Event 3 | |||||
Then Imâm (a.s.) marched forward. Narrating the event, some people of Bani Fazarah and Bajilah said, "We were returning from the journey of Mecca with Zohair bin Qain.64 We met Imam Hussain (a.s.) on the way and were not pleased to see some women accompanying Imam (a.s.). Whenever Imâm intended to camp, we put our camp with a distance. Once Imâm descended at a place where we were also obliged to stay at the same spot. When we were eating lunch, the emissary of Imâm Hussain (a.s.) arrived and saluted us. Then he told Zohair Ibn Qain, "Imâm has called you." All of us left the food and became motionless. Zohair?s wife, Delam, daughter of Amr65 told him: "All praise is to Allah. How strange! The son of the Holy - Zohair bin Qain Bajali. Bajliya is a branch of Qahtaniyas. Zaheer was a distinct personality of Kufa. It seems he was quite old when he joined Imâm. In reciting 'Ziarat', he has been honored exceptionally. Though, initially, he was not inclined to this meeting, before the battle, he delivered a speech against the army of Kufr (blasphemy). Thereafter he became the commander of the right wing of the Imâm?s army. [Târikh Tabari, 5/396-397; 6/42 and 422; Rijâlush Shaykh: 73; Ansârul Husain: 88] - This is the lady who told the slave of Zohair after his martyrdom: Go and shroud your master. The slave went and found the body of Hussain shroudless. So he asked himself: Shall I shroud my master and leave Hussain (a.s.) shroudless? So I shrouded Hussain (a.s.) and told the lady about it. She said: Well done and gave me another shroud with which I shrouded him (Zohair). [Translated from Al-Imâm al- Prophet (s.a.w.s.) summons you, and you do not respond? What would happen, if you go and listen to Imam?" Zohair approached Imâm and soon returned with a happy and bright face. Then he gave instructions for pulling down the tent and stable, and then joined Imâm Hussain (a.s.) with his luggage tent. Then Zohair told his wife: "You are divorced my dear wife, because I do not want you to see in our common life anything but welfare and comfort. I have decided to remain in the service of Imâm, and to sacrifice my body and soul for him. Then he gave his property to her, and dispatched her to her family with one of her cousins." While leaving her husband, the woman got up and said, "Allâh may grant good to you. I request you to remember me when you meet the grandfather of Hussain (a.s.) in the Hereafter." Then he (Zohair) said to his friends, "Anyone wants to be with us may do so. Otherwise, this is our last meeting." When Hussain (a.s.) reached the terminal of Zubala the news of the martyrdom of Moslem reached him. When this news spread, the materialists and those who were seeking money and were greedy left Imâm, and Hussain from the book At-Tabaqât that was printed in Issue no. 10, p. 190. Elamunnisa al-Mominat: 341] - Zubala is a halt on Mecca-Kufa Road. It was a populous village with a market situated between Waqasa and Thalabiya. Sakooni says: Zubala comes after Kufa and before Shaqooq. It also has a city wall and a Jame Masjid for Bani Gazaria of Bani Asad. [Mojamul Buldân 3/129] those who were the faithful and wise companions, remained with him. The narrator said that the news of the martyrdom of Moslem was shocking and tears rolled from the eyes of onlookers. Then Hussain (a.s.) moved towards the place where Allâh had summoned him and encountered Farazdaq. After saluting Imâm, Farazdaq asked: "O son of the Prophet! How do you trust the Kufi people who killed your cousin?" Tears rolled from the holy eyes of Imâm Hussain (a.s.) when he said: "May Allâh have mercy on Moslem. He made his way towards Allah?s pleasure and paradise. He fulfilled his duty, and our responsibility still remains." Thereafter he recited the following couplets: If the world is considered a Precious thing; Then the reward from Allâh is more precious and valuable; And if bodies have been created for death; Then martyrdom in the path of Allâh is higher and better; And if provision has already been destined; Then how nice is it to be less greedy in searching it; And if the treasured property has to be left behind; Then why man should be stingy in spending the wealth which has to be left? It is narrated that Husain (a.s.) wrote a letter to Sulaimân bin Surad, Musayyab bin Najba, Rafaah bin Shaddâd, and some of the Shias of Kufa, and sent it