Rafed English

Husain saves the Sanctity of the Great Sanctuary

THE HOLY KA'BA, a Sanctuary, the Holiest of the Holy Places of Islam, a Sanctuary wherein no creature animate or inanimate could be disturbed wherein even a confirmed convict could not be killed, nor even a plant be plucked out. If the sanctity of the Holiest Shrine of Islam be violated by the shedding of the blood of the Holy Imam which was the very blood of the Holy Prophet himself, no security for any one else would be left thereafter, the Holy Ka'ba would cease to be a Sanctuary.

The next day was the day of the pilgrimage and Husain in the interest of the sanctity of the place could remain there no more. The Holy Imam decided to leave the place with his whole caravan, performing the briefer pilgrimage 'Omra' instead of the full pilgrimage, Haj, which could be done only the next day.

People uninformed of the secret plot of Yazid against the life of the Holy Imam, wondering at the surprising decision of Husain to move out of Mecca on the very eve of the Pilgrimage when every muslim rushes to the place and covets to be there, thronged to the Holy Imam enquiring about his mysterious move. Husain replied :-

"This year's Haj I have to perform at Karbala."

When the people asked where the animals of sacrifice were, Husain replied :

"In this Haj I have to offer the sacrifices, not of animals but of my own kith and kin."

Saying this Husain said :

"Do ye like to see my sacrifices?"

Husain called his brother Abbas, his eighteen-year-old son Ali (Ali-e-Akbar), his nephews Qasim, Aun and Muhammad and others. When all these had come and stood before him, Husain said :-

"These are my sacrifices."

Husain left Mecca for Kufa in response to the implorations of the people of the place.

Adapted from the book: "Husain; The Saviour of Islam" by: "S.V. Mir Ahmed Ali"

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