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Muharram (Arabic: )‫محرم‬It is the first month of
the Islamic calendar. Instead of joyous celebration,
Muslims mark the beginning of the New Year by
taking up the black attire of sorrow and
participate in mourning gatherings in which the
sacrifices of Imam Husayn (P) and his companions
are commemorated. It is one of the four months
of the year in which fighting is prohibited. Since
the Islamic calendar is lunar, Muharram moves
from year to year when compared with the
Gregorian calendar.
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Muharram is so called because it was unlawful to
fight during this month; the word is derived from
the word ‘haram’ meaning forbidden. It is held
to be the most sacred of all the months,
excluding Ramadan.It is the same month when
Husein, the grandson of the Prophet
Muhammad, was brutally massacred in Karbala
alongside his family and friends in the year 680
CE/61 AH. This was the biggest terrorist attack
against ISLAM, HUMANITY & JUSTICE
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Their martyrdom of all is a sad day for all
Muslims, especially the Shi’a, who hold
mourning ceremonies to recall the righteous
virtues for which the valiant martyrs stood and
the grave calamities that they thus had to bear.
The commemoration of this brutal massacre
(Battle of Karbala) begins on the first day of
Muharram and reaches its climax on the 10th
of Muharram, the day of the battle, known as
Ashurah and continues for 40 days or 69 days.
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Ashura ( ‫ عاشوراء‬transliteration: ‘Āshūrā’, Ashura,
Ashoura, and other spellings).
It is also called Yaumu-l ‘Ashurah (Day of Ashura), or
simply Ashura meaning, ‘The Tenth Day’
Normally a public holiday is declared for this day.
It is the 10th day of Muharram in Islamic calendar
and marks the climax of the Remembrance of
Muharram as it is on this day, the Battle of Kerbala
was fought and I.Husein (P), the grandson of the
H.Prophet Muhammad (P), was brutally massacred
in Karbala alongside his family and friends
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It is well-known because of historical significance and
mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the
grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad at the
Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (AD 680). It is a day
of speeches, public processions, and great grief. Men
and women chant and weep, mourning Husayn, his
family, and his followers. Speeches emphasize the
importance of the values for which Husayn sacrificed
himself, his family, and his followers. For centuries
Shi’a pilgrims flocked here during Muharram, a
practice which was severely limited under the regime
of Saddam Hussein
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Karbala (Arabic: ;‫كربالء‬BGN: Al-Karbalā’; also spelled
Karbala al-Muqaddasah) is a city in Iraq, located about
100 km (60 mi) southwest of Baghdad at 32.61°N,
44.08°E.
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In the time of Husayn ibn Ali’s life, the place was also
known as al-Ghadiriyah, Naynawa, and Shathi’ulFuraat.The city’s association with Shīˤa Islām have
made it a centre of religious instruction as well as
worship; it has more than 100 mosques and 23
religious schools, of which possibly the most famous
is that of Ibn Fahid, constructed some 440 years ago.
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Karbala’s prominence in Shīˤī is the result of the
Battle of Karbala, fought on the site of the
modern city on October 10, 680.Both Husayn
and his half-brother ˤAbbās ibn ˤAlī were buried
by the local Banī Asad tribe at what later became
known as the Mashhad Al-Husayn. Later on city
grew up around the tombs. Husayn’s tomb (View
Larger Map) is a place of pilgrimage for many
Shīˤa Muslims, especially on the anniversary of
the battle, the Day of Āshūrā
Battle of Karbala (Truth V/s Falsehood)
Date
October 10, 680 (Muharram 10, 61 AH)
Location
Karbala, The battlefield was a desert region located beside one of the
branches of the Euphrates River, landscape about 100 kilometers south of
the Iraqi capital Baghdad,
Reason
Yazid l.a demanded allegiance from Husain – he knew too well that the
acceptance of the entire Muslim community was of no value without
Hussain’s acceptance. In reply to this unacceptable demand, Hussain
majestically replied: “a person like me can never pledge allegiance to a
person like him”, thereby highlighting the universality of the principles from
which his stand stemmed from. Hussain rose to restore freedom, peace,
equality and justice; qualities which the Divine Message had perfected but
were constantly undermined by those who hijacked religion and acted in its
name.
In a will which he wrote before leaving Medina, Hussain wrote; “I have risen
as I seek to reform the community of my grandfather. I wish to bid the good
and forbid the evil.”
Result
VICTORY OF TRUTH
“The tyrant dies and his rule ends, the martyr dies and his rule begins.” —
Soren Kierkegard
Umayyad military gain victory physically but with in 3 years Yazid died and
after a few decades the rule of Banu Umayya crumbled and came to an end.
Being such a big king (of that time) there is no mark of his grave & not a
single follower.
Husayn ibn Ali is still alive in the hearts of Humanity millions of devotees
who pay homage to them and renew, through their message, their eternal
struggle against humiliation and oppression by visiting the Imam Hussein
Shrine regularly & especially in Muharram on the Day of Ashura, the
anniversary of Husayn ibn Ali’s death.
You can check out this right away from live link
http://www.imamhussain.org/html&docs/ar/live.html
The best lesson which we get from the tragedy of Karbala is that Hussayn and
his Companions were the rigid believers of God. They illustrated that
numerical superiority does not count when it comes to truth and falsehood.
