While the majority of Muslims are going about their daily business as normal during this month of September, Shi'a Muslims are commemorating the Month of Muharram. Due to Shi'a Islam being an underrepresented sect, many people barely know anything about it.
1. So let's begin. What is the Month of Muharram?
The Month of Muharram (مُحَرَّم), a month that is dear to millions of Shi'a Muslims around the world, occurs on the first month of the Islamic calendar. This unique month is the religious commemoration of the martyrdom of Hussein (as), a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (saws), on the sands of Karbala, in modern day Iraq, 680 AD. The Day of Ashura, which literally means "the tenth day", is the epoch during this month. Throughout the month, especially on the tenth, Shi'a Muslims join together and recite poetry, reenact specific events that occurred in Karbala, and tell stories about Hussain.
2. Hussein
The story of Muharram begins with the birth of Hussain. It must be said of how much love Prophet Muhammad (saws) had for Hussain, after he entered this world, because it is very important to the story of the Month of Muharram. Muhammad is known to have said, regarding Hussain, that:
“Hussian-o-Minni wa Ana Minul Husayn” (Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain).
There would be no Month of Muharram if it wasn't for Hussain, that is for sure. Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, took a stand against Yazid’s illegitimate rule on 61 Hijri, of the Islamic calendar. That courageous act still resounds today, hundreds of years later. On 60 Hijri, of the Islamic calendar, Yazid's father died which meant that he succeeded his father on the throne of the Arab Empire with Damascus as its capital. Knowing the religiosity of Hussain and his people, Yazid's father warned him to leave Hussain alone and not seek an Oath of Allegiance from him. Yazid disobeyed his dying father's orders and immediately wrote a letter to the Governor in Madinah informing him of his succession to the throne and ordered him to take the Oath of Allegiance from Husayn Ibne ‘Ali. Obtaining an Oath of Allegiance from Prophet Muhammad's grandson was important because Yazid knew that he had no spiritual power without it.
Unfortunately for Yazid, there was no way Hussain, who was a man of honor and had a love for God, was going to subjugate himself to Yazid's oppressive rule and bow down to him. He said:
I will never give Yazid my hand like a man who has been humiliated, nor will I flee like a slave… I have not risen to spread evil or to show off… I only desire to enjoin good values and prevent evil.
Denying Yazid, in that way, was a direct threat; so, Hussain was forced to leave Makka in order to protect his family. For 22 days he, his companions, and his family traveled from Makka on the 8th of Zilhijja 60 Hijri and headed for Kufa, a city in modern day Iraq but they were intercepted by Yazid's forces and had to stop in a desert town called Karbala, which means "the land of suffering" in English. Yazid and his army blocked Hussain's water supply and continued to attempt to forcibly get an Oath of Allegiance. Hussain's baby, his wife, and other women and children were dying of thirst due to having no access to water but Yazid's army didn't care.
3. Battle of Karbala
A stalemate therefore ensued; so, Yazid's army was commanded to surround Hussain and his companions and kill them. Yazid's army consisted of 30,000 forces but Hussain and his companions numbered only 72. They still fought valiantly and were able to defend for a long time. Not everyone was in agreement with Yazid's plan. A man named Hurr, after finding out that their orders were to kill Hussain, went to Hussain and apologized. He switched sides and joined Hussain in the battle.
One by one, Hussain's companions fell, including a nephew and brother, but he still resisted and denied Yazid an Oath of Allegiance. Even Hussain's baby was not spared the brutality. One of Yazid's bowmen shot an arrow into the neck of the baby while Hussain held him close in his arms, asking the surrounding army to spare him. Eventually Hussain, fatigued and thirsty, fell to the ground. Shimir, one of Yazid's soldiers, stood upon Hussain and beheaded him. They trampled his body, which was covered in arrows, with their horses and kicked his head around like it was a toy. All of this happened in front of his wife and daughters. After all of the belongings were burned, the women and children were shackled and then taken back to Yazid.
4. An Inspiration
Hussain and his family stood for justice and took a stand against an oppressive regime which inevitably caused their demise. Such a story still is crucial in modern society which still reeks of similar injustices. Hussain and his sister Zainab are an inspiration to all. After her dear brother was killed in Karbala, Zainab took the mantle and stood up against Yazid. Being a woman did not stop her from standing up against men in power. Her speech is memorized by thousands of Shi'a women even today.
And that is particularly why the Month of Muharram is such a holy time for the Shi'a. Being one of the smaller sects of Islam, Shi'a all over the world are oppressed by regimes that want to shut off their voices just like how Yazid silenced the massive voice of Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
5. Poem
A poem spoken by Hussain's daughter, Bibi Sakina, to her father.
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