Imam Hussain

Imam Hussain in viewpoint of western scholars. In this article, I collected some quotes about Imam Hussain by western scholars as below: Thomas Mann[1]: If compared the sacrifice of Christ and Hussain, it would be certainly Hussain's sacrifice more valuable. Because Christ did not have any wife and child. On that day, His family was ready to be sacrificed. They did not know what fate would come after him. Imam Hussain (AS) had some wives and children and they needed him.

Thomas Carlyle[2]: The best lesson we can learn from the tragic story of Karbala is that Hussain and his companions had firm faith in God. They made it clear by their deeds that numerical supremacy does not matter where the right and wrong face each other. The victory of Hussain (AS) surprises me despite their minority.

Washington Irving[3]: It was possible for Imam Hussain to save his life by submitting to the will of Yazid, but he as a Mouslim's leader did not allow himself to recognize Yazid as a caliph. He prepared for accepting any inconvenience and pressure in order to release Islam from the clutches of Umayyad, under the burning sun in the dry desert and on trampled ribs. The soul of Hussain is immortal. O my gladiator and the example of bravery and my martyr, O Hussain!

Charles Dickens[4]: If Imam Hussain (AS) meant to fight in the way of his worldly demands, then it does not make any sense why his sisters and women and his children were with him. Therefore, the reason is that he sacrificed himself only for the sake of Islam.

Professor Edward Brown[5]: Is there a heart that does not experience grief when we talk about Karbala? Even non-Muslims cannot deny the spiritual purity of Imam Hussain in this war was done under its control … Anyone who has a slight attempt to know Hussain's character, cannot be unaffected by this sadness.

Professor Marbin:[6] I believe that the secret of the survival and progress of Islam and the evolution of Muslims are due to the martyrdom of Hossain and those tragic events, and I am sure that the wise policy of Muslims and its implementation have been due to mournful ceremonies for Hussain. As long as this method and trait exist among Muslims, they will never be despised and fall under anyone’s bondage.

Kurt Frishler[7]: Imam Hussain (AS) stepped higher than the limits of his sacrifice and his children too… Hussain’s resolute decision for absolute sacrifice was neither due to obstinacy, nor the effect of lush and desire and he followed the wisdom and he was determined to sacrifice himself fully. so he would not be forced to reconcile with Yazid bin Mu’awiyah and live contrary to his supreme ideology and ambition. We know that Hussain (AS) had prepared himself for martyrdom and he decided to sacrifice himself, so why did he not stop to be killed and why did he constantly ride a horse and fought with the sword?

Peter J. Chelkowski[8]: Hussain accepted and set out from Mecca with his family and an entourage of about seventy followers. But on the plain of Kerbela, they were caught in an ambush set by the caliph, Yazid. Though defeat was certain, Hussain refused to pay homage to him. Though they were surrounded by a great enemy force, existed without water for ten days in the burning desert of Karbala. Finally, Hussain, the adults and some male children of his family, and his companions were cut to bits by the arrows and swords of Yazid's army; his women and remaining children were taken as captives to Yazid in Damascus. The renowned historian Abu Reyhan al-Biruni states; "… then the fire was set to their camp and the bodies were trampled by the hoofs of the horses; nobody in the history of humankind has seen such atrocities.

Ignaz Goldziher[9]: "Ever since the black day of Karbala, the history of this family … has been a continuous series of sufferings and persecutions. These are narrated in poetry and prose, in a richly cultivated literature of martyrologies - a Shi'i specialty - and form the theme of Shi'i gatherings in the first third of the month of Muharram, whose tenth day ('Ashura) is kept as the anniversary of the tragedy at Karbala. Scenes of that tragedy are also presented on this day of commemoration in dramatic form (Tazia). 'Our feast days are our assemblies of mourning.' So concludes a poem by a Shi'i recalling the many suffering of the Prophet's family. Weeping and lamentation over the evils and persecutions suffered by 'Ali's family, and mourning for their martyrs: are things from which loyal supporters cannot cease. 'More touching than the tears of the Shi'is' has even become an Arabic proverb.

Thomas Masaryk[10]: Even though our priests remind people of the sacrifices of Christ, the passion that we find in followers of Hussain (AS) not found in the followers of Christ. It seems that the suffering of Christ against the suffering of Hussain is like a thread of straw against a massive sphere.

[1] . The German thinker

[2] . The Great English philosopher

[3] . The American Historian

[4] . The English writer

[5] . The British Orientalist

[6] . The German Philosopher and Orientalist

[7] . The Great German Historian

[8] . The Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, New York University

[9] . (1850-1921) Famous Hungarian orientalist scholar

[10] .The  European Pastor

[11] . The French Orientalist and author of the book “Islam and Muslims