The month of Muharram, the first month of
the Islamic calendar, brings alive the sacrifice of Prophet Mohammed’s
grandson (daughter Fatema’s son) Imam Husain, his family and followers
at Karbala. The dead included less than 100 men, women and children
including his sister Zainab, his little daughter Sakina and wife
Shahr-i-Banu. His own body had 45 wounds due to enemy’s swords and
javelins. His left arm was cut off. A javelin had gone through his
breast and some 35 arrows were struck in his body.
By Taazakhabar News Bureau
“The teachings of Imam Husain are still
relevant today…. Imam Husain always stood against injustice and attained
martyrdom for the sake of peace and justice,” Prime Minister of India
Narendra Modi said while addressing a gathering of Dawoodi Bohra Muslim
community in Indore.
Every year lakhs of devout Muslims take
part in Ashara Mubaraka (lit. the ten blessed) a 10-day long period of
mourning over the demise of Prophet Mohammed’s grandson (daughter
Maulatona Fatema’s son) Imam Husain and his followers at Karbala. This
also marks the first ten days of Moharram.
Imam Husain attained martyrdom on the
10th of Moharram in the year 61 AH after a 9-day ordeal in Karbala. On
7th Moharram, the armies of the incumbent caliph Yazid – who was in
Damascus – cut off access to the river leaving Imam Husain AS and the
men, women and children without food or water for the next 3 days.
On the 10th of Moharram, known as
‘Ashura’, the opposing army commenced battle slaying 72 of Imam Husain’s
followers and Imam Husain himself in the late afternoon. The tragic
events that unfolded that day defined Islam and its history ever since.
The supreme sacrifice by Imam Husain and his followers was a rare
unifying event in the history of Islam. It shook the Muslim world out of
the apathy that engulfed it following the Prophet’s death and rekindled
the dormant spirit of Islam in their hearts and minds.
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