Islam

Introduction
Today, many non-Muslims regard Islam as a religion that promotes violence, terrorism and war. Unfortunately, they rely in their view of Islam on the general media, which is not always accurate in reporting the news. Many media outlets, such as TV, radio, newspapers and magazines, are influenced by their investors or owners who have certain agendas and who want to promote certain values and points of view. Other media outlets are simply after the "big story", in order to make more money and more profits. Others are simply "followers", who only gather news from other sources, re-package it and try to sell it again purely as a business.

In all these cases, the news reporting is not accurate, but is driven by ulterior motives or simply by profits. Only very few media organizations are committed to providing accurate and true information, regardless of financial gain. Therefore, people today should be very careful in what they take from the media.

Before blindly accepting what the TV, radio or newspaper is reporting, one should think critically about what is being reported. Is this being reported accurately, or is it being exaggerated or even completely fabricated? Who are these people reporting the news, and do they have vested interests to report the story in a certain way, or are they completely objective and fair? Critical thinking is very important in all aspects of life, especially when it comes to accepting the media reports about important and controversial issues.

Islam is in fact a religion that promotes peace and understanding among people of all faiths, and it strongly prohibits all forms of violence and aggression against all people regardless of their faith or race.

Islam Prohibits Violence and Aggression, and stands for Peace and Justice.
Islam clearly prohibits all kinds and forms of aggression and violence against anyone, except in self-defense. Islam is a practical religion, meant to be implemented in every aspect of our life. Therefore, it realizes the fact that a person who commits aggression and violence against others will not cease these actions unless they are deterred by similar actions taken against them.

Islam also places very high importance on justice, and allows for aggressors and unjust people be punished accordingly, unless they repent before they are brought to justice. At the same time, Islam encourages people to forgive those who have wronged them whenever possible.

Evidence of these ideals can be found in the Holy Qur'an, which is the word of God revealed to the messenger of God, Mohammad peace be upon him. It can also be found in the Hadeeth, the sayings of Mohammad peace be upon him, and in his teachings to Muslims. A few examples of this are shown below from the Holy Qur'an:

"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, and do not transgress; for Allah loveth not transgressors." (Surah 2, Verse 190).

"But if they cease (fighting you), Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Surah 2, Verse 192).

"But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace, and trust in Allah: for He is the One that Heareth and Knoweth (all things)." (Surah 8, Verse 61).

"The prohibited month, for the prohibited month, and so for all things prohibited, there is the law of equality. If then any one transgresses the prohibition against you, transgress ye likewise against him. But fear Allah, and know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves." (Surah 2, Verse 194).

" ... and let not the hatred of some people in (once) shutting you out of the Sacred Mosque lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part). Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour: fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment." (Surah 5, Verse 2).

"Nor can Goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!" (Surah 41, Verse 34).

"O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do." (Surah 4, Verse 135).

"God advocates justice, charity, and regarding the relatives. And He forbids evil, vice, and transgression. He enlightens you, that you may take heed." (Surah 16, Verse 90).

"And if ye do punish them, punish them no worse than they punished you: but if ye show patience, that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient." (Surah 16, Verse 126).
The first three verses above instruct Muslims to fight those who fight them, and not to commit aggression first, as God does not like transgressors. They also instruct Muslims to stop fighting those who wish to cease fighting them, and to accept peace with the enemy who becomes inclined towards peace.

The fourth verse mentioned above instructs Muslims that if someone transgresses against them, they should respond to them likewise, and it reminds Muslims to fear God and to restrain themselves to this limit.

The fifth verse reminds Muslims not to let hatred of some people for past reasons to lead them to transgress against those people or be hostile towards them. It also instructs us to help each other in good and righteous actions, and not to cooperate in aggression and sin, and it reminds them finally of the strict punishment of God to encourage them to abide by these principles.

The sixth verse reminds us that goodness and evil are never equal, and that we should repel evil with good actions. This means that when someone is unjust to us or commits evil against us, we are encouraged to respond with kind and good actions, so that the hatred between us and that person will evaporate and will become an intimate friendship!

The seventh verse mentioned reminds us to stand up for justice, even if it is against ourselves or our family, and even if it is against those who are rich or powerful, because justice applies to everyone. It also reminds us that God knows everything we do, and so if we act unjustly even in our hearts, God knows what we did and we will be accountable for that.

