By MohammedulBaqir N Khanbhai.

The 10th of Moharram 61 Hijri, holds a unique significance in the history of Islam. It was on this day that the infant mission of Islam, on he verge of collapse, was saved by Imam Hussein (as) and his heroic companions at Kerbala. The events of that tragic day stir and awaken sympathy of the coldest heart. It has often been asked what Imam Hussein's (as) sacrifice has meant in history and some even question the wisdom of striking at a mighty force like that of Ummayyad. To understand this the events proceeding the tragedy of Kerbala must be inspected.

"Moulana Ally (as) on coming to"Zaheri Khilafat" started bringing back the true traditions of Islam. He had to bring the administration to proper footing by removing corrupt and incompetent governors and improve wide financial gap existing between the rich and the poor and the unjust social privileges brought about by the previous administrations. These reforms upset the previous governors and all those who enjoyed privileges during previous administrations. He had to bring down a revolt by Talha and Zubeir and had to fight Moawiya who during the second and the third's reign was governor of Syria and had gained a foothold there.

Moawiya soon realized that he was not fighting Moulana Ally (as) as a person but the ideals and policies that he advocated. To defend his authority, he started fabricating Hadith and distorting the interpretation of the Holy Quran. One sample of his fabrication of Hadith is Through Abu Hurrairah, the Prophet said 'God has trusted three for his revelation: myself, Jibrael and Moawiya.' Meanwhile Moulana Ally (as) was assassinated in Kuffah mosque. Imam Hassan (as) succeeded Moulana Ally (as) but due to circumstances he had to make a truce with Moawiya. Thus Moawiya was given access to rule the whole country but even then Moawiya seeking absolute safety and power killed Imam Hassan (as) by poisoning, through Imam's own spouse.

Moawiya's rule was of terror and injustice. He collected Zakaat from the people and used it for his own purpose. He created rift between Arabs and non Arabs and employed spies to terrorize people. Moawiya held religion very cheap and when it interfered with his objects didn’t hesitate to create a precedent. To crown his dictatorial and un-Islamic rule, Moawiya installed his son Lain Yazeed to succeed him.

Laeen Yazeed, on coming to power on his father's death, required by Imam Hussein (as) the oath of fealty to the throne of Damascus. Rather than be forced to swear allegiance to a man who was a pagan at heart and whose wickedness had undermined the foundations of religion and morality, Imam Hussein (as) sacrificed his life and those of his family and loyal friends at Kerbala suffering pangs of hunger and thirst for three days. For a person of Yazeed laeen's evil genius even to have come to be a caliph of the Muslim is an irony of history. Yazeed Laeen was adorned with every vice that one could think of and was far from the principles that Islam prophesied.

This is what Encyclopedia Britannica has to say about Yazeed laeen and his ancestry: One of the most violent opponents of the Prophet had been the father of the vary Moawiya who founded the Ommayad dynasty, Abu Sofyan, grandson of Ommaya, the leader of the Meccans in the battle of Ohod (against Prophet Mohammed (saw) in the early years of Islam); and it is related that his wife Hind, having found Hamza, Mohammed’s uncle, among the dead cut open his body and tore out and devoured his liver, Abu Sofyan, ultimately embraced Islam, but only under compulsion. His son Moawiya's faith was never strong and he always made the religion subordinate to the interest of his family.

Ziyad was governor of Basra. This person was Moawiya's own brother but illegitimate and not having been acknowledged by his father Abu Sofyan. Moawiya gained him over to his cause by publicly acknowledging him as his brother. Yazeed laeen, passionately fond of pleasure and careless about religion, bestowed more care on turning a pretty couplet than on consolidating the strength of his empire.

On other hand we find that Imam Hussein (as) is regarded by historians in high esteem and veneration. He had every virtue, energy, decision and foresight. He was a gallant warrior, wise counselor, a true friend and a benevolent leader. Above all, Imam Hussein (as) bears a noble heritage. He was the grandson of Prophet Mohammed (saw) and son of Moulana Ally (as) and Moulatena Fatema (as) both of whom were regarded very dearly by Prophet Mohammed (saw) .If Imam Hussein (as) flesh and blood of the very Prophet whose religion Yazeed Laeen claimed to profess, had not challenged Yazeed, The Muslim of the time given to blind loyalty to Yazeed Laeen would have gone astray from the true principles of Islam. Thus the most significant result of the tragedy of Kerbala was that Imam Hussein (as) at the expense of suffering torture and death saving Islam from ruins.

Today, at Kerbala, looking at the magnificent mausoleum of Imam Hussein (as) one wonder if the victor of the day, Yazeed Laeen has even a grave to remind where he was buried. History over the years has proved that Imam Hussein (as) and his loyal followers who were killed at Kerbala die not in vain but in true honor.