Historical Figures on Hussain's Sacrifice & Impact

The day of Ashura, which falls on the tenth day of Muharram each year, holds great significance for Muslims. It is believed that on this day, Hussain, a revered leader, and his companions were brutally killed, suffering from extreme thirst. Additionally, his family was captured. As a result, the tenth day of Muharram, known as Ashura, holds immense importance for Muslims worldwide.

This article does not delve into historical narratives and documents. Instead, we leave the research on this topic to the readers. Our aim is to present the perspectives of thinkers and historical figures from around the world regarding the day of Ashura and Hussain. By doing so, we hope to answer the question, "Who is Hussain?".

Charles Dickens (a famous English writer)

“If Husain (as) had fought to quench his worldly desires…then I do not understand why his sister, wife, and children accompanied him. It stands to reason therefore, that he sacrificed purely for Islam.”

Thomas Carlyle (a British essayist, historian, and philosopher)

"The best lesson which we get from the tragedy of Karbala is that Hussein and his companions were rigid believers in God. They illustrated that numerical superiority does not count when it comes to the truth and the falsehood. The victory of Hussein, despite his minority, marvels me!"

Edward Browne (British orientalist)

“Is there a heart that may not brim with grief and sorrow when it hears about the tragedy of Karbala, even a non-Muslim also cannot deny the cleanness and purity of this Islamic war.”

Frederick James (historian and author) 

“The lesson of Hussain and every other martyr hero is that in the world there are eternal principles of justice pity and love which are irrevocable. It also means that whenever someone resist these traits and mankind shows persistence toward them, those principles will always remain firm in the world.”

L. M. Boyd (American columnist)

“Throughout the centuries, human being have always loved the courage, braveness, heroism and the greatness of heart and at the same time, freedom and justice never surrender to the oppressive and arrogant powers. This was the courage and the greatness of Imam Hussain; I am pleased that I have participated with the one who gave great sacrifice wholeheartedly, though 1300 years have passed since its history.”

Tomas Masaryk (a Czechoslovak statesman, political activist and philosopher)

“It was possible for Hussain to save his life by submitting himself to the will of Yazid, but his responsibility as a reformer did not allow him to accept Yazid’s Caliphate. He therefore prepared to embrace all sorts discomfort and inconvenience in order to deliver Islam from the hands of the Omayyads. Under the blazing sun, on the parched land and against the stiffing heat of Arabia, stood the immortal Hussain.”

“Although our clergies also move us while describing the Christ’s sufferings, but the zeal and zest that is found in the followers of Hussain is like a blade of straw in front of a huge mountain.”

Maurice Dekobra (French writer)

“Hussein scarified his life, belongings and children in the way of his honor, dignity, his people and the greatness of Islam; hi did not give in to Yazid’s arrogance and adventures. So let us symbolize him and get ourselves rid of Yazid and the likes and prefer an honored death over a disgraceful life. This is a summary of the teachings of Islam.”

Marbin, German (German orientalist)

“Hussain taught the world a lesson of sacrifice and devotion by sacrificing his dearest people and proving his innocence and righteousness and registered the name of Islam and Islamists in history and made it famous in the world. This great soldier of Islamic world showed the people of the world that cruelty and oppression are not sustainable, and no matter how strong the base of oppression is, it will fly away like a straw in front of truth and righteousness.”

Mahatma Gandhi (Indian independence leader) 

“I have not brought for the people of India anything new. I have conveyed to the people of India what I have searched about the history of the hero of Karbala. If we have to save India, it is necessary that we follow the same way that Hussain, Son of Ali followed.

“I learned from Hussain how to achieve victory while being oppressed.”

Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Former Governor-General of Pakistan)

“The world is unable to present an example finer and brighter than the personality of Imam Hussein. He was the embodiment of love, valor and personification of sacrifice and devotion. Every Muslim, in particular, must learn a lesson from his life and should seek guidance from him.”

Bint Al Shati (Egyptian writer)

"Zainab, the sister of Hussain ibn Ali, disrupted the triumph of Ibn Ziyad and the Umayyad dynasty by tainting their cup of victory with drops of poison. Throughout subsequent political events following Ashura, such as the uprising of Mukhtar and Abdullah bin Zubair, the downfall of the Umayyad government, the establishment of the Abbasid government, and the growth of the Shia religion, Zainab, the heroine of Karbala, played a provocative role."

