Hurr was the name of one of the high-ranking commanders of the army of Yazeed who faced the grandson of the Prophet of Islam Imam Hussain (a.s), with orders from Yazeed to either get Hussain (a.s)’s allegiance for his corrupt Khalifat, or kill Hussain (a.s) and all his friends.
When Imam Hussain (a) was going towards Koofa Hurr had been sent to stop Imam. The Imam had given water to Hurr and his soldiers, when they were very, very thirsty and had run out of water.
During the night of Ashoor, Hurr was restless thinking about Imam Hussain (a.s). “I find myself between Hell and Heaven,” said Hur as he paced up and down in his tent as the day of Ashoora, the tenth of Muharram dawned.
“Why do you fear to fight these handfuls of Bani Hashim?” Hur was asked. Hur’s reply was that he was deciding between Batil and Haq, Wrong and Right. Throughout the night, he had been thinking.
Now, he felt sorry for blocking the way and decided to come to the Imam’s side. He went and begged the Imam to forgive him. Imam Hussain (a.s) welcomed Hurr and hugged him. Imam Hussain (a.s) assured him that Allah shall certainly accept your repentance and forgive you.
Hur then asked and obtained permission from the Imam to go and fight against Ibne Saad’s army, the enemies of Islam. Hurr then fought bravely against the army of Umar ibne Saad.
After a valiant fight, as he fell from his horse he cried out,”Accept my salaams O my maula Hussain.”The Imam rushed to Hur’s side. As Hur lay dying, the Imam sat by him with tears in his eyes & said “Your mother gave you a noble name, Hur. You are free in this world & the next.”
Hurr breathed his last and attained martyrdom. The Imam then tied a scarf that Bibi Fatima (s.a) had given him around Hur’s head. When Hurr died, the Imam felt very sad at losing his new friend. He took Hurr’s body back to the tent (khaima), where all the ladies mourned for him.
The Shrine of Hazrat Hurr (a) is located five kilometers west outside the Holy City of Karbala.
