Visiting Imam Husayn (A): The Journey of Love

On an annual basis you and I witnessed millions of people walking towards Karbala. Whether it is during Ashura or the commemoration of Arba'yn, I remember witnessing on many occasions women who carry their children, elderly, the disabled, those who are walking slowly, individuals who use crutches, all kinds of different people from China, from Thailand, from Ghana and other African countries. They walk for days and sometimes weeks. Their destination is one. Their chant is "Labbaika ya Husayn".

Likewise, I recall that a few years ago I was privileged to take my young son, Hadi, who was six years of age, to the walk to Karbala. When he was asked whether he wanted to be on a stroller because he was young, he was inspired by the many children who are walking. He looked at me and said, father, I want to walk to Abu Abdullah al-Husayn.

This 80 kilometer walk is truly inspirational. Hence, we find that one Western reporter came forward once and recognized there was an elderly lady walking with a three or four year old young boy from the Iraqi city of Basra to Karbala, a few hundred kilometers. He came towards her and through a translator asked her, "Why is it that you are walking? And what is it that you are doing?" She responded by saying that, "My son and his wife, a few days ago they left towards the holy city of Karbala. When they were resting in separate tents, a man came and detonated and blew himself. And both have become martyrs. Today I have come with their son to walk to the same destination, to send a clear message and a powerful signal to the enemies that you can never stop the love of Husayn in our hearts".

The idea that emerges is, what, that you and I have seen clips such as one that was widely viewed in Pakistan where mu'minin have sat to remember and to mourn the tragedy of Karbala, and all of a sudden there is an explosion that is heard and felt right next door, and what happens to them? Nothing, except that they chant "Labbaika ya Husayn", isn't it?

Therefore, you find these instances and more when it comes to the mentioning of this beautiful sentence. Today, there was a soccer or football match in Tehran in Iran. 100,000 Shi'as came to watch Iran play Korean Republic. Yes. They were not able to change the date, due to its falling the eve of Asura,. But there was what, a majlis, a matam, held there before the soccer match whereby people remembered the name of Aba Abdillah and they were crying "ya Husayn" and there was a huge banner passed between the supporters that stated, what "Labbaika ya Husayn".

Right. Likewise, today we received a news confirmation from the brothers who were there and the pictures that we have been receiving, that in London, for example, this evening, a few hours ago in Al-Khoi Islamic Center, the famous Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman attended the majlis of Aba Abdillah. Yes, this and more highlights what? Highlights the significance and the importance of the remembrance of Aba Abdillah al-Husayn through this statement and more.

But this did not start only what, only a few years ago, but rather for nearly 1400 years, from that day, what, from that day in which the young boy stood on the day of Ashura, he approached the grandson of the Holy Prophet. He said to him, "Give me permission to fight, because my father has attained martyrdom. My father has gone and has not come back". Imam, alayhi as-salam, looks at him and says, "you are too young, you need to look after your mother". He says to Imam: "Oh, Imam, my mother is the one who has encouraged me. Grant me permission to go and fight."

Therefore, when he goes, he says, "Amiri Husaynun, wa ni'ma al-Amir "- My master is Husayn and what a great master. It is a source of pleasure and happiness for me to sacrifice my life for my master Husayn. And indeed, this path of sacrifice and commitment did not indeed start yesterday, or a few years ago.

You find that, for example, Al-Mutawkakil al-Abbasi, this wretched ruler, he would ban the visitation of Karbala. He would say that anyone who would come to Karbala their wealth would be usurped from them, people still came. Then he said, whoever comes to Karbala for the Ziyarah, their right hand will be amputated. Narrations tell us that one lady went when she was stopped at the entrance of Karbala and said, if you continue, we will sever your right arm, she said, Take it. Yes. Her right arm was severed, the next year. It was said that whomsoever visits, their left arm would be severed and people came and gave their left arms.

That is why there was a slogan that was continuously mentioned: "law qattaw arjunala wa al-yadayn" - if they sever our feet and our arms- "na'tika dhahfan Sayyidi ya Husayn" - We will come to you crawling, oh our master Husayn. Such commitment and unwavering, what? Unwavering loyalty!