Imam Zayn al-Abidin(A.S.)
The Greatest Messenger of Husaini Revolution
The
Umayyad government determined to destroy Islam and to annihilate its
foundations and forces. Then it decided to degrade the Muslims, to
paralyze their physical and mental activities, and to prevent them from
practicing the principles of their great religion. Ima`m Zayn
al-'Abidin, peace be on him, witnessed this severe ordeal as his father,
Ima`m al-Husayn, peace be on him, witnessed it during the days of the
government of Mu'a`wiya and Yazid.
He shared his father's pain and sorrow. Ima`m al-Husayn was unable to
carry out his great revolt during the days of Mu'a`wiya because he
understood that his revolt would fail, and that he would be unable to
change the situations standing in the country. Because Mu'a`wiya used
strong policy and ruled with wisdom, it was impossible for Ima`m al-Husayn
to overcome him and abort his plans. When this tyrannical person (Mu'a`wiya)
died and Yazid took the reins of government, Ima`m al-Husayn, peace be
on him, decided to accomplish his religious duty.
He determined to resist Yazid and to overthrow his government.
Accordingly, he would be able to preserve the Muslims' interests and
rights. Moreover he would be loyal to the fundamentals of the religion
of his grandfather. So he, peace be on him, declared his great revolt
through which Allah made the Book clear, and which He made a lesson for
the wise. Hence we will briefly mention some sides of this great revolt,
which showed terrible events to Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin. Although he was
ill, Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin was able to understand all the stages of this
tragedy through his sensitive feelings and his careful sentiment. That
is as follows:
On the Plateau of Karbala`'
The pure family of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family,
adopted the rights of the oppressed and the persecuted, so they head for
Iraq. When they arrived at the Plateau of Karbala`', they were afflicted
by ordeals, misfortunes, and disasters, so they were sure of the
destructive catastrophe.
This occurred when they found themselves surrounded by the wicked forces
who intended to shed their blood and to force them to yield to
abasement, but Allah refused to accept that for them.
Ima`m al-Husayn looked at the young men from among the members of his
family, they were in the bloom of youth, so he burst into tears and
began saying: "O Allah, we are the Household of Your Prophet, Mohammed,
peace be on him. We have been banished from the Scared City of our
grandfather, and the Umayyads have transgressed against us, so, O Allah,
take our right from them, and grant us victory over the oppressive
people."
Then he addressed the heroes from among his Household and his
companions, saying: "The people are the slaves of this world, and the
religion is licking on their tongues. They encompass it (the religion)
as long as their livelihoods stream, but when they are tested by
tribulation, they are a few in following the religion.(Hayat al-Imam al-Husayn,
vol. 3, p. 97).
These brilliant words show the practical reality of the life of the
people throughout the stages of history, so they are the slaves of this
world at every place and time. As for the religion, it has no shade in
their inner selves. When disasters befall them, they deny it and turn
away from it, so, indeed, it is licking on their tongues.
Then Ima`m al-Husayn turned to his companions and said to them: "Then
after, you have seen what has befallen us, and the world has changed and
neglected (us), its kindness has turned away (from us), and nothing has
remained of it except a rest like the rest of the container and a mean
life which is like an unhealthy food. Don't you see that the (people) do
not put the truth into effect and do not prevent each other from (doing)
falsehood? Indeed, the believer is desirous of meeting Allah. So,
indeed, I see that death is (nothing) except happiness, and that life
with the oppressive is (nothing) except boredom.(Al-Tabarani, al-Mu'jam.
Ibn 'Asakir, Tarikh, vol. 13, p. 74).
In this speech, Ima`m al-Husayn, peace be on him, showed that all kinds
of ordeals and tribulations befell them, and that the thinking of the
world toward them changed, for fate brought to them tiresome
misfortunes, but the grandson of the great Prophet was brave enough to
face them, for he saw that the people did not put the truth into effect
and did not prevent each other from doing falsehood, and that life
became abominable and martyrdom in the way of Allah was happiness.
When Ima`m al-Husayn finished his speech, all his companions rushed
toward death to give people the most wonderful examples of sacrifice for
establishing justice and fairness. Each one of them spoke with the words
of sincerity, so the Ima`m thanked and lauded them for that.
Imam al-Husayn(A.S.) announced his Death
On the night of Muharram 10th, Ima`m al-Husayn, peace be on him, was
sure of death, so he entered his own tent, prepared his own sword, and
said:
Time, shame on you as friend! At the day's dawning and the sun's
setting!
How many a companion or seeker will be a corpse! Time will not be
satisfied with any substitute.
The matter will rest with the Almighty one, and every living creature
will have to journey along my path.
In these lines of poetry, the Ima`m announced his death. He was in the
tent of Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin and of the granddaughter of the Prophet,
may Allah bless him and his family, Zaynab, daughter of Ima`m 'Ali, the
Commander of the faithful, peace be on him. When Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin
heard these lines, he understood what his father wanted, so tears choked
him, and he kept silent and knew that tribulation had come upon them, as
he said:
"As for my aunt, Zaynab, she felt that her brother and the rest of her
Household had determined to meet death and to attain martyrdom. She
could not control herself; she jumped up, tearing at her clothes,
sighing and went to him." "Then I will lose a brother," Zaynab said to
him, "Would death deprived me of life, (for) my mother Fa`tima, is dead,
and my father, 'Ali, and my brother, al-Husayn, peace be on them (all)."
"O sister," al-Husayn said to her as he looked at her with his eyes full
of tears, "don't let Satan take away your forbearance."
However, Zaynab became pale, and sorrow tore up her gentle, tortured
heart, so she lamented to her brother al-Husayn: "O my grief, your life
will be violently wrenched from you and that is more wounding to my
heart and harsher to my soul."
When she was sure that her brother would be killed, she could not
control her forbearance, so she tore her garment, struck at her face,
and then she fell down in a faint. Then the granddaughters of the
Prophet shared that severe ordeal with her. Among them was Umm Kulthu`m,
who lamented:
"Oh Mohammed! Oh 'Ali! Oh Ima`m! Oh Husayn! We will be lost after you!"
That distressing sight had a great effect on the soul of Ima`m al-Husayn,
peace be on him. Sorrow and sighs melted his heart, so he walked towards
the granddaughters of the Prophet and ordered them to cling to
forbearance and to bear the burdens of this severe ordeal, saying:
"O sister, O Umm Kulthu`m, O Fa`tima, O Raba`b, when I am killed, you
must not tear your clothes, nor scratch your faces, nor cry out with
grief and loss!(Hayat al-Imam al-Husayn, vol. 1, pp. 172-173).
Ima`m al-Husayn, peace be on him, ordered his womenfolk to cling to
forbearance during those severe ordeals that had come upon them, and he
ordered them not to say obscene words.
The Day of 'Ashura`'
There was no event in history similar to the event that came upon Ima`m
al-Husayn, peace be on him, on the Day of 'Ashura`' because all the
ordeals of the world came upon the plant of sweet basil of Allah's
Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin,
peace be on him, talked about that tragic day which is immortal in the
world of sorrows.
He said: "No day was more difficult for Allah's Messenger than the Day
(Battle) of Uhud in which his uncle Hamza b. 'Abd al-Muttalib, the lion
of Allah and the lion of His Messenger, was killed, and after it was the
Day (Battle) of Mu'ta in which his cousin Ja'far b. Abi Ta`lib was
killed."