Liaquat Ali Khan (Former Prime Minister of Pakistan)

“These Muharram days are a great meaning for Muslims all over the world. On this day, one of the saddest and most tragic events in Islam happened. Martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain in the midst of grief was a sign of the final conquest of the true spirit of Islam. Because it was considered a complete surrender to the divine will. This lesson teaches us that no matter what the problems and dangers are, we should not be careless and deviate from the path of truth and justice.”

George Jordac (a Christian author and poet from Lebanon)

“When Yazid encouraged people to murder Hussain and ordered them for bloodshed, they said: How much would you pay? But the companions of Hussain (a.s.) said to him: “We are with you; even if we get killed 72 times still we would like to fight along with you and get killed again.”

Abbas Mahmoud al-Aqqad (Egyptian journalist)

“Courage is a characteristic that is not alien to Hussain. He inherited this perfect attribute from his ancestors and later passed it on to his progeny. In the entire history of humankind, no one has been found to be braver than Hussain.

“Among all the children of Adam, no one has undertaken a braver action than the measure Hussain undertook at Karbala.”

Ahmed Mahmoud Sobhi (author)

While Hussain bin Ali may have experienced defeat in the military and political realm, his legacy holds a unique victory through his blood. Following his sacrifice, a series of events unfolded, including the revolution of Zubair's son, Mukhtar's uprising, and other movements. Eventually, the Umayyad government fell, and Hussain's resounding call for justice reverberated, leading to the upheaval of thrones and governments.

Antoine Bara (Christian writer)

If Hussain were among us, we would proudly hoist his banner in every corner, establish a platform in each village, and proclaim his message to the world, beckoning people to his cause.

Edward Gibbon (English historian and scholar)

Though time has elapsed since the events of Karbala and we aren't from Hussain's homeland, the struggles he faced evoke profound emotions within even the most empathetic readers. This sentiment fosters a sense of compassion and benevolence towards him.

Nicholson (famous orientalist)

The Umayyads exhibited defiance and tyranny, disregarding Islamic principles and demeaning the Muslim community. When we delve into history, a clear narrative emerges: religion challenged ceremonial governance, and a devout leadership confronted imperial rule. In this light, history impartially asserts that the Umayyads bear the responsibility for Hussain's sacrifice.

Sir Percy Sykes (British Scholar)

Indeed the courage and bravery that these less number of people showed was at a level that in all these centuries, everyone who heard it, unconsciously, they admired it and their tongues praised it. These are a handful of brave and zealous people, who made their names inevitable forever.

Purushottam Das Tandon (former president of Indian National Congress):

Profound sacrifices, like the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, have elevated the realm of human contemplation, meriting perpetual remembrance to safeguard their enduring significance.

Abd al-Rahman Sharqawi (Egyptian writer)

Hussain stands as a martyr for the causes of faith and liberty. The honor of Hussain's name isn't limited to Shia alone; it's a source of pride for all the emancipated individuals across the globe.

Taha Husayn (Egyptian scientist and writer)

Hussain's fervor to engage in jihad and carry forward his father's legacy blazed within him. He openly voiced his thoughts on Muawiya and his adherents, to the point that Muawiya issued threats. However, Hussain remained steadfast in upholding righteousness within his faction.

Abdel Hamid Gouda El Sahhar (Egyptian writer)

Hussain could not pledge allegiance to Yazid and yield to his authority. Such an act would have validated immorality, fortified tyranny and revolt, and bolstered a counterfeit reign. Imam Hussain remained steadfast against these factors, despite the capture of his kin and comrades and the ultimate sacrifice of himself and his companions.

Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy (Egyptian scientist and philosopher)

Hussain's narrative ignites the devotion of the liberated souls, propelling them to selflessly offer their lives for the divine cause. Embracing mortality is deemed a paramount aspiration, prompting them to eagerly step forward onto the stage, vying with one another.

Al-Obeidi (Mufti of Mosul)

The Karbala tragedy stands as an unparalleled event in human history, just as the individuals who instigated it are exceptional in rarity. Hussain bin Ali embraced the obligation to champion the rights of the oppressed and safeguard the welfare of the public, heeding the call of God's command in the Qur'an through the Prophet's teachings. He refused to acquiesce. In the grand theater of his sacrifice, he laid down his life, earning the esteemed title "Master of Martyrs" in the divine gaze and being revered as the "Leader of Reformers" in historical annals. His objectives were not merely attained but even surpassed.