Who is Husain AS?

India Rakshabandhan: A festival celebrating the love between a brother and sister. They are the best of friends, ready to fight the world for each other. Today, we would like to share a story with you, an old but true story about a brother and his sister and their unbreakable bond. The brother was killed, martyred for following the path of justice and his sister captured after his death, but she, true in her love for her brother, spread his message of truth.
This is the story of Husain AS, the son of Ali, and grandson of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) and his sister Zainab AS, the daughter of Ali. In the year 680 AD, Yazeed LA sat on the throne of the Umayyad Dynasty, usurping the leadership of the budding Islamic Community. Since Husain AS was the grandson of the Prophet and his support would have given legitimacy to Yazeed's LA illigitimate rule, Yazeed LA summoned Husain AS to pledge allegiance to him. Husain AS had a difficult choice to make, either give support to Yazeed LA illegitimate rule or perish. He chose the latter.
  It was the time of Hajj, when Husain AS got to know that assassins had come to kill him. He wanted to avoid bloodshed so he decided to leave the Holy City of Mecca. His younger sister, Zainab AS insisted on coming along as she couldn't bear the thought of leaving her brother in this difficult time. Husain's AS caravan had young and old, men and women, and small children.
On one side was Yazeed LA well trained and organised army of thousands while on the other hand were 72 men of honor. This included very old family friends and the youngest, Ali Asghar AS, the 6 month old son of Husain AS. On the 10th of Muharram, in the battlefield of Karbala, every male member of the followers and Husain AS family, whether child or adult, were killed. The last one to be martyred was Husain AS, with his sister watching from her tent while her brother was beheaded.
Zainab AS, was taken prisoner and spent a long time in captivity in Yazeed's LA dungeons in present day Syria. But she was the sister of the brave Husain AS and followed in her brother's footsteps. She refused to bow down to Yazeed LA, and repeatedly faced him in his court, voicing her demand for righteous leadership and claiming justice for her fallen brother and his mission. Zainab's AS advocacy finally led to widespread revolt as the general populace swayed towards her cause and shook Yazeed LA throne.
The story of Karbala is about standing up for justice and fighting for what is right even in the face of insurmountable odds but in its essence it is also the story of Husain AS and Zainab AS and the undying devotion of a sister for her brother.
May your love be as immortal as Husain AS and Zainab AS.

THE ROUTE OF IMAM Husain AS FROM MAKKAH TO KARBALA and the 14 stopovers in the journey

Imam, after leaving Madina in the month of Rajab, stayed in Makka for about 5 months. It was in the month of Zilhijja 60 Hijri when he noticed that there were Yazid's soldiers in Makka in the garb of Ahram to kill the Imam inside the Masjidul Haram. Imam changed the rituals of Hajj into Umra and decided to leave Makka. The date was 8th of Zilhijja 60 Hijri. When people saw the Imam leaving before completing the Hajj they began to ask questions as to why he was leaving in such a hurry. Some doubted his motives, saying that he might be leaving Makka for Iraq to confront Yazid and take power into his hands. To quell these doubts he left a letter with his brother Muhammad El-Hanafiya which clearly states his purpose of leaving Makka.
He wrote in the letter, "I have not come out to stir emotions, to play with discontentment, to provoke dissension or to spread oppression. I wish to bring the Umma back to the path of Amr-bil-Ma'arouf and Nahyi Unil Munker. I wish to bring them back to the path of my grandfather the Messenger of Allah and of my father Ali Ibne Abi Talib".
The momentous journey of Imam Husain (AS) begins from Makka towards an unknown destination which eventually ended at Karbala.
The journey which began from Makka on the 8th of Zilhijja 60 Hijri ended in Karbala on 2nd of Muharram 61 Hijiri and took about 22 days in all. Imam stopped at 14 places on his way to Karbala. He met various people and delivered various sermons. What the Imam talked about to these people he met and said in his sermons at various places reflects the true motives he had in his mind. The names of these places Imam passed were mentioned in history books but their exact locations were not traceable in modern geographical maps. After searching in the archives of the British Museum Library a map of 9th Century Hijri was found in which all these names were clearly shown.
After leaving Makkah there were 14 places mentioned in history books where Imam either stayed or met people or gave sermons.

1. Saffah:
Here Imam met Farazzdaq the poet whom Imam asked about conditions in Kufa. He said, 'People's hearts were with you but their swords were against you.' Imam replied, 'Allah does what he wishes. I leave it to him who proposes the just cause.

2. Dhat-el-Irq:
Here Imam's cousin Abdullah Ibne Jafar brought his two sons Auwn and Mohammed to their mother Maulatena Zainab AS and to help the imam. He tried to persuade the Imam to return to Madina but Imam replied, 'my destiny is in the hands of Allah.'

