THESUFFERINGOFTHEAHL-UL-BAYTANDTHEIRFOLLOWERS(SHI’A)THROUGHOUTHISTORY

MATEENJOSHUACHARBONNEAU-XKP

Published:2015Tag(s):islam

1ChapterAbouttheAuthor

JoshuaCharbonneauisanAmericanMuslim.Hewasbornin1982inSumter,SouthCarolina.Heis

ofFrenchCanadianandAmericandescent.Hewasborn intoaChristian family,and laterchose toreverttoShi’aIslamattheageof17,havingstudiedbothfaiths.AfterrevertingtoIslamhechosethenameMateenwhichinArabicmeansstrong,firmandunshakable.HisfirstlanguageisEnglishandhealsolearnedQuranicArabic.Atage26hemovedtoWashington,DCandhasbeenanactivepartoftheMuslimcommunity.HetookpartinadocumentarybyAlAnwarHussainTVentitledJourneyoftheSpiritwherehenarratedhisincrediblestoryonhowhebecameaShiaMuslim.1In2012hehadtheopportunitytotravelwiththemembersofAlAnwarHussainTVtovisittheHolyshrinesofImamAli(as)andImamHussain(as)inIraqforZiyaratArbaeen.SinceMarchof2013hehasbeenstudyingHowza(IslamicSeminary)classesunder theguidanceofSheikhMustafaAkhoundat the ImamAliCenterofSpringfield,VA.Mateenhasalsocompiledandpublishedsomeveryin-depthbooksentitledThe Suffering of the Ahl ul Bayt and their Followers (Shia) throughout History, Christians whodefendedanddiedforProphetMuhammadandhisFamilyandMysteryoftheShia.ThesetitlesareavailableatAmazon. In2014heco-foundedapublicationcompanyentitledYasinPublicationsandalsoaprogramtosendfreebookstoprisonersentitled2ndChanceBooks.1ThisdocumentarycanbeviewedonYoutubeorwww.mateenjc.com

2ChapterPreface

InthenameofAllahtheMostGracioustheMostMerciful,mayAllahshowerHisblessingsonour

belovedProphetMuhammadandhisPurifiedHousehold.MayAllahopenoureyesandbestowonusthebaseera(insight)toseethetruthandanopenhearttoacceptit.MayAllahhastenthereappearanceofourawaitedsavior,ImamMahdiandallowustobeamonghishumbledevotedfollowers.MayweseethetimewhenhewillmakeapparenttoeveryonethetrueteachingsofIslamastheyweretaughtbyhisgrandfathertheProphetofAllah(saw)andnottheIslamthatwaschangedbythecorruptrulersand dictators to fit their desires. May Allah continue to bless Muhammad and the family ofMuhammadandmayHeremoveHisMercyfromthosewhobearenmitytowardsthem.إحر قی لا فن نی نتذ لا او نم ؤم لاو نی نم ؤم ث تا فتمیمل اوبو جھل با ذع منھم لو ذع ھملا با “Surely thosewhotormented thebelievingmenandthebelievingwomenandthendidnotrepent,

theirsshallbethepunishmentofHell,andtheirsshallbetheburningpunishment.”2Imam Baqir (as) said “Since the death of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) we Ahl ul bayt have been

humiliated,madedistantandhavebeendeprivedandkilledandmadetoleaveourhometownandwefelt frightened for our blood and the bloodof our followers.The cheaters, through their lies, gotnearer to the leaders, judges and governors in every city and our enemies told false and invalidtraditionsrelatingtotheirpastleadersandquotedriwayah(narrations)thatwehadnevertold.Theyonlywantedtohumiliateusandwantedtoaccuseusoffalsehood,andwantedtogetnearertotheirleadersthroughlies.AfterthepassingawayofHasan(a.s)thisbecameverycommonduringthetimeofMuawiyah.Atthattime,ineverycity,Shiaswere2Quran85:10killed,theirhandsandfeetwerecutoffandtheywerehangedonaccusationsoftheirbeingnearto

usandtalkingabout their loveforus.Thenafter thatadversities increasedinnumbersandstrength,fromthemartyrdomofHusayn(a.s)untilthetimeofibnZiyad.ThencameHajjajandhekilledthem(Shia of Ali) for every doubt and accusation until it was said that this person (Shia) wasZindiq(atheist)andmajusi(Zoroastrian)andHajjajlikeditbetterthatthesewordsbeusedratherthansaythattheywereShiaofHusayn,peacebeuponhim.”3لتنھۥن او لع ن نم یك إب فو ى سو ونبم رع لٱ قحقل نم ؤ ی مو إ ( ٣ ) نو فنف الع ون رع ى

ألٱ رضوجعلأ ھھل یش ایعا تس فط عض ةفٮا نم ہ بذ می حأ نب ءھا یو م تس حىۦن اس مإءھ من نا ك فم نو ( ٤ ) نی دس أ دی ننر لع من لٱ ى تسٱ نی ذ فعض او ف ألٱ ى نو رض لع مأج ٮھ ةم نو لع ج لٱ وھم ثر ٲ نو ( ٥ ) نی نل كم مف ھ ألٱ ى نو رض ونوھرىف رع نج ھـمـنو دو نم ام ھم لٱ

ڪنا ام او )ی ٦ ) نو ر ذح “Lo! Pharaoh exalted himself in the earth and made its people castes. A tribe among them he

oppressed,killingtheirsonsandsparingtheirwomen.Lo!hewasofthosewhoworkcorruption.AndWedesiredtoshowfavouruntothosewhowereoppressedintheearth,andtomakethemexamplesandtomakethemtheinheritors,Andtoestablishthemintheearth,andtoshowPharaohandHamanandtheirhoststhatwhichtheyfearedfromthem.”43KitabeSulaymIbnQaysAl-Hilali4Quran28:3-5Theoppressorsyouwillreadabout in thisbookareevenworsethanPharoah.Isaythisbecause

evenPharoahhadenoughcompassion tospare thewomenfromamongMusa’s (as) followers,butlookandseehowtheseoppressorstreatedLadyFatimathedaughterofourbelovedProphet!

ل نو دی یر طی ف ـ او -ن ٱ رو ھموٱ9فأب ھٲ و تم من لو ۦه رو هر وڪ لٱ ٨كـف ) نو ر“IntendtheytoputoutthelightofAllahwiththeirmouths,butAllahwillperfecthislightthough

aversemaybethedisbelievers!”5

دع و لٱ ء نی ذ نما او لم موع كن م او صـل لٱ یحـتل تس لخ مفنف ھ ألٱ ى تسٱ ام رضڪ لخ فنم نی ذ لب لو ھم نكم نلی نید م ہھ لٱ م ترٱ ىذ ضىل لو م ھ بی لد ن نبہ مم فو خ دع ھمأ نم ٱ7ابع ن ب نو یـىالیشرك ڪفىش نم و ذٲلرب دع أكف لو كھٮـ لٱ فم قس ٥٥ـ ) نو لٱ ق

ی نود "Allahhaspromised,tothoseamongyouwhobelieveandworkrighteousdeeds,thatHewill,ofa

surety,grantthemintheland,inheritance(ofpower),asHegrantedittothosebeforethem;thatHewill establish in authority their religion - the onewhichHehas chosen for them; and thatHewillchange (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: 'They willworship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me. 'If any do reject Faith after this, they arerebelliousandwicked."6ThenIwasguided,authorMuhammadal-TijanialSamawiwritesofhisdiscoverytothetruepath

ofIslam,thatofadheringtotheteachingsoftheAhlulbayt.InhisbookhedescribeswhatthescholarAs-SayyidAs-Sadrrelatestohim:5Quran61:86Quran24:55As-SayyidAs-Sadrsaid:ItisinevitablethatwepassthroughdifficulttimesbecausethepathofAhl

al-Baytisadifficultone.AmanoncecametoseetheProphet(s.a.w.)andsaidtohim,"OMessengerofAllah,Iloveyou."Hereplied,"Thenexpectmanytribulations."Themansaid,"IloveyourcousinAli."Hereplied,"Thenexpectmanyenemies."Themansaid,"Iloveal-Hasanandal-Husayn."He

replied,"Thengetreadyforpovertyandmuchaffliction."WhathavewepaidforthecauseofjusticeforwhichAbaAbdillahal-Husayn(as)paidhislifeandthelivesofhisfamily'smembersand

companions;andforwhichtheShi’aalongthepathofhistoryhavepaidandarestillpayinguptothepresentdayasapricefortheirallegiancetoAhlal-Bayt?MyBrother,itisinevitablethatwego

throughdifficultiesandgivesacrificesforthecauseofjustice,andifAllahhelpedyouinguidingonemantotherightpath,itisworththewholeworldandwhatiswithinit.

Al-Tijanicontinues,As-Sayyidas-Sadralsoadvisedmeagainstisolatingourselvesandorderedmetogetevencloser

tomySunnibrotherswhenevertheywantedtokeepawayfromme,andtoconsidertheminnocentvictimsofdistortedhistoryandbadpropaganda,becausepeoplearetheenemyofwhattheydonotknow.7Thisdoesnotmeanagreewiththeirteachings,butrathernottoshunthemwhentheycometous.Ifwerejectthemwhentheycometous,makefunofthemorarerudewiththemthenhowwillthey

evercometowardsAhlulBayt?

ل بس ى بر لی كب لٱ كح لٱو ةم ظع و م لٱ ة نس ح لد ةوجـ ب ھم لٱ نإىھىأت كھحس بر ونأ7 لع مب بس نع ضل نم لی وھ ۦھ وأ لع مب لٱ ١٢٥مھت ) نی عإد دٱ 7IwasguidedbyDr.MuhammadTijani“InvitetothewayofthyLordwithwisdomandbeautifulpreaching;andarguewiththeminways

thatarebestandmostgracious:forthyLordknows,bestwhohavestrayedfromHisPath,andwhoreceiveguidance.”8ManyMuslimshavenever evenheardof the events that tookplace against theAhlulBayt.They

weretaughtalltheirlivesonewayandthatisalltheyhaveseenandtheonlywaythattheyknow.Thisbookiswrittentoteachthedearbrothersandsisterswhatactuallytookplaceafterthemartyrdomofour Prophet.We cannot hold them accountable untilwe know that they are aware and then havingknownchoosetorejectAhlulBayt(as).Eventheidolworshippersweregivenachancetohear thetruthandsubmitsowhynotgivethischancetoourfellowMuslim’s?

لٱ من تسٱ نی كفمشرك را أج هر ج تح ىی لك مأثٱ0ـمسمع لب غ أم ھ نم مہنأكبھذٲلق مو الی لع ٦ ) نو م إو نأ دح “Andifanyoneoftheidolatersseekeththyprotection(OMuhammad),thenprotecthimsothathe

mayheartheWordofAllah,andafterwardconveyhimtohisplaceofsafety.Thatisbecausetheyareapeoplewhoknownot.”9InthishumbleattemptIhavecompiledseveralexcerptsaboutthelifeandstrugglesoftheAhlul

bayt(familyofMuhammad)andtheirShia(followers),andtoinformthepeopleabouttheoppressiveevents and incidents were inflicted upon the Ahl-ul-Bayt (family of Muhammad) and their Shia(followers).IhaveincludedallofthebooksthatIreferencedforthisprojectsothatyoumaystudythem,andcometoyourownconclusion.Ihopethatyou,mydearbrotherorsister,benefitfromthiswork8Quran16:1259Quran9:6and that you grow closer to Allah, our beloved Prophet and his Ahl-ul-Bayt, inshallah (God

willing).

MateenJ.CharbonneauNote:Theuseof(PBUH)or(SAWW)aftertheProphet’snameisanabbreviationforpeacebeupon

him and his family. The use of (AS) after the names of Fatima (AS) and the 12 Imams (AS) is anabbreviationforpeacebeuponhim/herinArabic;AlayhiSalam.Theuseof(ATF)afterthenameofImamMahdi(ATF)isanabbreviationformayAllahhastenhisreappearance.Theuseof(RA)isanabbreviationforMayAllahbepleasedwithhim/herinArabic;Radi-AllahuAnhu.ImamSadiq(AS)said:“Writeandspreadyourknowledgeamongyourbrothers.Iftheendofyourlifeapproaches,leaveyourbooksasaninheritanceforyoursons,sincetherewillcomea

timeofseditionduringwhichthepeoplewillonlyfindcomfortwiththeirbooks.1010MishkatulAnwarbyAlTabarsiHadith#736

3ChapterALI(as)TAKENBYFORCETOPLEDGEALLEGIANCEFATIMA'SHOUSESETONFIREMARTYRDOMOFFATIMAZAHRA(as)FATIMA'SDEATHANDBURIALKEPTSECRET

TherearemanyhadithmakingitimperativeontheummatofollowAli.Oneofthemisnarratedby

Ammar-e-Yasir,whichthefollowingulemahaverecordedintheirbooks:HafizAbiNu'aimIspahaniinHilya;MuhammadBinTalhaShafi'i inMatalibu's-Su'ul;Baladhuri inTa'rikh;SheikhSulaymanBalkhiHanafiinYanabiu'l-Mawadda,Chapter43,fromHamwaini;MirSeyyedAliHamadaniShafi'iinMawaddatu'l-Qurba,MawaddaV;Dailami inFirdaus.Theynarratea lengthy,detailedhadith thatcannotberelatedhereinfull.ItmaybestatedbrieflythatwhenpeopleaskedAbuAyyubwhyhehadgonetoAliandhadnotswornallegiancetoAbuBakr,herepliedthatonedayhewassittingwiththeProphet when Ammar-e-Yasir came in and asked the Prophet a question. In the course of hisconversation,theProphetsaid:"OAmmar!IfallthepeoplegoonewayandAlialonegoestheotherway,youshouldfollowAli.OAmmar!Aliwillnotallowyoutodivergefromthepathofguidanceandwillnotleadyoutodestruction;OAmmar!ObediencetoAliisobediencetome,andobediencetomeisobediencetoAllah."Inlightoftheseinjunctions,andinlightofAli'soppositiontoAbuBakr,shouldn't people have followed Ali? Even if the Bani Hashim, Bani Umayya, distinguishedcompanions,theintelligentonesofthenation,theMuhajirs,andAnsarshadnotbeenwithhim(andtheywerewithhim),peopleshouldhavefollowedAli.YetafterthemartyrdomoftheProphetwefindthatthepeopledidquitetheopposite!Ali and theBaniHashim did not take the oath of allegiance immediately. Sunni historians have

writtenthatAliofferedhisallegianceafterthedemiseofHazratFatima.BukhariinhisSahih,VolumeIII,ChapterofGhazawaKhaibar,page37,andMuslimBinHujjaj,inhisSahih,VolumeV,page154,report that Ali offered his allegiance after Fatima's death. Some of the Sunni ulema believe thatFatimadied75daysaftertheProphet'sdeath.IbnQutaybaalsoholdsthesameview,butmostofthehistorians claim that she died six months after the Prophet died. It follows, therefore, that Ali'sallegiancecamesometimeafter3to6monthsoftheProphet'sdeath.Mas'udiinhisMuruju's-sahab,VolumeI,page414,says"NoneoftheBaniHashimsworetheirallegiancetoAbuBakruntilthedeathofBibiFatima.IbrahimBinSa'dSaqafinarratesfromZuhrithatAlididnotpayallegianceuntilsixmonthsaftertheProphet'sdeath,andthepeopledidnothavethecouragetopressurehimexceptafterthedeathofBibiFatima. IbnAbi'l -Hadid inSharheNahju'l -Balagha relates thesame fact. Inanycase,theSunniulemainsistthatAli'sallegiancewasnotimmediatebutcameonlyaftersometimehadpassedandthenonlywhencircumstancesforcedhimtodoso.IbnAbi'l-Hadid,inhisSharheNahju'l-Balagha, Volume II, page 18, narrates from Zuhri, from A'yesha, who said: "Ali did not offerallegiancetoAbuBakrforsixmonths,andnooneof theBaniHashimofferedallegianceuntilAlidid."AhmadBinA'sam-e-KufiShafi'iinFutuh,andAbuNasrHamidi,inJam'aBainu's-SahihainreportfromNafiy,quotingfromZuhri,whosaid:"Alididnotswearallegianceuntilsixmonthsafter

theProphet'sdeath."HerearetwelveproofsthatAli’sallegiancewastakennotwillingly,butforced.( 1) Abu Ja'far Baladhuri Ahmad Bin Yahya Bin Jabir Baghdadi, one of the reliable Sunni

traditionistsandhistorians,writesinhisHistorythatwhenAbuBakrcalledAlitoswearallegiance,Alirefused.AbuBakrsentUmarwhowentwithatorchtosetfiretoAli'shouse.Fatimacametothedoor and said: "OsonofKhattab!Haveyoucome to setmyhouseon fire?"He said: "Yes, this ismoreeffectivethananythingyourfatherdid."2)Izzu'd-DinIbnAbi'l-HadidMu'tazali,andMuhammadBinJarirTabari,narratethatUmarwentto

thedoorofAli'shousewithUsaydBinKhuza'i,SalamaBinAslamandagroupofmen.Umarthencalledout,"Comeout!OrelseI'llsetyourhouseonfire!"(3)IbnKhazibareportsinhisKitab-e-GharrarfromZaidBinAslam,whosaid:"Iwasoneofthose

whowentwithUmarwithtorchestoFatima'sdoor.WhenAliandhismenrefusedtoofferallegiance,UmarsaidtoFatima,"Letwhoeverisinsidecomeout.Otherwise,Iwillsetthehouseonfirealongwithwhoeverisinside."Ali,Hasan,Husain,Fatima,andapartyoftheProphet'scompanions,andtheBaniHashimwereinside.Fatimasaid:"Wouldyousetmyhouseonfirealongwithmeandmysons?"Hesaid:"Yes,byAllah,iftheydonotcomeoutandpayallegiancetothecaliphoftheProphet."(4)IbnAbdRabbih,oneofyourfamousulema,writesinhisIqdu'l-Farid,PartIII,page63,thatAli

andAbbasweresittinginFatima'shouse.AbuBakr toldUmar:"Goandbringthesepeople.If theyrefusetocome,fightthem."SoUmarcametoFatima'shousewithtorches.Fatimacametothedoorofthehouseandsaid:"Haveyoucometoburnourhouse?"Hesaid:"Yes…"andsoon.( 5) IbnAbi'l-HadidMu'tazali in his ShahreNahju'l-Balagha,Volume I, page 134, quoting from

Jauhari'sKitab-e-Saqifa,writesindetailabouttheaffairoftheSaqifa-e-BaniSa'ad."TheBaniHashimandAliwereassembledinAli'shouse.ZubairwasalsowiththemsinceheconsideredhimselfoneoftheBaniHashim.Ali used to say, 'Zubairwas alwayswith us until his sonswere grown up. Theyturnedhimagainstus.'UmarwenttoFatima'shousewithagroupofmen.UsaydandSalmawerealsowithhim.Umaraskedthemtocomeoutandswearallegiance.Theyrefused.Zubairdrewhisswordandcameout.Umarsaid: 'Getholdofthisdog.'SalmaBin

Aslamsnatched theswordand threw itagainst thewall.Then theydraggedAli toAbuBakr.OtherBaniHashimalsofollowedhimandwerewaiting toseewhatAliwoulddo.AliwassayingthathewastheservantofAllahandthebrotheroftheHolyProphet.Nobodylistenedtohim.TheytookhimtoAbuBakr,whoaskedhimtotaketheoathofallegiancetohim.Alisaid:"Iamthemostdeservingpersonforthisposition,andIwillnotpayallegiancetoyou.Itisincumbentonyoutopayallegiancetome.YoutookthisrightfromtheAnsarbasedonyourrelationshipwiththeProphet.Ialso,onthesame ground, protest against you. So be just. If you fearAllah, acceptmy right, as theAnsar didyours.Otherwise,youshouldacknowledgethatyouareintentionallyoppressingme.'Umarsaid:'Wewillnotleaveyouuntilyouswearallegiance.'Alisaid:'Youhaveconspiredwelltogether.Todayyousupport him, so that tomorrowhemay return the caliphate toyou. I swearbyAllah that Iwill notcomply with your request and will not take the oath of allegiance (to Abu Bakr). He should payallegiancetome.'Thenheturnedhisfacetowardthepeopleandsaid:'OMuhajirs!FearAllah.DonottakeawaytherightofauthorityofMuhammad'sfamily.ThatrighthasbeenordainedbyAllah.Donotremove the rightful person from his place. By Allah, we Ahle Bait have greater authority in thismatterthanyouhave.ThereisamanamongyouwhohastheknowledgeoftheBookofAllah(The

Qur'an),theSunnaoftheProphet,andthelawsofourReligion.IswearbyAllahthatwepossessallthese things.Sodonot followyourselves lestyoushouldstray fromthe truth.'"Ali returnedhomewithoutofferingallegianceandsecludedhimself inhishouseuntilFatimadied.Thereafter,hewasforcedtoofferallegiance.(6)AbuMuhammadAbdullahBinMuslimBinQutaybaBinUmarAl-BahiliDinawari,whowasan

ulemaandanofficialQaziofthecityofDinawar,writesinhisfamousTa'rikhu'lKhulafateRaghibinwa Daulate Bani Umayya, known as AlImama wa's-Siyasa, Volume I, page 13: "When AbuBakrlearnedthatagrouphostiletohimhadassembledinAli'shouse,hesentUmartothem.WhenUmarshoutedtoAlitocomeoutandtoswearallegiancetoAbuBakr,theyallrefusedtocomeout.Umar collectedwood and said 'I swear byAllah,Who hasmy life inHis control, either youwillcomeout,orIwillsetthehousewithallthoseinitonfire.'Peoplesaid:'OAbuHafsa!Fatimaisalsopresentinthehouse.'Hesaid: 'Letherbethere.Iwillsetfiretothehouse.'Soallofthemcameoutandofferedallegiance,exceptAli,whosaid:'IhavetakenavowthatuntilIhavecompiledtheQur'an,I will neither go out of the house nor will I put on full dress.' Umar did not accept this, but theplaintivelamentationofFatimaandthesnubbingbyothers,forcedhimtogobacktoAbuBakr.UmarurgedhimtoforceAlitoswearallegiance.AbuBakrsentQanfazseveraltimestosummonAli,buthewasalwaysdisappointed.AtlastUmar,withagroupofpeoplewenttothedoorofFatima'shouse.WhenFatimaheardtheirvoices,shecriedout'Omyfather,ProphetofAllah!Whattortureswearesubjected to by the son of Khattab and the son of Abi Quhafa!' When the people heard Fatima'slamentation, somewent backwith their hearts broken, butUmar remained therewith some othersuntil finally they draggedAli from the house. They tookAli toAbuBakr, and told him to swearallegiancetohim.Alisaid:'IfIdonotswearallegiancewhatwillyoudotome?'Theysaid:'WeswearbyAllahthatwewillbreakyourneck.'Alisaid:'WillyoukilltheservantofAllahandthebrotherofHisProphet?'Umarsaid:'YouarenotthebrotheroftheProphetofAllah.'Whileallthiswasgoingon, Abu Bakr kept silent. Umar then asked Abu Bakr whether he (Umar) was not following AbuBakr'sordersinthismatter.AbuBakrsaidthatsolongasFatimawasalivehewouldnotforceAlitoswear allegiance to him.Ali thenmanaged to reach the grave of the Prophet, where, wailing andcrying,hetoldtheProphetwhatAaronhadtoldhisbrother,Moses,asrecordedintheHolyQur'an:'Sonofmymother!Surelythepeoplereckonedmeweakandhadwellnighslainme.'(7:150)Afternarrating thisaffair indetail,AbuMuhammadAbdullahBinQutaybasays thatAlididnot

swearallegianceandreturnedhome.LaterAbuBakrandUmarwenttoFatima'shousetoplacateherand to seek her pardon. She said: "Allah bemywitness that you two have offendedme. In everyprayerIcurseyouandwillcontinuecursingyouuntilIseemyfatherandcomplainagainstyou."7)AhmadBinAbdu'l-Azizisanulema.IbnAbi'l-Hadidwritesabouthiminthefollowingwords:

"Hewasamanoflearning,atraditionist,agreatliteraryfigure."HewritesinhisKitab-eSaqifaandIbnAbi'l-HadidMu'tazalialsoquotesfromhiminhisSharheNahju'l-Balagha,VolumeI,page9,onthe authority of Abi'l-Aswad, who said: "A group of the companions and prominent MuhajirinexpressedtheirindignationatAbuBakr'scaliphateandaskedwhytheywerenotconsulted.AlsoAliandZubairexpressedtheiranger,refusedtoswearallegiance,andretiredtoFatima'shouse.Fatimacriedaloudandmadesolemnentreaties,buttonoeffect.TheytookawayAli'sandZubair'sswordsandhurledthemagainstthewall,breakingthem.Thentheydraggedthemtothemosquetoforcethemtoswearallegiance."(8)JauharireportsfromSalmaBinAbdu'r-RahmanthatwhenAbuBakrheardthatAli,Zubair,and

apartyoftheBaniHashimwereassembledinFatima'shouse,hesentUmarforthem.UmarwenttothedoorofFatima'shouseandshouted,"Comeout,otherwise,IswearIwillsetyourhouseonfire!"( 9) Jauhari, according to Ibn Abi'l-Hadid in his Sharhe Nahju'lBalagha, Volume II, page 19,

narratesontheauthorityofSha'bi:"WhenAbuBakrheardaboutthegatheringoftheBaniHashiminAli'shouse,hesaidtoUmar:'BothyouandKhalidgoandbringAliandZubairtomesothattheycantaketheoathofallegiance.'SoUmarenteredFatima'shouseandKhalidstayedoutside.UmarsaidtoZubair'Whatisthissword?'Hereplied,'IhaveacquireditforallegiancetoAli.'Omarsnatchedtheswordandhurleditatthestoneinsidethehouseandbrokeit.Thenhebrought

himout toKhalid.Hecamebackintothehouse,wherethereweremanypeople, includingMiqdad,andalltheBaniHashim.AddressingAli,hesaid:'Getup!I'mtakingyoutoAbuBakr.Youmustpayallegiancetohim.'Alirefused.UmardraggedhimtoKhalid.KhalidandUmarforcedhimalongtheroadwhichwas

packedtocapacitywithmenwhowitnessedthisscene.WhenFatimasawUmar'sbehavior,she,alongwith many women of the Bani Hashim (who had come to console her), came out. They werelamenting andwailingwith high-pitched cries. Fatimawent to themosquewhere she said to AbuBakr:'HowsoonhaveyousackedtheAhleBaitoftheProphetofAllah.IswearbyAllah,IwillnottalkwithUmaruntil I seeAllah.'FatimashowedherextremedisapprovalofAbuBakranddidnotspeaktohimfortherestofherlife."(SeeSahihBukhari,PartVandVII).10)AbuWalidMuhibu'd-DinMuhammadBinMuhammadBinAsh-ShahnaAl-Hanafi (died 815

A.H.), one of the leading Sunni ulema writes in his Rauzatu'l-Manazir Fi Khabaru'l-Awa'ilwa'lAwakhir,inconnectionwiththeSaqifaaffair:"UmarcametoAli'shousepreparedtosetitonfirewithallitsinmates.Umarsaid:'Enterintowhatthecommunityhasentered.'"11)Tabari, inhisTa'rikhVolumeII,page443,reportsfromZiyadBinKalbi that"Talha,Zubair,

andsomeoftheMuhajirinwereatAli'shouse.UmarBinKhattabwentthereanddemandedthattheycomeout.Iftheydidnot,hesaid,hewouldsetthehouseonfire."12)IbnShahna,inHashiyya-e-KamilofIbnAthir,VolumeXI,page112,writesinconnectionwith

the Saqifa that: "Some of the Prophet's companions, and the Bani Hashim, Zubair, Atba Bin AbiLahab,KhalidBinSa'idBinAs,MiqdadBinAswadKindi,SalmanFarsi,AbuDharrGhifari,AmmarBin Yasir, Bara'a Bin Azib, and Ubai Bin Ka'b refused to swear allegiance to Abu Bakr. Theyassembled inAli's house.UmarBinKhattabwent there intending to burn down the house. Fatimaprotestedtohim.Umarsaid:'Enterwhereallothershaveentered.'"Kitab-e-Isbatu'l-Wasiyya,compiledbyAbi'l-HasanAliBinHusainMas'udi, authorofMuruju'dh-

Dhahab.Hewrote ingreatdetailabout theeventsof thatday:"TheysurroundedAliandburnedthedoorofhishouse.Theydraggedhimoutof thehouseandpressed thebestof thewomen,Fatima,betweenthedoorandthewallsoforcefullythatMuhsin,herunbornson,diedofmiscarriage."TheShiashavenotconcoctedthesethings.Whatoccurredhasbeenpreservedinthepagesofhistory.Themiscarriageisafact.YoumayalsorefertoSharheNahju'l-Balagha,VolumeIII,page351.IbnAbi'l-Hadidwrotethathe

toldhisteacher,AbuJa'farNaqib,thatwhentheProphetwastoldthatHubbarBinAswadhadattacked

hisdaughterZainab'slitterwithalance,becauseofwhichZainabsufferedamiscarriage,theProphetallowedhimtobeputtodeath.AbuJa'farsaid:'HadtheProphetofAllahbeenalive,hewouldhavesurely ordered the death penalty for him alsowho had frightened Fatima somuch that her child,Muhsin,diedinmiscarriage.'TwowellknownSunnischolars,BukhariandMuslim,writeintheirSahihthatFatimarejectedAbu

Bakrbecauseshewasangry.Becauseofherdispleasureshedidnottalktohimfortherestofherlife.Whenshediedduetoherinjuries,herhusband,Ali,buriedheratnight.HedidnotallowAbuBakrtojoinherfuneralandofferprayersforher.MuhammadBinYusufGanji Shafi'i has recorded the samereport in hisKifaya, ch.99.AlsoAbu

MuhammadAbdullahBinMuslimBinQutaybaDinawari in his Imamawa's-Siyasa, p.14,writes thatFatima,whilesickinbed,saidtoAbuBakrandUmar:"LetAllahandtheangelsbemywitnessesthatbothofyouhavemademeindignant.WhenImeettheHolyProphet,Iwillcertainlycomplainagainstyou."Thesamebookalsorecords:"FatimawasindignantwithAbuBakrandrefusedtoseehimfortherestofherlife."There is awell known hadith narrated bymany Sunni ulema, like ImamAhmadBinHanbal in

Musnad;SulaymanQanduziinYanabiu'l-Mawadda;MirSeyyedAliHamadaniinMawaddatu'lQurba;IbnHajarinSawa'iq,reportingfromTirmidhi,Hakimandothers,withaslightdifferenceinwording,that theHolyProphetofAllahrepeatedlysaid:"Fatimaisapartofmybody,sheis the lightofmyeyes, she is the fruit of my heart, she is my soul betweenmy two sides. He who grieves Fatimagrievesme;hewhogrievesme,grievesAllah;hewhomakesherangry,makesmeangry;whatpainsFatimapainsme."IbnHajar Asqalani, in his al-Isaba fi tamyiz as-Sahaba, quotes from the Sahihs of Bukhari and

MuslimthattheHolyProphetofAllahsaid:"Fatimaisapartofmybody;whatpainsher,painsme;thatwhichexaltsherspiritualattainmentexaltsmyspiritualattainment."Muhammad Bin Talha Shafi'i in his Matalibu's-Su'ul; Hafiz Abu Nu'aim Ispahani in Hilyatu'l-

Auliya,vol. II,p.40, and ImamAbdu'r-RahmanNisa'i inhisKhasa'isu'l-Alawi, report that theHolyProphetsaid:"Verily,Fatima,mydaughter, isapartofmybody;whatmakesherhappy,makesmehappy;whatispainfultoherispainfultome."Abu'l-QasimHusainBinMuhammad(RaghibIspahani)narratesinhisMahadhiratu'l-Ubada,vol.II,

p.204,thattheHolyProphetofAllahsaid:"Fatimaisapartofmybody;hence,hewhoenragesher,enragesme."HafizAbuMusaBinMuthannaBasri(died252A.H.)inhisMu'ajam;IbnHajarAsqalaniinIsaba,

vol.IV, p.35; Abu Ya'la Musili in his Sunan; Tibrani in Mu'ajam; Hakim Nishapuri in Mustadrak,vol.VII,p.154;HafizAbuNu'aimIspahaniinFaza'ilu's-Sahaba;HafizIbnAsakirinTa'rikh-e-Shami;Sibt Ibn Jauzi in Tadhkira, p. 175; Muhibu'd-din Tabari in Dhakha'ir, p. 39, Ibn Hajar Makki inSawa'iq, p. 105 and Abu Irfanu's-Subban in As'afu'r-Raghibin, p.171, have reported that the HolyProphet said to his daughter: "O Fatima, verily, if you are angry, Allah is also angry; if you arehappy,Allahisalsohappy."MuhammadBin Isma'ilBukhari inhisSahih, in the chapterManaqibQarabat-e-Rasulullah,p.71,

quotesfromMiswarBinMakhramawhosaidthattheHolyProphetsaid:"Fatimaisapartofmybody,so whoever enrages Fatima, verily, enrages me." There are many such hadith recorded in Sunniauthenticbooks,likeSahihofBukhari;SahihofMuslim;SunanofAbuDawud;Tirmidhi;MusnadofImamHanbal;Sawa'iq-e-IbnHajar;andSheikhSulaymanBalkhi'sYanabiu'l-Mawadda.ThesearebutasampleofthemanyhistoricalfactsrecordedbySunnihistorians.Thisaffairwasso

commonlyknownthatthepoetsofoldmentionedit.OneoftheSunnipoets,HafizIbrahimofEgypt,saysinapoeminpraiseofUmar:"NootherpersonbutAbuHafsa(fatherofUmar)couldhavethecourageofaddressingthechiefoftheAdnanClan(Ali)andhiscomrades,saying:'Ifyoufailtopayallegiance,Iwillsetyourhouseonfireandwillnotleaveanyinmateofthehousealive,evenFatimaherself.'"First,theProphetsandtheirsuccessorsactedaccordingtothewillofAllahAlmighty.Accordingly

wecannotraiseanyobjectionastowhytheydidnotwagewar,orwhytheyadoptedsilencebeforetheenemy,orwhytheysuffereddefeat.IfyoustudythehistoricalfactsregardingthelivesoftheHolyProphetsandtheirsuccessors,you

willfindmanysimilarinstancesofacquiescence.TheHolyQur'anhasnarratedsomeofthoseevents.In the sura of Qamar (TheMoon), the Holy Qur'an relates what the Prophet Noah said when hispeoplerejectedhim:"Verily,Iamovercome(bythesepeople),sogivehelp."(54:11)In thesuraofMaryam(Mary), theQur'an tellsusof thesilenceofAbrahamwhenhesoughthis

uncleAzar'shelpandreceivedadisappointingreply:"AndIwillwithdrawfromyouandwhatyoucalluponbesidesAllah,andIwillcalluponmyLord."(19:48)So, just asAbrahamwithdrew from the peoplewhen he did not receive support fromhis uncle

Azar,Alialsomusthavewithdrawnfromthepeopleandgoneintoseclusion.If you study the commentaries of both sects, youwill find that hiswithdrawal frompeoplewas

physical,notmerelypsychological. I recall thatImamFakhru'd-dinRazisays inhisTafsir-e-Kabir,vol.V,p.809:"Isolationfromsomethingmeanskeepingalooffromit.WhatAbrahammeantwasthathewantedtokeepalooffromthem,bothfromthephysicalandreligiouspointofview."ThechroniclesreportthatafterthisrejectionAbrahammigratedfromBabylontoKuhistaninFars

and lived a solitary life in those mountainous surroundings for seven years. He then returned toBabylon and again publicly proclaimed Allah's message and broke the people's idols. At this thepeople flung him into the fire. Allah Almighty made the fire cool and safe for him, and so hisProphethoodwas firmly established. In the sura ofQasas (TheNarratives), the story aboutMosesrunningaway in fearofhis lifehasbeennarrated in thisway: "Sohewent forth, fearing,waiting,(and)hesaid:MyLord,delivermefromtheunjustpeople."(28:21)InthesuraofA'raf(TheElevatedPlaces),theHolyQur'antellsusofAaron'splightwhenMoses

hadlefthiminchargeoftheBaniIsrael.Thepeopleimmediatelybegantoworshipthegoldencalfand,becauseAaronhadnoonetosupporthim,heremainedsilent.TheQur'ansays:"Andhe(Moses)seized his brother by the head, dragging him towards him. He (Aaron) said: Son of my mother!Surelythepeoplereckonedmeweakandhadwellnighslainme."(7:150)

So according to theHolyQur'anAarondidnot draw the sword against thepeople.He assumedsilence when they adopted Samiri's Golden Calf as the object of worship because he (Aaron)recognized thathewasoutnumbered.Similarly,Ali,whom theHolyProphetpronounced tobe thecounterpartofAaron(aswehavediscussedindetailearlier),wasalsoperfectlyjustifiedinassumingpatienceandforbearancewhenhehadbeen leftalone.TheHoly Imamwas forciblybrought to themosqueandanopenswordwasputonhisheadtoforcehimtoswearallegiance.LaterhewenttothetomboftheHolyProphetandrepeatedthesamewordsthatAllahAlmightyhasrelatedthroughthetongueofAaron.AaronhadsaidtoMoses:"Surelythepeoplehadreckonedmeweakandhadwellnighslainme."TheProphetMuhammad'sexampleregarding thispoint isofcoursemost instructive.Weshould

considerwhyhemaintainedcompletesilenceforthirteenyearsinthefaceofhostileactivitiesoftheenemyinMeccauntilfinallyhehadtoabandonhisnativecityinthedarknessofthenight.Thegreatjurist,WasitiIbnMaghaziliShafi'i,andKhatibKhawarizmireportintheirManaqibthat

theHolyProphetsaidtoAli:"Thecommunityhasastronggrudgeagainstyou.Shortlyaftermydeaththeywilldeceiveyouandrevealwhattheyhaveintheirhearts.IorderyoutobepatientandcontrolyourselfatthattimesothatAllahmaygiveyouitsrewardandagoodrecompense."Second, Amiru'l-Mu'minin never looked to himself but was always mindful of Allah. He was

completely absorbed inAllah.He resigned himself and his people to thewill ofAllah.Hence, hispatienceandforbearanceingaininghisrightwereforAllah'ssakesothattheremightnotbediscordamong the Muslims and that people might not return to their previous infidelity. When Fatima'spropertywas taken fromher, shecamehome,depressedanddismayed.She said toAli: "Youhaverecededlikeafetus.Youhaveretiredfromtheworldlikeanaccusedpersonandhavebrokenyourhawk-likewings.Nowtheweakwingsofabirddonotsupportyou.ThisIbnQahafa(AbuBakr)isforcibly snatching away frommemy father's gift andmy children'smeans of subsistence. In factthesepeopleabusedmewithopenillwillandrailedatme."Shespokeforalongtime.The Holy Imam listened to Fatima until she was silent. Then he gave her a short reply which

satisfied her.He said: "OFatima! In thematter of religion and preaching truth, I have never beeninactive.Doyouwish that this sacred religion remains secure and that yourHoly father's name iscalledinmosquesuntileternity?"Shesaid:"Yes,thatismymostardentdesire."Alisaid:"Thenyoushouldbepatient.Your father has givenme instructions regarding this situation, and I know that Ishouldbe forbearing.Otherwise, Ihave such strength that I could subdue theenemyand takebackyour right from them.But you should know that in that case the religionwould be destroyed. So,for the sake of Allah and for the security of Allah's religion, be patient. The recompense in thehereafterforyouisbetterthanyourrightwhichhasbeenusurped."Itwas for this reason thatAmiru'l-Mu'mininmadepatiencehis custom.Heassumed forbearance

andsilenceforthesafetyofIslam.Inmanyofhissermonshehasreferredtothispoint.Ibrahim BinMuhammad Saqafi, who is one of the trustworthy ulema of the Sunnis, Ibn Abi'l-

Hadid,andAliIbnMuhammadHamadanireportthatwhenTalhaandZubairbroketheirallegiancesand left for Basra, Ali ordered the people to assemble in the mosque. Then after praising AllahAlmighty he said: "After the death of the Holy Prophet, we said that we were his Ahle Bait, hissuccessors,andtherightfulpeopletoreceivehisheritage.Nooneexceptuscouldclaimtherightof

rulershipafterhim.ButagroupofthehypocritessnatchedawayourHolyProphet'srulershipfromusandentrusted it to thosewhowereouropponents.ByAllah,ourheartsandeyeswept for it.ByAllah, we were full of grief and indignation. I swear by Allah that if there were no fear that theMuslimcommunitywouldbeshattered,wewouldhaveoverturnedthecaliphate.Theyoccupiedtheseatofpoweruntiltheyreachedtheirend.NowAllahhasreturnedthecaliphatetome.Andthesetwomen(TalhaandZubair)alsosworeallegiancetome.NowtheyhaveproceededtoBasraintendingtocausedissensionamongthepeople."Amongthegreatscholars,IbnAbi'l-HadidandKalbi,havereportedthatatthetimeofhissetting

outforBasraAliaddressedthepeople.Hesaid:"WhentheHolyProphetofAllahdied,theQuraishswoopeddownuponusanddeprivedusoftherightwhichwedeservedmorethananyoneelse.SoIthoughtthatitwasbettertoadoptpatienceatthattime,ratherthanallowtheMuslimstodisintegrateandtheirbloodtobespilled,fortheyhadembracedIslamonlyrecently."Ali'ssilenceandhisabstainingfromchallengingthecaliphateofAbuBakrandUmarwasnotdue

to his concurrencewith them. Itwas because hewanted to avoid causingbitter conflict among thepeopleandbecausehewantedtosavethereligionfromannihilation.Soaftersixmonthsofsilenceanddisapproval,then,asstatedbysunniulema,heofferedallegianceandcooperatedwiththem.InalettersenttothepeopleofEgyptthroughMalikAshtar,heclearlywritesthathissilencewasforthesakeofpreservingIslam.TheoriginaltextofAli'sletter,whichIbnAbi'l-HadidhasrecordedinhisSharh-e-Nahju'l-Balagha,

vol.IV,p.164,isasfollows:“AllahAlmightysentMuhammadasawitnessoftheProphetstowarnthepeople.SowhentheHoly

ProphetdiedtheMuslimsdisputedamongthemselvesastowhoshouldsucceedhim.IswearbyAllahthatIneverthoughtorbelieved,norweretheretheleastsignsofit,thatthepeopleofArabiawouldtake away the right of succession from the Ahle Bait and give it to others after him. It wasunimaginablethatafterthedeathoftheHolyProphet,inspiteofhiscleardecree,theywoulddeprivemeofthatright.Iwasgreatlydistressedthatthepeoplerantoacertainperson(AbuBakr)andsworeallegianceto

him.So Iwithdrewmyselfuntil I saw that agroupofpeoplediverged from Islamand intended todestroy Islam.Then I feared that if I didnot help Islamand theMuslims, Islamwould suffer suchdestruction as would be more painful to me than the snatching away of the caliphate. Of coursepoliticalpowercannotlastlong.Itmustdissipateliketheclouds.ItwasundertheseconditionsthatIhadtorise,sothatpaganismwouldbecomeweakandIslambecomefirm."1111PeshawarNightsbySultanulWaizinShirazAbanibnAbiAyyashhasnarratedfromSulaymibnQays.He(Sulaym)heardfromSalmanFarsi,

whosaid:“AftertheHolyProphet(SAW)passedawayandpeopledidwhattheydid,AbuBakr,Umar,AbuUbaydahibnJarrahcametopeopleandtoldtheAnsartheirargument.TheAnsartoldthemtheargumentofHadhratAli(AS).They(AbuBakr,Umar,andAbuUbaydah)said:“OgroupofAnsar,theQuraysharemoredeservingofthecaliphatethanyou,becausetheHolyProphet(SAW)wasfromQuraysh,andMuhajireenarebetterthanyousinceAllahinHisBookhasspokenaboutthemfirst,andhasgiventhemmerits.TheHolyProphet(SAW)hassaid:

“ImamwillbefromQuraysh.”Salmansays:“IwenttoHadhratAli(AS)whenhewasgivingthe

ritualbathtotheHolyProphet(SAW)sincetheHolyProphet(SAW)hassaidthatnoneotherthanAli(AS)mustgivehimtheritualbath.WhentheHolyProphet(SAW)saidtoHadhratAli(AS)thatnoneotherthanhimshouldgivehimtheritualbath,HadhratAli(AS)hadasked:“OProphetofAllah,whowouldhelpmeingivingthebath?”TheHolyProphet(SAW)hadreplied“ArchangelJibra’eelwillhelp.”SowhengivingthebathwheneverHadhratAli(AS)wantedtoturn

anypartoftheHolyProphets(SAW)body,thepartwouldturnitself.AfterAli(AS)hadcompletedgiving the ritual bath, hunut and shroud,he letme in, andhe also letAbuDhar,MiqdadandLadyFatimah,HasanandHusain(AS)in.Ali(AS)stoodinfrontandwestoodbehindhimandrecitedtheprayer.AndAyeshahwasinherroom-shedidnotknowanything.Allahhadputacurtainoverhereyes.After that tenpeoplefromMuhajireenand tenpeoplefromAnsar– theywerecominginandprayingandgoingoutuntilsuchtimethattherewasnooneleftfromtheMuhajireenandAnsarwhohad not prayed.” Salman said: “I toldHadhratAli (AS), when hewas giving the bath to theHolyProphet(SAW)whatthecommunityhaddoneandItoldhimAbuBakrisatthistimeonthepulpitofthe Holy Prophet (SAW) and people are not happy to pay allegiance with one hand, but they arepaying allegiancewith both hands, left and right.”HardhratAli (AS) replied: “O Salman, do youknowwhowasthefirsttopayallegiancetohimonthepulpitoftheHolyProphets(SAW)?”Salman:“No, but I can say that I saw him in the shade of Bani Sa’eedah at the timewhen theAnsarwerequarreling. The first one who paid allegiance was Mughirah ibn Sha’abah, after him Bashir ibnSa’eed paid allegiance, thenAbuUbaydah Jarrah, thenUmar ibnKhattab, then SaalimMawlaAbiHuzayifahandMa’azibnJabal.”HadhratAli(AS)said:“Iamnotaskingaboutthesepeople,butdoyouknowwhowasthefirsttopayallegiancewhenhefirstwentonthepulpit?”Salmansaid:“No,butIsawoneveryoldmanwhosupportedhimselfwithastickandhadamarkinbetweenhistwoeyes;themarkwasverydry.Hewenttothepulpitfirstofallandbowedandwascryingandsaying.“PraiseisduetoAllahwhodidnotmakemedieuntilIsawyouinthisplace.Youstretchyourhand.”SoAbuBakrstretchedhishandandtheoldmanpaidallegiance.Thentheoldmansaid:“ThisreligionislikethereligionofAdam.”ThenhegotdownfromthepulpitandwalkedoutoftheMasjid.”AtthattimeHadhratAli(AS)asked:“OSalman,doyouknowwhothispersonwas?”Salmansaid:“No,butIdidnotlikehistalk-itwaslikehewaspleasedwiththesaddemiseoftheHolyProphet(SAW).”HadhratAli(AS)said:“ThiswasIblis-MayAllahcursehim.TheHolyProphet(SAW)hadinformedmethatIblisandhis topcompanionswerepresentwhen,byGod’scommand, theHolyProphet (SAW)haddeclaredme caliph inGhadirKhum, and theHolyProphet (SAW)had informedpeople that IwasMawla (master) of everyone and he (theProphet) had commanded people present that they shouldpassthismessagetothosethatwerenotpresentatGhadir.SothecompanionsofIbliscameandtoldhim:“Thiscommunityisblessedandisinfallible.NowyouandwehavenopowertomanipulatethemsincetheyhavebeentoldwhoistheirrefugeandwhoistheirleaderaftertheirProphet.”AtthattimeIbliswassaddenedandhewentawayfromthere.”HadhratAli(AS)said:“AfterthisIwasinformedby theHolyProphet (SAW)whenhesaid:“Peoplewillpayallegiance toAbuBakr in theshadeofBaniSa’eedah,when theywillquarrel throughmyrightandauthority.After that theywillcome tomosqueandthefirstpersonthatwillpayallegiancetohimonmypulpitwillbeIbliswhowillcomein theformofanoldmanandsaysoandso.After thathewillgooutandgatherhiscompanions,ShaytanandIblis.Theywillallgointohisprostrationandsay:OhmyLordandmyAlmightyYouaretheOnewhomadeAdamcomeoutofHeavenandsaidwhichcommunityisitthatwhichwillnotdeviateafterthedeathoftheirProphet?Never-YouthoughtthatIwillnotbeabletomanipulatethem(andIwillhavenoways)-NowhowdoyoupeoplefindmewithwhatIdidwiththemwhentheyleft

Allah’sobedienceandthecommandoftheirProphet,andthisiswhatAllahhassaid:“Andcertainlytheshaitanfoundtruehisconjectureconcerningthem,sotheyfollowedhim,except

apartyofthebelievers”.(SurahSaba20)Iblismadehisthoughtatrueactionandpeopleobeyedhimexceptafewfaithfulones.”Salmansaid:“Whenitwasnight,HadhratAli(AS)madeLadyFatimah(AS)rideandtookhandsof

his sonsHasanandHusain (AS)andwent toeachandeveryhouseof thoseMuhajireenandAnsarwhowere ofBadr, and reminded them of his rights called them to help him.But except 4 peoplenobodycameforwardtohelp.Heaskedthehelperstoshavetheirheadsandinthemorninggotohimwith theirweaponsready tohelpandpayallegiance todeath. In themorningexcept4,noonekepttheirpromise.”SoI(Sulaym)asked:“Whowerethose4?”Salmanreplied:“Myself,AbuDhar,MiqdadandZubayr.Salmansaid:“Whenitwasnight,HadhratAli(AS)madeLadyFatimah(AS)rideandtookhandsof

his sonsHasanandHusain (AS)andwent toeachandeveryhouseof thoseMuhajireenandAnsarwhowere ofBadr, and reminded them of his rights called them to help him.But except 4 peoplenobodycameforwardtohelp.Heaskedthehelperstoshavetheirheadsandinthemorninggotohimwith theirweaponsready tohelpandpayallegiance todeath. In themorningexcept4,noonekepttheir promise.” So I (Sulaym) asked: “Who were those 4?” Salman replied: “Myself, Abu Dhar,MiqdadandZubayr.WhenHadhratAli(AS)sawtheirtreacheryanddisloyalty,heremainedinsidehishouseandstarted

compilingtheQuran,anddidnotcomeoutofhishouseuntilthewholeQuranwascompiled.Atthattimeverseswerewritteninwood,skinandpieces.Afterhehadcollectedalltheversesandwrotewithhisownhandsinthemannertheverseswere

revealed,withtheirmeanings,andwrotethoseversesthatwererevealedtoreplacepreviousverses,and also the verses that were those on which action was no longer required, then Abu Bakr sentpeopletohishousetocomeoutandpayallegiancetohim.He(Ali)sentamessagesayingthathewasbusyandhehadtakenanoaththatexceptforprayershewillnotwearacloakuntilhehascollectedand compiled theQuran. So for a few days they kept quiet.Ali (AS) compiled and completed thewholeQuran in one piece of cloth and came to peoplewhen theywerewithAbuBakr inMasjideNabawi.Hevery loudly said: “Opeople, since thepassingawayof theHolyProphet (SAW) Iwasbusygivinghimtheritualbath,andcompilingtheQuran,untilithasbeencollectedinonepieceofcloth.ThereisnotanyversethatAllahT’Alahasrevealedwhichisnotinthiscompilation,andthereis not a single verse that theHolyProphet (SAW)didnotmakeme read, and there is noverse ofwhichtheHolyProphet(SAW)didnottellmethemeaning.”ThenAli(AS)saidtothosepeople:“Sothatyoudonottellmesurelywewereheedlessofthis(SurahAraf172)”ThenHadhratAli(AS)saidtothem:“SothatontheDayofJudgmentyoudonotsaythatIdidnot

callyoutohelpmeanddidnotremindyouofmyright,andIdidnotcallyoutotheBookofAllahfrombeginningtoend.”