Then he (Zayn al-'Abidin) said: "There was no day like the Day of al-Husayn,
when thirty thousand men advanced against him (while) they claimed that
they belonged to this community, and that they (wanted) to seek
proximity to Allah, the Great and Almighty, through (shedding) his
blood. He (al-Husayn) reminded them of Allah, but they did not learn
(from him) till they killed him out of (their) oppression and
aggression.(Al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 9, p. 147).
In the world of Islam, throughout history, there is no day more
difficult than that of al-Husayn, for this great Ima`m revolted (against
Yazid) to establish for all the peoples of the East an honorable life,
freedom, welfare, security, and tranquillity. However, those wicked
people rose against him and shed his blood in a savage way in which
history has never seen. They committed these crimes to live under the
yoke of slavery, oppression, and injustice.
Imam al-Husayn's Sermon
Before the fire of the battle broke out, Ima`m al-Husayn thought that he
had to establish proof for those corrupt people, to refute their
justifications, and to make them understand clearly their affairs, so
he, peace be on him, ordered his horse to be brought to him. He rode it
and walked toward them in a highly impressive manner which was similar
to that of his grandfather, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his
family.
He delivered among them his historical sermon, which is the purest and
most eloquent one in Arabic literature. He called them at the top of his
voice to make them all hear his words. He said to them:
"People, listen to my words and do not hurry (to attack me) so that I
may remind you of the duties you have towards me and so that (by telling
you the true circumstances) I may free myself from any blame in (your
attacking me).
If you give me justice, you will become happier through that. If you do
not give me justice of your own accord (as individuals), then agree upon
your affairs (and your associates); let not your affairs be in darkness
to you. Then carry (it) out against me and do not reflect (any further).
Indeed my guardian is Allah, Who sent down the Book; He takes care of
the righteous."
The air carried Ima`m al-Husayn's words to the womenfolk of the Prophet
and they lamented loudly, so the Ima`m sent to them his brother al-'Abba`s
and his son 'Ali and said to them: "Calm them. By my life, their weeping
will be very much." When they became quiet, he went on delivering his
sermon. He praised and glorified Allah, and he called down blessings
upon the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, and said
concerning that countless words.
No speaker has ever been heard before or after him more eloquent in his
speech than he was. He continued:
"People, indeed Allah, the Most High, created this world and made it the
abode of annihilation and vanishing. It changes its inhabitants from
state to state, so the conceited one is he whom it deludes, and the
miserable one is he whom it charms. So let not this world delude you
because it cuts off the hope of him who has confidence in it and
despairs the greediness of him who desires for it. I see that you have
unanimously agreed on an affair through which you have made Allah angry
with you, turn his Holy Face away from you, and send down his vengeance
upon you.
So the best lord is our Lord, and you are the worst slaves! You
acknowledged obedience (to Allah) and believed in the Prophet Mohammed,
may Allah bless him and his family, and then you have crept against his
progeny and his family, you want to kill them. Satan has wholly engaged
you, so he has made you forget the remembrance of Allah, the Almighty.
So woe to you and to what you want! To Allah we belong and to Him is our
return. These are people who have disbelieved (in Allah) after their
belief (in Him). So away with the oppressive people!"
Ima`m al-Husayn, peace be on him, preached to the people with these
words. He warned them against the delusion of this world and gave them
proofs for its unsuccessful final results and prevented them from
killing the family of their Prophet, for they would disbelieve in Islam
and be worthy of Allah's punishment and vengeance. Then the great Ima`m
continued:
"People, trace back my lineage and consider who I am. Then look back at
yourselves and remonstrate with yourselves. Consider whether it is right
for you to kill me and to violate the honor of my womenfolk. Am I not
the son of the daughter of your Prophet, of his testamentary trustee (wasi)
and his cousin, the first of the believers in Allah and the man who
(first) believed in what His Apostle, may Allah bless him and his
family, brought from his Lord?
Was not Hamza, the lord of the martyrs, my uncle? Was not Ja'far, the
one who flies in Heaven, my uncle? Have you not heard the words of the
Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, concerning myself
and my brother: 'These are the two lords of the youths of the
inhabitants of heaven'? Whether you believe what I am saying- and it is
the truth, for by Allah I have never told a lie since I learnt that
Allah hated people (who told) them- or whether you regard me as a liar,
there are among you those, if you asked them, would tell you:
Ask Ja'far b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansa`ri, Abu` Sa'id al-Khudari, Sahl b.
Sa'ad al-Sa`'idi, Zayd b. Arqam, and Anas b. Ma`lik to tell you that
they heard these words from the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him
and his family, concerning myself and my brother. Is there not
(sufficient) in this to prevent you from shedding my blood?"
It was appropriate for this sermon to change the views of the units of
that army and to make a military revolt among their ranks. Through this
sermon Ima`m al-Husayn, peace be on him, summoned them to return to
their intellects, to consider carefully his affair, for he was the
grandson of their Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, the son
of his trustee, his womb relative, the lord of the youths of the
inhabitants of heaven. All these factors were enough to prevent them
from shedding al-Husayn's blood and violating the honor of his
womenfolk, but that army did not understand such excellent preaching, so
it was inclined to crime and drowned in error.
However, the wicked sinner, Shimr b. Dhi al-Jawshan interrupted Ima`m
al-Husayn, saying: "If I understand what you are saying, then I only
worship Allah (very shakily) on the edge."
Habeeb b. Muza`hir, an excellent Muslim believer, answered Shimr,
saying: "I think that you worship Allah (very shakily) on seventy edges,
for I testify you are right. You do not understand what he is saying,
for Allah has impressed (ignorance) upon your heart."
Then the great Ima`m (al-Husayn) continued: "If you are in doubt about
these words, you are in doubt that I am the son of the daughter of your
Prophet. By Allah there is no son of a prophet other than me among you
and among the peoples from the East to the West. Shame on you, are you
seeking retribution from me for one of your dead whom I have killed, or
for property of yours which I expropriated, or for a wound which I have
inflicted?"
These words shook the ground under their feet. They became perplexed,
not knowing what to say. Then Ima`m al-Husayn, peace be on him, called
the commanders of the army, who wrote letters to him to come to their
city, saying: "Shibth b. Rib'i, Hajja`r b. Abjar, Qays b. al-Ash'th,
Yazid b. al-Harth, didn't you write: 'The fruit has ripened; the dates
have grown green; come to an army which has been gathered for you'?"
But those wicked sinners did not feel shame in betraying a promise and
breaking a covenant; they all unanimously agreed on telling lies,
saying: "We didn't do (that)."
The Ima`m was astonished at their answer, so he said: "Glory belongs to
Allah! Yes, by Allah, you did it."
Thus, the Ima`m turned his face away from them and addressed the units
of the army, saying to them: "People, if you hated me, then let me go to
a safe place in the land."
However, Qays b. al-Ash'ath, a wicked sinner in Ku`fa who belonged to a
corrupt family, interrupted him, saying: "Submit to the authority of
your kinsmen (the Umayyads). They have never treated you with anything
but what you liked."
"By Allah, I will never give you my hand like a man who has been
humiliated; nor will I flee like a slave," said al-Husayn, peace be on
him.
Then he called out: "O Servants of Allah, I take refuge in my Lord and
your Lord from your stoning. I take refuge in my Lord and your Lord from
every haughty man who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning."
Unfortunately, this excellent sermon did not penetrate their hearts, for
ignorance had been impressed upon them, so they were like the cattle,
rather they were more straying (than them) in way.