The eighth verse informs us that God enjoins us to follow justice, and that God forbids us from committing evil, vice and transgression.

The ninth and final verse reminds Muslims that if they are punished, that they may only respond with the same punishment and not to go over this limit. However, they are reminded that forgiveness and patience is the best course of action.

These are the wonderful ideals of Islam:

To pursue peace with everyone including past enemies, except when they fight the Muslims and refuse peace, then Muslims are allowed to fight in self-defense.

To ensure that we always apply justice and never transgress against others even if they are our enemies.

To repel evil actions with good actions, in order to replace hatred with an intimate friendship.

To respond to punishment with the same punishment, but that forgiveness and patience is even better than retaliation.

source: http://www.al-islami.com/islam/religion_of_peace.php

THIS IS NOT A FICTITIOUS STORY... IT IS REAL AND VERIFIABLE ...

Vander Hoven, a psychologist from Netherlands, announced his new discovery about the effect of reading the Qur'aan and repeating the word

ALLAH both on patients and on normal persons. The Dutch professor confirms his discovery with studies and research applied on many patients over a period of three years. Some of his patients were non-Muslims, others do not speak Arabic and were trained to pronounce the word 'ALLAH' clearly; the result was great, particularly on those who suffer from dejection and tension. Al Watan, a Saudi daily reported that the psychologist was quoted to say that Muslims who can read Arabic and who read the Quran regularly could protect themselves from psychological diseases.

The psychologist explained how each letter in the word 'ALLAH' affects healing of psychological diseases. He pointed out in his research that pronouncing the first letter in the word 'ALLAH' which is the letter (A), released from the respiratory system, controls breathing. He added that pronouncing the velar consonant (L) in the Arabic way, with the tongue touching slightly the upper part of the jaw producing a short pause and then repeating the same pause constantly, relaxes the aspiration.

Also, pronouncing the last letter which is the letter (H) makes a contact between the lungs and the heart and in turn this contact controls the heartbeat. What is exciting in the study is that this psychologist is a non-Muslim, but interested in Islamic sciences and searching for the secrets of the HolYQuran Allah, The Great and Glorious, says, We will show them Our signs in the universe and in their ownselves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (Quran) is the truth. (Holy Quran 42:53)

ALLAHU AKBAR Allah is great Allah keeps me going day and night. Without Allah, I am no one. But with Allah, I can do everything. Allah is my strength.'

