ASHURA: A NEW BLOOD IN THE BODY OF ISLAM

By: M.S. TAJAR, Ph.D.

Genesis of Martyrdom
The word martyr in Greek, and its Arabic equivalent Shaheed both
mean witness; just like those martyrs in the history of many nations, and many
tribes, who stand out as the purest and the foremost examples of witnessing i.e.
affirmation or the approval of any cause worth dying for, (as Mr. Benigno
Aquino, the national hero of the Philippine Peoples Power Revolution of the
1986, said, before his own assassination). One of the latest examples of this self
sacrifice for a right cause, could be seen in the Arab Spring of the 2011. It
started in Tunisia, then it went into Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria and now its in
Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates etc., all because of one young man
called Muhammad Buzizi, of Tunisia, who stood up against the dictatorship of
the Tunisian president Zainul Abidin Bin Ali, and he sacrificed himself. (For
details, you may Google the Arab Spring).

Socrates as a Martyr
In the Greek and the Western secular societies, no one is better known as a
martyr for a good cause, than the great teacher of Athens --Socrates. He gave his
own life, because he strongly believed in the Freedom of Thought/Free
Thinking/. His brave stand (=witnessing) caused many other intellectual
movements to follow, especially in the Western world, leading up to the
Renaissance movement in Europe, in the 15th Century, followed by the
Enlightenment which also gave birth to the French Revolution in 1672 and
many other revolutions that were inspired by it, both in the West, as well as in the
East.

Martyrs in the Abrahamic Religions

While Socrates and the following martyrs of the Western world i.e. the
victims of the Inquisition, the Reformation, etc. belong to the secular West, and
some also to the East, yet the most spectacular martyrs in the human history, came
from the so-called Abrahamic Religions and more specifically, from the three
major Unitarian Faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam (not to mention
Zoroastrianism, or the Majus/Magi Faith which is much older than those
three, and it has influenced all of them profoundly, too. Some scholars even say

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that Zoroaster could actually be the same Prophet Abraham. Remember that the
Prophet Abraham was thrown into a fire by Nimrud, but Allah (s.w.t) saved him;
now compare that story with the fire-adoration/not worship/ by the Zoroastrians.)

Going back to the martyrdom, here in brief, is the list of some of the well
known martyrs in the Abrahamic religions, a few of which we shall mention just
by name, and the rest we shall discuss more in details:
1. The first, and the earliest recorded martyr in those three major religions
wasAbel, one of the sons of the first Prophet Adam a.s., according to
the Holy Quran, as well as the Jewish and the Christian Holy Books.
Its narrated thatAbel or Habil, was killed by his own brother Cain or
Qabil out of jealousy, and that: Whose sacrifice was accepted or rejected by the
God Almighty. (Regarding this story please see the Bible or the Quran.)
2. The second famous martyr was John the Baptist, or Yahya a.s. again
according to the three Abrahamic Religions.
3. The Third famous martyr that comes to mind is Siyavash the
legendary martyr in the Zoroastrian religion. (See the Shah-Namah of
Ferdausi ).
4. Jesus Christ, or the Holy Prophet Eisa a.s., according to the Christian
history and traditions.(The Holy Quran says that Jesus was not crucified,
but rather he was taken up to Heaven/ H.Q Ch. 4/V.157).
5. Many other Christian martyrs, at the hands of the Jews or the Roman
rulers especially Stephen, the first Christian martyr, as well as St.
Peter who was also the first Pope, according to the Roman Catholic
Faith.
6. Another well known martyr, mentioned in the Holy Quran, was the
miraculous Camel of the Prophet Salih a.s. She was also a living
witness to the Religion of God vs. the Pagan practices of that time.
(See the Holy Quran, Ch. 91/V.13).

The Martyrs of Islam

1. The first Muslim martyr was a lady, by the name of Sumayyah who gave
her own life for her faith i.e. Islam, in Makkah, Year 10 before
Hijra/Circa 612 A.D. Aside from her, some other great Islamic martyrs are:
2. Hamzah (R.A) the uncle of the Holy Prophet Mohammad A.S. (whose liver
was eaten by Hind the wife of Abu Sufyan, and the mother to Muawia!).
3. Ja-far Tayyar (R.A) the cousin of the Holy Prophet A.S. and the brother of
Imam Ali A.S.
4. Lady Fatimah Zahra A.S. together with her unborn baby boy Mohsen
A.S. (Note: While the first martyr for Islam to be established, was a lady, i.e.
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 Sumayya, the first martyr for Islam to be protected, after the death of the
Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.f) was also a lady, i.e. Fatimah Zahra A.S., whose
Tasbihat all Muslim recite, five times a day, after their daily prayers!).
5. Ammar Yasir (R.A) whose mother, Sumayyah, was also the first martyr of
Islam. (Ammar Yasir, as it was prophesied by the Holy Prophet Mohammad
A.S. earlier, was Martyred by the rebellious group in the battle of Siffin,
i.e. Muawias rebellion against Imam Ali A.S. in the year 38 A.H.)
6. Imam Ali A.S. the cousin of the Holy Prophet A.S. and the first person to
openly declare his faith in Islam, and who constantly supported and
defended the Holy Prophets Great Mission, untill his own martyrdom in the
year 40 A.H. (661 A.D.)
7. Imam Hassan A.S.the beloved grandson of the Holy Prophet A.S. and the
eldest son of Imam Ali A.S. and the Lady Fatimah Zahra A.S.

But the most outstanding of all the martyrs, in Islam, nay, in the whole
history of the world was, and still is:
8. Imam Hosain A.S. (A.K.A Master of Martyrs/Sayyid Al-Shuhada)
another grandson of the Holy Prophet A.S., who is the main subject of our
study here, i.e. the Culture of Ashura.

