Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Today is the 4th night of Moharram.

Our majlis continues. We will recite nawhas to mourn the great loss in Karbala. Our eyes will shed more tears and our matam will increase.

Let us focus our minds on Hussain (a.s) in Karbala.

He has hardly 72 men with him. While, day-by-day, Yazid's vulture-like men are gathering in large numbers to kill Hussain (a.s).

On 9th Moharram, Yazid's commanders decide to fight Hussain (a.s) and his men. They blow the trumpets to start the battle.

Hussain (a.s) was not ready to fight. He called his brother, Abbas(AS), the commander of his small army.

"Abbas(AS)! Go to the commanders of Yazid's army and ask them to give us one more night. We will be ready tomorrow."

Abbas went with Hussain (a.s)'s request. It was granted. Why did Hussain (a.s) ask for one more night?

To pray? To spend one more day with his children? To spend one more day with his darling daughter, Sakina(SA)?

No Hussain (a.s) was waiting for a special guest – HUR!

Who was Hur?

Hur was a captain of Yazid's army. He was the captain who stopped Hussain (a.s) from going to Kufa. He, with his 1,000 men, forced Hussain (a.s) to come to Karbala.

Hur, the name means to be free. Hur lived up to his name. He freed himself from the Fire of Hell before it was too late.

The events in Karbala teach us many lessons.

Hur taught us a lesson. He set an example for us.

We should think of Hur all the time during our life. Hur had a choice between Hell and Heaven. He had a choice between glory in this world or happiness in the world hereafter.

It is never too late to ask for forgiveness. Hur chose Heaven. He chose happiness in the world hereafter.

In our lifetime, there are many times when we have to make a choice between good and bad, between Halal and Haram, between right and wrong, between Hell and Heaven.

Be like Hur, choose good deeds! Choose Halal things, go for truth and choose to be in Heaven. Happiness and glory in this world are short lived, while the happiness in the world hereafter is everlasting.

On 9th Moharram, Hur could hear the cry:

"AL-ATASH! AL-ATASH! AL-ATASH!" "THIRST THIRST! THIRST!"

The children in Hussain (a.s)'s camp were crying for water.

Hur was very restless. He kept on thinking what a grave mistake he had made by bringing Hussain (a.s) to Karbala.

"What have I done? Why? Why did I put the son of Fatima(s.a) in this position? Will Hussain (a.s) forgive me? Will Allah forgive me? Will Bibi Fatima(s.a) forgive me? How can I ask for forgiveness?"

Hur could not sleep the whole night. He spent the night weeping and begging Allah to forgive him.

The 10th of Moharram came! It was very early in the morning. Horses in Yazid's camp were hot and uncomfortable.

They were jumping up and down. They could not keep their hooves on the ground because it was so hot.

Yazid's soldiers poured buckets of water on the horses' hooves to cool them and calm them.

Hur watched as gallons of water was poured on the horses. He thought:

"So much water for the animals, while the children of Bibi Fatemah (SA)are crying for a few drops of water. There is so much water for the animals but none for the grandson of the Holy Prophet."

"AL-ATASH! AL-ATASH! AL-ATASH!", echoed through Hur's ears.

Hur could not take it anymore. He called his son and said:

"My son, I have made a terrible mistake. I have brought such a pious and truthful man here to be killed. Please, my son, quickly take me to Imam Hussain (a.s). I want to beg him to forgive me before it is too late. I am ashamed of myself. Will Hussain (a.s) forgive me? How can I face him?"

Hur continued:

"My son, before you take me to Hussain (a.s), tie my hands and cover my face, so that I do not have to face him while I ask for his forgiveness."

Hur's son did what his father had asked him to do. He tied Hur's hands and covered his face.

Hur and his son mounted their horses and headed towards Hussain (a.s)’s camp.

Abbas(AS), who was guarding the tents, saw the two men coming towards him. He thought they were coming to attack them. He pulled out his sword and warned them to stop where they were.

Imam Hussain (a.s) also saw the two men.

"Abbas(AS), my brother Abbas(AS)! Put your sword back! Those two men are not coming to fight us. That is Hur, my special guest. I have been waiting for him. Let us go and receive them, Abbas(AS)."

Imam Hussain (a.s) and Abbas(AS) went to meet Hur.

"Welcome, Hur, welcome. I have been waiting for you."

Hur threw himself at Hussain (a.s)'s feet.

"My master, please forgive me. Please forgive me. I am extremely sorry for what I have done. I am ashamed of myself."

Imam Hussain (a.s) took Hur in his arms and said:

"Hur, my friend, I forgive you. I assure you that my grandfather, my father and my mother have also forgiven you. Come with me, Hur."

Imam Hussain (a.s), Abbas(AS), Hur and his son rode back to the tents.

It was Fajr time. Ali Akber(AS) gave Adhan. They all prayed the Fajr Namaaz.

Soon after that, Yazid's soldiers blew the trumpets to start the battle.

Hur asked Imam Hussain (a.s) for permission to go and fight the enemies of Islam.

"Hur, you are my guest. You have only been with me for a short time. I have not been able to look after you properly. I have neither fed you nor have I been able to give you water. At least spend some time with me. No, Hur, no. I cannot let you die! You are my guest."

Hur did not give up. He kept insisting on being the first to go to battle.

Imam Hussain (a.s) then thought that, the longer Hur stayed with him, the more he would suffer from thirst and hunger.

Imam Hussain (a.s) gave permission to Hur.

"Go, Hur, go! Khuda Hafiz, Hur."

Imam Hussain (a.s) himself mounted Hur on his horse.

Hur went to the battlefield.

He was a strong and brave man. He fought the battle gallantly and sent many of Yazid's men to Hell.

Eventually, Hur came off his horse. Severely wounded, he called for Hussain (a.s).

"Master, Master! Come quickly. Let me see you for the last time."

Hur was taking his last breaths. Imam Hussain (a.s) placed Hur's head on his lap.

"KHUDA HAFIZ, HUR. Go, Hur, go! My grandfather is waiting for you. My father and mother are waiting for you. We will be joining you soon in Heaven. Khuda Hafiz, Hur"

Imam Hussain (a.s), with tears in his eyes, prayed to Allah:

"YA, ALLAH! Please forgive Hur and grant him a place in Heaven."

Hur died on Imam Hussain (a.s)'s lap and Abbas and AlI AkbeR(AS) helped Imam(AS) carry Hur's body to the tent.

INNA LILLAHE WA INNA ELAIHI RAJEOON!

WE ARE FROM GOD AND TO GOD WE RETURN!

SYEDA ZAINAB ABBAS.