Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) had a daughter called Fatima Al-Zahra.

Al-Zahra was
married to the prophet’s cousin “Imam Ali (as)”.. They had four children, Hasan,
Hussain, Zainab and Um Kulthoom. Each of them has a story.

Prophet Mohammed was the leader of Islam…he guided people, he taught them
what’s right and what’s wrong. He said what God wanted him to say and he did
what God wanted him to do. After his death, someone had to take charge of the
Islamic world.. This is where the ‘deffirence’ between Sunnis and Shi’ite started..
We believe that the prophet gathered over 100,000 muslims before he died..told
them that he wants Imam Ali to take charge after him..he lifted Ali’s arm and said
“Whomsoever's master (mawla) I am, Ali is also his master.” (Sunnis believe this
happened as well..but they say that the prophet was only telling people that he
‘loves’ Imam Ali..we say why would he gather thousands of people in a very hot
weather just to tell them that he loves him?). we believe that the prophet was
chosen by god, and that Imam Ali was chosen to be the leader after him by god as
well..

But that’s not what happened..after the prophet’s death, before he was even
buried...A number of his ‘companions’ gathered ,nominated people and elect

ed one of them to be the leader..while Imam Ali was busy burying the prophet.

The ‘Caliph’ who was chosen was called “Abu bakr” and the one after him was
called “Omar bin Al Khatab” and then “Othman” and THEN Imam Ali.

We believe that the first three changed things and came up with things that the
prophet never said anything about (they messed up everything ;P) ..and that they
were unjust and oppressive. And we believe that “Omar” was one of those who
killed A-Zahra (as) while she was pregnant.

Prophet Mohammed said several times that we should follow his family after him..
he said “I’m leaving behind two precious things, if you follow or act upon, you will
not go astray after me…the Book of God and my family.”

That’s why we believe the stories and the things that the “Family” gave us..who are
Imam Ali, Al-Zahra, and the prophet’s grandsons.

And that is why there are differences between shias and sunnis, like the way we
pray and so on..because sunnis follow the first ‘leaders’.
Prophet Mohammed loved his grandsons Hasan and Hussain so much. He said “O
God, I love them and love those who love them.”

Imam Hussain’s story is the saddest story of all time. It’s about good versus evil,
about a man who stood against oppression and sacrificed his life and the lives of his
loved ones, in the fight against injustice.

After Imam Ali was killed awfully, “Muawiya bin abi Sufyan” took over
leadership..he was a horrible man.. He insulted and cursed Imam Ali publicly..he
ordered people to curse him as well. Muawiya’s son “Yazid” inherited his father’s
rule..he was no different than his father, he was even worse. He was drunk most of
the time and had zero morals.

Imam Hussain refused to pay allegiance to Yazid.. he wouldn’t give a vow of loyalty
to a man like him.. a man who would ruin Islam and ruin everything his
grandfather built.

It was his responsibility to stop him..to save Islam..the good had to win..whatever
the cost was.

There was a city called “Kufa” which used to be the capital of Iraq at that time..the
people of Kufa wrote letters to Imam Hussain saying that they don’t want Yazid to
rule them.. and that they would not accept anybody else but Imam Hussain to rule
them. He received 12,000 letters from them.
The Imam couldn’t just blindly accept their call..He sent his cousin “Muslim bin
Aqeel” to make sure they’re telling the truth.

When “Muslim” got there (with his 2 sons) , they welcomed him.. and 18,000 of
them paid their ‘Allegiance’ to the Holy Imam. Muslim was impressed.. so he wrote
a letter to Imam Hussain to come over to Kufa.
Yazid found out about the situation in Kufa..so he sent “Ibn Ziyad” who bribed and
threatened the people there..some of them were arrested. Muslim was left all alone
in Kufa. No one would now even speak to him and he was left actually homeless,
wandering in the streets. None would allow him even to rest for a while in the shade
of his house. At every door he stood, he was being driven away, not even a cup of
water he could have from anyone in the town. Hungry and thirsty, the helpless man
actually wandered in the streets of Kufa with his two innocent children, in the hope
of help from someone, but none took pity on him, and not even on the innocent
young children.

The only thing he worried about was the letter he sent to the Imam..he invited him
to a place where only death waited for him.

The men of Yazid hunted him.. He was taken on the roof

of a Castle.. They cut his head off and threw his body down from the top, to the
ground.

