In the month of Muharram every year, we remember and mourn for what happened to the family of our beloved Prophet—oppression, injustice, and betrayal. The event that changed the course of history and wrote the greatest account illuminates the paths of truth in the darkness of the oppressors. Unfortunately, Muslims did not learn well, did not seek guidance from that account, and started to conflict, divide, and politicize what should not have been politicized. They divided among themselves as some sought to use notions to ignite a conflict led by extremists from both sides.
I learned moderation from my father, may Allah have mercy on him, who did not differentiate between Sunna or Shiaa. I would like to retell a personal experience. Years ago, I went to the Al-Ahsa region (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) motivated by the will to build a mosque for my late father. There was a division project that belonged to one of our wealthy Shiaa brothers, who was requesting a sum of money for allowing us to buy the land. I said to him, “I am going to build a mosque on that land, and you want money for it.” He went off topic and asked me, “What is your relationship to Abdullah Al-Othman, the wealthy benefactor?” I answered him, “He is my father.” He fell silent for a moment and said, “My father and grandfather went through difficult times, and your father hosted them without distinguishing between them and others. Therefore, in appreciation of his kindness, the land for the mosque belongs to him without any charges.”
The purpose of that story is that moderation, tolerance, and accepting others are the basis for coexistence. What my father – may Allah have mercy on him – did eighty years ago with kindness came back to him with goodness, reward, and prayers of mercy.
Through my review of my father’s archive, especially the records of Al-Othman School, which he founded with his brothers Mullah Osman, Mullah Mohammed, and Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Othman in the thirties of the last century, I was always struck by the diversity and variety of the names of the students registered in it, regardless of their sects. Whenever I reviewed my father’s accounting records, I saw his support for the mosques and Hussainiyat of our Shiite brothers. My father was a religious man, a teacher, and an imam of Qasr Naif Mosque for many years. He also taught the Maliki doctrine and was keen to participate with our Shiite brothers in their condolence councils. Our love for our Prophet and his household is undeniable, and in this context, I cite what Imam Al-Shafi’i wrote – may Allah have mercy on him – of clear content verses.”
My heart sighs, and my soul is sad.
My sleep is restless, and wakefulness is strange
And my sleep has been denied, and gray hair has appeared.
The vicissitudes of days have their own fate.
So who shall deliver my message about Al-Hussein,
even though some may dislike it.
He was slaughtered without guilt, as if his shirt,
was dyed the darkest purple.
The sword is a killer, and the lance rings,
Horses wail after whinnying.
The earth shook for the family of Muhammad,
The hard mountains almost melted for them.
The stars were jealous, and planets trembled.
Covers were torn, and hearts were broken.
Praying for the messenger of the family of Hashim,
Then attack his sons—how strange!
If my sin was loving the family of Muhammad,
That is a sin I will not repent of.
They are my intercessors on the day of judgment.
when my deeds are presented to the onlookers.
And on another side, he said:
O passenger, stop at the Muzdalifah of Mina.
And call out to those sitting and standing in fear,
Like magic when the pilgrims overflow to Mina,
A flood, like the overflowing water of the Euphrates River.
And from the poetry of Imam Shafi’i, also:
O family of the Messenger of Allah, your love is
a duty from Allah in the Quran that He sent.
It is enough for you to take great pride in that.
“Whoever does not send peace upon you has no prayer.”
“In conclusion, we offer our deepest condolences to our Shiaa brothers, as it is impossible for a day to pass without sadness enveloping us all on the martyrdom of the Prophet’s grandson. This Kuwait and its people are known for their love, compassion, and unity in times of sorrow and joy.”
Stay Safe.