1.  Aim of Imam Hussain (AS)’s Revolution

The aim of my revolution is to reform the society and revive the true teachings of Islam

(Tuhaf al-Uqul, p.243)

2. Being Free-spirited

If you don’t believe in any religion, at least be free-spirited and honest in your actions  

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 45, P. 51)

3. Revolt against Tyranny

I never revolted in vain, as a rebel or as a tyrant; rather, I rose seeking reformation for the nation of Islam

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 44, P. 329)

4. Patience in the Journey toward What Is Right

On the Day of Ashura, he addressed his companions: 

“Be patient, you noble ones. Death is only a bridge which takes you from misery and loss to the vast Paradise and the eternal graces”.

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 44, P. 297)

5. Peacemaking and Preventing from War 

O’ people! Listen to my words and don’t hasten to start a war, so that I clarify the reason behind my revolution 

(al-Shaykh al-Mufid, al-Irshad, p.253)

6. Being a Just Leader

On the night of Ashura, he gathered his followers in his tent, put out the light and said:

“Beware that I give you permission to leave this place; there is no obligation on you anymore, and you can all leave.”
However, not even one of them left his side….  

 (al-Shaykh al-Mufid, al-Irshad, p. 250)

7. Being a Steadfast Seeker 

joBe steadfast and firm in the way toward what is right, even if your journey is full of pain and challenges.   

(Usul al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 28)

8. Preserving Human Dignity

Death with dignity is better than a life of abasement. 

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 44, P. 192)

9. Being Courageous 

By God, I will never surrender to my enemies like a humiliated person and never pledge allegiance to them like slaves

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 45, P. 7)

10. Martyrdom for What is Right

To me, death for the sake of what is right, is nothing but happiness, and living under tyrants nothing but living in a hell 

(Tuhaf-al- Uqoul, P. 245)

11. Importance of Praying

The most incapable person is the one who can’t pray.

(Bihar al-Anwar, vol.81, p.257)

12. Generosity 

The most generous person is the one who gives to those who do not expect his help.

(Kashf al-ghumma, vol.2, p.30)

13. Competing in Good Deeds 

Try to compete with one another in good deeds and hurry to seize the opportunities, and forget the good deeds that you haven’t hastened to do.

(Bihar al-Anwar, vol.57, p.121)

14. Being Religious 

People are slaves of this world. Religion is just what they say. They use it as long as it provides them with their living. When they are tested, there remain only a few true religious ones.

(Tuhaf al-Uqul, p.245)

15. Worshiping Allah

If you worship Allah the way He deserves to be worshipped, He will fulfill all your wishes, and bless you much more than what you deserve.

(Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 68, p.184)

16. Helping Others

God will help the person who cares about other people’s needs, both in this world and the hereafter.

(Bihar al-Anwar, vol.75, p.121)

17. Having Faith in Allah
 
O’ Allah! What has gained the one who has not found You, and what has lost the one who has found You?

(Bihar al-Anwar, vol.95, p.226)

18. Don’t be an Oppressor

Avoid oppressing the one who does not have any supporter against you, other than the Almighty God. 

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 118)

19. Allah’s Bounties 

When Allah chooses to favor someone, makes him/her the source of satisfying other people's needs. 

(Bihar al-Anwar, vol.74, p.205.)

20. Beware of Your Own Sins

Beware! Do not be among those who are concerned about the sins of others while neglectful of their own sins. 

(al-Kafi, vol.8, p.49, Hadith #9)

21. A True Friend 

One who reveals your faults to you like a mirror is your true friend, and one who flatters you and covers up your faults is your enemy. 

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 128)

22. Satisfying People, while Disobeying Allah

Whoever seeks the satisfaction of people through disobedience of Allah; Then Allah subjects him to people. 

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 126)

23. Follow the Truth

Wisdom will not be gained, unless through following the right path. 

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 127)

24. Say Good Things

Say what you like to be said about you, in the absence of your fellow believer. 

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 75, P. 127)

25. Don’t Commit What is Wrong 

Avoid doing things that would make you apologize; since a believer won’t commit a wrong action that would make him/her sorry. 

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 75, P. 120)

26. Actions should be done for Allah

If you lead your actions through committing sins and disobeying Allah, your intentions won’t be fulfilled and will be caught in what you fear most. 

