Imam Husain’s Martyrdom Anniversary

The Night before Ashura:

Imam Husain (PBUH) gathered his companions and told them his last words. Here is some part of his speech in the night before Ashura: “Beware that I know your tomorrow destiny well while fighting the enemy. I let you free to choose. I nullify my allegiance from you so that you can have this chance to leave here with peace of mind. You can go now that the darkness of night prevents the eyes to see the others.”

After delivering this sermon, the companions stood up and took the oath of loyalty one by one from the bottom of their hearts. Aba al-Fadhl al-Abbas (PBUH) was the first one who swore loyalty to the Imam. Having heard his companions’ words, the Imam started talking about the events which would occur the next day.

 

Ashura Day:

On Ashura morning, the enemy’s army, about 10000 troops, coming closer to the Imam’s army in a linear row started shooting arrows from their bows. The shooting caused half of the companions or two third of them to be martyred.

Before the Noon Prayer, another group of the companions, about 47 persons, were martyred during a one-on-one combat among which Habib ibn Madhahir was the last one.

During performing the Noon Prayer and after that, Imam Husain’s other companions, except those of Banu Hashim clan, were martyred while they were fighting bravely.

Then it was Hashemites’ turn to scarify their lives for the sake of their Imam and Islam. The Hashemite seem to be martyred in the battle in such an order:

1. Ali ibn Husain (Ali al-Akbar)

2. Abdullah ibn Muslim ibn Aqil (Some knew him as the first martyr of Banu Hashim in Ashura.)

3. Uwn ibn Jafar al-Tayyar

4. Jafar ibn Aqil ibn Abi Talib

5. Abd al-Rahman ibn Aqil ibn Abi Talib

6. Musa ibn Aqil ibn Abi Talib

7. Muhammad ibn Muslim ibn Aqil

8. Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Jafar ibn Abi Talib

9. Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib

10. Abu Bakr ibn Hassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (Some also knew him as Ahmad, Abdullah al-Akbar and Abdullah.)

11. Umar ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib

12. Abdullah ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib

13. Uthman ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib

14. Uwn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib

15. Jafar ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib

16. Ubaydallah ibn Abdullah ibn Jafar

17. Uwn ibn Abdullah ibn Jafar

18. Qasim ibn Hassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib

19. Abu al-Fadhl al-Abbas ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib

20. Muhammad ibn Abi Sa’eed ibn Aqil

21. Abdullah ibn al-Husain (Abdullah, the suckling)

22. Ali al-Asghar (Ali ibn al-Husain)

23. Abdullah ibn Hassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (Abdullah al-Asghar)

 

And finally, Imam Husain (PBUH) stepped to the battle finding himself alone. 4000 soldiers attacked him while having swords, arrows and spears in their hands.

Imam Husain (PBUH) got injured severely, but it seemed that no one dared to be Husain’s murderer. At this time, a man named Malik ibn Bishr (Nasr or Nusir) insulted the Imam and struck him on the head. The Imam’s head-cover was torn and blood was pouring out of the cut on his head. After this attack, the enemy retreated to a little extent. Husain (PBUH) returned to the tents while the sound of crying could be heard. He dressed his wounds and put on his turban.

Imam Husain (PBUH) went to the battle again. He was fighting and making the foes withdraw. Umar ibn Saad ordered his soldiers to shoot arrows towards the Imam. The number of arrows was so excessive that there was no empty place on his holy body. While the blood was pouring out of his body, the Imam stated: “Make sure that the Lord will vent his wrath upon you for assassinating me as the son of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).” Suddenly a stone hit the Imam’s forehead. As he wanted to clean the blood over his forehead, a poisoned three-pronged arrow pierced his chest. Imam Husain (PBUH) pulled the arrow out, gathered his spouting blood by his hand and threw it towards the sky. Then he fell down and the infantrymen surrounded him to finalize the war by killing him. Meanwhile Abdullah ibn Hassan, who was a teenager, ran towards his uncle to help him but he was martyred by the cruel enemy. Finally, Shimr ibn Thil-Jawshan approached Husain (PBUH) and beheaded him by twelve beats on the back of his neck.

O Allah, make available for me the intercession of Husain (PBUH) on the Day I present myself before You, and let me stand firm in safety before You on account of my sincere attachment with Husain (PBUH), along with him and his comrades who sacrificed everything they had (hearts, minds, souls, and lives) for Husain peace be upon him.

Dezful Ashura Cultural Institution (DACI) offers its condolence for the martyrdom anniversary of the Chief of Martyrs, Imam Husain (PBUH).