Thread by @political_aya__

First Ashura after the war, and there is a lesson I'd like to share on this occasion:
The war taught us many lessons, and perhaps one of the most valuable lessons it taught me was that I was not as prepared to meet God as I had thought I was. Let me elaborate.

Across the period of the support front battle in Southern Lebanon, we escaped death more times than one; either having just passed from a spot that got hit, or being late and not passing through a certain spot when it was bombed which would have coincided with our presence there.

On the 23rd of September, 2024, when the full-blown war broke out, and bombs were being showered upon the South from every side, I thought this was it; it was time for all the "spiritual preparation" across the past years, & especially the year prior, to pay off now. We survived.

We stayed in the South another day after the 23rd. We all slept in one room in case anything happened, but again, we made it out safely the next day. Every corner we took until we reached our destination, I wondered if death would find us. But it didn't.

Then came the 27th of September, and the confirmation the following day. I had a very deep and sudden realization: I knew nothing about Karbala; I knew nothing about Sayyeda Zainab's patience; and I knew nothing about love and sacrifice.

All the "preparation" I thought I had made went down the drain, not because God is unaccepting of even our smallest deeds–God forbid–but because I had thought highly of it all that time.

All the tears, all the knowledge, all the reflection; everything I had tried to learn from the martyrs, all of Sayyed's lectures, especially the ones about Imam Hussayn, that I memorized by heart—it was not enough, because there was a missing element; sincerity and submission.

Across that year, and especially that first week of the war, I had asked myself when it would come; the most blessed departure. What I learned was that sincerity is not a mere thought to have or a belief you adopt, but it is the way you live your life.

I listened to the martyrs more attentively now; do I know Imam Hussayn the way they do? Do I remember him like they do? Does my life truly revolve around serving and preserving this path of God, or is there an element of my being that still chases worldly desires?

The closest example of sincerity after our Imams to me was our martyrs, and our heart's dearest martyred Sayyed. I recalled Haj Qassem's description of him, when he described Sayyed's very existence to be one of utmost sincerity.
What did sincerity mean?

Devotion and melting in the love of God, the annihilation of one's ego, moving and acting and thinking and feeling in the Name of God, submission to God's Will, humility when praised, tranquility when in difficulty, ease when witnessing calamity... but knowing this is not enough.

Practicing sincerity and submission mindfully but also naturally, not believing there is any other way to live one's life; that was the goal.

I received numerous answers in a moment, and it was very humbling and necessary.
I was not even remotely ready, but more so, who am I to wish for something like this if God sees there is more service I should provide before leaving? God's creation is not futile.

Ever since the war ended and we returned home, every neighborhood has become home to a martyr, or many more than one. With that comes many stories about them, and these stories are some of the most valuable lessons; more lessons on sincerity, devotion, sacrifice, and submission.

So when they tell us to listen to the martyrs' wills, we should really listen, and think, and reflect, and evaluate ourselves. This too, was emphasized by the war.

I honestly thought a lot before sharing this, because it is deeply personal, but with the hope that it also sparks someone's mind to reflect too, and acts as a motive on the personal journeys we are all on, I thought it was worth putting out there, so I hope it is of benefit.