تحصیل در رشته ی خلبانی در فیلیپین

Imam Husayn's martyrdom is a sad day for all Muslims especially the Shi'a, who mourn the massacre of their "Prince of Martyrs" and his family in Karbala in 61AH/680CE.

Imam Husayn held the title of Imam, meaning spiritual leader of Islam; and he refused to swear allegiance to Yazid, the second Umayyad Caliph. He tried to travel from Medina to Kufa but was surrounded by forces loyal to Yazid in the desert at a place now known as Karbala.

Imam Husayn's followers were greatly outnumbered and dying of thirst, indeed his brother 'Abbas was killed trying to bring water back to the camp. On the 10th day of Muharram, Imam Husayn's followers were massacred and their leader beheaded after declaring, "death with dignity is better than life with humiliation".

The commemoration of this brutal massacre begins on the first day of Muharram and continues for 40 days. During the first 10 days of Muharram millions of Shi'a (and Sunni) Muslims remember the massacre at Karbala and strive to feel some of Husayn's pain.
The 10th day of Muharram is known as 'Ahsura' which recalls the day of the massacre in Karbala, a town in modern day Iraq which is second only to Mecca and Najaf as a spiritual beacon to the Shi'a.

Just 100km south of Baghdad, Karbala houses the shrine of Imam Husayn and his brother Al-Abbas. For centuries Shi'a pilgrims flocked here during Muharram, a practice which was severely limited under the regime of Saddam Hussein.

This year for the first time in nearly 30 years Shi'as can openly commemorate Muharram in the streets of Karbala without fear of repercussions. For many pilgrims this will be their first taste of religious freedom in post-war Iraq.

The Battle of Karbala

Muharram commemorates the events that took place in Karbala in 61AH/680CE which culminated in the massacre of Imam Husayn and his followers.

As a direct descendent of the Prophet Mohammad Imam Husayn was considered by Shi'a Muslims to be their spiritual leader and their tradition dictated he should lead the Islamic community as Caliph (political and spiritual leader).

But when Imam Husayn was to have assumed the Caliphate his claim was dismissed by the then ruling Caliph, Mu'awiyah, the son of one of the Prophet's enemies. He claimed that his superior military strength, political abilities and age made him a better candidate than either Imam Hasan (Imam Husayn's older brother) or Imam Husayn himself.

On Mu'awiyah's death, the Caliphate passed to his son Yazid who required Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn to pay homage (Bay'at) to him as rightful leader.

Imam Husayn was unwilling to swear allegiance to Yazid and decided to travel to Kufa in Iraq to lead his supporters there against the Caliphate.
Yazid ordered an army to intercept Imam Husayn and stop him from reaching Kufa. The martyr's family and supporters got as far as Karbala before they were surrounded by a large number of Yazid's troops.

Imam Husayn, still refusing to swear allegiance to an authority he did not believe was legitimate, faced a desperate situation. His party of 72 armed men, 18 family members and 54 supporters were stranded in the harsh desert without water or supplies.

Desperate to avoid bloodshed, Imam Husayn put his case to Yazid's generals over eight long days, appealing to their sense of humanity and faith to no avail.

At dawn on the 10th day - Ashura - after Imam Husayn addressed his followers for the last time, Yazid's troops fired arrows at the camp and the battle was underway.

Hopelessly outnumbered Imam Husayn's followers were unable to resist the onslaught, one by one all of the men fell including Imam Husayn, his brother 'Abbas had been killed earlier, only the women and children were spared.

Imam Husayn was decapitated, his body mutilated and trampled by horses. After the troops left, the desert people around what was to become Karbala retrieved Imam Husayn and 'Abbas' bodies and buried them. Pilgrims have come to Karbala ever since and it is now one of the most important Shi'a shrines in the world.