Ya Husayn

Flag

Husayn is invoked on red Shia flags in modern Iran, particularly in the form ya la-thara al-Husayn ("O ye avengers of Husayn"). According to a Shia legend, the troops of Husayn fought under a red banner. The association of red color with Husayn symbolizes the blood of martyrs and was further entrenched in some hadiths. For example, Al-Mojamul Kabir and Majma al-Zawa'id allege that at the time of Husayn's martyrdom the sky became deep red, and for several days it seemed that it was smeared with blood. According to certain Iranian Shia traditions, ya la-thara al-Husayn should be a rallying cry for believers upon the return of the Hidden Imam.

The red flag was raised particularly on the Jamkaran Mosque after the assassination of Qasem Soleimani "to avenge [his] blood", according to Yassine Hossein Abadi, the Jamkaran Mosque administrator. It was also raised for the revenge purpose on the same mosque during the 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran.

References

References

1. "Shi'ite Religious Flags (Iraq)".
2. "Husayn ibn Ali {{!}} Biography, Death, & Significance {{!}} Britannica".
3. "Husayn B. ‘Ali: Life and Significance in Shi‘ism {{!}} The Institute of Ismaili Studies".
4. (2025-02-02). "Imam Hussain (AS) {{!}} Biography, Characteristics & Teachings – International Shia News Agency".
5. Doroshenko, E. A.. (1985). "Shiitskoye dukhovenstvo v sovremennom Irane". Nauka.
6. "Signs and Incidents that Became Appeared after the Martyrdom of Imam Husayn". [[Al-islam.org]].
7. "No, a 'red flag' of revenge was not raised for the first time on an Iran mosque". [[Agence France-Presse]].
8. (13 June 2025). "Iran Raises Red Flag of Revenge". [[Kashmir Observer]].