Assalaamu alaikum.
An excellent summary of the tragic events.
May Allah grant us patience and steadfastness. Amin.

I have noticed that whenever this article mentions Muawiyah (RA) it does not add Radi Allah Anhu after it. I am sure that you realise that Muawiayah (RA) was a sahabee and therefore deserves the highest respect when his (RA) great name is mentioned. I am hoping that this is a honest mistake on the part of the author and not a deliberate attempt at showing disrespect to one of the companions of the Prophet (SAW).

Sisters & brothers of MPACUK, the tragic Shia-Sunni sectarian divide over which I am sure even today there was bloodshed cannot be explained away simply by a synopsis of events leading up to Karbala .

For those who have knowledge of Islam , there surely are many other ways for MPACUK to serve Islam than by touting the Shia-Sunni differences.

If we take into account our Holy Prophet's life leading up to the first revelation by Gabriel , the initial years of extreme hardship that he spent in preaching Islam to the people of Makkah, the changed circumstances in Medina , the conquest of Makkah only two years before Prophet Mohammad's death, Prophert Mohammad's refusal to live in Makkah even though it was his birth-place and the Holiest city in Islam, Prophet Mohammad's love for Fatima and her children, Ali bin Abu Talib's possible claim on the Caliphate, Ali's efforts to defend the life of Uthman bin Affan, the battles of Jamal and Siffin, the conquest and annihilation of Persia by Sa'ad bin Abi Waqas, the marriage of the deposed Persian Princess Shahrbano to Imam Hussain bin Ali , the question about who in the Muslim democratic Caliphate had the right to vote ( all Muslims or only high-ranking Arab tribes) , the support that Hussain bin Ali derived from non-Arab Muslims , the ultimate seige and massacre of all the men except one from 72 members of the family of Prophet Mohammad by General Umar bin Sa'd bin Abi Waqas , the son of the conqueror of Persia , under the threat that Ibn Sa'd himself would be killed by Yazid if he did not lead the Karbala expedition against Imam Hussain , the imprisonment of the survivors including women and the only male survivor, the courageous stand taken by Zainab binte Ali in Yazid's court, and the guidance that the lineage of Fatima's children have continued to give to both the Sunni and the Shia sects as Imams, Sufis, leaders and mujahids , we will realise that both Sunnis and Shias have a common faith and a common legacy...

Talk peace and unite O Muslims if only for the sake of fighting the common enemy. Ameen.

The month of muharram is not a blessed month because karballa took place (as the article suggests), rather karballa took place on the blessed month.

Although Muharram is a sanctified month as a whole, yet, the 10th day of Muharram is the most sacred among all its days. The day is named 'Ashurah'. According to the Holy Companion Ibn 'Abbas, Radi-Allahu anhu. The Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, when migrated to Madinah, found that the Jews of Madinah used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram. They said that it was the day on which the Holy Prophet Musa (Moses), alayhis salam, and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously and the Pharaoh was drowned in its waters. On hearing this from the Jews, the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "We are more closely rotated to Musa, alayhi salam, than you," and directed the Muslims to fast on the day of 'Ashura'. (Abu Dawood)

Another wrong practice related to this month is to hold the lamentation and mouming ceremonies in the memory of martyrdom of Sayyidna Husain, Radi-Allahu anhu. As mentioned earlier, the event of Karbala is one of the most tragic events of our history, but the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, has forbidden us from holding the mourning ceremonies on the death of any person. The people of jahiliyyah (ignorance) used to mourn over their deceased through loud lamentations, by tearing their clothes and by beating their cheeks and chests. The Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, stopped the Muslims from doing all this and directed them to observe patience by saying "Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji'oon". A number of authentic Ahaadith are available on the subject. To quote only one of them:

"He is not from our group who slaps his checks, tears his clothes and cries in the manner of the people of jahiliyyah." (Sahih Bukhari)

source: http://www.albalagh.net/general/muharram.shtml#Fasting%20During%20the%20Month

Great article MPACUK !

JAK

I would just like to agree with Brother Abu Uthman.. that i too noticed that the author did not put in brackets(ra).. i do hope this was a genuine mistake and not a deliberate act of degrading Muawiah(ra) who is a great Sahabi.The Prophet s.a.w Said "The first Army that will fight a NAVAL battle in my Ummah will have made Jannah incumbent upon themselves"(bukhari)... Muawiya(ra) prepared the first Naval force in Islam aganist the romans.. Ibn Abbas(ra)once said"Muawiah(ra) is a jurist and he has enjoyed the companionship of Nabi(s.a.w), hence you should not talk ill of him"... May Allah s.w.t give us the ability to love the Family and the Sahabah of the Prophet(s.a.w) without any distinction..ameen

I agree with brother "Sirah Ibn Ishhaq" that we should not talk about divisions between Muslims and let's talk about unity.

I was reading the article until I got to the sentence when Imam Hussain (as) "allegedly" said:
"On the tenth of this month you will see our dead bodies lying on this plain with our heads severed and taken away. Please bury us, and when our devotees come to visit our graves, treat them with honour and point out to them the places of our burial."

Then I knew that this was written by a Shiite because neither Imam Hussain nor anyone in the world would know the future except God almighty. Even Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) never knew the future except by the teachings of God through angel Gebril (as).

How could Imam Hussain know the future??????

By the way I'm Muslim, a proud Muslim.

Salam Alaikom.

Tha Messenger of Allah(pbuh) observed fasting on the day of Ashura and commanded us to fast on this day.(Al Bukhari and Muslim) The observance of two saum on the occasion is a sunnah of the prophet(pbuh).These two fasts could be observed on the 9th or the 10th or 10th and 11th.