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 75, P. 120)

27. Kindness and Faithfulness 

Kindness elevates human beings, and faithfulness is the sign of decency.

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 75, P. 122)

28. Extremism and Abject People

Extremism is like going down in a swamp, and keeping company with abject and corrupt ones will bring evil and misery for you. 

(Kashf al-ghumma, vol.2, p.30)

29. Knowledge
 
Seeking knowledge will lead you toward wisdom and elevation. 

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 75, P. 128)

30. Visiting Relatives

Visiting relatives and keeping in touch with them will bring you a longer and more substantial life. 

(Al-Shaykh al-Saduq, Oyoun Akhbar Al-Ridha, vol.2, p.44)

31. The Most Generous 

The most generous person is the one who forgives while in power. 

(Kashf al-ghumma, vol.2, p.29)

32. Maintaining Family Ties

The best way of maintaining family ties is through visiting the ones who have cut ties with you and haven’t visited you for a while. 

(Kashf al-ghumma, vol.2, p.29)

33. Helping Your Fellow in Religion 

Whoever helps his/her fellow in religion for the sake of Allah, He will compensate for him/her and eliminate the hardships from his/her life. Also, whoever relieves a believer’s grief, Allah will free him/her of his/her pains and sufferings in this world and the other world. 

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 75, P. 121)

34. Trusting Others

Only trust those who believe in Allah and are afraid of His questioning on the Day of Judgement. 

(Al-Shaykh al-Saduq, Jameh al- Akhbar, p.97)

35. Paying the Debts 

While on his way to Karbala, Imam Hussain (AS) said: “I cannot have whoever owes a debt in my company. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) used to say: ‘whoever dies while owing to other people, his/her good deeds will be void in the hereafter.’”

(Kalimat al-Imam al-Hussain (AS) (Words of Imam Hussain), p.417)

36. People’s Praise and Blame 

Gain people’s praise with your efforts and successes, and do not expose yourself to people’s blames through laziness and lethargy. 

(Kashf al-ghumma, vol.2, p.29)

 37. Gaining Experience 

Long and numerous experiences strengthens your mind. 

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 75, P. 128)

38. A Scholar’s Sign
 
One of the signs of a scholar is criticizing his/her own words and thoughts and being aware of different viewpoints. 

(Bihar-al- Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 119)

39. Beware of What You Say 

Do not say something which would undermine your self-worth.  

(Muhammad Baqer al-Majlisi, Jala’a al-Oyoun, vol.2, p.205)

40. Physical Health  

Observe your physical health in your lifetime. 

(Tuhaf al-Uqul, p.239)
 

In Islam, there are some ceremonies and occasions which are held all around the world among Muslims. They all have religious backgrounds and are mostly referred to in the holy Quran. Muslim nations have been commemorating them in the course of history. Here we are going to have a glance at the most significant Islamic occasions based on the Lunar Calendar.

6 Major  Islamic Occasions 

1.10th of Muharram: Martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS)

The month of Muharram is the first month of the year in the lunar calendar. On the tenth day of this month, Hussain Ibn Ali (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP), and his companions were brutally martyred, and their women and children were taken captive by the caliph of the time, Yazid ibn. Muawyah. Their story has been the source of inspiration for many new converts. 

2. 20th of Safar: The Day of Arbaeen

Arbaeen is the Arabic word for forty, and it marks the 20th of Safar, the fortieth day after Imam Hussain's (AS) martyrdom on the day of Ashura, who was martyred in the event of Karbala along with his companions in the cruelest and most inhumane way possible. 

According to some historical accounts [2], some of the members of Imam Hussain's (AS) family after being released from the bondage of Yazid's forces returned to Karbala from Sham (today's Damascus) to visit Imam Hussain's (AS) grave. Also, some believe that Imam Hussain's (AS) head, which was taken to Sham by Yazid's army was brought back to Karbala on this day and buried with his body [3] & [4]. 

Every year, a few days before this day, a vast number of people from all over the world, Muslims or even non-Muslims, gather in Iraq to take part in a symbolic walk, to revive the teachings of Imam Hussain (AS) and commemorate his sacrifice in the way of Allah and humanity. 

