Imam al-Mahdi (AS) was born on the 15th Sha'ban 255 A.H. in Samarra, Iraq. He became the Imam when his father was Martyred in 260 A.H. Imam al-Mahdi (AS) was only 5 years old when he went into ghaibat (concealment).

Ali ibn al-Husayn (AS) was born in Medina in the year 38 AH. He lived with his grandfather, the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, for two years, with his uncle, al-Hasan, peace be on him, for twelve years, and with his father, al-Husayn, peace be on him, for twenty-three years.

Imam Hussein ibn Ali (AS) was born on the 5th of Sha`aban according to some sources and the 3rd of Sha`aban according to other sources in the 4th year after Hijra (626 AD). He is the 3rd Shia Imam.

On this occasion we celebrate the birth of Imam Ali (AS), Islam's first Imam after the Prophet Muhammad (SASW).

On this day Imam Hasan ibn Ali al-Askari (AS) was born; he is our 11th Imam. His life from childhood to adulthood was spent in this house where his father Imam Ali Naqi (AS) was to remain under house arrest. But despite this close guard on the Imam, he conducted his duties from inside the house.

This day marks the birth of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w.a.) as well as the birth of Imam al Sadi'q (a.s.), our 6th Imam.

When the young Imam Zain-ul Abideen took the mantle of Imamat, times were hard on the Ahlulbayt of the Prophet. His is the saddest story of all time. On the 10th of Muharram at the time of Asr Prayers, when Imam Hussain (AS) was alone in the battlefield ready to do battle, he withdrew to the camp of his ailing son, came beside his bed, woke him and told him that the story of Karbala was over, that he was about to go to sacrifice his own life for the cause of Islam. It was at that time the father transferred the mantle of Imamat, the spiritual guidance, to his son to lead the Muslim Ummah towards the Right Path.

It has been narrated from Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (AS) that he said: “Give life to our cause. May Allah have mercy upon he who gives life to our cause.” It was then said to him, “How does one give life to your cause?” The imam said: “He learns our teachings, then he teaches them to people, for if men but knew the greatness of our words they would follow us.” (Ma’ani al-Akhbar, Sheikh al-Sadooq, pg. 180)

The sacred month of Muharram overlooks us once gain to take us to the Ashura of Imam Hussein ibn Ali (AS) which shook the earth and opened a new page of honor in humanity’s history.

Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (الإمام محمد الباقر) (First of Rajab 57 AH (676 AD) – Seventh of Dhu al-Hijjah 114 AH (743 AD)) was the fifth Shi'a Imam. Mohammad al-Baqir is the fourth imam according to Isma'ili Faatemi sect. His father was Imam Ali ibn Husayn (fourth Shi'a Imam) and his mother was the daughter of Imam Hassan ibn Ali (second Shi'a Imam), and her name was Fatima bint Hassan ibn Ali. He is highly respected by Sunni Muslims for his religious knowledge and Islamic scholarship.

At the end of the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca), Muslims throughout the world celebrate the holiday of Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). In 2006, Eid al-Adha will begin on approximately December 31st, and will last for three days.