What Is Karbala?

Certainly, I cannot fill a small cup with the whole river but here are some basics that everyone must know so most of you can stop praying for our “Hidayat”

Karbala is still fresh in the hearts of the Muslims even after 1400 years. It can never and will never be forgotten, not only by Muslims but by people belonging to other Religions too.

Many people don’t know much about the Incident of Karbala in detail. There were 72 martyrs we all know but does everyone know what were the ages of the martyrs in Karbala?

Let me tell you that the oldest was Habib ibn Muzahir, a companion of Hazrat Muhammadص, who was around 75–80 at the time of the incident. The youngest martyr in Karbala was the youngest son of Imam Hussainع, who is known as Shehzada Ali Asghar ع. He was just 6 months old when he embraced martyrdom.

There are different Riwayats and one of them is that When Imam Hussain ع was left alone in the desert of Karbala and there was no one who could help him, he said “Is there anyone who will help me, for I am left alone.” And from the camps far away the mother of Ali Asgharع started crying. When Imam went and asked she told that when you said these words Asghar made himself fall to the ground.

Imamع came closer and held Hazrat Asgharع in his arms. His tongue was dried out because he had not drunk water for a long time. Imam took him out towards the battlefield and he covered his face with the cloth because of the burning heat of the sun. As he reached the destination, Imamع held Asgharع in his arms and raised him so that the troops could see him. He said:

“You are here to fight with me, not with this little boy who lives off milk and water. Is there anyone who can give me water so that I can put it in his mouth? He is a baby and he hadn’t had water for days. I do not want this water to drink for myself but for my son.”

He then knelt down and left Ali Asghar ع on the burning sand of Karbala and said: “If you think I will drink water by asking for him, he is here on the ground.” Nobody responded and he held his little son in his hands again.

The head of the troop Umer Ibn E Saadل when saw that Imam has a baby in his hands, turned towards one of the soldiers Hurmala ل, and asked him to stop Imamع because he had the fear that the people may find it melting and may side with Imamع. It is narrated that when the little boy showed his tongue to the Fouj e Ashikya, the troops cried while turning their heads away from Imam.

So he asked his snipper to kill the baby not even caring about his age and that he can do nothing against them. The snipper Hurmalaل pulled out an arrow that had three faces, It was the arrow that was even banned for the killing of animals because of the pain it inflicted. He tried shooting three times and each time his hand trembled and he stopped. Umer e Saad asked him what’s the matter and he told that whenever I am aiming for Asghar’s neck, I see a lady covered in cheddar who outs her head over his to protect him. But in the fourth attempt, it is said that he finally shot it towards Hazrat Ali Asgharع.

The narrator says that he saw the arrow going from the front of his neck to the back and when Imamع, tried to pull it out of his body the whole body was being lifted from the ground. And so the youngest Martyr in the history of mankind faced the arrow that was banned even for the animals.

I was thinking about how much we love our babies. How much we care for them. How we make sure that nothing hurts them at all and that they stay safe even if the baby isn’t ours, babies are loved. They have that innocence to be loved. They attract love but they didn’t care about the baby. They didn’t stop. They had nothing inside them beating. They were not HUMANS.

The first thing that I want to say here is that I don’t find it as a Batlle. A battle is something where both the parties use every facility that they have in order to succeed. A battle is something where you have all of the powers to use against the enemy. But as we all know that it was Islam that first declared that no “Children and women are to be harmed on a battlefield.”

So, keeping in mind all this, I can say that it wasn’t a battle. A battle is to win and to win means to wipe out the enemy by killing them, as we all know. But, the incident of Karbala, in 61 Hijri that took place is very different than what we all called a war or a battle.

If it was a battle Imam Hussainع would never have stopped his Brother Hazrat Abbasع from fighting. Hazrat Abbas ع was the man who loved Imam Hussainع more than anything, he used to call Imamع his آقا (Master) and he always stood by Imam’s side. The people in Makkah were afraid of Hazrat Abbas ع because of his bravery.

