Lessons from Muharram and Ashoura for Singapore Muslims
December 17th, 2009 | 
Author: By Hurr Riyahi
There are two important religious occasions coming up for Muslims. The first is the start of a new year in the Islamic Hijri Calender. The first month of Islamic Calender is called Muharram. Muslims typically refer to the start of the new Hijri year as coming of Muharram. The second occasion is Ashoura which is on the tenth of Muharram. Both occasions saw numerous events occurring in the Prophetic tradition. Hence these two occasions signify a retreat or flight from oppression, falsehood and injustice towards justice, truth, fairness and freedom. The two sacred occasions also signify turning away from helplessness, aggression and violence to standing steadfast with courage, faith and hope resiliently.
Muharram or rather the Islamic Calender itself started when Prophet Muhammad migrated from his birthplace of Mecca to Medina. He was given the divine command to flee Mecca from the pagans who had issued a price for his head and were hunting to kill him. Till then while he preached monotheism in Mecca for years, he was ostracized, verbally and physically abused by his pagan tribesmen. They also offered him position, wealth and women to give up his message. He did not succumb to any political threats nor was he tempted by whatever they lured him with.
He could have retaliated during that period but since he did not get any divine command to do so and therefore he refrained from retaliation and instead patiently persevered. After a long time of test and tribulation that he and his companions endured, he received divine command to migrate to Medina. This symbolises the flee to freedom from injustice and oppression. It wasnt a permanent flight and so it was not running away in cowardice. Instead he came back to take over Mecca without bloodshed after a period in Medina.
Hence the message of Muharram for Singapore Muslims just like for all Muslims is they should seek a new beginning in freedom from oppression, injustice and unfairness and till that beginning comes they must patiently endure with hope and resilience and without relenting an inch to the oppressors. That steadfast sense of endurance will be far superior than helplessly resorting to retaliation and confrontation.
Ashura is the second occasion that takes place on the tenth day of the month of Muharram. There are a lot prophetic events that took place on this day. For instance Moses escaped from Pharoah on this day when the sea was split with his shaft and Abraham was rescued on this day from the fire that was created by the tyranical king Nimrod to destroy him. It symbolises how God can save someone from the the most wicked, cruel and unjust humans using methods beyond the imagination of the victimised and oppressed one. If the victims or oppressed are pushed to the edge of the sea, the one that will drown will be the oppressor.
Ashura is also the day in history when the Prophet’s grandson Hussein was killed in battle in Karbala (present day Iraq). The ruling Muslim King, Yazid, wanted Hussein to give his allegiance to him. However Yazid was an oppressive and corrupt king. Hussein refused. The people asked Hussein to group together and wage a war against Yazid and depose him. Hussein refused saying he does not want divisions. He wanted peace at all costs. He fled and Yazid sent his army after Hussein. The army besieged Hussien and committed all kinds of attrocities such as denying him and his camp any access to water. All Yazid wanted was allegiance from Hussein but his army was so determined to get that that they exceeded their own consiousness and decided to cruelly force Hussein to submit. Hussein refused and he was killed by Yazid’s army. They also tortured his body.
This event symbolises the fight for freedom, peace and truth is far supreme and heavenly than fighting for position in this world. Hussein was fighting for truth, peace, justice and freedom. Yazid was fighting for his position in this world. Hussein lost the worldly battle but won the heavenly battle. Yazid won the worldly battle but lost the heavenly battle. If life ended only in this world, we all can be Yazid. But since there is life after death, we need to be Hussein.
This event also saw the army being so steadfast in fulfilling the vision of Yazid that they exceeded themselves.
This symbolises man’s vulnerability to exceed himself when he pursues an ill objective of his leaders. The message that Singapore Muslims need to learn from this event is that those within government service, police, army, intelligence agencies etc need to reflect on which of their leaders objective is truthful and just and which are ill and unjust. They need to only fulfill the former. If they seek to fulfill the latter they will exceed their limits as humans and loose themselves eternally.
Within the battle of Karbala, there is another interesting personality, Hurr. (Please read the full story here http://www.shariati.com/horr.html). Hurr was one of the important commanders of the army of Yazid. On the day of battle of Karbala, he crossed over to Hussein side and he was the first to charge towards Yazid army and he was the first to fall. Why did he cross over? Before that day while he was part of Yazid’s army that besieged Hussein and his camp, he was reflecting on all the attrocities and wrongs that his army was doing. He realised his army was wrong and unjust. He consulted his peers and the commander of his army and all gave the same reply that they simply were following the law. They all agreed what they were doing was not the most appropriate but they have to do so in order to be dutiful and fulfil the orders of Yazid.
