FAREWELL OF IMAM HUSAIN (a.s.) TO HIS SON ALI AKBAR (a.s.)

Hazrat Ali Akbar (a.s.) was the son of Imam Hussain (a.s.). He was a handsome young man of eighteen. His mothers' name was Umm-e-Laila (a.s.). He was also a brave soldier. He had been taught fencing and archery by Hazrat Abbas (a.s.). He so much resembled the Holy Prophet (phuh&hf) that Imam Hussain (a.s.) was often heard to say that whenever I remember the Holy Prophet I look at Akbar.

Ali Akbar (a.s.) had a loud beautiful voice. It was he who always recited adhaan. 

The day of Ashura unfolded on the land of Kerbala. It was Fajr time. Husain (a.s.) called his son, Ali Akber.

"My son, Ali Akber, go and give the Adhan. Ali Akber I want to hear the voice of my grandfather. Ali Akber, you sound so much like your great grandfather, the Holy Prophet."

"ALLAHO-AKBER, ALLAHO-AKBER..….."

Ali Akbar's Adhan echoed through the land of Kerbala.
Ali Akbar's last Adhan…….It was no ordinary Adhan……..
It was filled with emotion…
Husain began to cry. He remembered his grandfather.
All the ladies in the tents began to cry. Zainab burst into tears.


After Zuhr prayers Ali Akbar (a.s.) stood in front of Imam Hussain (a.s.). He said, "Father I request for permission to go and fight the enemies of Islam." Imam (a.s.) looked at his son lovingly. He said, "Akbar, you have my permission. May Allah be with you! But Akbar, you know how much your mother, sisters and aunts love you. Go and say farewell to them." Ali Akbar (a.s.) went into the tent of his mother. Every time he wanted to come out of the tent the mother, aunts and sisters would pull his cloak and say, "O Akbar, How can we live without you!" Finally Imam Hussain (a.s.) had to go in and plead with all to let Ali Akbar (a.s.) go.

Imam helped his youthful son to mount the horse. As Akbar (a.s.) began to the ride towards the battlefield, he heard foot steps behind. He looked back and saw his father. He said, "Father, we have said good-bye. Why are you walking behind him." Hussain (a.s.) replied, "My son, had you been a father of a son like you, you would surely have understood !!"

Ali Akbar (a.s.) fought very bravely. No one dared come close to him in single combat after he had killed many well known warriors. Umar ibn-e-Sa'ad ordered his soldiers to finish off the young man saying, "When he dies, Hussain will not want to live! Ali Akbar is the life of Hussain." While a few soldiers attacked Ali Akbar (a.s.) another (Haseen ibn-e-Nameer) slowly crept up to him and threw a spear at his chest with such ferocity that it penetrated his chest and he felt faint. As he was falling from his horse, he cried out. "O Father, my last salaams to you!" As he hit the ground the spear broke but the blade remained lodged in Akbar's (a.s.) chest.

When our Imam (a.s.) heard Akbar's (a.s.) salaam he looked at Furaat where Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) lay and said, 'Abbas! Now that this brother of yours needs you most, where have you gone?' With all his strength sapped by the anguish in Akbar's (a.s.) voice, Imam Hussain (a.s.) began to walk towards the battle-field.
When Imam Hussain (a.s.) got to where Akbar (a.s.) lay he took him in his arms. Akbar had his right hand on the chest. He placed his left arm over the shoulder of his father. Hussain (a.s.) said "Akbar, why do you embrace me with one arm only?" Akbar (a.s.) would not reply. Hussain (a.s.) tried to move Akbar's (a.s.) hand. Akbar (a.s.) resisted. Imam (a.s.) gently moved the hand. Then he saw it! He saw the blade of the spear. Imam Hussain (a.s.) laid Ali Akbar (a.s.) on the ground and sitting on his knees he put both his hands on the blade of the spear. He then looked at Najaf, and cried out, "Father, I too have come to my Khaiber!". He pulled out the blade. Angel Jibraeel (a.s.) cried out "Marhaba! Marhaba!" Akbar (a.s.) took a deep sigh and then lay still.

Husain, our Maloom Imam, sacrificed the most precious thing - the life of Husain, the darling of Zainab and Umme Laila, the image of the Holy Prophet - HIS TEENAGE SON - HIS 18 YEAR OLD SON - ALI AKBAR...

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Posted in: Hazrat Ali Akbar (a.s.),Karbala

THE KNIGHT OF ASHURA ON THE LAND OF KARBALA

The Youngest Martyr of Karbala Steps into the Battle field... 

The Knight Of AshuraOn The Land Of Karbala 

After sacrificing his 18 year old son Ali Akbar, Imam Husain (a.s.) looked up at the sky and said:

"YA ALLAH, GIVE ME MORE PATIENCE. YA ALLAH, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN GIVE FOR YOUR SAKE?"

He remained patient after seeing so many dead in one day.

