What is One World Week?
One World Week is a Development Education Charity*. Each year, "The Week" is an opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to come together to learn about global justice, to spread that learning and to use it to take action for justice locally and globally. More
Donations urgently needed
* Charity No: 1107762
Who is Hussain?
Who is Hussain?
Why has this question been all over London Buses and the Underground during November?
Why is 7th Century Hussain an inspirational figure for One World in the 21st Century?
The 25 November this year (2012) commemorates the Day of “Ashura” when Imam Hussain, a 7th Century leader, stood up for justice, truth, morality and freedom from oppression.
Who is Hussain? is a campaign created to let the world know about one of the most important men in history; what he stood for and what he died for.
Hussain is a universal figure of inspiration and this campaign has no religious, political, or monetary aspirations: it simply aims to inspire you to become a better person, using the timeless example of Hussain.
What do you stand for? This is a question asked by organisers of the inspirational campaign.
Hussain was a political and spiritual leader who alone stood against the oppression of 7th Century rulers. He was killed fighting for what he believed in, but his legacy lives on.
Have you got what it takes? Central to the campaign is the idea that the life of Hussain has contemporary relevance to modern society. The organisers, a group from across London, believe his qualities of willpower, generosity and the determination to stand up for what one believes in are universal. The story of Hussain is uniquely inspiring.
The website went viral within hours of launching. It hosts self-made videos about what Hussain means to people and the story of his life.
Dozens of pictures have been taken and posted on social media of tube posters advertising the website.
More of Hussain’s story:
A grandson of Muhammad, the last prophet of Islam, Hussain served the people as a leader – promoting and upholding many universal principles of equality, justice, and honour, and he was known for his truthfulness and selflessness.
After the passing of Muhammad, the leadership of the vast Arab Empire had fallen into major disrepute and corruption. The morality that Muhammad had spent his life instilling into society was slowly being eradicated as the new tyrannical ruler, Yazid, seized power.
Imam Hussain, witnessed how the fundamental human rights of his fellow citizens were being usurped, and knew something had to be done. Yazid, knew nothing of morality or humanity, and ruled with an iron fist. He demanded Hussain pay him an oath of allegiance, to lend credibility to his tyrannical rule.
So, 1400 years ago on the plains of Karbala in present- day Iraq, Hussain, and his party of 80 surrounded by the oppressor’s army of 10,000, was faced with a dilemma: should he give his oath of allegiance to the tyrant – stand aside and allow injustice to overcome morality? Or should he take a stand and risk great personal loss? The timeless words of his grandfather, the Prophet Muhammad, echoed in his heart and Hussain knew what to do:
The greatest stand is to speak the word of truth in the face of a tyrant.
On this day, known as ‘Ashura’, not only were the 80 men slaughtered, but so was a 6 month old infant. The remaining children, wives, daughters and sisters of the men were shackled and taken as prisoners along with the heads of their men.
Hussain’s sister, Zaynab, ensured that this was a victory for all mankind. She awakened the people with her call to what had happened to her brother, a call which has echoed for over a thousand years and will remain in the hearts and minds of people everywhere:
To stand up for justice, truth, morality and freedom from oppression.
To find out more visit: whoishussain.org
See : What non-muslim scholars, including Ghandi, have said about Hussain
Acknowledgements
Thanks to: Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo, Imam / Resident Alim of the Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat, for this story.
And to: the Who is Hussain? website
News
Press Releases
Newsletters
(November 2016)
(October 2016)
(September 2016)
(August 2016)
Recently Added Resources
New Funding Opportunity - The Common Good Fund - Application Deadline 27 Feb. 2017 see more here
Organisers' Evaluation form for 2016 events Download from here
Wordsearches for Including You events - download them from here
Press release template for 'Including You' events download here
Quotations about building an inclusive peaceful society - Download from here a 5 page booklet as a word.doc or pdf
Pledges to build an inclusive society - find them here
"Who is a Migrant?" - anactivity/game to get people talking to each other at your events. Download the instructions here
School Assemblies from Christian Aid- link to and download a PowerPoint and notes
Looking for a speaker for your event? Download here a list (pdf) from the Discussion page (posted 12 Sept 2016)
Faith resources relating to "Including You".Download pdf here links to materials offered by OWW's partners and supporters: worship, discussion, films ...plus Prayers for OWW(updated 7 Sept '16)
Presentation "A OWW approach to Migration" Download this PDF version of a 12 slides (15 -20 minutes) powerpoint
Need funding for your event? Apply to Big Lottery Celebrate Fund! NOW or you'll be too late for OWW more here and other suggestions
Poster/ flyer design kit - download from here
2016 Leaflets "Including You" download PDF versions here
Introductory PowerPoint about organising local inclusive OWW events - updated for 2016. Down load ppt here
Migrant crisis or poverty crisis? - A briefing paper from Global Justice NOW Download as a PDF here
2016 - "Including You" - Booklet of ideas, links and resources for interpreting the theme. Dowload a PDF here (updated July 2016)
Learning resource/activity for young people about peace - from Fly Kites not Drones; suitable for activites in or out of school. find links here: schools ; activities (added Nov. 2015 but still relevant for this years events)
Organisers' Evaluation Form for event organisers to complete and send to OWW - down load the word.doc from here
Event participants feedback form (for organisers to collect feedback from participants at OWW events) (word.doc)
Accessibility
We've made every effort to make it accessible and standards compliant whilst also providing a useable and useful hub for everyone involved in One World Week activities. Please let us know what you think.