Ali (A.S.)’s genealogy reads thus: Ali son of Abu Talib (A.S.), son of Abdul Mutallib, son of Hashim, son of Abde Munaf, son of Kasa, son of Kalab, son of Murrah, son of Kaab, son of Lavy, son of Galib, son of Fehr, son of Malik, son of Mazr, son of Maad, son of Adnan who was the descendant of Ismail son of Ibrahim the builder of Kaaba. Ismail’s mother was Hajira daughter of Raqueen the king of Egypt . All these souls were reformers, trustees of Kaaba (the house of God) and the rulers and administrators of Mecca . They commanded great respect from their people and were honoured with great titles by their people. Their lives were of sufferings, sacrifices and struggle. It was they who changed the face of mankind. And Ali (A.S.) as their descendent, like Mohammad (S.A.W) (the Prophet) inherited all these qualities and responsibilities from them both. Both Mohammad (S.A.W) and Ali (A.S.) had learned the history of their ancestors from Abu Talib (A.S.), father of Ali (A.S.) and uncle and the only guardian of the Prophet (S.A.W) for about fifty years. They learned from Abu Talib (A.S.) how Kasa had collected all the descendants of Ibrahim and Ismail and made them unite to take the possession of Kaaba and administration of Mecca from Banu Khaza and Banu Bakr who had captured these places by force. Abu Talib (A.S.) must have also told them how the descendants of Ibrahim and Ismail stood under one flag and one leader ‘Kasa’ and vowed to take back the house of God which belonged to them and that they were the only people in the whole of Arabia who were known as Ahle Bayt (a.s.) (members of the household) because they were considered the only guardians of Kaaba. The title Ahle Bayt (a.s.) was very famous in Arabia . It was used only for those people who managed the affairs of Kaaba and looked after the welfare of the pilgrims. The descendants of Ibrahim and Ismail had gained so much confidence in this unity that they began to call themselves Quraish (united) and are proud of that title till today. Kasa then made laws to govern Mecca and manage the affairs of Kaaba. He was the first person to rule Mecca like a ruler and was known as the Sheriff of Mecca. He established Darun Nadwa near Kaaba where the Quraish brought all their problems for solution. They considered this house so lucky that they got married here and took their brides from this place. Even the clothes of brides were cut and stitched here. People of other tribes too respected this place. They assembled here for making war preparations and got their flags decorated here by Kasa himself. Kasa was considered as the supreme head of this house and nobody dared to disobey him. His words were religion for all. Even the slaves were permitted to put their grievances here. All the caravans that passed through Mecca rested here. Kasa had taken upon himself the responsibility of giving food water and shelter to the pilgrims. He had considered this duty so scared that addressing the Quraish he said "You have the honour of being nearer to God as you are the people of His household. The pilgrims are the guest of Allah and are sacred visitors to His house. They deserve more respect and honour than what you give to yourselves. Therefore serve them till they do not part your company and leave your city". The Quraish took his words as command and pledged to abide by his orders. From then on every Quraish took out a portion of his earning and deposited it with Kasa for spending it on pilgrims. From this money Kasa made big leather tanks for storing water as the few wells of Mecca were not sufficient to supply water during the period of Haj. The Haj rites that are performed by all the Muslims today have been framed by Kasa and have been practised by his descendants [Tabaqate Ibne Saad, Vol 1 page 41).Kasa died in 480 A.D.
After the death of Kasa the leadership of Quraish went to his second son Abde Munaf along with the trusteeship of Kaaba and the governorship of Mecca . Abde Munaf continued to manage the affairs of Kaaba like his father Kasa and continued to provide food water and shelter to the pilgrims, and also looked after the administration of Mecca .
After the death of Abde Munaf, Hashim, whose real name was Umar, took the governorship of Mecca as well as the trusteeship of Kaaba. He was one of the six sons of Abde Munaf and was most loved and respected by the Quraish. When famine struck the whole of Arabia it was Hashim who brought camel loads of bread from Syria and distributed them to the hungry people. Because of this unique service he was called Hashim by the Arabs. He reformed and improved the rules and laws framed by Kasa and managed the affairs of Kaaba and Mecca so perfectly that Arabs became prosperous and happy and out of love called him Sayyedul Batha (leader of Mecca) [Ibne Hisham]. It was Hashim who encouraged the Quraish to adopt business as their profession. He organized the poor Hashmis and made them travel to Yemen and Ethiopia and Syria by giving them money and material. Because of this act he was called "Sahabe Ilafe Quraish" (the mover of the caravans of Quraish). Kasa in order to serve the pilgrims in a better way had distributed the work to different tribes and sections of Quraish. Since the work entrusted to the family of Banu Abdud Dar the elder brother of Abde Munaf was not satisfactory Hashim put the matter before his six brothers who suggested the takeover of those jobs from Banu Abdud Dar. But the sons of Banu Abdud Dar refused to part with those services and a dispute arose between them but a settlement was soon arrived at, and some of the duties were exchanged between them, but the bitterness that was created did not wane out from the hearts of Banu Abdud Dar. In Tabaqate Saad the reason for the enmity and jealousy of Banu Abdus Shams with Banu Hashim is given as follows:-
