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In the Islamic calendar, 10th day of the month of Muharram is the day of 'Ashoora, a day of mourning for all feeling Muslims. It is the day on which, in the year of 61 Hijri (680 AD), in a place called <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on">Karbala</st1:City>, in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>, Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet of Islam, sacrificed his life and the lives of many of his family members and friends, in order to save the teachings of Islam from utter distortion and destruction.
What led to this tragic event of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Karbala</st1:place></st1:City>?
Even in the lifetime of the Prophet of Islam, there were people whose tongues professed faith in Islam but whose hearts lay elsewhere. These people were called "Munafiqeen" (hypocrites) by the Holy Quran. The reasons that these people joined the ranks of Muslims were manifold, some of which were as follows:
1. Enmity towards Islam prompted them to sow discord among the Muslims from within, by distorting the Prophet's message wherever and however possible.
2. Islam was spreading fast and gaining power. They decided to join the winning side and seize whatever worldly gains they could lay their hands on.
The activities of such people gained impetus after the Prophet's passing away, and reached a peak when Muawiya, the son of Abu Sufyan, claimed himself the ruler of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
The hypocrites were now in power and so they mounted a highly organized assault against the very roots of Islam, and they were on the verge of total success. Some of the priorities of the attack were to destroy the awareness of the common Muslims or to destroy their faculty of expression. This was achieved through bribes, through terror and through propagation of ignorance. When these weapons failed in silencing the tongue of a strong Muslim, then that tongue was silenced by death.
By all these means, within half a century after the Prophet's passing away, Islam had been distorted so much that it became totally unrecognizable, so unrecognizable that people knew of the debaucheries of Yazid, son of Muawiya, and still accepted him as a successor of the Prophet and a true leader of the Muslims.
With the advent of Yazid, the vilest of the vile, the mission of destroying the roots of Islam had reached its peak. The right and the wrong had been intermixed so much that it became impossible for a common man to differentiate between them.
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This would have been the end of Islam, but for Hussain (AS = alayhi as-salaam, or peace be upon him), grandson of the Prophet (PBUH) and son of Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) and Fatima az-Zahra (AS).
What Imam Hussain did was to gather about him in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Karbala</st1:place></st1:City> the exalted members of his family and his hand-picked friends and companions, many of whom had been the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) and of Ali (AS) and of Imam Hasan (AS). These people were the very best examples of humanity in that period, or for that matter, in any period in the history of the world. Imam Hussain had virtually gathered the sum total of the strength of Islam to himself. This strength comprised not of physical might, but of moral might. With this strength, he proceeded to resist Yazid.
The fact that he traveled from Madinah toward Kufa with his family (including his infant son Ali Asghar AS) is a clear indication that it was not his intention to fight for Caliphate and worldly power. No. His aims were higher. He was fighting for the life of Islam.
His sermons, which he delivered in front of his companions during his journey from Madinah to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Karbala</st1:place></st1:City>, clearly indicate that he knew what was going to happen in the next few days. He informed his companions time and again, that he, and those who would accompany him, were going to die. He gave his companions a free and clear choice: death with him, or life away from him. His companions showed that they were fully prepared for the sacrifice of their lives in the company of Hussain (AS).
The purpose of this sacrifice was:
With his sacrifice, Hussain (AS) attracted to himself the eyes of all the free-thinking people of his time and of all the time to come. In that time of confusion, when right and wrong had become so intermixed that they had lost distinction, Hussain, in Karbala, irrevocably re-established that distinction, creating a clear, incisive demarkation between right and wrong, and leaving no doubts (for even the most prejudiced of historians) about the fact that the right lay with Hussain, and the wrong lay with those who opposed him. Establishing this fact, Hussain, through his words and actions and the words and actions of his companions, encapsulated all the teachings of Islam within a short span of time, in the field of Karbala, creating a beacon of light for the truth seekers of all times.
It is this event that is marked on the tenth of Muharram every year. It is this event that has made free thinking people of all times love Hussain with a selfless love beyond compare. And it is this love that expresses itself through mourning during the month of Muharram, and particularly on 'Ashoora, the 10th of Muharram, every year. The mourning is a way to remind oneself of Hussain's incomparable sacrifice, a way to thank him, a way to express love for him, and a way to broadcast to the world his message of true freedom.
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<o:p> </o:p>40 sayings of Masumeen (p) about Azadari
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said: Those people from amongst my ummah, who memorise forty traditions pertaining to those issues of religion, which they are in need of, Allah shall resurrect them on the Day of Judgment as jurisprudents and scholars. (Bihar al-Anwaar, vol. 2, p. 156; Al-Ikhtasaas, p.2)
Hadith No.1
The Heat of Husaini Love
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said: Surely, there exists in the hearts of the Mu' mineen, with respect to the martyrdom of Husain (A.S.), a heat that never subsides.
