2018-09-21 Fri

The 10th day of Muharram is also known as 'Yaum-e-Ashura', is the most significant day in the history of the Islamic world. For both Shia and Sunni Muslims, Ashura marks the climax of the remembrance of Muharram and commemorates the death of Husain Ibn Ali.

The day of Ashura is almost a turning point for the world and the humanity, through the events happened on it. There are many Prophetic events of great historical importance recorded on this day.

Such as on this day, Prophet Musa (Moses) and the Children of Israel were saved from Pharoah and his pursuing army. Prophet Nuh’s ark ( Noah's Ark) landed on Mount Judi on the Day of Ashura. Prophet Yunus got out of the belly of the fish. Allah accepted Prophet Adam’s repentance on Ashura. Prophet Isa (Jesus Christ) was ascended to the heaven.

And on that day of Ashura', Friday the year 61 after the Hijrah, a great tragedy befall upon the Muslims, the murder of the grandson of the Muhammad, Imam Husain in the Battle of Karbala.

Hussain ibn Ali took a stand against the rule of tyrant Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph, who wanted to enforce the rule of the caliphate, replacing Islam and Islamic principles. In this decision, he decided his own fate and was massacred in Karbala, with members of his family and supporters.

Hazrat Imam Husain and his faithful companions preferred to die on the banks of the river Euphrates and upheld the struggle of good against the evil. On the day of Ashura, many Muslims partake in large peaceful gatherings where they recite poems in memory of Husain and his sacrifice, making Tazia, whilst lamenting and beating their chest (Azadari) as a cultural tradition to display their grievance.

Muhammad Ali Jauhar’s powerful verses epitomize the reverence and devotion of Muslims towards Imam Hussain:

Katle Hussain asal mein marge Yazeed hai
Islam zinda hota hai har Karbala ke baad

To commemorate this day Iran Post has issued 400 Riyal postal stamps which depict Mahmud Farshchiyan painting “The Evening of Ashura”.

Image Source: Google Images