He always wanted to fight a battle but he was never given this opportunity fully. He once fought in Siffin, at that time he was only in his early teenage life. And then this opportunity arrived in 61 Hijri but, Imamع never let him fight because he knew that only Hazrat Abbasع is enough for the troops that were almost 8 lakh. He was famous for bravery just like Hazrat Aliع. It is also narrated that Hazrat Abbas ع said the following words to Imam Hussain on 9th Muharram Ul Haram:

“I ask you to allow me to fight. I promise if I don’t lift the flag on Dar ul Amara before sunrise, I am not to be called Abbas Ibn e Ali ع” Trust me, Imam ع knew it was possible that is why he didn’t allow Abbas ع to go into the battlefield to fight.

Imam Hussain was not allowing Hazrat Abbas to fight and so as a last resort he brought Bibi Sakina ع, the four years old daughter of Imam Hussain ع, with him. He had a small waterbag in his hand, indicating that he wants to go and bring water for the thirsty kids. When Imam looked at Hazrat Abbas ع he said “Abbas boat bari sifarish le ker aye ho,” He then turned towards Skaina commendation and said “Sakina, you are sending your Chacha to the river but when he won’t return you will be the saddest.”

It is said that Hazrat Abbasع was asked only to bring the water from Furat and when he was going towards the destination the troops were terrified. The huge army was afraid of just one man. Because they knew Abbasع، they knew that they will end right in the blink of an eye. The BROTHER OF IMAM HUSSAINع, THE SON OF IMAM ALIع.

When Hazrat Abbas ع was going toward Euphrates فرات, the troops moved towards the side because they were terrified of him. He went and filled the bag with water but, at that time Euphrates witnessed the loyalty of a brother to another. Hazrat Abbasع, who was thirsty for three days, had water in his hands he held it high enough to show the Fouj e Ashikya this is the water you have banned but i have no wish to drink it and then he turned his hand upside down. Neither did Abbas ع, nor did his horse drink the water from Euphrates.

Hazrat Abbasع returned with the water bags but when he was coming back arrows were fired at him and as he was not allowed to fight he’d let every single arrow until one of his hands was dispatched from his body. So he took the water bag in the other hand and then another arrow was shot in that hand and it was also dispatched. The water bag was carried in his mouth and then one arrow came and all the water from the bag spilled onto the burning ground of Karbala. When the last hope of bringing water to the kids died Hazrat Abbasع fell from his horse. Imam Hussain ع ran like an eagle but imagine going to your brother but meeting his hands before reaching his body. Hazrat Abbas ع was alive when Imam ع reached him. No matter how many times Imam tried placing Abbas’s head on his lap, Abbas ع removed it. Imam ع asked him what;s the matter and he said:

“When Baba Ali was embracing martyrdom, his head was on Aaqa Hassan’s lap. When Aaqa Hassan was embracing martyrdom his head was on your lap. But, there will be no one beside you when you will embrace martyrdom and Abbas ibn e Ali does not want to have his head on your lap either, it does not sit right with me.”

There is so much I want to say but I know it is impossible to just fit it here. The only thing I w ant to say is that when Imam was carrying his little son; Ali Asghar’s dead body in his hands, he turned towards madina and said. “Oh my Shias, I wished you were here with me in times like these. I wish you w ere here to see the atrocities they have done to me and what they will do to my women after I am gone.”

A friend of mine recently shared a beautiful facebook post written by Sibtain Naqvi which read:

There comes a moment in our lives when a ‘Great Truth’ is revealed.

I experienced it a twelve years ago in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, India. I was taking part in a Muharram procession when I stopped to talk to a Sikh cloth seller. His shop’s porch was being used as a pulpit to read a eulogy of Imam Hussain (AS) and when it finished, I asked him why he allows the mourners to block his store’s entrance. “Syed Sahib, it is because of Hazrat Hussain that we earn our living. I am honored that my shop is blessed so. If only there could be a Majlis in front of my shop every day.”

Later when I passed by the Hindu jewellers, I saw that they had opened their safes and carried their valuables outside to let the shadow of alams (flag standards) fall upon them. When I enquired about it. I was told that the shadow of alam is a blessing for their livelihood. After that, they closed their stores and joined in the procession and carried the Tazia, a replica of the mausoleum of Imam Ali (AS). Their children were distributing water and tea and then the Hindu Baniya community showered rose petals on the procession.