Umarsaid:“Youarecallingustoyou,buttheQuranthatwehaveissufficientforus.”ThenHadhratAli(AS)wenthome.UmartoldAbuBakr:“SendsomebodytoHadhratAli(AS)to

askhimtopayallegiance,sinceuntilsuchtimehedoesnotpayallegiancethereisnovalueattachedtothecaliphate,andifhepaysallegiance,wewillgivehimamnesty.”AbuBakrthensentamantoHadhratAli(AS)tosay:“ThecaliphoftheProphetofAllahiscallingyou.”ThemancameandsaidthistoHadhratAli(AS).HadhratAli(AS)replied:“GlorybetoAllah,howsoonhaveyouwronglyaccused theHolyProphet (SAW)!AbuBakrknows it and thosepresentnearhimalsoknow it thatAllahandHisProphethavenotappointedanycaliphexceptmyself.”ThemanreturnedandtoldAbuBakrwhatHadhratAli(AS)hadsaid.AbuBakraskedthemantoreturntoHadhratAli(AS)andsay:“AmirulMumineen,AbuBakr,is

callingyou.”Theman returned toAli (AS)house and saidwhatAbuBakrhad toldhim.Ali (AS)replied:“GlorybetoAllah,ByGod,ithasnotbeenlong,wheneverythingisforgotten.ByGod,heknowsthat this title isnotappropriateforanyoneexceptmyself.TheHolyProphet (SAW)orderedhim,andhewasseventhinnumberwhohadsalutedmesayingAMIRULMUMINEEN.SoAbuBakrandhis companionUmar, from the seven people askedhim: “Is this an order fromAllah andHisProphet?”andtheHolyProphet(SAW)saidtobothofthem:“Yes,surely,thisistruefromAllahandHisProphet.Nodoubt,heisAmirulMumineen(LeaderofBelievers),SayyidulMuslimeen(LeaderofMuslims),SahibuLiwail(thestandardbeareronthedayofjudgment),GhumlMuhajileen(theonewhoseforeheadshines).OntheDayofJudgmentAllahwillmakehimsitonthepathandhewillmakehisfriendsgotoParadiseandhisenemiesgotoHell.”ThemanreturnedtotellAbuBakrwhatAli(AS)hadtoldhim.Thatdaythemankeptquiet.AtnightHadhratAli(AS)madeLadyFatimah(AS)ride,andheldthehandsofhistwosonsHasan

andHusain(AS)andtherewasnocompanionoftheHolyProphets(SAW)lefttowhosehousehedidnotgo,andbearingAllahashiswitness,toldofhisrightsandcalledthemtohelphim,butexceptforusfournooneagreed.Weshavedourheadsandofferedourhelptohim.AmongstustheonewhohadmostintelligentlyhelpedhimwasZubayr.WhenHadhratAli(AS)sawthatpeoplehadlefthimanddidnothelphim,andallofthemhadjoinedAbuBakrandshowedhimrespectandobeyedhim,hestayedathome.UmaraskedAbuBakr:“WhatisitthathasstoppedyoufromsendingsomebodytoAlitoaskhim

to pay allegiance because except him and those four, there was nobody left who had not paidallegiance?”AbuBakrwasalittlesofteratheart,kinder,clevererandmorethoughtful.Theotheronewasveryshort-tempered,hard-heartedandanoppressor.Abu Bakr replied by asking whom he should send to Ali, to which Umar replied that he was

sendingQunfuz,whowasaverytough,short-temperedoppressorfromTulaqa12,andwasfromthetribeofAdiibnKa’ab.AbuBakr sent him to hadhratAli (AS) and sentmoremen to help him.Hewent and requested

permissionfromAli(AS).HadhratAli(AS)refusedpermission.ThehelpersofQunfuzreturnedtoAbuBakrandUmar.12WhenMakkahwasconqueredtheHolyProphet(SAW)hadreleasedhim-henceTulaqa

Thesetwoweresittinginthemosquewithpeoplegatheredaroundthem.TheyalltoldthatHadhrat

Ali(AS)didnotgivethempermission.UmartoldthemtogobacktoAli(AS)andifherefuses,enterwithoutpermission.Theywentandaskedpermission.LadyFatimah(AS)toldthemthatshewasnotpermittingthemtoenter.Theyreturned,butQunfuz,thecursed,remained.HiscompanionstoldthatLadyFatimahhadsaidsuchandsuch,andshewasnotpermittingthemtoenter.Umarsaidangrily:“Whatdowehavetodowithwomen?”ThenUmartoldthosepeoplewhohadgatheredaroundhimtocollectwood.Theyallcollected,and

UmarhimselfliftedandwenttothehouseofHadhratAli(AS),LadyFatimah(AS)andtheirtwosons,andarrangedwoodallaroundthehouseandthensaidinavoiceloudenoughtomakeHadhratAli(AS)andLadyFatimah(AS)hear:“ByGod,OAli,comeoutandpayallegiancetothecaliphoftheHolyProphetofAllah,otherwisewewillburnyourhouse.”LadyFatimah(AS)said:“OUmar,whatdoyouhavetodowithus?”Hereplied:“Openthedoor,otherwisewewillburnyourhouse.”LadyFatimah(AS)said:“OUmar,areyounotafraidofAllahandareyouenteringourhouse?”Umarrefusedtoreturn.Heaskedfiretobebroughtandhesetthedooronfire,thenhepushedit

andentered.LadyFatimah(AS)cameinfrontandscreamedloudly:“OFather,OProphetofAllah!”Umarraisedhisswordwiththeshieldandhitherontheside.Shescreamed:“OFather”Hethen

liftedawhipandhitheronthehandandshecried:“OProphetofAllah,AbuBakrandUmarbehavedverybadlyafteryou.”HadhratAli(AS)rushed,heldhimbytheneckandpushedhimawayandUmarfelldownandhurt

his neck and nose. Hadhrat Ali (AS) intended to kill him.He rememberedwhat theHoly Prophet(SAW)hadsaid, andhe said: “ByHim,whogaveMuhammad the statusofProphethood,OsonofSahak,iftheBookfromAllahhadnotbeenrevealedandiftheHolyProphet(SAW)hadnottakenapromisefrommebefore,thenyouwouldhaveknownthatyoucouldhaveneverenteredmyhouse.”Umar, complaining, sent somebody, and some people came and entered the house. Hadhrat Ali

(AS)wentforwardtolifthissword,soQunfuzreturnedtoAbuBakrandAbuBakrwasfrightenedthatHadhratAli (AS)with his sword,would go to him, since he knewHadhratAli’s bravery anddetermination.AbuBakrsaidtoQunfuz:“ReturntoAli’shouseandifhecomesoutthenfine,otherwiseenterhis

house.Ifherefusesthensetthehouseonfire.”Qunfuz, the cursed, returned and entered the house, without permission, with his companions.

HadhratAli (AS)went forward topickhissword– thesepeople,whoweresomanywent forwardagainsthim,gotholdofhim,raisedtheirswords,arrestedhimandtiedaropeinhisneck.

LadyFatimah(AS)cameinbetweenHadhratAli(AS)andthosepeoplenearthedoorofthehouse,so Qunfuz hit her with a whip. When she passed away, the mark of the wound was still on hershoulder.MayAllahcurseQunfuzandtheonewhosenthim!ThentheypulledAli(AS)byforceuntiltheybroughthimtoAbuBakr.whenUmarwasstanding

with a sword behindAbuBakrKhalid ibnWalid,AbuUbaydah ibn Jarrah and SalimMawlaAbuHuzayfah,MughirahibnSha’abaandothersweresittingnearAbuBakrwithweaponsintheirhands.”Sulaym says: “I askedSalman: “Did these people enter the house ofLadyFatimah (AS)without

permission?” He replied: “Yes, by God, when she did not even have a chaddar over her. So shescreamed:“OFather,OProphetofAllah,AbuBakrandUmarbehavedsobadlyafteryou,whileyoureyeshavenotevenclosedinthegrave”andshewassayingthisloudly.”Salmansaid:“IsawAbuBakrandthosesittingnearhimcryingwithtearsandwhoeverwasthere

wascryingexceptUmar,KhadidibnWalid,andMughirahibnSha’aba.Umarwassaying:“Wehavenothingtodowithwomenandtheiropinion.”Salmansaid:“HadhratAli(AS)wastakentoAbuBakrandhewassaying:“ByGod, ifIhadmy

swordinmyhand,thenyouwouldseethatyouwouldhaveneverreachedthisstage.ByGod, Idonot considermyselfbad indoing jihadwithyou. If Ihadeven fortypeople then I

woulddisperseyourcommunity.MayGodcursethatcommunitywhopaidallegiancetomeandthenbecamedisloyal.”WhenAbuBakrsawAli(AS)hescreamedandloudlysaid:“Releasehim.”HadhratAli(AS)said:“OAbuBakr,howsoondidyouactagainsttheHolyProphet(SAW)!And

withwhatrightsandreasonsyoucalledpeopletopayyouallegiance?Didyounotpayallegiancetome(yesterday)bythecommandofAllahandHisProphet?”Qunfuzthecursed,hadhitLadyFatimah(AS)withawhipwhenshecameinbetweenAli(AS)and

thepeople andUmarhad senthim saying: “IfFatimahcomes inbetweenyouandherhusband,hither.”soQunfuz,thecursed,forcedhertotakerefugebehindthedoorandhepushedthedoorsoherribnearthesidegotbrokenandshehadamiscarriage.Soshewascontinuouslyilluntilsheattainedmartyrdominthis.Salman said: “When Ali (AS) was taken to Abu Bakr, Umar very rudely told Ali (AS): “Pay

allegiancetoAbuBakrandleaveyouruselesstalks.”Ali(AS)asked:“IfIdonotpayallegiancewhatwillyoupeopledo?”Peoplesaid:“Wewillkillyouwithhumiliationanddegradation.”Ali(AS)said:“Thatwillmean

thatyoukilledAbdullahandthebrotherofProphetofAllah.”AbuBakrsaid:“AsfarasAbdullahisconcerneditiscorrectbutwedonotacceptyouthebrotheroftheProphetofAllah.”Ali(AS)said:“DoyoudenythattheHolyProphet(SAW)haddeclaredbrotherhoodbetweenhim

andmyself?”

AbuBakrsaid:“Yes.”Ali(AS)repeatedthisthrice.ThenAli(AS)turnedtowardsthosepeoplewhohadgatheredaroundAbuBakrandsaid:“Ogroup

ofMuslims,MuhajireenandAnsar,IamaskingyoutoswearByAllahthatyouhaveheardtheHolyProphet(SAW)saysuchandsuchinGadhirKhumandsaysuchandsuchintheBattleofTabuk.”Hedidnot leaveanything that theHolyProphet (SAW)hadsaid,untilhe reminded themofabsolutelyeverything.Everyonereplied:“Indeed,Yes.”WhenAbuBakrheardthishegotfrightenedthatpeoplemighthelpAli(AS)tostopwhatwasbeing

done.Hequicklysaid:“WhatyouhavesaidistrueandIhavehearditwithmyownears,Iknewandmy

heartremembereditbutIalsoheardafterthattheHolyProphet(SAW)say:“WeAhlulbaytarethosewhomAllahhaschosenandgaveusstatusandhaschosenthehereafteragainstthisworldforus.AndAllahhasnotdecreedthatProphethoodandcaliphatebethesame.”Ali(AS)asked:“IsthereanyoneamongthecompanionsoftheHolyProphet(SAW)whocanbea

witnesstowhatyouhavesaid?”Umar said: “The caliph of theHolyProphet (SAW) is saying truth. I have heard the Prophet of

Allahsayingthis.”AbuUbaydah,SalimMawlaAbuHuzayfah andMa’az ibn Jabal said: “Hehas told the truth.We

havehearditfromtheProphetofAllah.”Ali(AS)saidtohim:“YouhavecompletedyourcursedSahifahwhichyouagreedinKa’abah(i.eif

MuhammadiskilledofdiesyoupeoplewilltakeawaythischaliphatefromAhlulbayt)AbuBakrasked:“Howdidyouknowaboutthis?Wedidnottellyou.”Ali(AS)said:“OZubayryou,andSalmanyou,andAbuDharandMiqdadyou-Iamaskingyou

forthesakeofAllahandforthesakeofIslam,didyounotheartheHolyProphet(SAW)saywhenyouwerelistening:“Thisoneandthatone-untilhecounteduptofive-theyhavemadebetweenthemawrittenagreementandhavevowedtokeepitifIamkilledorIdie?”They replied: “Indeed, yesweheard theHolyProphet (SAW) say that to you.Yesweheard that

thesepeoplehadmadeanagreementandvowedtokeepitifheiskilledofdies.TheywilloverpoweryouandOAli,theywillremoveyoufromthiscaliphate.”Ali (AS) said: “When the Holy Prophet (SAW) said this I asked: “O Prophet of Allahmaymy

parentsbesacrificedforyou,whenthishappenswhatdoyouinstructmetodo?”Salman,AbuDhar,MiqdadandZubayrsaid:“Heinstructedyouthat ifyoufindhelpers thenyou

fightagainstthemandgetyourrights,ifyoudonotgethelpersthenyoupayallegianceandsaveyour

blood.”Ali(AS)said:“ByGod,ifthosefortypeoplewhopaidallegiancetomehadbeenloyaltomethenI

wouldhavefoughtagainstyouinthewayofAllah.Butremember,ByGod,untiltheDayofJudgmentyourgenerationwillnotgetit(caliphate).Andwhatmakesyourtalksalie-whichyouhaveattributedtotheHolyProphet(SAW)isAllah’ssaying:“OrdotheyenvythepeopleforwhatAllahhasgiventhemofHisgrace?ButindeedWehavegiven

toIbrahim’schildrentheBookandWisdomandWehavegiventhemagrandkingdom.”(SurahNisa:54)WhatismeantbyBookhereisProphethood,wisdomistraditionandgrandkingdomiscaliphate

andweareIbrahim’schildren.”Miqdadstoodupandsaid:“OAli,whatisyourcommandforme?ByGod,ifyoucommandmeI

willfightwiththisswordandifyoucommandmeIwillstop.”Ali (AS) replied: “OMiqdad,STOP,and rememberwhatpromise theHolyProphet (SAW) took

fromyouandhiswill.”ThenIstoodupandsaid:“ByHiminwhoseHandsismylife,ifIknewthatIwillbeabletoremove

anyoppressionandthereligionofAllahwillattainstatus,thenIwouldputmyswordonmyneckandwouldfightateachandeverystep.”Then,addressingpeople,Isaid:“What!Areyouattackingtheonewho is thebrotherof theProphetofAllah,hiswasi,caliphofhiscommunityand the fatherofhissons?ThenIamgivingyougoodnewsthattroublewillcometoyouanddonothopeforanytypeofease.”AbuDharstoodupandsaid:“Othatcommunity,whoafterthedeathofitsProphetispuzzled,and

whomAllahhasstoppedhelpingduetotheirsins,surelyAllahsays:“SurelyAllahchoseAdamandNuhandthedescendantsofIbrahimandthedescendantsofImranabovethenations.Offspring,oneoftheother,andAllahisHearing,Knowing.”(SurahAleImran:33&34)And thechildrenofMuhammadare thedescendantsofNuhand theyare thechildrenof Ibrahim

from Ibrahim, and they are chosen ones from Isma’eel and they are the progeny of ProphetMuhammad and are the household of Prophethood, are the place forMessengers and are those towhomangelsdescendandascend.Andtheyarelikehighskiesandarelikethosemountainsthatarefirm,andtheyarelikethatKa’abahoverwhichtheveilhangs,andarethosespringswhichareclearandstarswhoguidepeople,andatreelikeablessedtreethatproduceslightanditsoilisblessed.AndMuhammad(SAW)isthesealofProphetsandistheLeaderofBani-AdamandAliisWasiofAwsiya(successor of the successors) and Imam of Muttaqeen (pious) and is the leader of those whoseforeheadshinesandheistheonewhonevertellsalie,theonewhodifferentiatesbetweentruthandfalsehoodandiswasiofMuhammad(SAW),theinheritorofhisknowledge,andhasmorerightsthananyoneoverthefaithful.LikeAllahhassaid:“TheProphethasagreaterclaimon the faithful than theyhaveon themselves,andhiswivesare

(AS)theirmother;andthepossessorsofrelationshiphavethebetterclaimintheordinanceofAllahtoinheritance,onewith respect toanother, that (otherbelievers,and (than) thosewhohave fled their

homes),exceptthatyoudosomegoodtoyourfriends;thisiswrittenintheBook.(SurahAhzab:6)SoyoualsobringforwardwhomAllahhasbroughtforwardandputbehindhimwhomAllahhas

leftbehindandgiveWilayat(guardianship)andinheritancetotheonetowhomAllahhasgiven.”UmarstoodupandsaidtoAbuBakrwhowassittingonthepulpit:“Youaresittingonthepulpit

andthismanissittingandispreparedforwar-heisnotgettinguptopayyouallegiance.Giveusordertocuthisneckoff.”AtthistimeHasanandHusain(AS)werestandingandwhentheyheardwhatUmarsaidtheystarted

crying.Ali(AS)huggedbothofthemandtoldthem:“Donotcry,ByGod,thesepeoplearenotabletokillyourfather.”UmmeAyman,whohadbroughtuptheHolyProphet(SAW)cameforwardandsaid:“OAbuBakr,

howsoonhaveyouallrevealedyourhypocrisyandjealousy!”Umargaveorderandshewasremovedfromthemosque.Hesaid:“Whatdowehavetodowith

women?”BuraydahAslamistoodupandsaid:“OUmar,areyouattackingthebrotherandthefatherofthe

childrenoftheHolyProphet(SAW)?AndyouarethatverypersonwhosereputationinQurayshisknowntous.AreyoutwonottheonestowhomtheHolyProphet(SAW)hadtoldtogotoAli(AS)and greet him saying ‘AmirulMumineen’?Andyou twohad asked if thiswas in accordancewithAllahandHisProphet’scommand,andtheProphet(SAW)hadsaidYES.Abu Bakr said: “Yes it was like that but the Prophet of Allah had after that said: “For us

Prophethoodandcaliphatecannotbecombinedtogether.”Buraydahsaid:“TheHolyProphet(SAW)hadnotsaidthat.ByGodIwillnotremaininacityin

whichyoustayasAmir.”Umargaveorderandhewasbeatenandthrownoutofthemosque.Thenhe(Umar)said:“OibnAbiTalib,standupandpayallegiance.”Ali(AS)asked:“IfIdonot

doitthen?”Hesaid:“Atthattimewewillcutyourneck.”Ali(AS)saiditthreetimes.Thenhewithoutopeninghispalm,stretchedhishandandAbuBakrput

hishandonhis(Ali’s)handandwashappywiththat.BeforeallegianceAli(AS),whenaropewastiedtohisneck,saidloudly:“Sonofmymother!Surelythepeoplereckonedmeweakandhadwellnighslainme.”(SurahAraf:

150)Zubayrwastoldtopayallegiance-herefused.Umar,KhalidibnWalidandMighirahibnSha’aba

withafewpeoplerushedtohim,tookawayhisswordfromhishand,threwitonthefloorandbrokeit,andheldhimbytheneck.

Zubayrsaid,whenUmarwasonhischest:“OsonofSahhak,ByGod,ifmyswordwasinmyhand,thenyouwouldnothavegotawayfromme.”Hethenpaidallegiance.Salmansays:“Then theyheldme,and twistedmyneckuntil itbecamelikeapieceofflesh, then

tookmyhandandtwistedit,andthenforcefullyIpaidtheallegiance.ThenAbuDharandMiqdadalsopaidallegianceforcefully.AndamongustherewasnobodyasoutspokenasZubayrbecausewhenhepaidallegiancehesaid:

“OsonofSahhak,ByGod,iftheseevilpeoplewhosupportedyouwerenotpresentthenyouwouldnot able to come to me, and my sword would be with me, because I know your cowardice anddisgrace,butyouhavegotafewevilpeoplefromwhomyougainedstrengthandareattaching.”Umarbecameveryangryandsaid:“AreyoutalkingaboutSahhak?”Zubayrasked:“Sahhakwho?

AndcanyoustopmetalkingaboutSahhakwhenSahhakwasaprostitute.Doyoudenythat?Wasshenot an Ethiopian slave of my grandfather Abdul Muttalib? Your granddfather Nufail committedadulterywithhersoyour fatherKhattabwasborn.Afteradultery that slavegirlwasgiven toyourgrandfatherbyAbdulMuttalib,thenyourfatherwasborn,sohewasmyfather ’sslavewhowasbornbyadultery.”ThenAbuBakrmadepeacebetweenthesetwo(ZubayrandUmar)andthenbothofthemstoppedquarrelling.”SulaymibnQayssays:“IsaidtoSalman:“OSalman,youpaidallegiancetoAbuBakrandyoudid

notsayanything?”Salmanreplied:“AfterallegianceIsaidtoall“Foreverandforevermayyoubedestroyed.Doyou

knowwhatyouhavedonetoyourselves?Youhavedonegoodandyoudidbad-itisgoodbecauseyouchosethetraditionofthosewhopassedawaybefore-thatisfightinganddisuniting.AnditisbadbecauseyouleftthetraditionofyourProphetuntilyouremovedcaliphatefromitsminesandfromhimwhoserightitwas.”Umarsaid:“OSalman,nowthatyourcompanionhaspaidallegiance,andyouhavepaidtoo,say

whatyoulikeanddowhatyoulike,andyourcompanioncansaywhathewants.”Salman said: “I said to Umar: “I have heard the Holy Prophet (SAW) say that until the day of

judgment the sinsof theentirecommunitywillbeonyou (Umar)andyourcompanionwhomyouhave paid allegiance and the punishment of that will be equal to the punishment of the entirecommunity.”SoUmar said: “Saywhatyou like.What!Haveyounotpaidallegiance?AndGodhasnotmade

youreyescalminawaythatyourcompaniongetscaliphate.”Salmansaidhesaid:“IbearwitnessthatIhavereadinvariousBooksofAllahthatyou,withyour

names,ancestorsandattributes,areoneofthedoorsofHell.”Umarsaidtome:“SaywhatyoulikeHasAllahnottakenawaythecaliphatefromtheAhlulbaytwhomyouhadmadeyourGod,apartfromAllah?”SoIsaidtohim:“IbearwitnessthatIhaveheardfromtheHolyProphet(SAW).HesaiditwhenIaskedhimabouttheverse:“Butonthatdayshallnoonechastisewith(anythinglike)Hischastisement.Andnooneshallbind

with(anythinglike)hisbinding.”(SurahFajr:25,26)HetoldmethatitmeantYOU(Umar).”Umarsaid:“Shutup-MayAllahmakeyoudie-Oslave,Othesonofeviltongued.”Ali(AS)said:“OSalmanIholdyoubyoath-keepquiet.Salmansaid:“ByGod,ifAli(AS)hadnotorderedmetokeepquiet,Iwouldhavetoldhimallthat

hasbeenrevealedrelatingtohim,andIwouldhavetoldhimalsoallthatIhaveheardfromtheHolyProphet(SAW)concerninghimandhiscompanion.”WhenUmarsawthatIwasquiet,hetoldme“Nodoubt,youareveryobedienttohimandlistento

whathesays.”WhenAbuDharandMiqdadpaidallegiancetheydidnotsayanything.Umarsaid:“OSalman,whydidyounotkeepquietlikeyourtwocompanionskeptquiet?ByGod,

youdonotloveAhlulbaytanymorethanthesetwoandyoudonotrespect theirrightsmorethanthesetwo.Yousawthempayallegiancequietly.”AbuDharsaid:“OUmar,areyoutauntingmeabouttheloveofAle-Muhammadandtherespectoftheirrights?MayAllahcurse,andhedidcursethosepeoplewhoheldenmitywith them,accused themand tookawaytheir rights,andmadepeoplerideovertheirnecksandreversedthecommunitytotheirpreviousbeliefs.”Umar said: “Amen–MayAllahcurse thosewho took their rights.ByGod,Ale-Muhammadare

equalinthis.”AbuDharsaid:“SowhydidyouchallengeAnsar throughAle-Muhammadandtheirrights?”Ali

(AS)saidtoUmar:“OsonofSahhak,ifwedonothaveanyrightinthis,thenisityoursandthesonofawomanwhoeatsflies(AbuBakr)?”Umar said: “OAbulHasan, now that you have paid allegiance, keep quiet because peoplewere

happywithmycompanionandwerenothappywithyou -what ismy fault in this?”Ali (AS)said:“ButGod andHis Prophet are not happywith anyone exceptmyself so you, your companion andthosewhoobeyedyou,and thosewhosupportedyou,andgoodnewsbe foryouonAllah’sangerwithyou,andHisPunishmentandHisdegradationofyou.OibnKhattab,mayevilbefallyou,ifonlyyouknewhowyouhaveerred!Ifyouknewofwhatyouhavecomeoutinwhatyouhaveenteredandwhatevilyouhavedoneforyourselfandyourcompanion!”AbuBakrsaid:“OUmar,nowthathehaspaidallegiancetousandwehavebeensavedfromany

harmfromhim,leavehimtosaywhathewantstosay.”Ali(AS)said:“Exceptonething,Idonotsayanything.Ofourpeople(Salman,Zubayr,AbuDhar

andMiqdad)IamremindingyouIhaveheardtheHolyProphet(SAW)say:“Nodoubt,therewillbeonecoffinoffireinwhichtherewillbetwelvepeople-sixfromthebeginning)andsixfromtheend,thatwillbeinawellwhichisinthebottomleveloftheHell.Andthiscoffinwillbetheonethatwillbelocked.Therewillbeastonekeptonthewell.WhenAllahwishestheHellfiretobelighted,He

willremovethatstonefromthetopofthewell.AtthattimetheHellwillsetalightwiththeflamesandheatofthewell.”Ali(AS)continued:“IaskedtheHolyProphet(SAW)andyouwerepresent,whoaretheonesfrom

thebeginning?He (SAW)replied that from thebeginning therewillbeAdam’ssonwhokilledhisbrother,andPharaohofPharaohs,andtheonewhoarguedwiththeProphetIbrahim(AS)concerningGodandtwopeopleofBaniIsraelwhochangedtheirBookandtheirTradition-oneofthesetwoistheonethatmadeYahudi,aYahudi,andtheothermadeNasraniaNasrani.AndthethesixthoneisIblis.AndfromtheendisDajjal,andthesefivewhoareSahifah,andKitab,andJIBTandTAGUT,Omy brotherwhomade an agreement and contract of enmity towards you.And afterme, theywilloverpoweryou.Thisoneandthisone,untilhegavenamesandcountedalso.”Salmansayshesaid:“Youhavetoldtruth-webearwitnessthatweheardtheHolyProphet(SAW)

saythat.”Uthmansaid:“OAbulHassan,haveyouoryourcompanionsnotgotanyhadithconcerningme?”Ali(AS)said:“Yes,whynot?IhaveheardtheHolyProphet(SAW)sayingthathehascursedyou

twice,andthenhedidnotevenrepentwhenhecursedyou.”Uthmangotangryat thatandsaid:“WhatdoIhavetodowithyou?Youneverleaveme,neither

duringthetimeoftheProphetnotafterhim.”Ali (AS) said: “Yes, May Allah humiliate you.” Uthman said: “By God, I have heard the Holy

Prophet(SAW)saying:“ZubayrwillbekilledwhenhebecomesanapostateofIslam.”Salmansays:“Ali(AS)toldme,andthiswasbetweenhimandmyself:“Uthmanhassaidtruth,and

thiswillbewhenafterUthmaniskilled.Hewillpayallegiancetomeandthenwillbreakitandbekilledanapostate.”Salman says: “Then Ali (AS) said: “Except four, after the Holy Prophet (SAW) everyone has

become an apostate. After the Holy Prophet (SAW) people became like Haroon and those whofollowedhimandlikethecowandthosewhofollowedit.”SoAli(AS)islikeHaroonandAtiq(AbuBakr)likethecow,andUmarlikeSamiri.”I heard theHolyProphet (SAW) saying: “Nodoubt, a communityofmycompanionswill come

whowillhaveahighstatuswithmesothat theypass thesirat(bridgeonthedayof judgment)andwhentheywillseemeandIwillsee them,theywill recognizemeandIwill recognizethem.Theywillcomeveryneartome.Iwillsay:“OGod,thesearemycompanions,mycompanions.”Itwillbesaid:“Donotyouknowwhattheydidafteryou?Indeedtheyrevertedwhenyoupartedfromthem.”Iwill say: “Go away and get destroyed.” And I have heard the Holy Prophet (SAW) say: “MycommunitywillchoosethetraditionofBaniIsraelinexactlythesamemannerthatonefootfallsontheother foot, one span equal to another span, onehand like theother, onedistance like theotherdistance, until they enter a hole then these people will also enter that hole. Surely, Torah and theQuranwerewritten by oneAngel, on one skin, andwith one pen, and all exampleswith traditionbecamelikeone.”13TheProphetturnedtowardshisdaughterandsaid“YouarethefirstoneinmyAhlulBaytwhowill

meetme,andyou13KitabeSulaymIbnQaysAl-Hilalihadith#4aretheleaderofthewomenofparadise.Soonafterme,youwillbeoppressedandforced,andyou

will be beaten and your rib will be broken.May Allah curse your killer, and curse the one whoordereditandalsocursethosewhobecamehappy,andalsocursethosewhohelphimandthosewhooverpoweryou,andcurse theoppressorofyourhusband,andcursealso thosewhooppressyourchildren.”1414KitabeSulaymIbnQaysAl-Hilalihadith#61

4ChapterCONFISCATINGTHEPROPERTYOFFADAKFROMAHLULBAYTFATIMA'SDEATHANDBURIALKEPTSECRETS

WhenthefortsofKhaibarwereconquered,thenobles,landlords,andprominentofFadakcameto

theHolyProphet.FadakwasanareainthevalleyoftheMedinahills.Itcontainedsevenvillagesthatextendedasfarastheseacoast.Manywereveryfertileandtherewereoasesthere.Therewasapeacetreatywith thepeople stating thathalfof thewholeofFadakwas tobe in theirpossessionand theotherhalfwouldbethepropertyoftheHolyProphet.ThisfacthasbeennarratedbyYaqutHamawi,theauthorofMajimu'l-BuldaninhisFutuhu'l-Buldan,vol.VI,p.343;byAhmadBinYahyaBaladhuriBaghdadi (died 279A.H.) in his Ta'rikh; Ibn Abi'l-HadidMu'tazali in his Sharh-e-Nahju'lBalagha,(printed Egypt), vol. IV, p. 78, quoting from Abu Bakr Ahmad Bin Abdu'l-Aziz Jauhari; byMuhammadBinJarirTabariinhisTa'rikh-e-Kabir,andbymanyothertraditionistsandhistorians.WhentheHolyProphetreturnedtoMedina,Gabrielrevealedthefollowing:"Andgivetothenear

ofkinhisdueand(to)theneedyandthewayfarer,anddonotsquanderwastefully."(7:26)The Holy Prophet pondered the significance of this revelation. Gabriel appeared again and

informedhimthatAllahhaddecreed:"LetFadakbegiventoFatima."TheHolyProphetcalledFatimaand said: "Allah has commanded me to bestow Fadak as a gift to you." So he immediately gavepossessionofFadaktoFatima.Thechiefof thecommentators,AhmadTha'labi inhisKashfu'l-Bayan; Jalalu'd-dinSuyuti inhis

Tafsir, vol. IV, reporting fromHafiz IbnMardawiyya; the famous commentatorAhmadBinMusa(died 352 A.H.) reporting from Abu Sa'id Khadiri and Hakim Abu'l-Qasim Haskani; Ibn Kathir;Imadu'ddinIsma'il;IbnUmarDamishqi;Faqih-e-Shafi'i inhisTa'rikh,andSheikhSulaymanBalkhiHanafi in his Yanabiu'l-Mawadda, ch. 39, reporting from Tafsir-e-Tha'labi, Jam'u'l-Fawa'id andUyunu'l-Akhbar-allnarratethatwhentheverse"andgivetothenearofkinhisdue"wasrevealed,the Holy Prophet of Allah called Fatima and bestowed the great Fadak upon her as a gift.Accordingly,solongastheHolyProphetlived,FadakremainedinFatima'spossession.Thatexaltedlady leased the land; its revenue was collected in three installments. Out of this amount she tookenoughmoneyforfoodforherandherchildrenanddistributedtheresttothepoorpeopleofBaniHashim.AfterthedemiseoftheHolyProphet,theofficersoftherulingcaliphsnatchedthispropertyfromFatima.It is an admitted fact that the caliphs confiscated Fadak on the basis of the well known hadith

narratedbyAbuBakr,whodeclaredthathehadhimselfheardtheHolyProphetsay:"WeProphetsdonotleavebehindanylegacy;whateverweleaveasinheritanceischarity"(i.e.,thepropertyofumma).First, it was not an inheritance, but a gift. Second, the purported hadith is unacceptable. First,

whoever contrived this hadith uttered it without thinking about the words he used. If he had beencarefulabout it,hewouldneverhavesaid:"WeProphetsdonot leaveany inheritance,"becausehewouldhaveknownthathislyingwouldbeexposedbytheverywordingofthisconcoctedhadith.Ifhehadusedthewords"Ihavenot leftbehindanylegacy,"hisattemptedhadithwouldhavebeenmoreplausible.Butwhenheusedtheplural"WeProphets…"weareobligedtoinvestigatethetruthofthehadith.NowonthebasisofthisstatementwerefertotheHolyQur'anforguidance.WefindthatthereareanumberofverseswhichtellusthattheProphetsinfactdidleaveinheritances.Thisprovesthatthishadithistoberejectedoutright.InhisKitab-e-Saqifathegreatscholarandtraditionist,AbuBakrAhmadBinAbdu'l-Aziz Jauhari, aboutwhom IbnAbi'l-Hadid says in his Sharh-e-Nahju'l-Balaghathat he was one of the eminent ulema and traditionists of the Sunni’s; Ibn Al-athir in his Nihaya;Mas'udiinAkhbaru'z-ZamanandinAusat;IbnAbi'lHadidinSharh-e-Nahju'l-Balagha,vol.IV,p.78,quotingfromAbuBakrAhmadJauhari'sbookSaqifaandFadakindifferentwaysandfromanumberofsources,someofwhichrefertothefifthImamMuhammadBaqirthroughSiddiqiSughraZainab-eKubra and some ofwhich refer toAbdullah IbnHasan on the authority of SiddiqiKubra FatimaZahraandontheauthorityofA'yeshaandalsoontheauthorityofMuhammadBinImranMarzabani,he fromZaidBinAliBinHusain;he fromhis father,andhe fromhis father ImamHusain;andhefromhisillustriousmother,FatimaZahra;andmanyotherulemaofthesunnisecthavenarratedthespeechofFatimabefore a largegatheringof theMuslims.Theopponentswere stunnedwhen theyheardherreasoningandcouldnotreply.Sincetheyhadnoanswertomaketheycausedadisturbance.OneoftheargumentsofFatimarejectingthehadithwasthat,ifthehadithweretrue,thenwhywere

theresomanyversesabouttheinheritancesoftheProphets.Shesaid:"AtoneplacetheHolyQur'ansays,'AndSolomonwasDavid'sheir.'"(27:16)AbouttheProphetZakariyyatheHolyQur'ansays:"Thereforegrantmefromthyselfanheir,who

shallinheritofmeandinherit(also)ofthehouseofJacob."(19,5-6)AboutZakariyya'sinvocationtheHolyQur'ansays:"AndZakariyya,whenhecriedtohisLord:'O

myLord,leavemenotchildless,thoughThouartthebestofinheritors.'SowerespondedtohimandgavehimYahya."(21:89,90)Afterthatshesaid:"OSonofAbuQahafa!IsitthereintheBookofAllahthatyouareanheirof

yourfatherandIamdeprivedofmyfather'slegacy?Youhavecommittedagreatslander.HaveyoupeopledeliberatelyabandonedtheBookofAllah(theHolyQur'an)andignoreditaltogether?AmInotthedescendantoftheHolyProphet?Whyareyoudeprivingmeofmyright?Whyareall theseversesofinheritance,whichareintendedforallpeopleingeneralandfortheProphetsinparticularincludedintheHolyQur'an?IsitnotafactthattheversesoftheHolyQur'anshallremainunchangeduntiltheDayofJudgment?DoesnottheHolyQur'ansay:'AndthosewhoareakinareneareronetoanotherintheordinanceofAllah…'(8:75)"and:'Allahenjoinsyouaboutyourissue!Themaleshallhavetheequalofthesharesoftwofemales.'(4:12)and:'Bequestisprescribedforyouwhenoneofyouapproachesdeath,ifheleavewealth,thathebequeathuntoparentsandnearrelationsinkindness.(Thisis)adutyforallthosewhowardoff(evil).'ThenwhyhaveI,inparticular,beendeprivedofmyfather's legacy?HasAllahrevealedsomespecialverses toyou,whichexcludemyfather(fromhisright). Do you know the outward and inner meanings of the Holy Qur'an better than my father,Muhammad,andmycousin,Ali?"Whentheyweresilencedbytheseargumentsandtruefacts,theyhadnoanswer.Theyresortedto

deceptionandabusivelanguage.Shecried:"Todayyouhavebrokenmyheart.OntheDayofJudgmentIwillfileasuitagainstyou

intheDivineCourtofJusticeandAllahAlmightywilldecidethecasejustly.Allahisthebestjudge.Muhammadisthemasterandlord;ourandyourpromisedtimeistheDayofResurrection.Thatdaythetransgressorwillbelosers,andyourrepentancewilldoyounogood.Foreverythingthereisanappointedtimeandyouwillknowbeforelongwhowillbeafflictedwithscornfulchastisement."Many scholars have recorded that when Fatima finished pleading her case, Ali began his

remonstrance in the public gathering ofMuslims in the mosque ofMedina, turning towards AbuBakr, he said: "Why did you deprive Fatima of her father's legacy, though shewas its owner andpossesseditduringthelifetimeofherfather?"AbuBakrreplied:"FadakisthebootyoftheMuslims.If Fatima produces complete evidence that it is her own property, I will certainly give it to her;otherwise,Iwilldepriveherofit."The Holy Imam said, "Is it not a fact that when you pronounce a judgment aboutMuslims, in

general,youpassquiteacontradictoryjudgmentconcerningus?""Hasn'ttheHolyProphetsaidthattheonusofproofliesontheplaintiffandthatofdefenseonthe

defendant?Youhaverejected the judgmentof theHolyProphetand,contrary to religious law,youdemandwitnessesfromFatimawhohasbeeninpossessionofthepropertysincethetimeoftheHolyProphet.MoreoveristhewordofFatima,whoisoneoftheAshab-e-Kisa(peopleofthemantle)andwhoisincludedintheverseofpurity,nottrue?""IftwopersonsweretogiveevidencethatFatimahadcommittedsomewrong,tellmehowwould

youtreather?"AbuBakrsaid,"IwouldinflictpunishmentonherasIwouldanyotherwoman."TheHoly Imamsaid, "Ifyoudid this,youwouldbean infidelbeforeAllah,becauseyouwould

have rejectedAllah'sevidenceaboutFatima'spurity.Allahsays 'Verily,Verily,Allah intendsbut tokeepofffromyoueverykindofuncleanness,OyouthePeopleoftheHouse,andpurifyyou(with)athoroughpurification.'Isthisversenotrevealedinourpraise?"AbuBakrsaid:"Whynot?"TheImamsaid:"IsitpossiblethatFatima,whosepurityAllahhasverified,wouldlayafalseclaim

toapettyproperty?YourejecttheevidenceofthepurifiedoneandaccepttheevidenceoftheArabwhourinatesontheheelofhisownfoot!"After saying this the Imamreturned tohishomeangry.Hisprotest excited thepeople.Everyone

said:"TruthiswithAliandFatima.ByAllah,Alispeaksthetruth.WhyistheHolyProphet'sdaughtertreatedsooutrageously?IbnAbi'l-Hadidnarrates that thepeopleweredeeply impressedby theprotestsofAliandFatima

andbegantocauseadisturbance.AbuBakr,whosawthatthetwoHolypersonshadalreadyleftthemosquewenttothepulpitandsaid:"Opeople!Whyareyousodisturbed?Whydoyoulistentoeverybody?SinceIhaverejectedtheir

evidence, theyare talkingnonsense.Thefact is thathe isafoxwhoisbetrayedbyhisowntail.Hecreatesallsortsofdisturbances.Heminimizestheimportanceofdisturbancesandincitesthepeopletocreateagitationanduproar.Heseekshelpfromtheweak.Heseeksassistancefromwomen.HeislikeUmmu't-Tihalwithwhompeopleofherownhousewerefondoffornicating."Aren't these remarks outrageously abusive? Do they accord with praise, respect, love and

sympathy, which the Holy Prophet had said were due his family? How long will Sunni’s remainabsorbed in thismisguided faithand fanaticism?Forhow longwill theyoppose theShiasandcallthemRafizisandinfidelsbecausetheycriticizethewordsandactionsofpeoplewhicharerecordedintheirownbooks?Considerthematterjustly.WastheinsolenceoftheagedcompanionoftheProphetjustified?The

wickedandabusivelanguageofMu'awiya,Marwan,andKhalidwasnotasdistressingasthatwhichcomesfromthemouthofthemanwhoiscalledthe"companionofthecave."Respectedreader!Wewere not present at that time.We hear the names ofAli,AbuBakr,Umar,Uthman, Talha, Zubair,Mu'awiya,Marwan, Khalid, Abu Huraira, etc.We have neither friendship nor enmity with any ofthem.Wesee twothings:first, thosewhomAllahandHisProphet lovedandforwhomrespectandloyaltywascommanded.Second,weexaminetheirdeedsandutterances.Thenwedecidewithafairmind.Weresistlettingourpreferenceforsomeonedistortourjudgment.We aren't the only oneswho are shocked at such behavior. Even your the fair sunni ulema are

amazed to learn it. Ibn Abi'l-Hadid writes in his Sharh-e-Nahju'l- Balagha, Vol.IV, p. 80, that theutterancesof theCaliph filledhimwithastonishment.Heaskedhis teacherAbuYahyaNaqibJa'farBinYahyaBinAbiZaidu'l-Basari towhom the caliph'swords referred.He said that the statementswerenotindirect.Thereferencewasexplicit.IbnHadidsaid:"Iftheyhadbeenexplicit,Iwouldnothaveputthequestion."Uponthishelaughedandsaid:"ThesethingsweresaidagainstAli."IbnHadidrepeatedthewordsinastonishment:"WereallthosewordssaidagainstAli?"Histeachersaid:"Yes,Oson!Thisiswhatrulershipmeans."Resortingtoabusivelanguageisthetacticofonewhohasnoconvincingreply.Allthiswasdoneto

Aliaboutwhom,asreportedbyallthesunnileadingulemaintheirreliablebooks,theHolyProphetsaid:"AliiswiththetruthandthetruthiswithAli."InreferencetobothAliandFatima,theHolyProphetsaidthattheirtroublewashisowntrouble.

