Muharram Activity Booklet-1

ACTIVITY BOOKLET Issue #1

Muharram 1430

First Muharram IMuharram is the 1st month of the Islamic calendar. Islamic calendar also known as Hijri calendar that is based on the cycles of the moon phase also called lunar calendar. Lunar calendar has 12 lunar months in a year and typically has 354 days which is about 11 days shorter then a regular solar year. Numbers of days each month are based on lunar cycle which usually alternates between 29 and 30 days.

‫يسألونك عن‬ ‫الهلة قل هي‬ ‫مواقيت للناس‬ ‫ وليس البر‬#‫والحج‬

[2:189] They ask thee, (O Muhammad), of new moons, say: They are fixed seasons for mankind and for the pilgrimage.

All Muslims Observe Muharram Muharram is observed by Muslims all over the world as a month of mourning which reminds us the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS) and his noble family and friends. Imam Hussain (AS), grandson of Prophet (PBUH), was born in Medina on 3rd of Shaban in year 4 A.H. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said to Imam Hussain (AS): O my son! your flesh is my flesh and your blood is my blood, you are a leader, the son of a leader and the brother of a leader; you are a spiritual guide, the son of a spiritual guide and the brother of a spiritual guide; you are an Apostolical Imam, the son of an Apostolically Imam and the brother of an Apostolical Imam; your are the father of nine

Imams, the ninth of whom would be the Oaim (the last infallible spiritual guide). Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had openly prophesied that the faith of Islam would be rescued by his grandson Imam Hussain (AS), when Yazid, son of Mu’Awiyah, would try to destroy it. Mu’Awiyah and his aides made use of every possible means to put aside and move out of the way the Household of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) known as Ahle-bait and thus destroy the name of Imam Ali (AS) and his family. Mu’Awiyah wanted to strengthen the basis of the caliphate for Yazid who was opposed by a large group of Muslims because of his lack of principles and scruples. Therefore, in order to suppress all opposition, Mu’Awiyah had undertaken newer and more severe measures. By force Imam Hussain (AS) had to tolerate every kind of mental and spiritual torture and hardship from Mu’Awiyah and his aides-until in the middle of the year 60 AH, Mu’Awiyah died and his son Yazid took his place. Mu’Awiyah had told Yazid in his last will to pass over Imam Hussain (AS) and not • Muharram force him to • Crossword take the allegiance but • Color by the Yazid forced a numbers pledge right • Cartoon after his father’s death or requested the head of Imam Hussain (AS).

In This Issue

No Allegiance to Yazid Imam Hussain (AS) was determined about not giving his allegiance to Yazid and knew the consequences. Imam Hussain (AS) said: "You should know that these people namely the agents of the Caliphate of Bani Umayya follow Satan, carry out his orders and do not forsake his obedience. In the same proportion they have disobeyed Allah and started committing crimes openly and have suspended the Divine punishments. They have appropriated the property of the Muslims to themselves i.e. they have allocated to themselves the money which should have been credited to the public treasury of the Muslims; spent for their own selfish desires. They have treated the things made lawful by Allah to be unlawful and those made unlawful by Him to be lawful. Now that they have created these conditions, who can be more responsible to change them and eliminate the causes of

the decline of the Muslims in accordance with the orders of the Holy Prophet than myself. I am Husayn bin Ali, the son of Fatima, and one of those for whose sake the verse of Purification (33:33) and the verse of Mubahila (3:61) were revealed, and I am the disciple of Imam Ali, the Commander of the Faithful". Imam Hussain (AS), grandson of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), started his journey towards Karbala while he went to Makkah to perform Hajj and stayed there in refuge for about 4 months. Imam Hussain (AS) changed his plans when he received the news that Yazid had sent Umar Ibn Saad to kill him and to avoid any bloodshed in Makkah he left without performing Hajj. Imam Hussain encountered Hur bin Yazid Riyahi from Kufa along with one thousand horsemen to arrest Imam Hussain on 1st Muharram 61 AH. Imam Hussain (AS) and Hur accompanied by their respective companions reached a halting place called Bayza.

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T J C J S B Z Q A P X P BAYAT GRANDSON JOURNEY MUHARRAM SOLDIERS

DESERT IMAM MECCA MUSLIMS YEZID

FAMILY ISLAM MEDINA PROPHET

[2:213] Mankind were one community, and Allah sent (unto them) prophets as bearers of good tidings and as warners, and revealed therewith the Scripture with the truth that it might judge between mankind concerning that wherein they differed. And only those unto whom (the Scripture) was given differed concerning it, after clear proofs had come unto them, through hatred one of another. And Allah by His Will guided those who believe unto the truth of that concerning which they differed. Allah guideth whom He will unto a straight path. [Pooya/Ali Commentary 2:213] Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Mankind was ignorant, closely associated with each other in waywardness and lack of knowledge, before the revelation of divine wisdom. Therefore, prophets were sent to enable people to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong. It agrees with verse 19 of Yunus. So the purpose of the divine mission was not to bring unity among the people who differed in their religious ideologies, but to develop their aptitude for choosing the right path by pinpointing evil and evildoers. "And only those to whom the scriptures were given differed concerning it, after clear proofs had come to them, through hatred of one another", refers to the Jews and the Christians who profusely corrupted their scriptures. It also refers to the Muslims who misinterpret the verses of the Quran.