Master of the Martyrs

Imam Hosains martyrdom in Karbala, on October 10, year 680 A.D. was a
turning point in the history of martyrdom, and the hight of self sacrifice for
a worthy cause. This great martyr of Islam, and humanity as a whole, has
been greatly appreciated and honored by almost all the peoples, nationalities
and religions, as well as by the secular, but freedom loving individuals of the
worldfrom Mahatma Gandhi to the Noble prize winning author,
Robindranath Tagore of India to Nelson Mandela of South Africa, and
from the Arab-Christian Scholars, like George Jeordac of Lebanon up to
the Guru Swamis of the Hindu religion, or Guru Nanak of the Sikhism,
etc.

Its so amazing to see that even the Hindus of India are

commemorating Ashura, and they, too, mourn for Imam Hosain A.S.
together with the Muslims, on that historic day. For example: 1) The Dalits
in India Take off their shoes on the day of Ashura and make their own
Matam for Imam Hosain calling him Baba Husain! They also fast on
that day, saying: Baba Husain suffered as we Dalits are suffering also from
the oppression, now 2) Aside from the Dalits /i.e the untouchables/ the
Brahmin Caste in India also commemorate Imam Husains Ashura. They
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 call themselves the Husaini Brahmins 3) Ashura is also a national
holiday in the Hindu majority India!
In the Middle Eastern countries like Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt
and the North Africa, even the Christians, the Jews, the Zoroastrians and
other religious minorities join the Muslim population, in remembrance of
Imam Hossains martyrdom, and sometimes, they hold their own
commemorations, honoring him in their own peculiar ways.

The Non-Muslims of Iran Commemorate, too.

In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the most populous Shiah country in the
Middle East, the tradition of the commemoration of Ashura has been practiced for
centuries, both in private as well as in public places, not only among the Shiah
majority, but also by the Sunni minority, as well as by the Zoroastrians/Parsis of
the Ancient Persia (who consider Imam Hosain A.S. as their own son-in-law
and a member of the family). Also the Armenians, the oldest and the first
Christian community in the world, do commemorate the martyrdom of Imam
Hosain A.S. most especially in countries like Azirbaijan, Iraq, Iran, Syria and
Lebanon.

In fact, those commemorations have become so popular and so attractive

among their youth, that some years ago the non-Shiah and the non-Muslim
minorities in those countries, decided officially to hold such commemorations in
their own houses of worship/centers, because they were so worried about their
youth who would be going to the Shiah Hosayniyyas in order to join in Imam
Hosains majalis, and they might be influenced too much, and they may even end
up Shiah Muslims, themselves!

Every Nation will Cry Hosain!

Almost half a century ago, a well known Pakistani poet, by the name of
Josh Malih Abadi made a prediction in one of his poems. We would like to
quote that Urdu poems English translation, here:

If you just would allow

The people of the world
To be well informed,
Then you could see, for sure
That the masses, everywhere
Will be shouting out loud:
Hosain is ours! Hosain is ours, too!
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 Based on that beautiful poem, this author was also inspired to compose a
sequel to it, like this:
Every nation, will cry:
Hosain is mine! Hosain is mine!
Till the rivers run dry, in Karbala, holy Shrine;
Every eye in tears, from the sadness of that story
Every tongue will shout: To God Almighty be the Glory!

Ashura and the Advent of the Internet

Before the Internet Age, the commemorations of the Ashura used to be
observed, mostly in the Muslim countries, and especially within the Shiah
communities of Iraq, Iran, Bahrain, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, etc. But nowadays,
thanks to the Internet, those commemorations are almost everywhere on the planet.

This, plus another factor i.e. the continuous influx of many Middle Eastern
and the South Asian Muslims to the West, as migrants or even as refugees, has
brought the commemoration of Ashura traditions into Europe and Americas, as
well. Today, its a very common cite to see the public displays of Ashura in
various cities of England, like London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham as
well as in New York, Los Angesles, Vienna, Hamburg, New Zealand, Australia,
Canada, Sweden, Russia, among others.

With the rapid expansion of the mass media, and especially the social media
like the Internet and the Facebook, its expected that very soon we shall be seeing
those commemorations being practiced in almost every country on earth, and not
only limited to its traditional locations like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh or those
majority Shiah countries like Iraq, Iran, Bahrain, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, etc. as it
has been for centuries.

The Hindus and the Sikhs Mourning, Too

As we mentioned earlier, the epic of Ashura is not limited just to the
Shiah, or to the Muslims, alone. But even the Hindu and the Sikh communities of
the Indian sub-continent, for centuries have been participating in those
commemorations, and they also have adopted those beautiful traditions, as their
own. In fact, there is a group of Hindus in India and Pakistan that consider
themselves to be the direct descendants of one of the martyrs of Karbala, who
probably was a House help of Imam Hosain A.S. They call themselves as the:
Husaini Brahmins!
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 As for the Sikh community in India, and throughout the world, their position
as being Half-Islamic and half-Hindu, but more Muslims than Hindu has created
a very unique situation in which, they feel themselves as partners with the Muslim
community, in many Islamic celebrations, especially in the commemorations of
the Ashura. Just to get a better picture of this phenomenon, here we would like to
quote a very interesting story related to the Sikh Religion founder, and its highest
spiritual leader, the Guru Nanak (1469-1539):

One time, the Guru Jee advised one of his followers to join in the
commemorations of Ashura. But the faithful asked: Guru Jee, is it not an
Islamic Tradition? The Guru replied: My son! There are some admirable
traditions that all human beings value as their own, -- far above any tribe, race,
religion, color or creed! Imam Hosains absolute sacrifice, in order for Truth and
Justice to survive in the world, belongs to our human conscience, not to any
specific religion! (Ref. Guru Ka Gyan Vol. 1/T392)

No wonder, the Sikh spiritual leader in Pakistan Mr. Sing also called Imam
Hosain A.S. The Imam of all mankind. (Ref. Al-Alam TV channel, Sep.
26/2016).
A hundred years before Mr. Sing, the first Indian Noble Prize winning
philosopher Author- activist, Mr. Robindranath Tagore, also had said: Imam
Husain is the leader of Humanity.

