PREFACE.

WehavetheproudprivilegetobringoutthispublicationshowingtheimportanceandadvantageofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheHolyAhleBait(A.S.)SuchaPublication,wethinkisessentialparticularlyinviewofthefactthatasectionoftheothersectistryingtobelittleitsimportancebydeclaringittobeanunfortunatelyofthereligioussignificanceofthisvaluableassetof(weepingandwailing)inheritedbyusfromourgrandancestors.WearesureastudyofthisbookwillenlightenthemandmakethemshakeofftheirignoranceandcomethepathshownbyAllahandHisHolyMessenger(S.A.)whichleadsnottoanygoalbutparadise.

Unfortunatearethosewhoentertainthenegativeviewsaboutweepingandwailingunderthecobwebsofmisunderstandingconfusionbroughtaboutbythepre–Islamicbeliefsregardingtheprohibitsofweepingandwailing.Secondly,itwasAbuSufyanwhoafterthekindandhadforbiddenthepiratesfromcomposinganyelegyoverthosewhodiedduringthebattle.

ThosewholabourundersuchpainfulthoughtsforgetthatnothingisprohibitedunlessitisexplicitlyexpressedintheHolyQuranorbytheHolyMessenger(S.A.).ItistobenotedherethatthepracticeofweepingwasinexistenceeveninthedaysoftheHolyMessenger(S.A.)becausetheeyesofhismindforesawthetragedyofKarbalaandthegrief'sandafflictionsthatweretofallonImamHusain(A.S.),canfurtherberealizedfromtheoftenrepeatedassertionoftheHolyProphet(S.A.)thatHusain(A.S.),wasfromhimandhewasfromHusain(A.S.).TostrengthenourargumentsinfavourofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheHolyImamHusain(A.S.)weliketobringforwardoneofhisownsaying"Iamthemartyrwhodeservestobeweptfor.Nofaithfulpersonwillremembermebutwillshedtearsforme."WecanneverforgetthehistoricalfactwhentheprocessionoftheparishionersofKarbalareachedDamascus.ImamZainulAbedeen(A.S.)firstaskedforthepermissiontoweepfreelyoverthe"deadofKarbala"andthusheheldthefirstMajlisandforeightdaysandnightshealongwithmanymenandwomenmournedthedeathsofthosewhoinKarbalasacrificedtheirlivesforupholdingthecauseoftruthandnothingbutthetruth.AaisabinteShatiofEgyptthereforewritesthatitwasZainulAbedeen

(A.S.)wholaidthefoundationofmourning.InviewoftheabovefactsweareoftheoptionthathistreatieswillgoalongwayinmakingtheothersectsrealizethatthementionofHusain(A.S.)oughttobeanessentialroutineofourlifeandthatweepingovertheafflictionsofAhleBait(A.S.)isoneofthenoblestformsofworship,withwhichwecanpurchasetheprosperityofthisworldandtheworldHereafter.

MaulanaSyedMohammadAmeedSahibtheauthorofthisbookisanassiduouswriteronreligioussubjects-particularlythoseinwhichprevailingtheoryofpracticeinvolvesaninconsistencywithdeep-rootedMuslimBeliefswhichhavebeenheldsacredthroughoutthecenturies.Hehasbeenwritingpapersandarticles;oneofhisworkisnowbeingprintedintheformofthisbookforthegeneralbenefit.

trusteesof

PeerMahomedEbrahimTrust.

Karachi-5.

1stMoharram,1393A.H./5thFebruary,1973

PUBLISHER'SNOTE

TheTrusteesofthePeerMahomedEbrahimTrust,haveundertakentopresenttothegeneralpublicgoodreadingmatter,suitedtotheirphysical,mental,moralandspiritualneeds.Thesensationalpornographicreadingmaterialthatgoesbythenameofliteraryproductioninthemarkethasservedtovitiatethewholesocialmilieusothattherestraintsonsocialconductareever-morebeingrelaxed,withresultantindisciplineinthehomeatmosphere,nolessthaninthewiderfieldsofhumanactivitiesoutsidethedome.Ifsuchasituationisallowedtogoonflourishinguncheckedaveritablebellonearthisthenaturaloutcome,aswearewitnessinginthewavesofcrimesweepingoversomeoftheso-calledcivilizedcountriesoftheWestwhicharealreadyaffectingus."BACKTORELIGION"isnowthewatch-wordofthesanerelementsamongthem.Itiswiththissenseofperturbationthatthetrusteeshaveembarkedontheventureofpublishingbooks,whicharecalculatedtooffsetthebanefuleffectoflow-grade,anti-socialformsofreadingmaterial,andtoinculcateatasteforandappreciationofsoundandhealthfulmentalfood.

Nocommercializationisaimedatbythisventure,aswouldbeapparenttoeventhemostsuperficialobserver,fromthestandardofpricesofthebooks,whicharefixedbelowtheactualcostandthattoo,becausefreedistributionofbooksdepreciatestheworthofthesameintheeyesothegeneralreadingpublicandarealsowaste.

TheTrustees,areconsciousofthefactthatinsideofallprecautionsontheirparttoavoiderrorsifsomethinggoesarmiesintheformoferrorsofjudgmentinvoluntarilyfornoonecanbeinapositiontocomprehendtheentirefieldofknowledgeonanysubject.Ofonethingtheycanassurethediscreetreaders,towit,thatthematerialforthebenefitofthepublicandforthepleasureoftheAlmightyAllah.Ifanyreaderfindsanythingwhichcontradictsthisobjective,hisobservationsinthebehalfshallreceivethemaximumpossiblecaretoredressanyremissionsthatmaybepointedoutashavingcreptintothereadingmatterwiththebestofwishesforthereader,weremain.

BISMILLAHIRRAHMANIRRAHIM

THEEMPORTANCEOFWEEPINGANDWAILINGINOURCONDOLATORY

OBSERVANCE.

(AHMIYAT-E-BUKADARMARASIM-E-AZA)

WITHTHENAMEOFHIMWHOISHOLLOWED.

"Iamthemartyrwhodeservestobeweptfor.Nofaithfulpersonwillremembermebuthewillshedtearsforme",(Husain,theChiefoftheMartyrs).

ThesightofcertainmourningprocessionsandgatheringsinconnectionwiththetragedyofKarbalahasbroughthometomethepainfulfactthattheelementofweepingandwailingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheholyAhleBait,averyvaluableassetwhichweinheritedfromourgoodancestorsandretainedwithusthroughcenturiesisgraduallypassingawayfromourhandsandnowtheweepingandwailingisnotasnatural,asfrequentandasimpressiveasitwasinthepast.Ifwepassivelyallowthepresenttrendtocontinue,itisfearedthatatimewillcomewhenwemaybecompletelydeprivedofthisvaluableasset.Godforbidthatsuchatimecomes,butifitcomesthennodoubtweshallsufferalosswhichwillnotonlyhamperthepropagationandexpansionofourdearreligionbutwillalsomarthechancesofoutsalvationandtranquilityintheHereafter.TheweepingandwailingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBaitisoutpricelessassetwhereupondependstoalargeextentourtemporalaswellasourspiritualprogressandwellbeing.Itisregettablethatduetolackofforesightonourparttheappreciationofthispricelessassetisdiminishingdaybyday.ThesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBaitarestilldescribedandnarratedinourMajalisandothercondolatoryobservance;Taboot(Coffin)andZuljinah(thesteedonwhichImamHusain(A.S.)rodeonthebattle-fieldofKarbala)processionsaccompaniedbyrecitationofclergiespoemsarestilltakenoutfora

roundincommemorationofthetragedyofKarbalabutthereisnomorethesamefervor,excitementandappealtocompassionoftheonlookerswhowouldinstinctivelyandquiteun-intentionallyshedtearsoratleasthaveweteyesandthusthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBaitandthemartyrsofKarbalagraduallyinfusedintheirheartssympathyfortheAbdulBaitandthemartyrsofKarbalaandevenothersindistressoraffliction.Repeatedsightsofthecondolatorymeetingsandprocessions,etc.helpedthissympathytobefirmlyrootedintheheartsoftheonlookerswhichresultedintheirferventaffectionforAhleBaitandanadditiontothenumberofthesincerefollowersoftheAhleBait.

Thegradualdecreaseoftheelementofweepingandwailinginourcondolatoryritesorobservationisbynomeansanegligibleorunnoticeablematterofslightimportance. Ontheotherhand,itconstitutesthecentral"pointandistheveryessence"ofallcondolatoryritesandisthemosteffectivemeansofthepropagationofourreligion.Todaywedonotrealizethemagnitudeandimportanceofthelossthatmayaccruetousfromtheextinctionofthiselement.ButifwecontinuesleepinguponitnowwewillonedayeitherwakeuptofacetheshockingrealityofahugeandirreparablelossofanenviablepossessionorbeawakenedbysomeoneboldenoughtospeakofthiselementofweepingandwailingandtopointouttousitsimmensevalueandthushelpingustorealizethattheassetwhichAllahandHisMessengerandthepurifiedImamshadblesseduswithwasanextremelypreciousandbrilliantgemwhichdispelleddarknessbyemittinglightandenabledustoseethingsinacorrectperspectiveandnotaworthlessstufforapieceofrubbishwhichwehadmistakenitfor.

OncethisfactdawneduponmeIbegantoconsideroverit,thoroughlyrevolvedtheprobleminmymindanddiscoveredavarietyofcausesofthisdiminishingappreciationofweepingandwailing.Toenumerateallthesundrycausesandtosuggestmeasuresforcounteractingthemallwillbenotonlyatedioustaskformebutwillalsomakethediscussiontoobulkyforthetimeandspaceatmydisposal.I,therefore,confinemyselftopointingoutonlyoneveryconspicuouscauseofthisdiminishingappreciationandsuggestingremedialmeasuresforthesame.

Theconspicuouscauseistheusebytheso-calledenlightenedpersonsofexpressionsandquotations(mentionedlateron)intheirspeechesandwritingsaimedatbelittlingtheimportanceofthepricelessassetofweepingandwailingforHusain(A.S.),intheeyesoourunintelligentmasses.Theexpressionsand

potationswhichshouldnotordinarilydiminishtheimportanceoweepingandwailing,aregenerallysosophisticatedandutteredorwritteninsuchanimpressiveandemphaticmannerthattheycapturetheimaginationofundiscerningcredulouspeoplewiththeresultthatintheeyesofthemassestheimportanceofweepingandwailingdecreasesdaybydaytilltheycometoregarditasamereshowservingnousefulpurpose.AsthisisoneofthemostpotentcausesofthedecreaseinweepingandwailingIconsideritverynecessarytoadoptearlyandeffectivemeasuresforcounteractingit.TosatisfythispressingneedIsetmyselftopreparethistreatiseinspiteofmydisturbinganddiscouragingcircumstanceandbyandbygraceoftheAlmightyAllahIamnowinapositiontopresentittomyreadersinaneasilyintelligibleformandhopethatthiswillhelpthemtorealizetheimportanceofweepingandwailingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBaitandthustoreainourvaluableinheritanceandtorecapitulateourforgottenlessonofweepingandwailingandrevivingthepatheticandinspiringsightsofweepingandwailingonwhichdependstoalargeextentourmaterialandspiritualprogressandsalvation.Merelytoassertthattherearemanyargumentsindicatingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingcannotcreateasdeep,durableandindestructibleimpressiononthemindsofthemassesaswecanexpectafteradvancingirrefutableargumentsfortheimportanceofweepingandwailing.I,thereforetakeupbrieflysomeoftheargumentsshowingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingandthenmentionanddiscussthesophisticexpressionsandquotationsusedbythesocalledenlightenedpersonssimultaneouslypointingoutthatthesameshouldnotadverselyaffecttheimportanceofmourning.Finallytherewillserveasasupplementtothistreatise.

ARGUMENTSSHOWINGTHEIMPORTANCEOFWEEPINGANDWAILINGFORTHEAHLEBAIT.

Theseargumentsareoftwokinds:(i)Traditionaland(ii)Rational.Ibeginwithtraditionalarguments.

TraditionalArguments:Thetraditionalargumentsareagainoftwokinds:(i)theargumentswhichindicatetheimportanceofweepingandwailingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBaitintheeyesoftheAllah,and(ii)theargumentswhichindicatetheimportanceofweepingandwailingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBaitintheAhleBaitthemselves.TheargumentsindicatingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBaitintheeyesofAllah:

OutofthenumerousargumentsfallingsinthiscategoryItakeuponlyfourarguments.

ArgumentsNo.1:AllahattachessomuchimportancetotheweepingandwailingforHusain(A.S.),thatHemadeHismostbelovedservants-HisMessengersandtheirexecutorsofwillweepandwailforHusain(A.S.),longbeforetheheart–rendingtragedyofKarbalatookplace.FatherAdam(S.A.),weptforHusain,(A.S.),Nooh(A.S.),weptforHusainIbrahimandhistruthfulsonIsmail,(A.S.)weptforHusainMosesandJesus,(A.S.)weptforHusain(A.S.),Mohammad,thelastProphet,(A.S.)weptforHusainandAliandFatimaandHasan(A.S.)weptforHusain(A.S.).TheyallweptforHusain(A.S.)beforethetragedyofKarbalahappened.AfterthetragedyalltheeninImmaculateImamsamongthedescendantsofHusain(A.S.),weptforHusain.(A.S.)eitherbeforeorafterthetragedyofKarbalaweptforhimbitterlyandfrequently.Booksonpre-Islamicaswellassubsequenthistory,particularlythebooksspeciallywrittenonthetragedyofKarbalacollectivelyknownas‘Maqatil’bear

witnesstotheirlamentationsforHusain(A.S.). IftheweepingandwailingforHusain,(A.S.),hadnoextraordinaryimportanceintheeyesofAllahHewouldnothavecausedtoestablishthispracticefromthedaysofAdamandwouldnothavecausedHischosenservantstoweepandwailforHusain(A.S.),eversince. ArgumentNo.2:Abriefclarificationasapreambleofthisargumentappearstobenecessary.Lexicographicallyweepingmeansexpressionofgriefbysheddingtearsandwailingmeansexpressionofgriefinwordsoraplaintivecry.Metaphoricallyweepingandwailingmeansexpressionofgriefoverone’sownsufferingsorthesufferingsorlossoflifeofanotherpersoninwhateverformitisManexpresseshisgriefbysheddingtears,whileothercreaturesexpressestheirgriefintheirowndifferentways.Ariveroraseaexpressesitsgriefbystormyrushofwaterorviolentsurgingofwaves.Afishexpressesitsgriefbycomingtothesurfaceofwaterandrunninginagitationtoandfro.Theairexpressesitsgriefbyblowingintheformofastormyyelloworredorblackwing.Theearthexpresseshergriefintheformofbloodgushingforthfromofanearthquake.Theskyexpressesitsgriefbyviolentpouringofwaterordust.Thesunexpressesitsgriefbyturningpaleorintheformofaneclipse,andsoonwithothercreatures. TheSecondargumentisthateventhosebeingmournedorexpressedtheirgriefovertheslaughterofHusainwhichdonotexpressgriefonthedeathofanybody,e.g.,theheavensandtheearth.AmeerulMomineenAliIbneTalib,(A.S.),hadforetoldthattheearthandtheheavenswouldmournovertheslaughterofhisson,Husain.(A.S.).TherearenumeroustraditionsandreportstotheeffectthattheearthandtheheavensdidnotmournthedeathofanyoneotherthanYahyaBinZakariahandHusainIbneAli.HolyImamJafer-e-Sadiq(A.S.).hasbeenreportedtohavesaidthatforfortydaystheskykeptsheddingtearsofbloodforHusain,(A.S.).TherearemanyothertraditionsstatingthatallthecreaturesmournedthedeathofHusain,(A.S.)e.g.,‘Behar-ul-Anwar’and‘AvalamcontainalengthytraditionfromthesameImamwhichconcludeswiththefollowing: “WhenthepureandImmaculateLadyFatima(A.S.)cametoknowfromherillustriousandcaressingfather,theHolyProphet(S.A.),thatherchildHusainwouldberuthlesslyslainonthebattlefieldofKarbalashewasverymuchshocked.TheHolyProphet,(Allah’sblessingsandpeacebeuponhimandhis

holyposterity),thensaidtoher:“Areyounotsatisfiedwiththisthattheholyangelswillmournforyourchildandeverythingelseinthisworldwillmournforhim”‘Avalam’quotesalengthydiscoursefromMaisameTammar(averyfaithfulcompanionofAli(A.S.),whosetonguewaspulledoutandthenhisbodywasstonedandhangedtodeathasapunishmentfoholdingAliingreatesteemandaffection)endingwiththewords:“Mymasterandguardian,AmeerulMomineen,hadinformedmethateverythinginthisworldwouldexpressitsgriefforHusain.” Toosiinhis‘Amali’hasquotedImamJafer-e-Sadiq(A.S.),as”ImamHusain,(A.S.),hadsaidthateverythingwouldmournforHusain(A.S.)andthateventhewildbeastswouldroaminagitationinjunglesandforest. AccordingtosomeothertraditionImamHasan,(A.S.),hadsaidtoImamHusain,(A.S.).“Youwilbemournedbyeverycreatureincludingthewildbeastsandaquaticanimals.” Kamil-uz-Ziyaratcontainstwotraditionsofimamjafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.),whereinhesaid:“AlltheVisibleandinvisiblecreaturesofAllahweptforHusain”.“Toosiinhis‘Amali’quotesthefollowingtraditionofImamJafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.),“EverythingvisibleorinvisibleweptforHusain.” TheexpressionofgriefforHusainbymostcreatureswasnotliketheexpressionofgriefbymanbysheddingtearsorraisingplaintivecries.Neverthelessitwasallmourningontheirpart.OtherwiseAllah,theHolyMessengerandtheinfallibleImamswouldnothavecalledtheexpressionofgriefbyothercreaturesas‘weeping.’ForAllahhathsaidintheHolyBook: “Neithertheskynortheearthweptonthem(thePhareoites)44:29.

TheskyandtheearthdidnotweeponthedestructionofthePharaoiteswhowerenotworthyofbeingweptfor.Thismeansthattheskyandtheearthweptorcanweeponthedeathofaneminentgodlypersonbysheddingwaterortearsofbloodorpouringoutbloodordust.Inmanyatraditionsafewofwhichhavealreadybeenmentioned,theImmaculateImamshavecalledthissheddingoftearsofbloodorpouringoutofbloodasweepingormourningbytheskyandtheskyandtheearth.We,thereforecannothelpbelievingthatthecreaturesotherthanmanalsoweptandmournedforHusain(A.S.),althoughtheirweepingandmourningwasofadifferentformandthateverythingweptaccordingtoitsown

naturalformofexpressinggrief.Sincetheweepingbyjinn,men,angelsandotherearthlyandheavenlybeingswasduetothesecretcommandormysteriousworkofAllahi.e.Allahmadethemallexpresstheirgriefthroughweeping,theinescapableconclusionisthatweepingandwailingforHusain(A.S.),isamatterofextraordinaryimportanceintheeyesofAllah.OtherwiseHewouldnothavemadeallHiscreaturestoweepaccordingtotheirownnaturalforms. ArgumentNo.3:AllahHimselfhasmadearrangementsforthecontinuanceofweepingandwailingforHusain(A.S.)tilltheLastDayoftheendoftheworld.ShaikhAbdulQuadirJeelanionpage62:Vol.11ofhisbookGhuniyat-ut-Talibeen,printedinEgypt,writes “OnthedayHusain(A.S.),wasslaughteredseventythousandangelsdescended(withthepermissionofAllah)onhisgravetoweepandtheywillcontinueweepingforhimtilltheDayofjudgement.”ShahAbdulAzizDehlviinhisbook‘SirrushShahadatain’writes.” Allahhasdestinedthecontinuanceorpreservationinthis(Muslim)nationtilltheDayofJudgmentsofweepingandmourning(forHusain)andthementionofissufferingsandafflictionsandofthedreadfuleventsthatoccurredonhisslaughter.”

Bythedreadfuleventshemeansemittingofbloodbytheearth,sheddingtearsofbloodbythesky,lamentationandelegiacrecitationbyjinnandotherinvisiblebeings,protectionofthemulti-woundedandslaughteredbodyofHusainagainstwildbeasts.Thesnake’senteringandcomingoutofthenostrilsofthemurderersofHusainwasoneofthesedreadfulevents.

AllamaMajlisi,(MayAllahbemercifultohim),hasstatedinhiswell-knownbook‘Beharul-Anwar’thatwhentheMessengerofAllah,informedFatima,(A.S.)theChiefLadyofalltheworlds,oftheuniquesufferingsandafflictionsandsubsequentslaughterofHusainatKarbalatheladywasstrickenwithViolentgrief.Sheweptbitterlyandsaid:“Whenwillthiscalamitybefallmychild?“TheMessenger(S.A.)repliedthatthetragedywouldhappenatatimewhentherewouldbeinthisworldneitherhenorFatima(S.A.)norAli.(A.S.)thisreplypainedtheladyalltheraisedplaintivecriesandenquiredthedutyofholdingmeetingincommemorationofhisafflictionsandtragicdeath?”“TilltheDayofJudgmenttherewillalwaysbegroupsofmenandwomenamongmyfollowerswhowillweepforhimandboldmeetingstocommemorate

hisslaughter,”ANSWEREDTHEMessengerofAllah(S.A.),thisarrangementforcontinuedweepingandwailingforHusainyearafteryeartilltheDayofJudgmentisasureindicatoroftheextraordinaryimportanceofweepingforHusainintheeyesofAllah.

ArgumentNo.4:ItisarecognizedfactthattheknowledgeofAllahisreflectedbytheactualhappeningofincidentsandthefactofthematterorthefactofthematteroftherealityofeverything,i.e.,allincidentsoccurandallrealitiesexistortakeplaceasAllahhaswilledorwillsthem.ItisalsogenerallyacknowledgedthattheknowledgeoftheImmaculateandInfalliblebeings,theHolyProphetsandtheHolyImams,reflectstheknowledgeofAllah,fortheirknowledgeisadirectgiftofAllah.ThisleadstothenecessarycorollarythattheHolyProphetsandtheHolyImamsknowledgeofsomethingisthesameastheknowledgeofAllah.SincetheweepingandwailingforImamHusain(A.S.),wasofgreatimportanceintheeyesoftheHolyProphet(S.A.),andtheholyImamsinhisposterity,asweshallsoonprove,itisimpossiblethattheweepingandwailingmaynotbeimportantintheeyesofAllahalso.OutofthenumerousargumentsindicatingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingforHusain(A.S.),intheeyesofAllahmethinksthatthefourargumentsadvancedabovewillservethepurpose.

Inowproceedtotheothersetofarguments.

ArgumentsIndicatingtheImportanceofWeepingandWailingforHusain,(A.S.),intheEvesoftheHolyAhleBait:Theseargumentsalsoareoftwokinds:(i)ThosebasedontheutterancesorwordsoftheAhleBaitand(ii)thosebasedontheirdeeds.

(1)ArgumentsBasedontheWordsoftheAhleBait:TheseargumentsarethesayingsortraditionsoftheHolyProphet(S.A.)andtheholyImams(A.S.)indicatingtheimportanceofweepingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheAhleBait.OutofscoresofthemIrefertoonlyoneutteranceoftheeightImamAliIbneMoosaAr-Raza(A.S.),whosays:

Hewhowillrememberoursufferingsandafflictionsandwillweepandwailforuswillbewithusinthesame(special)wardofParadise.”

ThisveryimportantutteranceoftheImamindicatesnotonlytheimportanceofweepingandwailingfortheAhleBaitintheeyesoftheImambutalsoproves

thattheweepingandwailingforthemisaformofthehighestorderofdevotiontoandworshipofAllah.AformofworshipistoberegardedasacceptableorunacceptableorofloworhighorderifAllahhimselforHistrustedservants,i.e.,HisProphetsortheirexecutorsofwillandsuccessorsdeclareinclearandunequivocaltermsthatfromofworshiptobeacceptableorunacceptable,orofloworhighorder.TheaforesaidutteranceoftheImam(S.A.)impliesthatweepingandwailingoverthesufferingsandafflictionsoftheholyAhleBaitisaformofworshipofthehighestorder.Thisisimpliedbyhiswords,“withusinthesamewardofParadise”forthebestwardofParadisewillbethewardwheretheHolyAhleBaitwillputup,called‘Maqami-Vaseela’(theplaceofagencyofpositionofinstrumentality)or‘Maqami-Mahood’(praiseworthypostorposition)andthewords“inthesamewardwithusdenotethemournerswillalsobeinthewardoftheAhleBait.AstheweepingtothebestwardofParadiseitmustnecessarilybethebestformofworshipofAllah.TheweepingandwailingmayconductthemournerstothebestwardofParadiseeitherasamatterofrightestablishedbytheworshiporasanactofgraceonthepartofAllahorHischosenservants,theAhleBait,inappreciationofthisformofworship.TheImam’sassertionthattheweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBaitwillenablethemournerstoreachthebestwardofParadiseleadsustotheconclusionthatweepingandwailingfortheAhleBaitisthebestformofworship.ThisindicatestheextraordinaryimportanceofweepingandwailingfortheAhle-BaitintheeyesoftheAhle-e-Baitthemselves,foritisanacknowledgedfactthatthegreatertherealimportanceofathingthegreateritsimportanceisintheeyesoftheAhleBait.

ADOUBT:TheprecedingargumentbasedontheutteranceoftheeighthImam.(A.S.)maygiverisetosomedoubtsinthemindsofmyreaderswhichevidentlyIcannotexamineandremoveunlessthesameareconveyedtome.HereIwanttoremovethedoubtthathasoccurredtomymindandwhichappearstohavesomeweight.Itisthis.TheconclusionthattheweepingandwailingfortheAhleBaitisaformofworshipofthehighestorderisbasedontheoutermeaningoftheword,“inthesamewardwithus”,whichapparentlymeanthatthemournerswillbeinthesamespecialwardofParadisewhichispermanentabodeoftheAhleBait.Butthewordscannotandmustnotbeunderstoodintheiroutermeaning.ThewordshavenotbeenusedinthesensethatthemournersalsowillbeinthesamewardinwhichtheAhle-Baitwillreside.Thisisevidentlyimpossible;fornobodyelsehaseverundergoneorshalleverundergosomanyandsoterriblehardshipsinhisdevotiontoAllah,inresigninghimselftoHisWillandcarryingoutHiscommandsatallcosts,and

madeorshallevermakesonumerous,soselflessandsotremendoussacrificesinsuchtruingcircumstancesinthewayofAllahastheHolyAhleBait.Allahhas,therefore,awardedtothemthespecialprivilegeofresidinginthebestwardofParadisecalled‘Vaseele’or‘Maqami-Mahmood’wherenobodyelsecango.HowcantheutteranceoftheImamthenmeanthatthemournersalsowillbeAhleBaitintheirspecialward?Theinescapableconclusionthereforeisthatthewords“inthesamewardwithus”arenottobeunderstoodintheiroutermeaning,buthavesomedifferentinnermeaningandcallforanintelligentinterpretation.Thenwhatisthecorrectinterpretationofthewords?Someonemaypossiblysuggestthatthestateof‘beingwithsomebodyorsomething’isofseveralkinds.Oneofthemis‘beinginthesameplacewithanotherpersonorthing.’Youmaycallitphysicalassociation.Anotherkindof‘beingwith’istheexistenceinthevicinityorneighborhoodofapersonorthingwhitherfacetofacewithit,oradjacenttoit,oranywhereit.Thewords“inthesamewardwithus”intheImamsutterancecannotmeanthatthemournerswillbeinthesameplaceinParadiseastheHolyAhleBaitbecauseitisimpossibleforanybodyelsetoenterorreachthat‘place.’ashasalreadybeenexplained.Themeaningapplicationtotheutterance,therefore,isthatthemourners,willbeataplaceorinawardintheneighboarhoundofthespecialabodeoftheAhlulBaitinsuchproximityofthe'Vaseela'or"Maqami-Mahmood",thatthemournersandtheHolyAhleBaitwillbeabletoenjoythesightofeachotherconvenientlywhenevertheywillsodesireoratalltimes.Asanexample,theoutermeaningofthefollowingverseoftheQuran:

HewhoobeysAllahandtheMessenger(Mohammad)shallbewiththoseuponwhomAllahhathbestowedHisfavors,oftheprophets,andthetruth(thoughtfulofthetestifiersoftheProphets),andthewitness(ormartyrs)andtherighteousness:andexcellentarethoseascompanions:TheisthegracefromAllahissufficientastheknower"(i.e.knowethwellwhodeservesgraceandhowmuch).4:69.

