The Ninth Of Moharram

Text and Translation

The ninth of Moharram is called Tasua’.(Tasua’ means the ninth, but it has been restricted to the ninth of Moharram. Similarly, although the word ‘Ashoora’ means the tenth, it has been restricted to the tenth of Moharram.) Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) is reported to have said, “On the ninth of Moharram, Imam al-Husayn (a.s.), along with his companions, was besieged in Karbala when the Syrian horsemen surrounded him leaving for him but a narrow area. The son of Marjanah (i.e. Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad) and Umar ibn Sa’d were delighted due to the great numbers of the horsemen who participated in that encounter against Imam al-Husayn (a.s.). Thus, the enemy became sure that no supporter would join the army of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) and the people of Iraq, in particular, would not back him.” Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) then added, “May I sacrifice my father for the weak and the stranger (i.e. Imam al-Husayn (a.s.)).”