Lucknow: Memories of a City -pg. 119

The Imam's trials and tribulations inspired faith in a universal nemesis ensuring justice for oppressed souls. In popular belief he was Ram of Ayodhya carrying his crusade into the wilderness; his brother Abbas personified Lakshman, devoted, energetic and brave; his sister Zainab and wife Um-i-Kulsoom were cast in the image of Sita, caring, dutiful and spirited. Yazid, the Umayyad ruler and Hussains's persecutor, was Ravan, greedy, corrupt, ambitious, cruel and ruthless.