IsthathewhoobeysAllahandtheMessengerwillbeinthesameplacewiththeProphets;thismeaningwasnottestifiers,martyrs,ect.Butasthewords"withthose"asacceptableImamFakhruddinRazihadtointerpretmeaningintheirvicinityorneighborhood.

ThegistofwhatFakhuddinRazimeansisthatthewords"shallbewiththose"intheaboveversedonotmean'inthesameplace'orphysicalassociationwiththeprophets,etc.,forthatwillbeplacinghesuperiorandtheinferioronthe

samefootinganddrawingnodistinctionbetweenthosepreferredandthoseonwhompreferencehasbeengiven,whichisimpossible.Hetherefore,saysthatthewords,"shallbewith"meanthathewhoobeysAllahandMessengershallbeintheneighborhoodoftheProphets,theirtestifiers,etc.Inotherwords,hemeanstosaythatthoughtheProphetsandtheirtestifiers,etc.,uponwhomAllahhathbestowedHisspecialfavors,willbeinawarddifferentfromthewardofthoseotherswhoobeyAllahandtheMessenger,yetthedevotionandobedienceofthelatterwillspirituallyraisethemtosuchadegreethatinspiteofbeinginadifferentwardatsomedistancefromthespecialwardoftheProphetsandtheirtestifiers,etc.,theywillbeablenotonlytoenjoythesightoftheProphetsandtheirtestifiersetc.,butwillalsobeabletomeetthemwhentheywillsodesire.InthelightofthisinterpretationoftheQuranicversetheutteranceoftheeighthImamimpliesthatthereareinParadiseotherthanthespecialwardoftheAhl-e-BaitthattheywillbeputupinthoseprominentwardsandnotinthespecialwardoftheAhl-e-Bait.

NowthepointisthatwhentheutteranceoftheeighthImamisnottobeunderstoodinitsoutermeaning.buthasaninnermeaning,theargumentbasedontheoutermeaningoftheutterancecannotbetreatedasavalidargument;andwhentheargumentisinvalidhowcanitberegardedasaproofofmourningovertheafflictionsoftheAhl-e-BaitbeingthebestformofworshipofAllahorasproofoftheimportanceofthemourningintheeyesoftheAhleBait?Buttheseareconclusionsdrawabovefromtheutterance.

ClarificationoftheAboveDoubt:ItistruethattheargumentwasbasedentirelyontheoutermeaningoftheutteranceofImamRaza(A.S.),andnowwehavetoconsiderwhetherornottheutterancecanbeunderstoodinitsoutermeaningMethinksthatanexaminationofthefollowingthreepointswillenableustomakeandeasyandcorrectdecisioninthisregard:

(1) Isitrationallyimpossibleofatleastimpropertounderstandtheutteranceinquestioninitsoutermeaning?OnemaysaythatevenifitisnotquiteimpossibleoftheProphetsandtheirexecutorsofwillbeinthesamewardwiththeProphets,andtheirexecutorsofwill(i.e.successors).Butthisisnetherneitherimpossiblenorimproper.Itisquitepossible.

(2) Incaseitispossible,i.e.,someotherpersonscanalsobewiththeprophetsandtheirexecutorsofwill,themwillthis'beingwith'beinthesamewardorplace,orintheirneighborhood?

(3) Ifthis'beingwith'willbeinthesamewardorplacethenwillitbeasamatterofrightorasanactofgrace?

HereunderIbrieflyexaminetheabovepoint.

PointNo.1:TheapplicabilityoftheoutermeaningoftheImam'sutteranceisneitheraltogetherimpossiblenorquiteunlikely.itisnotimpossiblebecausethereisnoargumentdismissingitspossibility.Itmust,therefore,bepossible.AstotheargumentstatedundertheCaption'ADoubt',itdoesnotofferanutternegationofanybodyenteringorreachingthespecialwardoftheprophetsandtheirexactorsofwill.Therearetwowaysofrightacquiredthroughone'sowndevotiontoAllahandobediencetoandaffectionfortheAhleBaitandotherrighteousactions,orbygraceofAllahforthesakeoftheAhleBait,i.e.,.eitherAllahmaygraciouslyallowamournertoenterthewardoftheAhleBaitinordertoaffordfurthersatisfactiontotheAhleBait,ortheAhleBaitmaythemselveskindlyadmittheirmournertotheirownwardinappreciationofhiscompleteobediencetoandsincereregardforthem.

IfthepersonentertainingthedoubtconsidersimpossibletheentryofamournerfortheAhleBaitintheirspecialwardasamatterofrightthenweagreewithhim.Wetobelievethatnobodyelsecanentertheirspecialwardasamatterofright.Butthisdoesnotimplythathisentrythereisaltogetherimpossible.Itonlyimpliesthathisentryasamatterrightisimpossible.Theremaybeotherwaysofentryopenohim.IfhethinksthatthereisnopossibilityatallofamournerenteringthespecialwardeitherbywayofgraceofAllahorbywayfappreciationbytheAhleBaitthenheiswrong;becausetheargumentonwhichthedoubtisbaseddoesnotimplyutterimpossibility.Itonlyimpliesthatnobodyelsecanenterthespecialwardasamatterofright.Itisnotrightthinkingtodiscardthepossibilityaltogetheronthebasisofthatargument.Again,thereareargumentstoprovethatthereisnotonlyapossibilitybutastrongpossibilityofmournerenteringthewardoftheAhleBait.HereIbrieflystateonlythreeofthosearguments.

ArgumentNo.1:ReasonaffirmsthatAllahforbiddennotanyofHisservantstoseekwhatisimpossibletoget;forseekingthatwhichcannoteacquiredisactinginvainanditisunbecomingofAllahofperfectwisdomtoorderapurposelesseffortButHehasdirectedHisfaithfulservantstoprayforentryintotheholyprecinctsof'Maqami-e-Mahmood'oftheHolyAhleBait.In

Ziyarat-i-'Ashoora'(SalutationaddressedtothemartyrsofKarbalaonthetenthdayofmuharram),whichliketheQuranhasdescendedfromAllah,Hehasdirectedtheperformerofsalutationtosayamongotherthings:"Isolicit(thefavorof)Allahhas(specially)allottedtoyou."ThissolicitationclearlyindicatesthatitisnotaltogetherimpossibletoreachthewardoftheAhleBait.Haditbeenaltogetherimpossible,Allah,theWise,wouldnothavedirectedaperformerofthesalutationtoincludethissolicitationinhissalutation.Similarly,noneoftheInfallibleImamswouldhaveadvisedaperformerofsalutationtoprayforentryintotheMaqam-i-Mahmood.'ButanInfallibleImamhasadvisedaperformerofthesalutationaddressedtoAliAkbar(A.S.)(aneighteenyearoldsonofImamHusain,Peacebeonthemboth,whoinappearance,speechandgaitverymuchresembledtheHolyProphet(S.A.)andwhosechestwaspiercedwithaspearonthenumerousotherwoundscausedhisdeath),whoisnotamongtheAhleBaityetwillbewiththemintheirinspecialward,toincludeinhissalutation"IprayAllahforyourcompanyintheeternalparadise."Thesamesalutationconsiststheprayer"MayAllahgrantmetheprivilegeofbeingyourvisitorandcompanionandacompanionofyourfatherandgrandfather."

MuhammadYaqoobKulaini,theleadingShiatraditions,hasrelatedthroughachainofreliablereportsthatAmeerulMomineenAliIbneAbiTalib,(A.S.),advisedhisfollowerstorecitethefollowingsolicitationaftereveryNamaz(dailyprayers):

"O'Allah!MakemeacompanionofMuhammadandhisholyprogenyinallplacesofsafetyandhisholyproeminalltheirabodesandresorts!O'Allah!Linkmylifewiththeirlifeandmydeathwiththeirdeathandkeepmeintheircompanyonalloccasionsanddonotseparatemefromthem!SurelyThouartPowerfuloverallthings."

ThismeansthatthereisadefinitepossibilityofamournerfortheAhleBaitenteringtheirspecialward.

AHLEBAITHAVEMOREAFFECTIONATEREGARDFORTHEIRLOYALFOLLOWERS

ArgumentNo.2:IthasbeengenerallyacceptedthattheAhleBaithaveamoreaffectionateregardfortheirloyalfollowersandadmirersthenparentshavefortheirchildren.InfactchildrenofthefaithfuldonotgenerallyholdtheirparentsinthesameardentaffectionasthesincereadmirersoftheAhleBaitholdtheAhleBait.Therehavebeenandareveryfewchildrenwillingtosacrificetheirlifetheirproperty,consorts,childrenandhonorsfortheirparents,butyoushallfindmanyasincereadmireroftheAhleBaitpreparedtosacrificetheirallinthewayoftheAhleBait.ThecompanionofAmeerulMomineenAliandImamHusain,(A.S.)arewell,-knownexamples.ItbehavesthenoblestmindedAhleBaitofmostmagnanimoussoulstohavegreaterloveandmoreaffectionfortheirsincereadmirersthanparentshavefortheirchildren.ThereareseveraltraditionstotheeffectthatparentswouldnotliketheirchildrentobeinaplaceorwordinParadisedifferentfromtheirown.OntheotherhandtheywouldliketoseetheirchildrenintheirownwardbeforetheireyesandAllahwillmercifullyallowthechildrenofthefaithfultoenterthecomparativelysuperiorwardoftheirparentsforthelatter’ssatisfactionthoughtheactionsofthechildrenmaynotentitlethemtoentrythere.AllahhathpromisedthistothefaithfulwhenHesays:“Andthosewhobelieveandtheiroffspringsfollowtheminfaith;Wewillunitetheiroffspring’swiththem………………….(52:21).WhenAllahwillbesomercifultothefaithfulastoallowtheirlessdeservingchildrentoenterthesuperiorwardoftheirparents.HewillundoubtedlybegraciousenoughtoallowtheAhleBaittoadmittheirtruefollowersandsincereadmirerstotheirspecialwardortotheprominentwardsintheirimmediateneighborhood.Itit,therefore,notonlypossiblebutdefinitelysurethatbesidestheAhleBaitsomeotherpersonswillalsofindtheirwayto'Vaseela'orthe'Maqam-e-Mahmood'forthesakeoftheAhleBait.TheadmissionofothertothespecialwardwillinnowaydiminishtheprestigeordistinctivehonorsoftheAhleBait.Ontheotherhand,thefactthatnotonlytheirchildrenbutalsotheirfollowersandadmirerswillhaveaccesstotheirspecialwardwilldemonstrate

theirunrivalledprestigeandtheuniqueesteeminwhichAllahholdeththem,forthisspecialdivinefavorswillbeconfinedtotheAhleBaitandnotextendedtoanyotherindividualorgroup.

ArgumentNo.3:AllahneverfaithHisPromiseIthasbeentakenforgrantedthatthereisneverabreachofpromisebyAllah.Inotherwords,itisimpossibleforadivinepromisetoremainunfulfilled.NotfulfillingapromiseisamoraldefectandasinwhileAllahisAbove-all-Defects.Again,HehathsaidintheQur’an:"AllahneverfaithHispromise"(22:47).Wehavetherefore,tobelievethatallthepromisesmadebyAllahareboundtobefulfilled.Hehaspromised:"ThosewhoobeyAllahandtheMessenger(Mohammad)(S.A.)theyshallbewiththoseuponwhomAllahhasbestowedHisfavoreroftheProphetandTruthfulandwitnessandtheRighteousones.andexcellentaretheseascompanions!"(4:69)alreadyreferredtoabove.There'areseveralpointsinthisversewhichcallfordetailedexplanation.Iamnotgoingintothesedetailsandconfinemyselftothatmuchwhichisessentialformypurpose.ThisverseclearlyindicatesthatAllah,inordertoencourageHisservants,toobeyHimandtheMessenger,(S.A.),andtoinfusethemwithapassionforobedience,hathpromisedthatwhosoeverobeysAllahandtheProphet(S.A.)ofhisnation.SincetherewillneverbeabreachofpromisebyAllah,asalreadystated,thenecessarycorollaryisthatpersonsofthisnationwillbeinthewardofthesomeprophetandthetruthfulnation.SinceoursisoneofthenationwhichobeysAllahandtheMessengeritisnotonlypossiblebutalsocertainthatsomepersonsofthisnationwill'bewith'theHolyProphet(S.A.)andthetruthfulofthisnationTheforegoingargumentshaveclearlyprovedthatHereaftersomeofthefollowerswillbewiththeProphetsandthetruthfuloftheirnationinthey:ward.ItisdefinitelywrongtoregardasimpossibletheentryofotherstothespecialwardoftheAhl-e-Bait.

Itisalsonotimprobable–improbableneitherofoccurrencenorimprobableofimplication.Inonerespecthetwoimprobablearesimilar:forsolongasanimprobableisofrareoccurrenceitisdifficulttoacceptastrue.Withitsfrequentoccurrencethisdifficultydisappearsandtheonetimeimprobablebecomesprobable.Whenyoureceivethereportofanincidenthighlyimprobableofoccurrenceofexistenceyounaturallyrefuseorfindithardtobelieveinit.Butwhentheincidentbecomesoffrequentoccurrenceandyoureceivereportsatintervalsofitsoccurrencethereyesterdayandheretodaytheyimprobabilityofitsoccurrenceorimplicationvanishesawayandyoufeeleasilyinclinedtoacceptthereportastrueandifthereporteristrustworthypersonyoureadily

believeinit.Thetelephoneandtheaeroplaneareincommonusenow.Soaretheradioandthetelevision,etc.Hadsomeonetoldyouatthetimetheirinventionwascompletedthataninstrumentenablingtwopersonsatalongdistancetotalktoeachotherhadbeeninventedorthatamachinewhichcanflyintheairandcanloverlongdistancesatagreatspeedalongwithanumberofpassengersinithadbeeninventedwouldyouoranybodyelsereadilyoreasilybelieveinthem,becausesolongasthesethingswereregardedunlikelytoexistorwereofextremelyrareoccurrencethesewereconsideredtobeimpossibleoratleastimprobableandyoudidnotbelieveinthemonthebasisofmerenewspaperreports.Butthementionoftheseinventionsorotheiruseisnolongerimprobable.

Inshort,attemptsaremadetointerpretanimprobableofimplicationonlywhentheimprobablestatementshasbeenreportedbyasingleorinasingleplacebutnointerpretationisattemptedafteritsimprobabilityisremovedbynumerousconfirmatoryorsupportingstatements.Similarly,ifothers'beingwiththeAhleBaitinParadisehadbeenmentionedonlyintheaforesaidofsayingofImamRiza(A.S.),wewouldhaveregardeditasimprobableandsoughtorofferedaninterpretationofit.Butwefindthatother'sbeingwiththeAhleBaitinParadisehasbeenmentionedinmanytraditions,e.g.:

(i) TheyHolyProphet,(S.A.),said:"Whoeverisdesirousoflivingmylifeanddyingmydeathandoflivingwithmeintheresidentialgarden(inParadise)arrangedformebyAllahheoughttorecognizethemerits,virtuesandhonorofAliadhissuccessorsandtobefriendthemandrepudiatemy(or,their)enemies."

(ii) AmeerulMomineenAli(A.S.)saidtosalman-e-Farsi:"Hewhoacquiresthoughacquaintancewithme(i.e.knowsmymerits,virtuesandhonor)willbewithmeintheassemblyonhigh"(i.e.,inthecelestialcity).

(iii) ImamRaza(A.S.),andtoBinShabeeb:"IfyouwishtobewithusinthemostdistinguishedwardofParadisethenfeelourgriefasyourownjoy."

(iv) ImamRaza(A.S.),alsosaidtoBinShabeeb:"IfyouearnestlydesiretolivewiththeHolyProphet(Allah'sblessingsandpeacebeuponhimandhas(holy)posterity),intheupperchambersofParadisethendetestandkeepcursingfrequentlythemurderersofImamHusain(A.S.)."

(v) ImamRaza(A.S.),saidtoDaybal:"HewhocomestovisitmygraveawayfrommyhomehissinswillbeforgivenontheDayofJudgmentandhewillbewithmeinmyward(inparadise)"

(vi) ImamJafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.),saidtoSowoadBinParqad:"HewhovisitsthegraveofImamHusain,(A.S.)everyFridaynight(i.e.,thenightprecedesday)willhavehissinsforgivenandwillbeinParadisewithImamHusain(A.S.),whichofyoudoesnotwishtobewithImamHusain(A.S.)"?Hewhodoesnotwishtogetsalvation."answeredDawood.

(vii)TheHolyProphethassaid:"HewhoweepsovertheafflictionofHusainon'Aashoora'(i.e.,thetethdayofMuharram)hewillbeontheDayofJudgementwiththeProphetsendowedwithgreatfortitude."(IsaabaFeeTameezi-Sahaaba,Vol.I,Page533,CairoEdn.),

(viii)TheHolyProphet:(Allah'sblessingsandpeacebeuponhimandhisholyposterity),whileholdingHasanandHusain(A.S.),byhandssaid:"Hewholovesmeandthembothandtheirparentswillbewithmeinmyward(inParadise)ontheDayofJudgment(SabeebTirmizi)

(ix) ThetraditionreportedbyUmmayAymanandwhichBibiZainab(theilderofthetwodaughtersofAliandFatima)relatedtoSaiyid-i-Sajjaad(S.A.),inordertoconsolehimontheirwayfromKarbalatoKufa,mentionsaparticularoccasiononwhichtheHolyProphet(Allah'sblessingsandpeacebeuponhimandhis(holy)posterity)wasveryhappyatthesightofhisAhleBait.ItwasonthisoccasionthatAngelGabreildescendedtohimandsaid:'O'Muhammad:InviewofyourintensefeelingofhappinessinthecompanyofyourbrotheranddaughterandyourgrandsonsAllahhasbeenpleasedtoperfecthisblessingsandhassenttoyouthegoodnewsthehewillkeepthem,theirdescendantsandtheirShias(i.e.,staunchfollowers)isParadisewithyouandthatHewillgrantthemwhatHewillgrantyouandtheywillyougetwhatyoursatisfaction."

PointNo.2.NowthatithasbeenprovedthatthebeingwithofothersinthewardsoftheProphetsandtheirexecutersofwillisneitherimpossiblenorimprobablebutquitepossibleandofprobablepossibilitywenowproceedtoascertainwhetherthe'beingwith,mentionedintheverseNo.69ofCh.IVmeanscloseandimmediateassociationor'beingwith'mentionedintheverseandthetraditionsmeanscloseassociationandnotbeinginthevicinityorneighborhood.HereunderIadvanceonlythreeargumentswhichwillmakethe

matterasclearasday.

ArgumentNo.1.

BEINGWITHMEANASSOCIATIONANDNOTNEIGHBORHOOD

Accordingtoauniversallyacceptedruleitisnotpermissibletounderstandastatementinitsfar-fetchedorobscuremeaninginpreferencetoitsevidentmeaningorthemeaningwhichsuddenlyoccurtomindonhearingofreadingit.Failuretoabidebythisrulewillnotonlymakeitdifficulttoargueathingconvincinglybutwillalsoresultinthetremens/ourslossofsettingatnaughttheentirecodeofreligiouslaws,Itissobecausethereisaverysmallnumberofverseortraditionsofdefiniteorclearimplications.Most,ofthemareofgeneralnatureandthedeductionandextractionoftheexistinglawsisbasedontheirevident(andnotfar-etchedorobscure)meaningofastatementinpreferencetoitsevidentmeaningnotonlymanyreligiouslawsbutalmosttheentirecodeofreligiouslawswillundergoametamorphicchange,forthelawsaremostlybasedontheevidentorobviousmeaningoftheQuranicversesandtraditionsoftheHolyProphet(S.A.).Theobviousmeaningofastatementcannotbediscardedsolongasthereisnopowerfulinterdictionagainstitoranobstacleorevilinfollowingit.Thereisnodoubtthat‘beingwith’obviouslymeansbeingincloseassociation’withandnot‘inneighborhoodofsomething.Theopponentthinksthat‘beingwith’meansneighborhood.HeconsideredthisinterpretationtobenecessarybecausetheevidentorobviousmeaningcannotbediscardedintheabsenceofapowerfulinterdictionorobstacleandthereisnothingofthissortherethepossibilityorimprobabilityofothersbeingwiththeProphetsandtheirexecutorsofwill,therefore,vanishesawayandtheopponenthastoadmitthatthe‘beingwith’inquestiondefinitelymeans‘closeassociation’andnot‘neighborhood.

THEEXACTMEANINGOFCLOSEASSOCIATION.

ArgumentNo.2:

Closeassociationisnotonlytheobviousmeaningorthemeaningthatsuddenlyoccurstothemindof‘beingwith’occurringintheverse“WhoeverobeysAllahandHisMessenger……………………”andinthetraditionofImamRiza,(A.S.),“……………………hewillbewithusinourward(inParadise)”butitisthepositiveandexactmeaning,forthewardsandexcellentaretheseascompanions”intheverseandinourward”thetraditionofImamRaza(A.S.),clearlyindicatesthattheexactmeaningof‘beingwith‘is‘closeassociation'andnotinneighborhood'.AllahhascalledtheProphets,etc.

'Companions'.oftheirfollowersandacompanionisanassociatewhoisfrequently,ifnotconstantly,withanotherpersonandisalsolenientandsympathetictohim.Morethanonepersonlivingtogetherinthesameplaceandlenientandsympathetictooneanotheriscalled'Rafeeqs'(Arabicwardforcompanionandcomrade)ofoneanother.BycallingtheProphetsthecompanionsoftheirfollowerstheversepointsouttheexactmeaningof'beingwith,tobeincloseassociation.'Ithasnoothermeaning.

Similarity,AmeerulMomineen,(A.S.),hascalledsomepersonsthecompanionsofProphets'.TheauthorofTafsee-i-Saafi,whilecommentingontheverse"He(Allah)knowwhatthereisinwombs"hasquotedfromNahjulBalagha"whetheramalechildorafemalechilduglyorbeautifulandgenerousormiserly,andwhichofthemshallbethefuelofthefire(ofhell)oracompanionortheProphetsinParadise."ThesewordsofAli(A.S.),arealsoaclearproofofcloseassociationofsomeotherswiththeProphets,etc.IncaseImamRaza(A.S.),hadfinishedthetraditionwiththewords"withus"onecouldhaveinterpreted'beingwith'asbeinginneighborhood,buthehasalsoadded"inourward"andthisiswhatcloseassociationexactly'beingwith'asbeinginneighborhood.

ArgumentNo.3.

MARTYRSOFKARBALAWILLBEWITHIMAMHUSAIN(A.S.),INTHESAMEPLACEINTHE

SAMEWARDOFPARADISE

Thishasbeensoconvictiveprovedbyalargenumberofconsecutiveandconsistenttraditionsthathereisleftnoroomforanydoubtorscruple.ThegreatresearchscholarAbulFazlinhiscommentson"Peacebeonyouandonthesoulswhichdisembodiedinyourcourtyardandendedtheirjourneywithyourjourney"occurringinthesalutationrecitedonAashoora'day,sayscourtyardmeanstheloftysanctuary,inthevicinityofAllahintheassemblyofangelswhichistheplaceofhislikingforsurelyhiscompanionsareinhiswardandhavetheirabodesadjacenttoorborderingtheresidenceofthatImamofloftyrankasitappearsfromalargenumberoftraditions,e.g.,'ourShias(followers)willbewithusisourwardinParadise'(OAllah:Keepuswithbewithusintheirward!)ThiscommentclearlyindicatesthatallthemartyrsofKarbalawillbewithImamHusain(A.S.),inthesamewardofParadise.TheonlydifferencewillbethatImamHusain(A.S.),willbeoccupyingthecentralseatandtheothermartyrswillbeonseatsaroundthesealoftheImam.Agatheringofthisnatureiscloseassociationor'beingwith'inthesameplaceandbeinginneighborhood.Thisalsoleadstotheconclusionthatthewords'willbewith'occurringintheQur'anicverse69ofCh.IVandinthetraditionofImamRaza(A.S.),meanbeinginthesameplacewithandnotinneighborhoodoftheProphetsortheImams.Theprecedingthreeargumentshaveconfirmedbeyonddoubtthat'beingwith'intheseinstancesmeansbeingwithinthesameplaceandnotbeinginthevicinityorneighborhoodofthespecialwardsoftheprophetsoftheAhleBait.

AfterremovingtheobjectionthatanyargumentsprovingtheimportanceofmourningoverheafflictionsoftheAhleBaitwerebasedontheoutermeaningsoftheQuranicverseandthetraditionofImamRaza(A.S.),Inowproceedto

examinethecommentofImamRaza(A.S.)ontheQur'anicverse.Hiscommenthasalreadybeenindirectlyansweredintheprecedingparagraphsbutafurtherelucidationappearstobeadvisable.Besidesthefactthatthosewhoregardpreferenceofaninferiortoasuperioraslawfulorpermissibleshouldnotobjecttoplacingtheinferioronthesamelevelasasuperior,theanswertothecommentisthattherearetwoformsoftwopersonsbeinginthesameward.Eitherthetwopersons,oneofwhomissuperiortoauthor,resideinthesamewardonequalterms,i.e.,havingsimilarentitlementandenjoyingsimilarprivileges,ortheyareallowedtoliveinthesamewardorcompartmentwithdifferenceofentitlementandenjoyingdifferentprivileges,e.ge.,oneresidesthereonthebasisofhisrightandtheotherbywayofgrace,oronelivesthereasaprincipalandtheotherasaparasiteoftheformer,oroneislodgedthereasamasterandtheotherkeptthereashisservantorattendant,oroneoccupiesthemainorcentralpartofthebuildingwhiletheotherisallowedtoliveinaprojectionorout-houseorashedbelongingtothemainbuilding.Thefirstformofbeinginthesameplacemaybeunlawfulorimproper,butonecannotreasonablyregardthesecondformof'beingwith'asunlawfulofimproper,becauseinthelattercasethedifferencebetweentheirentitlementsandprivilegeswillmakethemunlike,unequalandofdifferentstatus.Oneofthemwillbeentertainingtheideahattheotherpersonwhohasbeenkeptthereforhissakewouldnothavebeenthereotherwise,whiletheotherwillbethinkingthatitwasonlyforthesakeoftheformerthathecouldhaveaccesstotheplacetowhichhewasnotentitled.Thusthelatterwillbedevoidofthefeelingofsuperioritycomplexoftheformerwhiletheformerwillbeabovethefeelingofinferioritymarkalltheaspectsoftheirlivesthatnotonlytheywillbefeelingthenotonlytheywillbefeelingthedifferenceintheirstatusbutalsootherwilleasilyrecognizeoneofthemtobethemasterandtheownerofthatwardandtheothertobehisservantorattendnt.Withthisrealdifferenceintheirstatushowcanthetwopersonsberegardedtobealikeorequalsimplybecauseoftheirbeinginthesameplaceorward?Andhowcanthisbeingwithberegardedasunlawfulofimproper?ThisKindof'beingwith'isconsideredpermissibleinthisworldandwillbesoconsidersalsointheHereafter.Dowenotcomeacrosscasesofthefirstclassrailwaypassengerspurchasingfirstclassticketsalsofortheirservantsinsteadofservantclassticketsbecauseoftheirownillnessofwithaviewtohavetheservantavailableforanyemergencyofsimplytomakeapageantryoftheiraffluentcircumstances?Suchcasesarequitefrequent.Intelligentpersonswouldnotactlikethisifitwasunreasonableorimproper.AndintheHereafter,willtherenotbeGhilman(i.e.,handsomeyouthsofParadise)inthesamewardwiththeProphetstoworkastheirattendants?SurelytheywillbethereinthesanewardwiththeProphets.Thisissupported

notonlybyholytraditionsbutalsobyQuranicVerses.HadthisKindof'beingwith'orcloseassociationbeenunlawfulorimproper,Allah,theWise,wouldnothaveKeptGhilmaninthesamewardwithProphets.Thisgoestopointoutthatmere'beingwith'theProphetsinthesamewarddoesnotnecessarilyimplythatGhilmanarealiketheProphetsorequaltothem.Such'beingwith'orassociationcannotberegardedbyanystretchofimaginationasunlawfulorimproper.ProbablyImamRaza,whilemakinghiscommenthadinhismindonlythefirstformof'beingwith'andthatiswhyherejectedtheoutermeaningoftheverseandofferedaninterpretation;whereasthisaspecialformofcloseassociation.Itisauniversallyacceptedrulethatthenegationofaparticularformdoesnotnecessarilyimplythegeneralnegationofallotherforms.Thismeansthatthesecondformof'beingwith'isunquestionablypermissibleandproperanditisdoubtlesslythisformofassociationwhichthewords'beingwith'intheQuranicverseandthetraditionofImamRaza(A.S.),implyandImamRazi'soutrightrejectionandcanneitherbeanobstacleinourwaytounderstandingthewords'beingwith'intheouterandevidentmeaningnorasupportforthedoubt.