Allah's will was Husain's command. Husain (a.s.) was prepared and willing to sacrifice his family. He never prayed to Allah to save his family.

Instead he prayed for PATIENCE! PATIENCE! AND MORE PATIENCE!


By Asr time Husain (a.s.) was left alone.

The time had come for Husain (a.s.) to go to the battlefield. Husain (a.s.) said KHUDA HAFIZ to everyone.

Husain (a.s.), with his sword ZULFIQUAR on his waist, mounted ZULJANA, his horse.

Husain (a.s.) rode his horse to a small mount, he then called out loudly:

"IS THERE ANYONE TO HELP ME? IS THERE ANYONE TO HELP THE GRANDSON OF THE HOLY PROPHET?"

With this call, the grandson of the Holy Prophet, was giving one last chance to Yazid's men, the men who called themselves Muslims - the followers of the Holy Prophet.

No one answered Husain's last call. But Husain (a.s.) heard the sound of crying coming from his camp.

Husain (a.s.) turned around and returned to his tents.

"Zainab, your brother is still alive. Why are you crying?"

"My brother Husain (a.s.), when you called out, "IS THERE ANYONE TO HELP ME", Ali Asghar fell from his cradle."

Husain (a.s.) knew what Ali Asghar was trying to say. Husain (a.s.) went to Umme Rubab (s.a.). Ali Asghar was on her lap. He was crying and Umme Rubab was trying to comfort him. Husain (a.s.) picked up baby Ali Asghar and whispered in his ear. Ali Asghar stopped crying. He looked up at his father and smiled. 

"Umme Rubab, I am taking Ali Asghar to the battlefield with me so that I can get some water for him."

What did Husain (a.s.) whisper in Ali Asghar's ear? What made Ali Asghar stop crying, and to smile? Husain (a.s.) had whispered:

"My son, Ali Asghar, do you want to come to the battlefield with me? Asghar, do you want to show your strength on the battlefield? Come, let us go, my little Mujaheed, my little soldier, Asghar."

Umme Rubab changed Ali Asghar's clothes.

Imam Husain (a.s.) carried Ali Asghar to the battlefield. It was very hot. Ali Asghar was thirsty. Husain (a.s.) covered baby Ali Asghar with his abaa, to protect him from the scorching sun.

Yazid (l.a.)'s men saw Husain (a.s.) approaching with something in his hand.

"Look, Husain (a.s.) is coming with the Quran. He has no one left to help him. With the help of the Quran he is hoping to win."

Husain (a.s.) walked to Yazid's soldiers. By moving his abaa he uncovered Ali Asghar.

He held Ali Asghar high with both his hands and said:

"O soldiers of Yazid, you feel I have offended you, but what has this little child done to you? His mother's milk has dried up. He has not had a drop of water for three days. He is dying of thirst. I beg you to give water to this innocent little child."

Not one of Yazid's soldiers brought any water for Ali Asghar.

Once more Imam Husain (a.s.) said:

“Maybe you think that when you bring water for this child, I will drink it too. I will put this little child on the ground. You can come and give him water yourself."

Husain (a.s.) placed Ali Asghar on the burning sand of Kerbala.

Ali Asghar lay quietly on the hot sand of Kerbala. His turned his head and stared at Yazid's men.

No water came for Ali Asghar.

Husain (a.s.) picked up Ali Asghar and said:

"My son Ali Asghar, my darling, you are too young to fight with a sword or a spear. My little Mujaheed, my little soldier, you are a grandson of Ali. Ali Asghar, fight your Jehad with your tongue."

Little Asghar stuck his dry tongue out and moved it over his dry lips looking towards Yazid's men. He fought Jehad with his tongue.

The little soldier shot a strange arrow - his dry tongue.

It hit the hearts of Yazid's soldiers who had children of their own. They became restless. Some started crying.

They spoke amongst themselves:

"Husain (a.s.) is saying the truth. What has this child done to us? Why is he punished like this? Let us give him some water."

Umar Saad got worried that his soldiers will turn against him.

The little soldier's fight was very effective. Little Ali Asghar was fighting Jehad his way.

Umar Saad ordered his best archer:

"Hurmullah! What are you waiting for? Silence the little child! Don't you know he is a grandson of Ali? Hurry, shoot your arrow, before it is too late."

Hurmullah aimed an arrow at Ali Asghar. A small arrow for a little child? No! An arrow not with one head, not with two heads, but with three sharp heads.

Why? Why an arrow with three heads for such a small child?

My fellow Husaini! You will not be able to stop crying when you hear what happened next.

An arrow with three sharp heads flew across the desert of Kerbala. It was heading for Ali Asghar. Husain (a.s.) saw the arrow coming. He covered Ali Asghar with his arms.

The arrow reached Husain (a.s.).

The arrow went through Husain's arm and lodged in the tiny neck of Ali Asghar.

Ali Asghar died instantly.

Allaho Akber! Allaho Akber!

Poor Husain (a.s.), the poor father, who came to get water for his little child.