Commemorations of Ashura in Southeast Asia

Although the majority of the Muslims in Southeast Asia, belong to the Sunni
branch of Islam, yet they also commemorate the Day of Ashura, in their own
peculiar ways. Thats because the Southeast Asian Muslims follow a moderate Sufi
Style of the faith, unlike the Wahhabis in Saudi Arabia, or the tiny Arab
Sheikhdoms in the Persian Gulf, whose ancestry goes back to the Wandering
Jews of Arabia/i.e. The Bani Qaynuqa Jewish tribe. This has made those Arabs
more like their own Jewish Orthodox hardline forebears, rather than the tolerant
Muslims, like the Holy Prophet Mohammad A.S. and his early followers. (i.e. the
true Salafis vs. the fake Selfies!).

So, the Muslims in the Southeast Asia, especially those of Indonesia,

Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and the Philippines, and even the Muslims of China
and Korea, all have their own unique forms of the Ashura commemorations one
way or another. For example, the Indonesian Muslims call Ashura as Hassan,
Husain Day and they observe it. Besides that, the Indonesians also have the
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Barzanji (=Barzani,) a form of the Islamic Sufi Chants, that was probably
originated from the Barzani/Kurdish/Persian tribes of the Middle East, just like
the Quwwali in the Indian sub-continent.

Meanwhile, in China, the Huwi Muslims, as well as the Uighurs of the

Kash-ghar region, have their own Sufi traditions, coming through the Central
Asian Islamic centers. (i.e. Naqsh-bandi/Yasawi/Baktashi/etc. who learned Islam
from Imam Bukhari of the Sahih Bukhari and other great Muslim Teachers).

It is narrated in the most respectable book of Hadith of the Sunni Islam,

called Sahih Bukhari that the Holy Prophet Mohammad (p.b.u.h.f) saw the
Jews in Madinah were Observing Ashura, too; So, the Holy Prophet also upheld
that tradition (Now, why the Prophet of Islam needs to learn it from the Jews, or to
follow the Jewish Sunnah, the Ahlus Sunnah and Imam Bukahri, will have
to answer!).

As for the Muslims in the Korean Peninsula, according to the late Dr.
Caesar Adib Majul of the Islamic Studies Department, University of the
Philippines, in 1980s, the early Muslims in the Korean Peninsula were Shiah, and
therefore, they were also commemorating Ashura. (See The, Muslims in the
Philippines by the late Dr. Caesar Adib Majul, University of the Philippines press,
1974)

But, insofar as we are located in the Philippines, I would like to concentrate

more on the Filipino Muslims, and their Ashura Traditions by sharing here
several interesting examples, for additional information:

1. The Padang Karbala. This is a historic event, that refers to the Filipino
Muslims Anti-colonial, anti-American Wars, which took place on May 2,
1902. In that fateful day, some 700 Maranao Muslim men fought against the
American occupation forces, to the last man (A la Karbala!) This 700 does
not include their woman and children, who also stayed with their husbands
and their fathers in the Kota/Castle, and they, too, were massacred by the
American soldiers! Truly, another Ashura in another Karbala the
Padang Karbala!

(From those wars, we also got two new things: No.1) Was the 9mm pistol
invented by the Americans, specifically to kill the fierce Muslim fighters of the
Southern Philippines, i.e. the Moros, and No.2) The American generals statement
that The only good Muslim, is a dead Muslim! For more details about the
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massacre of the Padang Karbala you may refer to the book titled The Muslims
in the Philippines by Dr. Caesar Adib Majul, University of the Philippines Press
1974; As well as a very informative article by a Muslim official in the Philippine
Government, Mr. Macabankit Lanto, published in The Philippine Daily
Inquirer Manila/Sep.15/2016/P.13. Also The forgotten war or Padang
Karbala by Mr. Antonio J. Montalvan, PDI, May 13/2002 p.5)

2. In the 1980s, a Filipino spiritual leader, narrated to me another kind of the

Karbala Traditions, observed by the Filipino Muslims, which I would like
to share with you, as a legacy form the elders to our youth.

According to Imam Muhyid Din, of the Manila Golden Mosque, this was
how the Filipino Muslims commemorated the Ashura Matam in 1950s and
before:

On every day of Ashura, our elders would wear their traditional Malongs
and they would pick up a sword, just like the early Mujahidin fighting against the
Spanish and the American colonizers, and we would all march in a procession
form to the main mosque in the town, to express our support and sympathy for
Imam Husain, in his tragic martyrdom in Karbala

3. Another Filipino Muslim elder, who is still alive, by the name of Haji
Abaton of Quiapo, Manila, also narrated to this author a similar tradition
regarding Ashura; He said, and I quote:

When I was a young boy, I still remember that in those times, on the day of
Ashura, our parents would give us a bucket of water, to bring it into the
mosque, and to distribute it, for free (i.e. Fi Sabilil Lah) among the peole, in
remembrance of the Three days of waterless sufferings by Imam al-
Husain, and his children and followers, in the hot desert of Karbala!

4. Another intererting story, very similar to the rest of those Ashura

Traditions was narrated to me, again by an elderly Muslim friend. He said
and I quote:

One day, I was swimming in the river near our village, in Mindanao. My
grandfather, may Allah bless his soul, saw me swimming, and he shouted:
-Arent you ashamed of yourself, swimming today?! Dont you know that
today is Ashura?!

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 I was so surprised, because it was our usual practice to swim in that river,
almost everyday; how come all of a sudden, I am being scolded by my beloved
grandfather, for doing what I used to do, almost everyday? So, I asked him, very
sheepishly:

-Why grandpa? Whats Ashura?!

-Son he replied Ashura is that day, in which Imam Husain, and the rest
of the family of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (p.b.u.h.f) were massacred/ just
like in Padang Karbala/without water after three days of suffering! So, we
Muslim should not enjoy water on that day of Ashura!

5. According to another old Filipino Muslim, the early Muslim settlers of the
Southern Philippines, were actually Shiahs, or at least Sufi and Sha-fe-iy,
and therefore they were very close to the Ahlal Bayt A.S (Note: Its also
very interesting to know that the early Filipino Muslim leaders were called
Sharif meaning of the noble blood, i.e, from the family of the Holy
Prophet, himself. Some other titles used for those elders were the old Persian
titles of Datu Guru, Ustadz and Na-khuda).

