The Imam (PBUH) told them...

The Imam (PBUH) told them: “Never will I accept disgrace and surrender to Yazid, Death for me is superior to disgrace and I am ready to defend Islam and the Muslims until I am martyred.” At a place called Karbala Imam Hussein (PBUH), his family and helpers were surrounded by Yazid’s troops. The Imam (PBUH) and his followers stood firm as they fought against the thousands of troops of Yazid. Finally, on 10th Muharram, 61 AH (the day we call Ashura) they were martyred.

Imam Husain (PBUH) and his followers were martyred, but they did not submit to injustice and oppression. They defended Islam and the Muslims. With their blood, they saved Islam and the Quran from the danger of annihilation at the hands of Yazid. Imam Husain (PBUH) fought against oppression and defended the religion of Islam, and by doing so, he taught the world the greatest lesson on freedom and righteousness.

For this reason, we call Imam Husain (PBUH) “Sayyid al-Shuhada” which means lord of the martyrs. Now the turn has come for us to safeguard and defend Islam. We must shoulder this magnificent responsibility. The purposes of Imam Husain to fight against Yazid Imam Hussein (PBUH) did not possess the necessary force that would enable him to win; he did not even rely on those who wrote to him from Kufa. For he declared his revolution before he received their letters and delegates.

The peple of the Hijaz too did not give him enough support to be able to stand against the Umayyads. Therefore, he decided to leave Hijaz to Iraq for the sole reason of preventing any blood shedding in the Holy City of Mecca. Moreover, he knew that he was destined to die, yet he went on. Why then did he insist; and why did he declare his revolution?

To answer this question, one should be aware of the following facts: First: Yazid represented a real danger to the Islamic nation, for he was not a true and real Muslim. He was not properly educated with the teachings of Islam. In addition, he used to drink alcohol, gamble, and commit all other sins according to historic sources. He said: Banu-Hashim staged a play to obtain the Kingdom. Actually, there was neither any news (from Allah) nor any revelation.

Such a man could not be entrusted with the affairs of the nation. Nevertheless, the faithful forces, with Imam Husain (PBUH) as their leader, had benefited a lot from these points of weakness in the personality of such an evil ruler.