(Mustadrak al-Wasail, vol. 10,pg. 318)
Hadith No.2
A'ashura- A Day of Grief
Imam Reza (A.S.) said: The one for whom the day of A'shura is a day of tragedy, grief and weeping, Allah The Mighty, The Glorious, shall make the Day of Judgment, a day of joy and happiness for him.
(<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place> al-Anwar, vol,: 44,pg: 284)
Hadith No.3
Muharram - The Month of Mourning
Imam Reza (A.S.) said: With the advent of the month of Muharram, my father Imam Kazim (A.S.) would never be seen laughing; gloom and sadness would overcome him for (the first) ten days of the month; and when the tenth day of the month would dawn, it would be a day of tragedy, grief and weeping for him.
(Amaali Saduq, pg,:111)
Hadith No.4
Laughing Eyes
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said: O' Fatimah! Every eye shall be weeping on the Day of Judgment except the eye which has shed tears over the tragedy of Husain (A.S.) for surely, that eye shall be laughing and shall be given the glad tidings of the bounties and comforts of <st1:place w:st="on">Paradise</st1:place>.
(<st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place> al-Anwar, vol,: 44;pg,:293.)
Hadith No. 5
Reward of the Martyred Companions
Imam Reza (A.S.) said (to one of his companions): If you desire that for you be the reward equivalent to that of those martyred along with Husain (A.S.), then whenever you remember him say: 'Oh! Would that I had been with them! A great achievement would I have achieved'.
(Wasaail al-Shia'h, vol.14, pg. 502)
Hadith No. 6
The Customary Mourning
Abu Haroon al-Makfoof said: I presented myself before Imam Sadiq (A.S.) whereupon he said to me: "Recite for me a poetry" and so I recited for him. He said "Not in this manner. Recite for me as you recite poems and elegies over the grave of Husain (A.S.)" and so I recited for him (again).
(<st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place> al-Anwar,Vol.:44, pg.: 287.)
Hadith No.7
Reward for Reciting Poetry about Husain (A.S.)
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: There is none who recites poetry about Husain (A.S.) and weeps and makes others weep by means of it, except that Allah makes <st1:place w:st="on">Paradise</st1:place> incumbent upon him and forgives his sins.
(Rijal al-Shaikh al-Tusi, pg.: 289).
Hadith No.8
People of Eulogies and Elegies
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: All praise is for Allah, who has placed amongst the people, those who arrive in our presence, eulogizing us and reciting elegies about us.
(Wasail al-Shia'h Vol.: 10, pg.: 469)
Hadith No. 9
Poetry Recitation During the Period of Mourning
Imam Reza (A.S.) said (to De'bil, a poet sincereiy devoted to the Ahlul bayt (A.S.)): I desire that you recite for me poetry, for surely, these days (of the month of Muharram) are the days of grief and sorrow, which have passed over us, Ahlul Bayt (A.S.).
(Mustadrak al-Wasail, vol. 10, pg. 386.)
Hadith No. 10
Shi'ites- The Companions and Associates
Imam 'Ali (A.S.) said: Surely, Allah has chosen for us followers (Shi'ites), who assist us and are happy at our happiness and are sad in our sadness.
(Ghurar al-Hikam, Vol: 1/ pg.: 235.)
Hadith No. 11
Paradise - The Recompense of A'zadari
Imam 'Ali Ibn al-Husain (A.S) used to say: Every Mu'min, whose eyes shed tears upon the killing of Husain Ibn' Ali (A.S.) and his companions, such that the tears roll down his cheeks, Allah shall accommodate him in the elevated rooms of paradise.
(Yannaabe' al-Mawaddah, pg.: 429.)
Hadith No.12
In Remembrance of the Children of Fatimah (A.S.)
Imam Sajjad (A.S.) said: Surely, I have never brought to mind the martyrdom of the children of Fatimah (A.S.) except that I have been choked with tears due to it.
(<st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place> al-Anwar, Vol.: 46, Pg.: 109.)
Hadith No. 13
Mourning in the Houses
For those unable to go for the ziyarat of Imam Husain (A.S.) on the day of A'shura, Imam Baqir (A.S.) mentions the manner of performing A'zadari as follows: He should mourn over Husain (A.S.), weep for him and instruct the members of the house to weep for him. He should establish the mourning ceremony in the house by exhibiting lamentions and grief over him; the people should meet one another in their homes and offer condolences and consolations to each other over the calamities which befell him.
(Kaamil al-Ziyaraat, Pg.: 175.)
