The 10th of
Muharram in the Islamic calendar is a date of grievance for all the Muslims.
Its importance is based on the battle that happened on this date waqia Karbala
AH 16. The tragic incidents of this date still make every Muslim hurt and
aggravate with pain to this date. It is the biggest tragedy of Islamic history.
Ever since then it became a day of mourning the Shaheeds of the Battle.
None of the
Shaheeds of the battle were ordinary people. They all belonged to the family of
Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). And were massacred by Yazid’s army. The Grandson
of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Hussain (RA) was leading the small group that was
traveling to Al-Kufah. He was the dearest to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) among all
his family.
The Holy Prophet
(SAW) would say: “Whoever loves them loves me and whoever bears a grudge
against them bears a grudge against me. Hussain is mine and I am Hussain’s.
Whoever loves Hussain will be loved by Allah.” (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal)
People of kufa had
invited Hazrat Hussain (RA) to proclaim his Caliphate there. And told him that
around 18000 people were ready to take a pledge of allegiance. So Hazrat Hussain
(AS) had left Makkah with all his family and tribe expecting to be received
with a warm heart and enthusiasm. However, Yazid had found out about the
rebellious act of people of kufa and had no intent to let them be successful in
what they planned. He threatened the chiefs of the tribes and held them
responsible for the conduct of their people.
Since Hussain
(RA) was relying on the people of Al-Kufah to be supportive he wasn’t expecting
a war. But Yazid had made the governor of Al-Basrah, Ibn Ziyaad responsible to restore
order. The people of Makkah had taken pledge through Muslim Bin Ameer and Ibn
Ziyaad murdered him. When this news reached the ears of Hussain (RA) he started
traveling back to Makkah with his troop at night. But in the morning they saw
that despite their non-stop walking towards Makkah they were standing right
where they started. This is when Hussain (RA) realized that they cannot turn
back from here.
So Hussain (RA)
gave all the members in his troop an option to turn back, Many left and only 72
remained. Meanwhile, the remaining troop in Karbala, West of Euphrates river,
was confronted by Yazid’s army of 1000 men. These men wanted to detain Hussain
(RA) and take him to Kufa.
On the third day
of Muharram, Ibn Sa’ad came with an army of 4000 men reading out the directions
provided by Ibn Ziyaad. The instructions stated that Hussain (RA) must come to
Kufa and pledge allegiance to Yazid. Hussain (RA) did not agree with this.
However, with
passing days the brutality of Yazid’s army kept growing. And on 7th Muharram
all sources of water were turned off to the family of Hussain (RA). This
brought everyone to great distress. The cruelty was so severe that even the men
in the army of Yazid were feeling the pain of Hussain (RA) and his family.
What is 10th
Muharram in Islam?
On the 10th of
Muharram when the battle started there were 72 Muslims against 4000 men of
Yazid’s army. Hazrat Hussain (RA) took the 6 months old Ali Asghar to show his
condition without water to Yazid’s men. But instead of giving him water,
Harmala shot a spear in the throat of the innocent child. This is one of the
most inhumane tragedies of Ashura.
Who killed Hussain
in Karbala?
Imam Hussain (RA)
went to the river to quench his thirst when a man from the army of Yazid shot
an arrow at him which hit him on his face. Despite being hurt in Karbala Imam
Hussayn (RA) kept fighting till his last breath.
After this, the
men from the army started looting the camps of the Muslims and even took off
the scarfs of Muslim women.
Umar Ibn Sa’ad
ordered his men to trample over the body of Imam Hussain (RA). And to his call,
his horsemen started trampling over to the extent that they completely
disfigured the back and chest of Imam Hussain.
Before falling to
the ground in Karbala Imam Hussain's body was hit by 45 arrows, 33 spears and
over 40 sword blows. The cruelty didn’t stop here only. Imam Hussain (RA)’s
head was sent to Kufa where Yazid put it to public display. This view made
every Muslim cry. And the people of Kufa were extremely distressed for making
the mistake of letting Imam Hussain fall in the trap of Yazid.
This was the most
tragic day of Islamic history that shakes every Muslim even today. The Nobel
blood of Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was slaughtered with barbarity. No mercy
was shown to him despite knowing how dear he was to Prophet (PBUH). The dignity
of Muslim women was crushed. And children as small as a few months were killed
in the arms of their own.
But this was the
event that kept the essence of Islam alive. As Imam Hussain (RA) didn’t give
away his faith by pledging allegiance to Yazid. Instead, he fought till his
last breath for the cause of Islam. And to uphold the name of Islam in front of
the non-Muslims in its true form.
If he would have
given up and shown weakness on the brutality of the non-Muslims people today
would have not remembered Islam the way they do today. The sacrifice of Imam Hussain
(RA) was for a bigger cause. And by recalling it every year we make sure that
the pain that the dear one of Holy Prophet (PBUH) remains fresh in the minds of
the Muslims.
All Muslims feel the sorrow and grief that this
incident brings each year. But it also strengthens the belief and faith of
Muslims on Islam. No matter how split we are on other causes, the suffering of
Imam Hussain (RA) and his troop bring us in unity.
Read Also: Islam Gives Us These 8 Lessons On How To Live Life