Instead of water, Ali Asghar got an arrow in his neck.

What shall Husain (a.s.) do now? What shall Husain (a.s.) do now?

Husain (a.s.) gently pulled the arrow from Ali Asghar's tiny neck.

My fellow Husaini, put your hand on your heart and imagine the scene - a father removing an arrow from his child's neck. What a tragic scene!

Blood gushed out from Ali Asghar's neck.

A voice came from the ground:

"No, Husain (a.s.), do not let Ali Asghar's blood fall to the ground, otherwise no crops will ever grow from this earth." Husain (a.s.) looked up at the sky.”

A voice came from the sky:

"No Husain (a.s.), do not let the blood gush towards the sky, otherwise, no drop of rain will ever fall from this sky."

What shall Husain (a.s.) do now? What shall Husain (a.s.) do now?

The sky is refusing, the earth is not happy to accept Asghar's blood.

Poor Husain (a.s.) wiped Ali Asghar's blood on his face.

Husain (a.s.) started walking towards his tents.

He saw Ali Asghar's mother - Umme Rubab - standing by his tent. A mother anxiously waiting for her baby.

Husain (a.s.) thought:

"How can I face Umme Rubab? What shall I tell her? How can I tell her that her baby has been martyred without water? How? How?"

SEVEN TIMES, Husain (a.s.) went forward and then turned back,

Saying:

"INNA LILLAHE WA INNA ELAIHE RAJEOON."

He finally reached the tent where Umme Rubab was standing. "Rubab, come and take your Ali Asghar. Rubab, your little soldier has died for the sake of Allah."

Umme Rubab took her little child, Ali Asghar. She hugged him and cried her heart out.

"Come with me Rubab. Enough, Rubab, enough. Let us bury our baby Asghar"

Husain (a.s.) and Umme Rubab walked to the back of the tents.

Husain (a.s.) dug a small grave with his sword, the Zulfiquar.

Umme Rubab placed Ali Asghar in the small grave.

My fellow Husaini why should we not cry tonight? Why should we not do matam tonight?

Have we ever heard of any other father and mother digging a grave and burying their own child?

Where can Husain (a.s.) get water to sprinkle on Ali Asghar's grave? There is no water to sprinkle on Ali Asghar's grave.

Husain (a.s.) sat by the grave crying.

Tears poured on the grave. Ali Asghar's grave was sprinkled with Husain's tears.

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Posted in: 05 Imam Husain (a.s.),Karbala

Incident of a bird who was covered by the blood of Imam Husain (a.s.)

Incident of a bird 

who was covered by the blood of Imam Husain (a.s.)

After the martyrdom of Imam Husain (asws), a bird whose color was white landed on the dead body of Imam (asws). He covered his wings in the blood Imam Husain (asws) and went to a place where many birds were sat in the shade of trees and were talking about their food. Upon reaching their he said to the other birds, "Alas! You are talking about your food and the Grandson (asws) of RasoolAllah (saw) has been slaughtered on the plains of Karbala. His dead body is lying on the hot sands and His blood is still fresh.

When the other birds heard this news, they flew to Karbala and saw Imam Husain (asws) laid slaughtered while the accursed army of yazid (la) was taking His Holy Head towards Kufa. Imam (asws)'s dead body was lying there without ghusl or kaffan, and His sacred body had been trampled under the hooves of the horses. The hot sand of the desert was covering Imam (asws)'s dead body. The animals of the jungle and jinns were coming for the ziarat of Imam (asws). When the birds saw this great scene of oppression, they started crying loudly. All of the birds covered their wings with the Holy Blood of Imam (asws) and flew in different directions. They started telling people, "O' people, Imam Husain (asws) has been slaughtered in Karbala. Muslims have destroyed the whole Family of RasoolAllah (saw)."

Wherever these birds went, other birds would also gather around them. All would mourn Imam Husain (as). One of these birds came to Medina and went to the shrine of RasoolAllah (saw). He kept telling RasoolAllah (saw) about how Imam Husain (as) was slaughtered. When the other birds saw this bird, they gathered around him and all began mourning Imam Husain (asws). When the people of Medina saw this scene, they could not understand what had happened. They noted the day of the crying of these birds. Then after some time, the news of the martyrdom of Imam Husain (asws) came to Medina , then they realized Imam Husain (asws) had been martyred on the same day they had seen these birds gathered at the shrine of RasoolAllah (saw) offering their condolences.

One bird flew from the shrine of RasoolAllah (saw) and landed in the garden of a Jew. He sat upon a tree and cried over Imam Husain (asws) the entire night. The owner of this garden had a daughter who was blind and disabled. The Jew would bring his daughter in the day and bring her back into the home during the evening. That day however the Jew was very busy and could not take his daughter back to the home. So the girl spent the whole night under the tree in which the bird was sat mourning over Imam Husain (asws).

