Dear Kisa,
The days and nights of ʿazādārīi (mourning) are quickly leaving. How can I incorporate the message of Imām Ḥusayn (ʿa) in my life all year long?
Sincerely,
Missing the Message
Dear Missing the Message,
ʿAzādārī (mourning) for Imām Ḥusayn (ʿa) and the embodiment of his message is not confined to the months of Muḥarram and Ṣafar alone. They should extend throughout the year, uplifting us, bringing us consistently closer to Allah (swt), and guiding our decisions as we strive to improve ourselves. Here are three practical ways to hold on to and carry the message of Imām Ḥusayn (ʿa) forward through the year.
- Keep the Majālis (Religious Gatherings) Central to Your Life
One of the most meaningful ways to keep the message of Imām Ḥusayn (ʿa) alive is to ensure that you are constantly reminded of it. You can achieve this by regularly participating in majālis, either online or at your local masjid or Islamic center, where the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (ʿa) are shared. Mourning Imām Ḥusayn (ʿa) in such a way that the tragedy of Karbalāʾ is collectively commemorated and shared with others is crucial to keeping our hearts softened and receptive to what he sacrificed his life for.
Imām ʿAlī ar-Riḍā (ʿa) has said, “The one for whom the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ is a day of tragedy, grief and weeping, Allah The Mighty, The Glorious, shall make the Day of Judgment, a day of joy and happiness for him.” (1)
- Distancing Yourself from What is Against the Message of Imām Ḥusayn (ʿa)
Sometimes, we try to implement actions in our lives that align with the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (ʿa), but we either do not see a spiritual change or cannot be consistent with it. There can be many reasons for this, but one is that we have not yet purified our lives from those things that distance us from the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (ʿa). These behaviors can include listening to music, not paying attention in prayer or taking the daily prayers lightly, looking at things that are ḥarām (forbidden), not adopting the ḥijāb appropriately (physical and social for both men and women), backbiting, lying, etc. Once we take steps to lessen and remove these acts from our lives, we can then begin to experience more transformative changes guided by the message of the Ahlul Bayt (ʿa)
- Consistency of Action
Choosing 1-3 actions you wish to implement to bring you closer to Allah (swt) is key to your spiritual progress. Do not overburden yourself, but instead, choose a couple of actions that you know, with motivation, you can stay consistent with. Examples of actions can include:
- Reciting and reflecting on one page of the Noble Qurʾān a day
- Trying your best to perform your daily prayers on time
- Reading and reflecting on Islamic books to help increase your knowledge
The key here is consistency, not quantity or grandiosity.
In the Noble Qurʾān, Sūrah al-Isrāʾ (17), Verse 19, Allah (swt) says,
Whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it with an endeavour worthy of it, should he be faithful,—the endeavour of such will be well-appreciated.
With consistency in action, a distancing from that which is undesirable, and a focus on the mourning of Imām Ḥusayn (ʿa) throughout the year, inshāʾAllāh you can have a year that brings you closer to Allah (swt) and his beloved Ahlul Bayt (ʿa). Remember, every small step you take towards aligning your life with the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (ʿa) is a step towards a more spiritually fulfilling life.
Sincerely,
Kisa
(1) ʿAllāmah Majlisī, Biḥār al-Anwār, Vol. 44, P.. 284