Imam Hussain ibn Ali (AS) will always be remembered as a symbol of defiance, courage and conviction, and the one who stood for the ideals of humanity as enshrined by divinity. He was a practising marvel of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his glorious teachings. The scion of Ali and Fatima stood fast against extreme adversity, which no human being can endure – and that too at the peril of lives of his family, friends and companions. Yet, Hussain, the grandson of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), was unmoved as he was determined to fight against callousness and repression, and he succeeded in exposing the signs and manifestations of tyranny for all times to come by going down fighting in all humility.

Hussain's manifesto was to uphold the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah – and that too in an unadulterated form. Thus, he refused to give in to a rising imperialism within the rank and file of Islam, and chose to lay down his life rather than submitting to an unjust and cruel order. All he was asked to do by the then insurgent, self-imposed regime in 60 Hijra was to submit and concede to their 'authority'. Hussain – for whom the Prophet (PBUH) had said, "Hussain is from me, and I am from Hussain. Allah loves whoever loves Husain" (Hadith also in Jami' Al-Tirmidhi 3775) – could not have done so. He roared, "... A person like me cannot pledge allegiance to a person like you…" (words uttered in the court of Waleed in Madina 24 Rajab, 60 Hijra). Those words will act as a preamble for generations who believe in emancipation of mankind, and who do not want to be enslaved to unrighteousness.

That sealed the fate of Karbala, where Hussain along with his 72........

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