Distortions about Ashura - Part 2

Ashura: Lies and Fabrications

This work is a summary of a series of lectures conducted by Ayatollah Murtadha al-Mutahhari during Ashura in Iran in 1969. In these lectures Mutahhari discusses the many fabrications regarding the martyrdom of al-Husayn ibn Ali (as), and specifically the spurious stories that have been falsely attributed to this event by Shias. He demonstrates the fact that many myths have been created around this event – created specifically for the purpose of whipping the people into a frenzy and making them shed false tears.

Muttahhari sought (in 1969) to bring accountability to both the reciters of these events and the listeners. He emphasized that it was the responsibility of all parties involved to end the mythmaking and storytelling, and to focus instead on the factual retelling of the martyrdom of al-Husayn (as).

Al-Husayn’s Caravan Departs Mecca in Splendor

Another example of such fabrications is the story of a messenger who has brought a letter for Abu ‘Abd Allah (‘a) and he awaits a reply. The Imam tells him to come after three days and collect the reply. After three days on inquiring he is told that the Imam was departing the same day.

He says to himself, "Now that he is setting out, let us go and watch the majesty and glamour of the prince of the Hijaz He goes and there he sees the Imam, together with other Hashimis among men, seated on splendid chairs. Then the camels are brought bearing the litters draped in silk and brocade.

Then the ladies emerge and with much honor and ceremony they are escorted into these litters. This description continues in this vein until they make the digression to switch to the scene of the eleventh day of Muharram, to compare the glamour and honor of this day with the sorry state of the womenfolk on the latter day. Haji Nuri calls such descriptions into question. He says, "It is history which says that when Imam Husayn left Madinah he recited this Qur’anic verse:

"He left it in the state of fear and concern". (28:21)

That is, he likened his own departure to that of Moses, son of ‘Imran, when he fled for the fear of the Pharaoh.

"He said, "It might be that my Lord will guide me to the right path.""(28:22)

The Imam had departed with a most simple caravan. Does the greatness of Imam Husayn lie in his sitting, for instance, on golden chairs? Or does the greatness of his family and womenfolk lie in their using litters draped in silk and brocade, or their possessing fine horses and camels and a retinue of lackeys and servants?!

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http://www.twelvershia.net/2015/09/05/ashura-lies-and-fabrications/