Ashura — The Battle · 10 Muharram

The day of Ashura

The dawn of the tenth broke over Karbala. Before the fighting began, Hurr — the very commander who had blocked the road — was overcome by his conscience. He crossed the field, asked the Imam's forgiveness, and died defending him.

Then the battle came: seventy-two against thousands. The companions fell first, then the family. ‘Ali al-Akbar, so like the Prophet (s) in face and voice, was cut down deep among the enemy. ‘Abbas fell at the river's edge, the water he had fought for spilling into the sand.

When the Imam lifted his infant son ‘Ali al-Asghar and begged a drink of water for the child, the answer was an arrow that killed the baby in his arms. At last, alone and grievously wounded, Imam al-Husayn (a) fell in prostration, and the head so often kissed by the Prophet (s) was severed.