While watching all this, I recalled Fredrick Douglas’ words, “When a Great Truth once gets abroad in the world, no power on earth can imprison it, or prescribe its limits, or suppress it. It is bound to go on till it becomes the thought of the world.”

After 14 centuries, the message of Imam Hussain (AS) and the message of Karbala rings true and strong. The message has thrived and found new followers despite centuries of virulent state persecution and covert subversion and obfuscation of truths. The cruelties and abominations of Imam Husain (AS) killers are universally condemned and offer clear proof of the victory of ideals against force, of eternal triumph against transient and ill-gotten gains. His martyrdom at the hands of those who would have destroyed Islam has been hailed by Muslims and non-Muslims alike as the finest example of sacrifice, fortitude, patience, courage, and strength against adversary.

As Mahatma Gandhi said, “I learnt from Hussain how to achieve victory while being oppressed. My faith is that the progress of Islam does not depend on the use of sword by its believers, but the result of the supreme sacrifice of Hussain.”

The reason for this universality of Imam Hussain (AS) is because the lessons of Karbala are not bound by religious beliefs and practices but tie into the very fabric of morals and ethics. Can anyone be insensible to the tragedy of the family of the Prophet (PBUH) being starved and deprived of water in a burning desert and then massacred while striving to uphold truth and justice in a capricious world? Can anyone remain unmoved by the killing and beheading of a six-month-old child? Can anyone absolve Yazid and his band of murderers of the grave injustices done to the women of the Prophet’s (PBUH) household as they were marched thousands of miles as if slaves in a Roman triumph?

These tragedies are universal in nature and affect all who have sensitivities and sensibilities. Unfetters and unbound, they reach across artificial boundaries and appeal to all those who believe in truth, justice, dharma, duty, sacrifice and love. A Hindu clan mourns for Imam Hussain (AS) till today and are called Hussaini Brahmin. According to accounts, Imam Husain (AS)’s wife Bibi Sheher Bano (AS) was the daughter of a Persian king whose other daughter was married to a Hindu king in modern-day India. A letter was sent to him reporting that Imam Hussain (AS) is starting his divine journey to free Muslims from the tyranny of Yazid. The king came too late to help the Imam but carried his message back to his people and they continue it to this day.

Karbala is pure ishq-e-junoon and this is why the myriad lovers of Imam Hussain (AS) identify him as their own, be they from any creed or culture. A Punjabi friend told me that when he was a child, he could have sworn that Imam Hussain (AS) was from his village while a Sindhi follower told me that he thought he’s from interior Sindh. Lucknavis see him among themselves, and a Lebanese said that he only knew of Imam Hussain’s (AS) Arab origins when he was well into his teenage years. This commonality exists because in fact, Imam Hussain (AS) is present in all these people and transcends culture and backgrounds. As Josh Malihabadi wrote:

Insaan ko bedaar to ho lene do,

har qaum pukaraygi hamare hain Hussain

The moment humanity awakens,

Every nation will claim Hussain as their own.

Today, there are some who have become so removed from the soul of religion and its moral implications that they have forgotten the lessons of Karbala and trivialise it. We now hear people wish each other “Happy Islamic New Year” on first Muharram as if it is Sunnat, even though for centuries, this time has been respected by all sects as the solemn month of mourning and prayers. We now see people celebrating their marriages and even utilising 9th and 10th Muharram holidays for enjoyment instead of reflection.

But this is not a subjective matter. It cannot be swept under the carpet and befuddled with the ‘free choice’ and ‘freedom of speech’ parrot cries. If you cannot determine good from evil than you lack empathy and not religion. Morality comes from the soul and only the soulless can be insensitive to evil. You don’t need religion to have morals. Religious affiliations can be subjective, but morals are not. Mourning is a human condition and to deny it means denying ourselves of a basic human emotion. Regarding the mourning Iqbal said,

Ronay wala hoon Shaheed-e-Kerbala key gham men main,

Kya durey maqsad na dengey Saqiye Kausar mujhey

I am one who weeps at the plight of the Martyr of Kerbala

Surely the reward be given to me by the Keeper of Kausar

Just as doing a Nazi salute at Auschwitz is incredibly insensitive and a morally reprehensible act, denying Karbala and being insensible to the tragedy is a sign of moral turpitude. Truth and justice are universal ideals and Karbala is a shining example of the soul of every religion. Praying five times a day in a certain direction or going to the temple or communion are religious practices and so followed by adherents of a certain faith. These practices are to lead us to a higher truth and Karbala is the manifestation of these truths, Imam Hussain (AS) the personification of timeless truths and values, and so is praised by atheists such as Bertrand Russell and believers alike.

