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Zuljanah
is associated with the name of God and with that of Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a)
The
original name of Zuljanah was Murtajiz who
was purchased by our Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a). Muslims revere
everything, which is associated with the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a)
i.e his shoes/sticks/turban etc., so it is possible that they
should misbehave towards his horse (because Shia used him in
the procession of Kerbala).
As the enemies of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) /Ahlulbayt (a.s)
and the antagonists of the Azadari were always against it,
they were busy deriding and opposing the processions
of Zuljanah.
They were so negative of the procession that if only the view of
it is done or a single glance of Zuljanah, "automatically
the wife is divorced" what a ridiculous ideology is
this.
In accordance with the Islamic point of view, idol
worship is a symbol of the kufr and polytheism, but is not
this way with divorce. And that also the horse of the Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a) was faithful in full way in the battle of his
Grandson.
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a ram from
paradise was sent for sacrifice in the place of
Prophet Ismail (a.s) and thus the latter was saved. To
commemorate this grand occasion, thousands of animals
are sacrificed every year, and nobody speaks but follows
it.
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the grand dromedary
of lady Aisha, on which she rode to lead the battle of
camel is commemorated by Hedjazis and Egyptians in a
very grand manner, they decorate it fully and take out
the procession toward Mecca with extreme pomp and pageantry,
walk with respect in the is procession with all
the soldiers, chiefs erudities, they even kiss the she camel
and the saddle.
So
then why only at the time of processions of Zuljanah or Kerbala
they are against and they remain silent this was also Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a) and his grandson (a.s) faithful horse.
The Muslims or their maulvis might have the point to
ponder if they think about the issue such verdict in
respect of the dromedary of lady Aisha or see the idols or
go against divine orders. But only for Imam Hussein (a.s) are
their nightmares; perhaps they don’t have the light of
Allah (swt) -
“Intend they to put out the Light of God with their mouths!
But God will perfect His Light, though averse may
be the disbelievers” (61;8). Ref. Pooya Ahmed Ali
Translation.
Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a) bought Zuljana from an Arab named Haris. Just
after the transaction of buying was over the Arab demanded the
payment once again. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said:
“I’ve
already paid you once so why do you demand it again?”
The
Arab argued and told the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) to bring
witnesses about his payment, but the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a)
told him that there was nobody present at the time of
payment except we two were present.
“So
how can I bring to you a witness?”
Suddenly
a companion name Hazima came there when he knew about the
matter. He affirmed that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) had done
the payment and he was his witness, but the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a)
told him that he was not present at the time of payment so
how do you conform the matter?
So
he said:
“Oh
Prophet my parents be sacrificed for you, we confirm everything
you said, your prophethood, the descent of archangel Gabriel,
the divine decrees and all other things. So it is
impossible for us to imagine that you are lying for such a
trifling matter. That is why I declare with confidence that you
have paid”.
The
Holy prophet (s.a) was pleased with the faithfulness of
Hazima, and said:
"Oh Hazima, from
now onward your one witness will be considered equal to two
witnesses"
From
that time Hazima was given the title “Os Zul- Shahdatain”
(a man of double testimony).
So
the Arab repented and waived his false claim.
Now
the question arises as to why the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a)
validated the witness of one person while the Sheriat recommends
of two and conform Hazima as two to one?
The
answer to this question is first the claimant himself accepted his
fault and waived his false claim, so according to a
Persian proverb:
"mudda-ee-soost
gawah choost"
The
plaintiff weak and hence the first argument against claim
becomes null and void and Hazima’s conformation was also
appropriate in it’s place because a Prophet is always right
and Hazima conformed it, strong witness. He was pleased
with the sincerity and faithfulness of his companion and
praised him, so how can a Muslim doubt such a truth full a
man. Once the Prophet (s.a.w.a) chooses someone, we can’t
doubt, and no Muslims should doubt the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a)
words or faith.
There
must be some mystical significance in the event which occurred
during the purchase of Zuljanah (Murtajiz). It was the divine
will that the news of the quarrel of the Arab and the
title bestowed upon Hazima should spread among the Muslims so
that they should know about the purchase of Zuljanah. That it
was now the property of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a).
The
divine knowledge was that a gigantic task was to be
fulfilled by Zuljanah (Murtajiz) and it should act as an
argument against those who had gathered to slay Imam
Hussein (a.s).
The
reason for naming the horse as Murtajiz is that the sound of his
neighing was very loud and sweet which distinguished him from other horses, and the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a)
himself used to ride that horse.