through Qais bin Mosahar Saidawi.67 When Qais approached Kufa he was stopped by Ibne Ziyâd?s official Haseen bin Namir.68 He began to inquire of him. Qais tore the letter of Imâm and destroyed it. Haseen sent him to Ibne Ziyâd. When he was taken to Ibne Ziyâd he asked, "Who are you?" Qais said, "I am one of the friends of Amirul Momineen and his son." Ibne Ziyâd said, "Why did you tear the letter?" Qais replied, "So that you may not know what was written in it." Ibne Ziyâd: "Who had written it and to whom?" Qais: "From Hussain (a.s.) to a group of Kufis whose names I do not know." - Qais bin Mosahar Asadi from Adnân, is a young man of Kufa who belonged to the nobles of Bani Asad. He is also one of the couriers of the Kufis to Husain (a.s.). After getting the news of the Imâm?s refusal to pay allegiance to Yazeed and after seeing Imâm, he returned to Kufa with Muslim. He delivered Muslim?s letter to Imâm wherein it was mentioned that people had paid allegiance to Imam (a.s.) and that they had invited him to come to Kufa. [Târikh Tabari 5/394-395, Rijâlush Shaykh 79; Tasmiyah min Qatli ma al-Husain: 152; Ansâr-ul Husain: 123-124] - Haseen bin Namir Shooni was one of the cruel and stonehearted colonels in the days of Bani Umayyah. He was from Hams. He had stoned Ka'ba with catapult and finally he was the commander of the right wing of Ibne Ziyâd?s army during war with Ibrahim Asht near Mosul in the year 68. He went to hell in that war. [At-Tehzib Ibne Asakir 4/371 and Al-Elâm 2/262] Ibn Ziyâd became angry and said, "By Allâh. I will not let you go until you give me their names, or stand up on the pulpit and curse Hussain and his father and brother. Otherwise I will cut you into pieces." Qais replied, "I will never tell their names. But with regards to condemnation, I have no objections." Then Qais went to pulpit, praised Allâh, gave salutations to the holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), pleaded for mercy of Allâh on Ali and his sons, and condemned Ibn Ziyâd, his father and likewise all the stubborn fellows of Umayyids upto the last of them. Thereafter he said: "O people! I am the messenger of Hussain (a.s.) to you. I left him at such and such point. Accept him and respond to his call (invitation)." This news reached Ibn Ziyâd. He ordered that Qais to be thrown away from the top of his palace wall. Thus he was martyred. The news of the martyrdom of Qais reached Imâm Husain (a.s.). Tears rolled from his blessed eyes. He said: "O Lord! Provide holy and honorable abodes for our companions and us and bring them and us under the cover of Your mercy, as You are Mighty over everything." The narrator says: Hussain (a.s.) traveled upto a place two stations from Kufa, when he confronted Hurr Ibn Yazeed,69 who was with one thousand riders. - Hurr bin Yazeed bin Najiyah bin Saeed from Bani Riyah bin Yarhoo?. He was one of distinguished personalities of Kufa and a leader among the nobles of Tamim. He was also one of the commanders in the Umayyad army in Kerbala. He was leading the tribes of Tamim and Hamadân. He confronted Hussain (a.s.) at the Hussain (a.s.) said to Hurr: "Are you with us or against us?" Hurr replied: "Rather, O Aba Abdillâh, against you." Hussain (a.s.): "La Hawla wala quwwata illa billâhil a?liyyil a?zeem (There is no Power nor Strength but what is granted by the Almighty Allah.)" There was a lengthy conversation between them and at the end Imâm Hussain (a.s.) said: "Now that you are acting different from your writings and messages, I would return to the place from where I have come." Hurr and his army opposed this proposal and prevented him. Hurr said: "O son of the Prophet! Take a route, which would lead neither to Kufa nor to Medina, so that I may say to Ibn Ziyâd, as an excuse, that your way was different from us." Imâm (a.s.) continued his journey towards left till he reached Azib-ul-Hajanat.70 It is said that at that place, the order of Ibn Ziyâd reached Hurr, rebuking Hurr for his soft attitude towards foot of Mt. Hasam. On Ashura, before the battle intensified, between the Imâm and the army of blasphemy, he repented and joined the Imâm and fought fiercely until he was martyred. [Târikh Tabari 5/422 and 400 and 427; Tasmiyah min Qatli ma al-Husain: 153; Rijâlush Shaykh: 73; Al-Bidaya wan Nihaya 8/172; Al-Kâmil fi Târikh 4/19; Ansârul Husain: 84-85 and Al-Elâm 2/172 - Azeeb al-Hajanat is near Azeeb al-Qawadas and it is a river or stream between Qadisiya and Maghshiya. The distance between them from Qadisiyah is four miles. Something more is also said about it. [Mojamul Buldân 4/92] Hussain (a.s.), and he was ordered to harass and inconvenience the Imâm (a.s.). Hurr came in the way of Imâm and prevented him from proceeding further. Hussain (a.s.) said: "Did you not demand a change in my route?" Hurr replied: "Of course, but here is the letter of the Amir, which orders me to tighten the path for you. He has appointed spies over me so that I should obey his command." The narrator says: Hussain (a.s.) stood up in front of his friends to give an address. After praising Allâh, he mentioned his grandfather and invoked blessings on him and said, "You can see the situation. The world has changed. It is showing its ugly face to us, and holding back its goodness. Nothing has remained from it, but just a sip at the bottom of a glass. Life appears to be mean and baseless, just like unpalatable grassland. Don't you see that truth has been deserted, and falsehood is practiced? How nice if a faithful would long to meet his God (through a martyrdom in His path). It is so because I do not see death but prosperity, and living with the oppressors nothing but condemnation." Then Zohair Ibn Qain stood up and said, "May Allâh keep us steadfast on the path of guidance and in your service. We heard your words. If we are to continue living in the world, we prefer to follow you in any situation." Hilâl bin Nâfe Bajli71 rose from his place and said, "By Allâh, we do not see meeting our God unpalatable, and we are always steadfast in our intentions and insight. We are friends of your friend, and enemies of your enemy." Then Burair Ibn Haseen72 Khuzâir stood up and submitted: "O son of the holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)! By Allâh, He has favored us by keeping us in your company, so that our bodies get torn into pieces, and your grandfather may be the intercessor for us in the Hereafter." Thereafter Hussain (p.b.u.h.) rode and moved on. The army of Hurr sometimes obstructing him and sometimes moving with him until Imâm reached Karbala. It was the 2nd of Muharram. Then he asked: "What is the name of this place?" It was said: "Karbala." Imâm said: "Get down because this is the place for our camping, and for the flowing of our blood. This is the - Apparently he should be Nâfe bin Hilâl bin Nâfe bin Jamal bin Sa?ad al-Ashirah bin Mazhaji, not Bajli. He was a noble leader who was courageous and also a reciter of the Holy Quran as well as an honest reporter of hadith. He was a companion of Amirul Momineen (a.s.). He had attended three battles including Kerbala, which are mentioned in books of Maqtal. [Absârul Ain 86-89, Tabari 6/253, Ibne Athir 4/29, Al-Bidaya 4/184] - In some sources he is mentioned as Badeer bin Hafeer. Obviously it ought to be Burair bin Khuzair as it is more probable. He used to recite the holy Quran in the Jame Masjid of Kufa. He was enjoying much respect in the eyes of the Hamadânis. He is a Hamadâni coming from Kahlan. His native place was Kufa. He had tried to prevent Umar bin Sa?ad from accepting the post of governor in the government of Bani Umayyah. [Tabari 5/421; Mojam 3/289; Al-Manâqib 4/100 and Bihâr 45/15] land of our shrines. By Allâh, this is the place where our womenfolk will be taken captives, and my grandfather has given this news to me." All came down. Hurr also descended aside along with his army. Hussain (a.s.) sat to sharpen his sword and said: Woe unto you O world! What a bad friend you are; And how much was for you every night and every morn! ; How many of your seekers have been killed; But it is this world, which does not show contentment; Verily every affair is with the Lord, and every living one has a path before him; How near is the promised time for moving towards Allâh's Paradise! It is narrated that Zainab,73 daughter of Fâtima (a.s.), heard those words and exclaimed, "O my brother! These are the words of one who is certain about his death!" Hussain said: "Yes, my sister." Zainab: "O? God! Hussain gives me news of his own death." It is said that the women wept and beat their faces. - Zainab daughter of Ali (a.s.) sister of Hasan (a.s.) and Hussain (a.s.), a wise lady of Bani Hâshim, wife of her cousin Abdullâh bin Ja?far. She was with her brother Husain (a.s.) in Karbala. From Karbala, she went to Kufa and thence to Syria as a prisoner. She was forbearing with a werwing heart. She was a high-class orator. For more details please refer to Zainab al-Kubra by Shaykh Ja?far Naqvi which gives information about the unique personalities of Zainab and her mother Zahra (s.a.). Umme Kulthum74 cried out: "O? Muhammada…!" Hussain (a.s.) tried to calm his sister and said, "My sister, be calm by relying on Allâh, since the residents of the sky do die, and the residents of the earth also do not remain in their place, and all will die, except Allah." Then he said: "O? my sisters Umme Kulthum and Zainab, and you Ruqaiyah75, Fâtima,76 and you Rubâb!77 - Umme Kulthum, daughter of Amirul Momineen (a.s.). Her mother was Fâtima (s.a.) and Hasan (a.s.) and Husain (a.s.) were her brothers and Zainab her sister. She is a noble lady of Bani Hâshim. The matter of her marriage with Umar is one of those matters in which there is a difference of opinion between Muslims. Some of the instances regarding her sister Zainab the Kunniyyat of both of whom are same have confused the historians. [Ajoobatul masail as-Sarviyah: 226; al- Istighâsah: 90; Al-Istiâb 4/490; Al-Elâmun Nisa al-Mominât 181-120 and others] - Historians have not mentioned Ruqaiyah. Sayyid Amin, in Ayân, 7/34 has said: In a street called Mahalla al-Imârah of Damascus, there is a grave and a martyr?s tomb which is a place of pilgrimage and is named after her. Mirza Ali Asgar Khân, the premier of Iran, had renovated it in 1323 A.H. - Fâtima, daughter of Imâm Hussain (a.s.), was a scholar of Hadith and a narrator also from her grandmother Fâtima (s.a.) by way of transmission. She has narrated Hadith from her father. She had gone as a prisoner to Syria with her aunts Zainab and Umme Kulthum and her sister Sakina. Then she returned to Medina and got married with her cousin Hasan bin Hasan. After his death she married Abdullâh bin Amr bin Uthmân. After the death of the latter she did not remarry until she died in the year 110 A.H. [At-Tabaqât 8/347; Maqâtilut Tâlibiyyin; 119 and 120 and 202 and 237 and Al-Elâm 5/130] - Rabâb, daughter of Amr al-Qais bin Adi, wife of Hussain (a.s.) as- Shaheed. She was with him in Kerbala and after the martyrdom went to Syria with the prisoners. From there she returned to Medina. A number of nobles sought her hand in marriage but she excused herself. She did not repose under roof for a year after the martyrdom of Hussain (a.s.), fell ill and died of terrible sorrows. She was a poetess Do not rend your collar; do not scratch your face, and do not utter unjust words after my martyrdom." As per another narration when Zainab heard the couplets, she was alone in her place without any lady besides her. Barefooted, with her clothes sweeping the ground, she reached her brother and said, "O? God! I wish death had liberated me from this life. It seems that today I have lost my mother Fâtima Zahra, my father Ali Al- Murtuza, and my brother Hasan al-Mujtaba. O? you the successor of the deceased, and the shelter of the rest (Hussain)." Hussain (a.s.) had a glance at his sister and said: "O my sister, do not lose patience." She replied: "May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, and so may I be sacrificed for you! Are you to attain martyrdom soon? However she swallowed choking worries." His holy eyes became tearful. Then he said: "Alas. If they had left the bird alone in repose during night, it would have fallen slept." She said: "Ah, do you put yourself in danger. Do you still injure my heart? It is very unpleasant to me. Then she rent her collar and fainted." Imâm (a.s.) got up, poured water on her face until she regained conscious. Then he assured her, and reminded her of the death of her father and grandfather (s.a.w.s.). and sung elegies bewailing Hussain (a.s.). [Al-Mahbar 3/13; Elâmun Nisa 1/378 and Al-Elâm 1/378] One of the probable motives which caused Hussain (a.s.) to take his family members and womenfolk with him, was that if Imâm had left his family in Hijaz or in any other city, Yazeed (the cursed) would have come to know about it, and would had sent a group to arrest them, and had behaved very harshly with them. It could have prevented Hussain (a.s.) from jihâd and martyrdom. It was likely that for taking care of his family and womenfolk, he might have missed attaining lofty martyrdom. |