No
other tragedy, expression of grief, resistance to oppression,
or liberation from the forces of evil stands out in history as does
the tragedy at Karbala. The tale that is woven in the sands of the
desert leading to Kufah, Iraq, amidst the traveling caravans and
feuding tribes, is one that invokes tears and sorrow even from the
coldest of hearts.
Nevertheless, many have
chosen to ignore this story of tragedy, revolution, and justice. It
is even more surprising to find that those who choose to ignore it
are often Muslims. Shocking, for the story of Karbala is the story
of a man with a purpose, higher than many of the worldly causes,
whether political, social, or economical, that we adopt. This man,
by his personality, bravery, force of polarization, and intellectual
prowess alone was unlike any other man. But his lineage only
typifies the significance of his life, his works, and his death.
As
we continue our quests in this life, ultimately we are faced with a
powerful question that must be answered. What is it that we pursue?
What is the goal of our quest? What is the purpose of our adventure
called life?
In the numerous pursuits that we enjoy, such as the
quest for knowledge, wealth, family, enterntainment, etc. are we
seeking Allah's pleasure or simply seeking those worldly objects and
accomplishments. Even if we study Islam, many of us seek only to have
knowledge of Islam, when the true quest should be for knowledge of
Allah.
In
promotion of secularism and under the guise of denouncing Islamic
extremism, the French government has taken measures to severely limit
the freedom of Muslim girls in France by banning head scarves from all
schools. Although they have also banned all other outwardly religious
dress, such as the turbans of Sikh boys, they've made it clear that
their intention was to attack Muslim females.
