In the month of Muharram 61 AH (approx. 20 October 680 AD) on the day of Ashoora, an event took place in Iraq at a place known as Kerbala on the bank of the river Euphrates. It seemed in those days insignificant from the historical point of view. A large army which had been mobilised by the Umayyad (Yazid ibne Mawiya)regime besieged a group of persons (Imam Hussain and his lashkar)numbering less than a hundered and put them under pressure to pay allegiance to the Caliph of the time and submit to his authority. The small group resisted and a severe battle took place in which they were all killed.

It appeared at that time that like hundreds of similar events, this battle would be recorded in history and forgotten. However, the events that occurred on the 10th day of Muharram in Karbala were to become a beacon and an inspiration for future generations.

Observing Ashoora and Muharram is the process of purifying your soul with a kick of spiritualism. The sibilant sound of the chest beating on the voice of Noha Khwan (person who recites the tragedy of the incident of Karbala)

Ya Hussain (as) Ya Hussain (as)

Shaheed-e Karbala Hussain (as)

One can not resist, but to let his/her eyes shed tears. Tears, so precious, that turns out to be a gateway to heaven. As so nicely put by Ustad Qamar Jalalwi.

Jaey ga Qamar Khuld mein her sheh ka azadar

Doozakh haram us pay jo Shabbir pay roye.

All this for what? Wearing black clothes, going to Imam Bargahs, Majalis, what has kept the tragedy of Karbala alive? Alive in the eyes of all those mourners that it has become the Mother of All Mournings?

There is no doubt that the tragedy of Kerbala, when ascribed to the killers, is a criminal and terrible act. However when ascribed to Imam Hussain Sayyid-ul-Shuhada (Lord of all martyrs) himself, it represents a conscious confrontation and a courageous resistance for a sacred cause. The whole nation had failed to stand up to Yazid. They had succumbed to his will, and deviation and regression towards the pre-Islamic ways were increasing.

Passiveness by Imam Hussain (a.s.) in this situation would have meant the end of Islam. Thus Imam Hussain (a.s.) took upon himself the responsibility of the whole nation. The greatest tragedy was that one who stood up for the noblest of causes, the defence of Islam. And thus Imam Hussain (a.s.) not only saved the Islam, his gradfather Propeht Mohammed's (pbuh) religon, but also the religon which God had choosen for us.

It is for this reason that the sacrifice of Husain (a.s.) is commemorated annually throughout the Muslim world. Our sorrow never abates as we relive the tragedy.

The commemoration of Ashura on the 10th of Muharram every year serves to remind us of the sacrifices of the family of the Prophet (pbuh). It also makes us aware of the people, then and now, who tried to destroy Islam and the family of the Prophet (pbuh) and all that they stood for - as well as those who watched, listened and did nothing.