But, then in 1521 came the Spanish colonial Rule, which lasted for 333
years, and just before that was over, came another 50 years of the American
colonization of the Philippines, until finally in 1947 the Philippines became
independent, again! But not the southern Muslim regions, from the Christian
Manilas Colonial Rule even after the Americans had left, and especially
during the Martial Law regime, and the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship
(1972-1986).

That 400 plus years of the Christian domination/both of the Catholic Spain
and the Protestant America and something in between of the Manila rule, (i.e.
settlements of the Northern Christians in the Muslim South, forcibly marrying
Muslim girls to the Christian soldiers, etc.) took its heavy toll on the Filipino
Muslims religious identity. Also, the Archipelagos divided Islands and the lack of
communications, the linguistic barriers, the religious and tribal discriminations and
oppression, made the bad situation even worse.

After the Second World War, a Pakistani Sunni Alim visited the Philippines,
bringing an Islamic revival of sorts. Then in 1950s and 60s came the Egyptian
preachers, followed by the Libyan Imams in 70s and 80s, until finally, the
Wahhabi Saudis, headed by the brother-in-law of the infamous Usama bin Laden
(that we all know very well) entered in to the Philippines in 1990s. Thats how the
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Filipino Muslims, whose first teachers, or Gurus, (as they are called in Persian)
were Sharifs i.e. from the descendants of the Holy Prophet Mohammad
(p.b.u.h.f) and Imam Ali A.S. and Lady Fatimah Zahra A.S. ended up on the lap of
the Wahhabis of Saudi Arabia, whose origins goes back to the Wandering Jews
of Arabia The Jewish tribe of Bani Qaynuqa! (see the Family Tree of King
Saud, on the Internet).

6. The Filipino Muslims have a unique expression that is Yazid

Telaka/Yazid Ini! which are the two worst curses they could utter, when
they want to say that someone is extremely corrupt, beyond any hope!

(This again reminds us of that Pakistani Poet, Mr. Josh Malih Abadi, who
once said: After the tragedy of Karbala, the name of Yazid turned into a curse!)

So, while the Filipino Muslims curse Yazid son of Muawia, the grandson of
Abu Sufyan and Hind (that Liver eating Cannibal), they on the other hand,
name their own children after the grandchildren of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.f) and
Imam Ali A.S and Lady Fatimah Zahra A.S. as Amil Hassan/Amil Hosain
i.e. Amir Hasan/Amir Hosain, meaning the Holy Imams of the Ahlal Bayt (A.S.)
As for the girls, the most popular names are Fatimah Zahra or Zainab. That says
a lot about their love for the Ahlal Bayt A.S, and more specifically it shows where
they stand in relation to the Karbala Tragedy and Imam Hosains fight against
Yazid bin Muawia, (and his blind followers, from the Salafi and Wahhabi sects.)
7. Dont Throw Away Water on Ashura. This is another tradition of the
Filipino Muslims, to avoid throwing away water, in remembrance of the
Thirsty lips of the Martyrs of Karbala.
8. Dont Climb the Tree on Ashura. Another tradition of the Filipino
Muslims related to the Commemorations of Ashura. Whats the reason for
Tree Climbing Prohibition? That I dont know!

9. The Display of Black Flags by the Filipino Muslims, when a family

member has passed away. Thats one more tradition, among the Muslims of
the Philippines, which goes back to the Rituals of mourning for the martyrs
of Karbala!

10.The prayer of Quwat ko Quwat Baguinda Ali. This is a traditional

prayer, by the Tausog Muslims, in Southern Philippines. Before going to
war, they will ask Allah (s.w.t.) to give them the same power that He, The
Almighty, gave to the great champion of Islam, Imam Ali. A.S. (i.e.in
Badr/Hunain/Uhud/Khandaq/Khaybar, etc.).
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 Now, those people who Fight like Imam Ali, and they also die like Imam
Husain (i.e. thePadang Karbala Martyrs) are definitely the lovers and the
followers of the Ahlal Bayt A.S. and they uphold the Culture of Ashura both in
Faith and in Prctice, too. Add to that the early Muslim spiritual leaders, like Sharif
Makhdum in 1380 A.D. as well as other Sharifs--- i.e. Sharif Zainal Abidin,
Sharif Hashim, etc. then the picture becomes perfect.

Thats how the Culture of Ashura has taken roots among the Southeast
Asian Muslims, and especially among the Muslims of the Philippines.

The Future of Ashura

The way the Culture of Ashura is spreading throughout the world, its now
turning into an international event. Because, the concept of that tragic episode,
which is the greatest example of the Good vs. Evil, has been with us, since the
early days of Abel vs. Cain(see The Holy Books, especially the Holy Quran:
Ch.91/V.8, also Ch.5/V.27)/ Even in the Zoroastrian concept of the Good and
Evilas well as in the Gnostic beliefs of the Persian Prophet Mani (320 A.D) that
influenced both the East and the West --- reaching up to the Chinese region of
Turfan/East Turkistan/ It also went up to the European capitals, like Rome, as
Mithraism and Manechaeanism, etc. This phenomenon makes it very much
possible that one day, in not so distant future, the culture of Ashura, and its yearly
commemorations would become an International commemoration/Uniting all
mankind/, and Ashura could even be declared, as a World Day of Sacrifice
for Justice or Freedom of Conscience Day, by the United Nations, as well.

And just like the Dialogue of Civilization which was proposed by then
Iran president Dr. Mohammad Khatami, in the year 2000, this great tradition could
also be recognized and adopted by the U.N. body, in the near future. Insha Allah!

Another important factor that will surely help in this process, is the
phenomenon of the Global Village and the speed of communications in the
world, today, tomorrow and more so, in the coming years.

Yes, indeed, it seems very much possible, that one day: Every nation will cry:
Hosain is mine! Hosain is mine!