A drop of Imam Husain (asws)'s holy blood fell from his wings onto one eye of that blind girl. With the blessing of the blood of Imam Husain (asws), her sight was immediately restored. Then another drop of the blood of Imam Husain (asws) fell onto her other eye and sight in that eye was also immediately restored. Then a few drops fell on her body. With the blessing of the Holy Blood of Imam Husain (asws), all of her disabilities were healed.

In the morning, when the father came in the garden, he saw a healthy girl walking in the garden. He asked her "Do you know where my sick and blind daughter has gone?"

The daughter replied, "O'my father, I think you do not recognize me. I am your sick and disabled daughter."

Upon hearing this, the Jew fell unconscious. When he came to, he asked his daughter how she had been cured. The daughter took hold of the hand of her father and brought him to the tree upon which the bird was sitting and mourning Imam Husain (as). The daughter said, "O'my father, in the night when I was lying under this tree. A few drops of blood fell down from the wings of this bird and with the blessing of that blood I was cured." That Jew said to the bird, "O'bird, for the sake of the one who created you, speak to me in my language." Allah blessed this bird with the ability to speak in the human language.

The bird said, "I was sitting with my fellow birds when suddenly another bird came and said, "O' birds, you are busy in gossips here while Imam Husain (as) has been slaughtered in Karbala. The oppressors have beheaded Him and His whole Family has been destroyed. Upon hearing this, we immediately went to the desert of Karbala where we saw the dead body of Imam Husain (as) laying on the plains of Karbala with His Holy Blood still freshly flowing. We covered our wings with His Holy Blood and flew in different directions. I came here to offer my condolences to RasoolAllah (saw)."

When the Jew heard this, he said, "No doubt the religion of the Grandfather of Imam Husain (as) is the true religion. If there is this much great blessing contained in a few drops of His Holy Blood, then what would be the status of such personality."

The Jew embraced Islam immediately along with 500 people from his tribe.

[Mantaqib Tareehi page no 107-109]

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Posted in: 05 Imam Husain (a.s.),Karbala

Imam Zainul Abedeen (a.s.)

Imam Ali ibn al-Husain (A.S.) the Fourth Shi'ite Holy Imam and the eldest son of Imam Husayn(A.S.) famous as Zayn ul-Abideen and Sayyid-e-Sajjad (a.s.).

Name:  Ali

Title:  Zainul Abedeen, Sayidus Sajideen

Designation:  4th Imam

Kunyat:  Abul Muhammad

Father:  3rd Imam Hussain Ibne Ali (A.S.)

Mother:  Shahr Banu Binte-Yazdjard

Born:  15th Jumada Awaal, 37AH

Died:  25th Muharram, 95AH

Martyred:  Poisoned by Waleed

Buried:  Cemetery of Jannatul Baqi

Lived:  57 years

Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (A.S.) the Fourth Shi'ite Holy Imam and the eldest son of Imam Husayn(A.S.) famous as Zayn al-Abidin and Sayyid-i Sajjad.

Imam was martyred by poisoning on 25th Moharram in the year 95 A.H. at Madinah Munawwarah and is buried at Baqi cemetery near his uncle, the 2nd Imam Hasan (A.S.).

He was named Ali and was called Abu Muhammad, Abul Hasan and Abul Qasim. Some of his titles were Sayyad-us-Sajideen , Zain-ul-Abideen , Sajjad and Abid. He was present in Karbala along with his father, but did not fight as he was very sick. After Imam Hussain (A.S) martyrdom, he was put in shackles, but he carried his father's message beyond Karbala. He lived for 40 years after Karbala and publicised the event of Karbala.

He was such a great worshipper that people called him "ABID" and "SAJID". He used to fast daily and worship the whole night. He used to stand so long in prayers that his feet used to swell up. While praying he used to cry so much that his eyes used to turn red. His supplications are so many that their collection are present in a book titled "SAHIF-E-KAMILAH". Along with love for ALLAH, he also loved his fellow beings. He provided all the basic necessities to many needy families. He used to carry food for the poor at night and provide them with their needs.

Imam (AS) in Madina through his silent teachings left many pupils; the most prominent of them was Abu Hamza-e-Thumali, who remained to spread the teachings of Ahlulbayt in the Islamic world. Abu Mikhnuf was also one famous pupil of the Imam who later on the instructions of the fifth Imam wrote the story of Karbala in the narrative form which became the part of the Majlis all over the world.

The calm and peaceful life of the Imam was not to be tolerated by the Ummayad's cruel regime. They realized that the Imam was succeeding in his mission of spreading the message of his father Hussain (AS). The Syrian monarch Walid Ibn Abdul Malik had him poisoned. He died in Madina on the 25th of Muharram 95 Hijri. His eldest son Muhammad Ibn Ali al Baqir arranged the burial and laid him to rest in the grave yard of Jannatul Baqi beside his uncle Imam Hasan (AS).

