Why Muharram Still Matters: A Call to Unity, Truth, and Dignity in Sri Lanka

By Jihan Hameed
Founder, National Alliance of Muslim Communities (NAMC)

As the sacred month of Muharram begins, Muslims around the world are reminded of the extraordinary moral legacy of Imam Hussain (RA). But for me, as a Sri Lankan Muslim and founder of the National Alliance of Muslim Communities (NAMC), Muharram is not only a time of remembrance. It is a call - a call to return to truth, to dignity, and to unity.

Imam Hussain’s stand at Karbala was not a political rebellion. It was a moral refusal. When asked to endorse an unjust ruler, he chose martyrdom instead. He gave his life, not for control, but to protect the integrity of the faith. That is why he continues to inspire both Shia and Sunni Muslims across the world  not as a sectarian symbol, but as a standard of unshakable principle.

Here in Sri Lanka, that message is more urgent than ever. Our Muslim communities are facing ideological confusion, social pressure, and quiet attempts to erase our voice in national life. We are told to conform, to remain silent, to trade dignity for tolerance. But Muharram reminds us that silence in the face of falsehood is betrayal -and that faith is not just ritual, but resistance.

The 10th of Muharram, Ashura, is observed by Muslims in different ways. Shia communities mourn Imam Hussain’s martyrdom with deep ritual. Sunni Muslims fast and reflect on the trials of Prophets before us. But at its heart, the message of this month is shared: we do not surrender when truth is on the line.

This year, NAMC urges all Sri Lankan Muslims to go deeper. Beyond sermons and slogans. Teach our children what Karbala really means. Don’t allow foreign ideologies or sectarian agendas to divide us. We are one ummah — and the lesson of Imam Hussain belongs to us all.

Let this Muharram be the start of a renewed Muslim consciousness in Sri Lanka. One that is intelligent, united, and fearless. One that speaks up - peacefully, but unapologetically - for the values that define us.

We must reclaim not just our history, but our future.