PointNo.3:Nowthatithasbeenclearlyprovedthatthewords'beingwith'intheverseandthetraditionmeancloseassociationorcompanionshipandbeinginthesameplacewenowproceedtoconsiderwhetherthisassociationofthefollowerswiththeirProphets,etc.,andofthemournerswiththeAhleBaitwillbebywayofrightestablishedbythefollowersandthemournersthroughtheirgoodactionsorasamatterofgrace.Thisisnotdifficulttodecidebecausetheverseandthetraditionhavealreadymadeiteasyofdecision.Theversecontainsthesignificantwords:“ThisisthegracefromAllah”implyingthatthefollowerswillbeinthesamewardwiththeirProphetsbythegraceofAllahandnotbywayofright.InthetraditiontheImamdidnotsaythattheImamsandmournerswillbeinthesameward.Whathesaidwas‘hewillbewithus’whichimpliesthattheImamswillbeinthesuperiormostwardofParadiseandtheirmournerswillalsobewiththemi.e.,eitherAllahwillbesogracioustotheImamastoallowtheirmournerstoenterthespecialwardoftheImamsortheImamswillbesoaffectionatetotheirmournersastoadmitthemtotheirownward.So,thefollowerswillbeinthesamewardwiththeirProphetsandthemournersinthesamewardwiththeAhleBait(A.S.)bywayofgraceandnotbywayorright.Thereareothertraditionswhichsupportmycontention,e.g.,No.IXoftheforegoingtraditionsassertingtheassociationofthemournerswiththeAhleBait(A.S.),hasthewords‘Tillyourfullsatisfaction,nay,evenbeyondyoursatisfaction’meaning‘O’Messenger!WeshallshowerourblessingsonthefollowersoftheAhleBait(A.S.)tosuchanextentaswillnotonlycompletely

satisfyyoubutevenoverandabove.AllthismeansthatthemournerswillbeadmittedtothewardofImamHusain(A.S.),forthesakeoftheImam,i.e.,asamatterofgrace.

TheQuranicverseandthetraditionreferredtoaboveunanimouslyandunambiguouslypointouttothatthefollowerswillbeadmittedtothewardoftheirProphetsandtheexecutorsofwilloftheirProphetsandthemournerstothewardtothewardoftheAhleBaitbywayofgraceandnotbywayofright.IfonekeepsinviewtheabovepointsandargumentsitwillnotatallbedifficultforonetodecidewhetherornotthetraditionofImamRaza(A.S.),istobeunderstoodinitsoutermeaning.Theaboveargumentshaveconclusivelyprovedthatthereisnorealobstacleinourwaytounderstandthetraditioninitsoutermeaningandtheso-calledobstacleswereimaginary,unrealandspurious,AndwhenthetraditionistobeunderstoodinitsoutermeaningassupportedbytheverseandothertraditionitwillcertainlyprovethatweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.),isthebestformofworshipofAllahandthemostimportantsignoffaithintheeyesoftheAhleBait.

InconnectionwiththisargumentwhichisbasedontheutteranceoftheeighththeImamitappearsadvisabletopointoutthattherearenotonlythosetraditionswhichspeakofthemeritofmourningovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)andindicateitsimportanceasaformofdivineworshipbyalsosuchtraditionsasopenlycommandustomournovertheirafflictions,e.g.,“O”IbneShabeeb!IfyouwishtoweeponaccountofsomesorrowthenweepovertheafflictionofHusain(A.S.),”and“MournersoughttomournforagrievedandoppressedpersonlikeHusain.”ThetraditionsofthislattercategoryareperhapsstrongerargumentsindicatingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.),intheeyesoftheAhleBait(A.S.),themselves,thantheargumentswhichspeaksimplyoftheexcellenceandmeritofweepingandwailingbecauseoneisgenerallycommandedtodowhatisimportantanddesirablewhateverbethedegreeofitsimportanceanddesirability.

WhathasalreadybeensaidabouttheargumentsbasedonthewordsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)issufficientforthepurposeandnowIproceedtotheargumentsinfavorofmourningfortheAhleBaitbasedonthedeedsoforpracticalexamplessetbytheAhleBait.(A.S.),

ARGUMENTBASEDONTHEDEEDSOFTHEAHLEBAIT.

TheseargumentsaretheexamplesofmourningbytheImmaculateandInfallibleAhleBaitthemselvesovertheirafflictions,providingotherswithoccasionsformourningbyholdingcondolatorymeetingsandpracticallyencouragingtheirmourners.ForthesakeofbrevityImentiononlyafewoccasions.

MOURNINGBYTHEHOLYPROPHET(S,A.):

Sadooq(A.R),hasrecordedalengthystatementbyIbne‘Abbas,ThegistofthestatementisthatonedaytheHolyProphet(S.A.),wassittinginthemidstofhisrelationswhenHasan,(A.S.),camethere,thenHusain(A.S.),theImmaculateLady(Fatima)(A.S.),andAmeerulMomineenAli(A.S.),arrivedthereoneaftertheother.TheProphet(S.A.),weptonseeingeveryoneofthem.They(therelations)enquirediftherewasnoneamongthemonseeingwhomtheProphet(S.A.)wouldfeelhappy.TheProphet(S.A.)thenrelatedthemeritsandvirtuesofeveryoneofthemandthenadded:InspiteofallthisIweptonseeingthembecauseIforesawthegrief’sandafflictionswhichwillbefallthemafterme”.Thenhebrieflyrelatedthegriefandafflictionsofeveryoneofthemandweptandthosepresentalsoweptwithhim.

MOURNINGBYAMEERULMOMINEEN(A.S.):

Sadooq,(A.R.),hasrecordedanotherstatementbyIbneAbbasthathewasincompanyofAmeeruMomineen(A.S.),onhiswaytothebattlefieldofSiffeen.WhentheyarrivedatNainevah(Karbala)aglimpseofthesoilcausedAmeerul

Momineen(A.S.),toweepwhosaidinaloudvoice,“o’IbneAbcbas!Doyouknowthisplace?”WhenIbneAbbasrepliedinthenegativehesaid.”IfyouknewthisplaceasIknowityouwouldnothavehelpedweepinglikeme”.Hesaidthisandcontinuedweepingforalongtimetillhisholybeardbecamewetwithtearswhichfloweddowntohischest.Hiscompanionsalsoweptwhentheysawhimweep.ThereafterAli(A.S.)relatedoneofhisominousdreamsandasorrowfulincidentofEisa(Jesus),(A.S.),andagainheweptwithhim.Hewassooverwhelmedwithsorrowthathefellprostrateonthegroundandhadalongfitofswoon(vide‘MajaalisulMomineen,.)

MOURNINGBYIMAMHASAN(A.S.):

Sadooq,(A.R.),recordedareportbyMufazzalIbneUmaraccordingtowhichonedayImamHusain(A.S.),cometoImamHasan(A.S.),ImamHasan(A.S.),begantoweepwhenhesawImamHusain(A.S.).Whenthelatterenquiredthereasonofhisweeping,ImamHasan(A.S.),answered:”Thesufferingsecretlybutthesufferingsafflictionstowhichyouwillbesubjectedwillbeoutofallproportiontomyafflictions.ThenhebrieflydescribedthefuturetragedyofKarbalaandthegreatanduniquesacrificebyImamHusain(A.S.),

MOURNINGBYIMAMHUSAIN,(A.S):

ImamHusain(A.S.)himselfweptprofuselyonhissufferings.Excessiveweepingbroughthimalmosttothevergeofdeathforhehassaid”:Excessivesheddingoftearskilledme.”Similarly,othermembersoftheAhleBaitalsoweptnotonceortwicebutonnumerousdifferentoccasions.ButImamZainulAbdee,(A.S.),surpassedallothermourners.

MOURNINGBYIMAMZAINULABEDEEN(A.S.):

ItisrecordedinbooksthataccordingtoImamJafer-e-Sadiq(A.S.),therewerefivemostexcessiveweepers–Adam,Yaqoob(Jacob),Yabya(JohnthesonofZakariyah),FatimabinteMuhammad(A.S.),andAliIbnulHusain(i.e.,ZainulAbideen)(A.S.).Wheneverhewasservedwithmealhewouldweeponseeingit.Accordingtoareportonedayisclavesaidtohim.”‘O’myMaster!Ifyouwillcontinueweepinglikethisitwillonedaycauseyourdeath.”IcannothelpweepingwheneverIremembertheslaughterofBaneFatimaatKarbala.

Accordingtoanotherreporttheslavehadsaid,‘O’muMaster!Hasthetimenotyetcomeforyourmourningtoend?TheImam’sreplywas”Woetoyou!KnowthatYaqoob(Jacob),(A.S.)hadtwelvesons,onlyoneofwhichAllahhadconcealedfromhissight.TheseparationfromthatonegrievedYaqoobandmadehimweepsomuchthathiseyesturnedwhiteandhisbackgotcrooked,inspiteofthatonesonbeingaliveandinthisworld,whileIsawwithmyowneyesmyfather,mybrother,myuncleandseventeenandkilled.Howcanmymovingforthemcometoanend?”

Ithasbeensaidthatwheneverhepickedupamugoranyothervesselfordrinkingwaterheweptsomuchthatthevesselgotfilledwithtears.Onedaysomebodysaidtohim:“Whydoyouweepsomuchthatwas;”WhyshouldInotweep?Itisthiswaterwhichwasallowedtoanimals,beastofburdenandwildbeastsbutwaswithheldfrommydearfather.”Theysaythathisgriefmadehimweepsomuchthattheyfearedlossofhiseyesight.

AccordingtoonereportheweptfortwentyyearsafterthetragedyofKarbala.Accordingtoanotherreportheweptforfortyyears.i.e.,notasingledaypassedwithouthisweeping.Saiyidinhisbook‘Malhoof’andShaikhinhis‘Muntakhab’haverecordedastatementfromImamJafar-e-Sadiq,(A.S.),thathisweepingcontinuedtillhejoinedAllah,theAlmightyweptnotfortwentyoffortyyearwhichhelivedafterthetragedyofKarbalaandthathisweepingwasincessant.

WhathasbeensaidabovewasaboutthedaysoftheyearotherthanthefirsttendaysofMuharramspeciallytheninthandtenthdaysofMuharramwhentheInfallibleImamsusedtoweepexcessively,theirheartsmeltedwithgriefandtearsincessantlyflowedfromtheireyesandallotheraffairscametoastandstill.AboutImamJafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.),ithasbeenrecordedin‘Muntakhab’thatwheneverhesightedtheuewmoonofMuharramhebecamerestlessandpain

stricken.HisfaceindicatedhisoverwhelminggriefandmostofhistimewasspentinweepingovertheafflictionsforImamHusain(A.S.).ThosewhowerefriendlytotheAhleBait(A.S.)wouldgatherathisplace,weepandwailwithhimforImamHusain,(A.S.)andreciteelegiesaboutthetragedyofKarbalaandthenofferhimtheircondolenceandtrytoconsolehim.

Accordingto‘Jalaul0Uyoon’RaihanIbneShabeebwenttoseeImamRaza(A.S.),onthefirstofMuharram.TheImamsaidtoham:“O”IbneShabeeb!MuharramisthemonthwhichwasconsideredsacredevenbythePagansofpre-Islamicdayswhousedtoabstainfromfightingandkillingandoppressionandvictimizationduringthismonth.ButthisnationviolatedthesanctityofthismonthandutterlydisregardedtherightsoftheUniversalLeader(i.e.,theHolyProphet,S.A.)ItwasProphet(S.A.)madecaptivesoftheirwomenfolkandrobbedthemofalltheirbelongings.”

IbneBabvaihhasrecordedinhis‘Amali’ontheauthorityofIbrahimBinMahmoodthatimamRaza,(A.S.),said“Muharramisthemonthinwhichquarrellingandfightingwasconsideredunlawfulevenbythepre-IslamicPagans,but,alas:theydeemeditlawfultoshedourblood,tofireourtentsandtorobusofourbelongingsinthismonth.Theyutterlydisregardedtherelationwithandloveforus.‘O’IbneShabeeb:ThetragedyofHusain,(A.S.),injuredoureyesandmadethemPerennialconduitsofourtears.Theydisgracedoureminentandrespectablepersonsandcausedeternalsorrowtous.OurpeopleoughttoweepandwailforImamHusain(A.S.).Healsoadded;“WheneverthemonthofMuharramarrivedmyfatherbecamesadandonthetenthdayonwhichourgrandfather,ImamHusain.(A.S.),wasslain”.AndShaikhhasrecordedinhis‘Misbah’thefollowingreportfromAbdullahBinSalaam:

“IwenttoseeImamJaafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.),onthetenthdayofMuharram.Isawthathisfacehadgrownpalewithgriefandtearswereconstantlyflowingfromhiseyes.IsaidtotheImam:‘O’myMaster:Allahsaveyoufromweeping:Whatmakesyouweep?Hesaid‘youdonotseemtorememberthatitisthesamedayonwhichmanyfiercecalamitiesbefellImamHusaininquicksuccession………………………….”

Accordingto‘Kaafi’oneAbdulMalikenquiredfromImamJaafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.),whetherornotoneshouldobservefastontheninthandtenthofMuharram.TheImamanswered:”NinthofMuharramwasbesiegedalongwithhisrelationsandfriends.TherewerecampsoftheSyrianarmyallround.Ibne

ZiyadandUmar-e-S’adwerehappyandproudoftheirlargearmyandregardedImamHusainandthesmallbandofhisfaithfulcompanionsasweak.TheyweresurethatnobodycouldcometotheaidofHusain(A.S.),fromIraqorfromelsewhereMaymyparentsbesacrificedforthatforsakentraveler,Hecontinued:”WhilethetenthofMuharramwasthedayonwhichImamHusain,(A.S.),waslyingwoundedandslainanduncladinthemidstofhisfaithfulcompanionswhosedeadbodieswerealsolyingunclad.Isthisdayfitforobservingfast?No:byGod:Certainlynot.Thisisthedayofsorrowandgrief.ThisthedayofthegreatestcalamitywhichbefellthedwellersoftheearthandthedayofrejoicingforIbneZiyadandhispeopleandthepeopleofSyria…………."

TheHolyImamswerenotcontentwiththeirownweepingandmourning.Theyusedtoholdcondolatorymeetingsforprovidingothersalsowithoccasionsforweepingandmakingotherweep.TheimportanceofweepingandwailingforHusain,(A.S.),nay,itsutmostimportanceintheeyesofHazratZainab,(A.S.),isevidencedbythefactthatonbeingsetfreeshepostponeddepartureforMadinabythreeoraccordingtoothersbysevendaysandremainedinDamascusforweepingandwailingotherstheafflictionofHusain(A.S.),andmakingothersweepingbyrelatingthetragedyofKarbala).InthesecondolatorymeetingstheHolyImameitherdescribedthegrievoushappeningsofKarbalaorinvitedotherstodescribethemortoreciteelegiacverseaboutthetragedyandencouragedthespeakers,resistersandmournersinvariousways.e.g.,bysayingwelcometothemontheirarrival,askingthemtositclosetothem,callingthemhelpersandfriends,invitingthemtospeakontheafflictionsofImamHusain(A.S.),andorothermembersoftheAhlulBaitortoreciteelegiacversesaboutHusain(A.S.),conveyingtothemthegoodnewsofsalvationandadmissiontoParadiseandofthegatheringandweepingofangelsonhearingtheirspeechesrecitationsaboutKarbala.Theyalsousedtoadvisethemournerstoseethattheirhelpintheformofparticipationintheirgriefbyweepingandwailingneverdiminished.

Kishi(R.A.)hasrecordedthefollowingreportfromZaidShahham:

"AgroupofweKufiswaswithImamJaafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.),whenJafarIbneAffancametheretheImamaskedJafarsitclosetohimandsaid:'O'J'afar:IhaveheardthatyoucomposegoodelgiaecpoemsaboutHusain(A.S.),Jafaranswered:'O'myMaster!MayIbesacrificedforyou!Itis.TheImamthenaskedhimtorecitesomething.WhileJafarwasrecitinghiselegiacversestheImamwasweepingprofuselyandhischeeksandbeardwerewetwithtears.We

werealsoweepingwithhim.ThereaftertheImamsaidtohim.'O'Jafar!ByGodtheholyangelsarealsohereandareweepingandwailingonhearingyourrecitationasmuchasweareandevenmore.'O'Jafar!GoodnewstoyouthatAllahhasforegivenyoursinsandassuredyouradmissiontoParadise."

Accordingto'SavabulA'amal'bySaddoq(R.A.)ImamSadiq(A.S.),askedAbuHaroontorecitationanelegyonImamHusain(A.S.).WhenAbuHaroonstartedhisrecitationtheImamsaidtohim.“Donotchangeyourusualdeliverybecauseofmypresence.Reciteinthesamemake-weepmannerinwhichyoureciteamongyourpeople.“AbuHaroonsays”Ibegantoreciteascommanded.TheImamweptincessantlythroughouttherecitation.WhenIfinishedtherecitationofoneelegyheaskedmeforfurtherrecitationandIrecitedanotherelegy.DuringthisrecitationtootheImamcontinuedweepingasbeforeandIcouldeverhearthewailingoftheladiesbehindthecurtain.WhenthesecondrecitationwasalsoovertheImamsaid:

‘O’AbuHaroon!KnowthathewhocomposesasinglecoupletaboutImamHusain,(A.S.),andweepsandmakestenotherperson,nay,onlyfive.NayonlyonepersonwealwillsurelybeadmittedtoParadise.ItisincumbentuponAllahtodecompensatehimwhoonhearingthesufferingsofHusain(A.S.)shedssosmallatearasawingofamosquitoandHewillcertainlygranthimadmissiontoParadise.”

SimilartothisistheincidentofAbuImam.HealsowasaskedbyImamJafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.)toreciteanelegyonImamHusain(A.S.)TheImamincessantlyweptduringtherecitation.Abu‘Imamsays!“SolongasIcontinuedtherecitationtheImamcontinuedweepingandIcouldhearthewailingoftheladiesfromtheinteriorofthedwelling”.ThereaftertheImammentionedthesamemeritsandvirtuesofcompositionandrecitationofelegiesonImamHusain(A.S.),asmentionedinthecaseofAbuHaroon.

HowImamRiza(A.S.)treatedDeybalisquitewellknown.Tareehihashasrecordedinhis‘Muntakhab’thefollowingasrelatedbyDeybalhimself:

“OnceIwenttoseeImamRiza(A.S.),duringthedaysofmourning(i.e.fortydaysfromthefirstofMuharram).TheImamwassittinggloomy.Hiscompanionswerearoundhim.Whenhesawmehesaid:”Deybal!Youarewelcome’!ThenheofferedmeaseatbyhisownsideandaskedmetoreciteanelegyisincumbentuponAllahtorewardhimwhomadeevenonepersonweep

overourafflictionsandhewhoweptonourafflictionswillberaisedinourgroupontheDayofJudgment’.Thenhegotupanddrewacurtainandaskedtheladiestositbehinditandhearmyrecitation.Thenhesaidtome:‘Yes!Nowbeginyourrecitation.Yuareoutfriendandeulogist.‘O’Deybal!Seethatthishelptoousisnotdiscontinuedordiminishedsolongasyoulive’.ThesewordsoftheImamcausedtreatstoflowspontaneouslyfrommyeyesanditwasinthisconditionthatIstartedmyrecitation.”

Thesearetheinstancesofpracticalencouragement.AsinglesuchinstanceisaworthycauseofprideandgloryforaslaveoftheAhlulBait.Howluckyisthepersonwhoreceivesseveralsuchencouragements,anassetpreferabletogettingapermanentsuzerainty?

TheencouragementbytheImamswasnotconfinedtopolitewordsandcourteoustreatment.TheyusedtoencouragethecomposersofelegiesonImamHusain(A.S.)byvaluablemonetaryawardsandawardsintheformofvaluablecommodities.WhatwasthepurposeofthevaluablegiftbyImamMoosaBin‘Jafar.(A.S.)toanoldmanwhocomposedonlythreeelegiaccoupletsandofthepreciousBinAliandIbrahimBin-alAbbasifitwasnotforencouragement?

TheaboveargumentsbasedonthedeedsoftheAhleBaitwhichhavebeenbrieflymentionedclearlyindicatethatweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBaitisnotonlyimportantbutmostimportantintheeyesoftheAhleBaitotherwisetheywouldnothavemadesoelaboratearrangements,asdetailedintheabovereports,fortheperpetuationandwidetheAhleBait.Wetherefore,cannotescapetheconclusionthatweepingandwailingovertheirafflictionsisamatterofgreatimportanceintheeyesoftheAhleBaitasitisintheeyesofAllah.

IconsiderthesetraditionalargumentsbasedonthewordsanddeedsoftheAhleBaittobesufficientforthepurposeandnowIproceedtorationalarguments.

RationalArguments:WhatIhadtoprovewiththehelpoftraditionalargumentshasbeenfullyandsuccessfullyproved.StillsomeonemaysaythatIhavesofaradvancedonlytraditionalargumentsindicatingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionoftheAhleBaitandhavenotsupportedmycontentionbyasingleargumentbasedonreason.Thetraditionalargumentsalonetonotprovidefinalsatisfactionaslongasthesamearenotsimultaneously

supportedbyreason.Forinthatcasethereisroomleftfordoubtthatreasonmaydisprovewhathasbeenprovedbytraditionalarguments,makingitnecessarysotointerpretthereportedwordsanddeedssotomakethemcorroboratewithreason.Ishouldhave,therefore,advancedrationalargumentsinordertomakemytraditionalconvincingandsatisfactory.OnemaythinkthatIshallofbeabletodosobecauseapparentlyreasonisnotinfavorofweepingandwailing.Accordingtoreasonthestandardofimportanceofanythingisthateithersomegreatbenefitaccruesfromitoritisbeneficialinmultipleways.Whileneitheranygreatbenefitaccruesfromweepingandwailingnoritisbeneficialinmultipleways.Buttheonlybenefitthataccruesfromweepingandwailingisthatitsoothesasuffocatingheartandcoolsandcalmstheheartandliverburningwithgrief,whichisneitheragreatbenefitnormultiplebenefits.Reason,therefore,cannotsupportweepingandweepingandwhatisnotsupportedbyreasonisnotacceptableinspiteoftherebeingtraditionalargumentsoutwardlysupportingit.ThusImaystillbeconsideredafailureandunsuccessfulinmyattempttoprovetheimportanceofweepingandwailingintheeyesofAllahandtheeyesofAhleBait.BeforeIproceedtorefutetheobjectionIhavetopointoutthatreasonbeingopposedtosomethingisonethingandreasonnotbeinginfavorofitisanotherthing.Thereisavastdifferencebetweenthetwoaspects,onebeingcontradictoryofanother.Whatisopposedtogoodreasoniscertainlynotandcanneverbeacceptableinspiteoftherebeingtraditionalargumentsoutwardlysupporting.Butthesamecannotreasonablybesaidofwhatreasondoesnotfavor.Itissobecauseourintellects,limitedastheseare,cannotencompassallfactsandrealities.Therearealotofthemwhicharebeyondourknowledgeandimagination.Againwearenotfullyawareofthebenefitsandharms,realityandfalsehoodandthevalueanddegreeofimportanceofmostofthosethingswhichareinourknowledge.Howcanourlimitedintellectsthenbeexpectedtoagreewithallofthem?Andhowcanourintellectsnotfavoringthemornotagreeingwiththemcandisprovetheirexistence?Thehardfactsandrealitieswillremainfactsandrealitiesdespitesourcesweshallhavetoacceptthemthoughtreliablesourcesweshallhavetoacceptthemthoughourintellectsmaynotbeinagreementwiththem.Itisforthisreasonthatwisemenofalltimeandplacehavegiventheirunanimousverdictthatitisinevitableformantobelieveincertainthingstherealcausesandthevariousadvantagesanddisadvantagesofwhichmaybebeyondhiscomprehension.Everybodyhastobelieveincertainthingstherealcauseandvariousadvantagesanddisadvantagesofwhicharenotknowntohim.Itissobecauseeveryoneofuscannotbeamasterofeverybranchofknowledgeandindustryandcompetentenoughtoformasatisfactoryopiniononallquestionsconnectedtherewith.Reason,

therefore,demandsthatforallquestionspertainingtothosewhoaremastersofthebranchesconcernedandshouldbelieveandactcordingtotheirguidancenomattertherealreasonbehindtheguidanceisorisnotintelligibletoone.Itisincompliancewiththisdemandofreasonthatonehoweverwisetakestheadviceofasuccessfulbarrister-at-law,askilledphysician,anexperiencedcolonelandexpertsandspecialistsinthosebranchesofknowledgeandindustrywhichoneisinterestedinandactsaccordinglywithouthesitationandconsidersthispracticetobequitereasonableandwiseandbotagainstreasonandalsosympatheticallyadvisesotherstofollowthepractice.Itistheexpositionofthisrulethatthewell-knownPersianpoet,HafizofShirazsays:

‘Daytheprayercarpetwithwineifthechiefmagisobedsyou.Becausetraveler(guide)isnotunawareofthepracticesandmannersprevailingatthevariousstationsontheway.’

Peoplewithareligiousbentofmindinparticularfollowthispractice.Oncetheyembraceareligionconsideringittobeasurepathtosalvationandattackthemselvestoareligiousguidetheybegintofollowthecommandmentsofthereligionandtheguide.Theyhave,asamatteroffactnoalternative.ReasonandtraditionbothhaveprovedthatlawsofreligionareframednotaccordingtoourdeficientandimperfectintellectsbutaccordingtotheWillofAllahandthesuperiorintellectandforesightoftheProphet(totheheightsofwhichourdeficientinflectscannotrise)whichforeseemanyathingwhichevenourmind’seyecannotseenorourdeficientintellectscanperceiveorunderstand.Thisiswhytheinvestigatorsoftruthgaveagreedthatthegreatestmeritoforbenefitaccruablefromreligionisthatitguidesuswhereourdeficientintellectseitherfailtodiscerngoodfrombad,usefulfromharmfulandimportantfromunimportantorhavenoaccessatall.Ifthiswasnotthebenefitofareligiontherewasnoneedofbelievinginaheavenlyreligionandpeoplewouldhaveshapedtheirreligionsaccordingtotheirownintellects.Theneedforaheavenlyreligionisgenerallyfeltandunanimouslyrecognizedbecauseourdeficientintellectsarequiteunabletoframeitsrulesandregulationsandtoenunciateandarrangeitsgeneralprinciplesandparticularcommandments.Itis,therefore,upontheomniscient,All-ComprehendingandAll-WiseAllahtoframeandarrangethem,forHiseyealonecanseeeverythinginitscorrectperspective.Itisbecauseofthisfactthatwearenotallowedtorejectorconsiderimproperareligiouscommandmenttherealcauseorpurposeandadvantageofwhichweareunabletounderstand.Ontheotherhandwemustacceptitasjustandworthyofcompliancewithconfidencethattheremustbesomegoodreasonbehinditand

someadvantageaccruabletousfromitwhichourimperfectintellectscannotcomprehend.Oncewearesatisfiedthatacertainbelief,ritualorobservancehasbeencommandedbyAllahandtheProphetwemustgladlyandsincerelyacceptitandsincerelyacceptitandintelligentlyputthecommandmentintopractice,keepinginviewthefactthatwehavebeengiftedwithintellectnotforframingthefundamentalsoffaithandmakingthelawsofreligionbutforthepurposeofdiscerningatruefromafalsebeliefandtryingtounderstandtherealcauseorpurposeandtheadvantagesofwhatwehavebeencommandedtodo.Thisisthefinaldecisionofthosewhohavebeengiftedwithrightjudgmentandtheunanimouspracticeofmenofintegrityofpurposewhichisuniversallyfollowedfromtheearliesttimestothisdayasifitisapartofhumannature.Accordingtothisdecision,if,forexample,wecometoknowthroughreliablesourcesthatbothAllahandHisMessenger(S.A.),attachgreatimportancetoweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait,weshallhavetoacceptitastruewhetherornotweunderstandthereasonbehinditanditsadvantagesandwhetherornotourintellectsagreewithit.Otherwise,itwillnotbesurprisingifonedaywehavetoregretandrepentourattitude,renounceourfancifulideaandbepenitentforitlikethemanIwhoseincidenthasbeennarratedbyAllamaMajlisi(R.A.)in‘BiharulAnwar’andwhohadtoabandonhisideaandtodopenanceasunder:

1. TheAllamahasrecordedareportfromSaiyiAliHusaini.Thereportinitsabridgedformisasunder:

“IandafewpersonswereinspecialattendanceattheshrineofImamRiza(A.S.),oneofuswhileaddressingacondolatorymeetingaboutImamHusain(A.S.),onthetenthofMuharramquotedImamMohammadBaqir(A.S.),ashavingsaidthatAllahwouldforgiveallhissinswhoonhearingofImamHusain(A.S.)shedsevensosmallatearasasingleswingofamosquitoalthoughhissinsbeasplentifulasseafroth.Presentinthemeetingwasamanofourowngroupwhowasboastfulofhisknowledgeandlearning.AfterthemeetingheremarkedthatthewordsattributedtoImamMuhammadBaqir(A.S.),werenotgenuinebecausereasondidnotagreewiththem.Thisbecamethetopicofaprolongeddiscussionamongusbuthedidnotdesistfromhislineofthoughtandbones.WhenthemanwhowasboastfulofhisknowledgehadgonetobedandwasasleephehadadreamthattheDayofJudgmenthadarrive,allthecreatureshadgatheredinavastplainforreceivingjudgment,thescaleforweighingofactionshadbeenfixed,thebridgeof‘Sirat’erected,thepeoplewereaccountingfortheirdeedsintheirearthlylifeandtheParadiseandtheHellappearedintheir

owngloriousandglowingformwhilethedreamerwasfeelingoverwhelminglythirstyandrunninghereandthereinsearchofwaterwhichwasnowhereavailable.Whilelookingaroundhecaughtsightofalargecisternwhichhethoughtwastheretwomenandawomanallwithradiantfaces,cladinblackmourninggarments,sorrow-strickenandweepingandsheddingtears.HeenquiredwhothethreepersonswereandwastoldthattheywereMuhammadMustafa(S.A.)Ali-e-MurtazanandFatimatuzzahra(A.S.).hethenenquiredwhytheywearcladinblackgarmentsandingriefandsheddingtears.Hewastoldthatitwasthe‘Ashooraday,thedaywhenImamHusain(A.S.)waskilledandbecamemartyr.Theyareinmourningforhimandlamentingoverhisafflictions.OnhearingthisheapproachedtheChiefLady(i.e.,Fatimatuzzahra.S.A.)andsaid:‘O’theDaughterofMessengerofAllah!Iamextremelythirsty.Letmehavesomewatertodrink.ThepureLadysaid:‘Areyounotthesamepersonwhodeniesthemerits&importanceofweepingandwailingforHusain.(A.S.)’?Themanwhowasboastfulofhisknowledgetoiledusthatthedreamhadsomuchfrightenedhimthathisentireframewastremblingwhenheawoke.HewasaseamedofhisremarkandinthemorningwenttohisfriendswithwhomhehadthediscussionthepreviousnightandrelatedbeforethemhisdreamanddidpenancebeforeAllah”.

