AlMujtaba Islamic Articles > Hazrat Ali Akbar (AS)
 

HAZRAT ALI AKBAR (A.S)

After Abbas (pbuh), came the turn of Ali Akbar (pbuh), to go to the battlefield. The battle drums of the enemies were now getting louder and louder. It is reported that this eighteen (18) year old son was so very much loved by one and all in the camp that the account of his taking leave of his aunts, sisters, brothers and other relatives is so pathetic that none can resist shedding at least a few tears over the heart-rending event. At last when the Holy Imam sent Ali Akbar, the 'Ahmad-e-Thani', i.e., (Muhammad the Second), to the battlefield, he raised his head towards Heaven and said:

"Lord! Here I sent in your way, the one who resembled the most with the Holy Prophet Muhammad, whenever we did desire to have a view of the Holy face departed away from us, we used to look at the face of this youth."

"Lord! Hussain has one Ali Akbar and he is sent to be sacrificed for your cause, had I many more like him, I would have similarly offered them all in your way."

Is not this offer more acceptable to God than that of Abraham who offered with his eyes blindfolded? Is not this a Greater Sacrifice than that of Ishmael?

When Ali Akbar went to the battlefield, and faced the enemy with all the bravery that he inherited from his Grandfather Imam Ali (pbuh), it is reported that the enemy forces were so much amazed at his resemblance with the Holy Prophet (pbuh) that such of those who had seen him before, wondered if the Holy Prophet (pbuh) had reappeared in the world to help his dear Grandson Hussain. People were so anxious to have a look at the enchanting beauty of the youth that those in the rear of the enemy's ranks, mounted on the horses and camels, even stood on the backs of the animals to have a look at the matchless and the wonder striking beauty of this son of the Holy Imam (pbuh).

Ali Akbar (pbuh) reminded the enemy that his father, Imam Hussain (pbuh) spent his life in the way of Islam, and did no harm to them. By spilling his blood they were making the Holy Prophet (pbuh) very sad. 'Umar son of Saad' told his troops not to listen to Ali Akbar, and ordered them to attack him. One by one he fought them with great skill, and killed many of them. Ali Akbar received several wounds, and was losing a lot of blood. The thirst was getting more unbearable. At the moment he longed to see his loved ones for the last time.

Ali Akbar turned his horse back towards his camp. He found his aged (57 year old) father standing at the entrance of the tent; watching the battle between his beloved thirsty son and the enemy. Holy Hussain (pbuh) congratulated his son and then said "I am sad that I do not have any water to give you." Ali Akbar (pbuh) met each and every one of his family. They were all in tears because they knew that this time he wasn't coming back alive.

It was not long before Imam Hussain (pbuh) heard the painful cry from the battlefield. Ali Akbar fell with a fatal wound in his chest. He called out to his father to come to him quickly. Imam Hussain (pbuh) went towards his son; and found him lying in a pool of his own blood. When he saw his son he cried out "Here I am my son, please talk to me." Ali Akbar was in great pain, the broken end of the lance was sticking out of his chest, and blood was gushing out. Ali Akbar died in his father's arms. God alone knows what a patient heart the Holy Imam (pbuh) had been endowed with, which never gave way against any catastrophe even that of the loss of such a son. The Holy Imam (pbuh) stood looking at his son dying before his eyes and lifting his head towards Heaven said:

"Lord! It will be quite sufficient for your Hussain if you accept this sacrifice and if you pleased with this humble offer."

Imam Hussain lifted Ali Akbar carefully, as if protecting him from any more pain. He cried all the way back to his camp.

Note: 'Laila daughter of Abu Murra and the cousin of Yazid' is the mother of Ali Akbar. According to scholars she was not alive at the time of Karbala.

Baby Ali Asgher (Abd Allah) comes into Battlefield:

When Imam Hussain (pbuh) stood all alone in the battlefield surrounded by the enemies, he was summoned by a call from his sister Zainab (pbuh) in his camp. When he went into the tent, he (pbuh) found his six (6) month old baby son Ali Asgher, dying of thirst in his cradle. And the poor mother Rubab, whose milk had dried up by the continuous thirst and hunger, could not help the baby with even a drop of milk. Telling the mother that he would show the baby to the enemy and get some water for it if they give it, Imam Hussain (pbuh) took the babe to the battlefield by covering with his robe and raising it up in his arms to enable everyone in the enemy's forces to see it, and said:

"O People! If, in your opinion, Hussain is guilty of any sin or crime, this innocent babe has done nothing to hurt any one of you. It does not even speak, and has not even uttered anything against you or your Amir at Damascus. He is dying of thirst. He had neither milk nor water for the last three days. Would you quench his thirst by a few drops of water? If you suspect that I demand water for myself in the name of the babe, then I will leave it here, if you want, and go easy and you may return it with his thirst quenched."

It is reported that the address of the Holy Imam (pbuh) and the scene, with the thirsty innocent babe in his hands, was so touching, so pathetic and so heart-rending that even the men in the enemy's army could not help weeping and cursing the Yazid and his Deputy 'Ubayd Allah son of Ziyad', Governor of Kufa, who had gathered them there against such Holy ones. 'Umar son of Saad', fearing a revolt of his forces in sympathy for the Holy Imam, at once ordered a stonehearted brute named Hurmula to answer Hussain. The tyrant, shot a arrow from his bow which after piercing through the Imam's arm got stuck into the tiny neck of the innocent babe. Blood gushed out of his neck and splashed on to Imam Hussain's face. Ali Asgher died in his father's arms with his smiling face.

Imam Hussain (pbuh) walked back to the camp weeping with Ali Asgher in his arms. At the door he waited for a moment and then turned back, this he did seven (7) times as if he was building his strength to face the mother of the baby who had been so brutally murdered.

Rubab looked at her husband's face covered in blood and cried out "What have they done to my son, did they even give him a drop of water before they killed him?" Imam Hussain (pbuh) said "I pleaded with them to give him water, but instead they drenched him with blood." Rubab said "Please bury Ali Asgher with your own hands." Hence he sat down to bury his baby son in the burning sand of the desert, by digging a grave using sword. After that he looked up and said. "O Almighty God bear witness that I have done my duty to the last."

Does not even this one single sacrifice suffice to touch every human heart? Can we not call this one sacrifice alone greater than the sacrifice offered by Abraham? God alone knows the degree of the patience and the fortitude which He had endowed in the Imam Hussain (pbuh) to bear the series of such unbearable calamities.

HAZRAT AUN-O-MUHAMMED(A.S)

Aun(a.s.) and Muhammad(a.s.) were the sons of Bibi Zainab(s.a.). They had not accompanied Bibi Zainab(s.a.) when she left Madina with Imam Hussain(a.s.). Just before Imam Hussain(a.s.) started his journey from Mecca, Hazrat Abdullah ibn-e-Jaffer(a.s.) brought his two sons to Mecca and handing them over to Imam Hussain(a.s.) said, "Ya Imaam, since you have decided to go and will not allow me to come with you, please take my two sons with you. Aun(a.s.) will represent his maternal grandfather Hazrat Ali(a.s.) and the Mohammad(a.s.) will represent his paternal grandfather Hazrat Jaffer-e-Tayyaar(a.s.)". He then went to Bibi Zainab(s.a.) and said, "I have brought to you our two sons to go with you. In the time of difficulty on our Maula Hussain, give one son as sadqa from your side and the other one as sadqa from my side".

Aun(a.s.) and Muhammad(a.s.) were quite young. It is reported that Aun(a.s.) was about thirteen and Muhammad(a.s.) was a year or two younger. They had learnt the art of fencing from their uncle, Hazrat Abbas(a.s.).

On the night before Ashura Bibi Zainab(s.a.) said to them, "My sons, tomorrow there will be a battle. I can not ask you to fight because you are young. But if anything happens to Imam Hussain(a.s.), while you are still alive, I will be filled with shame." Both the boys stood up and said "Mother, we have the blood of Ali(a.s.) and Jaffer(a.s.) in our veins. Our grand fathers were warriors whose fame will always be remembered. Do you think we can possibly shame them? More over we are the pupils of Uncle Abbas(a.s.). Mother, unless you forbid us and stop us from fighting, we shall go to the battlefield and show the enemies of Islam how bravely the children of Islam can fight. All we want from you is a promise that you will never weep for us. Or souls will never rest in peace if you grieve for us after we are gone".

Tears of joy and pride flowed down Bibi Zainab's(s.a.) eyes as she embraced her two boys. In the morning during the general attacks from the enemy, Aun(a.s.) and Muhammad(a.s.) fought side by side with Ali Akber(a.s.), Qasim(a.s.) and Hazrat Abbas(a.s.). Every time either of them succeeded in felling an enemy, he would look proudly at Hazrat Abbas(a.s.) who would smile and nod his approval. Imam Hussain(a.s.) would not, however, give the two boys permission to go for single combat. They were very disappointed. They came to their mother for help. Bibi Zainab(s.a.) sent someone to request Imam Hussain(a.s.) to come to her tent., When the Imam(a.s.) came Bibi Zainab(s.a.) said, "Hussain, at the battle of Siffeen Abbas was only eight years old. When he saw someone trying to attack you, he rushed into the battle field and killed the man. Do you remember how proud our father Ali was? Today I too want to be proud of my sons. I want to see them go out there and defend Islam. Will you not allow me that privilege?" Imam Hussain(a.s.) stood there in silence. He looked at his sister. He saw the disappointment on her face. He saw tears forming around her eyes. He put his arms around the two boys and led them to their horses. He kissed them and then helped them mount. "Go," said Imam(a.s.), "Go, and show the world how those as young as you can fight the injustice and oppression of Yazid!" Then he turned round and lifted the curtain of the tent. The boys raised their hands and said "Fi Amaani-llah, mother!" Bibi Zainab(s.a.) replied, "Bismillah my sons. Allah be with you!"

The two boys rode out into the battlefield. They fought bravely. At one point Umar ibn-e-Sa'ad asked, "Who are these two youngsters? They fight like I have seen Ali ibne Abu Taalib fight." When he was told who they were he ordered his soldiers to give up single combats and surround and kill the boys. Aun(a.s.) and Muhammad(a.s.) were attacked from all sides. Soon they were over-powered and brutally killed. Imam Hussain(a.s.) and Hazrat Abbas(a.s.) carried the two young bodies to a tent and laid them on the floor. Imam(a.s.) walked to Bibi Zainab's(s.a.) tent. He found her in sijdah praying, "Ya Allah, I thank you for accepting my sacrifice. My heart is filled with pride because my two sons have given their lives for your religion."


Source: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FourteenStars