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Contents
"Our Holy
Imam al-Sajjad (‘a) was made to walk behind the caravan of
the enemy soldiers and the believers and he (‘a) fell many
times due to his illness and weakness. The caravan would not
stop for him and he (‘a) had to stumble to his (‘a) feet
and continue on." ....M. Al-Zahra
.
 Introduction
.
The pain
of the memories and sufferings, during and after the
unimaginable events of Ashura,
lived on with those who survived to tell the stories and
narrate the happenings of those earth shattering days for the
people of that time, for the people of today, and for the
people of tomorrow. Imam
Ali b. Husayn Zayn al-Abidin (‘a), Lady
Zaynab (‘a), other ladies of the Prophet's Household
('a) and their children were amongst those who had to endure
degrading and tormenting treatment after their Imam, Imam
Husayn b. Ali b. Abu Talib (‘a), husbands, sons, uncles,
brothers, and children were martyred on the burning sands of Karbala
with no water upon their deaths. May Allah (swt) give them
eternal bliss and peace, insh’Allah. These events narrated
by Imam Ali b. Husayn Zayn al-Abidin (‘a), also referred to
as al-Sajjad (‘a), and his (‘a) aunt, Lady Zaynab b.
Ali (‘a), are the most important surviving accounts of the
events which have carried the message of Islam, righteousness
and honour for which Imam Husayn b. Ali (‘a) was
martyred.
.
Imam al-Sajjad
(‘a) had to play a very important role as a witness and
narrator of the events that took place at Karbala and
to
inherit the Allah decreed role of the Fourth Imam on his
(‘a) fathers (‘a) martyrdom as well as the Father to the
next Holy Imam. Even though Allah (swt) decreed that the Imam (‘a) would have to
be very ill at this particular time, Imam al-Sajjad (‘a) had
remarkably clear recollection of events leading up to Ashura,
during the Martyrdom of his family (‘a) and afterwards, as
he was able to narrate these in great detail.
.
Imam al-Sajjad
(‘a) then lived for another 34 years after his (‘a)
father’s (‘a) martyrdom in which he was the guide and role
model of the people in his sensitive but powerful
demonstration and practice of the pure religion of Islam.
.
Chapter
One
Ali
b. Husayn (‘a)-Witness on the Day of Ashura
.
Among
some of the narrations of Imam al-Sajjad (‘a) was when he
talked about the tragic day, which is immortal in the minds of
all true Shias. He said;
.
‘No
day was more difficult for Allah’s Messenger that the Day
(Battle) of Uhud in which Hamza b. ‘Adb al-Muttalib, the
lion of Allah and the true lion of His Messenger, was killed,
and after it was the Day (Battle) of Mu’ta in which his
cousin Ja’far b. Abi Talib was killed.’
.
Then he
(al-Sajjad (‘a) said:
.
"There
was no day like the Day of al-Husayn, when thirty thousand men
advanced against him (while) they claimed that they belonged
to this community, and that they (wanted) to seek proximity to
Allah, the Great and Almighty, through (shedding) his blood.
He (al-Husayn) reminded them of Allah, but they did not learn
from him out of (their) oppression and aggression’ (Al-Majjlisi
cited in al-Qarashi 2000).
.
The
journey to this tragic day, although Allah (swt) decreed,
consisted of a myriad of historically recorded events and interactions. One of these
events, reported by ‘Ali b. at-Ta’an al-Muharibi,
represents the closeness, respect, love and kindness that
existed between Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and his son, Imam al-Sajjad
(‘a). The context of the narration was at the time when Imam
al-Husayn (‘s) and his son were riding on horseback on their
journey between Mecca and their eventual destination of
Karbala and had arrived at a place called Qasr Bani Muqatil
where they were going to rest for part of the night.
.
In the
early morning of the new day while riding, Imam al-Husayn
(‘a) was seen to become weary on his (‘a) horse and fell
asleep momentarily. He awoke reciting:
"We belong to God
and to Him we will return.
