History Focus
October 10

Second son of Ali b. Abi Talib, Muhammad's cousin, and Fatima, Muhammad's daughter. Died on October 10, 680. The Shi`a mourn Husayn as a martyr who had fought against an unjust ruler; he is glorified as the third rightful leader of the Muslim community after Muhammad.

Husayn was a grandson of Muhammad. He was born in the year 626. He was probably just a child at the death of his grandfather. He spent his early years with his uncle and father. He went with them on many battles.

On the death of Muawia Imam Husayn did not pay his allegiance to Yazid and began preparing for a showdown with him. Opposition to Yazid was due to the fact that Yazid was not considered capable of bearing the responsibility of the Muslim Empire due to his bad character. Several months later, Husayn received invitations from the Shi`ites of Kufa to lead them in a revolt. Husayn courageously decided to risk leading the revolt although the probability of success was low.

Relying on the report sent to him by Muslim bin Aqil, Imam Husayn started his journey to Kufa. He expected his army to be recruited in Kufa so he took with him only his family members and friends who volunteered to go with him. The govenor of Kufa had tricked Husayn to come to Kafa so that he could attack him and his family.

Imam Husayn died on the 10th Muharram 61 A.H. (October 10, 680). A total of 87 people died with him. Among them were his eldest son and sons of Hazrat Hasan. There were 33 strokes of the lance and 34 blows of the sword on the body of Husayn . Umar bin Saad ordered his horsemen to trample Imam Husayn's body underneath their horses' feet. The man who gave Imam Husayn the fatal blow was an Arab, known as Shimar. It was this man who cut off Imam's head and took it to the governor of Kufa. The body of Imam Husayn was buried in Karbala where today there is an important shrine.

Thus ended the life and career of Imam Husayn, the Martyr (Shaheed) of Karbala. He died and sacrificed his family so that his followers and the Muslim nation may be saved from the Ummayyad rulers. Imam Husayn was 55 years old when he died.The body of Imam Husayn was buried in Karbala where today there is an important shrine.

Sources: On This Day | Microsoft(R) Encarta(R)