12th Muharram — Captives' Journey to Kufa

The Captives in Kufa

On the 12th of Muharram, the holy captives of the Ahl al-Bayt were brought into the city of Kufa. The city whose people had written thousands of letters inviting Imam Hussain (a.s.) now stood as spectators to his family's humiliation. The severed heads of the martyrs were paraded on spears ahead of the caravan.

Sermons of Truth

Despite being a captive and in physical distress, Lady Zainab (s.a.) delivered a sermon so powerful that it reminded the people of the eloquence of her father, Imam Ali (a.s.). She condemned the Kufans for their betrayal, bringing many to tears of shame. Imam Sajjad (a.s.) also addressed the crowd, firmly establishing their identity as the household of the Prophet and exposing the tyranny of Yazid. (Source: Amali of Sheikh Mufid)

Significance

The 12th of Muharram is remembered as a day of immense sorrow but also the day the truth of Karbala began to spread. The Aamal for this day include continuing the mourning and reflecting on the courage of Lady Zainab (s.a.) in the face of tyranny.