Umayya son of Abdus Shams son of Ibne Munaf, son of Kasa was jealous of Hashim because of his wealth, prosperity and popularity. The selection of Hashim as the leader of Quraish had further added fuel to the fire. Though Umayya himself was equally rich and tried to live in the same styles as of Hashim, but somehow could not receive that respect from the Quraish and challenged him to have a `Munafira’ (comparison of deeds) with him. Hashim in the beginning did not agree, but when the Quraish too insisted, Hashim agreed with a condition that the loser will have to give as penalty 50 black-eyed camels to the winner and will also leave Mecca for ten years. Umayya agreed and the services of a Christian priest from Banu Khaza was taken for arbitration. Umayya lost the Munafira to Hashim and had to give 50 black-eyed camels to Hashim which Hashim sacrificed in the name of Allah and Umayya also had to leave Mecca for ten years. He went away to Syria where he lived for ten years. It was this humiliation and insult which created such hatred in the hearts of Banu Ummayeds that it travelled from Umayya to his son Harb and from Harb to Abu Sufian and from Abu Sufian to his son Muawiyah and Muawiyah to Yazeed who in the year 60 A.H. slaughtered all the family members of the Prophet (S.A.W) at Kerbala keeping them hungry and thirsty for three days. Their hatred had gone so deep that after the assassination of Ali (A.S.), Abu Sufian holding the hand of Husain (A.S.) (Ali (A.S.)’s second son) took him to Jannatul Baqi (the cemetery at Madina) and addressing the deads of Banu Hashim said "If you would have been alive today you would have seen that the caliphate (of the Prophet) and the government (of the Muslim world) have both come to us".
Hashim in his lifetime appointed his elder brother Mutallib as his heir to run the administration of Mecca and Kaaba. After the death of Mutallib, Hashim’s son Abdul Mutallib became the Amir of Mecca and the trustee of Kaaba. It was he who dug Zam Zam (the spring which Allah had created for Ismail when he was dying of thirst on the prayers of his mother Hajira wife of Ibrahim). This spring was closed by Banu Jirham before fleeing Mecca . (Banu Jirham finding the descendants of Ismail weak had captured the whole of Mecca and taken the ownership of Zam Zam and the possession of Kaaba by force and managed its administration [Rauzatul Ahbab]. Though the descendants of Ismail after uniting and gathering strength drove Banu Jirham out of Mecca and took the possession of Mecca and Kaaba they never thought of digging the spring of Zam Zam. As a result nobody knew the exact location of it. When Abdul Mutallib saw that the water collected from all the wells of Mecca was not sufficient for the pilgrims he began to search the site of Zam Zam, but could not locate the exact place. He then prayed to Allah to help him find the exact place. Allah obliged Abdul Mutallib and the exact place was shown to him in his dream. Next day Abdul Mutallib with his son Haaris went to dig the site but was stopped by the Quraish. They said that their gods Asaf and Nahela are stalled there before whom they sacrifice their animals. When Abdul Mutallib showed his readiness to fight with them the Quraish withdrew and Abdul Mutallib and his son Haaris dug out the Zam Zam. (This is the first confrontation between Abdul Mutallib and the Quraish) [Ibne Hasham page 5].
After the death of Umayya his son Herb too behaved the same way with Abdul Mutallib. Abdul Mutallib had ten sons from different wives. They were Haaris, Zubair, Abu Talib, Abdulla, Hamza, Abu Lahab, Gaidaq, Almaqoon, Zarrar and Abbas. Abu Talib and Abdulla were real brothers from the same mother Fatema daughter of Amr of the Makhzoom clan. Abdul Mutallib had taken a vow that if he gets ten sons, and if none dies he will sacrifice one of them as a token of gratification towards the Almighty. When all his sons survived he collected them and told them about his vow. Every son offered himself for the sacrifice and it became difficult for Abdul Mutallib to select one [Tabaqat Vol 1 page 53]. He then drew a lot and the name of Abdulla father of Mohammad (S.A.W) (the Prophet (S.A.W)) appeared. Abdul Mutallib took Abdulla to the sacrificing site and with him the ladies of Banu Hashim went weeping. One of the sisters of Abdulla then suggested to draw another lot between Abdulla and the sacrifice of some camels (as they were not prepared to lose their brother Abdulla). Abdul Mutallib agreed to this proposal. He drew another lot in which the sacrifice of the camels appeared. Abdulla was saved and the camels were sacrificed.

