The 9th Of Av and the 10th of Ashura Are ‘Religions Surviving Oppression’

Shia Islam and Judaism share a yearly day of mourning and fasting for a very tragic, sad, historical religious event that happened many centuries ago.

For the Shia it was the slaughter and the tragic martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Husayn, and most members of his family, who were massacred by their enemies in a battle on Ashura, the 10th day of the Islamic month Muharram in 680 CE.

For Jews it was the destruction of the holy Jerusalem Temple; first in 587 BCE by the Babylonians, and then again by the Romans in 70 CE. Both Temples were destroyed on Tisha b’Av, the 9th day of the Jewish month of Av.

As Jews approach the 9th of Av (which this year falls on August 3rd) it is important to remember that destruction and defeat need not lead to despair, depression and disintegration. Each day should be a day of hope and faith in our future.

Surviving a very tragic event is in itself a spiritual miracle. The oppression of the Israelites by the Egyptian Pharaoh, was the first known attempt at suppressing a religion, but unfortunately not the last. Other well known attempts were the three century long Roman persecution of Christianity, and the decade long persecution of Prophet Muhammad and his followers by the majority of pagan Arabs in Makkah.

The Jewish and Muslim communities both share an ongoing spiritual commitment to the ideal: Light can even come out of Darkness. Every year the Passover Haggadah (a book that’s been revised, reprinted, and republished over 7,000 times, mostly in the last 200 years) states: Passover is a journey “from sorrow to joy, from mourning to festivity, from darkness to light, and from bondage to redemption”.

And as the Qur’an states: “We certainly sent Moses with Our signs, [saying], “Bring out your people from darknesses into light, and remind them of the days of Allah.” Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.” (14:5) and “Allah is an ally of those who believe. He brings them out from darknesses into light.” (2:257)

All three religions emerged from their varying periods of persecution and oppression stronger than ever. Since Judaism is the oldest of the three monotheistic religions promoted by Prophet Abraham, it has survived the most historical tragic oppressions. Even a German chaplain knew the miraculous nature of Jewish survival.

The king of Prussia, Frederick the Great, in a discussion with his court chaplain once said, “Give me proof of the inspiration of the Bible.”

The chaplain replied, “Your majesty, I can answer your request in a single word.” Frederick looked at the chaplain with some amazement and asked, “What magic word carries such strong proof?”

The chaplain answered, “Israel, your majesty.”

Indeed, the continued existence of the Jewish people in spite of centuries of persecution, is the best proof of the Bible’s inspiration, and of the existence of the God who promised to preserve the Jews, return them to their homeland, and bring them to a time of great national blessing in the end of days.

This retelling of the well known dialogue between Frederick and his court chaplain, comes not from a Jewish source, but from a Christian minister: Dr. James Boice.

Jews also believe that the survival of the Jewish People is a real miracle. The Jews are the only nation, religion or people in the western world today; who still celebrate the same holiday (Passover), use the same language (Hebrew), and pray to the same God, as their ancestors did more than 3,000 years ago.

Although their language and religion has continued to grow and change, its evolution, identity and continuity has never been broken. In the whole world, only the Chinese and the Hindus can boast of a similar continuity. But the Chinese and the Hindus have never been exiled from their land and then returned, not once but twice. Nor have the Chinese and the Hindus lived most of their history as a small minority, resting assimilation into the majority. Jewish history and survival is truly and amazingly unique.

Of course, those who participate in a large scale miracle have difficulty in seeing it as a miracle. People are human; they always have their faults and weaknesses. Even during the Exodus from Egypt, the greatest miracle in Jewish history, Jews were complaining to Moses about food (Exodus 16: 2-4), drink (15:24, & 17:2-3), danger (14:11-12). and his leadership (14:10-12). Yet 120 generations of Jews look back to this event as the greatest of all human miracles.

In June 1942, Anne Frank, a German-born Jewish girl living in Amsterdam, received a diary for her 13th birthday (Bat Mitzvah), less than a month before she and her family went into hiding from the Nazis. Many people lose their faith while others think like this 15 year old girl who wrote in her diary:

“In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and peace and tranquility will return again.” Anne Frank