Iran Press/ Iran news: Tasu'a, the ninth day of Muharram, is named after Imam Hussein's younger brother Hazrat Abul Fadhl al-Abbas who was martyred on the day of Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram, as he was bringing water for the thirsty children of Imam Hussein (AS), who were deprived of water by the callous army of the self-proclaimed Umayyad Caliph, the tyrant Yazid.
Despite his intense thirst, when Hazrat Abul Fadhl al-Abbas arrived at the river Euphrates, near Karbala, he did not drink water and filled his water-skin bottle with water and proceeded to Imam Hussein's (AS) tents, but midway he was martyred, with his water-skin bottle torn by Yazid's mercenaries.
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, within which the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny) and the third Shia Imam was martyred along with 72 of his loyal companions in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
Imam Hossein and his companions were martyred after fighting courageously for justice against the much larger army of the then-tyrant Umayyad caliph, Yazid I, which some historians estimate to have been 30,000 strong.
Hazrat Abul Fadhl al-Abbas was the standard bearer, and the deputy commander of Imam Hussein's brigade.
The Muslims, both Shias and Sunnis, and even followers of other religions such as Christians mourn in remembrance of the Chief of Martyrs, Imam Hossein (peace be upon him). 205/211/215
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Mourning ceremonies held all across Iran in the month of Muharram
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