Imam Husain(A.S.)-The Chief of Martyrs

By all standards, the day Imam Hussain, the grandson of the beloved Prophet Muhammad, was killed was a great tragedy. Indeed, it was the greatest tragedy. He was martyred, along with his family members, simply because he stood against injustice. The family of Yazeed (the Banu Umayyah) and the family of Ziyad rejoiced the day he was killed. Not only did they celebrate the day of Ashura, but they turned it into a tradition for subsequent years. They would gather their family and friends and rejoice at the martyrdom of Imam Hussain. While fasting is a great form of worship, we the Shia have valid reservations regarding the fast of Ashura. It is always recommended to fast, anytime throughout the year (except Eid), but the problem is that there is a history of politics behind the fast of Ashura. Killing the very grandson of the Prophet was a major crime, so Banu Umayya attempted to shift the focus of the people for the day of Ashura. Possessing power and money, they spread to the M

Some Muslims accuse the Shias of fabricating traditions regarding the ziyaarah of Imam Husain (a.s.), the Chief of Martyrs. They claim traditions that consider ziyaarah of Imam Husain (a.s.) equal to visiting Allah on His Throne (Arsh) and equal to hundreds of Hajj and Umrah are an exaggeration and are not supported by the Holy Quran or the intellect. Reply Such objections only show the dissenting party’s poor knowledge of Allah’s Book and the correct Sunnah. Let alone Imam Husain’s (a.s.) ziyarah, even simple acts of goodness can earn the reward of meeting Allah. In Surah Kahf (18): Verse 110, Allah the Almighty declares: فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاء رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا “…therefore whoever hopes to meet his Lord, he should do good deeds, and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.” Performing good deeds is rewarded with meeting the Lord  (لِقَاء رَبِّهِ ).  The good deed can be any one of the hundreds of

Doubt A section of the Muslims who find themselves in a spot while defending Yazid’s role in killing Imam Husain (a.s.) make lame excuses and indulge in Shia-bashing as if maligning Shias is the answer to all their woes. Among their most ludicrous claims is that the Shias themselves killed Imam Husain (a.s.) and are now repenting for the same. Reply 1. Who killed Hamzah? 2. Role of companions 3. Yazid’s role 4. Who are the Shias? 5. Yazid’s forces were not Shias Who killed Hamzah (a.s.)? Who killed Ammar? This lame excuse reminds one of the argument advanced by Yazid’s father nearly 1,400 years ago when he found himself similarly cornered in Siffeen on the count of being responsible for Ammar’s (r.a.) death, a fact prophesied by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). To deflect blame for killing Ammar b. Yasir (r.a.), one of the greatest companions for whom Paradise was assured, Muawiyah conveniently shifted the blame for the crime of murdering Ammar to Ameerul M

The folder will state events connected with the Holy Revolution of Imam Hussain AS chronologically, whether these events and figures happened in Medina, before the exodus of Imam Hussain AS, in Mecca, on the way to Holy Karbala, in Karbala, or in Kufa after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain AS, his sons, householders, and companions AS. 1. In the 15th of Rajab, 60H: Moaweiah has died in Damascus, and his son the lecher Yazid may Allah curse him inherited his father caliphate throne. 2. In the 28th of Rajab 60H: a letter from Yazid arrived to the governor of Medina, ordering him to take the pledges of allegiance from Imam Hussain AS. 3. In the 29th of Rajab, 60H: Alwaleed, the governor of Medina sent a man to Imam Hussain AS. The man invited Imam Hussain to come and give pledges. In the same day, Imam Hussain AS went to visit the grave of Messenger of Allah SAWA to the last time and farewell him. After that Imam Hussain AS left Medina with his family, and a number of his companions. 4. In

There is no evidence at all that Ibn az-Zubayr left any sectarian following behind him; the name of Al-Mukhtar was kept alive for a very short time and was followed by a small group, but it soon afterwards lost its identity and was merged in a wider group.[494] The reason is both obvious and vital. Neither Al-Mukhtar, nor Ibn az-Zubayr, nor their supporters had any specific ideal or any particular view which could keep their memory alive in the annals of religious thought in Islam. Husayn and his cause, on the other hand, though militarily a complete failure, were so conspicuously upheld by a sizable part of the Muslim community that his name became an emblem of the identity or entity of the second largest group in Islam. This was due to the fact that his movement was based on a particular view of the leadership of the community, which has been elaborated in the first two chapters above and which has also been pointed out in the letters written by I;1asan to Mu'awiya and by Hus

