[לִוְיָתָן]

In the month of Muharram 61 AH (approx. 20 October 680 AD), an event took place in Iraq at a place known as Kerbala on the bank of the river Euphrates. It seemed in those days insignificant from the historical point of view. A large army which had been mobilised by the Umayyad regime besieged a group of persons numbering less than a hundred and put them under pressure to pay allegiance to the Caliph of the time and submit to his authority. The small group resisted and a severe battle took place in which they were all killed.

It appeared at that time that like hundreds of similar events, this battle would be recorded in history and forgotten in time. However, the events that occurred on the 10th day of Muharram in Kerbala were to become a beacon and an inspiration for future generations. In this article, we shall examine briefly the principal adversaries.

Who is Hussain?

The leader of the small band of men who were martyred in Kerbala was none other than Husain (A), son of Ali bin Abi Talib (A) and grandson of the Holy Prophet (S). Who was Husain? He was the son of Fatima (A) for whom the Holy Prophet (S) said, "Husain is from me and I am from Husain. May God love whoever loves Husain." [1]

With the passing away of his brother Hasan(A) in 50 AH, Husain (A) became the leader of the household of the Holy Prophet (S). He respected the agreement of peace signed by Hasan (A) and Muawiya, and, despite the urging of his followers, he did not undertake any activity that threatened the political status quo. Rather he continued with the responsibility of looking after the religious needs of the people and was recognised for his knowledge, piety and generosity. An example of the depth of his perception can be seen in his beautiful du'a on the day of Arafat, wherein he begins by explaining the qualities of Allah, saying:

" (Oh Allah) How could an argument be given about Your Existence by a being whose total and complete existence is in need of you? When did you ever disappear so that you might need an evidence and logic to lead (the people) towards You? And when did You ever become away and distant so that your signs and effects made the people get in touch with you? Blind be the eye which does not see You (whereas) You are observing him. What did the one who missed You find? And what does the one who finds You lack? Certainly, the one who got pleased and inclined toward other than You, came to nothingness (failed)."

On the other hand, we have Yazid, whose father (Muawiya) and grandfather (Abu Sufyan - the arch-enemy of the Prophet) had always tried to sabotage the mission of the Holy Prophet, and who showed his true colour by stating in a poem, "Bani Hashim had staged a play to obtain kingdom, there was neither any news from God nor any revelation." [2]

Mas'udi writes that Yazid was a pleasure-seeking person, given to wine drinking and playing with pets. It is no wonder that Husain's response to Yazid's governor, when asked to pay allegiance to Yazid was, "We are the household of the prophethood, the source of messengership, the descending-place of the angels, through us Allah had began (showering His favours) and with us He has perfected (His favours), whereas Yazid is a sinful person, a drunkard, the killer of innocent people and one who openly indulges in sinful acts. A person like me can never pledge allegiance to a person like him ..." [3]

The revolution of Husain (A) was an Islamic movement spearheaded by one of the great leaders of Islam. The principles and laws of Islam demanded that Husain (A) act to warn the Ummah of the evil situation which it was in, and to stand in the way of the deviating ruler. As Husain (A) himself remarked when he left Madina for the last time, "I am not rising (against Yazid) as an insolent or an arrogant person, or a mischief-monger or tyrant. I have risen (against Yazid) as I seek to reform the Ummah of my grandfather. I wish to bid the good and forbid the evil." [4]

Hussain (A) was killed on the battlefield as he did Sajdah. His head was removed from his body on the plains of Kerbala, mounted on a spear, and paraded through villages and towns as it was taken to Damascus and presented at the feet of Yazid.

Why remember Ashura?

Why is Husain (A) regarded as the "leader of the martyrs" ? It is because he was not just the victim of an ambitious ruler. There is no doubt that the tragedy of Kerbala, when ascribed to the killers, is a criminal and terrible act. However when ascribed to Husain (A) himself, it represents a conscious confrontation and a courageous resistance for a sacred cause. The whole nation had failed to stand up to Yazid. They had succumbed to his will, and deviation and regression towards the pre-Islamic ways were increasing.