His body with a rope tied in the legs, was dragged into the streets of Kufa, as a
warning to the people against their loyalty. At last the body of Muslim was hung at
the gateway of the City and remained there hanging for days..

Yazid ordered to kill Imam Hussain wherever they found him

and whatever the costs.
Imam Hussain received the letter from Muslim and Headed towards Kufa. He took
his family and children with him, because he thought if he leaves them they
wouldn’t be under anyone’s protection.
On their way to Kufa, the news of Muslim’s martyrdom reached the
Imam..everyone cried, the ladies wailed..some of the companions asked the Imam to
change his decision and go back..some said no we have to continue and die the same
way Muslim died for the cause.
In a place called “Sharaf”, the Imam set camp and asked his children to re-supply
with water and carry more water than they needed.
Then, at noon, the command of a famous Commander “Hurr Al-Riyahi”, with 1,000
soldiers, appeared in front of the Imam, carrying a message ordering him to prevent
the Imam from returning to Medina (where he came from) or capture him and
bring him to Kufa. Hurr and his troops had run out of water and were nearly dying
of thirst. When the Imam saw that the army of Hurr Al-Riyahi was thirsty, he asked
his followers to give them and their horse’s water.
The Imam’s caravan continued in an unknown destination, and Hurr’s army
followed behind.
Hurr received a letter ordering him not to let the caravan camp anywhere but in the
desert where there is no water. They went further until they reached “Karbala”
where the Imam ordered the caravan to stop and camp there.
Ibn Ziyad at Kufa got the information of Imam Hussain’s getting out of the control
of Hurr and that Imam Hussain had camped near a river.. Ibn Ziyad sent an army
counting four thousand led by “Umar bin Saad”. His orders were to get Imam
Hussain to surrender to Yazid. When Imam Hussain refused, Umar told Ibn Ziyad
to send more troops. He ordered all the men in Kufa to come out and join the army
to fight against Hussain. Anyone not doing so would be killed. Whoever brings the
head of Hussain will get a great prize and will become the Governor of Al-Ray
province.
Until there were 30,000! The enemy’s forces forced Hussain to shift his camp from
the river to the burning desert. He did it because he didn’t want bloodshed be
started from his side.
Imam Hussain’s camp was totally surrounded by the enemy’s forces.. the
Commander of Yazid’s forces received orders to cut off all sources of supply to the
Holy Imam’s camp and not allow even a drop of water to reach any of them. It can
better be imagined than described what the condition of Imam Hussain’s camp
would have been under the burning sun. The camp was in the midst of the burning
desert, with the heat-waves blowing from all sides. The unavailability of water, with
nothing to feed even the young children, the need of the babies for milk which the
poor mothers, who were themselves suffering from the killing thirst, could not give,
was heartbreaking.. above all these tortures, the sight of the enemy’s forces
preparing for the massacre was there, before the ladies and the children in the
camp. Hurr remembered how kind Imam Hussain was when he needed water. He
asked Umar Ibn Saad to give water to Imam Hussain’s camp or at least to the
children, but Umar showed no pity.

All efforts of the enemy through temptations, promises, persecutions and tortures,
to convince the Imam to yield to Yazid were useless.
Even with the killing heat and the thirst of THREE continuous days suffered by
himself, his companions, the helpless ladies & even the innocent infants and the
babies, The Imam stayed strong and patient.
a final warning was sent to Imam Hussain from Umar that if he did not surrender,
he would be killed. The Imam refused to bow down to his threats.
Imam Hussain had done the best possible to avoid bloodshed, but every offer for a
peaceful settlement was rejected! the only alternative left was to fight ..He then
decided to fight the Devil for the truth.
Since his arrival at Karbala, the Holy Imam used to gather all those who had come
along with him, advise them to leave him to his own fate and to return to their
homes, assuring them that the consequences of his journey would be different from
what they had imagined.
There were the good and the bad ones, mixed up, in his camp.. Many who had
accompanied him with selfish intentions, had abandoned him.
After the enemy’s approval to wait till the following morning, the Imam gathered
everyone, told them that they are all free to leave..without feeling guilty , and that
the enemies have nothing against anyone except him. He told them to take
advantage of the dark night and save themselves.
At the end of his speech, the Holy Imam asked his brother (from his father)
“Abbas” to put out the lamp in the tent so that people may walk away in the
darkness without being ashamed of being seen by him.
The companions began to desert the Imam.. and when the lamp was again lit after a
while, there were only a few left. Only (72) who stood by the Holy Imam in the battle
for Truth to save the human race against its falling into the hole of falsehood.
these remaining seventy two people said that such thing was
impossible. What will we tell people? shall we say that we have abandoned our chief

and leader? the son of the daughter of our Prophet!