Praise be to God the Lord of the worlds."
He was heard to have said this two or three
times. His son, Imam al-Sajjad (‘a) asked his father (‘a)
why it was that he was reciting these words. The Imam (‘a)
answered his son (‘a):
"My son, I nodded off and a
horseman appeared to me,
riding a horse and he said,
‘Men
are travelling and the fates travel towards them.’,
Then I
knew it was our own souls announcing our deaths to us."
.
Eve
of Ashura
.
The time
was coming closer for the events that the Aylul Bait (‘a) of
the Prophet (sws) had been prepared for since their childhoods
- the arrival on the plains of Karbala, may Allah (swt) reward
them all. A selected pious group of Momins from the family of
the Prophet (sws) and the companions of Imam al-Husayn (‘a)
were going to meet their destiny as Martyrs on the hot burning
sands, arriving at Karbala on the 2nd Muharram
61AH. After several days in their camp, the evening before the
10th Muharram, the day that has burned itself into
every true Shia’s heart, known as Ashura, was witnessed by
Imam al-Sajjad (‘a).
Imam al-Sajjad
(‘a) was very ill at that time but narrated, relating to the
evening of the 9th of Muharram 61 AH, that his
father, Imam al-Husayn (‘a) gathered his followers around
him. Imam al-Sajjad (‘a) reported that he heard the following
from Imam al-Husayn (‘a):
.
“I
went near to hear what he would say to then (even though) at
that time I was sick. I heard my father say to his followers:
‘I glorify God with the most perfect glorification and I
praise Him in happiness and misfortune. O God, I praise You
for blessing us with prophethood, teaching us the Qu’ran and
making us understand the religion. You have given us hearing,
sight and hearts, and have made us among those who give thanks
(to You). I know of no followers more loyal and more virtuous
than my followers, nor of any House more pious and more
close-knit than my House. May God reward you well on my
behalf. Indeed, I do not think that there will be (any
further) days (left) to us by these men. I permit you to leave
me. All (of you) go away with the absolution of your oath (to
follow me), for there will be no (further) obligation on you
from me. This is a night (whose darkness) will give cover to
you. Use it as a camel (i.e. ride away in it)’”
(Al Mufid, 1981, pg 346-347).
.
After the
Holy Imam, Imam al-Husayn (‘a), had finished his address, he
(‘a) asked his (‘a) most faithful and strong brother,
al-Abbas (‘a), to put out the candles in order for members of the
camp to leave in the darkness without identification or shame. After
some time al-Abbas (‘a) was asked to light the candles
again, leaving the remaining chosen family and followers.
This
evening was spent in prayers and the recitation of al-Qu’ran
and the seeking of forgiveness and the glorification of Allah
(swt). As the evening progressed and the dawn was near, Imam
al-Sajjad (‘a) observed his father (‘a).
.
He, Imam
al-Sajjad (‘a), reported:
.
“I was
sitting of that evening (before the morning of the day) in
which my father was killed. With me was my aunt, Zaynab, who
was nursing me when my father left to go to his tent. With him
was Jawayn, the retainer (mawla) of Abu Dharr al-Ghiffari,
who was preparing his sword and putting it right.
.
My father
recited:
.
‘Time,
shame on you as a friend! At the day’s dawning and the
sun’s setting,
How
many a companion or seeker will be a corpse!
Time will not be satisfied with any substitute.
The
matter will rest with the Mighty One,
And every living creature will have to journey along my
path.’
.
He
repeated it twice or three times. I understood it and realised
what he meant. Tears choked me and I pushed them back. I kept
silent and knew that tribulation had come upon us. As for my
aunt, she heard what I heard – but she is a woman and
weakness and grief are part of the qualities of women; she
could not control herself, she jumped up, tearing at her
clothes and sighing, and went to him.
.
‘Then
I will lose (a brother),’ Zaynab said to him. ‘Would that
death deprive me of life today, (for) my mother, Fatimah, is
dead, and my father, Ali, and my brother, al-Hasan, peace be
on them (all).’