WHERE IS GAZA?
The Gaza Strip (also known as Gaza) is a coastal strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea, 45 km (25 miles) long and at most 10 km (6 miles) wide. It borders Egypt to it south-west and Israel to its north and east.

WHO LIVES THERE?
Nearly 1.5 million Palestinians live in Gaza, many of them concentrated in one-half of the territory. In this area, the population density is nearly 20,000 people per square mile, one of the highest in the world. Over one-half of its residents are children. In addition, with an annual growth rate of nearly 3.5%, Gaza’s young and fertile population is projected to reach over 2 million people in 8 years.

More than three quarters of Gaza’s residents are refugees who were driven from their homes during past wars with Israel (in 1948 and 1967), and their descendants. Israel has permanently barred their return. Over half of these refugees still reside in Gaza’s eight refugee camps.

Overall, there are over five million Palestinians living in Israel and the occupied territories of West Bank and Gaza, while a quarter of them live in Gaza which is 1.5% of the whole territory. Most Gazans live on less than $2 a day with deteriorating health and malnutrition, and up to 80 percent are dependent on food aid, according to humanitarian groups.
WHO GOVERNS GAZA?
The Gaza Strip is not recognized internationally as part of any sovereign country.

Egypt, which governed the Gaza Strip from 1948-1967 controls the southern border between the Gaza strip and the Sinai desert (however the de-facto control of this border rests with Israel).

Israel, which governed the Gaza Strip from 1967-2005, still controls the strip’s airspace, territorial water and offshore maritime access, as well as its side of the Gaza-Israeli border. This continued control has allowed the Israeli state, which opposes Hamas, to control the inflow and outflow of multiple types of resources, including food, electricity, water, fuel, import/export goods and humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

The Gaza Strip is currently claimed by the Palestinian Authority as part of the Palestinian territories, though following the June 2007 battle of Gaza, actual control of the area is in the hands of the de facto government dominated by Hamas. However, Israel still remains the ultimate power controlling territorial access and flow of all resources to the Gaza Strip.

Prior to Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, the United States considered the Gaza Strip to be an Israel-occupied territory. Following the withdrawal, no official US government statement has been made on the status of the Strip. However, the CIA World Factbook on the Gaza Strip (an official U.S. government publication), which was last updated on December 18th, 2008, continues to list the Gaza Strip as an Israeli-occupied territory.
WHAT IS HAMAS?

Hamas or “Movement of Islamic Resistance” was founded in the Gaza Strip shortly after the outbreak of the first Palestinian intifada in December 1987. It was established by Palestinian members of the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization founded in the 1920s in Egypt, whose emergence in the Gaza Strip was initially welcomed by Israeli military authorities as an alternative to the PLO.

Hamas is not a member organization of the PLO, and has opposed the Oslo accords. It initially treated the Palestinian Authority - a product of the accords - as illegitimate, and refused to participate in the first Palestinian Authority elections in 1996. However, it fielded candidates in municipal elections in January 2005, winning majorities on 28 of 84 town councils in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

Hamas members also participated in elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council held in January 2006, although running under the banner of the “Change and Reform Party.” The new party promised reforms of the Palestinian Authority and more steadfast support of Palestinian rights to freedom and independence. It did not, however, reiterate Hamas’s goal of establishing an Islamic state in Palestine. In 2006, Change and Reform Party candidates took 74 of 132 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council, and the party, under the leadership of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, formed a new Palestinian government.

Main Sources of Information: Reuters News, Wikipedia, and IMEU
Source : gazasiege.org
Israel War Crimes Maps

Updated map of the conflict in Gaza. Israel indicated for the first time on Sunday that an end was in sight to its war on Hamas, amid some of the heaviest clashes of an offensive that has killed nearly 900 people in the Gaza Strip.
(AFP/Graphic)

Source :http://gazanews.wordpress.com/fact-of-gaza/

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

The Martyrdom of Imam Husain (A.S.)By
Dr. Syed H. Akhter
Austin, Texas

The month of Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar year. An
important and tragic event took place on the tenth of Muharram that shook the Muslim
world. It was the murder of Imam Husain (A.S.), his family members, and his close
friends by the army of Yazid. Yazid was at that time the despotic ruler of the Muslim
world, who came to power as the self-proclaimed “sixth caliph of Islam” after the death of
his father, Mu’awiya. Yazid gave himself the title of ameer-ul-mu’mineen, meaning
“commander of the faithful.”
Husain was one of the two grandsons of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.A.W.), and
the younger of the two sons of Hazrat Fatima (A.S.), the daughter of the Holy Prophet.
The Holy Prophet loved his two grandsons, Hasan and Husain dearly, and since he had no
surviving sons of his own, out of affection he used to call them “my sons.” There are
numerous traditions recorded by many historians which indicate the great love and respect
the Holy Prophet had for his grandsons, not only brcause they were his grandsons, but
because of their spiritual excellence and their sacrifices to come, in saving Islam.
According to one tradition, the Holy Prophet declared that Hasan and Husain were the
“Princes of the Youth of Paradise.” Prophet Muhammad (S.A.A.W.) took his grandsons
with him, along with his daughter Fatima and son-in-law Imam ‘Ali (A.S.), to face the
challenge of the Christian delegation from Najrain, which had come to dispute with the
Holy Prophet about his divine mission. The Christians were awe-struck at the sight of the
Holy Prophet and his family, and withdrew the challenge. This event became known as
Mubahila, and is recorded in the Holy Qur’an in chapter 3 verse 61.

