Horr was the name of one of the high-ranking commanders of the   army of Omar-e-Sad who faced the grandson of the Prophet of Islam   Hussain-ebn-Ali, with orders from Yazeed-ebn-Muawiah to either get   Hussain's allegiance for his corrupt Khalifat, or kill Hussain and   all his friends. It was Horr and his army who first faced Imam   Hussein, and then kept them under siege, preventing them from   getting water.

On the day of Ashoura, Horr made a huge decision. Right before   the battle started, he left his position and the army he was   commanding, and joined Imam Hussein, and was the first to be killed   in the way of Allah, by the army he used to be a commander of just  a few hours earlier. The name "Horr" means free, freeborn, noble,   freeman.

The fate, sometimes, plays a game. The factory of creation, constantly  producing uncountable things, stones, trees, rivers, animals, insects,  human beings, sometimes shows a scene of humor, creates an innovation   or an exception: it writes a poem, paints a work of art, does something   unique...In one word, it can be said that these items have a "character".   From among the houses, Kabeh, from all the walls, the China Wall, from   the planets orbiting the sun, earth, and....from all the martyrs: Horr.  

The artistic hands of destination have composed this scene with utmost  precision, and as if to emphasize the importance of the story, have  selected all the characters of the play from the "absolutes", to make  the story most effective.  

The story is about a "choice", the most important manifestation of the  meaning of human being. But what kind of choice? We are all faced   with several choices in our everyday life: career, friend, wife, house,  major.. But in this story, the choice is much more difficult: the good   and the evil. And even so, not from a philosophical, scientific,   or theological perspective. Instead, the choice here is between the  truthful and the deceiving religion, between the just and unjust politics,   with life being the price to pay.  

To further emphasize the sensitivity of the situation, the author has   not put the hero of this story in the middle, equally between the right  and the evil. Instead, the hero is the head of the army of the evil.  On the other hand, the director of this play has to find symbols for  his story to make them most effective. Should he have Promete on   one side and some demons on the other side? But this makes the story  too mythical...Spartacos and Crasios? no...this makes the story  nationalistic and gives it a class dependent nature. How about Ebrahim  and Namrood? Moses and Feroh? Jesus and Judas? no... again, for most   of the people these are metaphysical and heavenly characters different   from common ordinary people. Having them as heros reduces the effect   of the story, and causes people to admire them, but never think about   following their examples in their everyday life. However, the main  purpose of this story is to teach, to show the ability of the man to  change, to show how it is possible for a common and even sinful man   to reject all his social, family, and class ties and show a god-like  change.   

The history of Islam is full of contradicting features. The two lines   starting from Habil and Ghabil, existing throughout the history  side by side though in different faces, have also continued in Islam.  Now, both these streams are dressed in Islam, but in opposite directions.  Ironically, our hero is faced to choose between the most extreme ends  in each of these parties:

 Indeed, had this story been created by an author, he should have been  recognized for his genuine and art...

 What is the name of this hero? For a historic figure, what is important  is the role he plays, and not his name, since his name is something  chosen for him by his family, according to his parent's taste..  On the other hand, if the story is created by an ingenious writer,  he would choose a name which is relevant to the role of his hero.  In this story however, our hero has been named by his mother, "Horr",  as if she has been able to foresee the sensitive role his son is  going to play. And thus, when the Imam of freedom attends his bloody   body, just before his death, tells him: "O Horr! God bless you! You  are free both in this world and in the world to come, just like what  your mother called you!"  

Although Horr has played a unique role in the history, the essence of   his role is not just confined to himself. The meaning of his action,   in fact, includes all human-beings, and indeed defines "humanity". It   is what distinguishes the human-beings from other creatures, underlining   the responsibility of man with respect to God, people, and himself.   And Horr has not played this with words and concepts, but with love   and blood. If one grasps the depth of this saying from Imam Sadegh(AS)   that "All days are Ashoura, and all places are Karbala, and all months  are Moharam" one readily feels the extension: "and all human-beings are   Horr!"   

Our history, starting from Habil and Ghabil, is the manifestation  of the eternal conflict between the two poles of God and Satan, though   in each period of time these two poles have disguised differently.  Therefore, in each period of time, every human-being finds himself just  in the same position as Horr did: alone, in the middle, hesitating,   between the same two armies. On the one side, the commander of the   army of evil shouts on his soldiers: " O Army of God! attack!" and  on the other side, an Imam, with a voice echoing throughout the  history asks -and not commands- "Is there anybody who wishes to   assist me?" and you, the man, should choose.  