The Battle
Ima`m al-Husayn, peace be on him, took numerous measures to preserve
peace and to avoid shedding blood, but 'Umar b. Sa'd declared public war
against him, for he advanced toward the Ima`m's camp, took an arrow,
threw it at the Ima`m, and said: "Bear witness for me with the Governor
that I was the first to throw (an arrow) at al-Husayn's camp."
This aggressive, mean person ('Umar b. Sa'd) asked his army to bear
witness for him with his governor, b. Marja`na (i.e., 'Ubayd Allah b.
Ziya`d) that he was the first to throw an arrow at the Camp of the
truth, dignity, and honor.
Then his bowmen showered arrows upon al-Husayn and his companions and
hit them all, so the Ima`m turned to his companions and said to them:
"Noble men, stand up! These are the messengers of the people for you!"
Thus, the vanguards of the truth from among the companions of the Ima`m
headed for the battlefield. With that, the battle started between the
two armies; it was the most violent battle that ever occurred on the
earth.
The Martyrdom of the Righteous
The army of the truth met the army of misguidance and falsehood. The
companions of Ima`m al-Husayn eagerly competed with the male members of
his House for death to attain Paradise. With that they led the movement
of faith. None of their spirits became weak, so, with their unique
sacrifice, they gave a proof of the greatness of Islam, which granted
them such a steadfast spirit through which they, though few in number,
were able to meet that savage army and cause it heavy casualties.
The companions of al-Husayn and the male members of his Household proved
themselves brave, especially as it concerns Aba` al-Fadl al-'Abba`s,
peace be on him, who sacrificed his life for his brother al-Husayn.
Throughout the history of humanity, there is no brotherhood more
truthful, nobler, and more sincere than that of al-'Abba`s, so Ima`m
Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, lauded and praised it when he said:
"May Allah have mercy on my uncle al-'Abba`s, for he preferred (his
brother to himself), showed extreme courage, and sacrificed his life for
his brother to the extent that his hands were cut off, so Allah, the
Great and Almighty, gave him two wings to fly with the angels in Heaven,
as He had given Ja'far b. Abi Ta`lib. Al-'Abba`s has a great position
with Allah, the Exalted, so all the martyrs will envy it on the Day of
Judgment.(Al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 9, p. 147).
Aba` al-Fadl al-'Abba`s was the last brother of al-Husayn to be killed.
The Ima`m, peace be on him, stood beside al-'Abba`s's holy corpse and
said with great sorrow: "My back has just broken and my strength become
little."
Ima`m al-Husayn, peace be on him, felt loneliness and loss when he lost
his brother, who was kind and obedient to him. In our book 'Haya`t al-Ima`m'
al-Husayn (the Life of Ima`m al-Husayn), We have spoken in detail about
his martyrdom and the attitude of al-Husayn toward him.
Imam al-Husayn(A.S.) sought Help
Ima`m al-Husayn, who was afflicted with disaster, looked with great
sadness and sorrow at the members of his family and his companions. He
saw them slaughtered like sheep on the sand of Karbala`' under the heat
of the sun's rays, and he heard his womenfolk weeping and lamenting over
their martyred ones. He did not know what would happened to them after
his martyrdom.
That tragic sight had a great effect on him, so he sought help to
protect the womenfolk of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his
family, saying: "Is there anyone to protect the womenfolk of Allah's
Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family? Is there any monotheist to
fear Allah through us? Is there any helper who seeks hope from Allah
through helping us?(Hayat al-Imam al-Husayn, vol. 3, p. 274).
When Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin heard his father asking those people for
helped, he left his bed and leant on a stick because of his severe
illness. When al-Husayn saw him, he called his sister Umm Kulthu`m,
saying: "Hold him back lest the earth should be void of the descendants
of the family of Mohammed!"
So his aunt brought him back to his bed, and he suffered psychological
pain more than he suffered from his illness. Ordeals and misfortunes
filled his mind when he saw that brilliant group of his brothers and
cousins martyred on the ground, their sincere companions slaughtered
like sheep, his father was surrounded by the enemies of Allah, and the
womenfolk of the Prophet shaking with fear. Nevertheless he faced those
tragedies with forbearance and entrusted his affair to Allah.
Martyrdom of the great Imam
Those savage criminals surrounded the plant of the sweet basil of
Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, stabbing him with
their swords and spears and hitting him with stones. Bleeding sapped his
strength, so the wicked criminal, Shimr b. Dhi al-Jawshan hurried to
behead him. The narrators said: "On the lips of Ima`m al-Husayn, there
was the smile of pleasure and of immortal victory which he gained."
Ima`m al-Husayn, peace be on him, sacrificed his life to establish the
state of Truth in the regions of this East, to destroy oppression and
injustice, to divide the bounties of Allah among the deprived and the
persecuted, and to save the community from the government of the
Umayyads who denied human rights and turned the Muslim countries into a
farm and took from it whatever they wanted.
Setting the Tents to Fire
The rude and roguish Umayyads set fire to the tents of Ima`m al-Husayn,
peace be on him, paying no attention to the Prophet's womenfolk and
children who were in them. They carried firebrands in their hands and
cried out: "Set fire to the houses of the oppressors!"
These people thought that the tents of al-Husayn were the houses of
oppression while the houses of the Umayyads and of their agents were the
houses of justice. They forgot that the Umayyads had drowned the Muslim
countries in oppression and tyranny.
When they set the tents to fire, the women of Allah's Apostle, may Allah
bless him and his family, escaped to the desert while the fire was
following them. As for the orphans, they cried and ran away towards the
desert asking the people for help, but nobody helped or aided them. That
was the most tragic sight which Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin saw. He did not
forget it throughout his lifetime. After the martyrdom of his father, he
always said:
"By Allah, when I look at my aunts and my sisters, tears choke me
because I remember the day of al-Taff when they escaped from tent to
tent and the caller of the people was calling: 'Set fire to the houses
of the oppressors!
The Attack against Imam Zayn al-Abidin(A.S.)
The rude unbelievers attacked Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin whose strength was
sapped by illness, and whose heart was torn by the terrible tragedies.
The wicked criminal, Shimr b. Dhi al-Jawshan wanted to kill him, but
Hameed b. Muslim scolded him, saying: "Glory belongs to Allah! Do you
really kill children? He is only a sick lad!"
But Shimr paid no attention to Hameed, so his aunt, the wise lady Zaynab,
hurried to him and cling to him, saying: "You will not kill him before
killing me first.(Al-Qarmani, Tarikh, p. 108). So, the mean ones left
him alone
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin(A.S.) became
Impatient
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin felt greatly grieved and worried. He wished that
he left life. This is because he witnessed the horrible tragedies which
befell the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them. He was
about to die when he saw the corpse of his father, the corpses of the
male members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , and of his companions exposed
to the wind. When his aunt, the wise lady Zaynab, saw him, she consoled
him, saying:
"Why do I see you pleading for death, O the legacy of my grandfather, of
my father and brothers? By Allah, this is something which Allah had
divulged to your grandfather and to your father. Allah took a covenant
from the people whom you do not know, the mighty ones on this land, and
who are known to the people of the heavens, that they would gather these
severed parts and wounded corpses and bury them, then shall they set up
on his Taff a banner for the grave of your father, the lord of martyrs,
the traces of which shall never be obliterated, nor shall it ever be
wiped out so long as there is day and night. The leaders of apostasy and
the promoters of misguidance shall try their best to obliterate and
efface it, yet it shall become more and more lofty instead.(Kamil al-Ziyarat,
p. 261).
