Raghib in his Mufradat al-Qur’an says that the two terms "Khalq" (creation) and "Khulq" (human traits) are, in fact, identical; but the former refers to superficial configurations which are observable with naked eyes, whereas the latter refers to the...

Raghib in his Mufradat al-Qur’an says that the two...

Bani Umayyah not only opposed holding mourning ceremonies for the Doyen of Martyrs, Imam al-Husayn (as), but they also went so far as to introduce it as a day for festivities and happy celebrations. They did this as a practical measure of opposing mo...

Bani Umayyah not only opposed holding mourning cer...

Some contemporary Shi‘ah jurisprudents have issued religious edicts [fatwas] that fasting on the day of ‘Ashura is undesirable [makruh] but not absolutely prohibited [haram]. Other Shi‘ah jurisprudents, such as Bahrani and Majlisi, have gone so far a...

Some contemporary Shi‘ah jurisprudents have issued...

Although the chains of transmission of hadiths which denote that fasting on the day of ‘Ashura is prohibited have been disputed by some jurisprudents, we can nonetheless vindicate them and make up for their weak forms and aspects: 1. These hadiths h...

Although the chains of transmission of hadiths whi...

1. On his own chain of transmission Shaykh Saduq narrates that Imam al-Baqir (as) said, «کان صومه قبل شهر رمضان، فلمّا نزل شهر رمضان ترك.» “The fast of the day of ‘Ashura used to be observed before the Qur’anic verse about the fast of t...

1. On his own chain of transmission Shaykh Saduq n...

There is a number of hadiths that have mentioned the fast of ‘Ashura: With recourse to Shi‘ah sources of hadiths, we come to know that it has been narrated in some hadiths that the one who quits this fast has to atone and expiate for his actions for...

There is a number of hadiths that have mentioned t...

When we study history, we come to know that the Jews organized their traditions around their own calendar. The Jews had their own months which did not coincide with the Islamic calendar. There is no logic in saying that they ‘fasted on the 10th of Mu...

When we study history, we come to know that the Je...

1. Qadi ‘Ayni says, “They have differed about the judgement of fasting during the early days of Islam. Abu Hanifah has said that it was wajib to fast on the day of ‘Ashura in the past. Shafi‘i’s companions have given two opinions: the most famous opi...

1. Qadi ‘Ayni says, “They have differed about the ...

Mu‘awiyah took advantage of this opportunity. He sent a letter to Imam al-Hasan (as) in which he proposed peace. He said Imam al-Hasan (as) was free to demand any conditions for himself, his Ahl al-Bayt (as) and his Shi‘ahs. In his reply, Imam al-Ha...

Mu‘awiyah took advantage of this opportunity. He s...

Imam al-Hasan (as) ascended to the leadership of Kufah at a time when Mu‘awiyah was planning to mount a decisive war against the Imam and bring about a final conquest of Kufah. In some of his letters to his governors and appointed stooges, Mu‘awiyah...

Imam al-Hasan (as) ascended to the leadership of K...

In order for us to understand the conditions of the people of Kufah, the people who pledged allegiance with Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba (as), it is important to refer to Imam ‘Ali’s (as) words about them, because he lived with them for many years and wa...

In order for us to understand the conditions of th...

Historians have narrated that when Abu al-Fadl al-‘Abbas (as) decided to go on the battlefield, Imam al-Husayn (as) requested that he bring some water for the children and newborns. Abu al-Fadl (as) got a water skin and mounted his horse. He started...

Historians have narrated that when Abu al-Fadl al-...

Historians have recounted: When Muslim ibn ‘Aqil was informed that ‘Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad had made a speech warning the people of Kufah not to follow him, Muslim ibn ‘Aqil feared that the government agents would arrest and kill him. For this reason, ...

Historians have recounted: When Muslim ibn ‘Aqil w...

The question which is put forward at this juncture is this: Does this permission mean that Imam al-Husayn (as) gave his companions clearance from duty and acquittal from the obligation of fighting? Does it imply that they were free from any obligatio...

The question which is put forward at this juncture...

With recourse to history, we come to know that Imam al-Husayn (as) gave two types of permission to his companions. A. General permission Imam al-Husayn (as) addressed his companions in a general way, «أمّا بعد؛ فانّي لا اعلم اصحاباً اوفی ولا...

With recourse to history, we come to know that Ima...

In a previous discussion, although we considered the topic of Imam al-Husayn’s (as) divine knowledge about his martyrdom, it is possible that this question has not been fully answered as regards the other Imams. The question which remains is, “Why d...

In a previous discussion, although we considered t...

We have gathered from the proofs previously presented that Imam al-Husayn (as) had knowledge about his impending martyrdom. But the question is: Does Islam allow a person to take measures which are sure to result in his own death? Wouldn’t this be co...

We have gathered from the proofs previously presen...

The topic of Imam al-Husayn’s (as) knowledge about his own martyrdom is something that is not hidden to any researcher of history and can be proven in a variety of ways: 1. In general, all Shi‘ahs believe that Imam al-Husayn (as) and all the other I...

The topic of Imam al-Husayn’s (as) knowledge about...

Imam al-Husayn (as) bestowed the title, “the Shi‘ahs of Abu Sufiyan” on the soldiers of ‘Umar ibn Sa‘d. He addressed them in this way, «ويحکم يا شيعه آل ابي سفيان! إن لم يکن لکم دين، وکنتم لا تخافون المعاد، فکونوا أحراراً في دنياکم.» “W...

Imam al-Husayn (as) bestowed the title, “the Shi‘a...

When we inspect historical accounts, we see that the commanders of ‘Umar ibn Sa‘d’s army were bitter and obstinate enemies of Imam al-Husayn (as) and the Ahl al-Bayt (as). They were all of Nawasib, Khawarij and Umayyad descent, including ‘Ubayd Allah...

When we inspect historical accounts, we see that t...

After Muslim ibn ‘Aqil came to Kufah, and before the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (as), a number of people were martyred because of paying allegiance or sending messages to Imam al-Husayn. Others were martyred because they wanted to escape and help Im...

After Muslim ibn ‘Aqil came to Kufah, and before t...