Fourteen Centuries of the Same Mentality: Defending Yazid, Denying Hussain

As an observer, I am not surprised that some people do not hesitate to label Imam Hussain (AS) a 'rebel.' The reason is that even back then, many people used religious edicts as a shield to first declare the Prophet’s grandson a 'rebel' and then proceed to martyr him. Fourteen centuries have passed, yet the same mentality, the same actions, and the same ideology persist. People prefer to drown rather than board Hussain’s ark of salvation.

Apologies are being presented for Yazid as if he were closer to the Prophet than Hussain, or superior to him in knowledge, action, wisdom, piety, courage, or dignity. Yet, these people know and admit that Yazid was in no way better than Hussain. In every respect and circumstance, Hussain’s honor and stature were far superior. The reason for this revisionism is clear: the hostility toward the Prophet’s family existed back then—which is why they martyred Hussain and his companions—and that same hostility continues to this day.

I believe these people are suffering from a form of religious despair. They have been taught the history of a certain family in such a way that, despite having no relation to the Prophet, this family is portrayed as noble, and some of its figures are placed on par with, or even above, Ali and his descendants.

Everyone knows that the members of the Prophet's Ahlulbayt are superior in every way. They are the Sabiqoon (the first to embrace Islam), the Raki'oon (those who gave Zakat while bowing in prayer), the Sajidoon (those who attained martyrdom in prostration), the Aalimoon (those who represent the saying: 'I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate'), and the Mujahidoon (those who fought most in the way of God, with Badr, Uhud, Khandaq, and Khaybar as shining examples). No one else has ever been awarded these titles.

Then how can Hussain’s actions be called rebellion, and why is it fashionable to harbor sympathy for Yazid? When you examine the facts, you don't feel shock; you feel sorrow. You realize this is nothing but pure hatred for the family of Muhammad. In God’s system of justice, their leader should be Yazid, not a great figure like Hussain.

Therefore, the real tragedy is not just what happened in the past, but that instead of honoring these holy figures, division is being sown among Muslims today, and the task of deepening sectarian differences is being carried out with zeal. May God grant such people wisdom, consciousness, and the ability to recognize the true status of the Prophet’s family.