Passiveness by Husain (A) in this situation would have meant the end of Islam as we know it. Thus Husain (A) took upon himself the responsibility of the whole nation. The greatest tragedy was that one who stood up for the noblest of causes, the defence of Islam, was cut down in so cruel a manner.

It is for this reason that the sacrifice of Husain (A) is commemorated annually throughout the Muslim world. Our sorrow never abates as we relive the tragedy. As Allama Iqbal says in his Baqiyat (in Urdu):

Ronay wala hoon Shaheed-e-Kerbala key gham men main,
Kya durey maqsad na dengey Saqiye Kausar mujhey

I am one who weeps at the plight of the Martyr of Kerbala
Won't the reward be given to me by the Keeper of Kauser (Imam Ali (A))

The commemoration of Ashura on the 10th of Muharram every year serves to remind us of the sacrifices of the family of the Prophet (S). It also makes us aware of the people, then and now, who tried to destroy Islam and the family of the Prophet (S) and all that they stood for - as well as those who watched, listened and did nothing.

References:
[1] Ibn Majah: Sunan, Hadith 144.

[2] Ibn Jarir: Tarikhu'l Umam wa'l Muluk, vol.13, p.2174.

[3] Sayyid ibn Ta'us: Maqtalu'l Husain, pp.10-11

[4] Al-Khatid al-Khuwarazmi: Maqtalu'l Husain ,vol.1, p.88.

[לִוְיָתָן]

Ayatollah Khameni on Ashura

[Amina]

Very informative, thanks.

[Ali]

Muslims must fear Allah and take lessons from what Allah has told us in the Noble Qur’an regarding the Prophets and Messengers of Allah and the previous nations.

Allah said (which means): “Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding. It (the Qur’an) is not a forged statement, but a confirmation of Allah’s existing books (the Torah, the Gospel, and other Scriptures of Allah), a detailed explanation of everything, and a guide and a mercy for the people who believe.” (Yusuf 12:111)

And among the stories that Allah has narrated to us in His Book is what happened in Allah’s month, the sacred month of Muharram, and that is the story of Prophet Moosa (Moses) and Pharaoh, the tyrant of Egypt. In the Qur’an, Allah tells us this story which means: “We recite to you some of the news of Moosa and Pharaoh in truth, for a people who believe (i.e. those who believe in this Qur’an and in the Oneness of Allah). Verily, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people sects, weakening (oppressing) a group (Children of Israel) among them, killing their sons and letting their females live. Verily, he was of those who work corruption. And We wished to do a favour for those who were weak (and oppressed) in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors, and to establish them in the land, and We let Pharaoh and Haamaan (a minister of Pharaoh) and their hosts receive from them that which they feared.” (Al-Qasas 28:3-6)

Pharaoh dominated the nation of Israel and enslaved them, killing their newborn sons but letting their females live. The reason he committed this criminal act was the fear of the truth coming out from one of those newborn males. The nation of Israel used to know, according to what came to them from Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham), that someone from his lineage would destroy the king of Egypt. These glad tidings were famous among them; and the news of it was made known to Pharaoh. Pharaoh ordered his soldiers to kill all newborn boys of the nation of Israel; in order to secure himself from destruction.

However, all of the precautions that he made were not enough to protect him from what Allah wanted, which was for this newborn boy to be raised in the house of Pharaoh. The will of Allah cannot be stopped by any precautions and His ability conquers anything. So Allah chose for the Prophet Moosa to be born safely, to be saved from being killed, and also to be raised in Pharaoh’s own home under the protection of Allah until he was an adult.

Later, Moosa accidentally killed a person from Pharaoh’s people by mistake. Moosa was afraid that he would be captured and be killed for this, so he fled to the land of Madyan and abided there for some time. He married there and then returned to Egypt. On the way back, Allah talked to him (by revelation) and told him he was a Prophet and the Messenger to Pharaoh. Allah told him many signs by which he will be known as the prophet of Allah and they would show that he was a true prophet.

