Hussain ibn Ali's legacy is as one of the most important figures in Islam, especially to those of the Shi'a sect (those who believe that Hussain was the rightful caliph and not Yazid). Shi'a Muslims celebrate the 10th day of Muharram, known as Ashura, in remembrance of Hussain's martyrdom, and they use this day to mourn his loss. Although Sunni Muslims do not recognize Hussain as the rightful caliph, there are many who also recognize there is something to be admired in a man who would go up against such odds for his beliefs. This creates an interesting dynamic as Hussain was a large catalyst for the schism of Islam into the major Sunni and Shi'a sects but both groups recognize him as admirable, and throughout Islamic history his martyrdom has been venerated.
To further support Hussain's overwhelming popularity is Yazid's reaction to seeing Hussain's head when it was brought to him to show his fate. Yazid and Hussain had become acquainted through Yazid's father and on seeing the head he is reported to have said, "If there had been any relationship between Ibn Ziyad and al-Hussain then he would not have done this." He referring to Ibn Ziyad, Hussain's killer.
Hussain's ability to bring different groups together also seemed to pass to his head, at least in Fatimid belief. Remember that the Fatimids believed the head moved from Damascus to Ashkelon and finally to Egypt. This movement of the head would have been cross-cultural at least for the movement from Ashkelon to Egypt, as Ashkelon would be best described as an Arab culture at the time whereas Egypt had a culture of its own, and entrusting such an important thing to a different people could be indicative of Islam unifying these different cultures under one identity. According to many scholars this event likely never happened though, and believe the head is still in Karbala with his body. Unsurprisingly, Fatimid belief holds that the head rests in Egypt (the center for their caliphate) and Syrian Muslims believe it to be in Damascus, Syria. Obviously, only one of these stories can be true, but whichever is true, it indicates the same thing: Muslims from all over the Middle East revere Hussain and would feel it an honor to even have his remains.
To further support Hussain's overwhelming popularity is Yazid's reaction to seeing Hussain's head when it was brought to him to show his fate. Yazid and Hussain had become acquainted through Yazid's father and on seeing the head he is reported to have said, "If there had been any relationship between Ibn Ziyad and al-Hussain then he would not have done this." He referring to Ibn Ziyad, Hussain's killer.
Hussain's ability to bring different groups together also seemed to pass to his head, at least in Fatimid belief. Remember that the Fatimids believed the head moved from Damascus to Ashkelon and finally to Egypt. This movement of the head would have been cross-cultural at least for the movement from Ashkelon to Egypt, as Ashkelon would be best described as an Arab culture at the time whereas Egypt had a culture of its own, and entrusting such an important thing to a different people could be indicative of Islam unifying these different cultures under one identity. According to many scholars this event likely never happened though, and believe the head is still in Karbala with his body. Unsurprisingly, Fatimid belief holds that the head rests in Egypt (the center for their caliphate) and Syrian Muslims believe it to be in Damascus, Syria. Obviously, only one of these stories can be true, but whichever is true, it indicates the same thing: Muslims from all over the Middle East revere Hussain and would feel it an honor to even have his remains.
Kathir, Ibn and Ismail Ibn Omar. The Caliphat of Banu Umayyah – the first phase. Riyadh: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam, 2012. Web.
Photograph. Downvids. n.p., 11 Nov 2012. Web. 11 Dec 2014. Photograph. Rubin, Barry. “Sunni versus Shia: The Middle East’s New Strategic Conflict.” Crethiplethi, n.p., 3 Jan 2012. Web. 11 Dec 2014. Photograph. “The Story of Ashura.” Tripod, n.p., Web. 11 Dec. 2014. |