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10th Muharram 61 AH – The Day the Sky Wept Blood

Fajr – The Final Congregational Prayer

Imam Hussain (A.S.) gathered his 72 companions before dawn. Lifting his hands, he prayed:

O Allah, You are my refuge in every distress, my hope in every hardship, my reliance in every trial...
— Nafasul Mahmoom, p. 252

The brutal massacre has begun, companions of Imam Hussain (A.S.) went first, then the children and men of Bani Hashim.

1️⃣ Hurr ibn Yazid – From Foe to Martyr

The same commander who once blocked Hussain’s path now trembled with remorse:

I see myself between Heaven and Hell. By Allah, I choose Heaven—even if my body be cut to pieces.
— Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 5

Crossing the field, Hurr sought forgiveness. Imam embraced him and said:

Hurr, your mother named you well. You are free in this world and the next.

Hurr fought valiantly and became the martyr from the enemy ranks to fall for the truth.

2️⃣ The Companions – Loyalty in Blood

  • Burayr ibn Khudayr recited Quran while dueling and fell with a smile.

  • Muslim ibn Awsaja was the first to fall. Habib stood over him and said, “Paradise lies before you.”

  • Imam Hussain (A.S.) carried each fallen companion with his own hands, laying them behind the tents.

Sources: Maqtal Abi Mikhnaf, Tarikh al-Tabari, Lohoof.

🕋 The Midday Prayer (Zuhr)

At noon, Imam Hussain (A.S.) called for Salat (Prayer). While some companions prayed, others stood guard.

Sa‘id ibn Abdallah al-Hanafi shielded the Imam with his own body, catching over a dozen arrows. As he fell, he said:

O son of the Messenger of Allah, have I fulfilled my duty?
Imam replied: “Yes. You are before me in Paradise.”
— Lohoof, p. 93

3️⃣ Youth of Bani Hashim

Awn and Muhammad (Sons of Lady Zaynab S.A.)

Turbans tied by their mother, they charged together. Historical sources note that they killed many enemy soldiers before being surrounded and martyred.
— Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 5

Qasim ibn Hassan (A.S.)

After showing a letter from Imam Hassan (A.S.), Qasim convinced his uncle to allow him to fight. He fought bravely until he was struck down.

“O uncle!” he cried. Imam Hussain (A.S.) rushed like a hawk, cut down his killer, but by the time he reached, the body has already been trampled. He mourned:

“It is hard for your uncle that you called and I could not respond sooner.”
— Maqtal Abi Mikhnaf

Imam gathered the remains of Qasim’s trampled body and laid it beside Awn and Muhammad.

Ali Akbar (A.S.) – The Face of the Prophet (S.A.W.A)

Before sending him to the battlefield, Imam Hussain (A.S.) looked at his son and said:

“Whenever I miss my grandfather, I look at you.”

Ali Akbar (A.S.), only 18 years old, resembled the Prophet (S.A.W.A) in both appearance and character. His voice, his mannerisms, and his gait were all reminiscent of the Messenger of Allah.

He entered the battlefield like a lion, attacking the enemy ranks and causing fear and chaos. His sword tore through them with strength and precision. The enemies were shocked at the courage and resemblance of the one they were fighting.

After some time, Ali Akbar (A.S.) returned to his father, his face pale, and his lips dry. He said:

“Father, the thirst is killing me. The weight of the armor is exhausting me, and the heat of the day is crushing me. Do you have a drop of water?”

Imam Hussain (A.S.) wept and replied:

O my son, what can I do? There is no water left… but soon your grandfather, the Messenger of Allah, will quench your thirst with a drink after which you will never feel thirsty again.”

Ali Akbar (A.S.) smiled, embraced his father, and went back into the battlefield.

He fought even more fiercely the second time. Eventually, Murrah ibn Munqid attacked him, driving a spear deep into his chest. Then, in a moment of cruelty, he snapped the shaft while it was still lodged inside, tearing Ali Akbar’s body apart.

Some narrations mention that the enemy intentionally broke the spear to test Imam Hussain’s (A.S.) patience — forcing the father to pull a broken spear from the chest of his dying son.

The enemies then surrounded him and struck him with swords, cutting him down. As his soul began to part, Ali Akbar (A.S.) cried out:

My father… my last salutations of peace to you.
I see my grandfather, the Messenger of Allah, sending you peace and saying, ‘Hurry, come to us.’

