Is Mourning Imam Husayn (A) Recommended?
As-salamu alaykum wa Rahmatu Allah. Yes mourning for Imam Al-Husayn, alayhi as-salam, is definitely recommended. We have so many traditions that emphasise the importance of mourning the Holy Household. Those who mourn what took place at Karbala sincerely with the purest of intentions are rewarded by Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala.
When Ayatullah Sistani, may Allah lengthen his life, was asked this question, he made it clear that yes it is recommended. And the rewards are with the Lord for those who remember what happened to the Holy Household and the infallibles from the line of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his family.
And if I was to give you one touching tradition that highlights the importance of remembering the happiest of the occasions in relation to the Holy Household's life, and the saddest occasions in relation to their lives you, find that Imam Al-Ridha' in his conversation with Rayan Ibn Shabib, what does he say to him?
He says: "Ya Ibn Shabib, in sarraka anta kuna ma'ana, fi 'd-darajat al-ula min al-Jinan fa'zan li husnina wa 'frah li farahina". There is a wonderful balance here. He says "Oh son of Shabib, if it gives you pleasure and brings you pleasure to be with us in the highest levels of the gardens of the Hereafter, mourn at our times of mourning, and be happy at our times of happiness. Look at the balance that Imam Al-Ridha' seeks to achieve. "Fa'zan li husnina", grieve in our times of grief. "Wa 'frah li farahina" display happiness in our times of happiness.
Therefore, when we come to Muharram or we come to the month of Safar. These two months remind us of the tragedies of the Ahl Al-Bayt, salawat Allah wa as-salamu alayhim, when we mourn it is recommended from the Imams of Ahl Al-Bayt who lived after Imam Al-Husayn, alayhi as-salam.
Let alone from the grandfather of Husayn, alayhi as-salam, who made clear to us the importance of Imam Al-Husayn when he said: "Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn. Allah loves the one who loves Husayn." Wa as-salamu alaykum, wa rahmatu Allah.
