Iranians observe day of Tasu'a in honor of Imam Hussein
Yusef Jalali
Press TV, Tehran
Voices of grief and sorrow for Imam Hussein, the third Shia Imam -- a man who lived 14 centuries ago but continues to inspire Muslims.
Every year during the first 10 days of the Muslim-calendar month of Muharram, Iranians get together in large mourning processions to mark the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein. He and his companions were killed by the forces of the tyrannical ruler of the time, Yazid ibn Muawiyah, on the plains of the modern-day Iraqi city of Karbala.
The ninth day of Muharram is called Tasua and is associated with Imam Hussain’s half-brother, Abolfazl al-Abbas, who fought alongside the imam against the army of Yazid. Abulfazl is highly revered among Muslims as a symbol of loyalty.
The Karbala tragedy was sparked after Imam Hussain refused to pledge allegiance to the corrupt caliph Yazid. These people say, without the sacrifices of Imam Hussein, Islam as we know it could have been distorted by Yazid.
The climax of the Muharram rituals is the day of Ashura, which falls on the tenth day of the month. That’s when large groups of Shia Muslims converge at Imam Hussain’s shrine in the holy city of Karbala in Iraq to pay homage to him.
The event of Karbala is a tragic story that touches the heart of every listener. However, these people say aside from its tragic side, Imam Hussein's martyrdom is an endless source of learning about freedom and resistance for all generations.
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