Ashura, an eternal saga of conviction and courage

Many westerners do not understand why it is that Shia Muslims mourn the martyred Imam Hussein as though the event did not occur a thousand years ago but as if it happened as recently as yesterday.

 The 10th day of Muharram, Ashura, marks the martyrdom of the third Shia Imam, Hussein ibn Ali, in the year 680 CE/ 61 AH. Shias beat their chests, cry and mourn, because Ashura is a sad, sad story. It is a story of cruelty, loss and grief; a story of love, faith and courage. Hussein (PBUH), the son of the first Shia Imam and the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), along with 72 of his faithful companions, fought the army of the Umayyad caliph Yazid bin Muawiyah who had no reverence for the Ahl al-Bayt (the Infallible progeny of the Prophet) and did not adhere to Islamic values. One needs only envision the events leading to and of that painful day and it will be a mystery no more.The heat and thirst have drained the children, their questioning gazes asking what their lips dare not speak for fear of embarrassing the Imam, who cannot quench their thirst as the enemy has ruthlessly prevented man, women and child from the water of life. 

Muharram: A continuous mission against injustice

As an annual routine on Chamber of Beauty, here I am again, to share with you all the facts about the mournful month of Muharram. In fact this year I felt a desparate need to share this keeping in mind all the barbaric, dreadful killing that is haunting the lives of so many citizens of various nations. These acts are inhuman, a big stain on the image of the peaceful religion of Islam. I'm sure most of you must have understood what I'm referring to.

Imam Hussain bin Ali, the martyr of Karbala, forever demarcated the truth from falsehood.  Before heading to Karbala for a decisive battle against Omayyid tyrant Yazid bin Muawiya, Imam Hussain said, “Surely the aim of my stand is not inspired by vain exultation and it is also not for the quest of kingdom, neither is it to cause dissension and corruption nor is it  to wrong anybody unjustly.” These words of Imam are enough in themselves to prove that his stand was neither for the lust of power nor for any personal gain. It was to safeguard the religion of his grandfather from the clutches of Yazid, who was hell-bent on distorting the real picture of the religion.