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Footnotes:
1. Socrates was born circa 470 BC, in Athens, Greece. We know of his life
through the writings of his students, including Plato and Xenophon. His
"Socratic method," laid the groundwork for Western systems of logic and
philosophy. When the political climate of Greece turned, Socrates was
sentenced to death by hemlock poisoning in 399 BC. He accepted this
judgment rather than fleeing into exile.
2. Renaissance; This movement began in Italy in the 14th century and the term,
literally meaning rebirth, describes the revival of interest in the artistic
achievements of the Classical world. Initially in a literary revival
Renaissance was determined to move away from the religion-dominated
Middle Ages and to turn its attention to the plight of the individual man in
society. It was a time when individual expression and worldly experience
became two of the main themes of Renaissance art.
3. The Enlightenment : the state of having knowledge or understanding :
the act of giving someone knowledge or understanding; a movement of
the 18th century that stressed the belief that science and logic give
people more knowledge and understanding than tradition and religion.
4. The French Revolution; was a period of far-reaching social and political
upheaval in France that lasted from 1789 until 1799, and was partially
carried forward by Napoleon during the later expansion of the French
Empire. The Revolution overthrew the monarchy, established a republic,
experienced violent periods of political turmoil, and finally culminated in a
dictatorship under Napoleon that rapidly brought many of its principles to
Western Europe and beyond.
5. Zoroastrianism, the ancient pre-Islamic religion of Iran that survives there
in isolated areas and, more prosperously, in India, where the descendants
of Zoroastrian Iranian (Persian) immigrants are known as Parsis, or
Parsees.
6. Abel is a biblical first name which may derive from the Hebrew Hebel, itself
derived from hevel (breath or vapour), or from theAssyrian for son. In
reference to the biblical story, Abel is usually linked with his brother,
as Cain and Abel. Based on its occurrence in the Bible the name Abel has
been used in many European languages; in English it was mostly used by
the Puritans in the 17th century.

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7. dam is believed to have been the first human being and the
first prophet on Earth in Islam. Adam's role as the father of the human race
is looked upon by Muslims with reverence.
8. John the Baptist Son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, being of priestly descent
through both parents. This lineage was essential, since John was the
embodiment of the law of Moses, designed to prepare the way for the
Messiah and make ready a people to receive Him. He was the outstanding
bearer of the Aaronic Priesthood in all history and was entrusted with its
most noble mission.
9. Prophet Eisa or Jesus, son of Mary'is understood to ,(AD 4~ .b) ,or Jesus ,(
be the penultimate prophet and messenger of Allah (God) and al-Masih, the
Arabic term for Messiah, the "Christ", sent to guide the Children of Israel
(ban isr'l in Arabic) with a new revelation: al-Injl (Arabic for "the
Gospel").
10.Stephen or Stephan; traditionally venerated as the Protomartyr or first
martyr of Christianityaccording to the Acts of the Apostles a deacon in the
early church at Jerusalem who aroused the enmity of members of
various synagogues by his teachings. Accused of blasphemy, at his trial he
made a long speech denouncing the Jewish authorities who were sitting in
judgment on him and was then stoned to death. His martyrdom was
witnessed by Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee who would later himself become a
follower of Jesus. The only primary source for information about Stephen is
the New Testament book of the Acts of the Apostles.
11.Saleh or Salih meaning "Pious" was a prophet of ancient Arabia mentioned
in the Qur'an, who prophesied to the tribe of Thamud.Saleh is sometimes
equated with Shelakh, a figure from the Hebrew Bible, although the two
have little in common save for their names. The preaching and prophecy of
Saleh is linked to the famous Islamic story of the She-Camel, which was the
gift given by God to the people of Thamud when they desired a miracle to
confirm the truth of the message Saleh was preaching.
12.Sumayyah bint Khayyat (c.550-c.615) was the first Muslim to become
a shahid.She was a slave in the possession of Abu Hudhayfa ibn al-Mughira,
a member of the Makhzum clan in Mecca. Her master gave her in marriage
to Yasir ibn Amir, who was from the Malik clan of the Madhhij tribe
in Yemen. After coming to Mecca to look for a lost brother, he had decided
to settle there under Abu Hudhayfa's protection. Sumayyah gave birth to
their son Ammar c.566. Yasir also had two other sons, Hurth and Abdullah,
but there is no indication that Sumayyah was their mother. At a later date,