Hurr could not accept the law was just. If he had stayed in his army he will definitely been the victor as his army outnumber Hussein’s small camp. Hurr will have been given the worldy gifts and glories if he had stayed. But the name of Hurr itself means free. In the spirit of his name, he wanted to be free from wrongdoings and injustice of oppressors. He did not want to be part of any oppression. He did not want any blood on his hands. He crossed over even though that is only going to bring earthly defeat. He knew his victory is beyond that.
Singapore Muslims on this sacred occassion of Muharram and Ashura need to
1) run towards freedom, break free
2) never give in to oppressors, tyrants and cruel people and leaders
3) never give up hope for freedom and peace and boldy stand up resiliently using non-violence to oppression
4) never fulfill the ill objectives of your leaders. reflect and see if they are just and truthful
5) always cross over to the side of truth and freedom if you realise you are on the side of falsehood and injustice and oppression
6) work for a new beginning and start that with freedom
There are two groups of people who ignore Muharram and Ashura. Firstly religious radicals. They do not believe in perserverence, nor non-confrontation nor retaliation. They do not believe in patience. They obviously do not believe in freedom. The second group who ignore Muharram and Ashura are the secularcrats. They only believe in worldly benefit. They will succumb to any political pressures. They love worldly benefit. Truth, justice, fairness etc are immaterial to them. Only material things matter to them. Singapore Muslims should avoid falling into the dishonourable ranks of these people.
Posted in 
a far different but positive message than the usual “malay community must do more, must change, must reform, must blah blah” blame game message put out by malay leaders
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http://www.islamicity.com/recognitions/HoustonBelief/muharam.htm
Human rights celebrated during Muharram
By BARBARA KARKABI COPYRIGHT 2009 HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Jan. 23, 2009, 4:27PM
Mayra Beltran Chronicle
In many people’s minds, Hussein became a martyr, a man who died for his beliefs and is now considered an early human rights advocate, sometimes comparing him to Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi.
“The governments of the world are often against the people of the world it seems,” Bilgrami said. “But if you protest, you shouldn’t have to die for it.”
Over the centuries, Muharram and Ashura became a way that Shia Muslims renewed their faith, he said.
This year Ashura fell on Jan. 7, and Bilgrami joined the annual march held in downtown Houston for the last 15 years. The black-clad crowd, who tapped their chests with closed fists, a sign of mourning, seemed bigger this year. Many in the crowd were praying for a cease-fire in the recent Gaza conflict that started in late December and killed more than 1,000 people.
In years past, marchers prayed for the fall of Saddam Hussein and others who violated human rights.
“During Muharram, we go to the mosque and listen to the stories,” said Naz Bilgrami. “It’s a carryover from then, because how would we know if (his sister) hadn’t told their story? It’s amazing that it even now applies to what is going on in the world.”
In an article published on the Web site IslamiCity.com, Dawud Walid reminds readers that: Muslims should not only pray for the people of Gaza, but remember that “Muslims must always stand for the truth and justice and resist falsehood and oppression even when committed by Muslims … ”
Prayers, he added, should be made for thousands of Muslims killed by other Muslims in Darfur. American Muslims should also be praying for and helping the poor and suffering in the inner city.
The first 10 days of the month are the most intense. Besides prayers, programs and lectures are given in Urdu, Arabic and English.
After the first 10 days, people also gather in homes for discussions, Bilgrami said.
At the Al-Hadi School of Accelerative Learning, attached to the Islamic Education Center, principal Sami Hijazi said the children traditionally reenact Ashura’s events, but also discuss modern-day issues.
“We talk about those who are being oppressed and those who are oppressors,” Hijazi said. He wants students to connect with the poor in this country, too.
In the past few months, high school students have gathered on Saturdays to put together bags of food and clothes for the homeless. Their efforts double during the month of Muharram, he said.
“We ask the children to come up with solutions and ways to help others,” Hijazi said. “The message of Hussein is to stand for freedom and justice and for those less fortunate. There are many different ways to do that.”
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Human rights celebrated during Muharram
By BARBARA KARKABI COPYRIGHT 2009 HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Jan. 23, 2009, 4:27PM
Mayra Beltran Chronicle
In many people’s minds, Hussein became a martyr, a man who died for his beliefs and is now considered an early human rights advocate, sometimes comparing him to Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi.