The Holy Imam Ali-Zain-ul-Abedeen (A.S.) spent the first two years of his infancy in the lap of his grandfather Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (A.S.) and then for twelve years he had the gracious patronage of his uncle, the second Holy Imam Hasan Ibn Ali (A.S.). In 61 H.A. he was present in Karbala, at the time of the gruesome tragedy of the wholesale massacre of his father, his uncles, his brothers, his cousins and all the godly comrades of his father; and suffered a heartless captivity and imprisonment at the hands of the devilish forces of Yezid

"There are three things which are refuges and shelters for the faithful: to refrain his tongue from the people and backbiting; keeping himself busy with things that are beneficial for his future, the hereafter and the world; and lengthy weeping upon his sin."

Source: (Tuhful Aqool p 282)

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Posted in: 06 Imam Ali Zainul Abedeen (a.s.),Islam,Karbala

Imam Husain (a.s.) - Views of Non-Muslim Scholars

The event of Karbala marks the greatest sacrifice for the sake of God in the human history. The minute and stunning details of this great event have been written and survived from the very first day by the eye witnesses. For the last fourteen hundred centuries, the battle of Karbala reflects the collision of the good versus the evil, the virtuous versus the wicked, right versus the wrong, and the collision of Imam Husain (the head of virtue) versus Yazid (l.a).

Edward G. Brown, the professor of Arabic and oriental studies at the University of Cambridge, praises Imam Husain in these words:

 "… a reminder of the blood-stained field of Kerbela, where the grandson of the Apostle of God fell at length, tortured by thirst and surrounded by the bodies of his murdered kinsmen, has been at anytime since then sufficient to evoke, even in the most lukewarm and heedless, the deepest emotions, the most frantic grief, and an exaltation of spirit before which pain, danger and death shrink to unconsidered trifles."

[A Literary History of Persia, London, 1919, p. 227]

As the Imam of the time and true representative of his grandfather Prophet Muhammad (S), Imam Husain (A) stood up against the tyrant of the time to safeguard and protect Islam and guide fellow Muslims. On the other hand, the staying power of the rulers (Mu'awiya and his son Yazid) depended solely on the might of the sword. They used brute force to rule over the Muslim empire even by all possible illicit means.  

By the time the sun was set, the day of Ashura in the plains of Karbala, witnessed Imam Husain (A) giving up everything humanly possible in the way of God including his 72 brave and loyal followers and his 6 months beautiful baby, Ali Asghar. In the wake of such a great sacrifices, the Quran praises as:

“Think not of those who are slain in God's way as dead. Nay, they are living, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord” (Qur'an 3:169).

Before the battle of Karbala, the world knew only the rule that “The Might is the Right”. However, the day of Aashura introduced even more powerful rule to this world; “The Right is the Might”. Now, the blood of the innocent could win over the sword of a tyrant.  

Mahatma Gandhi (Indian political and spiritual leader) writes: 

“I learned from Hussein how to achieve victory while being oppressed.”

According to the great poet Rabindranath Tagore, Hussain’s sacrifice indicates spiritual liberation. He writes: 

“In order to keep alive justice and truth, instead of an army or weapons, success can be achieved by sacrificing lives, exactly what Imam Husain (A.S.) did.”

Such an everlasting victory can only be achieved by the one who totally believes and trust in the Almighty God.

Thomas Carlyle (Scottish historian and essayist) explains: “The best lesson which we get from the tragedy of Karbala is that Husain and his companions were rigid believers in God. They illustrated that the numerical superiority does not count when it comes to the truth and the falsehood. The victory of Husain, despite his minority, marvels me!”

Imam Hussain (A.S.) explains the mission of his sacrifice in his own words: “I have taken this stand not out of arrogance or pride, neither out of mischief or injustice. I have risen to seek reform in the community of my grandfather. I would like to bid good, forbid evil, and follow the tradition of my grandfather and my father ‘Ali bin Abi Talib.”

Charles Dickens (English novelist) writes: “If Husain had fought to quench his worldly desires…then I do not understand why his sister, wife, and children accompanied him. It stands to reason therefore, that he sacrificed purely for Islam.”

In spite of all the painful aspects of Karbala, it holds a great significance in the Islamic history, for the revolution of Imam Husain (A) was not merely an event which had taken place by chance. It was rather a movement for the revival of Islam. Imam Husain (A) declared his noble mission right from the day one.

Antoine Bara (Lebanese writer) writes: “No battle in the modern and past history of mankind has earned more sympathy and admiration as well as provided more lessons than the martyrdom of Husain in the battle of Karbala.” (Husain in Christian Ideology)

History has seen numerous massacres of innocent people, but the tragedy of Karbala is one of the few where men, women and children voluntarily allowed themselves to be subjected to hunger, thirst, humiliation and death on the burning sands of Karbala because they believed that Imam Husain (A) stood for righteousness. Little wonder that for over 1400 years Muslims, have been nurturing the tale of Karbala in their hearts like an open wound, lest they should forget the supreme sacrifice of Imam Husain (A) and his followers.

