However...

However, if it is connected to an unlimited sea, it will acquire the properties of the sea water and will become immune and unsusceptible to microbes, contamination and drying up. Crying for the oppressed moves man’s emotions and awakens his compassion. It makes him a defender of the downtrodden. Shedding tears is more effective when a person cries for is an infallible person and a ‘Trust of Allah’ on earth or a successor of the Holy Prophet (S), who is the possessor of divine law [ shari‘ah ].

In this case, man becomes a defender of divine law. Such a man is able to defend the oppressed and downtrodden. It is for this reason that the Shi‘ahs of the (as), by utilizing and benefiting from this great elixir of life—shedding tears for the oppression and wrong committed against the Doyen of Martyrs, Imam al-Husayn (as)—have historically been the persistent helpers and protectors of the oppressed.

Crying for the awliya’ and trustees of Allah, especially Imam al-Husayn (as), is a tranquilizer for those sick at heart. Crying for the awliya’ of Allah soothes the soul because the oppression and sufferings that were imposed upon the awliya’ of Allah are like hot flames of fire and tears shed for them are gifts from a heart which is burning with love and affection. These drops go far in extinguishing those flames.

Shedding tears, especially for the awliya’ of Allah, causes the heart to become tender and keeps man away from hardheartedness. It lays the foundation for the light of Allah to enter freely and settle in the heart, because tears that are shed for good reason polish the rust out of man’s heart.

Shedding tears for Imam al-Husayn (as) is a kind of practical struggle against tyrants; that is to say, by crying we express our disgust with the tyrants’ ways, just like when Fatimah al-Zahra (as) cried a lot after her beloved father (S) passed away and the event of “Saqifah” came to pass.

The purpose of her crying was to make the people contemplate the reason for the sadness and tears of the daughter of the Holy Prophet (S) and ask themselves why Fatimah al-Zahra (as) was crying in spite of the fact that the (as) had been, up to that time, role models of forebearance, firmness and perseverance. Shedding tears for (as), especially the Doyen of Martyrs, Imam al-Husayn (as), is an announcement of support for the continuation and revival of the way of those great people.