Shia Calendar Today

Martyrdom of Ruqayya bint Imam al-Hussain (as)

The martyrdom of Ruqayya bint Al-Ḥusayn, a four-year-old daughter of Imam Husayn, is described in Kamile Bahai from Kitab al Hawiyah. The family had concealed the fathers' deaths from children, claiming they were on a journey. At Yazid's house, Ruqayya awoke distressed from a dream about her father. Upon Yazid's order, Imam Husayn's head was brought to her. Recognizing it, she lamented poetically, kissed it, and died from grief in Damascus, prompting widespread mourning. Yazid then ordered the heads hanged on city doors.

Martyrdom of Imam al-Hasan (as)

Mu’awiya, having built a strong base in Syria, transformed the caliphate into a hereditary monarchy by appointing his son Yazid as successor, breaching his pledge to Imam Hasan ('a). Anticipating opposition, Mu’awiya orchestrated Hasan's poisoning through his wife Jo’dah bint Ash'ath, promising her 100,000 dirhams and marriage to Yazid, but later reneged on the marriage. After Hasan's death in 669, ‘Aisha, mounted on a mule with Umayyads, prevented his burial beside Prophet Muhammad (S) in Medina, leading to his interment in Jannat-ul-Baqi; Ibn Abbas rebuked her actions.

7 Safar

Battle of Nahrawan

In the Battle of Siffin, Mu’awiya's trick of raising Qur’ans on spears halted the fight, leading to arbitration. Amr ibn ‘As tricked Abu Musa Ash’ari into deposing Ali, then reinstated Mu’awiya as caliph. This sparked the Kharijites' rebellion against Ali for accepting arbitration. They withdrew to Harura, pledged to Abdullah ibn Wahab, moved to Nahrwan, and began killings. Ali confronted them, some repented, but battle ensued at Nahrwan, where Ali prevailed, though it demoralized his forces. Kharijites later persisted, evolving into the Ibadi sect in places like Oman and Algeria.

9 Safar