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Imam Hussain (as) fought with Yazid ibn Muawiya to save Islam

Imam Hussain (as) fought with Yazid ibn Muawiya in 61 AH to save Islam. Yazid needed Imam Husain's Bayat (oath of allegiance) to legitimized his rule as Imam Hussain (as) was the rightful successor. Imam Hussain (as) refused to give his allegiance as he knew that Yazid was not only corrupt and oppresive but also an enemy of Islam, who wanted to destroy Islam and take revenge of his uncles and family members who had fought with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and died in the early battles.

When Imam Hussain (as) was told that he had to give Bayat to Yazid otherwise he would be killed, Imam Hussain (as) replied that: a man like him could not give Bayat to a man like Yazid ibn Muawiya.

By saying this Imam Hussain (as) was trying to tell everyone that what Yazid believed in was totally opposite to what Imam Hussain (as) believed in. Yazid was the follower of Shaitan while Imam Hussain (as) was the follower of Allah (SWT).

Imam Hussain (as) knew that himself, his friends and family were to die in Karbala. He also knew that this was the only way that he could show to the other Muslims that Yazid was an enemy of Islam and was in fact destroying it.

Imam Hussain (as) wanted people, when they heard about the events of Karbala to know that it was not for power but for Islam and this is how to get into the army of Imam Hussain (as) you needed to be a believer and not a soldier. Imam Hussain's (as) army had all kinds of people:

Imam Hussain (as) had rich, noble men. He had freed slaves. He had old and young men. He had men who had done wrong and repented (e.g. Hazrat Hurr - the commander of Yazid ibn Muawiya army). He had pious men.
Imam Hussain (as) was very kind and always thought about others before himself.

When Imam Hussain (as) was traveling to Karbala knowing what was going to happen to him and his family, he met Hazrat Hurr - the commander of Yazid army and his soldiers. Imam Hussain (as) knew that this was the army sent by Yazid ibn Muawiya to fight Imam Hussain (as) and his followers.

This was the army that was going to stop Imam Hussain (as) and his followers from getting water. This was the army who was going to kill Imam Hussain (as) and his family and friends.

Although Imam Hussain (as) knew all this, when Imam Hussain (as) saw how thirst the army looked and that they had no water, Imam Hussain (as) immediately told his brother Hazrat Abbas (as) to give their water to the army of Hazrat Hurr.

 Not only did Imam Hussain (as) and his men give water to the army but also to their horses. 

Whenever other Muslims heard about the events of Karbala, they would ask themselves, why it was that men from different backgrounds, different circumstances, different ways of life, all came together to fight and die with Imam Hussain (as). 
Every Muslim regardless of his colour, his race, his background, his financial situation, his age, could identify himself with one martyr in the army of Imam Hussain (as) and through him understand why Imam Hussain (as) did what he did.
Imam Hussain's sacrifice started a Hussaini Revolution that not only took down Yazid's rule, but still continues after 1400 years today and is revived every year in Muharram with mass commemorations accross the world by Shia Muslims.

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