Moosa went to Pharaoh and showed him the signs of Allah but Pharaoh was arrogant and stubborn. Allah says (which means):

“Has there come to you the story of Moosa? When his Lord called him in the Valley of Tuwaa. ‘Go to Pharaoh, verily he has transgressed all bounds (in crimes, sins, polytheism and disbelief). And say to him, ‘Would you purify yourself (from the sin of disbelief and by becoming a believer)? And that I guide you to your Lord, so you should fear Him?’ Then (Moosa) showed him the great signs (miracles). But (Pharaoh) belied and disobeyed; then he turned his back, striving hard against (Allah). Then he gathered his people and cried aloud, saying, ‘I am your lord, most high.’” (An-Naazi’aat 79:15-24)

Pharaoh claimed that the signs Moosa brought were only magic and that he had magic that would overtake the magic of Moosa. So Pharaoh gathered magicians from his kingdom and they presented their magic, and Moosa presented what he had from the signs, which Allah had given him.

Allah said (which means):“Thus truth was confirmed, and all that they did was made of no effect. So they were defeated there and then, and were returned disgraced. And the sorcerers fell down prostrate. They said, ‘We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, the Lord of Moosa and Haaroon (Aaron).’” (Al-A’araf 7:118-122)

At that time Pharaoh decided to try a different plan - fear, force and retaliation. Allah told Moosa to get every believer out of Egypt and direct them to where Allah would tell him. Pharaoh gathered his army and forces, which were around one million soldiers, according to some references, and he chased Moosa and his people, hoping to destroy them completely. Moosa ended up at the sea with Pharaoh and his army behind him. The believers were afraid because the sea was in front of them and the enemy was behind them.

Allah says (which means): “And when the two hosts saw each other, the people of Moosa, said, ‘We are sure to be overtaken. (Moosa) said, ‘Nay, verily! With me is my Lord and He will guide me!’” (Ash-Shu’araa 26:61-62)

Whoever is close to Allah, Allah will never let him down or leave him on his own. Allah ordered Moosa to strike the sea with his staff. Moosa did so and the sea opened up for them to cross. Allah says (which means): “And indeed We inspired Moosa (saying): ‘Travel by night with My slaves and strike a dry path for them in the sea, fearing neither to be overtaken (by Pharaoh) nor being afraid (of drowning).” (Taa-Haa 20:77)

Moosa walked across the path that opened in the sea and the last of his people left the sea and every soldier of Pharaoh’s army was inside the path. At this time Allah ordered the sea to collapse upon them, drowning Pharaoh and his army.

That was the victory of the truth over falsehood. The promise of Allah was true – He made the people of Moosa victorious over Pharaoh and his army. From this story we see how the truth is victorious, regardless of the size or seeming power of falsehood. Falsehood has its own limited time, but the truth is always victorious.

This story should enrich the hearts of the believers and make them steadfast in the face of their enemies, regardless of size or seeming power of their enemies. The believer should also benefit from this story by understanding that the people of falsehood claim that they are on the right path and are calling people to the truth. In fact, the opposite is true - they rely on lies and deception.

This great event – the victory Allah gave Moosa and the believers over Pharaoh and his army - occurred on the 10th of the sacred month of Muharram and the day is called Yaumul 'Ashurah' (the day of 'Ashurah'). It is a day that has a great merit. Prophet Moosa fasted on that day, and ordered the people to fast that day.

Ibn ‘Abbass reported that when the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) arrived in Madinah, he found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. The Messenger of Allah asked them, “What is the significance of this day that you fast on?” They said: “It is the day of great significance when Allah delivered Moosa and his people and drowned Pharaoh and his people. Moosa observed fast out of gratitude, and we also observe it.” Upon this, the Messenger of Allah said, “We have more right and we have a closer connection to Moosa than you have.”

So Allah’s Messenger fasted (on the day of Ashura) and gave orders that it should be observed.