by God no, oh son of the Prophet we will not leave you until we die before you! and
let us share your fate with you, life after you is meaningless.
What answer will we give to the Prophet on the Day of Judgment? What will
happen to loyalty, to humanity, to love and attachment? Their responses and their
words could melt a heart of a stone.
His brave brother “Abbas” said: “Is one life enough to be sacrificed for someone
like you? I wish that I could be brought to life seventy times to die seventy times for
your sake.”
The hungry and thirsty followers of God in the Imam’s camp spent the night in
Prayers.
On the third day of the thirst of the whole camp, Imam Hussain called his son “Ali
Al- Akbar” and asked him to hear the ‘Azan’ (the call for Prayer) for the last time
in his life..Ali Akbar had the voice of the Prophet (pbuh)..the Imam shed tears while
hearing him give the call “azan”. The Holy Imam prayed with his devotees their last
prayers on earth.
After the prayer was over, ‘Umar Ibn Saad’ led the attack against Imam
Hussain. The Imam ordered all his faithful companions, who were about seventy
two men to fall in. They positioned themselves with the tents behind them.
One of the Imam’s companions talked to them, he said: “People of Kufa, have you
forgotten all about your letters you sworn by God on? You invited the Prophet’s
grandson!”
And then Imam Hussain asked them: “look at me and then ask yourselves, is it fair
for you to kill me and to violate the honor of my women? Am I not the son of your
prophet’s daughter? Do you know that Muhammed is my grandfather? Do you
know that Fatima is my mother? Do you know that this is the prophet’s sword? (this
is a small part of his speech)
Yes, we know all that and we will not leave you until you taste death from thirst,
they replied.
When his daughters and his sisters (Zainab & Kulthoom) heard his speech they
cried and wept. Imam Hussain sent his brother Abbas and his son Ali to silence
them. “I swear that they will have to cry a lot later.” He said.
They left him to choose between death and humiliation. But there was no way
humiliation could find a route to them.
Imam Hussain made this speech so that later no one would be able to say that it was
him who started this battle.
Umar Ibn Saad became worried that Imam Hussain’s words might change the
minds of some of the troops. He put an arrow to his bow and shot it towards Imam
Hussain’s tent. There followed thousands of arrows towards the camp.

Hurr Al-Riyahi, the commander of Yazid’s regiment, who had blocked Hussain’s
way near Kufa, was also present in the enemy’s forces in Karbala. He spent all his
time in repenting and feeling very guilty. And blamed himself for bringing Imam
Hussain to Karbala. The enemy’s officers and soldiers were only wondering at the
mysterious silence and the serious pensive mood in which Hurr spent
all his time since his arrival.
One of them asked him what’s wrong with him.. he said it’s like I’m choosing
between heaven and hell and I’ll never choose but heaven. Even if I am to be cut
into pieces and burnt.
He started walking towards imam Hussain’s camp.. until he was standing right
infront of the Imam with tears in his eyes..fell to his knees.. he begged the Imam to
forgive him for what he had done, and to allow him to fight along with them. The
Imam welcomed him, took him in his arms and told him that he’s forgiven.
And when the fight against the devil began, Hurr was the first one who went into the
field against the enemy, fought bravely until he was severely wounded.
Imam Hussain rushed to him, found him with big cut on the head and the wound
was bleeding badly. Imam Hussain took his scarf which belonged to his mother
Fatima and bandaged his wound and cleaned his eyes from blood. Hurr said to him:
“Did I do well?” The last thing Hurr heard before he died was Imam Hussain telling
him your mother made the right choice by naming you Hurr (The Freeman).

