Lessons of Muharram

There are certain events in the pages of history that transcend the boundaries of a particular nation or religion, and shake the conscience of all humanity. The plains of Karbala represent one of those rare events. On the tenth day of Muharram in 61 AH, a day known as Ashura, what unfolded on the banks of the Euphrates was not merely the account of a battle. It was a testament to an unequal struggle between truth and falsehood in human history, where a small group, armed with immense courage and unwavering faith, stood against the overwhelming power of injustice. Leading that group was Hazrat Husayn ibn Ali (RA), the beloved grandson of our Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

The reason Muharram is remembered most profoundly across the world today is the tragic history of Karbala. To understand the background of the event, one must look a little further back. After the death of Hazrat Muawiyah (RA), his son Yazid assumed the position of Caliph. Yazid’s character and style of governance raised deep concerns among many scholars and companions of the Prophet. He demanded that Hazrat Husayn (RA) pledge allegiance to him. But Hazrat Husayn (RA) understood that such allegiance would not merely signify personal loyalty to a ruler; it would amount to legitimising injustice and sacrificing the truth.

In this situation, the people of Kufa sent numerous letters to Hazrat Husayn (RA), inviting him and promising their support. Before proceeding, he sent his cousin Muslim ibn Aqil to Kufa to assess the situation. Muslim ibn Aqil’s report was encouraging; thousands of Kufans pledged allegiance to him. Yet what followed became one of the most painful betrayals in history. Yazid appointed a new governor, Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad, who used political pressure and intimidation to change the attitudes of the people of Kufa. Muslim ibn Aqil was left isolated and was eventually martyred.

By then, Hazrat Husayn (RA) had already begun his journey from Makkah towards Kufa. When he received the news of Muslim ibn Aqil’s martyrdom, he told his companions that anyone wishing to return was free to do so, for this was no longer a safe journey. Many turned back. Yet Hazrat Husayn (RA) did not stop. Accompanied only by his family and a small group of loyal followers, he continued forward. That determination to move ahead became the defining decision that immortalised him in history.

Upon reaching the plains of Karbala, Hazrat Husayn’s (RA) small group was surrounded by Yazid’s massive army. They were cut off from the waters of the Euphrates. Children, women and the elderly suffered from severe thirst. The only condition offered by Yazid’s forces was that Husayn (RA) should submit and pledge allegiance. But could the man who had been raised in the lap of the Prophet (SAW), who had learned the meaning of steadfastness upon truth, bow before injustice? He could not.

On the morning of the tenth of Muharram, the battle began. Yet can it truly be called a battle? On one side stood seventy-two individuals; on the other, thousands of soldiers. One by one, the companions of Hazrat Husayn (RA) embraced martyrdom. Among them was his brother Hazrat Abbas (RA), who lost both arms while attempting to bring water to the thirsty camp, yet continued to hold the water skin with his teeth. His son Ali Akbar, an eighteen-year-old youth said to resemble the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), was also martyred. Eventually, Hazrat Husayn (RA) himself stood alone, his body covered with wounds.

That afternoon, the soil of Karbala was stained with blood. Hazrat Husayn (RA) was martyred. His blessed head was severed from his body. The brutality of that moment is almost impossible to describe. Yet therein lies one of history’s greatest paradoxes. Yazid, who won the physical battle, was condemned forever in the court of history. Husayn (RA), who appeared defeated on the battlefield, became an eternal source of inspiration for humanity.

The tragedy of Karbala is not merely a source of lessons for Shia or Sunni Muslims. It raises a fundamental question for all humanity: when injustice becomes powerful and standing for justice means facing death, what should one do? Hazrat Husayn’s (RA) answer was unequivocal. He declared, “I see death as nothing but happiness, and life with oppressors as nothing but misery.” These words continue to resonate in the hearts of millions.

Another important aspect of Karbala is the lesson of betrayal. The people of Kufa invited Husayn (RA) with promises of support, only to abandon him when the moment of trial arrived. This is not an isolated occurrence. History repeatedly shows that people often stand for justice when it is convenient, but retreat when it becomes costly. Even knowing this reality, Hazrat Husayn (RA) never abandoned the path of truth. This unwavering commitment elevated him to an extraordinary position not only in Islamic history but in the history of humankind.

Muharram also possesses one more significant historical dimension. Long before Karbala, the tenth day of Muharram, Ashura, held special significance. According to Hadith traditions, it was on this day that Allah delivered Prophet Musa (AS) and the Children of Israel from the tyranny of Pharaoh by parting the Red Sea. When Prophet Muhammad (SAW) arrived in Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on that day, he asked them about its significance. They explained that it commemorated the deliverance of Musa (AS). The Prophet responded that Muslims had an even greater claim to Musa (AS) and proceeded to fast on that day, encouraging his followers to do the same.

Viewed from this perspective, Ashura assumes a universal character. It is not merely a day of grief for one community. It is a remembrance of the triumph of truth, the defeat of tyranny, and the liberation of the oppressed. The tragedy of Karbala represents the continuation of that same moral tradition. Although tyranny appeared victorious in the short term, the ultimate triumph belonged to the ideals upheld by Husayn (RA). The throne that Yazid sought to preserve through such cruelty has long vanished into dust, yet the ideals of Husayn (RA) continue to live in the hearts of millions.
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The writer is MPhil Researcher, Islamic Studies, University of Rajshahi, and Teacher of Gazipur Cantonment Public School and College