The Day of Ashura: A Legacy of Truth, Thirst, and Unshakable Faith

The Day of Ashura: A Legacy of Truth, Thirst, and Unshakable Fait

The Day of Ashura, 10th of Muharram is not just a date in Islamic history. It is a mirror to our souls. It is the day when the scorching plains of Karbala bore witness to the ultimate sacrifice in defence of truth, justice, and dignity. 

It was on this day that Imam al-Hussain ibn Ali (رضي الله عنه), the beloved grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)، stood with 72 loyal companions against an army of thousands. He stood not to claim power, but to uphold the values of Islam when they were at risk of being trampled. 

For most of us, Ashura is a day of heartbreak. But it is also a day of revival. A day to introspect within our lives, assess if our priorities are in the right place, and whether our hearts long for this temporary ‘Dunya’ or an eternal ‘Akhirah’? 

The Morning of Ashura: Between the Sky and Dus

As the sun rose over Karbala, it did not rise on warriors-it rose on worshippers. 

Imam al-Hussain (رضي الله عنه), after a night spent in worship and Qur’an recitation, stood calmly, despite extreme thirst and hunger but wrapped in prayer and patience. His camp was not marked by fear, but by faith. Each companion stepped forward, whether young and old, to offer their lives before Imam Hussain’s (رضي الله عنه) was taken. Among them was his teenage nephew,  Qasim ibn al-Hasan (رضي الله عنه), twins Aun and Muhammad (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُم) his loyal brother Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas (رضي الله عنه), his 18 years old son Ali Akbar (رضي الله عنه) and even his six-month-old baby, Ali Asghar (رضي الله عنه). 

One by one, they fell, but their spirits rose to the heavens, draped in honour as ‘Nafsul Mutmainnah’-the tranquil souls! 

A Day of Thirst and Tear

The enemies of Imam Hussain (رضي الله عنه) did not just fight him, they had starved him, his family, and the children in his camp. For three days, they were denied even a drop of water in the searing heat of the desert. Mothers tried to soothe their crying children, but their own lips were parched. 

In perhaps the most heartbreaking moment of Ashura, Imam Hussain (رضي الله عنه) held his infant son, Ali Asghar, in his arms and urged the enemy, “If I have done wrong, what sin has this baby committed?” But even this plea was answered with a fatal arrow that struck the infant’s neck instead of water that could’ve quenched his thirst! 

The Qur’an tells us: 

"And do not think of those who are killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision." 
(Surah Aali Imran 3:169) 

These were not deaths, they were eternal triumphs. 

The Final Stan

As the last of his faithful companions fell upon the burning sands of Karbala, a haunting silence descended. Imam al-Hussain (رضي الله عنه) stood utterly alone—his body pierced and bloodied, his heart heavy with the weight of truth, yet his soul remained unshaken. He looked across the battlefield—not with despair, but with divine resolve. In that heart-wrenching moment, he raised his voice and cried out: 

"هَلْ مِنْ نَاصِرٍ يَنْصُرُنَا؟" 
"Is there anyone to help us? Is there anyone to support us?" 

It was not a cry of desperation, it was a call across time, reaching into our hearts even today, asking: Will you rise for truth? Will you stand against oppression? 

Wounded and weary, Imam Hussain (رضي الله عنه) made his final approach to the battlefield-not as a defeated man, but as a mountain of courage, embodying the message of his grandfather (ﷺ). His lips, though parched, moved in remembrance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). His heart, though broken by loss, overflowed with submission. And in those last sacred moments, he lowered his blessed head in prostration, whispering to his Lord. 

There, in sujood, beneath the blazing sun and dust of Karbala, he surrendered his soul, not with anger, but with serenity. He did not leave the world as a victim, but as a victorious martyr, a guiding lantern for all who seek the path of righteousness for as long as this world continues to exist. 

The Silence That Followe

After the massacre, the women and children, now orphans, were left under the burning sun. Among them was Sayyida Zainab (رضي الله عنه)ا, who carried the message of Karbala with unmatched strength. She turned loss into legacy. She turned grief into resistance. 

And today, we must ask ourselves-what will we carry forward? 

Are we living with the dignity that Imam Hussain (رضي الله عنه) died for? 

Are we teaching our children values of sacrifice, truth, and compassion, or are we losing ourselves in this Dunya? 

Let Karbala Move You to Actio

Karbala was a battle against thirst and cruelty. 

Today, children are still thirsty. Still orphaned. Still suffering. 

Let the memory of the children of Karbala move you to ease the suffering of children today. 

 Give water in their name. Sponsor an orphan in their name. 

Because when you quench a thirst, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 

"The best charity is giving water to drink." 
(Ahmad, Abu Dawood – Sahih) 

And when you care for an orphan: 

"I and the one who looks after an orphan will be together in Paradise like this." 
(Sahih al-Bukhari) 

Let us not just be sad for Karbala. Let us live Karbala.