Theabovestoryprovidesagoodillustrationofhowthesoledependenceonone’sownintellectmayproduceasundesirableresult.ThemanwhowasboastfulofthisknowledgefailedtoattracttheattentionoftheImmaculateLadyandwasdisappointedatatimewhenheverybadlyneededherfavor.Finally,hehadnotonlytorepentofhisattitudeofjudgingeverythingaccordingtohisownintellectandabandonthisattitudealsotodopenanceinviewofthemostsacredpersonalityoftheImpeccableLadyandalsotobelieveinthetraditionofImamMuhammadBaqir(A.S.),withoutfurtherexaminationofit.

Thishasmadeclearthefactthattwothingsoneofwhichisopposedtoreasonandtheothermerelynotsupportedbyreasoncannotbeplacedinthesamecategoryandgovernedbythesamerule.Thatwhichisopposedtoreasoncannotbeacceptedwhilethatwhichisnotsupportedbyreasonisacceptableundercertaincircumstances,e.g.,evenifthereitwemayhavetoacceptit.

AfterthisclarificationIproceedtorefutetheobjection.

EvenifreasondoesnotattachanyimportancetoweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBaitwehavetoconsidertheweepingandwailingas

importantonthebasisofthetraditionalargumentsinsupportofit.Accordingtotheclarificationthefactthatreasondoesnotsupportastatementcannotneutralizeatraditionalargumentinsupportofthestatement.Eventhedoubtthatreasonmayopposeitcannotcounteractatraditionalargument.Thatwhichcancounteractitisonlythatrationalargumentwhichopposesitandnotmerelythedoubtthatreasonmayopposeit.Hadthisdoubtanyplaceinreasoning,atraditionalargumentalonewouldhaveneverbeenadvancedinsupportofanystatementorbeliefbecausenotraditionalargumentcanbeabovesuchdoubt.Buttraditionalargumentshavebeenfrequentlyadvancedinthepastandarestilladvancedinanticipationoftheirbeingtreatedassufficientlyconvincing.ThetraditionalargumentsofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionstheimportanceofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsofAhleBait,must,therefore,beconsideredasconvincingandsatisfactory.

Theaboverefutationisbasedonthesuppositionthatreasondoesnotsupportoragreewiththeimportanceofweepingandwailing.Butthesuppositionitselfisincorrectandcontrarytotruth.Asamatteroffactreasonagreeswithweepingandwailingandagreespositivelyandfully,becauseweepingandwailingfullycorrespondstothestandardtothestandardsetbyfortestingtheimportanceofanything.Ithasnotonlyoneimportantadvantagebutnumerousmostimportantadvantages.EvenweepingfortheSakeofweepingisnotcompletelydevoidofadvantage.ButIdonotwanttoprolongmydiscoursebydwellingontheadvantageofweepingforitsownsakewhichisoutsidethesphereofthepresentdiscussion.Ifanybodyisdesirousofknowingthesameheshouldcarefullyperuseandconsidertheargumentsadvancedhereunderinsupportofweepingandwailing.ThetopicofmydiscussionisweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBaitand,therefore,whatIhavetoexamineiswhetherornotweepingandwailingforthisparticularpurposehasanyadvantageIemphaticallyassertandcanloudlyproclaimthatthisweepingandwailinghasmanyimportantadvantages.HewhohasnotyetunderstooditsadvantagesduetolackofinsightimportanceorotherwiseoftheadvantagewhichIdetailbelow:

AdvantageNo.1:

ADVANTAGEOFWEEPINGANDWAILINGOVERTHEAFFLICTIONSOFAHLEBAIT(A.S.),

THISKEEPSALIVETHEIRGREATDEEDS.

ThestiflingcircumstanceswhichtheAhleBaitwerereadtoliveinandhadtospendtheirentirelivesdidnotpermitthemtoteachandguidethepeoplefreely,forthroughouttheperiodpowerrestedinthehandsoftheirenemies,whomadelifeunbearableforthembysendingthembehindthebarsindungeonsasmostcondemnableprisonersorallowingthemoutwardfreedomunderstrictvigilanceofspiesanddetectiveswhowouldbringtothenoticeofthetyrantrulesalltheirengagementsandactivitiesofthedayandnightsothattheirenemiesmightfindanexcuseforputtingtheirlifetoanendbysomemeansorother.TheresultwasthatnoneoftheHolyAhleBaitdiedanaturaldeath.AfewofthemweredonetodeathwiththehelpofaswordoradaggerwhilemostofthemweremurderedbysecretlyadministeringdeadlypoisonasanImmaculateImamhasasserted:“Everyoneofushasbeenslainorkilledbypoisoning.”Thustheycouldnotperformtheirdutyasteacherandtemporalandspiritualguidetotheirownsatisfactionoraccordingtotheneedofthenation.Still,whattheydidinspiteofthemostdifficultandtryingcircumstancesspellingdangersandthreateningtheirlivesisnotonlyconsiderablebutsurprisinglylargeinquantity.Theiroralinstructionsandpiecesofadviceandguidancetotheirfollowersandotherseekersoftruthwereinsuchabundancethatwhathasbeenleftafterthepassageoftimeanddestructionandconcealmentbytheirenemiesiscontainedinnumerouslargevolumeswhiletheirpracticalguidancewaslikealimitlessandneverendingtreasurefromwhichintelligentpeoplereceivedbenefitinthepast,arereceivingtodayandwillcontinuereceivingbenefittilltheendoftheword,e.g.

(i) ItweretheAhleBaitwhodemonstratedthehighestformsofpatienceandsubmissiontoAllahformerlyunknowntotheworld,asstatedbyapoetinhisaddresstoImamHusain(A.S.):

Mancametoknowtheextentofhispatienceandsubmission(toAllah)after,(seeing)your(uniqueandlimitless)patienceand(absolute)submission(toAllah).

Whonowstrivestoattainpatienceandsubmissions(toAllah)ofhigherdegreeshastofollowtheexamplessetbythosepioneersoftruedevotiontoAllahandself-surrenderandthusreceivesthebenefitoftheirguidance.

(ii) ItwastheAhleBaitwholivedanidealandexemplarylifeinspireofbeingconstantlysubjectstotormentsbythetyrantrulersoftheirtime.TheirperilouscircumstancescouldnotpreventthemfromlivingalifeofpietyanddevotiontoAllahandservicetohumanity.ThebrighttracesthattheyhaveleftofdisciplinedandvirtuouslifeinextremelydifficultcircumstancesandwillserveasaBeaconLighttogenerationaftergenerationuptotheDayofJudgment.

(iii) Themarvelousandeternallyeffectivestrengthatthecommandofpersonssufferingfrominjusticeandoppressionwaslittleknowntotheworld.TheAhleBaitbroughtthisspiritualandhiddenbutoverwhelmingstrengthtotheknowledgeofmanbymakingadiscreetuseofitandtheworlddidwitnesshowthekingdomsandempiresoftheircruelenemieswithvastmaterialresourcesweredestroyedandup-rootedbytherevolutionscausedbytheacutesufferingsoftheAhleBaitandalsohowthegreatandever-increasingvenerationgainedbytheAhleBaitthroughtheirunparalleledsufferingsstillrulesovertheheartsofthepeoplewithinsight.

Thetreasureconsistsofcountlessotherbrilliantjewelsofwisdomandknowledgefromwhicheverynationoftheglobeisdirectlyorindirectly.Knowinglyorunknowinglyreceivingbenefit.

TheenemiesoftheHolyAhleBaitwereaskeenlybentuponconcealingandthrowingintoobliviontheirgoldendeedsastheywereupondestroyingtheAhleBait.Theydidtheirutmosttoachievethisnefariouspurpose.Theseattempts,needlesstopointout,werenotconfinedtotheperiodsoftheUmayyadandtheAbbasidsdynastiesbutarestillgoingoninfullvigor.NotonlyspeechesaremadetoconcealthetruthandfactsandtopropagateuntruthandfictionandarticleswritteninsupportoftheinjusticemetedouttotheAhleBaitbutalsobooksaresometimeswrittenandpublishedforjustifyingtheunjustifiable.Allthathappenedinthepast,thatishappeningnowandwillhappeninfuture

wasintheknowledgeoftheOmniscientAllahwhowouldneverallowtheunparalleledsacrificesofthosewhosuffereduntoldnurturesandgaveawayeverythingevendearlivesinHiswayandHewouldneverpermittheirgoldendeeds,whicharedestinedtoserveasmilestonesandtorchesofguidancetotheseekersoftruthuptotheDayofJudgment.tobecompletelyobliteratedlikeamisplacedletter,He,therefore,decidedtogiveeternallifetotheexampledeedsoftheAhleBaitandtodefeatthecombinedeffortsoftheiropponentsbycausinganimpressiveandpermanentritualorobservancetobeestablishedwhichwouldsavetheirexemplarydeedsfromgoingintooblivionandthecongenialatmosphereandlife-givingairofwhichwouldkeeptheirdeedsfreshinman'smemoryandsimultaneouslydefeattheeffortsoftheirenemies.Thebestwaytoachievethispurposewastopersuadeandencouragepeopletoadoptaformofworshipwhichwouldensurepermanentremembranceoftheirdeedsandavoidanyconflictoftheirfollowerswithfoes.TheformofworshipdecidedwasweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhlebaitwhichentailedmentioningeverynowandthenoftheirgreatdeedsofguidanceandsacrifices.ThisofrepeatedmentionwouldpreventtheirgreatdeedsfrombeingtreatedasantiqueandfromgoingintoobscurityandalsokeepawaythechancesofinterferencebyorconflictwithenemiesoftheAhleBait;becauseintheperformanceofthisformofworshipwehavetoshedourownbloodtobeatourownheadsandbreastsandtoscratchorwoundourownbodieswithchainsorbowiekniveswhilenoinjuryiscausedtootherswhich,mightresultininterferencebyorconflictwiththemAllah,therefore,madeHisManifestations,theHolyProphet(S.A.)andtheInfallibleImams(A.S.)topreachweepingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBaitandtoannouncewiththeirtongues,whichusedtoutterdivinerevelations,theextra-ordinaryheavenlyrewardforthemournersinordertomaketheloyalfollowersoftheAhleBaitedgerofpracticingthisritualwithallthezealattheircommandandtorestrainthemfromgrowingindifferenttoitorsluggishinitsperformance.Further,thesemanifestationsofAllahlinkedthelifeintheHereafteroftheirmournerswiththeirownholylivessothatthepracticeofweepingandwailingovertheirafflictionsmaycontinuetotheDayofJudgmentasprophesiedbytheHolyMessengerofAllah,(S.A.)quotedabove.

ItisthisarrangementbyAllahwhichisthemostdependablefoundationstoneoftheedificeofrecordofthegreatdeedsoftheAhleBaitanditisonethestrengthofthisindestructibledivinelylaidfoundationthattheirdeedschallengeallthehostileforcetodoeverythingtheycanforobliteratingthem.ButtheywillneversucceedforthefoundationofthegreatdeedsoftheAhleBaitiseternal.

'Oureternalexistencehasbeenrecordedinthejournalofworld'.

Themoreyoutrytocrushusbrighterwillbeourglitter.Themoreyoutrytosuppressusthehigherweshallrise.Ifyouprepareoneplotforourdestructionthatoneplotwillopentenmoreroutesforoureternalexistence.Ifyoupossessinsightthenyoushouldstudythewonderfulworksofnatureonthecanvasoftimeandseewhatisbeingdoneinyourownhomesfordefeatingyourmachinationsandhelpingustoprogress.(ThevilifyingstatementsanderroneousobservationscontainedinthenotoriousbookbyMahmoodAhmedAbbasihavebeenexposed,scathinglycriticizedandvindicatedmorebytheSunnisthanbytheShias).Ifyouwillcoollyconsideroverityouwillcontinuouslycryout:

'ITWASTHELAMPOFTHEHOUSEITSELFTHATSETTHISHOUSEONFIRE'.Andshallbeforcedtoadmit:

EventhewindwillservethepurposeofaglasschimneyandsavefromextinguishingthecandlelightedupbyGod.'

Inshort,weepingandwailingfortheAhleBaitislikeafighterinthewayofAllahwhichalongwithallitscondolatoryritualsinspiteofweaknesskeepouropponentsnonplussedbydefeatingalltheirnegativeeffortsandrefreshingandrevivingthegreatdeedsoftheAhleBait.ItisbecauseofthisweepingandwailingthatthegreatdeedsoftheAhleBaitarestillconsiderablyfreshinspiteofthestormyeffortsoftheirenemiesfordestroyingthem.

So,oneoftheadvantagesorbenefitsofweepingandwailingfortheAhleBait,(A.S.)isthepreservationoftherecordoftheirgreatdeeds.

AdvantageNo.2:

ITENABLESUSTO

IntroducetotheworldsimultaneouslytheAhleBaitandtheiropponentandthustopavethewayforpropagationofthetruereligion.

Weepingishighlyattractiveperformance.Whenyoufindsomebodyweepingnotonlyyouonlyyourattentionisdrawntohimasbyanaturalimpulsebutyoualsobegintofeelarestlessnesswhichpromptsyoutoenquirethecauseofhisweeping.Cananybodydenythis?Certainlynot.Ifitisnotonlyanindividualwhoweepsandwailsbutaclassofpeople,andtheclassismadeupofdistinguishedindividualsandrespectablepersonsknownfortheirqualitiesofheartandregardedamongtheintelligentsiaoftheworld,andifthisclassisconfinednotonlytoaparticulartownorlocalitybutisfoundineverycountryandspreadallovertheworldandifthatclassweepsandwailsnotonlyononeortwoparticulardatesbutonmostofthedaysoftheyearandnotindividuallyorsecretlywithinthefourwallsoftheirhousesbutcollectivelyatcondolatorypublicmeetingsheldafterspendingagooddealoftimeandmoneyandundergoingnumerousinconveniencesandalsoweepsandwailsinprocessionsonpublicplaceslikethroughfaces,etc.,whilebeatingtheirbreastsandsheddingtheirbloodbyscratchingorwoundingtheirbodieswithchainsandbowieknives,willnottheattentionofthewholeworldbeattractedtowardsthatclass?Surelytheattentiontotheworldwillbedrawntowardsitbecausetheclassisfullyequippedwiththemosteffectivemeansofattractingattentionandtheattentionwillnaturallykindlethedesiretoknowthecauseofweepingandwailingoftheclass.Thustheattentionoftheworldwillbedrawtowardsthisclassofweepingandwailingpersonsandthepeopleoftheworldwillspontaneouslydesiretoknowthecauseofweepingandwailing.Whenasaresultofthisdesiretheywillcometoknowthatmournersweepandwailnotovertheirownafflictionoftheirspiritualguidestheworldwillbefurtherdesirousofknowingaboutthespiritualguides,theirafflictionsandthecauseoftheirafflictions.

Thiswillleadtheworldtoknowbywhomtheafflictionswerecaused,whattheviewsandmotivesoftheirenemieswereandwhattheircharacterwas.InthiswaytheworldwillonlycometoknowtheAhleBaitbutalsotheirgreatqualitiesofheadandheartfortheyweresubjectedtoallsortsoftorturesandafflictionsforpossessingincomparablyvastknowledgeandwisdom,stickingtotheirnobleprinciples,maintainingtheirloftycharacter,reflectedbytheirselflessdevotiontoAllah,unlimitedsympathyforHiscreatureinadversecircumstancesandallpossiblehelptothem,glitteringguidancetoallseekersoftruthanduniquesacrificesforthemoralandspiritualupliftofman.ThesegreatqualitieshadamagneticeffectonallthosewhocameincontactwiththeAhleBait.Thisannoyedtheirdespoticenemieswhowantedtoenjoyabsoluteauthorityoverthemasses.SotheydidtheirbestfortpreventingallsortsofcoercionarymeasuresagainsttheAhleBaitandtheirstaunchadmirersandfinallyfinishingthemopenlybydaggerorsecretlybypoison.Whentheworldwillcometoknowthesegreatqualitiesofourgreatleaderstheworldwillbegintoadmirethemandtohavesympathyforthemforitisbutnaturaltohavefeelingsofaffectionandsympathytowardstheoppressedparticularlywhentheyarepersonsoftoweringnobilityandmerit.Again,thewholeworldwillnotonlycometoknowtheenemiesoftheAhleBaitbutalsotheirignoblenatureandmeancharacterforalltheirtyrannyovertheAhleBaitwastheoutcomeoftheirself-aggrandizementandlustforpower,asuresignofmeanandignoblenature.ThisinturnwillmakethewholeworlddespiteanddetesttheenemiesoftheAhleBaitforitishumannaturetodespiseoppressorsandbadcharacters.

Whathasbeenstatedintheprecedingparagraphisnotafreeplayofimaginationormeresuppositiondevoidofreality.Thesearethestrongnaturechainsofcauseandeffectandnumerouslinksofhardfacts.SincethisclassofmournersweepsandwailsmostlyovertheafflictionsofImamHusain(A.S.),causedbytheoppressiveandtyrantYazeedandhasaffectionandrespectforImamHusain(A.S.).TheyhateYazeedtosuchanextentthattodayhardlyanybodyispreparedtocallhisorherchild'Yazeed'andasthepoetJoshMaleehabadihassaid:

'TheverynameofYazeedisnowarevile,awordofabuseandcurse'.AndtheyhavesomuchaffectionandrespectforImamHusain,(A.S.),thatthebrightmindedindividualsofeverynationregarditasanobledutytopraisethegreatdeedsoftheImamandtakeprideinexpressingtheirappreciationofandbeliefinhisleadershipofhumanity.

Todaynothingcanbesaidwithcertainaboutthefutureextentofthis

appreciationofImamHusain(A.S.)buttheabovenamedpoet,Josh,hasmadethefollowingforecastinthisregard:

‘LETMANKINDWAKEUPTHENWILLCOMETHETIMEWHENEVERYNATIONOFTHEWORLDWILLCLAIMTHATHUSAINBELONGSTOHER’.

Thisisaproofoftheintrinsictruthofthestatementsintheprecedingparagraph.ThisindicatesthatifthisclassofmournerswouldhavebeenmourningovertheafflictionsoftheothermembersoftheAhleBait-AmeerulMomineenAli.(A.S.),theChiefofAlltheWomenofAlltheWorld,Fatima,ImamHasan,etc.,(A.S.)withthesamefervorandardorasitmournsovertheafflictionsofImamHusain(A.S.)(forallthemembersoftheAhleBaitweresubjectedtoprocessionandmurderedorpoisonedtodeath)andinthatconnectionthenames,specialtraitsofcharacterandthemotivesofthosewhosubjectedthemtooppressionandkilledthem,onecannotestimatetheextenttowhichtheknowledgeofthevariousnationsoftheglobeabouttheAhleBaitandtheirenemieswouldhavereachedbynow,ortheheightofthepitchtowhichaffectionandvenerationoftheAhleBaitandhateandcondemnationfortheirenemieswouldhaverisen.Sufficientinformationaboutboththeparties,theAhleBaitandtheirenemies,ingreatcontrastwithwitheachother,wouldhaveresultedinsoextensiveandaffectionfortheformerandsointenseahateforthelatterabouttheAhleBaitandtheirenemieswouldhavereachedbynow,ortheheightofthepitchtowhichaffectionandvenerationoftheAhleBaitandhateandcondemnationfortheirenemieswouldhaverisen.Sufficientinformationaboutboththeparties,theAhleBaitandtheirenemies,ingreatcontrastwitheachother,wouldhaveresultedinsoextensiveanaffectionfortheformerandsointenseahateforthelatterthatitwouldhavedestroyedforgoodallthepropagandaofouropponents.SometimeswedoweepandwailovertheafflictionsoftheothermembersofAhelBait(A.S.)butforfearofquarrelandconflictwithouropponentswedonotandcannotweepandwailovertheirafflictionsasfrequentlyandardentlyasovertheafflictionsofImamHusain(A.S.).Theresultisthatsocongenialanatmosphereforthepropagationofourreligioncouldnotbecreatedaswedesiredittobe.Stillourcondolatoryrituals,restrictedastheyare,haveconsiderablypavedthewayforitspropagation,aproofofwhichisfurnishedbythesefrequentwritingsandspeechesoftheleadingpersonsofacknowledgedmeritamongthevariousnationsandreligioussectsoftheworldwhichconveytheiradmirationfortheAhleBait(A.S.)andsupportforandappreciationoftheirflawlessguidanceandrighteouswayoflife.Thewarmthandglowofour

condolatoryritualshavemeltedtheheartsofotherstosuchanextentthatnowtheyarelikesoftandfertilesoilforsowingtheseedsofourreligion.Ifourintelligentandeloquentspeakersonreligioussubjectstrytomakeconsiderateuseofthissoftandfecundsoillikeanexperiencedformertherearesufficientlybrightprospectsfortheirsuccess.Itmust,therefore,beadmittedthatanimportantadvantageofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)istopavethewayforthepropagationofourreligionbyintroducingtotheworldtheAhleBait(A.S.)andtheirenemies.

AdvantageNo.3:

Tocreatetoourownpeopleaninsightintoourreligionandthustosavethemfromfallingapreytotheirreligiouspropagandabyothers.

AprerequisiteofweepingandwailingandmakingothersweepandwailovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)mayfilltheirheartswithsteamwhichinturnmaymovetheireyestosheddingtears.Onlysuchintroductionsascompriseofreligionsmatters,i.e.,amentionorexpositionofabasicprincipleoffaithorareligiousobservance,andalsootherwisesuittheoccasioncanservethepurpose.Whenlectures,addressesordiscoursesonthelifeandafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)inourcondolatorymeetingswillbeinvariablyaccompaniedbyamentionorexpositionorexpositionofareligioustopicandtheaudiencewillhearthesementionsandexpositionsfrequentlyandinavarietyofstylebyvariousspeakerstheirknowledgeofreligionwillgoonincreasingdaybyday.

ThisiswhyaveragememberoftheShiacommunityhappenstohaveabetterknowledgeofhisreligionthananaveragememberofanyotherreligioussectintheworldhasofhisreligion,andeveryShiapossessesquiteastockofreligioninformationwhichhecanturntogooduseatthespurofthemoment.

Again,evenanunletteredShiahasreligiousinsighttosuchanextentasyoucannotfindevenamongthemajorityofeducatedpersonsofotherreligiouscommunitiesandasaresultofthisevenwilleducatedmembersofothersectsfeeldisinclinedtotheirintoareligiousdiscussionwithaShiaandtryaavoidit.WhentheyareforcedbycircumstancestoenterintoareligiousdiscussionwithanaverageShiaoftenerthannottheygetashamedandconfounded,whentheyeitherembracethetruereligionorstoopsolowastoindulgeindestructiveefforts,socialboycottandbarbarousactivitiesagainstourcommunity.TheeverincreasingreligiousknowledgeandtheevergrowingreligiousinsightoftheShiasmaketheirreligiousbeliefssofirmandconstantthatstronggustsofunfavorablewindscannotmakethemwaver,thecharmingsnaresofreligioussophistrycannotentrapthemandsinisterthreatsofeconomicboycottcannotforcethemtodeviatefromtherightpath.Theyfirmlysticktotheirreligionbeliefsevenwhenfixedlikeasironpegbyahammer,evadelikeaclevercockthenetspreadforcatchingthemandretaintheirtruecolorevenwhencrushedandpowderedlikecollegiumantimony.Theirveinsseemasiftoreverberatethe

wordsoftheirmaster,AmeerulMomineen(A.S.)."ShallIturninfidelafterembracingthetruefaith"?Suchechoesresoundingintheirmindsaretheplayoftheplectrumofardentfollowingoftheirguide,theImam.Thesearefactswhichnowell-informedpersoncandeny.One,therefore,mustadmitthatoneoftheadvantagesofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)iscreatereligiousinsightamongthemembersorourowncommunityandtosavethemfromfallingapreytothesophisticatedtalkofothers.

TOKEEPPRODUCINGINOURCOMMUNITYEMINENT

SPEAKERSANDPOETSINALARGENUMBER.

