Who is Imam Hussain? Why did he launch an uprising?

By Zahir Jafri on Quora 
Imam Hussain is the one who launch an ultimate uprising for the sake of Truth and Justice.
Imam Hussain was the Grandson of Prophet Muhammad SAW, son of Imam Ali and Fatima Zahra the daughter of Prophet (SAW). On the 10th of Muharram on the day of Ashura when he along with all his family rose to fight against that time tyrant ruler Caliph Yazeed. Thus Hussain became a 7th century revolutionary leader who stood for social justice against Opression, tyranny and terrorism. His legacy inspires millions worldwide.
Muharram is the month in which Hussain launch an ultimate uprising against tyranny, injustice, oppression and terrorism.
Muharram is the first month of Islamic calender in which the Tragedy of Karbala occurred when the family of Prophet SAW along with grandson Hussain was brutally killed. Thus this month is the commomoration of the sacrifice of Imam Hussain and his family with his companions on the land of Karbala, Iraq.
Why did Imam Hussain (a.s.) rise up? Did Imam Hussain (a.s.) rise up only for opposing a corrupt ruler like Yazid? Which were the true dimensions of Imam Hussain's movement?
Pic: The holy shrine of Imam Hussain in Karbala, Iraq.
Imam Hussain's (a.s.) movement is, indeed, perceivable via two perspectives—both of which are acceptable. Nonetheless, when put together, the two views show the extensive dimensions of this movement. One perspective involves the appearance of Imam Hussain’s action, which is a movement against a corrupt, deviated, suppressive and oppressive regime: Yazid’s Regime. But, at the heart of his action, there is a more important movement that the second perspective will lead to: the move against ignorance and humiliation of the mankind. In fact, even though Imam Hussain (a.s.) fights against Yazid, his extensive historical fight is not against the short-living and insignificant Yazid. Rather, his main fight is against mankind’s ignorance, abasement, deviation and humiliation. Indeed, Imam Hussain (a.s.) fights against such vices.

What is Muharram?

Muharram is the first month of Islamic calender in which the Tragedy of Karbala occurred when the family of Prophet SAW along with grandson Hussain was brutally killed. Thus this month is the commomoration of the sacrifice of Imam Hussain and his family with his companions on the land of Karbala, Iraq.
Imam Hussain was the Grandson of Prophet Muhammad SAW, son of Imam Ali. On the 10th of this month fall the day of Ashura when he along with all his family rose to fight against that time tyrant ruler Caliph Yazeed. Thus Hussain became a 7th century revolutionary leader who stood for social justice against Opression, tyranny and terrorism. His legacy inspires millions worldwide.

Some other facts about the month of Moharrum, I cannot say which one is lesser known or famous :
  1. Prophet Mohammed’s grandson Husayn was martyred by the so called Muslim Caliph Yazid in this month. He was a saintly figure, all men from Husayn’s family were martyred, women captivated - chained sent to Syria to the Caliph’s court. This is the most important event of this month.
  2. Muharrum is the first month of Islamic calendar. This calendar was introduced by Caliph Umar and Caliph Uthman suggested that this calendar should start with the month of Moharrum. See wikipedia
  3. Muharrum is a month of Mourning for Shia Muslims due to the martyrdom of Imam Husayn and some ignorant Sunni / Wahabi / Salafi Muslims celebrate this month as a beginning of the Islamic New Year. Weddings / merry-making are a normal phenomenon for Sunnis / Wahabis in this month.
  4. 10th of Muharrum is the day of Ashura.
  5. Muharram is one of the three successive sacred (forbidden) months mentioned by the Prophet of Islam in which bloodshed / battles are forbidden, still the so called Muslims fought a battle with the grandson of Mohammed and brutally killed him!
  6. Shia Muslims fast on the first day of Muharram and Sunni Muslims fast on the day of Ashura (10th Moharrum).
  7. On the 3rd of Muharrum Prophet Joseph was freed from his prison. (duas.org)