The Karbala

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In the name of God, the beneficent the merciful
Think not of those who are slain in God's way as dead. Nay, they live,
finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord. Holy Quran (3:169)
The events of Karbala reflect the collision of the good versus the evil, the virtuous versus the wicked, and the collision
of Imam Hussain (the head of virtue) versus Yazid (the head of impiety). Imam Hussain (pbuh) was a revolutionary
person, a righteous man, the religious authority, the Imam of Muslim Ummah (nation). As the representative of his
grandfather Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Imam Hussain's main concern was to safeguard and protect Islam and guide
fellow Muslims. On the other hand, the staying power of the rulers (Muawiya and his son Yazid) depended solely on the
might of the sword. They used brute force to rule over the Muslim empire even by all possible illicit means.
The mission of Imam Hussain (pbuh) is distinctly unique, political and religious revolutionary movement in the history
of World. His was a tremendous undertaking which still reverberates throughout the Muslim nation. He has been a pro-
pelling force and a seminal element in events throughout Islamic history, particularly in the sphere of Jihad (the holy
struggle in the way of Almighty God). Imam Hussain's example has remained vividly alive for generations and centuries.
His uprising, movement and ideals still have a deep impact on the conscience and awareness of the Muslim empire.
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said: "The best of Jihad is that of a word of right spoken to an unjust ruler."
Imam Hussain (pbuh) witnessed the deteriorating political and social situation and clearly recognized that the general
policy of the authorities did not abide with Islamic principles. He was aware of the Ummah's numerous and painful afflic-
tions, and was determined to exercise his religious duty, being the duly sanctioned leader & central figure capable of
restoring Islamic values. Thus he rose. His revolt is rich in lessons and divinely inspired attitudes. Imam Hussain (pbuh)
embodied the sacrifice of self, money, family, social status and the challenge to terror and cruelty. He patiently traversed
hundreds of miles, moving both night and day. The epic protest he engendered came at the most critical political juncture.
In fact, the Prophet's grandson had vowed to sacrifice himself.
Thus, Karbala proved to be a clash involving Islamic truths versus falsehood, belief versus disbelief, and the oppressed
versus the oppressor, faith against brute force. Karbala was about standing in the face of oppression, regardless no mat-
ter the cost. In Karbala, Imam Hussain the fifty seven year old second grandson of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), sacrificed
his totality and all he had, for one goal. This goal was to let the truth triumph over falsehood eventually, and he did that
brilliantly. His goal was to foil the plan that Muawiya had expertly developed for his son, Yazid, which was to establish a
permanent Umayyads (Banu Umayya) ruler ship over the Muslim Ummah (even by sacrificing the Islamic principles), but
doing it in the name of Islam. Brilliantly, Imam Hussain (pbuh) succeeded in foiling this plan and he exposed the disrep-
utable nature of Umayyads though this was at the expense of his life.
Eventually he was martyred along with his sons, most of his household and all of his companions. The bodies were muti-
lated and their heads were carried from Karbala, to Kufa and finally Damascus. His womenfolk were taken prisoners and
marched across the desert. He himself was expecting all that, but did not budge an inch.
An uprising led by the noblest and best accepted personality in the entire Ummah, is certainly one which is uniquely dis-
tinguished as a movement abounding with spiritual, moral and religious ideals. Due to the importance of this personali-
ty, we are honored to present this concise, well documented book to our readers. Hereunder are related the most outstand-
ing incidents of the dynamic Hussaini movement, which stands unequalled in its greatness and fills pages upon pages of
history.
Such a sublime revolution has to be studied, dissected and fully understood. Lessons should be drawn from it. Here we
note that the backward and downtrodden nations must one day follow in the footsteps of Imam Hussain (pbuh) if they
are to challenge the despots.
We beseech the Most High and Almighty God to make this volume of enduring benefit to our esteemed readers and to help
us in disseminating benevolence and guidance. He is the Hearing and Answering.
Wassalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmutallahi Wa Barkatahu
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Introduction and References
Karbala garden of swords, blood and inspiration for innumerable pens.
Karbala is the word of right...the hymn on the lips of time.
Karbala is a poem...a rhyme of anguish and pain.
Karbala never passes away. Its sun never sets in the horizon of history. Its anguish can never be
effaced from the conscience of freemen by the collective conspiracy of tyrants.
At Karbala clouds of blood rained and generations of martyrs and revolutionaries took root and
sprouted. The sound of the fearless voice of Imam Hussain (pbuh) still echoes in the valley of Karbala,
ringing in the ears of time. It is a hurricane that chafes and shakes the tyrants. It is a volcano of blood,
violently jolting the despots' thrones. It awakens free consciences and stirs within man the spirit of
revolution and Jihad. His voice is still echoing in the ears of mankind:
"By God, I will never give you my hand like a man
who has been humiliated, nor will I flee like a slave."
Who actually is Hussain? What is the background of this exceptionally unique and great personality?
This prominent man of history, the legend of epics, the word of pride and honor was no less the
Grandson of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) the son of his daughter Fatimah Zahra (pbuh) and her
cousin and husband the Commander of the Faithful, Ali son of Abu Talib son of Abdul Mutalib son of
Hashim.
Hence the only fact remains: There never was a Hussain before him, there has been none after him.
The object of this work is only to present with extreme brevity the great historic event of the match-
less sacrifice of the King of Martyrs Imam Hussain (pbuh), in the seed of Abraham (pbuh) through
the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), offered to save the Truth and humanity from getting lost to
falsehood forever, for the apostleship had been concluded with the revelation of the Holy Quran, the
Final Word of God. If anything had to be done or could be done, to save the Truth, it was only through
the Imamate which was destined to do it, and Imam Hussain was the divinely chosen one for it.
Most of the matter for this book is taken from the below mentioned books. For further reading in
greater depth, you may also refer to the same below mentioned books.
1. `Ashura - Misrepresentations and Distortions By: Martyr Mutahhari
2. The story of the children of Muslim Ibne Aqeel By: Husayn Sabouri
3. Imam Husaein and The Day of Ashura From: Al-Huda Foundation
4. Introduction to Islam By: Sayyed Mojtaba Musavi Lari
5. Husain The Saviour of Islam By: S.V. Mir Ahmed Ali
6. Towards Karbala By: Ayatollah Mohammmad Yazdi
7. Imam Husain's Revolution By: Hadi Al-Modaresi
8. Understanding Karbala By: Siddiqa Juma
9. Al-Hussain: a children cartoon book
Akramulla Syed
http://www.islamicoccasions.com
email: islamicoccasions@hotmail.com
Thursday, May 19, 2005 (10 Rabi Al-Thani 1426)
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T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s
01. Introduction and References .........................................................................................................................................................................2
02. Islam the Universal Religion for Mankind ................................................................................................................................................4
03. To Destroy Islam is to Destroy Humanity .................................................................................................................................................4
04. Lineage or Family Tree ...................................................................................................................................................................................5
05. The Nearest Ancestry of the Promised Prophet (pbuh) ...........................................................................................................................6
06. Conspiracy to Assassinate the Holy Prophet (pbuh) ...............................................................................................................................6
07. Beginning of Hijra Calendar .........................................................................................................................................................................6
08. Parents of Imam Hussain/Abu Abd Allah (pbuh) ....................................................................................................................................8
09. The Funeral of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) ....................................................................................................................................................8
10. History repeats itself .......................................................................................................................................................................................8
11. The Love of the World - Maddens Man ......................................................................................................................................................9
12. Karbala's Foundation laid ..............................................................................................................................................................................9
13. The Caliphate thrust upon Imam Ali (pbuh) .............................................................................................................................................9
14. Imam Hassan (pbuh) become the Caliph .................................................................................................................................................11
15. Imam Hassan's Body shot at .......................................................................................................................................................................12
16. Yazid succeeded the Caliph at Damascus .................................................................................................................................................12
17. The Call from the Governor ........................................................................................................................................................................12
18. Situation demanded another `Muhammad' to rescue the faith ...........................................................................................................13
19. Imam Hussain (pbuh) decides to leave Madina .....................................................................................................................................13
20. Muslim son of Aqeel - the Holy Imam's Deputy to Kufa .....................................................................................................................16
21. Son of Aqeel sends out His Children with Message to the Imam ......................................................................................................17
22. Muslim son of Aqeel Arrested and Martyred .........................................................................................................................................17
23. Children of Muslim son of Aqeel Martyred ............................................................................................................................................19
24. No Refuge for the Holy Imam Even in the Holy Kaaba .......................................................................................................................21
25. Imam Hussain's Sermon at Mina ...............................................................................................................................................................21
26. Imam Hussain saves the Sanctity of the Great Sanctuary ....................................................................................................................23
