LESSON FROM HURR AT KAR'BALA.

His name is HURR b. Yazid, a respected commander of the Umayyad army, the first who confronted Imam Hussain (a.s) and forced him to halt at the plain of kar'bala.

On the 10th day of Muharram, Hurr himself was confronted by his own conscience and
feelings. A great conflict arose in his mind: he was forced to choose between either wetting his hands with the sacred blood of the grandson of the Prophet (saws) or giving up his rank, power and a bright career lying ahead of him. Hurr was promised of a mouth-watering post if he succeeded in halting Imam Hussain's caravan from reaching Kufa, Iraq.

His feelings ultimately won him over and
he choose the path of eternal life and salvation. He suddenly spurred his horse
towards Imam hussayn's camp, threw himself at Imam's feet and exclaimed:

"O SON OF THE PROPHET! HERE IS THE MAN WHO DID YOU GREAT INJUSTICE IN DETAINING YOU AT THIS PLACE AND CAUSING YOU SO MUCH TROUBLE.

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO FORGIVE A SINNER LIKE ME? BY GOD, I NEVER IMAGINED THAT THESE PEOPLE WOULD GO SO DEBASE TO SHED THE BLOOD OF THE GRANDSON OF THEIR PROPHET.

I ONLY THOUGHT THAT THEY...BUT NOW, WHEN ALL HOPES FOR PEACE ARE GONE, I CANNOT BUY HELL FOR THIS WORLDLY GAIN. FORGIVE MY MISTAKE AND ALLOW ME TO SACRIFICE MYSELF FOR YOU. ONLY BY DOING THIS CAN I REDEEM MYSELF IN THE EYES OF GOD FOR MY SIN AGAINST YOU"

Imam Hussain embraced Hurr and said: "What is your name, man?" He said "Hurr".

Then the Imam said: "YOU ARE INDEED AS FREE-BORN AND NOBLE(HURR) AS YOUR MOTHER NAMED YOU"

Hurr was among the first fighters to defend Imam Hussain (as). He fought gallantly but later fell to the oppressive arrow of the Banu Ummayyad led by Umar Ibn Sa'ad Ibn Abi Waqqas.

*From The Epic Story Of Kar'bala