Upon the remembrance of Ashura, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Badawi remarked in his book:
“But the Nusayris believe that Al-Husayn did not die, rather he disappeared like Jesus, son of Mary.”
This accusation is yet another fabrication from those writers whose sole purpose is to slander this community, even when their lies are exposed for all to see. To this, I—and every Alawite—respond:
On this day, the greatest calamity in Islamic history occurred; the most tragic catastrophe among Muslims; a horrific disaster that shook the Arab world.
On this day, the martyrdom of Imam Al-Husayn ibn Ali took place. His death was not a battle or a conventional war; it was a gruesome massacre of the Prophet’s family and descendants. Al-Husayn and those with him from that pure household were surrounded from all sides by a tyrannical and brutal multitude. They were denied food and water for days. And when starvation and thirst had nearly claimed them, their enemies rained arrows upon them, hurled stones, struck with swords, and pierced with spears.
When the noble martyrs fell, their heads were severed, and their bodies trampled beneath the hooves of charging horses—forward and back. The bellies of children were slit open, and the tents of the women were set ablaze. Those murderers could have simply returned Al-Husayn and his companions to their homeland, but hatred and spite prevailed—hatred rooted in the days of ignorance toward Muhammad, Ali, and the children of Ali. The grudges born at Badr led them to kill Al-Husayn and carry his sacred head on a spear to the palace of the tyrant Yazid in Damascus.
It was that same hatred which emerged from Yazid’s own mouth as he held the blessed head in front of him, reciting:
“If only my forefathers at Badr had witnessed
"The fierce battle among warriors, on the field bristling with spears."
They would have cried in joy and shouted aloud:
‘O Yazid, may your hands never be paralyzed!’
We have killed the noble chief of their leaders,
And thus avenged Badr—balance has been restored!” [Poetry]
This, in brief, is what an Alawite believes regarding the tragedy of Karbala. So how could anyone who holds this belief ever claim that Al-Husayn did not die?
Rather, Imam Al-Husayn was indeed martyred at Karbala. He is the Master of Martyrs, and he lives with his Lord, as Allah Almighty says: Do not think of those who are killed in the way of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision. (Qur’an 3:169)
And He also says: And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein. And the wrath and curse of Allah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him. (Qur’an 4:93)
So what then of one who killed the master of the believers and the grandson of the Messenger of the Lord of the Worlds?
And yet, there are those who dare to justify this heinous crime with flimsy arguments, claiming: “He exercised personal judgment (ijtihad) and erred, so he is rewarded!”
Let anyone of sound reason reflect: what kind of jurisprudence is this—so wide and so elastic—that it is used to justify atrocities?
I am truly astonished: from where did Dr. Al-Badawi bring such a claim, one that so clearly contradicts both truth and reality?
It is none other than detestable fanaticism that has torn the Muslim ummah apart and made them adversaries of one another.
We seek refuge in Allah from deviation and misguidance after having received guidance and certainty.
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