The battle of Truth against Falsehood began. One after another of brave men from
the Holy Imam’s side went into the field and got killed. It looked as if the thirst,
hunger, heat and the wounds had no effect whatsoever on the patience, the strength
and the determination of Imam Hussain’s companions. Each one from the Imam’s
side easily destroyed dozens before he fell. They were determined that as long as
they are alive, they would not allow the blood of Imam Hussain and his family to
spill in Karbala.
Although these brave soldiers did not have their own families to mourn their deaths,
the ladies in Imam Hussain’s camp cried for them as if they were part of their own
family.
Whenever a supporter of the Imam’s cause went against the Devil’s forces and fell,
Imam Hussain, Abbas and Ali Akbar would rush out to be by the side of their dying
companion and brought his body back to the camp and laid it in a tent.

“Wahab” son of Abdullah Al-Kalby was a Christian, who was accompanied by his
newly married wife and mother. During the Battle between Imam Hussain and his
enemies Wahab’s mother said: “My son, go and support the son of God’s
messenger.”
Wahab killed some of them and returned to the camp.. His wife said “For God’s
sake we have just got married I cannot stand even the thought of your death!”
His mother interrupted saying “Don’t listen to her. Go back and fight for
Imam Hussain.”
He got back fighting until his fingers were cut; at that moment his wife carried a
pole and rushed towards him, saying; “Fight for the sake of the women of God’s
Messenger.”
He tried to make her return back to the women camp, but she held his clothes and
said: I’ll never go back until I die with you.
Wahab turned back to her saying “Some time ago you were objecting and now you
are urging me to fight! What happened?”
She replied: “Wahab, I have forsaken life since I heard Imam Hussain calling: “Oh
God, Oh How few are my resources. I am left alone; is there anyone to support us?”
His voice really broke my heart.”
Then Wahab asked Imam Hussain to tell her to go back to her tent. She returned
and Wahab fought like an angry lion and he killed so many of the enemies, the
enemies had no choice but to shower him with arrows till he was martyred.
The enemies beheaded Wahab and threw his head beside his wife’s tent. His wife
came out and started to wipe the blood and dust from Wahab’s face. ( Shimr) “one
of the worst commanders” saw her and ordered his slave to strike her; she fell down
beside her husband’s head, becoming the first women to be killed from Imam
Hussain’s camp.
After that all his companions came out to fight, one after the other, until they were
all martyred. Imam Hussain was left alone with his family only, to fight the huge
army of Yazid.

Aun and Muhammad were the sons of Zainab (the Imam’s sister), and they were
quite young..they felt that it was now their turn to go to the battlefield. They fought
bravely, while their mother was watching… Aun and Muhammad were attacked
from all sides, until their shouts for Imam Hussain were heard.

After that, came the turn of Ali Akbar.. Imam Hussain’s (18) year old son who was
so very much loved by everyone in the camp.
He resembled the Holy Prophet Muhammad the most.. whenever they longed to see
the prophet, they used to look at Ali’s face..He resembled him in looks, in voice, in
manners and in every way.
He went over to his father to ask his permission to go fight..the Imam said to him:
“Akbar, I wish you had become a father to know what I am experiencing at this
moment. How can a father ask his son to go, when he knows that the parting would
be forever! But Akbar, the call of duty makes me helpless in this matter.”

When Ali Akbar went to the battlefield, the enemy forces were so amazed at his
resemblance with the Prophet.. that they wondered if the Holy Prophet (pbuh) had
reappeared in the world to help his dear Grandson Hussain.
He fought them with great skill, and killed many of them. Akbar received several
wounds, and was losing a lot of blood. The thirst was getting more unbearable. At
that moment he longed to see his loved ones for the very last time.
He turned his horse back towards his camp. He found his father standing at the
entrance of the tent.. He told him that the thirst is killing him, if only he could have
a refreshing cup of water, he would be able to fight better..But the Imam couldn’t
do anything..he was even more thirsty than him. Ali met each and every one of his
family. They were all in tears because they knew that this time he wasn’t coming
back alive.
It was not long before Imam Hussain heard the painful cry from the battlefield. Ali
Akbar fell with a fatal wound in his chest. He called out to his father to come to him
quickly. Imam Hussain went towards his son; and found him lying in a pool of his
own blood. When he saw his son he cried out
“Here I am my son, please talk to me.” Ali Akbar was in great pain, the broken end
of the lance was sticking out of his chest, and blood was gushing out. Ali Akbar died
in his father’s arms. God alone knows what a patient heart the Holy Imam had.
Imam Hussain lifted Ali Akbar carefully, as if protecting him from any more pain.
He cried all the way back to his camp.