Nowadays, Imam Hussain (AS) is reverentially remembered by followers in Chicago, London, New York, Sydney, Paris, Beirut, and other places. Hindus, Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Buddhists, and even atheists march alongside Muslims. The message of Karbala reaches across to lovers of truth everywhere and serves to strengthen Islam as it has for eons. There have been killings and terrorist attacks on processions and Imam Barahs but the processions continue unabated, the mourners mourn and the eulogies ring out. I asked survivors of the terrible bomb blast of 2009 that targeted the Ashura procession and killed dozens of mourners. A Sunni Barelvi said, “I am now even more determined to go to next year’s processions. Imam Husain (AS) gives me that courage. If I am killed mourning for him then it will be the best possible way to leave this world.”

Imam Hussain’s (AS) supreme sacrifice saved Islam and morality on the field of Karbala, and it will for all time. As Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar wrote,

Qatl-e-Hussain asl main marg-e-Yazid hai,

Islam zindaa hota hai har Karbala ke baad

In the murder of Hussain lies the death of Yazid,

For Islam resurrects after every Karbala.

So, I searched his Facebook and came across another post that said:

Karbala is arguably the shortest bridge between the spiritual and the temporal. Its message is unique in its unambiguity, universality, and timelessness. Not surprisingly, its remembrance transcends religion.

For the past 14 centuries, the events surrounding Imam Husain (AS), the people of the Prophet’s household, and the 72 martyrs have not only been a subject of mourning for Muslims but also a beacon of universal truths, be they from classical philosophers or modern-day agnostic moralists.

The force of Karbala has bent the arc of history, culture, philosophy, rhetoric, and poetry; upon its bedrock were built great institutions of charity, philanthropy and even government.

Consequently, it is a subject that bears repeated exploration and small wonder that poets of many languages have been inspired to write about Karbala.

Within Urdu, the subject has been visited and revisited by the pantheon: Ghalib, Anis, Dabeer, Iqbal, Faiz, Josh, Faraz, Jalib, Jaun, Iftikhar Arif, etc. As the verse says:

Mazmoon aza ke dil main hain,

Pinha naye naye.

In my heart lie many themes of sacred grief,

Yet hidden and novel.

Using powerful imagery and gloriously utilizing the richness of expression that Urdu allows, poets have created eulogies, dirges, laments, and tragic epics that according to thespian Talah Hussain rival Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid. The Persianized Urdu of Mir Anis and Dabeer is almost impossible to translate and do justice but there are more modern compositions which are more accessible to the contemporary Urdu speaker.

Among these is the noha (lament) “Haye Haye Ali Akbar” by Mahshar Lakhnavi, which is dedicated to Hazrat Ali Akbar (AH) who’s martyrdom is commemorated on the 6th of Muharram.

(A little note I want to add here, Hazrat Ali Akbar’s martyrdom is indeed the most difficult death for Imam Hussain ع because I have grown up listening to this sentence that may Allah never let a father see the death of his young son. And that is true. But trust me, we, the followers of ahl e bait ع have so much courage in our hearts. Recently, a cousin of mine died in a road accident. He was a young boy and believe me all that his father said was Imam lost his son as well. He taught us sabar. I have never seen a person so steadfast and firm than him. Kinldy pray for Kumail’s high ranks in Jannah.)

According to accounts, Hazrat Ali Akbar was 18 years old when he was brutally martyred. He had the likeness of his great-grandfather the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and long tresses. He was also blessed with a melodious voice and gave the call for Fajr prayers on 10th of Muharram, in the midst of which the praying congregation in Imam Husain’s camp was showered with arrows from the forces of Yazid.