His Burying the Pure Corpses
The rude and mean ones from among the Kufa`ns buried the corpses of
their dead and left on the hot sand of Karbala`' the corpse of the plant
of the sweet basil of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his
family, (i.e., al-Husayn), the corpses of the male members of his
family, and of their companions. So some of the Banu Asad, who did not
take part in the battle, dug graves for those pure corpses. They were
perplexed because they could not identify the corpses especially since
the killers had separated the heads from the bodies.
While they were perplexed, Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, according to the
Shi'ite sources, came and informed them of the names of the martyrs from
among the male members of the House, and of their companions. The Ima`m
himself carried the corpse of his father and buried it in its final
resting place while he was shedding bitter tears and saying:
"Congratulations to the land that contains your pure body, for the world
after you is dark whereas the hereafter in your light shall shine. As
for the night, it is the harbinger of sleep, while grief remains
forever, for Allah shall choose for the members of your House your abode
wherein you shall abide. From me to you is greeting, O son of the
Apostle of Allah, and the mercy of Allah and his blessings."
On the holy grave he wrote these words: "This is the grave of al-Husayn
b. 'Ali b. Abi Ta`lib, the one whom they killed even as he was a thirsty
stranger. Beside the legs of Ima`m al-Husayn, he buried his son 'Ali al-Akkbar.
He buried the martyrs from among the Ha`shimites and other than them in
one grave. Then he went with the Banu Asad to the river of al-'Alqami,
where he ordered a grave to be dug and in it he buried Qamar Banu
Ha`shim (the Moon of the Ha`shimites), Abu` al-Fadl al-'Abba`s b. 'Ali,
the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him. Then he burst into
bitter tears and said: "May the world after you be obliterated, O Moon
of Banu Ha`shim, and greetings from me to you, and the mercy of Allah
and His blessings.(Hayat al-Imam al-Husayn, vol. 3, pp. 324 - 325).
Those pure graves have become a symbol for the dignity of humanity, for
every sacrifice stands on honor, justice, and the truth. They have
become the holiest center for worship in Islam.
The Captives of the Household taken to Ku`fa
The wise ladies of Revelation and the Message were taken prisoners to
Ku`fa, so the Umayyad army blew its trumpets and raised its banners to
show its victory over the plant of the sweet basil of Allah's Apostle,
may Allah bless him and his family, and lord of the youths of the
heaven. Muslim al-Jassa`s described that sight, saying: "Ibn Ziya`d
summoned me to repair the House of the Governor in Ku`fa. While I was
plastering the doors, I heard cries coming from everywhere in Ku`fa, so
I went to the servant of the palace and asked him: "Why is Ku`fa noisy?"
"This hour, they will bring the head of a rebel (kha`rijite) who
revolted against Yazid," answered the servant.
"Who is this rebel?" I asked.
"Al-Husayn b. 'Ali," was the answer.
He (Muslim al-Jassa`s) said: "So I left the servant, struck at my face
to the extent that I feared that I would become blind, washed my hands
from plaster, left the palace, and went to al-Kana`s. While I was with
the people waiting for the arrival of the captives and the heads, forty
camels came carrying women and children, and 'Ali b. al-Husayn came
riding a camel without saddle. Both sides of his neck were bleeding. He
was weeping and repeating these verses:
O community of evil, may your region be not watered,
O community that never respected in our regard our grandfather,
on bare camels of burden have you transported us as if we never put up a
creed for you !(Hayat al-Imam al-Husayn, vol. 3, pp. 333).
Jadhlam b. Bashir said: "When I came to Ku`fa in the year 61 A. H., 'Ali
b. al-Husayn along with the womenfolk came from Karbala`' to Ku`fa
surrounded by soldiers. The were (riding) bare camels. The people came
out to look at them, so the women of Ku`fa wept and lamented over them.
I saw that 'Ali b. al-Husayn was sapped by illness, chains were placed
on his neck and he was handcuffed.(Shaykh al-Mufeed, al-Amali, p. 143).
He was saying with a weak voice: 'They are weeping and lamenting over
us! So who has killed us?'
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin(A.S.) delivers a Speech
The Kufa`ns surrounded Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, so he
thought that he had to address them to make them know the sin of what
they committed against themselves and the community. He, peace be on
him, lauded and praised Allah, and then he said:
"O men, whoever recognizes me knows me, and whoever does not, let me
tell him that I am 'Ali b. al-Husayn b. 'Ali b. Abi Ta`lib. I am the son
of the man whose sanctity has been violated, whose wealth has been
plundered, whose children have been seized. I am the son of the one who
has been slaughtered by the Euphrates neither on blood revenge nor on
account of inheritance. I am the son of the one killed in the worst
manner. This suffices me to be proud.
"O men, I plead to you in the Name of Allah: Do you not know that you
wrote my father then deceived him? Did you not grant him your covenant,
your promise, and your allegiance, then you fought him? May you be
ruined for what you have committed against your own souls, and out of
your corrupt views! Through what eyes will you look at the Messenger of
Allah when he says to you: 'You killed my progeny, violated my sanctity,
so you do not belong to my community'?"
Those slaves who blackened the face of history wept loudly and lamented,
and they said to each other: "You have perished, yet you are not aware
of it."
The Ima`m continued his speech, saying: "May Allah have mercy on anyone
who acts upon my advice, who safeguards my legacy with regard to Allah,
His Apostle, and his Household, for we have in the Apostle of Allah a
good example of conduct to emulate."
So they all said with one tongue: "We, son of the Apostle of Allah,
listen and obey, and we shall safeguard your trust. We shall not turn
away from you, nor shall we disobey you; so, order us, may Allah have
mercy on you, for we shall fight when you fight, and we shall make peace
when you do so; we dissociate ourselves from whoever oppressed you and
dealt unjustly with you."
In response to this false obedience, the Ima`m said: "Far, far away it
is from you to do so, people of treachery and conniving! You are
separated from what you desire. Do you want to come to me as you did to
my father? No, by the Lord of those (angels) that ascend and descend,
the wound is yet to heal.
My father was killed only yesterday, and so were his Household, and the
loss inflicted upon the Apostle of Allah, upon my father, and upon my
family is yet to be forgotten. Its pain, by Allah, is between both of
these (sides) and its bitterness is between my throat and palate. Its
choke is resting in my very chest.
Then the Ima`m refrained from speech, turning away from those
treacherous conniving people who were the mark of disgrace against
mankind. It was they who killed the plant of the sweet basil of Allah's
Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, (I. e., al-Husayn), who
came to free them and to save them from the oppression and tyranny of
the Umayyads. After that, they repented and wept over him.
The Tyrant with Imam Zayn al-Abidin(A.S.)
The captives of the Household of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him
and his family, were caused to enter the palace of the Governor of Ku`fa,
b. Marja`na (i. e., 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziya`d). When the tyrant, b.
Marja`na, saw Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, who was sapped by
illness, he asked him: "Who are you?"
"I am 'Ali b. al-Husayn," answered the Ima`m.
"Did not Allah kill 'Ali b. al-Husayn?" Ibn Ziya`d asked the Ima`m.
The Ima`m carefully replied: "I used to have an older brother also named
'Ali whom you killed. He will request you on the Day of Judgment."
Ibn Ziya`d burst with anger and shouted at the Ima`m: "Allah killed
him!"
