Myth and Mythology of Events
By Rashid Samnakay, New Age Islam
November 28, 2012
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK) is considered an American hero and perhaps half the world considers him as a hero too, for having ‘confronted and taken on’ the villain Nikita Khrushchev of Soviet Union, in the events of the so called Cuban Missile Crisis in nineteen sixty two. Soon after this he was shot in Dals-Texas.
The confrontation was because the Soviets had planned, in agreement with Cubans and had initiated construction sites for launching nuclear missiles aimed at US. The crisis came to a head when the USSR tried to bring in ships carrying nuclear missiles to the site for the purpose.
What was given out was that under US threat of military action to stop the ships from reaching Cuba, Khrushchev ordered the turnaround of the ships, and thus one of the greatest threats to mankind was averted. Humanity was saved and JFK thus joined the company of legends in his life time, although there were no such legends alive then. The hero’s somewhat tarnished image due to The USA’s failed invasion of Bay of Pigs a year ago was fully restored.
What was not given out to the world then, the reason why USSR had to create the Crisis. As it transpired latter the USA had placed intermediate range ballistic missiles (IRBM) in Turkey and Italy aimed at USSR; two of the NATO members countries. The crisis ended with the USA agreeing to remove these weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), from there!
Every dark cloud they say has a silver lining and so too in those dark cloudy days of cold war, was the creation of the Moscow–Washington “hotline” for direct telephone link with Moscow and Washington, D.C to prevent accidental nuclear war.
What is important to note that good sense prevailed on both sides, obviously very much depended on advice given and taken for the correct action, for the benefit of the world at large.
But even today to discuss critically such stuff of legends is fraught with the danger of raising ire in many quarters, when historic events have taken the form of firm belief, almost like that of a religion. Anything that the media therefore puts out is swallowed hook line and sinker by most people and it becomes part of the myth and mythology. Will the above event turn into Rama and Ravana legend in few centuries to come? Not likely, at least not till the pontiff anoints JFK, a Catholic, posthumously as a saint.
One such historic event for Muslims is the momentous event of Karbala and Imam Hussein bin Ali’s death, accompanied by about seventy of his supporters and family members, including an infant child at the hands of the army of Yazeed, the son of Muawiyah, considered a villain . This occurred only about fifty years after Rasulluah’s death around sixty one Hijri.
Prior to this tragic event a similar situation had emerged, when Imam Hassan bin Ali confronted Muawiyah to challenge his grab for power. Imam Ali the fourth Khalifa had appointed his son Hassan to take over after his death. That occurred at the hands of an assassin!
Advice and wise counselling that was given and accepted by Imam Hassan and perhaps his own acumen and concern for the nation, in withdrawing the challenge had averted a catastrophic period of tragedy for the Muslims that was to be experienced later in Imam Hussein’s case. For the simple reason that may seem to be a stubborn insistence for Khilafat, against overwhelming odds. It resulted in his and the family and friends’ loss of lives at Karbala!
This is recorded in history to be against the advice of many of his sincere advisors and friends, including his brother Aqil bin Ali.
Aqil was sent by Imam Hussein to Iraq to assess the real situation there. He reported initially as being favourable for Imam Hussein to come to Iraq; but soon found out that the promised support was bought over by the incumbent. Aqil then strongly urged his brother not to come. In the process Aqil lost his own life and of those who gave him protection against the ruling State.
Thus the historic event has not only become catastrophic acrimonious schism among Muslims but also a major religious legend celebrated till today. The martyrdom of Imam Hussein is commemorated for the first ten days in the month of Muharram by almost all the Muslim world, with such passion that surpasses even the “Passion of Jesus Christ”. Can’t it be questioned as to whether Imam Hussein was emulating Christ’s example of facing Pontius Pilate for certain death?
It is not to argue here the merit or demerit and as to who was right and who was wrong, since it cannot be decided now after fourteen centuries of acrimonious debate, with no irrefutable new historic evidence to help arrive at a conclusion!
The time frame is an important factor; as some considerable number of people were present who had direct contact during their impressionable young age with Muhammad the Messenger. Thus the main actors in the saga involved, were the remnant ‘first string of companions’ of the Messenger and declared as ‘blessed’ in Quran.
The time frame affords us a platform to analyze history as known commonly and believed, and in the light of Quran and compare the two distinctly opposite but important decisions taken by the two brothers, esteemed figures of the nation, in exactly the similar historic situation, only a few years apart.
• In historical context; the two brothers Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein were nurtured in the same environment and guardianship of their maternal grandfather and their own father Ali, considered as very wise person. The two brothers should act so contrary to, in exactly the same situation, must therefore appear strange.
• The rapid expansion of Muslim Empire of the time could be questioned too, simply as to why then it expanded so far apart West to East and in such a short time if the State was so deeply embroiled and bitterly too in succession disputes lasting for decades?
• In Quranic context; the claims for Power on both sides were allegedly based on family and blood relationship with the Messenger. In the spirit of the total message of Quran, ‘pedigree’ for such claims has no basis, for any status or reward, 35-18 etc. Merits are what count as explained in 2-247.
• Most of the significant personalities taking part in the event were, as said above, the young ‘first string’ companions of the Messenger and “their hearts were filled with love for each other and they were bonded in brotherhood” 3-103. Hence this group of people was purveyor of the message of unity as per Quran.
• Most importantly, the Quran in no uncertain terms rejects out right those so called Believers who form parties for acrimonious divisions in the “brotherhood” of believers,3-105, 6-159, 30-32 etc.
Therefore one is entitled to question the Quran; and the versions of History as it appeared centuries later!
Whatever one’s belief, in today’s context, if historical experience teaches Muslims anything at all, then the example of the European nations, once bitter enemies for centuries in religious as well as political ideologies and having fought two great wars, could form a European Union and prospering by leaps and bound; is astounding and an example that must be emulated by all. This, in spite of differences of opinions that still exists. And yet, maintaining intact their individual national identities. One wonders why Iqubal had dreamt:-
طہران ہو گر عالمِ مشرِق کا جنيوا- Tehran were to be the Geneva of the East
شايد کرۂ ارض کی تقدير بدل جاۓ -The destiny of the planet earth might change.
It is significant to note that the poet did not suggest religious centers Mecca or even Qum etc! One must wonder what Tehran was like in his time?
A regular contributor to New Age Islam, Rashid Samnakay is an Indian-origin Engineer (Retd.) based in Australia for over forty years.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-history/myth-mythology-events/d/9473