The Mahdi Times November 2011 | Page 37

do not realize their own benefits. And if this supplications and the blood of Imam Hussein cannot wake them up from their deep slumber then what will? My heart will cry when the day of Arafah comes.  Arafat is awe-inspiring great gathering you see millions shedding tears to gain salvation, seeking that Allah swt Accepts their Forgiveness (istighfar) and repentance (Tawbah) and making a firm resolution to avoid making the same mistakes. However, Hajj pilgrims ought to ponder on why the grandson of Muhammad s.a.w, Imam Hussein a.s cut short the Hajj pilgrimage to leave the plains of Arafat for the plains of Karbala in Iraq. The pilgrims should contemplate this wise action that saved the sacred land of Mecca from being sullied with wanton bloodshed that assassin who had come in the garb of pilgrims intended, and how Abraham’s great descendant foiled their plot in order to preserve the sanctity of the Hajj and the Holy Ka’ba. This leads me to talk about Ashura, which fall exactly thirty days after the Great Sacrifice of Prophet Abraham of his son Ishmael. A month after the 10th of Zilhaj is the Day of Ashura and the name of Imam Hussein a.s and Karbala are associated with the virtue of sacrifice. Also referred to as the greatest sacrifice. Ashura – Imam Hussein – The Great Sacrifice Everyday is Ashura and every Land is Karbala. One of the Hajj rituals centers on the prophet Abraham test to sacrifice his son, which is known as the Greatest Sacrifice –Zibhe Azeem. However, Ishmael was saved twice, once when he was an infant when the spring of Zam Zam miraculously gushed ,and the second time when archangel Gabriel by God’s command replaced him with a ram. According to the Quran a verse was revealed immediately to console Abraham say “O, Abraham! Of course thou hast faithfully fulfilled the dream, thou art of the truthful ones, but verily it is an open test, we have substituted it with a Greater sacrifice. We have transferred it to later generation” {Quran 37:105-108}. Hence, the honor was destined for Ishmael’s descendants, Imam Hussein, Ali Asgher and other martyrs of Karbala who were martyred in the state of thirst on the banks of the river Euphrates. It was on the 10th Muharum known as Ashura, 61 A.H (680 A.D) that Imam Hussein became a martyr under the most tragic and dreadful conditions ever chronicled in the records of the civilized world. A nefarious ruler, Yazid, son of Muawiyah, carried the atrocious acts. Asalamu alaykum WA rahmatullahi wa barakatu, I just wanted to wish all HAJ MABROOK to all our brothers and sisters who were leaving for HAJ. Allah has blessed you with the health, wealth and iman to perform Hajj. Please remember us in your dua's, as we will remember you.  May Allah provide the hujjaj with a safe trip May Allah cleanse our qalbs and purify our nafs  May Allah grant the muslimeen forgiveness  May Allah pour sabr and iman on the muslimeen May Allah establish constancy and steadfastness in the hearts of the muslimeen May Allah accept this Hajj from you, and may He bless you in it May Allah give everyone the chance to fulfill this pillar  May Allah guide us on His siratul mustaqim. May Allah, make easy the affairs of the hujjaaj and accept their Hajj.  May Allah, accept from our prayers, our deeds, and our intentions.  May Allah, make us amongst those whose sins are forgiven.  May Allah, make us amongst your believing, obedi