…….
“The governments of the world are often against the people of the world it seems,” Bilgrami said. “But if you protest, you shouldn’t have to die for it.”
……
This year Ashura fell on Jan. 7, and Bilgrami joined the annual march held in downtown Houston for the last 15 years.
……
Many in the crowd were praying for a cease-fire in the recent Gaza conflict that started in late December and killed more than 1,000 people.
In years past, marchers prayed for the fall of Saddam Hussein and others who violated human rights.
….
In an article published on the Web site IslamiCity.com, Dawud Walid reminds readers that: Muslims should not only pray for the people of Gaza, but remember that “Muslims must always stand for the truth and justice and resist falsehood and oppression even when committed by Muslims … ”
……
Prayers, he added, should be made for thousands of Muslims killed by other Muslims in Darfur. American Muslims should also be praying for and helping the poor and suffering in the inner city.
…..
…..
“We talk about those who are being oppressed and those who are oppressors,” Hijazi said. He wants students to connect with the poor in this country, too.
….
In the past few months, high school students have gathered on Saturdays to put together bags of food and clothes for the homeless. Their efforts double during the month of Muharram, he said.
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Human rights celebrated during Muharram
By BARBARA KARKABI COPYRIGHT 2009 HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Jan. 23, 2009, 4:27PM
Mayra Beltran Chronicle
In many people’s minds, Hussein became a martyr, a man who died for his beliefs and is now considered an early human rights advocate, sometimes comparing him to Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi.
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very good article! although i am non-muslim and non-christian, i believe this applies to everybody as its message is universal.
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
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Human rights celebrated during Muharram
By BARBARA KARKABI COPYRIGHT 2009 HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Jan. 23, 2009, 4:27PM
Mayra Beltran Chronicle
http://www.islamicity.com/recognitions/HoustonBelief/muharam.htm
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Although I am Sunni muslim I have deep respect for shias who show a lot of sadness on Muharram.
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TR with the greatest respect to my muslim brothers is this the place for religious comments???soon we will have christians with their soul saving,buddhists with their kamar and sutras from the hindus.(no offence, humble apologies if I did)
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for the last 50 years, PAP turned discussion about politics, religion and race into taboo topics. just because of the conflicts that arose in early days and days earlier to PAP’s rule in politics, religion and race does not mean one must stop talking about such stuff to prevent further conflicts. 50 years has shown that is not the case. we still have had our fair deal of conflicts.
common sense will show that what needs to be done is discuss politics, religion and race in a more positive way, in a more civilized way, in a more respectful way. as we go along doing that mistakes WILL happen and what need to be done is to ensure those who err learn from it and they dont repeat.
because Singapore society caved in to the ludicrous demands of PAP to quit discussion into these kinds of topics, instead of taking the civilized and evolutionary approach described above which other civilised societies have taken or trying to take, today Singaporeans can either keep total silence or say yes wholesale to everything or argue in an ugly manner or be hegemonistic when topics involving religoin, politics and race arise.
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Singaporeobserver:-
I would agree totally if the sensitive subjects were discussed in a rational or matured way and that has nothing to do with PAP or their ludicrous demands.
The bigotry, derogatory and sometimes racists comments are fodder for the irrational and immature and not forgetting the “holier than thou” to have a field day and that is what worries me.Should you feel otherwise,be my guest I can live with it.
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peterL
you are right.
thats why we should promote dialogue on politics, race and religion. the reason why we actually see “the bigotry, derogatory and sometimes racists comments are fodder for the irrational and immature and not forgetting the “holier than thou”…….” so prevalently in the dialogue amongst singaporeans when they talk about politics, race and religion is because they have been told to keep quiet on these topics and they really have little sense on how to hold a discussion on these topics.
i have seen singaporeans in so many instances physically fighting over even other issues such as family issues that should be resolved through dialogue. so what? should we ban families or family issues haa… i have seen singaporeans punching each other over who was the first to get to the seat at hawker centre, or the basketball court etc etc. so what? do we ban sports?….
the problem here is not politicics, race or religion. its the incapacity of singaporeans to be able to talk. hence the remedy is we gotto teach the art of dialogue
and as i mentioned, there has to be a starting point to promote dialogue. secondly as we go along we need to expose how people in civilised world talk about all these topics in a civilised way. thirdly show to them how even within the civilised world when some people cross the line how it is managed.