The Ima`m answered him with bravery and steadfastness:
"Allah takes the souls away at the time of their death; none dies except
with Allah's permission."
Ibn Marja`na was perplexed, not knowing what to answer this young
captive who defeated him through giving proofs and quotations from the
Qur'a`n, so he shouted at him, saying: "How dare you answer me like
that!"
The wicked sinner, b. Marja`na, ordered one of his swordsmen, saying:
"Take this lad and behead him!"
The wise lady Zaynab, granddaughter of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless
him and his family, put her hands around the Ima`m and bravely said to
b. Marja`na: "O Ibn Ziya`d, it suffices you what you have shed of our
blood! Have you really spared anyone other than this? If you want to
kill him, kill me with him as well!"
The tyrant admired her and said to the swordsman with astonishment:
"Leave him for her! Amazing is their tie of kinship; she wishes to be
killed with him!"
Were it not for this heroic attitude of the wise lady Zaynab, Ima`m Zayn
al-'Abidin would have been killed and the rest of the progeny of Ima`m
al-Husayn, peace be on him, who was the source of good and honor in the
earth, would have been destroyed. In his book 'al-Rasa`'il', al-Ja`hiz
reported that b. Marja`na said to his companions concerning 'Ali b. al-Husayn:
"Let me kill him, for he is the rest of this progeny (i. e., the progeny
of al-Husayn), so through him I will sever this horn, deaden this
disease, and cut off this material."
However, they advised him to refrain from killing him, for they thought
that the Ima`m would be destroyed by his illness.(Hayat al-Imam al-Husayn,
vol. 3, pp. 345-347).
A Kufa`n Kidnaps the Ima`m
A Kufa`n Kidnapped the Ima`m, hid him in his house, entertained and
treated him kindly. When he saw the Ima`m, he burst into tears. The
Ima`m thought that the Kufa`n was trustworthy. A short time later, the
caller of b. Ziya`d announced:
"Whoever finds 'Ali b. al-Husayn and brings him will have three hundred
dirhams." When the Kufa`n heard the caller, he put a rope around the
Ima`m's neck, tied his hands with the robe, and took the dirhams.(Mir'at
al-Zaman fi Tawarikh al-Ayan, p. 98. Ibn al-Jawzi, vol. 5, Ibn Sa'd,
Tabaqat).
This initiative, if correct, gives a picture of the Kufa`ns who spared
no effort to get money.
The Captives of the Household taken to
Damascus
The womenfolk and the children of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and
his family, were taken as prisoners to Damascus. They were in a
condition the sight of which would cause anyone's soul to melt. All the
Kufa`ns went out to see the captives of their Prophet off. The men and
the women wept for them. Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him,
wondered at their attitude and said: "They killed us and are weeping
over us!(Mir'at al-Zaman fi Tawarikh al-A'yan, p. 99).
The wicked sinner, Shimr b. Dhi al-Jawshan, ordered a rope to be put
around Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin's neck.(Ansab al-Ashraf, Q1/vol. 1).
The historians said: "Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin did not say even a word to
the rude people who accompanied him, nor did he ask them for a thing
throughout the journey, for he knew that they were wicked and ignoble,
and that they would not respond to any of his requests.
The caravan of the captives arrived at a place near Damascus and stopped
there because the Umayyads wanted to decorate the city to show their
rejoicing and the victory which the grandson of Abi Sufya`n gained over
the grandson of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family.
When Damascus was fully decorated, the captives of the Household of the
Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, were caused to enter it.
A Syrian with Imam Zayn al-Abidin(A.S.)
An elderly Syrian, who was misled by the false rumors, came near Ima`m
Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, and said to him: "Praise belongs to
Allah Who annihilated you and Who granted the governor the upper hand
over you."
The Ima`m looked at the elderly Syrian. He understood that the elderly
Syrian misunderstood the truth and was deceived by the false Umayyad
mass media, so he asked him: "Shaykh, have you read the Qur'a`n?"
"Yes," answered the man.
"Have you read," continued the Ima`m, "the verse saying: ' Say: I do not
ask you for a reward for it except that you treat my kinsfolk with
kindness,' the verse saying: ' and give the (Prophet's) kinsfolk their
due rights,' and the verse saying: 'and be informed that whatever you
earn by way of booty, for Allah belongs the fifth thereof and for the
Messenger (of Allah) and for the (Prophet's) kinsfolk'? "
The elderly Syrian admired the Ima`m and said to him with a faint voice:
"Yes, I have read all of them."
The Ima`m said to him: "We, by Allah, are the kinsfolk referred to in
all these verses." Then the Ima`m asked him: "Shaykh, have you read
these words of Him, the exalted: 'Allah only desires to take away
uncleanness from you, O Household (of the Prophet) and purify
thoroughly'?"
"Yes," was the answer.
"We are the Household (of the Prophet) whom Allah singled out with the
Verse of Purification."
The elderly Syrian shook all over. He wished that the earth had
swallowed him up before saying his words. Then he asked the Ima`m: "I
ask you in the Name of Allah, are you really them?"
"By our grandfather, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his
family, we are, without any doubt," replied the Ima`m.
It was then that the elderly Syrian fell on Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin's
hands kissing them. His tears flowed down his cheeks, and he said: "I
dissociate myself before Allah from those who killed you!"
The elderly Syrian sought repentance from the Ima`m from whatever rude
remarks he had made earlier. So he, peace be on him, forgave him.(Hayat
al-Imam al-Husayn. vol. 3, p. 371).
Ima`m Zayn al-Abidin(A.S.) in the Assembly
of Yazid
The police men of Yazid tied with ropes the wise women of Revelation and
the children of Ima`m al-Husayn, as sheep are tied. The beginning of the
rope was around the neck of Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, then around the neck
of his aunt Zaynab, up to all the daughters of Allah's Apostle, may
Allah bless him and his family. Whenever they relaxed in their walking,
they (the police men of Yazid) whipped them.
They brought them in this condition whose terror cracked the mountains
and made them stop before Yazid. So Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin turned to him
and asked him: "What do you think the reaction of our grandfather,
Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, might have been had
he seen us looking like this?" The tyrant, Yazid, collapsed. All those
who were in his assembly wept. Yazid felt pain of that tragic sight, so
he said:
"May Allah detest b. Marja`na the ugly. If there had been (any bond of)
kinship between him and you, he would not have done this to you; he
would not have sent you in this state." Then the tyrannical one, Yazid,
ordered the ropes to be cut off, turned to Zayn al-'Abidin and said him:
"How did you, 'Ali, see what Allah did to your father al-Husayn?"
Al-Husayn's brave son (Zayn al-'Abidin) answered with calmness and
tranquillity: "Whatever misfortune befalls the earth or your own selves
is already in a Book even before we cause it to happen; this is easy for
Allah, so that you may not grieve about what you missed nor feel elated
on account of what you receive. And Allah does not love those who are
haughty and proud."
The tyrant, Yazid, burst in anger, his elation went away, and recited
these words of Him, the Exalted: "Whatever misfortune befalls you is due
to what your hands commit." The Ima`m answered him, saying:
"This (verse) concerns those who do wrong, not those who are wronged."
Then he turned his face away from him to disdain him and his
position.(Hayat al-Imam al-Husayn. vol. 3, p. 376).