This noha captures the moment in which Imam Husain (AS)’s wife Bibi Umme Layla (AS) sees the fatally wounded body of her son after it was brought from the battle of Karbala by his father.

Haye haye Ali Akbar (AS)

Kehti thi yeh maa khoon bhari maiyat se lipat kar,

Haye haye Ali Akbar, haye haye Ali Akbar!

Laments a mother embracing the blood-soaked shroud,

“Oh Ali Akbar! Oh Ali Akbar!”

Arman tha pahnawoon gi poshak shahani,

Afsoos keh raas aaie na tujh ku yeh jawani,

Kaisa tha muqaddar!

It was my fondest desire to dress you in finest robes,

But how tragic that your youth was not to be,

Alas such is your fate!

Athaara baras paal kay parwaan charhaaya,

Aur gaisuwoon wala hai mera khoon main nahaaya,

Qurban ho maadar!

For eighteen years I raised you to your glorious manhood,

And now my long-tressed one is bathed in his own blood,

May this mother be taken instead!

Itna to zara thehro tumhain dhulha bana loon,

Bas ek jhalak sahray ki Sughra ko dikha loon,

Baichain thi Khwahar! (Bibi Sughra ع was Imam Hussain’s daughter who stayed with Bibi Ummul Baneen and Bibi Umme Salma in Madina because she was sick. She loved her brother Ali Akbar indefinitely and asked him to come back as soon as possible to take her with him)

Just a moment, till I make you a bridegroom,

Give just a glimpse of your wedding finery to Sughra (sister),

So restless was also Khwahar (sister)!

Maa teri judaie mein bhala kaisay jeeye gi?

Maar jaayaigi Sughra jo khabar teri sunay gi.

Ab kya karoon dilber?

How will your mother bear your painful parting?

Sughra will die when she hears the awful news.

What do I do beloved?

Tehro kay mein atharween mannat to badha loon,

Phir lay kay balayein tujhay jeenay ki dua doon,

Sadqay ho ay maadar!

At least wait till I fulfill the vows I had taken for your eighteenth year.

Then give you my blessings for your long life.

May your mother’s life be yours!

Pehlay to ek aawaz pay uth jatay thay beta,

Ab etni saada’oon pay bhi pehloo nahi badla.

Kya ho gaya dilber?

O Son you would always come to me with just one call,

Now you are not stirring even with several pleas.

What has happened my love?

Tum hichkiyaan lay lay kay jo dam taur rahay ho,

Moo maa say hamaisha kay liye mour rahay ho,

Kyon rootay ho dilber?

With every pained gasp you are losing your life,

And now forever turning away from your loving mother.

Why are you troubled beloved?

Aaye jo hamein lootnay hhaimay mein sitamgar

Maa day gi sadaayein ali akbar, ali akbar

Chin jaaye gi chaadar!

When the cruel men will come to loot us,

Your mother will call out “Ali Akbar! Ali Akbar!”

My covering will be taken from me!

Jab koi jawan laash nazar aati hai mahshar,

Ek yaad suyay karbobala jaati hai mahshar,

Dil rota hay kah kar,

Haye ali akbar! Haye ali akbar!

When a youth lies dead on the field of battle,

The painful memory of the battlefields of Karbala comes afresh,

The heart bloody sheds tears and cries out,

“Oh Ali Akbar! Oh Ali Akbar!”

All that I want to say now is that Karbala is a school of taught, a school where you enter to learn. Learn valour, courage, being steadfast on religion, how to love and respect, the value of parda. There is so much you learn from Hussain and Karbala. If you can find the time, take these two days out and read what you can find on Karbala. It is not just a shia thing because Hussain saved Islam,not shias. I am not a asking you to cry rivers for him. It’s fine if you can’t cry. But know what Karbala is, so that on the day of Judgement you won’t be embarrassed in front of our Rasool ص because it is Hdees e Nabvi that says:

“Hussain o mini wa ana minal Hussain.”

“Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain.”

For once, know your history, know your roots. Don’t turn your backs on Hussain because you wouldn't love it when Rasool ص will turn his back on you on the Day Of Judgment.

Hussain Zinadabad.