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if you think i am wrongfully blaming PAP for Singaporeans’ inability to talk, let me illustrate to you with the following scenario
i have seen this kind of things happening so many times. Friend A comes from a culture, environment and affluent social background where he has been told to ask few questions, not clarrify things, just listen and follow etc. (here the influence is not government but culture, environement etc). when Friend A ends up in airport and finds the flight cancelled due to strike, no alternative booking available for 2 weeks, no compensation for the expensive ticket, no hotel accomodation etc. if Friend A is a timid natured person, he/she wont say anything but sit down and cry and break down. if Friend A is a hot tempered person, though he/she wont say anything during normal circumstance (as he/she is trained not to ask questions, clarrify etc) but in this pushy circumstance will flare up, hurl vulgarities and basically just snap in an ugly manner.
then i have friend B who comes from a culture that encourages him/her to be independent, be respectful etc etc. when Friend B gets stuck in that situation, Friend B will neither break down or snap. He/she will calmly and sternly and patiently work out something even if it may take several hours of negotiation.
have you ever seen singaporeans being able to negotiate? compromise? they only know how to ONLY PULL or ONLY GIVE WAY… they dont know how to pull and give way together… its an art.. a skill.. a sense… that needs development
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Singaporeobserver:-
I fully agree an individual will react according to his/her temperaments irrespective of the issue or circumstances.
My concern is the two most sensitive issue at hand is race & religion where it can be blown out of proportion and the majority or minority may feel marginalized or superior as is the case of neighbouring countries.
I may be wrong but but hopefully not as I dread to see the ugliness of race or religion being used to prove a point.
With the greatest respect to all concern,it is better to be right than sorry.
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PeterL:
you are right to point out that race & religion does get blown out of proportion in neighbouring countries particularly Malaysia. You can also see that in recent years that political issues also gets blown out of proportion in Thailand and Malaysia…
the solution is not reducing freedom in discussion of these issues. its the freedom that causes these problems. it people not being able to deal with these issues appropriately and in a measured way.
now if the freedom to discuss these issues is removed altogether like in singapore (well whatever freedom that we have now to discuss politics, race or religion is so superficial), then you create a pent up situation that will erupt in highly charged events like JI organising attacks, Fateha.com becoming confrontational, etc.
so in either way (if you remove or give freedom) things WILL blow out of proportion unless if the society is educated on effective and appropriate communication.
i have taken part in issues outside singapore in the civilised world that is where the issues had nothing to do with politics, religion or race… it was industrial relations actually. the issues were so serious… if it is singapore, people will have been killing each other led by the politicians sending in tanks. yet it was resolved with not a single fight. every step and every stage of how the issue was handled had clear requirements as to how each should behave.
for instance there is an unwritten rule in many countries i have visited that one MUST accept the views of the next person even if they were to not believe it or like it. they simply have to accept it as the view of the other person. they must also listen to it.
now in singapore you dont have such an unwritten rule. instead the unwritten rule here is dont tell things i dont want to hear. thats the attitude of politicians towards everyone else. thats the attitude of employers towards employees. thats the attitude of supervisors towards subordinates. thats the attitude of singaporeans towards each other.
some morons will claim its Asian way which isnt true at all. its just the Singaporean way since 1959.
now the second unwritten rule is that nobody must use aggression towards someone they dont like. its a civilised rule.
there are also actual laws that prevent harrassment (anti-harrassment laws).
in singapore you see people using aggression and harrassment when they get angry at someone who said something they dont like to hear. the PAP politicians use all forms of aggressions and harrassment on those who said things that they dont like to hear e.g.. civil suits, criminal charges, ISD detention without trial, income tax harrassment, denial of job and other opportunities, denial of permits etc etc
you also see the same attitude between employers and employees, supervisors and subordinates, even colleagues, neighbours (the notorious chans), the list goes on
what we need is to teach singaporeans how to behave and communicate in a civilised way. without that, even if we have freedom or no freedom to discuss key issues in our lives, things will explode no matter what
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Singaporeobserver-
Fully agree with you the need to teach our young and Y generation to behave and communicate in a civilized way (especially the 59′ and 65′ generation.That is tough part)
Ours is young country it took the western civilization hundreds of years to achieve the civilized state they are in today.USA 250 years,women and civil rights arrived in early 1930s and 1960s respectively.Europe, they are way ahead and Japan after or during the Meiji civilization.