3. 17th of Rabi al-Avval: Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH&HP) Birthday

There is a disagreement concerning the exact date of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH&HP) birthday. Some believe it occurred on the 12th of Rabi al-Avval, while others consider it to be on the 17th of Rabi al-Avval, the third month in the Islamic calendar. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) was born in Mecca. All Muslims around the world celebrate his birthday and regard it as one of the important Islamic occasions. On this day, Muslims feed the needy, pray and recite the Quran, commemorate Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP), and his challenges to deliver the messages of Allah to human beings.

4. 1st of Shawwal: Eid al-Fitr

The first day of the month of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, is called Eid al-Fitr. After fasting for one month, during the month of Ramadan, remembering, worshipping Allah and trying to do fewer sins beside not eating and drinking from before the Call for Fajr prayer to after the Call for Magrib prayer, Muslims celebrate the first day of the month of Shawwal, for their success in submitting to Allah's command. They perform the Eid prayer first; then, they hold a feast inviting their loved ones, wear their best clothes, and visit their friends and family. The culture of feasting might be different in different Islamic communities, but one thing is for sure; no one is allowed to fast on this exceptional day. Allah also obliges Muslims to share their blessings and happiness with the needy with the money they donate to them. 

5. 10th of Dhu'l-Hijjah: Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha is one of the most significant Islamic occasions. Some of the most important events of this Abrahamic religion happened on this day. On this Eid, similar to Eid al-Fitr, Muslims are not allowed to fast. The first is the sacrifice of Ishmael by his father, Abraham, for the sake of Allah. When Abraham and his son both surrendered, and he was ready to behead his son, Allah sent a ram and asked Abraham to kill that instead.

"So when they had both surrendered [to Allah's will], and he had laid him down on his forehead, We called out to him, 'O Abraham! You have indeed fulfilled your vision! Thus indeed do We reward the virtuous! This was indeed a manifest test. Then We ransomed him with a great sacrifice, and left for him a good name in posterity." (37: 103-108)

This day is also the last day of Hajj rituals, in which Muslims shall sacrifice an animal to feed the needy Muslims. On this day, those who attended Hajj have performed all their Hajj rituals, and with the great assistance of Allah, all their sins are wiped away, and Allah accepts their good deeds and repentance.

Many Muslims celebrate this day. They sacrifice an animal to feed the needy, even if they have not attended Hajj. If they do not have enough money to buy a sheep, they do other things and feed the destitute in different ways. This sacrifice is an expression of generosity and obedience to the commands of Allah. This Eid also reminds humankind of the characteristics, such as envy, rage, dishonesty, etc., they have to symbolically sacrifice in themselves to become the better version of themselves and be worthy of being Allah's best creation. 

5. 18th of Dhu'l-Hijjah: Eid al-Ghadir

This Islamic occasion was a day in the last Hajj pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Vida'a) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP). When he was going back to Medina with all his companions and other pilgrims, he gathered everyone around a place called Ghadir and announced these words in which he appointed Imam Ali b. Abi Talib (AS) as his caliph and the Imam after himself following a direct order from Allah [i]:

"Whomsoever, I am his leader (Mawla), Ali (AS) is also his leader (Mawla). O' Allah! Love those who love him (Ali (AS)) and oppose those who oppose him" [1]

This is another important day in the Muslim calendar. On this day, Muslims can fast and again feed the needy, as an essential part of Islamic culture. 

These are the most significant and most celebrated Islamic occasions. As one can see, feeding others and praying to Allah are the essential things a Muslim should do to celebrate a feast, which reveals the importance of caring for others in Islam that results from the devotion to Allah.  

Notes: 
[i] Verse 67th of Surah al-Maedah known as Al-Tabligh Verse, and the third verse of the same chapter known as Al-Ikmal Verse. 

References:

1.  Ibn Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 3, p. 605; Kulaynī, al-Kāfī, vol. 1, p. 295; Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 2, p. 110-111;
2.  Ibn Tawus, 'Ali b. Musa, Al-Luhuf 'ala qatla l-tufuf, Uswi, Qom, 1414 AH.
3.  Al-Biruni, Abu Rayhan, The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries, p.331.
4. Qazi al-Tabataii, Muhammad Ali, A Research on the first Arba'een of the Leader of Martyrs (Imam Hussain (AS)), vol.3, p.304.