AdvantageNo.4:

InordertoweepandwailandtomakeotherweepandwailovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)itisnecessarytodescribetheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.).Thedescriptionoftheirafflictionspresupposesaknowledgeoftheirafflictions,foronewithoutanyknowledgeoftheafflictionscannotdescribethem,andadescriptiontobesuccessfulmusteffectivestyleisnecessarybecausethespeakerhastoarousethefeelingofpathosamongtheaudienceandmakethemweepandwailovertheafflictionswhichtheyhaveheardoverandoveragain.AcommunitythedistinguishingtraitofwhichistoweepandwailovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)willnaturallykeepproducingpersonpossessinggoodknowledgeoftheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)andatthesametimecompetentenoughtodescribetheminproseorpoetryinanattractiveandeffectivemanner.Necessityisthemotherofinvention.Whenthehall-markoftheShiacommunityisweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)toringtrueofitshall-markthestandingandmostimportantdemandofthecommunitywillbeforpersonspossessingthesaidqualities.Thisdemand,asarule,willkeepproducinginthecommunityhighlytalentedandproficientspeakersandpoetsatalltimesandinallplaceswithapopulationofthecommunity.WhenShiasaretheprofessedmournersovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)andweepandwailnotoncertainspecifiedoccasionsbutalltheyearround.Andonvariousoccasionstheirconstantdemandforspeakersandpoetsisboundtokeepproducingamongthemproficientspeakersandpoetsisalargenumber.Experiencebearstestimonytothefactthatsolongasweepingand

wailingwasinavigorousformthecommunitycontinuedtoproducemasterspeakerslikeMaulanaSaiyidSibteHasan,anenchantingspeaker,rhetoricianandoratorandmosteminentpoetslikeMeerAnees,aversatilepoetoftoweringeloquenceandmasterofaninimitablestyle,andtherewereinthecommunityeminentspeakersandpoetsinalargernumberthaninanyothernationoftheglobe.EvennowwhenweepingandwailinghasconsiderablydeclinedthereareinthecommunityhighclassspeakerslikethemasterpreacherMaulanaSaiyidIbneHasanofMaunegra,thegreatoratorMaulanaSaiyidMohammadofDelhi(sincedeceasedandtheleadingoratorJanabRasheedTurabuiofHyderabad(Deccan)andtoprankingpoetslikeJanabNajmEaffendi,ageniusinpoetryandcomposerofeveryvarietyofverseandJanabQaisZangipuriSincedousedpoetofoutstandingmeritandmasterofanelegantstyle,whilethetotalnumberofspeakersandpoetsinthiscommunity(PraisebetoGod),issolargethatthereishardlyanycountryoftheworldaltogetherlackinginspeakersandpoetsofhiscommunitywhocanaddresscondolencemeetingsorelegiacpoemsintheformofa'Quatrain,Qaseeda,SalaamorMarsiya'.Ontheotherhandtherearemanycountriesoftheworldwherethechiefsourcesandaddressesbythespeakersorcollectionsofmelodiousandexhilaratingpoemsbythepoetsofthiscommunity:Thisissoobviousafactthatnosensibleandwell-informedpersoncandenyit.IfthepresenceofmanyhighrankingspeakersandpoetsineveryperiodoflifeofhiscommunityisnotoneoftheblessingsofWeepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)thenwhatisitdueto?TheinescapableconclusionisthatoneoftheadvantagesofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)istokeepproducinginthecommunityhighclassspeakersandpoets.

TOMAKEANDKEEPOURCOMMUNITYALIVE,

PROGRESSIVEANDGLORIOUS.

AdvantageNo.5:

Thelife,progressandgloryofanycommunitydependuponapassionforunityamongitsmembersandtheirwiseorganization.Thestrongerthepassionforunityandthewisertheorganizationthemoreprogressiveandgloriouswillbethecommunity.WhatsawstheseedofpassionforunityandorganizationinthecommunityandhelpsittogerminateanddevelopisthisverypracticeofweepingandwailingwhichhasearnedforusthenicknametheCommunityofWeepers.’Itisthispracticethatkeepsphysicallyinvigoratingandspirituallyexhilaratingthecommunityanditistheheatgeneratedbythispractice.Itkeepstheindividualsinthecommunityway.Allthesymptomsofunityandco-operationinthecommunity-thepartiesofbreast-beaters,thebandsofNauha(i.e.versifiedexpressionsofsorrowforadepartedsoul)reciters,annualcondolencemeetingandprocession,organizationofvolunteersforfacingthosewhoareopposedtoourcondolatoryobservanceandcounteractingtheirmischievouspropaganda-areeitherthedirectproductortheindirectresultofthissamepracticeofweepingandwailing.Itisso,becausetheonlyassetinthetreasurehouseofthecommunitywhichkeepsaliveandalertourcongregationalfeelingsandexcitesthemwhenevernecessaryisthispracticeofweepingandwailingandthevariousritualsconnectedwithitanditisthispracticewhichisthevitalforcebehindallthesymptomsofunityinthecommunity.Thisiswhythosewhostudythecausesofprogressanddeclineofnationsandcommunitiesconsiderthispracticeofweepingandwailingasthemainfactorofprogressofourcommunityandpropagationofourreligionanditisbecauseofthesemournfuldemonstrationsthattheyregardthecommunityasprogressiveandprominent.Moreover,theyappeartoconsideritriskytomolestorattackthiscommunityofweepers’becausesometimesthetearsshedbythecommunityassumetheform

ofamightyfloodwhichnotonlydrownsanydissensionordisunityinthecommunitybutalsosweepsawaylikerubbishandstalksofstrawthestrongestdamsandweirsconstructedbyrivalcommunitiesashasbeenwitnessedonvariousoccasionsinthehistoryofthecommunity.Nobodywithathoroughknowledgeofthehistoryofthiscommunityandthedeedsofvelourandsacrificewithwhichitisrepletewilldisagreewiththeaforesaidapprehension,becausethehistoryofthecommunityrecordsmanyaninstanceofallouteffortsforthepreservationofourreligiousandreligiousobservances.

Nowwhatwehavegottoconsideriswhytheware-houseofthecommunitytodayisnotsowellstoredasitshouldhavebeenwithstable,progressiveandgracefulritualsandthesatisfactionandprosperityofthecommunitywhichthepassionforunityandorganizationkindledbythepracticeofweepingandwailingcanproduce.Inotherwords,whythepracticeofweepingandwailingisnotaseffectiveandinspiringtodayasbefore.Inmyopinionthereareseveralcausesofthisdeterioration,afewofwhicharementionedhereunder:

(i) Properadvantageisnottakenofthepassionforunityandorganizationkindledbyweepingandwailing.Ignoranceorself-interestoftenmoundsthepassionintoselfishmotiveswhichcausedissensionanddisintegrationinsteadofunityandorganizationandthusthepassionbecomesasourceofharmtothecommunityinsteadofbeingasourceofbenefitwiththeresultthatsomeofushaveerroneouslybeguntoregardthepassionastheultimatecauseoftheeverandanondissensionandquarrelsinthecommunityandthinkthattherewillbenodissensionsandquarrelsifthepracticeofweepingandwailingisstoppedandthepassionisabsent.

Idisagreewithsuchpersonsandbelievethatthedissensionsandquarrelsinthecommunityarenotthedirectresultofthepassionkindledbyweepingandwailingwhichexhortsusonlytoharmonyofrelationandintegrationbutaresultofthemotivesintowhichignoranceofself-interesthavemoldedthepassion.Letmeillustratethepoint.TheMuslimexegetistsoftheQuranhaveoffereddifferentinterpretationofnumerousversesinordertoservetheirownselfishpurposesandtoachieveworldlygainsandhavemadethoseinterpretationsthefoundationoftheirreligiousbeliefsandobservanceswhichhasresultedintheirsplittingupintoasmanyasseventythreesects.CananysensiblepersonassertthatthemaincauseoftheirdifferenceanddisintegrationistheQuran?Certainlynot.TheQuranasamatteroffactdescendedforendingoldinternecinefeudsandcreatingaccordandunityamongtheMuslimsandorganizingthemintoa

singlewill-knitnationandnotforcreatingdissensionsanddiscordamongthem.

AlltheinternaldissensionsanddifferenceswefindintheMuslimnationtodayaretheresultofstickingtotheirselfishinterpretationsofQuranicverseandclingingtotheirgreedofworldlygainsandnottheresultoffollowingtheinstructionscontainedintheQuranicverses.Isit,therefore,justtoblametheQuranfortheinternaldissensionsanddiscordandtotry(invain)todestroyit?UnfortunatelytheMuslimhavebeenusingtheQuranasaninstrumentofdissensionanddisintegrationandassuchtheHolyQuranmayberegardedasanindirectcauseofthesedifferences.Similarly,Ifsomeselfishandmischievousindividualsmakeuseofthepassionkindledbythepracticeofweepingandwailingasaninstrumentforcreatinginternaltensionandquarrelsinthecommunitywhichsometimesmakethewholecommunityrestlessonecannotreasonablyregardthepassionasacauseofdissensionanddisintegrationinthecommunity.Thepassioninitselfisagreatunitingandintegratingforce,thoughdiscordanddisintegrationsometimesoccurinthecommunity,insteadofaccordandunity,duetowronguseofthepassionbysomeselfishormischievousperson.Therightcourseoftacklingtheproblemofdiscordanddisintegrationinthecommunitywillthereforebetomendthewaysandtocorrectthebehavioroftheselfishmischievousindividualsinsteadofstiflingoruprootingthenobleandbeneficialpassion.

So,oneofthesensesdeteriorationisthatuseisnotmadeofthepassionforunityandorganizationkindledbythepracticeofweepingandwailing.InthisconnectionIcannothelpremarkingthatproperuseofthepassionismainlytheresponsibilityofthoselearnedpersonswhoaddressourcondolencemeetingsandtheworthypresidentsofcondolatoryassociations.Hadthesepersonsbeenturningthepassiontoitsrightusetheconditionofthecommunitytodaywouldhavebeenquitedifferent.Itwouldhavebeenlikeabrightlightonthehighminaretontheedificeofprogress.Butthemostbitterandregrettabletruthisthatsomeofthemdonotknowthecorrectuseofthepassionwhileafewothersknowandmakecorrectuseofit,butthemajorityconsistsofthosewhoareeitherunawareofthecorrectuseofthepassionorintentionallymisuseitforachievingtheirownpersonalendsoftheirpartyattheexpenseoftheprestigeofthecommunity.Thiswhysuchbenefitsasshouldnaturallyaccruefromthepassionarenotaccruingtothecommunityasawhole.

(ii)Thatsomethingisthepurposeofanactionisonethinganditistheultimatepurposeofanactionisanotherthing.Astudentsworkharddayandnightsothat

hemaypasstheexaminationinthefirstdivision.Thesuccessinthefirstdivisionisofcourseapurposeofhishardworkbutnottheultimatepurpose.Thepurposeofhishardworkistosecureeasilyalucrativeemploymentandtoacquiresufficientwealthbywayofremunerationandthepurposeofhisacquiringwealthistoenablehimselftoliveahappyandrespectablelife.Thebrightsuccessinexamination,lucrativeemploymentandacquisitionofwealtharetheseverallinksofachainofpurposeofhishardworkbuthisultimateorfinalpurposeisahappyandrespectablelifewhichisdesirableforitsownsake.Weepingandwailingiscertainlyapurposeofourcondolatoryritualsinsofarasritualsmoveustoweepingandwailingbutthisisnotthefinalandultimatepurposeoftherituals.Theultimatepurposeofweepingandwailingareunityinthecommunityanditsorganization,preservationofrecordsofthegreatdeedsoftheAhleBait(a.s),smoothpropagationofourreligionandproducingofeloquentspeakersandeminentpoetsinthecommunity,etc.Weshouldnot,therefore,becontentedwithweepingandwailingonlyandthinkittobeourfinalaim.Itisonlyamidwayhousebetweenourcondolatoryritualsandtheadvantagesmentionedabove.Wehavegottoascertainwhetherornotthoseadvantageshaveaccruedtous.Ifnot,whynot?Andhowcanweavailourselvesofthoseadvantages?Butweareapttoignoresuchself-appraisalandconsequentlywedonotgettheadvantage.

‘OurattitudeinthisrespectissimilartotheattitudeofalmostalltheMuslimstowardsHaj,theannualpilgrimagetoMecca.TheyregardstheperformanceofthevariousritesofHajastheultimatepurposeofHajandthinkthatbyperformingoftheseritestheyhavedischargedtheirduty.AsamatteroffacttheultimatepurposeofHajismaintenanceandstrengtheningtheIslamicfraternityprescribedbytheHolyProphet(S.A)andtheestablishmentofcloseassociationofandrelationamongallthebelieversintheunityofGod.HadallthepilgrimstoMecca,particularlytheheadsofMuslimsstates,keptinviewatthetimeofpilgrimagethispurposeofourlaw-givertheunityamongtheMuslimstatesthepressingneedforwhichwasfeltbyJamul-ud-DinAfghani.FrequentlypointedoutbyDr,MohdIqbalandwhichKingFaisalisnowtryinghislevelbesttoachieve,shouldhavebeenachievedcenturiesago.ButtheunityhasnotachievedandthetrulyfraternalrelationsamongtheMuslimstatesoftheworldhavenotbeenestablishedbecausethepilgrimsarewonttoregardtheirperformanceoftheritesofHajasapurposebyitselfanddonottrytoachievetheultimatepurposeofHaj.TheresultisthatthebenefitswhichshouldhaveaccruedtothenationfrompilgrimagetoMeccahavenotaccrued.Thesameistrueofourpracticeofweepingandwailing.

HereweshouldbearinmindthatthebenefitsaccruablefromweepingandwailingorHajarenotanegationoftheirbeingaformofworshipjustasthebenefitsaccruablefromNamaz(dailyprayers)mentionedbyAllahintheQuranisnotanegationofNamazbeingaformofworship.Ontheorderhandtheseformsofworshiparetheformsofworshipbecauseofthebenefitsaccruablefromthemandwouldnotbeformsofworshipiftheyweredevoidofanybenefitoradvantage.Theaccompanyingbenefits,therefore,arenotanegationofNamazorweepingandwailingbeingformsofworship,theultimatepurposeofwhichisanapproachtoAllah.

(iii)TheplayofthepassionforunityandorganizationKindledbyweepingandwailingiskeptconfinedtoourcondolatoryrituals.Thepassionshouldhavebeenemployedasstimulantinallthespheresoflifespeciallyintheeconomicandsocialspheressothatcompleteharmonyandsecondwhichmarkourcondolatoryobservationwouldhavemarkedoureconomicandsocialactivitiesalso.Hadtheysoemployedthepassionthesamepompandaccordwouldhavemarkedallothersspheresoflifeofthecommunityandtodaywewouldhavebeenaninfluentialandsplendidcommunity.

Thereareothersobstaclestooduetowhichnotonlythelikelybutalsothesurebenefitofweepingandwailingdonotappeartobeaccruing.Oncetheseobstaclesareremoved,thereisnoreasonwhyallbebenefitsmentionedabovedonotaccruetoourcommunity.Duringthe‘Tabarra’agitationinIknowwhentwoleadingShiaprelates,viz,Nasir-ul-MillatandNajmalUlema,exertedtheirpersonalinfluenceandremovedtheseobstaclesthepassionkindledbythepracticeofweepingandwailingproducedsuchasadmirableeffectsthatitamazednotonlythemembersofthiscommunitybutalsootherswhowitnessedtheeffects,particularlythoseregardedweepingandwailingasacauseorsymptomoftimiditycowardice.Thisindicatesthatifourdefeatsandshortcomingsareremovedthispracticeofweepingandwailingissuretomakeusaliving,Progressiveandsplendidcommunity.

TOMAKEGOODOURLIVEINTHEHEREAFTER

Advantage6:

Onewhoadoptsthestyleofdressormannerspeculiartoacommunityisregardedasbelongingtothatcommunity.Thereisarecognizedpracticesupportedbyawell-knownsayingoftheHolyProphet(S.A).“Hewhomadehimselfresembleacertaingroupbelongstothatgroup”.IthasweepalreadybeenprovedthattheInfallibleImamusedtoandwailovertheafflictionofImamHussain,(a.s)andthispracticewhichwaspeculiartothemdistinguishedthemfromtheirenemies.IfwecontinuethepracticeofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsofImamHussain(a.s),weshallcometoresembletheInfallibleImamsinthisparticularrespectandwhenweshallresemblethemwewillcometoberegardedasbelongingtotheirgroup,asconfirmedbyImamRiza(A.S.)whosaidDeybal:“HewhoweepsoverourafflictionsAllahshallraisehimondayofjudgmentinourgroup.”ItisnotonlyweepingwhichcanhelpustoenterthegroupoftheAhlebait(A.S.)butalsoputtingonasemblanceofgriefandassumingtheappearanceofaweeperfromthem,fromAmeerulMomineenAli(a.s.)says:“ifyouarenotactuallypatientthenputonasemblanceofpatience(i.e.appeartobepatient)forveryoftenhewhoresemblesacertaingroupinregardedasaoneofthatgroup.(LooLoowalMarjan,P31)whenonewithasemblanceofpatiencecanberegardedasapatientpersonwhyonewithasemblanceofgriefandtheassumedappearanceofaweeperfortheAhlebait(a.s.)cannotberegardedasaweeperandwailerovertheiraffrications?Onewiththeassumedappearanceofaweeperwillcertainlyberegardedasaweeper.NowthereareplentyofargumentstoprovethatthelifeofthosewhoareinthegroupoftheAhlebait(a.s.)inthehereafterwillbecomfortable.ThelearnedwriterMullaNazarAliNalqanihasmadeoutanelegantpointinhisbookKaashifulAsrarwhenhesays:“Ifyouareinvitedasaguestandaskedtotakewithyousuchofyourattendantsoffollowersasyoulikeyouhavetodecidewhomtotakewithyou.Doyounotdeservetobeblamedandcensuredifyougotothefeast

withouthimwhoisyourfriendatheartandregardsyouashismaster?WilltheAhlebait(a.s.)leaveusbehindandnottakewiththemwhentheywillgotoParadise?Surelytheywilltakeuswiththemastheirfollowersandattendantsandthusourlifeinthehereafterwillbecomecomfortable.ThisisanotherblessingofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhlebait(a.s.).

TOTAKEUSTHEMOSTSUPERIEDWARDSOFPARADISEINORDERTOMAKEOURLIFEINTHEHEREAFTERMOST

COMFORTABLE

AdvantageNo.7:

whenonhappensoffindorknowthatsomebodyisindistressandismovedtoweepingoutofsympathyforthedistressedoratleastfeelspityforhimnaturallythepersonindistressimaginesonetobesympatheticandfriendlytowardshim.One’sweepingoverhisdistressandfeelingsorrowforhisevilplightmovesthepersonindistresstohaveforoneasoftcornerathisheartofhearts.Hethinkslikethis:Thepersonmovedbymydistresstopityorweepinghasleftmydistressashisown,otherwisehewouldnothavesplithisbloodlikewater,shedwarmtearsindicatinghisexcitedfeelingsofsympathyandhischeekswouldnothavewitheredandlosttheirfreshness.Butheisweepingtearsareflowingfromhiseyesandhisfaceindicatesthathesharesmysorrowheisnotarelation,thoughastrangertomeyethisfeelingsmydistressashisownandhissympathyformehaveactuallybroughthimnearermeandnowheisasclosetomeasmyrelationsandfriendsandassuchisentitledtothesamewarmfeelingsofafflictionandwell-wishingIhaveformyrelationsandfriends.Suchatrendofthoughtofthemanindistressbringshimclosetothepersonwhoweptonhisdistressandmakesformerasympathizerandwell-wisherofthelatter.Itisalawofnatureprovedtobetruebycountlessexamplesofalltimesandgovernstheentiremankindthoughaconsiderablemajorityisnotainclinedtoactaccordingly.IfwekeepweepingandwailingonhearingtheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s),splittingourbloodlikewater,recitingelegiacpoems.Sheddingtearsandbeatingourbreastslikemournersandgrief-strickenpersonwillall

thesethingshavenoeffectontheAhleBait(a.s).Willtheynothaveasoftcornerforusintheirheartsandnotwishuswellandseekourwelfare?WilltheynotdesiretotakeusastheircompanionswhentheygotoParadise?Accordingtothesaidlawofnaturetheyaresuretohaveaffection,regardsandsympathyforusadesireforourwelfareandformakingustheircompanion.Theirwell-wishingisthebestmeansofmakingcomfortableourlifeintheHereafter.TheirfaintestaffectionateglanceisanelixirandapanaceaforallevilsinthetwinklingofaneyeitcanconveyuseventothemostsuperiorwardsofParadise.

Whathasbeenstatedintheproceedinglinesisnotamoreconjecture.ItisnotonlyinkeepingwiththeaforesaidlawofnaturebutisalsoatruthsupportedbymanytraditionsoftheHolyProphet(S.A)andtheInfallibleImam(a.s).ForthesakeofbrevityIreproducedhereunderonlythreeofthem;threebecausetherearethefollowingthreestagesofacomfortablelifeinthehereafter.

(i) Forgivenessofoursinstosaveusfromthetormentsofhell. (ii) AdmissionintoParadiseforenjoyingexternalblessingsthere. (iii) AccesstothesuperiormostwardsofParadisewhichisthelastandthehigheststagesofacomfortablelifeinthehereafter.

IreproduceonetraditionpertainingtoeachofthethreestagesinordertoshowthatwhathasbeensaidisatruthconfirmedbytheworkoractionoftheInfallibleProphet(S.A)ortheImam.

Asregardsforgivenessofsins,ShaikhSadooqinhis‘bookAmali’hascopiedatraditionrecordedbyShaikhMufeed(A.R)hereinImamJafereSadiq(a.s),whilespeakingofImamHussain(a.s),hassaid“He(Hussaina.s)keepsaseyeonthosewhoweepforhimandprayfortheforgivenessoftheirsinsandalsorequesthiselders(theHolyProphet(S.A),hisparentsandelderbrotherHusan(a.s),topraywithhimfortheirforgiveness”(p.34of‘Majalis-e-Mufjeyal).

AsregardsadmissionintoParadise,AllamaMajlisihasrecordedatraditionontheauthorityofreliablepersonsinwhichtheChiefoftheUniverse(theHolyProphet(S.A)saidtotheInfalliblelady(Fatima(A.S)“WhosoeveramongmyfollowersweepforHussainweshalltakehimbythehandandadmithimintoParadise(Majlisi-Mufjeya.P31).

Astotheaccesstothesuperior–mostwardsofParadise.IrefertothewordsofImamReza(a.s)alreadyquotedabove“Hewillbeinourwards.”

DothesetraditionsnotprovethatourweepingovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s),affectstheirheartsandmovesthemtowishuswellandtohelpus?Thesetraditionssurelyprovethis.”

IneednotpointoutthatwhattheAhleBait(a.s)maydesirewillcertainlycometohappenbecauseitisawell-recognizedfactthatalltheirrequestsandprayersaregrantedandtheirintersessionisaccepted.Theyoccupythehighrank,denotedbythewords“WhenwedesiresomethingtobeortodoGodalsowillsitandwedonotdesireanythingunlessGodalsowillsit.”TheirdesiresmustbefulfillalsobecauseAllahhasappointedthemMastersoftheDayofResurrectionandJudgment.PurgatoryandtheMasterofthePurgatory.MasterofParadiseandHellandAwarderoffire(ofHell)andtheGarden(ofParadise).Therefore,whatevertheymaydesiremusthappenandtheywilladmitintoParadisewhomsoevertheywouldlikeandretainwhomevertheylikeintheirsuperior-mostwardsastheirownattendants.Oh!whatagoodsuccess1!

So,onemostimportantadvantageforweepingandwailingovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s)ismakingourlivesinthehereaftermostcomfortablebytakingustothesuperior-mostwardsofParadise.

HavingpointedoutsomeoftheadvantagesoftheweepingandwailingInowrequestfair-mindedtruthlovingpersonstojudgeandannouncewhetherornottheadvantagesareimportantanddesirable.IncasetheyreplyinthenegativeIwouldlikethemtoletmeknowtheadvantagesorbenefitswhichtheyconsidertobemoreimportantandmoredesirablesothatImaycompareandcontrastthemwiththeadvantagesenlistedaboveandknowwhichofthetwosetsofadvantagesarebetterandmoredesirable.ButIdonotthinkanybodycanpointoutbetteradvantages.ThemostimportantadvantagesonecanpointoutcannotbemoreimportantthattheadvantageswhichIhavepointedoutabove.IftheadvantageswhichIhavepointedoutareimportant,whichsurelytheyare,thenReasonwillalsoconfirmtheimportanceofweepingandwailingbecauseweepingandwailingwithitsseveralimportantadvantagesconformstothestandardofimportancesetbyReasonAndwhenargumentsbasedonreasonwillagreewiththeargumentsbasedontraditionsitwillbeunnecessarytoseekinterpretationofthetraditionquotedbymeandtheywillhavetobeacceptedattheirface-valueandunderstandintheirexternalmeaning.SimultaneouslyItwillhavetobeadmittedthatgreatimportanceofweepingandwailinghasbeenprovedbyveryvalidargumentsforthebestpossibleproofoftheexistenceofanythingisthatbothconversationandconviction.I.e.traditionandreason,prove

it,NowthatthegreatimportanceofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.),hasbeenprovedbyargumentsbasedontraditionsaswellasreasononehasnoalternativeotherthantobelieveintheimportanceofweepingandwailingandintheintrinsicworthoftheadvantagesthereof.IfanybodystillrefusestobelieveintheImportanceofWeepingandWailingandrealityoftheadvantagesthereofthenheisguiltyofdiscreditingtheholytraditionsandgoingagainstreason,anunpardonablecrimewhichnosensiblepersoncandaretocommit.So,onehasnoothercourseopenthantobelieveintheimportanceofweepingandwailingovertheaffectionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.).

HereImaypointthattheadvantagesmentionedabovehavebeenpickedoutinarapidsurveybymyshortandslowintellect.NoneknowshowmanyandgreataretheadvantagesofweepingandwailinginthedeeplypenetratingeyesofourInfallibleGuidesofimmeasurablevastknowledge.Butthismuchmustbedemittedthattheybelievedourweepingandwailingoverimportantandthatiswhytheymadeelaborateverbalandpracticalattemptsforpersuadingtheirfollowerstoadoptandpropagatethispracticeasevidencedbyplentyoftraditions.Ifthisepitomeofadvantagesispursuedinconjunctionwiththeadvantagesmentionedbyme,theutilityofweepingandwailingwillappeartobemuchgreaterandanadmissionofitsimportancewillbecomeunavoidable.Asmychiefaimwastoprovetheimportanceofweepingandwailingwhich,(PraisebetoGod),hasnowbeenprovedbeyondalldoubt,Inowclosethischapterandturntoanexaminationoftheelegantsophisticatedexpressionsandquotationsimpressivelyandemphaticallyusedinspeechesandwritingsbytheso-calledenlightenedpersons.

OBJECTOFCONDOLENCEMEETINGWEEPINGANDWAILING

Ishallgiveabriefintroduction,reproducetheexpressionandquotationsandthendrawtheconclusions.

InviewofthevirtueandrewardofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsofHusain(A.S.),asstatedinthetraditionsofourInfallibleGuidesourancestorsandpredecessorsusedtoholdcondolencemeetingsaboutImamHusain(A.S.),weepandwailonhearingofhisafflictionsanddrawthemeetingstoaclosewithtearsinfliereyesandthendisperse.Thiswasthepracticeforseveralcenturiesduringwhichtherealobjectandultimatepurposeofthesecondolencemeetingsneveroccurredtotheirminds.Afterthelapseofalongtimesomepersonstriedtodiscovertherealobjectofthecondolencemeetingsandstartedthediscussionwhichmadeitacontroversialsubject.

AgroupofconservativemindedpeoplewasoftheopinionthattheidealpurposeofthecondolencemeetingswasweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.),andtofeeltheirsorrowandgriefforthecondolencemeetingswereheldincompliancewiththerelativeinjunctionsincludedinthetraditionsregardingweepingandwailingandtomakethementitledtoheavenlyrewards.Accordingtothemtheprincipalobjectofthecondolencemeetingscouldbenootherthanweepingandwailing.Theyregardedweepingandwailingasastandardofsuccessofthecondolencemeetings,themoretheweepingandwailingatameetingthemoresuccessfulthemeetingwasconsideredtobe.

“Themainpurposeofacondolencemeetingisweepingandwailing”wastheirmotto.

Theothergroupcomposedoftheso-calledenlightenedpeoplewasopposedtotheviewthatweepingandwailingwasthemainpurpose.Sometimethegroup

saidonething,sometimeanotherthing.Thedifferentopinionsexpressedbythegrouparereproducehereunder:

SOMESOPHISTICATEDELEGATESTATEMENTSANDCLEVERQUOTATIONSBYTHESO-CALLEDENLIGHTENEDPEOPLE:

(i) ContradictoryStatements:

(a) Thepurposeofanoptionalactivityshouldalsobeoptional.WeepingandwailingistheresultofanuncontrollableandirresistibleemotionandismuchastheafflictionsofHusain(A.S.),aresoheartrendingandsoul-stirringthatonhearingamentionofthemoneweepsandwailsspontaneouslywithoutanyintentionofdoingsoandunattempttearsflowfromone’seyes.Howcanweepingandwailing,whichisnottheresultofone’sintentionorattempt,bethemainpurposeofourcondolencemeetingswhichareheldandorganizedatourwill?

(b) Weepingandwailingisspillingourbloodlikewater.Thishappensasaresultofasuperiorinstinctiveforcebeyondone’scontrolasitoftendoesbutnosamepersonwouldvoluntarilyindulgeinweepingandwailing.Howcanweepingandwailingthenbethemainpurposeofourcondolencemeetingswhichweintentionallyholdandorganizewithacertainpurposeinview.

(c) Themainpurposeofourcondolencemeetingsmustbeanoblesandmoreimportantonethanweepingandwailingsothatthemeetingmayassumeagracefulformofworship.Sinceweepingandwailingisnotanobleandimportantpurposeitcannotbethemainpurposeofourcondolencemeetings.