1959 was when we started,1965 was when we became a Nation all told only 50 years to reach this level today is not too bad,don’t you agree bro?
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we never started in 1959 or 1965. we were around much longer since even before 1819.
at one time in 13th century we were a vassal state of Majapahit empire. since then till 1819 we were part of Johor sultanate largely or independent state. from 1819 till 1963s we were part of malaya as a colony of Britain. from 1963-65 we were part of independent malaysia. from 1965 we have been an independent state. these are changing political situations. we may be a young nation, but we are not a young society.
as people we existed far before 1959 or 1965. political changes are not the starting point for us to judge our society. the concept of nation state is so new and so transitionary. it may end in 100 years time as many analysts predict.
if we have to judge our age as people by how old the political circumstances then when PAP fall some day and multi party democracy take over, then those politicians will re-start the evolution clock from then and claim “oh well before that we were under an autocracy”.
so if we evaluate our society as Singapore society, i dont think we have fared well. we were more civilised pre 1959 era since perhaps the late 1800s.
when the chinese came to singapore in the post-1819, they came as coolies, indulged in opium. prostitution was rife to serve the coolies. lodgings were pathetic and food was whatever that could be found within the budget. the chinese also were so insecure, they were largely divided amongst secret societies. now those realities changed drastically by 1900s. chinese society became far more family based. opium was common only in some segments of society. schools were starting and kids were being sent to those schools. so many positive social changes were happening.
as for the malays in singapore who lived as more than mere orang lauts, life got a lot more sophisticated by end of 19th century. as for indians, they were getting more into commerce and were not so actively setting up their families and instead still hoping to retire in india. but their society also reached much sophistication by end of 19th century.
between 1900s-1950s, Singaporeans underwent massive shocks such as depression and the two world wars. but by 1950s Singapore was a sophisticated society. Tenku Abdul Rahman envisioned it to be the New York of Malaya as it was as vibrant, cultural and sophisticated as an Asian New York. it was an economic success by then. it also became an important hub of the global shipping supply route.
Singapore had about 50-60 newspapers. There were 23 languages spoken but mostly in chinese and indian related languages. There were like more than 20 political parties. There were so much harmony despite certain adverse events. That is phenomenal achievement considering Singapore had such low literacy then.
Today our literacy is not as high as developed world but around an okay 93%-95%. yet if you see how people communicate in political circles, in families, in workplaces, in inter-racial spaces, in commercial spaces, in ethnic spaces, in whatever else space, as long as there is no issue, everyone is ok with one another. the moment there is an issue, i have far rarely seen two singaporeans been able to handle it positively through communication alone.
You wont get that in pre 1959 era. Singaporeans then were bold but were far more civilised. today i see them behaving more like the singapore society during 1819-1850s.
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Many thanks for a history lesson before our self rule/independence circa 1959-1965.What happen before the 2nd world war or even after and city council rules I am not aware as I was not a witness to that period.
I witness a period starting 1950 when Singapore had non aircon buses but rickety Tay Koh Yat, Green Bus,Hock Lee and STC where we push and jostled to get on board some even hanging on for dear life, no waiting in line or ladies first, give way to the elderly or the pregnant lady which was a common sight with a baby in arms and a further three maybe four in tow.That is the civilization I saw in the early 50s before our self rule and independence.
The filthy black stinking Rochore river,Singapore River and Serangoon river where dead pigs and dogs floating along is a common sight.That is the civilization I saw.Trash pile high with hygiene the last thing on their mind to hawk their food by the roadside, wayside, and flies for company not counting the spitting and peeing.That is the civilization I saw.
Pasar Malay,Hokkien the dominant chinese dialect,Teochew,Cantonese,Hainanese,Hakka, Hock Chew,not forgetting Mandarin, Tamil and the priviledge English speaking colonial masters with their favoured Pernakans & Eurasians (no offence meant).A melting pot of language and dialects where education level at Standard six,seven or eight is considered an achievement.That is the civilization I saw.
Bold and far more civilized than today??? Sorry bro give me today anytime.
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PeterL:
you are talking about better living conditions. being civilised is about behaviour and conduct
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singaporeobserver-
The two seem to run parallel,maybe I am wrong bro but do you come from a privilege society during my era i.e. Tanglin,Emarald Hill area,Serangoon Garden,Katong and not the slums of Chinatown,Red Hill(ang sua)Geylang lorongs, the people differ and so does their behaviour and conduct.
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