Ashura, the 10thday of Muharram, is well-known because of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (A.S), the grandson of the holy prophet of Islam Muhammad (peace be upon him) along with members of his family and faithful companions at Karbala in the year 61 AH (680 AD).
Hussain ibn Ali was born in Medina in 626 CE and was the son of Ali-ibn Abi Talib (PBUH), the first Imam of the Shia.
Imam Hussain (A.S) and a majority of true Muslims believed that Yazid the then brutal ruler of Bani Ummayad was openly going against the pure and genuine teachings of Islam in public and violating the Sunnah of the holy prophet and the core practices of Islam
Yazid demanded Imam Hussain (A.S) to express an endorsement and allegiance for his illegitimate rule and actions, but the infallible Imam refused to do so.
Yazid became upset and furious by growing religious and spiritual influence of the infallible Imam among masses of the Islamic society. He felt that Imam’s pure teachings could shake very basic pillars of his fragile and illegitimate rule.
At this Yazid and his evil forces started to conspire against Imam Hussain (A.S) and devised plots for his assassination. Imam left Media for Mecca so he could inform the Muslim pilgrims about Yazid’s vicious agenda and goals.
Then the infallible Imam left Mecca for Kufa after receiving several letters and invitations from residents of that city. But the holy Imam in his path towards Kufa was intercepted by the army of Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad, the then governor of Kufa and a puppet installed by Yazid over the region.