Water on Ashura: A National Effort

 

In the month of Muharram of 2006, the Shia Muslim Students Association of the University of Arizona organized an effort to raise awareness of the personality of Imam Husayn ibn Ali and the battle of Karbala that took place on the day of Ashura.  The effort consisted of distributing 400 custom designed water bottles briefly depicting the history of the battle of Ashura, its main activists, and its global effect.  The initiative also continued in 2007 with other nearby universities, including Arizona State University, University of California- Irvine, and the University of California- San Diego, participating. The goal of this initiative is to raise  awareness of the sacrifice of Imam Husayn ibn Ali.  We feel this project is crucial to the traditions of the followers of the Ahlul Bayt (family) of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him and his family).  Not only does this event encourage kindness to one’s fellow human being and spread the language of kindness that is taught by the religion of Islam, but it also pays homage to humanity’s greatest sacrifice.  In addition, this event gives Muslims of other schools of thought, who are often shunned from exploring the subject, an opportunity to learn about the battle of Karbala and have a dialog with students on a practical level and in an intellectual environment.

We propose that this activity be taken on the national level and that every university in the US with some sort of Shia presence should participate in this effort.  Each group will have the bottles printed in order to distribute them on the day of Ashura on their college campuses and crowded public places.

The proper permission should be sought from the appropriate authorities regarding the space in which the water is distributed.  Every University has it’s own rules and regulations and abiding by these rules is an obligation for our Islamic organizations.  This permission should be acquired weeks in advance of the event and the appropriate paperwork should be done to ensure reservation of the space.

Water bottle designs are or will be available on WateronAshura.com.  We recommend using the designs available on the website, because they are optimized for professional printing.  All organizations participating should use professional and efficient methods to distribute and plan this activity in coordination with other groups taking part in the project, because the message of Imam Husayn (a) deserves a quality medium, which should not be sacrificed.

The manner in which Shia students conduct themselves on the day of distribution should reflect the behavior and morals of the Household of the Prophet, peace be upon him and them.  This event has the potential to draw negative attention from intolerant individuals and organizations and it is of the utmost importance to remain patient and non confrontational in the event of an incident. It is crucial to ensure the participation of knowledgeable brothers and sisters who are better versed in discussing with people who insist on debating with the Shia school of thought.  These knowledgeable brothers and sisters should also make themselves available to further questioning from other people who inquire further about the events of Ashura and the religion of Islam. In addition, any material being distributed on this day should not be inflammatory to those belonging to other schools of thought.