Ya Rab.
Ya Razzaq ya Aleem.
Oh God the All Knowing, my Savior my Provider.
Reward the hearts that are heavy in sacrifice, and bless the lands that are soaked in blood.
Heal our wounds of the soul before You heal our wounds of the body.
I will fast today, but I will not fast for Musa's victory. Probably both Sunni and Shi'i will tell me I'm doing it wrong, but tomorrow I will fast for struggle, for sorrow, and for sacrifice. For Hussein's sweet blood spilled by tyrants. For the sweet blood spilled every day since.
Every day is Ashura. And every land is Karbala.
As I write the news coming out of Afghanistan is of three blasts, three Karbalas, 30 Husseins. Just today.
God protect them.
The land of my heart and of my blood, my Syria, my Homs, has been a Karbala for nine months now. And there have been thousands of martyrs glad to see their chance for sacrifice.
"The ground of Syria is today's Karbala, where every day really is Ashura. Ashura is a day to open the heart to weeping, to ache for others, and to meet them with the answering ache in ourselves. A pain through which we fnd redemption, and more or less save the world."
Ya Allah. Let their sacrifice be for the sake of strength and solidarity. Let no martyr's death be used to divide or distract.
I seek refuge in Your mercy from my ignorance.
For the fact that I hear my sisters and brothers in Islam slandered and can't find a silver coated tongue to fight back with.
For the fact that from my growing knowledge from the last few months I pretend that I understand this day, or any day, and that I am allowed the privilege of its sorrow.
For every Muslim's story gone untold in the remote corners of Islamic lands and theology, and for every sacrifice forgotten by sheikhs and imams, I seek refuge in Your mercy for my ignorance.
Ya Rab.
Help me honor the dead by seeking the living, the struggle, the being.
Ameen.
