the way to Karbala at Dhu Husum. In whichever place Husayn (as) might have said those words, they portray for us an exact picture of the period Imam Husayn lived and the misfortunes and catastrophes that befell the Muslims in it. This speech comprises three points that deserve reflection: 1- The condition of the world at that time (the social, political and spiritual situation).

2- The people’s disregard of truth and inclination towards falsehood. 3- Need for aversion towards the world and desire to meet God. 1- The Condition of The World At That Time Change takes place in two ways: a thing may change without losing its fundamental features or it may change beyond recognition. The change which the people and society underwent during the Umayyad affliction was of the second type, change beyond recognition from what it was during the time of the Messenger of God (S).

The Muslims reverted to pre-Islamic ( jahiliyah ) customs and values although they did not renege on Islam. However pre-Islamic customs, values and ideas returned, and the Umayyads regained, in the new dispensation, the positions of influence which they occupied during the pre-Islamic period, based on the same values and concepts. This awful deviation took place within only half a century after the demise of the Messenger of God (S).