Karbala did not end in 680 CE. It breathes in the burning rubble of Gaza, cries out in the parched throats of besieged children, and bleeds through the streets where no safe place remains . For those of us raised on the memory of Imam Hussain (a.s), we were taught that Karbala was not just a place, it was a test, and a truth. And today, it is reflecting back in the form of Gaza.
As of July 3, 2025, more than 59,600 lives have been extinguished in Gaza. The numbers include 180 journalists, 120 scholars, 224 humanitarian workers, 179 from UNRWA people who tried to speak, to heal, to help. Gaza is starving. Its people are trapped. Its homes are leveled. But this is not just a war, this is a siege on humanity itself.
The Betrayal — that is what cuts the deepest
In Karbala, the people of Kufa sent letters begging Hussain to lead them, only to abandon him to Yazid’s swords. Today, much of the Muslim ummah, like Kufa, sits in silence, fearing the wrath of power, unwilling to risk comfort for justice. We speak of Hussain with pride during Muharram but fail to stand beside his modern-day reflections. Gaza’s people, unarmed, unbroken, remind the world that Yazid does not die with time.
But like Karbala, Gaza too has its Hussains and Zaynabs. Mothers bury their children with heartfelt du’as. Fathers dig through debris with bare hands. Aid workers run toward the fire, not away from it. These are not victims; they are witnesses to a historic cruelty and a higher courage. And when history writes this chapter, it will remember not just the bombs, but the steadfastness
Will we dare, even in small ways, to speak, to protest, to reject this modern Yazidism?
Karbala teaches that numbers do not define victory. Morality does. Gaza’s children may die with empty stomachs and dry lips, but they do not die nameless. They die as part of a story that spans centuries, a story that reminds us: Every age has its Yazid. Every age must choose its Hussain.
In the dusty plains of Karbala, Iraq, in the year 680 CE (61 AH), one of the most defining and heartbreaking events in Islamic history unfolded, the martyrdom of Imam Husayn ibn Ali, the beloved grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Though this tragedy holds deep significance for all Muslims, it resonates with particular poignancy across sects in different ways. For me, understanding Karbala means reflecting on a legacy of sacrifice, standing for truth, and rejecting tyranny, principles that bind the Ummah together regardless of jurisprudential lines.
The Political Context: From Unity to Division
After the passing of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in 632 CE, the leadership of the Muslim Ummah was guided by the rightly guided Caliphs, Abu Bakr (RA), Umar (RA), Uthman (RA), and finally Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA). After the assassination of Caliph Ali (RA) in 661 CE, his eldest son, Imam Hasan (RA), signed a peace treaty with Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, the then-governor of Syria, to avoid further bloodshed.
This peace treaty included a key clause: that Mu’awiyah would not appoint a successor and that the leadership of the Muslim community would return to consultation (shura) after his death.
However, in violation of the treaty, Mu’awiyah appointed his son, Yazid, as his successor. This act effectively introduced a dynastic monarchy into the Islamic polity. It was in this context that Imam Husayn (RA) refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid, seeing him as an unfit and corrupt leader who undermined Islamic values.
Why Imam Husayn Refused Yazid’s Allegiance
Yazid’s character was widely known and criticized even by early Muslim historians. According to Sunni scholar Ibn Kathir and others, Yazid indulged in moral corruption, wine-drinking, and cruelty. Prominent companions of the Prophet (PBUH) such as Abdullah ibn Umar, Abdullah ibn Zubayr, and Abdullah ibn Abbas also refrained from endorsing Yazid’s rule.
But Husayn’s (RA) stand was unique. He was not just another noble companion, he was the grandson of the Prophet (PBUH), raised in his lap, praised in numerous ahadith, and referred to as the “Leader of the Youth of Paradise” (Sahih al-Tirmidhi).
To pledge allegiance to Yazid would have legitimised tyranny, it would have set a precedent that Islamic leadership could be claimed through force, not merit. Husayn’s refusal was not a quest for power. It was an ethical and spiritual stand, a protest for the soul of the Ummah.
Despite warnings from prominent companions and family members, Husayn felt compelled to respond to what he thought was a sincere invitation from a population eager to restore justice.
However, by the time he reached Karbala, he found himself betrayed and surrounded. The Kufans, under pressure from Yazid’s new governor Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad, turned back on their promises. Husayn, along with about 72 family members and loyal supporters, was encircled by an army of nearly 30,000..
The Day of Ashura: A Tragedy Unfolds
On the 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura, a massacre took place that would leave an eternal scar on the Muslim conscience. Despite days without water under the scorching sun of Karbala, Husayn refused to surrender to Yazid’s command. His companions, including his six-month-old infant Ali Asghar, were martyred one after another.
Among those martyred were, Ali Akbar (RA), Husayn’s brave young son, Abbas ibn Ali (RA), his valiant half-brother known as Abu al-Fadl, Qasim ibn Hasan (RA), the teenage son of Imam Hasan. And eventually, Imam Husayn (RA) himself — his body mutilated, his head severed and sent to Yazid in Damascus.
The Legacy: Karbala as a Universal Islamic Moral Symbol
Karbala was not a sectarian event; it was a moral revolution. Imam Husayn did not die for one group, he died for every Muslim who believes in truth, justice, and sacrifice.His stand has inspired resistance against tyranny across centuries, from freedom fighters to reformers.
As Muslim, we must reclaim the universal legacy of Karbala not just through mourning, but by living its values. To reduce Karbala to mere historical sorrow is a disservice. As Muslims, we must revive its meaning not in polemics, but in purpose. Let Imam Husayn (RA) be our guide not just in Muharram, but in every decision that involves moral courage. In a world increasingly tolerant of oppression, Karbala calls upon us to speak the truth, even when the truth is unpopular.
