Why to Read about Ashura: Remarks of Martyr Avini about Ashura

Why is Karbala so inspiring for the people? What secret is latent in it that moves the hearts of people? What is the motivation behind the battle of Ashura, which is still alive after centuries?

We all know the answer to these questions in our hearts, even if we cannot express it. It is like there is an unwritten agreement that keeps our hearts warm for good. We all understand the Great Spirit involved in this epic event and this spirit keeps alive the passion of battle. That is why we have always been strong and firm, although we are the minority. Why do we need to read about it if we all feel it?

What actually were the goals of this battle? How important it is for us to know the answer to this question? Do we really need to make a meaning out of this event for ourselves? Why do we need to know about the main goals of Ashura?

The answer to these questions is that if we do not know the reasons for this battle, we might not be able to understand its message. We could burry its beautiful and adoring ideals in the cemetery of habits. If this happens, we will deviate from the right path.

Hussain ibn ali

Imam Hussain(PBUH):

إن لَم یَکُن لَکُم دینٌ و کُنتُم لاتَخافونَ المَعادَ فَکونوا اَحراراً فِی دُنیاکُم؛

If you don not believe in any religion and do not fear the hereafter,then at least be free in your present life.

Imam Hosein (PBUH) _ 3rd Shiite Imam

Who is Husayn?

Why does the all goodness reach to him?

Why does the bliss blend in perfectly with Husayn?

Why was he the most harassed?

In the house of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), a child who benefited humanity as if he was Divine Impression reflecting the earth was born on the 3rd night of the month of Sha'ban. His father was Imam Ali (PBUH), the best model of kindness towards his friends and the bravest against the enemies of Islam, and his mother was Lady Fatima (PBUH), who had as universally acknowledged, inherited the qualities of her father. When the good news of his birth reached the Holy Prophet (PBUH), he came to his daughter's house, took the newly-born child in his arms, recitedazaan andiqamah in his right and left ears respectively, and on the 7th day of his birth, named him Hossein, in compliance with Allah's command. Hasan (PBUH) and Hossein (PBUH), the two sons of the Holy Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (PBUH) and Lady Fatima (PBUH), our Lady of Light, were respected and revered as the"Leaders of the Youths of Paradise" as stated by the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Birth

Imam Hossein (PBUH) was born on the 3rd of Sha'ban, in 4th year of Hijrah inMedina. When the Prophet (PBUH) heard the news of Imam Hossein's birth, became very happy and came to the house of Fatima (PBUH). Asma, the maidservant ofFatima covered the child in a white cloth and brought him to the Prophet (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH) picked the child up in his lap and recited the Azaan in his right ear and iqamah in the left one. As if, apparently, he (PBUH) made the ears of his son familiar and acquainted with the name of God for the first time. On the seventh day of the birth, an angel came from the God and he said, "Just as Haroon was the brother, sympathizer, and helper in each and every difficulty of Moses (PBUH) similarly Ali (PBUH) is your sympathizer, helper and brother in each and every matter of yours. Therefore, keep the name of this child upon the name of Haroon's son "Shabeer," which translated into Arabic becomes 'Hossein'. Thus the name of the second child of Fatima (PBUH) was also selected by God.

On the 7th day of the birth Lady Fatima (PBUH) got a sheep slaughtered as theAqeeqa and distributed its meat among the needy and poor.

The Prophet (PBUH) quite often hugged Hossein (PBUH) taking him into his lap and used to weep bitterly, saying, "A very big tragedy will be met by my son Hossein. The brutal and bloody men of Bani Omyaide will slay my dear son. I will not intercede and mediate for them on the Day of Doom.

Read more the birth of Imam Husain (PBUH)

Ashura quote by Imam Khomeini

The text written in the image is a quote about Imam husayn(PBUH) by Imam khomeini:

“Imam Husayn (PBUH) revived Islam by his blood“

Read more from Imam Khomeini about Ashura and Imam Husayn at Ashura uprising

Islam was on the verge of disappearing within the throat of the tyrants and justice being crushed under the stampede of evildoers. The cruel rule of Yazid and his men was about to cross the shining face of Islam away by a red line and the agonies and troubles suffered by the great Prophet of Islam (s) and the early-day Muslims as well as the blood of the self-sacrificing martyrs, were about to be forgotten and gone to the winds.

It was at this point that Imam Husayn (PBUH) set out on the great Ashura uprising. The Master of Martyrs rose to strengthen Islam, to oppose cruelty, and to stand up against the empire of those days that were beyond the scope of modern day empires.

Karbala and Ashura, Out of Time and Space

How is it possible that every place is Karbala and every day is Ashura? Are not the concepts of time and space present in Karbala? Of course not! Time and space are ‘relative’ matters. They do not exist in an ‘absolute’ situation.

Karbala is the heart of earth and Ashura is the heart of time. In other words, Karbala is the absolute on the earth and Ashura is the absolute in time. That is where the heavenly paths start and the gate to the world of absolute is opened.

There is no time and space in Karbala. In order to get to Karbala, one should go beyond the self, beyond the attachments of this world and further than time and place; to let go of the attractions of this world and to leave. A selfish heart can never understand what it means to be in love with the school of thought of Hussein (AS).

Ashura is still here and the caravan of Karbala is still on its way. This caravan of love traverses the path of history, and is with this caravan anyone who let go of the worldly attachments because of it.

Many years have lapsed since Ashura, but the rulers of the world are still people like Yazid. Karbala will be here as long as the people of Yazid are here. This battle between good and evil never ends

HAZRAT ABBAS ( saqqa)

The king of politeness and feelings

HAZRAT ABBAS, water- carrier ( saqqa) of the desert of Karbala
He is the one who all people should know.