The mourning tradition of Imam Hussein (AS) is one of the important and effective traditions that has undergone changes throughout history. These days, we see many ceremonies held by different people in various places around the world, in which the fundamental ethics that were the reason for Imam Hussain’s (AS) movement are being neglected. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to take a deep look at how we commemorate the martyrdom of the Imam and identify our mistakes and amend them. 

One of the best ways to achieve authentic methods of commemorating Imam Hussain’s (AS) martyrdom, away from superstitions and distortions of this important tradition, is to study history. In this article, an attempt has been made to outline the manner in which the tradition of mourning for Imam Hussain (AS) was held by the Imam’s progeny (AS) and the goals that those nobles pursued in doing so.

The first commemoration ceremonies

The tradition of commemorating and mourning for Imam Hussain (AS) started from the very day of Ashura when Imam Hussain (AS) was martyred alongside his companions and sons. The first group to begin mourning were the household of the Imam and his companions. As they were taken captive and moved from city to city, they narrated the events of Karbala to people if towns and cities, and the first mourning started from then. 

After the household of the Imam returned to Medina, they never stopped narrating the tragedy of Karbala and the oppression of Yazid’s Army and the reason why Imam Hussain (AS) did not compromise with Yazid. The household of the Imam, especially his sister, Lady Zainab, and His Son Ali (AS), were the first ones to hold commemoration ceremonies and people used to go to their houses to offer their condolences.  [1]

What is the importance of commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS)?

There are numerous narrations recommending us to commemorate and mourn Imam Hussain’s (AS) martyrdom. However, it is important to understand why our leaders and Imams have emphasized on holding mourning ceremonies so much.

The reason, in fact, is not only to cry and have compassion for Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions, although loving the Prophet’s (PBUH&HP) progeny is what we are commanded to do, as Allah orders his messenger to command people about it: 

“… Say, ‘I do not ask you any reward for it except the love of [my] relatives…’” (42: 23) 

Nevertheless, the aim of Imam Hussain (AS) was to set a role model for all human beings who face oppression and injustice, and to teach them the importance of sacrificing all they have in the way of reviving human values. 

Therefore, commemorating his martyrdom and revisiting his goals and values is a great opportunity for people to reassess their life goals, reconsider their lifestyle, and correct their mistakes.
Commemoration of Imam Hussain (AS) at the time of other descendants of the Prophet (PBUH&HP)
Since the socio-political situation at the time of Imam as-Sadiq (AS) provided a platform for promoting the true school of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP), many of our traditions and narration are quoted from him. Hence, there are many narrations and traditions from Imam as-Sadiq (AS) about commemorating and mourning for Imam Hussain (AS). 

It is narrated that from the beginning moments of the day of Ashura in every Muharram, “Imam al-Sadiq (AS) became sad and cried over his noble grandfather, Imam Hussain (AS), and people came to his house from far and near to lament with him and offer condolences. When they stopped crying, the Imam said:

"O people, know that Hussain (AS) is alive and well with his Lord, and he constantly looks at his mourners and their names and their fathers and the place that is available for them in Paradise.” [2]
Imam al-Reza (AS) narrated about his father, Imam Mousa al-Kadhim that “As soon as Muharram came, no one saw a smile on the lips of the Imam and he was always sad until the decade of Ashura passed, and when the tenth day came, this day was the day of utter sorrow and calamity and he used to say: ‘This is the day that my grandfather, Hussain (AS), was killed.’” [3]

Therefore, it is very important to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) by narrating the true events that happened in the battle of Karbala. The importance of the commemoration for the Prophet’s progeny (PBUH&HP) is as crucial as keeping Islam alive. They tried to prove the legitimacy of Imam Hussain (AS) and the falsity of the claims of Yazid and the Umayyads, and this shows that the general atmosphere of the Islamic society was so poisonous that even some of the companions of the Imams were unaware of this issue.

However, it is important to hold the ceremonies in a way that does not contradict any of the Islamic rules and ethics since Imam Hussain (AS) mentioned in his will that “I have risen only to make a reform among my grandfather’s people. I want to command the good and forbid the evil.” [4]

No matter how small or big these ceremonies are, they are seen by God and the Imams and rewarded, as long as they follow the goal of Imam Hussain (AS) in reviving the religion of God.

References: 

1. Majlesi, M.B. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 45, p. 196
2. Tarihi, F. Al-Muntakhab, vol. 2, p. 483
3. Sheikh Sadouq. Al-Amali, Majlis 27
4. Majlesi, M.B. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 44, p. 329
    

• As many as 828 million people go to bed hungry every night. The number of those facing acute food insecurity has soared - from 135 million to 345 million - since 2019. A total of 49 million people in 49 countries are teetering on the edge of famine. (1)
•    More than 400,000 people die from homicide each year. (2)
•    An average of roughly 65,000 killings every year were related to organized crime and gangs over the period 2000–2017, and up to 19% of all homicides recorded globally in 2017 were related to organized crime and gangs. (3)
•   By 2030, almost half a billion people will still live on less than $1.90 per day. (4)
•   8.9 million deaths are attributed to ischemic heart disease (IHD), the world's leading cause of death, in 2019. (5)
•   The total mortality from Covid-19 is 6,642,618 people worldwide. (6)

These approximate statistics show that the world today is experiencing many problems that solving them is so difficult that they seem almost impossible to solve. People are and have always been suffering from hunger, poverty, violence, war, physical and psychological disorders or diseases, and the like.

The question is, “What does Allah Almighty do about all these?”