The Holy Prophet said: "He who troubles these two troubles me, and the one who troubles metroublesAllah."ItisalsowritteninallthesunniauthenticbooksthattheHolyProphetsaid,"HewhorevilesAlirevilesme,whorevilesmerevilesAllah."MuhammadBinYusufGanjiShafi'i,inhisKifayatu't-Talib,ch.10,narratesadetailedhadithonthe

authorityofIbnAbbas,whotoldasectionoftheSyrians,whowerecursingAlithathehadheardtheHolyProphetsayingaboutAli:"Hewhoabusesyouabusesme,andhewhoabusesmeabusesAllah,andhewhoabusesAllahwillbethrownstraightintoHell."Afterthishadithhequotesmanyotherhadithfromauthenticsourcesallofwhichprovethatthose

whoabuseAliareinfidels.Chapter10ofhisbookisentitled:"ConcerningtheInfidelityofOnewhoAbusesAli"

AlsoHakiminhisMustadrak,vol.III,p.121,hasquotedthissamehadith.Soaccordingtoallthesehadith, those who curse Ali, curse Allah and his Prophet. All of them (like Mu'awiya, the BaniUmayya,theNasibi's,theKharijis)arethemselvescursed.There is a secondpointwhichdisproves the supposedhadith: "We leaveno inheritance…"The

HolyProphetsaid:"IamthecityofknowledgeandAliisitsgate;andIamthehouseofwisdomandAli is its door." Both sects accepted this. Certainly, one who was the gate of the Holy Prophet'sknowledgeunderstoodallhadithandinstructionsof theHolyProphet,particularly thoseconcernedwiththeproblemsofinheritance.Onthemdependsthewelfareofthewholenation.TheHolyProphetalsosaid:"OnewhowishestoacquireknowledgeshouldcometoAli'sdoor."Ifhisknowledgehadbeen incomplete, the Holy Prophet would not have said that Ali was the best judge in the wholecommunity. He said: "Ali is the best of all among you in interpreting the laws." This hadith isrecordedinalltheauthenticbooks.WouldtheHolyProphetproclaimthesuperiorityofaman'smasteryofthelaws,ifthatmandidnot

understandtheproblemsofinheritanceandtherightsofthepeople?PartofthepurposeoftheHolyProphetwastosecuresocialreformforthepeopleinthisworldandpeaceandcomfortfortheminthehereafter.HowcouldhemakeAli theCommanderof theFaithful andyet not convey tohimatraditionsuchasthis,whichaffectstheentiresocialorder?AsIhavealreadysaidearlier,theHolyProphetsaid:"ForeveryProphetthereisavicegerentand

heir;verily,Aliismyvicegerentandheir."Ifyousaythattheirinheritancedidnotmeaninheritanceofwealthbutthatofknowledge(although

ithasbeenproventhattheymeantinheritanceofwealth)mypointofviewbecomesclearer.TheheiroftheProphet'sknowledgedeservedthepositionofcaliphatemorethananyoneofthosewhoweredevoidoftheHolyProphet'sknowledge.Second,ithasbeenproventhattheProphetmadeAlihisimmediatesuccessorandheir,according

to the hadith narrated by Sunni ulema. Allah appointed him to this rank. Could the Prophet haveneglectedtotellhissuccessorandheir?Moreover, it is very strange that in resolving questions regarding religious lawsAbuBakr and

Umar accepted Ali's decisions. The sunni ulema and histori ans have recorded the judgmentspronouncedbyAliduringthecaliphateofAbuBakr,Umar,andUthman.The Sunni’s say it is very strange that we claim that the caliphs did not know the religious

ordinances and that Ali used to remind them. There is nothing strange about it. To know all theordinancesisverydifficult.ItwouldnotbepossibleforamantohavesuchperfectknowledgeunlesshewastheProphetofAllahorthe'GateofKnowledge'oftheHolyProphet.TheSunniulemahaverecordedthesefactsintheirauthenticbooks.Iciteanexamplesothatuninformedmenmaynotthinkthatwesaythesethingstooffendthem.ImamAhmadHanbalinhisMusnad;Imamu'l-HaramAhmadBinAbdullahShafi'iinhisDhakha'ir-

e-Uqba; Ibn Abi'l-Hadid in his Sharh-e-Nahju'l-Balagha; and Sheikh Sulayman Hanafi in hisYanabiu'l-Mawadda,Ch.56,quotingfromAhmadBinAbdullah;AhmadBinHanbal,Qala'i;andIbnSamanreportthefollowingincident:

"Umarwantedtostoneawomanbecauseshehadgivenbirthtoachildafterasix-monthpregnancy.

Ali said, 'Allah says in theHolyQur'an that the time, from conception till the prescribed time ofsuckling,coversaperiodofthirtymonths.Sincethesucklingperiodisfortwoyears,theperiodofpregnancy is six months. This means that a birth of a child is possible after a pregnancy of sixmonths.'SoUmarsetthewomanfreeandsaid,'IfAlihadnotbeenthere,Umarwouldhaveperished.'In thesamechapterhequotesfromAhmadBinHanbal'sManaqib:"WhenUmarfacedadifficult

problem and was unable to understand it, he relied upon Ali's understanding." A number of sucheventstookplaceduringthecaliphateofAbuBakrandUthman.Whentheybecameentangledinsomedifficulty,theycalledAliastherealarbiter.Theythemselvesactedaccordingtohisdecision.NowyoumaywonderwhytheydidnotacceptAli'sevidenceinthecaseofFadak.Nowinthatcase

theychosetofollowtheirowndesiresandsnatchedawaytherightofFatima.The third argument to prove the falsity of this hadith is Caliph Abu Bakr's own statement and

action. If thehadithwerecorrect,whatever theHolyProphethad leftwouldhavebeenconfiscated.Theheirswouldhavehadnorightoveranythingleftbehind,butAbuBakrgaveFatima'sapartmenttoherandalsogavetheapartmentsofthewivesoftheHolyProphet,A'yesha,Hafsa,andotherstothemastheirheritage.Besides this, if the hadithwere correct and ifAbuBakr believed that it was theHoly Prophet's

ordinance, thenwhy, after confiscatingFadak (which he considered to be charity belonging to theMuslims) did he write a document that the property be returned to Fatima? Later Caliph Umarintervenedanddestroyedthedocument.IbnAbi'l-Hadid in his Sharh-e-Nahju'l-Balagha andAli Bin Burhanu'd-din Shafi'i in his Ta'rikh

Siratu'l-Halabiyya,vol.III,p.391,writethatAbuBakrwasmovedtotearsbyFatima'simpassionedspeech. He wept because of Fatima's plight and subsequently wrote a document stating that thepropertybereturnedtoher.ButUmardestroyedthedocument.It is however surprising that the same Umar, who during Abu Bakr's caliphate objected to the

returning of Fadak, returned it to its heirs during his own caliphate. Similarly the Amawid andAbbasidcaliphsalsoreturnedittotheheirsofFatima.The well-known traditionist and historian of Medina, Allama Samhudi (died 911 A.H.), in his

Ta'rikhu'l-Medina and Yaqut Bin Abdullah Rumi in his Mu'ajamu'l-Buldan, state that during hiscaliphate,AbuBakrtookpossessionofFadak.Umar,duringhisreign,returnedittoAliandAbbas.IfAbuBakroccupieditontheorderoftheHolyProphetandconsidereditthepropertyoftheMuslims,onwhatprincipledidUmarentrustthepropertyofalltheMuslimstoasingleindividual?Sometimesawitnessisclevererthantheplaintiffforwhomhegivesevidence.TheCaliphhadno

such idea. If thepropertyhadbeen returned for theexpensesof theMuslims, itmusthavebeen sorecorded in history.But all the prominent historianswrite that itwas released in favor ofAli andAbbas. Ali accepted Fadak as its rightful heir, not as an individualMuslim.OneMuslimmay notpossessthepropertyofalltheMuslims.

PerhapsthereferenceistoUmarIbnAbdu'l-Aziz,butAliandAbbaswerenotaliveduringthetimeofUmarBinAbdu'lAziz.That isa separate story.AllamaSamhudi inhisTa'rikhu'lMedinaand IbnAbi'l-HadidinhisSharh-e-Nahju'l-Balagha,vol.IV,p.81,narratefromAbuBakrJauharithatwhenUmarBinAbdu'l-Azizoccupiedtheseatofthecaliphate,hewrotetohisgovernoratMedinatoreturnFadak to the descendants of Fatima. Accordingly, he called Hasan Bin Hasanu'l-Mujtaba (andaccordingtosomereportshecalledImamAliIbnu'l-Husain)andreturnedFadaktohim.IbnAbi'l-HadidwritesaboutitinhisSharh-e-Nahju'lBalagha,vol.IV,p.81,inthefollowingwords:

"This was the first property which was snatched away unjustly and then was given over to thedescendantsofFatimabyUmarBinAbdu'lAziz."ItremainedintheirpossessionforalongtimeuntilCaliph Yazid Ibn Abdu'l-Malik usurped it again. Then the Bani Umayya occupied it. When thecaliphatewent to the BaniAbbas, the first Abbasid Caliph,Abdullah Saffa, entrusted Fadak to thedescendantsofImamHasan,whodistributeditsincome,accordingtotherightsofinheritance,tothedescendantsofFatima.WhenMansur persecuted the descendants of ImamHasan, he snatched away Fadak from them

again.Whenhisson,Mahdi,becamethecaliph,hereturnedittothem.WhenMusabinHadibecamethe caliph, he again usurped Fadak. When Mamunu'rRashid the Abbasid occupied the seat of thecaliphate,heorderedFadaktobereleasedtothedescendantsofAli.YaqutHamawiquotesMamun'sorder inhisMu'ajamu'lBuldan.Mamunwrote tohisgovernorat

Medina:"Verily, theHolyProphetofAllahbequeathedFadaktohisdaughter,Fatima.ThisfactwasestablishedandcommonlyknowntothedescendantsoftheHolyProphet."Thewellknownpoet,Di'balKhuza'i,wasalsopresentat this time.Herecitedsomecouplets, the

firstofwhichmeans:"Todayweareallhappyandrejoicing.MamunhasreturnedFadaktotheBaniHashim."It has been proved by irrefutable arguments that Fadak had been given by the Holy Prophet to

Fatima. It was usurped without any justification. But later caliphs, on grounds of justice or forpoliticalconsiderations,returnedittothedescendantsofthatoppressedlady.IfFadakwasbestoweduponherasagift,whydidsheclaimitasherheritageandnotsayanything

aboutagift?Atfirstsheclaimeditasagift.Butwhenwitnesseswererequiredfromtheproperty'soccupants, incontradiction to the injunctionof theHolyProphetof Islam, sheproducedwitnesses.Theirevidencewasrejected.Shewastherebyforcedtoseekprotectionunderthelawofinheritance.ThisfactisrecordednotonlyinShiabooks,butalsointhosewrittenbySunniprominentulema.It

isrecordedinSiratu'lHalabiyya,p.39,compiledbyAliBinBurhanu'd-dinHalabiShafi'i(died1044A.H.)thatatfirstFatimaremonstratedwithAbuBakrthatsheownedFadakandthattheHolyProphetofAllahhadgiven it toher.Sincewitnesseswerenot available, shewas forced to claimher rightaccordingtothelawofinheritance.AlsoImamFakhru'd-dinRaziinhisTafsir-e-KabirconcerningtheclaimofFatima;YaqutHamawi

inhisMu'ajamu'l-Buldan; IbnAbi'l-HadidMu'tazali inSharh-eNahju'l-Balagha,vol. IV,p.80, fromAbu Bakr Jauhari and the fanatical Ibn Hajar in Sawa'iq-e-Muhriqa, p.21, under the headingShuhubhat-e-Rafza,VIIShubha,narratethatthefirstclaimofFatimawasthatFadakhadbeenagift.

Whenherwitnesseswererejected,shewasmuchpainedandsaidinangerthatshewouldnottalktoAbuBakrandUmaragain.Andsoitwas…sheneversawthemagainanddidnotspeaktothem.Whenthetimeofherdemise

approached,shespecifiedinherwillthatnoneofthesepeoplewastotakepartinherfuneralprayers.Heruncle,Abbas,offered the funeralprayers, and shewas laid to rest at night.According toShiasourcesandaccordingtothestatementsoftheHolyImams,Aliperformedthefuneralprayers.Will you please tell me which religious ordinance demands witnesses from one who is in

possessionoftheproperty?IthasbeenprovedthatFatimawasinpossessionofFadak.Asreportedbyall Sunni ulema, Abu Bakr's demanding witnesses from her was against religious law. Does ourreligiouslawnotsaythatwitnessesshouldbeproducedbytheplaintiffandnotbytheholderoftheproperty?Second,nobodydeniesthegeneralsignificanceofthe'VerseofEvidence',butitalsohasaspecific

significance.Whatdoyoumeanbyitsspecificsignificance?Theproofforthisisthereportrecordedintheauthenticbooksofhadith,regardingKhazimaIbnThabit.HegaveevidenceinsupportoftheHolyProphet inacaseconcerningthesaleofahorse.AnArabhadmadeaclaimagainst theHolyProphetandhis(Khazima's)singleevidencewasconsideredsufficient.TheHolyProphetgavehimthe title ofDhu'sh-Shahadatain because hewas regarded as being equal to two justwitnesses.Thisexampleshowsthat the 'VerseofEvidence'allowsforexceptionsundersomecircumstances.WhenKhazima,anindividualbelieverandcompanionfromamongthecommunity,wasmadeanexceptionto theverse,Ali andFatimawhowere infallibleaccording to the 'VerseofPurity'were inabetterpositiontoenjoythisexception.Theyweredefinitelyfreefromallfalsehood.TorejecttheirevidencewastorejecttheevidenceofAllah.Hazrat Fatima claimed that her father bestowed Fadak upon her as a gift and that it was in her

possessionandcontrolduring theHolyProphet's lifetime.Shewasasked to furnishwitnesses.Sheproduced Amiru'l-Mu'minin Ali Bin Abi Talib and Hasan and Hussein as her witnesses. But theirevidencewas rejected.Was this actionnotunjust? It is beyondcomprehensionhowanybodycouldrejectAli'stestimony.AllahAlmightysaysintheHolyQur'anthatweshouldbewithAli,thatis,weshouldfollowhim.Zaid-e-Adlbecametheembodimentoftruthbecauseofhisextremetruthfulness.Similarly,Aliwasalsocalled 'thetruthful,'asAllahsays:"Oyouwhobelieve!Becarefulof(yourduty to) Allah, and be with the truthful ones." (9:119) "Truthful ones" refers to the ProphetMuhammad,Ali,andtheHolyAhleBait.Sunni prominent scholars have written in their books and commentaries that this verse was

revealed in praise ofMuhammad and Ali. "The truthful ones" refers to these two Holymen, andaccording to some reports itmeansAli;other reports say that it refers to theprogenyof theHolyProphet.ImamTha'labiinthecommentaryKashfu'l-Bayan,Jalalu'ddinSuyutireportingfromIbnAbbasin

his Durru'l-Manthur, Hafiz Abu Sa'id Abdu'l-Malik Bin Muhammad Khargushi reporting fromAsma'isinhisSharafu'l-Mustafa,andHafizAbuNu'aimIspahaniinhisHilyatu'l-AuliyanarratethattheHolyProphetsaid:"ThesetruthfulonesareMuhammadandAli."SheikhSulaymanHanafiinhisYanabiu'l-Mawadda,ch.39,p.1191,reportingfromMuwaffaqBin

AhmadKhawarizmi,HafizAbuNu'aimIspahani,andHamwainirelatesontheauthorityofIbnAbbas,whosaid:"Inthisverse'thetruthfulones'areMuhammadandhisHolydescendants."AndSheikhu'l-IslamIbrahimBinMuhammadHamwaini,oneoftheSunnieminentscholars,inhis

Fara'idu's-Simtain,MuhammadBinYusufGanjiShafi'i inhisKifayatu't-Talib,ch.62,andMuhadithShaminhisTa'rikh,reportingfromhissources,write:"Withthetruthfulones,thatis,withAliBinAbiTalib."(2)Allahsays:"Andhewhobringsthetruth,andhewhoacceptsitasthetruth-thesearetheythat

guard(againstevil)."(39:33)Jalalu'd-din Suyuti inDurru'l-Manthur,Hafiz IbnMardawiyya inManaqib,HafizAbuNu'aim in

Hilyatu'l-Auliya,MuhammadBinYusufGanjiShafi'iinKifayatu't-Talib,ch.62,andIbnAsakirinhisTa'rikh, reporting froma selectionof commentators, narrate the followingon the authorityof IbnAbbasandMujahid:"'Hewhobringsthetruth'isMuhammad,and'hewhotestifiestoit'isAliBinAbiTalib."(3)Allahsays inchapterofHadid(Iron)of theHolyQur'an:"And(asfor) thosewhobelieve in

Allahandhisapostles,theseitiswhoarethetruthfulandthefaithfulonesinthesightoftheirLord;theyshallhavetheirrewardandtheirlight."(57:19)ImamAhmadIbnHanbalinhisMusnadandHafizAbuNu'aimIspahaniinManazilMina'l-Qur'an

Fi Ali narrate on the authority of Ibn Abbas that this Holy verse was revealed in praise of Alireferringtohimasbeingamongthetruthfulones.(4)IntheChapterNisa(Women)Allahsays:"AndwhoeverobeysAllahandtheApostle,theseare

withthoseuponwhomAllahhasbestowedfavorsfromamongtheProphetsandthetruthfulandthemartyrsandthegood,andagoodlycompanyarethey."(4:69)InthisversealsothetruthfulonesreferstoAli.Therearemanyhadithnarratedbysunniulemaand

ours,indicatingthatAliwasthetruthfuloneofthecommunityandinfactthemostexaltedamongthetruthfulones.ManyofprominentulemahavewrittenintheirbooksthattheHolyProphetsaid:"Therearethree

greattruthfulones:-Hizqil, theBelieverofthepeopleofPharaoh;HabibNajjaroftheSuraYasin,andAli BinAbi Talib,who is superior to them all." The following have all recorded this hadith:ImamFakhru'd-dinRaziinhisTafsirKabir;ImamTha'labiinKashfu'l-Bayan;Jalalu'ddinSuyutiinDurru'l-Manthur;ImamAhmadBinHanbalintheMusnad;IbnShirwaihinFirdaus;IbnAbi'l-HadidinSharh-eNahju'l-Balagha,vol. II,p.451;IbnMaghaziliShafi'i inManaqib;andIbnHajarMakki inSawa'iq-e-Muhriqa(30thhadithoutofthe40hadiththathehascommentedonconcerningthevirtuesofAli)quotingfromBukhari,whoreportsfromIbnAbbas,withtheexceptionofthelastphrase.AlsoSheikhSulaymanBalkhiinhisYanabiu'l-Mawadda,ch.42,quotingfromtheMusnadofImam

Hanbal;AbuNu'aimIbnMaghaziliShafi'i;thegreatoratorKhawarizmi,quotingfromAbuLailaandAbuAyyubAnsari, inhisManaqib; IbnHajar inhisSawa'iq (andahostofothers)narrate that theHolyProphetsaid:"Thereare three truthfulones: -HabibNajjar, theBelieverof thepeopleof the

Chapter Yasin who said, 'O people! follow the Prophets;' Hizqil, the believer of the people ofPharaoh,whosaid,'DoyoukillamanwhoworshipsAllah?',andAliIbnAbiTalib,whoisthemostexaltedofthemall."Sunni’sthemselvesprovewithvarioushadithinconformitywiththeHolyQur'an,thatAlioccupied

thehighestrankamongthetruthfulonesandyettheycallothersas"siddiq"(truthful)althoughnotasingleversehasbeenreportedabouttheirbeingtruthful.Reader!Pleasebejust.WasitpropertorejecttheevidenceofthepersonwhomAllahcalls"siddiq"

intheQur'an,onewhomwehavebeencommandedtofollow?TheHolyProphetsaid:"AliisalwayswithtruthandtruthrevolvesroundAli."KhatibBaghdadiin

hisTa'rikh,vol.IV,p.321,HafizIbnMardawiyyainManaqib,ImamAhmadBinHanbalinMasnad,Fakhru'd-dinRaziinTafsir-e-Kabir,vol.I,p.111,IbnHajarMakkiinJam'u's-Saghir,vol.II,pp.74,75,140andSawa'iq-e-Muhriqa,ch.IX,Fasl11,hadith21,narratingfromUmmeSalmaandIbnAbbasalsoinYanabiu'l-Mawadda,ch.65,p.185,takingfromJam'u's-SaghirofJalalu'd-dinSuyuti,inaddition,in Ta'rikhu'l-Khulafa, p.116, Faizu'l-Qadir, vol. IV, p. 358, narrating from Ibn Abbas Manaqibu's-Sabi'in,p.237,hadith44quotingfromtheauthorofFirdaus;Sawa'iq-e-Muhriqa,ch.59,Part2,p.238,narrating fromUmmeSalma andMuhammadBinYusufGanji Shafi'i inKifayatu't-Talib, someofthemnarratingfromUmmeSalma,somefromA'yeshaandsomefromMuhammadBinAbuBakr,allnarrate that theyheard theHolyProphet saying:"Ali iswith theQur'anand theQur'an iswithAli;therewillneverbeadifferencebetweenthetwo,andthetwowillnotseparatefromeachotheruntiltheyreachmeatthepoolofKauthar."Somenarratorshavereportedthesewords:"TherightisalwayswithAli,andAliisalwayswiththe

right.Therewillbenodifferencebetweenthetwo,andthetwowillnotbeseparatefromeachother."IbnHajarwritesinSawa'iq-e-Muhriqa,ch.9,Part2,p.77,thattheHolyProphetonhisdeathbed,

said:"Ileavebehindwithyoutwothings:ThebookofAllahandmyprogeny,myAhleBait."Then,holdingAli'shand,heraiseditandsaid:"ThisAliiswiththeQur'an,andtheQur'aniswithAli.ThetwowillnotseparatefromeachothertilltheyreachmeatthepoolofKauthar.ThenIwillaskeachofthemaboutthematterofsuccession."AlsoitisgenerallynarratedthattheProphetsaid:"Aliiswiththerightandtherightisalwayswith

Ali.Theyrevolvearoundeachother."Sibt Ibn Jauzi, in Tadhkirat-e-Khawasu'l-Umma, p.20, in connectionwith the 'Hadith ofGhadir',

narratesthattheHolyProphetsaid:"LettherightmoveroundAli,inwhateverdirectionhemoves."Sibtcommentingonthissays:"ThishadithprovesthatifthereisanydifferencebetweenAliandanyothercompanion,therightwillcertainlybewithAli."ItisrecordedinthebooksthathavebeenmentionedandinotherauthenticbooksofSunni’sthatthe

HolyProphet often said: "Hewho obeysAli verily obeysme, and hewho obeysme verily obeysAllah. Hewho disobeysAli verily disobeysme, and hewho disobeysme verily disobeysAllah."Abu'l-Fath Muhammad Bin Abdu'l-Karim Shahrastani reports in his Milalwa-Nihal that the HolyProphet said: "The reality is thatAli is always on the right, and thosewho follow him are on theright."

Withalltheseexplicitreports,whicharerecordedinauthenticbooks,wasn'trefusingtoagreewith

AlithesameasrefusingtoagreewiththeHolyProphet?Also reported by Parsa of Bukhara in his Faslu'l-Khitab; one by Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal in

Musnad and byMir SeyyedAli Hamadani Shafi'i inMawaddaXIII ofMawaddatu'l-Qurba, on theauthority of Salman Muhammadi, that the Holy Prophet said: "Fatima's love is useful to us in ahundredplaces,theeasiestofthembeingDeath,theGrave,theMizan(theBalance),Sirat(thebridge)and theQuestioning.So, ifmydaughter,Fatima, ispleasedwith somebody, Iamalsopleasedwithhim. If I am pleased with somebody, Allah is also pleased with him. If my daughter, Fatima, isdispleasedwithsomebody,Iamalsodispleasedwithhim.IfIamdispleasedwithhim,Allahisalsodispleasedwith him.Woe be to himwho oppresses Fatima and her husband.Woe be to himwhooppressesAliandFatimaandtheirShias."Iaskyouwhatconclusionyoudrawin lightof theseauthentichadithand thehadith recordedby

BukhariandMuslimthatFatimaremainedindignantwithAbuBakrandUmaruntilshedied.Someone may say the hadith of "indignation" means religious indignation and not ordinary

worldlyindignation.HerindignationregardingAbuBakrandUmar,whichisrecordedinallreliablebooks,wasnot religious.That is,Fatimadidnot feelangrywithAbuBakrandUmarbecause theyviolated any religious injunction. Of course, if anyone had aroused her religious indignation, hewould have been subject to his Prophet's curse. But Fatima's anger resulted from a change in hercondition,whicheverysensitiveperson feelswhenhe fails toachievehisobject.SinceFatimahadmadearequestforFadakandtheCaliphdidnotacceptherclaim,shewasnaturallyaffectedbyitandfelt indignantat that time.But later this slightdispleasuredisappeared fromhermind,andshewassatisfiedwiththedecisionoftheCaliph.Theproofofhersatisfactionwashersilence.AndwhenAlitook the reinsof the caliphate, hedidnot for all his supremeauthority, takebackFadakunderhiscontrol.This,too,isproofthathewassatisfiedwiththedecisionofthepreviouscaliphs.First,tosaythatFatima'sangerwasnotreligiousbutworldly.Youwouldhaveexpressedthisview

withoutcarefulstudy.Accordingto theprinciplesof theQur'anicversesandthehadithof theHolyProphet, no perfect believerwould ever show such an indignation, not to speak of Fatima,whoseeminenceisevidentfromthe"VerseofPurity":"VerseofMubahala"andtheSuraHalAtaoftheHolyQur'an.(76:1)TherearenumeroushadithinalltheauthenticbooksthatFatimaoccupiedthehighestrankofiman

(belief)andthattheHolyProphethadexplicitlysaidabouther:"Verily,Allahhasfilledmydaughter,Fatima,withbelieffromheadtofoot."Any believer,man orwoman,whose specialmark is to admit the truth,would never show any

indignationwhenajudgeissuesajustorder.Norwouldsuchabelieverclingtothatangerandwrathtillhisdeathinsistinginhiswillthatnoneofthosewhowereinanywayconnectedwiththoseordersshouldbeallowedtojoininhisfuneralprayers.Moreover Fatima, about whose purity Allah Himself gives evidence, could never make a false

claim,sothatajudgemightrejectherclaim.

Second,ifLadyFatima'sindignationwasmerely"worldlyindignation",orherdisappointmentinhavingherclaimrejected,herangershouldhavesubsidedsoon,particularlyaftertheregretshownbythoseresponsibleforheranger.Thereshouldhavebeennogriefinherheart.TheHolyProphetsaid:"Oneofthesignsofabelieveristhathedoesnotnaturallynurseanygrudgebasedoncarnalsentiments,againstanybody."AlsotheHolyProphetsaid:"Ifabelieverhappenstocommitafault,theaggrievedbelieverdoesnot feelantipathy towardshimformore than threedays."So thepureandtruthful Fatima Zahra, whowas, according to the testimony of AllahAlmighty, imbuedwith faithfromheadtofoot,couldneverbearmaliceagainstanybody.AnditisacknowledgedbybothsectsthatFatima left this world angry with Abu Bakr and Umar. So it follows from this that Fatima'sindignationwaspurelyreligious.WhenshesawthattheorderwaspassedagainstherinviolationofthecommandsofAllahandherHolyfather,shefeltfuriouswithreligiousdispleasureandthiswasthatanger,whichincurredAllah'sandHisProphet'swrath.Third,Silencedoesnotnecessarilymeanconcurrence.Sometimestheoppressor'srigidityforces

acquiescence. Fatima was not only grieved, but she left this world indignant. Both Bukhari andMuslimwrote:"FatimawasindignantwithAbuBakr.Shekeptalooffromhimanddidnottalkwithhimfortherest

ofherlife."Fourth,Alididnot,duringtheperiodofhiscaliphate,takepossessionofFadakandreturnittothe

descendantsofFatima, this indicatedhisacquiescence in thedecisionof thepreviouscaliphs.Evenhereyouwouldbemistaken.TheHolyImamwasnotfreetoactduringtheperiodofhiscaliphatesoastohavestoppedanyinnovationorrestoreanyright.Wheneverheintendedtotakesuchastep,therewasimmediateopposition.IfhehadreturnedFadaktothedescendantsofFatima,hisopponents,particularlyMu'awiyaandhis

followers,wouldhaveclaimed thatAliactedagainst thepracticesadoptedbyAbuBakrandUmar.Besidesthis,inordertopasssuchorders,authorityandindependencewerenecessary.Butpeoplehadnotallowedhimsuchpower.Hecouldnotintroduceanythingthatwouldhaveviolatedthepreceptsandpracticesofthepreviouscaliphs.Ali'spowerlessnessisevidentfromthefollowingtwoexamples.SincethepreviouscaliphshadremovedthepulpitfromitsplacewheretheProphethadplacedit,

theHolyImamintendedtoreturnittoitsoriginalplace.ButthepeopleopposedhimandwouldnottolerateanythingcontrarytothepracticeofAbuBakrandUmar,eventhoughitmightbecompatiblewiththepracticeoftheHolyProphet.Similarly,when theHolyImamforbade thepeople tooffercongregational tarawihprayers, they

roseagainsthimandclaimedthatAliwantedtochangethewayofCaliphUmar.SohowcouldAlirestoreFadaktothedescendantsofFatima?Ifhehaddonesoandsaidthatithad

beenunjustlyconfiscated,thepeoplewouldhavecriedthatAliBinAbiTalibwasinclinedtowardstheworld andwas usurping the right of theMuslims for their own descendants. Hence, he thought itpropertobepatient.Sincetherealclaimanthadleftthisworld,hesuspendedhisclaimtoit,sothatwhen the last of the divinely guided Imams comes to restore rights to their just claimants, hewillsecurehisright.

InsuchastateofaffairsthesilenceoftheHolyImamdidnotmeanthathewassatisfiedwiththedecision.Ifhehadconsideredtheactionof thepreviouscaliphs just,hewouldnothavearguedhiscasebeforethem.Also,hewouldnothaveexpressedhisanguishanddispleasureandwouldnothaveinvokedAllahtobethearbiter.ItisrecordedinNahju'l-BalaghathatAliinalettertotheGovernorofBasra,UthmanBinHunaif

Ansariwrote:"AmongthosethingsonwhichtheskycastsitsshadowwasFadak,whichwasinourpossession. But a group showed niggardliness and the other side, Fatima, and her descendantswithdrewfrompursuingtheirclaim.AndthebestJudgeisAllah."IfyousaythatFatimawassatisfiedwiththedecisioninthelastdaysofherlifeandpardonedthose

responsible for it. I am afraid you are mistaken here. As has been proved beyond doubt earlierthroughreliablehadiththatoppressedLadyremainedindignantuntilshedied.ToprovemypointofviewIshouldliketosubmitthefollowingreport.AbuMuhammadAbdullah

BinMuslimBinQutaybaDinawari(died276A.H.)inhisTa'rikh-e-Khilafa'i'rRashidin,knownasAl-Imamawa's-Siyasa,vol.I,p.14andotherSunniulema,likeIbnAbi'l-Hadid,writeintheirauthenticbooks:"Umar asked Abu Bakr to go with him to visit Fatima. They had certainly enraged her. (Some

reportssaythatitwasAbuBakr,whoaskedUmartogowithhimtovisitFatima.Thisseemsmoreplausible.)Inshort,bothofthemwenttogethertothedoorofFatimabutshedidnotallowthemtovisither.

WhentheyaskedAlitointervene,heremainedsilent,butheallowedthemtogoin.Whentheywentinandsalutedher,sheturnedherfacetothewall.AbuBakrsaid:'OpartoftheProphet'sliver,byAllah,Ivalue therelationshipof theHolyProphetwithyoumore thanmyrelationshipwithmydaughter,A'yesha.WouldthatIhaddiedsoonaftertheHolyProphetofAllah.Iknowyourrankandpositionmorethananyoneelse.IfIhavedeprivedyouofyourrightofheritage,itwasreallybecauseoftheHolyProphet,whomImyselfheardsaying:'WeProphetsdonotleaveanyheritage.Whatweleaveischarity(fortheMuslims).'FatimathensaidtoAmiru'l-Mu'mininthatshewouldremindthemofahadithoftheHolyProphet

andaskthemtosayinthenameofAllahiftheyhadnotheardtheHolyProphetsayingit: 'Fatima'spleasure is my pleasure, Fatima's indignation is my indignation. So one who loves my daughterFatimalovesme;onewhopleasesFatima,pleasesme.OnewhooffendsFatima,offendsme.'Bothofthemsaid:'YesweheardthesewordsfromtheHolyProphetofAllah.'ThenFatimasaid:'I

callAllahandHisAngels towitness thatbothofyouhaveoffendedmeanddidnot treatmejustly.WhenImeettheHolyProphetIwillcertainlycomplaintohimofyouboth.'AbuBakr,beingtroubledatthesewords,begantoweepandsaid: 'IseekAllah'sshelterfromthe

HolyProphet'sanger.'Fatimabegantoweepandsaid:'IswearbyAllahthatIwillcertainlycalldowncursesuponyouinallmyprayers.'Afterhearingthis,AbuBakrwentout,weeping.Peoplegatheredroundhimandconsoledhim.To

themhesaid:'Woebetoyou.Youareallhappy,sittingwithyourwivescomfortably,butIaminthis

wretchedstate.Idonotneedyourallegiance.Ridmeofit.ByAllah,afterwhatIhaveseenandheardfromFatima,IdonotwantanyMuslimtosuffertheburdenofallegiancetome.'Thesereports,relatedbysunninotableulema,showthattheoppressedFatimaremainedindignant

withAbuBakrandUmaruntilthelasthourofherlife.The clearest proof of Fatima's anger in this regard is that she made the following will to her

husband,Amiru'l-Mu'mininAli:"Noneofthosepersonswhohaveoppressedmeandsnatchedawaymyrightshouldbeallowedtojoinmyfuneral.TheyarecertainlymyandtheHolyProphet'senemies.Donotallowanyoneofthemortheirassociatestoofferfuneralprayersforme.Burymeatnightwhenpeopleareasleep."Bukhari writes in his Sahih that Ali complied with Lady Fatima's will and buried her at night

quietly.PeopletriedtheirbesttofindwhereFatimawasburied,buttheycouldnot.Itisunanimouslyaccepted that Fatima was, according to her will, buried at night. The Holy Prophet left a singledaughtertoserveashismemory.Thesunniulemaagreethathesaid:"Fatimaisapartofmybody.She ismy legacy and trust. Respect her as you respectme.Never do anything to incite her angeragainstyou.Ifsheisangrywithyou,Ialsowillbeangrywithyou."MirSeyyedAliHamadaniFaqihShafi'iwritesinhisMawaddatu'l-QurbathattheHolyProphetsaid:

"ThosewhogrieveFatimawillbestrictlydealtwithbymeontheDayofJudgment.Fatima'spleasureismypleasure,andFatima'sangerismyanger.WoebetohimwithwhomFatimaisindignant."Howtragicisitthatforallthesedeclarations,theCommunitynotonlyignoredherbutalsosnatchedawayher right andcausedher so intense torment.Evenwhile still ayoungwoman, shedeclared: "Iwassubjectedtosomanytroublesthatifdayshadbeensubjectedtosuchtroubles,theywouldhaveturnedintonights."15WhatAmiral-mu'mininAlisaidontheoccasionoftheburialofSayyidatu'n-nisa'(Supremelady)

FatimahwhileaddressingtheHolyProphetathisgrave:“O'ProphetofAllah,peacebeuponyoufrommeandfromyourdaughterwhohascometoyou

andwhohashastenedtomeetyou.O'ProphetofAllah,mypatienceaboutyourchosen(daughter)hasbeenexhausted,andmypowerofendurancehasweakened,exceptthatIhavegroundforconsolationinhavingenduredthegreathardshipandheart-rendingeventofyourseparation.Ilaidyoudowninyourgravewhenyourlastbreathhadpassed(whenyourheadwas)betweenmyneckandchest.15PeshawarNightsbySultanulWaizinShiraz…VerilyweareAllah'sandverilyuntoHimshallwereturn.(Qur'an2:156)Now.thetrusthasbeenreturnedandwhathadbeengivenhasbeentakenback.Astomygrief, it

knowsnobounds,andastomynights.theywillremainsleeplesstillAllahchoosesformethehouseinwhichyouarenowresiding.Certainly,yourdaughterwouldappriseyouof the joining togetherofyourummah(people) for

oppressingher.Youaskherindetailandgetallthenewsabouttheposition.Thishashappenedwhenalongtimehadnotelapsedandyourremembrancehadnotdisappeared.Mysalam(salutation)beon

youboth, thesalamofagrief strickennotadisgustedorhatefulperson; for if Igoaway it isnotbecauseIamweary(ofyou),andifIstayitisnotduetolackofbeliefinwhatAllahhaspromisedthosewhoendure.”1616NahjulBalaghasermon201

5ChapterBILAL'SPROTESTANDBANISHMENTTOSYRIA

Bilal of Africa was the first muezzin of prayer (person who calls to prayer). When Madina

developedallthecharacteristicsofastate,italsoacquiredatreasury,andtheProphetappointedBilalitsofficerincharge.Hewasinchargeofthebaytulmal(Treasury)ofthestateofMadina.Thismadehim the first treasurer of Islam. He made allocations of all funds. He was also responsible fordistributingfundstothewidows,orphans,thewayfayersandotherpoorpeoplewhohadnomeansofsupportingthemselves.17From theday theHolyProphetandotherMuslimsmigrated toMadinaBilalused tocall the the

people to themosque togather them there i.e. at the timeofprayers,mobilizationof the army,orwhentherewasaproblemtobesolvedheusedtosayadhanandimmediatelythepeoplepouredintothemosqueandformedagathering.AllwerefamiliarwiththevoiceofBilalandtheyalwayswaitedtohearhisinvigoratingcallthat

invitedthemtoAllahandtogoodthings.However, when after the Holy Prophet, Abu Bakr attained to caliphate he decided to go to the

mosqueinthatcapacityandtostandintheProphet’snichesothatbythismeanshemightstrengthenthepillars of his government and contact the people directly.The first step for the formationof agathering and thepeople coming to themosquewhile theProphetwas alivewas the sayingof theadhanbyBilalinvitingthemtothemosque.However,BilaldidnotsayadhanaftertheHolyProphet’sdemiseandwasthemostsensitive,themostnaturalandatthesametimethemostdangeroustacticsthatBilal employed against the caliphate. From that point onwardsBilal did not participate in anyofficialgatheringsof theirs.TheabsenceofBilal,whoheldadelicatepost, fromthestageand thesociety,couldmakethepeoplethinkabouttheproblemoftheday.17ARestatementoftheHistoryofIslamandMuslimspage553ThesupportersofthecaliphthoughtthatifBilalsaidtheadhanthehueandcryoftheopponentsof

thecaliphwoulddiedownandthepeoplewouldcometothemosque,astheywereaccustomedtodoonhearingthevoiceofBilal.ThesayingofadhanbyBilalcoulddrawacurtainontheintrigueoftheadministrationofthecaliphateanddeceivethesimplemindedandcommonpeople.WiththesethoughtsinmindtheylocatedBilalafteragooddealofsearchandaskedhimtosaythe

adhanfortheprayers.BilalhadbeentrainedinthelapofIslamfor twenty-threeyearsandhadbeendirectlyconcerned

withthevariouseventswhichformedthehistoryofthenewnation.Hehadrecognizedandaccepted

Islamwith sincerity and had heard what the Holy Prophet had said with regard to the leader andleadership. Especially he was aware of the unambiguous remarks of the Holy Prophet about thecaliphateofImamAliandknewthattherulingadministrationhadcometopoweragainsttheordersofAllahandtheHolyProphet.AccordingtohisbeliefonlythecommanderofthefaithfulImamAliwasentitledattainthecaliphate.Inthecircumstancesitisevidentastowhatreplyhewasgoingtogivetothosewhoapproachedhim.ThemessengersofthecaliphinsistedverymuchbutBilalrepeatedthesamereplyeverytimeand

didnotpayanyheedtotheirwords.BynotsayingtheadhanBilalwishedtoobligethepeopletothinkaboutthematterandtoremind

themselvesgraduallyof the timeof theHolyProphet and the recommendationsmadebyhimwithregardtoImamAliandtohisImamate.Itwasthisreasonthatwhenpeopleaskedhimastowhyhedidnotsayadhanhesaidinreply“AftertheHolyProphetofIslamIshallnotsaytheadhanforanotherperson.”On the other hand non participation of the commander of the faithful, Salman,Abu Zar,Zubayr, Bilal, Miqdad, Sohayb, etc. in the gatherings which were usually formed in the mosquestrengthenedBilal’sstandandbecamethecauseofthepeopledoubtingtherightfulnessandlegalityoftherulingbodyandevenobjectingtoit.TheadministrationofthecaliphatewasscaredandworriedbecauseofthestandtakenbyBilaland

triedtomakehimandotheropponentssurrender.ItwasinthisstateoffearthatthecaliphsentsomepeopleformallytoBilaltomakethat“obstinate

and inflexibleblackman”surrender to thecaliphateatanycostsbymeansofpromises, threats,orallurementofmoneyandposition.However,Bilalwasnotpreparedtoignorethetruthand“todoastheRomansdo.”HesawIslam

personified inImamAliandbelievedthatevenif therecommendationof theHolyProphethadnotbeenthere,nooneexceptImamAliwasfitforthecaliphate.HewasconvincedthattrueIslamwasthesamethatwasputforwardbyImamAliandhisfriendsthoughfewinnumbers.He,whohadbornehardships and suffered torture for the same Islam, could not now see it as a plaything ofmaterialdesires and of the administration of the caliphate. He, therefore, gave a clear-cut reply to therepresentativesofthecaliphinthesewords.“I shall not say the adhan for anyone except the personwhom theHoly Prophet selected as his

successor.”At lastUmar,whowasaclose friendof thecaliphAbuBakrandwasconsidered tobe themost

important factor for his selection as caliph and great supporter of his continuance in that officedecidedtodiscussthematterwithBilalpersonally.WhenUmarsawBilalhewasthinking:“NowIshallmakehimsurrenderandshalltakehimoutof

thefoldoftheopponentsofthecaliph.”AftersalutationandexchangeofcomplimentsUmarsaid:“O’Bilal!Whyhaveyou leftusalone

thesedays?Iwasverykeenthatyoushouldbewithussothatwecouldentrustyouwithsometasks.Whydon’tyoucometothemosque?Weexpectyoutosayadhanandcallthepeopletothemosqueto

offerprayerswith the caliphof theHolyProphet. I understand thatyouhave said thatyouwill nolongersayadhan.Whyso?DoyourememberthatthisveryAbuBakrdeliveredyoufromtheslaveryofandpersecutionbyyourcruelmaster?Isitproperthatyoushouldabandonhimnowandshouldnotsayadhanforhim?”Bilalbeganrecollectingthepasteventsofhistorylikepersecutionandtheperiodofhisbanishment

and homelessness, his migration to Madina, military engagements with the infidels and thepolytheists,conquestofMakkahandthepassingawayoftheHolyProphet.HesaidtoUmar:“HowhappywerethedayswhentheHolyProphetwasamongusandinvitedthepeopletoAllahandjustice.Andhowhard,darkandcalamitousthesedaysare!Withwhatconditionsareweconfronted?”Bilalturnedtheconversationtothematterunderdiscussionandwhiletearswereflowingdownhis

cheekshecontinuedtosay:“LetusseewhetherAbuBakrpurchasedmeforthesakeofAllahandsetmefreeforthesakeofAllah,orhehadsomeothermotive.IfhedidallofthisforthesakeofAllahhedoesnotenjoyanyrightonmeandifhedidnotactforthesakeofAllah,Iamstillhisslaveandunderhiscontrol,butIamfreeinthematteroffaith.AndasIhavealreadysaidIamnotgoingtosayadhanforanyotherpersonaftertheHolyProphet.FurthermoreIamgoingtoswearallegianceonlytothatpersonwhoseallegianceismyresponsibility.IacceptonlythatpersonasCaliphwhohasbeennominatedbytheHolyProphetashissuccessor.AndthenIsaytoyouifAbuBakrhadnotpurchasedmeandsetmefreeonthatdayandIwouldhavediedinthatcondition,becauseIwasthencertainlyatruebelieverandwouldhavegonetoparadise.ButinthepresentcircumstanceswhenyouwantmetoparticipateinthismatterIdonotknowwhetherIamdestinedtogotoparadiseorhellandwhetherornotIcanpreservemyfaith.”UmarwasverymuchannoyedonhearingthesewordsandcastonBilalaharshangrylookfullof

scorn.Afterafewmomentshegotupandwentawaymuchagitated.AlltheplansoftheadministrationofthecaliphateformakingBilalsurrenderwerefrustratedandit

couldnotcausetheslightestdamagetohisfirmdetermination.Heperseveredfearlessly,didnotlistentothepromisesmadewithhim,remainedundauntedinthefaceofthreats,anddidnotsurrender.InviewofthestandtakenbyBilalandthesensitivenessthathadbeencreatedinthesocietyowingtohisrefusing to take theoathofallegiance toAbuBakr theadministrationof thecaliphatedrew its lastplantopunishhim.Asitwasfearedthatsomepeoplemightjoinhimandtroublemightincrease,oneofthosepresentsuggestedthatitwouldbebetterifBilalwasexiledfromMadinatoaplacedistantfrom thecapital so thatby thismeans thehueandcrymightcome toanendand thepeoplemightforgethim.However theadvisorsof thecaliphsaid:“Ifweexilehimopenlyweshallbeblamedmore. It is

possiblethatImamAlimayobjecttoit.Inthateventouractionwillproducearesultcontrarytothatdesiredbyus. Itwill, therefore,bebetter ifhe is subjected to threatsand tortureso thathemaybecompelledtoleaveMadinaofhisownfreewill.”ThisschemewasapprovedbythemajorityvoteandaccordinglyBilalwastorturedduringdayand

night and subjected to threats of death. At last he received a message on these lines: “Either youshouldswearallegiancetoAbuBakrandsayadhanorquitMadina.”Somehistorianshavewrittenthus:“UmarsaidtoBilal:Nowthatyoudonotsayadhanyoushould

not remain in Madina so that you may not become the cause of corruption of others.” And hesubjectedBilaltopressure.Thus the spokesmanof themovementof Islamwasplaced ina strangepredicament.On theone

hand it was difficult for him to forsake the city of the Prophet and on the other hand it had alsobecomeimpossibleforhimtostaythere.HeponderedastowhetherheshouldstayoninMadinaorresistthepressure.AfterallhowcouldheabandonMadinathetomboftheHolyProphethismaster,asitwasthecity

ofhisfriendwithmanyremembrances?However,hewasobligedtoprefergoingawayfromtheresothatpossiblyhemightpersuadethepeoplemoretothinkaboutthecurrentandunsatisfactoryaffairsand also theymight resort to objection, criticism, and occasionally disobedience, and possibly theusurpedrightmightreturntoitsowner.Thishadtobedonebecausetherewasnootherremedy.IfhehadstayedoninMadinaitwouldhavebeennecessaryforhimtoagreewiththerulersandhewouldhavetoexplaintheexistingsituationandhisownstand.IfhehadstayedonhewouldhavetoconfirmtheactionsofthegovernmentandthiswasimpossibleforBilal,becauseinhisopiniontheseactionswereunjust.Hedecided togo toSyriaandgot ready for thebanishmentcomewhatmight.BeforedecidingtoleaveMadinaBilalhadconsultedthefamilyoftheHolyProphet.WhenhegotreadytodeparthefirstofallwenttoseeandsayfarewelltoImamAli.Thismeeting took place in a very disturbing atmosphere and theHoly Imamwasmuchmoved.

