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فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ بِجُنُودِهِۦ فَغَشِيَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْيَمِّ مَا غَشِيَهُمْ ٧٨

Then Pharaoh pursued them with his soldiers—but how overwhelming were the waters that submerged them!

[20:78]

When telling the story of Ashura, our attention is often drawn to the main characters within the narrative, be it Prophet Musa (as) and Pharaoh, or Imam Hussein (ra) and Yazid. But little is ever said about what the NPCs in the story - the Non-Playable Characters. Across various mediums, whether it's a film, a story, or a game, NPCs serve as the underlying foundation upon which the narrative unfolds. Think of the enemies encountered on the way to confronting the ultimate boss in a game, or the soldiers in the background of a great battle in a movie; they play an essential role in crafting the narrative landscape, but individually fade into obscurity within the overarching plot of the story.

Much like this analogy, the NPCs of this story play a critical role within the narrative. What is Pharoah without his armies and minions who propped him up and worked to fulfil his orders? How would the story differ if Musa (as) did not have to lead the Children of Israel? How would Yazid have committed the heinous murder of the Prophet’s grandson without the soldiers obeying his command?

In the verse above, Allah ﷻ does not state Pharoah (و) “and” his soldiers. He uses the letter (ب), here translated to mean “with” his soldiers. Qurtubi explains how in Arabic, this transforms the word “soldiers” into a حال, a word which signifies the state or manner in which Pharoah pursued Prophet Musa (as), akin to the phrase “a man pursued him with his knife”. His army was not simply a companion on the journey; they were the tool which enabled Pharoah to pursue Prophet Musa and his people.

The story of Ashura is as much about these NPCs as it is about the main heroes and villains in the story. Their role enables the story to unfold, giving power and purpose to the characters and narrative. However, there is a subtle difference between the role they play for the heroes and villains. The villains in the story are wholly dependent on these NPCs for their very existence; their authority and position hinge on the support they receive from those who elevate them. On the contrary, figures like Prophet Musa (as) and Imam Hussein (ra) possess inherent greatness. Their significance is not derived from the NPCs; rather, the NPCs themselves find honour in their admiration and allegiance to these exceptional individuals. This dynamic emphasizes that it is the people who are uplifted through their connection with these heroes, not the other way around. This theme is found across the Qur’anic narrative; Allah ﷻ is not in need of us, but our obedience to Him is what ennobles us.

The story of Ashura is a reminder of the role we must play in our own story we see unfolding. Many assume they must play the main characters within a story, but our greater responsibility is to ensure we are simply part of the right side of the narrative. The collective is far more influential than any individual in a story, and each of us bares a responsibility in shaping the narrative of that group.