to be with the Truthful

In the story of Kerbala, we see the 2 paths before us when we are faced with a moral choice. The 2 sides, the heroes & villains, represent to us the two courses - one, to swallow that unease and choose the easy option, wealth, physical comfort, material prosperity & security from immediate, worldly fear... & the other, to stand by the truth - what we know is right - even if it will cause us pain.

In the two sides we see the conclusion, the final result of our choices & the paths they will lead us upon. Through the course of our lives, in small matters or large, we all find ourselves repeatedly at this same fork in the road. We look to the tragedy of Kerbala & in the form of the oppressors & oppressed, we realise the true consequences & conclusions of our deeds. When tempted to the easy path, who amongst us has faced a trial greater than that of Hussein (as)? Who has had a path becon to them, so easy it would secure every worldly comfort at once; and on the other hand, the path of truth lead to every suffering and pain in this life at the hands of men?

We are Hurr, before this image: before the heroes and villains, before the Imam appinted by God and the imams leading us to fire, asking us to choose. Our stance is embodied by the realisation of this one man on the plains of Kerbala, the night before the great tragedy; when he began trembling, seeing himself between heaven and hell at this one choice, deciding not to prefer anything over heaven even if he is cut into pieces and burnt. Will we be able to make this same leap of faith & choose the uphil struggle for truth?


the final call of the Imam (as) echoes over time towards us, waiting for us to decide.

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(c) March 2007