TearswererollingonthecheeksofBilallikepearlsandperhapshewassaying‘IfIhadtheoptionIwould not at all have gone away from you and the tomb of the Holy Prophet. I hope that I shallreturn.’ThenhevisitedthetomboftheHolyProphetinastateofextremesadnessandkeptweepingforalongtime.Hesaid:“O’honorableProphetofIslam!Youyourselfareawareofhowsaddayswearepassingandwhatastrongblowhasbeenstruckonthebodyofyourreligion.O’ProphetofAllah!IhaveinfactbeencompelledasaconsequenceoftheeverincreasingpressureoftheadministrationofthecaliphatetogoawayfromyourcitytoSyria.”AtthetimeofdawnofthatnightBilaldepartedfromMadinaandproceededtoSyria.At last after surmounting various difficulties faced by him on the way between Madina and

Damascus,Bilalcompletedthejourney.WhenhecamenearDamascushestoppedforamomentandstaredatthecitywithsurpriseandsaidtohimself:“Whatadullandsadcityitis!Itappearsthatdeathhascastitsshadoweverywhere.O’Lord!HowcanIlivehere?IhavebeenthinkingthatthejourneyhascometoanendandIcantakerestforawhile,butnowIhavebecomemoretiredandsad.O’Lord!WhatshouldIdo?”“IoughttoputupwiththeirconditionandremainpatientwhileIamawayfrommymasterImam

Aliandhisfaithfulcompanions.WhenIhavebornealltheseinconvenienceshowcanIlivehereasIdidinthepast?”Bilalproceededtothegateofthecitywithaveryheavyheartandlocatedaplaceforhimselfaftera

gooddealofwanderingandsearching.Bilalwaspleasedandsatisfiedbecausehehadbeenabletowithstandtheoppressionandstrength

of the powerful persons and to speak the truth. He thanked Allah and prided himself on his own

existenceonseeingthathisverybeingwasdangerousfortherulersandtheyfearedevenhissilence.Bilal resided inDamascus for some time.Thoughhehimselfwas inDamascus, his soulwas in

Madina.Hewascontinuously thinkingabout somesolutionof theproblem.At lasthe lostpatienceand decided to return toMadina so that hemight see the family of the Prophet and his honorableImamonceagain.Healsothoughtthepoliticalconditionofthegovernmentwouldnotconsiderhisreturntobeexpedient,anditwaspossible that theymightrestrainhim.However,ashehadtakenadecisionhesaidtohimself:“Ishallperformthisjourneyeventhoughitmaycostmemylife.”Bilal left Damascuswith great courage and enthusiasm and special attatchment to the Prophet’s

family.Thepathwhichseemedtobelongatthetimeofhisstartingthejourneywascoveredsoon.HereachednearMadinaandsawthequietspectacleofthecity.HesawthewallsoftheHolyProphet’smosquefromadistanceandrecollectedthesweetmemoriesofthepast.Hesighedandtearsbegantoflowfromhiseyes.AfterhisarrivalinthecityBilalwentimmediatelytothetomboftheHolyProphet.Thespiesalso

sawBilalandthoughtofarrestinghim.However,theydidnotconsideritexpedienttodoso,butwenttotheauthoritiesandreportedthearrivalofBilaltothem.Theauthoritieswerescaredandworriedonhearingthisnews.OntheotherhandthisnewsreachedLadyFatemaZahrathebeloveddaughteroftheHolyProphetandinthemeantimeBilalcametoknowthatshewasnotingoodhealth.ThenewsdistressedhimandhebeganhummingbythesideofthetomboftheHolyProphet.“O’ProphetofAllah!AfteryoutheworldhasbecomedarkandImamatehasbeenconvertedinto

caliphate andpeoplewho are not fit for this position have usurped it.O’Prophet ofAllah! I havecometoknowthatyourdaughter isnot ingoodhealth.O’ProphetofAllah!YoursuccessorAli isstayingathome.BymeansofhissilenceheispreservingtheexaltationofIslamandtheunityoftheMuslims. O’ Prophet of Allah! I have just returned frommy journey to Syria. I had been exiledthere……….”ThenduetoacutedisturbanceofmindBilalfelldownonthegroundandbecameunconscious.AfterthedemiseoftheHolyProphethisonlydaughterFatimahwhodearlyfelttheseparationof

herbelovedfather,graduallybecameill.AndwhensheheardthatBilalhadreturnedtoMadinasheexpressedthedesirethatheshouldsayadhanonceagain.Time for noon prayers approached. Themuadhin of the Holy Prophet went on the roof of the

mosqueandbegantosayadhanwithhisloudvoiceashehadbeendoingintherecentpast.HesaidAllahuAkbar!”OnhearingthevoiceofBilal,thefirstmuadhinoftheHolyProphetthepeopleofMadinacameout

oftheirhousesandproceededtothemosque.AllofthemwonderedastohowBilalwassayingadhanagainafterthedeathoftheHolyProphet.AfewmomentslateralargernumberofpeoplegatheredinthemosqueandBilalcontinuedtosayadhan.WhenBilalpronouncedTakbirloudlyandLadyFatimahhearditinherhouseshewasremindedof

theglorious and sweetdaysofher father ’s time.She sighedandbegan toweep.Her childrenalsojoinedherinweeping.WhenBilalsaid“AshhaduanlaailahaillAllah”(Ibearwitnessthatthereisno

GodbutAllah)LadyFatimahweptmorebitterly.However,whentheadhanreachedthedelicatestageshelosthersenseowingtointensegrief.Bilalwas,therefore,advisedtostopsayingadhanatonce,becausethelifeofLadyFatimahZahrawasindanger.The people who gathered near the mosque, in the streets, on the roads and in whose eyes a

particularenthusiasmandfervorwasrollingsuddenlycametothemselveswhenBilal’sadhanwascutoffandwonderedastowhythishadhappened.Ofcourse,BilalsaidhislastadhanwithhisentireselfandwithhisfaithintheHolyProphetand

loveforhisschool.Bilal,whowas no longer keen to live owing to the pressure of hardships, got ready to play an

enlightening and informative role among the peoplewith his political activities.Hemobilized thepeopleagainstthepeopleofauthoritiesingovernmentbymeansofdiscussionsandfieryspeechesinsuchawaythatthepeoplebegantoraiseobjectionsandshoutedharshslogansofprotestagainstthegovernment and it was feared that they might cause disturbances. The agents of government,therefore,pouredintothemosquesarrestedBilalandexiledhimtoSyriaonceagain.After his second exileBilalwas not permitted even to takepermission from theHolyProphet’s

sacred tomb because the officials kept a watch over him everywhere and he himself realized thepositionverywell.Hence,heturnedhisfacetothetomboftheHolyProphetandopenedouthisheartforquitesometimeafterofferinghimsalutations.BilalarrivedinDamascusandwasmuchgrievedonaccountoftheconditionsthathadbeencreated

forhim.HeprayedforIslamandtheMuslimsdayandnightandfeltverysadwhenhesawindangerthepainstakenbytheHolyProphetformanyyears.IndeedBilalwaslivinginDamascusunderextremepressurebythegovernment.Itwasveryrare

thatanyonemightbeabletoseehimandatalltimeshelivedalone.Themattershadcometosuchapassthathenowgreatlysufferedonaccountoflonliness.Bilalwasbornlikethis,livedlikethisandeventuallyascendedthealteroflove.Itwasanascension

thattookhimtothehighestpeakofgloryandmartyrdom.Nowheisinthegreatworldwithaworldofgreatness.Allhisfriendsweresheddingtearsonhismartyrdom.ItwasBilaltheblackslavewhomadehistoryandrolleduptheoldaristocraticorderoftheageofignoranceandbegantoshineasaneternal face thatwill serve as an example in the annalsofhistoryofmankind.Hehas reallymadehimselfimmortal.Hehasbecomeaparagonofpietyandpurity.The people were endeavouring much to glorify and attend his funeral. All those who were

participating in the ceremonies of his burial were weeping bitterly. Damascus was one of theimportantbasesofUmayyadimperialismandthetheatreofappearanceoftheusurpedcaliphateoftheunlawful heirs of the Islamic revolution. Still, in spite of the savage and tyrannical rule of BaniUmayyah,alargenumberofpeopleattendedhisfuneral.In other cities of the Islamic territories and especially in Madina the people were very much

grieved and saddened. TheymournedBilal’s death for a long period. Bilal was one of those fewpeoplewhodefendedthetruthtillthelastmomentoftheirlives.HepreachedtrueIslam.Neitherthe

tortures of different kinds weakened his firm determination, nor was he allured, nor terrified bythreats,nordidheswearallegiancetoanundeservingperson,nordidhesacrificeIslamandrealityforthesakeofexpediency,worldliness,nameandwealth.After leadinga lifeof freedomandself-sacrifice in thepathof Islam,Bilalpassedaway insuch

circumstancesthathepossessednomaterialthing.Noble-mindedMuslimsburiedhisdeadbodyinthegraveyardnamedSaghirsituatedinDamascusandmournedhisdeathforsomedays.Hisgraveisaplace of pilgrimage of theMuslims and freedom loving people of theworld from that time untiltoday. It is the grave from which lessons of freedom, reality, sincerity, self-sacrifice, andsteadfastnessarelearntandwhichteachesusastohowapersonshouldliveandhowheshoulddie.AlloftheMuslimhistorians,towhicheversecttheybelong,whilementioningthecloseandfaithful

companionsofthegreatleaderofIslamhavenamedBilalasoneofthemandhaveplacedhiminthethe category of those who were near him. Thus it is observed that in consequence of Islam andenforcementofitscommandsandvaluableteachingsBilal,whowasnotmorethanaslavebeforethedawnofIslam,securedsuchahighstatusthathewasreckonedtobeoneofthosepeoplewhowerethemostsincere,themostdevoted,andthemostproximatecompanionsoftheHolyProphet.SolongasBilalwasaliveheendeavoredfortheadvancementofIslamandwassincerelydevoted

tothefamilyoftheHolyProphettillthelastmomentofhislife.1818BilalofAfricabyHusaynMalikaAshtiyanipages100-111

6ChapterAMMARYASIRANDABDULLAHIBNMASUDBEATEN

Moreover, Uthman beat the companions who objected to his oppression. Among them was

AbdullahBinMas'ud,whowasaHafiz (apersonwhomemorized thewholeQuran),Qari (Qur'anreciter), treasurerof thepublic treasury,ascribewhorecorded therevealedverses,andoneof thechiefcompanionsoftheHolyProphet.AbuBakrandUmar,bothofwhomusedtotakecounselfromhim,heldhiminhighesteem.IbnKhalduninhisHistorycommentedthatCaliphUmarinsistedthatAbdullahremainwithhimbecausehepossessedcompleteknowledgeoftheHolyQur'anandbecausetheProphetspokehighlyofhim.IbnAbi'l-Hadidandothershavewrittenthesamething.Sunniulemaagree thatwhenUthman intended to compile theHolyQur'an, he obtained all the copies from thescribes.HedemandedthecopyoftheHolyQur'anfromAbdullahBinMas'udalso.Abdullahdidnotgiveittohim.UthmanhimselfwenttohishouseandtookthecopyoftheHolyQur'anfromhimbyforce. Later,whenAbdullah learned that, like other copies of theHolyQur'an, his copy had beenburnt, he was much aggrieved. In social and religious gatherings, he narrated the condemnatoryhadith thatheknewaboutUthman.WhenthisnewsreachedUthman,hehadIbnMas'udsoseverelybeaten by his slaves that his teeth were broken, and he was confined to bed. After three days hesuccumbedtohisinjuries.IbnAbi'l-HadidwritesindetailaboutthesefactsinVolumeI,pages67and226ofSharhNahju'l-Balagha(printedinEgypt)under"Ta'nVI,"andgoesontosaythatUthmanwenttoseetheailingAbdullah.Theytalkedtogetherforsometime.Uthmansaid,"OAbdu'r-Rahman!PraytoAllahformyforgiveness."Abdullahsaid,"IpraytoAllahtotakemyrightfromyou"(thatis,thatjusticebedone).WhenAbuDharr,aclosecompanionoftheHolyProphet,wasbanishedtoRabba,Abdullahwentto

see him off. For this Abdullah was given forty lashes. So Abdullah insisted to Ammar Yasir thatUthmannotbeallowedtoofferAbdullah'sfuneralprayers.AmmarYasiragreed,andafterAbdullah'sdeath,heofferedthefuneralprayersalongwithagroupofthecompanions.WhenUthmanlearnedofthefuneralarrangement,hecametoAbdullah'sgraveandaskedAmmarwhyhehadsaidthefuneralprayers.HerepliedthathewasconstrainedtodoitbecauseAbdullahhadwilledit.AbdullahibnMasoodwasoneoftheprincipalcompanionsoftheProphet.Asnotedbefore,hewas

thefirstmanwhoreadQur ’aninKaabainthepresenceoftheleadersoftheQuraysh,andwasbeatenupbythemfordoingso.HewasoneofthemostknowledgeablemeninMedina.HespentmuchtimeinthecompanyoftheProphet,andhadmorefamiliaritywithhispracticesandprecedentsthanmostoftheothercompanions.ItwasforthisreasonthatUmarhadaskedhimtobewithhimatalltimes.ThereweremanyoccasionswhenUmardidnotknowhowtheProphethadsolvedaproblemorhadtaken adecision in somematter.On suchoccasions, he consultedAbdullah ibnMasood, and acteduponhisadvice.Inhislateryears,UmarhadappointedhimtreasurerofKufa.Abdullah ibnMasood was the treasurer of Kufa when Saad bin AbiWaqqas was its governor.

UthmandismissedSaad,andmadeWalidbinAqaba thenewgovernor.Walid tooka loan from thetreasury.Whenthestipulatedtimehadpassed,andtheloanwasnotreturned,IbnMasoodaskedhimtopayit.HeinformedUthmanaboutit.Uthmanwrotetohim:"Youaremytreasurer.Donotdemandtheloan fromWalid." IbnMasood resented this.He threwaway thekeysof the treasury, and stayedathome.From that time, Abdullah ibnMasood became a critic of Uthman's fiscal and political policies.

Walidwrote toUthman about him, and the latter asked him (Walid) to send him (IbnMasood) toMedina.IbnMasoodarrived inMedina,andwent into theMosque.Whenheentered theMosque,Uthman

wasreadingthesermon.WhenUthmansawhimenteringtheMosque,hesaid:"Afoulanddespicablebeastiscomingtowardyou."IbnMasoodsaid:"Thatisnotso.IamthecompanionandfriendoftheApostle of God. I fought at Badr, and I am a Companion of the Tree." Ayesha also heard in herchamber what Uthman had said, and she cried out: "Is this the kind of language you use for acompanionoftheApostleofGod?"UthmanorderedAbdullah ibnMasood togetoutof theMosqueof theProphet.Uthman's slaves

threwhimoutoftheMosque,anddownonthegroundbreakinghisribs.Ali rose toupbraidUthman,and said: "Youhavehurt a friendof theApostlemerelyat a report

fromWalid.YouknowthatWalidisaliar."HethencarriedIbnMasoodtohishome.But Uthman was not satisfied with what he had done. After breaking the ribs of Abdullah ibn

Masood,hestoppedpaymentofhispension,andforbadehimtoleaveMedina.IbnMasoodwishedtogotoSyriaandtotakepartinthecampaignsbutUthmanrepeatedwhathehadheardMarwansaying:"HehascreatedenoughtroubleinKufa;donotlethimdothesameinSyria."(p.160)(al-Fitna-tul-Kubra{TheGreatUpheaval},publishedinCairoin1959)Asnotedbefore,AbdullahibnMasoodhadmadehisowncollectionoftheversesofQur ’an,and

he had arranged them in chronological order. But Uthman had appointed his favorite, Zayd binThabit, tocollectandtoarrangetheversesofQur ’an.Hedidnot"recognize" thecollectionofIbnMasood,andorderedhimtosurrenderhiscopy.AbdullahibnMasoodrefusedtodosowhereupontheslavesofUthmanbroke intohishouse,andforciblyseized thecopyofQur ’anfromhim.ThiscopywasburnedatUthman'sorders.UthmanusedthepowersofstateindealingwithmenlikeAbuDharrel-Ghiffari,AmmaribnYasir

andAbdullahibnMasoodbecausetheyrefusedtocompromisewiththeirprinciples.Allthreeofthemhadtopayapenaltyforthisrefusalbuttheygladlypaidit.Uthman,however,alsotangledwithsomeofthosemenwhowerenottoofinickyaboutsuchthings

asprinciples.AmongthemwasAbdurRahmanbinAufandAmrbinAas.Bothofthemweredirectlyresponsibleforhisaccessiontothethrone.19Abuzarhavingreturned toMedinafromSyriawasbusy inhispreachingswhenonemoreheart-

rendingincidentcametopassandthatwastheburningoftheHolyQur'an.HewasalreadygrievedtoseethattheIslamicStatewasbeingruined.ThewealthofMuslimummahwasbeingspentonrelatives

andkinsmenoftheCaliph.ThedoorofthePublicTreasurywascompletelyclosedtotheneedy,thepoor, theorphans and thewidows,but itwaswideopen to thedescendantsofUmayyah.ThepoorpeoplewerestarvingwhiletherelativesoftheCaliphwerepurchasinghouses,gardensandlands.AllofasuddenhegotthenewsthattheCaliphgotdifferentcopiesoftheQur'ancollectedfromafarandwide,andputthemtoflames.Therefore,thisimportantincidentbecamethetargetofhispreaching.ThehistorianAbulFidawritesthatthishappenedin30A.H.(TarikhAbulFida,vol.2,p.100,printedinAmritsar,1901A.D.).The historian Ya'qubi (died 278 A.H.) writes in his book that Uthman collected the Qur'an and

arrangeditinsuchawaythatheplacedbigsurahs(chapters)togetherandthesmallsurahstogetherseparately,andsendingforcopiesfromallsides,gotthemwashedwithhotwaterandvinegarandsetfiretothem.AsaresultofitnoQur'anwasleftexceptthecopybelongingtoIbnMas'udwhichwaswithhiminKufah.WhenAbdullahIbn'Amir,theGovernorofKufah,askedIbnMas'udforhiscopyhe19ARestatementoftheHistoryofIslamandMuslimsbySayedAARazwyrefusedtogiveit.AtthisnewsUthmanwroteto'AmirtoarrestIbnMas'udandsendhimtoMedina.

WhenIbnMas'udcameandentered themasjid,Uthmanwasbusydeliveringhisspeech.SeeingIbnMas'ud he said, "An ugly and ill-natured animal has come". IbnMas'ud also strongly retorted inresponse.HearingitUthmanorderedpeopletobeathim.Sothepeoplebeathimanddraggedhiminsuchawaythattwoofhisribsgotfractured.ItiswritteninthePersiantranslationofTarikhA'thamKufi(printedinBombayvidepage147line

8) thatUthman toreoff theQur'an andgot it burnt.The same is given in thebook "SuccessorsofMuhammad". (W. Irvingp.160printed inLondon,1850A.D.).According to "NajatulMu'minin"byMullaMohsinKashmiri,UthmangottheribsofIbnMas'udfracturedandsnatchinghisQur'angotitburnt.According toRauzatulAhbabvol.2,p.229printedLucknow),Uthmanordered, "MyQur'anmustbegivencurrencyinmydomainandtheremainingQur'ansshouldbeburnt".Accordinglyallthe remaining copies of Qur'an were got burnt. According to Tarikh al-Qur'an by Abdul QadirMakki, p. 36printed Jeddah1365A.H.SahihBukhari vol. 6, p. 26printedBombay,MishkitSharifprintedDehli, p. 150, andTafsir Itqan Suyuti, printedAhmadi, vol. 1, p. 84;Uthman sentword toHafsah,thewifeoftheHolyProphet,tosendhimtheScripturessothathemightcopythemoutandthenreturnthemtoher.HafsahsentthoseScriptureswhichwerewithherandUthmanappointedZaydbin Thabit, Abdullah bin Zubayr, Sa'id bin 'As, Abdul Rahman bin Harith to collect and copy theScriptures,andaskedallthethreemenoftheQurayshtowritetheQur'aninthecolloquyofQurayshincasetherearosesomedifferenceonsomepointinit,becausetheQur'anhadbeenrevealedintheirlanguage.TheydidaccordinglytilltheScripturewascopiedoutandUthmanreturnedtheScripturestoHafsahaspromisedand sentonenewly-preparedcopy toher.Nowonly thecopyof theQur'anprepared byUthman remained in existence and all the other copies were got burnt. According toFathulBariofIbnHajar'Asqalanivol.4,p.226,UthmansentbacktheQur'anofHafsahbutMarwansnatched it forcibly from her and burnt it. According to Tarikh Khamis p. 270, Isti'ab p. 373 andSawa'iqMuhriqahp.68UthmangotallthecopiesoftheQur'anburntexcepthisownandgotAbdullahIbnMas'udbeaten

somuchthathedevelopedthediseaseofhernia.Thenhesenthimtoprisonwherehedied.AccordingtoTuhfahlthna'AshariyahofAbdulAziz,UbayybinKa'bgavehisQur'antoUthmanandheescaped

beating.ThatQur'anwasalsoburnt.20AnotherexampleofUthman'scrueltywashisbeatingofAmmarYasir.Ulemaofbothsectsrelate

thatwhenUmayyadoppressionincreased,somecompanionsoftheProphetwrotetoUthman,askinghim to relent.They said that if he continued to assist his cruelUmayyadGovernors, hewouldnotonly be harming Islam, but he would himself be subjected to serious consequences. They askedAmmarYasirtodeliverthepetitionsinceUthmanhimselfhadacknowledgedAmmar'svirtue.TheyhadoftenheardUthmansaythat theProphetsaid thatfaithwasblendedwiththefleshandbloodofAmmar.SoAmmar took the letter toUthman.Whenhearrived,Uthmanaskedhim, "Doyouhavebusinesswithme?"Hereplied:"Ihavenobusinessofapersonalnature.ButagroupoftheProphet'sCompanionshaswritteninthislettersomesuggestionsandadviceforyourwelfare.Theyhavesentthemtoyouthroughme."Afterreadingafewlines,Uthmanthrewtheletterdown.Ammarsaid:"Itwasnotgoodofyou.A letter fromthecompanionsof theHolyProphetofAllahdeserves respect.Whydidyouthrowitontheground?Itwouldbeproperforyoutohavereaditandrepliedtoit?""Youarelying!"Uthmanshouted.Thenheorderedhisslavestobeathim,andUthmanhimselfkickedhiminthestomach.Hefell,unconscious;hisrelativescameandtookhimtothehouseofUmmSalma(oneoftheProphet'swives).Fromnoonuntilmidnightheremainedunconscious.Thetribesof20ThegreatcompanionoftheProphetAbuDharrchapter18HudhailandBaniMakhzunturnedagainstUthmanbecauseofhiscrueltytoAbdullahBinMas'ud

andAmmarYasir.21Ammar ibnYasserwasalsooneof theearliestconverts toIslam.Asnotedbefore, thepagans in

Makkahtorturedhismotherandfathertodeath.TheywerethefirstandthesecondmartyrsofIslam,and this is a distinction that no one in all Islam can sharewith them.LikeAbuDharr el-Ghiffari,Ammar was also one of the few favorites of Muhammad, the Apostle of God, who once said:"AmmaristheembodimentofallIman(Faith)"Just like Abu Dharr el-Ghiffari and a few others, Ammar also was not very popular with the

brokersofeconomicandpoliticalpowerofhistime,andahead-oncollisionbetweenhimandthemwasinevitable.AmmarmigratedfirsttoAbyssinia,andthentoMedina.HewasthefirstMuslimtobuildaMosque.

HebuiltitinMakkahitself,andheprayedinit.Andhebuilt,withothers,theMosqueoftheProphet(inMedina).While otherMuslims carried one brick at a time, he carried two. He also dug, withothers, the trench at the siege ofMedina. Hewas coveredwith dust. TheApostle of God himselfremoveddustfromhisheadandface.WhenAmmarheardthenewsofthedeathofAbuDharrel-Ghiffari,hemournedforhim.Uthman

interpretedhis lamentations(forAbuDharr)asareproachtohimself.Hewashighlyincensed,andorderedhimalso to leaveMedina,and togo toRabza (inexile).WhenAmmargot ready to leaveMedina,theBanuMakhzoomwhoseclienthewas,wereinfuriated.Aliwasalsodispleased.HewenttoseeUthman,reprovedhimforbanishingAbuDharr,andtoldhimnottodothesametoAmmar.Uthman said to him: "You are no better than Ammar, and you too deserve to be banished fromMedina."Alianswered:"Goahead,anddothat."ThentheotherMuhajireenintervenedand

21PeshawarNightsbySultanulWaizinShirazitoldUthmanthathecouldnotbanisheveryonewithwhomhehappenedtobedispleased.On one occasion, Uthman had taken a piece of jewelry from the treasury for his own family.

Amongthosemenwhoraisedobjectiontothisact,wasAmmaribnYasir.Uthmanwasbesidehimselfwith rage. "Howdoyoudare toquestionme?"he roared.He thenorderedhis slaves to seizehim.Theyseizedhim,andUthmanbeathimupbrutallyuntilhelostconsciousness.HewastakenfromthemosqueinthatstatetothehouseofUmmSalma,thewidowoftheProphet.Ammarwasunconsciousthe rest of the day. When he regained consciousness at last, he rose, took ablutions, offered hisprayers,andsaid:"ThankAllah,it'snotthefirsttimethatIhavebeentorturedforspeakingthetruth."(thefirsttimewhenAmmarwastorturedforupholdingthetruthofIslam,hewasinMakkah.Inthosedays,itwasAbuJahlwhotorturedhim).Onanotheroccasion, somecompanionsof theProphetdrafteda letterofadvice toUthman,and

theyrequestedAmmartopresentittohim.WhenAmmarpresentedthelettertoUthman,heagainlosthis temper. Once again, he ordered his slaves to knock him down. They knocked him down, andUthmankickedhim inhisgroin,andbeathimupuntilhe fainted." (al-Fitna-tul-Kubra{TheGreatUpheaval},publishedinCairoin1959)2222ARestatementofHistoryofIslamandMuslimsbySayedAliAsgherRazwy

7ChapterABUDHARR'SPROTESTANDBANISHMENTTOSYRIA

Uthmanwas also cruel to JandabBin Junada, known asAbuDharrGhifari, one of the intimate

companionsof theHolyProphetanda learnedman.Great traditionistsandhistoriansofbothsectshave reported that this ninety-year-old man was unjustly exiled from place to place with utmostignominy-fromMedinatoSyria,toMedinaagain,andthenfromMedinatothedesertofRabza.Herodeonanakedcamelaccompaniedbyhisonlydaughter.Hedied inRabza inpenuryandneglect.Sunni prominent ulema and historians, including, Ibn Sa'd, in his Tabaqat, Volume IV, page 168;BukhariinSahih,Kitab-e-Zakat;IbnAbi'l-HadidinhisSharheNahju'l-Balagha,VolumeI,page240andVolumeII,pages375-87,YaqubiinhisHistory,VolumeII,page148;Abu'l-HasanAliBinHusainMas'udi,thefamoustraditionistandhistorianofthefourthcenturyinhisMuruju'dh-Dhahab,VolumeI, page 438, andmany others have recordedUthman's cruelty. It has beenwidely reported howhemistreatedthepure-heartedAbuDharr,thelovedoneoftheHolyProphet,andalsohowAbdullahBinMas'ud, the hafiz (memorizer of Quran) and recorder ofWahi (revelation), whowas given fortylashesbecausehebidfarewell toAbuDharrGhifari. InsultingtreatmentwaslikewiseshowntoAliforthesamereason.TheHolyProphethimselftestifiedtoAbuDharr'sveracity.AlsoSunniulemahavewrittenthatthe

Prophet said: "Abu Dharr among my people is like Jesus among the Bani Isra'il in truthfulness,devotion,andpiety."MuhammadBinSa'd,oneof thehigh-rankingulemaand traditionistsofyoursect,inTabaqat,VolumeIV,pages167,168;IbnAbdu'l-BirrinIsti'ab,VolumeI,ChapterofJundab,page 84; Tirmidhi in Sahih,Volume II, page 221;Hakim inMustadrak,Volume III, page 342; ibnHajar in Isaba,Volume III, page622MuttaqiHindi inKanzu'l-Ummal,VolumeVI,page169; ImamAhmad bin Hanbal in Musnad, Volume II, page 163 and 175; Ibn Abi'lHadid in Sharhe Nahju'l-Balagha,Volume I, page241; fromMahidi;HafizAbuNu'aim Isfahani inHilyatu'l-Auliya and theauthorofLisanu'l-Arab,onthebasisofseveralauthoritieshaverelatedthattheHolyProphetsaid:"Theearthhasnotbornenorhastheskycovered,amanmoretruthfulthanAbuDharr."If theHolyProphetconfirmsthetruthfulnessofaman,wecanbecertainthatthatmanspokethe

truth.NordoesAllahcall thatpersonhis lovedonewhoisa liar.If therewereasingleinstanceofAbu Dharr telling lies, the early ulema of the Sunni sect would have recorded it, as they haveconcerningAbuHurairaandothers.TheProphettestifiedtohisrighteousnessandalsopredictedhistorture.HafizAbuNu'aimIsfahani,inhisHilyatu'l-Auliya,VolumeI,page162,narratesfromhisownsourcesthatAbuDharrsaidthathewasstandingbeforetheProphetwhenthelattersaidtohim:"'Youareapiousman;soonaftermeyouwillsufferacalamity.'Iasked:'InthewayofAllah?'Hesaid,'Yesin the way of Allah!' I said: 'I welcome Allah's command!'" Surely the suffering the venerablecompanion Abu Dharr endured in the desert by the order of Mu'awiya, Uthman, and their BaniUmayyawasthesamecalamitypredictedbytheHolyProphet.

IreallywonderattheSunni’sself-contradictorystatements.Ontheonehandtheynarratethehadith

fromtheProphetthat"Allmycompanionsarelikestars;ifyoufollowanyoneofthem,youwillberescued."On the other hand,when one of themost venerable companions of theHoly Prophet istorturedanddiesinmisery,theydefendtheoffender!Theyshouldeitherdisprovethestatementsoftheirownulema,oradmitthattheattributesmentionedintheverseunderconsiderationdonotrelatetothosewhobrutalizedthereveredcompanionsoftheHolyProphet.Sunni’ssayAbuDharrchosetogotoRabzaofhisownfreewill.Suchstatementsreflectattemptsoftheirfanaticalulematoconcealthemisdeedsoftheirelders.AbuDharr'sforcedbanishmenttoRabzaiscommonlyacknowledged.Asanexample,Iwillconfinemyselftoquotingonenarration,whichhasbeenrecordedbyImamAhmadBinHanbal inMusnad,VolumeVpage 156, IbnAbi'l-Hadid inSharheNahju'l-Balagha,Volume I,page241,andWaqidiinhisHistoryfromAbu'lAswadDu'ili.AbuDharrwasaskedabouthisjourneytoRabza.AbuDharrsaidthathewasforciblyexiledandsenttothewilderness.Hecontinued:"TheHolyProphet informedmeabout this.Oneday I fell asleep in themosque.TheProphet cameandaskedmewhyIwassleepinginthemosque.IsaidthatIfellasleepinadvertently.HeaskedmewhatIwoulddoifIwerebanishedfromMedina.IsaidIwouldgototheHolylandofSyria.HeaskedmewhatIwoulddoifIwerebanishedfromthere,too.IsaidIwouldcomebacktothemosque.HeagainaskedmewhatIwoulddoifIwereturnedoutfromherealso.IsaidIwoulddrawtheswordandfight.Heaskedmeifheshouldtellmesomethingwhichwouldbetomybenefit.WhenIsaid'Yes,'hesaidtome:'Gotowhateverplacetheytakeyou.'SoIlistenedtowhathesaid,andIobeyedhim.AfterthisAbuDharrsaid, 'ByAllah,whenUthmanwillgobeforeAllah,hewillstandasinnerregardingmycase.'"23ItwasreportedtoUthmanthatAbuDharrel-GhiffarihadspokenbeforetheMuslimsintheMosque

asfollows:"I amAbuDharr el-Ghiffari, companion ofMuhammad, the LastMessenger ofGod.Allah has

elevatedAdam,Noahand thechildrenofAbrahamand Imranoverandabove the restofmankind.Muhammad has inherited the legacy of all these Prophets. He combines in his person all theirqualities, attributes and achievements. And Muhammad's successor is Ali ibn Abi Talib. O yeMuslims,whoarebewilderedtoday,ifafterthedeathofyourProphet,youhadputhim(Ali)aheadofothers,asAllahputhimaheadofothers,and ifyouhadput thosemenbehindwhomAllahhasputbehind,andifyouhadleftauthorityandpoweratitssource,i.e.,inthehouseofyourProphet,thenyouwouldhavereceivedtheblessingsofAllah.Therewouldnothavebeenanyonepoorordestitute.NoranytwomenwouldhavedisagreedontheinterpretationoftheMessageofAllah,andeveryonewouldhavecarriedouthisdutiestowardHim,andtowardtheothermembersofthecommunity,aswasdoneinthetimesofHisMessengerhimself.Youwouldhavefoundguidanceandenlightenmentatitsfountainhead,i.e.,inthehouseofMuhammad.ButyouallowedtheauthorityandthepowerofthehouseofyourProphettobeusurped,andnowyouarepayingthepenalty."23PeshawarNightsbySultanulWaizinShiraziThe informers also told Uthman that Abu Dharr was drawing attention of the Muslims to his

(Uthman's)deviationsfromthepracticesoftheProphetaswellasfromthepracticesofAbuBakrandUmar.UthmanorderedAbuDharrtoleaveMedina,andtogotoSyriaandtolivethere.

In Syria, Muawiya had consolidated his position, and he had cultivated a secular instead of an

Islamic lifestyle.AbuDharrwitnessedmany foul andunIslamicpractices at the court ofSyria.HenoticedthatthegoldandsilveroftheprovincewasbeingsquanderedinDamascusontheluxuriesofthenobleswhilethereweremanyMuslimswhowerestarving.MuawiyasoonlearnedthatAbuDharrwas no less irrepressible in Damascus than he was in Medina.Abu Dharr recited those verses ofQur ’aninwhichthehoardersofwealtharedenounced.Hewasblunt inhiscriticismandspokethetruthregardlessofcosttohimself.Muawiyahadbuiltapalaceforhimself.AbuDharrsaidtohim:"Ifyoubuilt thispalaceoutof the fundswhichbelong to theMuslims, thenyouhavebetrayeda

trust;and ifyoubuilt it fromyourpersonalwealth, thenyouhavebeenguiltyofextravaganceandvanity."AbuDharrtoldMuawiyaandtheSyriannoblesthattheywouldbebrandedinhellwiththegoldand

the silver that they were hoarding. At lastMuawiya's patience reached the breaking point, and hewrotetoUthman:"I fear that Abu Dharr may incite the people to rebellion. If you do not want rebellion in the

country,thenyoushouldrecallhimtoMedinaimmediately."Uthman agreed. Muawiya mounted Abu Dharr on a camel without a howdah (saddle), and he

ordered thecameldriver to travelnon-stop toMedina.AbuDharrarrived inMedinahalf-deadwithwounds,exhaustionandexposure.But even in this state, Abu Dharr could not acquiesce in falsehood, injustice, exploitation and

disobedience to thecommandmentsofGod.The loveof truthand justiceburned inhisheart likeaflame.Ifanycaseofembezzlementcametohisattention,hedenouncedit,andcastigateditsauthorspublicly. At last Uthman could take it no more. He summoned Abu Dharr to his court and thefollowingexchangetookplacebetweenthem:Uthman:IwillbanishyoufromMedina.AbuDharr:WillyoubanishmefromthecityoftheProphet?Uthman:Yes.AbuDharr:WillyousendmetoKufa?Uthman:No.AbuDharr:WillyousendmetoBasra?Uthman:No.AbuDharr:Whereelsecanyousendmethen?Uthman:Whichistheplacethatyoudislikemost?AbuDharr:Rabza.Uthman:That'swhereIwillsendyouUthmankepthisword,andbanishedAbuDharrelGhiffaritoRabza.Healsoissuedordersthatno

oneshould talkwithhimorwalkwithhim.ButAlicame toseehim,and to talkandwalkwithhim.WithAliwerehisownsons,thesonsofAqeelibnAbiTalib,andhisnephew,AbdullahibnJafar.

Itwasaheart-breakingscene.Aliwaspartingcompanywithhisbosomfriend,andthefriendandbelovedofMuhammadMustafa.Hisownheartwasfullofsadness,buthetriedtocomforthisfriendwiththefollowingwords:"OAbuDharr,youwereangrywiththesepeoplebecausetheydeviatedfromthecoursechartedbyAllah.ThereforeAllahHimselfwill recompenseyou.Theyareafraidofyoubecausetheythinkyoumightdeprivethemoftheirgoldandsilver.Butifyouwerealsolikethem,theywouldhavebecomeyourfriends."24O'AbuDharr!You showed anger in the name ofAllahtherefore have hope inHim forwhomyou

becameangry.Thepeoplewereafraidofyouinthematteroftheir(pleasureofthis)worldwhileyoufearedthemforyourfaith.Thenleavetothemthatforwhichtheyareafraidofyouandgetawayfromthemtakingawaywhatyoufearthemabout.Howneedyaretheyforwhatyoudissuadethemfromandhow heedless are you towardswhat they are denying you.Youwill shortly knowwho is thegainertomorrow (on theDay of Judgment) andwho ismoreenviable.Even if these skies and earthwereclosedtosomeindividualandhefearedAllah,thenAllahwouldopenthemforhim.Onlyrightfulnessshould attract you while wrongfulnessshould detract you. If you had accepted their worldlyattractions24ARestatementofHistoryofIslamandMuslimsbySayedAliAsgherRazwytheywouldhavelovedyouandifyouhadsharedinittheywouldhavegivenyouasylum.25Then Husain, the younger grandson of Muhammad Mustafa, turned his misty eyes toward the

belovedofhisgrandfather,nowgoingintoexile,andsaid:"Omy uncle, Allahwill change even a time like this. Your enemies have ‘saved' their worldly

interests fromyou but you have saved yourHereafter from them.What they have saved is utterlyworthlessbutwhatyouhavesaved,issomethingthatwilllastforever."AliandhiscompanionswalkedinsilencewithAbuDharr,andwhentimecametopart, thelatter

said:"Opoeple of theHouse ofMuhammad!MayAllah bless you.Whenever I see you, recollection

comestomeofmyfriendandbeloved,Muhammad,theApostleandbelovedofAllah."AbuDharr,hiswifeandhisslave,werebanishedtoRabzainthedesert,andsometimelater,hedied

there.Hiswife and slave coveredhis face, turned it toward theKaaba, and sat by the roadsidenotknowingwhattodo.Presently,theysawsomeriderscomingfromthedirectionofIraq.TheseriderswereAbdullahibnMasood,anoldfriendofMuhammad,andsomeothertravelers.TheyweregoingtoMedina.WhentheysawAbuDharr'swidow,theyhaltedandaskedherwhoshewasandwhatshewasdoinginthatdesolateplace.AbuDharr's slave told themwho theywere,and informed themthat thebodyofAbuDharrwas

lyingunburiedasthegroundwasrockyandtheywereunabletodigagrave.AbdullahibnMasoodburstintotearsandlamentedthedeathofhisownfriend,andthefriendofthe

ApostleofGod.

25NahjulBalaghasermon130Abdullah ibnMasoodandhis companionsdugagrave, arrangeda simple funeral, saidprayers,

andburiedAbuDharrelGhiffari.Buraydab.Sufyanal-AslamifromMuhammadb.Kaabaal-QurazifromAbdullahb.Masoodtold

methatwhenUthmanexiledAbuDharrtoRabza,andhisappointedtimecame,therewasnoonewithhimexcepthiswifeandaslave.Heinstructedthemtowashhisbodyandtodrapeitinashroud,andlayhimonthesurfaceoftheroad,andtellthefirstcaravanthatpassedwhohewas,andaskthemtohelpinburyinghim.Whenhedied,theydidthis.Abdullahb.MasoodarrivedwithsomeothermenfromIraqonpilgrimagewhen theysawthebieron the roadside.Theslave roseandsaid,"This isAbu Dharr, the Apostle's friend. Help us to bury him." Abdullah b. Masood broke out into loudweeping,andsaid:"TheApostlewas right;youwalkedalone,andyoudiedalone,andyouwillberaisedalone."Thenheandhiscompanionsdismountedfromtheircamelsandburiedhim,andhetoldthemhisstoryandwhattheApostlehadsaidontheroadtoTabuk.(TheLifeofMuhammad)"AbuDharrwasoneoftheearliestconvertstoIslam,andhewasoneofthosewhowerelovedand

admiredbytheProphethimself.TheProphetusedtosay:"TheblueskyneverhelditscanopyoveramanwhowasmoretruthfulthanAbuDharr."AbuDharrlearnedthatUthmangavealotofmoneytoMarwanbinal-Hakam;andhegavetohis

brother, Harith bin alHakam 300,000 dirhems; and he gave to Zayd bin Thabit Ansari 100,000dirhems.AbuDharrcriticizedallthis,andhetoldthehoardershowtheywouldbeburnedinhell.HereadtheverseofQuran:“Givetidingsof tortureto thosewhohoardgoldandsilveranddonotspendtheirwealthfor the

sakeofAllah”(9:34).Marwanbin al-Hakam informedUthmanwhatAbuDharrwas reading.Uthman sent his slave to

AbuDharrandforbadehimtoreadtheQur ’anicverseinquestion.Abu Dharr said: "Does Uthman forbid me to read the Book of Allah, and to forget His

commandments?IfIhavetochoosebetweenthepleasureofAllahandthepleasureofUthman,IshallcertainlychoosethepleasureofAllah."AbuDharrwaspersistentinhiscriticismofthehoardersofwealth, and he called upon the Muslims not to be spendthrifts." (al- Fitna-tul-Kubra {The GreatUpheaval},publishedinCairoin1959p.163)AbuDharrstruggledagainstthemerchandisingschoolofpolitics.InIslam,hisvoicewasthefirst

onethatroseinprotestagainstreligiousandpoliticaltotalitarianism,andeconomicexploitation,andhiswasalsothefirstvoicetoriseindefenseoftheMuslim"under-dog."Hisvoicewasstifledbuthisideals could not be stifled.He lifted his ideals out ofAl-Qur ’an alMajid.Any attempt to stifle hisidealsisanattempttostifleAlQur ’anal-Majid.AbuDharr'svoicewas thevoiceof theConscienceof Islam,andhisplatformwas theRightsof

Man.MayGodblesshimtoalleternity.26AbdulHamidofEgyptandAllamahAbdullahSubaitiwritethatAbuzarstayedinMedinaafterthe

deathofUmar.HesawthatUthmanwasfavourablyinclinedtowardsBaniUmayyahwhoseinfluencehad grown deep into the Islamic Statewhich had assumed themagnificence of a kingdom. Peopleindulged inpompandshow,and ledhighly luxurious lives.Theyhadbecome fondof theworldlygains.Hesawthatmostof thecompanionswere totallychanged.Zubayr,TalhaandAbdulRahmanbin Auf (having reconciled with the government) had purchased lands and houses. Sa'd bin AbiWaqqashadagates26ARestatementofHistoryofIslamandMuslimsbySayedAliAsgherRazwyfixed in his palace, had raised it very high, broadened the courtyard and made turrets on it.

Therefore,Abuzarstoodupandcameoutopenly.Hewasnot tobedeterredbyanycommanderorcaliph.HestartedinvitingpeopletoausterityandattackingUthmaninhisspeeches.OnedayhecametoknowthatUthmanhadgiventhefifthpartofthetributefromAfricatoMarwan

binHakam,300,000dirhamstoHarithbinal'As,100,000dirhamstoZaydbinThabit,immeasurablewealthfromthebootiesofAfricatohisfosterbrother,AbdullahbinAliSarahandthelandofFadaktoMarwanwhichhadbeensnatched fromFatimah, thedaughterof theHolyProphet.Hestarted torecitethisverseinthemasjid.“Announceapainfultorturetothosewhoamassgoldandsilveranddonotspendtheminthewayof

Allah".(SurahTaubah,9:34)Marwan came to know that Abuzar attacked him and Uthman, he complained to Uthman, who

orderedhisslavetocallAbuzartohim.Abuzarwenttohim.AtsightofhimUthmansaid:“Abuzar!Desist fromwhat I amhearing,otherwiseyouwillnot findanybodymore inimical toyou than I".Abuzarsaid,"OCommander!Whathaveyouheardaboutme?"Uthmansaid,"Ihavecometoknowthat you instigate people against me". Abuzar asked, "How is it?" Uthman said, "You recite theverse,“Announceapainfultorture………”inthemasjid.Abuzarsaid,"OCommander!Doyoustopme from reciting the Book of Allah and from disclosing the short-comings of those who haveabandoned the commands of Allah! ByAllah, I cannot offendAllah for the sake of Uthman. ThedispleasureofUthmanisbetterformethanthedispleasureofAllah".HearingthisUthmanfrownedatAbuzarbutcouldnotdecidehowtorefutethecharge.Therefore,

hedidnotsayanythingandkeptquietforsometime.Abuzarroseandwentawayfromthere,withafirmdeterminationtocriticisethosewhoworkedagainstthecommandsofAllahmorethanever.AbuzarattackedUthmanmorefrequently.Sohegotveryangryandwaitedforanopportunity to

exileAbuzar.Onedayhegotthechanceandavailedhimselfofit.According to Ibn Wazih the author of ‘Tarikh Ya'qubi’ people informed Uthman that Abuzar

Ghifaritauntedhiminthemasjidandhaddeliveredaspeechatthegateofthemasjidthus:"Opeople!Hewhoknowsmeknowsme,butlethim,whodoesnotrecognizemeknowthatIam

AbuzarGhifari.MynameisJundabbinJunadahRabazi.AllahelevatedAdam,Nuh,theprogenyofIbrahimandthechildrenofImran,outofthepeopleoftheworld.TheProphetMuhammadistheheirtoAdam'sknowledgeandtoallvirtueswhichhaddistinguishedtheProphets,andAliibnAbiTalibisthesuccessoroftheProphetandheirtohisknowledge".

