Al-Hussein—Peace be Upon Him

The day of martyrdom of Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, Al-Hussein bin Ali (peace be upon them) – is a day of mourning indeed. On such a day, we think and reflect upon what Al-Hussein has offered to humanity. That imam who rebelled against injustice, who did not accept that his rights would be lost without moving a muscle, who did not accept a reality that was imposed upon him by force and oppression. Knowing that victory would be his ally only in martyrdom, he stood alone before the Umayyad legions and those people of Iraq who betrayed him, thereby giving us one of the most wonderful epics of history. Through his martyrdom, he illuminated the paths of truth, honor, and pride and charted for us all a map for our lives. Unfortunately, that map is not well understood by many of Prophet Mohammed’s nation, so they clash more than they agreed. There is no doubt about the love of Hussein and Aal Al-Bayt—the family members of the Prophet Mohammed. This year, Muharram—the first month of the Hijri calendar—coincided with the anniversary of the brutal Iraqi invasion of our homeland. This is an unforgettable day and we will not allow it to be forgotten. But this does not mean that we should keep the sword of hostility forever drawn against the Iraqi people who suffered, and are still suffering, from the era of the cursed Saddam and his cronies. But the second of August is a sad day in our history for every Kuwaiti, and it will remain so. As I said, we will not forget. We must instill the memory of that day in the hearts of our children and grandchildren so that they know how a man finds himself without a homeland and how we must preserve it through sacrifice and work to raise it. For that reason, we must not let them forget this history. Let us remind them of the unity and solidarity of the Kuwaiti people with all its groups and sects, without instilling enmity and hatred in our future generations. In this month of Muharram, I was pleased to see the hussainiya owners and their clear effort to promote national unity just as I was pleased to see the Sunnis offering their sympathy to their Shiite brothers. (Hussainiya are Shia religious centers used primarily during the month of Muharram for mourning the martyrdom Imam Hussein ibn Ali.)  I was also pleased to see the organization and efforts which the Ministry of Interior took to ensure the security of the hussainiyat and the safety of the mourners. This is Kuwait, these are the people of Kuwait, and the people of Kuwait are a people of friendship, love, and respect. On this occasion, we offer our deepest condolences to our Shiite brothers and pray for mercy for our righteous martyrs. I conclude my article with a most beautiful poem by the Andalusian poet, Abu Al-Baqa Al-Randi. Lamenting the martyrdom of Al-Hussein—peace be upon him—the poet writes:

I refuse, no consolation can help

If Hussein and Karbala are mentioned

So let the soul do what it wants

Crying is saved for such days

Shall Fatima’s family be free of the pain

O Messenger of God, you know how I feel

My tears drench and are bursting

And my heart is in turmoil and agony

For an honorable house purified by wind and sky

I weep for the homes of patience and goodness

In Mecca, Medina, and the Euphrates

Which are Milestones for glory and honors

Now they are departed, and so too

The traces of those who have gone away.

Stay safe.