Evil proves that Allah doesn’t exist

Some people may ask “If Allah Almighty exists and He is omnipotent and loves his worshipers, why do people suffer while He can prevent all these problems?” 

Those believing in Allah Almighty mostly argue that the discipline in the world and the harmony between its parts prove that there is a God who has made all these. On the other hand, those who disbelieve in Allah Almighty respond that the world is full of evils, as well, and the difficulties in the world are uncountable and unbearable.

In return, the believers say that the discipline of the world is a sign of the existence of Allah Almighty whether some evils exist or not. They don’t say that to prove the existence of Allah Almighty we should prove the whole world is disciplined but there is an adequate amount of harmony in the world that proves there is a Creator.  

The Holy Quran and the Shiite Imams have answered the problem of evil in various ways.

The evils are the way to achieve the better good

We know that Allah is pure good, but He sometimes lets us suffer because through enduring these sufferings and hardships, we can achieve something better which couldn’t be possible to achieve without experiencing those difficulties. 

Sometimes, Allah tests us with hardships and difficulties, so He sees how we react and if we do well, we will be worthy enough to be rewarded by Allah. If Allah doesn’t test us, how can we show our worthiness?

The Holy Quran says,

We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure* — who, when faced with a disaster, say, “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will ˹all˺ return.”* They are the ones who will receive Allah’s blessings and mercy. And it is they who are ˹rightly˺ guided. * (2:155-157)

In this regard, Imam Sadiq (AS) says,

Indeed, there is a [high] place in the heavens that no one can reach except with enduring hardships regarding their bodies. (7)

Also, Imam Ali (AS) says about the advantages of difficulties,

Remember that the tree of dry plains is the best for timber, while green twigs have soft bark, and the wild bushes are very strong for burning and slow in dying off. (8)

Now we can understand why the believers are suffering from their issues more than the disbelievers. Allah wants to give us greater rewards in the hereafter. Imam Sadiq (AS) says,
Among people, the prophets suffered the most, and after them the ones who are like them. (9)

He also says,

Believers will suffer as much as their righteous deeds. Therefore, if they have a true religion and do good deeds, they will suffer from so many difficulties. This is because of the fact that Allah hasn’t created this world as a reward for the believers and not as a punishment for the disbelievers. (10)

Our Imams, especially Imam Hussein (AS), are the best examples of what Imam Sadiq (AS) says. If you study their history, you would see that they lived in the hardest circumstances. 

What we don’t like is not necessarily evil

The Holy Quran says,

Fighting has been made obligatory upon you ˹believers˺, though you dislike it. Perhaps you dislike something which is good for you and like something which is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know. (2:216)

Imam Sadiq (AS) says,

The ones who disgust by the hardships of this world are like the kids who disgust by the bitter medicines and get angry when it is forbidden for them to eat some delicious food (which is harmful to them). (11)

For instance, imagine someone getting fired. This would make them so sad and they would think that Allah has forgotten about them. However, when they search for a new job, Allah gives them a better job opportunity which makes them understand getting fired was actually a gift because it made them go for another job. Notice that sometimes we think some event is bad but actually is a gift. 

Difficulties remind people of Allah Almighty

Our needs are mostly the only things that make us think about God. When everything is good and we have no problems in our lives and everything is just as we want, most of us forget about Allah and that He is the one who has given us all these gifts.

The Holy Quran says,

Indeed, man becomes rebellious * when he considers himself without need. (96:6 - 7)
It also says,

And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter - that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew.* And when they board a ship, they supplicate Allāh, sincere to Him in religion [i.e., faith and hope]. But when He delivers them to the land, at once they associate others with Him.* So that they will deny what We have granted them, and they will enjoy themselves.

But they are going to know.(29:64-66)

Allah almighty clarifies why he sometimes let people suffer,

We will certainly make them taste some of the minor torment ˹in this life˺ before the major torment ˹of the Hereafter˺, so perhaps they will return ˹to the Right Path˺. (32:21)

It means that Allah punishes us in this world because of forgetting about Him and committing sins and by this punishment, He tries to make us understand that we should stop and repent. This way Allah protects us from the greater punishment of the hereafter. 

The existence of evil is because of the humans

Every evil in this world is not always because of the will of Allah but it is sometimes the consequence of humans’ deeds. The Holy Quran says,

Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea as a result of people's actions, so He will make them taste [the consequences of] some of their actions so that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].  (30:41)

Whatever affliction befalls you is because of what your own hands have committed. And He pardons much. (42:30)

Allah gave humans free will and would not force us to do or not to do anything. Therefore, humans must face the result of their actions. 

Take World War I and II as examples. Many people were killed and butchered by soldiers of the opposite party. Were these wars by the will or order of Allah? If one refuses to study and work hard while young, he/she will have to work hard and suffer from poverty in the future. It is the consequence of his/her deeds not the will of Allah.  

Resources 

1. https://www.wfp.org/global-hunger-crisis 
2.  https://ourworldindata.org/homicides#in-some-countries-homicide-is-one-of-the-leading-causes-of-death 
3.  https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/murder-rate-by-country 
4.  https://worlddata.io/portfolio/world-poverty-clock 
5.   https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/mortality-and-global-health-estimates 
6.  https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ 
7.  Vasa’il ash-Shia, Sheikh Hurr al-Ameli, vol.3, pg.261
8.  Nahjul Balagha, Letter 45
9. Vasa’il ash-Shia, Sheikh Hurr al-Ameli, vol.3, pg.261
10.   The same
11.   Tohid, Mufazzal ibn Umar, pg.168