Hadith No. 14
'Ali (A.S.) Weeps Grieving the Martyrs of Karbala
Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: Amirul Mu'mineen Ali (A.S.), along with two of his companions, happened to pass by <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Karbala</st1:place></st1:City> and as he did so, tears filled his eyes. He said (to them), "This is the resting place of their animals; and this is where their luggage shall be laid down; and it is here that their blood shall be shed. Blessed are you O' Earth, that the blood of the beloved shall be spilled upon you."
(<st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place> al-Anwar, Vol.: 44, pg.: 258)
Hadith No. 15
Tears - Barrier of Hell
Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: He who remembers us, or in whose presence, we are remembered, and (as a result) tears flow from his eyes, even though they may be in the measure of a wing of a mosquito, Allah shall construct for him a house in paradise and make the tears a barrier between him and the fire (of hell).
(Al-Ghadeer, Vol.: 2, pg.: 202)
Hadith No. 16
Twenty Years of Weeping!
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: As for A'li Ibn al-Husain (A.S.), he cried over Husain (A.S.) for twenty years (after the tragedy of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Karbala</st1:place></st1:City>
; never would any food be placed before him except that he would begin to weep.
(<st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place> al-Anwar, Vol.: 46, Pg.: 108)
Hadith No. 17
The Etiquette of Mourning
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: When Ibrahim, the son of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) died, tears filled the eyes of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.), whereupon he said, "The eyes are tearful and the heart is anguished…"
(<st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place> al-Anwar, Vol.: 22,Pg.: 157.)
Hadith No. 18
Tearful Eyes
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: He in whose presence we (and our miseries) are mentioned and, as a result, his eyes pour out tears, Allah shall make his face forbidden upon the fire of hell.
(<st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place> al-Anwar, Vol.: 44, Pg., 285.)
Hadith No. 19
Husaini Gatherings
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said to Fudhail: Do you sit together, talk and discuss amongst yourselves? Fudhail replied: Yes. The Imam then said: I approve of these sittings. So keep our 'issue' (Imamate) alive. May Allah exhibit mercy on those who revive our issue and mission!
(Wasail al-Shia'h, vol.:10, Pg.: 392)
Hadith No. 20
Invaluable Tears
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said (to Masma', one of those who mourned over Imam Husain (A.S.)): May Allah have mercy upon your tears! Do know that you are regarded as being of those who are deeply concerned about us and of those who are happy at our happiness and aggrieved at our sorrow. Do know that you shall witness the presence of my fathers near you at the time of your death.
(Wasail al-Shia'h, Vol.: 10, Pg.:397)
Hadith No. 21
Scalded Hearts
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) (while sitting on the prayer mat prayed for the mourners and those going for the ziyarat of the Ahlul Bayt (A.S.) as follows): O' Lord, have mercy upon those eyes, which have shed tears in compassion for us; and upon those hearts, which have been restless and blistered for us; and upon those wailings, which have been for us.
(<st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place> al-Anwar, Vol.:98, Pg.:8.)
Hadith No. 22
Tears
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: He whose eyes shed tears for our blood which has been shed, or for our rights which have been usurped, or for the humiliation meted out to us or to one of our Shiites, Allah shall accomodate him in paradise for a long time.
(Amali al-Shaikh al-Mufid, Pg.: 175.)
Hadith No. 23
Weeping of the Sky
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: O' Zurarah! The sky had cried for forty days over (the martyrdom of) Husain (A.S.).
(Mustadrak al-Wasail, vol. 1, pg. 391)
Hadith No. 24
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) and Weeping over the Martyrs
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: After the news of the martyrdom of Ja'far Ibn Abi Talib (A.S.) and Zaid Ibn Harithah reached the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.), whenever he entered his house, he would weep profusely for them and say:'' They used to converse with me and were intimate with me and (now) both of them have departed together''.
(Man La Yahdhuruhu al-Faqih, Vol.: 1, pg.: 177.)
Hadith No. 25
Sympathy for Ahlubayt (A.S.)
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: The breath of one who is aggrieved upon the injustice and oppression subjected to us, is tasbeeh (glorification of Allah)… The Imam (A.S.) then added: This tradition ought to be written in gold.
(Amali al-Shaikh al-Mufid, pg.: 338.)
Hadith No. 26
Mourning Angels
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: Allah has appionted to the grave of Imam Husain (A.S.), four thousand anguished and grief-stricken angels, who weep over him (and shall continue to do so) up to the Day of Judgment.
(Kamil al-Ziyaraat, pg.: 119.)
Hadith No. 27
Weeping over Husain (A.S.)
Imam Reza (A.S.) said (to Reyyan Ibn Shabib): O' Son of Shabib! If you have to cry over something, then do so over Husain Ibn 'Ali (A.S.) for surely, he was slaughtered in the manner in which a ram is slaughtered.
