TRUTH. Freedom. Justice. These are values for which men and women everywhere throughout the ages fight and die for.

On May 3 a hundred years ago, 300 to 400 brave Maranaos were killed in Bayang, Lanao. Among them were the Sultans of Bayang and Pandapatan.

Resisting about 1,200 American troops, they fiercely brandished their kampilans against the Yankees' Krag rifles and virtually marched to their death. To succeeding generations, those men of valor were considered martyrs. The "kuta" where they fell earned the moniker "Parang Karbala" after the Iraqi valley where more than a millennium earlier, Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Final Messenger of Allah, and 72 of his companions welcomed martyrdom at the hands of the rascals of Caliph Yazid, the epitome of a Satanic ruler in Muslim popular lore.

The line that divides martyrdom from sheer ferocity is defined in Islamic culture by the intention of the participants.

The Muslim martyrs of Karbala, like the Jews in Masada, knew beforehand that the odds against them were overwhelming and martyrdom was sure. They were, however, given no other path but that of supreme sacrifice. Any easier way would be only at the expense of the values that they held dear.

In Bayang, the Maranao martyrs reenacted this recurring theme in human history. For this, their descendants properly deserve the centennial celebration held recently in honor of their fallen forbears.

Lest non-Muslims affirm the misconception that Islam only encourages war and frowns upon peace and compromise, there are also instances when peace and compromise are only the right paths. Prophet Muhammad -- peace and blessings be upon him -- entered into an onerous treaty with the pagan rulers of Makkah to the chagrin of the war-like but unwise members of his flock. Except when the very foundations of a civilization are at stake, peace should be foremost in the mind of an authentic Muslim leader.

Though it is more difficult to swallow one's pride than to engage in battle, a wise and pious imam, nabi, sultan or sheikh should choose the former when the situation demands. When the survival of the values that a community is not threatened by extinction in case of armistice, a leader is duty-bound to think of the personal welfare and safety of his constituents. The Islamic Way against recklessly staking the lives and properties of his followers just to satisfy his pride and misplaced sense of heroism proscribes him.

In Karbala, Imam Hussein prepared himself for the supreme act of heroism -- dying in defense of truth, freedom, justice and all the good values that Islam stands for. These values were extremely threatened because the de facto ruler of the Islamic ummah personified falsehood, injustice, tyranny and all that stood against Islam.

Given that, a person of integrity had to stand up and speak at the risk of martyrdom. Someone had to reiterate the essential values of the Faith as opposed to the practice of the Court. Imam Hussein -- upon whom be peace -- was such a man. But even then he avoided any tinge of unconcern for his flock.

On the eve of his martyrdom, the event known in Muslim history and tradition as Ashura, he held a solemn discourse with his followers. After appraising them of the origin, nature and goal of the act they have to perform and duly weighing up the odds, he ordered the lights be put off and said: "Those who are not ready to die may leave in peace. Use the darkness of the night to cover your shame. Tomorrow, we are going to die."


Thus, those who were not absolutely set at accompanying their leader to the slaughter were allowed to leave and live. War in Islam, whether it ends in victory or slaughter, is an instrument of last resort. To the martyrs of Karbala, in Bayang as in Iraq, Peace and Blessings of the Most Merciful.

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