27. Important stops on Imam Journey and complete Route .......................................................................................................................24
28. The Prophesied Desert of Karbala .............................................................................................................................................................28
29. Imam Hussain (pbuh) purchases the site for the Graves ......................................................................................................................28
30. Arrival of Yazid's Forces ..............................................................................................................................................................................29
31. No room for any criticism left .....................................................................................................................................................................29
32. Imam Hussain (pbuh) besieged at Karbala ..............................................................................................................................................30
33. Water supply to Imam Hussain's camp cut off .......................................................................................................................................30
34. Enemy decides to attack ...............................................................................................................................................................................30
35. The Holy Imam and Umar son of Saad confer ........................................................................................................................................31
36. The night before the tenth Muharram ......................................................................................................................................................31
37. The final shifting ...........................................................................................................................................................................................32
38. Abbas the Brave, Guard the Camp ............................................................................................................................................................34
39. The night in the Yazidian Camp ................................................................................................................................................................34
40. The Holy Imam's last prayer with his devotees on Earth .....................................................................................................................35
41. Graphical representation of Karbala .........................................................................................................................................................35
42. Sermon of the Holy Imam on the day of Ashura ....................................................................................................................................36
43. Hurr joins the Holy Imam ...........................................................................................................................................................................37
44. The Battle of Truth against Falsehood ......................................................................................................................................................38
45. Wahab and his Family ..................................................................................................................................................................................39
46. Salat al-Khawf/Prayer of Fear .....................................................................................................................................................................40
47. Aun and Muhammad ....................................................................................................................................................................................40
48. Qasim son of Imam Hassan (pbuh) ...........................................................................................................................................................41
49. Abu al-Fadl Abbas - The Standard Bearer/Flagman ..............................................................................................................................42
50. The Hashimite Prince Ali Akbar's Martyrdom .......................................................................................................................................44
51. Baby Ali Asgher (Abd Allah) comes into Battlefield .............................................................................................................................45
52. The parting advice to Zainab and Kulthoom ...........................................................................................................................................46
53. Hussain hands over the charge of the Imamate ......................................................................................................................................47
54. The last call of the Holy Imam in the way of the lord ...........................................................................................................................47
55. Imam Hussain in the Battlefield to offer the greatest sacrifice ...........................................................................................................48
56. The unique unparalleled prayer (Namaz) ................................................................................................................................................49
57. Shaam-e-Gareeba, the night of homeless .................................................................................................................................................52
58. Attention of Zainab towards Zainul Abideen during the Journey .....................................................................................................53
59. Ahlul Bayt (pbut) in the Court of Yazid ...................................................................................................................................................54
60. Speech of Zainab (pbuh) in the Court of Yazid ......................................................................................................................................55
61. Speech of Imam Zainul Abideen (pbuh) in the Court of Yazid...........................................................................................................56
62. Demise of Sakina (pbuh) .............................................................................................................................................................................57
63. Our Responsibility and Mission ................................................................................................................................................................61
64. Imam Hussain (pbuh) in the Holy Quran.................................................................................................................................................63
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Islam the Universal Religion for Mankind
The conception of God in Islam (religion of peace) is unique in
its strict Unitarian aspect. The jurisdiction of God, is not
restricted or limited to any section of humanity or to any part
of the world. God according to Islam is the `Rabbul-Aalameen' (i.e.,
The Lord of the Worlds or the Absolute Monarch of the whole
Universe). Also the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the Last
Apostle of God was not to guide any particular tribe, community or
any part of the human race, but for mankind as a whole, and the
religion Islam was revealed to be current for all times until the Day
of Judgment. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had been sent
as the `Rahmatunlil Aalameen' (i.e., The Mercy unto the Worlds or
the Universe).
