Kerbala, also known as Karbala, is a city in Iraq that holds great religious significance for Muslims, particularly for the Shia sect. It is the site of the Battle of Karbala, a crucial event in Islamic history that occurred in the year 680 AD (61 AH in the Islamic calendar). The battle resulted in the martyrdom of Imam Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and is commemorated annually during the Islamic month of Muharram, particularly on the day of Ashura.
Here’s a timeline of the events leading up to and including the Battle of Karbala:
680 A.D
- Rajab 15: Death of Mu’awiya b. Abi Sufyan and Yazid’s claim for the caliphate.
- Rajab 28: Departure of Imam Hussain(AS) from Medina to avoid the oath of allegiance to Yazid.
- Sha’ban 3: Arrival of Imam HUssain (AS) to Mecca.
- Ramadan 10: Arrival of people of Kufa’s first letter to Imam (AS).
- Ramadan 12: Arrival of 150 letters from Kufa.
- Ramadan 14: Arrival of the letter from the leaders of Kufa.
- Ramadan 15: Departure of Muslim b. Aqil from Mecca toward Kufa.
- Dhu l-Hijja 8: Departure of Imam Hussain (AS) from Mecca.
- Dhu l-Hijja 8: Uprising of Muslim b Aqil in Kufa.
- Dhu l-Hijja 9: Martyrdom of Muslim b Aqil.
- Muharram 2: Arrival of Imam Hussain (AS) to Karbala.
- Muharram 3: Arrival of Umar b Sa’d with 4000 people to Karbala.
- Muharram 6: Habib b Mazahir’s asking for the help of Banu Asad, one of the most famous Arab tribes and being rejected by them.
- Muharram 7: Blocking the supplies of water to Imam Hussain (AS) and his family by Umar b Sa’d.
- Muharram9: Arrival of Shimr b Dhi l-Jawshan to Karbala.
- Muharram 9: Announcing of the battle by Umar b Sa’d and Imam’s (AS) asking for a delay.
- Muharram 10: Events of Ashura and Imam Hussain’s (AS) and his companions’ martyrdom.
- Muharram 11: Moving the captives, including Lady Zainab (AS) and Imam Sajjad(AS), towards Kufa.
- Muharram 11: Burial of the martyrs by Banu Asad.
- Muharram 13: Arrival of the captives to Kufa.
- Muharram 19: Moving the prisoners from Kufa towards Syria.
- Safar 1: Arrival of the captives to Syria.
- Safar 20: Arba’een and the return of Ahl al-Bayt (AS), including Imam Sajjad (AS), to Karbala.