(Bhar al-Anwar/ Vol.: 44/ pg.: 286.)
Hadith No.28
Gatherings in Remembrance of the Imams
Imam Reza (A.S.) said: He who sits in a gathering in which our affairs (and our path and aims) are discussed and revived, his heart shall not die on the day (Day of Judgment) when hearts shall die (of fear).
(<st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place> al-Anwar Vol.: 44, pg.:278)
Hadith No. 29
Benefits of Weeping over Husain (A.S.)
Imam Reza (A.S.) said: Those who weep should weep over the likes of Husain (A.S.) for surely, weeping over him does away with one's great sins.
(<st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place> al-Anwar, Vol.: 44/ pg.: 284.)
Hadith No. 30
Forgiveness of Sins
Imam Reza (A.S.) said: O' Son of Shabib! Should you weep for Husain (A.S.) in the measure that tears roll down your cheeks, Allah would forgive all the sins committed by you, whether they be the great sins or the small sins and whether they be meagre or immense.
(Amaali al-Saduq, pg.:112.)
Hadith No. 31
Intimacy with the Progeny
Imam Reza (A.S.) said (to Ibn Shabib): O' Son of Shabib! If it makes you happy (and you desire) to be with us in the elevated ranks of paradise, then be sad in our grief and happy at our happiness.
(Wasaail al-Shia'h, Vol. 14, pg. 502)
Hadith No. 32
Day of Ashura
Imam Reza (A.S.) said: One who refrains from seeking his (worldly) desires on the day of Ashura, Allah shall grant him his desires of this world and the hereafter.
(Wasail al-Shia'h, vol. 14,pg.504.)
Hadith No. 33
Pilgrim of Husain (A.S.)
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: The zaair (pilgrim) of Imam Husain (A.S.) turns back (from his pilgrimage) such that not a single sin remains upon him.
(Wasail al-shia'h, vol. 14,pg. 422.)
Hadith No. 34
Husain (A.S.) Seeks Forgiveness for his Pilgrims
(Regarding someone who goes for pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Husain (A.S.), Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: One who weeps for Imam Husain (A.S.), surely, the Imam (A.S.) observes him and seeks forgiveness for him and requests his holy fathers to (also) seek forgiveness for him.
(<st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place> al-Anwar vol. 44,pg. 281)
Hadith No. 35
Intercession on the Day of Judgment
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said (to Hadrat Fatimah (A.S.)): On the Day of Judgment, you shall intercede for the ladies and I shall intercede for the men; every person who has wept over the tragedy of Husain (A.S.), we shall take him by the hand and lead him into <st1:place w:st="on">Paradise</st1:place>.
(<st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place> al-Anwar vol. 44,pg. 292.)
Hadith No.36
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) on Day of Ashura
A'bdullah Ibn Sinaan says: I arrived in the presence of my master, Imam Sadiq (A.S.) on the day of Ashura and found him pale and grief-stricken, with tears streaming from his eyes like falling pearls.
(Musadrak al-wasail,vol.6, pg. 279.)
Hadith No.37
Neither Angels nor Prophets
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said: (On the Day of Judgment, a group would be seen in the most excellent and honourable of states. They would be asked if they were of the Angels or of the Prophets. In reply they would state): "We are neither Angels nor Prophets but of the indigent ones from the ummah of Muhammad (S.A.W.)". They would then be asked: "How then did you achieve this lofty and honourable status?" They would reply: "We did not perform very many good deeds nor did we pass all the days in a state of fasting or all the nights in a state of worship but yes, we used to offer our (daily) prayers (regularly) and whenever we used to hear the mention of Muhammad (S.A.W.), tears would roll down our cheeks".
(Mustadrak al-Wasail, vol. 10, pg. 318.)
Hadith No. 38
Visiting the Shrine of Imam Husain (A.S.)
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: He (Imam Husain) sees those, who come to his shrine and he knows them by their names, their father's names and their ranks in the eyes of Allah, The Glorious, better than you know your own children!
(Wasaail al-Shia'h, vol. 14, pg. 422.)
Hadith No. 39
Isa (Jesus) (A.S.) weeps
Imam A'li (A.S.) said to Ibn A'bbas: (Once when he happened to pass by <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Karbala</st1:place></st1:City>
, Isa Jesus (A.S.) sat down and began to weep. His disciples who were observing him, followed suit and began weeping too, but not comprehending the reason for this behaviour, they asked him: "O' Spirit of God! What is it that makes you weep?" Isa Jesus (A.S.) said: "Do you know what land this is?" The disciples replied: "No." He then said: "This is the land on which the son of the Prophet Ahmad (S.A.W.) shall be killed.
(<st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place> al-Anwar vol. 44,g. 252.)
Hadith No. 40