(d) Themainpurposeofanythingoractionisitsultimateorfinalpurpose.Weepingandwailingisonlyanadditionalorsecondarypurposeofourcondolencemeetingsandnotthemainorultimatepurposewhichissomething

else.Howcanweepingandwailingthenberegardedasthemainpurposeofourcondolencemeetings?

(ii) StatementsFixingthepurposeofcondolenceMeetings:

(a) ThemainpurposeofthecondolencemeetingsisandshouldbethesameasthatofthetragedyofKarbalaandthemartyrdomofHusain(A.S.),ofthetragedyandthemartyrdom.SincethemainpurposeofthetragedyofKarbalaandthemartyrdomofHusain(A.S.)wastodefendthefaithofIslamandtomaketheservantsofGoddutiful,themainpurposeofourcondolencemeetingmustalsobethedefenseofIslamandreformationofmanandnotweepingandwailing.

(b) ThemainpurposeofthecondolencemeetingsistostudytheunderlyingpurposesofthemartyrdomofHusain(A.S.)andtoactforachievementofthosepurposes.ThemartyrdomofHusain(A.S.)hasinitstraininnumerablehiddenpurposes,properactionforachievementofwhichwillleadtosuccessinboththeworlds.Butactionforachievementofthosepurposesisnotpossibleunlessoneunderstandsisofnouseuntiloneachievement.

Theprincipalpurposeofthecondolencemeetingscan,therefore,betostudythemultiplepurposesofthemartyrdomofHusain(A.S.)andtotrytoachievethem.

(c) Themainpurposeofthecondolencemeetingsistogivewidepublicitytothevaststoreofinformation,wise-sayingsandpiecesofgoodadviceoftheAhleBait(A.S.),andtheirinstructionsfortheguidanceofman.Accordingto‘Qurbul-Asnaad,’ImamJaafaer-Sadiq(A.S.),askedFuzailIbneYasaar:Doyoufrequentlyspeakaboutusinthecompanyofyourrelationsandfriends?‘Yes!MayIbesacrificedforyou’answeredFuzail.TheImamadded:’Suchmeetingsareverydeartomewhereintheyremindpeopleofourpurposeandthus,reviveit.‘O’Fuzail!MayAllahbemercifultohimwhoremindspeopleofourpurpose.

RevivaloftheAhleBait(A.S.),meansgivingpublicitytotheirknowledge,for,accordingto‘Miratul-Ulooq(A.R.)(hasrecordedinhisbook‘Maali-ul-Akhbar,areportfromAbdusSalaamwhosaysthatbeheardImamRiza(A.S.),saying:MayAllahbemercifultohimwhokeepsrevivingourpurpose.'Howcan

yourpurposeberevived?'askedAbdusSalaam.Byacquiredknowledgefromusandimpartingitorother.Thesewhowillcometoknowofourvaststoreofinformationandexcellenttalkwilljointhebandofourfollowers,repliedtheImam,AsimultaneousconsiderationofthesetwostatementsbytheImamobviouslyleadstotheconclusionthattheprincipalpurposeofourcondolencemeetingsisthepublicityofthewisdomandinformationoftheAhleBait(A.S.).

CONCLUSION

ThediscussionaboutfixationofapurposeforthecondolencemeetingsisafairsubjectofdiscussionbyitselfbutitisimpropertointerminglethiswiththediscussionregardingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.),withaviewtobelittletheimportanceofweepingandwailingbydislodgingitasthemainpurposeofcondolencemeetings,becausetheargumentswhichprovetheimpotenceofweepingandwailingarenotbasedonitsbeingthemainpurposebutareindependentargumentsfreefromsuchconsideration.Evenifweepingandwailingisnotthemainpurposeofcondolencemeetingstheargumentswillinevitablyproveitsimportanceincondolencemeetingsandinothercondolatoryrituals.Itisnotanappropriateoccasionfordiscussingthepurposeofcondolencemeetings,becauseifitisprovedthatweepingandwailingisthemainpurposethenitwillbeanadditionalargumentinfavouroftheimportanceofweepingandwailing,ifnotproved,itwillinnowaydiminishtheimportanceofweepingandwailing,fortheindependentargumentsinitsimportance.IftheystillinsistondiscussingthepurposeIshallusetherightofadvancingcounterargumentsbecausethediscussionislikelytoinfluencetheimportanceofweepingandwailingthevindicationofwhichisthesoleobjectofthisbooklet.HereunderIbrieflyexpressmyviewonthepurposeofourcondolencemeetings.

InearliercenturiesoftheIslamicerathemainpurpose,naytheonlypurpose,ofthecondolencemeetingswasweepingandwailing.InthecondolencemeetingsheldorattendedbytheInfallibleImamsonlytheafflictionsoftheAhleBaitweredescribedandtherewasnomentionofanythingelse.Evidentlytherecouldbenootherpurposeofdescribingonlytheafflictionsthanweepingandwailing.Ifweepingandwailingwasnotthepurposethanthecondolencemeetingsofthosedayswerepurposeless,whereasnowordoractionoftheInfallibleImamswaspurposeless,i.e.,invain.AvainactionisnegationofInfallibility.Itis,therefore,inevitabletoadmitthattheonlypurposeofthecondolencemeetingsofthoseandwailingwasweepingandwailingandalsothatweepingandwailingwastheprimaryandnotasecondarypurpose.Itwouldhavebeenasecondarypurposeonlyiftherewassomeotherpurposeofprimaryimportance.SinceonlytheafflictionsoftheAhleBait.(A.S.),weredescribedin

thosemeetingsandnothingelse,therefore,therecouldbenootherpurpose,nothingtosayoftheprimarypurpose,ofthesemeetings.

Butthemainpurposeofourmoderncondolencemeetingsis,sotosayacompoundoftwoingredients-weepingandwailingwhichwasformerlytheonlypurpose)andteachingandcorrectionofreligiousbeliefsandobservance.ThesecondingredientwasaddedwhenwediscoveredthatourcondolencemeetingsbegunabruptlywithanaccountofafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.)oftenprovetobeineffectiveanddonotmovetheaudiencetoweepingandwailing.Itwas,therefore,conedrednecessarytogivesomesuitableintroductionasapreliminarytothediscourseonafflictions.InerrortofulfillthisneedandalsotomakeourcondolencemeetingsmoreusefulweincludedsomeofthemostimportanttopicsinIslam,i.e.,thebasicDivineInstructionsregardingbetterspiritualandtemporallifeandothertheologicalprinciplesoftheJ'afrisect(Ie.,Shiareligion)toserveasintroduction.So,thetwoingredientsofmoderncondolencemeetingsare:

(i) thesubsequentlyincludedintroductionorpreliminarydiscourse,generallyknownas:Faza-yel'adescriptionofthesuperiorvirtuesandmeritsoftheAhleBait(A.S.),and,(ii)theotherthesameoldingredientwhichfollowstheintroductionandisgenerallycalled'Masa-yebl'anaccountoftheafflictionsoftheAhleBait(A.S.).Thetwoingredientsservetwodifferentpurposes,oneimpartstotheaudiencetheoreticalandpracticalreligiousknowledgewhiletheothermovesthemtoweepingandwailing.Thesetwoingredientswhichtogethermakethemainpurposeofmoderncondolencemeetingsarenotonlyimportantbutveryimportant.Eachoneofthemismoreimportantthantheotherfromseparatepointsofview.Thefirstingredientbeinganintroductiontotheother,i.e.,themainthemeofacondolatoryspeech,isoflessimportancethantheotherwhilebyitselfisamoreimportantingredientbecausethisconsistsoftheveryspiritofIslam,theDivineCommandmentsandProhibitions;whiletheotheringredientofthejointpurpose,weepingandwailingpertainstoritualsandobservancesofIslamandisthusofsecondaryimportance.Thoughweepingandwailingbyitselfisnotasimportantastheintroductionbuthereitisofgreaterimportancebecausethemainthemeis,asarulemoreimportantthanitsintroduction.Soboththeingredientsareofgreatimportanceandnoneofthemshouldbetreatedastriflingorinsignificant.

MyaboveopinionthrowsafaintlightonthefactthatIneitheragreenoraltogetherdisagreewithanyofthetwoaforesaidgroup.TosomeextentIagree

withboth,tosomeextentIdisagree.IagreewiththeconservativegroupinsofarasIbelieveweepingandwailingtobethemainpurposeofcondolencemeetingsanddisagreewithitwhenitconfinesthemainpurposeofcondolencemeetingstoweepingandwailingandsays,"Weepingandwailingaloneisthepurposeofcondolencemeetings."IfthegroupmeanstosaythattheprimarypurposeofcondolencemeetingsisweepingandwailingasaresultofhearingoftheafflictionoftheAhleBait(A.S.),andtherestisofsecondaryorsubsidiaryimportancethenIagreewithit.Butthisdoesnotimplythatthefirstingredient,theintroductionor'Fazayel',asitiscalled,isofnoimportance.Itsimportanceisinherent.IfthegroupmeansthatweepingandwailingisallinallandtheintroductionisofnosignificancethenIdisagreewithitbecausetheintroductiondealswiththemostimportanttopicsinIslam-DivineCommandmentsandProhibitions,thearticlesoffaithandreligiousobservancesandothertheologicalprinciples.Noreligiousmindedpersoncandenytheimportanceofthesetopicsandregardtheintroductionasofnosignificance.Hewhoregardsuchanintroductiontobeunnecessaryorimmaterialwillbeopposedandcontradicted.Myagreementanddisagreementwiththeothergroup,brieflyforeshadowedbytheopinionIhaveexpressedabouttheconservativegroup,willbefullyexplainedbythefollowingcriticalexaminationofthesophisticatedandelegantstatementsandquotationsbytheso-calledenlightenedpersons.

ACRITICALEXMINATIONOFABOVESTATEMENTSANDQUOTATIONSBYTHESO

CALLEDENLIGHTENEDPERSON

TheyexpressinafewsentencesalreadyquotedtheirdenialofweepingandwailingbeingthemainpurposeofcondolencemeetingInowproceedtodiscussthepointcontainedinthosesentencesonebyone.

StatementNo.1:Theysaythatitisonlyinthecaseofanoptionalactivitythatwehaveanidealormainpurposetoserve.Thereisnoidealtoachieveinacaseofnatural,instructiveorobligatoryactivity.WeepingnWailingisalmostalwaysanaturalinstinctiveactivityandrarelyadoptsanoptionalvoluntaryactivityasameansofachievingthepurpose,weepingorwailingormakingothersweepandwail.Awrestlerwantstobecomepowerfulbutitisnotpossibleforhimtobecomepowerfulallofasudden.Hetherefore,startsphysicalexercisetobecomepowerfulonday.AservantofGodwantstoapproachhisCreatorandtobecomeHisfavorite,butitisnotpossibleforhimtowinthefavorofhisLordimmediately.HethereforestartspayinghomagetoGodmorefrequentlyworshippingHimmoredevotedlyandrenderingasmuchservicetoHiscreaturesaspossiblesothathetheywinDivinefavor,andsoon.GrownpowerfulorwinningfavoroftheCreatorarethenaturalidealsorultimatepurposeachievedbymeansbyoptionalorvoluntaryactivity.Thisgoestopointoutthatanidealingenerallynaturalorobligatoryandbeingnaturalorobligatoryisnotanobstacleinthewayofanideal.Evenifwesupposeeveryformofweepingandwailingtobenaturalorinstinctivestillitcanbeaproperidealofcondolencemeetings,justasbecomingpowerfulorwinningfavouroftheCreatorwhichareuncontrollableachievementscanbetheidealsofphysicalexerciseorfrequentandmoredevoteworship.Similarity,weepingandwailingwhichisaninstinctiveornaturalactivitycanbefitidealcondolencemeeting.Butitiswrongtosupposethatweepingandwailingisalwaysinstinctiveandnaturalactivity.Itisoptionalaswellasnatural.Therewouldbenorewardfor

weepingandwailingifitwasnotoptional,becauseanaturalactivityisneitherrewardablenorpunishable……….Ithasbeenadmittedthatweepingandwailingwillberewardeditmustalsobeadmittedthatweepingandwailingisnotalwaysnaturalsometimesitisoptionalasweepingandwailingincondolencemeetings.Sincethe…….Optionalactivityshouldalsobeoptionalasadmittedbythemnotinstinctiveornatural,whyweepingandwailinganoptionalactivity,cannotbetheidealofcondolencemeetingsheldororganizeatwill?Itcanbeand………..isanidealormainpurposeofcondolencemeetings.

StatementNo.2:Weepingandwailingbyitselfisgenerallynotafitobjectforbeinganidealbecauseitis,asstatebymyopponent“Spillingone’sbloodlikewater”.Butthisdoesnotimplythatweepingandwailingcaninnocaseserveasanideal.Noformofworshipbyitselfitfitforbeinganideal,becauseitentailsphysicalexertionwithoutcomfortandexpenditureofmoneywithoutincome.NomaterialbenefitaccruesfromthevariousformofDevineworship,stilltherearethemainpurposeourcreationandtheidealsofourlifebecausethereserveasmeansofapproachofGod.Similarity,weepingandwailingwhichisspillinginourvaluablebloodaswater,byitselfmaybeincapableofbeinganideal,butthisdoesnotcompletelyruleoutthepossibilityitsservingasanideal.Sincethereaccruesfromweepingandwailingnumerousmostimportantbenefitwhereupondemandstoagreatextentandsuccessandprosperityofourspiritualtemporalreligioussociallifeweepingandwailingcanbeandcertainlyisaverysuitableidealofourcondolencemeetings.

StatementNo.3:DotheythinkthattheidealofourcondolencemeetingsshouldbeasimportantastheidealoftheentireteachingsofIslam-ourperfectreformationandsuccessinthislifeintheHereafter?.Buttheidealofnoneofthevariousbranchesoffaith,I.e.religiousobservance,issoimportant.ThereisanidealeachofNamaz(DailyPrayers),Roza(RamzanFasting),Zakat(Annual2…%Tax,payabletotheindigentMuslims)andHaj(AnnualPilgrimagetotheHolyKaba),butsomeoftheseidealsisanimportantasidealoftheentireteachingofIslam.NosensiblepersonwillassertthattheidealofthevariousreligiousobservancesarenotidealssimplybecausenoneofthemisofgreatimportanceastheidealsoftheentireteachingofIslam.SimilarityifweepingandwailingasanidealisnotofasgreatimportanceastheidealofentireteachingIslamitdoesnotsufferitspositionasanideals.Ifbyimportancetheymeansbareimportancebyitselflikethatoftheidealsofotherreligiousobservancethenwhycanweepingandwailingnotbeasimportantandloftyaimandavaluableidealinspireofthenumerousimportantbenefitsaccruablefrom

it,themostimportantbeingtheeasiestmeansofmakingthesuperior-mostwordsofParadiseaccessibletous?.Itcanbeandcertainlyisthevaluableideal.Justasthepurposebehindtheconstructionofamosqueisthatthefaithfulmayhavethefacilityofsayingtheirprayersthere,thepurposeofestablishingaschoolforreligiousstudyisthateducationinreligioussubjectsmaybeimpartedthereandthepurposeofholding“Mehfils”(meetingofmanifestationofjoy)isthatwemaycollectivelyexpressourjoyonhearingthegreatvirtuesandmeritsofourInfallibleSpiritualGuides,sothepurposeofholdingacondolencemeetingsisthatonhearingoftheunparalleledafflictionoftheAhleBaih(a.s),wemaycollectivelyexpresstheirgriefonwhichdependstoalargeextentourspiritualandmaterialprogress.Soweepingandwailingiscertainlyimportantasidealsofcondolencemeetingsandwhentothisimportanceisaddedtheimportanceofthepurposeofintroduction,I,e,preliminarydiscussofcondolencemeetings,thentheidealofcondolencemeetingsassumeafargreaterimportanceandwhenitisso,whycannotweepingandwailingbeasplendidandgracefulformofworship?.

Hereitwillnotbeoutofplacementionthatthegroupsometimessaysthatitdoesnotdenytheimportanceofweepingandwailing,perhapsitwasexpedientforthegrouptosayso.Ifsomebodyblamesthegroupdenytheimportanceofweepingandwailinginthefaceofcountlesstraditionsconfirmingitthegroupmaydefenditselfbysayingthatitdoesnotaltogetherdenytheimportanceontheotherhands,ithasalwaysbelievedintheimportanceofweepingandwailing.Thisdoubtoccurinmymindbecauseitthegroupsincerelybelieveintheimportanceofweepingandwailingthenitshouldpointoutthereasonsforitsbeliefandifthebeliefintheimportantisbasedoncertaingoodreasonswhydoesthegroupnotdeclaretheirimportanceone-tenthoftheliteraryeffortsthatitmakesindismissingweepingandwailingasanobleidealofcondolencemeetings?.Andwhyisthegroupcontentwithsayingthatitdoesnotdenytheimportanceofweepingandwailing?Ifthey….Believeintheimportanceofweepingandwailingbecauseofthemanytraditionofpointingoutitsimportanceandfornootherreasonsthenwhydoesitsaythatweepingandwailingitacceptedasanidealofcondolencemeetingsmarsthegraceofthesemeetingsanddoesnotassumessplendidandgracefulformofworship?.Arethebrief!;mentionedreasonsonthebasicofwhichtraditionpointouttheweepingandwailingtotheimportancegroupbloodyregardsittobesowithoutproperlyconsideringthem,notsufficienttomakeweepingandwailingtonobleidealandoutcondolencemeetingsplendidandgraceful.Ifthesereasonsarenotsufficientwhyistoso?Ifsufficientwhywillthecondolencemeetingnotbea

splendidandgracefulformofworship?.Whydoesthegroupreactweepingandwailingasanidealonthelameexcusethatitadversaryeffectsthesplendorandgraceofourcondolencemeeting?.Thedoubtthatthegroup’sadmissionsoftheimportanceofweepingandwailingisamatterofpolicyappeartobereal,particularlywhenthegroupregardsweepingandwailingasmorespillingasourvaluablebloodaswater.Icannotreasonablythinkthatthegroupssincerelybelieveweepingandwailingtobeimportant.

StatementNo.4:Ithasbeensaidthatthemainpurposeoridealoranythingoractionisitultimateorfinalpurpose.Asweepingandwailingisonlyanadditionalsecondarypurposeofourcondolencemeetingitcannotbethemainorprimarypurposeofthemeetings.Ihavealreadyprovedweepingandwailingtobemainandprimarypurposeofcondolencemeetingsandfurtherdiscussionofthepointisunnecessary.Thecontradictorystatementshavealsobeendiscussedbriefly.Inowproceedtodiscussthestatementsandevocationsusedbythegroupaboutfixingthepurposeoridealsofcondolencemeeting.

Statement(a):TheysaythatthemainpurposeoridealofcondolencemeetingsshouldbethesameasthatoftragedyofKarbalaandthemartyrdomofImamHussain(a.s).IftheymeantosaythatthereshouldbeapracticaldemonstrationoftheeventsofKarbalainthemeetingsthentheymustbedisappointed.Ithappennowhere.TheydonotsetuptwoarmiesoneforYazeedandotherforHussain(a.s),theformersubjectingthelattertooppressiontocruelty,violently,attackingandfinallyfishingitandtheletteroppressedbutthesteadyandundauntedforsacrificingeverythingforthesupportanddefenseofthetruefaith.Thepracticaldemonstration,whichisrare,isconfinedonlytoadisplayofpicturesandportraits,imitationarmsandbiersandthecondolencemeetingcannotbeinthissensetruememorialsofthetragedyofKarbalaandmartyrdomofHussain(a.s).IfbyatruememorialbymeanthattheaggressionandviolencetowhichImamHussain(a.s),hisrelationsandfriendsandmembersofhishouseholdweresubjectedshouldberelatedandtheaudiencemovedtoweepingandwailingsothatthetragedyofKarbalamaynotgraduallysinkintooblivionthenourcondolencemeetingsarenodoubttruememorialofthetragedyofKarbalaandthemartyrdomofImamHussain(a.s).Butinthiscasethemainpurposeofcondolencemeetingisobviouslytokeepaliveandafreshthetragedyandmartyrdombymeanweepingandwailinganditspreliminariesandtogetthebenefitaccruablefromitandnotwhichwastheprimaryobjectandmainpurposeoftheactualtragedyandthemartyrdom.Thatindirectlythisisalsothepurposeandanidealofourcondolencemeetingisadifferentmatter.

ThismakeitclearthatdespiteofadifferenceoftheprimaryobjectandthemainpurposeourcondolencemeetingsarethememorialofthetragedyofKarbalaandthemartyrdomofImamHussain(a.s),andthisdifferencedoesnotadverselyeffectstheirmemoryandalsothattheprimaryobjectofmeetingscannotbethesameasthedirectprimaryobjectoftheactualtragedyandmartyrdomofHussain(a.s).

Statement(b):ItisliterallytruethatthetragedyofKarbalaandmartyrdomofImamHussain(a.s)arerepletewithobviousandimpliedmoralswhichmayleadustoprosperityinbothofworlds.Butthosemoralsarenotthemainorultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetingsbecauseeverythingthatisjustandtruecannotevidentlybetheultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetings.Again,hadthosemoralsbeentheultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetingstherewouldhavebeenonrecordcountlesswordsandactionsofourInsatiableGuidespointingoutanddwellingupontheimportanceandvirtuesofthosemorals;andwhenthecondolencemeetingswerefirstorganizedbythoseGuidestheywouldhavebegunthemeetingswithdiscourseonsameofthoseobviousandimpliedmoralsofthemartyrdomofImamHussain(a.s)andalsoaskedandemphatically,persuadedotherstospeakonthosemoralssothattheirfollowersmighthavetreatedmoralsastheultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetings.ButneithersuchwordsandactionsarerecordsnorthosemoralswerementionedordiscussonthecondolencemeetingsforcenturiestogetherafterthedaysoftheInFaithfullImam.AsamatteroffactthosemoralsdidnotoccurinthemindofthemournersofAhleBait(a.s),nothingtosayofthementionsordiscussionthereofontheotherhandthereareplentyoftraditionsandreportregardingwhattheImamorderedtheirfollowerstokeepaliveandthereareallaboutfrequentmentionoftheirvirtuesandmeritsandtheirafflictionandnotaboutthestudyandunderstandingoftheobviousandimpliedmoralsofthemartyrdomandmentioningthemandputtingthemintopractice.Itcannot,thereforebeconcludedthatastudymentionandpracticeofthosejustandtruemoralsistheultimatepurposeofcondolencemeeting.ThetragedyofKarbalaandthemartyrdomofImamHussain(a.s),arenodoubtrepletewiththosemoralswhichmayleadtoprosperityinboththeworldsbuteventhisfactdoesnotqualifythosemoralsforbeingtheultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetings.

Secondlyreligiousduties,asaruledonotdemandausterityandrigorinthesamemeasurefromeveryone.Thesedutiesbeliefsandobservancebothareelasticenoughtosuittheindividualconcernedandhisenvironment.Thereisa

traditionwhichsaythatifAbuZaidwereawareoftheconditionoftheheartofUmar,I.e.,hisinnermostthoughtsandbeliefs,hewouldhaveeitherdeclareUmaranInfidelorputhimtodeath.PerhapsthereisanothertraditionsayingthatifUmarwereawareoftheconditionoftheheartofAbuZaid,Umaralsowouldhaveactedsimilarity.Itistobecauseofthedifferenceintheposition,constitution,temperamentandenvironmentofindividualandwhatisincumbentupononindividualistheperformanceofthatelasticformofdutywhichconformtohisspecialcircumstances,whetherthedutyismoreorlessrigorousthanthesamedutyofanotherindividual.InthecaseofNamaz(dailyprayers),forexample,whatisincumbentuponthepiouspeopleistoperformNamazinsuchawayasmaykeepthemawayfromallprohibitedandforbiddenthingsashasbeensaidintheQuran.“VerilyNamazrestrained(one)fromfaithandevil”.Butitisnotincumbentupontocommon……toperformNamazinasimilarway.WhatisincumbentuponthemistoperformthedailyprayersregularlyandpunctuallywhetherornottheNamazkeepsawayfromfaithandevil.Again,asregardsrecitationofQuran,thedutyofthepiouspeopleistoobservemeticulouslytheetiquetteofrecitationoftheQuranandtoponderoverthemeaningandimplicationsoftheverseswhilereciting.WhatisincumbentsuponthecommonfolkisonlytoreciteQurancorrectlywhetherornottheyobservethefulletiquetteoftherecitationandunderstandthemeaningandimplicationoftheverses.

So,themostdifficultdutyofstudying,relatingandputtingintopracticetheobviousandimpliedmoralsofthetragedyofKarbalaandthemartyrdomofHussain(a.s),couldnotbemadeincumbentsuponallthepeople,thepiousandthecommonfolk.Thedutywasnotmuchtooexactingforcommonfolkbutalsobeyondtheircapacityandtherefore,couldnotbemadeincumbentsuponthegroups,thepiouspeopleandthecommonfolk.Howcoulditthentoregardastheultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetings?Oneis,therefore,compelledtoconsulatethatitisincumbentsuponthepiousandintelligentpeopletoweepandwailovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s),andatthesametimetostudyandrelatealsotoputintopracticethemorals;whilethedutyofcommonfolkistorelateorlistentotheafflictionsoftheAhlaBait(a.s),andtoweepandwailovertheafflictioninordertokeepaliveandfreshinmemoryofthepeoplethetragiceventofKarbalasothatthosewhoarecapableofdeepcorrectthinkingmayfindanoccasionforstudyoftheimpliedmoralsandexploringwayofputtingthemintopractice,thoughthecommonfolkmaynotfollowthemoralspracticallyinspiteoftheunderstandingthem.Tosumup,itisnodoubtdesirabletotrytounderstandthemoralsofthetragedyandthemartyrdomandalsotoputthem

intopractice,butthisisnotpossibleforallofus,hence,itcannotbetheultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetings.Theultimatepurposemustbesuchasmaybepossibleforallofustoachieve.

Statement(c):Theword‘Majlis’inArabichasameaningdifferentfromthatinurdu.InArabic‘Majlis’meansanyplaceoroccasionwheresomepersonsittogetherirrespectiveofthepurposeoftheirgathering,whileinurdu‘Majlis’meansameetingwherethetragiceventofKarbalaarerelated.So,theword‘Majlis’occurringinArabicdoesnoteverywheremeansameetingorganizedinmemoryofthePrinceofmartyrdom,ImamHussain(a.s).Theword‘Majlis’occurringinthetraditionquotedfrom“QurbalAsnad“and“MiratulUqool”conveytheusualArabicsenseofaplaceoroccasionwheresomepersonmeetbyaccidentlyorintensionandsittogether,andthosetraditionmeansthatwhereverorwheneverwehappentomeetandsittogetherweshould,amongotherthinkspeaksofthemissionoftheAhleBait(a.s)andparticularlyrelatetheiraffliction.Neithertheword“Majlis”occurringinthosetraditionsmeanscondolencemeetingsnorwhatisstatedthereisthedirectandultimatepurposeofthecondolencemeetings.SincetheexistenceormentionofaparticularnecessarilyimpliestheexistenceormentionofageneralwithallitsaccessoriesorrequirementsasthereshouldalsobeamentioninthecondolencemeetingsofthemissionoftheAhleBait(a.s),andpublicityoftheirvastknowledgeandstoreofinformation.Butthisisusuallyoneofthetopicsofdiscussioninourcondolencemeetings.RejoicingonhearingthevirtuesandmeritsoftheAhleBait(a.s)andweepingandwailingonhearingoftheirafflictionarethemosteffectivemeansofkeepingalivetheirmissionandthesearetheimportantconstitutionofourcondolencemeetings,butthisdoesnotprovethepublicityoftheknowledgeandinformationoftheAhleBait(a.s)isthesolepurposeofthecondolencemeetings.PossiblythemainpurposeofthecondolencemeetingsissomethingwhichalsoentailsapublicityoftheAhleBait(a.s),e.g.weepingandwailingovertheirafflictionwhichdirectlykeepalivetheirmissionandalsoentailsapublicityoftheirotherfunction.Inshort,aforesaidtraditiondonotopposeweepingandwailingsothemainpurposeofcondolencemeetingsandcannotreasonablybeadvancedasargumentsagainstweepingandwailingasthemainpurpose.

TheforegoingdiscussionmakeitclearhowfarIagreeanddisagreeforthestatementsandquotationsofthesocalledenlightenpersonsandalsothatsomeofthestatementsandquotationsareincorrectwhileotherarecorrectbutarenotopposedtotheimportanceofweepingandwailing.Thestatementsofthelatter

categoryarecorrectandalsotheimportanceofweepingandwailinginjust.

