Karbala or Kerbala is a city in central Iraq, located about 100 km (62 mi) southwest of Baghdad, and a few miles east of Lake Milh, also known as Razzaza Lake. Karbala is the capital of Karbala Governorate, and has an estimated population of 700,000 people (2015).
Al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib, also known as Abu Abd Allah or Imam Husayn, was a grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muhammad's daughter Fatimah, and a younger brother of Hasan ibn Ali. He is the third Shia Imam after his brother, Hasan, and before his son, Zayn al-Abidin. He is considered a member of the Ahl al-Bayt as well as the Ahl al-Kisa, and he was a participant in the event of Mubahala. Muhammad described Husayn and his brother, Hasan, as "the masters of the youth of Paradise."
The Battle of Karbala was fought on 10 October 680 between the army of the second Umayyad Caliph Yazid I and a small army led by Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, at Karbala, modern day Iraq.
Muḥarram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year when warfare is forbidden. It is held to be the second holiest month after Ramadan.
Ashura is an Islamic holiday that occurs on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar. For Muslims, Ashura marks the day in which the Islamic prophet Musa was saved by Allah when He parted the Sea while leading the children of Israel to the land of Israel. Furthermore, for Muslims, it marks the day on which the Battle of Karbala took place, resulting in the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a member of the Household of Muhammad.
Al-Abbas ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib, also known as Abu al-Fadhl and Qamar Bani Hashim, was a son of Ali and Fatima bint Hizam, commonly known as Umm al-Banin.
Zaynab bint Ali, was the eldest daughter of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatimah bint Muhammad. The Islamic prophet Muhammad was her maternal grandfather, and thus she is a member of his Ahl al-Bayt. She is often revered not only for her characteristics and actions, but also for her membership in, and continuation of, the biological line of Muhammad. Like other members of her family, she is considered to be a figure of sacrifice, strength, and piety in both the Sunni and Shia sects of Islam.
Qasim ibn Hasan, was the son of Hasan ibn Ali. He supported his uncle Husayn Ibn Ali in fighting off the Umayyad forces during the Battle of Karbala where he was killed at the age of 13.
Ali al-Akbar ibn Al-Husayn, commonly known as simply Ali al-Akbar, was the son of Al-Husayn ibn Ali, the third Imam, and Umm Layla. He was killed at the age of 18 on the day of Ashura, in the Battle of Karbala. According to Jean Calmard writing in Iranica, ‘Ali al-Akbar's reputation as a valiant warrior of the Household of Muhammad might have preceded that of Al-‘Abbas ibn ‘Ali.
Abdullah Ali al-Asghar ibn Al-Husayn, or simply Ali Asghar, was the youngest child of Al-Husayn and Rubab bint Imra’ al-Qays. He was martyred during the Battle of Karbala, and is commemorated in shia as the "personified quintessence of the innocent victim." He is given the title "Bab al-Hawa'ij".
Ruqayyah bint Al-Ḥusayn, was the daughter of Husayn ibn Ali and Rubab bint Imra al-Qais. Her brothers included Ali Zayn al-Abidin, Ali al-Akbar, and Ali al-Asghar. Her sisters included Fatimah as-Sughra and Fatimah al-Kubra, with the latter also being called 'Sakinah'.
Habīb ibn Madhāhir al-Asadi was of the Banu Asad clan, and one of the companions of Ali, Hasan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali. He was one of the people of Kufa who sent letters to Husayn ibn Ali and invited him to Kufa. Though, when he realized that people of Kufa have broken their allegiance to Husayn, he left Kufa, joined Husayn, and was martyred at the age of 75 while fighting in Husayn's army, in Karbala.
The Mourning of Muharram is a set of commemoration rituals observed primarily by Shia and Sufi Muslims. The commemoration falls in Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Many of the events associated with the ritual take place in congregation halls known as Hussainia.
ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmayr al-Kalbī, also known as Abū Wahb, was one of the companions of Husayn ibn Ali, who was killed along with him in the Battle of Karbala (680). He belonged to the Kalb tribe, the majority of whom were adherents of Christianity at that time. His wife Umm Wahab was amongst the female casualties in Husayn's army at the Battle of Karbala.
Tasu'a is the ninth day of Muharram and the day before Ashura. Several events occurred on this day, including: Shemr's entrance to Karbala, the granting of safe conduct for the children of Umm ul-Banin, preparation for war; and Husayn ibn Ali and his companions were besieged by the enemy. The day is attributed to Abbas ibn Ali because of his actions as commander in the army of Husayn ibn Ali.
Kurdus ibn Zuhayr al-Taghlibi was a companion of Ali ibn Abi Talib who was killed at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE.
Muqsit b. Zuhayr al-Taghlibi was a companion of Hussain ibn Ali who was killed in the Battle of Karbala. He was also a companion of Imam Ali. According to some sources, he was martyred in the first attack of Umar ibn Sa'ad's army.
Uthman ibn Ali was a son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Umm al-Banin. He fought in the Battle of Karbala, in which he was martyred. Uthman is highly honored by Muslims for his sacrifice. According to some sources Uthman was 21 and had no children when he was martyred.
Saeed b. 'Abd Allah al-Hanafi was a companion of Imam al-Hussain who was martyred in the Battle of Karbala. As a prominent Shiite and a nobleman in Kufa, he played a significant role in calling Imam al-Hussain to Kufa. He delivered several important letters of the Kufans to Imam al-Hussain. The final letter he delivered was Muslim b. 'Aqil's letter to the Imam. From that point he accompanied the Imam from Mecca to Karbala. Saeed is also remembered for his speech on the night before Ashura in which he proved his love for the Ahl al-Bayt and support of Imam al-Hussain.