“Qasim’ was the youngest son of Imam Hasan (pbuh).. He was 3 years old when his
father was killed. Qasim, although only thirteen (13) years old, had, like his cousins
Aun and Muhammad, learnt fencing from Abbas and Ali Akbar.
Qasim came to Imam Hussain and begged for permission to go and fight. Twice
Imam Hussain refused saying “Qasim, you are young and your mother’s only son.”
After much insistence from him and his mother, he received the permission to leave
for the battlefield. Because he was very young, there was no armor that was fit for
his years, nor a helmet nor shoes.
He was a very handsome boy. When the enemy saw him, they began to murmur,
“How can we kill someone whose face is shining like that?”
They surrounded him from all sides, and attacked him with swords, spears, daggers
and arrows. An enemy soldier hit him on his head with such force that he fell from
his horse.
Imam Hussain heard Qasim’s cry “O, Uncle!”, he ran to him.. As he arrived by the
side of Qasim, about two hundred men had surrounded the child. They fled as the
Imam attacked.. the Imam sat at Qasim’s side with his head in his arms. He said:
“My nephew! God, it is very hard on your uncle that you should call him and he
should not be able to respond, or that he should respond without being able to do
anything for you!” It was at this moment that a cry came from this youth and
his spirit departed.

Only Abbas and Hussain were left.. Abbas asked Imam Hussain Several times for
permission to go and fight. Each time Imam Hussain would reply “Abbas, you are
the captain of my army!”
Abbas would never argue with Imam Hussain. His three brothers were killed in the
battle. Imam Hussain could see the anger in Abbas’s eyes..He knew that if he let
Abbas go and fight; there would be a massacre in the enemy rank.
Just then Sakina, twelve (12) year old daughter of Imam Hussain walked up to
Abbas and said “Uncle Abbas, I am thirsty!” Abbas went to Imam Hussain and
requested for permission to go and get water for the children. Imam Hussain gave
him his permission.
Abbas put the dried up leather bag (Mashk) on his horse and prepared himself for
the fight.
Now imagine this scene! A lone warrior, alone by himself, fights against an army.
The number of men who guarded the river bank was four thousand (4,000). They
had all heard of the bravery of Abbas. A cry arose,
“Abbas is coming!” Yazid’s soldiers started hiding behind one another. A few brave
ones dared go near Abbas but were soon put to death by the spear.
He reached the river and led his horse into the water. First, he filled the water skin
(Mashk) and laid it on his shoulder. He himself was very thirsty.
The air is hot and he has been fighting. he lowers his hands into water, takes water
into them and raises them towards his lips..he hesitated for a while. Then he threw
the water back and came out of the river without drinking any.
He placed the Mashk on his horse and started to ride back. No one knew why Abbas
did not drink water there. But when he came out he recited:
“O soul of Abbas! Will you have a drink of cold water, while there stands Hussain,
thirsty, near the tents, And about to drink the cup of death!? Such is not the way of
my faith, Nor that of one who abides in conviction and truth!”

‘Umar Ibn Saad’ cried out, “Do not let that water reach Hussain’s camp!!”

A soldier climbed a tree and as Abbas was riding past the tree he struck his sword
on the right shoulder and the arm fell on to the ground. Just then someone snuck
behind Abbas and struck him on the left shoulder. The left arm fell down. Abbas
gripped the (Mashk) with his teeth. His only object was to get the water to Sakina.
Fighting with his feet he urged the horse to get him to
Imam’s camp as quickly as possible.
An arrow was shot. It went flying across the desert and hit the Mashk. The water
began to pour out and with the water all the hopes of Abbas poured on to the sands
of Karbala to be buried forever in the thirsty desert.
Abbas now did not want to go back and face Sakina. With his feet, he signaled the
horse to turn back. The enemy surrounded him from all sides. Abbas fell from the
horse!! As he fell, he cried out to Imam Hussain! The Imam seemed to lose all his
strength when he heard the voice of his dear brother Abbas.
Imam Hussain reached where Abbas was lying. It was a tragic sight. Abbas was
lying on the ground.
Both arms had been cut off! There was an arrow in the right eye and blood blocked
the left eye. As soon as Abbas sensed the presence of Imam Hussain he said “Maula
(master), why did you take the trouble to come over?” Imam Hussain said, “My
dear brother, all your life you have served me and my children. Is there anything I
can do for you at this last moment of your life?” Abbas replied, “Maula, please,
clean the blood from my eye so that I can see your beloved face before I die!” Imam
cleaned the blood. Abbas fixed his gaze on Imam. Then he said, “Maula please do
not carry my body to the camp. I do not want Sakina to see me like this!” Imam
Hussain took Abbas in his arms, and kissed his forehead.
He cried “O Abbas my beloved brother what have they done to you? Who is left to
fight by my side now?” Just then Abbas son of Imam Ali (pbuh) breathed his last.