When
Imam Hussein (a.s) was a mere child and learning
to crawl, he used to go frequently to the stable of Zuljanah (Murtajiz) and
look at him. Once the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said that his
grandson (a.s) was looking curiously at the horse as if some
mysterious conversation was taking place so he said:
“My
dear Hussein, do you want to ride the horse? ”
And
he replied:
“Yes!
Grandfather I do.”
The
horse was saddled on the order of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) and
the Imam (a.s) came near to him with a wish to ride, so
suddenly the horse sat on the ground and the Imam
(a.s) mounted on him.
In
this incident two points are proven as a miracle:
How
did the horse know that a little boy wants to ride, as
nobody directed him and he sat down for his rider? A rider
(Imam (a.s)) mounts a horse by lifting the
other one; position himself astride in the saddle, so it is
proven that the horse had a divine inspiration. And
the prime reason is the merit and excellence is
thine main owner Imam (a.s), as a token of
respect for him, than sit down and express the
obedience and love for him, and so the noble horse followed
the divine decree and pleased God’s Prophet (s.a.w.a)
and 3rd Imam (a.s).
Secondly, the
child going near a horse expressed his
desire to mount him, usually children fear big sized
animals and keep away, but here the miracle of the Imam’s (a.s)
child hood becomes manifest. The Imam (a.s) knew one day he had
to ride this noble beast in his last battle at Kerbala.
As
all the companions who were present saw the
incident and were pleased to see the Imam (a.s) mount the
horse and the horse too was considerate for his rider.
When the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) saw this coincident,
serious tears began to flow on his cheeks. At
once the meeting transformed into a sad gathering and
the companions also began to weep. One of them asked the
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a):
“Today
it is the occasion of festival seeing your grandson on
horse back but why are you weeping?”
The
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) replied:
"You are not aware of what I foresee" (the scene becomes alive
before my eyes as this grand "Muratjiz" has
borne my dear grandson on his back with care
by stooping down on his four legs). “A day will
come when my grandson will not be able to keep himself in
the saddle due to his extremely wounded condition and
this very horse "Murtajiz" will then dismount my
grandson on the burning sand of the “Desert of Kerbala”
with same and consideration, stooping on his four
legs and sitting on the ground as he has just done
here.”
Hearing this sad narration
all the companions began to weep loudly.
And
the Holy Imam Hussain (a.s) is quoted as having said on the day
of Ashurah:
“Wilt
thou my dear Zul’jinah kneel down a little to enable me to
roll myself down to the ground? I know thou hast also been
hungry and thirsty along with me. Pardon me my dear Zul’jinah
for Hussain is helpless. May the Lord bless thee.”
The faithful animal, which was itself hungry, thirsty and
wounded, spread its legs in such a way that the godly soul, one
of the most brilliant stars of the heaven of divinity, slid
himself down. Ref. “Hussain, The Saviour Of Islam”, by
S.V. Mir Ahmed Ali, pg. 186-187.
Now the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) himself narrated the
sad event of Kerbala to his companions, he himself wept and
made others weep. It is essential to express practical sympathy
towards the Holy Prophet (s.a.w s) to console him and to follow the
Sunnah of Azadari. So those who criticize this noble custom of
our Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) are cowards and idolatry closes their
eyes which prove the facts. The same with Murtajiz which
Imam Hussein (a.s) mounted in the battle of Kerbala on the day
of Ashoora and this fact has been repeatedly affirmed
in many traditions of the Holy Imams (a.s.).
Scientific
minded people and the pretending philosophers can question
the possibility of how a horse of Ziljanah’s age could perform
the duty in Kerbala in the state of hunger and thirst. As
the maximum life of a horse is thirty years, so how
come Murtajiz in Kerbala can perform his duty in his old
age?
The
first reason is to consider that Murtajiz was bought on 9
a.h and he was 4 yrs old. Then according to this estimate,
he must be 55 yrs on the day of Ashoora. So even if
such an old horse was still to live to that age, he
must be quite useless for his duty, so we can reply to that
question by proposing that it is sheer folly to
compare the age limit of the present day with
that of 1300yrs ago because formerly human beings used to enjoy a
life span of 300 - 400 yrs, while the average age of human
life at the present is less than 100yrs.
The
second reason to consider is that the Arab historian
Damesna quotes Jahiz in his Hayatul Haywaan that the
lifespan of an Arab horse is as long as ninety years and
force youth remains up to forty years, so according to the
master horse men the year of a horse life is of
eighteen months, thus sixty solar years count as
forty years in horse life and thus in 61 a.h the
age of "Murtajiz", according to the lunar calendar, it
must be 55 years so that the horse was quite young. This
argument will convince those who do not believe in
religion and search of scientific answers.
But
for the believers, they know and believe that the divine leaders
also have power to work in miracles. So even a dead
horse can become alive again.
Indeed
''Murtajiz' Zuljanah has been given such a excellent merit
that his name will ever remain fresh in this
world.
His
remembrance is still commemorated by bringing out a
remembrance of him in Moharram in many cities and village
of indo -Pakistan subcontinent.
According to God's wishes and Zuljanah was in Kerbala, then we
take out procession to spread the message of Imam Hussein a.s by
taking out a procession in Ashoora of Juloos. So
must be olden times used to start to hold alam flags banners
same they must be keeping horse also as Zuljanah.
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Here
is story, of Oudh province India.
 In
the town of Behrich usually on tenth Moharram, a horse
was usually brought out to represent Zuljanah. Once this
horse become ill and a defect developed in his foot.
A
Sunni Muslim began to treat and nurse that horse to
be well again before Ashoora but those who used
to a carry out the procession were unaware of the horse and
brought another horse in the Azakhana. But the Sunni man brought
them the original horse telling them that he was quite
healthy for the procession.
The people of Azakhana refused the proposal thinking that
he was not fully well and removed him. While they were
taking him away he was crying inside his heart he was pleading:
”Please
do not take me away from here.' it is my right to replace
Zuljanah.”
But
people could not read the feelings of the dumb animal. They not
only disappointed him but they unknowingly killed him, had they
tried to be considerate to the poor animal then he
would have been saved.
When the horse reached the place where he was customarily kept, his
condition become worse. He began to shed tears and groan in
a melancholic tone as if he was invoking Imam Hussein a.s
“O
master help me these people deprive me from my old
right'.
Then
the Sunni man tied him to his house but the
disappointed horse shunned food and drink and remained in a
state of disgust and melancholy.
On the day of Ashoora, the Azadaris led the other horse in
the procession on the very evening that the condition of
that horse worsened to such an extent that he
died.
Hundreds of Shias, Sunnis and Hindus of that locality witnessed
this event.
There are many history of Zuljanah. It must happen that we all
follow the old traditions of commemorating our Ashoora and
taking out Juloos and in olden times there must be
many events taking place and so we follow up to now. But it
true if you keep any animal that animal should also have that
feeling of Zuljanah. That’s why in Indo-Pak they feed that
horse from their infant.
This was narrated by Sadaats of
an Indian village named Barahara.
Once they used to carry procession of
Zul-janah through an unusual route, there was a horse of a Maulvi
Sahib on our usual route where womenfolk of the
village gather at that horse to observe the procession
of Zuljanah; so women folk came to know that the procession
has change the route, they became very disappointed and the
locality resounded with their breast-beatings and
lamenting.
"Now let us see what
happened to the procession."
On the other road the
procession was going on and suddenly the horse stood still.
After much struggle the
horse refused to move. People were puzzled by the behaviour of
the horse. At last some one from the procession suggested:
"Leave the bridle
free and see what the horse does."
The
bridle was left free and horse began to run and people also
ran after him. Passing the narrow and zigzag byelanes
the horse reached the Maulvi Sahib where the
womenfolk gathered and stood amidst them with eye
shedding tears. The dumb animal’s automatic action had a
profound effect on the hearts of the people and they
surrounded the horse and began to weep and beat their
chest with more fervour and vigour.
The site was very
emotional one.
In the same manner as
Murtajiz had given the tidings on the martyrdom of
Imam Hussein a.s to the ahle-bait a.s. This horse stood between
the ladies and the scene was such that the tragedy of
Kerbala being repeated.
Certainly
this event exhibits a merit of Zuljanah that will never be
manifested by any other horse. As this anticipation has never been
seen before. As how did this horse direct by itself towards the
house of Maulvi Saheb and stand there among the
womenfolk with nobody having directed him? It was none else than
Almighty Allah (swt) wanted that the customs of Azadari should be
preserved in this world. He was infused the miraculous automatic action in
the horse to gratify the aggrieved heart of the women.
Sources:
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Pooya
Ahmed Ali Translation of the Holy Quoran
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"Hussain,
The Saviour Of Islam", by S.V. Mir Ahmed Ali, pg. 186-187.
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"The
Book Of Light, Knowledge and Truth", by Marhum Haji
Gulamali Ismail (Haji naji) The
author requests that readers recite al-Fatihah for Marhum Haji
Gulamali Ismail
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