We also benefit from the story of Moosa by learning that the Sunnah of the Prophets is to thank and praise Allah in times of peace and when they gain victory over their enemies. Moosa fasted on the 10th, the day on which Allah made his followers victorious over Pharaoh; and this is another sign that the truth will always defeat falsehood.

[לִוְיָתָן]

bla bla bla bla
Ali what has Wahabis done for themselves, Muslims, or humanity except behead and pose by monkey bars on cnn and fox? lol

[Ali]

bla bla bla bla
Ali what has Wahabis done for themselves, Muslims, or humanity except behead and pose by monkey bars on cnn and fox? lol

We have eradicated shirk in hijaaz and other places and implemented the Quran and the Sunnah into the society.
We are strictly against any form of secularism and preach pure monotheism (tawheed, may be a foreign word for a rafidah).

the rafidah have backstabbed the caliphates and sunnis many times. For example, they invited the tatars to destroy the islamic caliphate and today the rafidah backstab the sunnis once again in Iraq and in Afghanistan, where they work hand in hand with the americans and oppress the sunni population. In Iran, sunnis are opressed and millions have been killed ( I can show u evidence from an iranian mullah who said this on memri--> http://www.memritv.o...lip/en/1591.htm ) What has the deviant ideology of the rafidah contributed to Islaam except destruction of Tawheed and human life. U have fallen so much into shirk that there is no difference between your shirk and the shirk of Abu jahel. DO U really think that it is from the sunnah to hit urself with swords till u bleed on ashurah?

[Ali]

We need to see more Sunni+Shia+Wahabi mixed marriages.

it is haram to marry a shia.

[לִוְיָתָן]

We have eradicated shirk in hijaaz and other places and implemented the Quran and the Sunnah into the society.
We are strictly against any form of secularism and preach pure monotheism (tawheed, may be a foreign word for a rafidah).

the rafidah have backstabbed the caliphates and sunnis many times. For example, they invited the tatars to destroy the islamic caliphate and today the rafidah backstab the sunnis once again in Iraq and in Afghanistan, where they work hand in hand with the americans and oppress the sunni population. In Iran, sunnis are opressed and millions have been killed ( I can show u evidence from an iranian mullah who said this on memri--> <a href="http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1591.htm" target="_blank">http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1591.htm</a> ) What has the deviant ideology of the rafidah contributed to Islaam except destruction of Tawheed and human life. U have fallen so much into shirk that there is no difference between your shirk and the shirk of Abu jahel. DO U really think that it is from the sunnah to hit urself with swords till u bleed on ashurah?

realy? You are against secularism and preach monotheism?


Wahabis hard at work eradicating Shirk and Preaching Monotheism

Prophet of Islam too preached monotheism. He definitely had a different approach than you little abortions of shaitans. And unlike you he was immensely successful

[Ali]

since when do we take the saudi king as evidence in an islamic issue? we look at what the scholars said and wrote from the past to the present but first and foremost we look at the QUran and the Sunnah and not on the saudi king.

the saudi king has been criticised by many salafi scholars and he is not a representative of salafis. he doesnt even pray like a salafi but he prays like a hanafi....

secularism is against islaam, this was said by ibn baz, Ibn uthaymeen, muhammed ibrahim, ibn jibreen and so on.

even ur shia scholars are against secularism. ASk your local ayatullah and he will tell u the same.

realy? You are against secularism and preach monotheism?


Wahabis hard at work eradicating Shirk and Preaching Monotheism

Prophet of Islam too preached monotheism. He definitely had a different approach than you little abortions of shaitans. And unlike you he was immensely successful

[לִוְיָתָן]

since when do we take the saudi king as evidence in an islamic issue?

Since that king spends 100s of millions of dollar on wahabi/zionist propaganda targeting the stupid sect of Muslim population as means of radicalizing them for the corporate soap called war on terror.

[Ali]

Since that king spends 100s of millions of dollar on wahabi/zionist propaganda targeting the stupid sect of Muslim population as means of radicalizing them for the corporate soap called war on terror.

the shia sunni conflict has been a 1300 year old conflict. how does the saudi king or the zionist have anything to do with this?? this is typical shia conspiracy theory.

as if they were alive 1300 years ago.