.
‘O
sister,’ al-Husayn said to her
as he looked at her with his eyes full of tears, ‘don’t
let Satan take away with your forbearance. (Remember: ) If the
sand grouse are left (alone) at night, they will sleep (i.e.
let nature take its course).’
.
‘O
my grief, your life will be violently wrenched from you and
that is more wounding to my heart and harsher to my soul,’
she lamented, and then she struck at her face. She bent down
in a faint.
.
Al-Husayn,
peace be on him, got up and bathed her face with water. Then
he said to her: ‘Sister, fear God and take comfort in the
consolation of God. Know that the people on the earth will die
and the inhabitants of heaven will not continue to exist (for
ever). For everything will be destroyed except the face of God
Who created creation by His power (qudra); He sends forth
creatures and He causes them to return; He is unique and
alone. My grandfather was better than me, my father was better
than me and my mother was better than me. I and every Muslim
have an ideal model in the Apostle of God, may God bless him
and his family.’
.
By this
and the like he tried to consol her and he said: ‘Sister,
I swear to you – and I (always) keep my oaths – that you
must not tear at your clothes, nor scratch your face, nor cry but
with grief and loss when I am destroyed.’
Then he
brought her and made her sit with me. He went to his followers
and ordered then to bring their tents (much) closer together
so that the tent-pegs came within the area of each other’s
tents, and so that if they remained among their tents, the
enemy could only approach (them), from one side (for there
would be) tents behind them, and to their right and left. Thus
(the tents completely) surrounded them except for the one way,
which the enemy could come against them (Al Mufid, 1981, pg
348-349).
.
The
granddaughters of the Prophet shared that severe ordeal with
Lady Zaynab (‘a). Among them was Umm Kulthum, who lamented:
.
"Oh
Mohammed! Oh
'Ali! Oh Imam! Oh Husayn! We will be lost after you!"
.
Imam al-Husayn (‘a) asked them to bear the burdens of this
severe ordeal, saying:
.
"O
sister, O Umm Kulthu`m, O Fa`tima, O Raba`b, when I am killed,
you must not tear your clothes, nor scratch your faces, nor
cry out with grief and loss!”
(Hayat al-Imam al-Husayn, cited in al-Qarashi
2000).
.
Day
of Ashura – Reports of al- Sajjad (‘a)
.
On the
morning of 10th Muharram, Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and his (‘a)
faithful family and companions performed their last morning
prayer together. The enemies shot arrows at the worshipers and
several were killed. Imam al-Husayn (‘a), after performing
the prayers mobilised his (‘a) 32 horseman and 40 foot
soldiers. Umar b. Sad also mobilised his cursed followers. He
(curse be on him) went out with his army to Imam al-Husayn
(‘a).
.
Imam al-Sajjad
(‘a) reported:
.
“When
the cavalry began to approach al-Husayn, he raised his hands
and said:
.
‘O
God, it is You in whom I trust amid all grief. You are my hope
amid all violence. You are my trust and provisions in
everything that happens to me, (no matter) how much
the heart may seem to weaken in it, trickery may seem to
diminish (my hope) in it, the friend may seem to desert (me)
in it, and the enemy may seem to rejoice in it. It comes upon
me through You and when I complain to You of it, it is because
of my desire for You, You alone. You have comforted me in
(everything) and have revealed its (significance to me). You
are the Master of grace, the Possessor of all goodness and the
Ultimate Resort of all desire.’
.
When the
enemy began to move around the tent of al-Husayn (‘a), they
saw the ditch behind and the fire burning the firewood and
cane, which had been thrown in it. (A this) Shamir b. Dhi al-Jawshan
called out at the top of his voice:
.
‘Al-Husayn,
are you hurrying towards the fire (of Hell) before the Day of
Resurrection?’
‘Who
is that?’ asked al-Husayn,
peace be on him, ‘(It sounds) like Shamr b. Dhi al-Jawsahn?’
‘Yes,
(it is),’ they told him.