Great spiritual leaders are known to make great sacrifices, but at Karbala, common men and women with infants at their bosom, their hearts and souls aflame with righteousness, chose death rather than evil and weakness. Such was the greatness of Imam Husain (A); such was his spiritual power, which could uplift common mortals to heights of supreme courage and sacrifice.

Dr. K. Sheldrake writes: “Of that gallant band, male and female knew that the enemy forces around were implacable, and were not only ready to fight, but to kill. Denied even water for the children, they remained parched under the burning sun and scorching sands, yet not one faltered for a moment. Husain marched with his little company, not to glory, not to power of wealth, but to a supreme sacrifice, and every member bravely faced the greatest odds without flinching.”

Dr. Radha Krishnan writes “Though Imam Husain gave his life years ago, but his indestructible soul rules the hearts of people even today.”

The tragedy of Karbala took place in 680 AD on the banks of the Euphrates in Iraq but Karbala has a universal appeal and in today’s climate of violence, it is more relevant than ever. The tragedy of Karbala and its spirit of non-violent resistance and supreme sacrifice has been a source of inspiration to the likes of Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru.

Mahatma Gandhi’s first Salt Satyagrah was inspired by Imam Husain’s non violent resistance to the tyranny of Yazid (l.a). Gandhi is said to have studied the history of Islam and Imam Husain (A), and was of the opinion that Islam represented not the legacy of a sword but of sacrifices of saints like Imam Husain (A).

MahatmaGandhi writes: 

“My faith is that the progress of Islam does not depend on the use of sword by its believers, but the result of the supreme sacrifice of Husain (A), the great saint.”

Nehru considered Karbala to represent humanities strength and determination. He writes: 
“Imam Husain’s (A) sacrifice is for all groups and communities, an example of the path of righteousness.”

Dr. Rajendra Prasad writes, “The sacrifice of Imam Husain (A) is not limited to one country, or nation, but it is the hereditary state of the brotherhood of all mankind.”

Dr. Radha Krishnan writes, “Though Imam Husain (A) gave his life almost 1300 years ago, but his indestructible soul rules the hearts of people even today.”

Swami Shankaracharya describes, “It is Husain’s (A) sacrifice that has kept Islam alive or else in this world there would be no one left to take Islam’s name.”

Mrs. Sarojini Naidu writes, “I congratulate Muslims that from among them, Husain (A), a great human being was born, who is reverted and honored totally by all communities”

Simon Ockley (1678-1720), the Professor of Arabic at the University of Cambridge writes:

"Then Husain mounted his horse, and took the Koran and laid it before him, and, coming up to the people, invited them to the performances of their duty: adding, 'O God, thou art my confidence in every trouble, and my hope in all adversity!'… He next reminded them of his excellencies, the nobility of his birth, the greatness of his power, and his high descent, and said, 'Consider with yourselves whether or not such a man as I am is not better than you; I who am the son of your prophet's daughter, besides whom there is no other upon the face of the earth. Ali was my father; Jaafar and Hamza, the chief of the martyrs, were both my uncles; and the apostle of God, upon whom be peace, said both of me and my brother, that we were the chief of the youth of paradise. If you will believe me, what I say is true, for by God, I never told a lie in earnest since I had my understanding; for God hates a lie. If you do not believe me, ask the companions of the apostle of God [here he named them], and they will tell you the same. Let me go back to what I have.' They asked, 'What hindered him from being ruled by the rest of his relations.' He answered, 'God forbid that I should set my hand to the resignation of my right after a slavish manner. I have recourse to God from every tyrant that doth not believe in the day of account.'"

[The History of the Saracens, London, 1894, pp. 404-5]

Ignaz Goldziher (1850-1921), the Famous Hungarian orientalist scholar writes:

"Ever since the black day of Karbala, the history of this family … has been a continuous series of sufferings and persecutions. These are narrated in poetry and prose, in a richly cultivated literature of martyrologies - a Shi'i specialty - and form the theme of Shi'i gatherings in the first third of the month of Muharram, whose tenth day ('ashura) is kept as the anniversary of the tragedy at Karbala. Scenes of that tragedy are also presented on this Day of commemoration in dramatic form (ta'ziya). 'Our feast days are our assemblies of mourning.' So concludes a poem by a prince of Shi'i disposition recalling the many mihan of the Prophet's family. Weeping and lamentation over the evils and persecutions suffered by the 'Alid family, and mourning for its martyrs: these are things from which loyal supporters of the cause cannot cease. 'More touching than the tears of the Shi'is' has even become an Arabic proverb."

[Introduction to Islamic Theology and Law, Princeton, 1981, p. 179]

Edward Gibbon (1737-1794), considered as the greatest British historian of his time writes

"In a distant age and climate the tragic scene of the death of Husain will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader."

