Karbala and Ashura

Publisher’s Word

In The Name Of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful

“Indeed I do not see death [for freedom] as but happiness, and living with unjust people as nothing but grief.”

Imam Husayn
61/680 CE

This book holds a brief yet documented narrative of events that took place in Medinah, Mecca, Karbāla’, Kufah, and Syria, and began in Rajab, 60 A.H. (680 CE) and ended in Muharram 61. These events represented the ever greatest revolution against tyranny and oppression—a revolution led by Imam Husayn, son of Imam ′Ali Ibn Abi Talib and Lady Fatimah az-Zahra, and grandson of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon them all.

The Ansariyan Publications, as being always asked by the gentle readers to publish a book relating the whole story of Imam Husayn’s revolution and martyrdom, is pleased to introduce this work of Mr. ′Ali Husayn Jalali who looked into the most considerable reference books dealing with the events of the battle of Karbāla’ and chose the most important chapters of this tragic saga in a simple, comprehensive way.

As a matter of fact, the book was first published, in a form of a pamphlet, by The Open School, Chicago, but because of its opulent material, the Ansariyan Publications has thought proper to republish it in this semblance.

Hence, the pamphlet has been reprinted in a new form, and the famous Ziyarahs (etiquettes of the pilgrimage to the holy shrines of the prophets and saints) of Ashura’ and Warith were added at the end of the book.

Finally, we pray to God to guide all of us to follow the path of Imam Husayn with pure intents so as to gain the pleasures of this life and the life to come, Inshallah.

Ansariyan Publications
Qum, 2002