“Labbaik ya Hussain”
‘Everyday is Ashura, and every land is Karbala’
Muharram marks the beginning of the first month of the Islamic calendar. The 10th day of the month of Muharram is known as Ashura. In the year 680 AD, on this day Imam Hussain, the grandson of the holy Prophet Mohammed (saww) was martyred at Karbala, Iraq along with 72 of his companions on the orders of Caliph Yazid.
Imam Husain son of Imam Ali a.s. and Lady Fatima was our 3rd Imam and he stood against the wrongdoings of mighty Caliph Yazid and showed us to take the path of righteousness even when in minority.
To mark these days of supreme sacrifice, the mourning period starts on the 1st day of Muharram and lasts for ten days until the day of Ashura. During this period, we mourn by putting on black clothes, reciting nauha’s, performing matam and observing abstinence. On the day of Ashura we perform special prayers(amaals).
Today also, we explore the other side of Imam Hussain , that of the caller and the guide to the righteous path. This side is little known since we tend, especially in Ashura, to see only the tragedy accompanying his martyrdom. In his role as a guide, the Imam (a.s.) stressed on the importance of patience, he said ….
“Have patience towards the right even if it is bitter”.
ASIYA ZAIDI – Student
(Noida Expressway)
(For the month of Muharram)