[The Decline and fall of the Roman Empire, London, 1911, volume 5, pp. 391-2]

Peter J. Chelkowski, Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, New York University, writes:

"Hussein accepted and set out from Mecca with his family and an entourage of about seventy followers. But on the plain of Kerbela they were caught in an ambush set by the … caliph, Yazid (l.a). Though defeat was certain, Hussein refused to pay homage to him. Surrounded by a great enemy force, Hussein and his company existed without water for ten days in the burning desert of Kerbela. Finally Hussein, the adults and some male children of his family and his companions were cut to bits by the arrows and swords of Yazid's army; his women and remaining children were taken as captives to Yazid (l.a) in Damascus. The renowned historian Abu Reyhan al-Biruni states; "… then fire was set to their camp and the bodies were trampled by the hoofs of the horses; nobody in the history of the human kind has seen such atrocities."

[Ta'ziyeh: Ritual and Drama in Iran, New York, 1979, p. 2]

Reynold Alleyne Nicholson (1868-1945), Sir Thomas Adams Professor of Arabic at the University of Cambridge, writes, "Husain fell, pierced by an arrow, and his brave followers were cut down beside him to the last man. Muhammadan tradition, which with rare exceptions is uniformly hostile to the Umayyad dynasty, regards Husain as a martyr and Yazid (l.a) as his murderer."

[A Literary History of the Arabs, Cambridge, 1930, p. 197]

Robert Durey Osborn (1835-1889), the Major of the Bengal Staff Corps, writes, “Husain had a child named Abdallah, only a year old. He had accompanied his father in this terrible march. Touched by its cries, he took the infant in his arms and wept. At that instant, a shaft from the hostile ranks pierced the child's ear, and it expired in his father's arms. Husain placed the little corpse upon the ground. 'We come from God, and we return to Him!' he cried; 'O Lord, give me strength to bear these misfortunes!' … Faint with thirst, and exhausted with wounds, he fought with desperate courage, slaying several of his antagonists. At last he was cut down from behind; at the same instance a lance was thrust through his back and bore him to the ground; as the dealer of this last blow withdrew his weapon, the ill-fated son of Ali rolled over a corpse. The head was severed from the trunk; the trunk was trampled under the hoofs of the victors' horses; and the next morning the women and a surviving infant son were carried away to Koufa. The bodies of Husain and his followers were left unburied on the spot where they fell. For three days they remained exposed to the sun and the night dews, the vultures and the prowling animals of the waste; but then the inhabitants of a neighboring village, struck with horror that the body of a Grandson of the Prophet should be thus shamefully abandoned to the unclean beasts of the field, dared the anger of Obaidallah, and interred the body of the martyr and those of his heroic friends.”

[Islam under the Arabs, Delaware, 1976, pp. 126-7]

Sir William Muir (1819-1905), the Scottish scholar and statesman and held the post of Foreign Secretary to the Indian government as well as Lieutenant Governor of the Northwestern Provinces writes: 

"The tragedy of Karbala decided not only the fate of the caliphate, but of the Mohammedan kingdoms long after the Caliphate had waned and disappeared."

[Annals of the Early Caliphate, London, 1883, pp. 441-2]

Karbala symbolizes the true face of struggle against injustice – non-violent resistance. Not taking life but sacrificing your life for Islam. In summary, it is not out of place to say in words of some known Indian poets:

·         Let humanity awaken and every tribe will claim Husain as their own.

·         In the martyr of Imam Husain (A.S.), lies the death of Yazid (l.a), for Islam resurrects after every Karbala

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Posted in: 05 Imam Husain (a.s.),Islam,Karbala

Bibi Sakina Bint-ul-Husain (a.s.)

Sakina (s.a.) was Imaam Hussain's most beloved child Our Imam was often heard to say,

"A house without Sakina would not be worth living in!"

Like any other four-five year old when Sakina went to bed at night she wanted to spend some time with her father. Imaam Hussain would tell her stories of the prophets and of the battles fought by her grand-father Ali. She would rest her head on her father's chest and Hussain would not move from her until she fell asleep. When from the second of Muharram the armies of Yezid began to gather at Kerbala, Hussain said to his sister Zainab, "The time has come for you to get Sakina used to going to sleep without my being there !". Sakina would follow her father at night and Hussain had to gently take her to Zainab or Rubaab.

There was a special bond between Hazrat Abbas and Sakina. He loved her more than he did his own children.There was nothing that Abbas would not do to make Sakina happy.

On the Ashura day, she gave her Mashk to Hazrat Abbas. He went to get water for her. The children gathered round Sakina with their little cups, knowing that as soon as Hazrat Abbas brought any water, Sakina would first make sure that they had some before taking any herself. When Sakina saw Imaam Hussain bringing the blood drenched 'Alam she knew that her uncle Abbas had been killed. From that day on Sakina never complained of thirst.

Yes Sakina never again asked anyone for water. Bibi Zainab would persuade her to take a few sips, but she herself would never ask for water or complain of thirst !!!!

