The Epic of Ashura

Every year the Muslim religious calendar is marked by a particular commemoration, which although is not part of the religion itself, is of fundamental importance for Muslims in general, particularly for the lovers of the Ahl-ul-Bait (AS) (The Family of the Prophet).
The commemoration is centered on the remembrance of a historical event that took place in the year 680CE, equal to the year 61 of the Muslim era.

Historical Background
Prophet Mohammad (S) the last of God''''s messengers sent to humanity, passed away in the 632CE, after fulfilling his divine mission. He was sent, originally, to one of the most polytheistic people of that time, the Arabs.
In a relatively short time, he transformed the idol-worshippers, Bedouins of the Arabian Desert, into people who worshiped the one and only God. By the time he passed away, the majority of the people of Arabia had a monotheistic faith, just like the early Christians and the Jews before them.
Their entire ethical system was changed by Islam. People, who previously lived in a barbaric manner, were transformed by this man, who brought a message of peace and devotion towards God. Unfortunately, not all those who embraced Islam were sincere. Some of them had not given up their polytheistic vision of life entirely.
Less than 30 years after the demise of Prophet Mohammad (S), those forces, who originally opposed his divine message, raised their ugly heads again. These were descendents of the old polytheist Mekkan aristocracy. They had conspired in silence to undo what the Prophet had done and to retake their positions of supremacy in the Arab society.
The ethical and spiritual teachings of the Prophet of Islam had been passed on to a new generation of Muslims. But their enemy had enormous financial resources.
These enemies knew that they could not destroy the new community with a frontal attack. Their strategy would be to work from within, undermining all the religious and divine teachings brought by Prophet Mohammad (S).
Mu''''awiyyah - their unelected ruler, the self proclaimed caliph - took power by force around 661CE. A Muslim religious society requires that the ruler be similar to a prophet, pious and just. But Mu''''awiyyah was neither of the two.
The culmination of his rule came when he decided to appoint his son, Yazid, as ruler after his death. If Mu''''awiyyah was considered un-religious by the historians, his son Yazid was all together anti-religious.

Imam Husayn (AS)
In this situation, emerged the Grandson of Prophet Mohammad (S), Imam Husayn ibn Ali (AS) trained in the `school of the Prophet'''' - the school of spirituality, honesty, justice`. He possessed all that is good in a human character.
Imam Husayn (AS) was widely acknowledged by devoted Muslims, to be the spiritual and temporal heir to Prophet Mohammad after his father, Imam Ali (AS) and his brother Imam Hassan (AS).
However, political circumstances were not favourable to him. Once in power - Yazid - who had succeeded his father Mu''''awiyyah, demanded the oath of allegiance from the Grandson of the Prophet. This measure would have silenced any opposition and given him legitimacy.
Imam Husayn (AS), who was entrusted to defend the divine principle of the faith system of Islam, could not possibly accept to pay homage to Yazid - and risk the purity of the message brought by his Grandfather to humanity being subverted forever. He therefore took a stand in the year 679CE, and with a small caravan of family members and supporters, he left Arabia for Iraq where a larger number of supporters was awaiting him.

The Tragedy of Karbala
On the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram (Ashura) -- in the year 680CE - the caravan of Imam Husayn (AS) which had been intercepted a few days earlier, it was brought to a stop by a large army, at a place called Karbala in Iraq and was attacked. From a military point of view, the outcome was a forgone conclusion. The numeric superiority of the forces of the despotic Yazid were overwhelming.
Nevertheless, Imam Husayn (AS) and his followers put up a valiant fight. Every able man was slaughtered, including the Grandson of the Prophet, Imam Husayn (AS). The surviving women and children were eventually taken prisoners and dragged to the city of Damascus.
Every year, the heroic struggle of the members of this saintly caravan is retold, and new generations learn how the Grandson of the Prophet stood against the oppressive tyrant Yazid. The brutality of the crime and the appalling conduct of Yazid''''s army frankly shocked the Muslims. Within a few years, many revolts took place in attempts to avenge the blood of the Grandson of Prophet Mohammad (S). Finally Yazid and his dynasty were overthrown.

Why commemorate it every year?
Why commemorate any religious event? In the history of humanity, there have been individuals thhere were individuals who distinguished themselves for having stood firm in the face of oppression and injustice. Their examples have become like a flag, which stands up for everyone to see and follow. They inspire others to resist in difficult, unjust situations. For the Muslims, Imam Husayn (AS) represents such an example.
Unfortunately in the today''''s world, suffering still exists because of oppression, which manifests itself in diverse forms, globally. Every justice-seeking person can understand why we Muslims are morally obliged to remember the struggle of Imam Husayn (AS). His blood has taught us to side with those who are oppressed in tandem with all that is just. Muslims are taught religiously to stand for and promote the highest ethical and spiritual values, whatever the consequences.
Today, like many generations before us, we also keep alive the memory of Imam Husayn (AS) fulfilling a duty towards those who have given their lives for the highest ideals; Justice for humanity under the banner of the religion of God.