The Karbala Introduction

In The Name Of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

On 3rd Shaban, 04 Hijri, of the Islamic Calendar, the Last Messenger of Allah (swt), Hazrat Mohammad-e-Mustafa’s (saww) beloved and the most Pious & Pure daughter, Hazrat-e-Fatema Zahra (s.a) gave birth to a son. The Great Prophet (saww) by the command of Allah, named this child after the name of Hazrat Musa’s successor, Hazrat Harun’s (A.S.) youngest son “Shubair”, which in arabic is translated as “Hussain”. He was ennobled with titles like Abu-abdillah, Abu-ali, Abu-Shuhada, Abul-Ahrar, etc.

One of the Qualities of Imam Hussain (A.S.) is that he was born in just 6 months but he still survived, similar like Hazrat Yahya(A.S.)

According to the tradition of Janabe Jaabir, Prophet Muhammad (saww) said, “The descendant of every messenger were from their progeny, while the descendant of mine are from the progeny of Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (A.S.), and every child is known by his father’s name but the children of Fatema will be known by my name.”

Therefore, even the Quran, in the Chapter of Mubahila has referred Hasan (A.S.) and Husain (A.S.) as ‘Abna Ana’, and as an example for this, Hazrat Esa (as), son of Mary (s.a) is known from the descendant’s of Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S.) and is the most beloved of Hazrat Ibrahim’s (A.S.) progeny. This new born baby was the apple of Prophet’s eye, therefore referring to him Prophet said, “Hussain (as) is from me, and I am from Hussain (as), Allah befriends those, who befriends Hussain (as). Hasan (A.S.) and Hussain (A.S.) are the masters of the youths of Paradise, both of them are Imams even if they decide to go on war or accept reconciliation.” Prophet Muhammad (saww) used to put Imam Hasan (A.S.) & Imam Hussain (as) on his shoulders and play with them, and He did not raise his head from prostration until Imam Hussain (as) did not move from his back by his own will. The keeper of the Gates of heaven bought clothes for them and presented himself as their tailor. At the time of Imam Hussain’s (A.S.) birth Gabriel came to congratulate the Prophet (saww) of Allah and informed him about how his grandson will be martyred, while defending the religion of Islam, listening to which the Prophet (saww) started crying and conveyed the message to his household. He also informed the Prophet (saww) that Hussain (A.S.) with his family members and friends will be slaughtered thirsty in the plains of Karbala. Gabriel then handed over to him the sand of Karbala, which the Prophet (saww) entrusted to his wife Umme Salma (s.a) and said that if this sand remains the same understand my Hussain (A.S.) is alive but when it turns into blood, then know that our beloved Hussain (A.S.) has attained martyrdom in Karbala. After the death of Prophet Muhammad (saww), the demise of Hazrat Fatima Zahra (s.a) and the killing of Imam Ali ibne abi talib (A.S.) and Imam Hasan (A.S.), Imam Hussain (A.S.) in complaince with his brother’s peace treaty with Muawiya, did not revolt and remained silent, but on the contrary, in Rajab, 60 Hijri, Muawiya not complying to the treaty, made his son Yazid, a tyrant and bad charactered man, as his successor. Soon after Muawiya’s death, Yazid instead of paying allegiance to Imam Hussain (A.S.), asked Imam Hussain (A.S.) to pay allegiance to him. Imam Hussain (A.S.) who was acting in accordance to the treaty single handedly till now, stood against Yazid, saying that he is a man who plays with dogs and monkeys and is engaged in drinking alcohol, adultery and other Haraam acts. Yazid’s character as an example in accordance to Islamic values can never be tolerated. Imam Hussain (A.S.) not just denied the allegiance to Yazid but paid the price for it by sacrificing his family, brothers, nephews and friends and came to the land of Karbala where the army of Yazid was waiting for him in full force. Imam Hussain (A.S.) in order to differentiate Truth from Falsehood and to wake the Ummat from the sleep of ignorance, gave lectures and adviced them but the army of yazid did not ponder and instead inorder to force Imam Hussain (A.S.), stopped the supply of water to his family. The little children of Imam Hussain (A.S.) held the empty vessels of water and chanted ‘O Thirst, O Thirst’. The army of yazid not only killed Imam Hussain (A.S.), who was hungry and thirsty but also cut the hands of his brother Abul fadh-al-Abbas, attacked his son Ali akbar with a lance on his chest, trampled his nephew Qasim ibne Hasan alive, killed his nephews Aun and Mohammad, and also martyred the thirsty 6 months old Ali Asgar with a 3 head arrow. At last, the Ummat murdered the Grandson of Prophet in the state of prostration and also arsoned the camps of daughters of Ali (A.S.) and grand-daughters of the Prophet (saww) Along with the fourth Imam Zainul Abideen (A.S.), the household of the Prophet were made slaves and taken around the roads & markets of Kufa and Shaam as captives. When Imam Zainul Abideen (A.S.) was asked by the people about who won the battle and who lost, he replied, “When the Prophet’s name is loudly proclaimed as the prayer call is made, and if people are observing prayers, fast and other obligatory acts of Islam, then know that My father has won the battle, as this is what he wanted to preserve. But if the religion is destroyed, then know that yazid has won, as this is what he wanted to spread.” Today after 1400 years, the remembrance of sacrifice made by Imam Hussain (A.S.) and his Companions has become a symbol, wherein One oppressed Man along with his 72 brave companions gave us an example of selflessness and did not bow to the tyranny of Yazid, similarly today following his path we express our support and showcase our responsibility towards Islam that the strongest of people in power cannot weaken the True Values of the followers of Imam Hussain (A.S.) and cannot make us bow to Tyranny and Oppression. In the remembrance of these thirsty Martyrs, today we offer water to quench the thirst of every passerby & cannot see anyone thirsty, but man-like beasts of Yazid, kept little children thirsty and forced Imam Hussain (A.S.) to pay allegiance. We salute and send peace upon the Master of Martyrs, Imam Hussain (A.S.) and his Brave and Loyal Companions, who tolerated every kind of pain but did not move from the True Path of Islam.

Assalam O Alal HUSSAIN (A.S.) Wa Ala Ali Ibn Al-Hussain (A.S.) Wa Ala Awladil Hussain (A.S.) Wa Ala As-haabil Hussain (A.S.)