The victory of Hussayn despite his minority marvels me. Thomas Carlye
Combatants
Husayn ibn Ali (The Grandson of the Last
prophet Mohammad [P.B.U.H])
Yazid ibn Muawiya (la)He was not physically
present in the battle as he send the troops
under the command of Umar ibn Sa’ad
Commanders
Abbas ibn Ali
Umar ibn Sa’ad
Strength
Hussein ibn Ali’s group consisted of
notable members of Muhammad’s close
relatives, around 72 men (Which were 18
family members and 54 supporters
including a 6 month old baby and elderly
persons) and their womens and childrens
On the other side were the armed forces of
Yazid I, about 30 - 40,000+ men led by Umar
ibn Sa’ad.
Casualties
123 (72 Men and 51 children)
5000 + (according to Shia tradition)
Duration
Despite the figures of 72 men against thousands, it is recorded that the
battle went on from dawn to dusk. Just Imagine the courage that 72
stood in front of thousands for such a long time.
Summary
It intrigues historians that Hurr, one of the highest ranked commanders
of Yazid’s army, who was the man responsible for stopping Hussein at
Karbala, left the overwhelming force of thousands of soldiers and joined
Hussein with his son and a slave.At the 10th of Muharram he died by
Husain’s side in the battle killing 41 soldiers.
According to Arab culture, anyone accompanying women and children
with him is a sign of peace. It was here that Hussain, his family and Shi’a
(Partisans) were confronted by the army of Yazeed. Hussain refused to
pledge allegiance to the tyrant and Yazeed declared war on him.
Hussain was forced to battle the army of Yazeed, but not before the
army had cut off their food and water supply for three days. For
three whole days and nights, enduring temperatures around 55°C
without food or water, the males of the camp, totaling 72 (including
the elderly and children) fought valiantly and were all brutally
slaughtered
Hussain was forced to witness the savage mutilation of Abbas – his
brother, the callous murder of his nephew Qasim, the torture and
execution of his innocent son Ali Akbar and finally the depraved murder
of his six month old baby boy – Ali Asghar. Left alone finally Hussain was
also attacked, his body was showered with arrows, his head was severed
and the hooves of the horses of Yazeed’s cavalry trampled on his body.
Husain and their supporters were decapitated; their bodies were
mutilated and trampled by horses.
The aftermath of the battle led to the humiliation of the women of
Hussain’s camp. Their tents were looted and burnt, leaving the
women to the mercy of Yazeed’s soldiers. The aggrieved children who
had lost their fathers were beaten. The captives were made to travel
from Karbala to Syria – Damascus, a journey of approximately 750
miles. Their Headscarves were snatched off and they were made to
trek barefoot, chained, shackled, and taken on camels without
saddles, due to which many of the children fell off the camels and the
women were not allowed to even stop and help their children. The
graves of these children can still be seen in the desert between
Karbala and Kufa.
Distance between Medina and Karbala about 1,100 miles.
Distance between Ibn Ziyad in Kufa & Yazid in Damascus about 750 miles.
Average travel by camel per day: 30-45 miles.
The heads of all the males including that of Hussain’s six month old son were impaled on spikes (as war trophies) and
paraded through the streets. On arriving at Damascus, they
were paraded in the town, for all to see and shun. A barrage of
stones, rubbish and verbal abuse bombarded them. They were
kept in prison for over a year It is to be noted that people who
did this with the family of Mohammad were themselves
Muslims.
The insidious whisper comes:
“Truth after all can never die.”
The battle of Karbala finds great similarity with the one at Badr – Islam’s first
battle. It was the holy Prophet [PBUH] at Badr who fought with 313 die-hard
supporters against a formidable army of some 1000 men. That day against all
odds the small group won a decisive victory, and paved the way for a future
Muslim empire. 56 years later it was his grandson with just 72 loyal men, who
fought against an impossible opposition of several thousands to save Islam from
the clutches of tyranny.
Karbala was a battle of truth against falsehood, humanity against villainy,
righteousness against evil, justice against corruption. The much loved grandson of
the Prophet [PBUH] stood in the scorching heat of Karbala along with his
companions, devoid of water but determined. His loved ones, including his six
month old son, fell martyr one after the other. In spite of this he repeatedly invited
the other party towards righteousness and forbade them from evil and
immorality, but it all fell on deaf ears. When the time arrived for him to march
ahead all alone, he did it in a fashion which was reminiscent of his illustrious father
Ali
Husain fell in the desert of Karbala on that fateful Friday, the 10th of Moharram
61H. Worse was to follow. The bodies of the martyrs including the Imam were
not only refused a proper burial but were trampled under the horses’ hooves and
were left for the birds. The Kufan army looted the belongings of Husain. Imam’s
family including his women-folk and tender children were humiliated and taken
captives after burning down their camps. The women were paraded with
uncovered heads. It wasn’t ISLAM!!!
“If Hussain fought to quench his worldly desires, then I do not
understand why his sisters, wives and children accompanied him. It stands to
reason therefore that he sacrificed purely for Islam.”
—Charles Dickens
The severed heads of the martyrs including Husain were raised on spears. How
Yazid played with Husain’s head and the emotions of Imam’s family is a well
documented fact. Karbala to this day remains a heart-wrenching story of
exemplary courage and bravery to uphold the real principles of Islam.
“In a distant age and climate, the tragic scene of the death of Husain
will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader.”
— Edward Gibbon
http://moralsandethics.wordpress.com
Check out Movies on Karbala
For more details on this Subject refer to below links
1. What is Muharram ?
2. Lesson from Kerbala 1
3. Lessons from Kerbala 2
4. Lessons from Kerbala 3
5. Ashura, an eternal saga of conviction and courage
6. Hussein (A): The End of a Tragedy or the Beginning of an
Uprising?