We do not punish ourselves in any shape or form when we mourn and commemorate the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him). This is an incorrect interpretation of the essence of al-Sha’aer al-Hussainiyah (The mourning rituals of Imam Hussain peace be upon him). When we practice the mourning rituals of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) such as beating the chest (known as, al-Latm or Seeneh-Zani) or wounding the top of the head with a sword (known as, al-Tatbir, Qameh-Zani or Teegh-Zani), we try to recognise and feel some of the pain our master Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) had felt. We were in fact recommended by the pure Infallibles to practice such rituals, as they ordered us to perform ‘Muwasat’ for Imam Hussain (peace be upon him), which means imitating and sharing some of his pain. Similarly, we find that Allah the Most Exalted has made the Muwasat for Lady Hajar (peace be upon her) among the rituals of Hajj and Umra; as all Muslims are ordered to perform

A contemporary scholar Mr Abdul Ghaffar in the daily 'Hindustan' dated 21 June 1993 has raised certain objections about the 'Welcome to Mourning' (Istiqbale Aza). Perhaps his one-sided study might have plunged him into misunderstandings. Hence it became imperative for us to clarify his misgivings. The summary of his objections, based on five premises, which are as follows: Certainly the assassination of Hussain will kindle fire in the hearts of the believers until eternity, which will never extinguish. It is a tradition from the Holy Prophet (S) ? What is the proof of its authenticity ? The mourning of Prophets (A) before Imam Hussain (A) is a meaningless thing. The survival and resilience of Islam is based on its cardinal principles of Namaz, Roza, Hajj etc. Islam thrives on it and not on mourning of Imam Hussain (A). Mourning and self-flagellation for Imam Hussain (A) is forbidden. Mourning and establishing such

What was the course of Imam Hussain's (A) revolution? What reasons prompted him to initiate such a great and unmatched upspring? Did he intended to overthrow the Yazid regime? Did he wish to end the Umayyid dynasty? These and such other questions keep cropping in the mind and everyone wants to know the satisfactory replies, specially the mourner of Imam Hussain (A) are more eager in this regard. When Imam Hussain (A) was preparing to leave on his longest journey, he bid adieu to the grave of his grandfather, the Holy Prophet (S.AW). Then he wrote a legacy addressing his brother Mohammed Bin Hanafiyyah in which he explained the aims and objectives of his uprising. We are quoting an extract from the same legacy hereunder. He wrote thus: "And surely the aim of my stand is not inspired by vain exultation and it is also not for the quest of kingdom, Neither it is to cause dissension and corruption nor it is to wrong anybody unjustly." These sentences of Imam Hussain

This is a fabricated hadith from Sahih Bukhari which shows that Prophet (SAWA) ordered people to fast on Ashura (10th Muharrum) because Jews used to fast on that day. !!! Volume 5, Book 58, Number 278 : Narrated by Abu Musa     When the Prophet arrived at Medina, he noticed that some people among the Jews used to respect Ashura' (i.e. 10th of Muharram) and fast on it. The Prophet then said, "We have more right to observe fast on this day." and ordered that fasting should be observed on it. Reference : http://www.sahih-bukhari.com/Pages/Bukhari_5_58.php Why would Prophet (SAWA) follow the Sunnah of Jews ??? People have fabricated this tradition to hide the importance of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS).They wanted to show that the important of Ashura is not due to Martyrdom of  Imam Hussain (AS) but due to the fasting of Jews on that Day. !!!!!

By the Grace of the Almighty, the month of Muharram has come upon us again; the month of mourning for our beloved Imam Hussain and his family and friends (peace be upon them all). A question that is often asked each year is: why should we cry over something that happened over 1400 years ago? We are also faced with claims that crying for the beloved grandson of the Holy Prophet of Islam is bid'a (innovation). However, numerous hadith clearly show us that there is in fact nothing wrong in crying for Imam Hussain, which are narrated in the very books of those who claim it to be bid'a. (Sahih Tirmidhi; Mishkat al Masabih, hadith no. 6157) Abdullah Ibn Abbas narrated, "One day at midday I saw in a dream the Prophet dishevelled and dusty, with a bottle containing blood in his hand. I asked, 'You for whom I would give my father and my mother as ransom, what is this?' The Prophet of Allah replied, 'This is the blood of al-Hussain and his companions wh

After Karbala, from Kufa to Damascus Imam Husain's left out family was captured and imprisoned, among them was one 4 years old baby Sakina (as), she too went through sorrows, among those a few: 4 yrs old thirsty, slapped, beaten up, orphan, bleeding, exhausted, handcuffed, chained, tired princess baby Sakina (as) conversing with her ailing, chained brother Imam Zainul Abideen (as): Baby Sakina (as): What happens when thirst reaches it's utmost limit? Imam Zainul Abideen (as): My baby what makes you ask this question? Dear don't ask these questions...... Baby Sakina (as): No! I want to know tell me what happens? Imam Zainul Abideen (as): One feels as if thorns have appeared on tongue, dear! Baby Sakina (as): What if thirst is still not quenched, still further? Imam Zainul Abideen (as): One feels as if blood in body is boiling... Baby Sakina (as): What if thirst is still not quenched, still further? Imam Zainul Abideen (as): Stop dear, I can't answer