Imam Zayn al-Abidin(A.S.) delivers a
Sermon
Yazid permitted all the people to come to his palace, so the hall of his
palace became full of people who came and congratulated him on the false
victory. He was pleased and happy, because the world yielded to him, and
the kingdom belonged to him only. So he ordered the orator to ascend the
pulpit and to defame al-Husayn and his father, Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander
of the faithful, peace be on him.
The orator ascended the pulpit and went too far in slandering the pure
family (of the Prophet), and then he lauded in a false way Yazid and his
father Mu'a`wiya. Thus, Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him,
interrupted him, saying: "Woe unto you, orator! You have traded the
pleasure of the creature for the wrath of the Creator, so take your
place in the fire (of Hell)."
Then the Ima`m turned to Yazid and asked him, saying: "Do you permit me
to ascend this pulpit to deliver a speech that will please Allah, the
Almighty, and that will bring good rewards for these folks?"
The attendants were astonished at this sick lad, who interrupted the
orator and the governor while he was a captive. Yazid refused, but the
people begged him. He said to them: "If he ascends the pulpit, he will
not descends (from it) till he expose me and the family of Abi Sufya`n."
The people asked him: "What will this sick lad do?"
The people did not know the Ima`m. They thought that he was like the
other people, but the tyrant, Yazid, knew him, so he said to them:
"These are people who have been spoon-fed with knowledge."
They kept pressuring him till he agreed. So the Ima`m ascended the
pulpit and delivered the most wonderful speech in history in eloquence.
He made the people weep. The folks were confused because the Ima`m's
speech controlled their hearts and feelings. The following is some of
what he said:
"O people, we were granted six things and favored with seven: We were
granted knowledge, clemency, leniency, fluency, courage, and love for us
in the hearts of the believers. We were favored by the fact that from
among us came the chosen Prophet, Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his
family, al-siddiq (the very truthful one), al-Tayya`r (the one who flies
in the heaven), the Lion of Allah and of the Prophet, may Allah bless
him and his family, the mistress of the women of the world Fa`tima the
chaste, and both lords of the youths of Heaven from among this nation"
Having introduced his family, the Ima`m continued his speech explaining
their outstanding merits, saying:
"Whoever recognizes me knows me, and whoever does not recognize, let me
tell him who I am and to what family I belong:
I am the son of Mecca and Mina; I am the son of Zamzam and al-Safa`; I
am the son of the one who carried Zaka`t in the ends of the mantle; I am
the son of the best man who ever put on a loincloth and clothes;
I am the son of the best man who ever put on sandals and walked
barefooted; I am the son of the best man who ever made tawa`f (the
procession round the Kaaba) and Sa'i (ceremony of running seven times
between Safa` and Marwa`); I am the son of the best man who ever offered
the hajj and pronounced talbiya (Here I am at your service);
I am the son of the one who was transported on the bura`q in the air; I
am the son of the one who was made to travel from the Sacred Mosque to
the Remote Mosque, so glory belongs to Him Who made (His Servant)
travel; I am the son of the one who was taken by Gabriel to sidrat al-muntaha`
;
I am the son of the one who drew near (his Lord) and suspended, so he
was the measure of two bows or closer still; I am the son of the one who
led the angels of the heavens in prayer; I am the son of the one to whom
the Almighty revealed what He revealed; I am the son of Mohammed
al-Mustafa` ;
I am the son of 'Ali al-Murtada` ; I am the son of the one who fought
against the creatures till they said: There is no god but Allah. I am
the son of the one who struck (the enemies) with two swords before
Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, and stabbed (them)
with two spears, emigrated twice, pledged allegiance twice (to the
Prophet), prayed in the two qiblas, and fought (against the unbelievers)
at Badr and Hunayn and never disbelieved in Allah not even as much as
the twinkling of an eye.
I am the son of the best of the believers, the heir of the prophets, the
destroyer of the unbelievers, the Commander of the Muslims, the light of
the muja`hidin, the ornament of the worshippers, the crown of the
weepers, the most patient of the patient, and the best of the steadfast
from among the family of Ya`sin, and the Messenger of the Lord of the
world's inhabitants.
I am the son of the one who was backed by Gabriel, supported by Mika`el.
I am the son of the one who defended the Muslims, killed the oath
breakers of allegiance and the unjust and the renegades, struggled
against his tiring enemies, the most excellent one of those who walked
(to war) from among Quraysh, the first to respond to Allah from among
the believers, the prior to all the previous ones, the breaker of the
aggressors, the destroyer of the atheists, an arrow from among the
shooting-places of Allah against the hypocrites, the tongue of the
wisdom of worshippers,
the supporter of the religion of Allah, the protector of the affair of
Allah, the garden of the wisdom of Allah, the container of the knowledge
of Allah, tolerant, generous, benevolent, pure, Abtahi, satisfied,
easily satisfied, intrepid, gallant, patient, fasting, refined,
steadfast, courageous, honored, the severer of the backbones, the
scatterer of the allies, the calmest of them, the best of them in giving
free rein (to his horse), the boldest of them in tongue, the firmest of
them in determination, the most powerful of them, a lion, brave, pouring
rain, the one who destroyed them at the battles and dispersed them in
the wind, the lion of al-Hija`z,
the possessor of the miracle, the ram of Iraq, the Ima`m through the
text and worthiness, Makki, Madani, Abtahi, Tuha`mi, Khay'ani, 'Uqbi,
Badri, Uhdi, Shajari, Muha`jiri, the Lord of the Arabs, the Lion of war,
the inheritor of al-Mash'arayn, the father of the two grandsons (of the
Prophet) al-Hasan and al-Husayn, the one who manifested miracles, the
one who scattered the phalanxes, the piercing meteor, the following
light, the victorious Lion of Allah, the request of every seeker, the
victorious over every victorious, such is my grandfather, 'Ali b. Abi
Ta`lib. I am the son of Fa`tima, the chaste. I am the son of the
mistress of women. I am the son of the purified, virgin (lady). I am the
son of the part of the Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family.
(Hayat al-Imam al-Husayn. vol. 3, p. 387).
I am the son of the one who was covered with blood. I am the son of the
one who was slaughtered at Karbala`'. I am the son of the one for whom
the Jinns wept in the dark and for whom the birds in the air cried.(Nafs
al-Mahmum, p. 242).
The Ima`m continued saying 'I am....' until the people wailed.
Yazid thought that a discord would occur, for the Ima`m made a cultural
revolt through his speech when he introduced himself to the Syrians and
made them know what they did not know, so Yazid ordered the muadhdhin to
say the adha`n and he said: "Alla`hu Akbar!"
The Ima`m turned to him and said:
"You have made great the Great One who cannot be measured and cannot be
perceived by senses, there is nothing greater than Allah."
The muadhdhin said: "Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Alla`h!"
'Ali b. al-Husayn said: "My hair, my skin, my flesh, my blood, my brain,
and my bones bear witness that there is no god but Allah."
The muadhdhin said: "Ashhadu anna Mohammedan rasool Allah!"
The Ima`m turned to Yazid and asked him: "Yazid, is Mohammed your
grandfather or mine? If you say that he is yours, then you are a liar,
and if you say that he is mine, then why did you kill his family?"
Yazid became silent and was unable to answer, for the great Prophet was
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin's grandfather. As for Yazid's grandfather, he was
Abu` Sufya`n, who was the mortal enemy of the Prophet, may Allah bless
him and his family.
The Syrians understood that they were drowning in sin, and that the
Umayyad government spared no effort to delude and mislead
them.(Al-Khawarizmi, Maqqtal al-Husayn, vol. 2, p. 242).