"Obewilderedpeople!IfafteryourProphetyouhadpreferredonewhomAllahhaspreferred,and

hadputhimlastwhomAllahhasplacedlast,andhadconfinedthegovernanceandinheritanceamongtheAhlulBayt,youwouldhavegotcountlessblessingsfromaboveyourheadsandfromunderyourfeet,andnofriendofAllahwouldhavebeenpooranddestitute,andnopartoftheDivineobligationswouldhavebeen lost, andno twopersonswouldhavedisputed about theDivine command simplybecausetheywouldhavefoundtheinformationaboutthatcommandmentintheDivineBookandthetradition of theProphet, according to theAhlulBayt of their Prophet.But since youhavewilfullydonewhatyoushouldnothavedone,youmustsufferthepunishmentforyourwrongdoing,anditwillnotbelongbeforethosewhohavewrongedwillknowtowhomtheywillreturn”.It isalso recorded in thesamebookofhistory thatUthmanwasalso informed thathehadmade

changesintheSunnah(tradition)oftheHolyProphetandthetraditionsofAbuBakrandUmaronthefoundationofwhich the edifice of hisCaliphatewas raised, and thatAbuzar placed that complaintbefore the public.On hearing these thingsUthman sentAbuzar toMu'awiyah,Governor of Syria.AccordingtoTarikhAbulFida,thisthinghappenedin30AH.Scholars say that as Abuzar continuously criticized Uthman's actions that violated the religious

laws, Uthman imposed severe restrictions on him. It was his directive that nobody should talk toAbuzar,orgonearhimorsitwithhim.Publicmeetingswereheldagainandagaintoproclaimthisorder.According to theversionofAllamahMajlisiandAllamahSubaiti,AhnafbinQaysoftenused to

cometothemasjidandsitthere.OnedayheprayedtoAllah"OLord!Replacemyunsociabilitywithloveandmylonelinesswithcompanyandgrantmesuchaworthycompanionashasnopeer".Afterfinishingthisprayerhesawamansittingandworshippinginacornerofthemasjid.Herose

from his seat, approached him and sat down by his side. Then he said to him, "Who are yougentleman andwhat is your name?"He answered, "Jundab bin Junadah". On hearing this he said,"Allahisgreat,Allahisgreat".Abuzarsaid,whydidyoureciteTakbir?Heanswered,"WhenIenteredthemasjidtodayIprayedto

Allahtograntmethebestcompanion.Hefulfilledmywishverysoonandgrantedmethehonorofmeetingwithyou".Abuzar said, "I owe it toAllah,more than you, to glorifyHim because Iwas adjudged to be a

suitablecompanion.OMan!Listentome.TheHolyProphethastoldmethatyouandIwillbeonavery high place andwill remain there till all are free from reckoning".Abuzar further added: "OslaveofAllah!Getawayfrommeoryouwillfacesometrouble".Heasked,"Howisthat,friend?”Abuzarreplied,“UthmanbinAffanhasforbiddenpeopletositwithmeandhasorderedthatwhosoevermeetsme,talkstomeandsitswithme,will

bepunished".(HayatulQulub,byAllamahMajlisivol.2.andAbuzaral-Ghifari,byAllamahSubaiti).Inshort,UthmanbecamedisgustedwithAbuzar'struthfulness.Hecarriedonhisworkdespitethe

restrictionsandUthmangotregularinformationaboutit.Atlast,beingtiredofAbuzarhedecidedtosendhimtoSyria.

HistorianssaythatbeingtiredofAbuzar'scryoftruthfulnessUthmansubjectedhimtoeverykindofrepressioninMedina.Itwashisorderthatnooneshouldtalktohimandnoneshouldsitwithhim.Hewasforcedtokeephismouthshut,buthistruthfulcriesalsopersisted.WhenhegaveaspeechinthemasjidoftheProphethiswordsreachedtheearsofthepeople.AshespokeonmattersthatwereenjoinedbyAllahandHisProphethisspeechmovedtheheartsofthecommonpeople.Peoplegrewdisgusted with the wrongdoings and anti-Islamic activities of Uthman. Therefore he deemed itpoliticallyexpedienttoturnhimoutofthecity.WiththisendinviewhedecidedtosendhimtoSyria.Uthman perhaps thought that asMu'awiyahwas theGovernor of Syria and also themost cunningman,Abuzarcouldbecompletelyparalysedthere.AccordinglyUthmanforcedAbuzar to leaveforSyria.AbuzarlefthishearthandhomewithhisfamilyandreachedSyria.HisarrivalinSyriaconfirmed

the prediction of the Prophet, which the latter had once made to Abuzar in the course of theirconversation.AccordingtotheexhortationoftheProphetheshowedpatienceandacceptedhisexilesilently.(alGhadirAllamahAmini,vol.8,p.302)Abuzar was already tired of and disgusted with the anti Islamic ways of Uthman, but when he

reached Syria and saw the behaviour of Mu’awiyah that was ruining Islam he was extremelyastonishedandsaidtohimselfthattheentireadministrativeset-upwasoutoforder.HewascompelledtothinkonaccountofthestyleoflifeofMu'awiyahthatIslamaspresentedbytheProphetwasnotonlybecomingweakbutextinct.Inviewofthesethingshisnaturalemotionswereexcited.Sincerityandfranknessimpelledhimtoraiseacryoftruth.Ashewasextremelybrave,heneverhesitatedtotell the truth.So,without thinking thatMu'awiyahwas thekingof theday,hebegan toperformhisIslamicdutiesandopenedhismouthtopreventMu'awiyahfromdoinganti-religiousdeeds,andtoldhimclearlythathismodusoperandiwasasanti-IslamicasthatofUthmanbin'Affan.AllamahSubaitiwritesthatUthman'sexilingAbuzarfromMedinatoSyriaisapositiveproofofthefactthatUthmandivertedthecriticalattitudeofAbuzarfromhimselftoMu'awiyah.27The historian Balazari, Allamah Majlisi, Allamah Subaiti and Allamah Amini write that when

Abuzar reached Syria, Mu'awiyah was getting his palace "al-Khizra" constructed. Thousands oflabourerswereworkingthere.OnedayMu'awiyahwaslookingatitwithpride.Abuzarsawhim,wentnearhim,andsaid,"OMu'awiyah!IfthispalaceisbeingbuiltwiththePublicTreasury,itisabreachoftrustandifitisdonewithyourmoneyitisextravagance".HearingthisMu'awiyahkeptquietturnedhisfacefromhissideandmadenoanswer.Abuzarwent

away and reached the masjid. He took his seat there. Some people complained to Abuzar againstMu'awiyahsayingthattheygotnothingoutofthegiftsalthoughayearhadpassed.Abuzarinclinedhisheadforwardand thenhestoodup.People lookedathim.Hesaid:"ByAllah,such innovationshavegainedcurrencythesedaysasarenottobefoundintheHolyQur'anortheHadith.ByAllah,Iseethatthetruthisbeingeffacedanduntruthisbecomingstronger.Truthfulpeoplearebeingfalsifiedandthesinnersarebeinggivenpreferenceoverthevirtuous".27Abuzaral-Ghifari"Oaristocrats!OMu'awiyahandhisgovernors!Sympathizewith thepoor.Let thosewhoamass

goldandsilveranddonotspendinthewayofAllah,knowthattheirforeheads,sides,andbackswillbe brandedwith fire.O’ the hoarders ofwealth!Don't you know thatwhen aman dies everything

separates from him. Only three things remain for him, lasting charity, useful knowledge, and avirtuousson,whopraysforhim".Peopleheardhis lecture, theoppressedpoorgatheredroundhimandtherichbegantofearhim.

WhenHabibbinMuslimahFahrisawacrowdofpeoplenearAbuzar,hesaid,"Itisagreatnuisance".He immediately went toMu'awiyah and said to him, "OMu'awiyah! Abuzar will totally upset theSyrianadministration.IfyouneedSyriansyoushouldnipthisnuisanceinthebud".Mu'awiyahthoughttohimself."ShouldIdealwithhimstrictlyorleniently?Thefirewillflareup

further by strictness. Should I complain toUthman?But,whatwillUthman say?Hewill say that Icouldnotimproveevenonemanoutofmysubjects.Hence,itisbettertoturnhimoutofSyria".Ithasbeenacommonpractice tosuppresswithan ironhand the truthfulstatementsof thegodly

peopleonaccountof theirbitterness.HowcouldtheworldlypeopleremainsilentafterhearingthespeechesofAbuzarwhosereligiousfervourhadbecomequitenaturalwithhim,andthenhowcouldapersonlikeMu'awiyah,whoconsideredthebiggestpersonalitylowertohiminhisvanityofpowerandcunningness,actupontheadviceofAbuzarandhowcouldhetoleratehisbitterremarks?Abuzarin exhorting tone used to recite the Qur'anic verse"Give them the sad tidings of the severestpunishment to those,whoamassgoldandsilveranddonotgive themincharity",and itwasusualwithhimthatheusedtorecitethisverseagainstMu'awiyahinmostofthestreets,andontheroadsofSyria.Whenhereciteditthepoorandtheneedysurroundedhimandoftentheycomplainedtohimofthe pleasure seeking of the rich governors and of their own poverty. Mu'awiyah used to get theinformationofhispreachingactivitiesregularly.Atlastheimposedsevererestrictionsuponhimandinflictedtorturesonhimfromallsides.WheneventhismuchdidnotworkhethreatenedAbuzarwithdeath.WhenAbuzarheardthethreatofdeathhesaid,"ThedynastyofUmayyahthreatensmewithpoverty

anddeath.Iwishtotellthemthatpovertyismoredesirabletomethanrichness,andIliketobeunderthegroundrather than tobeabove it. Iamneithercoweddownby the threateningofdeath,norbydeathitself".AllamahMajlisi writes on the authority of ShaykhMufid what the Syrians said about the great

sermonsofAbuzar:"WhenUthmanexiledAbuzar fromMedinaandsenthimtoSyria,he tookhisresidenceinourmidst,andstartedaseriesofspeeches,whichstirredusquitealot.HeusedtobeginhisspeechwiththepraiseofAllahandtheProphetandthensaid:"LovefortheprogenyoftheProphetisobligatoryonall.Onewhoiswithoutloveforthemwill

notevensmellthefragranceofHeaven”.Hethenadded,“Opeople!Listentome.IusedtohonormycovenantsbeforeacknowledgingIslam,during thedaysof ignorance,before the revelationsof theQur'an and before the appointment of the Prophet. I told the truth, treated my neighbours withsympathy, consideredhospitalitymyduty,was generous to the poor, and let them sharemy richeswithme.When,afterwards,AllahrevealedHisBookandappointedHisProphet,IinquiredaboutthemattersandcametoknowthatthesamemannersandcustomsthatwereourswerealsocontainedintheexhortationsoftheProphet.Opeople!ItismostbefittingfortheMuslimstoadoptgoodmorals.ItistruethattheMuslimsactedaccordingtothepreceptsofIslam,butmyfriends!ThebehaviouroftheMuslimswasgoodforashorttime.Thenitsohappenedthatthetyrantsshowedsuchevildeeds,aswehadnotseenbefore.ThesepeopledestroyedthetraditionsoftheProphet,introducedinnovations,and

contradictedthepersonwhotoldthetruth, joinedagroupofwickedpeopleandforsookthemwhowerepiousandworthy".“OAllah!Takemy soul ifYouhave formebetter thingswithYou than thosewhich are in this

world,beforeIdistortyourfaithorchangethetraditionofYourProphet".He further said, "O people!Be attached to theworship ofAllah and desist from sins". Then he

describedthemeritsofAhlulBaytwhichhehadheardfromtheProphetandadvisedpeopletostickwiththeAhlulBayt.TheSyrians say that they listened to his speeches intently and a great crowdof people gathered

round him when he delivered a sermon, till Mu'awiyah informed Uthman of these happenings,consequentlyhecalledAbuzartoMedina.AsAbuzarhadgreatlyvexedMu'awiyahthroughhisreligiouslectures,he,inordertosilencehim

somehow,tookcouragetosendhimabagofmoneybecausehecouldnotthinkofanyothermeanstodoit.Scholarsandhistorianssay thatMu'awiyah inorder tosilenceAbuzardespatchedabagof three

hundredgolddinarstohimthroughhisspecialenvoy.Seeingthishesaid,"TellMu'awiyahthatIneednomoneyfromhimandreturnedthebag.(al-Ishtirakiaz-Zahid,TarikhBalazari,al-Ghadir,vol8,p293)AbuzarhadseenwithhisowneyesafterthedeathoftheProphetallthosetragiceventswhichAle

Muhammad(theProgenyoftheProphet)wereforcedtoface.Anyway, troubles surroundedAbuzar fromall sides.Great tortures afflictedhimat thehandsof

BaniUmayyah.Oppressionswere let looseonhim.Buthedidnot showanyweaknessanddidnotrefrainfromhispreachingactivities.Henowstartedmoreseriousattacks.Abdullah Subaiti, Abdul Hamid Misri and Manazir Ahsan Gilani say that Abuzar kept on

performing the duty of preaching regularly and giving warning of painful chastisement to thehoarders.AtlastMu'awiyahbegantothinkofplanstosavehimselffromhisbitingremarksand,tofrustratehismission.Hecameto theconclusion,however, that therecouldbeachanceoffreedomfromtheattacksifhoardingisprovedwiththosewhospeakagainstit.Therefore,hehituponaplan,andgotconvincedthatitwouldsurelyhitthetarget.IbnAthir,aftermentioningtheQur'anicverses,writes thatwhenAbuzarcouldnotbesilencedin

anyway,Mu'awiyahsentsomebodywithathousanddinarstoAbuzaratnight.Abuzartookthemoneyanddistributeditamongtheneedybeforedawnanddidnotkeepevenasinglecoin,forhimself.Mu'awiyah, after the morning prayer, called the man who had taken the gold coins to Abuzar;

orderedhimtogotoAbuzarandtellhiminafeignedanxiety,"OAbuzar!SavemefromthetortureofMu'awiyah.Mu'awiyahhadsentthosegoldcoinstosomebodyelse,andIhavedeliveredthemtoyoubysheermistake".ThemessengerofMu'awiyahwenttohimandtoldhimexactlyinthesamemannerwhatMu'awiyah

had taught him. Abuzar said, "O son! TellMu'awiyah that themoney sent by himwas distributedamongtheneedybeforethedaydawned.Ihavenoneofthecoinsatthismomentwithme,andifhehasamindtotakethembackheshouldgivemethreedaystime,duringwhichIwillprovidethemtohimfromsomewhere".ThatmanrepeatedthesamethingtoMu'awiyahwhosaid,"UndoubtedlyAbuzardoeshimselfwhat

heasksotherstodo".(TarikhKamil,vol.3,p.24,TafsirIbnKathir,part10,p.54)AbdullahSubaiti, after quoting this incidentwrites in aphilosophical passage thatAbuzarwas a

personalityofaveryloftycharacter.BaniUmayyahshowedgreatshortsightednessinunderstandinghim.Thatiswhytheyfelttheneedofsuchapoliticalswindling.AbdulHamidMisriwritesafterthisincident: "Mu'awiyah understood thatAbuzarwas true to hiswords.He spent all the dinars in onenight.Mu'awiyahfailedtoachievehispurpose.HeshowedleniencytoAbuzarbuttonoavail.Thenheusedviolenceagainsthimbuttonoeffect.Intheend,hewantedtopurchasehimforthreehundreddinars,butcouldnotsucceed".28AbuzarwasbusypreachinginSyria,whenthetimeofHajjarrived.Hesoughtthepermissionof

UthmanandexpressedhiswishtogooutofSyriatopilgrimageandtostayattheshrineoftheHolyProphetforafewdays.UthmansenthimtheletterofpermissionfromMedinaandAbuzarwentforHajj.HeperformedHajjandhewent toMedina.Hestayednear thegraveof theProphet fora fewdaysandthencamebacktoSyria.OnhisreturnfromHajjagainherestartedhispreachingactivity.Ononesidehewasusinghisfull

forceinexhortationsandontheothersideinnumerableapplicationsoftherichpeoplewerereachingMu'awiyahtosealAbuzar'slips.ThemainthemeoftheseapplicationswasthatpeoplerecitedontheroadsandstreetstheverseoftheQur'aninwhichthereisawarningforthemoneyedpeoplebeingbranded with the heated gold and silver, thus creating difficulty in their passage to Syria. As aconsequence of itMu'awiyah got it proclaimed that nobodywas allowed to be in the company ofAbuzarorsitwithhim.(TabaqaatIbnSa'd,p.176)WhenAbuzargotthenewsofthissocialboycotthehimselfbegantoaskpeoplenottocometohim

orsitwithhim.Thiswasbecausehethoughtthatifsomebodycametohimhewouldbesubjectedtotortureby thegovernment.But ashe couldnothelppreachinghehimself reached theplacewheresomepeoplehadgatheredandbegantoperformhisduty.28Abuzaral-GhifariAccording to Ibn Khaldun when a group of people went to see him after this order of social

boycott,Abuzarhimselfaskedthemtoleaveandremainawayfromhim.(TarikhIbnKhaldun,p.27)ItappearsfromBalazari'sreportthatthosepeoplewhohadcontactswithAbuzarandlistenedtohis

speechesweremoreseverelydealtwiththanAbuzarhimself.(TarikhBalazari,vol.5p.65)HowcourageousAbuzarwas!Hedidnottolerateanyseveritytothosewhousedtovisithim,and

didnotwantthemtosufferanyinconvenience.Butsofarashispersonalsentimentswereconcernedheinsistedonexpressingthemwithfullfaithandfervour.HeneverbotheredaboutanygainandlossinthewayofAllah.

Abuzarwasatruthfulman.Heusedtoadmonishothersfearlesslytodolawfulacts.Mu'awiyahwas

aworldlyman.Abuzar very often used to direct him to dowhat is good till people began to feelashamedoftheresidentsofSyria.OnedayMu'awiyahsaidtoAbuzar,"Youarenotsovirtuousastodirectmetodogooddeedsbeforethepublic.HearingthisAbuzarsaid,“Bequiet!Shameonyou!"In short,whenMu'awiyah could notmend hisways and could not suppressAbuzar's tongue, he

decidedtobanishhimfromSyria.ConsequentlyheresolvedtosendhimtoJabalal- 'Amul.SubaitisaysthatwhenAbuzarcalledthepeopletheretowardsAhlulBayttheyreadilyacceptedtheinvitation!AstheareawasquiteextensivehiscalldidnotremainconfinedonlywithintheinternallimitsofJabalal-'Amulbutreachedtheadjoiningareasaswell.ItisobviousthatMu'awiyahhadsentAbuzarfromSyriatoJabalal-'Amulonlybecausehethought

thathispreachingactivitiesamongthosestrangerswouldcometoastand-still,butwhenhecametoknowthatAbuzarwithhis fieryspeechhadmade thepeople inJabalal-'Amul inclined towards thetruth,hecalledhimbacktoSyriaimmediately.AllamahSubaitiwritesthatAbuzarmadethepeopledevoteesofAhlulBaytthroughhispreachingsandlaidthefoundationsoftwomasjidsthereoneatSirfandwhichissituatedneartheriverbankbetweenSurandSaydaandthesecondinMessituatedatHaulah.29Abuzar restarted his work on his arrival in Syria. He used to sit at Bab Damishq (Gate of

Damascus),afterthemorningprayers,andwhenhesawthelineofcamelsladenwiththegovernmentownedgoodshecalledinaloudvoice:"People!Thislineofcamelsthatiscomingisnotladenwithgoods but with fire. Accursed be the people, who direct others to do good but do not do goodthemselves,andwoebetothosewhoprohibitothersfromevilsbutcommitthemthemselves".(TarikhYa'qubi,vol.2p.148andal-Ghadir,vol.8,p.299)Thenhe rose from there andwent to thegateofMu'awiyah's palace andmade the same speech.

Thishadbecomehisroutineandheusedtodoitregularly.Atlast,Mu'awiyahgothimarrested.Abuzar had in view the tradition,which has been quoted byKhatib al-Baghdadi andAhmad bin

Hanbal.According to this tradition theHoly Prophet said to his companions: "Omy companions!Listenattentively.Aftermetherulers(ofmyummah)willbelikethearistocrats.Tothemtherewillbenodifferencebetweenjusticeandinjusticeandbetweentruthandfalsehood.But,whosoevergoestothemtojustifytheirfalsehood,andsupportsthemintheirinjustice,willhavenoconnectionwithme,andwillnotreachmeat theCisternofKautharandthemanwhohasnoconnectionwiththem,doesnotjustifytheirfalsity,anddoesnotsupportthemintheirinjustice,willbefrommeandIwillbefromhim,andhewillreachmeattheCisternofKauthar".(Tarikhal-Khatibal-Baghdadi,vol.2,andvol.5,MusnadAhmadbinHanbalvol.1)29Abuzaral-GhifariEverysensiblemancanunderstandthatunderthecircumstancesAbuzarcouldnotcareaboutany

power.Hisconduct;apartfrombeingnaturalandinnate,wastheresultoftheHolyProphet'steaching.ThereisnotasingleinstancerecordedintheauthentichistoriestoshowthatinhislifetimeAbuzarhadeverhesitatedtotellthetruth.

JalambinJandalGhifari, theGovernorofQinsarinsays:"Once,duringtheCaliphateofUthmanwhenIwastheGovernorofQinsarinI,wenttoMu'awiyah,theGovernorofSyriaonsomebusiness.SuddenlyIheardthatsomebodywasshoutingatthegateofthepalaceandwassayingloudly:ThelineofcamelscomingtoyouisladenwiththeHell-fire.MayAllahcursethosewhoaskotherstodogoodbutdonotdoit themselves.MayAllahcurse thosewhoprohibitothersfromevilbutcommit themthemselves.AtthattimeIsawthatthefaceofMu'awiyahchanged,colouronaccountofanger.HeaskedmeifI

recognizedtheman,whowascrying.Iansweredinthenegative.ThenMu'awiyahsaid,thisisJandabbinJanadahGhifari.Hecomes to thegateofourpalacedailyandrepeats thesamewords thatyouheardjustnow.Thenheorderedhimtobekilled.SuddenlyIsawthatYaqudunahbroughtAbuzardraggingandmadehimstandinfront.Mu'awiyah

saidtohim,"OtheenemyofAllahandHisProphet!Youcomedailytousandrepeatsuchwords.Iwould have surely got you killed if I could kill any companion of the Prophet without Uthman'spermission.NowIwillgethispermissionregardingyou".IwantedtoseeAbuzarbecausehewasfromourtribe.WhenIlookedathimIsawhewastawny-

coloured,leanandtall.Hisbeardwasnotthick,andhisbackwasbentonaccountofoldage.AbuzarsaidinanswertoMu'awiyah:"IamnotanenemyofAllahandHisProphetbutyouarethe

enemyofAllahandHisProphetandyourfatherwasalsoanenemyofAllahandHisProphet.YoupeopleprofessedIslamforself interestbut remained infidelsatheart.TheProphetof Islamcursedyoutwiceanddamnedyousothatyoumayneverbesatiated.IhaveheardfromtheProphetofAllahthathisummahshouldremainonguardagainstthemischiefofthemanwithbigeyesandwidegullet,whoisneversatiatedwithfoodalthoughheeatstoomuch,whenhebecomestherulerofhisummah.Hearing thisMu'awiyah said, "I amnot thatman spokenof by theMessenger ofAllah".Abuzar

said,"OMu'awiyah!Itisnousedenyingthatyouaredefinitelythesamemanandlisten!TheProphethasinformedmethatbythatmanhemeantyouandyoualone.OMu'awiyah!Onedaywhenyouwerepassing in front of theProphet, I heard him say:OAllah!Damnhim, and do not fill his stomachexcept with dust. OMu'awiyah! I have heard him also say thatMu'awiyah's flank is in Hell-fire".HearingthisMu'awiyahlaughedshamefully,orderedhimtobearrested,senthimtoprisonandwrotetoUthmanaboutthewholeaffair".(Hayatal-Qulub,vol.2,p.1043,al-Ghadir,vol.8,p.299,asquotedfromTarikhYa'qubi)HavingsentAbuzartoprison,Mu'awiyahinhislettertoUthmancomplainedagainstAbuzarwhich

meant that he should be called back from Syria. Accordingly Uthman called him from Syria toMedina.AcamelriderstartedwithMu'awiyah'sletterandpresenteditbeforeUthmanatMedina.Assoonas

UthmanreceivedtheletterheatoncewrotebacktoMu'awiyah:"Yourlettertohand;IcametoknowwhatyouwroteaboutAbuzar.AssoonasyoureceivethislettersendAbuzartoMedinaonthebackofarashcamelwithahard-heartedriderwhokeepsthecamelrunningdayandnightinordertosendAbuzartosleepsothatheforgetstospeakofyouandmeboth".On receipt of this letter Mu'awiyah sent for Abuzar and made him ride on the bare back of a

mischievouscamelwithacruelrider.HetoldtheridertokeepthecamelrunningdayandnightandnottolethimstopatanyplacetillhereachesMedina.Abuzarwastallandleanandbythattimehadbecomesooldthatallthehairofhisheadandbeardhadgrowngrey.Besidesthishehadgrownveryweak.Therewasnoclothorsaddleonthebackofthecamel.Theguidegavehimmercilesstreatment.OnaccountofallthesetroublesandinjuriesAbuzar'sthighswerewoundedandruptured,andhefeltgreatpainandexhaustion.Historians agree thatAbuzarwas sent fromSyria all alone.His familywas notwith him.Most

probablyhewasnotallowedtogohomeandtakehisfamilywithhim.HemusthavebeencalledfromtheprisonanddirectlydespatchedtoMedina.AccordingtoAllamahMajlisiandAllamahSubaitiwhenAbuzarwastoleaveforMedinaandthe

Muslimsgotthenewsofhisdeparturetheycametohimandaskedhimwherehewasgoing.Abuzarreplied, "Uthman has calledme toMedina. I am going from here at his call.OMuslims!Uthmanbeingoffendedwithmehadsentmeheretowardsyou.NowIamagaincalledtoMedina.Iknowthatthis time I have been called for torture.But it is essential forme to go, anyhow.Listen!RelationsbetweenUthmanandmewillremainlikethis.Youshouldnotfeelsorryandworriedinthisrespect”.WhenAbuzarwasleaving,peopleaccompaniedhimtobidfarewelltohimtill theyreachedDair

Maranoutsidethecity.Thereheofferedhisprayersincongregation.Thenhedeliveredanaddress,whosetranslationisgivenherefromHayatulQulub:“Opeople!Ibequestathingwhichisusefultoyou.”AfterthatheaskedthemtothankAllah.All

said,"AllpraisesareforAllah”.ThenheboretestimonytotheOnenessofAllahandtheProphethoodofMuhammadand all followed suit.Thenhe said, "I acknowledge theResurrectionof theDayofJudgment,andtheexistenceofHeavenandHell.IbelieveinwhattheProphetbroughtfromAllahandIcallyouaswitnesstothisbeliefofmine".Allsaid,"Wearewitnesstowhatyouhavesaid",Afterthat he said, "Whosoever of youwill diewith this beliefwill be given the glad tidings ofAllah'smercyandgenerosity,provided thathe isnot thehelperof the sinners, supporterof theactionsofoppressors,andaccompliceofthetyrants.O’groupofpeople!Furyandindignationshouldalsobeapartofyourprayersandfasting,whenyouseethatpeopleonearthsinagainstAllah.DonotpleaseyourleaderswiththingswhicharethecauseofAllah'swrath.IfthosepeopleintroducesuchthingsintheDivinefaiththerealityofwhichyoudonotknow,leavethemandbringtheirguilttothelimelight,eveniftheytortureyouandturnyououtoftheircompany,depriveyouoftheirgifts,andbanishyoufromthecities,sothatAllahmaybepleasedwithyou.CertainlyAllahismostGloriousandElevated.ItisnotpropertoenrageHimtopleaseHiscreations.MayAllahforgiveyouandme.InowleaveyoutoAllahandwishthatpeaceandmercyofAllahbeuponyou".Allsaidinreply,"OAbuzar!OcompanionoftheMessengerofAllah!MayAllahkeepyousafe

andbestowHisblessingsuponyou!Wouldyounotlikeustakeyouagainbacktoourcityandsupportyou in the faceofenemies".Abuzar said, "MayAllah sendmercyonyou!Nowyoumaygoback.CertainlyIammoreforbearing thanyou incalamities.Neverbescatteredandworried,anddonothavedifferencesamongyou".Historians say thatwhenAbuzar reachedMedina, leaving his family behind in Syria, extremely

tiredandexhaustedhewaspresentedbeforethekingof thetime,CaliphUthman.At that timethereweremanypeoplepresentinthecourt.AssoonasCaliphUthmansawAbuzar,hestartedrevilinghim

without having any regard for his honor in the eyes of the Holy Prophet. It appears from thestatementsofthehistoriansthatUthmansaidwhatevercametohismindinthatstateoffuryandrage.Heevensaid,"Itisyouwhohavecommittedimproperacts".Abuzarsaid,"IdidnothingexceptthatIgaveyouanadviceandyou took it ill andsentmeaway fromyou.Then IadvisedMu'awiyah.Healsodidnotlikeitandturnedmeout".Uthmansaid,"Youarealiar.Youarenursingseditioninyourmind.YouwanttoprovokeSyriaagainstme".Abuzarsaid,"OUthman!OnlyfollowAbuBakrandUmarandnobodywillsayanythingagainstyou".Uthmansaid,"WhatdoesitmatterifIfollowthemornot.Mayyourmotherdie!"Abuzarsaid,"ByAllah,youcannotaccusemeofanythingexceptthatIdirectpeopletodogoodandpreventthemfromdoingunlawfulacts".AtthisUthmanwasfilledwithrageandsaid,"Ocourtiers!AdvisemeastowhatIshoulddowiththisoldliar.ShouldIpunishhimwith flogging, send him to prison, get him killed, or exile him.He has created dissensions in theMuslimsociety.HavingheardthisAli,whowaspresentthere,said,"OUthman!IadviseyoulikethebelieverofthenationofFirauntoleavehimtohimself.Ifheisaliarhewillgettherecompenseforit,andifheistruthfulyouwillcertainlybeasufferer.Allahdoesnotguidehimwhoisextravagantandliar.AtthistherearoseanaltercationbetweenUthmanandAli.(TabaqatIbnSa'dal-Waqidi,died230A.H.vol.4,p.168)MuhammadbinAlibinA'thamKufi,writesinthisconnection:AlisaidtoCaliphUthman,"Donotgivehim(Abuzar)anytrouble.Ifheisaliarhewillsufferits

consequences,andifheistruthful,thatwhathesayswillcometolight".UthmandidnotapproveofthistalkofAli.AngrilyhesaidtoAli,"Dustinyourmouth!"Alialsorepeatedthesamewords.ThenAlisaid,"OUthman!Whatisallthisyouaredoing?Whataninjusticeareyoucommitting!Itisnotproper foryou toutter suchwordsaboutAbuzarwho is the friendof theProphetofAllah,on thebasis of some unknown things that Mu'awiyah has said. Are you not aware of the opposition,oppression, sedition and corruption of Mu'awiyah? On hearing this Caliph Uthman kept quiet".(TarikhA'thamKufiandMajalisulMu'minin)SayyidNurullahShustariwritesthatassoonasAbuzarsawCaliphUthmanbeforehimselfheused

torecitetheQur'anicverse:"FearthedaywhentheFireofHellwillblazeupandtheirforeheadswillbebranded”,bywhichhemeanttosay,“OUthman!Itiswrongthatyoudonotgivetothepoortherichesyouhoard,butgivetoyourkinsmenifyouevergive.ThedayisnotfaroffwhenyourflanksandforeheadswillbebrandedinHell",(MajalisulMu'minin,p.94)According to Tabari onceAli addressedUthman and said, "You have given up following your

predecessors,andnowyousimplyconcentrateupontheChildrenofUmayyahandyourownkinsfolk.Youhavecompletelyignoredthepoor.Thisisnotrightatall.FromwherehaveyougottherightofunlawfuldistributionofthepropertyofMuslims?"UthmangrewangryatthistalkofAliandretorted,"Thosewhowentbeforeusdidwrong to their relatives. Idon'twant todo that. Iamgiving tomypoorrelativeswhateverIcan"Alisaid,"AretheyonlyrightfulpeoplewhomyougivethousandofdirhamsfromthePublicTreasuryoftheMuslims?Istherenootherpoorman?"(TarikhTabari,vol.4,p.534andIqdulFarid,vol.2,p.272)HistorianssuchasAbulHasanAlibinHusaynbinAlialMas'udi(died346A.H.),AhmadbinAbi

Ya'qubandIshaqbinJa'farbinWahhabbinWazehYa'qubi(died278A.H.),andMuhammadbinSa'dal-Zahrial-Basri,Katibal-AbbasialWaqidi(died230A.H.)narratesthisincidentthus:

“WhenAbuzarwaspresentedin thecourtofUthmanhesaidtoAbuzar,“IaminformedthatyouhavetoldthepeoplethehadithoftheProphetthatwhenthenumberofmalesofBaniUmayyahrisesto full thirty, theywillconsider thecitiesofAllahas theirbootyand theslavesofAllah theirownslavesandmaids,andtheywilladoptthereligionofAllahasafraud".Abuzarsaid,"Yes,IhaveheardtheProphetsayso".Uthmanaskedtheaudienceof thecourt,"HaveyouheardtheProphetsayso?"Theysaid,"No".ThenhecalledAliandsaid,"OAbulHasan!Doyoucertifythishadith?"Alisaid,"Yes". Uthman said, "What is the proof of the authenticity of this hadith?"Ali replied, "TheHolyProphet'sstatement that there isnospeaker,under theskyandupon theearth,who ismore truthfulthanAbuzar".AbuzarhadstayedinMedinaonlyforafewdaysafterthisincidentwhenUthmansentwordtohim,

saying"ByAllah,YouwillcertainlybebanishedfromMedina".(MurujuzZahabal-Mas'udi,vol.1,p.438andTarikhYa'qubi,vol.2,p.148)AllamahMajlisiwritesthatafterhisreturnfromSyriaAbuzarwastakenill.Onedayheenteredthe

courtwiththesupportofhisstaff.Hehadjustarrivedtherewhenthefunctionariesofthegovernmentappearedin thecourtwith100,000dirhams,whichtheyhadrealizedfromthedifferentpartsof theState.AssoonasAbuzarsaw ithesaid, "O’Uthman!Whoseproperty is this?"Hereplied,"Of theMuslims".Heasked,"HowlongwillitremainstoredandnotreachtheMuslims?"TheCaliphsaid,"Thismoneywillliewithmetill100,000dirhamsmorearereceived,becausetheyhavebroughtthiswealth forme.Hence I amwaiting formore, so that Imaygive it to anybody I like, and spend itwhereIdeemproper".Abuzarsaid,"Whicharemore,fourdinarsor100,000dirhams?"Uthmansaid,"100,000dirhamsaremore".HearingthisAbuzarsaid:"OUthman!Do you not remember that when you and I went to the Prophet late one night and

seeing him sad asked him the reason for his sadness he did not even talk to us on account of theintensityofhisgrief.Thenwhenwewent tohimnextmorningand seeinghimhappyand smilingaskedhimwhyhewassosadthelastnightandwhyhewashappythatmorninghesaid,"Lastnightafter the distribution of the property of theMuslims only four dinars remainedwithme; so IwasperturbedbutIhavenowgiventhemtotherightfulperson.Therefore,Iamnowhappy".ItisanestablishedfactthatAbuzarhadseentheHolyProphetandhisAhlulBaytfromveryclose

quartersandremainedinveryintimatecompanywiththem.Hehadseenverycarefullyeveryaspectof their life,andhadlearntmuchfromit.Hehasseenwithhisowneyesnotoncebutanumberoftimes that theHoly Prophet was lying hungry in themasjid and his children alsowere hungry athome. (Ali'imun Nubuwwah, alMawardi, p.146, printed Egypt). Abuzar had also seen Ali ibn AbiTalibworkingonwageswearingcoarseclothes.HehadseenpatchesofdateleavesinthemantleofthedaughteroftheProphet.HehadalsoheardAliexhortingtohisAfricanmaidservantFizzah:"OFizzah!We, theAhlulBaythavenotbeencreated for theworldorworldlygains. Instead,wehavebeencreatedfortheworshipofAllahandthepropagationofAllah'smessage,Islam.Itisourdutytoboostupthemoralityofman,tokindlethelightoftheUnityofAllahintheheartsofthepeopleandtoprovidethewaysandmeansfortheirwell-being.AbuzarhadalsoseenthatAliatethedriedbarleybreadandkept thebagofhisbarley flour sealed so thatnobodycouldmixgheewith it. (AllamahKashifal-Ghita,TheShia-OriginandFaith,ISP1982).HehadalsoseenthatAliusedtotakebagsofflouronhisbacktothehousesofthepoorwidowsandorphans.HehadalsoseenAlisayingtotheworld."OWorld!Goanddeceiveothers.Ihavedivorcedyou".Hehadalsowitnessedwithhiseyesthat the progenyofMuhammadused to take food alongwith their servants and slaves at the same

dining-cloth.HerememberedwellthatoncewhenfourdirhamswereleftoveraftertheProphethaddistributed

themoneythatwaswithhimandthisamountcouldnotreachthedeservingperson,hefeltverymuchgrieved.HestillrecollectedthesewordsoftheProphetaddressedtohim,"OAbuzar!EvenifIhavegoldequaltotheMountUhudIdonotliketheleastofittobeleftoverwithme".UnderthesecircumstanceshowcoulditbepossibleforAbuzartoobservesilencewhenIslamwas

metamorphosed and the teachingsof theguardiansof Islamwerebeingneglected?As soon as theHoly Prophet died everythingwas changed. Injustice and tyrannywere rampant, forced allegiancewasdemanded,thehouseoftheAhlulBaytburnt,andthedoorwasfelleduponFatimah,thedaughteroftheHolyProphet,(al-MilalwanNahlvol.1,p.25printedinBombay).Aliwastiedbytheneckwitharopeandthegreatcompanionslivedintheseclusionoftheirhomes.

BeingforcedbycircumstancesAbuzarobservedpatienceforsome time.At lasthe leftMedinaforSyriaandsettledthere.AftersometimewhenhecamebacktoMedinahesawthatworldlinessoftherulerswasatitsheight.RoyalpompandshowhadtakentheplaceofthemoderatelifeobservedbytheHolyProphet.Favouritismandnepotismwere theorderof theday,andhonestyandpietywere thethings of the past. The wealth of the Public Treasury was being squandered away. The wealth ofMuslimswasbeingusedforpersonalneeds.EveryrelativeandwellwisheroftheCaliphhadbecomeamillionaire.Capitalismhadexpanded.Therewasanabundanceofwealth.Nobodybotheredaboutzakat.Nobodythoughtofhelpingthepoor.Nobodycaredfororphansandwidows.Seeing innumerable things of this kind, Abuzar tried to admonish the Caliph Uthman for the

protectionofIslamicummahandIslamicState,andadvisedhimasmuchashecould,buttheCaliphdidnotpayheedtohim.AtlastinviewofthepromisethathehadgiventotheHolyProphetandwiththat intensity of faith that Allah had preserved in his heart he came out on the scene and startedpublicizingtheshortcomingsofUthman.InthisconnectionhealsocensuredhoardingofwealthandcapitalismandinitiatedhisspeechwiththoseQur'anicverseswhichcriticizethehoardingofwealth.AsAbuzarcouldnottoleratethatthewealthofthepublicpropertybespentonlyupontheCaliph's

relatives, and the orphans and widows die of starvation, he accelerated his preaching, andconsequently he had to go from place to place.Hewas exiled again and again sometimes hewasbanishedfromMedinaandsent toSyriaandsometimeshewasforcedto leadhis life inadesertedplacelikeRabzah.Historians say that Abuzar delivered his speeches on specific topics, in the masjid, outside the

masjid, in the bazars, on the thoroughfares, on the streets, and at every place where he got anopportunitytodoso.HedidnotfearhisassassinationbecausetheProphetofAllahhadtoldhimthatnobodywouldbeabletokillhimorturnhimfromhisfaith,nordidhefearreproachesbecausehehadswornallegiancetotheHolyProphetonthispoint.Hewasdead-surethatwhateverhedidwasinconformity with the wish of Allah and His Prophet. That is why he was busy all the time indischarginghisdutywithgreatcourageandfervour.OnonesideAbuzar'spreachinggrewintensiveandontheothersideUthmanwasoutofhisbeat

withhis selfindicatingconscience in themirrorofhischaracter.HeconsultedMarwan toknowbywhich device Abuzar was to be silenced and how his criticism of Uthman's character, and his

oppositiontothehoardingofwealthcouldbestopped.Marwansaid,"Thereisonlyonedevicetoachievethatend,thatis,somemoneyshouldbesentto

Abuzar.Hemayperhapsaccept itandkeepquiet".Uthmanheard this replyofMarwanandbecamesilent.ThereasonofhissilencewasthatheknewAbuzar'snature.HeknewverywellthatAbuzarhadnogreed formoney.ButMarwan insisted andgot the permission.He called twomen, gave themapurseoftwohundreddinarsandsaid,"TakeittoAbuzaratnightandtellhimthatUthmanhadwishedhimwellandaskedhimtotakethepurseandspenditonhisneeds".ThosemencametoAbuzaratnightwiththepurse.Hewas,atthattime,busyofferingprayerinthe

masjid.PerhapshewasstayinginthemasjidoftheProphetatthattime,becauseUthmanhadforciblycalledhimfromSyriawhilehisfamilywasstillthere.LookingatthevisitorsAbuzaraskedthemwhotheywereandwhytheyhadcome?Presentingthe

pursetohimtheysaid,"CaliphUthmanhassentyouhisregardsandhasaskedyoutoacceptthesetwohundreddinarsforyourexpenses".(KashkolBahai).Abuzarsaid,"HashegivenanequalamounttoanyotherMuslimaswell?"Theyreplied,"No,to

noneelse.ThisistheCaliph'sgenerositytowardsyoualone.Pleaseacceptit".Abuzarsaid,"Iamalsoone of theMuslims.When the Caliph has not given anything to any otherMuslim I alone cannotacceptit.IdonotneeditwhentheotherpoorMuslimshavebeenignored.Go,takeitbackandtellhimthatonlyalittlewheatisenoughforme.Iamearningmylivelihood.WhatshouldIdowiththesedinars?" (AbuzarGhifari, p.126 andHayatulQulubvol. 2, p. 1039)Marwanhad formed anutterlywrongopinionofAbuzar.Hewasundertheimpressionthatjustasotherseekersoftheworlddidnotcareforfaithandbeliefforthesakeofwealth,Abuzarwouldalsodothesame.HedidnotknowthatAbuzarwasonamuchhigherlevelascomparedtotheseekersoftheworld.Anyway, thosewhohadbrought thepurseofgold toAbuzarwentback toUthmanand toldhim

whatAbuzar had said.Uthman said toMarwan, "I already knew thatAbuzarwould not accept themoney".Abuzar remainedbusypreachingasusual.Whateverhe saidwasnot inopposition to anyparticularperson.Rather,hewantedthepeoplenottoforgetAllahonaccountofhoardingofmoneybuttostrengthentheprinciplesofIslambysympathizingwiththepoor.AbuzarcouldnottoleratethewealthofthePublicTreasurybeingspentontheundeservingpersons

freelywhiletheneedystarved.HecouldnoteventoleratethetearingandburningoftheQur'an.Hecouldnothelpcriticizingthoseguiltyofsuchheinouscrimes.HehadthecommandsofAllahandHisProphetbeforehim.HehadtheprinciplesofIslaminview.HewantedtheMuslimrulerstotreadthepathofIslam.In short,onone sideAbuzarwasbusydischarginghisdutyofpreaching,andon theother side,

Uthmanwasanxioushowtogaghim.Toachieve thisendhe tried todeviseeverykindofplanbutcould not succeed. At last he ordered through a general proclamation, “Nobody should sit withAbuzar,nortalktohim".(al-Mas'udi)The order of the ruler had to be carried out unconditionally.As soon as this proclamationwas

made people gave up contact with him and ceased talking with him. People fled from whereverAbuzarpassedlest itshouldbereportedtotheCaliphthat theyhadmetAbuzar.Nobodylistenedto

him,norattendedtohim.ButwhatabravemanAbuzarwas.Henevercaredforthesethings.HewasconvincedthatwhateverhewasdoingwasinconsonancewiththeWillofAllah.Therefore,hewascompletelysatisfiedwithwhathewasdoingandnorestrictiononhisspeechcouldsucceed.Subaiti says that inspiteof theproclamationAbuzarcontinuedexhorting thepeopleasusual, so

muchso,thatinMedinathedescendantsofUmayyahwhowerethesupportersofUthman,gottiredofhimandcomplainedtoUthman,thatAbuzarhadnotgivenuphissermonsasyet.Hehastiredusout.ForAllah'ssakedevisesomeothermeans".HearingthisUthmanorderedAbuzartobepresentedinhiscourt.UnderordersfromUthmanpeoplecaughtAbuzarandbroughthimtothecourt.Uthmansaid,"O

Abuzar!Ihavewarnedyouineverywaybutyoudonottakemyadvice.Whathashappenedtoyou?"Abuzar replied,"Cursebeonyou,OUthman! Isyourmodeofconduct similar to thatof theHolyProphet,orsimilartothatofAbuBakrbinQuhafaandUmarbinKhattab?Youaredoingwithuswhatthetyrantsdo".Uthmansaid,"Idonotknowanything.Getoutofmycity".Abuzar:Ialsodonotwanttostaynearyou.Allright,tellmewhereshouldIgo?Uthman:Gowhereveryoulikebutbeofffromhere.Abuzar:MayIgotoSyria?Uthman:No, I havegotyoudragged from there.YouhavemadeSyriaoffendedwithme.Can I

sendyouthereagain?Abuzar:Then,MayIgotoIraq?Uthman:No,youwanttogowherepeoplecriticizetheirrulers.Abuzar:ShouldIgotoEgypt,then?Uthman:No.Abuzar:ShouldIgotoKufah?Uthman:No.Abuzar:WhereshouldIgothen?ShouldIgotoMecca?Uthmah:No.Abuzar:OUthman!YoustopmefromgoingtotheHouseofAllah!WhatdoesitmattertoyouifI

gothereandworshipAllahtilldeath?Uthman:No,byAllah,never.Abuzar:ThenyoushouldtellmewhereIshouldmoveaway.ShouldIgoouttotheforest?Uthman:No.Abuzar:ThenshouldIgobacktomypre-IslamicdaysandtakemyresidenceinNajd.Afteralltell

mesomeplacewhereIshouldgoto.Uthman:OAbuzar!Youshouldtellmewhichplaceyoulikemost.Abuzar:Medina,orMecca,or(accordingtoJahiz)Jerusalem.Uthman:Youcannotlivehereatanycost.Nowyoushouldtellmetheplaceyoudislikemost.Abuzar:Rabzah.Uthman:Well,IorderyoutoleaveforRabzah.HearingthisAbuzarsaid,AllahisGreat!TheHoly

Prophethadtrulysaidthatallthiswastohappen.Uthman:WhathadtheProphetsaid?Abuzar:HehadsaidthatIwouldbebanishedfromMedina,wouldbestoppedfromgoingtoMecca

andwouldbeforcedtotakemyresidenceattheworstplaceRabzahwhereIwoulddieandwouldbeburiedbyagroupofIraqisgoingtoHijaz

HearingthisCaliphUthman,accordingtoA'thamKufi,said"GetupandgotoRabzah.Staythereand do not go anywhere". According Dam'ah Sakibah vol. 1, p. 194, he was tortured with severeinjury.ThentheCaliphorderedMarwantosendhimtoRabzahonthebarebackofacamelwithoutasaddle,andtoannouncethatnobodyshouldgotoseehimoff.(MurujuzZahab-Mas'udi,vol.1,p.438,TarikhYa'qubi,vol.2,p.148,TabaqatIbnSa'd,vol.4,p.168.HayatulQulub,vol.2,p.1033.MajalisulMumininp.94,TarikhA'thamKufi,p.131,KitabalSufiyania,AbuUthmanJahiz.It cannot be denied that exile is tantamount to assassination.Thosewho are banished from their

homelandspreferassassinationtoexile.Eventsspeakforthemselvesthatthosewhowereturnedoutoftheirhomelandsalwaysweptbitterly.Patriotismisagiftofnature.Traditionshavecalleditapartoffaith.ProphetYusufusedtoweepforhishomelandsittingontheroyalthroneofEgypt.NottospeakofotherProphets,letusthinkofthelifeeventsofProphetMuhammad.Hewasforced

tomigrate fromMecca toMedina.ButwheneverherememberedMeccaorsawsomeinhabitantofthatcity,hiseyeswerefilledwithtears.Alas!Abuzarwasbeingdrivenoutofhishometown.ImaginehowhemusthavebeenfeelingespeciallywhenhewasleavingthetomboftheProphet.ButitcouldnotbehelpedbecausehewasforciblysentintoexileaccordingtotheestablishedpracticeofCaliphUthman,whoexpelledfromhishometowneverypersonwithwhomhegotoffended.AccordingtothehistorianTabariitwasthepracticeofUthmanthatheseparatedfromthepeopletheperson,withwhomhewasdispleasedandheusedtosaythatnopunishmentwasmoreseverethanthat.(TarikhutTabari,vol.4,p.527)OrdershadbeenissuedfortheexileofAbuzarandalsototheeffectthatnobodywastoaccompany

himortalktohim,orseehimofforvisithim.AbdullahibnAbbassaysthatwhenAbuzarwasturnedout ofMedina toRabzah itwas announced under orders fromUthman that nobodywas to talk toAbuzaror tocomeout inorder to seehimoff. (Saqifah,AhmadbinAbdulAziz Jauhari,MurujuzZahab,vol.1,p.438,SharhIbnAbilHadid).Thiswastheorderthatparalysedthepeopleandconfinedthemtotheirhouses.Nobodycouldhave

couragetocomeoutofhishousetoseeoffanesteemedcompanionoftheHolyProphetlikeAbuzarexceptImamAli,Hasan,Husayn,Aqil,AbdullahbinJa'far,AbdullahibnAbbasandMiqdadbinal-Aswad.ThoughthecompanionsoftheHolyProphetcouldnotspeakouttheirthoughtsagainstUthman's

orders forAbuzar's exile, yet they became extremely perturbed.Not only those companions,whowerepresentthere,gotperturbedbutalsothosewhowerenotinMedinabutwhoheardthenewsofhisbanishmentbecamerestless.Forexample,AbdullahibnMas'udwhowasinKufahandlikewisethepeople who belonged to his tribe became extremely agitated. Allamah Subaiti says that thecompanionsoftheProphetexpressedtheirindignationattheexileofAbuzartoRabzah.AccordingtoMustadrakofHakimwhenAbuDardaheardthenewsofhisbanishmentheexclaimed,"lnnalillahewainnaillaiheraji'un"(WeareforAllahandwewillreturntoHim).Herepeatedittentimes.When Abdullah ibn Mas'ud heard this news in Kufah he became restless and he addressed a

gatheringofpeople in themasjidofKufah,"Opeople!Haveyouheard thisverse?""Still,it isyouwhokillyourownpeople, turningsomeof themoutof theirhomes".Heobjectedto theCaliphbyrecitingthisverse.Walid,theGovernorofKufahreportedthisincidenttoCaliphUthman.TheCaliphwrotehimbacktosendIbnMas'udtohim.WhenAbdullahibnMas'udreachedMedinaUthmanwas

busydeliveringhis address.SeeinghimUthmanorderedhis slaveAswad tobeathim.Hedraggedhimoutof themasjidandthere throwinghimdownonthegroundhegavehimasoundthrashing,confinedhiminhishouseandstoppedhispensionforlife.(AbuzarGhifari,p.146,MusnadAhmadbinHanbal,vol.5,p197)Inshort,onUthman'sorderMarwanbroughtacamelwithouta.saddleandwasabouttosendhim

offwhensuddenlyAli,Hasan,Husayn,Aqil,Ammar,AbdullahibnJa'far,Miqdadbinal-AswadandAbdullahibnAbbascameoutandsaid,"OtheaccursedMarwan!Stop.Don'tseathimonthecamelyet.Wehavetosaygood-byetohim.Alisaid,“OAbuzar!Don'tworry.Peoplegotscaredofyoubecauseoftheirgreedfortheworld,

andyoudidnotfearthemonaccountofyourfaithtillthetimecamewhentheyexiledyou.Abuzar!Everykindoftroublecomestohimwhoispious,butrememberthatAllahdeviseswonderfulmeansofdeliveranceforthepious.Nothingcangiveyouofconsolationexceptthe“truth”.The“truth”willbeyour companion in loneliness. I know thatyoucanget alarmedonlybyuntruthand that cannotcomenearyou.”TThenImamAliaskedhissonstobidfarewelltotheiruncle.AfterhearingthisImamHasansaid,"OmydearestuncleAbuzar!MayAllahhavemercyonyou.

Weare seeingwhat is beingdone toyou.Ourhearts areburning.Don't beworried.Allah is yourguide and onlyHim you should have before you.O uncle!Have patience at this calamity till youreachmygrandfather,whileheishappywithyou".ThenImamHusaynsaid,"Omyuncle!YouneednotworryasAllahhaspowerovereverything.He

canremoveeverytroubleinwhichyouareinvolved.HisGloryiswonderful.Ouncle!Peoplehavemadeyourlifemiserable.Ofcourseyoudon'tcare.Lettheworldseparatefromyou,soonerorlater.IpraytoAllahforgivingyousupportandpatience.Ouncle!Nothingisbetterthanforbearance.HavetrustinAllah.Heisthedisposerofyouraffairs".Ammarsaidingreatanger,"MayAllahnotsympathizewithhimwhohasputyoutogreattrouble

andmayhenotgiveresttohim,whohasmadeyourestless.OAbuzar,byAllah,ifyouhadwelcomedtheworldoftheworld-seekers,theywouldnothaveturnedyouout,andifyouhadapprovedoftheirconduct,theywouldhavebefriendedyou.Whenyoustoodfirmtoyourfaith,theseekersoftheworldgrewwearyofyou.Don'tbeworriedasAllahiswithyou.Thesearetheunfortunateworldly-mindedpeople who sustain the greatest loss. Similarly, other people also spoke and consoled Abuzar indifferentwords.AfterhearingthesespeechesAbuzarburstintotearsandsaid,"OtheblessedmembersoftheHoly

Prophet'sFamily!WhenIsawyouIrememberedtheHolyProphetandblessingsurroundedme.Omyreveredones!Youalonewere themeansofsolace tome inMedina.Whenever I sawyouIgot thesatisfactionofmyheartandpeaceofmind.Omyelders!JustasIwasaburdentoUthmaninHijaz,IwastheburdentoMu'awiyahinSyria.HedidnotliketosendmetoBasrahorEgypt,becausehehashis fosterbrotherAbdullah ibnSarah as theGovernorofEgypt, and the sonofhismaternal aunt,Abdullahibn'AmirastheGovernorofBasrah.HehasnowsentmetoaplacewhichisadesertwhereIdonothaveanysupporterotherthanAllah.ByAllah,IknowAllahaloneismyhelperandforHimaloneIwillnotcareforanywilderness".

According toAllamahSubaiti, after thisAbuzar,whohadgrownoldandweak, raisedhishands

towardstheskyandsaid,"OAllah!BewitnessthatIamfriendoftheAhlulBaytandwillalwaysbetheirfriendforyoursakeaswellasforthesakeofthehereafter,evenifIamcuttopiecesinmyloveforthem".AfterthatAlisaid,"OAbuzar!MayAllahhavemercyonyou.Weverywellknowthatthecauseof

yourbeingdrivenfromplacetoplaceisonlyyourloveforus,thedescendantsoftheHolyProphet”AbuzarknewthatlovefortheAhlulBaytisthefoundationofIslam.AccordingtoJazairi,ImamJa'faral-SadiqhasquotedtheHolyProphetassaying:"Justaseverythinghasitsfoundation,thefoundationofIslamistheloveforus,theAhlulBayt(AnwarNo'maniah).Anyway, when these great personages returned to Medina after having seen off Abuzar

sorrowfully,Uthmangothighlydispleasedwiththem.A'thamKufi writes: "Abuzar started for Rabzah andAli and other companions came back. The

CaliphsentforAliandaskedhimwhyhehadgoneoutofMedinatobidfarewelltoAbuzarandwhyhehadtakenagroupofthecompanionswithhim,indefianceofhisorders.AliaskedhimifitwasincumbentuponhimtocarryouttheordersofUthmaneveniftheyconflictedwiththeobediencetoAllahandthetruth.He,then,sworebythenameofAllahthathewouldneverdoit".(TarikhA'thamKufi,p.131,printedDehli).AbuzarwaspassinghisdaysatRabzahinuttersolitudeandloneliness.Therewasnobodytolook

afterhimtootoinquireabouthiscondition.Hehadnomeansofsolace.Hadhisfamilybeenwithhimhewouldnothavefelthislonelinesssopainful.TheywerestillinSyriaandAbuzarwasdrivenoutofSyriatoMedinaandthenbanishedtoRabzah.AbdulHamid Jaudatus Siharwrites thatwhenMu'awiyah came to know thatUthman had exiled

Abuzarhesenthiswife(withothers)toRabzah.WhenAbuzar'swifecameoutofherhouseshehadonly a bag with her. Mu'awiyah said to the people, "Look at the belongings of the preacher ofausterity".AtthisAbuzar'swifesaid,"Itcontainsafewcoinsandnotdirhamsordinarsandthosetoo,onlytosufficefortheexpenses".WhenthewifereachedRabzahshesawthatAbuzarhadconstructedamasjidthere.VarioushistorianshavementionedtheconstructionofamasjidbyAbuzaratRabzah.Wefindits

mention in thebooksofTabari, IbnAthirandIbnKhaldun. In theArabiccopyofTabari there isasentence that “Abuzar had drawn a line of a masjid" there and at that place he used to offer hisprayers, justas todayalsopeoplecollect someearth ina jungleandname itamasjid. Itwasnotapropermasjid,norwasitpossibleforhimtoconstructamasjidliketheoneoftoday.AccordingtoAbdulHamidduringthedaysofHajjwhenpeoplepassedthroughRabzahtheyofferedprayersinthemasjidofAbuzar.Thismeansthat,thatwasnotapopulatedplace.Iftherehadbeenapopulationthereitwouldhavebeenmentionedinsomebookofhistorythatthepeopleofthatplaceofferedprayersinthatmasjid,justasamentionisfoundofthepilgrimsofferingtheirprayersinit.AllamahSubaitiwritesthatAbuzarwasinastateoflonelinessandwaspassinghisdaysinsucha

condition atRabzah that no human being could be seen there, except an occasionalwayfarerwhosometimespassedthatway.Therewasnotaplacewherehecouldtakerefuge.Therewasatreeunder

whichhe lived.Therewasnoarrangement forhis food.Therewerepoisonousgrassesallaround,andtheycausedhisandhiswife'sdeath".(Abuzaral-Ghifari,p.165,printedNajaf,1364A.H.)After that the author adds that the reason to send Abuzar to such a place was only to stop his

speeches,sothatnobodycouldhearhim,sincehehadacharminhistongue.Wheneverhespoke,hespokethetruth,whichshookthefoundationsofthegovernment.In short, Abuzar was leading his life at Rabzah with his family in extremely straitened

circumstances.Therewasnosympathizerthere.Butthosehonestmenwhohadlovedandreverenceforhimintheirheartsusedtogotoseehim.AccordingtothehistorianWaqidi,AbulAswadDuaylisays:"IwishedwithallmyhearttovisitAbuzarandaskhimwhyhewasturnedout.Therefore,IwenttohimatRabzahandaskedhimifhehadcomeoutofMedinaofhisownfreewillorhehadbeenforciblyexpelled."Hesaid,"Brother!HowdoitellyouthatwhenIwassenttoSyriaIthoughtthatIhadgone toaplacewhichwasan importantplaceof theMuslims. Iwashappy therebut IwasnotallowedtostaythereandwascalledbacktoMedina.WhenIreachedthereIconsoledmyselfwiththeideathatwastheplacetowhichIhadmigratedandwhereIhadreceivedthehonorofcompanionshipoftheHolyProphet.But,alas,IwasturnedoutofthatplacealsoandnowIamwhereyousee".Afterthathesaid,"OAbulAswad!Listentome.IwassleepingintheProphet'smasjidoneday.BychancetheHolyProphetcamein.Hewokemeupandsaid,"OAbuzar!Whyareyousleepinginthemasjid?"Abuzar:ThesleepoverwhelmedmeandsuddenlyIwenttosleep.TheProphet:Tellmewhatyouwilldowhenyouareturnedoutofthismasjid?Abuzar:IwillgotoSyriathen,becausesignsofIslamarefoundthere.ItisalsoaplaceofJihad.TheProphet:Whatwillyoudowhenyouareturnedoutofthatplacealso?Abuzar:Iwilldrawmyswordatthattimeandwillbeheadthemanwhoturnsmeout.TheProphet:Igiveafarbetteradvicetoyou.Abuzar:Whatisthatadvice?TheProphet:Youshouldletyourselfbedraggedwhenyouaredragged,andthatyoushouldaccept

whatistoldtoyou,andshouldnotfight.OAbulAswad!AccordingtotheProphet'sadviceIlistenedtothemandacceptedwhattheysaid.I

stilllistentothemtoacceptwhattheysay.ByAllah,HewilltakerevengeonUthmanforwhathehasdonetomeandhewillbeprovedtheworstsinnerinmycasewhenhereachesinthecourtofAllah".(SharhIbnAbilHadid,vol.1,p.241,MurujuzZahabMus'udi,vol.1,p.238,TarikhYa'qubi,vol.2,p.148,MustadrakHakim,vol.3,p.343,HulyahAbuNa'im,vol.1,p.162,TabaqatulKubraIbnSa'd,vol.1,p.166,MusnadAhmad,vol.5,p.156andp.180,SunanAbiDaud,vol.2,p.282,FatahulBari,vol.3,p.213,UmdatulQariSharhSahihBukhari,vol.4,p.291)ThenarratorsofthisauthentictraditionarehighlyreliableandtrustworthyaswrittenbyAllamah

Aminiinhisbook"alGhadir".SomebodyaskedAbuzarduringhisstayatRabzah,"OAbuzar!Doyouhaveanywealth?"Hesaid,

"Mywealthismydeeds".Healsosaid,"BywealthImeanthewordlywealthandIwanttoknowifyouhave anywordlywealth or not".Abuzar said, "I never spent a day or a nightwith treasure or thewordlywealthwithme.IhaveheardfromtheHolyProphetthatthetreasureofmanishisgravei.e.

thewealthoftheworldisnothing,buttheconductofmanmustbegood,becausethiswillbeofuseatevery place especially in the grave. The wealth of the world remains in the world, and the goodconductbenefitsyouintheHereafter".(HayatulQulub,vol.2,p.1046)Allamah Majlisi quoting Shaykh Mufid narrates from Abu Amamah Bahili that Abuzar after

reachingRabzahwrotehistragicexperiencestoHuzayfahbinal-Yaman,thecompanionoftheHolyProphetwhowasprobablyatKufah.Inthatletterhehasgivensomepiecesofadviceanddescribedhistroublesandhardships.Hewrites:InthenameofAllah,theBeneficent,theMercifulMydearHuzayfah,IwritetoyoutofearAllahinsuchawaythatyourcryingexceedslimits.Obrother!Renouncethe

worldforthesakeofAllah.KeepyourselfawakethewholenightintheworshipofAllah,andgiveyourbodyandsoul tohardship in thewayofAllah.Theseare theusefulpractices.Obrother! It isnecessaryforaman,whoknowsthatthepersonwithwhomAllahisdispleasedwillhavetoremaininHell;toturnawayfromtheworldlycomforts,keepawakeallthenightforHimandsufferhardshipinthewayofAllah.Obrother! It is essential for theman,whoknows that thepleasureofAllah is amessage to live in Heaven, to try constantly to seekHis pleasure in order to get deliverance andsuccess.Obrother!OneshouldnotmindtheseparationofhisfamilyforthepleasureofAllah.OnlythepleasureofAllahisthesecurityofHeaven.IfAllahispleasedallouraffairswillbeaccomplishedandtheHereafterwillbeagreeable.But,ifAllahisdispleaseditisdifficultforustohaveahappyend.Omybrother!Aperson,whowishestobeinthecompanyoftheProphetsandsaintsintheHeaven,shouldmouldhislifeasIhavedone,andshouldactuponwhatIhavementionedabove.O Huzayfah! You are one of those people to whom I feel pleasure to tell of my pains and

sufferings.InfactIconsolemyselfbytellingyouwhatbefallsorhasbefallenme.OHuzayfah!Ihaveseenthetyrannyofthetyrantswithmyowneyes,andhaveheardtheiroffensivewordswithmyownears. Hence, I was compelled to expressmy views on those disgusting talks and to tell them thatwhatever was being done was absolutely wrong. I did accordingly, and consequently those unjustpeople deprivedme of every kind of privilege.They expelledme from city to city and drovemefromplacetoplaceandtheyseparatedmefrommybrothersandkinsmen.OHuzayfah!TheywreakedhavocuponmeandworstofalltheydeprivedmeevenfromvisitingtheshrineoftheProphet.OHuzayfah! Iamputtingbeforeyoumysufferings,but Iamafraid lest thisexpressionofmine

should turn into a complaint againstAllah.Huzayfah! I admit thatwhatever decisionmyLord andCreatortakesinmycaseisright.IbowmyheadbeforeHiscommand.MaymylifebesacrificedinHisway.IamdesirousofHispleasure.IamwritingallthistoyousothatyoumaypraytoAllahformeaswellasforthedevotedMuslims.Peacebeonyou".

AbuzarIt is not knownhowAbuzar sent this letter toHuzayfah bin al-Yamin.WhenHuzayfah read this

letter his eyes were filled with tears. He recalled the traditions of the Holy Prophet concerningAbuzar.WhatmovedhimmostwasAbuzar'sexileandloneliness.Hepickedupthepenwithextremeanguishandwroteareplytothisletter.

InthenameofAllah,theBeneficent,theMerciful.MydearAbuzar,Ireceivedyourletterandcametoknowyouraffairs.YouhavescaredmeofmyreturnontheDay

of Judgment and have persuadedme to do certain things, for the improvement and betterment ofmyself.Obrother!YouhavealwaysbeenawellwisherofmineaswellasofalltheMuslimsandhavebeen

sympatheticandkindtoall.Youwerealwaysanxiousforthewelfareofall.Youalwaysshowedthepeoplethepathofvirtueandforbadethemtodotheevil.Ofcourse,guidanceistheexclusiverightofAllah.HegivesdeliverancetowhomHelikesanddeliverancedependsuponHispleasure.IpraytoAllah for His general forgiveness and widespread blessing for myself, for the chosen and thecommonmenandforall thepeopleof thisummahIhavecometoknowof thosesurprisingfacts,which you have mentioned in your letter, that is, your banishment from your hometown, yourabandonment in a strange landwithout friends and supporters, andyour havingbeen thrownawayfromyourhouse.OAbuzar!Thenewsofyoursufferingshasbrokenmyheartintopiecesandthesufferingsthatyou

are experiencing at themoment are extremely saddening. But, I am sorry to say that I cannot doanythingfromhere.WouldthatIhadpurchasedyourcalamitiesforallmymoney.ByAllah,haditbeenpossibleIwouldhavesacrificedallthatIhaveforyou.OAbuzar!Alas!YouareintroublesandI cannotdo anything.ByAllah if it hadbeenpossible forme to shareyour troubles Iwouldhavecertainlydoneit.HowpainfulitisthatIcannotmeetyou.Itisdifficulttoreachyou.IfthesecruelpeoplemakemeequalpartnerwithyouinyourtroublesI

amwillingtotakeuponmyselfyourhardships.But,alas,itcannotbethisway.OAbuzar!Donotbeworried.Allahisyoursupporter.Heisseeingallthesematters.Brother!Itis

necessaryforbothofus,youandI,toinvokeAllahandrequestHimforthebestowalofgoodrewardandfordeliverancefrompunishmentforus.OBrother!ThetimeisapproachingnearwhenyouandIwillbecalledinthepresenceofAllahandshallbeleavingsoon.Obrother!Donotbeworriedatthetroublesyouhavebeenfacinganddonotbealarmed.Prayto

Allahtograntyouitsrecompense.Obrother!Iconsiderdeathisfarbetterforusthantolivehere.Nowitisnecessaryforustoleave

this transientworld, because soon disturbanceswill come in succession one after the other. Thesedisturbanceswillgoonmountingandwillcrushupthevirtuouspeopleoftheworld.Swordswillbeunsheathed in thesedisturbancesanddeathwillsurroundmenfromallsides.Whosoever raiseshishead in these disturbances will certainly be killed. No tribe of all the tribes of the towns and thedesertsofArabiawillremainunaffected.Atthattimethecruellestwillbeconsideredthemostreveredone,andthemostpiousonewillbelookeddownupon.MayAllahsaveusfromtheevilsofthattime.OAbuzar, I pray for you all the time.MayAllahkeepusunderHismercy andprotect us from

haughtinessinworship.Heisagreatdisposerofouraffairs.WealwaysexpectHisgenerosity.

Peacebeuponyou".Huzayfah(Shifa'usSudur,Abuzaral-Ghifarip.105Al-FusulbyMurtazaAlamulHuda).ScholarssaythatAbuzarwasspendinghisdayswithhisfamilyatRabzahwhensuddenlyhisson

Zarfellsick.TherewasnophysicianinthatdesertedplacetoapproachfortreatmentexcepttrustinAllah.Atlastthediseaseaggravatedtillthetimeofhisdeathapproached.Thedistressedmothertookuphishead from the sandandput itonherknee.The sonbreathedhis last.Themotherand sisterstarted bewailing, Abuzar was deeply shocked but his trust in Allah consoled him. He controlledhimselfanddidn'tweep.Asitwasadeserttherewerenoarrangementsforfuneral.HistorydoesnottellusatthispointhowAbuzarburiedhisson,butitisknownfromanauthenticsourcewhathedidafter burial andhowhe expressed his feelings inwords.MuhaddithYa'qubKulayniwrites: "WhenAbuzar's son Zar diedAbuzar put his hand on Zar's grave and said, "Omy son!MayAllah havemercyonyou.Youwere avery able sonofmine.Youhavediedwhile I amhappywithyou.Youshouldknowthat,byAllah,IdidnotsufferanylossbyyourdeathandIdonotneedanybodyexceptAllah.Oson!IftherehadbeennoconsiderationforthehorrorafterdeathIwouldhavebeenhappytowishtoreplaceyouinthegrave.Butnowtomymourningyourdeathhaskeptyouoffmourning(forme).ByAllah,Ididnotweeponyourdeathbutwhatyouhavesufferedmakesmeweep.WouldthatIhad knownwhatwas asked of you andwhat you said in reply.OAllah! I have excusedmy rightswhich he owed tome.Omynourisher! I pray you to excusewhatever rights he owed to you.MyLord!YouaremoreforgivingthanI".(UsululKafi)ShaykhAbbasQummiwritesinhisbook'SafinatulBihar'(vol.1p.483)thatthewordsutteredby

AbuzaronthegraveofhissonZarwerealsoutteredbyImamJa'farSadiq(a)onthegraveofhissonIsma'il.Abuzar had not yet forgotten the death of his young son when his wife also left him forever.

AccordingtoAllamahAbdulHamidAbuzarandhisfamilymemberswerepassingtheirdaysinsuchaconditionthat theyhadnoproperarrangementforfoodexcept that theygota littlepieceofmeatnowandthenoutofthecamelslaughteredforthegovernmentofficials.(Tabari,vol.5,p.67).Theygenerally used to eat grass or other such things in those days. One day Abuzar's wife ate somepoisonous grass bywhich she contracted a fatal disease anddied. (HayatulQulub, vol. 2, p. 1049)Abuzaralsofellsick.After thedeathofhiswifeAbuzar feltmore lonely.Hehadonlyadaughterwithhim.When the

peopleresidingaroundRabzahcametoknowofAbuzar'ssicknesssomeof themcametoseehim.AccordingtothestatementofAbuzar'sdaughtertheysaidtohim."OAbuzar!Whatareyousufferingfromandwhatdoyoucomplainof?"Abuzarreplied,"Ihavecomplaintagainstmysins".Theysaid,"Doyoudesiresomething?"Hesaid,"YesIdesiretohaveAllah'smercy".Theysaid,"Ifyoulikewecancallaphysician”.Hesaid,“Allahis theAbsolutePhysician.ThediseasesaswellastheremedyareinHispower.Idon'tstandinneedofaphysician".(HayatulQulub).Hewascertainofhisdeath.Majlisi, on the authority of Sayyid IbnTaus, quotesMu'awiyah bin Tha'labah as saying: "When

Abuzar'sconditiondeterioratedatRabzahandwegot its informationweleftMedinaforRabzahto

see him.After inquiring about his conditionwe desired him tomake hiswill.He said that he hadexpressedhiswill,whateveritwas,beforetheCommanderoftheFaithful.Weasked,"BytheCommanderoftheFaithfuldoyoumeanCaliphUthman?"Hesaid,"Never!By

theCommanderof theFaithful ismeantonewho is the rightfulCommanderof theFaithful.O IbnTha'labah!Listen tome!AbuTurab, (TheFatherof theEarth)Ali ishewho is theblossomof theearth.Heisadivinescholarofthisummah.Listen!Youwillseemanyabominablethingsintheworldafterhisdeath'.Isaid,"OAbuzar!WeseethatyoumakefriendswiththosewhomtheHolyProphetloved".NowwewanttosaysomethingabouttheplaceRabzahwhereAbuzarwasconfinedandhewasnot

allowedtogooutofitsbounds.ScholarsandhistoriansagreethatRabzahissituatedatadistanceofthreemilesfromMedinanear

Zate Araq on the way to Hijaz and at that time it was not more than desolate wilderness. ShaykhMuhammad'Abdohwritesinthefootnoteonpage17ofvol.2,ofNahjulBalaghahthatRabzahisaplacenearMedinawherethegraveofAbuzarlies.IbnAbilHadidsaysthatAbuzar'sexiletoRabzahwasoneofthecausesthatledtotherevoltoftheMuslimsagainstUthman.ThereisnodoubtthatAbuzarachievedthehighestrankoffaithfulness.Hekeptinviewtillthelast

moments of his life that he had promised to the Prophet to speak the truth and not to mind anyreproachforthesakeoftruth.ShahWalyullahDehlaviwritesthatitwasthepracticeoftheProphetthathetookoathofallegianceofdifferentkindsfromdifferentpeoplei.e.togoonJihad,torenounceinnovation,toestablishtheIslamiclaws,andtospeakthetruth.(Shifa'ul'alil)TheoaththathehadtakenfromAbuzarwasthatofspeakingthetruth.Abuzaractedaccordingto

theoathofallegianceafterfullyknowingitsimplications,andwhyshouldhehavenotactedso,whenhe had the conviction, which admitted of no doubt, that whatever he was doing was in absoluteconformitywith theWill ofAllah and the intentionsof theHolyProphet. (FutuhatulMakkiyah IbnArabi,chapter269).Inthisrespecthenevercaredforthemightinessofthegovernmentnorwashescared of his getting into troubles.He tolerated every kind of oppression and bore every kind ofdiscomfortbutdidnotstopfromspeakingthetruth,tillhewastwicesentintoexile.Hislastexilewaswithoutaparallel.Helayconfinedinadesolatedesert.Tosaynothingofahouseforshelter,hehadtostayunderthe

shadeofatree,withoutanyarrangementforfoodandwithoutaplacetoreside,restorsleepin.Butwith his lofty courage and determination Abuzar bore with cheerfulness all the hardships for thepleasureofAllah.Hiswifeandyoungsonhavingdied, the timehadnowapproachedwhenhewaswaitingforhisowndepartureinthatdesolateplacewithhisonlyyoungdaughterwithhim.Alas!The last dayofAbuzar's life approached in that desolate place.Hewas inprayers andhis

daughterwasrestlessandanxiousinviewofherfather'sconditionandapproachingend.Therewasnoman,notevenananimal insight.Themomentwasnearfor theangelofdeath tocome,for thehumanitytocry,andforthedaughtertobedeprivedofherfatherslove.Shehadnotonlyseenbutwasstillobservingthehelplessnessofherfatherforwhoseloveshebecameemotionalagainandagain.We here reproduce the tragic story of Abuzar's death as related by his daughter, in the light ofMajlisi'swriting.Shesays:

"Wewerepassingourdayswithuntoldsufferingsinthewilderness.Itsohappenedonedaythatwe

couldnotgetanythingtoeat.Wekeptonsearchingroundthejunglebutcouldnotfindanything.Myailing father said to me, "Daughter! Why are you so much worried today?" I said, "Dad! I amextremelyhungryandweaknesshasovertakenyoualsoonaccountofintensehunger.IhavetriedmyutmosttogetsomethingtoeatbutcouldnotfindanythingsothatImightfeelhonoredbeforeyou".Abuzar said, "Do not beworried.Allah is the great disposer of our affairs". I said, "Dad!This iscorrectbutthereisnothinginsightforthefulfillmentofourneeds.Hesaid,"Daughter!Holdmebytheshoulderand takeme tosuchandsuchdirection.Perhapswemayfindsomething there". Iheldhimbythehandandstartedinthedirectionhehadaskedmetogo.Onthewaymyfatheraskedmetomakehimsitontheground.Iseatedhimonthehotsand.Hegatheredsomesandandlaydownwithhisheaduponit.As soon as he laydownon theground, his eyes began to revolve andhegot into the agonyof

death.SeeingthisIstartedcryinghoarsely.Thenkeepingcontroloverhimselfhesaid,"Whydoyoucry,daughter?"Isaid,“WhatelseshallIdo,thenfather?”Itisadesertandnotasinglemanisseenhere. I donothavea shroud foryouandalso there isnogravediggerhere.Whatwill I do if youbreatheyourlastinthisdesolateplace?Heweptatmyhelplessnessandsaid,"Mydaughter!Don'tbeworried.Thatfriendofmineinwhose

love and inwhose children's love I tolerated all these hardships had informedme of this event inadvance.Listen!Omydeardaughter!HehadtoldbeforeagroupofhiscompanionsontheoccasionoftheBattleofTabukthatoneofthemwoulddieinadesertandapartyofcompanionswouldgoforhis funeral and burial.Now, none of them is alive exceptme.All of them have died in populatedplaces.Only I am left over and also in adesolatewilderness. I havenever seen such adesert landwhereIamlyingintheagonyofdeath.Mysweetdaughter!WhenIdiecovermewithmycloak,andsitdownonthewayleadingtoIraq.Apartyofbelieverswillpassbythatway.TellthemthatAbuzar,thecompanionoftheProphet,hasbreathedhislast.Hencepleasearrangehisburial".Hewastalkingtomewhentheangelofdeathlookedathisface.Whenmyfatherlookedathimhis

faceflushedandhesaid,"Otheangelofdeath!Wherehaveyoubeenuptilnow?Ihavebeenwaitingforyou.Omyfriend!Youhavecomeinthehourofmygreatneed.Otheangelofdeath!Maythatman,whoisnothappytoseeyounevergetdeliverance.ForAllah'ssaketakemesoontothemostMercifulAllahsothatImayberelievedofthehardshipsoftheworld”.Afterthat,headdressedAllahandsaid,"OmyNourisher!IswearbyYourBeing,andYouknow

thatIspeakthetruththatIneverabominateddeathandalwayswishedtomeetYou”.Afterthatthesweatofdeathappearedontheforeheadofmyfatherandlookingatmeheturnedhis

faceawayfromtheworldforever.WeareforAllahandtoHimweshallreturn”.ThedaughterofAbuzarcontinued,"WhenmyfatherdiedIrancryingtothatpathwhichledtoIraq.

Iwassittingtherewaitingforthecomingparty.Suddenlyitoccurredtomethatthedeadbodyofmyfatherwaslyingalone.SoIranuptothedeadbody.AgainIcamebacktothesideofthepathlestthepartyshouldpassbyandImightnotinformit.ThusIcameandwentseveraltimes.Nowsuddenly I sawsomepeoplecomingoncamels.When theydrewnear Iwent towards them

withtearsinmyeyesandsaidtothem,"OcompanionsoftheProphet!AcompanionoftheProphethasdied”.Theyaskedmewhohewas.Ireplied,"Myfather,AbuzarGhifari".Assoonastheyheardittheygotdownfromthecamelsandaccompaniedmeweeping.Whenthey

reached theplace theycriedandwereverymuchshockedathis saddemiseandbusied themselveswithhisfuneralrites.ThehistorianA'thamKufistatesthatthepartywhichwasgoingtoIraqcomprisedAhnafbinQays

Tamim,Sa'sa'ah binSauhan al 'Abdi,Kharijah binSalatTamimi,Abdullah ibnMuslimahTamimi,HilalbinMalikNazle,JarirbinAbdullahBajali,MalikbinAshtarbinHarithetc.ThesepeopleatoncewashedAbuzarandarrangedforhisshrouding.AftertheburialMalikbinAshtarstandingbythesideofthegravedeliveredaspeechthatreferredtoAbuzar'saffairsandasupplicationabouthim.AfterthepraiseoftheAlmightyAllahhesaid:“O Allah! Abuzar was a companion of Your Prophet and a believer in Your Books and Your

Prophets.He fought very bravely inYourway, remained steadfast toYour Islamic laws and neverchangedordistortedanyofYourcommands"."OmyLord!Seeing some contraventions of theBook and the tradition he raised his voice and

drewtheattentionofthoseresponsiblefortheummahtowardsmakingimprovements,asaresultofwhich they tortured him, drove him from place to place, humiliated him, turned him out of thecountryofyourdearProphetandputhimtoextremehardships.Atlasthebreathedhislastinastateofutterlonelinessinadesertedplace".“OAllah!GrantAbuzarabigportionof thoseheavenlyblessingswhichYouhavepromisedfor

thebelieversandtakerevengeononewhohasbanishedhimfromMedinaandgivehimfulldeservedpunishment".MalikAshtarprayed forAbuzar inhis speechandall thosewhowerepresent theresaid"Amin"

{Mayitbeso).Anyway,whentheyhadfinishedwiththefuneralceremonies,itwaseveningandtheystayedthere

overnight.Theysetoffthenextmorning".(TarikhKamil,vol.3,IzalatulKhulfavol.1,TarikhTabari,vol.4)AfterAbuzar'sburialthesepeopleleftRabzahbuthisdaughterstayedthereaccordingtohiswill.AftersomedaysCaliphUthmancalledherandsentherhome.(TarikhTabarivol.4p.527)Abuzar'sdaughterwashoweverstillnearherfather'sgraveatRabzahwithamindtostaytherefor

afewdaysmorewhenonenightshesawAbuzarinherdreamsittingandrecitingtheHolyQur'an.She said, "Dad!What happened to you, and towhat extent have you been blessed by theMercifulAllah?"He said, "Omydaughter!Allahhasbestowedonme limitless favour, hasgivenmeeverycomfortandgrantedmeeverything.IamveryhappywithHisgenerosity.ItisyourdutytobebusyintheworshipofAllahasusual,andnottoletanykindofprideandhaughtinesscometoyou".(HayatulQulub,vol.2).Scholarsandhistoriansareunanimousthathediedon8thZilhajjah,32A.H.atRabzah.Hisageat

thetimeofhisdeathwaseighty-fiveyears.

Havingsufferedcontinuousoppressions,constanttorturesandhardshipsofthesuccessiveexilesatthehandsoftheworldly-mindedmen,AbuzarleftthistransientworldatRabzah,butthestoryofhisloveforAllahisstilllivingandwilllastforever.Historyisrepletewithexamples,truthfulnessandhisstraightforwardandhonestspeechesareresoundingintheheartsofthebelievers.Heisstillalivethroughhischaracterevenafterhisdeath;andhewillremainimmortalthroughtheprinciplesheheldsodear.TheworldknowsthathediedinthewayofAllah.Hesufferedtroublesandhardshipsinsupportof

truthandinestablishingandpropagatingtheprinciplesofIslamintheIslamicState.Butit isapitythat the tyrant does not repent of his tyranny.We reproduce this incident here in the word of thetranslator of the "History" written byMuhammad bin Ali bin A'thamKufi, a historian of the 3rdcenturyhijri.Hewrites:"When thenewsofAbuzar'sdeath reachedUthman,AmmarbinYasirwaspresent there.Ammar

said,"MayAllahhaveHisMercyuponAbuzar.Allah!Bearwitnessthatweprayformercyforhimwithallourheartandsoul.OAllah!forgivehim".AssoonastheCaliphheardithelosthistemperandsaid,"Ofool!"Youwillmeetthesamefate.

Listentome!Idon'tfeelashamedonaccountoftheexileofAbuzarandhisdeathinthewilderness".Ammarsaid,"ByAllah,thiswillnotbemyend".Hearing this, theCaliphorderedhiscourtiers,“Pushhimout,banishhimfromMedinaandsend

himtothesameplacewhereAbuzarhadbeensent.Lethimalsoleadthesamelifeanddon'tlethimcometoMedinaaslongasIamalive".Ammarsaid,"ByAllah!Ipreferthevicinityofwolvesanddogstomystaynearyou”.Afterthatherosefromthereandcamebacktohishouse.When the Caliph decided to send Ammar to Rabzah and the news reached the tribe of Bani

Makhzumtheyflewintoarage.TheysaidamongthemselvesthatUthmanhadcrossedtheboundsofdecency.Afterthattheyheldacouncilandthoughtthatitwouldbebetterifbeforetakinganystepthismatterissettledbycompromise.WiththisaiminviewtheycametoAli.Aliaskedthem,“Whyhaveallofyoucomeatthistime?"Theysaid,"Aseriousproblemisfacingus;theCaliphhasdecidedtobanishAmmar fromMedina to Rabzah. Be kind enough to go to theCaliph and persuade him insuitable words to leave Ammar alone and not to banish him from the city otherwise such adisturbancewillstiraswouldhardlybequelled".ImamAlilistenedtothem,consoledthemandaskedthemnottomakehaste.Hetoldthem,"I'llgo

totheCaliphandwilltrytosettlethematter.Iamsureitwillbesettledamicably.Iamfullyconsciousofthesituation.I'llbringhimroundtoyourviewpoint.AfterthisAliwenttoCaliphUthmanandsaid,"OUthman!Youaretoohastyinsomemattersand

ignorethesuggestionsoffriendsandadvisors.OnceyouturnedAbuzaroutofMedina.HewasaveryvirtuousMuslim,adignifiedcompanionoftheProphetofAllahandthebestofimmigrants.YousenthimtoRabzahwherethepoorfellowdiedinsolitude.Onaccountofthisincident,theMuslimshaveturnedallthemoreagainstyou.NowIhearthatyouhavedecidedtobanishAmmaraswellfromthecity.Thisisnotagoodthing.HavefearofAllahanddesistfrombanishingAmmarfromMedina.ForAllah'ssakedon'tgivesuchtroublestothecompanionsoftheProphetandletthemliveinpeace".

Hearing this Uthman angrily said to Ali. "You should be the first to be banished from the citybecause it is youwho are ruiningAmmar and others".Hearing these indecentwordsAli said, "OUthman!Howdareyouthinklikethisaboutme?Youwillnotbeabletodoitevenifyouwishit,andifyoudoubtmywordsjusttry.Thenyouwillrealizetheactualstateofaffairsandwillcometoknowwhom you are facing. And now you say that I am ruining Ammar and others. By Allah all thisdisorder is from your side. I don't see any fault with them. You are committing such acts as areagainst thereligionanddecency.Peoplecannot tolerate them,andare turningagainstyou,andyoucannottoleratethesethings.Youfeeloffendedwitheveryoneandthenyoucausethemtrouble.Thisattitudeisfarfromthewaysoftheelders".Afterthatherosefromthereandwentout.WhenthepeopleofBaniMakkzumcametoAli,toknowwhattheCaliphhadtoldhimintheircase,

Ali said, "TellAmmar to remain indoors and not to come out.Allahwill save him from the evildesigns.TheCaliphalsocame toknowof thisconversation throughsomebodyandhegaveup theideaofexilingAmmar.3030TheGreatCompanionoftheProphet:AbuDharr

8ChapterCURSINGOFIMAMALIFROMTHEPULPITSDURINGJUMA'H

Mu'awiya and 'AmrAswere companions and yet they fought against the successor of theHoly

Prophet and cursed and abusedAli at publicmeetings and even in the addresses given after Jum'a(Friday)prayers.Theydidsodespite the fact,as reportedbyprominentulemaof theSunni sect intheirauthenticbooks,thattheHolyProphethadrepeatedlysaid,"HewhoabusesorcursesAli,abusesme.Hewhoabusesme,abusesAllah."ThelearnedTaftazanihaselaboratelydealtwiththistopicinhisSharheMaqasid.Hewritesthatsincethecompanionswereinimicaltooneanother,someofthemhad deviated from the right path. Some of them, on account of envy and worldly aspirations,perpetrated all kinds of cruelty. It is evident that most of the companions who were not ma'sum(infallible)committedheinousacts.Butsomeulemabecausetheyfavoredthem,havetriedtocoveruptheirfaults.InreferencetobothAliandFatima,theHolyProphetsaidthattheirtroublewashisowntrouble.

The Holy Prophet said: "He who troubles these two troubles me, and the one who troubles metroublesAllah."ItisalsowritteninalltheauthenticbooksthattheHolyProphetsaid,"HewhorevilesAlirevilesme,whorevilesmerevilesAllah."MuhammadBinYusufGanjiShafi'i,inhisKifayatu'tTalib,ch.10,narratesadetailedhadithonthe

authorityofIbnAbbas,whotoldasectionoftheSyrians,whowerecursingAlithathehadheardtheHolyProphetsayingaboutAli:"Hewhoabusesyouabusesme,andhewhoabusesmeabusesAllah,andhewhoabusesAllahwillbethrownstraightintoHell."Afterthishadithhequotesmanyotherhadithfromauthenticsourcesallofwhichprovethatthose

whoabuseAliareinfidels.Chapter10ofhisbookisentitled:"ConcerningtheInfidelityofOneWhoAbusesAli"AlsoHakiminhisMustadrak,vol.III,p.121,hasquotedthissamehadith.Soaccordingtoallthesehadith,thosewhocurseAli,curseAllahandhisProphet.Allofthem(likeMu'awiya,theBaniUmayya,theNasibi's,theKharijis)arethemselvescursed.AmongthemanyclearproofsthatMu'awiyawasaninfidelanddeserveddamnationwashispublic

rejectionoftheCommanderoftheFaithfulandhisorderingthepeopletoreciteimprecationsagainsttheHolyImamintheirqunuts(supplicationindailyprayers).BothSunni’sandweacknowledgethisfact.Eventhehistoriansofothernationshaverecordedthat thisvilepracticewasopenlypursuedand

that many people were put to death because they did not utter the curses. This outrage wasdiscontinuedbytheUmayyaCaliph,UmarbinAbdu'l-Aziz.

