Leaflet 10

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Public Information Leaflet 10. [3 July 2012]

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God, His Message, and His Guides

This leaflet explain the day of mourning which we are marking as part of our religion. We Shia Muslims believe in One God, and, we accept His Message, and, we obey the Guides to show us the true way.

God appointed Mohammad as the Prophet, and He appointed Ali as the Imam.

The Prophet was sent to deliver the Divine Code to mankind. He also set a practical example of behaviour on how to implementing the Will of God in your lives. The Imam was chosen to Guide humanity towards truth and happiness. Imam also explained to people the details of the Ultimate Law that govern the Universe. He was there to lead the people out of Darkness if they so wish to enter the Light.

Only a few people loved God. They did not like the Divine Plan. Therefore, a small number of people accepted the Message which was delivered by the Prophet. Also, only a few good people had followed the Pure Way of the Imam. They made up their own ways and followed their own desires. They believed in false knowledge given to them.

Most people only pretended to listen to Mohammad. They were not serious about Guidance shown by Ali. Some of them hated the Prophet and the Imam. When they saw Prophet succeed in controlling Arabia, they became greedy and selfish. They planned to take power away from the Prophet. They rejected the Imam and chose their own leaders.

When Prophet died, they left his body and took control of leadership. The Holy Throne was stolen. These people persecuted the family of the Prophet. They tied the Imam with rope and forced him to recognise their rulers. They suppressed the true followers of Ali. After grabbing the seat of Mohammad, they became rich and powerful. Ali was eventually killed. Ali has two sons, Hasan and Husayn. Hasan was also assassinated. Husayn was asked to accept Yazid.

When an evil king Yazid came to power, he tried to force the son of Ali, Husayn, to submit to his rule. Husayn refused to accept Yazid as his leader. Husayn's life was made difficult by Yazid. Husayn decided to leave his home in Medina, and escape to India. Yazid gave order to his army to capture Husayn. Husayn took with him his family and friends. The holy caravan was moving across the desert. It was ambushed by Yazid’s army. Place was called Karbala. It is in Iraq, near the River Euphrates.

Husayn had no chance against the Army. Husayn had 120 men and Yazid's army had 10,000 soldiers. Soldiers first cut off the water supply from the river. Then one by one the killing began. First they slaughtered his 18 year old son Ali Akbar. Then they killed his young nephews, Oun and Mohamed. Soldiers continued to finish relatives of Husayn. Husayn's brother Abbas was held by the soldiers, and both his arms were cut. After that they murdered one by one the friends who had followed Husayn. In the camp, Husayn had a 6 month old son Ali Asgar. Husayn held high his baby in his arms. He pleaded to soldiers for some water for the child. One soldiers fired an arrow. It went through the neck of the baby. The infant was pinned to his father's arm. The mothers cried loudly as they watch the horrible scene taking place before their eyes. The women would not do anything to save their relatives from Yazid's army. Finally, Husayn was attacked. He fell from his horse. His body was full of arrows. Soldiers came with their swords and knives towards the fallen hero. They all fell upon him. Husayn was butchered. Then his head was cut off from the body and placed of a spear. Soldiers simliarly cut the heads from other bodies so they could take them to Yazid as trophies. Before leaving Karbala, the soldiers ran their horses over the dead bodies as a final act of desecration.

This massacre took place on 10th of Muharram (10 October 680). , known as day of Ashura.

Imam Husayn gave his life but did not accept an evil ruler. He said, "it is better to die with honour then to live in shame." Husayn lived and died for Truth and Freedom. He sacrificed his life to save humanity from Darkness and Evil. Husayn loved God. God gives Eternal Life to the Martyrs. Followers of this Holy Family remember the day every year. They mourn the suffering inflicted on the innocent Imam and his family.

God bless Husayn and his family.

For more information: http://www.ukshias.blogspot.com/

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