[Adam]

it is haram to marry a shia.

I agree, and for us marrying a Sunni is Haram. But, some people do, everyone is responsible for themselves.

[Adam]

the shia sunni conflict has been a 1300 year old conflict. how does the saudi king or the zionist have anything to do with this?? this is typical shia conspiracy theory.

as if they were alive 1300 years ago.

You think the Zionists and Mushrikeen, the trouble makers, monafiqeen just came to existence in 20th century?
Such people even were there before Prophet Mohammad (saww) and during all prophets, they tortured Prophet Jesus, and many other prophets.
The thing is that you are dealing with the Zionists and Saudi kings of all times, starting from Abu Sufyaan, Muhawiya, Yazeed, kingdom of Bani Ummaiya, and all those tyrants. Just with different titles and within different tribes.

[Ali]

You think the Zionists and Mushrikeen, the trouble makers, monafiqeen just came to existence in 20th century?
Such people even were there before Prophet Mohammad (saww) and during all prophets, they tortured Prophet Jesus, and many other prophets.
The thing is that you are dealing with the Zionists and Saudi kings of all times, starting from Abu Sufyaan, Muhawiya, Yazeed, kingdom of Bani Ummaiya, and all those tyrants. Just with different titles and within different tribes.

ok the saudi king is evil but this has nothing to do with islaam. many scholars have criticised him and his kuffer actions. I dont like him either.
However, Muhawiya radiullahanhu was a good sahabai and he did a lot of good things for islaam. The grandson of the prophet accepted him and gave him bayah. So you shouldnt be comparing Muhawiya radiullahanhu with zionists.

Dont forget the zionist Abdullah ibn Saba.

[לִוְיָתָן]

the shia sunni conflict has been a 1300 year old conflict. how does the saudi king or the zionist have anything to do with this?? this is typical shia conspiracy theory.

as if they were alive 1300 years ago.

Shia Sunni differences are indeed as old as Islam itself. However, Wahabi attacks on Muslim civilian as means of polarizing the Muslim world that would generate 100s of Billions of dollars for USrael arms sales is quite a new and an awfully sick phenomenon.
The Wahabis of Gulf are about to pay US 60 Billion dollars to buy their useless weapons. Never in history of Islam there was a shamelss and Kaffir sect like Wahabis. YOu are the tumor of Islam.

[לִוְיָתָן]

The thing is that you are dealing with the Zionists and Saudi kings of all times, starting from Abu Sufyaan, Muhawiya, Yazeed, kingdom of Bani Ummaiya, and all those tyrants. Just with different titles and within different tribes.

exactly. I see little difference in wickedness of the Wahaabis today and the unjust policies of Yazeed. Not alot has changed.

[Ali]

Shia Sunni differences are indeed as old as Islam itself. However, Wahabi attacks on Muslim civilian as means of polarizing the Muslim world that would generate 100s of Billions of dollars for USrael arms sales is quite a new and an awfully sick phenomenon.
The Wahabis of Gulf are about to pay US 60 Billion dollars to buy their useless weapons. Never in history of Islam there was a shamelss and Kaffir sect like Wahabis. YOu are the tumor of Islam.

why am I a kaffir now?

When Iran buys weapons from RUssia then this is ok but when saudi arabia buys weapons from usa then this is not ok?

WHy do you have these double standards. Russia has exterminated a large portion of the chechnyan muslims and yet Iran deals with russia. Furthermore, Russia has exterminated 3 million people in your own country, yet Iran still buys weapons from Russia.

There is nothing wrong islamically buying weapons to protect yourself. SO stop spreading foolish things because I will refute you each time and stop calling salafis as kaffir without proof.

[Ali]

exactly. I see little difference in wickedness of the Wahaabis today and the unjust policies of Yazeed. Not alot has changed.

yazeed didnt kill imaam hussein radiullahanhu.