"And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds."
Holy Quran (21:107)
The religion preached by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh),
was the divinely perfected code of discipline for human life on
earth, it was named Islam and was prescribed for the human race
for all times till the end of the world.
"This day have I perfected your religion for you,
completed My favor upon you, and have chosen
for you Islam as your religion." Holy Quran (5:3)
To Destroy Islam is to Destroy Humanity
Islam is the divinely revealed religion for the whole human race, as the only religion acceptable to
Almighty God.
"If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to God), never will it be
accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost (All
spiritual good)." Holy Quran (3:85)
None but the Devil alone would aim to destroy or corrupt it, and the one who aims to do it, would be
the worst enemy of mankind. He would naturally be the devil in human form. And the one, who saves
the religion from being destroyed or getting corrupted, would undoubtedly be the Greatest Benefactor
and the Savior of Truth and humanity as a whole. It has been clearly announced by the Lord in the
Holy Quran that the one who saves a single human life, has saved humanity as a whole.
"Whosoever killed a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the
earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saved the life of one, it shall
be as if he had saved the life of all mankind." Holy Quran (5:32)
"Do not say what you do not understand, because most of the Right is in what you deny. Accept
the argument of one against whom you have no argument." (Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 17)
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Adam
Noah
Tarak
Abraham
Ishmael
Abd Manaf
Amr/Hashim
Mutalib
Naufal
Abdush Shams
Abdul Mutalib
Umayya, Adopted son
Abdullah
Abu Talib
Abbas
Hamza
Abu Lahab
Sakhr
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
Harb/Abu Sufyan
Fatima/Ummul Banin
Fatima (pbuh)
Imam Ali (pbuh)
Ja'far
Aqeel
Muawiya
Abdullah
Muslim
Abbas
Abdulla
Ja'far
Uthman
Muhammad Ibraheem
Imam Hassan (pbuh)
Imam Hussain (pbuh)
Zainab (pbuh)
Kulthoom (pbuh)
Yazid
Farwa
Shahr Banu
Laila
Rubab
Aun
Muhammad
Qasim
Imam Sajjad (pbuh) Ali Akbar Sakina Ali Asgher
Imam Baqir (pbuh)
As well as some of the names mentioned above, other members of the Prophet's family also fought in the battle of Karbala.
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The Nearest Ancestry of the Promised Prophet (pbuh)
The Quraishites (tribe of Quraish) were the direct descendants of Prophet Abraham through
Prophet Ishmael, and Abd Manaf. Abdush Shams and Hashim were the twin issues of Abd
Manaf. The children of Hashim through his son Abdul Mutalib were called the
`Hashimites/Banu Hashim' (tribe of Hashim). Abdush Shams had adopted a clever, crafty and active
Roman slave boy Umayya, whom Abd Manaf had purchased and presented to his son Abdush Shams.
However, the issues of Umayya become known as the `Umayyads/Banu Umayya' (tribe of Umayya).