Inowreverttothemainthemeofmydiscourse.

IntheintroductiontothispamphletIhavestatethatasimportantcasteofthedeclineinweepingandwailingistheimpressioncreatedonthemindsonourpeoplebytheelegantandsophisticatedstatementsandquotationofthesocalledenlightenpersonswhichwasgraduallybelievingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingintheireyes.Thepurposeofthispamphletistoeffacethatinpressionandthiscouldbedonebydiscussionsthosestatementsandshowingthatthesameshouldnothavesoimpressedourpeople.

NowthatthestatementshavebeendiscussedIagreetopointoutthatthesamedonotadverselyaffecttheimportanceofweepingandwailing,primarily,becausetheimportanceofweepingandwailingisbasedonthosevalidargumentswhichareindependentofitsbeingthemainpurposeofcondolencemeetings.Secondarily,someofthestatementsareofincorrectimplicationandbeingadverselyimpressedbythemsignifiesignoranceandfolly.Ifthestatementsarecorrectinimplicationbutnotopposed,toweepingandwailingthesameshouldnotadverselyaffecttheimportanceofweepingandwailing,foronlyoppositethingsproduceanadverseeffectandnotthosewhicharefavorableorareneitheroppositenorfavorable.Thus,thereisnoreasonwhyweepingandwailingshouldbeadverselyeffectedbythosestatements.Butthesadexperienceisthatnowthepeopledonotattachthesameimportancetoweepingandwailingastheyusetodointhepast.Itistherefore,necessarytodiscoverthereasonofthedeterioration.Apparently,eitherthereasonisthatthesocalledenlightenedpersonsmakestheirstatementssoelegantlyandlaysomuchemphasisonthemthatthestatementappeartobesuppuratingtheimportanceofweepingandwailing,orilliteracyandignoranceofthepartofthepeople.

Aremarkablecharacteristicofthecommonpeopleisthattheyaresoimpressedbythestatementsthatwithoutanygoodreasonstheybegintothinkweepingandwailingtobeunimportantandinsignificant.Ihavetherefore,tosayawordeachtothesocalledenlightenedpersonsandtothecommonpeople.

ThesocalledenlightenedpersonIhavetoadversarytheyshouldfirstthoroughlyandcarefullyresolvetheirpopulist.Ideasintheirmindsandseeifthesearecorrect.Iftheyareconvinceofthecorrectnessoftheirideas,theymayfreelycommunicatethemtoothers;buttheyshouldseethattheexpressionof

theirideasdoesnotadversaryaffecttheimportanceofweepingandwailing.

Amoredesirablecurseisthatwhileexpressingtheirideastheymaysimulatepointouttheimportanceofweepingandwailingtothattheimportanceofweepingandwailingthatnotappeartobesinking.

To,thepeopleIhavetorelatedthatiftheycontinuetobesoimpressedbythestatementofthesocalledenlightenedpersonastothinkweepingandwailingtobeunimportantandinsignificantswithoutanygoodreasoneverysensiblepersonwillhavetoregardthemasignorantandlackingincommonsense.

Ifuarenotagreeabletothis,andindeedyoushouldnotbethenforGod’ssakechangeyourattitudeceasetobeimpressedbythesestatementsandadoptthatattitudeofyourForefathersandrefusethestatementsbyactingagainstthem.Theimpressivesightofyourweepingandwailingsimilartotheseofthepartwillreflectthechangeofyourattitudeandtheneverybodywillregardsyouassensibleforesightedintendofignorantandlackingincommonsense.

WhenthesewordsareadviseandwarningIclosethediscussionandbeginasermononweepingandwailing.Whathasbeensaidsofarwillremaindeficientandincompletewithoutthissermonwhichisanessentialcomplementandindispensiblepartofmydiscourse,becauseactionaccordingtotheobviousrequirementofthediscourseindependentofthesermonwillbelikeactionaccordingto“Approachnotprayer”neglecting“Whenyouareindexcatted.

THESERMONONWEEPINGANDWAILING

Inspiteofmyattemptforbrevitythroughoutthispamphlethasbecomequitevoluminous.Itwillbeanythingbutdesirabletomakeitstillmorevoluminous.

Ishall,thereforeconfinemyselftoafewpointsinconnectionwiththesermonandeventheseIshallmentionasbrieflyaspossible.

(i) ThediscussionabouttheimportanceofweepingandwailinghasmadeitclearthatweepingandwailingovertheafflictionofAhleBait(a.s),isnotonlyaformofworshipbutalsothebestformofworship.

ForGod’ssakedonotallowthisnoblestformofworshiptobestainedorspoiltwithanythingthatmayimpairoraltogetherruinitsgoodaffects,e.g.

Hypocrisy,Itmeansdoingagoodactionwiththeintensionofbeingseenbyothersbyothersknowingofhisgoodactionlateronsothattheymayrespecthimforhisgoodactionsympathizewithhimandholdhiminafflictionandifhealreadycommandstheirrespectandhaswontheirsympathyandafflictiontheymaybebecomemoreardentintheirrespect,sympathyandafflictionforhim.ThisHypocrisyinanyformofworshipisstrictlyorforbidden.ThereisaconsensusofopinionamongthetheologianabouttheforbiddanceinadditiontoverseoftheQuranandtheHolytraditions(placerefertoMerajusSadat).Hypocrisyspoilsthebeautyofworshipanddeprivesitofitsefficacy.Aworshipbasedonortintedwithhypocrisycannotbearightandrewardableformofworship.Possiblymaynullifytheworshipandmakeitcauseofdivinewrathandpunishment.Ifonweepsandwailswiththeintensionofimpressingothersasazealousmournerandbeingpraisedbythem,orimpressingtheorganizerofcondolencemeetingandexpectingfromhimsomefavororhassimilarotherendinviewthenonceweepingandwailingwillnotbearightformofworship.Itwillnotonlydeprivetheweepingandwailingofitsefficacybutmayalsochangeitintoasevilactionandmakeitacauseofdivinewrathpunishment.Itis

saidthatweepingandwailingistheformofworshipwhichcannotbenullifiedbyhypocrisywhichisquitedesirableinthiscase.Hypocrisycannotspoilthebeautyandefficacyofweepingandwailingbecausethetraditionsemphasizingtheimportanceofweepingandwailingalsodirectustoputontheappearanceofaweeperifwedonotorcannotreallyweep.Thepurposeofputtingontheappearanceofaweepercannotbeanythingotherthanmakingotherbelievesthatweareweepingwhileactuallywearenotweeping.Thisisavenomousideaandaruinousproductoftheperversemindofanignorant“Zakir”(thepersonwhorelatesthetragiceventsofKarbalainaCondolencemeeting.)ThereisnotasingleargumentinfavorofthisexceptionAgaintheword“Tabaki”(puttingontheappearanceofaweeper)occurringintraditionsdoesnotmeanwhatthe“Zakir”hassupposedittomeanandevenifthehasthesamemeaningindoesnotconveythesamesenseasthe“Zakir”understandsorwantstoconveytohisaudience.Scholarshavenotincludedweepinginthelistofexceptionalcases.Hadtherebeenanyargumentinfavoroftheexceptiontheywouldhavecertainlymentionedit.Theword“Tabaki”meanseither

(i) Totrytoweepasstatedinsehah,Qamoos,andMajmaulBahrain,standardArabicdictionaries.Theword“Tabaki”occurringintraditions,therefore,meansmakinganattemptatweepingsothatonemayactuallyweepandnotputtingontheappearanceofaweepiersothatothersmayseeoneweeping,whileonisneitherweepingnorwishtoweep.Thereisagulfofdifferencebetweenthemeaningof‘Tabak’expressedintheabove,inspiredbysomevenomousideaandthemeaningstatedbymeandwhichareaccordingtothestandarddictionariesofArabiclanguage.Ifyouwishtounderstandmoreclearlythedifferencebetweenthetwomeaningyoumaypleaserefertotheexplanationoftheword‘Tabaki’ascontainedinLoolonValMarjanbyAllamaNoori.Theword‘Tabaki’intraditiontherefore,doesnotmeanputtingontheappearanceofaweepiertomakeothersbelievethatweareweeping.Itiswrongtoassertthathypocrisyorpresencetoweepdoesnotdepriveweepingandwailingofitsefficacybutitdesirableinthisformofworship.Or,itmeans

(ii) expressionofweepingwhenactuallythereisnoweeping,justanTaghoofulmeansexpressingignorancewhenthereisactuallynoignorance;asappearastheworkofeminentgrammarianswhensaythatacharacteristicfeatureoftheverbsinthecategoryofTufaulisthattheyconveyasenseofaffectationorundertakingofatasklike‘Tashajjo’and‘Tahalum’.Buttheverseinthecategoryof‘Tafaul’doesnotconveythesenseofaffectationofundertakingofatask.Theyconveyasensedifferentfromthoughsomewhatakintothesense

conveyedbytheverbsintheformercategory.IbneHijabinhisbook‘Shafiya’hasincludedforaffectationamongthecharacteristicsoftheverbsinthecategoryof‘Tafaul’butnotmentioned‘affectation’amongthecharacteristicsoftheverbsinthecategoryof‘Tafaaulinseteadhesaystheverbsincategoryof‘Tafaaul’arealsousedtoconveythesensethatsubjecthasperformedanactionwhereashehasnotactuallyperformedit,e.g.‘Taghafulto’means“IshowedmyignorancesothatthepersonspokentobymemaythinkmetobeignominywhenIwasnotactuallyexplainedandthegreatresearchscholarRazihasexplaineditas:“IshowedmyselftobeignorantandIwasignorantwhereasIwasnotatallignorant”.ThesenseofaffectationconveyedbytheverbsinthecategoryofTafaulinquiteadifferentthingandthesubjectoftheverbattemptsastheperformanceoftheactionandwantstohaveitperformedlikeTahallamawhichmeansattemptingtobecomeforbearingsothatthesubjectoftheverbTahallamamayactuallybecomeforbearingandnottomakeafalsedisplayofforbearancetomakeotherbelievethatheisforbearingwhenactuallyheisnotforbearing.Thecharacteristicimplicationoftheverbsinthecategoryof‘Tafaaul’asmentionedaboveisthatthesubjectdoesnotwishtobecomewhatheafflictandshowhimselftobe.Heafflictshimselftobewhatactuallyheisnotasamatterofpolicy.Similarly,‘Tamarazto’meansthatIafflictedmyselftobesickwhileIwasneitheractuallysicknorwishedtofallsickbuttheoccasiondemandedmetoafflictsicknessandIafflictedit.Theword‘Tabaki’accordingintraditions,therefore,meansafflictiontoweep,butcertainlyitdoesnotmeanpretenseofweeping.Accordingtotheetiquetteofthecondolencemeetingseveryonepresentshouldotheractuallyweeporappeartobeweepingifhecannotactuallyweep,sothatthesightofthemeetingsasawholemayindicateittobeacondolencemeeting.Anythingthatisanti-condolatoryshouldbestrictlyavoided.So,onewhocannotactuallyweepinacondolencemeetingshouldputontheappearanceofweepiernotwiththeintensionofbeingsuchtobeweepingwhileoneisactuallynotweepingbutwiththeintensionofseekingthepleasureofGodandatthesametimemakinganattempttoweepactually.Weepingsoqualifiedwillnotbehypocrisy.Thefollowingexampleswillmakeclearthedifferencebetweenthesetwoformsofweeping.Theetiquetteof‘Namaz’(dailyprayers)demandsthatinthecaseof‘Qayam’(standing)thepersonsayingtheprayershouldsoposehifacethathemayappeartobelookingattheplaceonthemator‘Sajdagah’(tabletmadeofwoodorthedustofKarbala)wherasherestshisforeheadinprostrationandinthecaseof‘Ruhoo’(gemflection)hemayappeartobelookingbetweenhisbigtoes,whereastheactuallypurposeisneithertolookattheplaceofrestinghisforeheadandbetweenthebigtoesnortopretendtobelookingattheseplaces.Therealpurpose,however,ittoseekthe

pleasureofGodbysoposinghisfacethatanybodylookingathismaythinkhimtobelookingattheplaceofrestinghisforeheadorbetweenthebigtoes.Similarly,itoneattendingacondolencemeetingcannotactuallyweepheshouldatleastappeartobeweepingsothatothersmaythinkhimtobeamourner.ButhisintensionshouldbenottomakesothersbelievethatheisweepingwhileactuallyheisnotweepingbutputontheappearanceofaweepierinordertoseekthepleasureofGodwhoapprovessuchappearanceonthepartofamournerwhocannotactuallyweep.

Fromtheaboveitfollowsthatinwhatevermeaningtheword‘Tabaki’occurringintraditionsisunderstooditdoesnotinanycaseconveythesenseofweepingandputtingontheappearanceofaweepierwiththeintensionofbeingseenbyothersandreceivingsomematerialbenefits.Whenweepingwiththeintensionofbeingseenbyothersinforbiddenonecannotsaythathypocrisyisdesirableorallowedinthecaseofweepingandwailing.TherealpurposeofputtingontheappearanceofaweepieriseithermakinganattemptatweepingsothatonemayactuallyweeporseekingthepleasureofGodbyappearingtobeamourner.Andwhenhypocrisyisneitherdesirablenor……….Inweepingandwailingbutforbiddenitissuretospoilthebeautydestroytheefficacyofweeping.Itissufficientwailingasinthecaseofanyotherformofworshipandtoprovetheideasexpressedbythe‘Zakir’tobevenomousanddestructive.

HavingprovedhypocrisyinanyformtobeforbiddennowrequestmyreaderstoabstainfromitforGod’ssakeandtoseethattheirweepingandwailingisnotbasedonorlimitwithhypocrisywhichdestroytheefficacyofallformofworship.Theyshouldactuallyweeporputonappearanceofaweepier(whenactualweepingisnotpossible)withtheintensionofseekingthepleasureofGodsothattheymaydeservetheextraordinaryandvaluablerewardofthisgreatformofworship.

(b) Lie,itisstrictlyforbiddentospeakaliesaveinexceptionalcases.Notonlyallthesensiblepersonsareunanimousabouttheforbiddancebutalsoallkindsoftheologicalargumentsprovealietobeforbidden,(fordetailedinformationregardingprohibitionofaliepleaserefertoLoolanValMarjanbyAllamaNoori).Theuseofalieisforbiddenbothinthecaseofweepingandexhortingotherstoweep.

FromthetheologicaldissertationbyMolviGhufranMaabreproducedbyMolvilllyeenMakaas,inMajalis-i-Mufiya,itappearthatwhilemourningthe

deathofapersonmentioningofvirtueswhichthedepartedsouldidnotpassesorwhilelamentingoveradeadbodyattributingtoitthevirtuesitdidnothaveareeithersynonymsorcloselyrelatedinmeaningandareunanimouslyregardedasforbiddenlies.TheyareoffalsereportsinordertoweepandwailovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s),isoneoftheabovetotwoformoffalseattributionofvirtuesandknowinglyusingfalsereportsasastimulantforweepingandwailingandmakingothersweepandwailshouldalsobeconsideredaforbiddenlieaccordingtotheunanimousdecision.MolviGhufranMaabhasclearlystated.PeopletakeagreatdiedofpainandtroubleforweepingandwailingandmakingothersweepandwailineverypossiblewayasiftheyarequiteunawareofthesinanddisobediencetoGodinspeakingalieorusingfalsereports.Theydonottakecaretoavoidtoliesandfalsereports.Butthismustnotbeoverlooked.Thisstatementmakesitquiteclearthatuseofalieorafalsereportevenforweepingandwailingothersweepisquiteforbidden.

AndtheideasthatislieorafalsereportswhichisgenerallyforbiddenbecausepermissiblewhenthepurposeofthelieorthefalsereportistoweepmakesothersweepovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s)isasvenomousanddestructiveastheideathathypocrisyinweepingandwailingovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s)isnotonlyallowedbutdesirable.TheprominentscholarShaikhMurtazaAnsari(R.A),hasexplainedin‘Makasib’thatadesirablediscussionoractionmayhaveonlyapermissibleandnotaforbiddenspeechoractionasitsprefaceorintroduction;andhispupils,theresearchscholarAbulFazlTehraniinhis‘Shifa’-us-SadoorandAllamaNooriin‘Looloo-Val-Marjan’hasproducedthesubstanceofhisexplanation.Alieorafalsereport,therefore,cannotserve,andshouldnotbeused,asaprefaceorintroductionforweepingandmakingothersweep.Ifitissoused,themnotonlyitwillnotbecomepermissiblebutitwillalsomakeweepingandwailingaforbiddenaction,avice,MaulviIiliyeenMakaanhasalsorecordedthefollowingstatementsfromGhufranMaab;“Makingaforbiddenactionameansofanyformofworshipdoesnotmaketheforbiddenactioninvalid.Ontheotherhanditnotonlydestroystheefficacyoftheformofworshipbutalsochangetheworshipintoahereticinnovation”.Andthisiswhyalmostallthegreatscholar,exceptShaikhAliandhisfewfollowers,regardsrecitationof“Marsiya”(elegicpoems)inmusicalwayasforbiddenthoughitmaycauseincreasedweeping.

So,weepingandmakesothersweepcannotmakelegalthatlieorfalsereportswhichisusedinordertomakepeopleweeportocauseincreased

weeping.Itwilldepriveweepingandwailingofitsefficacyandchangethisnoblestformofworshipintoanevilaction,avice.

Itistherefore,incumbentuponustoabstainfrommakingalieorafalsereportsameansofweepingorincreasedweeping,MaulviIlliyeenMakaaninhisdiscussionontheprohibitionofcomposingorreciting‘Marsiya’basedonalieorfalsereporthassaidafter“Afterthesediscussionitmusthavebecomecleartoyouthatitisincumbentupononetoavoidspeakingalieorusingafalsereportevenasameansofanobligatorydutyoradesirableaction”.AccordinglytheideathatlieorafalsereportwhichisgenerallyforbiddenbecomespermissiblewhenthepurposeofthelieorthefalsereportistoweepormakeothersweepovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s)venomouslyanddestructive.

Nowthatithasbeenprovedthattheuseofalieorfalsereportsisstrictlyforbiddenandtheideaofpermissiblyinthecaseofweepingandmakingothersweepisahighlymisleadinganddestructiveidea.

Irequestmyreadersnottomakeuseoflieinordertomakesuccessful(intheiropinion)theircondolencemeetingthroughincreasedweepingandwailing,otherwisetheywilldeserveseverepunishmentintheHereafter,insteadofagoodrewards,bychangingweepingandwailingthenoblestformofworshipintoaforbiddenevilactionbyusingalie.PossiblyweepingandwailingmayontheDayofJudgmentcomplainsagainstyourchangesitintoaforbiddenactionwhenyouwillnotbeabletomakeamendsforyoursins.

ItisparticularlymostperemptorilyincumbentuponustoabstainfromattributingwordsorstatementstoanInfallibleGuide(Imam)whichhehadnotutteredbecauseitisoutofthemajorsins.In‘KahImamJafareSadiq(a.s)hasbeenreportedtohavesaid“AttributingalietoAllahandhisMessengerisoneofthemajorsins”i.e.shouldknowinglyattributealietoAllahandHisMessenger.So,pleasenevercommitsuchasins.

Hereitwillnotbeoutofplacetopointoutthat;

(i) Theweepingandmakingothersweepwhichhasbeenpraisedintraditions,meansweepingonlyovertherealandnotsupposedafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s).InthisconnectionMaulviIlliyeenMakaam,says“thetraditionsmentioningthevirtuesofweepingandwailingareabouttherealafflictionoftheAhlrBait(a.s)asdescribedinreliablereportsandnottheirsupposedafflictions

ortheafflictionsfalselyattributedtothem.

(ii) Weepingandwailingwhichresultsfromreadingandhearingreliablereports,thoughleas,isbetterthanincreasedweepingandwailingresultingfromreadingandhearingfalsereports.ImamZainulAbedeen(a.s)says;“ThebestactionintheeyeofGodisthatwhichhasbeendonestrictlyaccordingtothewayorpracticeoftheHolyProphet,(s.a)thoughtitmaybeasmallandpettyaction.

(c)Singing;Theologiansdifferintheirdefinitionsofsingingormusic.Onedefinitionofsingingisthatitisthatkindofvoicewithtunefulnotewhichispeculiartomerrymakersandreveller.Thisisalsocalledsportiveorenchantingvoiceandintonationbyprofligatesandliberties.TheotherdefinitionwillshortlyappearinthewordsofMuhaqqiq.Thereiscompleteconcernofopinionaboutitsbeingtotallyprohibited.MaulviGhufranMaabhassaid“prohibitionofsingingisoneoftheessentialrequirementsofourreligionandIsoneofthoseprohibitionsaboutwhichthetheologiansareunanimous.Thereisnodoubtabouttheprohibitions.SomeofourUlemashavesaidthatprohibitionsaboutsingingaresoobviousthatthereisnoroomfordoubtaboutit.Theprohibitionsaresuchadistinctivefeaturesofourreligiousasitspermissibilityisadistinctivefeatureofthereligionofouropponents”,(fordetailspleasereferto‘MinhajulYaqeenandMajaliseMufjiya’).

MUSICORSINGINGiseveryformofprohibited,beitinrecitationofpassionate,enologistormysticpoemsortherecitationoftheQuranorelegiacorlamentationpoems.MuhaqqiqhassaidthatinShara’ay;Singingisthatprolongingofvoicemixedwithintonationwhichmakesonebesideoneselforoutofonemind,whichmakeitperformerdissoluteordebauchandrendershisevidenceunacceptable,nomattersuchanenchantingvoiceisusedintherecitationofpoetryortheQuran.”AndthegreattraditionsShaikhYousuf,hasstated,inHadayedthataccordingtotheexplanationbythegroupofcompanionsingingisprohibitedandtheuseofsingingvoicetotherecitationoftheQuranorprayerorpoetrydoesnoteffectstheprohibitions.ItisprohibitedinallformandcasesMaulviIlliyeenMakaanhassaidinMajalis-e-Mufjiya.“Letitbeknownthattherightviewisthatsingingineveryformprohibited,nomatteritisusedintherecitationoftheQuranortheelegiacpoemsaboutthePrinceofmartyrs,ImamHussain(a.s)andMuhaqqiqAbulFazlTehraniin“Shifa-us-Sadoor”inconnectionwiththesentence”.

“ThisisthedayonwhichthepeopleofZiyadrejoiced…………………”hassaid;“itiswellknownthattheuseofintonationinrecitingelegiacpoemsonthePriceofthemartyrsisassuchprohibitedasinanyotherform,”i.e.intonationisprohibitedin‘Marsiyas’(elegiacpoemsonthetragedyofKarbala)aswellasinotherforms.CertainUlemaareoftheopinionthattheuseofintonationinMarsiyasisanexceptionandpermissiblebuttheirargumentinfavoroftheexceptionisweak,andthemajorityofUlemaisdefiniteaboutitsbeingaltogetherprohibited.MaulviIlliyeenMakaansays“SomeofourUlemasregardtheuseofsingingvoiceorintonationinrecitingtheQuranandMarsiyasasexemptfromtheprohibitions.Butthisopinionisnotsound.”Proceedingfurtherhesays“Ithasnowbecomecleartoyouthataccordingtodictionaryandusagebothsingingisaspecialtypeofvoiceanditisprohibitedwhateverbeitsuse,anyformofworship,sermonorrecitationofpoetry.ItisprohibitedintherecitationofMarsiyasandalsotheQuranRecitationofMarsiyaortheQuraninsingingvoicewillnotmakethevoicepermissible.

SincesomeoftheUlemasdisagreewiththeprohibitionofmusicorintonationin‘Marsiya’ithasbecomeasubjectofcontroversyandthereadersareadvicetoturnforguidancetotheMujtahid(distinguishedeminentscholarofTheology)whomtheyfollow.Ifhedeclarestobeprohibited,theymayregardmusicin‘Marsiya’aspermissible,butifhealsodeclaresittobeprohibited,asdoesthelargemajorityofShiaUlemas;thentheyoughttoregardmusicin‘Marsiya’asprohibitedandforbiddenandcompletelyabstainfromitparticularlyfortworeasons.

Firstly,thishasthroughoutbeenadistinctivefeatureofthereligionpracticeofweShias(followers)ofAli(a.s)thatinfollowingtheAhleBait(a.s),wehavebeenregardingsingingandplayingonmusicalinstrumentstotallyprohibitedandameansofentrytotheHell.Thisdistinctivefeatureshouldnotbeallowedtodisappear.

Secondly,theuseofmusicandsingingvoicebeingtotallyprohibited,itsuseinaformofworship,i.e.‘Marsiya’oralamentationthanitsuseinrecitationofpassionpoems.TheUlemahavealso,offeredanexplanationofthisAlamaNoori,e.g.,saysin‘LoolonValMarjan’.

ThissinsisusingalieorsingingvoiceinMarsiyaorrecitationoftheQuranandsimilarotherformofworshipisabiggersinandapunishmentforit

issevertimeharder.”AndthemosteminenttheologianofhistimeAaqaAbulHasanIspahani(R.A)inconnectionwiththeprohibitionofthemusicinhisbook.“Zakheerat-ul-Ibad”hasstated.TheuseofmusicandsingingvoiceinrecitationoftheQuranMarsiyaandthelike,e.g.Azaan(thecallforprayer)isnotdifferentfromitsuseinrecitationofpoetry.

TheuseofitintherecitationofQuranad‘Marsiya’etc.,ismorestrictlyforbiddenandabiggersinmuchmoreseverelypunishment.”

Theabovetworeasonsmakeitnotonlyobligatorybutimperativelyobligatorytoobserveperfectabstinencefrommusicorsingingvoice. Whenthishasbeenmadeclear,Irequestyoutohavemercyuponyourselvesandnottomakethesole-invigoratingfoodofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionofAhleBait(a.s),utterlydestructivebymixingintoitthedeadlypoisonofmusic,otherwiseyourlifeintheHereafterwillbenothingbutmiserable.

HereIwishtorecordinwritingwhatisverylikelytoraiseastormpfoppositionagainstme.Still,IamnotdeterredbecausethehopethatitmayperhapscorrectthewrongpracticeofsomeGodfearingpersons.Nodoubtthehopeisfaintbecauseenchantingattractionofmusicandthesupporttoitbyprominentpersonswillhardlyallowanybodytolistentome.ButthiscannotbeconsideredasimpossibleandIproceedtoputonrecordwhatIhaveinmymind.Yearsagomusicencroacheduponsomeofourreligionsobservance,forinstance.‘Sozkhwani’Butisourtimesmusicismakingrapidprogressdaybyday.Itsinfluenceisraisingandexpandinganditsuseisnolongerconfinedtoourpermissiblecelebration(likepoemsonmarriagesgarlands,chronogrampoemsondeath,etc.)butisalsoextendingtoseveralothersformofworship__________________________________________________________1TheverdictofmusicAayatullahAlhajSayedMuhammadKazimShariyatMadaarandalothersprominentUlemais“thevoicewhichispeculiartothegatheringofmerrymakersandrevellersismusicandastrictlyforbiddenthing.Itisforbiddentorecitelamentationpoems,‘Marsiya’oreventheQuraninmusicalvoice.Butitispermissibletorecitethesethingsinanagreeablevoicewhichisnotmusicalorsingingvoice”(Al-Muntazar).

(‘Qasidas’oreulogiapoemsinpraiseoftheAhleBait(a.s),‘Nauha’orlamentationpoemsonthetragiceventsofKarbala,etc.,andwhatisstrangerstill

isthatsomescholarlypersonsincloaksandturbansalsofeeldelightedwithitscharmingtunes.Whentheyareasked“Whydoyoulistentotheserecitationsinasingingvoiceandwhydoyounotexpressyourdisapprovalofsuchrecitationsevenafteracondolencemeetingisover?”Theyreply;“Tounderstandwhatthesingingisvoicedependsuponknowledgeofmusicwhichwedonotpossessandasmuchcannotdecidewhetherornotarecitationisinasingingvoice.So,weheartheserecitationswithoutexpressingourdispleasureordisapprovals”.Ihavenothingtosayaboutthisreply.IsimplyreproducedtheglorioussermonbyFazil-i-GulistanaAlauddinMuhammad(R.A),whichMaulviIlliyeenMakaanhascopiedinhisvaluablebook,’Majalis-i-Mufiya’.