When Imam Hussain stood all alone in the battlefield surrounded by the enemies,
his sister Zainab called him.. When he went into the tent, he found his six (6) month
old baby son “Ali Asgher”, dying of thirst in his cradle. And the poor mother
“Rubab”, whose milk had dried up by the continuous thirst and hunger, could not
help the baby with even a drop of milk. The Imam told the mother that he would
show the baby to the enemy and get him some water. Imam Hussain took the baby
to the battlefield covering him with his robe and raised him up in his arms to enable
everyone in the enemy’s forces to see him, and said:
“O People! If you think that Hussain is guilty of any crime, this innocent baby has
done nothing to hurt any one of you. He has not even expressed anything against
you. He is dying of thirst. He had no water for the last three days.
Would you end his thirst by a few drops of water? If you suspect that I’m
requesting water for myself in the name of the baby, then I will leave him here and
go, you may bring him back after giving him water.”
The scene of the Imam with the thirsty innocent baby in his hands was so touching
and heartbreaking that even the men in the enemy’s army could not handle it and
started weeping.

Umar Ibn Saad feared a revolt of his forces in sympathy for the Holy Imam, he
ordered a stonehearted soldier named “Harmala” to answer
Hussain. The tyrant, shot an arrow from his bow which pierced the tiny neck of the
innocent baby. Blood gushed out of his neck and splashed on Imam Hussain’s face.
Ali Asgher died in his father’s arms.
Imam Hussain (pbuh) walked back to the camp weeping with Ali Asgher in his
arms. At the door he waited for a moment and then turned back, he did that seven
times as if he was building his strength to face the mother of the baby who had been
so brutally murdered.
Rubab looked at her husband’s face covered in blood and cried out “What have
they done to my baby? Did they even give him a drop of water before they killed
him?” Imam Hussain said “I begged them to give him water, but instead they
soaked him in blood.”
He sat down to bury his baby son in the burning sand of the desert, by digging a
grave using his sword. After that he looked up and said. “Oh God, bear witness that
I have done my duty to the last.”
Isn’t this one single sacrifice enough to touch every human’s heart?
God knows the degree of the patience and strength that Imam Hussain had to bear
the series of such unbearable tragedies.

The details of the final separation of the Holy Imam from the helpless ladies and
children of his camp, especially from his sisters Zainab & Kulthoom, are very
heartbreaking and it is impossible for anyone to describe the whole hurtful scene.

To Zainab and Kulthoom, his two sisters, Imam Hussain said: “After I am killed,
the series of tragedies to you all would begin.
This will be a very difficult time for you. Do not give up hope; you will have to be
brave. Bear every calamity with patience.” Zainab with tears rolling down her
cheeks promised her brother that she would not let him down.
Then, Imam Hussain turned to Zainab and said “I am leaving the widows and
orphans in your care. My dear sister, please look after them.”

The Imam prepared himself for the fight, just when he was about go Sakina stopped
him, She came forward and said, “father, When “Muslim” was martyred, you
hugged his orphan girl and patted her head. If you go and I become an orphan who
is going to pat my head?” Imam’s eyes filled with tears. While fighting back his
tears, he slowly whispered, “Sakina, my daughter, please don’t cry, because after I
go you will shed many tears. While I am here still alive, don’t break my heart with
your tears.” He hugged Sakina, and kissed her cheeks, knowing that these same
cheeks were going to be slapped by the cruel hands of Yazid’s men.
The Holy Imam at last came into the field, to save and secure the Truth for all times
until the Day of Judgment.

