Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi’s Words of Advice to the Commemorators of Imam al-Husayn’s Martyrdom in the beginning of the Month of Muharram

The month of Muharram which is a time to commemorate and mourn the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn is one of the great treasures of not only the Shi’a world, but all of the Muslim world.

The Events of Muharram 10th as Narrated by Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

Imam Husayn(‘a) chants prayers on Ashura morning/Imam Husayn(‘a)’s sermon on Ashuramorning/ Imam Husayn(‘a)’s heroic speech directed at the enemy army/Ḥurr ibn Yazid Riyāḥī regrets being against Imam Husayn(‘a) and comes to fight for the Imam/Battle Commences: a number of Imam Husayn(‘a)’s companions are killed in the first wave of the attacks/The martyrs of the first wave of the attacks on the day of Ashura/Single combats commence and Imam Husayn(‘a)’s companions are martyred one by one/Noontime and Imam Husayn(‘a)’s last prayer/The martyrdom of the last companions of the Imam/Imam Husayn(‘a)’s last stand and martyrdom/What happened after Imam Husayn(‘a)’s martyrdom/ Imam Husayn(‘a)’s weapons and clothes are plundered/The pillage of the camp/ The burning down of Imam Husayn(‘a)’s camp/The trampling of the martyrs’ bodies/Sending the sacred head of Imam Husayn(‘a) to Kūfah.

The Events of Muharram 9th as Narrated by Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

The arrival of Shimr in Karbala/Besieging Imam Husayn (‘a)’s camp in Karbala/Safe-conduct for Umm Al Banīn (‘a)’s sons/The mobilization of troops to begin the war/The speech of Imam Husayn (‘a) to his companions/Imam Husayn (‘a) advises the women of the Ahl-al-Bayt (‘a) to be patient in the face of calamities to come

The Events of Muharram 7th as Narrated by Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

The day ʿUbaydullah’s army cut the access of Imam Husayn (‘a)’s caravan to the water of Euphrates/ Imam Husayn (‘a) curses Abdullah ibn Ḥuṣain Azdi: “O’ Lord! Let him die of thirst!”/ Imam Husayn (‘a) curses the enemy army for their wickedness/ Muslem ibn ʿAwsajah j o i ns Imam Husayn (‘a) in Karbala.

The Events of Muharram 6th as Narrated by Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

Ḥabīb ibn Muẓāhir calls the Bani-Asad clan to j o i n Imam Husayn('a)/ The Bani-Asad flag and fail in aiding Imam Husayn('a)/ Imam Husayn('a) sends a letter from Karbala to his brother, Muhammad ibn Ḥanafiyyah, and the rest of the Bani-Hāshem

The Events of Muharram 2nd as Narrated by Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

The arrival of Imam Husayn ('a)’s caravan in Karbala/ Imam Husayn ('a)’s remarks upon his arrival in Karbala/ʿUbaydullah ibn Ziad learns about Imam Husayn ('a)’s arrival in Karbala/The Letter of ʿUbaydullah ibn Ziad to Imam Husayn ('a) on Muharram 2nd/ Imam Husayn ('a)’s crushing response to Ibn Ziad/ Imam Husayn ('a)’s uncompromising attitude toward injustice and its agents/ Imam Husayn ('a)’s letter to the people of Kūfah/ Imam Husayn ('a)’s last word of warning to the people of Kūfah

The Events of Muharram 1st as Narrated by Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

Muharram, a time of grief and sorrow for the Ahl-al-Bayt (‘a)/Muharram from the viewpoint of Imam Riḍa (‘a)/ The Imam camps at a lodging place called the “Palace of Bani-Muqātil”/ Imam Husayn (‘a) asking ʿUbaydullah ibn Ḥurr to j o i n and help him/ Imam Husayn’s (‘a) remarks to ʿUbaydullah ibn Ḥurr Juʿfī/ ibn Ḥurr: one of those who remained behind/ Imam Husayn (‘a)’s last ultimatum to all the people

The Strategic Characteristics of the Yearly Arba'in Processions By Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

Indeed, the ceremonies held on Arbaʿīn are one of the noblest traditions of the religion of Islam. These ceremonies have deep roots within the religion itself and they were handed down to us from the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (ʿa) themselves. In spite of all the years which have passed since the great uprising of Karbala, perhaps it is still too soon for us to truly understand the profound reality of Imam al-Husayn (ʿa)’s sacrifice.