3. Batn-er-Rumma:
Imam sent a letter to Kufa with Qais bin Mashir, met Abdullah bin Mutee who came from Iraq. When he heard of Imam's intention, he tried to stop him. He said Kufans were not faithful and could not be trusted. But Imam continued his journey.

4. Zurud:
Imam met Zohair Ibne Qain. Zohair was not among the followers of Ahlulbait. But when Imam told him of the purpose of his journey Zohair gave all his possesions to his wife, told her to go home and said that he wished to be martyred with the Imam.

5. Zabala:
Imam learnt from two tribesmen coming from Kufa of the death of Muslim AS. Imam said, 'Innan Lillahe wa Inna Elaihe Rajeoon. Indallah-Nahtasib Anfusana.' 'We are for Allah and we shall return to Him who surely accounts for our sacrifices. Asadi Tribesmen tried to dissuade the Imam from his journey but he persisted. Here Imam told his companions the news of the death of Muslim and Hani and that people in Kufa were not prepared to be their helpers. Imam said, 'Those who want to depart leave now.' Hoards of various tribesmen who had followed the Imam in the hope of collecting the booty realised their false hopes and scattered to their own homes. Only 50 odd people remained.

6. Batn-e-Aqeeq:
Imam met a man from the Tribe of Akrama who told him that Kufa was no more a friendly town and was now surrounded by Yazid's army. No one could get in or out of the town. But the Imam carried on.7. Sorat: Imam stayed the night here and in the morning ordered his companions to take as much water as they can.

8. Sharaf:
While the Imam was passing from this place, one of his companions shouted that he could see the approach of an army. Imam asked for a safe place, preferably a mountain behind them. A guide took them to the nearest mountain.

9. Zuhasm:
It was here that Imam met Hurr's AS army of 1000 men. They wre thirsty so Imam ordered his men to give them water. Imam himself helped several thirsty soldiers to drink. Even animals were given water to drink. Zohr prayers were led by the Imam and all followed him including Hurr's AS soldiers. Here Imam told hurr AS about many letters from Kufa. He said, 'O People of Kufa, you sent me your delegations and wrote me letters that you had no Imam and that I should come to unite you and lead you in the way of Allah. You wrote that we Ahlulbait are more qualified to govern your affairs than those who claim things to which they have no right and act unjustly and wrongly. But if you have changed your mind, have become ignorant of our Rights and have forgotten your promises, I shall turn back. But he was denied to turn back by Hurr's AS army and was lead to by-pass Kufa.

10. Baiza:
Imam reached Baiza the next day and delivered one of his most famous sermons. 'O People, the Prophet has said that if a man sees a tyrannical ruler transgressing against Allah and the Prophet and oppressing people but does nothing by word or action to change the situation then it will be just for Allah to place him where he deservingly belongs. Do you not see to what low level the affairs have come down... Do you not observe that truth has not adhered to and falsehood has no limit. And as for me, I look upon death as but a means of attaining martyrdom and I consider life among transgressors as nothing but an agony and an affliction.'

11. Uzaibul Hajanat:
Here Imam stayed away from the army of Hurr AS and met Trimmah bin Adi. After having learnt about the Kufan abandonment of his envoy it was clear that he had no hope of support or even survival in Kufa. Nevertheless he refused an offer of safety, if not success extended to him. Trimmah pleaded to him to accept the offer of 20,000 trained men of his tribe to help him if he wanted to go to Kufa or he could retire to the mountains and safety. Imam replied to Ibne Adi, 'Allah bless you and your people. I cannot go from my word. Things are destined. It is clear from this reply that he was fully aware of the dangers he would face and that he had a certain strategy and plan in mind to bring about a revolution in the conscience of the Muslim Ummah. He did not try to mobilise military support which he could easily have done in Hejaz nor did he try to exploit whatever physical strength was available to him.

12. Qasr-e-Bani Makatil:
It was evident here that Kufa was no more his destination. As Hurr AS did not want to leave him, he by-passed Kufa and took a new route. Resting in the afternoon he uttered 'Inna Lillah.' His 18 years old son Ali Akber approached him and enquired. Imam said that in his sleep he had heard someone saying that these people were going to their deaths. Ali Akber asked, 'Are we not on the Right path. Death meant nothing to them. Death of this kind transforms into the glory of martyrdom.

13. Nainawa:
At this place a messenger of Ibne Zaid brought a message for Hurr AS not to leave the Imam. The battered caravan passed through Ghaziriya to a place called Karbala. Imam sighed, asked for the name of the place. Someone said Karbala. Imam said, yes, this is the place of Kerbun-wa-bala. (a place of pain and torture.) Let us stop here for we have arrived at our destination. This is the place of our Martyrdom. This is Karbala.

