1400 years ago, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said he was the city and one particular man was the gate. To get to the city, you'd have to go through that man. After his death, that gate was left untouched for 25 years. 3 caliphs came and went and it took the death of the 3rd caliph at the hands of the Muslims for that gate to be opened.

That gate was known as Imam Ali (PBUH) and the consequences of the above would ultimately lead to a schism in Islam that reverberates until today, shapes the Islamic world and has led to countless dynasties, debates, disputes and at times, death.

Join me in season 2 of the Lispective as we try to recount this important 25 year period after the death of the Prophet (PBUH) and approach it from a rational, logical, historical and academic perspective where we attempt to answer the question: what were the results, both at the time and beyond, from the Islamic community ignoring the gate and choosing to find their own path forwards.

In episode 1, join me as we lay down the foundations for why this topic is worthy of being discussed, how we will break down the season, what sources I will use, how I will try to avoid this being a polemic, heated discussion and rather make this a healthy discourse looking at a small period in a shared history (emphasis on the word shared). It's long but buckle up; it's going to be a long ride.

Welcome to Season 2: From the City to the Gate.

Imam Hussain (PBUH) stood up to injustice 1400 years ago and paid for it with his life and the lives of his family. So what?

Join me and a few of my friends in this final episode, where we seek to wrap up our discussion and attempt to answer the question above, the most difficult question of all when it comes to discussing this story.

This episode attempts to look into how the story of Imam Hussain (PBUH) and his message is used today, on both a macro and micro scale, and how his story has the power to influence real change for good. Join me for one last episode and see whether you find yourself at the end asking the question – so what?

Every community mourns in different ways. For Muslims, most specifically Shia Muslims, there is no bigger tragedy than the tragedy of Ashura. For Shia Muslims, the 10th of Muharram each year represents the saddest period of the calendar year and one Shias mourn for; not just with their tears, but through practices that have existed for centuries, if not over a millenia.

Shia Islam is often marred through images of some of these practices. Many non-Muslims, and even some Muslims, cannot wrap their heads around it. Join my friend and I once more into a deep dive of what these practices are, how different communities do different things and the importance of it in commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (PBUH).

One could be forgiven for thinking, after Ashura, that would be the end of the trials for the family of Imam Hussain (PBUH). Rather, their tribulations were just beginning. Chained and shackled, prodded and abused, for days they were taken across the Muslim world, ending up in Damascus.

Lady Zainab (PBUH), however, was the sister of 2 Imam’s, a daughter of an Imam and a granddaughter of a Prophet. Where the enemy attempted to deflate their spirits and bring the stand of Imam Hussain (PBUH) to an eventual close, the Lady of Karbala found strength where none thought existed. Join my good friend and I in discussing the next 40 days and how the heroism of Lady Zainab (PBUH) echoes through the annuls of history. 

Imam Hussain's (pbuh) body lies on the grounds of Karbala, his mission to defend the principles of Islam until his death seemingly complete. The trials and tribulations for his women and children, however, begin, from the very moment of his death.

The night after Ashura is too important to tag along to the previous episode or the start of the next. It provides context to the bridging between the one set of trials and another and highlights the importance Imam Hussain's (pbuh) sister would play in the days to come.

Sound credit:

Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

Science fiction cold howling blizzard wind or snowstorm. Version 2

The time has come for Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) to face his enemy head on. The last 50 years had led up to this crossing in the annuls of history - truth and justice on one side, falsehood and injustice on the other. This episode looks to detail what exactly happened on that fateful day.

Sound credit:
Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

Science fiction cold howling blizzard wind or snowstorm. Version 2

Imam Hussain and his followers have arrived at their final resting place. Surrounded by the enemy, cut off from the water and left with no options, Hussain (peace be upon him and his family) lets his principles and ideology lead him forwards. But what events transpired between the 2nd of Muharram, when they reached Karbala, and the 10th of Muharram, when they met their fate? Tune in to find out.

Imam Hussain departs from Makkah with visions of support for him in Kufa. He would never reach that city, however: his final destination was to be Karbala.

What did he know of his situation beforehand? What happened on that journey of his? With whom was he with and why was that so integral for both the tale and for him? Episode 4 seeks to answer these questions.

Muawiyah is dead. Yazid has ascended the throne. He sends his threats to Imam Hussain regarding paying allegiance to him or facing death but the Imam knows that with allegiance comes the acceptance and advocation of tyranny in the name of religion. This episode find us following the journey of Imam Hussain from his house when he hears the news of Muawiyah's death to the city that promised him sanctuary and support... until they didn't.

The two main characters involved in the story of Karbala are often spoken about confined to the tale. What this doesn't allow for is a wider inspection of how they came to be.

Episode 2 looks at Hussain and Yazid from the early days: how they grew up, how they saw the world around them, what characteristics they embodied and how all of these things, and more, shaped them to become the personalities they were and ideologies they had come 680 AD. It also allows those unfamiliar with Hussain and Yazid to gain some wider context into their backgrounds - just who exactly are you exactly listening about?

Please do listen and share (sharing is caring)! As always, feedback is more than welcome. Please follow the below links to stay updated and follow the tale of Hussain over the next few weeks!

Instagram: @Lispective

Twitter: @Lispective

E-mail: [email protected]

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/581452 (links to Apple Podcasts and Spotify, too)

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-lispective/id1479351656

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6kyttF5XqSalaUn1xYK2Iw