13
 Abu Hudhayfa freed both Sumayyah and her son Ammar; but they remained
his clients for the rest of his life.
13.Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib (c.567625) was a companion and paternal
uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. His kunyas were Abu Umara and
Abu Yaala. He had the by-names Lion of God and the Lion of Paradise and
Muhammad gave him the posthumous title Sayyid-ush-Shuhda ("Chief of
the Martyrs").
14.Hind bint Utbah was an Arab woman who lived in the late 6th and early
7th centuries CE; she was the wife of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, a powerful man
of Mecca, in western Arabia. She was the mother of Muawiyah I, the
founder of the Umayyad dynasty, and of Hanzala,
15.Jafar ibn Abi Talib (c.590629 CE) also known as Jafar al-Tayyar, was
a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and an older brother of Ali.
16.Fatimah bint Muhammad born c. 605 or 615 died 28 August 632) is the
youngest daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and Khadijah. She
was the wife of Ali and mother of Hasan andHussein, and one of the
members of Ahl al-Bayt. She is the object of the veneration, love, and
respect of all Muslims, as she was the child closest to her father and
supported him in his difficulties, was the supporter and loving caretaker of
her own husband and children, and was the only child of Muhammad to
have male children live beyond childhood, whose descendants are spread
throughout the Islamic world and are known as Sayyids. The 11th century
dynasty ruling Egypt at the time of the Crusades, theFatimids, claimed
descent from Fatimah.
17.Ammr ibn Ysir ibn mir ibn Mlik Ab al-Yaqzn was one of
the Muhajirun in the history of Islamand, for his dedicated devotion to its
cause, is considered to be one of the most loyal and
beloved companions of Muhammad and Ali; thus, he occupies a position of
the highest prominence in Islam. Historically, Ammar ibn Yasir is the first
Muslim to build amosque. He is also referred to by Shia Muslims as one
of the Four CompanionsAmmar's ultimate fate was unique than the rest of
Mohammad's companions in that it decisively distinguished the righteous
group from the sinful one in the First Fitna.
18.Ali ibn Abi Talib was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic
prophetMuhammad, ruling over the Islamic caliphate from 656 to 661. Ali
was the only person born in the sacred sanctuary of the Kaaba in Mecca, the
holiest place in Islam, according to many classical Islamic sources,
especially Shia ones. Ali was the first young male who accepted
Islam. After migrating to Medina, he married Muhammad's
daughter Fatimah. Ali took part in the early caravan raids fromMecca and
14
 later in almost all the battles fought by the nascent Muslim community. He
was appointed caliph by Muhammad's Companions (Sahaba) in 656, after
caliph Uthman ibn Affan was assassinated.
19.asan ibn Ali ibn Ab lib 624670 CEcommonly called Hasan, was
the second Shia Imam, succeeding his father Ali and preceding his younger
brother Husayn ibn Ali. He was the elder son of Ali and Muhammad's
daughter,Fatimah. Muslims respect him as the grandson of Muhammad and
a member of Ahl al-Bayt and Ahl al-Kisa. After the death of his father,
Hasan also succeeded him as caliph. He abdicated after six or seven months,
and Muawiyah, who became the first UmayyadCaliph, succeeded him. For
the rest of his life, Hasan lived in Medina in seclusion until he was killed at
the age of 45 or 46, and was buried in the Jannat al Baqi cemetery in Medina
al Munawarra. His wife, Ja'da bint al-Ash'at is commonly accused of having
poisoned him.
20.usayn ibn Al ibn Ab Tlib 10 January 626 10 October 680)
(5 Sha'aban AH 4 (in the ancient (intercalated) Arabic calendar)
10 Muharram AH 61), also spelled as Husain, Hussain or Hussein, was the
grandson of theProphet Muhammad and the son of Ali ibn Abi
alib (fourth Rashidun caliph of Sunni Islam, and first Imam of Shia Islam)
andFatimah Zahra (daughter of Muhammad). He married Shahr Banu,
daughter of the last Sassanid emperor of Persia Yazdegerd III.Husayn is an
important figure in Islam, as he was a member of the Ahl al-Bayt (the
household of Muhammad) and Ahl al-Kisa, as well as being the third Shia
Imam. Husayn became the head of Shia Islam and the head of Banu
Hashim after the death of his older brother, Hasan ibn Ali, in 670 (AH 50).
His father's supporters (Shi'a Ali) in Kufa gave their allegiance to him.
However, he told them he was still bound to the peace treaty
between Hasan and Muawiyah I and they should wait until Muawiyah was
dead. Later, Hussain did not accept the request of Muawiyah for the
succession of his son, Yazid I, and considered this action a breach of
the HasanMuawiya treaty.
21.Prophet Salih: Saleh was a prophet of ancient Arabia mentioned in the
Qur'an, who prophesied to the tribe of Thamud. Saleh is sometimes equated
with Shelakh, a figure from the Hebrew Bible, although the two have little in
common save for their names. The preaching and prophecy of Saleh is
linked to the famous Islamic story of the She-Camel, which was the gift
given by God to the people of Thamud when they desired a miracle to
confirm the truth of the message Saleh was preaching.

15
 22.Arab Spring: The Arab Spring was a revolutionary wave of demonstrations
and protests, both non-violent and violent, riots, and civil wars in the Arab
world that began on 17 December 2010 in Tunisia with the Tunisian
Revolution, and spread throughout the countries of the Arab League and its
surroundings. Major insurgencies in Syria, Libya and Yemen resulted along
with civil uprisings in Egypt and Bahrain, large street demonstrations in
Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco and Oman, and minor protests even
in Saudi Arabia. While the wave of initial revolutions and protests faded by
mid-2012, some started to refer to the succeeding and still ongoing large-
scale discourse conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa as the Arab
Winter. The most radical discourse from Arab Spring into the still ongoing
civil wars took place in Syria as early as the second half of 2011.Many Arab
Spring demonstrations were met with violent responses from authorities, as
well as from pro-government militias and counter-demonstrators. These
attacks were answered with violence from protestors in some cases. A major
slogan of the demonstrators in the Arab world is Ash-sha`b yurid isqat an-
nizam ("the people want to bring down the regime"). As of July 2016, only
the uprising in Tunisia resulted in a transition to constitutional democratic
governance.
23.Muhammad Buzizi: Tarek el-Tayeb Mohamed Bouazizi was a Tunisian
street vendor who set himself on fire on 17 December 2010, in response to
the confiscation of his wares and the harassment and humiliation that he said
was inflicted on him by a municipal official and her aides. This act became a
catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring, inciting
demonstrations and riots throughout Tunisia in protest of social and political
issues in the country. Simmering public anger and sporadic violence
intensified following Bouazizi's death, leading then-president Zine El
Abidine Ben Ali to step down on 14 January 2011, after 23 years in
power.The success of the Tunisian protests inspired protests in several other
Arab countries, plus several non-Arab countries. The protests included
several men who emulated Bouazizi's act of self-immolation, in an attempt
to bring an end to their own autocratic governments. Those men and
Bouazizi were hailed by Arab commentators as "heroic martyrs of a new
Middle Eastern revolution". In 2011, Bouazizi was posthumously awarded
the Sakharov Prize jointly along with four others for his and their
contributions to "historic changes in the Arab world". The Tunisian
government honored him with a postage stamp. The Times of the United
Kingdom named Bouazizi as "Person of 2011".
24.French Revolution: The French Revolution was a period of far-reaching social
and political upheaval in France that lasted from 1789 until 1799, and was
16
partially carried forward by Napoleon during the later expansion of the French
Empire. The Revolution overthrew the monarchy, established a republic,
experienced violent periods of political turmoil, and finally culminated in a
dictatorship under Napoleon that rapidly brought many of its principles to
Western Europe and beyond. Inspired by liberal and radical ideas, the
Revolution profoundly altered the course of modern history, triggering the
global decline of absolute monarchies while replacing them with republics and
liberal democracies. Through the Revolutionary Wars, it unleashed a wave of
global conflicts that extended from the Caribbean to the Middle East. Historians
widely regard the Revolution as one of the most important events in human
history.

