The Quran And Mourning for Hussain

The Days of Mourning

In the Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Most Beneficent

As soon as the month of Muharram arrives, the lovers and devotees of the Ahlul Bayt (pbut) become heartbroken and grief stricken. Through their lamentation and intense weeping, their complaints and grief over the tragedy of Karbala, they present their devotion and love in the court of the Oppressed of Karbala, and become engrossed in expressing their grief in different ways.

Just under 1400 years ago, that is in 61 AH, the Yazeedi government of Shaam (present day Syria) had caused such a storm of lust, godlessness, and rampant liberty that values such as truthfulness, honesty, piety, holiness, peace and justice were fast disappearing, scattered like droplets everywhere.

Islam was about to be annihilated. Monotheism, the oneness of Allah, was made into a laughing stock. Prophet-hood in fact was labelled a drama, an act: that which Muhammad (pbuh) had labelled unlawful was being made lawful, and what he had explained to be lawful was being criminalised. It was to save this fast disappearing lifestyle, etiquette, nobility, faith and humanity, that Imam Hussain (pbuh) left for Karbala with his small band of travellers.

However, the cruel oppressors took control of the river and prevented Imam Hussain (pbuh), his family and his loyal followers from taking any water from it. The Imam (pbuh), his followers and his pure family, amongst who were also tiny innocent children, suffered pangs of extreme thirst. But the merciless and inhumane cursed enemies’ hearts had turned to stone: there was no scope for kindness or mercy in them. Finally on the 10th Muharram, after three days of hunger and thirst, our great Imam (pbuh) was martyred, along with his companions, sons, brothers, and nephews.