ICGER Hosts Internal Seminar on the Historical Context of the Ashura Events
ICGER held a three-day internal seminar focusing on the death of Husayn ibn ‘Ali, the grandson of the Prophet of Islam, in the Battle of Karbala, known as ‘Ashura or the al-Taff event.
The Center’s president, historian Dr. Mohammad Walid Youssef, led the seminar, which was attended by heads of departments and geopolitical division leaders at ICGER. Dr. Youssef presented what he described as the most historically accurate and reliable account of the event, drawing on a wide range of foundational Islamic historical sources. However, he emphasized that absolute certainty in determining the comprehensive truth of the incident remains elusive due to the complexity of conflicting narratives.
Dr. Youssef outlined the broader political and historical context that led to the events at Karbala, beginning with the death of the Prophet and the appointment of Abu Bakr as the first caliph, followed by the leadership of Umar ibn al-Khattab, the internal conflicts during the rule of Uthman ibn Affan, and the ensuing struggles between Ali ibn Abi Talib and Mu‘awiya ibn Abi Sufyan. The tension culminated during the reign of Yazid ibn Mu‘awiya, under whom the Battle of Karbala occurred.
He then delved into the details of the battle itself, which ended in the death of Husayn on the 10th of Muharram in the year 61 AH, and explored the aftermath and its lasting impact on the Muslim world.
The seminar concluded with an open discussion, during which Dr. Youssef addressed questions and reflections from participants.
