On the shattering day of Ashura. After baring witness to the slaughter of his 72 companions, his brother and standard bearer Abbas (as), eldest son Ali al Akbar (as) and perhaps, the most heart rendering and shameful crime of all, the slaughter of his six month old infant, Ali Asgher (as). Held in weary and loving arms, stretched out to the enemy, appealing to a humanity non‐existent in the blood thirsty hordes that stood opposite. Imam Hussein (as) forced to cup the blood of his child slaughtered by an arrow let loose by the accursed archer, Harmalla (LA)

Returning to his camp. Imam Hussein (as) buries his beloved Ali Asghar, then returns to the edge of the battlefield, looking neither at the enemy nor the remainder of his women folk. Looking out into the horizon, calling out in resolute confidence,

“HAL MIN NASSERIN YANSURENA” “IS THERE ANYONE TO SUPPORT US”

Knowing full well that no one remained to answer the call on the battlefield, Imam Hussein (as) instead spoke out to every single able man, woman and child, to every generation to come after that tragic day, until the very end of time. To which that incomparable reply rings out from the hundreds of millions of the faithful all over the world and for all time

“LABAYKA YA HUSSEIN”
“WE ANSWER YOUR CALL OH HUSSEIN”

This stunning and evocative flag hangs above the courtyard pulpit at the Shrine of Imam Ali (as) In Najaf, Iraq.