The Ima`m confined his speech to introducing the Prophet's Household to
the Syrians. He indicated to them that the Prophet's Household had a
great position with Allah, that they waged jihad against the enemies of
Islam, and that they suffered persecutions.
The Ima`m mentioned nothing other than these matters. I (the author)
think that this confinement to these matters is among the most wonderful
considerations and among the most exact type of eloquence. This is
because the Syrians knew nothing about the Prophet's Household except
what the pseudo clergy men fabricated against them; the authority and
its mercenaries fed the Syrians on enmity toward the Prophet's Household
and on obedience to the Umayyads.
Anyhow, the Ima`m's speech had a great effect on the Syrians, who
secretly told each other about the Umayyad false mass media, and about
the disappointment and loss at which they reached, so their attitudes
toward Yazid changedand they looked at him with disdain. (Jawharat al-Kamal
fi Maddh al-Sada al-'Alam, p. 128).
The Holy Imam(A.S.) with al-Minhal
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, met al-Minhal b. 'Amr and he
asked him: "How have you received the evening, O son of the Apostle of
Allah?"
The Ima`m looked at him and said to him:
"We received the evening like the Israelites among the people of
Pharaoh: they kill their sons and take their women captive. The Arabs
brag before the non-Arabs saying that Mohammed was one of them, while
Quraysh boasts before the rest of the Arabs of Mohammed belonging to it.
We, his Household, are now homeless; so, to Allah we belong and to Him
is our return.(Hayat al-Imam al-Husayn. vol. 3, p. 291).
The greatest Prophet was the original source for the honor of the Arab
community. It was he who planned the honorable life for it and
established for it the strongest state in the world, but Quraysh, who
boasted before the rest of the Arabs of Mohammed belonging to it, killed
his children and took his womenfolk as captives.
The Tyrannical apologizes to the Imam
When the Syrians became indignant with Yazid because of his killing the
plant of sweet basil of Allah's Apostle, he (Yazid) summoned Ima`m Zayn
al-'Abidin, peace be on him, apologized to him, and regarded b. Marja`na
('Ubayd Allah b. Ziya`d) responsible for killing al-Husayn, saying:
"May Allah curse b. Marja`na! By Allah, if I had been with him (al-Husayn),
he would never have asked me for a favor without me granting him it; I
would have protected him from death with all my power even through
destroying some of my sons. But Allah has decreed what you have seen. My
little son, write to me and everything that you need is yours.(Ibn al-Athir,
Tarikh, vol. 3, p. 300). Affairs will occur among your people, so do not
take part in them.
(Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 1, p. 157).
However, Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin turned away from him and said nothing to
him, for he knew that the reason for his apology was an escape from the
crime he committed.
A Scholar asks about the Imam
A Jewish scholar was in the assembly of Yazid. He admired Ima`m Zayn
al-'Abidin, peace be on him, so he asked Yazid: "Who is that lad?"
"'Ali b. al-Husayn," replied Yazid.
"Who is al-Husayn?" asked the Jewish scholar.
"Son of 'Ali b. Abi Ta`lib," answered Yazid.
"Who is his mother?" asked the Jewish scholar.
"Mohammed's daughter," replied Yazid.
"Glory belongs to Allah," explained the Jewish scholar, "this is the son
of the daughter of your Prophet, (why did) you kill him? You opposed him
by doing evil to his blood relations.
By Allah, if our Prophet, Mu`sa` b. 'Umra`n, had left a grandson among
us, we would have worshipped him instead of Allah. Your Prophet left you
yesterday; nevertheless you revolted against his grandson and killed
him. How bad a community you are!"
The tyrannical one, Yazid, became angry and ordered the Jewish scholar
to be hit on the mouth, still the Jewish scholar said:
"Kill me if you want to. I have found in the Torah that whoever kills
the progeny of a prophet will be cursed as long as he remains (living).
When he dies, Allah will cause him to enter the fire of Hell.(Al-Hada'iq
al-Wardiya, vol. 1, p. 131. Al-Futuh, vol. 5, p. 246).
The Holy Imam(A.S.) with Yazid
The tyrannical one, Yazid, met Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin and asked him to
ask his needs, so the Ima`m, peace be on him, said:
"I want you to show me my father's face, and bring back to the women
what had been taken from them, for among it is the inheritances of
fathers and mothers. If you want to kill me, send with the family
someone to guide them to Medina."
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, asked Yazid to show him his
father's head to bid the final farewell to it or to bury it with the
holy corpse, but the tyrannical one (Yazid) refused to give him the head
because he intended to show it around the country to spread fear among
the people and to be a lesson for those who might revolt against him.
He also asked him to bring back what was taken from the women on
Muharram 10th. With this the Ima`m did not mean the ornaments, rather he
meant the dear things he inherited from his grandfather, the Prophet,
may Allah bless him and his family, such as his turban, his breastplate,
and his sword.
Yazid, the tyrannical, bowed his head. He thought about the Ima`m's
requests. Then he raised his head and said:
"As for the face of your father, you will never see it. As for what was
taken from you, it will be brought back to you. As for the women, no one
will repatriate them except you. As for you, I will not kill you.(Hayat
al-Imam al-Husayn, vol. 3, p. 414).
The Journey to Medina
Yazid ordered al-Nu'ma`n b. Bashir to escort the womenfolk of the
Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, and to send them back to
Medina.(Jawhart al-Kamal fi Maddh al-Sada al-'Alam, p. 128).
He ordered him to take them out at night because he feared dissension
and repercussions.(Tafsir al-Matalib fi Amali Abi Talib, p. 93). The
caravan walked and began covering the desert. The Alid women asked al-Nu'ma`n
b. Bashir to take them to Karbala`' to renew their covenant with the
grave of the Lord of martyrs, peace be on him.
Having reached Karbala`', the Alid women hurried to the grave of Ima`m
Abi 'Abd Allah, peace be on him, weeping and wailing. They stayed there
mourning al-Husayn for three days to the extent that their voices became
hoarse and their hearts became broken. Some sources mentioned that
Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansa`ri, a great companion of the Prophet,
visited the grave of al-Husayn, Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him,
met him and told him about the tragedies which the members of the House
(ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them, faced, and then they left Karbala`'
and headed for Medina.
Bishr announced the Martyrdom of Imam
Husayn(A.S.)
When Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, came close to Medina, he
alighted, set up a tent where he lodged his aunts and his sisters,
turned to Bishr b. Hadhlam and said to him: "O Bishr, may Allah have
mercy on your father, who was a poet! Can you compose any of it at all?"
"Yes, O son of Allah's Apostle," replied Bishr. So the Ima`m ordered him
to enter Medina and to announce the death of Ima`m al-Husayn among its
people. Hence, Bishr set off towards Medina. When he came near the
Mosque of the Prophet, he cried loudly and recited these verses:
O people of Yathrib! May you never stay therein!
Al-Husayn was killed, so my tears now rain,
His body is in Karbala`' covered with blood
While his head is on spear displayed.
The people went in a hurry to the Mosque of the Prophet weeping loudly
for the Ima`m, peace be on him. They gathered around Bishr, who was
weeping, asking him for more information of al-Husayn, so he said to
them: "Here is 'Ali b. al-Husayn accompanied by his aunts and sisters;
they have all returned to you. I am his messenger to you to inform you
of his place.(Hayat al-Imam al-Husayn, vol. 3, p. 423).