“IcannotimaginewhatexcusetheywillofferontheDayofJudgmentwhosaythattheydonotunderstandwhatasingingvoice;reallyisandwiththisexcuseliketohearsinging.IsaythatIcannotimaginebecauseAllahhasnotmadeincumbentuponanybodywhathecannotunderstandandhasnotleftanybodyinthevalleyofamazementtowanderforever.Ontheotherhand,HehascommandedeverybodytoturntotheQuranandtheholytraditionsforguidanceinallmatter.Ifhefindsthereananswertohisquestionheshouldregulatehisactionaccordingly,ifnotthenheshouldturnto…………..andusageandfollowtheirguidance.Ifhefindsnoguidanceindictionariesandusagetheheshouldturntothelearnedlexicographersandscholarofunquestionableintegrity.Bothlexicographersandtheologiansareunanimousthattheessenceofsingingisthatriseandfallofvoicewhichcontainsintonationandcharmsandmakesalistenerforgetfulofself.Hewhohasdefinedsingingasmerelyprolongingofvoicecausingarefrainorburdensofsongshasattemptedonaliteraldefinition.Singingisalexicographicratherthanatheologicalquestions(evenanonMujtahadcanunderstandit).WhensuchisthecasehavecanI“understandoranticipatetheexcusetobemadeontheDayofJudgmentbythegroupwhichpretendstobeignorantofmusicandmakestheignoranceanexcuseforlisteningthemusic.”

NotonlythescholarlypersonsincloaksandturbansbutalsoalltheZakirandtheiraudienceoughttothinkoverthisglorioussermoncalmlyandquietlysothatthepresenceofsomescholarlypersonsinacondolencemeetingswithmusicalrecitationsmaynotmakethemdoubtfulabouttheprohibitionsofsingingthatitmaycounteractthewhimwhichmayresultresultfromthereplyofthescholarlypersonsthattheydonotunderstandwhatismusicandwhatisasweetagreeablevoice,andalsothattheymaybesurethatneithertheprohibitionofmusicisdoubtfulnortheirexcuseofignoranceofmusicisacceptable.Incase

ofcertainpersonindeeditispossiblethattheymaybedoubtfulaboutcertaintypesofvoiceevenaftercarefulconsideration.Insuchcaseswhichareraretheexcuseofignorancemaybeacceptable.

‘Ihavebrieflymentionedtheforegoingfewpointsonlybywayofillustration.Therealpurpose,however,isthateveryoneshouldtryhisbesttokeepthisgreatformofworship–weepingandwailingovertheafflictionofAhleBait(a.s)completelyfreefromallsortsofprohibitedandforbiddenthingsandpractices.ItwillbeourgreatestmisfortuneifwearedeprivedoftherewardsofaformofworshipwhichcantakeustothespecialwardsoftheAhleBait(a.s),byspoilingitwithanyoftheprohibitedactivities,hypocrisy,lie,musicetc.,whichmaychangetheworshipintoaprohibitedactivityoronlyadefectiveactivityorevenanunacceptableactivity.

ThoseformofworshipontheperformanceofwhichentrytotheParadiseispromisedintraditions,e.g.visitingtheHolyShrineofinfallibleGuidesorweepingandwailingovertheafflictionofAhleBait(a.s),shouldnotberegardedanabsoluteconditionsoressentialqualificationforentrytotheParadise.Therearemerelysubsidiaryconditionsoradditionalqualification.ThisistosaythattheseformsofworshipsareameansoftheentryofParadiseprovidedthereisnootherprohibitedactiontopreventtheentry.IfthereisanymajorandforgivessinstoprevententrytotheParadisetheaforesaidformofworshipwillbeofnoavail,e.g.,ifanybodymurdersafaithfulpersonwithoutanylegalexcuse,oraltogetherstopssayingthedailyPrayersandthinkthathevisittotheHolyShrineorheweepingandwailingovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s)willenablehimtoentertheParadisethiswillbeavainandridiculousidea,because:

(I) Thisiscontrarytotheverse:“VerilyAllahdoesaccept(anoffering)fromthosewhofearHim(andguardedhimselffromevils)”andalsocontrarytothetraditionsof“RagheefainvaRummanian(twoloavesandtwopomegranates)andthetraditions”.IfNamazisacceptedother(good)actionsmayalsobeacceptedotherwisenoactionswillbeaccepted.

(II) Itisconveytoalltheverseandtraditionspeakingofgooddeedsgoinginvain.Certainsinsaresoruinousthattheyreadersineffectiveevengoodactions.

(III)ImamHussain(a.s)undertookthejourneytoIraqforencouragingpeopletogoodactionsandpersuadingthemtoguardthemselvesagainstevilsashehimselfrecordedinhisinjunctiontoMohammadIbneHanafiyaandconsented

tpmartyrdominordertosetfreefromignorancetheignorantbyhisteachingsandtoguidetotherightpaththosewhowerewanderinginthevalleyoferror.AsanInfallibleImamhassaidin‘ZiyarateArbeen.AndtheideathatweepingandwailingovertheafflictionofAhleBait(a.s)willenablethemtoentertheParadiseisdiametricallyopposedtothepurposewhichImamHussain(a.s)setbeforehim,becauseintentionalomissionofobligatorydutiesandindulgenceinforbiddenactionsiscertainlyignoranceanserrorthepurposeofImamHussain(a.s)wasthereformationofsuchdefaulters.

(IV)Moreover,theideaisperhapsthemostoffensiveandcontemptuousasitimpliesbeliefintheabolitionorcancellationofthenoblereligiouslaws.So.NobodyshouldentertaintheideasthatanyofthoseformofworshipisanessentialqualificationwhichisboundtosecureforhimentrytheParadise.Theideaisborderingonus–godliness.Nay,itisdefinitelyun-Godly.ThoseformofworshipmustberegardedasadditionalqualificationsforentrytotheParadiseonlywhenthereisnothingtoprevententrytotheParadise(e.g.,disbelieforcommissionofamajorsin)asImamReza(a.s),whilerelatingtheholytradition“HewhosaysthatthereisnodeitybutAllah………….remarkedoneofitsessentialconditionsisthebeliefismytrusteeshipof‘Allah’meaningthattherecitationofandbeliefin“ThereisnodeitybutAllah…………..”wasnoavailwithoutthebeliefintheImambeingaTrusteeofAllah.

Briefly,thepurposeisthatoneshouldnotimplicitlybelieveintheliteralversionofthetraditionholdingoutpromisedforentrytotheParadisebutshouldtrytounderstandtherealmeaningofanInfallibleGuidesinthecontextofthefundamentalprinciplesofreligion.

(d) OnemustkeepuseyeonallthestratagemsofSatanandbeononesguardagainsthistreacherydesigns.Oneofthedevil’sstratagemsisthathedoesnottrydissuadingfromcertainformsofworshipthosepersonswhomheknowsforcertaintobetoostrictlyregulartogiveupacertainformofworshipunderanycircumstance.Whathedoesinsuchcasesistotrytoincludeinorminglewiththatformofworshipsomeprohibitedorforbiddenactivitieswhichmayspoilthatformofworshipandrenderitineffectivesothattheperformanceofthatformofworshipmayturntobeinvainandunreadable.

Anotherstratagemisthatinthecaseofpersonswhomthedevilknowstobetoorigidtoallowanyprohibitedorforbiddenactivitytospoiltheformofworshiptothemhemorecraftilymakestheevilssuggestionthatitisagainst

theirpietyandsanctitytoparticipateinanyformofworshipaboutwhichtheremaybetheslightestdoubtofatingeofanyforbiddenactivity,nothingtosayofsuchformsofworshipasaremarkedwithobviouslyprohibitedactivities.E.g.condolencemeetingwhere“Sozkhwani”isdoneinamusicalwayoruntrueorunreligiousreportsorirreverentlytowardstheAhleBait(a.s),arerecited,ortheprocessionsinwhich‘Nauha’arerecitedinasingingvoiceoranymusicalinstrumentsareplayedupon.Thedevilmakesthembelieveitisnotonlyunbecomingholymenofpietytoattendssuchcondolencemeetingsorprocessionsbutadefinitenegationofpietyandsanctity.Thedevilmakesthecraftysuggestionsothatthoseholypersonsmayabstainfromattendingsuchcondolencemeetingsorprocessionsandthusthedeprivedofthegreatheavenlyrewardsofthoseformsofworship.

Thisissuchanalluringratifiesthatevenpersonsofconsiderablesanctityandpietyareentrappedunawareanddonotfeelthattheyareinatrap.Whensomekeenlyintelligentmanoflearninginformsthemoftheirbeingentrappedandtheyrealizethattheyhadbeendeceivedtheyfeelashamedandexcusethemselvesbysaying“Igetentrappedbecausethenetwasthesamecolorasthegroundonwhichitwasspread”.

Itisthereforeverynecessarytokeepaneyeonthismajorstratagemofthedevilandalsototryone’slevelbesttokeepawayfromhistrapwiththisendinviewonemustbearinmindthateveryprohibitedactivityfoundintheseformsofworshipdoesnotnecessaryspoiltheentireformofworshipandreaderitaltogetherineffective.Theevileffectofsomeoftheprohibitedactivitiesisidenticalwiththeactivities,thataretheeviloftheprohibitedactivitiesdoesnoteffectstheoriginalworship.Forinstancethecondolencemeetingsinwhich‘Nauha’isrecitedor‘Sozkhwani’isdoneinanunlawfulwayoruntrueorasirreligioustraditionorreportoranythingunbecomingoforirreverentlytowardstheAhleBait(a.s),isrecitedbuttheentiremeetingisnotmarkedwithaprohibitedactivitytheevileffectsoftheprohibitedactivities(NauhaorSozkhwani)willbeconfinedtotheactivitiesandwillnotrendertherestofthecondolencemeetingineffectiveandtheattendancethereinun-lawful.Aprohibitedactivity,singingorlie,forexample,willnotthechangetheoverallcharacterofacondolencemeetingwhichwillstillbeaformofworship.Similarly,inattendingacondolenceprocessionwherein‘Nauha’arerecitedinmusicalwayormusicalinstrumentsareplayedupontheprohibitionwillbeconfinedtohearingtherecitationortheplayofmusicalinstrumentsandwillnotextendtotherestoftheprocession.AllamaMirzaHussainNa-yeeni,themost

learnedmanofhisdayhadclarifiedthispointinoneofhiscircularsandafterhisdeathalmostalltheeminentscholarsofthedaywhocompletelyagreedwithhisviewpoint,gotthecircularrepublished.Attendingsuchcondolencemeetingsorprocessionsshouldnotbeasunbecomingofholypersonsorinconsistentwithsanctityorpiety.Ontheotherhanditisquiteinaccordancewiththerequirementsofsanctityorpiety.

Havingunderstandthesethings,oneshouldcultivatethehandofattendingacondolencemeetingsafter‘Sozkhwani’where‘Sozkhwan’isdoneinasunlawful,I.e.musicalwayandtoleavethemeetingbeforemusicalrecitationof‘Nauha’.

Astountruetraditionorreportsrecitedinordinarygatheringsuchasareheldinhouses,hotels,orparksetc.IamoftheopinionthatonemustwalkoutofitforsolongasanuntruetraditionorreportsisrecitedasadvisedinseveraltraditionandalsointheHolyQuran:“AndindeedHehassentdowntoyouinthisBook(TheQuranthatwhenyouhearthesignofAllahdiscreditedandmockedat.Thendonotsitwiththemuntiltheyenteruponsomeotherdiscourse,otherwiseyouwillbecomelikethem”.(4:140).

Butthisdoesnotapplytodesirablemeetingslikeacondolencemeeting.Itisnotincumbentupononetowalkoutsuchmeetings.Itisenoughtoabstainfrombearingasuntruetraditionorreportandtopointitoutandexpressdisapprobationofitafterthemeeting.Itissobecauseofthedifferenceofopinionregardingthetruthofcertainreports,e.g.,thereportaboutthemarriageofQasimIbneHsan(a.s),orthereportsaboutthebodyoftheMartyrsofKarbalabeingtroddenunderthehoofsofhorse.

Ifitwereincumbenttoabstainfromhearingallsuchexceptionablereportstheitwouldbecomedifficulttoheardiscoursefromevenscholarsoforganizedmeritnothingtosayofordinary‘Zakir’becauseofthepossibilityofonegreatscholarincludingthereportsinhislectureordiscoursebelievingittobetrueandanothergreatscholarorhisdisciplesbelievingittobeuntrue.Insuchacaseitwouldbeprohibitedforthelatterscholarorhisdisciplestohearthereportandsotheywouldnotattendsuchameetings.Besidestherule‘Exercisetoleranceaboutargumentsregardingthetruthoftraditions,probablytheHolyExponentofLawdidnotconsiderthescopeondiscourseonorhearingofthevirtuesandafflictionoftheAhleBait(A.s),tobesorestrictedastomakeitimperativefortheaudiencetowalkoutofacondolencemeetingswhereanuntruetraditionsor

reportismentioned.ItisnotincumbenttowalkoutofsuchmeetingsandprobablythisiswhyprominentUlemaanddemonstrationofIslamattendscondolencemeetingsaddressednotonlybylearnedscholarsbutallbyordinary‘Zakir’,andkeepsittinganddonotwalkoutinspiteofthediscourseorthelecturecontainingareportwhichtheyknowtobeuntrue.Whattheydoatthemostistopointouttheuntruereportandtoexpresstheirdisapprovalofitaftermeetings.

Theaboveismypersonalopinionnotnecessarilytobefollowedbyothers,whoshouldreferthequestionsoflisteningtountruereportsinacondolencemeetingandofsittingoutthelectureordiscourseorwalkingoutofittotheA’alamwhomtheyfollowinreligiousobservanceoranyotherscholarwhopossessallthenecessarilyqualificationsofaMujtahidandactaccordingtohisverdict.

However,therecanbenotwoopinionaboutparticipatingasfaraspossiblethesenobleformofworshipforsolongastheyarefromaprohibitedactivity,sothatSatanmaynotdeceiveanddepriveusofthemagnificentheavenlyrewardsofthosenobleformsofworship.

ThesubjectmatterofthistreatisecalledforamoreexhaustivedealingandthepurposeofwhatIhavewrittenonthesubjectisjusttodrawtheattentionofmyreaderstothevariouspointstatedbymesothattheymayascertaintheirdutyinrespectsofthosepoints.

IclosethesermonwiththesolicitationthatAllHolyAllah,may.ForthesakeoftheInfallibleGuides,grantthefaithfulthegoodfortuneoftryingtofollowtheHolyAhleBait(a.s)byweepingtheirnoblestformsofworshipandmostprominentemblemsofourreligion,completelyfromallundesirableactivitiestothatlearnedmenofsanctityandpietyandotherconscientiousandscrupulouspersonswhosepresenceisornamentalforsuchmeetingsmayalsogracethemeetingbytheirpresencewithconfidenceandouropponentsmaynotfindfaultwithourcondolencemeetingsorthepracticeofweepingandwailing.

SYNOPSIS

Thefollowingisabriefsummaryofthecontentsofthistreatise;

(i) ThepracticeofweepingandwailingovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s),isofalmostimportanceintheeyeofAllahandtheeyeoftheMessengerandtheHolyImam,anditisclearthanthedaythatnobodyisbettertruthlovingthanthemorevenequaltothem.ThefollowersoftheHolyMessenger(s.a)andtheImam(a.s)cannot,thereforeoverlooktheimportanceoftheweepingandwailingifanybodytriestobelittleitsimportancebydeclaringittobeanundesirableorunwholesomepracticetheyaresuretocontradicthimoutrightandrejecthisremarksinthefaceofthedeclarationbyAllahandtheMessenger.Asamatteroffact,noneofushasthecourageofspeakingofitwithcontemptandeverybodyadmitit,throughoutwardly,tobeimportant.Regardingtheweepingandwailingasworthlessandofnoconsequence,attheinstanceofothers,will,thereforeisanunforgivablesinofgreatmagnitudewhichmustnotbecommittedinanycase.

(ii) WeepingandwailingovertheafflictionofAhleBait(a.s),isoneofthenoblestformofworship,which,notanabsoluteoressentialqualificationforentrytotheParadise,iscertainlyameansoftakingustotheParadiseintheabsenceofotherobstacles.We,therefore,mustdoourlevelbesttopracticethisintherightwaywithoutassociatingwithitanyactivitywhichmayreadersthisofworshipunacceptable.Otherwise,weshallbemostunfortunatetobedeprivedofitsmagnificentheavenlyreward.

(iii) WeepingandwailingovertheafflictionoftheAhleBait(a.s),isaninvaluableassetwithwhichwecanpurchasetheprosperityofthisworldandtheworldhereafterandthisiswhySatanisalwaysonthelook-outforanopportunitytorobusofit.Itis,therefore,verynecessarytoexercisealmostcautioninsafeguardingitagainstallstratagemsofSatan,however,attractiveorfascinatingtothatwemaynotbedeprivedofthisinvaluableasset;ForthelossofthisassetwouldbesocolossalastomakeourlifeinthisworldandtheworldHereafterquitemiserable.

InowbringtreatisetoafinishandexpressmysorrowtomyinabilitytopresentitisthebeautifulforminwhichIwishedtopresentitbecauseofunitedmittenillness,particularlyeyetrouble.Thelaterpartofthetreatisewhichbeginswiththecleverquotationandsophisticatedstatementsbythesocalledenlightenedpersonshasbeenhastilywritteninoutlinesandcouldnotberevised,forwhichfaultIbegtobeforgives.

ThementionofHussain(a.s)oughttobeanessentialroutineofourlife.WhyshouldweconfineittotheconventionalmourningdaysofMoharram?’

WEEPTOGAINLONGIVITYANDWEEPTOYOURHEARTS

CONTENT.

LETTHETEARSFLOWFROMSCIENCETIFICPOINTOFVIEW

TwotypesofcriticismisthrownagainstmourningafterImamHssain(a.s)thedearestgrandsonoftheHolyProphet(S.A)Onetypeofcriticismissocialwhiletheotherisreligious.

Answertocriticismofreligioustypeshasoftenbeengivesbyreligiousauthorities.Inthesamemanneranswertosocialtypesofcriticismhavealsobeengiven.Thisarticlebelongtothesecondcategory,thatis,itanswerssocialobjectionlike(a)weepingisasignofcowardice,itdeadensonesheartetc.Thisarticletrice’stoshowthatmentalhealthandphysicalwellbeingarebenefitedbyweepingandinthelongrunhaspositiveeffectonlongevity.HereunderweenumeratetheexperienceofLeonardGrassasAmericanwriteraboutweeping.

ANAMERICANEXPERIENCEPASIFIEDHISEMOTIONAL

SHOCKBYWEEPING

LeonardGrasswrotethatonedayhewasgoingtohisstudyroom,heheard“Dhum;Dhumhewasstartledandrantowardsthestair,hesawthathissmalldaughterwasfallingoffthesteps.Herantowardsherandtookherinlap.ThebabygirlhadjustIlearnttocrawlandbyoversighthehadforgottentoclosethedoorsofthestairs.Hecriedindespair;‘O’God,‘O’Lord,Tearsfledbythenoticehiswiferantowardshimandtookthebabyfromhislap.Hethenphonedthedoctorandthefirstquestionthedoctoraskedwas;howisherconditionnow?“Sheisweepingnow”saidLeonardOh!Itisgoodsignsaidthedoctor.Thebabybecomessilentaftercryingforafewminutes.Shewashardlyhurt.ShebegantoplayafterawhileandwhentheywentcrawlingtoLeonard,heliftedherandshepressedhertinyhandsonLéonard’sfaceandatthemomenthecouldnotcontrolhimselfandbrokeintotearssaying“Ohmydear”.

Whydidhistearsflow?Theanswertothisquestionhasbeengivenbyphysiologists.ThereisacontrollingCentreinthebrainwhichactivatestearsglandsandeyesbecomebrimmed.

TherearephysiologicalaswellasphysiologicalcomplicationregardingtearsLeonardGrasswasablebodiedAmericanYoungmaninchildhoodhewastaughtthat,menneverweepandthosewhoweeparebutchildishwomanish.Yetitisafactthatnothingcouldexpresshisprofoundemotionsfullyasitwasdonebyweeping,throughitwasagainstsocialcustomofAmerica.

Leonard‘sloveforhischildwasexpressedbyaninvoluntaryact.Heknewthattheaccidentwascausedbyhisfaultandhewasalsocontentthatthechildwasunhurt,hisintrinsicdesiretobeforgiveswasalsoexpressedbyhisweeping.

OPINIONOFDOCTORWEEPINGGOODFORBABYMEANTBABY

HEALTHY

Really,weepingdidmorethanthistheopinionofthedoctorthatweepingwasgoodforthebabymeantthatthebabywassohealthythatshecouldexpressheremotionsofpleasureaswellasdispleasure.Thedoctors,opinionwassignificantforLeonardalso,becausehehadpacifiedtheemotionalshockedbereceivedbegivingoutlettotears.He,impartedpsydiosomayictohimselfbyweeping.TherearemanymedicalevidencesinfavorofthegippedeffectofweepingandnothingcouldbetterrelieveLeonardbodyandmindasdidweeping.Itistherefore;evidentthatinthiseraofcutthroatcompletionandhightensiontheutmostessentialistoshedbigmanlytears.

RELVIVESANDFRIENDSWEEPAFTERDEVD

Allofusknowthatwearewoundedinourpersonallives.Frustrations,despairsandgriefareenoughtomakeusweep.Ithereanybodywhohadnotaccompaniedthefuneralofarelative?.Isthereanybodywhohadnotseenamotherweepingindespairafterherdeadchild?Isthereanybodywhohadnotseenachildweepingforhisbrokentoy?Atsuchcircumstancesthatbestandthemostnaturalmethodtoexpresssympathyistoshedtears.Everybodyknowsthattearsdonotwashthegriefout,buttheydohelpinmakinggriefbearable.

Inpresentdaysociety,generallymendonotweepDaybydaysocietyisbecomingextraordinarydisciplinedandhardskinard.Evenifachildweeps,heistermedascrybaby.

THOSEPARENTSWHOPROHIBITWEEPINGTOTHEIRCHILDRENINVITETROUBLE

Dr.SilvisBroadwayafamouspsychotherapistofNewYorksaysrepressedtearsgenerallytaketheformofillness.Thoseparentswhoprohibitweepingtotheirchildreninvitelotsoftrouble.

CAUSEOFSKINDISEASENOTEXPRESSINGEMOTIONVIATEARS

Toexpressemotionsandcontrolweepingisamatteroffalsepride.AwomanpatientofDr.Broadwaywassodownwithskindiseasesthatherlifewasindanger.Thecauseofherdiseasewasthatshewasaverseinexpressingheremotionviatears.

Dr.EricapsychotherapistinMassachusettsGeneralHospitalhasmarredratedthecaseofayoungnursewasforbiddentoweepafterdeathofherfatherlesthermothermightnotdespair.Theresultofthisimposedcontrolwasthatshewascaughtwithadeadlyintestinaldiseasewhicheventuallyprovedfatalforher.

HEADACHEANDFEVERAREALSOCAUSEDBYCONTROLLINGTEARS

Manyofthebadhabitsarecausedbyreluctancetoweep.ApatientcametoDr.Broadway,clinic.Hewasasuccessfulbusinessmanbuthecouldnottalkexceptinawhisperingsound.Dr.Broadway,toldhim;youcannottalkproperlybecauseyouhaveneverlearnttoexpressyouremotionsthroughtears.”

MENTALPATIENTSAREMADETOWEEPTEARSAREMORE

BENEFICIALTHANLAUGHING.

PsychotherapistgenerallytrytomakepatientsweepandthisistheonlyremedysofarfoundinthesphereofmentalhealingDr.Broadwaysays;--Youpatyournewbornchildtomakehimweepandinthesamemanneryoushouldtrytocreatesuchastateofmindinyourpatientsthattheymayweep.Tearsaregenerallyunwelcomebutnodoubttheyaremorebeneficialthanlaughing.

Whyisoursocietyagitatedagainsttears?Indeeditisamatterofgreatcomplication.Theobviousreasonoftheseunhealthytrendsisthatthereisanestablishedsocialnormthatthosewhoweepareweak,oventhroughthisnormisentirelyfalse.HistoryiswitnessthatEmperorAwyustusQeasorwasaverybraveman.Hehadsentthreedivisionscomprisingtwentyfivethousand(25,000)mercenariestoSermonic.Whenheheardthathiswholearmywasdestroyedhefaintedandwhenhegotconsciousnessheburntintotears.

Tearsdon’tflowwhenthebodyistenseandgriefisintensebuttheydowhentensionandgriefdecrease.

SCIENCEINCLUDINGWEEPINGBENEFICIALFORGENERALWELLBEING.

Modernpsychosomaticsciencehasreachedtheconclusionthatifmenlearntoweepitwillbeneficialtotheirgeneralwell-being.Torelievetensionarewholethereisnobetterremedythanlettingthetearsflow.

WOMENLIVELONGERASTHEYGIVEVENTTOTHEIREMOTIONSBYTEARS

Itisgenerallyobservedthatwomencontinuetolivelongerandlongerwhilethelifespanofmenisbecominglesserandlesser.Menarepronetocatchheartdiseaseandmanyotherstypesofailmentsduringthemiddleagethatitcutsshorttheirlives.Thereasonofthisphenomenonisthatmodernlifehasbecomeharderformenandeasierforwomen.Medicalsciencehaslessenedhazardsofpregnancyanddeliveryforwomenandgenerallythefairsexgiveventtotheiremotionsbytears.

Lettingthetearsflowrelieveextremeofemotionsandeasesphysicaltension,butmodernageteachesthatitisagainstmanlinessweep.Asaresultofthistypeofteachingmencontroltheiremotionsandinhabit,thefreeflowoftears.Duetotheilleffectsofthiswronginhibitionmensuccumbtoavarietyofdiseasesinadultagewhilewomenremainimmunetoallthisbylettingtheirtearsflow.

WEEPANDWEEPMOREANDBEHEALTHY

Whenaboyweep,hisparentsorteacherstaunthim,saying;Oh,donotcry,youareaMAN.Itwouldbeproperiftheytellhim;weepandweepmoreandbehealthy.

Wivesshouldalsolettheirhusbandsweepandstopthembytauntingandnagging,becauseitwillbebestinsuranceagainstwidowhoodthatisitwillprolonghusbandslive.

SIRWINSTONCHAUCHILNEVERINHIBITED

Wehaveseenthatitisamatteroflifeanddeaththenwechangeourattitudestowardsweeping.Wemustfullyutilizeourtensionrelievingmechanism,andremainassuredthatIwon’thurtourmanhood.AcquaintanceofSirWinstonChurchillknowthatheneverinhibitedhistearsbutlettheflowwhenoccasiondemanded.

HOLYPROPHET(S.A)SAID;

Thefollowingfivefacultiesareconsideredvirtuesamongstmen;justice,knowledge,generosity,patienceofforbearance,modestyorbashfulness.Knowledgepossetedbyascholar.Justicedispensedbyamonarch,generositypracticedbytherich,forbearancedisplayedbytheneedyandmodestydisplayedbywomeneachoneofthesewasreallycommendable.Knowledgewithoutpracticeislikeahousewithoutrofoverit,akingwithoutjusticeashisworkingmottoislikeariverwithoutwaterinit,arichmanlackinggenerositywillbelikeatreewithoutbearingfruits,aneedypersonwithoutthefacultyofpatienceorforbearancewillbelikealampwhichemitsnolightandawomanwithoutmodestywillbelikeagoodservedwithoutsalt.

Thereareseventhingswhichifamanperformsthemeritsforthosewillbewrittencontinuouslyinhisfavorevenafterhisdeath:(1)theplantingofatree

(2)doggingawell.(3)diggingacanal(4)buildingamosque(5)writingaQuran(6)leavingbehindaknowledge(invention,discovery,etc.)(7)Leavingbehindagoodcharacterchild,whowillbeseechAllahtoforgivehisparents.

Withholdyouhandfromstrikingandfromtalkingthatwhichisunlawfulandbad.Whosehonorsthelearned,honorsme.

Whatactionsaremostexcellent?–Togladdentheheartofahumanbeing,tofeedthehungry,toholdtheaffliction,tolightenthesorrowofthesorrowfullandtoremovethewrongoftheinjured.

Makepeacebetweenmenwhentheyarefightingandunitewhentheyaredisunited.

Hethatdoesgoodtotheneedy.AllahwilldogoodtohiminthisworldandtheHereafter.

Bepersistentingoodactionsandrefrainfromevilsdeeds.

Ifyouhaveexcessivestrengthdonotinjuretheweak.

Returnsofhandbutrespectableandhonorablelaborofacraftofprofessionthoughsmallinquantityarebetterthanthewealthwhichyoumaymassthroughsinandwickedness.

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