According to the Quran and Sunnah the fasting has nothing to do with the tragedy in Kerbala. We fast on these days because Allah (swt)granted Prophet Musa emancipation from Pharoah on this day.

Our Deen was perfected for us by Allah(swt) and demonstared to us by our beloved prophet (pbuh). The incident of Kerbala took place after the departure of our prophet(pbuh). It is best for our deen and the hereafter we stay away from practises which are not from the sunnah.

Salaams, I agree with brother Abu Uthman, Dude and Abu Adil that i too noticed that the author did not put in brackets(ra).. i do hope this was a genuine mistake and not a deliberate act of degrading Muawiah(ra) who is a great Sahabi.The Prophet s.a.w Said "The first Army that will fight a NAVAL battle in my Ummah will have made Jannah incumbent upon themselves"(bukhari)... Muawiya(ra) prepared the first Naval force in Islam aganist the romans.. Ibn Abbas(ra)once said"Muawiah(ra) is a jurist and he has enjoyed the companionship of Nabi(s.a.w), hence you should not talk ill of him"... May Allah s.w.t give us the ability to love the Family and the Sahabah of the Prophet(s.a.w) without any distinction..ameen

To this day we mention yazids name in disgust at the actions that were carried out in his name.

but one thing i cannot understand is why people calling themselves shias beat themselves and cut themselves which is a very hindu custom to show their love for their gods.

we belive hazrat hussain radi tallah unho was a shaheed and he gave the lives of his beloved and himself so that his grandfathers mission of tawheed did not fail, yet from this issue many issues of shirk have sprung.

When Allah tells us not to mourn shaheeds but to rejoice and wish that we to could join them as shaheeds, why do people carry out totally wrong actions on a day of victory for islam.

I noticed in this article that Hazrat Ali-Hazrat hassan-hazrat hussain-hazrat-abbas R.A all have A.S. after their names yet Hazrat Uthman has R.A.

Is this a oversight because we have been taught that only prophets have the words A.S after their names and other notables of islam have R.A.

the tenth of ashur has got nothing to do with the martyrdom of hazrat hussain R.A as this was something from the time of musa A.S and our prophet peace be upon them told us to fast the 9th or 11 th of muharram when fasting on the tenth.

We should be highlighting the martyrdom of hazrat hussain R.A and their beloved ones to show that we should never compromise our islamic principles and duties,by crying and lamenting we are not honouring them but doing injustice to their sacrifice.

Ma3shallah. This is a terrific article and very informative. Thank you for recognising an event that some try to ignore or sadly deny. There is no doubt about the occurrence of this event from shia, sunni or non muslim books so i do not understand why people find it so offensive ot talk about it.Surely the prophet(pbuh)said Hasan and Husayn will be the chiefs of the youth in paradise. Inshallah we follow their example and live our life in rememberance of the sacrifices the prophet(pbuh) and his holy progeny(as) made to deliver the true Islam. Without their sacrifices we may have been of the unfortunate ones. Inna lilah was inna ilayi raji3oon.

Firstly with regards to this website, admirable work towards Muslim unity is unparallel. I would like to thank you for all hard work and spreading the message of truth, May Allah s.w.t. give you more strength & courage.

Its shameful how some among us are still way behind either to identify how you are being divided & over powered one by one or are really Zionist agents. Read this excellent piece dated 22 January: http://heshamtillawi.wordpress.com/

I am very shocked by this article and sad to see MPACUK to allow this on there website.just read these 2 statements in the article above.. which are clearly degradig and mocking a Great Sahabi Muawiyah(r.a).. has MPACUK become a Anti Sahabah platform?.....
"During Muawiya’s Caliphate, the Islamic empire saw many violations of human rights as Muawiya heavily suppressed any dissidence"..."Yazid, like his father dealt harshly with anyone who dared to say anything against him".. Someone at MPACK needs to sit down and think what dirsection they are taking.... Anyone mocking the Family of the Prophet s.a.w is out the fold and likewise anyone mocking the Sahabah is also out the fold... I would appreciate it if this article be removed.. Jazak_Allah

I don't doubt for one moment that Hazarat Husayn is a hero and the martyr of all martyrs.
But please when you refer to a Sahabi like Muawiyah(r.a.) you add (r.a.) since unlike Yazid he did have religious credentials and greatly expanded the domain of Islam. Also MPAC should do their utmost to ensure that there is not selective editing to appease one sect of muslims over another.

Dear,I would like to comment that what ever happened in Karbala was not Yazeed mistake in fact it was the poeple of Karbala who cheated them called them covertly.I am writing this because it is time for Sunni and shias to come forward and unite.Sunnis admire Ahlaybayt as much as first three Khulfai Rasasheedin.But on the other hand Shias rebuke,lampoon and lambaste first three khulfaiyrashydeen for nothing.we should be working on things which are commonly admired by us.Our future is very good on condition of being united.RegardsZoryaan

The events at the Lal Mosque in Pakistan are yet another reminder of the past, i.e Karbala, and what become of the House of Allah (Mosque)

"You called on this good servant of God. When he responded, you welcomed him and claimed that you do not mind getting killed to spare him. Then you changed your minds, transgressing against him with a view to killing him. You put a stranglehold on him, stretched his patience, and besieged him to prevent him from seeking a safe haven in Allah's vast land. He became like a hostage. You denied him, members of his household and his companions access to the waters, cut the electricity, food, bombing them whilst the women and children and companion, are dying of thirst, drenched in blood, terrified of the noise, attacking like thiefs in the middle of the night under cover of darkness.

May Allah not give you drink on the day of thirst, for depriving those who were in His sacred House.