Saturday, July 12, 2008

Martyr

"Then the Caliph was beheaded."

When the sentence was flashed on the screen, my throat knotted and I could feel my hands turning cold. A sense of loss and despair descended on me. I controlled from tears rolling as it was a classroom setting.

The immensity
The class "Legacies of the Four Righteous Caliphs" reached a milestone with the lesson on Hazrat 'Uthman ibn Affan r.a. The four righteous Caliphs were promised Paradise by the Prophet s.a.w. himself, and examining their lives in details, they almost matched the Prophet in good character, piety and love for humanity.

The four righteous Caliphs were the successors of the Prophet himself, to lead the Muslim people. Hazrat 'Uthman was the third successor, who ruled the Muslim empire for 12 years. He was kind, just, soft-hearted, pious, and the son-in-law of the Prophet s.a.w. himself.

Which is why the method of his murder, orchestrated by a shadowy rebellious force of Muslim, is unbelievable and heart-wrenching. For a head of state to be murdered in such a way by a fellow Muslim is indeed a travesty by all counts.

Turning point
I'm not sure if this was the historical turning point of Muslim history, but it sure seems like it. Later on, generations of Muslim leaders managed to keep the empire together, but they mostly did not follow the footsteps of the Prophet s.a.w. Most ruled with iron fists and had harems and what nots. And today, the empire ceases to exist.

Prayer
Let us include the four Righteous Caliphs in our daily supplications, for Allah to reward them for their good deeds and for their sacrifices for future generations.

No comments: