----
[EXCERPTS, Ed, Rv. Alt]
NAFASUL MAHMOOM
Relating to the heart rending tragedy of Karbala
By - Shaikh Abbas Qummi
## On virtues of Imam Husain, reward of weeping over his afflictions, imprecation upon his murderers, and prophesies regarding his Martyrdom
On some of the virtues of Imam Husain
The virtues of our Master Imam Husain are quite apparent and the tower of his honour and eminence is luminous and indisputable. In all matters he holds an exalted status and honourable rank. There is none among the Shi'ah and others who have not praised his grace, excellence and superiority. The intelligent among them have recognized the truth, while the ignorant are furbishing them. And why would not this be, for his esteemed self is surrounded from all sides by nobility, and the great appearence has taken hold of him all over, while beauty has sunk deep into him from all directions and this cannot be denied by any Muslim. His Grandfather is Mohammad al Mustafa (the chosen one), his Father Imam Ali al Murtaza (the approved one), Grandmother Hazrat Khadija, Mother Hazrat Fatemah az Zahra (the splendid one), brother Imam Hasan the honourable, his uncle Ja'far at Tayyar, and his Progeny pure Imams from the chosen ones among the family of Hashim. It is said in one of the couplets: "Your splendor is evident for everyone, except the blind who cannot see the moon."
In Ziyarate Nahiyah our Master Imam al Mahdi praises his excellent personality in the following words:
"And you fulfilled your duties and responsibilities with utmost readiness.
Renowned for your charity, you performed the mid-night Prayer in darkness.
Your path was firm, (you were) benevolent among the creatures, greatest among the precedents, noble with regard to the lineage and eminent with regard to ancestry, and you had an exalted position and several (other) excellences.
You were of a commendable character, amply generous.
You were forebearing, sober, penitent, benevolent, knowledgeable, rigorous.
A martyred Imam, penitent, beloved (by the believers), dreadful (for the disbelievers).
You are the son of the Prophet of Allah and the deliverer of the Holy Qur'an.
And the arms of the nation (ummah).
And the one who endeavored in the way of (Allah's) obedience.
Protector of the oath and covenant.
You hated the path of the transgressors.
A Bestower upon those in trouble.
One who prolonged the Bowing and Prostration.
(You remained) Abstinent from the world,
You always viewed it with the sight of the one who has to leave it soon."
The he continues to say:
"I wonder at myself that I am about to glorify the one whose praise has exhausted the paper. The water of the seas is insufficient to fill the book of your excellence, so that I may dip my finger in it to turn the pages thereof (to read it)."
His Valor
The reporters and reliable authorities specify that when Imam Husain intended to go to Iraq, Ubaydullah bin Ziyad despatched troops one after the other towards him and also gathered the Police force to kill him. He prepared an army of thirty thousand soldiers (foot and horse-men) to follow him in groups one after the other and to surround him fully equipped from all sides. They gave him the following notice: "Either submit to the orders of the son of Ziyad and swear the oath of allegiance to Yazeed, or be ready for combat, which would split open the liver and cut the life vein, despatch the souls above, and would throw the bodies head-long unto the ground." But the Imam, following the footsteps of his respected Grandfather and Father, refused to surrender to indignity. He set an example of self-respect and honour for the people, and accepted (noble) death below the sword. Then he himself, alongwith his brother and family members arose to defend (Islam) and accepted death instead of submitting to the tyranny of Yazeed. The wicked and vile army desisted them and the immoral infidels started shooting arrows at him. But Imam Husain stood firm like a mountain and nothing could weaken his determination. His feet were more resolute upon the earth of Martyrdom than a mountain, while his heart was not disturbed because of the fear of battle or death. Similarly his supporters likewise faced the forces of Ubaydullah ibne Ziyad and killed and wounded many of them. And they themselves did not die until they had killed many of them, and made them taste death by the ardor of the Hashimites. And none among the Hashimites fell a martyr until they had thrown their opponents unto the ground and killed them and sunk the hilts of their swords into their bodies. Imam Husain himself attacked the enemies like a ferocious lion and with his mighty sword threw them upon the ground. The narrator quotes a man as saying that, "By Allah! I have seen none like him, who having lost his sons, relatives and dear friends, and inspite of this, his heart being powerful and serene, and feet firm upon the ground. By Allah! I have seen none like him before or after him"
It has been related that there arose a dispute for a farm between Imam Husain and Waleed bin Uqba. And although Waleed was the governor of Madina (but was on the wrong), Imam was infuriated and removed his turban from his head and put it in his neck.
In the book Ehtijaj it is related from Mohammad bin Saeb, that one day Marwan bin Hakam told Imam Husain that, "If it were not for your esteem and honour through Hazrat Fatemah, how could you have gained excellence over us"? Imam Husain was infuriated and caught hold of his neck with an iron fist, then he removed the turban from his head and tied it in marwan's neck, and he fell down unconscious, then he left him.
The author says that Imam Husain's valor became a by-word while his forbearance in the battlefield had exhausted and frustrated others. His combat is similar to that of the Holy Prophet in the battle of Badr. While his forebearence, even after facing numerous enemies and possessing supporters less in quantity, is similar to his Father Imam Ali in the battle of Siffeen and Jamal.
Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) in Ziyarate Nahiyah says:
"And (they) initiated the attack upon you.
So you too stood up (equipped with) spear and sword.
And you routed the army of transgressors.
And you were surrounded in the dust of the battle and (were) fighting with Zulfiqar with such ferocity as if you were Ali, the empowered one.
So when the enemies saw you to be composed and calm without fear or anxiety, they began to plot and lay traps for you, and began to fight with you with cunningness and mischief.
And the accursed (Umar bin Sa'ad) ordered his army to cut off the water supply (from you).
And all of them unleashed their atrocities to kill you and they hastened to line up against you.
They struck at you with arrows and (they) extended their futile hands towards you.
They did not consider your rights, nor did they deem their putting to swords your friends as a sin, (and) they looted your belongings.
You bore the tribulations (of the battle) with firmness and forbore their troubles, such that the Angels of the Heavens were astounded at your patience.
Then the enemies surrounded you from all sides and inflicted you with wounds.
And they partitioned themselves between you and your family, there remained no helper for you.
You deflected them with persistence and patience away from your women and children.
Until they forced you down from your horseback, and you descended to the earth, wounded.
The horses were trampling you with their hooves.
The atrocious army fell upon you with their swords.
The perspiration of death appeared on your forehead and your hands and feet folded and unfolded to the right and the left (with uneasiness).
You were beholding with fear your belongings and your Household.
When in such a situation you might not have thought of your children and family due to personal pain."
His knowledge
It should be borne in the mind that the knowledge of Ahlulbait was inspired by Allah and they were in no need to gain knowledge (from others). And their present day knowledge was similar to that in the past (without any change). They were in no need of analogy, ponderence or conjecture, while apprehending their intellect is far beyond the capacity of human beings. The one who tries to conceal their excellences is similar to the one attempting to veil the face of the sun. It should be noted that they examined the concealed in the present state. They grasped the verity of intellect in the solitude of worship and they were far more better than as perceived by their companions and friends. They would not pause (to think) in front of the common profiteer and those trying to test them, nor become upset or show slackness. They were prudent in their conditions and discourses and were unparalleled in their age. In distinction and honour, from the beginning until the end, they were in confirmity with one another. When they opened their mouth to speak, others would remain silent. When they spoke others would listen to them (with awe). Thus every strider could not reach them (their lofty position) nor their aims were fulfilled (to surpass them) and did not succeed in their policies. They possessed such qualities, which had been bestowed upon them by the Creator, and the Truthful (Lord) announced that He had removed doubts regarding them. He explicitly praised their grace and superiority until He made them independent of evidences and analogy. Thus they said, "We are the sons of Abdul Muttalib, the Master of men."
His munificence and generosity
It is related that one day Hazrat Fatemah az Zahra took her sons Imam Hasan and Imam Husain to the presence of the Holy Prophet who was seriously ill (and he later died because of it). She requested the Holy Prophet to present to her sons something as inheritance (from his attributes). To which the Prophet replied, "As for Hasan, he shall inherit my awe and supremacy, and as for Husain, he will inherit my generosity and valor."
It is renowned that Imam Husain liked to serve guests and fulfill the desires of people and was friendly towards the relatives. He gifted the indigent and poor, gave to the needy, clothed the naked ones, fed the hungry, relieved the debts of the indebted, caressed fondly the orphans, and aided the needy ones. Whenever he received any wealth, he distributed it to others.
It is related that once when Mu'awiyah went to Makkah, he presented numerous wealth and clothes to Imam, but he refused to accept them. This being the attribute of generous and liberal men, and characteristic of the munificent. His personality bore witness to his kindness, while his speech confirmed his excellent trait, and his actions manifested his noble qualities.
It should be noted that generosity combined with munificence and mercy is confined in (the personality of) Ahlulbait while in others it is just superficial. Therefore stinginess was never attributed to anyone among the Bani Hashim, while their generosity was compared to the clouds (of rain) and their valour to the Lions.
Imam Ali Zainul Abedeen, in one of his sermons in Syria said,
"We are presented with wisdom, forbearence, generosity, eloquence, valor, and love in the hearts of believers."
Verily they are inspiring oceans and clouds filled with rains.
The good deeds performed by them were inherited by them from their forefathers. They had made good character as the Divine Law and a means of perceiverance and recognition of extreme honour, for they were the noble sons of noble fathers. They were the masters of the nation, chosen ones from among the people, chiefs of the Arabs, the epitome of the children of Adam, the sovereigns of this world, guides of the hereafter, Allah's proof among His servants, and His trustees in the towns. While all the eminence is evident and visible in them.
40
Others have learnt (the lesson of) generosity from them and gained guidance from their methods. How would he not part with his wealth, who has set his foot (in the battlefield to sacrifice his life), and how would he not deem the things of this world to be lowly who has collected courage (provisions) for the Hereafter. There is no doubt regarding the one who is ready to sacrifice his life in the battlefield, that he will ever be prepared to part with his wealth. Then how will the one, who has abandoned the pleasures of this world, have worth for the things of this transient world?
The poet says: "He is generous with regard to his self, where even the munificent are stingy, while the generosity of self (sacrifice) is the pinnacle of generosity."
Hence it is said that generosity and valour have consumed milk from the same breast (go hand in hand with one another) and are attached to one another. Thus every generous person is brave and every brave generous, and this being a common system.
Abu Tamam says regarding this: "When you see Abu Yazeed in a gathering or in a battlefield, or ransacking, then you shall agree that generosity is nearing valour and munificence to valour."
Abut Tayyib says: "They say that munificence is not enough, until he built a house on the wayfare, I say that the valour of a generous man warns him against stinginess, O generosity, you may turn similar to a whirlpool, his sword has rendered him protection from being drowned."
Once Mu'awiyah praised the Bani Hashim for their munificence, the children of Zubayr with valor, the Bani Makhzoom with arrogance, and the Bani Umayyah with forebearence. When Imam Hasan heard his words, he said,
"May Allah kill him! He desires that the Bani Hashim (reacting to his praise) may give away their wealth and thus become dependent on him, and the children of Zubayr (being influenced by his praise) may get killed while fighting, and the Bani Makhzoom would pride upon themselves so that people may dislike them, and that the Bani Umayyah may (cautiously) become lenient so that the people may start liking them."
Mu'awiyah said the truth, although truthfulness is far away from him, but it so happens that quite often a liar (unwillingly) utters the truth. In the case of Bani Hashim, where Mu'awiyah said that generosity was present in them and valor and temperateness were particularly found in them, while people just immitated them. The best qualities which were distributed among all men
41 were unified together in them. This being the truth while everthing else false.[1]
His eloquence, abstinence, humility, and worship
As regards his eloquence, virtue, humility and worship, if we go on to relate about it, we will cross the limits of the capacity of this book. Instead we quote the traditions about the love and affection of the Holy Prophet towards him.
Shaikh Mohammad ibne Shahr Ashob in his Manaqib quotes from Ibne Umar, that one day the Prophet was seated on the pulpit delivering a sermon. Suddenly Imam Husain came and his legs got entangled in the end of his shirt and he fell down and started weeping. The Holy Prophet alighted from the pulpit and lifted him up and said,
"May Allah kill the shaitan! Verily he is a charming child. By Him in whose hands is my life! I do not know as to how I alighted from the pulpit."
In Manaqib, Abus Sa'adat, while praising the Prophet's Household (Ahlulbayt) relates from Yazeed bin Ziyad, that one day the Holy Prophet
Notes:
[1] It is related that once a nomad came and saluted Imam Husain and asked from him saying, "I have heard from your Grandfather that if you have a desire, ask from any one of these men: A noble Arab, a generous master, one who understands the Qur'an, or the one gifted with a beautiful face. The nobility of the Arabs is due to your Grandfather (the Prophet), while generosity is your custom, the Qur'an has descended in your own house, and particular beauty is apparent in you, and I have heard your grandfather say: Whoever desires to see me, should look at my Hasan and Husain." Imam said, "Tell me what do you desire"? The nomad wrote down his desire onto the ground. Imam said, "I have heard my father Imam Ali say, that the worth of every man is through his good actions, and I have heard my grandfather the Prophet of Allah say, that favour is measured through one's wisdom. Thus I shall ask you three questions, if you answer one of them, I shall fulfil one third of your desire, while if you answer two of them, two thirds of your desires shall be fulfilled, and if you answer all three of them, your entire wish shall be fulfilled." Then he brought a bag full of coins and said, "If you answer, you shall get from this." The nomad said, "Do ask me, and there is no Might and no Power except with Allah, the Most High, the most Great." Imam said, "What delivers a slave (of Allah) from destruction"? He replied, "Reliance upon Allah." He then asked, "What is the adornment of man"? He replied, "Knowledge accompanied by forebearence." Imam asked, "But what if he does not possess it"? He said, "Wealth with generosity and munificence." Imam again asked, "And what if he does not possess it"? He replied, "Poverty accompanied by patience." Imam said, "And if he does not possess it"? He replied, "Thunderbolt (damnation) which would burn him." The Imam smiled and forwarded the bag (full of coins) towards him. In another tradition it is related that the bag contained a thousand Ashrafis (a gold coin) and two of his personal rings whose gems were worth two hundred dirhams each.
42 came out of the house of Ayesha and passed from near the house of Hazrat Fatemah when he heard Imam Husain weeping. He said,
"O Fatemah! Do you not know that the weeping of Husain causes me great pain"?
It is quoted in Manaqib from Sunan of Ibne Majah and Faeq of Zamakhshari, that one day the Holy Prophet passed through a lane and saw Imam Husain playing with some children. The Prophet stretched his hands and tried to catch him, but Imam Husain (s.a.s.) started running from here to there so that he could escape. The Prophet was amused and at last got hold of him. Then he placed one of his hand under the chin and the other on his head, then he lifted him up and kissing him said,
"Husain is from me, and I am from Husain. Allah befriends the one who holds Husain dear. Verily Husain is one of the tribes (of the twelve tribes of Bani Israel)."[1]
In the book Manaqib it is quoted through Abdul Rahman bin Abi Layla, that he says, that one day we were sitting in the presence of the Holy Prophet when Imam Husain came and started jumping and playing on the back of the Prophet. The Prophet said, "Leave him alone."
In the same book it is quoted from Lays bin Sa'ad, that one day the Holy Prophet was leading the congregational Prayers (Namaze Jama'ah), when Imam Husain, who was an infant, was sitting besides him. When the Prophet went into prostration (sajdah), Husain sat on his back and striking his legs said, "Hil Hil" (a noise by which mounts are galloped). The Prophet brought him down with his hands and made him sit besides him and then stood up. Then again when the Prophet went for the other prostration this happened, until he ended his Prayers.
It is related from Amali of Hakim that Abu Rafe' says, that one day I was playing a game called "Midhah"[2]with Imam Husain who was a small child at that time. When I won, I told him to let me mount upon his back (as was the rule of the game), but he said that would I like to mount upon the back of the one who had mounted the back of the Holy Prophet? Hence I yielded to it. Then when he won, I said that I too would not allow him to sit on my back as he had done. But then he said that would I not like to
Notes:
[1] Reg. the twelve tribes of Bani Israel, it is quoted in the Qur'an: "And of Moosa's people is a party, who guide (people) with truth and thereby do justice. And We divided then into twelve tribes (or) nations" (Surah al A'araf: 159-160).
[2] Midhah - This particular game is played with pebbles which have to be aimed into a pit.
43 lift up the person who was lifted by the Holy Prophet himself? And here too I yielded.
In the same book it is related through Hafs bin Ghiyas from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq, that one day the Holy Prophet prepared to recite the Prayers and Imam Husain was standing besides him. The Prophet recited the Takbeer (Allaho Akbar) and Imam could not pronounce it. The Prophet repeated it again but Imam could not do so. The Prophet repeated his Takbeer seven times and on the seventh time Husain recited it correctly. Imam Sadiq says that thus reciting Takbeer seven times before starting the Prayers (Salat) is recommended (Sunnat).
In the same book it is quoted from Tafseer of Naqqash from Ibne Abbas that he said, one day I was sitting in the presence of the Holy Prophet when his son Ibrahim was sitting on his left thigh and Imam Husain on his right one. The Prophet kissed each of them subsequently. Suddenly Jibra'eel descended with the Revelation (Wahy). When the Revelation ended, the Holy Prophet said,
"Jibra'eel came to me from my Lord and informed me that the Almighty Allah sent greetings to me and said that He would not let these two children remain together, let one become a ransom over the other."
The Prophet looked at Ibrahim and started weeping and said,
"His mother is a slave-girl, if he dies no one accept myself will feel pain. But Husain is Fatemah's and my cousin Ali's son and my flesh and blood, if he dies not only Ali and Fatemah but myself too shall feel immense pain. Hence I prefer my personal grief over the grief of Ali and Fatemh.. Hence O Jibra'eel! Let Ibrahim die, for I ransom him over Husain."
Ibne Abbas says that after three days Ibrahim died. After this whenever the Holy Prophet saw Husain, he would kiss him and pull him towards himself and lick his lips. Then he would say,
"May my life be sacrificed on him upon whom I ransomed my son Ibrahim. May my parents be your ransom O Aba Abdillah"!
## On virtues of Imam Husain, reward of weeping over his afflictions, imprecation upon his murderers, and prophesies regarding his Martyrdom
On some of the virtues of Imam Husain
The virtues of our Master Imam Husain are quite apparent and the tower of his honour and eminence is luminous and indisputable. In all matters he holds an exalted status and honourable rank. There is none among the Shi'ah and others who have not praised his grace, excellence and superiority. The intelligent among them have recognized the truth, while the ignorant are furbishing them. And why would not this be, for his esteemed self is surrounded from all sides by nobility, and the great appearence has taken hold of him all over, while beauty has sunk deep into him from all directions and this cannot be denied by any Muslim. His Grandfather is Mohammad al Mustafa (the chosen one), his Father Imam Ali al Murtaza (the approved one), Grandmother Hazrat Khadija, Mother Hazrat Fatemah az Zahra (the splendid one), brother Imam Hasan the honourable, his uncle Ja'far at Tayyar, and his Progeny pure Imams from the chosen ones among the family of Hashim. It is said in one of the couplets: "Your splendor is evident for everyone, except the blind who cannot see the moon."
In Ziyarate Nahiyah our Master Imam al Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) praises his excellent personality in the following words:
"And you fulfilled your duties and responsibilities with utmost readiness.
Renowned for your charity, you performed the mid-night Prayer in darkness.
Your path was firm, (you were) benevolent among the creatures, greatest among the precedents, noble with regard to the lineage and eminent with regard to ancestry, and you had an exalted position and several (other) excellences.
You were of a commendable character, amply generous.
You were forebearing, sober, penitent, benevolent, knowledgeable, rigorous.
A martyred Imam, penitent, beloved (by the believers), dreadful (for
36 the disbelievers).
You are the son of the Prophet of Allah and the deliverer of the Holy Qur'an.
And the arms of the nation (ummah).
And the one who endeavored in the way of (Allah's) obedience.
Protector of the oath and covenant.
You hated the path of the transgressors.
A Bestower upon those in trouble.
One who prolonged the Bowing and Prostration.
(You remained) Abstinent from the world,
You always viewed it with the sight of the one who has to leave it soon."
The he continues to say:
"I wonder at myself that I am about to glorify the one whose praise has exhausted the paper. The water of the seas is insufficient to fill the book of your excellence, so that I may dip my finger in it to turn the pages thereof (to read it)."
His Valor
The reporters and reliable authorities specify that when Imam Husain intended to go to Iraq, Ubaydullah bin Ziyad despatched troops one after the other towards him and also gathered the Police force to kill him. He prepared an army of thirty thousand soldiers (foot and horse-men) to follow him in groups one after the other and to surround him fully equipped from all sides. They gave him the following notice: "Either submit to the orders of the son of Ziyad and swear the oath of allegiance to Yazeed, or be ready for combat, which would split open the liver and cut the life vein, despatch the souls above, and would throw the bodies head-long unto the ground." But the Imam, following the footsteps of his respected Grandfather and Father, refused to surrender to indignity. He set an example of self-respect and honour for the people, and accepted (noble) death below the sword. Then he himself, alongwith his brother and family members arose to defend (Islam) and accepted death instead of submitting to the tyranny of Yazeed. The wicked and vile army desisted them and the immoral infidels started shooting arrows at him. But Imam Husain stood firm like a mountain and nothing could weaken his determination. His feet were more resolute upon the earth of Martyrdom than a mountain, while his heart was not disturbed because of the fear of battle or death. Similarly his supporters likewise faced the forces of Ubaydullah ibne Ziyad and killed and wounded many of them. And they themselves did not die until they had killed many of them, and made them taste death by the ardor of the Hashimites. And none among the Hashimites
37 fell a martyr until they had thrown their opponents unto the ground and killed them and sunk the hilts of their swords into their bodies. Imam Husain himself attacked the enemies like a ferocious lion and with his mighty sword threw them upon the ground. The narrator quotes a man as saying that, "By Allah! I have seen none like him, who having lost his sons, relatives and dear friends, and inspite of this, his heart being powerful and serene, and feet firm upon the ground. By Allah! I have seen none like him before or after him"
It has been related that there arose a dispute for a farm between Imam Husain and Waleed bin Uqba. And although Waleed was the governor of Madina (but was on the wrong), Imam was infuriated and removed his turban from his head and put it in his neck.
In the book Ehtijaj it is related from Mohammad bin Saeb, that one day Marwan bin Hakam told Imam Husain that, "If it were not for your esteem and honour through Hazrat Fatemah, how could you have gained excellence over us"? Imam Husain was infuriated and caught hold of his neck with an iron fist, then he removed the turban from his head and tied it in marwan's neck, and he fell down unconscious, then he left him.
The author says that Imam Husain's valor became a by-word while his forbearance in the battlefield had exhausted and frustrated others. His combat is similar to that of the Holy Prophet in the battle of Badr. While his forebearence, even after facing numerous enemies and possessing supporters less in quantity, is similar to his Father Imam Ali in the battle of Siffeen and Jamal.
Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) in Ziyarate Nahiyah says:
"And (they) initiated the attack upon you.
So you too stood up (equipped with) spear and sword.
And you routed the army of transgressors.
And you were surrounded in the dust of the battle and (were) fighting with Zulfiqar with such ferocity as if you were Ali, the empowered one.
So when the enemies saw you to be composed and calm without fear or anxiety, they began to plot and lay traps for you, and began to fight with you with cunningness and mischief.
And the accursed (Umar bin Sa'ad) ordered his army to cut off the water supply (from you).
And all of them unleashed their atrocities to kill you and they hastened to line up against you.
They struck at you with arrows and (they) extended their futile hands towards you.
They did not consider your rights, nor did they deem their putting to swords
38 your friends as a sin, (and) they looted your belongings.
You bore the tribulations (of the battle) with firmness and forbore their troubles, such that the Angels of the Heavens were astounded at your patience.
Then the enemies surrounded you from all sides and inflicted you with wounds.
And they partitioned themselves between you and your family, there remained no helper for you.
You deflected them with persistence and patience away from your women and children.
Until they forced you down from your horseback, and you descended to the earth, wounded.
The horses were trampling you with their hooves.
The atrocious army fell upon you with their swords.
The perspiration of death appeared on your forehead and your hands and feet folded and unfolded to the right and the left (with uneasiness).
You were beholding with fear your belongings and your Household.
When in such a situation you might not have thought of your children and family due to personal pain."
His knowledge
It should be borne in the mind that the knowledge of Ahlulbait was inspired by Allah and they were in no need to gain knowledge (from others). And their present day knowledge was similar to that in the past (without any change). They were in no need of analogy, ponderence or conjecture, while apprehending their intellect is far beyond the capacity of human beings. The one who tries to conceal their excellences is similar to the one attempting to veil the face of the sun. It should be noted that they examined the concealed in the present state. They grasped the verity of intellect in the solitude of worship and they were far more better than as perceived by their companions and friends. They would not pause (to think) in front of the common profiteer and those trying to test them, nor become upset or show slackness. They were prudent in their conditions and discourses and were unparalleled in their age. In distinction and honour, from the beginning until the end, they were in confirmity with one another. When they opened their mouth to speak, others would remain silent. When they spoke others would listen to them (with awe). Thus every strider could not reach them (their lofty position) nor their aims were fulfilled (to surpass them) and did not succeed in their policies. They possessed such qualities, which had been bestowed upon them by the Creator, and the Truthful (Lord) announced that He had removed doubts regarding
39 them. He explicitly praised their grace and superiority until He made them independent of evidences and analogy. Thus they said, "We are the sons of Abdul Muttalib, the Master of men."
His munificence and generosity
It is related that one day Hazrat Fatemah az Zahra took her sons Imam Hasan and Imam Husain to the presence of the Holy Prophet who was seriously ill (and he later died because of it). She requested the Holy Prophet to present to her sons something as inheritance (from his attributes). To which the Prophet replied, "As for Hasan, he shall inherit my awe and supremacy, and as for Husain, he will inherit my generosity and valor."
It is renowned that Imam Husain liked to serve guests and fulfill the desires of people and was friendly towards the relatives. He gifted the indigent and poor, gave to the needy, clothed the naked ones, fed the hungry, relieved the debts of the indebted, caressed fondly the orphans, and aided the needy ones. Whenever he received any wealth, he distributed it to others.
It is related that once when Mu'awiyah went to Makkah, he presented numerous wealth and clothes to Imam, but he refused to accept them. This being the attribute of generous and liberal men, and characteristic of the munificent. His personality bore witness to his kindness, while his speech confirmed his excellent trait, and his actions manifested his noble qualities.
It should be noted that generosity combined with munificence and mercy is confined in (the personality of) Ahlulbait while in others it is just superficial. Therefore stinginess was never attributed to anyone among the Bani Hashim, while their generosity was compared to the clouds (of rain) and their valour to the Lions.
Imam Ali Zainul Abedeen, in one of his sermons in Syria said,
"We are presented with wisdom, forbearence, generosity, eloquence, valor, and love in the hearts of believers."
Verily they are inspiring oceans and clouds filled with rains.
The good deeds performed by them were inherited by them from their forefathers. They had made good character as the Divine Law and a means of perceiverance and recognition of extreme honour, for they were the noble sons of noble fathers. They were the masters of the nation, chosen ones from among the people, chiefs of the Arabs, the epitome of the children of Adam, the sovereigns of this world, guides of the hereafter, Allah's proof among His servants, and His trustees in the towns. While all the eminence is evident and visible in them.
40
Others have learnt (the lesson of) generosity from them and gained guidance from their methods. How would he not part with his wealth, who has set his foot (in the battlefield to sacrifice his life), and how would he not deem the things of this world to be lowly who has collected courage (provisions) for the Hereafter. There is no doubt regarding the one who is ready to sacrifice his life in the battlefield, that he will ever be prepared to part with his wealth. Then how will the one, who has abandoned the pleasures of this world, have worth for the things of this transient world?
The poet says: "He is generous with regard to his self, where even the munificent are stingy, while the generosity of self (sacrifice) is the pinnacle of generosity."
Hence it is said that generosity and valour have consumed milk from the same breast (go hand in hand with one another) and are attached to one another. Thus every generous person is brave and every brave generous, and this being a common system.
Abu Tamam says regarding this: "When you see Abu Yazeed in a gathering or in a battlefield, or ransacking, then you shall agree that generosity is nearing valour and munificence to valour."
Abut Tayyib says: "They say that munificence is not enough, until he built a house on the wayfare, I say that the valour of a generous man warns him against stinginess, O generosity, you may turn similar to a whirlpool, his sword has rendered him protection from being drowned."
Once Mu'awiyah praised the Bani Hashim for their munificence, the children of Zubayr with valor, the Bani Makhzoom with arrogance, and the Bani Umayyah with forebearence. When Imam Hasan heard his words, he said,
"May Allah kill him! He desires that the Bani Hashim (reacting to his praise) may give away their wealth and thus become dependent on him, and the children of Zubayr (being influenced by his praise) may get killed while fighting, and the Bani Makhzoom would pride upon themselves so that people may dislike them, and that the Bani Umayyah may (cautiously) become lenient so that the people may start liking them."
Mu'awiyah said the truth, although truthfulness is far away from him, but it so happens that quite often a liar (unwillingly) utters the truth. In the case of Bani Hashim, where Mu'awiyah said that generosity was present in them and valor and temperateness were particularly found in them, while people just immitated them. The best qualities which were distributed among all men
41 were unified together in them. This being the truth while everthing else false.[1]
His eloquence, abstinence, humility, and worship
As regards his eloquence, virtue, humility and worship, if we go on to relate about it, we will cross the limits of the capacity of this book. Instead we quote the traditions about the love and affection of the Holy Prophet towards him.
Shaikh Mohammad ibne Shahr Ashob in his Manaqib quotes from Ibne Umar, that one day the Prophet was seated on the pulpit delivering a sermon. Suddenly Imam Husain came and his legs got entangled in the end of his shirt and he fell down and started weeping. The Holy Prophet alighted from the pulpit and lifted him up and said,
"May Allah kill the shaitan! Verily he is a charming child. By Him in whose hands is my life! I do not know as to how I alighted from the pulpit."
In Manaqib, Abus Sa'adat, while praising the Prophet's Household (Ahlulbayt) relates from Yazeed bin Ziyad, that one day the Holy Prophet
Notes:
[1] It is related that once a nomad came and saluted Imam Husain and asked from him saying, "I have heard from your Grandfather that if you have a desire, ask from any one of these men: A noble Arab, a generous master, one who understands the Qur'an, or the one gifted with a beautiful face. The nobility of the Arabs is due to your Grandfather (the Prophet), while generosity is your custom, the Qur'an has descended in your own house, and particular beauty is apparent in you, and I have heard your grandfather say: Whoever desires to see me, should look at my Hasan and Husain." Imam said, "Tell me what do you desire"? The nomad wrote down his desire onto the ground. Imam said, "I have heard my father Imam Ali say, that the worth of every man is through his good actions, and I have heard my grandfather the Prophet of Allah say, that favour is measured through one's wisdom. Thus I shall ask you three questions, if you answer one of them, I shall fulfil one third of your desire, while if you answer two of them, two thirds of your desires shall be fulfilled, and if you answer all three of them, your entire wish shall be fulfilled." Then he brought a bag full of coins and said, "If you answer, you shall get from this." The nomad said, "Do ask me, and there is no Might and no Power except with Allah, the Most High, the most Great." Imam said, "What delivers a slave (of Allah) from destruction"? He replied, "Reliance upon Allah." He then asked, "What is the adornment of man"? He replied, "Knowledge accompanied by forebearence." Imam asked, "But what if he does not possess it"? He said, "Wealth with generosity and munificence." Imam again asked, "And what if he does not possess it"? He replied, "Poverty accompanied by patience." Imam said, "And if he does not possess it"? He replied, "Thunderbolt (damnation) which would burn him." The Imam smiled and forwarded the bag (full of coins) towards him. In another tradition it is related that the bag contained a thousand Ashrafis (a gold coin) and two of his personal rings whose gems were worth two hundred dirhams each.
42 came out of the house of Ayesha and passed from near the house of Hazrat Fatemah when he heard Imam Husain weeping. He said,
"O Fatemah! Do you not know that the weeping of Husain causes me great pain"?
It is quoted in Manaqib from Sunan of Ibne Majah and Faeq of Zamakhshari, that one day the Holy Prophet passed through a lane and saw Imam Husain playing with some children. The Prophet stretched his hands and tried to catch him, but Imam Husain (s.a.s.) started running from here to there so that he could escape. The Prophet was amused and at last got hold of him. Then he placed one of his hand under the chin and the other on his head, then he lifted him up and kissing him said,
"Husain is from me, and I am from Husain. Allah befriends the one who holds Husain dear. Verily Husain is one of the tribes (of the twelve tribes of Bani Israel)."[1]
In the book Manaqib it is quoted through Abdul Rahman bin Abi Layla, that he says, that one day we were sitting in the presence of the Holy Prophet when Imam Husain came and started jumping and playing on the back of the Prophet. The Prophet said, "Leave him alone."
In the same book it is quoted from Lays bin Sa'ad, that one day the Holy Prophet was leading the congregational Prayers (Namaze Jama'ah), when Imam Husain, who was an infant, was sitting besides him. When the Prophet went into prostration (sajdah), Husain sat on his back and striking his legs said, "Hil Hil" (a noise by which mounts are galloped). The Prophet brought him down with his hands and made him sit besides him and then stood up. Then again when the Prophet went for the other prostration this happened, until he ended his Prayers.
It is related from Amali of Hakim that Abu Rafe' says, that one day I was playing a game called "Midhah"[2]with Imam Husain who was a small child at that time. When I won, I told him to let me mount upon his back (as was the rule of the game), but he said that would I like to mount upon the back of the one who had mounted the back of the Holy Prophet? Hence I yielded to it. Then when he won, I said that I too would not allow him to sit on my back as he had done. But then he said that would I not like to
Notes:
[1] Reg. the twelve tribes of Bani Israel, it is quoted in the Qur'an: "And of Moosa's people is a party, who guide (people) with truth and thereby do justice. And We divided then into twelve tribes (or) nations" (Surah al A'araf: 159-160).
[2] Midhah - This particular game is played with pebbles which have to be aimed into a pit.
43 lift up the person who was lifted by the Holy Prophet himself? And here too I yielded.
In the same book it is related through Hafs bin Ghiyas from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq, that one day the Holy Prophet prepared to recite the Prayers and Imam Husain was standing besides him. The Prophet recited the Takbeer (Allaho Akbar) and Imam could not pronounce it. The Prophet repeated it again but Imam could not do so. The Prophet repeated his Takbeer seven times and on the seventh time Husain recited it correctly. Imam Sadiq says that thus reciting Takbeer seven times before starting the Prayers (Salat) is recommended (Sunnat).
In the same book it is quoted from Tafseer of Naqqash from Ibne Abbas that he said, one day I was sitting in the presence of the Holy Prophet when his son Ibrahim was sitting on his left thigh and Imam Husain on his right one. The Prophet kissed each of them subsequently. Suddenly Jibra'eel descended with the Revelation (Wahy). When the Revelation ended, the Holy Prophet said,
"Jibra'eel came to me from my Lord and informed me that the Almighty Allah sent greetings to me and said that He would not let these two children remain together, let one become a ransom over the other."
The Prophet looked at Ibrahim and started weeping and said,
"His mother is a slave-girl, if he dies no one accept myself will feel pain. But Husain is Fatemah's and my cousin Ali's son and my flesh and blood, if he dies not only Ali and Fatemah but myself too shall feel immense pain. Hence I prefer my personal grief over the grief of Ali and Fatemh.. Hence O Jibra'eel! Let Ibrahim die, for I ransom him over Husain."
Ibne Abbas says that after three days Ibrahim died. After this whenever the Holy Prophet saw Husain, he would kiss him and pull him towards himself and lick his lips. Then he would say,
"May my life be sacrificed on him upon whom I ransomed my son Ibrahim. May my parents be your ransom O Aba Abdillah"!
# Forty Traditions (Ahadeeth) regarding the merit of mourning over the afflictions of Imam Husain, the reward of invoking curse upon his murderers, and prophesies regarding his martyrdom
Tradition 1
The author of the book Shaikh Abbas Qummi says that: My teacher Haj Mirza Husain Noori (May Allah enlighten his grave) has related traditions to me with complete general permission to narrate from him. Mirza Husain Noori has got permission (to relate) from the Sign of Allah (Ayatullah) Haj Shaikh Murtaza Ansari (May Allah sheath him with His Mercy), who has got it from the Honourable Master Haj Mulla Ahmed Naraqi, from our Noble Master Sayyed Mahdi Bahrul Uloom, from the Chief of Chiefs, our Master Aqa Mohammad Baqir Behbahani renowned as "Waheed", from his father Mulla Mohammad Akmal, from the Divine Scholar Mulla Mohammad Baqir Majlisi Isfahani, from his father Mulla Mohammad Taqi Majlisi, from our Honourable Shaikh Mohammad Ameli renowned as Bahauddin (Shaikh Bahai), from his father Shaikh Husain bin Abdas Samad Ameli Harisi, from Shaikh Zainuddin (Shaheed-as-Sani, the second Martyr), from Shaikh Ali bin Abdul Ali Meesi, from Shaikh Mohammad bin Dawood Jazzini, from Ali bin Mohammad, from his father Mohammad bin Maki (Shaheed-al-Awwal, the first Martyr), from Mohammad bin Allamah Hilli, from his father Allamah Hilli, from Ja'far bin Sa'eed Hilli, from Fakhar bin Ma'eed Musawi, from Imaduddin Tabarsi, from Abu Ali (Mufeed-as-Sani, the second Mufeed), from his father Shaikh Toosi, from Shaikh Mufeed, from the Honourable Shaikh Sadooq, from majeluya Qummi, from Ali bin Ibrahim Qummi, from his father Ibrahim bin Hashim Qummi, from Rayyan bin Shabeeb (the maternal uncle of Mo'tasim), who says that I went to meet Imam Ali ar Reza on the first
45 day of the month of Moharram. Imam Reza asked me,
"O son of Shabeeb! Are you in the state of fasting today"?
I replied in the negative. Imam continued,
"This is the day when Prophet Zakariyyah prayed to his Lord thus
"Lord grant me from unto Thee a good offspring, Verily Thou art the Hearer of Prayers"
Then Allah accepted his Prayers and commanded His Angels to go and give him glad tidings regarding the birth of his son Prophet Yahya. The Angels came and called out to him while he was engaged in Prayers in the niche. Hence the one who fasts on this day and asks for his desires from Allah, his prayer will be answered as was of Zakariyah."
Then Imam said,
"O son of Shabeeb! Moharram is such a month that the Arabs of the age of ignorance (pre-Islamic) too respected it's sanctity and forbade oppression and blood-shed in it. But these people (the umayyads) did not honour the sanctity of this month nor of their Prophet. In this month they killed the son of the Prophet and imprisoned the women-folk after looting and plundering their belongings, verily Allah will never ever forgive this crime of theirs."
"O son of Shabeeb! If you wish to mourn and lament over anyone, do so upon Husain bin Ali bin Abi Talib for he was beheaded like a lamb. Eighteen persons from among his family, who were unparalleled in the earth, were also killed alongwith him. The heavens and the earth lamented the death of Husain. Four thousand Angels descended from the heavens to aid him, but when they reached there they saw that he had already been martyred. Thus, now they all remain near his blessed grave with disheveled hair covered with dust until the rising of the Qaem (Imam al Mahdi). Then they will all aid him and their slogan will be: Vengeance for the blood of Husain."
"O son of Shabeeb! My father (Imam Moosa al Kazim) has related from his father (Imam Ja'far as Sadiq), who has related from his grandfather (Imam Ali Zainul Abedeen), that when my grandfather Imam Husain was martyred, the sky rained blood and red sand."
"O son of Shabeeb! If you weep over the afflictions of Husain such that tears flow from your eyes and fall upon your cheeks, Allah will forgive all your sins whether big or small and less or large in number."
"O son of Shabeeb! If you desire to meet Allah the Glorified in a state purified of all sins, then go for the pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Husain ."
"O son of Shabeeb! If you desire that you may abide in the palaces of Paradise in the company of the Holy Prophet and his Progeny, then invoke Allah's curse upon the murderers of Imam Husain."
"O son of Shabeeb! If you desire to earn the reward of those who were martyred alongwith Imam Husain, then whenever you remember him, say: I wish I had been with them, then I too would have attained the Great Triumph."
"O son of Shabeeb! If you desire to reside in the exalted status of Paradise alongwith us, then bemoan our sorrows and sufferings and rejoice in our happiness and remain attached to our love. For even if a person is attached to a stone in this world, Allah shall make him arise with it on the day of Qiyamah."
Tradition 2
Through successive chain of authorities, the Noble Shaikh Mohammad bin No'man al Mufeed (May Allah sanctify his spirit) relates from the Noble Shaikh Abul Qasim Ja'far bin Mohammad Qawlawayh Qummi (May Allah scent his grave), from Ibne Waleed, from Saffar, from Ibne Abul Khattab, from Mohammad bin Isma'il, from Saleh bin Aqbah, from Abu Haroon Makfoof, who says that once I went to the presence of Imam Ja'far as Sadiq. Imam told me to recite some couplets to which I started reciting. Then Imam said,
"Not like this, recite as you do so for him (Imam Husain) among yourselves and (standing) on the head of his grave."
Then I recited, "While passing by the grave of Husain tell his blessed bones…" Then Imam started weeping and hence I became silent. Imam Sadiq told me to continue and recite some more, thus I recited "O Farwa! Arise and weep and lament upon your Master Husain, give an opportunity to weep over the corpse of Husain." Abu Haroon continues that Imam Sadiq wept bitterly and the women of his household too wept. When they became silent, Imam said,
"O Abu Haroon! If a person recites couplets about Imam Husain and makes ten people weep by it then Paradise is reserved for him at that very moment."
Then Imam started reducing the number of persons till he reached one and said,
"If a person recites couplets about Imam Husain and makes a single person weep by it, then Paradise is reserved for him at that very moment."
Imam retorted,
"Anyone who remembers Imam Husain and weeps over him, shall have
47 Paradise (as his reward)."
The author (Shaikh Abbas Qummi) says that the couplets recited by Abu Haroon were the ones composed by Sayyed al Himyari and which has been explicitly quoted by Shaikh Ibne Nima.
Tradition 3
Through successive chain of authorities, Shaikh Sadooq relates from his chain of authorities from Ibne Abbas that, Imam Ali asked the Holy Prophet, "Do you hold Aqeel dear to yourself"? The Prophet replied,
"Yes by Allah! I do hold him dear due to two reasons. The first being that I personally hold him dear, second being that Abu Talib loved him, and that his son (Muslim) will die befriending your son (Imam Husain). And verily the eyes of the believers will weep (over his martyrdom) and the Angels close to Allah will send blessings upon him."
The Prophet started weeping and tears fell upon his chest, then he said,
"I complain to Allah regarding that (pain and sufferings) which my Progeny will have to bear after my death."
Tradition 4
Through successive chain of narrators, the Honourable Shaikh Abul Qasim Ja'far bin Qawlawayh relates from Musme' Kardeen who says that one day Imam Ja'far as Sadiq told me,
"O Musme'! Being a resident of Iraq do you go for the pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Husain"?
I replied, "No, for the people of Basra know me well and they are the adherents of the Caliph and there are numerous enemies from the nasibies (those who bear enmity towards the Prophet's Ahlulbait) of the clans and others around us. I fear lest they malign me in presence of the sons of Sulayman (bin Abdul Malik, the Abbaside Caliph), who would then torture and harass me." Then Imam said,
"Then do you remember the troubles which were inflicted on Imam Husain"
and I replied in the affirmative. Imam again asked,
"Are you then disturbed by it"?
I replied, "Verily yes, by Allah! And this grief effects me such that the people of my family see this (it's effects) upon my face, and I even leave my meals while this sorrow becomes apparent on my cheeks." Imam Sadiq said,
"May Allah have mercy upon your tears! Verily you are of those people who are afflicted by our grief, those who rejoice at our prosperity and lament over our sorrows, and who are attached to us in our time of dread and peace. In fact when you die, you will find our Blessed Forefathers close to
48 you and they will counsel the Angel of death regarding you, and glad tidings shall be given to you which will illuminate your eyes. Then he shall be more compassionate and merciful towards you than a mother is to her son."
Saying this Imam started weeping and I too could not control my tears. Then he continued,
"Praise be to Allah, Who with His Mercy, has exalted us over all creatures, and favoured our Household (Ahlulbait) with His blessings. O Musme'! Verily the heavens and the earth have been lamenting since the time the Commander of the faithful Ali was martyred. The Angels who weep over us are numerous, and their tears have never dried up from the time of our martyrdom, and there is none who does not lament over us. And no one weeps over us and our afflictions, accept that Allah sends His blessings upon him before his tears fall on his cheeks from his eyes. And if one tear, which have fallen from their eyes, is thrown in the pit of hell, it's heat would cool down as if no fire ever existed there. The one whose heart feels pain for us will rejoice on the day he sees us during his death and (his delight) will remain intact till he meets us at the fountain of Kausar. Kausar itself will be contented to see our friends, and such delicacies will be placed in his mouth, that he will not be ready to move away from there."
Tradition 5
Through successive chain of narrators, Shaikh Abul Qasim Ja'far bin Qawlawayh Qummi, through his chain of authorities, relates from Abdullah bin Bakr, who narrates in the contents of a lenghty tradition that, I performed the Haj Pilgrimage alongwith Imam Ja'far as Sadiq and then said, "O Son of the Prophet of Allah! If the grave of Imam Husain bin Ali is exhumed what will be found therein"? Imam replied,
"O son of Bakr! What a great question you have asked. Verily Imam Husain bin Ali, together with his father, mother and brother is in the presence of the Prophet of Allah. And he eats (of the bounties) with all of them, and is on the right side of the Empyrean (Arsh) and is bonded with them and says: O Allah, fulfill what You had promised me. Then he looks at the pilgrims who have come to his grave with their names and the names of their fathers, and he knows what they have brought in their luggage more better than they know their sons. And he looks at those who weeps over his afflictions and prays to Allah for their contentment and self-sufficiency. Then he says: O one who weeps over me! If you are informed about the rewards and bounties which Allah has reserved for you (because of your mourning), then you would be more delighted than the grief. Then he seeks pardon for all their sins and faults."
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Tradition 6
Through successive chain of authorities, the Noble Shaikh and the Chief of Traditionists Mohammad bin Ali bin Babawayh Qummi, through his authorities, quotes Imam Ali ar Reza saying that,
"Whoever remembers our sorrows, and weeps over the oppressions which have been inflicted upon us, then on the day of Qiyamah he shall be on our status alongwith us. And the one who remembers our sorrows and thereby weeps and makes others weep, then his eyes shall not weep on the day when all eyes will be weeping. And the one who sits in such a gathering wherein our matters are discussed, his heart will not die on the day when all hearts shall perish."
Tradition 7
Through my chain of transmitters reaching Shaikh ut Taifa Abu Ja'far Toosi, who relates from Shaikh Mufeed, who relates from Ibne Qawlawayh, from his father, from Sa'ad, from Barqi, from Sulayman bin Muslim Kindi, from Ibne Ghazawan, from Isa bin Abi Mansoor, from Aban bin Taghlib, who relates from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq that he said,
"The sorrowful sigh over the oppression which have been inflicted upon us is glorification, and grief upon us is worship. And guarding our secrets carries the reward of struggle in the path of Allah."
Then he retorted,
"Verily it is necessary that this tradition be written in gold."
Tradition 8
Through his chain of transmitters, the Jurist Shaikh Abul Qasim Ja'far bin Qawlawayh relates from Ibne Kharejah that Imam Ja'far as Sadiq said that Imam Husain says,
"I am the Martyr of grief and was martyred in captivity. And it is (incumbent) upon Allah to send the one who comes to visit my grave in sorrow, to reach contented back to his family."
Tradition 9
It has been related by Shaikhat Taifa Toosi, through successive chain of narrators from Abu Amr Usman Daqqaq, from Ja'far bin Mohammad bin Malik, from Ahmed bin Yahya Azdi, from Makhool bin Ibraheem, from Rabi' bin Munzir, from his father who quotes Imam Husain bin Ali as saying that,
"There is no slave of Allah who sheds tears and his eyes become wet, except that Allah will put him in Paradise for a (lenghty) period."
Ahmed bin Yahya Azdi says that one day I saw Imam Husain in a dream
50 and inquired from him regarding the validity of the tradition and the Imam replied that it was true.
Tradition 10
Through chain of transmitters, Shaikh Abul Qasim Ja'far bin Qawlawayh relates through his chain of transmitters from Abu Ammarah, the Nawha recitor, that one day the name of Imam Husain was taken in the presence of Imam Ja'far as Sadiq and he did not even smile till the night, and he would always say,
"Husain is the means of weeping for all believers."
Tradition 11
Through my chain of transmitters connected to the Honourable Shaikh Ali bin Ibrahim Qummi who relates from his father, from Ibne Mahboob, from Ala', from Mohammad, from Imam Mohammad al Baqir who said that, Imam Ali bin Husain Zainul Abedeen said,
"If a believer weeps over the martyrdom of Imam Husain and tears flow from his eyes and fall on his cheeks, then Allah will make him reside in the palaces of Paradise where he shall abide for a lengthy period of time. And if tears flow from a believer's eyes (in sorrow) and falls upon his cheeks for the oppression and tyranny which has been inflicted upon us by our enemies, then Allah will present him a seat in Paradise. And the believer who undergoes sufferings on our behalf and tears flow on his cheeks, then Allah will remove sorrow from his face, and on the day of Qiyamah will keep him away from His wrath and safeguard him against the fire (of hell)."
Tradition 12
Through chain of transmitters, Shaikh Sadooq Mohammad bin Ali bin Babawayh Qummi relates from his father (Ibne Babawayh Awwal), from the Master of Qummis Abdullah bin Ja'far Humayri, from Ahmed bin Ishaq bin Sa'ad, from Bakr bin Mohammad Azdi that Imam Ja'far as Sadiq once told Fuzayl that,
"Do you discuss our traditions when you sit in each others company"?
Fuzayl replied, "Yes we certainly do so, may I be your ransom"! Imam said,
"Whoever remembers our traditions, or in whose presence we are discussed and tear equal to the size of a wing of a fly flow from his eyes, Allah will forgive all his sins although they be equal in number to the foam (of the water) of the river."
51
Tradition 13
Through my chain of transmitters (I relate) from the Noble Shaikh, the Master of Traditionists, Mohammad bin Ali bin Babawayh Qummi (Shaikh Sadooq) who relates from Abi Ammarah (the elegizer, Nawha recitor) that he says that, Imam Ja'far as Sadiq told me,
"Recite some couplets in praise of Imam Husain."
I recited the couplets and Imam started weeping. Again I recited some more and he wept. I continued my recital and Imam wept each time until his entire Household started lamenting. Then Imam said,
"O Abu Ammarah! A person who recites couplets for Imam Husain and makes fifty people weep, his reward is Paradise. And a person who recites couplets for Imam Husain and makes thirty people weep, his reward is Paradise. And a person who recites couplets and makes twenty people weep, his reward is Paradise. And a person who recites couplets for Imam Husain and makes ten people weep, his reward is Paradise. While a person who recites couplets for Imam Husain and makes one person weep, his reward is Paradise. While a person who recites couplets for Imam Husain, and himself weeps, his reward is Paradise. And whoever recites a couplet for Imam and himself is agrieved, his reward is Paradise."
Tradition 14
Through successive chain of transmitters reaching Ja'far bin Qawlawayh Qummi, who relates from Haroon bin Moosa Tal'ukbari, from Umar bin Abdul Aziz Kashshi, from Umar bin Sabah, from Ibne Isa, from Yahya bin Imran, from Mohammad bin Sinan, from Zayd bin Shiham, who says that, I was sitting in the presence of Imam Ja'far as Sadiq with a group of people from Kufah, when Ja'far bin Affan entered. Imam welcomed him, signaled him to sit closer to him and then said,
"O Ja'far"
he said, "Here I am (at your service), may I be your ransom"!
Imam said,
"I have heard that you recite elegies for Imam Husain, and that you recite it very well."
He replied, "Yes, may I be your ransom." He recited and the Imam started weeping, and all those who were present there too started weeping, until Imam's beard was soaked in tears. Then he said,
"O Ja'far! By Allah! The Angels close to Allah have descended here and heard your couplets for Imam Husain and wept like us and even more. The Almighty Allah has reserved Paradise for you at this very moment and
52 has forgiven your sins. O Ja'far! Do you want to hear something more"?
Ja'far replied in the affirmative and Imam continued,
"There is none who recites elegies in the praise of Imam Husain and himself weeps besides making others weep, except that Allah will make Paradise obligatory for him and forgive him."
Tradition 15
Through successive chain of transmitters, Shaikh Sadooq relates from Ibne Masroor, from Ibne Amir, from his uncle, from Ibrahim bin Abi Mahmood, who says that Imam Ali ar Reza said,
"Moharram is a month in which bloodshed was considered unlawful by the pre-Islamic pagan Arabs, but our blood was shed in this month. Our sanctity was violated and our children & women-folk were made captives. Our tents were set ablaze and whatever was found therein was looted. And they did not even honour the relation, which we share with the Prophet of Allah. The day on which Imam Husain was martyred has injured our eyes and our tears are constantly flowing since then. Our dear ones were dishonoured on the plains of grief and trials (Karbo bala) making way for sorrows and sufferings until Qiyamah. Thus, sorrowful people should mourn over it (the martyrdom of Imam Husain), for weeping upon it nullifies the major sins."
Then he said,
"When the month of Moharram would approach, no one would see my father (Imam Moosa al Kazim) ever laughing until the tenth, and grief would prevail upon him. And the tenth would be the day of sorrow, grief and lamenting, and he would say: This is the day when Husain was massacred."
Tradition 16
Through my connecting chain of transmitters reaching Shaikh Sadooq, who relates from Talqani, from Ahmed Hamadani, from Ali bin Hasan bin Fazzal who relates from his father that Imam Ali ar Reza said,
"Whoever avoids attending to his worldly affairs on the tenth of Moharram, Allah will fulfill all the wishes and desires of this world as well as the hereafter. Whoever considers this day to be a day of mourning, sorrow and weeping for himself, Allah the Glorified will make the day of Qiyamah to be a day of rejoicing for him and his eyes will be cooled in Paradise on account of us. And whoever considers the tenth of Moharram to be a day of prosperity and buys something for his house (considering it a good omen), then Allah will not give him affluence in that thing. And on the day of Qiyamah he will be made to arise alongwith Yazeed, Ubaydullah bin Ziyad
53 and Umar ibne Sa'ad (may Allah's curse be on all of them) and will be thrown into the lowest abyss of hell."
Tradition 17
Through successive chain of transmitters, Shaikh Sadooq relates from the Holy Prophet Mohammad that he said, that Prophet Moosa bin Imran supplicated to Allah and said,
"O my Lord! My brother has died, thus forgive him."
It was revealed to him,
"O Moosa! If you desire, I shall forgive all the people from the beginning until the end, except the murderers of Husain, for I shall surely take revenge from them."
Tradition 18
Through my connecting chain of transmitters reaching the Honourable Shaikh Abul Qasim Ja'far bin Qawlawayh Qummi, who relates with his chain of authorities, that Imam Ja'far as Sadiq said,
"The murderers of both, Prophet Yahya as well as Imam Husain were illegitimate. The heavens have not wept, except on account of the martyrdom of both of them."
Tradition 19
Through successive chain of transmitters, the Noble Shaikh Ja'far bin Qawlawayh relates with his chain of authorities from Dawood Raqqi, who says that once I was in the presence of Imam Ja'far as Sadiq when he asked for water to drink. When he drank it, grief overtook him and his eyes became full of tears. Then he said,
"O Dawood! May Allah's curse be upon the murderers of Imam Husain. There is no servant (of Allah) who drinks water and remembers Husain and curses his enemies, except that Allah writes one lac virtues in his record, and forgives one lac sins of his, and elevates his position one lac times. It is as if he has freed one lac slaves, and on the day of Qiyamah he shall arise satiated."
Tradition 20
Through successive chain of transmitters, the Honourable Shaikh Abul Qasim Ja'far bin Qawlawayh relates from the Noble Shaikh, the Trustworthy (Authority) of Islam, Mohammad bin Ya'qoob Kulaini, who relates with his chain of authorities from Dawood bin Farqad, who says that I was seated in the house of Imam Ja'far as Sadiq when we saw a pigeon (called Zaghabi) humming. Imam turned towards me and asked,
54 "O Dawood! Do you know what this bird is saying"?
I replied in the negative. Imam said,
"It curses the murderers of Imam Husain, thus preserve such pigeons in your houses."
Tradition 21
Through successive chain of transmitters, the Sign of Allah (Ayatullah), the Eminent Scholar Allamah Hilli relates from the Sovereign of Investigators Khwaja Nasiruddin Mohammad bin Mohammad Toosi, from the Learned Shaikh and Traditionist Burhan Mohammad bin Mohammad bin Ali Hamadani Qazwini (who had settled in Ray), from the Honourable Shaikh Muntajabuddin Ali bin Ubaydullah bin Hasan Qummi, from his father, from his grandfather, from the Noble Shaikh Abil Fath Mohammad bin Ali bin Usman Karajaki, from Mohammad bin Abbas, with his chain of narrators from Hasan bin Mahboob, who relates with his chain of narrators from Sandul, from Darim bin Firqad who says that Imam Ja'far as Sadiq said that,
"Recite Surah al Fajr in your obligatory (wajib) and superarogatory (Nafilah) morning Prayers, for it is particularly related to Imam Husain. Have you not heard the words of Allah the Exalted in this Verse (Ayah):
O Tranquilled Soul at (complete) rest! Return to your Lord, well-pleased (with Him), (and) His being well-pleased with you."[1]
Here Imam Husain is referred to as the
"Tranquilled Soul, well-pleased (with Allah) and His being well-pleased with him."
His companions from the family of the Prophet, are those who will be pleased with Allah on the day of Qiyamah and Allah too will be pleased with them. Verily this Surah is particularly connected to Imam Husain, his followers (Shi'ah), and the followers (Shi'ah) of the Progeny of Prophet Mohammad. The one who continuously recites this Surah will remain with Imam Husain in Paradise in his elevated station, and verily Allah is Predominant and All-Wise."[2]
Notes:
[1] Surah al Fajr: 27-30.
[2] S.V.Mir Ahmed Ali in his interpretation of the above Verse comments: "The human soul passes through states or stages. The state in which the soul seeks fulfilment of his lower desire, crossing the limits prescribed by Allah's laws, is called Nafsul Ammarah (the soul of lasciviousness), and the soul which reproaches against the rebellious intentions, is called Nafsul Lawwama (the self accusing soul). And the soul which has conquered all desires and surrendered
55
Tradition 22
Through successive chain of narrators, the Honourable and felicitous Shaikh Abu Ja'far Toosi, through his chain of transmitters, relates from Mohammad bin Muslim, who says that I have heard Imam Mohammad al Baqir and Imam Ja'far as Sadiq as saying that,
"Indeed the reward and compensation given by Allah for the martyrdom of Imam Husain is that Imamate has been issued forth from his progeny, there is cure in (the earth of) his grave, the fulfillment of desires at the head of his grave, and from the time the pilgrim goes to visit his grave and returns back, no accounting will be taken (from him)."
Mohammad bin Muslim asked Imam Sadiq, "These rewards are (for the people) on account of Imam, but what about the reward for him." Imam replied,
"Indeed Almighty Allah has united him with the Holy Prophet and Imam remains with the Prophet in his station and position."
Then he recited the following verse of the Qur'an:
"And (as for) those who believe and their offspring follow them in faith, We will unite with them their offspring."[1]
Tradition 23
Through successive chain of authorities, the Noble Shaikh Abul Qasim Ja'far bin Sa'eed (Muhaqqiq Hilli) relates from the Noble Sayyed Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Ali bin Zuhra Husainee Halabi (May his grave be scented), from the Master Traditionist, the Rightly Guide of the Nation and Religion, Mohammad bin Ali bin Shahr Ashob Sarawi, who quotes from the Honourable Shaikh Ahmed bin Abu Talib Tabarsi's book Ehtijaj under a lengthy tradition dealing with Sa'ad bin Abdullah Ash'ari's meeting with Imam al Mahdi (a.t.f.s.), in which Sa'ad asked Imam al Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) the interpretation regarding the words: Kaf, Ha, Ya, Ain, Swad in Surah al Maryam. Imam replied,
"These words are from the concealed codes regarding which Allah informed His Servant the Prophet Zakariyah and regarding which it was revealed to the Holy Prophet Mohammad. The incident is as
Notes:
itself to the Lord, is called Nafsul Mutma'innah (the tranquilled soul) the satisfied one, i.e. at rest in peace and perfect harmony with the Divine Will, triumphed over every kind of passion, desire, sorrow, pain, disappointment, for the sake of any enjoyment of this life, getting totally mindful of pleasing the Lord and none else. This is the highest stage of the spiritual progress the human soul in this world achieves, must strive for."
[1] Surah at Toor: 21.
56 follows: Prophet Zakariyah asked his Lord to teach him the names of the Five Pure Ones, to which Jibra'eel descended and taught him the five names. Whenever Prophet Zakariyah recited the four names, Mohammad, Ali, Fatemah and Hasan, his heart would be enlightened and his sorrow would part away, but when he took the name of Husain he would become sorrowful and turn restless. One day he asked Allah Almighty, "My Lord! When I utter the names of these four Pure Personalities, my sorrow parts away, but when I take the name of Husain, I turn sorrowful and weep & wail." Then Allah, the Mighty the Sublime revealed to him regarding Kaf, Ha, Ya, Ain, Swad. Kaf stands for Karbala, and Ha for Halakah (perdition) of the Prophet's Household, Ya for Yazeed, the oppresser and murderer of Husain, Ain for Atash (thirst), and Swad for (Sabr) Patience and forbearance of Husain. When Prophet Zakariyah heard this he was so much grieved that for three consecutive days he refused to come out of his place of worship and did not permit people to meet him, and remained grief-stricken and wept profusely. And he recited the following elegy: O Lord! Will you let the best of Creatures see the plight of his son? O Lord! Will you allow this disaster to fall upon his House-hold? O Lord! Will you let Ali and Fatemah wear the dress of grief and will they witness this calamity"? He (Prophet Zakariyah) would always say, "O Lord! Bestow upon me with a son who would be the light of my eyes in my old-age, and when you present me with a son make my love intense for him and then let me taste the grief of his loss as Your Friend Mohammad who will mourn the death of his son. Thus Allah blessed Prophet Zakariyah with a son Prophet Yahya whose death was mourned by Prophet Zakariyah. Prophet Yahya's period of (his mother's) pregnancy was six months similar to that of Imam Husain."
Tradition 24
Through chain of authorities reaching the Pillar of Islam Shaikh Sadooq, who relates from his chain of narrators from Abil Jarood, who says that Imam Mohammad al Baqir said that, one day the Holy Prophet Mohammad was in the house of the mother of the faithful Ummu-Salamah, his wife, and told her not to allow anyone to visit him. Imam Husain, who was a child at that time, entered therein and rushed to the Prophet. Ummu-Salamah followed him and saw Imam Husain seated on the chest of the Prophet and the Prophet was weeping. In his hand there was something which he was turning upside down. Then he said,
"O Ummu-Salamah! Jibra'eel has come to me and reported that my Husain will be martyred and this earth is of his place of martyrdom. Preserve this with you, and the day this earth turns into blood, know then that Husain has been martyred."
57
Ummu-Salamah said, "O Prophet of Allah! Pray to Allah to relieve Husain from this calamity." The Prophet replied,
"Yes I prayed to Allah for it, but Allah revealed to me that due to his martyrdom, a status will be bestowed on him, which will be unapproachable by anyone else. And he will be having such followers (Shi'ah) who will intercede (on the day of Qiyamah) and their intercession (Shafa'ah) will be accepted. And that Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) will be from his progeny. Hence how good for them who will befriend Husain and will be among his followers (Shi'ah). For verily on the day of Qiyamah they will be successful."
Tradition 25
Through successive chain of authorities till Shaikh Sadooq, who relates with his chain of narrators from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq, that he said regarding the verse of the Qur'an:
"And mention Isma'il in the Book, surely he was truthful in (his) promise, and he was a Messenger, a Prophet."
The Isma'il referred to by Allah in the above verse is not the Prophet Isma'il the son of Prophet Ibraheem, but is another Prophet from among the Prophets of Allah. He was chosen by Allah for his people, who tortured him to such an extent, that they peeled the skin off his head and face. An Angel descended unto him and said, "Allah the glorious has sent me to you, ask whatever is your heart's desire." The Prophet replied,
"I am symphathetic towards whatever will befall Husain."
Tradition 26
Through my successive chain of authorities reaching Shaikhut Taifa (Toosi), who through his chain of narrators relates from Zainab binte Jahash, the wife of the Holy Prophet, that she says: One day the Prophet was sleeping in my house when Imam Husain entered therein. I tried to keep him busy so that he would not wake up the Prophet from his sleep. Then I became engrossed in some work and Husain entered the room wherein the Prophet was sleeping. I followed him and saw that he was lying on top of the Holy Prophet and urinated on his stomach. I tried to lift him up, but the Prophet said,
"O Zainab! Leave him alone until he finishes."
When he finished, the Prophet arose and purified himself and started reciting the Prayers (Salat). As soon as he went into prostration (Sajdah) Husain sat on his back. The Prophet remained in prostration until Husain himself got off from his back. Then when he arose Husain returned and the Prophet lifted him
58 up. When he finished his Prayers he stretched his hands forward and said, "Come near, come near O Jibra'eel." I asked, "O Messenger of Allah! Today I found you doing something which you have never done before." To which the Prophet replied,
"Yes, Jibra'eel came to offer condolences and told me that my people would kill my Husain, and he brought alongwith him red sand for me."
Tradition 27
Through successive chain of authorities reaching the Honourable Shaikh Abul Qasim Ja'far bin Qawlawayh Qummi, who relates with his chain of authorites from Imam Ali bin Abi Talib that, one day the Holy Prophet Mohammad came to visit us. I brought some food for him which Umme Ayman had brought as a gift for us viz. a tray of dates, a cup of milk and a bowl of butter so that he may partake of it. When he finished eating I arose to pour water on his hands to wash it. When he finished washing it, he rubbed the wet hands on his blessed face and beard. Then he went to the place of worship in the corner of the room and went into prostration and started weeping for a long time. Then he raised his head and none from among us had the courage to go near him and inquire. Husain arose and went and sat upon the thigh of the Prophet of Allah, and put his head to his chest and placed his jaw on his head and said, "O dear father! Why do you weep"? The Prophet replied,
"I looked at you all and was happy and contented to an extent as I was never ever so much pleased before. Then Jibra'eel descended and reported to me that you all will be martyred, and your graves will be far away from one another. Hence I thanked Allah for what will befall (you all) and asked goodness for you."
Husain said,
"Then O father! who will look after our graves and come to visit them inspite of such distance"?
To which the Prophet replied,
"Those people among my nation (ummah) will come to visit your graves, who intent seeking my pleasure and goodwill. And hence I will go to assist them on the station of accounting (in Qiyamah), and hold their hands and relieve them from the fear and hardships of that day."
Tradition 28
Through my successive chain of authorities reaching the Noble Shaikh Mufeed, who in his Irshad relates from Awza'ee, from Abdullah bin Shaddad, from Ummul Fazl binte Hurayth, who says that, one day I went to the presence of the Holy Prophet Mohammad and said, "O Prophet of Allah! Tonight I saw a very bad dream." The Prophet inquired as to what it
59 was. I said that it was very hard upon me, to which he again asked me to relate it to him. I said, "I saw that a piece of your body cut off and fell in my lap." The Prophet replied,
"It is fine, for verily my Fatemah will soon deliver a boy and you will be her midwife then."
Hence Imam Husain was born and lay in my lap as the Prophet had predicted. One day I took him to the presence of the Prophet. Suddenly I looked at his eyes and saw them filled with tears. I asked, "May my parents be your ransom O Prophet of Allah! What has happened to you"? He replied,
"Jibra'eel came to me and reported that the people from among my nation (ummah) will kill this son of mine, and he has brought red coloured sand (from the earth of the place of his martyrdom)."
Tradition 29
Through my successive chain of authorities reaching Shaikh Mufeed, who in his Irshad relates from (the mother of the faithful) Ummu-Salamah, that she says, one night the Holy Prophet went away from our midst and did not return for quite a long time. When he came back his hair was disheveled and he was covered with dust and one of his palms was closed. I asked, "O Prophet of Allah! What has happened, for I now see you distressed and covered with dust." The Prophet replied,
"I was taken to Iraq at a place called Karbala, and was shown the place where my son Husain and other members of my family and children will lay slain. I have gathered their blood (red sand) and it is here in my hand."
Then he opened his palm and said,
"Take it and preserve it with you."
I took it from him and saw that it was red coloured sand. I kept it in a bottle and sealed it's lid and preserved it with me. When Husain left for Iraq from Makkah, I would remove that bottle every day and night and smell it and look at it and weep over the sufferings, which would befall him. Then on the tenth of Moharram, the day on which Husain was martyred, I removed it in the first part of the day and it was as usual. Then when I removed it in the last hours of the day, I saw that it had turned into pure blood. I was grieved and started wailing in my house, but I concealed it, lest the enemies in Madina might be informed of it and may hasten to rejoice over it. From that day onwards I kept this sorrow concealed in my heart until the time and day the news of his martyrdom reached Madina, thus its verity was proved.
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Tradition 30
Through my successive chain of authorities reaching Shaikh Mufeed, who relates in his Irshad that, one day the Holy Prophet Mohammad was seated and Imam Ali, Hazrat Fatemah, Imam Hasan, and Imam Husain were sitting around him. The Prophet addressed them and said,
"What will be your state when all of you will be killed and your graves will lie scattered"?
Imam Husain said,
"Will we die a natural death or will we be martyred"?
The Prophet replied,
"O my dear son! You will be killed with oppression and cruelty, and your brother (Hasan) too will be killed with tyranny and cruelty, and your offspring will be scattered over the land."
Husain asked,
"Who will kill us, O Prophet of Allah"?
He replied,
"The worst among men",
then Imam Husain inquired,
"Then will anyone come to visit us (our graves) after our death"?
The Prophet answered,
"Yes my dear son! A group of people from among my community will come to visit your graves seeking my pleasure. Then on the day of Qiyamah, near the station of accounting, I will go to them and catching hold of their hands will save them from it's terrors and sorrows."
Tradition 31
Through successive chain of authorities Allamah Majlisi has quoted in Bihaar al-Anwaar, that the author of Durrus Sameen has written in the interpretation of the following verse of the Qur'an,
"Then Adam received from his Lord (certain) words, and Allah turned to him (mercifully)"
that Prophet Adam saw the names of Prophet Mohammad and Imams written on the base of the Empyrean (Arsh) and Jibra'eel instructed him to say: O the Praiseworthy (Hameed), by the right of Mohammad, O Most High (Ali), by the right of Ali, O Creator (Fatir), by the right of Fatemah, O Benevolent (Mohsin), by the right of Hasan and Husain, and from you is goodness. When Prophet Adam uttered the name of Husain his eyes were filled with tears and his heart was pained. Adam told Jibra'eel,
"O brother Jibra'eel! When I take the name of the fifth one among them, my eyes get filled with tears and my heart gets shattered."
Jibra'eel replied, "This son of yours (Husain) will be surrounded by such afflictions that all other calamities will seem low and less when compared to it." Prophet Adam asked Jibra'eel as to what those afflictions would be, to which Jibra'eel replied, "He will be killed as a thirsty, forlorn and a lonely traveller. He will have no friend or helper. Would that you see him calling out: O thirst! O loneliness! and his thirst would spread between him and the heavens like smoke. No one will answer his call except the swords and the rain of death, and he will be butchered like a sheep from the back of his neck. And the enemies will rob the belongings from his tents, and his blessed head, while those of his companions, will be paraded on the points of lances in the cities in the midst of his (imprisoned) ladies. Thus it has been revealed in the knowledge of the Lord." Thus Prophet Adam and Jibra'eel both started weeping as a mother weeps over the loss of her son.
And it has been narrated from other trustworthy reports, that on the day of Eid, Imam Hasan and Imam Husain entered the house of their Grandfather the Prophet of Allah Mohammad and said,
"O grandfather! Today is the day of Eid, and the children of Arabs have worn new and colourful clothes, while we do not have any new dress with us, hence we have come to you."
The Prophet pondered over their state and wept that he did not have a dress with him suitable for them, nor did he desire to send them disheartened and with a broken heart. He lifted his hands and prayed,
"O Allah! Make ammends for their and their mother's heart."
Suddenly Jibra'eel descended with two white dresses among the dresses of Paradise. The Prophet was overjoyed and said,
"O Masters of the youth of Paradise! Take these dresses which have been stitched by the tailor (from Allah) according to your sizes."
Both the Imams saw that the dresses were white in colour and hence said,
"O Grandfather! These are of white colour, how can we wear it, when the children of Arabs have worn colourful clothes"?
The Prophet put his head down and started thinking about it when Jibra'eel said,
"O Mohammad! Rejoice and cool your eyes. The powerful dyer of
62 the Divine colour will fulfil their desire and make them happy by those colours which they desire. Hence O Prophet, do order that a ewer and vessel be brought."
A vessel was brought and Jibra'eel said, "O Prophet of Allah! I shall pour water over these dresses and you wring them until the desired colour appears. The Prophet soaked the dress of Imam Hasan and said,
"Which colour do you desire"?
Imam Hasan replied that he preferred the green colour, to which the Prophet rubbed the dress with his own hands which turned into bright green colour similar to emeralds, by the will and command of Allah. He then handed it over to Imam Hasan who wore it. Then Jibra'eel took another dress and started pouring water in the vessel. The Prophet then turned towards Imam Husain, who was of five years of age at that time, and asked,
"O light of my eyes! Which colour do you desire"?
To which Husain replied that he preferred the red colour. The Prophet again rubbed the dress with his own blessed hands and it turned into bright red colour similar to rubies. He then handed it over to Imam Husain who wore it too. The Holy Prophet and both Imams were overjoyed and they returned to their mother. When Jibra'eel saw this he started weeping. The Prophet said,
"O brother Jibra'eel! This is not the day to mourn, when my sons are rejoicing and are happy. By Allah! Please let me know the reason for your grief."
Jibra'eel replied, "I mourn because your sons have selected one colour each. As regards your son Hasan, he will be poisoned and because of it's effect his body will turn green. And as regards your other son Husain, be will be killed by swords and his head severed, while his body will be smeared with red blood." Hearing this the Prophet started weeping and his sorrow increased.
Tradition 32
Through successive chain of narrators till Shaikh Sadooq, who relates from Ibne Abbas that he says, I was alongwith the Commander of the faithful Imam Ali when we were going towards Siffeen. When we passed by Naynawah, on the banks of the River Euphrates (Farat), Imam Ali said in a loud voice,
"O Ibne Abbas! Do you recognize this place"?
I replied in the negative. Imam continued,
"If you had known that what I know, you would not move from here without weeping."
Then Imam Ali wept such bitterly that his beard became wet and tears
63 started falling on his chest, and I too started weeping. He started calling out,
"Alas! What business the children of Abu Sufyan and Harb have with me, they being of the group of shaitan and friends of disbelief. O Aba Abdillah (Imam Husain)! Adhere to patience and forbearance. Your father sees all that which shall befall you."
Then he called for water and performed ablutions and recited Prayers as much as he desired and then repeated what he said before. After finishing he slept for sometime and then awoke and called me. I said, "Here I am at your service, O Commander of the faithful." Imam Ali said,
"Shouldn't I narrate to you what I dreamt now"?
I replied, "Verily you slept and what you dreamt would be true and fair, O Commander of the faithful." Imam replied,
"I dreamt that some men have descended from the heavens carrying white standards and equipped with bright and shining swords and have drawn a line on this ground. I saw that the branches of the palm-trees are reaching on the ground and frantic pure blood was dripping from them. And I saw my dear son and the light of my eyes Husain smeared in blood calling out for help, but nobody is responding to them. The men who had descended from the heavens are calling to him: O Progeny of Prophet! Adhere to patience and forbearance, for you will be killed at the hands of the most accursed people. O Aba Abdillah (Imam Husain)! This is Paradise that eagerly awaits you. Then they condoled me and said: O Abul Hasan! Glad tidings to you, for on the day of Qiyamah, Allah will cool your eyes due to him, then I awoke as you now see. By Him in whose hands is Ali's life! The most honest Abul Qasim (Holy Prophet) had related to me, that I would come to this valley, whilst going to fight the rebellions and mischievous people. And this valley is known as Karbobala, where my Husain together with seventeen people among mine and Fatemah's progeny would be buried, and this place is renowned in the heavens. And this place of Karb (grief) and Bala (trials) will be mentioned as the two Harams (of Ka'bah and Prophet's Mosque) and Baitul Muqaddas are mentioned."
Tradition 33
Through successive chain of authorities reaching Shaikh Sadooq, who relates through his successive chain of authorities from Harsamah bin Abi Muslim, who says that we fought the battle of Siffeen alongwith Imam Ali. While returning back we halted at Karbala and recited the morning Prayers there. Then he gathered a handful of earth and smelt it and said,
"Praise be to you O earth (of Karbala)! A group of people will be associated with you, who will enter Paradise without any accounting."
When I returned to my wife who was of the followers (Shi'ah) of Ali, I told
64 her, "Shouldn't I narrate to you a tradition from your Master Ali? Ali dismounted at a place called Karbala and recited the morning Prayers and lifted up a handful of earth and said: Praise be to you O earth (of Karbala)! A group of people will be associated with you, who will enter Paradise without any accounting." My wife replied that the Commander of the faithful said that which was truth and right. When Imam Husain came to Karbala, I was present among the forces of Ubaydullah bin Ziyad. When I saw the place and the trees, I remembered the tradition of Imam Ali. I sat on my Camel and went to Imam Husain. I saluted him and narrated to him whatever I had heard from his father Imam Ali about this place. Imam Husain asked me,
"Are you with us or among our opponents"?
I replied, "I am not with you nor with your opponents, but have left behind me small children regarding whom I fear that Ubaydullah bin Ziyad might harm them." Imam said,
"Then go away to a place where you would not see the place of our martyrdom, nor hear our call (for help). For by Him in Whose hands is the life of Husain! Today there is none who hears our call (for help) and does not assist us, except that Allah will throw him headlong into the fire of hell."
Tradition 34
Through successive chain of transmittors reaching Shaikh Mufeed, who relates from Abul Hakam, who says that, I have heard from my teachers and other scholars, that once Imam Ali delivered a sermon in which he said,
"Ask from me whatever you desire before you may fall short of me. By Allah! Will you not ask me regarding the group of people who have led astray a hundred people, or who have captivated a hundred people, but I will inform you about them as to who is the instigator and who will administer it until the day of Qiyamah."
A man arose and asked, "Tell me as to how many hair are there in my head and beard"? Imam Ali replied,
"By Allah! My friend the Messenger of Allah has related to me regarding what you have asked me. An Angel is seated on the edge of the hair of your head who curses you, and on each hair of your beard a devil is seated who instigates (and invites you towards evil and immorality). And a child in your house will be the murderer of the son of the Holy Prophet, and this sign is a truthful proof about that which I have informed you. And otherwise I would have also told you regarding what you questioned me, but proving that is difficult (to count the hair). But the proof regarding it is what I have informed you regarding the curse upon you and your accursed
65 son."
At that time his son was small and was crawling on his feet. And when Imam Husain's situation reached thus, he became the commander for his murder and whatever Imam Ali had predicted took place.[1]
Tradition 35
Through successive chain of authorities reaching the Honourable Shaikh Abul Qasim Ja'far bin Mohammad bin Qawlawayh (May Allah scent his grave), who relates through his chain of authorities from Imam Mohammad al Baqir that: Whenever Imam Husain went to the presence of the Holy Prophet Mohammad, he would draw him closer to himself and would tell the Commander of the faithful Imam Ali to take care of him. Then the Prophet would bend down and start kissing him and weep. (Once) Imam Husain asked him as to why he wept? The Prophet replied,
"My dear son! I am kissing that part of your body, which will be cut asunder by the sword, thus am lamenting over it."
Imam Husain said,
"O dear Father! Will I be killed"?
He replied,
"Yes, by Allah! You, your father and your brother shall all be killed."
Imam asked,
"O father! Will the places of our martyrdom be far from one another"?
The Prophet replied in the affirmative. To which Imam Husain asked,
"Who among your people would then come to visit our graves"?
He replied,
"No one among my people would come to visit my grave, your father's grave, your brother's grave, and your grave, except the truthful ones (siddiqeen)."
Tradition 36
Through successive chain of transmitters reaching the Noble Traditionist Mohammad bin Ali bin Shahr Ashob Sarawi (May Allah enlighten his grave), who relates from Ibne Abbas, that one day Hind (the wife of Abu Sufyan) called up Ayesha to ask the Prophet regarding the interpretation of a dream.
Notes:
[1] It is related by Ibne Babawayh, that the one who questioned was Sa'ad bin Abi Waqqas whose son was Umar, who commanded the forces at Karbala. While Ibne Abil Hadeed says that he was Tameem bin Usamah bin Zuhayr bin Durayd Tamimi and his son's name was Haseen, one of the commanders in the troops of Yazid at Karbala. In another tradition the name of the father of Sinan bin Anas is quoted.
66
The Prophet told her to relate as to what she had dreamt. She said, "I saw a sun rising over my head and a moon emerging from my interior. A dark star came forth from the moon and attacked the sun. A small (bright) star which has emerged from the sun had been swallowed up by the dark star, engulfing the entire horizon into darkness. Then I saw that numerous stars have appeared in the heavens, while the earth was filled with dark stars who have engulfed the horizon entirely."
When the Prophet heard this, tears started flowing from his eyes and he ordered Hind to go away twice saying,
"O enemy of Allah! You have renewed my sorrow and have informed me of the death of my beloved ones."
When she went away he said,
"O Allah! Send your curse upon her and her progeny."
When he was asked regarding the interpretation of the dream he said,
"The sun which had risen over her head is Ali ibne Abi Talib, while the moon (which emerged from her interior) is Mu'awiyah the seditious, transgressor and denier of Allah. And the darkness which she refers to and the dark star which emerged from the moon and attacked the small sun (the bright star) which came forth from the sun and swallowed it, and the entire world turned dark. It's interpretation is that my son Husain will be murdered by the son of Mu'awiyah, because of which the sun will turn black (in grief) and the entire horizon dark. While the dark stars which have engulfed the entire earth are the Bani Umayyah."
Tradition 37
Through successive chain of authorities reaching the Shaikh and Jurist, the Triumphant and Thriving Mohammad bin Maki the Martyr (Shaheedal Awwal, the first martyr) who relates from the Shaikh and Jurist, the Virtuous Scholar, the Glory of Religion, Abu Mohammad Hasan bin Ahmed (Nizamuddin) bin Mohammad (Najeebuddin) bin Nima Hilli, who relates from his Honourable father Shaikh Ahmed, who relates from his brother, the Star of the Nation and Religion, Ja'far bin Mohammad bin Nima Hilli, who relates in his book Museerul Ehzan from Abdullah bin Abbas, who says that when the Holy Prophet Mohammad's illness (because of which he later died) became severe, he called for Imam Husain and pressed him to his chest, while the sweat of death was apparent on him. Then he said,
"What business has Yazeed got with me? O Allah do not grant abundance to him, and O Allah send your curse upon Yazeed."
Then he became unconscious and remained in this state for quite a long time. Then when he regained consciousness, he kissed Husain while tears were
67 flowing from both his eyes, and he said,
"Beware, I and your murderer will stand in front of the Almighty (Who will judge between us)."
Tradition 38
Through the above referred chain of authorities from the same book, it is related from Sa'eed bin Jubayr, who relates from Ibne Abbas who says that one day I was seated in the presence of the Holy Prophet when Imam Hasan came. When the Prophet's sight fell on him, he started weeping and then said,
"Come to me, come to me"
and made him sit on his right thigh. After some time Imam Husain came and the Prophet after looking at him started weeping. Then he made Imam Husain sit on his left thigh. Then after some time Hazrat Fatemah came and the Prophet again started weeping and repeated as before and told her to sit facing him. Then when Imam Ali came he started weeping and repeating his words signaled him to sit on his right side. When the companions, who were sitting there saw this, they said, "O Prophet of Allah! You have not seen anyone among them except that you have wept, is there none among them whose sight could make you happy"? The Prophet replied,
"I swear by Him Who has exalted me to Prophethood and has elevated me above the entire creation! No one on the entire earth is more dear to me than them. While my weeping is the result of the sufferings which shall befall them after my death. And I recollect the oppression which shall befall my son Husain. It is as if I see him taking refuge under the shelter of my grave or the Sacred Sanctuary (Ka'bah), but no one will let him hault there. He will then go to the place which is the spot of his Martyrdom and grief and trials. While a group of men will assist him, who will be the leaders of all Martyrs among my people on the day of Judgment. It is as if I see that arrows are shot at him and he has fallen down upon the earth of perdition from his steed. Then they will slaughter him like a sheep in an oppressive manner."
Then he started weeping and wailing and all those near him too wept and their voices increased. Then he arose and said, "O Allah, I complain to you about all those sufferings which my progeny will have to bear after my death."
Tradition 39
It is quoted in Museerul Ehzan through successive chain of transmitters reaching the Noble Shaikh Ja'far bin Mohammad Qawlawayh Qummi, that it is related to me that one day Imam Husain went to his brother Imam Hasan. When he looked at Imam Hasan, he started weeping. Imam
68 Hasan asked,
"O Aba Abdillah! Why do you weep"?
Imam Husain replied that he wept on account of that which would befall him. Imam Hasan said,
"What shall befall me is the fatal poison, but none of my days will be similar to that of yours. Thirty thousand people, claiming to follow our Grandfather (the Prophet), will unite to attack you and shed your blood, and violate the sanctity and imprison your women-folk and children and plunder your tents. At that time the wrath (of Allah) will descend upon the Bani Umayyah and the heavens will rain blood, and all things will lament over you, to the extent that the wild-beasts of the forests and the fish of the rivers will also weep over your sufferings."
Tradition 40
Through successive chain of narrators reaching the Noble Shaikh Ja'far bin Mohammad bin Qawlawayh Qummi, who through his chain of transmitters relates from Hammad bin Usman, who in turn relates from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq that when Prophet Mohammad was taken to the heavens (on the night of Me'raj, Ascension), he was told by Allah Almighty that I test you by three ways so as to know the extent of your patience. The Prophet replied,
"I surrender to your command O Allah! But I lack the ability to forbear Your trial. Please tell me as to what the three ways are"?
It was said, the first is hunger and giving preference to the needy over yourself and your family. The Prophet replied,
"I accept O Lord! And am satisfied and bow my head in front of your Command, while favour and patience are from You alone."
Second being the lies which people will attribute to you, the fear and severe danger, and donating your life in My way, and fighting the forces of disbelief with your life and wealth, and patience upon the severity and difficulty which will befall you at their hands and the hands of the hypocrites, and the sorrows and troubles and the wounds of the battlefield. The Prophet replied,
"I accept O Lord! And am satisfied and bow my head in front of Your Command, while favour and patience are from You alone."
While the third one being the sufferings and martyrdom which your family will have to bear after your death. Then your cousin (Imam Ali) will have to face vilification, reproach and suppression and will be frustrated besides falling prey to severity and oppression and will ultimately be martyred. The Prophet replied,
"I accept O Lord! And am satisfied and bow my head in front of Your
69 Command, while favour and patience are from You alone.”
As regards your daughter (sayyedah Fatemah), she too will have to bear the hardships (and all the affictions which would befall her were related to him). Then this daughter of yours will have two sons from your cousin, one of whom (Imam Hasan) will be killed by a coward and his belongings will be looted and he will be wounded with a lance, while these acts of tyranny will be performed by the people of your nation (ummah). The Prophet replied,
"I accept O Lord! And am satisfied and bow my head in front of Your Command, while favour and patience are from You alone."
As regards her second son (Imam Husain), the people will call him for a battle and kill him to the extent that his sons and whoever (from his family or friends) accompanying him shall also be killed. Then they will loot his family, and he will request for help from Me, but verily Martyrdom has been decreed for him and for those accompanying him. And his Martyrdom is a proof over all the people from the east to the west. And the heavens and the earth shall weep over him, and the Angels, who would not be able to assist him, shall lament too. Then I shall emerge a man (Imam Mahdi) from his progeny, by whose means I will assist you, and his spirit is near Me under the Empyrean."
# Merit of visiting the grave of Imam Husain
Visiting the grave of Imam Husain is recommended, while emphasis upon visiting his grave is among the necessities of the Religion. It is related that the visitation to his grave is essential upon every believer and is obligatory upon every man and woman. While one who abandons it, in fact has abandoned the rights of Allah and His Prophet, while abandoning it is ungratefulness with the Prophet of Allah and is a result of a defect in his belief and Religion. And the one who deliberately avoids it, he shall be among the dwellers of hell.
Imam Mohammad al Baqir told Mohammad bin Muslim that, "Direct our Shi'ah to visit the grave of Husain bin Ali, for it has been made obligatory by Allah, the Mighty, the Sublime, upon every believer who considers Husain to be his Imam".
Imam Ja'far as Sadiq says that, "Whenever anyone amongst you go for the Haj and then do not go for the pilgrimage of Imam Husain has abandoned the right from among the rights of the Prophet of Allah. For the right of Husain is made obligatory upon every Muslim by Allah".
He says that, "The one who dies without going to the head of the grave of Husain, while he still considers himself to be our Shi'ah, is infact not our Shi'ah, and even if he goes to Paradise, he will remain as a guest of the inhabitants of Paradise".
He (Imam Sadiq) asked Aban bin Taghlib, "O Aban! When did you go for the pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Husain?" Aban replied, "By Allah, O son of the Prophet of Allah! A lengthy time has passed since I did not renew the pledge". Imam replied, "Glory be to my Lord, the Sublime, and praise to Him! Inspite of being a nobleman among the Shi'ah you have abandoned the visitation to the grave of Husain? The one who visits the grave of Imam Husain, Allah writes down good-deeds for him at every step, and forgives his sins at each step. Then He
431 forgives all of his past and future sins".
It is related in numerous traditions that, "Do not avoid visiting the grave of Imam Husain even during the days of prohibition. And one who visits him (his grave) in fear (of the enemies), Allah will give him refuge from the great fear of Qiyamah and he will gain reward proportionate to the fear. And the one who fears due to their fear, Allah will bestow him a refuge under the shade of His empyrean while he shall remain alongwith Imam Husain and shall be protected from the fear of the day of Qiyamah".
It is related in traditions from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq that, "The wealthy should visit the grave of Imam Husain twice every year, while the indigent should visit once every year". He said, "Those who live near should visit atleast once every month, while those who live far away, once every three years". It is also related from him that, "It is not fair to avoid it for more than four years".
It is related from Imam Abul Hasan that, "Whoever visits the grave of Imam Husain thrice a year shall remain safe from indigence. It is emphasised that one should visit his grave with sincerity and eagerness. Then the one who goes to his grave with eagerness, he is among the favoured slaves (of Allah) and will remain under the standard of Husain bin Ali. And the one who visits him for the sake of Allah, Allah will forgive his sins similar to a newly born, and the Angels will accompany him in his journey".
It is related in another tradition that, "Jibra'eel, Mika`eel and Israfeel accompany him until he returns back to his home".
It is related from Humran (bin A'ayan), that I went to visit the grave of Imam Husain. When I returned to my home, Imam Mohammad al Baqir, accompanied by Umar bin Ali bin Abdullah bin Ali, came to visit me. Imam Baqir said, "O Humran! Accept glad tidings that the one who visits the graves of the martyrs of the Prophet's family, intending Allah's proximity and solidarity to His Prophet, he shall be freed from sins similar to the day his mother gave birth to him".
Imam Ja'far as Sadiq said, that when the day of Qiyamah approaches, an announcer will call out, "Where are the pilgrims of Husain?" A large multitude will arise, computing whose numbers would not be possible by anyone except Allah, the Mighty, the Sublime. Allah will ask them, "Why did you visit the grave of Husain?" They will reply, "O Lord! We did that due to the friendship with the Prophet of Allah and for the sake of Ali and Fatemah, and due to the sorrow that befell him". It will be said to them, "Here are Mohammad, Ali, Fatemah, Hasan and Husain. Go and unite with them, you shall remain alongwith them in their status. Unite under the standard of the Prophet of Allah and remain under its shade, that is in the hands of Ali until all of you enter Paradise". Then they
432 shall come to the standard from behind, the right and the left.
It is related in numerous traditions, that the visitation of Imam Husain's grave shall result in forgiveness of sins, be a means of entering Paradise, and grant liberty from hell. It shall also result in the negation of evils, elevation of rank and fulfillment of desires. The one who goes to visit the grave of Imam Husain, while being cognizant of his right, Allah will forgive all of his past and future sins.
In another tradition it is related that, "His intercession will be accepted for seventy sinful people. And there is no desire that is asked at the head of his grave, except that Allah fulfils it".
Imam Ja'far as Sadiq asked Abdullah bin Najjar that, "Do you go for the pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Husain while sailing in the boats?" He replied in the affirmative. Imam continued, "Do you not know that when your boat capsizes, it is said to you: O you who have been cleansed, while Paradise is pleased with you?"
Qa'ed Hannat told Imam, "People come to the grave of Imam Husain with women who recite elegies and bring food alongwith them". Imam said, "Yes, I have heard it". Then he continued, "O Qa'ed! The one who comes to the head of the grave of Imam Husain, being cognizant of his rights, all his past and future sins shall be forgiven".
It is related that, "The pilgrims of the grave of Imam Husain will enter Paradise forty years before others, who will be engaged in accountability and abeyance. While his pilgrim will turn his sins into a bridge upon the door of his house, and will pass upon it as you pass upon the bridge while leaving it behind".
It is related, that it will be said to the pilgrims of Imam Husain on the day of Qiyamah that, "Catch hold of the hands of anyone whom you befriend and enter them into Paradise". Then each man will catch hold of the hand of another until a man will say to another, "Do you not recognise me? I am the one who had risen for you on such and such day?" He shall enter him into Paradise without any hindrance or restrain.
Sulayman bin Khalid inquired from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq that, "I have heard that you have said, that Allah beholds the earth every day and night for a hundred thousand times. Then He forgives anyone whom He pleases and He chastises anyone whom He pleases? And that He shall forgive the pilgrim of the grave of Imam Husain and his family and anyone whom he intercedes for on the day of Qiyamah, whoever he be? Then shall the one, who is worthy of hell-fire, also be forgiven?" Imam replied, "Yes, even the one worthy of hell-fire, provided that he is not an enemy of the Ahlulbayt".
433
It is related in numerous traditions, that visiting his grave is equal to Haj and Umrah, and striving in the way of Allah (Jihad), and emancipation of slaves, rather it is equal to twenty Haj, and better than twenty Haj, rather Allah will write down eighty Haj in his account. While his pilgrimage is equal to the Haj performed alongwith the Prophet of Allah, rather the one who goes for his pilgrimage, being cognizant of his rights, will be equal to the one who has performed Haj hundred times accompanying the Prophet of Allah. While the one who goes for his pilgrimage barefoot, with each step that he takes forward and backwards, he will get reward of emancipating slaves from among the progeny of (Prophet) Isma'eel.
Imam Ja'far as Sadiq says that, "If I relate to you the merit of visiting his grave, you shall abandon the Haj, while a group from among you would not go for the Haj. Woe be to you! Do you not know that Allah preferred Karbala to be the Sanctuary of His peace and affluence before He chose Makkah to be His Sanctuary?" Imam continued, "One day Imam Husain was seated in the lap of his grandfather, while he was caressing him and smiling." Seeing this Ayesha said, "O Prophet of Allah! How much do you love this child?" He replied, "Woe be to you! How should I not cherish him and not be pleased with him? He is the fruit of my heart and the light of my eyes. Beware! Verily my nation will kill him, then whoever visits him (his grave) after his death, Allah will write down one of my Haj in his account". Ayesha asked, "One of your Haj?" He replied, "Yes, rather two of my Haj". Ayesha asked, "Two of your Haj?" and he replied,
"Yes". And as much as Ayesha started inquiring, he started increasing the amount of reward (of Haj) until he reached ninety Haj alongwith his Umrah.
Qaddah says, that I asked Imam Ja'far as Sadiq that, "The one who goes for the pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Husain, while being cognizant of his rights, and is neither an arrogant nor a denier, what has he earned?" Imam replied, "One thousand accepted Haj will be written down in his record, as also one thousand pious Umrah. And if he is a damned one, he shall be noted down as a felicitous one, and shall remain saturated eternally in the blessings of Allah".
It is related in numerous traditions that going for his (Imam Husain's) pilgrimage results in the increase of age, safeguard of self and wealth, abundance of sustenance, relief from severity, and the fulfillment of desires. While the least reward of his pilgrimage is that Allah Himself guarantees the protection of his life and wealth until he returns back to his family, while on the day of Qiyamah too Allah will safeguard him fairly.
It is related, that when the news of Imam Husain's martyrdom reached the cities, a hundred thousand infertile women came to the head of his grave and later all of them conceived. While the Arabs would tell their women, "If
434 you do not go to the grave of this magnanimous personality, you shall not conceive a son".
Imam Mohammad al Baqir says that, "Imam Husain of Karbala was killed as the one subjected to oppression and severity, thirsty and devoid of any helpers, while Allah, the Mighty, the Sublime, took an oath upon Himself that there is none among the distressed, the ones subjected to severity, the sinful, sorrowful, thirsty and ailing, who come to the head of his grave and ask for desires, while intending proximity to Husain, except that Allah, the Mighty, the Sublime, will relieve him of his severity, fulfill his desires, forgive his sins, increase his age and multiply his sustenance. Therefore get warned O ye who have eyes."[1]
Ibne Abi Ya'foor relates, that I asked Imam Ja'far as Sadiq that, "My eagerness to have a glimpse of you forced me to come to you and relate to you what I face". Imam Sadiq replied, "Do not complain to your Lord. It would have been fair if you would have gone to the one who holds a greater right upon you than myself". While his concluding sentence was more severe upon me than the former one, thus I asked, "Whose right is more greater upon me than you?" Imam replied, "Husain, it would have been better if you went to (the grave of) Husain and requested and asked your desires from Allah near him".
It is related from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq that he said, "The one who does not go to visit the grave of Imam Husain, he shall remain very remote from numerous abundance, while one year from his age will lessen".
It is related in numerous traditions that, "Visiting his grave is a meritorious deed and for every dirham spent upon it is worth a thousand dirhams".
Imam Ja'far as Sadiq told Ibne Sinan that, "For every dirham spent, ten lac dirhams shall be taken into account. The Prophets, Messengers, Imams and Angels come to visit his grave. While the inhabitants of the heavens pray abundantly for his pilgrims and they give them glad tidings".
And there are numerous other traditions quoted regarding the merit of visiting his grave, while we state some more traditions as a gift.
Shaikh Abul Qasim Ja'far bin Mohammad bin Qawlawayh Qummi relates through his chain of authorities from Mu'awiyah bin Wahab that he says, that I solicited permission from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq to visit him and he consented. I entered therein and saw him seated in his house upon his prayer mat. I sat down and he completed his Prayers, then I heard him eulogizing the Almighty saying,
435
"O Lord! You have preferred us for eminence and have bestowed intercession through our medium us, and conferred Vicegerency as a specialty for us, while You have bestowed us with the knowledge of the past and future, and have entered our love into the hearts of people. Thus forgive me and my brothers, as also the pilgrims of the grave of Imam Husain, who have spent their wealth and presented their bodies to severity, in their inclination to favour us, intending reward near You due to bonding with us, and in order to appease the heart of Your Prophet, and to fulfill our command, and to enter rage into the hearts of our enemies. And by this act they desire Your pleasure due to us. Thus reward them through Paradise and safeguard them every day and night, then make their progeny as good successors. Then befriend them and guard them from the mischief of every obstinate tyrant, as also that of every able and disable among your creatures, and
the mischief of the Satans among the genie and men. Then fulfill their greatest desire that they wish from You, remaining far away from their home-town, as also those (of their desires) that they have desired for their children, relatives and family. O Allah! Our enemies desisted their journey while they did not stop so as to challenge our opponents. Have mercy upon the faces whose colours have turned pale due to the sun, and have mercy upon the heads that circumambulate the grave of Abu Abdullah Husain. Have mercy upon the eyes that shed tears upon our sorrows, and upon the hearts that are disturbed and pained for us, and also upon the wailing for us. O Allah! I offer these souls and bodies to Your refuge until You reach them to the head of the fountain of Kausar on the day of thirst (Qiyamah)".
He repeated this invocation in prostration several times, and then when he completed it, I asked, "May I be your ransom! If this invocation would have been for the one who had never recognised Allah, by Allah, the fire (of hell) could never devour him. By Allah! I wish I had been for the pilgrimage to his grave and would have not been for the Haj". Imam Sadiq replied, "You are quite close to him (his grave), then what desisted you from going for his pilgrimage?" Then he said, "O Mu'awiyah! The inhabitants of the heavens, who pray for his pilgrims, are certainly more than those who pray for them upon the earth".
It is quoted in Bihaar al-Anwaar from the author of Mazare Kabir, who quotes with his chain of transmitters from A'amash, who says, that I took residence in Kufa and had a neighbor with whom I often sat. It was the night preceding Friday and I asked him, "What do you have to say regarding the pilgrimage of Husain?" He said, "It is an innovation, while every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is destined for hell". Hearing this I arose from near him filled with rage, and told myself that, "In the morning I shall go to him and relate to him the traditions proving the excellence of the
436 Commander of the faithful Ali, perhaps Allah might enlighten his eyes". I went to him in the morning and knocked at his door. Someone answered from behind the door saying, "He has left for the pilgrimage in the beginning of the night". Immediately I followed him until I reached the Shrine of Imam Husain and saw him prostrating, while he was not tiring due to excessive prostrations and genuflections. I asked, "Yesterday you told me that his pilgrimage is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is destined for hell, while today you come for his pilgrimage?" He replied, "O Sulayman![1] Do not reprimand me. I was not a believer in the Imamate of Ahlulbayt until tonight when I saw a dream which left me horrified". I asked, "O Shaikh! What did you dreamt?" He replied, "I saw a man in a dream, who was neither too short nor too long, but was handsome while I am unable to describe his features. He was
accompanied by men who had surrounded him and held him in their midst. While facing him was a man mounted upon a horse with a bushy tail and he had worn a crown with four pillars. All the four pillars were studded with gems that had illuminated the distance of the road equal to three days. I inquired as to who he was and was told that he was the Vicegerent of the Prophet, Ali bin Abi Talib. I lifted my eyes further and saw an illuminated Camel with a litter of light, flying between the heavens and the earth. I asked as to whose mount was that and was told that it was of Sayyedah Khadijah, the daughter of Khuwaylid, and Sayyedah Fatemah, the daughter of Mohammad. Then I asked as to who was the youth and was told that he was Hasan bin Ali. I asked as to where were they going, and was told that all of them were going for the pilgrimage of the oppressed martyr Husain bin Ali, the martyr of Karbala. I went
towards the litter, when I saw some notes falling down from the heavens, on which was written: The immunity of Allah, may His remembrance be sublime, is for the pilgrims of the grave of Husain on the night preceding Friday. Then a caller announced to me saying: Beware! We as well as our Shi'ah are in the exalted stations of Paradise. By Allah O Sulayman! I shall not leave this place until my soul abandons my body."
Shaikh Abul Qasim Ja'far bin Mohammad bin Qawlawyh relates from his father, who relates from Ibne Mahboob, who relates from Husain, the grandson of Abu Hamza Sumali, that during the last days of the caliphate of Bani Marwan, I left for the pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Husain hiding from the Syrians. I reached Karbala and took shelter in a corner of the desert. At midnight I went towards the grave, and when I reached further, a
Notes:
[1]A'amash's real name was Sulayman bin Mehran al Asadi and he was popularly known as A'amash i.e. a dim sighted one.
437 man came and stood facing me saying, "Your reward is with Allah! Return back, for you shall not reach the grave". I returned, and when it was early morning, I went towards the grave. When I reached there, the same man approached me and said, "O slave of Allah! You shall not reach the grave". I said, "May Allah pardon you! Why would I not reach it when I have come from Kufa for the pilgrimage? Do not desist me, for I fear lest it dawns and the Syrians find me here and kill me". He replied, "Wait for a moment, for (Prophet) Moosa bin Imran has solicited permission from Allah to visit the grave of Imam Husain, he has received permission and has descended from the heavens accompanied by seventy thousand Angels. They are in his (Imam's) presence since the beginning of the night and are awaiting dawn so as to return back to the heavens". I asked him, "May Allah pardon you! Who are you?" And he replied, "I am one of the Angels appointed to guard
the grave of Imam Husain and invoke forgiveness for his pilgrims". I returned and wondered whether my intellect would part away having heard his words. I again went to the head of the grave after dawn, while there was none to desist me now. I offered salutations and cursed his murderers, and then I offered the morning prayers and hastened back in fear of the Syrians.
He (Ibne Qawlawayh) relates through his chain of authorities from Ishaq bin Ammar, that I asked Imam Ja'far as Sadiq that, "May I be your ransom, O son of the Prophet of Allah! On the night of Arafah I was in the Shrine of Imam Husain and I witnessed three thousand men with glowing countenance, emitting fragrance and adorning white clothes praying there until the morning. And as much as I tried to reach near the grave and recite invocations, I could not do so due to the immense crowd of men. When it dawned, I fell into prostration, and when I lifted my head, not a single one of them was visible". Imam Sadiq replied, "Do you know who they were?" and I replied in the negative. Imam continued, "My father has related to me from his father, that when Imam Husain was being martyred, four thousand angels passed by and flew upon the heavens. Allah revealed to them: O group of Angels! You passed by the son of my friend and beloved
Mohammad while they killed him when he was in severity and you did not assist him? Then return back to the earth and reside at the head of his grave, and weep with disheveled hair and smeared in sand until the day of Qiyamah. Thus they remain at his grave until the arrival of the time".
He (Ibne Qawlawayh) relates through his chain of authorities from Mufazzal bin Umar, who says, that Imam Jafar as Sadiq told me, "By Allah! It is as if I see the Angels obstructing the believers near the grave of Imam Husain". I asked, "Are they seen there?" He replied, "Far be it! Far be it! By Allah! They serve the believers, to the extent that they rub their hands upon their faces. Allah sends down the dishes of Paradise every morning and evening for the pilgrims of Imam
438 Husain while the Angels serve them. And no man desires anything from his desires of this world or the hereafter, except that it is fulfilled". I said, "By Allah! This is excellent"! Imam Sadiq asked, "O Mufazzal! Should I narrate to you something more?" I replied, "Verily yes, O my master"! And he continued, "It is as if I see an illuminated plank on which is kept a dome of red rubies studded with gems. Imam Husain is seated upon it, while ninety thousand green domes are around him. It is as if the believers visit him and offer salutations, while Allah, the Mighty, the Sublime, tells them: O my friends! Ask of Me, for it is quite a long period that you have borne severity and been humiliated and persecuted, while this is the day that whatever of your desires, whether of this world or the hereafter, that you wish from Me, shall be fulfilled. And their food and drink is from Paradise.While by Allah, this is the excellence which
is unparalleled". Allamah Majlisi says that the descending of food and drink upon them is meant in Barzakh, [1] while the erection of the domes will be during the days of the Raj'at (of Aimmah), for it is said, "Desires of this world as well as the hereafter".
He (Ibne Qawlawayh) relates through his chain of authorities from Abdullah bin Imad Basari, that Imam Ja'far as Sadiq told me that, "There exists an excellence close to you, the similitude of which has not been bestowed upon anyone else, and I presume that you are unaware of it's essence. You do not defend it genuinely nor do you arise for it, and there are ones specialised for it who have been chosen for it, and that has not been bestowed upon them due to their own might and power, except whatever Allah had bestowed upon them. While this felicity has been bestowed upon them by Allah through His Grace and Benevolence". I asked, "May I be your ransom! What is that, the attributes of which you have narrated? And why have you not named it?" He replied, "It is none other than the pilgrimage (to the grave) of my grandfather Husain, who is far away from his home-town and upon an alien land. Then the one who visits him and weeps upon him, as
also the one who does not visit him but remains grief-stricken for him. And the one who was not available for him and his heart burns for him, he sends blessings upon him. The one who beholds the grave of his son (buried) at his feet upon the barren earth, where he had no relatives and family and was deprived of his rights. The apostates united until they killed him and wasted him and exposed him to the wild beasts, and they blocked access to the water of Euphrates, which was available for the dogs. They dishonoured the right of the Prophet of Allah and did not consider his testimony regarding himself and his Progeny. Then he lay in his grave in a persecuted state and he fell upon the earth alongwith his family and Shi'ah, and he entered the earth of an alien and dreadful desert, upon the land where none goes to him except those whose hearts
Notes:
[1] The intermediate period between death and Qiyamah, wherein a person enjoys riches and happiness if he is a good-doer, or suffers torment if he is an evil-doer. Ref. Qur'anic Verse: And after them shall be a barrier (barzakh) until the day they shall be raised again. (Surah al Mu'menoon: 100).
439 have been tested with belief by Allah". I said, "May I be your ransom! I would go for his pilgrimage until I got involved in the matters of the sovereign and was handed over the charge to safeguard their wealth. I have become quite renowned among them and have therefore abandoned the pilgrimage due to dissimulation (Taqiyyah), but am aware of the virtue involved". Imam said, "Do you know what are the merits of those who visit his grave and what abundant fairness do they possess near us?" I replied in the negative, and Imam continued, "Their merit is that the heavenly Angels glorify them, while the goodness near us is that every morning and evening we pray for blessings to be descended upon them. And my father has related to me, that from the time he (Imam Husain) was martyred, his grave has never been vacant of those offering prayers, be it from the Angels, genie or men and beasts. There is none who does not envy his pilgrims or touches
them, and everything looks at him with hope of virtue, for he has beholded his grave". Imam Sadiq then retorted, "I have been informed, that in the middle of the month of Sha'ban, a group of one of the districts of Kufa and other men, accompanied by the wailing women visit his grave. One of them recites the Qu'ran and the other narrates the events, while still another weeps and the other recites elegies". I replied, "Verily yes, may I be your ransom! I have seen them as you describe". He replied, "Praise be to Allah, that He has placed among men those who come to us and glorify us, recite elegies for us, and also placed among men our enemies who reproach them (our friends) for it, be it from our own relatives or others, so as to misguide them, and they consider this act of their's to be ugly".
It is related in Basharatul Mustafa from A'amash, who relates from Atiyyah Kufi, that he says, that I accompanied Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari for the pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Husain. When we entered Karbala, Jabir went towards the river Euphrates and performed bath. Then he wore his pants and placed a robe upon his shoulders, and then he opened a purse of Sa'ad (a perfume) and applied it upon his body. He then started glorifying Allah at each step until he reached the grave, then he told me, "Bond me to the grave". I joined him to the grave and he fell down unconscious upon it. I sprinkled water upon him and he regained consciousness while repeating thrice "O Husain"! Then he said, "Why does the friend not reply to his friend? How could he reply when the blood of his neck lies smeared upon his throat, while there is separation between his head and body? I bear witness that you are the son of the best of women. And why would it not be so, when
you have been fed by the hands of the Master of the Prophets, and brought up in the laps of the pious, and have consumed milk from the breasts of faith and you weaned alongwith Islam. You died in chastity as you lived in chastity, while the hearts of the believers are aggrieved due to your separation and there is no doubt in your fruitful end. Thus peace of Allah and His Paradise upon you! I bear witness that you have treaded the path similar to your brother (Prophet)
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Yahya bin Zakariyyah". Then he turned his eyes upon the grave and said, "Peace be upon the souls that descended near the grave of Husain and sat their camels thereat! I bear witness that you established the Prayers and you gave the Zakat, and you invited towards virtue and forbade against evil, and you fought against the pagans and worshipped Allah until death approached you. By Him Who sent Mohammad rightly as a Prophet, we are associated with you in the struggle of yours". Atiyyah says that hearing this I asked, "How are we associated with them? When we did not alight at any valley or mountain, nor did we raise the swords. While these martyrs gave away their heads and bodies and are now separated from their children, while their women have been widowed?" Jabir replied, "O Atiyyah! I have heard my friend, the Prophet of Allah say, that those who love some men, they shall arise alongwith them, while those who are pleased at the
task of the nation, remains associated with them in their task. By Him Who sent Mohammad rightly as a Prophet! My intention and those of my companions are similar to that of Husain. Now take me to the houses of Kufa". When we had paved a short distance, he said, "O Atiyyah! I recommend to you, and I do not perceive that I shall meet you again after this journey, befriend the friends of the Progeny of the Prophet, and how I befriend them! And bear enmity with the enemies of the Progeny of the Prophet who bear enmity with them, although they be one of those who fast and remain awake at night (in worship). Then be merciful towards the friends of the Progeny of Mohammad, for if one of their feet slips due to access sins, the other one will remain steadfast due to their affection. Their friends shall return back to Paradise and their enemies to hell".
# Relating to the events that manifested after the Martyrdom of Abi Abdullah Imam Husain, the weeping of the heavens and the earth and their inhabitants, wailing of the Angels in the Audience of Allah, the Glorified, for Imam, the lamentation of Genies, and the elegies of poets
Mourning of the Heavens and Earth and its inhabitants upon Imam Husain
Shaikh Abu Ja'far Toosi relates from Shaikh Mufeed, who relates from Ahmed bin Waleed, from his father, from Saffar, from Ibne Isa, from Ibne Abi Umayr, from Husain bin Abi Fakhta, who says that I, alongwith Abu Salamah Sarraj, Yunus bin Ya'qoob, and Fazl bin Yasar, was in the presence of Imam Ja'far as Sadiq. I asked, "May I be your ransom! I have to go the presence of these men (perhaps referring to the Bani Umayyah or Bani Abbas), we remember you there, and then what should we say?" Imam replied, "Say thrice: May Allah's blessings be upon you O Aba Abdillah"! Then he turned towards us and said, "Verily, when Abu Abdullah Imam Husain was martyred, the seven heavens and the seven earths, and it's inhabitants, and what lies in between them, and whatever whirls in paradise or hell, whether manifest or concealed, wept upon him, except three". I asked, "May I be your ransom! What are those three that did not weep upon him?" Imam Sadiq
replied, "(the people of) Basra, (the people of) Damascus, and the family of Hakam bin Abi Amir (or Al Aas)".
Shaikh Sadooq relates from Jabalah Makkiyah who says that I heard Maytham at-Tammaar saying that, "By Allah! After the passing of the ten days of the month of Moharram, this nation will kill the son of their Prophet, while the enemies of Allah will consider this day to be that of affluence. While this shall certainly occur, and this has passed forth in the knowledge of Almighty Allah. I inquired regarding it from my master, the Commander of the faithful Imam Ali, and he told me that everything, including the wild beasts of the forests, the fishes of the oceans, and the birds, shall weep upon him. As also the sun, the moon, the stars, the heavens and earth, and the believers from among the men and genie, as also all the Angels of the heavens and earth, and Rizwan (the gate-keeper) of paradise and Malik (the gate-keeper of hell), and the bearers of the empyrean will lament upon him. The heavens shall rain blood and sand". Then he (Maytham)
said, "O Jabalah!
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Then when you see that the sun has turned red in colour similar to fresh blood, then know that the Master of Martyrs has been killed". Jabalah says, that one day I stepped out of my house, and I saw the shade of sun upon the wall similar to a red linen. I started wailing and weeping and said, "By Allah! Our Master Husain bin Ali has been killed".
Shaikh Abul Qasim Ja'far bin Qawlawayh relates through his chain of transmitters from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq, that (Caliph) Hisham bin Abdul Malik despatched a messenger and called for my father (Imam Mohammad al Baqir). He reached Syria and when he entered therein, Hisham asked, "O Aba Ja'far! We have called you so that we may question you regarding an issue for which none is worthy of questioning except myself. Nor have I found anyone else upon the earth knowing its answer and being questioned, except one (i.e. you)". My father asked, "The commander may question me whatever he desires, if I know the answer I shall say so, and if I do not know it, I shall say so, while honesty is the best". Hisham said, "Tell me regarding the night on which Ali bin Abi Talib was killed, how would the one who was not present at the town of his martyrdom be aware of it, and what would be the sign for men regarding it? Then if you know the answer tell me,
while also tell me whether this sign was apparent regarding Ali only or for anyone else too?" My father replied, "O Commander! When the night, in which the Commander of the faithful Imam Ali was martyred, came forth, no stone was lifted up from the earth, except that fresh blood was seen underneath it, and this prevailed until the dawn. And similar happened on the night of the martyrdom of Prophet Haroon, the brother of Prophet Moosa. And it was repeated on the night in which Yusha' bin Noon (the Vicegerent of Prophet Moosa) was martyred, as also the night on which Prophet Isa, the son of Mariam ascended up. This was reiterated again on the night Sham'oon bin Jawn as Safa (the vicegerent of Isa) was martyred, and similarly on the night in which Husain bin Ali was martyred". Hearing this Hisham was enraged until the colour of his face faded away and he desired striking at my father. My father said, "O
commander! It is incumbent upon people to obey their leader and guide him righteously. And my aim in answering the question of the commander was that his obedience was incumbent upon me, then you should be optimistic towards me". Hisham said, "You may return to your family whenever you desire". But while he was just going, Hisham told him, "Then promise me and take an oath upon Allah, that until I am alive you shall not relate this to anyone", and my father promised him.
We (the author) say, that what is said regarding the martyrdom of the martyrdom of Prophet Haroon is contrary to the reports that prove that Prophet Haroon died a natural death. Thus it is related from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq, that Prophet Moosa one day told Prophet Haroon that, "Come with me to the Mount Sinai". They went there until they reached a
409 house near the door of which was a tree, while two sheets of clothes were hung upon it. Moosa told Haroon, "Go into the room and wear the two clothes and lie upon the platform therein". Haroon did as told, and when he lay upon the platform, Allah took away his soul. It is similarly quoted in the authentic reports, while Imam Baqir had intended to speak in view of the belief of Hisham, who believed that Prophet Haroon had been killed. Thus the Jews told Moosa, "Haroon did not die, but you killed him".
An account of Zuhri on the Martyrdom of Imam Husain
Ibne Abd Rabbah, while narrating regarding the martyrdom of Imam Husain, quotes through his chain of authorities reaching Umar bin Qays and Aqeel. While both of them narrate from Zuhri, who says that I, alongwith Qutaybah, left for the city of Masseesah and went to visit Abdul Malik bin Marwan. He was seated in his portico while people were standing in two rows from the gate till near him. And whatever he desired, he would convey it to him who was standing near him and he in turn would pass on to the one near him until it reached the door. None would be trespassing from in between the two rows, and then we came and sat at the door. Abdul Malik addressed one of them seated on his right side saying, "Are you aware as to what occurred in Bait al Muqaddas on the night, the morning of which Husain was killed?" Each one started questioning the other until it passed the door, while none could answer it. Then I said, "I possess a report regarding
this". This statement of mine passed through one another until it reached Abdul Malik who summoned me. I went and stood in between the two rows near Abdul Malik and saluted him. He asked, "Who are you?" and I replied, "I am Mohammad bin Muslim bin Abdullah bin Shihab Zuhri, while I am included among the genealogists". Abdul Malik was very curious with regards to the reports, and asked, "Tell me as to what occurred in Bait al Muqaddas on the night, the morning of which Husain was killed?" I replied, "Verily, such and such person (here I named the traditionist) narrated to me, that on the night, the morning of which Ali bin Abi Talib as also Husain bin Ali were martyred, pure blood was visible beneath every stone which was lifted from the ground in Bait al Muqaddas". Abdul Malik replied, "You speak the truth. Whoever has narrated to you has also narrated to me similarly, while you and me are the sole recipients of this narration". Then
he retorted, "Why have you come here?" I replied, "I have come here to guard the frontiers". He said, "You may remain at guard upon my door". I remained with him and he bestowed abundant wealth upon me. Then I took permission from him to go to Madinah, and accompanied by my slave, I proceeded further with a bag of wealth with me. I lost the bag and my suspicion went upon the slave, I tried by bribing and warning but he did not admit it. I threw him down and sat upon
410 his chest, and placed my elbow upon his chest while pressing it hard. I had no intention of killing him, but he succumbed to the pressure of my elbow while I regretted it. I returned to Madinah and inquired from Sa'eed bin Musayyab, Abu Abdul Rahman, Urwah bin Zubayr, Qasim bin Mohammad and Salim bin Abdullah. They replied, "We do not know the repentence for it".
This news reached Imam Ali bin Husain and he called for me. I went to his presence and narrated to him the entire episode. He said, "You can certainly repent. Then fast for two months consequently, and free a believer from the bondage of slavery and feed sixty destitutes". I performed these acts and then left to meet Abdul Malik bin Marwan. News had reached him that I had lost the wealth, I remained at his door for some days while he did not grant me permission to enter. I became friendly with the teacher of his children who taught his son (the etiquette as to) how to speak to his father. I told his tutor, "How much wealth do you aspire to acquire from Abdul Malik, while I shall give you the wealth equal to it. But you will have to teach his son that when he goes to the presence of his father, he should plead on by behalf". The teacher asked, "What do you desire?" I replied, "He should say that Zuhri pleads that the commander should be pleased with
him". He taught him to do so, hearing which Abdul Malik laughed and said, "Where is Zuhri?" He said that I was upon the door, and he permitted me to enter. I went to his presence and said, "O 'Commander of the faithful'! Sa'eed bin Musayyab narrates from Abu Hurayrah, who narrates from the Prophet of Allah that he said: A believer does not fall in the same pit twice (i.e. a believer does not commit the same mistake twice)". I (the author) say, that Masseesah is a city adjoining Jeehan, a border-town of Syria. It is situated in between Antioch (an ancient city of Syria, now in South Turkey) and Rome, and is an ancient place of shelter for the Muslims. While Masseesah is also the name of another village among the villages of Syria near 'Bait Laheeya' adjoining the 'Door of Damascus'. While Zuhri meant the former one for he introduced himself as related to the border-town. And as regards Abdul Malik telling him that, "Both of us are alien
(ghareeb) with regards to this tradition", he meant that they were the sole recipients, while one of the meanings of 'Ghareeb' in Hadeeth is that one man may narrate the text of the tradition.
Shaikh Abul Qasim Ja'far bin Qawlawayh Qummi relates from Zuhri, that when Imam Husain was martyred, there was no pebble in Baitul Muqaddas, except that pure blood was found beneath it.
It is also narrated by Hurayth A'awar, that Imam Ali said,
"May my parents be ransom upon Husain, who shall be martyred behind Kufa! By Allah! It is as if I see the species of beasts stretching their necks upon his grave and weeping and lamenting upon him from the night
411 until the dawn. Then when this happens, one should remain away from tyranny and ungratefulness".
Zurarah relates from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq that he said,
"O Zurarah! Verily the heavens wept blood for forty mornings upon Husain. The earth turned dark for forty mornings, and the sun was eclipsed and turned red for forty mornings, while the mountains crumbled and scattered and the seas exploded. The Angels wept for forty mornings upon Husain, and until the head came to us, our women did not dye or oil they hair nor did they apply colyrium or comb their hair. We always remained grief-stricken after him, while my grandfather (Imam Zainul Abdeen) wept whenever he remembered him until his beard was soaked in his tears. And whoever would see him would become sorrowful and weep. The Angels at the head of his grave weep too, and whoever is there in the environment and heavens weep due to their weeping. And it is said that: No tears or eyes are more cherished near Allah than these eyes, which shed tears upon him. Then whoever weeps upon him, Fatemah receives news regarding it, while this being the
cause for his felicity. And this news reaches the Prophet of Allah, and it is as if he has fulfilled our rights. There is no man who shall not arise weeping on the day of Qiyamah, except those who weep upon my grandfather, while they shall arise with enlightened and illuminated eyes and a cheerful countenance. The people will be in fright, while they will be in peace. Others would be standing for accounting, but they will remain alongwith Husain among his associates under the empyrean and it's shade, while they shall not be fearful of the evils of accounting. It shall be said to them: Proceed towards paradise. They shall not pay any heed and their hearts will not detach from the companionship of Imam Husain and conversing with him. The houries will send invitation to them that they, alongwith the 'the youths of unchanging bloom', are anxious to have a view of them, but they shall not lift their heads and shall remain engrossed in
joy and mercy of the companionship of Imam Husain. While some of his enemies shall be seized by their disheveled hair and thrown into hell, while some will call out that they do not have any intercessor or a friend in need for them. Their (the mourners of Imam Husain) friends in Paradise will behold their (exalted) status, but will not be able to near them or inquire from them. The Angels of paradise will bring forth good-tidings for them from their mates (houries) and the bearers of their wealth as to what pleasantries awaits them. They shall reply that, Allah willing, we shall come to you. The Angels shall convey their messages to the houries, whose eagerness will increase after they hear regarding their excellence due to their proximity with Imam Husain. Then they shall say: Praise be to Allah, that He has delivered us from the great calamity and the frightful desert of Qiyamah and saved
412 us from what we feared. Then their mounts shall be brought forth and they shall sit upon them, while eulogising Allah, the Praiseworthy, and greeting Mohammad and his Progeny and shall reach their destination".
It is related from the Commander of the faithful Imam Ali, that he was in Rahbah and recited the following verse: "So wept not on them the heavens and the earth nor were they respited". Instantaneously Imam Husain came to his presence while entering from one of the doors of the Mosque. Seeing him, Imam Ali said, "It is he, who shall be killed, and the heavens and earth shall weep upon him".
Imam Ja'far as Sadiq says that, "The heavens and the earth wept upon Imam Husain and turned red. They did not weep upon anyone else except Prophet Yahya bin Zakariyya and Husain". While at another place it is quoted from him that, "The murderer of Yahya bin Zakariyya was an illegitimate child, as also the murderer of Imam Husain. The heavens and the earth did not weep upon anyone else except these both". The narrator asked, "What does the weeping of the heavens mean?" Imam replied, "The sun arose with a red colour and set similarly".
Dawood bin Firqad says, that I was seated in the house of Imam Ja'far as Sadiq, when we saw a pigeon named Ra'ebee (or Zaghabee) humming excessively. Imam looked towards me for a lengthy time and said, "Do you know what this bird says?" to which I answered in the negative. Imam Sadiq said, "It curses the murderers of Imam Husain. Thus preserve these birds in your houses".
Husain bin Ali bin Sa'ed Barbari, the caretaker of the grave of Imam Ali ar Reza, relates from his father, that Imam Reza said, "Do you see this owl? In the days of my grandfather, the Prophet of Allah, it took residence in buildings, mansions and houses. Then when people would sit to eat, they would fly and sit close to them. The people would throw food for them and they would also drink water and fly away. But when Imam Husain was martyred, they went away from the inhabited places to the deserted places, mountains and deserts. Then they said : What an evil nation are you, that you killed the son of your own Prophet! We do not find ourself safe near you with regards to our lives".
Shaikh Sadooq relates from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq, who relates from his father (Imam Mohammad al Baqir), who narrates from his father (Imam Ali Zainul Abedeen), that he said that one day Imam Husain went to his brother Imam Hasan. When he looked at Imam Hasan, he started weeping. Imam Hasan asked, "O Aba Abdillah! Why do you weep?" Imam Husain replied that he wept on account of the oppression that would befall him. Imam Hasan said, "The last oppression that shall befall me is the fatal
413 poison that will be poured in my mouth and I shall succumb to it. But my day would not be similar to that of yours' O Aba Abdillah! Thirty thousand people, claiming to follow our Grandfather Mohammad and follow Islam, will unite to attack you and shed your blood, and violate the sanctity, while captivating your women-folk and children, and plundering your tents. At that moment the wrath (of Allah) will descend upon the Bani Umayyah, and the heavens shall rain blood and sand, and all things will lament upon you, to the extent that the wild-beasts of the forests and the fish of the rivers will also weep upon your sufferings".
In the salutations recited by Sayyed Murtaza, 'The Standard of Guidance', it is said, "Islam smeared in dust alongwith you, and the statutes and ordinances (of Islam) came to a standstill, the day turned dark while the sun became eclipsed, the moon became dusky while the rain and blessings of Allah halted, the heavens and the earth trembled as also the earth of Batha, trials became universal and ideals became diverse, the Prophet turned sorrowful as also Batool (Sayyedah Fatemah), intelligence and talents were routed".
Ibne Hajar in his Sawaeqe Muhriqa, and Abu Na'eem in his Dala'ilun Nubuwwah, relate from Nusrah, a woman from the clan of Azd, that she said, "When Imam Husain was martyred, the heavens rained blood. When it dawned, our buckets and jars were full of blood".
It is quoted similarly in other traditions, and among the signs of martyrdom are that the sky turned pitch black during day until stars were visible. While no stone was lifted up, except that there was pure blood underneath it.
Abush Shaikh says, that the seeds of green-weeds that were there in their camps turned into ash. This caravan had come from Yemen towards Iraq and reached them during the time of the martyrdom of Imam Husain.
Ibne Uyaynah relates from his grandmother, who says that a Camel-rider, whose seeds had turned into ash, narrated to me, that we slaughtered a camel in our camp and rats entered into its flesh. We cooked the meat but it tasted bitter similar to a colocynth. The heavens had turned red due to his martyrdom and the sun was eclipsed until the stars were visible during mid-day. People assumed that Qiyamah had arrived while no stone was lifted up in Syria, except that there was pure blood visible beneath it.
Usman bin Abi Shaybah relates, that after the martyrdom of Imam Husain the sky became such, that for seven days the walls showed red-like crimson linen, while the stars seemed as if colliding with one another.
Ibne Jawzee relates from Ibne Sireen, that the universe became dark for three days and then redness became visible in the heavens.
Abu Sa'eed says, that no stone was lifted up anywhere upon the world, except that there was pure blood underneath it. The heavens rained blood, stains of
414 which remained for a long time upon the clothes.
Sa'labi and Abu Na'eem relate similarly, and then say, that it rained blood. While Abu Na'eem states further, that when it dawned, their buckets and jars were full of blood.
It is also related, that it rained blood upon the walls and houses of Khurasan, Syria and Kufa. And when the head of Imam Husain was taken to the house of (Ubaydullah) Ibne Ziyad, blood flowed upon his walls.
Sa'labi says, that the heavens wept, while their weeping was that it turned red.
Some others say, that the horizon of the sky became red for a period of six months after his martyrdom. And thereafter the redness persisted (until today).
Ibne Sireen says, that report has reached us, that the redness of the evening twilight was never visible before the martyrdom of Imam Husain.
Ibne Sa'ad says that this redness was not visible in the sky before the martyrdom of Imam Husain.
Sibt Ibne Jawzee says, that when we are enraged our faces turn red, but Allah Almighty is independent of possessing a face and thus His anger upon the martyrdom of Imam Husain was the effect of redness in the skies so as to portray this great crime. Here ends the quotation from Sawaeqe Muhriqa. While in the interpretation of the Qaseedah of Hamziyah, it is quoted with similar contents.
It is related in Tazkirah of Sibt Ibne Jawzee from Hilal bin Zakwan, that when Imam Husain was martyred, we saw the walls as if smeared with blood for a period of two or three months from the time of the morning prayers until the sun-set. We went on a journey and suddenly it rained, stains of which, similar to blood, remained upon our clothes.
Ibne Shahr Ashob relates in his Manaqib from Qarzah bin Ubaydullah, who says that once during mid-day it rained upon the white blankets, and when we saw it was blood. When the camels were taken to the waterfront to partake of it, it (the river) had turned into blood. Then we received news that Imam Husain was martyred on that day.
It is related in the same book from Aswad bin Qays, who says that when Imam Husain was martyred, redness appeared (in the heavens) from the east, and another from the west. It seemed that soon they would join each other, and this continued for six months.
It is related in Uqud al Juman of Suyuti, that they (the astrologers) say, that the sun eclipse does not appear, except on the twenty- eighth or twenty-ninth of a month, this is nothing but conjunction, may Allah kill them. According to what is related by the Saheehayn (Saheeh of both Bukhari and Muslim) that
415 the sun entered into eclipse on the day of the death of the Ibrahim, the son of Prophet, which was on the tenth of the month of Rabi'ul Awwal. This is related by Zubayr bin Bukar. It is quite renowned in history that it entered eclipse again on the day of the martyrdom of Imam Husain, the day of the tenth (of Moharram).
Our Shaikh Shaheed (al Awwal) in his Zikra says, that it is quite renowned that the sun entered eclipse on the day of Ashura due to the martyrdom of Imam Husain such that stars were visible during mid-day.
Bayhaqi and others too relate similarly, and as we have quoted earlier, that on the day of the death of Ibraheem, the son of the Holy Prophet, the sun was eclipsed. And Zubayr bin Bukar, in the book Ansab says, that he died on the tenth of the month of Rabi'ul Awwal.
Our Masters relate, that one of the signs of the (reappearance of) Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) is that the sun would be eclipsed in the first half of the month of Ramazan.
# Complaining of the Angels regarding the Martyrdom of Imam Husain in the Audience of Allah and their lamenting upon him
Shaikh Abu Ja'far Toosi relates from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq, that when Imam Husain was martyred, the Angels bemoaned in the Audience of Allah, the Mighty, the Sublime, and said, "O Allah! How have they treated the chosen-one and the son of Your Prophet?" Allah showed them the image of the (Imam) Al Qa'em (a.t.f.s.), and said, "I shall seek his revenge from his oppressors through his medium".
Shaikh Sadooq relates from Aban bin Taghlib, that Imam Ja'far as Sadiq said,
"Four thousand Angels descended from the heavens and joined Imam Husain so as to fight alongside him, but he did not permit them to fight. They returned and took permission (from Allah), but when they returned, Imam was already martyred. Now they remain at the head of his grave with disheveled (hair) and smeared in dust. They weep upon him until the Qiyamah, while the name of their leader is Mansoor".
We (the author) say, that there are numerous traditions supporting the view regarding four thousand Angels at the head of his grave. While in the contents of some of them it is further related, that when the pilgrims of Imam Husain arrive, they come to receive them. And if any of the pilgrims fall sick, they come to visit him; and if any of the pilgrims dies, then they offer prayers upon his dead body; and they pray for his forgiveness after his death, while they ever await the rising of (Imam) Al Qaem (a.t.f.s.).
Shaikh Ibne Qawlawayh relates from Abdul Malik bin Muqarran, that Imam Ja'far as Sadiq said that, "When you go for the pilgrimage of Abu Abdullah (Imam Husain), do not utter anything except fair, for the Angels of the day and night, alongwith you, meet those (the Angels) residing at the
417 threshold of Imam Husain. They shake hands with them but they do not answer them due to excessive weeping. They wait until the sunrise or the twilight so that they may speak to them. They then inquire from them regarding the affairs of the heavens, but in between these two times they neither speak to one another nor do they tire due to weeping and supplicating".
Hurayz relates, that I inquired from Imam Abi Abdullah Ja'far as Sadiq that, "May I be your ransom! What is the reason that the age of you, the Ahlulbayt is less, and your deaths occur soon, when all the creation is dependent upon you?" Imam Sadiq replied, "Each one of us possess a register that contains our obligations. And when we have performed that task, which is noted down in that register, each one of us realises that our end is near. Then the Prophet himself comes forth and informs us about our death, and whatever is reserved for us near Allah is made apparent to us. And when Imam Husain read his register, and whatever had occurred and whatever still remained was written therein. While the tasks that were suitable and yet unperformed were therein, and he came out to fight the Kufans. And while those obligations that were yet pending, the Angels sought permission from Allah, the Mighty, the Sublime, to assist him.
Allah granted permission to them and they prepared themselves for battle, when Imam Husain was already martyred. The Angels called out in the Audience of Allah saying : O Allah! You permitted us to descend as also to defend him, and we came forth while You took away his soul?" Allah revealed to them : Remain under the shelter of his dome until he (Imam Mahdi) rises, then you may assist him. Then now weep upon him, and that you missed an opportunity to assist him. The distinction of his assistance and lamentation is due to you. Therefore the Angels weep for His (Allah's) Proximity and the lapse of assisting the Imam, and when he (Imam Mahdi) shall arise, they shall assist him".
Safwan Jammal relates, that I accompanied Imam Ja'far as Sadiq from Madinah en route to Makkah. On the way I inquired of him, "O son of the Prophet of Allah! Why do I see you in a depressed, sorrowful and a broken-down state?" Imam replied, "If you had heard what I hear, you would not have questioned me further". I asked, "What do you hear?" Imam Sadiq replied, "(I hear the) Complaining of the Angels in the Audience of Allah regarding the murderers of the Commander of the faithful Imam Ali and that of Imam Husain. As also the elegies of the Genie and the wailing of the Angels surrounding them, and their severe restlessness due to it. Who is it that can suffice in eating, drinking and sleeping (when he hears this)?"
It is related in Bihar al-Anwar from Hasan bin Sulayman, who relates through his chain of authorities from Abi Mu'awiyah, from A'amash, who relates from Imam Ja'far as Sadiq, from his
418 father (Imam Mohammad Baqir), from his father (Imam Zainul Abedeen), that the Holy Prophet said: On the 'night of Ascension' (Me'raj), I reached the fifth heaven and saw the image of Ali bin Abi Talib. I asked, "Dear Jibra'eel! What image is this?" Jibra'eel replied, "O Mohammad! The Angels were desirous of beholding the face of Ali and they said: O Allah! The progeny of Adam are fortunate to behold the face of Ali bin Abi Talib, the beloved of Your beloved Prophet Mohammad, and his Caliph, Vicegerent and Confidante, every morning and evening. Then let us be fortunate too by beholding his face similar to the dwellers of the earth. Then Allah created for them his image from His Own, the Mighty, the Sublime's Sacred Light. Then Ali remains in their midst every morning and night, they visit him and behold him every morning and evening". The narrator says, that A'amash related to me the tradition by
Imam Ja'far as Sadiq, as related by him through his father (Imam Baqir) that, "When the accursed Ibne Muljim dealt a blow with his sword upon the head of Imam Ali, the image, which was present in the heavens, became wounded too. And whenever the Angels look at it every morning and evening, they curse his murderer Ibne Muljim. And when Imam Husain was martyred, the Angels came forth and carried him and placed him besides the image of Imam Ali on the fifth heaven. Then whenever the Angels descend from the upper heavens upon the fifth one, and the Angels of the lower heavens move upwards towards the fifth heaven to visit the image of Imam Ali, and they see him and Imam Husain smeared in their blood, they curse Yazeed, Ibne Ziyad, and his (Imam Ali's) murderer until Qiyamah". A'amash continues, that Imam Ja'far as Sadiq told me that, "These are from among the concealed and mystic knowledge, then do not reveal them
to anyone, except those worthy of it".
# Bemoaning of the Genies upon the Martyrdom of Imam Husain
Shaikh Ibne Qawlawayh Qummi relates from Maysami, that five men from among the dwellers of Kufa left to assist Imam Husain and halted to rest at a village called Shahee. Two men, one old and the other a youth, neared and saluted them. Then the old man said, "I am a genie man, while this is my nephew who desires to assist the oppressed one (Imam Husain)". Then he continued, "But I have an idea". The men asked, "And what is that?" The old genie replied, "I opine that I should fly and bring you the news regarding the group (of Imam Husain) so that you may proceed with certainty". They replied, "You have a fair idea". The old genie remained absent for a day and night, while on the next morning they heard a voice, but there was none visible, saying: "I have not come to you except after having seen him fallen down martyred, on the plains of Taff with cheeks covered in dust, around him lie some youth, whose necks drip blood, who are similar to the
lanterns of light in the darkness, I galloped my camel swiftly so as to reach him before he hastens to meet the Hourie of Paradise, the Destiny of the Lord resisted me from doing so, Whose Destiny is the final word, Husain was such a lantern from whom light scattered throughout the world, Allah is witness that I have said nothing but the truth, he has become a porter of the palace of the Prophet of Allah, his Vicegerent and the Tayyar (Ja'far bin Abi Talib)".
One of the human youth replied him thus, "You may go to the grave where you remain, for the blessings of Allah shall descend there until Qiyamah, you have chosen a recommended path, while you have satiated yourself from that cup which is full to the brim, the youth who had desired Allah have forsaken their wealth, house and relatives".
Sibt Ibne Jawzee in his Tazkirah, as also Madaeni, relate, that a man from Madinah said, that I left so as to reach Imam Husain who was proceeding towards Iraq. When I reached Rabzah, I saw a man sitting. He told me, "O slave of Allah! Do you desire to assist Husain?" I replied in the
420 affirmative, and he continued, "I too desire the same, then sit down for I have despatched my companion to get the reports for me". Not much time had passed until his companion returned and started weeping while reciting: "I have not come to you accept…" (the same elegy as quoted above)
Ibne Shahr Ashob says in his Manaqib, that the Genie lamented upon the grave of the Prophet daily for a year.
It is related in the same book that De'bal says, that my father relates from my grandfather, who relates from his mother Sa'da, the daughter of Malik Khuza'i, that the genie were heard reciting elegies upon Husain thus, "O son of the Martyr and a Martyr! Whose uncle was the best of uncles Ja'far at Tayyar, astonishment at the sharpened sword that was lifted upon your face and which was covered with dust".
In another tradition, apart from the one in Manaqib, it is related from De'bal, that here I quote my own elegy: "Go to the pilgrimage to the grave in Iraq that is being visited and is the best of graves, then disobey the ass who desists you from doing so, why should I not come for your pilgrimage O Husain, may my family and tribe be your ransom, your affection is preserved in the hearts of the intellectual ones, while their hearts are angry upon your enemies, O son of the Martyr and a Martyr! Whose uncle was the best of uncles Ja'far at Tayyar".
Incident of the congregation of Imam Moosa al Kazim on the day of Nawrooz
Ibne Shahr Ashob relates, that (Caliph) Mansoor requested Imam Moosa al Kazim to hold a congregation for greetings on the day of Nawrooz and receive whatever is brought to him. Imam replied,
"I have examined the reports transmitted to me from my grandfather the Prophet of Allah, and I have not found any details regarding this day of celebration. This had been the practice of the Persians, while Islam has abolished it, and Allah's Refuge, that we should enliven the abrogations of Islam".
Mansoor replied, "We do this for diplomacy in our army. I request you in the name of Allah, the Exalted, the Magnificent, to congregate". Imam Kazim agreed and held a congregation in which the notables and the rich men, as also the armymen, arrived to greet him and brought gifts and presents for him. A slave of Mansoor was standing behind the Imam and was keeping an eye on the gifts and counting them. Behind the men a very old man came forward and said, "O son of the Prophet of Allah! I am a feeble man and possess no wealth. I have brought as a gift for you three couplets composed by my grandfather in praise of your grandfather Imam Husain". Then he
421 recited, "Astonishment at the sword that was lifted upon you on the day of the battle and the dust arose upon you, and astonishment upon the arrows that pierced your blessed body while the daughters of noblemen were beholding, and were calling out to your grandfather for assistance while their tears were flowing, were not the arrows desisted at piercing your body due to your sublimity and your loftiness?" Imam Kazim said, "I accept your gift. Sit down. May Allah grant you affluence in it"! Then he lifted his head and told the slave, "Go to the commander and ask him regarding this wealth, as to what is to be done with it". The slave left and returned, and said, "The commander says that all the wealth is at your disposal, you may spend of it as you like". Imam Moosa al Kazim turned towards the old man and said, "I present you all this wealth".
Sibt Ibne Jawzee in his Tazkirah has quoted regarding the elegies of the genie upon Imam Husain.
Zuhri relates from Ummu-Salamah, that she said, "We never heard the elegies of the genie accept on the night of the tenth (of Moharram) of Husain, the recitor was saying: O eyes try and weep, for who shall weep upon the martyrs after me, upon the group who have been dragged by death towards a tyrant who was in the garb of a slave". Thus I realised that Husain was martyred.
Sha'abi relates that the inhabitants of Kufa heard a caller announcing in the morning: "I weep upon the one killed at Karbala, whose body was smeared in blood, I weep upon the one killed by the rebels innocently except due to his love of Allah, I weep upon the one who is wept upon by the inhabitants of the heavens and earth, the tyrants violated his sanctity and they deemed to be lawful for them that which Allah had prohibited even with ones maids, my father be ransom upon the body which lay bare of all except religion and virtue, every sorrow has consolation except this sorrow".
Zuhri says, that the genie recited elegies on him: "The best women of the genie weep with extreme sorrow after beholding, they beat faces more radiant than the golden coins, and they adorn black dress after shunning the colourful ones".
He further says, that the elegies of the genie, that have been memorised, are as follows: "His forehead was caressed by the Prophet, therefore his cheeks radiate light, his parents are the best ones from among the Quraysh, his grandfather is of the best of grandfathers, they killed you O son of the Prophet of Allah! Verily they shall dwell eternally in the fire of hell".
Ibne Qawlawayh relates from Abu Ziyad Qandi, that the masons of the desert heard the genie recite elegies upon Imam Husain as follows: "His forehead was caressed by the Prophet, therefore his cheeks radiate light, his
422 parents are the best ones from among the Quraysh, his grandfather is of the best of grandfathers, they killed you O son of the Prophet of Allah! Verily they shall dwell eternally in the fire of hell".
Ali bin Hazoor relates from Layla that she said, I heard the geneis reciting elegies upon Imam Husain as follows: "O eyes weep with sorrow while this news is correct, weep upon the son of Fatemah who had been to the bank of the Euphrates but did not return back, the genie weep upon him with sorrowful heart when they received the news of his martyrdom, they killed Husain and the group of his companions and this news has spread chaos, I shall weep upon you with grief and lamentation, I shall weep upon you every morning and evening until the blood flows in my veins and the trees bear fruits".
It is also narrated therein, "Weep upon the son of Fatemah whose martyrdom turned the hair grey, whose martyrdom resulted in earthquake and the sun entered into eclipse".
It is narrated in Tareekhul Khulafa of Suyuti, that Sa'lab in his Amali relates from Abi Janab Kalbi, that he says, that I entered Karbala and asked one of the notables of Arabs, "I have been informed that you have heard the elegies of the genie?" He replied, "You shall not find any slave or layman except that they will tell you that they have heard it". I said, "Then tell me as to what you yourself heard from them?" He replied, "I heard them say: His forehead was caressed by the Prophet, therefore his cheeks radiate light, his parents are the best ones from among the Quraysh, his grandfather is of the best of grandfathers, they killed you O son of the Prophet of Allah! Verily they shall dwell eternally in the fire of hell".
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