The causes of the French Revolution are complex and are still debated among
historians. Following the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary
War, the French government was deeply in debt and attempted to restore its
financial status through unpopular taxation schemes. Years of bad harvests
leading up to the Revolution also inflamed popular resentment of the privileges
enjoyed by the clergy and the aristocracy. Demands for change were formulated
in terms of Enlightenment ideals and contributed to the convocation of the
Estates-General in May 1789. The first year of the Revolution saw members of
the Third Estate taking control, the assault on the Bastille in July, the passage of
the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in August, and a
women's march on Versailles that forced the royal court back to Paris in
October. A central event of the first stage, in August 1789, was the abolition of
feudalism and the old rules and privileges left over from the Ancien Rgime.
The next few years featured political struggles between various liberal
assemblies and right-wing supporters of the monarchy intent on thwarting
major reforms. France rapidly transformed into a democratic and secular society
with freedom of religion, legalisation of divorce, decriminalisation of same-sex
relationships, and civil rights for Jews and black people. The Republic was
proclaimed in September 1792 after the French victory at Valmy. In a
momentous event that led to international condemnation, Louis XVI was
executed in January 1793.

25.Inquisition: The Inquisition is a group of institutions within the government

system of the Catholic Church whose aim was to combat heresy. It started in
12th-century France to combat religious sectarianism, in particular the
Cathars and the Waldensians. Other groups which were investigated later
include the Spiritual Franciscans, the Husites (followers of Jan Hus) and
Beguines. Beginning in the 1250s, inquisitors were generally chosen from

17
 members of the Dominican Order, to replace the earlier practice of using
local clergy as judges. The term Medieval Inquisition covers these courts up
to mid-15th century.In the Late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, the
concept and scope of the Inquisition was significantly expanded in response
to the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation. Its
geographic scope was expanded to other European countries, resulting in the
Spanish Inquisition and Portuguese Inquisition. Those two kingdoms in
particular operated inquisitorial courts throughout their respective empires
(Spanish and Portuguese) in the Americas (resulting in the Peruvian
Inquisition and Mexican Inquisition), Asia, and Africa. One particular focus
of the Spanish and Portuguese inquisitions was the issue of Jewish anusim
and Muslim converts to Catholicism, partly because these minority groups
were more numerous in Spain and Portugal than in many other parts of
Europe, and partly because they were often considered suspect due to the
assumption that they had secretly reverted to their previous religions.
26.Protestant Reformation: The Protestant Reformation, often referred to
simply as the Reformation was a schism from the Roman Catholic Church
initiated by Martin Luther and continued by John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli,
and other early Protestant Reformers in 16th century Europe.Although there
had been significant earlier attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church
before Luther such as those of Jan Hus, Peter Waldo, and John Wycliffe
Martin Luther is widely acknowledged to have started the Reformation with
his 1517 work The Ninety-Five Theses. Luther began by criticizing the
selling of indulgences, insisting that the Pope had no authority over
purgatory and that the Catholic doctrine of the merits of the saints had no
foundation in the gospel. The Protestant position, however, would come to
incorporate doctrinal changes such as sola scriptura and sola fide. The core
motivation behind these changes was theological, though many other factors
played a part, including the rise of nationalism, the Western Schism that
eroded faith in the Papacy, the perceived corruption of the Roman Curia, the
impact of humanism, and the new learning of the Renaissance that
questioned much traditional thought.The initial movement within Germany
diversified, and other reform impulses arose independently of Luther. The
spread of Gutenberg's printing press provided the means for the rapid
dissemination of religious materials in the vernacular. The largest groups
were the Lutherans and Calvinists. Lutheran churches were founded mostly
in Germany, the Baltics and Scandinavia, while the Reformed ones were
founded in Switzerland, Hungary, France, the Netherlands and Scotland. The
new movement influenced the Church of England decisively after 1547
under Edward VI and Elizabeth I, although the Church of England had been
18
 made independent under Henry VIII in the early 1530s for political rather
than religious reasons.There were also reformation movements throughout
continental Europe known as the Radical Reformation, which gave rise to
the Anabaptist, Moravian and other Pietistic movements. Radical Reformers,
besides forming communities outside state sanction, often employed more
extreme doctrinal change, such as the rejection of the tenets of the late
antique councils of Nicaea and Chalcedon.
27.Abrahamic Religions: Abrahamic religions, emphasizing and tracing their
common origin to the tribal patriarch Abraham or recognizing a spiritual
tradition identified with him, form one of the major divisions in comparative
religion (along with Indian, Iranian, and East Asian religions). Judaism,
Christianityand Islam are the largest Abrahamic religions in terms of
numbers of adherents.The major Abrahamic religions in chronological order
of founding are:

Judaism (late second millennium BCE),

Christianity (first century CE)

Islam (seventh century CE)

Abrahamic religions with fewer adherents include Rastafari, Samaritanism

(sometimes classified as a branch of Judaism), the Druze faith (often
classified as a branch of Isma'ili Shi'i Islam), Bbism, and the Bah'
Faith.As of 2005, estimates classified 54% (3.6 billion people) of the world's
population as adherents of an Abrahamic religion, about 32% as adherents of
other religions, and 16% as adherents of no organized religion. Christianity,
the largest Abrahamic faith, claims 33% of the world's population, Islam
comes second with 21%, and Judaism has 0.2%. Though the Bah' Faith
represents around 0.1% of the world population in recent years, the World
Christian Encyclopedia, accredited through the Association of Religion Data
Archives, has it grown at about twice the rate of population growth in every
region of the planet over the last century.