Historical Background
During the caliphate of Imam ‘Ali, Mu’awiya declared himself the governor of
Syria. After the assassination of ‘Ali by a Kharijite, ‘Ali’s elder son, Imam Hasan,
succeeded him, being judged as the most qualified and deserving by the people. By this
time, however, Mu’awiya had amassed enough support in and around Syria to unilaterally
declare he the caliph of whole Islamic world. In order to avoid bloodshed, preserve unity,
and in fact to save the religion of Islam from destruction, Imam Hasan signed a peace
treaty with Mu’awiya. The treaty included these terms: (1) Mu’awiya would be the
temporal political head of the Muslim empire; (2) Mu’awiya would not appoint his own
successor, but would leave the caliphate to the will of the majority (which favored Imam
Husain); and, (3) Mu’awiya would allow the Muslims to live in peace, free from
2
oppression, especially those belonging to the Hashimite tribe (the tribe of the Holy Prophet
and his family).
Mu’awiya violated the terms of this treaty and, near his death, designated his son
Yazid as his successor. Yazid was an immoral and ruthless man with no sense of justice.
He employed bribery and coercion to win support. Imam Husain, as the protector and
guardian of the religion established by his noble grandfather, Prophet Muhammad
(S.A.A.W.), refused to swear allegiance to him. Yazid realized that he could never
legitimize and consolidate his rule without the allegiance of Imam Husain, the grandson of
the Holy Prophet. Consequently, he decided that he would either force the Imam to submit
to his rule, or else he would have him killed.
In the 61st year after Hijra (680 AD), Imam Husain, while performing the
pilgrimage in Mecca, received the news that assassins had been sent by Yazid to kill him.
Desiring to protect the sanctity of the Holy City, he interrupted his pilgrimage and headed
towards Kufa, in modern-day Iraq on invitation of the people there to come and teach them
about Islam. He took with him his family members and close friends, including his sixmonth-
old infant son, Ali Asghar. His journey to Kufa was intercepted by a detachment of
Yazid’s army, led by a commander named Hur. Hur had orders to re-direct the Imam to
camp in the desert plains of Karbala, on the banks of the River Euphrates. In order to
avoid bloodshed, Imam Husain chose not to resist, and followed Hur’s directions. He and
his companions were forced to camp at a great distance from the river, which was the only
source of water in the area.
On the seventh day of Muharram, Ibn Ziyad, the governor of Kufa, ordered that
food and water supplies were to be blocked from reaching Imam Husain’s camp. In the
meantime, the ranks of Yazid’s army were increasing by the thousands. The blistering sun
scorched the desert sand, and the thirst was becoming unbearable in Husain’s camp. The
children especially were becoming dehydrated and weak, and Imam Husain pleaded with
Yazid’s army to supply water at least to those children, but to no avail.
On the tenth day of Muharram, Yazid’s army was ready to attack the small band of
defenders in Imam Husain’s camp. One by one, his friends and relatives took permission
to go out and fight and each one laid down his life in the defense of Islam. Two of his
nephews, who were only ten years old, were among the brave soldiers who died fighting.
The commander of Husain’s forces was Abbas, his brother, who had inherited his chivalry
from his father ‘Ali, the Lion of Allah. Abbas asked Husain’s permission to go and fight
his way through to the river and bring back some water for Sakina, Husain’s four-year-old
daughter, and the other children. The Imam reluctantly gave him permission to go and
fetch water. Abbas took an empty flask, charged into Yazid’s army, cut through the ranks,
and arrived at the river. While he filled the pitcher with water, he himself did not drink a
drop, for he reasoned that he could not do so while Imam Husain, Sakina, and the others
were still thirsty. Abbas did not make it back to the camp, however. The whole army of
Yazid converged upon him. He died defending the precious pitcher of water.
3
Imam Husain’s six-month-old son, Ali Asghar, was on the verge of death from
dehydration. Husain brought him out of the tent to show his pitiful condition to the
soldiers in Yazid’s army, pleading for at least enough water to save the infant’s life. The
enemy denied his request. A heartless archer from the enemy army shot an arrow that
struck the infant, killing him in his father’s own arms.
Soon, Imam Husain was left alone to face Yazid’s army, since all the able-bodied
male members of his camp had died fighting one by one. He made a final plea to the army
of Yazid, reminding them of his kinship with the Holy Prophet of Islam, the love and
respect which the Holy Prophet had used to show him, and the numerous traditions in
which the Holy Prophet had warned the Muslims not to disobey or injure him. He
reminded them of his desire to uphold the truth and his status as one of the true protectors
of the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet. He asked to be allowed to leave the Muslim kingdom,
so that Yazid would not perceive him as a threat to his power. Finally, he clearly warned
them that by shedding his blood, they would be subjected to the wrath of Allah (S.W.T.)
and they would lose any hope of the intercession of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.A.W.). The
commanders of the opposing army were unmoved, and reiterated their desire to kill Imam
Husain unless he chose to submit to the authority of Yazid. Husain was left with no choice
but to take a firm and final stand against falsehood, and to fight for the preservation of
Islam. He fought bravely, and in the end he achieved martyrdom.

