Hussain is a role model that all human beings can aspire to; his spirit lives on forever in the human conscience.

The way he lived and the way he died show us the value he placed on morality and honour. He taught us the true purpose of our existence – the perfection of our morals and ethics. In his own words he sums it up beautifully:

“Death with dignity is better than a life of humiliation”

What is Ashura?

Ashura means the tenth, of Muharram

It is a day of speeches, public processions, and great grief. Men and women chant and weep, mourning Husayn, his family, and his followers. Speeches emphasize the importance of the values for which Husayn sacrificed himself, his family, and his followers.

For centuries Shi’a pilgrims flocked here during Muharram, a practice which was severely limited under the regime of Saddam Hussein.

If one was to examine the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, one can derive many lessons from his stand.

1. Islam is not a religion of compromise. Living with peace with forces of oppression is wrong. If Imam Hussain had pledged allegiance to a tyrant ruler, he could have saved his neck, and would have most likely given a high post by the Caliph who would have allowed him to do his prayer, fasting, and other ritual acts of worship.

                But he was the grandson of a prophet who said, "One of the      greatest jihad is to stand up to a tyrant ruler, and say a      word of truth. "

                Therefore, Imam Hussain in one of his speeches on the way       to Karbala said, " To live with an oppressor is a crime in               itself"

                Hence he implemented the words of Allah found in (9:20) "        Those who believe, and suffer exile and strive with                 might in Allah's cause, with their goods and their            people, have the highest rank in the sight of Allah, They                 are the people who will achieve Salvation."

2. The second lesson is the concept of ownership of life and giving it to the cause of the owner. Our body and life belong to our Creator, and should be spent on His cause. Even if we do that, all we are doing is returning it to the original owner.

                There is a great reward for martyrdom. A martyr is next to           Prophets in heaven. "And if you are slain or die in the         cause of Allah, Forgiveness and Mercy from Allah are   far better than they could amass, and it you die or are                 slain, lo it is unto Allah that you are brought together".                (3:157-158)

3. The third lesson, is standing up to trial when we are called. This has to be a criterion for entering into Heaven. Allah says: (2:214)

                Do you think you will enter the Garden (of Bliss) without            such (trails) as come to those before you."

                (9:111) "Allah has purchased of their believers their      persons and their goods. For theirs (in return) is the                 Garden (of Paradise).

                All of the prophets had tests of their own. Prophet Ibrahim         (PBUH) had many tests, including being thrown into fire and                ordered to sacrifice his own son.

4. The fourth lesson we learn from the story of Imam Hussain (RA) is that of sacrifice. To give life in the cause of Allah is the ultimate Sacrifice.

                Can we sacrifice our money we love so much for charity, our      precious time for the education of our children, can we          sacrifice our false pride in our race, color, language, and                national origin, and of our sect, and abide by the words of              Imam Ali When he says "People are of two kinds, either a           brother in faith or reflection in humanity"

Now let us ask ourselves what are we mourning and why are we mourning?

If we are mourning the death of Imam Hussain, Quran tells us that Martyrs are not dead. (2:154)

"And do not call those who die in the way of Allah as "Dead", no they are living, only you do not see them.

In the Murder of Hussain,

In deed is the death of Yazid.

Each Karbala revives Islam.

Hussain was forced to witness torture, murder, execution and mutilation of 17 male family members & 54 companions among them he witnessed the savage mutilation of Abbas – his brother,

the callous murder of his nephew Qasim, the torture and execution of his innocent son Ali Akbar (whose face was similar to the Holy Prophet [s.w.a]) and finally the depraved murder of his six month old baby boy – Ali Asghar. Left alone finally in the battle filed Hussain was also attacked, his body was showered with arrows, sword, knifes and stones.

His head was severed with blunt Knife/sword and the hooves of the horses of Yazeed’s cavalry trampled on his body. Husain and their supporters were decapitated; their bodies were mutilated and trampled by horses.

Muhurram is not just for ten days, and then going back to the business as usual.

For a Muslim who stands up to fight in the cause of Allah, for him the place is Karbala, the month is Muhurram, the day is Ashura. He is Imam Hussain and his opponent is Yazid.

Muhurram is not just for Shia but for every race, nationality, religion.