When the Islamic community is afflicted by the governance of the like of Yazid...

When the Islamic community is afflicted by the governance of the like of Yazid, we have to bid farewell to Islam.”[^2] «إِنّا للهِ وَإِنّا إِلَيهِ راجِعُونَ وعلی الاسلامِ السلام إذ قد بليت الأمة براع مثل يزيد. » “I have risen not to create disunion and inequity nor oppression and corruption among the Muslims, but to rectify and reform the ummah of my ancestor the Holy Prophet (S). I want to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil.

I desire to revive the way of my grandfather, the Holy Prophet (S), and my father ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib.”[^3] «... إنّي لم أخرج أشراً ولا بطراً ولا مفسداً ولا ظالماً، وإنّما خرجت لطلب الاصلاحِ في أمةِ جدّي صَلَّی اللهُ عَلَيهِ وآله، أريد أنْ آمر بالمعروفِ وأنهی عن المنکرِ وأسير بسيرةِ جدّي وابي علي بن ابي طالب عليهِ السّلام. » The affectionate relationship between the Islamic community and Allah’s awliya’ (as) One of the most effective ways to prove people’s beliefs is inciting their sentiments.

Stirring up people’s feelings is an important way of explaining or justifying their political and social beliefs. Man is more liable to be influenced when he looks at issues from the emotional point of view than from logical or other viewpoints. In other words, when it comes to proving man’s beliefs, the emotional or psychological perspective is more effective than other methods.

Now, when we pay attention to the issue of the martyrdom of Allah’s awliya’ (as), especially the Doyen of Martyrs, Imam al-Husayn (as), we come to the conclusion that reminding people about the sad event of ‘Ashura and refreshing their memories about what transpired in the history of Islam will result in incitement of their feelings. In this way, we can take those great people to be our role models in life.

We can thus communicate their messages to the people, because the messages and orders we receive from Allah’s awliya’ (as) are in actual fact messages and commands of Allah. It is for this reason that after the event of ‘Ashura, Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin (as) used to weep and mourn for the martyrs of Karbala, especially for his father Imam al-Husayn (as). The issue of mourning the awliya’ of Allah becomes clearer when we bear in mind the tribute paid by the Holy Prophet (S) to Imam al-Husayn (as).

The Holy Prophet (S) said, «حسين منّي وأنا من حسين، أحبّ الله من أحبّ حسيناً. » “Al-Husayn is from me and I am from al-Husayn, Allah loves the one who loves al-Husayn.”[^4] Similarly, the Holy Prophet (S) said, «الحسنُ والحسينُ سيِّدا شبابِ أهلِ الجنَّةِ.