Obviously,onewhocursesthebrotheroftheHolyProphet,thehusbandofFatima,theCommanderoftheFaithful,AliBinAbiTalib,andwhoordersotherstodoitisdefinitelydamned.ThisfacthasbeenrecordedbyalltheSunniulemaintheirauthenticbooks.Forinstance,ImamAhmadBinHanbalinhisMusnad, ImamAbuAbdu'r-RahmanNisa'i in hisKhasa'isu'lAlawi, ImamTha'labi and ImamFakhru'd-in Razi in their Tafsir (commentary), Ibn Abi'l-Hadid in his Sharh-e-Nahju'l-Balagha,MuhammadBinYusufGanjiShafi'iinhisKifayatu't-Talib,SibtIbnJauziinhisTadhkira,SulaymanBalkhiHanafiinYanabiu'lMawadda,MirSeyyedAliHamadaniinhisMawaddatu'l-Qurba,DailamiinhisFirdaus,MuslimBinHajjajinhisSahih,MuhammadBinTalhaShafi'iinhisMatalibu's-Su'ul,IbnSabbagh Maliki in his Fusulu'l-Muhimma, Hakim in his Mustadrak, Khatib Khawarizmi in hisManaqib,AbrahamHamwainiinhisFara'id,IbnMaghaziliShafi'iinhisManaqib,Imamu'l-haraminhis Dhakha'iru'l-Uquba, Ibn Hajar in his Sawa'iq, and other prominent ulema have, in slightlydifferentwords, reported that theHolyProphet said: "Onewho revilesAli, really revilesme;whorevilesme,reallyrevilesAllah."DailamiinhisFirdaus,SulaymanHanafiinYanabiu'lMawaddahavereportedthattheHolyProphet

said:"Onewhogivespain toAli, reallygivespain tome,and thecurseofAllah isuponhimwhocausespaintome."IbnHajarMakkiinhisSawa'iqnarratesahadithconcerningtheconsequencetoonewhocursesagainstanyoftheprogenyoftheHolyProphet.HereportsthattheHolyProphetsaid:"IfanyonecursesmyAhleBait,thereisnothingforhimbutexclusionfromIslam.IfanyoneinjuresmeconcerningmyAhleBait,mayAllah'scursebeuponhim."ThereforeMu'awiyawascertainlycursed.AsreportedbyIbnAthirinhisKamil,Mu'awiyausedto

curseAli,thegrandsonsoftheHolyProphet,HasanandHusainandalsoAbbasandMalikAshtarinthequnutofhisdailyprayers.ImamAhmadIbnHanbalreportsinhisMusnadfromanumberofsourcesthattheHolyProphetof

Allahsaid:"IfanyoneinjuresAliheshallbetreatedasaJeworChristianontheDayofJudgment."CertainlyyoumustknowthatitisoneofthetenetsofIslamthattocallAllahandtheHolyProphet

by illnames leads to infidelity.MuhammadBinGanjiShafi'i inhisKifayatu'tTalib,partX, reportsthatonceAbdullah IbnAbbasandSa'id Ibn Jabir sawon thebrinkofZamzamagroupofSyriansrailingatAli.Theywenttothemandsaid:"WhoamongyouwasabusingtheHolyProphetofAllah?"Theyreplied:"NoneofuswasabusingtheHolyProphetofAllah."Thentheysaid:"Well,whoamongyouwas abusingAli?"They said: "Yes,wehavebeen abusingAli."ThenAbdullah andSa'id said:"YoushouldbearwitnessthatweheardtheHolyProphetsayingtoAli, 'Onewhoabusesyoureallyabusesme; onewho abusesme, really abusesAllah. If someone abusesAllah,Hewill throw himheadlongintothefireofHell."3131PeshawarNightsM.Shibli,thedeanofIndia'sSunnihistoriansofIslam,writesinhisfamousbiographyofProphet

Muhammad,Sira-tunNabi,volumeI,4thprinting,publishedbytheMaarifPrintingPress,Azamgarh,U.P.,India,in1976:"Amongallthoseextraneousforceswhichaffectandinfluencethewritingofhistory,noneismore

powerfulthanthegovernment.ButitwillalwaysbeasourceofpridefortheMuslimsthattheirpenwasneversubduedbythesword.WorkonthecompilationandcollationofHadithwasbeguninthe

timesoftheBanuUmayya.Forfull90years,fromSindinIndia(Indo-Pakistan)toAsiaMinorandAndalusia inSpain,Aliand thechildrenofFatimawerecursedfromeverypulpit ineverymosqueaftereveryFridaysermon.Thousandsandthousandsofhadith(traditions;statementsoftheProphet)glorifyingMuawiya,weremanufactured,andwereput intocirculation. In the timesof theAbbasis,hadithwere invented foretelling thebirthand theexcellenceofeach (Abbasi)khalifabyname.Butwhatwastheresultofallthisstupendouseffort?Thetraditionalists(thecollectorsofthestatementsofthe Prophet) declared publicly at the same time (during the caliphates of the Umayyads and theAbbasis) that all thesehadithwere spurious, and they rejected them.For thecompilationofhadith,Muawiyahadgiventhefollowingorders:1.AllthetraditionsoftheProphetinpraiseofAliorupholdinghissuperiorityinanyway,should

besuppressed.2.AnymannarratingthevirtuesofAliorquotingthehadithoftheProphetinthisregard,would

dosoathisownrisk.Hissubsidiesandstipendswouldbewithheldfromhim.Hishouseandotherpropertywouldbeconfiscated.Histestimonyasawitnesswouldnotbeacceptedinthecourts,andhewouldbeostracizedbyotherMuslims.3.Ontheotherhand,everyconceivablevirtueshouldbeattributedtoAbuBakr,Umar,Uthman,and

ofcourse,toMuawiyahimself.Peopleshouldbeencouragedtomakeup"hadith"oftheProphetinpraiseofthesefourmenandtheirfriends.Whoeverinventssuchhadith,wouldbecomeafavoriteattheroyalcourt,andwouldreceiverichrewardsinrankorcashorestatesetc.Concurrentlywiththefoundingofhis"cottageindustry"formanufacturing"hadith"oftheProphet,

Muawiya also set up a "brain laundry" for the Muslims. He instituted the practice of cursing &denouncingthememoryofAliandhischildrenfromthepulpitineverymosqueinhisempiresothatthe Muslim children were born, they grew up, and they died hearing curses upon Ali, and notknowing who he was. Whole generations lived and died in ignorance. Falsehoods were put intocirculationbythegovernmentonascalesovastthattheybecamethestapleoftheirlives.Muawiyaandhissuccessorskepttheir"brainlaundries"justasbusyastheir"cottageindustry."Muawiyamobilized everymeans forwaging propagandawar againstAli and theBanuHashim.

Themomentumoftheblitzhelaunchedagainstthem,haslasteddowntoourowntimes.Hewagedhiswarfromthemosques.Theprayer-leadersinthemwerepaidtoputweirdandfantasticinterpretationsupontheversesofQur'aninanattempttoshowAliatadisadvantage.Theytriedtoconvincetherank-and-fileMuslimsthatitwouldbeintheirinterest"inbothworlds"iftheysupportedMuawiyaagainstAliandtheBanuHashim.Incumbents have the advantage of themedia and educational arms of the state, and they control

throughsubsidiesthereligiousestablishmentitself.(IslamandDevelopment,p.16,1980)Itmustnowbeclear tothereaderthat thehistoryofIslamwaswrittenunderthedirectionof the

partythatheldalltheinstrumentsofpowerinitshands.Itmustalsobeobvioustohimthatmuchofthehistoricalmaterialwas"laundered"atthe"brainlaundries"establishedbyMuawiyabeforeitgotintohishands.Muawiyawasamostconsummatemasteroftheartofpropaganda.Thefulleffectsofpropaganda

have not yet become plain, yet it is already obvious that whole nations can be indoctrinated withwrongopinions and evilmoral standards.Few, if any,minds are strong enough to resist the ideasconstantlyprojectedatthem.(TheCourseofEmpire-TheArabsandTheirSuccessors,1965)IfanyhadithoftheProphetofIslamwascomplimentarytoAli,Muawiyaplaceditsnarrationunder

proscription.This proscriptionwasnot liftedwhenhedied in 680. Itwas not lifted evenwhenhisdynasty,theUmayyads,perishedin750,anditwasnotliftedeventhroughthelongcenturiesofthecaliphateoftheAbbasis.TheAbbasisexterminatedtheUmayyadsbuttheysharedwiththemtheiranimositytoAliandtothe

children of Muhammad. In this matter, the aims and interests of the governments of Saqifa, theUmayyads,andtheAbbasisconverged;therewasideologicalcompatibilityamongthemall.TheUmayyads and the Abbasis did their utmost to suppress the facts of history.Many of their

khalifashadforbidden their subjects tosayor towriteanythingaboutAliexcept falsehoods.Truthwasunderasiegeandfalsehoodwasrampantintheirdominions.Andyet,Truthasserteditself.“Truth has (now) arrived, and falsehood perished: For falsehood is (by its nature) bound to

perish.”(Qur'an.Chapter17;verse81)Truestatementswerevolunteeredbysourceswhich,inmostcases,wereinimicaltoAli.Evenhis

most rabidenemies like theUmayyadsand theKharjis,conceded thesublimityofhischaracter.Asnoted before,M. Shibli, the Indian historian, pointed out that the ShiaMuslims did not write anyhistory.Whateverhistorywehave,has, therefore,comedown tous from thenon-Shiaor theanti-Shiasources.IthascomedowntousfromthearchivesofthegovernmentsofSaqifa,theUmayyadsandtheAbbasis.ThestoryofthegloriousdeedsofAliibnAbiTalib,liketheradianceofTruthitself,hasfilteredoutofthosearchives.Muslim,inhisSahih,wroteinachapterentitled,"ThevirtuesofAliibnAbiTalib",thefollowing:Muawiahorderedhisgovernorseverywheretotakethecurse[ofAliibnAbiTalib]astradition,andthatallthespeakersmustincludeitintheirspeeches.Whensomeofthe Companions protested very strongly against such a rule, Muawiah ordered their killing andburning.AmongthefamousCompanionswhowerekilledattheorderofMuawiahwereHijribnAdial-Kindiandhisfollowers,becausetheyprotestedandrefusedtocurseAli,andsomeofthemwereburiedalive.Abual-Aalaal-Mawdudiwroteinhisbook"CaliphateandKingdom":Abual-Hasanal-Basrisaid:Muawiahhadfourfeatures,andifhehadonlyoneofthem,itwould

havebeenconsideredagreatsin:1.MakingdecisionswithoutconsultingtheCompanions,whowerethelightofvirtues.2.Designatinghissonashissuccessor.Hissonwasadrunkard,corruptandworesilk.3. He claimed Ziyad [as his son], and theMessenger ofAllah said, "There is offspring for the

honorablewoman,butthereisnothingforthewhore."4.His killing ofHijr and his followers.Woe unto him fromHijr and the followers ofHijr. (al

KhilafahwaalMulk,SyedAbulA'laMaududi,p106)

Therewere some goodCompanionswho used to dash out of themosque immediately after theprayerssothattheydidnothavetolistentothespeechesthatalwaysendedwiththecursingofAli.ForthatreasontheUmayyadschangedthetraditionoftheMessengerofAllah.Theyputthespeechbefore the prayers, so that people listened to it against theirwill.What kind ofCompanionswerethesepeople!TheywerenotafraidofchangingthetraditionoftheMessengerofAllah,oreventhelawsofAllah,inordertoreachtheirwickedandlowobjectivesandtosatisfytheirsinisterdesires.TheycursedamanwhomAllahhadkeptcleansedandpurified,andmadeitobligatoryforpeopletopray for him in the same way as they prayed for His Messenger. Furthermore, Allah and HisMessengermade it obligatory for people to love him, and the Prophet (saw) said, "LovingAli isbelieving,andhatinghimishypocrisy"(Sahih,Muslim,vol1p61)Iaskedal-Sayyidal-SadraboutImamAliandwhytheytestifyforhimin theAdhan[thecall for

prayers]thatheis"WaliyAllah"[thefriendofAllah].Heansweredmeinthefollowingway:The Commander of the Believers, Ali, may Allah's blessings be upon him, was one of those

servantsofAllahwhomHechoseandhonoredbygiving them the responsibilitiesof theMessageafter His Prophet. These servants are the trustees of the Prophet (saw), since each Prophet has atrustee,andAliibnAbiTalibisthetrusteeofMuhammad(saw).We favour him above all the Companions of the Prophet (saw) because Allah and the Prophet

favoured him, and we have many proofs of that, some of them are deduced through logicalreasoning,othersare found in theQur'anandal-Sunnah [theTraditionof theProphetMuhammad(saw)],andtheseproofscannotbesuspect,becausetheyhavebeenscrutinized,andprovenright,byourownlearnedpeople(whowrotemanybooksaboutthesubject)andthoseoftheSunniMadhahibs.TheUmayyadregimeworkedveryhardtocoverthistruthandfoughtImamAliandhissons,whomthey killed. They even ordered people, sometimes by force, to curse him, so his followers -mayAllahblessthemallstartedtotestifyforhimasbeingthefriendofAllah.NoMuslimwouldcursethefriendofAllah indefianceof theoppressiveauthorities, so that theglorywas toAllah,and toHisMessengerand toall thebelievers. Italsobecameanhistorical landmarkacross thegenerationssothat theyknowthe justcauseofAliand thewrongdoingofhisenemies.Thus,our learnedpeoplecontinued to testify that Ali is the friend of Allah in their calls to prayer, as something that iscommendable. There are many commendable things in the religious rites as well as in ordinarymundane dealings, and theMuslimwill be rewarded for doing them, but not punished for leavingthemaside.Forexample,itiscommendablefortheMuslimtosayafteralShahadah[i.e.totestifythatthereisnoGodbutAllah,andthatMuhammad(saw)isHismessenger]:AndIwilltestifythatHeavenistrueandHellistrue,andthatAllahwillresurrectpeoplefromtheirgraves.MuawiyahadmadeitcompulsorytocurseAliandAhlal-Bayt.Thiscontinuedforsixtyyearsuntil

UmaribnAbdulAzizstoppedit.SomehistoriansinformusthattheUmayyadsthemselvesplottedtokill Umar ibnAbdul Aziz, and hewas one of them, because he killed the Sunnah, whichwas thecursingofAliibnAbiTalib.3232ThenIWasGuidedbyDr.MuhammadTijani

9ChapterTHEBATTLEOFJAMAL(THECAMEL)

The one who researches 'A'isha's position against 'Ali, the Commander of the Faithful finds a

strange,surprisingthing.Thereisnoexplanationforitexceptherenvyandenmitytothehouseholdof the Prophet.History has recorded her incomparable hatred andmalice towards Imam 'Ali. Shereachedthepointwhereshewasnotevenable toutterhisname,notable tostandthesightofhim.When she heard that the people had paid allegiance to him for the Caliphate after the murder of'Uthman,shesaid:"Iwishedthattheskieshadbecomeliketheearthbefore'Alihadattainedit".Sheexerted every effort into causing problems for him, leading troops against him towage awar ofinsurrection,andwhenthenewsofhisdeathreachedher,sheprostratedinthankstoAllah.Likeme,areyounot surprisedat theahlal-sunnawa'lJama'awho report in theirSahihs that the

ProphetofAllah(S.A.W.)said:"O'Ali!nonebutatruebelieverlovesyou,andnonebutahypocritehatesyou".ThentheyalsoreportintheirSahihs,Musnadsandhistorybooksthat'A'ishahatedImam'Ali somuch that shecouldnotmentionhisname. Is thisnota testimony from themregarding thenatureofthewoman?Justasal-BukharihasreportedinhisSahihthattheProphetofAllah(S.A.W.)said:"Fatimaisapartofme.Whoeverangersherangersme,andwhoeverangersmeangersAllah".Thenal-BukharihimselfrelatesthatFatimadiedwhilstshewasangrywithAbuBakr,notspeakingtohimtothetimeshedied.Arethesetraditionsnot[enough]testimonyfromthemthatAllahandHisProphetarebothangryat

AbuBakr?This iswhatall intelligentpeopleunderstand. I alwayssay, therefore, that the truthwillsurface, no matter howmuch the falsifiers try to hide it, no matter howmuch the helpers of theUmayyads try tomisrepresentand fabricate it.For theproofofAllah is evidentuponHis servantsfromthedayoftherevelationoftheQur'anuntilthefinalhour[ofreckoning].PraisebetoAllah,theLordofalltheworlds.Imam Ahmad reports that Abu Bakr once came to the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.), and sought

permissiontoenter.Beforehewentin,heheard'A'isha'svoiceraised,sayingtotheProphet(P):"ByAllah!Isurelyknowthat'Aliisdearertoyouthanmeandmyfather",sherepeatedthistwiceorthreetimes". 'A'isha's hatred for Imam 'Aliwas somuch that she always tried to distance him from theProphet (P) whenever she could find the means to do so. The Mu'tazili Ibn Abi al-Hadid, in hiscommentary on the Nahj al-Balagha said the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) beckoned to 'Ali to comeclose.Hecamecloseuntilhesatbetweenhimand'A'isha,andheandtheProphet(S.A.W.)wereclungtogether. She said to him: "Can you not find a seat for this one except [on] my thigh?" He alsonarratedthatonedaytheProphetofAllah(S.A.W.)waswalkingwithImam'Aliandtheconversationbecameprolonged.'A'ishaapproachedasshewaswalkingfrombehinduntilshecamebetweenthemsaying: "What is it between you two that you are taking so long?"Upon this theProphet ofAllah(S.A.W.)becameangry.

ItisalsoreportedthatsheoncecameupontheProphet(S.A.W.)whilsthewasconversingquietly

with'Ali.Shescreamedandsaid:"Whatisitwithyouandme,OsonofAbuTalib?Ihave[just]onedaywiththeProphetofAllah(P)".ThereupontheProphet(P)becameangry.How often did she anger the Prophet (S.A.W.)with her conduct,which arose due to her intense

jealousyandfuriousnatureandheroffensivewords?WouldtheProphet(S.A.W.)bepleasedwithanybelievingmanorwomanwhoseheartwasfilledwithhatredandmalicetowardshiscousin,theleaderofhisprogeny,heofwhomhesaid:"HelovesAllahandHisProphet,andAllahandHisProphetlovehim?"Healsosaidabouthim:"Whoeverloves 'Alihaslovedme,andwhoeverhates 'Alihashatedme".Allah,GlorybetoHim,orderedthewivesoftheProphet(S.A.W.)toremainintheirhousesandnot

to go out from them, displaying their ornaments. He also ordered them to read the Qur'an, toundertaketheprayer,topayzakatandtoobeyAllahandHisApostle(P).AllthewivesoftheProphetofAllah (S.A.W.)obeyed the injunctionsofAllah,and thecommandsofHisProphet,who forbadeandwarned thembefore he died: "Which one of youwill ride the camel andhave the dogs of al-Haw'abbarkather?"Allofthem[obeyed]withtheexceptionof'A'isha.Shedisobeyedallhisordersandscoffedatallthewarnings.HistoriansrelatethatHafsabint'Umarwantedtogowithher(forthebattleoftheCamel),buther

brother, 'Abd Allah reproached her and recited the [afore mentioned] verse to her. Hafsa thencancelledherplans. 'A'isha,however,rodethecamelandthedogsofal-Haw'abbarkedather.TahaHusaynsays inhisbook"TheGreatSedition"(al-Fitnaal-Kubra):"Onherroute, 'A'ishapassedbysomewaterandsomedogsbarkedather.Sheaskedaboutthewaterandwastoldthatitwasal-Haw'ab.Shewasgreatlyshockedandsaid:"Takemeback!Takemeback!IhaveheardtheProphetofAllah(S.A.W.)sayingwhilehewaswithhiswives:'Whichoneofyouwillthedogsofal-Haw'abbarkat'"?'AbdAllahb.Zubayrcame,havingbeeninstructedtopacifyher,bringingfiftymenfromtheBanu'Amirwhofalselysworethatthewaterwasnotthatofal-Haw'ab".I believe that this narration was fabricated during the time of the BanuUmayyad to reduce the

severity ofA'isha's disobedience, thinking thatA'ishawould be exonerated after her nephew, 'AbdAllahb.al-Zubayr,deceivedher,comingwithfiftymenwhosworebyGodandgavefalsetestimonythatthewaterwasnotthatofal-Haw'ab.Itistrulyafoolishjoke;theywantedtodelude,throughsuchreports,thoseofshallowperceptionandtoconvincethemthat'A'ishawasfooledbecause,whenshepassedthewaterandheardthebarkingofthedogs,andenquiredaboutthewater,itwassaidthattheywereatal-Haw'ab.She was distressed and said: "Take me back! Take me back". Do the people who forged this

narrationsearchforanexcusefor'A'isha'sdisobedienceoftheorderofAllah,andwhatwasrevealedintheQur'anregardingtheincumbencyforhertostayinherhouse?Ordotheyseekforanexcuseforherdisobedience to theorderof theProphetofAllah(S.A.W.) tostaywithinherhouseand theprohibition of riding a camel before arriving at the well of al-Haw'ab, the watering place of thebarkingdogs?DotheyfindanexcuseforA'isha,aftersherejectedtheadviceofUmmSalama?Historians have recorded the incident in which she said to her: "Do you remember the day the

ProphetofAllah(S.A.W.)proceededandwewerewithhimandheturnedleftfrom[aplacecalled]

Qadidandsatalonewith'Aliandwhisperedtohimforalongtime?Youwantedtoforceyourselfonthem;Itriedtopreventyou,butyoudisobeyedmeandintruded.Itwasn'tlongbeforeyoureturnedintears. I asked: 'What happened to you?' And you replied: 'I approached them and they were inconversation,soIsaidtoAli:'IgetwiththeProphetofAllahonedayoutofnine,socanyounot,OsonofAbuTalib,leavemewithhimonmyday?'TheMessengerofAllahcametowardsmeandhewasredwithanger,andsaid: 'Goback!ByAllah,noneexcept thosewhohaveabandonedfaithcanhatehim'.Ireturnedrepentantandsad'".'A'ishasaid:"Yes,Irememberthat".UmmSalamacontinued:"IwillalsoremindyoutoothatyouandIwerewiththeProphetofAllahandhesaidtous:'Whichoneofyouwillbetheriderofthetrainedcamel,atwhomthedogsofHaw'abwillbark,andshewillhavedeviated from the rightpath?'Wesaid: 'Weseek refuge fromAllahandHisProphet from that'.Hetouchedyourbackandsaid: 'Don'tbe thatone,OHumayra'". 'A'ishasaid:"I remember that".UmmSalamasaid:"Doyounot remember thatdaywhenyourfathercamewith 'Umar,soweputonourveils.Theycameinandspokeaboutwhattheywantedto,untiltheysaid:'OProphetofAllah(sawa)wedonotknowhowlongyouwillbewithus.IfonlyyouweretotelluswhowillsucceedyouasCaliphoverus,sothattherewillbeafteryouaplacewecanturnto'.Hesaidtothem:'Asforme,Ihave seen his position [infront of you].Were I to do this, you would all fall into disunity as theIsraelitesdispersedfromAaron'.Theyremainedquietandleft.Aftertheyhaddeparted,wecameouttotheProphetofAllahandyousaidtohim,asyouweremoreforthcomingwithhimthanallofus:'OMessenger ofAllahwho did you appoint asCaliph over them?'He said: 'Thewearer of the

mendedshoe'.Wewentoutandwesawitwas'Ali.Yousaid:'OProphetofAllah,Idonotseeanyoneapartfrom'Ali'.Hereplied:'Heistheone'".'A'ishasaid:"Yes,Irememberthat".UmmSalamasaidtoher:"Sothen,'A'isha,howcanyougoaheadafterthis"?Shereplied:"Iventureforthtoreconcilethepeople".UmmSalama sought to prevent her from the uprising, using strongwords, saying: "ThepillarsofIslam,iftheylean,arenotseterectbywomen;andiftheycrack,arenotjoinedbywomen.The praiseworthy things for women are lowering their gazes and protecting their chastity. Whatwouldyousay if theMessengerofAllah (S.A.W.)appearedbeforeyou inoneof thesedesertsandfindsyoudrivingyourcamelfromonewateringplacetoanother?ByAllah,ifIweretoembarkuponthisjourneyofyours,thenitwassaidtome:'Enterparadise'IwouldbeashamedtofaceMuhammadafterhavingthrownofftheveilshehasplaceduponme".Just as 'A'isha did not accept the advice of many sincere companions, al-Tabari in his history

relatedthat:"Jariyab.Quddamaal-Sa'disaidtoher:'Omotherofthebelievers,byAllah,themurderof'Uthmanislessdespicablethanyougoingoutonthisaccursedcamelfromyourhouseandbearingarms.Allahhasimposedonyoutheveilandsanctity.Youhavedestroyedyourcoveranddefiledyourrespect.Surely,whoeverseesyouruprisingseesyourdestruction.Ifyoucometousobeying,thengobacktoyourhouse.Ifyouhavecometousincoercion,thenseekthehelpofthepeople'".Historians have recorded that she was the general leader, supervising, separating [people] and

issuingcommands.EvenwhenZubayrandTalhaarguedastowhoshouldleadtheprayer,andwhenbothof themwanted to lead, 'A'isha intervened and removed themboth andordered 'AbdAllahb.Zubayr,hernephew,toleadthepeopleinprayer.Shewoulddispatchmessengerswithletterswhichshesenttoseveralregions,requestingtheirassistanceagainst'Alib.AbiTalibandurgingthemwiththejahilizeal(thedaysofignorance).SheevenrecruitedtwentythousandormorerabbleandgreedyArabstofightanddeposetheCommanderoftheFaithful.Herurgingresultedinzealousdiscord,wherelargenumbersofpeoplewerekilledinthenameof

defending and aiding themother of the believers.The historians say thatwhen the companions of'A'isha came to 'Uthmanb.Hanif, the governor ofBasra, they tookhim alongwith seventy of hisofficerswhowere inchargeof thepublic treasuryasprisoners.Theybrought themto 'A'ishawhoorderedthattheybeputtodeath.Theywereslaughteredassheepareslaughtered.Itis[even]reportedtherewere400meninallandthattheywerethefirstMuslimswhoseheadswerecutoffwhilsttheywerepatient.Al-Sha'bi reportedfromMuslimb.AbiBakrafromhis father:"WhenTalhaandZubayr reached

Basra,IputonmyswordasIwantedtohelpthem.Ivisited'A'isha,shewasordering,prohibiting;shewasincommand.IrememberedahadithfromtheProphetofAllah(P)whichIusedtohearhimsay:'A community which has its affairs administered by a woman will never succeed'. I [therefore]withdrewfromthemandleftthem".Al-Bukharihas reported fromAbiBakra: "Allahbenefitedmebyawordduring thedaysof the

[battleofthe]Camel.ForwhentheProphet(S.A.W.)heardthatthePersianshadmadethedaughterofChosroestheirQueen,hesaid:'Thepeoplethathavetheiraffairsadministeredbyawomanwillneversucceed'".Oneofthethingsthatmakesuslaughandweepatonetimeisthat'A'ishawentoutofherresidence

indisobediencetoAllahandHisProphetandthenorderedthecompanionstoremainintheirhouses.Thisissurelyastrangething.How,dearLord,couldthisoccur?TheMu'taziliIbnAbi'l-Hadid,inthecommentaryontheNahjal-Balagha,reported,alongwithhistorians,that'A'ishasentaletterwhenshewas inBasra toZaydb.Sawhanal-'Abdi inwhichshesaid tohim:"From 'A'isha,daughterofAbuBakr,thetruthfulone,wifeoftheProphet.Toherdevotedson,Zaydb.Sawhan.RemainathomeandmakethepeopleabandonthesonofAbuTalib.IhopetohearwhatIwouldlovefromyou,sinceyouarethemosttrustworthyofmyfamily…Wasalaam".This righteousman replied to her thus: "From Zayd b. Sawhan to 'A'isha bint Abi Bakr: Allah

issuedacommandmenttoyouandHealsoissuedacommandmenttous.Heorderedyoutoremaininyourresidence,andHeorderedustofight.YourletterhascometomeinstructingmetodocontrarytowhatAllahhasorderedmetodo,[Youhaveaskedme]todowhatAllahhasorderedyoutodoandthat you do what Allah has askedme to do. Your order to me is [something] that I cannot obey,thereforethereisnoreply[necessary]toyourletter".Fromthis,itbecomescleartousthat'A'ishawasnotcontentwithleadingthearmyoftheCamel,

but rather, she craved for absolute control over the believers in all the corners of the land. In allmatters, she would command Talha and alZubayr, who had been nominated for the Caliphate by'Umar.Duetothis,shemadeitlawfulforherselftocorrespondwiththechiefsofthetribesandwiththe

governors,enticingthemandseekingtheirhelp.Duetothis,sheattainedthestatusandfameamongtheBanuUmayyads,tothepointwhereshebecamethesourceofreverenceforallofthem,and[shebecame one] whose power and rebuke they all feared. If the heroes and men, famous for theircourage,abandonandfleefromthelinesofbattle[when]facing'Alib.AbiTalibandwouldnotstandinfrontofhim,shestood,inciting,screamingandarousing[thepeople].Themindisperplexedatallofthis,thehistoriansarebewildered,fortheyknewherstanceinthe

smallerbattleoftheCamelbeforethearrivalofImam'Ali,andinthegreaterbattleoftheCamelafterthe arrival of Imam 'Ali. [Theyall know that] he summonedher to thebookofAllah and that sherefused,obstinatelyinsistingonthebattle.Thereisnoexplanation[forthis],unlessweunderstandthedepth and extent of the envy and hatred that A'isha felt towards the Prophets progeny, who weredevotedtoAllahandhisMessenger.TheProphet(S.A.W.)sensedthedepthanddangeroftheschemesthatrevolvedaroundhimfrom

allsides.Nodoubtheknewtheinfluenceanddiscordwomencouldgenerateonthemen,ashealsoknewthattheirplotwasgreatenoughtoalmostmovemountains.Heknewspecificallythathiswife,'A'isha, was the instigator of the dangerous role because of the hatred and rancour that she felttowardshissuccessor 'Aliinparticularandhisfamilyingeneral.Howcouldhenotknow,whenhelivedobservingherroleandherenmitytowardsthem?Hesometimesgotangry;sometimeshisfacewouldchangecolourandhewouldtrytoplacateheratalltimes,informingherthatonewholoved'AlilovedAllah,andtheonewhohated'Aliwasahypocrite,whomAllahhated.Unfortunatelythosehadithsdonotpermeatethedepthofthosesoulswhichneveracceptthetruthtobetrue,unlessitbeforher('A'isha's)benefit,andtheydonotrecognizeanythingtobecorrectunlessitcomesfromher.As a result, theProphet ofAllah (S.A.W.)waspatientwhenhe realized that shewas the test that

Allahhadsenttotheumma,toexamineitasHehadtestedthepreviousnations."Dothepeoplethinkthattheywillbeleftalonewhentheysay:'Webelieve'andtheywillnotbetested"(29:2)?TheProphetofAllah(S.A.W.)warnedtheummaagainstheronseveraloccasions.Heevenstood

onedayandpointedtowardsherhousesaying:"Fromthereisthemischief,fromthereisthemischieffromwhere the horns of the devilwill rise".Al-Bukhari has reported in his Sahih, in "TheBookConcerningtheHousesoftheWivesoftheProphet(S.A.W.)",ontheauthorityofNafi'b.'AbdAllahwhosaid:"TheProphet(S.A.W.)stoodup,addressing[thepeople]andpointedtowardstheresidenceof'A'ishaandsaidthreetimes:'Fromthereismischieffromwherethehornsofthedevilwillarise'".MuslimhasalsorelatedinhisSahihfromIkrimab.'AmmarfromSalimfromIbn'Umarwhosaid:

"TheProphetofAllah(S.A.W.)emergedfromthehouseof'A'ishaandsaid:'Thepivotofdisbeliefisfromhere,wherethehornsofSatanwillrise'".Thereisnoneedtopayattentiontotheadditionstheyhavemade[tothehadith]bytheirexplanation:"Thatmeanstheeast".ThisisclearlyafabricationtodilutetheaccusationagainstA'ishaandtoremoveanyaccusationagainsther.Al-Bukharialsoreported:"WhenTalha,al-Zubayrand'A'ishatravelledtoBasra,'Alisent'Ammar

b.Yasirandal-Hasanb.'AliwhometusinKufa.Theyascendedthepulpit,withalHasanascendingtothe topwhile 'AmmarwasstandingbelowalHasan.Wegathered towardshim. Iheard 'Ammarsay:''A'ishahasjourneyedtoBasraand,byAllah,sheisthewifeofyourProphet(S.A.W.)inthislifeandinthehereafter;butAllah,themostblessedandexalted,isnowtestingyou[tosee]whomyouobey,Himorher'".AllahistheGreatest.ThishadithalsoindicatesthatobediencetoherisdisobediencetoAllah,and

toopposeanddisobeyheristoobeyAllah.Wecanalsonoteinthehadith,thattheUmayyadnarratorshaveaddedthephrase"andthehereafter"whensaying"SheisthewifeofyourProphetinthislifeandthehereafter"sothattheymayleadthemassesintothinkingthatAllahhasforgivenhereverysinshecommitted, and allowedher to enterHisheaven, andherhusband isHisbelovedProphet ofAllah(S.A.W.).Otherwise,howdid'Ammarknowthatshewillbehiswifeinthehereafter?Thisisanother

trick that the falsifiersofhadithnarrators resorted toduring the timeof theBanuUmayyad.Whentheyfoundthatahadithwaswidespreadamongstthepeople,andtherewasnowaytodenyorrefuteit,theydecidedtoaddaparagraphorwords,ortochangesomephrasessoastodampentheimpact[ofthehadith]orto[makeit]loseitsintendedmeaning.Justastheydidwiththehadith:"Iamthecityofknowledge and 'Ali is its gate", they added: "andAbu Bakr is its foundation, 'Umar its walls and'Uthmanitsroof".This[trick]isnothiddentotheobjectiveresearcherswhorefutetheseadditionsthat,mostofthe

time, indicate the lack of intelligence of the falsifiers and their lack of wisdom and light of theProphetic traditions. For they can observe the saying that Abu Bakr is it's foundation means theknowledge of the Prophet (P) is derived from the knowledge of Abu Bakr, and this is disbelief.Likewise, thestatement 'Umar is itswallsmeans 'Umarpreventspeople fromentering thecity, i.e.,prevents themfromgetting to theknowledge.Thesaying 'Uthman is it's roof isnecessarilyabsurdsince there is no city which has a roof, this is impossible. The researchers note too that 'AmmarsworebyAllahthat'A'ishaisthewifeoftheProphet(P)inthisworldandinthehereafter.Thisisashot in thedark.Howcould 'Ammartakeanoathaboutsomethinghedidnotknow?DidhehaveaversefromthebookofGod?OrwasitacovenantpromisedtohimbytheProphet(P)?Sowearenowleftwiththetruehadith,i.e.,that'A'ishatravelledtoBasra,andthatsheisthewifeof

yourProphet,butAllahistestingyouthroughhertoknowwhetheryouobeyHimorher.AllpraiseisduetotheLordof theWorlds,whohasgivenusintelligencethroughwhichwecan

differentiatebetweenthetruthandfalsehood,andhasmadecleartousthe[right]pathandthentestedusbyseveralthingssothattheycanbearwitnessonthedayofjudgment.3333AskThoseWhoKnowbyDr.MuhammadTijani

NAISHAATTACKSBASRAKILLINGHUNDREDSOFMUSLIMSEVENINSIDETHEMOSQUE

Ali'sgovernorinBasrawasUthmanibnHunaifAnsari,thesamecompanionoftheProphetwhom

UmarhadappointedtheFinancialCommissionerofIraq.WhenhelearnedthatthearmyofAyesha,TalhaandZubayrwasintheenvironsofBasra,hesentoneofthefriendsofAli–AbulAswadad-Du'ali–toseethemandtofindoutthereasonswhytheycame.AbulAswadcalledonAyesha,andthefollowingexchangetookplacebetweenthem.AbulAswad:Omotherofbelievers,whatisyourpurposeincomingtoBasrawithanarmy?Ayesha:IcametoseekvengeanceforthemurderofUthmanwhowaskilledinhisownhouseeven

thoughhehadnotcommittedanysin.AbulAswad:WhoeverkilledUthman,isnotinBasra.Ayesha:Yes,Iknow.Buttogetvengeance,Ineedthecooperationandthesupportofthepeopleof

Basra.AbulAswad:IhopeyouhavenotforgottenthattheMessengerofGodhadorderedyoutostayat

home. In any case, it is not your business tomeddle in politics andwar. It ismost unworthy of awidowoftheProphettoleavehishome,andtofightagainsttheMuslims.Ayesha:WillanyMuslimdaretofightagainstme?Ayesha believed that if shewent into the battlefield at the head of her army, the soldiers of the

enemy host, upon seeing her confronting them, would either come over to her side, or wouldabandonthebattle,anddeserttheirmaster.Abul Aswad next went to see Talha and Zubayr and asked them what were their intentions in

comingtoBasrainbattlearrayT&Z:WewantvengeancefromAliforthemurderofUthman.AbulAswad:AlididnotmurderUthmannordidhehaveanyshareinhismurder,andyouknowit.T&Z:Ifhedidnot,thenwhyisheprotectingthemurderers?AbulAswad:DoesthismeanthatyouhavebrokenthepledgeofloyaltywhichyougavetoAli?T&Z:Thepledgewastakenfromusonthepointofsword.Itwas,therefore,invalid.AbulAswadcouldseethattherebelleaderswereobsessedwithwar,andthatfurtherparleyswith

themwereuseless.Hetherefore,returnedtoBasra,andreportedtoUthmanibnHunaifwhatAyesha,TalhaandZubayrhadtoldhim.

The rebel leaders hadmade no secret of their intentions butUthman ibnHunaif did not have astrongarmy,andknewthathecouldnotdefendthecityagainstthem.Therefore,whentheyappearedatthecitygates,heopenednegotiationswiththem.ThetwopartiesagreedthatuntilthearrivalofAli,therebelswouldnotdoanythingtodisturbtheexistingarrangement,andUthmanibnHunaifwouldcontinuetoactasgovernorofBasra.Buthardlytwodayshadpassedwhentherebelleadersviolatedthetruce.Theirarmyattackedthe

cityatnight, and took itby storm,andonce itwaswithin itswalls, it appeared togoberserk.Thesoldiersspreadintothecityandkilled600Muslimsincluding40intheGreatMosqueitself.Talha and Zubayr forced their way into the governor's house where they captured Uthman ibn

Hunaif,andkilledthosewhotriedtodefendhim.Theywantedtokillhimalsobuthetoldthemthatiftheykilledhim, thenhisbrother,Sehl ibnHunaif,whowas thegovernorofMedina,wouldkillalltheir relatives living in that city, in reprisal. They, therefore, had to curb their urge to kill thevenerable friendofMuhammad.But theybeathimup,pluckedoutall thehaironhishead,hiseyebrowsandhisbeard,anddrovehimoutofBasra.Hemanaged,somehow,toreachthecampofhismaster,andstaggeredintohispresence,moredeadthanalive!AliwasdeeplyaggrievedtoseeUthmanibnHunaifinthestateinwhichTalhaandZubayrhadsent

him.Hecouldhardlyrecognizehim.HetriedtocomforttheoldfriendofMuhammadMustafawithhistears.TherebelarmywasnowinpossessionofthecityofBasra.Ithadsucceededinrealizingitsfirst

aim.ItsleadersexpelledallfriendsandsupportersofUthmanibnHunaiffromthecityiftheydidnotkillthem.

MURDEROFMUSLIMSIBNABDULLAH&TALHA

Ali,however,stillhesitatedtofight,anddecidedtomakeonemoreattempttorescuepeace.Hesent

ayoungman,oneMuslimibnAbdullahwhowasnotedforhispiety,withacopyoftheQur ’an, toappealtotheenemytosubmitthedisputetotheJudgmentofGod,andtoupholdpeaceinthenameofthesanctityofMuslimblood.Standinginfrontoftheenemyhostatcloserange,MuslimibnAbdullahopenedtheQur ’an,and

said:"IwillreadapassagefromtheBookofGodsothatyouwillknowwhatareHiscommandmentsandProhibitions."Hisspeech,however,wasinterruptedbythearchersoftheenemywhoshotarrowsatthecopyoftheQur ’anhewasreading.WhilehewastryingtoprotectthecopyoftheQur ’an,oneoftheslavesofAyeshacreptuptowardhim,attackedhimandkilledhim.ThebodyofMuslimibnAbdullahwasbroughtbeforeAli,andwasplacedontheground.Aliwas

lamenting his deathwhen another body, that of one of hiswarriorswhowas shot and killedwitharrowsbythearmyofBasra,wasbroughtbeforehim.Hetriedtoremovethearrowsfromthecorpsebuthehadnot removedmanywhenmorebodiesof his soldiers, riddledwith arrows, arrived andwerestackedbeforehiminfullviewofthetwoarmies.TherebelswerepracticingarcheryatAli'sarmy.TabarisaysinhisHistory,(vol.III,p.522)thatwhenAlisawthesebodiesinfrontofhim,hesaid:"Nowitislawfultofightagainstthem."ThenAli liftedhishandstowardheaven,andprayed:"OLord!BeThouaWitness thatIhaveleft

nothingundonetopreservepeaceamongMuslims.Nowthereisnochoiceleftformebuttoallowmyarmytodefenditselffromunprovokedattacks.WeareThyhumbleslaves.BestowThyGraceandThyMercyuponus.GrantusvictoryovertheenemybutifitisThypleasuretograntittohim,thengrantusthecrownofmartyrdom."Ali concluded his prayer, and then turning toward his troops, addressed them thus just before

givingthemthesignaltofight:"OMuslims!Donotbethefirsttostrikeatyouradversary;letyouradversarybethefirsttostrike

at you. Once he does, then you have to defend yourselves. If God gives you victory over yourenemies,thenrememberthattheyarealsoMuslims.Therefore,donotkillthewoundedamongthem.Iftheyrunfromthefield,donotpursuethem,andletthemsavetheirlives.Ifyoucaptureprisoners,donotkillthem.Donotmutilatethedead,anddonotrobthemoftheirarmororweaponsorothervaluableswhichyoumayfindontheirpersons.Donotplundertheircamp,anddonotmolesttheirwomeneveniftheyusefoulandabusivelanguageagainstyouoryourleaders.Butaboveallthings,donotbeunmindful,atanytime,ofthepresenceofyourCreatorinyourlife.YouareinHissighteverymoment."The twoarmies thenchargedateachother.Therebelshadalready lostZubayr,oneof their two

generals, through desertion. The other general, Talha, was also destined tomeet a fate similar toZubayr's.AbulFida,thehistorian,saysthatMarwanaskedhisslavetocoverhimsothathewouldnotbeseen.Whentheslavecoveredhim,hestrunganarrowtohisbow,aimeditatTalha,andsaidtohisslave:

"Isawthisman(Talha)duringthedayswhenUthmanwasbesiegedinhishouse.Hewasinciting

andurgingthecrowdtoenterthehouse,andtokillhim.Buttodayhewantsvengeanceforhisblood.How touching! He truly loved Uthman. Here, I will give him a reward for that love. He richlydeservesareward.Afterall,suchlovemustnotgounrewarded."Marwanreleasedthearrow.ItwasafatalshotthatcaughtTalhainthethigh,andhelimpedtohis

deathintherearofthearmy.InthebattleoftheCamel,TalhawasonhishorsebesideAyeshawhenMarwanshotanarrowathim

whichtransfixedhisleg.ThenMarwansaid:"ByGod,nowIwillnothavetosearchforthemanwhomurderedUthman."(Tabaqat,vol.III,p.223)

CONCLUSION

Ayeshahasthereputationofbeinghighlyknowledgeableinmattersofreligion,andshewasalsoa

muhadittha,i.e.,anarratorofthetraditionsoftheProphet.Beingsoknowledgeable,isitpossiblethatshedidnotknowthatshehadnorighttoseekvengeanceforUthman'sblood?Vengeanceseekingisthe business of the injured party, and imposing penalty upon the offender(s) is the duty of thegovernment.Ayeshawasneither related toUthman in anywaynor shewas a representativeof thegovernmentoftheMuslims.Andyetshechallengedthelawfulgovernmentinthenameofvengeance,andpushed an immensenumberofMuslims into the flamesofwar.Her obsessionwithwarmadethousandsofchildrenorphans,andthousandsofwomenwidows.Acertainwoman,oneUmmAufaal-Abdiyya,onceaskedAyesha:"Omotherofbelievers,whatis

your opinion about awomanwho kills her own child?"Ayesha said that such awomanwould bethrown into hell. UmmAufa further asked: "What will happen to a womanwho killedmore than20,000ofherchildrenatonetimeandoneplace?"Ayeshawasincensedattheinsinuation,andyelledscramatUmmAufa.(Iqd-ul-Farid,vol.III,p.108).SomemembersofAyesha'sownfamilywishedshehadneverledarmiesandfoughtbattles.Onone

occasion,shesentamessengertohernephew,IbnAbil-Ateeq,askinghimtosendhismuletoherforriding.Whenhernephewreceivedthemessage,hesaidtothemessenger:"TellthemotherofbelieversthatbyGod,wehavenotwashedthestainsofthebloodshedinthe

battle of the camel yet.Does she nowwant to start a battle of themule?" (Baladhuri inAnsab al-Ashraf,vol.I,page431)IbnAbilAteeq'sremarkwaspromptedinjest.Butin669thedayactuallycamewhenAyesharodea

muleinanother"campaign."WhenthecoffinofImamHasanwasbroughttothemausoleumofhisgrandfather,MuhammadMustafa,forburial,Marwanbinal-HakamandothermembersoftheBanuUmmayaappearedon thescene, inbattledores.Theyweregoing toprevent theBanuHashimfromburying ImamHasanbesidehisgrandfather.TheUmayyadswerenotalone;Ayesha, themotherofbelievers,camewiththem,ridingamule!AyeshamayhavelostthebattleinBasrabutshe"won"the"battle"inMedina.Hasancouldnotbe

buried with his grandfather because of her and Umayyad opposition, and he was buried in thecemeteryofJannat-ul-Baqi.ThereisnowaytorationalizetherolesAyesha,TalhaandZubayrplayedafterthedeathofUthman.

ThefactthattheywerefamouspersonalitiesinthehistoryoftheMuslims,doesnotchangeoraffecttherolestheyplayed.Anerrordoesnotbecomelessreprehensiblebecausesomeimportantpersoncommittedit.Anerrorremainsanerrorregardlessofwhocommittedit.Thewivesof theProphetwere especially expected tobediscreet in everything they saidordid.