14. Karbala:
On the orders of the Imam, the tents were erected near the river which was a tributary of the River Euphrates some miles away. The date was 2nd Muharram 61 Hijri (3rd October 680 AD).

What lesson have we learnt from the Martyrdom of Imam Husain?

All of us know what happened to Imam Husain AS in Karbala.
Some of us may not know the background of the story and why Imam Husain AS had go to Karbala in the first place.

Muaaviyaa the father of Yazid had an agreement with Imam Hasan AS in which the position of the Khalifa was transferred to Muaaviyaa.
For the ignorant muslims the Khalifa was the supreme position in Islam.
But actually the position of Imam is supreme in Islam and it is also mentioned in the Quran in chapter 28 Surah Al Qasas in Ayat number 5. "Imams are the heirs to Allah".

So the title of Khalifa got transferred to Muaaviyaa. But despite the transfer, Muaaviyaa could never attract believers to him and all the muslims would go to Imam Hasan AS only. So out of jealousy Muaaviyaa poisoned Imam Hasan AS.
Imam Husain AS succeeded Imam Hasan AS and continued his duty as an Imam to spread the word of Allah.

Still Muaaviyaa could never openly challenge the Imam. Muaaviyaa was also building an empire so the last thing he wanted was a civil war within the Muslim world.
Muaaviyaa lay on his death bed and the reigns of the kingdom went to Yazid LA.
Yazid LA felt his father was to soft towards the descendants of Hashim (The great grand father of the Prophet).
We have heard of the tribes of BANI UMMAIYAA & BANI HASHIM.

Ummaiyaa & Hashim were twin brothers born with their backs joined. They belonged to the Quraysh tribe. The physicians of their time told their elders that there was only one way to seperate them. Slice their back with a sharp sword and either one of them will survive. The elders did that.

Allah granted Life to both the boys.
From the line of Hashim came the Prophet Rasulullah SAW and Amir-al-Mumeneen Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib AS. And from the line of Ummaiyaa came Abu Sufiyaan LA, Muaaviyaa LA and Yazid LA.
Yazid thought his father went too soft on the Bani Hashim tribe and all the muslims.
So he started a series of forced conversions towards his version of islam. Many people succumbed to Yazid out of fear. And one of those tribes were the people of Qufa.

The people of Qufa gave oath of allegiance to Yazid but deep down in their heart they knew that what they did was wrong.

The Qufis sent letters to Imam Husain AS requesting help.
On receiving those letters, Imam Husain dispatched his emissary to Qufa to analyse the situation.

Back at home Imam Husain AS was constantly discouraged by his followers from going to Qufa.
But Imam Husain said that if any Mumin was in need of his help, then he should go.

The emissary sent word to Imam Husain that the people of Qufa were willing to support and protect him if he chose to go to Qufa.

Yazid came to know of the Qufis' plans and sent out an army to Madina to kill and exterminate Imam Husain.

The army was led by Hurr AS.
Orders were sent to Obaidullah, the Governor of Qufa to curb the uprising of the Qufis with brute force.
Obaidullah initiated a man hunt for the emissary of Imam Husain. He threatened the Qufis with total anihilation if they did not give up the emissary. The Qufis again succumbed to their fear and gave up the emissary.

The word of an army approaching Mecca and Madina reached Imam Husain when he was performing Hajj in Mecca. Imam Husain immediately converted the Hajj into an Umrah and left for Qufa.
Imam Husain did not want to meet Yazid's army in Mecca or Madina because he knew it would cause tremendous bloodshed.

Imam Husain, with his family and a handful of followers started their journey towards Qufa.
Hurr AS swiftly moved his army towards Qufa to intercept Imam Husain on the way to Qufa. In an attempt to avoid a confrontation, Imam Husain diverted his caravan towards Bagdad and he was cornered by Hurr AS and Obaidullah on the plains of Karbala.

We all know what happened next.
What do we understand from this entire event?
What should we learn from this selfless act of Imam Husain?

Imam Husain knew he wouldn't get out alive from this battle. He knew his entire family will be killed. He knew that the enemy would stop supplies. He knew the women of his house would be molested. He knew his daughter would be widowed. He knew his followers would die. He knew his six month old son would die. He knew his heir would be imprisoned. He knew that all this would happen.

But NOTHING comes between love for Allah,
the faith in Islam and the Duty of an Imam.
These are the burdens of a man walking on the path of righteousness. A path of truth. An Imam is the Supreme position in Islam declared by Allah and he cannot bow to falsehood.
Imam Husain experienced the worst possible atrocities but he didn't budge from his path of truth.
That is the meaning of Jihad.

Venues Of Ashara Mubaraka Performed By Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (ra)and Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin (tus) in Decending Order