The people went out to receive Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin all weeping and
wailing. The historians said that that day was like the day when Allah's
Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, passed away.(Al-Luhuf, p.
116)
They surrounded the Ima`m to offer him their condolences.
Imam Zayn al-Abidin(A.S.) delivers a
Speech
The Ima`m, peace be on him, thought that he had to tell the people about
the tragedies which they were subjected to. The Ima`m was unable to
stand up to deliver a speech, for he was sapped by illness and overcome
by grief, so a chair was brought for him. He sat in the chair and said:
"Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the Most Gracious, the
Most Merciful, the King of the Day of Judgment, Creator of all creation,
Who is the Exalted in the high heavens, Who is so near, He hears even
the silent speech. We praise Him on the grave events, on time's
tragedies, on the pain inflicted by such tragedies, on the crushing of
calamities, on the greatness of our catastrophe, on our great,
monstrous, magnanimous and afflicting hardships.
"O People, Allah, the Most Exalted One, praise belong to Him, has tried
us with great trials and tribulations, with a tremendous loss suffered
by the religion of Islam. Abu` 'Abd Allah, al-Husayn, and his family
have been killed, and his womenfolk and children taken captives. They
displayed his head in every land from the top of a spear. Such is the
catastrophe similar to which there is none at all.
"O people, which men among you are happy after him, or which heart is
not grieved on his account? Which eye among you withholds its tears and
is too miser with its tears? The seven great heavens wept over his
killing; the seas wept with their waves, and so did the heavens with
their corners and the earth with its expanse; so did the trees with
their branches and the fish in the depths of the seas. So did the angels
who are close to their Lord. So did all those in the heavens.
"O People, which heart is not grieved with his killing? Which heart does
not yearn for him? Which hearing hears such a calamity that has befallen
Islam without becoming deaf.
"O people, we have become homeless, exiles, outcasts, shunned, distanced
from all countries as though we were the offspring of the Turks or of
Kabul without having committed a crime, nor an abomination, nor
afflicted a calamity on Islam! Never did we ever hear such a thing from
our fathers of old. This is something new.
By Allah, had the Prophet required them to fight us just as he had
required them to be good to us, they would not have done to us any more
than what they already have. So we belong to Allah and to Him is our
return from this calamity, and what a great, painful, hard, cruel, and
catastrophic calamity it is!
To Allah do we complain from what has happened to us, from the
sufferings we have endured, for He is the Omnipotent, the Vengeful."
Sa'sa'a, an invalid who could barely walk on his feet, stood up and
apologized to the Ima`m for not rushing to help his family due to his
handicap. Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, responded to him by
accepting his excuse, telling him that he thought well of him, thanked
him and asked Allah to have mercy on his father.
Then the Ima`m walked accompanied by his aunts and sisters. The people
surrounded him weeping and wailing until they reached the Mosque of the
Prophet. There Zaynab, the wise lady of the family of Abi Ta`lib, took
both knobs of the door of the mosque and cried out and addressed her
grandfather, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, saying: "O
my grandfather, I mourn to you my brother al-Husayn!(Al-Muqrim, Maqtal
al-Husayn, p. 472).
The wise ladies who were born and grew up in the lap of the Prophet held
a mourning ceremony for the Lord of the martyrs. They put on the most
coarse clothes and shrouded themselves in black and continued weeping
and wailing.
Imam Zayn al-Abidin's Grief
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, kept weeping day and night over
his father and the members of his Household. Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be
on him, said: "My grandfather, 'Ali b. al-Husayn, wept over his father
for twenty years. When food was put before him, he wept.(Ahmed Fahmi,
al-Imam Zayn al-Abidin. p. 31).
" One of his retainers blamed him, saying: "I fear for you lest you
should perish."
So the Ima`m kindly said to him: "I only convey my complaints and my
grief to Allah, and I know from Allah what you all do not know. Ya'qu`b
(Jacob) was a prophet from whom Allah caused one of his sons to be
separated. He had twelve sons, and he knew that his son (Joseph) was
still alive, he wept over him till he lost his eye sight.
I looked at my father, my brothers, my uncles, and my companions (and
saw them) slain all around me, so how can my grief end? Whenever I
remember how Fa`tima's children were slaughtered, tears choke me.
Whenever I look at my aunts and sisters, I remember how they were
fleeing from one tent to another.( Al-Muqrim, Maqtal al-Husayn, p. 47;
Hulyat al-Awliya', vol. 3, p. 138).
When the Ima`m looked at water, his weeping increased, and his pain
doubled. This is because water reminded him of the thirst of his father
and the members of his Household. The narrators said: "When he took some
water to drink, he wept. So he was asked about that, and he answered:
'How do I not weep (while) my father was prevented from drinking the
water which was free for beasts and wild animals?'(Al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar,
vol. 46. p. 108).
The Ima`m always wept over his father, and it was said to him: "You
always weep, even if you kill yourself, you will increase (nothing) with
this." So he said: "I have killed my soul, and over it I
weep.(Al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 46. p. 109).
A group of his retainers and the members of his Household felt pity for
him because of his abundant weeping, so one of them asked him: "Has n't
your grief end yet?"
The Ima`m answered him, saying: "Woe unto you! Ya'qu`b (Jacob) was a
prophet from whom Allah caused one of his sons to be separated. He had
twelve sons, and he knew that his son (Joseph) was still alive in the
world, he wept over him till he lost his eye sight. I looked at my
father, my brother, my uncle, and seventeen (persons) from the members
of my Household (and saw them) slain all around me, so how can my grief
end?(Al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 46. p. 108).
His heart melt with pity for his father, his Household, and his friends
whose heads the swords of aggression severed in a cruel manner.
His Paying the Debts which his Father owed
Ima`m al-Husayn, peace be on him, was indebted to a group of people for
more than seventy thousand dinars, so Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on
him, took great care of paying them to the extent that he prevented
himself from having food and water. When he prepared this sum (of
money), he hurried to pay every debt to the person to whom it was owed,
and thus he could free his father from such an obligation.(Sir al-Silsila
al-'Alawiya, p. 32).
His Kindness to the Family of 'Aqil
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, was very kind to the Family of 'Aqil.
He preferred them to his cousins and the members of his family, for they
had an outstanding attitude during the Battle of Karbala`'. That was
when the sons and the honorable grandsons of 'Aqil sacrificed their
souls for Ima`m al-Husayn, peace be on him, while they were still young.
They competed with each other for martyrdom, so they were all killed at
that battle, and thus they sacrificed their lives for the religion of
Allah.
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, had mercy on them and preferred
them to the surviving members of his family. He was asked about that,
and he, peace be on him, replied: "I remember their day with Abu 'Abd
Allah (al-Husayn), so I feel pity for them.(Kamil al-Ziyarat, p. 107).
An example of his kindness to the family of 'Aqil was that al-Mukhta`r
b. Yousif, a great revolutionist, gave him a lot of money, and he built
with it houses for them, but the Umayyad government ordered the houses
to be demolished.(Ghayat al-Ikhtisar, p. 160).
His Staying in Medina
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, stayed in Medina and did not
leave it except for performing the hajj to the Sacred House of Allah.
The narrators said: "He traveled to Iraq to visit the grave of Ima`m
('Ali) the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him.(Ghayat al-Ikhtisar,
p. 160).
It is certain that he visited the grave of his father, Ima`m al-Husayn,
peace be on him. With this we will end our talk about the tragedies of
Karbala`', and the oppression and persecution to which Imam` al-Husayn
was subjected. |