Imam Hussain now standing all alone, with the enemy forces all around him,
bleeding from innumerable wounds from head to toe, having lost one and all of his
mates (sons, brothers, nephews and companions), gave his last call to humanity
around him, inviting them to join him in the way of truth, saying: “Is there anyone
to help us?” “Is there any defender to stop the enemy from approaching the tents of
the family of the Holy Prophet)?”
There was no response from anyone of the thousands standing around him.

Then he asked them:

“Why do you kill me?”, “Did I commit any sin or crime?”
None answered. Then the Holy Imam continued: “Then why do you kill me?”, “You
have killed all my companions, my children, my brothers and even my little baby.”,
“If you do not believe in any religion, and you do not fear the Judgment, then be
free in this world.”

Umar Ibn Saad shouted to his men “Do not be fooled by Imam
Hussain’s words, attack him now!” Arrows were showered at Imam
Hussain. He fought like a lion, saying “If you are determined to fight me then I am
ready! watch how the
Grandson of the Prophet fights; see how the son of Ali and Fatima fights. Even after
three days of hunger and thirst, I am not afraid to die. For me, death is better than
surrender.”

When the enemies saw Imam Hussain coming towards them, Many of them ran
away. When
‘Umar Ibn Saad’ saw the fear on their faces, he sent his bravest soldiers to fight
Imam Hussain... The enemy troops surrounded him from all sides, but he defeated
them all. ‘Umar’ stood back and watched, amazed at how Imam Hussain who had
suffered so much, was fighting so bravely.

The Imam had chosen a point for his fight which was near the tents of the women.
That was for two reasons. First, he knew the unmanly and inhuman character of the
enemies. They lacked even the sense of honor to spare the tents of their attacks as it
was he whom they were fighting.
Therefore he wanted to restrain them from attacking his camp as long as he was
alive and had the strength to stop them. Second, as long as he was alive he wanted
the members of his family to know that he was alive. He had chosen a point from
where his voice could be heard by them. The Imam had told them not to come out of
the tents as long as he was alive.

He was hit on his forehead with a stone. While he was cleaning the blood from his
face he got hit on the heart with an arrow. He gasped and pulled the arrow out of
his chest, which caused heavy bleeding.
Now lying with his bleeding wounds on the flaming sand of the burning desert,
Imam Hussain rested his forehead on a heap of the burning sand.
When ‘Umar Ibn Saad’ saw that, he ordered his army to attack him in force. Some
of them threw stones, while some attacked him with swords and others with arrows.
Imam Hussain was very badly wounded; he was bleeding from head to toe, and his
sacred blood was flowing on the ground.

Several men one after another, were ordered by the Commander of the enemy
forces to cut off the head of the Holy Imam, but none of them dared to cut off his
head.
But “Shimr”, the stone-hearted brute committed the hideous crime. He kicked the
Imam, sat on his chest and started to cut his throat until he beheaded him.

Those days, they used to train Arabic horses for the battlefield, such a horse would
show a particular reaction when its master was killed. The members of Imam
Hussain’s household were in the tents waiting for the Imam, that he might return to
them once again and they might see
him once again. Suddenly they heard the sound of the of the Imam’s
horse... They rushed to the tent’s door imagining that the Imam had come. But they
saw the horse without its rider. It was then that the children and the women raised
the cries. They surrounded the horse and each of them began to mourn for
him.

They were not satisfied with the death of Imam Hussain.. His body was crushed by
the hooves of their horses.

The soldiers rushed to Imam Hussain’s camp. They robbed every tent..They set the
tents on fire.. The ladies and the girls were stripped of their veils (scarfs)..
Imam Hussain’s little daughter’s ear-rings were pulled off her ears, splitting her ear
lobes. When the little girl begged for her veil to be left untouched, she was slapped.
Imam Hussain’s household were made captives.. They let them walk with the heads
of Imam Hussain and his companions held up on spears in front of them. The
guards beat them, when they complained of anything.. They did not even spare the
youngest. By the time they reached Kufa there were bruises all over their bodies..
Ibn Ziyad ordered the streets to be decorated, while there was a huge crowd in the
streets of Kufa, jeering and making fun of the prisoners.
When they reached Syria, “Shimr” went to Yazid’s palace to announce their arrival.
Yazid had declared that day as a day of celebration. Every corner of the city was
decorated.
The captive prisoners were finally taken to Yazid’s palace. Yazid sitting on the
throne with a stick in his hand was repeatedly striking the parched lips of Imam
Hussain’s severed head placed in a tray before him..right in front of the children’s
eyes.