The Significance of Imam Husain’s Martyrdom.
Immediate outcome of Imam Husain’s actions: Muslims and non-Muslims alike
have acknowledged that Imam Husain saved Islam from destruction by sacrificing his life.
Yazid had been successful in winning over the allegiance of the great majority of
Muslims, and the rest of the Muslim world was in a state of moral slumber. The principles
of Islam were being plundered, the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet was being tampered with,
and phony traditions were being concocted to justify the rule of Yazid. It was the singular
sacrifice of Imam Husain and his faithful followers that shook the Islamic world out of its
slumber. The Muslims were forced to ask themselves why the beloved grandson of the
Holy Prophet had been murdered so brutally. It then dawned upon the people what the
true nature of Yazid and his supporters was.

Long term outcome of Imam Husain’s actions:actions:Imam Husain, by challenging
Yazid and in the process laying down his life, changed the world and re-shaped human
destiny forever. Yazid, and indeed all future despots, were put on notice that they would
not be tolerated, and that truth and justice would be upheld and would ultimately succeed,
regardless of the costs. The Iranian revolution that uprooted and overthrew an unjust
government, and the liberation of Lebanon from foreign occupation are two of the more
recent exemplars of these principles laid down by Imam Husain.
Imam Husain’s Philosophy:
Professor Syed Jafar Raza Bilgirami beautifully describes Imam Husain’s
philosophy. He states that at Karbala, Imam Husain came to rebuild a system of life. He
gave a practical embodiment to the rational concept of justice. He successfully placed the
spirit (savage, war-making qualities in man) and the appetite (greed for material things and
lust for power) under the command of reason (‘Aql). In Karbala, he formulated a new
code of life to safeguard the peace and security of human society for all times to come.
Imam Husain’s Foresight and Planning for the Battle of Karbala:
Imam Husain chose not to flee or hide from Yazid, because that would not have
exposed Yazid’s corruption of Islam and would have served to legitimize his unjust rule.
He knew that by rejecting Yazid’s demands, he would most likely be killed. However, he
also did not want to die like any other martyr. He wanted his death to serve as a starting
point for a revolution that would strengthen justice and oppose tyranny for all times to
come. This type of stance needed planning and wisdom. As pointed out by scholars,
Imam Husain’s planning encompassedthree factors:
(1)The choice of location;
(2)The choice of companions; and,
(3) Foolproof arrangements for passing on the event to the annals of history.
The Choice of Location:
Imam Husain chose not to stay in Mecca because he did not want his blood to
desecrate the Holy Precincts. Besides, if he were to be killed by hired assassins, then the
killers’ motives would not be clear and his death would fade away on the pages of history.
So he chose to travel to Iraq (the den of the tyrant himself), where his mission would
receive the maximum publicity, and where Yazid’s evil would be best exposed. The
events of history proved that Imam Husain was right.
The Choice of Companions:
Hujjatul-Islam Maulana Ali Naqvi has written that in Karbala, the largest number of
true Muslims gathered in the entire history of Islam. Imam Husain was not seeking the
best fighters, since his goal was not to fight to win a physical war. He was looking for
men of principle, true Muslims, firm and patient, who would go through the utmost
hardships successfully.
His companions included men of different tribes, coming from different parts of
Arabia and beyond. They included, among others, an elderly companion of the Holy
Prophet, some liberated slaves, and a young newlywed Christian couple. The age of his
supporters ranged from six months to a ripe old age of over 90.
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The heterogeneity of Imam Husain’s supporting group indicates that he did not want