Shahadat Of Bibi Sakina(A.S):

From the time when Imaam Hussain fell in the battle field, Sakina forgot to smile! Kufa saw her as a sombre little girl lost in thought. Quite often she would sit up at night. When asked if she wanted anything, she would say, "I just heard a baby cry? Is it Asghar? He must be calling out for me!"

Knowing that her weeping upset her mother, Sakina would cry silently and quickly wipe away her tears! In the prison in Shaam she would stare at the flock of birds flying to their nests at sunset and innocently ask Bibi Zainab, "Will Sakina be going home like those birds flying to their homes?"

Then one dreadful night Sakina went to bed on the cold floor of the prison. For a long time she stared into the darkness! The time for the morning prayers came. Sakina was still lying with her eyes wide open. Her mother called out: "Wake up, Sakina! Wake up, it is time for prayers, my child!"There was only the painful silence! Our fourth Imaam walked up to where Sakina lay. He put his hand on her forehead. It was cold! He put his hand near the mouth and the nose. Sakina had stopped breathing. In between sobs Imaam Zain ul 'Abideen said:

"INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAYHI RAAJI'OON!"

How was Sakina buried ? Zainab held the still child as Imaam Zain ul 'Abideen dug a grave in the cell. As the grave was being filled up after the burial the mother let out a scream! How could anyone console Bibi Rubaab? What could they say? They huddled around her, and the prison walls began to shake with the cry: "YA SAKINA, YA MAZLOOMAH!!" Bibi Rubaab put her cheek on Sakina's grave and cried out:

"Speak to me, Sakina! Only a word, my child! Speak to me!!"

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Posted in: 05 Imam Husain (a.s.),Islam,Karbala

Hazrat Ali Asghar (as) - The Youngest martyr of Karbala

Six-month old Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS), the beloved brother of Hazrat Sakinah bintul Hussain (AS) about whom a saying of Imam Hussain (AS) goes that I do not like the place where Sakinah (AS) is not present, has the honour of being the youngest martyr of Karbala.

On Ashur day when all companions of Imam Hussain (AS) were martyred in the desert of Karbala, Imam raised the voice of Isteghasa "Hal min nasiro yansorona". Responding to the voice, Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS) make himself fell on the ground from the cradle. Hazrat Rubab (AS) told imam (AS) what had happened as he raised his voice of Isteghasa. So Imam (AS) lifted the infant son from the cradle, took him on his hands with cover on Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS) towards the Yazeedi army. As Imam Hussain (AS) reached the battlefield with covered Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS), the army considered that Imam Hussain (AS) has brought Holy Quran.

Walking up to Yazeedi (curse of Allah be upon him) army, Imam Hussain (AS) said, while uncovering the infant: "This child has done you no harm; he is dying of thirst; I am asking for a few drops of water for him." There was stillness in the Yazeedi army. Imam in a clear voice said to Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS): "Asghar! My son, show them how thirsty you are!" Asghar turned his head towards the soldiers; smiled sweetly; opened his mouth; brought out his dry tongue and moved it over his dry lips. The soldiers were so affected by this that they could be heard sobbing.

Umar Sa'ad (curse of Allah be upon him) became much worried. It seemed that Imam Hussain (AS)’s 6-month old Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS) was emerging victorious against the might of Yazeed (curse of Allah be upon him). Umar Sa'ad (curse of Allah be upon him) looked at Hurmala - a famous archer - and ordered: "Silence Hussain!"

Then at once, Hurmala (curse of Allah be upon him), lifting his bow made 6-month Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS) the target of an arrow, which pierced the innocent infant's neck. Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS) smiled and kissed martyrdom while still in the hands of his father Imam Hussain (AS).

Imam Hussain (AS) caught the blood of Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS) in the palm of his hands and wanted to throw it on the sky; at once a heavenly voice came: "Hussain don’t throw it towards sky otherwise it will not rain for ever till the Day of Judgment." Then Imam Hussain (AS) wanted to pour it on the earth but suddenly a heavenly voice came: "Hussain don’t pour it on the earth otherwise nothing will grow on the earth till the day of resurrection." So Imam Hussain (AS) applied the blood on his face.

Imam (AS) looking at the sky and prayed "O Allah, give me courage in this most difficult moment of my life. No Prophet ever was subjected to a test as severe as this." Then Imam (AS) walked towards the tent of Hazrat Rubab (AS). As he approached near he saw her standing at the entrance to her tent with anxiety, the hope, the fear and the restlessness in her eyes. Imam (AS) took seven steps back the tent saying "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajeoon". He again took seven steps forwards saying "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajeoon". Once again he walked backwards repeating the same ayah. Imam Hussain (AS) did this seven times. At last, Imam went to Hazrat Rubab (AS) with martyred infant and said: "Rubab! This is a test from Allah, which no mother has ever been asked to go through."

Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS)’s holy grave is in the holy city of Karbala.

History By: Syeda Bint-e-Zahra

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Posted in: 05 Imam Husain (a.s.),Karbala