Asbāb nahḍah al-Imām al-Ḥusayn (Reasons behind Imam al-Husayn’s movement), Karbala: al-ʻAbbās’s Holy Shrine, 1434 AH/ 2013. 62 pp.
This is a short treatise written by the academic staff members of the al-Abbas Holy Shrine in Karbala. It sheds light on the nature, context, and development of the epoch-making movement initiated and led by Imam al-Husayn, leading to his tragic martyrdom on Ashura in 61 AH/ 680.
The book indicates that there were a number of reasons why Imam al-Husayn commenced his movement at that historical moment. In short, the Umayyads, and mainly Mu`awiyah and his son, Yazid, suppressed people in general and exerted all sorts of pressure on the followers and adherents of the Ahl al-Bayt. Moreover, they dominated everywhere and contaminated trhe minds of everybody with their anti-Islamic propaganda. In such a context, it was the responsibility of Imam al-Husayn to defend the true Islamic religion, as he was the true leader of the Islamic world. Hence when it comes to defend Islam, it is the leader who pioneers it. This religio-social responsibility was well shouldered by Imam al-Husayn.
In doing so, Imam al-Husayn revived the conduct (sunnah) of the Prophet Muhammad, too. As some people might propose that Imam al-Husayn might not have been informed of his way and the incidents and tragedies that later on happened to him, the book demonstrates that Imam al-Husayn was never entrapped in an unforeseeable situation. Rather he knew well what was going to take place. He only intended to discharge his religious duty toward the Islamic religion and the fundamental tenets of the Holy Quran. In addition to the above, Imam al-Husayn defended the honor of the house of his maternal grandfather, the Prophet Muhammad. Next to highlighting the main achievements of his historic movement, the book pinpoints grave and anti-Islamic misconducts of Yazid, all based on Sunni works and sources.
Though a short publication, it deserves being adopted and translated into various languages to benefit wider readership.