They were taken to prison. One night Ruqaya (Imam Hussain’s three (3) year old
daughter) suddenly started to cry in her sleep. When her mother asked her what the
matter was, she said that she saw her father in her dreams. She cried so much that
the noise reached Yazid at the palace. He asked the guards what all the noise was
about. When they told him what it was, he ordered: that Imam Hussain’s head to be
taken to Ruqaya in order to keep her quiet. The guards brought the head in a
covered tray and put it in front of her. Ruqaya said; “I don’t want food! I want my
father.”
When she saw that it was her father’s head, she ran to it and hugged it. All the
ladies were stricken with grief. Ruqaya complained to her father about how the evil
men snatched her earrings that he had given to her, how they took away their veils,
and burnt their tents. Suddenly Ruqaya stopped complaining and was completely
quiet. Ruqaya, the loving daughter of Imam Hussain, passed away, in the dark,
lonely dungeon.

The people of Syria started to question Yazid about the prisoners. Many felt that
they had already spent so long in prison in the worst possible condition. What crime
had they committed to deserve such treatment? Yazid realized that if he did not do
anything to change the situation, the people would turn against him. He made
arrangements for the prisoners to be brought to the palace court to be set free.

Finally, the Grandchildren of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) left Syria. Everyone was
very quiet. They were all thinking about their loved ones. They started the journey
back to Madina (their hometown). How sad this journey must have been. Even
though they were free, their hearts were in Karbala and Syria.

There are too many lessons that we learn from the Karbala story to count.
These are only some of them:
1. Not to accept Humiliation: Imam Hussain said that the authorities in Kufa had
given him only two options - humiliation or death. He carried on to say, ‘And we do
not accept humiliation’. Allah has given people a choice in all matters.

2. Thinking independently and being just in one’s judgments. Not simply following
others blindly and keeping one’s eyes closed. On the Day of Ashura Imam Hussein
addressed Yazid’s troops: “If you are not following the teachings of Islam then as
freemen, be independent of judgment.

3. A wider understanding of death : Imam Hussain extended our comprehension

of death by drawing attention to the three points below:

a) Death is written for everyone and no soul may escape it.

b) Death with dignity is preferable to a life lived in humiliation.

c) Dying for the cause of truth is martyrdom and a great honor.

4. Supporting the truth: Imam Hussain announced: “Don’t you see that Truth has
been replaced by falsehood. We must be prepared to sacrifice everything that is
precious in support of Truth!” Ali Akbar asked his father Imam Hussein:”Are we not
supporting the Truth?” The Imam replied in the affirmative. Ali Akbar said: “then, it
makes no difference if death comes to us or if we approach death.”

5. It’s never too late to repent : Hurr, the first commander to surround Imam
Hussain’s troops and prevent their access to water, provides an excellent image of
repentance. Regretting his action, he asked Imam Hussain if his repentance would be
accepted. Imam Hussein told him that it is never too late to repent. Hurr joined
Imam Hussain’s camp and was honored by being one of the first martyrs.

6. Fidelity AND Loyalty: Fidelity is a characteristic admired by all. If friends meet

in times of comfort and wealth but leave when hardship and difficulty strike, it is
clear that their friendship is not true. On the day of Ashura (the day Imam hussain
was killed) , Imam Hussain told John, a servant of one of the companions: “You have
accompanied us all the way but now you may go.” John replied: “It is not fair that I
benefit from your company and hospitality but abandon you in your hardship.” His
attitude exemplifies fidelity, loyalty and true friendship.

7. Ladies participate: Without Lady Zainab’s participation in Karbala, the mission

of Imam Hussein could not have been fulfilled.

8. Giving preference to the needs of others : In Islamic terminology, giving

preference to the needs of others is referred to as “Ithaar”. On the Day of Ashura,
the actions of Abbas, brother of Imam Hussein exemplify “Ithaar”! Abbas battled
bravely to gain access to the water. Although he gave no consideration to his own
thirst but strove instead to bring water to the tents for the women and children.

9. Patience: Imam Hussain’s patience wasn’t out of weakness or helplessness but a

demonstration of his steadfastness and bravery. Those who saw Imam Hussein on
the Day of Ashura reported. ”We have never seen a man remaining as composed as
Imam Hussein whereas his relatives and children were slaughtered before his eyes.