28.Judaism: Judaism encompasses the religion, philosophy, culture and way of

life of the Jewish people. Judaism is an ancient monotheistic religion, with
the Torah as its foundational text (part of the larger text known as the
Tanakh or Hebrew Bible), and supplemental oral tradition represented by
later texts such as the Midrash and the Talmud. Judaism is considered by
religious Jews to be the expression of the covenantal relationship that God

19
 established with the Children of Israel. With roughly 14.5 million adherents
worldwide, Judaism is the tenth-largest religion in the world.Judaism
includes a wide corpus of texts, practices, theological positions, and forms of
organization. Within Judaism there are a variety of movements, most of
which emerged from Rabbinic Judaism, which holds that God revealed his
laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of both the
Written and Oral Torah. Historically, this assertion was challenged by
various groups such as the Sadducees and Hellenistic Judaism during the
Second Temple period; the Karaites and Sabbateans during the early and
later medieval period; and among segments of the modern non-Orthodox
denominations. Modern branches of Judaism such as Humanistic Judaism
may be nontheistic. Today, the largest Jewish religious movements are
Orthodox Judaism (Haredi Judaism and Modern Orthodox Judaism),
Conservative Judaism and Reform Judaism. Major sources of difference
between these groups are their approaches to Jewish law, the authority of the
Rabbinic tradition, and the significance of the State of Israel. Orthodox
Judaism maintains that the Torah and Jewish law are divine in origin, eternal
and unalterable, and that they should be strictly followed. Conservative and
Reform Judaism are more liberal, with Conservative Judaism generally
promoting a more "traditional" interpretation of Judaism's requirements than
Reform Judaism. A typical Reform position is that Jewish law should be
viewed as a set of general guidelines rather than as a set of restrictions and
obligations whose observance is required of all Jews. Historically, special
courts enforced Jewish law; today, these courts still exist but the practice of
Judaism is mostly voluntary. Authority on theological and legal matters is
not vested in any one person or organization, but in the sacred texts and
rabbis and scholars who interpret them.
29.Christianity: Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the
life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It is the world's largest religion, with over
2.4 billion followers, or 32% of the global population, known as Christians.
Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the savior of humanity
whose coming as the Messiah (the Christ) was prophesied in the Old
Testament. Christian theology is summarized in various creeds. These
professions of faith state that Jesus suffered, died, was buried, descended
into hell, and rose from the dead, in order to grant eternal life to those who
believe in him and trust in him for the remission of their sins. The creeds
further maintain that Jesus bodily ascended into heaven, where he reigns
with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, and that he will return to
judge the living and the dead and grant eternal life to his followers. His
incarnation, earthly ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection are often referred
20
 to as "the gospel", meaning "good news". The term gospel also refers to
written accounts of Jesus's life and teaching, four of whichMatthew,
Mark, Luke, and Johnare considered canonical and included in the
Christian Bible.Christianity began as a Second Temple Judaic sect in the
mid-1st century. Originating in Judea, it quickly spread to Europe, Syria,
Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Egypt, Ethiopia, and India, and by the end of the
4th century had become the official state church of the Roman Empire.
Following the Age of Discovery, Christianity spread to the Americas,
Australasia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the rest of the world through
missionary work and colonization. Christianity has played a prominent role
in the shaping of Western civilization.
30.Islam: Islam is the religion articulated by the Quran, a text considered by its
adherents to be the verbatim word of God (Allh), and, for the vast majority
of adherents, by the teachings and normative example (called the sunnah,
composed of accounts called hadith) of Muhammad (c. 5708 June 632 CE).
It is the world's second-largest religion and the fastest-growing major
religion in the world, with over 1.7 billion followers or 23% of the global
population, known as Muslims. Islam is a Abrahamic monotheistic religion
that upholds that God is one and incomparable and that the purpose of
existence is to worship God. Muslims consider Muhammad to be the last
prophet of God.Muslims also believe that Islam is the original, complete and
universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times before
through prophets including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. As for
the Quran, Muslims consider it to be both the unaltered and the final
revelation of God. Religious concepts and practices include the five pillars
of Islam, which are obligatory acts of worship, and following Islamic law,
which touches on virtually every aspect of life and society, from banking
and welfare to the status of women and the environment.Islam began in the
early 7th century. Originating in Mecca, it quickly spread in the Arabian
peninsula and by the 8th century the Islamic empire was extended from
Iberia in the west to the Indus river in the east. The Islamic Golden Age
refers to the period traditionally dated from the 8th century to the 13th
century when much of the historically Islamic world was experiencing a
scientific, economic and cultural flourishing. The expansion of the Muslim
world involved various caliphates and empires, traders and conversion to
Islam by missionary activities.

Ref.

21
1. Chelkowski, Peter J (1979) Ta-ziaya in Iran New York /P. 2
2. A. J. Wensink Ashura (2011) P. 80
3. Madelung, Wilfrett Hosain Bin Ali (2014) P. 50
4. Cornell, Vincent Voice of Islam (2014) P. 178
5. Shaikh, Sadooq Al-khisal (2008) P. 108
6. Majlisi, Maula Bihar (1982) P. 208
7. Nasir, Vali The Shiah Revival Nolton ( 2000) P. 50
8. Imam Bukhari Sahih Bukhari (1959) Egypt
9. Imam Muslim Neishaburi (S-M.) (1930) Lebanon
10.Litvek, Meir Shia of Iraq (1998) Cambridge University Press
11.H. A. R. GIBB, J. H. KRAMERS, E. LfiVI-PROVENgAL, J. SCHACHT
"Encyclopedia of Islam" {1986} Brill.
12.Motahhari, Morteza "The Role of Holy Imams in Revival of Religion"
{1998} Motahhari Publication.
13.Sachedina, Abdulaziz "The Just Ruler in Shi'ite Islam: The Comprehensive
Authority of the Jurist in Imamite Jurisprudence" (1998) Oxford University
Press US.
14.Teece, Geoff "Religion in Focus: Islam" (2003) Franklin Watts Ltd.

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