Tag Archives: Karbala

November 07

Justin Mashouf : Telling the Story of Ashura in America

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The event of Ashura is arguably the most singularly impactful story in Shia identity. This tragic event in which the grandson of the Prophet is slain while thirsty in the battle field, surrounded by the corpses and of his own family members and close friends, has been and continues to be central in a diverse […]

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November 06

Dungeons of Damascus

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Dungeons of Damascus Hear the author reciting Dungeons of Damascus   She wept for her father In the dungeons of Damascus “I had heard of orphans But never felt the pain I cry now, orphaned In the dungeons of Damascus They slap me when I cry They have beaten us from Karbala They still curse us […]

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Muharram November 05

Hussain: What’s in a name?

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The name “Hussain”  is a young child sitting in a crowded mosque and seeing her parents cry for the first time at the tale of a far-off event that seems impossibly remote. It is emotional, black-clad multitudes in grim processions, shaking with sorrow for the household of the Prophet killed nearly fourteen centuries ago. Hussain […]

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Imam Hussain November 03

Preserving Islam : Karbala A Universal Paradigm

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On the day of Ashura, Imam Hussain called out “Is there any helper to help us?” This call extends to us to the present day, since the larger struggle of Good vs. Evil that Imam Husayn fought on the tenth of Muhurram 681 AD is still an on-going struggle to this day.  Imam wasn’t looking […]

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October 24

Divine Inspiration: Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain

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Inspiration flows like a river;  rivers flow through the earth into the enormous and powerful depths of the sea, similarly inspiration flows through our bodies and becomes a central part of our being, giving rise to wisdom, insight, and beauty. Throughout our lives we are nourished emotionally, psychologically and most importantly motivated by the things […]

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October 22

Remembering Hussain: A Tear is an Intellectual Thing

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In the United States, the ‘self-help’ industry brings in over $10 billion annually. Year after year, thousands of books, life coaches, self-help gurus, and workshops emerge, promising pathways to happiness and fulfillment. Amid this maze of transient quick-fixes, however, there is one means of personal growth that has withstood the test of time. The commemoration of […]

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September 30

A Journey to Karbala : Searching for Hussain

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“They come from everywhere!” I grinned at Zainab as she smiled infectiously. I was taken by her excitement. She was so thrilled by the various stations set up along the path to the shrine of Imam Hussain, and so humbled by the people who lined the streets to serve refreshments to the pilgrims… to serve […]

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