— Maqtal al-Husayn – Abu Mikhnaf

Hearing his son’s final call, Imam Hussain (A.S.) rushed to the battlefield, staggering from grief, pushing back enemies as he fell upon the body of his son.

O son… life has no meaning after you.
May Allah curse the people who killed you. How daring they are against Allah and His Messenger.

He placed Ali Akbar’s broken and bloodied body beside the martyrs of Bani Hashim.

4️⃣ Abbas ibn Ali (A.S.) – The Moon of Bani Hashim

Imam Hussain (A.S.) did not allow him to fight, but only gave Abbas permission to fetch water. Abbas broke through the enemy lines, filled the water-skin, and refused to drink:

How can I drink while Hussain (A.S.) is thirsty?

As he returned, his right arm was severed, then the left. One arrow struck his eye. He tried to remove the arrow using his knees, but as he bent to do so, an enemy strucked a mace at his head. He fell saying:

O Mola (leader), forgive me. I could not bring water for Sakina (S.A.).

Imam ran to him and cried:

Now my back is broken.

 — Lohoof, p. 100

5️⃣ Ali Asghar (A.S.) – The Infant

Imam Hussain (A.S.) raised his six-month-old and said:

If you will not give me water, then at least give this baby a drop.

Hurmala’s three-pronged arrow pierced the child’s neck. Imam caught the blood in his palms and then buried the child behind the tents using his sword.
— Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 5

The enemy later searched the ground with spears, found the baby’s body, and raised his head on a spear. Also the arrow used to struck the infant was not an ordinary arrow, it was used to hunt down huge animals like Elephants.... all that used for a 6 months old. Curse be upon the enemies of Ahl ul Bayt (A.S.)

6️⃣ Imam Hussain (A.S.) – The Final Stand

With all companions and family martyred, Imam Hussain (A.S.) stood alone.

Bloodied, wounded, thirsty beyond measure—yet he looked to the sky, seeking Allah’s acceptance.

Imam fought alone, surrounded by thousands. His sword moved like lightning. Wherever he turned, enemy soldiers fell. None dared face him one-on-one. The enemy began to hurl stones and arrows.

One sword struck his wrist and severed his left hand. Another came down on his upper back. He staggered.

Even then, he tried to rise, leaning on his sword. Then came the final blow.

Shimr, with no shame, struck his blessed neck. Some narrations mention that they struck Imam's (a.s.) neck 13 times in order to severe the noble head — the same head kissed by the Prophet (S.A.W.A) countless times.

His body was mutilated. Umar ibn Sa'ad ordered his cavalry to trample the bodies of Hussain (A.S.) and his companions.

For three days, the bodies of the martyrs lay unburied on the burning sands of Karbala.

7️⃣ Shaam-e-Ghariba – The Night of the Orphans

  • The enemies set fire to the tents, looted, and snatched the veils of the women.

  • Lady Zaynab (S.A.) protected the children from the flames.

  • Imam Zain ul Abideen (A.S.), ill and chained, bore silent witness.

  • Lady Zaynab (S.A.) cried:

    “Come, O orphans of Hussain!”

One of the most heart-wrenching scenes: Sakina (S.A.), too small for shackles, had a rope tied around her delicate neck as they led her away as a prisoner.

The blessed heads of Imam Hussain (A.S.), Abbas (A.S.), and others including Shahzada e Ali Asghar (A.S.) were raised on spears and led toward Kufa.

📚 Sources

  • Maqtal Abi Mikhnaf (as cited in Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 5)

  • Lohoof by Sayyid Ibn Tawus

  • Nafasul Mahmoom by Shaykh Abbas Qummi

🕊 Reflection – Seventy-Two Suns

No coffins. No shrouds.
Just bodies on burning sand and a sky that could not stop crying.

Each martyr was a sun, and their Imam the orbit of truth.

Peace be upon Sakina (S.A.), whose cries still echo.
Peace be upon Imam Zain ul Abideen (A.S.), the witness of every arrow.
And curse be upon every enemy of Ahlul Bayt.

We tried to write it—but words fail.
We have not done justice. No words can.
May our tears complete what our tongues cannot.

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