The Eternal Sacrifice

In the blink of an eye, the first 12 days of Muharram simply floated by like passing clouds, filled with showers (or downpours) of tears that dropped on the earth’s surface with sorrow and sadness. For some, the messages, authorizations and admonitions during these sacred nights represented flashes of lightning strikes, illuminating the ugly darkness for but a few seconds; for others, they serve as beacons of light radiating and guiding the soul’s ship during the rough storms and unstable oceans, understanding the full cause of such a momentous journey. Yet for others, they serve as a cultural ritual that binds man into wearing black to show solidarity, though, unlike the former two, void of any guiding factor to salvage the crumbling self amongst demonic instigations.

Throughout the world, from Hong Kong to Dubai, Dar es Salaam to New York, Montreal to Los Angeles, year after year, Shia’s mourn the tragedy that befell the family of the Prophet (s); his men, his women and his children. The message of Husayn's (a) reform attributed to his grandfather, Prophet of Islam, was inculcated much earlier - the sacrifice that Prophet Abraham was willing to give of his son, setting a standard and a basis for all Muslims from time immemorial: submission to God’s will. This message transcended from one generation to the next, making its way across the barrier of the Seal of Prophets, through his cousin and son in law, and finally, to his grandson, Husayn (a), son of Ali (a).

The epitome of submission and sacrifice manifested itself 61 years after the migration of the Prophet from Makkah, and 680 years after the birth of Jesus Christ. This was no ordinary sacrifice. Neither was it an ordinary submission. It was the height of mans will breaking every barrier against oppression, injustice, tyranny, and above all, the barricading walls of Satan that continues to threaten and make extinct the elevated nature of mans soul.

His mission was to reform, reevaluate, and return what was rightfully the message of his grandfather. It was a resolution that stemmed from a perfect background that made his forefront message a model for all generations. What is important to understand is that his message was not limited to those after him, but that it played a significant role to those before him, as far back as the first man on earth. Ever since, Husayn served and continues to serve as a role model that begs to be emulated only by those seeking God's love and nearness. The reformation highlighted the need to seek awareness within ourselves, to seek solace in His pleasure, as well as break the backbone of every illegitimate ruler.

Husayn (a) exemplified this nature by giving up everything he loved for His love. In return, millions of followers have taken that message and engrained it within their souls, and for whatever reason, it stands as an eternal testimony for time to come; a message that will never die despite the despotic rulers and heads of state that rule with an iron fist, but which is easily melted by the extreme heat and fervor towards Husayn (a), son of Ali (a), of Fatema Zahra (a), and grandson of the final Prophet of God.

He only sought to expose oppression, and not eradicate it. It will only become extinct with the arrival of the promised savior, al Mahdi (a), and his beloved companion, Jesus Christ.

Emirates, once more.

This time, after almost two years, travel to Canada was one of the most beautiful experiences ever, thanks once again to the services of Emirates Airlines.

Yet again I chose Emirates as my preferred carrier since - besides the loyalty towards their skywards program - the airline is by far one of the best out there. All that said, what I was minutely concerned about was the quality of the in flight meal between Nairobi and Dubai. This could be overlooked, but airline meals, with the tarnished history that it has, require to maintain their marked improvement over the years.

The two days I spent in Dubai was so much more convenient because of the new metro train that began services back in September 2009. The metro meant easy access to the major shopping attractions from the Deira City Center to the Burjuman to the Dubai Mall, and beyond. Not only is it convenient, but its a fraction of the price of a taxi cab - much needed relief when your pocket change are now accompanied by the threads of your pants.

The next flight to Toronto took me beyond inspiration. The A380. Bold, beautiful, and with every bragging right out there. From the front, it looks like a monstrous whale, yet sophisticated enough to admire from a distance. The side view makes you wonder - it's an illusion that the aircraft is shorter than it looks simply because of its height that spans the entire plane giving two floors of unspoken admiration.

As you enter the plane, one can only wonder what the future will hold if the present is remarkably so. The seats are by far the most comfortably spaced in comparison, with leg room you cannot complain about. Okay, considering I am not that tall, I may be biased on this one. The in flight system is set on a 10" widescreen with a number of channels that can keep you occupied for a while before you settle down to watch your selection. What I enjoyed the most however, was the aerial view of the camera. Usually, cameras are located on the front of the aircraft or the underside, but a third camera that is mounted on the tail gives you a spectacular view of the airplane as if you were viewing things from the top. Just when you thought you cannot go any higher than the second floor!

The food was really good. Perhaps, thats why I have not complained too much about the previous flight. Since this is a 14 hour journey, meal service is divided into three: a lunch service after departure, followed by a snack, which in turn is followed by another light meal prior to arrival. The crew are, as always, courteous and calm which adds to the value of what you pay, in combination with everything else.

The next portion of my trip took me once again on Air Canada, from YYZ to YUL. Surprisingly however, considering the 'slow economy', every flight I was on was full. From Mombasa to Nairobi, Dubai, Toronto and Montreal - if there was a seat, it was taken, or at least 90% of available occupancy was filled to capacity. What can I say - travelling by air is no longer a luxury but a necessity. What I can vouch for is that the excitement of air travel is still the same even if its a necessity - and that will never fade away.

Just a word of advice: Baggage claim can take an awfully long time especially if your aircraft lands in cities other than Dubai - so allow on average, 1/2 hour more to exit the airport. t took 1hr 20 mins for many of the passengers personal belongings to emerge from the conveyor belt.