Ashura

Our praise be upon the running blood of martyrs, cut organs of bodies! Those heads on the spears! Those women taken out of the tents! Our praise be upon the proof of the God of the worlds, Hossein ibn Ali and his pure fathers! The supporters of God’s faith!

The Story of Karbala and Imam Hossein, Narrated by Four Infallible Imams

Imam Hassan Mojtaba

Before Imam Hassan’s martyrdom, Imam Hossein looked at his brother’s face and cried. Imam Hassan asked: “why are you crying?” he said: “I’m crying for the difficulties you underwent” Imam Hassan said: “my difficulty is the poison that kills me! But nothing is as sad as the day of your martyrdom.”

Imam Ali

Imam Ali was sitting in the mosque and all his companions surrounded him. Then Imam Hossein entered the mosque. Imam Ali addressed him and said: “I swear God that you will be killed and then all the earth and the sky would cry for you”

Imam Jafar Sadiq

Gabriel was the angel that took Karbala’s soil, gave it to Prophet Muhammad, and said: “this would be your child’s tomb, your child that would be killed by your own companions!” That child was Imam Hossein.

Imam Muhammad Bghir

Imam Baghir says: “someday, Imam Ali was passing Karbala with his companions. When they arrived to a place called Moghdafan he stopped and said: here 200 of prophets and 200 of their companions have been martyred. Here is also the place of the martyrdom of Hossein’s lovers.”

1. Morning Prayer

Imam Hossein and his companions said morning prayers and then Imam Hossein told the others: “God has ordered us to be martyred. So you must be patient and obey Him.”

2. The Arrangement of the Army

Imam Hossein’s army consisted of 32 cavalries and 40 infantries. Imam Hossein divided them into 3 parts. He settled the first group in Meimaneh, the second group in Meysareh, and the third group in a place between them.

3. The Advices Given Before the War

The enemy was proud of its large number of soldiers. So they didn’t accept any of Imam’s conditions and just wanted to begin the fight.

4. Hurr ibn Yazid’s Repentance

When Hurr saw Imam Hossein’s generosity, and truth seeking, and also Obeidollah’s malice he decided to change his mind and join Imam Hossein.

5. The Beginning of War

The enemy’s army was worried about Hurr’s change of mind. So they decided to begin the war immediately.

Jihad, Defense, and Martyrdom

Hand to Hand Combat

Imam Hossein’s companions asked him for permission to enter the battlefield. After that, all of them were martyred one by one.

The Noon Prayer on the Day of Ashura

Imam Hossein cared about the prayers a lot. So he ordered to stop the war in order to say prayers. The enemy’s army didn’t accept it. Imam Hossein and his companions said noon prayers in an atmosphere of fear.

The Martyrdom of Other Companions

After saying prayers, the companions of Imam felt refreshed and began the war again. All of Imam’s companions including the strong youngsters of Bani Hashem, the children, the brothers, the uncles, and the nephews defended Imam Hossein and were martyred.

Imam Hossein’s War

After losing all the companions, Imam Hossein gathered all women in the tents and talked to them. He asked them to be patient. Then he entered the battlefield and fought the enemy alone. He could kill a large number of the soldiers of the enemy.

Hossein’s Companions

Aboobakr ibn Hassan

Aboobakr, Hazrat Ghasem’s brother, left Medina to come to Karbala. On the 10th day of Moharram 61 AH, he asked Imam Hossein the permission to enter the battlefield. He was martyred on the same day.

Jaber ibn Orveye Ghafary

He was the oldest worrier in Karbala and also one of the companions of the Prophet. He was a brave soldier that accompanied the prophet in the Battles of Badr and Honayn.

Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Jafar

He was one of the members of Abitaleb’ family and one of the grandsons of Jafar Tayar. Her mother was called Khavsa. Muhammad and his brother accompanied Imam Hossein on the day of Ashura.

Zaher ibn Amro Kendi

He was one of the companions of the Prophet that accompanied him in the Battle of Khabir. Furthermore, he accompanied Imam Ali too.

Naim ibn Ajlan Ansari

He was one of Imam Ali’s companions. He was from Medina but lived in Kufa. He was a poet and also one of the brave men of Kufa.

Amro ibn Gharze Ansary Khazriji Koofi

He was on one of Imam Hossein’s best companions. He was originally from Medina but lived in Kufa. His father was one of the Prophet’s companions that had moved to Kufa. Then he had joined Imam Ali.

Zahir ibn Ghain ( Zahir ibn Ghain Bajali Ansari)

He was one of the great men of Kufa. He was so brave and famous. His father was Ghein ibn Gheise Ansari.