Abd Manaf, before his death, had handed over the charge of his privileged hereditary duties of serv-
ice to the House of God, the `Holy Kaaba' to Hashim his eldest son who was very noble by nature and
godly in temperament. This aggravated the hatred, jealousy and animosity of Umayya whose tenden-
cy continued as a personality trait from generation to generation in his seed. Much fuel was added to
the already burning fire of envy and enmity of the Umayyads when Abdul Mutalib, miraculously dis-
covered the natural spring-well of `Zamzam' which lay hidden and unknown to any one, for ages
together. Umayya became angry and started being very rude towards Hashimites. When the elders of
the tribe saw this, they decided that he should not be allowed to remain in Makkah, and was there-
fore sent to Syria. This was the beginning of the hatred of the Umayyads towards the Hashimites,
which eventually led to the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (pbuh).
Hashim was the Great Grandfather of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and that is why the families of the
Prophet are known as the Hashimites. The Hashimites were good, noble and gentle, while the
Umayyads were wicked, mean and aggressive. The Hashimites held the Trusteeship and the Custody
of the Kaaba, which was the most coveted and unique honor enjoyed exclusively by the Hashimites.
The Umayyads envied this the most, and could not bear it. While the charitable disposition of the
Hashimites could not allow the hoarding of any personal wealth, the selfishness and niggardliness of
the Umayyads had enabled them to store abundant wealth which had made the Umayyads ever more
haughty and proud against the noble, the gentle and the meek ones of the Hashimites.
Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) started preaching to the people of Makkah at the age of forty (40)
years. If anyone goes through the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), he will not be able to
resist shedding tears for the tortures, the miseries and calamities which the great godly soul suffered
at the hands of the people. Any intelligent reader would find that all the sufferings which every one of
the preceding apostles of God had suffered, had been inflicted on the Last Apostle of the Lord, along
with other additional tortures and miseries which none else had ever experienced and he suffered all
the calamities with ideal patience, matchless fortitude, unparalleled steadfastness and unshakable
determination to fulfill the covenant established with the Lord.
Conspiracy to Assassinate the Holy Prophet (pbuh)
The Makkan's alarmed at the growing impact of Islam and their abject helplessness to contain its
radiant rays conspired to assassinate the Holy Prophet. Moreover, the death of Abu Talib that
devoted guardian of infant Islam, had removed an obstacle from their path, embodying the
haughty ignorant to plot Muhammad's (pbuh) assassination.
Beginning of Hijra Calendar
As per the command of Almighty God, the Holy Prophet migrated to Medina at the age of fifty
three (53) years. This epoch-making night which marked a turning point in the message of
Islam, also marks the start of the Muslim Lunar Calendar (Hijra).
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Parents of Imam Hussain/Abu Abd Allah (pbuh)
In the second (2) year of Hijra, the Prophet's cousin, Imam Ali (pbuh) married the Prophet's
daughter Fatima; the Lady of Light (pbuh) in the simplest possible manner. A divine lady like
Fatima (pbuh) could not have been the wife of any ordinary man, and more particularly when she
was destined to provide the Divine Plan with the godly characters suitable to be the Universal Guides
to mankind as a whole. They had four children, Imam Hassan, Imam Hussain, Zainab and Kulthoom.
Imam Hussain (pbuh) was born on the 3rd of Shabaan in the fourth (4) year of Hijra. The Holy
Prophet (pbuh) came to Fatima (pbuh) and taking the baby in his lap, mysteriously placed his tongue
in the mouth of the baby, and the baby began sucking it and thus the Holy child was first fed by the
Saliva of the Apostle of God, as the first sustenance of his Holy body in this world. After giving the
Holy baby the first feeding by his Saliva, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said:
"Hussainun minni wa ana minal Hussain (Hussain is of me and I am of Hussain)."
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) loved all his grand children very much. One day, when he was in prostrate
(Sajdah) while praying in the mosque, Imam Hussain (pbuh) climbed on his back. The Holy Prophet
remained in prostrate until Imam Hussain came down by himself.
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) used to carry Imam Hussain (pbuh) and his elder brother Imam Hassan
(pbuh) in his arms and declare expansively in front of his companions.
"O God, I love them and love those who love them."
