It has been reported that when Imam Sajjad (pbuh) returned to Medina after the events of Ashura, someone went to him and said, “O son of the Prophet! Did you see what happened because of your going?!” Imam Sajjad (pbuh) replied, “Think about what would have happened if we had not gone.” Yes, if they had not gone, the bodies would have survived but the truth would have been destroyed, the human spirit would have been lost, people’s consciences would have been trampled underfoot, logic and wisdom would have been blamed throughout history, and not even the name of Islam would have remained.

Ayatollah Khamenei
March 18, 2002