The Caravan of Pride from Mashhad (Iran) to Hyderabad Deccan (India)

Written by Zeenath Fatima Kazimi
The caravan of pride was a group of family deported from Iran for writing, protesting and opposing the anti-Islamic acts of Reza Khan Pahlavi, the autocrat and despot King of Iran. This caravan includes Syed Shah Abbas Mansoori, his wife, kids, sisters, his brother Syed Husain Mansoori, and his family. The pain and agony they took for the sake of Imam al-Mehdi a.s in the love of Allah. This pain was the inspiration taken from Imaam Hussain a.s and his family from the battle of Karbala.
Agha Syed Shah Abbas Mansoori opposed the anti-Islamic acts of Reza Khan Pahlavi, the autocrat and despot King of Iran and for this reason Agha Syed Shah Abbas Mansoori along with all his family members were deported from Mashhad to British India in 1935 after the massacre of the people of Mashhad by Reza Shah in Masjid Gawharshad in the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.). On 13th July, 1935 people of Mashhad gathered in Masjid Gawharshad in the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.) to protest against the ban on women wearing Islamic Hijab. The army of Reza Shah entered Masjid Gawharshad and massacred the innocent people in the Masjid and the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.).After deportation from Mashhad, Agha Syed Shah Abbas Mansoori went to Hyderabad Deccan.
Syed Abbas Mansoori was praying in Imam Ali Reza a.s haram, when he got a message from the Imam to migrate to Hind (India). The entire family went through a lot of pain who had to leave their home country, house, belongings, relatives, and friends for the sake of supporting Islam. But the question is "were they ashamed for their actions or depressed of losing their materialistic goods?" They were never ashamed for supporting Imam al-Mehdi a.s but thanked Allah for all the opportunity given to them to strive for the sake of Allah against the injustice. The entire caravan of pride travelled to India taking all the pain and informed the coming generation about their sacrifices. Even now all their new generation's talk about them with pride.
The caravan of pride got this lesson from Imam Hussain a.s and his family who opposed the evil ruler of his time and got martyrdom for the sake of Allah. Ahlulbayt (A.S.) never kept quiet in front of injustice rulers. They always stood against them even if it cost their valuable life. And, they lived only for the sake of Allah.
When we cry for Imam Hussain a.s and his family we accept the sacrifice that their made for the sake of Allah. But how many of us are ready to stand against the evil rulers of our time? We all proudly talk about our ancestors Syed Shah Abbas Mansoori and the caravan of pride in front of all the generation's but how many live for the sake of Allah and are ready for his cause.?
We live a pure materialistic life. A life where we are taught to study, send abroad (made as a culture), earn and make properties (biggest success), make kids and money. These are considered as successful people but the question arises. Are they successful believers?
When someone lives, studies, and earn for the sake of Allah, he is called as dangerous, looser and foolish. The same people bow their heads in front of the people with money even if that rich Muslim doesn't offer's namaaz. These kind of Muslim's are cowards and hypocrites. These are the people who will be turning their backs when Imam al-Mehdi a.s appear's. They would show their love for the Imam only by their tongue and not actions. They appreciate Ahlulbayt (A.S.) sacrifice and the sacrifice made by their ancestors but teach their generation pure materialism. Let us think for some time. If we were in the caravan of pride would we have stood against Syed Abbas Mansoori for being the reason of deportation from a relaxing life? The answer is 'yes', we would have accused the pious Syed Abbas Mansoori out of our ignorance and lack of faith because we are materialistic. Majority of us would have had cursed him but look at the women's and children who appreciated and always respected him.
Hadith says: Not offering salaat is a sin. We are supposed to encourage a Muslims for salaat, if he still doesn't offer's salaat then we must encourage that man through a pious man. If he doesn't agrees then the community must approach him and even after that if he rejects then we are supposed to turn our backs from him until he starts his salaat.
How many of us really care about our responsibilities?
Are the believers working for the sake of Allah considered as fools?
Is standing against injustice dangerous?
Who is our ideal person? Someone who pursue career and money?
If the answer is 'yes' then we will be the first to turn Imam al-Mehdi a.s down, the same way Imam Hussain a.s was abandoned by the coward Shia lovers of his time. Who offered salat, tahajjut, fasted, performed hajj and wore hijaab but were scared from the evil ruler of their time. Those people later were insulted for the rest of their life.
Life is a big test and love is only by actions.
To Allah we return