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) expressed his deeply felt love for Imam Hassan (pbuh) and Imam Hussain
(pbuh) in these words:
"These two sons of mine are my two plants of sweet basil in this world." "Whoever loves
Hassan and Hussain then he loves me and whoever dislikes them he dislikes me."
Also, said that both "Hassan and Hussain are the chiefs of the youth of paradise."
The Funeral of the Holy Prophet (pbuh)
Those of the companions, who were turned out by the Holy Prophet (pbuh) from his presence,
got busy in the Saqeefa and did not return until he was buried. When the Holy Prophet passed
away at the age of sixty three (63) years on 28th Safar (11 Hijra), Imam Ali assisted by his pupil
son of Abbas and the other Hashimites, attended to the last rites to the Holiest one of God's creations
and the grief of Fatima moved the hearts of those present there.
History says that Abu Bakr, Omar and the other companions being busy at the Saqeefa, could not
attend the funeral of the Holy Prophet (pbuh).
History repeats itself
The dealings of the wicked ones with the men of God particularly the Apostles had been identical in
all ages. The Holy Prophet had already prophesied that all that happened among the people of the
ancient Apostles particularly the people of Moses in the Israelites will happen among his followers.
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Moses was absent for only about forty (40) days and his people revolted against his Deputy Aaron and
followed the Samiri and started worshipping the Calf. Jesus was betrayed by his own disciples and
was handed over to be crucified. The Last Apostle of God similarly suffered an identical desertion by
his people even before his last breathing.
The Love of the World - Maddens Man
Very recently (April 8, 2005) when Pope John Paul II was to be buried, almost all the Paramount
Powers in the world sent their representatives (Presidents, prime ministers and kings) to attend
the funeral as a token of their regard and human sympathy, plus millions joined to bid an emo-
tional farewell. But when the Prince of the Prophets, the Last Apostle of God, who was divinely sent
to rule over the human hearts and the human affairs on earth and who was also the Godly ruler of the
state, had not even breathed his last, the people who called themselves his followers and claimed to
be his close companions left him away to assert and establish their respective contentions about their
claims to rule the state in the place of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and returned only when
he had left this world and was buried.
Thus in the love of the world the people left away even the Apostle of God unshrouded. This is the
worst record of the madness of man for the material world. The paradox is that yet man claims him-
self to be the lover of God, the lover of the Apostles of God and the lover of Godliness.
Karbala's Foundation laid
The events of history give out a clear verdict that the series of the sufferings, the miseries and the
calamities inflicted on the Ahlul Bayt, which culminated at one stage in the wholesale massacre
of the Holy Imam Hussain and his faithful devotees at Karbala, and the misfortunes and the
assassinations of the other Imams and their families and their devotees, which thereafter followed up
to the eleventh Imam Hasan Al-Askari, was inaugurated at the Saqeefa. Had the people remembered
the repeated declarations about Imam Ali, and his Ahlul Bayt, the world would never have witnessed
the hideous scenes of the sufferings and the massacre of the Holy ones; on the other hand, today the
world would have been ruled by the men of God, and humanity had enjoyed the Godly kingdom on
earth, and the human race by this time would have been united under one single brotherhood which
was inaugurated by the Holy Prophet at Madina.
The Caliphate thrust upon Imam Ali (pbuh)
After the death of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the Caliphs (leader of the Muslims) are:
1. Abu Bakr for 2 years and 4 months
2. Omar for 10 years and 6 months
3. Othman for 11 years and 11 months
The Third (3) Caliphate ended in chaos, turmoil and the murder of the Caliph Othman. There was
unrest among the people all over the empire. Muawiya the governor of Syria appointed by sec-
ond Caliph Omar took full advantage of the patronage of the Umayyads by the third Caliph and
had established himself strongly at Damascus and had made the place a stronghold of his own.
An amazing situation was created that the Caliphate after which people ran and for which there was
so much of dispute and tension, now was running after Imam Ali imploring him to accept it. There
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