‘Son
of a goat-herdess, you are more worthy to be burnt by that,’
he retorted.
Muslim b.
Awsaja wanted to shoot an arrow at him, but al-Husayn, peace
be on him, stopped him from (doing) that.
‘Let
me shoot him,’ he asked,
‘for he is a wicked sinner, one of the enemies of God, and
the great tyrants. (Now) God has made it possible (to kill)
him.’
‘Do
not shoot him’, ordered al-Husayn,
peace be on him, ‘for I am unwilling to begin (the
fighting) against them.’
.
Then al-Husayn
(‘a) called for his mount and mounted on it. He called out
at the top of his voice: ‘O people of Iraq,’ –
and most of them (began to) listen to him – ‘people,
listen to my words and do not hurry (to attack me) so that I
may remind you of the duties you have towards myself from any
blame in (your attacking me). If you give me justice of your
own accord (as individuals), then agree upon your affairs (and
your associates); let not your affair be in darkness to you.
Then carry (it) out against me and do not reflect (any
further) (X.71). Indeed my guardian is God, Who created the
Book; He takes care of the righteous (V11. 196).’
.
Then he
praised and glorified God and mentioned what God is entitled
to. He called for blessings on the Prophet, may God bless him
and his family, and on the angles and (other) prophets. No
speaker has ever been heard before or after him more eloquent
in his speech than he was.
.
He
continued:
.
"Trace
back my lineage and consider who am I. Then look back at
yourselves and remonstrate with yourselves. Consider whether
it is right for you to kill me and to violate the honour of my
womenfolk. Am I not the son of the daughter of your Prophet,
of his testamentary trustee (wasi) and his cousin, the first
of the believers in God and the man who (first) believed in
what His Apostle, may God bless him and his family, brought
from his Lord? Was not Hamza, the lord of the martyrs, my
uncle? Was not Jafar, the one who flies in heaven, my uncle?
Have you not heard the words of the Apostle of God, may God
bless him and his family, concerning myself
and my brother; ‘These are the two lords of the youth of
the inhabitants of heaven’? Whether you believe what I am
saying – and it is the truth, for by God I have never told a
lie since I learned that God hated people (who told) them –
or whether you regard me as a liar, there are many among you
those who, if you asked them, would tell you: Asl Jabir b. Abd
Allah al-Ansari, Abu Said al-Khudri, Sahl b. Sad al-Saidi,
Zayd . Arqam and Anas b. Malik to tell you that they heard
these words from the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his
family, concerning myself and my brother. Is there not
(sufficient) in this to prevent you shedding my blood?’
‘If
I understand what you are saying,’
interrupted Shamir b. Dhi al-Jawshan, ‘then I only
worship God (very shakily) on the edge.’
‘I
think that you worship God (very shakily) on seventy edges,’
said Habib b. Muzahir. ‘For I testify that you are right.
You do not understand what he is saying. For God has impressed
(ignorance) upon your heart.’
‘If
you are in any double about this,’
al-Hasayn, please be on him, told them, ‘ you are in
doubt that I am the son of the daughter of your Prophet. By
God there is no son of a prophet other than me among you and
among, the peoples from East to West. Shame on you, are you
seeking retribution from me for yours which I expropriated, or
for a wound which I have inflicted?’
They did
not say anything to him. They called: ‘Shabath b. Ribi,
Hajjar b. Abjar, Qays b. al-Ashath, Yazid b. al-Harith,
didn’t you write: ‘The fruit has ripened; the dates have
grown green; come to an army which has been gathered for
you’?’
‘We
don’t know what you are talking about,’
said Qays b. al-Ashath. ‘Submit to the authority of your
kinsmen (the Umayyad). They have never treated you with
anything but what you liked.’
‘By
God, I will never give you my hand like a man who has been
humiliated; nor will I flee like a slave,’
said al-Husayn, peace be on him. Then he called out, ‘O
servants of God, I take refuge in my Lord and your Lord form
the stoning. (XLIV 20) I take refuge in my Lord and your Lord
from every haughty man who does not believe in the Day of
Resurrection. (XL 27).’
.
He made
his mount kneel and ordered ‘Uqba b. Siman to tie his reins.
They (the Kufans) began to advance towards him (al-Husayn).
When al-Hurr b. Yazid perceived that the people were
determined to fight al-Husayn, (peace be on him), he said to
‘Umar; ‘Are you going to fight this man?’
‘Yes’,
he replied, ‘it will be a terrible battle, the least part
of which will be heads falling and severed heads flying
(through the air).’ ‘Haven’t you any other way of
getting what you want?’
‘If
the matter rested with me,’
answered Umar, ‘I would do (anything else), but your
governor has refused (any alternative).’
Al-Hurr
went and stood apart from the people. With him was a man from
his tribe called Qurrs b. Qays.
‘Qurra,
have you watered your horse today?’ he
asked.
‘No’
‘Do
you want to water it?’
.
It was
then narrated that Qurra replied that he wanted to water his
horse and left al-Hurr where he was. Al-Hurr then galloped his
horse to Imam al-Husayn’s (‘a) camp to repent and ask for
forgiveness for his actions (Al Mufid, 1981, pg 350-353).
.
Al-Abbas
('a)
.
The
faithful followers of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and the male
members of his Household proved themselves unfailingly brave
in their defending of the Holy Imam al-Husayn (‘a) in the
killing thirst of the Karbala plains. Al-Abbas,
('a), in particular has been praised by Imam al-Sajjad (‘a),
in sacrificing his life for his brother Imam al-Husayn (‘a).
.
Al-Abbas, ('a), half brother to Imam al-Husayn (‘a) was
truthful, noble, and sincere. Imam al-Sajad (‘a) said:
“May
Allah have mercy on my uncle al-‘Abbas, for he preferred
(his brother to himself), showed extreme courage, and
sacrificed his life for his brother to the extent that his
hands were cut off, so Allah, the Great and Almighty, gave him
two wings to fly with the angels in Heaven, as He had given
Ja’far b. Abi Talib. Al-‘Abbas has a great position with
Allah, the Exalted, so all the martyrs will envy it on the Day
of Judgement” (Al-Majjlisi, cited in al-Qarashi
2000, pg. 140).
.
Transfer
of Imamate from al-Husayn (‘a) to al-Sajjad (‘a)
.
The
transfer of the Imamate to the next Holy Imam (‘a) has to
occur at the death of the previous Holy Imam (‘a) and the
transfer of the Imamate of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) to Imam al-Sajjad
(‘a) was under particularly distressing circumstances with
the severe illness that Imam al-Sajjad (‘a) was suffering and
the martyrdom of so many family members and companions. May
Allah (swt) have them all rest peacefully, insh’Allah.
In the
book Kitab al-Irshad, it is quoted that:
The Shia
give an account of the tablet which Gabriel, peace be on him,
brought down to the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his
family, from Heaven. (The Apostle) gave it to Fatimah, peace
be on her. In it are the names of the Imams after (the
Apostle). The Shia also report that God, the Mighty and
High, sent down to His Prophet, the blessings and peace be on
him, a document sealed with twelve seals. He ordered him to
give it to the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, and
to tell him to break the first seal, and he should act
according to what is in (that part of the document). At the
time of his death, he should pass it to his son, al-Hasan,
peace be on him, and tell him to break the second seal and act
according to what is in (that part of) the document. At the
time of his death, he should pass it to his brother al-Husayn,
peace be on him. He should tell him to break the third seal
and act according to what is below it. Then at his death, he
should pass it to his son, ‘Ali b. al-Husayn al-Akbar (the
elder) and he should instruct him in a similar way (al-Mufid
1981, pg. 395).
It could
therefore be concluded that this document was given to Imam
al-Sajjad (‘a) just prior to his (‘a) father’s (‘a)
martyrdom although there are disputed opinions surrounding
this matter.
An
account concerning the testamentary of bequests (wasiyya)
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