It is by this choice that you become human. Before this choice  you are nothing, you are just an existence without essence, you are  standing in the middle. Thus, the man who has found "existence"  through birth, finds "essence" through choice. It is by this choice,  that the creation of man completes, and this is exactly when the man  feels this heavy burden on his shoulders and finds himself alone,  as God and the nature have left him on his own on this dangerous  decision.  

Now we can evaluate our hero, we can feel what a long journey he has  gone through in what a short time, to change him from a Yazidian Horr,   to a Husseinian Horr. If he stays with the army of Yazid, his world  is guaranteed, and if he joins the small army of Hussain, his death is   eminent. It is the morning of the day of Ashoura, and although the   battle has not yet started in the fields, Horr realizes that the   opportunity would not last. Time goes by fast, and the moments  count. The storm has already started within him.   

From the beginning, Horr was hoping that the events would not  lead to war, but now war seems to be unavoidable. Human-beings  have limited capability in tolerating shame and scorn, except  for those who are genius in this respect and can tolerate   disgrace unlimitedly. Horr never had thought that being an  "employee" of the government of Yazid would mean collaborating  in Yazid's criminal acts. For him his job was just a source  of income without having anything to do with politics or his   religion.   

Horr now realizes that adding his position with his religion is   impossible. Thus, hopelessly and as a last resort he talks   with the commander of the Army (Omar-ebn-Sa'd) who like himself  is reluctant to get in a war and has accepted the mission to   become the governor of the province of Ray and Gorgan. What   would then be better than coming up with some sort of a solution   without getting involved in the blood of the grandson of the   Prophet and his family.  

Horr and Omar-ebn-Sa'd both have come all the way from the palace   of Yazid to Karbala together and they share the same status and   social class. Horr asks Omar:  

"Can't you find a peaceful solution for this situation? "  

"You know that if it had been up to me I would have done as  what you propose, but your master Obeid-Allah-Ziyad did not  accept a peaceful resolution!"   

"So are you going to fight with this man (Hussein)?"  

"Yes, by God, I will fight a battle the least consequence of  which will be separated heads and broken arms!"   

Now, it is evident that no longer can he play games with his  religion. Now, the two separate their paths.   

For Horr, Yazid's army of tens of thousand is now nothing more   than a bunch of faces, without meaning. A crowd of men without  selves, a group of people without hearts, those who shout but  don't know why, fight but don't know for whom. Now the Jesus of  love and conscience cures a blind and resurrects a dead, creating  a martyr from a murderer. In a journey it is not enough to ask  for the destination, but one should also ask from the origin.  Thus, the length of Horr's journey becomes evident when one   realizes from where he started, and to where he ended, all in  half-a day's time. In his emigration from Satan to Allah , Horr  did not study philosophy or theology, nor did he attend any  lectures or schools. He just changed his direction, and it is  in fact this "direction" which gives meaning to everything: art,  science, literature, religion, prayers, hajj, Mohammad, Ali...   Having started his journey, and riding his horse, he slowly leaves  his Army toward Hussain. Muhajer-ebn-Ous, who sees him agitated  and worried asks:  

"Whats wrong with you Horr? I am puzzled by your case, by God if   I were asked about the bravest man in our army I wouldnt hesitate  to mention your name, and now you are so disturbed and worried?"  

"I find myself between the Hell and the Heaven, and I have to   select between them, and by God I will not choose but Heaven,   even if I were cut to pieces or burnt to ashes!"  

The creation of Horr was completed and the fire of doubt has led   him to the verity of certitude.   He slowly approaches the camp of Hussain, and as he gets closer  he hangs his boots from his neck, and keeps his armor down (as a  sign of remorse)  

"I am the one who closed your path O Hussein"   He didnt accept Hussein's invitation to rest for a while..  

"Is there a repentance for me?"  He can't wait any longer, he returns to the front and attacks the  army of Omar with the most severe and bitter words, letting his  ex-army and ex-commander know that he is no longer a slave, he is  free, he is "Horr".   

Omar-ebn-Sa'd, his ex-commander, responds by throwing an arrow and  yelling   

"Be witness and let Amir-ol-momenin know that I was the one to   throw the first arrow at the army of Hussain!