the confrontation with Yazid to be misrepresented as a struggle between two clans, or a
campaign for gaining power.
Preserving His Sacrifice in the Annals of History:
Imam Husain took women, children, and all of his family members with him. This
strategy ensured that after his death, his message would be spread through his family
members, and that Yazid would not be able to suppress the truth or falsify Imam Husain’s
motives. History proves that it was a brilliant move. His sister Zainab (A.S.), through her
scholarly and bold speeches, and with no fear of the tyrant Yazid, eloquently proclaimed
the truth and exposed the falsehood of Yazid in his own court. He was speechless and
humiliated before her. His court was full of dignitaries, both local and from other nationstates,
and his own supporters. They were shocked to hear the truth put forth so forcefully,
and many were brought to tears. The same scene was repeated in the bazaars and
marketplaces of the country, all along the travel route of the surviving captives. Husain
had laid the foundation of the revolution with his blood. His sister Zainab stirred the
revolution with her oratory. That revolution changed the world forever.
Statements of Historians and World Leaders:
This unique historical sacrifice of Imam Husain and his small band of 71 male
supporters has caught the attention of historians, scholars, and writers throughout the
world, in all periods of history. Some of the more notable quotes and insights are given
below:
“Of that gallant band, male and female knew that the enemy forces around were
implacable, and were not only ready to fight, but to kill. Denied even water for the
children, they remained parched under the burning sun and scorching sands, yet not one
faltered for a moment. Husain marched with his little company, not to glory, not to power
of wealth, but to a supreme sacrifice, and every member bravely faced the greatest odds
without flinching.” - Dr. K. Sheldrake
“If Husain had fought to quench his worldly desires, as alleged by certain Christian
critics, then I do not understand why his sister, wife, and children accompanied him. It
stands to reason therefore, that he sacrificed purely for Islam.” - Charles Dickens
“The best lesson which we get from the tragedy of Cerebella is that Husain and his
companions were rigid believers in God. They illustrated that the numerical superiority
does not count when it comes to the truth and the falsehood. The victory of Husain,
despite his minority, marvels me!”- Thomas Carlyle
“In a distant age and climate, the tragic scene of the death of Husain will awaken
the sympathy of the coldest reader.”- Edward Gibbon
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“The tragedy of Karbala decided not only the fate of the Caliphate, but also of
Mohammadan kingdoms long after the Caliphate had waned and disappeared.”- William
Muir
“Imam Husain uprooted despotism forever, till the Day of Resurrection. He
watered the dry gardens of freedom with a surging wave of his blood, and indeed he
awakened the sleeping Muslim nation. If Imam Husain had aimed at acquiring the
worldly empire, he would not have traveled the way he did. Husain weltered in blood and
dust for the sake of truth. Verily, therefore, he becomes the foundation of the Muslim
creed ‘La Ilaha Il-lallah,’ meaning, there is no deity but Allah (God).” - Sir Mohammad
Iqbal
“A reminder ofthat blood-stained field of Karbala, where the grandson of the
Apostle of God fell, at length, tortured by thirst, and surround by the bodies of his
murdered kinsmen, has been at anytime since then, sufficient to evoke, even in the most
lukewarm and the heedless, the deepest emotion, the most frantic grief, and an exaltation
of spirit before which pain, danger, and death shrink to unconsidered trifles.” - Browne’s
History of Persia

References:
-The Martyrdom of Imam Husain by Yousef N. Laljee
-The Spirit of Islam by Ameer Ali
-Imam Husain and Planning of the Incident of Karbala by S.G. Haider
-Imam Husain and His System of Life by Syed Jafar Raza Bilgirami