The Ustad says: “Yesterday a young man had asked me a question so I shall mention a point here with reference to that same query. In fact, I have never insisted that the sufferings of Ahl al-Bayt (A) should be recited at the end of every Majlis.

If the talk is at a point from where I can move forward in another direction, I don’t narrate the sufferings: but in most of the speeches, especially during the mourning season, I make it a point to mention some account of sorrow, however brief it may be.

This young man had asked me if there was any necessity and benefit of narrating the sufferings? If our aim is to revive the School of Al-Husayn (A), is it necessary to recount the tragedy of Karbala? I told him: Yes, it is something that the Holy Imams (A) have commanded us and there is a philosophy behind this.

If there is no warmth of true emotions in a school of thought and it is merely a collection of dry ideas and principles, it will not affect the souls of the people and it will not endure forever. However if a school has the power to warm up the hearts and pull the people towards itself, this same attraction keeps that school alive. The philosophy of a school plays a basic role in propagating that school and it bestows speech to it: that it makes it talk.

Doubtlessly, the school of Al-Husayn is a school whose philosophy fires the emotions and that is why it survives to this day. We have to understand this philosophy and appreciate it. If we present this life-creating school as merely a school of thought, the flame of this school which imparts a tongue to human emotions, will be gradually extinguished and this school will become outdated and useless. That is why we must continue to recount the sufferings of Karbala.”

The deep insight and comprehensive understanding of this learned scholar is apparent from the above statements. Indeed, the narration of the sufferings of Imam Ali (A), Imam Al-Husayn (A), Imam al-Hasan (A) or Lady Az-Zahra (s.a.) touches human emotions and it bestows speech to these emotions. People obtain warmth from the flame of these emotions and these emotions rekindle in them perception of responsibility and understanding, to protect which, we must always endeavor.

Ja‘far Salihan
3 Shawwal 1420 A. H.