After all, they had to bemodels before the ummaof exemplary deportment anddecorum.A lapsefromexcellencemaybecondonedinthewivesofthecommonersbutnotinthem.Addressingthem,Qur ’ansays:

“OconsortsoftheProphet!Ifanyofyouwereguiltyofevidentunseemlyconduct,thepunishment

wouldbedoubledtoher,andthatiseasyforGod.“(Chapter33;verse30)3434ARestatementofHistoryofIslamandMuslimsbySayedAliAsgherRazwy

10ChapterTTHEBATTLEOFSIFFINTHEMARTYRDOMOFAMMARYASIRTHECHRISTIANMONKWHOTESTIFIEDTOTHEWILAYATOFALI

Mu'awiyaaccusedAliofthemurderofUthman,buttherewasnotevenonepersonthroughoutthe

worldofIslamofthatdaywhomightconfirmthischarge.ThosewhoconsideredAliinnocentofthisaccusationhadnodoubtthatMu'awiyahimselfwasan

accompliceinthemurderofUthman,because,notwithstandingthefactthathecouldsaveUthmanherefrained fromdoingso.Moreover,Uthmanhadsonswhowerehisheirsand theguardiansofhisblood.Mu'awiyastoleamarchonthemandassumedthistitlehimself.Andevenifhehadtakenastepinthisbehalfinthecapacityofanagentitmaybesaidthathewouldhavemadeamistake,becausetheproperwayforsolvingsuchproblemsistoapproachthelawcourtandnottoresorttorebellionandrevolt.BesidesthisMu'awiyaclaimedthathehadnottakenanoathofallegiancetoAli,ashadbeendone

byTalhaandZubayranditwasnot,therefore,incumbentuponhimtoobeythenewCaliph.Anyhowthesestagesweretheoutcomeofsomehistoricalfactorsthatprovedtobemorebeneficial

for the Umayyad party spirit as compared with the Hashimite justice. Furthermore, the historicaleventsthatmanifestedthemselvesduringtheperiodofthethirdCaliphwerethemosteffectivefactorswhichaccordingtotheexigenciesofthetimeprovedharmfultoAli.Alihadallthesemattersinviewandnoneknewbetterthanhethatduringthisinterval,asdemandedbythecircumstances,theonlywayof overcoming the difficulties and the last means to arrive at a final solution was soothingcovetousnessandreturningtotherevivalofpartyspiritandpurchaseofconsciences!ButImamAliwasamanwhosaid:"Iamnotgoing toseekhelpfromthedeviatedseducersor tomake themthemeansofsuccess".HemadethispositionclearlyknowntoMughirawhocontactedhimandsuggestedthatMu'awiyamightbeallowedtoretainDamascus.Imam Ali gave the same reply to Mu'awiya when he asked him to entrust the government of

DamascusandCairotohimsothathe(Mu'awiya)mighttakeoathofallegiancetohim.Alirejectedhis request. He adopted this attitude because he considered himself under obligation to enforceIslamicprinciplesandat the same time thepathof solving thepoliticalproblems in themanner inwhichhiscontemporarypoliticiansandthoseoflateragesreflecteduponwasclosedbeforehimandhewasnotneglectfulofit.However, he was on his guard against treachery, deceit and bargaining and as his conduct was

peculiartohimselfhedidnotpayattentiontothepoliticalbehaviourandpoliciesofothers.Forthis

reasonandtakingintoaccounttheruleandprinciplewhichhehadinviewhedidnotagreetoallowMu'awiyatoretainSyriaandasamatterofprinciplehisactionwithregardtoMu'awiyawasbasedonthesameruleandprincipleaccordingtowhichhehadrejectedMu'awiya'srequestpreviouslyandhadsaid:"Iamnotgoingtoseekhelpfromtheseducers".Healsoknewverywellthattheobservanceofthisruleandprinciplewasnotcompatiblewiththe

spiritofhistimeandfollowingthispolicywouldcreatethegreatestdifficultiesforhim.Neverthelessthe only factor and cause which made him persevere and consider the exigencies of time to beinsignificantwasthat,hewishedthatthereshouldbeAliandnotMu'awiya.Imam Ali was struggling to safeguard and enforce this principle and rule and not to attain to

rulershipandkingdom.Hedidnotdesireatransientvictorybutwishedtoachieveapermanentandenternalvictory.Theclearestproofofthecorrectnessofthisclaimandofhiscarefulattentiontowardsthesethings

isthathesaidtosomeofhiscompanionswhowereshowingmuchhumiliationbeforehim:"IknowwithwhichfactorandmeansIshouldmakeyouobeyme.HoweverItellyouthatIamnotthemanwhowouldspoilandcorrupthisfaithsothatyourmaterialdesiresmaybefulfilled".Yes,thecruxofthematteristhatAliwascampaigningagainstimmorality,mischief,indecencyand

corruptionandinthisstrugglewhichhehadundertakenagainstmoralvicesandtouprootindecencyand uncleanness from the souls of the people, he did not exempt even those of his friends andkinsmeninwhosenature thisailmenthadpenetrated. Inshort in thiscampaignfriendsandenemieswereequalinhiseyesandinthecircumstancesitisevidentthatforMu'awiya,whowasdrownedinintellectualandpracticalevils,therewasnoplaceinthisorganizationandhewasamanwhocouldnotsucceedbyanyotherwayexceptevil.However,theobjectofdwellingatlengthonthissubjectisthatthegeniusandintelligencewhich

hasbeenattributedtoMu'awiya,andhisextraordinaryefficiencyandcompetenceaboutwhichmuchhasbeensaid,isallexaggerationandidletalk.Infacttheentiresuccessofthismanwasindebtedtothoseveryfictitiousqualitiesmixedwithmischiefandevilandsuchsuccessesandvictoriesasaretheconsequencesofsuchviciouspractices.Another important point in this connection is that the apparent successes ofMu'awiya certainly

sprang from theperseveranceand steadfastnessofAli inprotecting theprinciples andelementsoftruth.ItisevidentthatpersonswhowereafterwordlygainsandpleasuresandcouldnotachievetheirendsbyassociatingwithAlinaturallyturnedtoMu'awiyatosecuretheirgoals.Incidentallythisaspectofthemattershouldalsobemadeclearthattheatmosphereprecedingthe

rulershipofAlihaddistractedthepeoplefromtrueIslamicprinciplesandmattershadtakensuchaturn, that it was said: "Only that person who is dominant and powerful has a right to live, andpredominanceandvictorycanonlybegainedundertheshadowofaccumulationofwealth,hoarding,seizinganopportunity,enlargementofinfluenceandacquisitionoftheobjectsofdesire".It is apparent that if, in these circumstances,Ali had resorted to diplomacy, he could have very

easilyeliminatedthegainsmadebyhisopponents.AnditisalsoevidentthatitwaseasierforAlitoovercomeMu 'awiya with the same weapon of politics then to subdue those who had broken the

covenant.TherevoltofMu'awiyaduringthosedayswasnotvery important in the lightof the trueIslamic

criteria. The real danger arose from the causes and effects of the prevailing atmosphere and thedangerofresistanceandperseveranceinseekingabsolutetruthwasthegreatestofall.However, in spite of all these conditions and circumstances it must be admitted that, the most

important factors were perseverance, resistance and steadfastness in protecting and supportingabsolutetruthandignoringthesuggestionsofthosewhoaskedImamAlitoresorttocompromisesandflattery.AnyhowduringthedayswhenAliwasstayinginKufatheconditionofMu'awiyaandhisactivities

which seemed languid and weak to every reflective and sensible person appeared all the moreworthless and unimportant to Ali. Notwithstanding this, however, Ali did not ignore the elementswhich had been created by the circumstances and events to the benefit of Mu 'awiya which hadpreparedfavourableenvironmentsforstrenghteninghisposition.ThemattershadtakensuchaturnthatMu'awiyahadbeguncovetingtheofficeoftheCaliphateandnurturedthisfancyinhismindthathe might be nominated for it. However, Ali, while being fully cognizant of this state of affairs,remainedsteadfastandwellcomposed.Atthesametimehecouldnotonlyreadclearlyinthehorizonofthecomingevents theevilresultsof thepreliminariesoffuturecampaigns,buthealsoaffordedlibertyofactiontotheenemywithperfectcalmness,sothathemighthaveaclearandwellfoundedgroundforjihadagainstMu'awiya,andtheresponsibilityforthewarwhichtheagitatorsweregoingtostartshouldbeontheoppressivedeviatedpersons,justastheresponsibilityforthepreviouswarfellonthecovetousbreakersofthecovenantandthatforthefuturewarwastofallontheKhawarij.During the time when Ali was in Kufa letters were exchanged between him andMu'awiya, Ali

consulted his companions about current affairs and apprised them of the developments. HiscompanionssuggestedthattheymightspendthatyearinKufaandwait,butAmmar,Ashtar,AdyybinHatim(famousforhisgenerosity)andShurayhbinHaniopposedthisview.Ammar said: "OCommander of the faithful!We have taken oath of allegiance to you and find

none,whomayriseagainstyou.PreviouslytherewerepersonswhorosetofightagainstyoubuttheAlmightyAllahroutedthemandhelpedyouinaccordancewiththeverse:“Whoeverretaliatesinthesamemannerashewasmadetosufferandthenisoppressedagain,Allahwillcertainlyhelphim.”(Surahal-Haj,22:60)AndasclearlystatedbyHiminanotherverse:“Whoeverbreaksthecovenantbreaksittohisown

detriment,”(Surah alFath, 48: 10), those who broke the covenant received punishment for theirconduct.AnotherpointisthatduringthosedaysKufasupportedusandBasrawasopposedtous.Onegroup

fromamongstuswasrewardedandtheotherwasexcused.Atpresent,however,weare involved inan irremediable trouble inSyriaandaperson,whohas

revolted,willnotsubmitunlessheiskilledordefeated.Inthecircumstancesweshouldforestallhim.Iwould,therefore,requestyoutoissueordersformobilization".

Ashtar andotherswhowereof the sameopinion supportedAmmar's view.Soon afterwardsAlireceivednewsofthemobilizationofMu'awiya'sforcesanditbecamecertainthatMu'awiyawasonthewarpathandwaspreparingtoattack.TheCommanderoftheFaithful,therefore,equippedanarmyconsistingof190,000warriorsand

proceededtoSiffinattheheadofthisarmy.InthisarmyaswelltheCommanderofthecavalrywasAmmar.TheresultofthefirstencounterofthetwopartieswasthatMu'awiyaobtainedcontrolofthewater-

wayanddidnotallowAliandhisforcestouseit.35Another instance of Ali's compassion was his treatment of Mu'awiya in the Battle of Siffin.

Mu'awiya's soldiers had sealedoff theEuphratesRiver.WhenAli's army found that their expectedsupplyofwaterhadbeenintercepted,AlisentamessagetoMu'awiyasayingthatMu'awiyashouldnotsealoffaccesstothewater.Mu'awiyarepliedthathewoulddenythemuseofthewater.AlisentMalikAshtarwithaunitofcavalry.HepushedbackMu'awiya'sarmyandsecuredaccesstotheEuphrates.Thecompanionssaid,"OAli!Letusretaliateanddenythemwater,sothattheenemymaydieofthirstandthebattlewillbeover."Alisaid:"No!ByAllah,Iwillnotretaliatebyfollowingtheirexample.LettheirtroopshaveaccesstotheEuphrates."3635AmmarYasir-ACompanionoftheProphetbySadruddinSharafuddinalAmili36PeshawarNightsbySultanulWaizinShiraziBefore the brave and distinguished warriors of Badr and the Muhajirs and the Ansar and the

soldiersofMuzarandRabi'aandthechiefsofYemenandIraqcouldcommencefightingandachieveany result from it, Ashtar, in order to achieve victory, put forward suggestions which obligedMu'awiyaandhisministertoresorttocoldwarbydiscussion,debate,oration,lecturingandsendingletters.Theseweretheprerequisitesforsuchawar.ItisevidentthatthesuperiorityofthesupportersofAliinthiscoldwarwasasmuchestablishedinthemindsoftheenemiesastheirsuperiorityinthematterofswordsmanship.IftherewereMu'awiya,'AmrAsandhissonAbdullahinthatparty,therewereonthisside,besides

Imam Ali, great orators like Abdullah bin Abbas, Ammar Yasir, Malik Ashtar, Ash'ath bin Qays(althoughahypocrite),AhnafbinQays,UthmanbinHunayf,Sa'sa'abinSohan,AdyybinHatimandhundreds of others from amongst the Muhajirs and the Ansar of Badr, all of whom possessedintelligence, insight, sagacity and experience and were very eloquent, whereas the persons in theoppositerowdidnotpossessthesequalities.Mu 'awiya and his minister ‘Amr As were persons who were extreme opportunists. They had

gained experiences regarding the conduct ofAli in theBattle ofBasra so as to utilize them at theopportunetime.Theyhadnowacquiredanopportunityandwantedtoprofitfromthoseexperiences.Hence, in order to strengthen themorale of the Syrian soldiers and to dodgemilitary action theyresorted to stratagems. To achieve this end they decided to defame the outstanding leaders anddistinguishedpersonalitiesofIraqandtomakethemappeardespisedanddegradedintheeyesoftheSyrians.AmrAswhohadpreviously carriedon correspondencewith some Iraqi hypocrites likeAsh'ath

nowbegantolecturetotheSyriansandendeavouredtodeludeandseducethem.Assoonasthesoundofthespeechof‘AmrreachedtheearsofAmmarhegotuptoputanendto

thiscoldwar.Inspiteofhisoldageandfeebleness,heraisedhisthunderousvoicethatwassustainedbyresolutionanddeterminationandsaid:"OslavesofAllah!Riseandhurryuptowardsthesepeoplewho want to avenge the murder of a tyrant. Some benevolent and righteous persons who wereopponentsofcrueltyandoppressionandsupportersofjusticeandgoodnessroseandkilledthatman.Nowthesepeoplehaverisenandwanttoavengethemurderofsuchapersonuponus.Thesepersonswhoclaimtobetheavengersofhismurderareofatypethatiftheirworldlyambitionsareachievedand Islam is destroyed theywill notmind it. Such persons asked us: "Why did you kill him?"Wereplied."Onaccountoftheunlawfulthingshedid".Theysaid:"Hedidn'tdoanythingunlawful".Doyouknowwhytheysaidallthis?Itwasbecauseheensuredtheirworldlygains.Thesearethe

peoplewhoplunderedhisexistenceandwillnotworryevenifthemountainsaredemolished.IswearbyAllahthattheydon'twanttoavengethemurder(ofUthman}.Theyrelishandhavebecomefondofworldly gains. They think that if the righteous person assumes the reins of government he willrestraintheirunlawfulprofitsandunlimitedgreed.ThesepeoplehavenopreviousrecordinIslamsothat theyshouldbeworthyofrulership,but theyhavedeceivedtheirfollowersandtoldthem:"Ourchiefandleaderwaskilledunjustly".Theysaidthisinordertoacquiretherulershipandpower.Asyou see and know this claim is nothing except deceit and fraud.And if they had not practised thisfraudnonewouldhavetakenoathofallegiancetothem.OLord!IfYouhelpusitwillnotbeYourfirsthelpbecauseYouhavegrantedusvictoriesearlier.

And ifYourWill is that theyshouldassume rulership thenput in store for them the resultof theirillegalactswherebytheyhavesubjectedthepeopletotyrannyandtorture".WhenAmmar concluded his speech and enlightened theminds of the hearers in all respects he

orderedhisstandardbearer,HashimMarqal,toadvance,andsaid:"Maymyparentsbeyourransom!AdvanceandattacktheseSyriansandbreakuptheirrows".Ammarhimselfalsowentforwardandreachedinthecentreoftheopposingarmynear'AmrAs.

Addressing'Amrhesaid:"O'Amr!YouhavesoldyourfaithforthesakeofEgypt.Woebetoyou!WhatmischiefsandevilshaveyourousedagainstIslam!”ThenAmmarbeganprayingtoAllahinthepresenceoftheSyriansandsaid:“OLord!Youknow

thatifIrealizethatYourWillisthatIshouldthrowmyselfinthisriverIshalldoso.OLord! If I realize thatYoudesire that I should thrust thepointofmysword intomybellyand

bendmyself,sothattheswordmaycomeoutofmyback,Ishalldoso.OLord!YouknowthatIhaveacquiredwhatYouhavetaughtmeandIknowitverywellthattodaynopiousactisbetterthanthatIshouldperformjihadagainstthesepeoplewhohaveviolatedhumanrights,andifIcometoknowthatinthepresentcircumstancesthereisanactwhichislikedbyYoumore,Ishallperformit".Assoonas'AmrAsheardthesewordsofAmmarheleftthebattlefieldandhidhimself.TheSyrianarmyalsotrembledmoreonhearingAmmarspeakthantheytrembledforthefearof

hissword,thoughallofthemknewwellthatarebelliousgroupwouldkillAmmar.Theimportance

andthedangerofthepresenceofAmmarwasnotunknowntoMu'awiya,andhewasafraidofwhatwasgoingtohappen,heexpressedhisanxietyeverynowandtheninvariousways.AmmarattackedvaliantlyandhisstandardbearerHashimMarqilandhiscompanionsfelluponthe

Umayyadarmylikeafuriousstormandpusheditback.AtthismomentAmmarrememberedAbdullahbin'AmrAs(whointhebeginningappearedtobea

devout person and hesitated to supportMu 'awiya but later joined his army saying that he was afollowerofhisfatherandnotofMu'awiya)andcalledoutfromthebattlefieldwithaloudvoice:"OAbdullah!Haveyousoldyourfaithfortheworld”?Abdullahreplied:"Itisnotso.ThefactisthatIhaverisentoavengethemurderofUthman".Ammarsaid:"Itisnotatallso.Ibearwitnesstothefactthatyoudonotdoanythingforthesakeof

Allah.Youshouldknowthatifyouarenotkilledtodayyouwillbekilledtomorrow.Pondercarefully.When Allah gives recompense according to the intentions of the people, let me know what yourintentionis?"Ammar uttered these words and commenced his attack. This attack by Ammar was the

commencementofanextensivebattleduringwhich themost severeand themost intense scenesofwarwerewitnessedcontinuouslyforthreedaysandnights.Thethirdnightofthisbattleisknownas'LailatulHarir'.In theafternoonof thedayof thebattleAmmarcalledbackhis soldiers from the front for rest.

Whenhissoldierswererestingthepeopleweresayingtooneanother:"TheenemywillbeimmunethisnightfromtheblowsoftheswordsofAmmar'ssoldiers".Ammarwas hearing thesewords and sharpening his sword and stimulating and equippingwith

armshisstandardbearerandbraveofficerMarqil.SoonafterwardsheorderedMarqiltoattackandhimselfgotaheadofthearmy.Thenhesaidaloud:"WhowantstoproceedtoParadise?Paradiseisundertheshadowoftheswordsandthearrows.TodayIshallmeetmyfriends.TodayIshallmeettheHolyProphetMuhammad(s)andhisparty".Ammarwasmovingaheadandotherwarriorsweremovingbehindhim,andallwereadvancing.

Thesunwasabouttosetandtheonlylightthatcouldbeseenintheextensivehorizonwasthelustreof the sword and the sparks of the blows. Once againAmmar decided to take rest and it was themomentwhenthelastraysofthesunwereshiningonthestreamofbloodanditscrimsonrayswerebeingreflectedonallsides.Atthatmoment,beforeAmmarcouldtakerest,hiseyesfellon'AmrAswhowas carryingMu 'awiya's standard on his shoulder. Ammarwas reminded of something andshookhissword.Thenhestruckhishandonthebackofhisstandardbearerandsaid:"OMarqil!IswearbyHimunderwhosecontrolmylifeisthatevenifthesepeopleareinapositiontoannihilateusbydealingsuccessiveblowsnoweaknesswilltakeplaceinmyfaith,becausewearerightandtheyarefollowingthewrongpath.OMarqil!Thestandardwhich'AmrAsiscarryingonhisshoulderisthesameagainstwhichIhavefoughtinthecompanyoftheHolyProphet(s)anditisthefourthtimethatIamcampaigningagainstit".

Thenhemadeanattackandsaid toHashim 'Utba (Marqil): "Oson!Advance!Advance!Maymyparentsbeyourransom!"DuringthisterriblefightingAmmardidnotrestevenforamoment.Hefoughtonandpersuaded

hissoldierstodothesameandorderedthemtoattack.Hecontinuedattackingtheenemylikedeadlylightening till the third day of the battle arrived on that day the fighting reached its climax andcontinued unabated. For the self-sacrificingwarriors who accompaniedAmmar it was immaterialwhether they killed or were killed. Ammar, the old man, who was ninety four years of age, wasfasting and in spite of this he made deadly attacks on the enemy and pushed his standard bearerHashimforward.Hashiminsisteduponhimtohandover thecommandandresponsibility forattack tohimand to

takerestforsometimetogetridofthefatiguecausedbyfastingbutAmmarshoutedathimandsaid:"Oson!Maymyparentsbeyourransom!Advance!"Anyhow, as a result of the severe and continuous attacks by Ammar, the cavalry of the Syrian

forcesfled.InthiscombatZulKala'Humyari,whowasthecommanderoftheSyrianarmywaveredandlostthepowerofresistanceintherowwhichwasthetargetofAmmar'sattack.WhenthenewsofZul Kala's hesitation and fear reached Mu 'awiya he summoned him and deceived him with theassistanceof hisminister 'AmrAs, and twopersons tookoath thatwhatZulKala hadheard aboutAmmarandhadreportedwastrue(i.e.theprophecyoftheHolyProphet(s)thatarebelliousgroupwillkillAmmar)butAmmarwouldatlastleavehisownarmyandwouldjointhearmyofMu'awiyaand'AmrAs.Hence,ZulKala'hadnoalternativeandmustpartakeinfighting.Theyalsoassuredhimthateventually,whenthedustofthewarhadsettled,hewouldseethatAmmarhadarrivedinhis(ZulKala's)row.Incidentallytheyalsotoldhimthatifthepredictionmadebythemdidnotcomeouttobetruehewouldbe entitled to continue to remainhesitant in the futurewars, and that hewouldhaveampletimeforthis.On the third day the battle came to an end and Ammar, as steadfast as ever, remained busy in

fighting likeachampion.When thesunwasabout tosetand thenightcalledLailatulHarirarrivedAmmaraskedforwatertobreakhisfast.Avesselcontainingmilkwasbroughtforhim.Beforedrinkingmilkhesmiledanditmightbesaid

thathissoulshonewiththatsmile.In an ecstatic andhappy conditionhe said: "My friend, theProphet ofAllah toldme: "Your last

foodintheworldwillbeagulpofmilkmixedwithwater".Ammar drank the milk and then made an attack along with his military column and hastened

towardsParadisewhichwasembodiedandperceptibleinhiseyes.TherehesawtheHolyProphet(s)receivinghimasheusedtoreceivehimpreviouslyinthisworld.ThereisagreatprobabilitythatMu'awiyahadfixedabigprizeforthe'headofAmmar'sothathe

mightberelievedoftheembarrassmentcausedbythegrindingargumentwhichexistedinthemindsofthearmypersonnel,justashehadorderedthatallshouldguardtheheadofZulKala,lestheshouldreceiveanyinjury,andhehadalsopromisedawardsforthesafetyofZulKala'.

AnyhowifZulKala'hadremainedaliveafterAmmarhewouldhavecreatedagreatdifficultyforMu'awiya,andhecouldnotsatisfyhimbyanymeans.AndthemostimportantthingwasthatthetribeofZulKala'andthenumberofitsmembersexceededthatofallothertribes.InanycaseAmmar,whilehehadnoguardsman toprotecthimdrove forwarddauntlessly likea

lionandonhavingreachedthebattlefieldsaidwithaloudvoice:“Isthereanycombatanthere?"Atthatmomentamountedsoldierbelongingtothetribeof'Sakasak'cametofightagainstAmmar

andwaskilledathishands.AnotherhorsemanfromamongsttheHumyariscameinthefieldandhe,too,waskilledbyAmmar.Andallotherswhocamethereaftermetwiththesamefate.AbulGhadiyaJuhaniwhohadbeenonthetrackofAmmarsincethedaysofUthman,camenear

him.AtthismomentthecuirassofAmmarhadfallenasidefromhisthigh.Thismanavailedoftheopportunity and gave a blow on the thigh of Ammar .Two other mounted men attacked Ammarsimultaneouslyandputanendtohislife.AnyhowoneoftheparticularpiecesofgoodluckofBaniUmayyawasthecoincidencethatatthe

momentwhenAmmarwaskilledZulKala'wasalsokilled.Ammar'smartyrdomwasasorrowfuleventforthemembersofboththearmies.Oneoftheeffects

of this tragedywas that the defensivemovement ofMu 'awiya's army came to a standstill and thesoundoftheepicversesrecitedbythearmyofAlireachedthesky.BeforeAmmarwaskilledtherewere, inboth thearmies,personswhoentertaineddoubts in theirminds,butafterhewasmartyredtruthbecameevidenttothem.Asaresultofthistragedyanxietyandagitationprevailedinthemindsthatendedintheretreatof

theSyrianarmy.Mu'awiyaand'AmrAswerethencompelledtodeceivetheirownarmybymeansofmisinterpretation and, in order to remain immune, delude and deceive their opponents in anothermanner.However,ifduringthesecriticalmomentsfatehadnotpredominated,historywouldhaveadopteda

courseotherthanthatwhichitdidowingtothehypocrisyanddiscordofAsh'athbinQays.WhenAbulGhadiyakilledAmmar, voices rose fromboth the camps saying: "OAbulGhadiya!

Woebetoyou!ItwasyouwhokilledAbulYaqzan(thepiousman)!MayAllahkillyou!"MuhammadbinMuntashirsaidtoAbulGhadiya:"OAbulGhadiya!OntheDayofJudgmentyour

enemywillbeamightyenemywithastronghand".TheonlyreactionofAbulGhadiyawasthathelaughedandwenthisway.Hana, a slaveofCaliphUmarbinKhattab says thus about himself: "In the beginning Iwaswith

Mu'awiyaandhiscompanionsusedtosay:"Allahforbid!InnocircumstancesshallwekillAmmar,becauseifwekillAmmarthen,asitissaid,wetooshallberegardedasarebelliousgroup.OnthedaytheBattleofSiffinendedIwaswalkingaboutamongstthosewhohadbeenkilled.SuddenlyIsawthatAmmarYasirhadbeenkilled.Iwentto'AmrAsandsawhimrestingonhisthrone.Iaskedhim:"WhathaveyouheardaboutAmmarYasir?

'AmrAssaid:"IheardtheHolyProphet(s)saying:ArebelliousgroupwillkillAmmar".Isaid:"IswearbyAllahthatAmmarhasbeenkilled.Whatdoyousaynow?"'Amrsaid:"Itisafalseclaim".Isaid:"IhaveseenwithmyowneyesthatAmmarhasbeenkilled".Amrsaid:"Let'sgoandsee.Showmehisdeadbody".Itook'AmrAsuptothedeadbodyofAmmar.OnseeingthecorpseofAmmarthecolourofthe

face of 'AmrAs changed.Then he turned his face and beganwalking and said: "Ammar has beenkilledbythepersonwhobroughthiminthebattlefield!"KhuzaymabinThabitwasawitnesstotheBattlesofCamelandSiffin.Hedidnotdrawhisswordin

eitherof thesebattlesandremainedneutral.However,afterAmmarwaskilledhesaid:"IhavenowbecomeconvincedoftherebellionanddeviationoftheSyrians".ThenKhuzaymapartookinthebattleandfoughttillhewaskilled.Eachof the twohorsemenwhohadassistedAbulGhadiya inkillingAmmarwere trying to take

fromMu'awiyatheprizewhichhadbeenfixedfortheheadofAmmar.'AmrAssaidtobothofthem:"YoutwoarefightingfortheFireofHellandnothingelse!IhaveheardtheProphet(s)saying:"Onewho kills Ammar and one who takes his clothes off his body will both go to Hell!" Mu 'awiyainterruptedAmrAsandsaidinareproachfultone:“Whatyouaresayingisadangerousjest.Thesetwopersonsarefightingonoursideandyouare

tellingthemthatbothofthemwillgotoHell!"Amrsaid:“IswearbyAllahthat this isafactandyoualsoknowit. IwishthatIhaddiedtwenty

yearsearlierthantoday".WhenAbdullahbin'AmrAswasreturningfromSiffinalongwithhisfatherandMu'awiya,heturnedtohisfatherandsaid:"Father!IheardtheHolyProphet(s)sayingtoAmmar:“Arebelliousgroupwillkillyou”.Afterhearingthesewords 'AmrAsturnedtoMu'awiyawithapeculiarmaliceandsaid:"Doyou

hearwhatthisboyissaying?"Mu'awiyasaid;"Havewekilledhim?Thisisnotatalltheposition.Ihopepeople,whobroughthim

intothebattlefieldhavekilledhim".Thenthetwoslypersonslaughed.Oneday'AmrAssaidtohiscompanionswhohadgatheredroundhim:"IwishthatwhentheHoly

Prophet(s)breathedhislasthemightnothavehatedanyone,sothatAllahmightnotsendanypersontoHell!"His companions said: "What we felt was that the Prophet (s) loved you and appointed you to

governorship".'Amrsaid:"Allahknowsbetterwhetherhe lovedmeorwaskindtomejustbywayofaffability.

However,Iobservedthathelovedaparticularman”.'Amrwasasked:"Whowasthatman?"Hereplied:“HewasAmmarYasir".Thenhewasasked:"WashethesamemanwhomyoukilledintheBattleofSiffin?”'Amr replied:Yes, byAllah!Wekilledhim".Anyhow, afterAmmarwaskilled theSyrianswere

leaving theirownstandardandwerescattering,andas theydidnotwish tobestyled therebelliousgrouptheyweremixingwiththepeopleofIraq.Itwasatthisjuncturethat 'AmrAsendeavouredtotest the intelligence and insight of his 'king' in respect of this difficulty and in the meantime tostrengthenwhat he had injected in theminds of the Syrians regardingAmmar and to confirm theconstancyoftheirpowerofinsight..Mu'awiyaturnedhisfacefromhisministerandwenttohisarmy,stoodattheheadoftherowandsaidtothem:"Iamgoingtospeaktoyouaboutthemostsensitivematteroftheday.ThisisthemostimportantofallthetopicsanditconcernstheHadithregardingtherebelliousgroupwhichisbeingpassedonfromonemouthtoanother.It should be known that theHadith relating to the rebellious group is to our advantage and not

detrimentaltous.AllofyoushouldcometoyoursensesandpondercarefullyovertheHadithoftheHolyProphet.Nodoubtthe'rebel'stingsusandwehavebecomesubjectedtoreproof.Well,letitbeso! But it should be asked: "Are we not the same rebellious groupwho have risen to avenge themurderofUthmanandhavebeentouchedonaccountofthatmanhavingbeenoppressed?Yes,wearearebelliousgroupinthissense”.The hearers heard this bombastic logic of Mu'awiya and were convinced. The Syrians then

departedwithalightheartandatranquilconscience.'AmrAslaughedandappreciatedMu'awiya'sskill.Ammar'smartyrdomcreateda tumult in theIraqicampandtheechoof this tumultdrawsamost

vividpictureoftheconditionandpositionofImamAli.Itisnotnecessaryforustodiscussthispoint.As soon as the news ofAmmar'smartyrdom reachedAli he beganweeping.Then he looked at

thosepresentroundhimandsaid:"HowlongdidyouwishAmmartolive?"ItmightbesaidthattheCommanderoftheFaithfulwantedtoask:"HowlongdidyouwishIslamto

live?"Thenhestoodupandwent towards thecorpsesof thosewhohadbeenkilledandreachedbythe

sideofthedeadbodyofAmmar.AtthatmomentheexpressedgriefoverthemartyrdomofAmmarinthese splendidwords: "AnyMuslimwhodoesn't consider the event ofAmmar's being killed to begreat, anddoesn't treat it tobeapainful tragedy,won'tbe recognized tobeadult andmature.MayAllahblessAmmaronthedayonwhichheembracedIslam,thedayonwhichhewaskilledandtheday on which he will rise from earth once again! I saw Ammar at such a position that if thecompanionsoftheHolyProphet(s)werereckonedtobefourhewasthefourthandiftheywerefive

hewas the fifth and none of the companions of theProphet (s) doubted this. Paradise has becomeessentialforAmmarandhisentitlementtoParadisedidnotdependononeortwoinstances".Ithasbeensaid:"Ammarisrighteousandtruthiswithhim.TowhicheversideAmmarturnstruth

turnsalongwithhim.OnewhokillsAmmarwillgotoHell".Anyhow,AliorderedthatthefuneralsofAmmarandhisstandard-bearerandaide-de-campHashim

Marqilmightbeplacedsidebyside.Hethenofferedprayersforbothofthemwithout,bathingtheirbodiesandthereaftertheywereburiedinSiffinin37A.H.37WhentheCommanderofthefaithful,peacebeonhim,headedtowardSiffin,aterriblethirstcame

onhisfollowers.Thewaterwiththemhadbeenusedup.Theybegantosearchforwatertorightandleftbuttheydidnotfindanytraceofit.TheCommanderofthefaithful,peacebeonhim,turnedoffthemainroadwiththemandwentalittleway.Ahermitageappearedbeforetheminthemiddleofthedesert.Hewentwiththemtowardsit.Whenhereacheditscourtyard,heorderedthose(withhim)tocall for its occupant to come before them. They called him and he came. TheCommander of thefaithful,peacebeon37AmmarYasir-ACompanionoftheProphetbySadruddinSharafuddinalAmilihim, asked him: "Is this residence of yours near water, which will quench the thirst of these

people?""Thereismorethansixmilesbetweenmeandwater,"heanswered."Thereisnowaternearerthanthattome.IfitwasnotforthefactthatIambroughtenoughwater

foreachmonthtosustainme,Iwouldbedestroyedbythirst.""Didyouhearwhatthemonksaid?"theCommanderofthefaithful,peacebeonhim,asked."Yes,"theyanswered."Orderustogototheplacewhichheindicated.Perhapswewillreachwater

whilewestillhavestrength.""Thereisnoneedforyoutodothat,"theCommanderofthefaithful,peacebeonhim,toldthem.

Heturnedtheneckofhismuleinthedirectionoftheqibla(i.e.towardsMecca)andhedirectedthemtoaplacenearthehermitage."Uncoverthegroundinthisplace,"heorderedthem.Agroupofthemwentstraighttotheplaceanduncovereditwithironshovels.Agreatshinyrock

appeared. They said: "Commander of the faithful, here is a great rock on which the shovels areuseless.""Thisrockisoverwater,"hetoldthem."Ifitmovesfromitsposition,youwillfindthewater."Theystruggledtoremoveit.Allthepeoplegatheredtogetherandtriedtomoveitbuttheycould

findnoway todo that. Itwas toodifficult for them.Whenhe, peacebeonhim, saw that theyhadgatheredtogetherandstriventoremovetherockbutitwastoodifficultforthem,heputhislegoverhissaddleuntilitreachedtheground.Thenherolleduphissleeves.Heputhisfingersunderthesideoftherockandhemovedit.Heremoveditwithhishandandpusheditmanyyardsaway.Whenithad

moved from its position, thewhite (glitter) ofwater appearedbefore them.Theyhurried to it anddrank from it. Itwas the sweetest, coldest andpurestwater that theyhad ever drunk fromon theirjourney."Getsuppliesandquenchyourthirst,"hetoldthem.Theydidthat.Thenhewenttotherockandtookitwithhishandandputitbackwhereithadbeen.

Heorderedthat its tracesberemovedwithearth.Thehermithadbeenwatchingfromontopofhishermitage.When he realized what had happened, he called out: "People, help me down, help medown."Theyhelpedhimtogetdown.HestoodinfrontoftheCommanderofthefaithful,peacebeonhim

andsaid:"Man,areyouaProphetsent(byGod)?""No,"hereplied."(Thenareyou)anangelwhoisclosetoGod?"heasked."No,"wastheanswer."Thenwhoareyou?"asked(thehermit)."I am the testamentary trustee of theApostle ofGod,Muhammad b. 'AbdAllah, the seal of the

Prophets,mayGodblesshimandhisfamily,"hereplied."Stretchoutyourhand,"saidthehermit,"sothatImaysubmittoGod,theBlessedandExalted,at

yourhands."TheCommanderofthefaithful,peacebeonhim,stretchedouthishandandtoldhim:"Makethe

twofoldtestimony."Hesaid:"ItestifythatthereisnogodbutGodalonewithoutanypartner.ItestifythatMuhammadis

HisservantandHisApostle.ItestifythatyouarethetestamentarytrusteeoftheApostleofGod,theonewithmostrightamongthepeopletoauthorityafterhim."TheCommanderofthefaithful,peacebeonhim,madehimunderstandtheconditionsofbeinga

Muslimandthenaskedhim:"WhatisitthathaspromptedyoutoenterIslamafteryourlongresidenceinthishermitageinoppositiontoit?""Iwilltellyou,Commanderofthefaithful,"hesaid.-"Thishermitagewasbuilttoseekouttheone

whowouldremovethatrockandthenwaterwouldcomefromunderneathit.Scholarsbeforemediedandtheydidnotattainthat(knowledge)butGod,theMightyandHigh,hasprovidedmewithit.Wefindinoneofourbooksandaprosewriterofourscholarsthatinthislandthereisaspringwitharockover it.Nooneknows itsplaceexcept aProphetor the testamentary trusteeof aProphet.HemustbeafriendofGodwhocalls(men) to truth,whosesignis theknowledgeof theplaceof thisrockandhisabilitytoremoveit.WhenIsawyoudothat,Irealizedwhatwehadbeenwaitingfor.Theobjectofdesirehadbeenattained.TodayIamaMuslim(converted)atyourhands,abelieverinyourrightandyourservant."Whenheheardthat,theCommanderofthefaithful,peacebeonhim,weptuntilhisbeardbecame

moistwithtears.Hesaid:"PraisebetoGod,byWhomIhavenotbeenforgotten.PraisebetoGodinWhosebooksIhavebeenmentioned."Thenhesummonedthepeopleandtoldthem:"ListentowhatyourbrotherMuslimsays."Theylistenedtohiswords.ThentheygavemuchpraisetoGodandthanksfortheblessingthathe

hadbestowedupon them ingiving themknowledgeof the rightof theCommanderof the faithful,peacebeonhim.ThentheywentonandthehermitwentbeforehimamidagroupofhisfollowersuntilhemettheSyrians.Thehermitwasamongagroupofthosewhoweremartyredthere.He,peacebeuponhim,carriedouttheprayeroverhim.Heburiedhimandsoughtmuchforgivenessforhim.Wheneverhewasmentioned,('Ali)wouldsay:"Thatwasmyservant."Inthisreport thereare(several)kindsofmiracles.Oneof themisknowledgeof theunknown,a

second is the strength bywhich normal human capabilitieswere transcended, and (another) is thedistinction(ofhim)fromothermenthroughtheconfirmationofthemessageabouthiminthefirstBooksofGod.ThisisvalidatedbythewordsofGod,theExalted:ThatistheirexampleintheTorahandtheirexampleintheGospels(XLVII29).Al-Sayyid Isma'il b.Muhammad al-Himyari,mayGod havemercy on him, speaks of the same

thing in his glorious goldenode:Duringhis journeyhewent bynight after the eveningprayer toKarbala' in a procession until he came to one who devoted himself to God on a piece of raisedground.Hemadehiscamponinhospitableland.Owilderness, it isnot(aplace)wherehemeetsalivingsoulotherthanthewildanimalsandthe

baldingwhitehairedman(i.e.'Ali).Heapproachesandcriesoutatit.(TheHolyman)looksdownashestands,likethedefender(looks

down)overhisbowfromawatchtower.Istherewaterthatcanbeattainednearthepositionwhichyouhavesettledat.Heanswers:Thereis

nothing todrink, exceptat adistanceof sixmilesand thewater Ihavewithme (here)between thesandyhillandthevastdesert.Heturnsthereinstowardstheflatground.Heuncoversasmoothrockthatshineslikegoldenleaf-

pasteforcamels.He says:Turn it around. If you turn it around, youwill see.You;will not see if it is not turned

around.They came together to remove it. It is impossible for them. It is a difficult impossible task that

cannot be performed. When it had weakened them he stretched a hand towards it and when theconquerorcomesitisconquered.Itwasasifitwasaballoffallencottoninaskein,whichhepushedinaplayground.He gave them sweet delicious water to drink from under it, which was better than the most

delicious,thesweetest.

Thenwhentheyhadalldrunk,heputitbackandwentaway.Itspositionisleftalone.Itcannotbe

approached.IbnMaymunaddedthesewordsconcerningthat:The signs for the monk were a miraculous secret there and he believed in the noble born

testamentarytrusteeofauthority(wasi).Hediedamartyr, truthful inhis (statementof) support,mostnobleofmonkswhohavebecome

fearful(ofGod).ImeanthatthesonofFatimaisthetestamentarytrusteeofauthority.Whoeverdeclares(theirbelief

in)hisoutstandingmeritandhis(illustrious)actionsdoesnotlie.Heisamanbothofwhosesidesare(descended)fromShem,withoutanyfatherfromHam,nora

fatherofafather.Heisonewhodoesnotfleeandinbattleonlythestrikingofhissworddyedred(withblood)can

beseen.38

SOMEOFIMAMALI'SWORDSABOUTTHEBATTLEOFSIFFIN

DuringthebattleofSiffinAmiral-mu'mininheardsomeofhismenabusingtheSyrians,thenhe

said:“Idislikeyoustartingtoabusethem,butifyoudescribetheirdeedsandrecounttheirsituationsthatwouldbeabettermodeofspeakingandamoreconvincingwayofarguing.Insteadofabusingthemyoushouldsay,"O'Allah!saveourbloodandtheirblood,producereconciliationbetweenusandthem,andleadthemoutoftheirmisguidancesothathewhoisignorantofthetruthmayknowit,andhewhoinclinestowardsrebellionandrevoltmayturnawayfromit."39WheninSiffinthemenofMu`awiyahoverpoweredthemenofAmiral-mu'mininandoccupiedthe

bankofRiverEuphratesandpreventedthemfromtakingitswater,Amiralmu'mininsaid:“Theyareaskingyoumorselsofbattle.Soeitheryou remain in ignominyand the lowestpositionordrenchyour swordswith blood andquenchyour thirstwithwater.Real death is in the life of subjugationwhilereallifeisindyingassubjugators.Beware,Mu`awiyahisleadingasmallgroupofinsurgentsandhaskept them indarkabout the true factswith the result that theyhavemade theirbosoms thetargetsofdeath.”Amiral-mu'mininhadnotreachedSiffinwhenMu`awiyahpostedfortythousandmenonthebank

of theRiver to close theway to thewateringplace, so that none except theSyrians could take thewater.WhenAmir al-mu'mimin's force alighted there they found that therewas nowatering placeexceptthisoneforthemtotakewater.Iftherewasoneitwasdifficult38KitabAl-IrshadbyShaykhAl-Mufid39NahjulBalaghasermon206to reach there by crossing high hillocks.Amir al-mu'minin sent Sa`sa`ah ibn Suhan al-`Abdi to

Mu`awiyahwiththerequesttoraisethecontroloverwater.Mu`awiyahrefused.OnthissideAmiral-mu'minin'sarmywastroubledbythirst.WhenAmiralmu'mininnoticedthispositionhesaid,"Getupand secure water by dint of sword." Consequently, these thirsty persons drew their swords out ofsheaths,putarrowsintheirbowsanddispersingMu`awiyah'smenwentrightdownintotheRiverandthenhittheseguardsawayandoccupiedthewateringplacethemselves.Now,Amiral-mu'minin'smenalsodesiredthatjustasMu`awiyahhadputrestrictiononwaterby

occupationofthewateringplace,thesametreatmentshouldbeaccordedtohimandhismenandnoSyrian should be allowedwater and everyone of them should bemade to die of thirst. But Amiralmu'minin said, "Do youwant to take the same brutal stepwhich these Syrians had taken?Neverpreventanyonefromwater.Whoeverwantstodrink,maydrinkandwhoeverwantstotakeawaymaytakeaway."Consequently,despiteoccupationof theRiverbyAmiral-mu'minin'sarmynoonewaspreventedfromthewaterandeveryonewasgivenfulllibertytotakewater.40WhenImamAli(a)sentanexpeditionof3000soldiersunderMa'qilbinQaysRiyahiagainst the

Syrians,heissuedthefollowinginstructions.“AlwayskeepthefearofAllahinyourmind.RememberthatyouhavetomeetHimoneday(letthe

fear ofAllah guide you in all your activities againstman) andyour endwill be towardsHimand

towardsnoneelse.Donot fight against anybodyunlesshewishes to fight against you.Duringwinters travel in the

morningsandgiveyourarmyarestintheafternoons.Dorushthroughjourneys(unlessabsolutelynecessary).Travelbyeasy stages, anddonot tireoutyourarmyduring the journey.Donot travelduringtheearlypart40NahjulBalaghasermon52oftheeveningbecauseAllahhasmeantthistobetimeforrestandcomfortandnotformarchand

exertion,makeuseofthesehourstogiveresttoyourbodyandmind.WhenyouhaverestedthenbeginyourmarchwithtrustandfaithinAllahintheearlyhoursofthe

morning.Whenyoufaceyourenemy,standinthemidstofyourarmy,neveralone.Donotbeover-anxious

tofightanddonotbehaveasifyoucravingforacombatoraspiringforanencounter,butatthesametimedonottrytoavoidyourenemyortoevadeanengagementasifyouareafraidornervous.Keepmyorders inmindandactaccordinglyuntilyouget further instructions.Donot let thehatredandenmityofyouropponentsforceyoutoacombat,donotbeginabattleeveniftheenemysodesiresunlessyouhaveexploredeveryavenueofamityandgood-willandhaveexhaustedallthechancesofapeacefulsettlement.”41AtSiffinImamAli(a)gavethefollowinginstructionstohissoldiersbeforethebattle:“Donottaketheinitiativeinfighting,letthembeginit.ItisbecausebytheFavourofAllahyouare

onthesideoftruthandjustice.Leavethemuntiltheybegintheirhostilitiesandthenyouareatlibertytotaketofighting.TheirkeennesstobeginabattlewillbeanotherproofofyoursincerebeliefintheordersofAllah.IfAllahfavorsyouwithsuccessandinflictsdefeattotheenemy,thendonotattackthosewhohave

surrendered,donotinjurethedisabledandweak,donotassault thewounded,donotexcitewomenanddonotmakethemangrywithrudebehaviorevenif theyuseharshandinsultingwordsagainstyourcommanderandofficersbecausetheyarephysicallyandmentallyweakandgetexcitedeasilyandfrightenedquickly.41NahjulBalaghaletter12DuringthedaysoftheHolyProphet(peaceofAllahbeuponhimandhisdescendants)wehadstrict

ordersnottotouch,molestorinsultwomenthoughtheywereunbelievers.Eveninpre-Islamicdaysitwasthecustomthatifamanstruckawomanevenwithastickorastone,therevengehadtobetakenbyhissonsanddescendants.”42A letter sent by ImamAli (a) to the people of various provinces, giving them the causes of the

BattleofSiffin:“The thingbegan in thisway:Weand theSyrianswerefacingeachotherwhilewehadcommon

faithinoneAllah,inthesameProphet(s)andonthesameprinciplesandcanonsofreligion.Sofaras faith in Allah and the Holy Prophet (s) was concerned we never wanted them (the Syrians) tobelieve inanythingoverandaboveorother thanwhat theybelieved inand theydidnotwantus tochangeourfaith.Bothofuswereunitedontheseprinciples.ThepointofcontentionbetweenuswasthequestionofthemurderofUthman.Ithadcreatedthesplit.TheywantedtolaythemurderatmydoorwhileIamactuallyinnocentofit.Iadvisedthemthatthisproblemcannotbesolvedbyexcitement.Lettheexcitementsubside,letus

cool down; let us do away with sedition and revolt; let the country settle down into a peacefulatmosphereandwhenonceastableregimeisformedandtherightauthorityisaccepted,thenletthisquestionbedealtwithontheprinciplesofequityandjusticebecauseonlythentheauthoritywillhavepowerenoughtofindthecriminalsandtobringthemtojustice.Theyrefusedtoacceptmyadviceandsaidthattheywantedtodecidetheissueonthepointofthesword.Whentheythusrejectedmyproposalofpeaceandkeptonrattlingthreats,thennaturallythebattle,

whichwasfuriousandbloody,started.Whentheysawdefeatfacingthemacrossthebattlefield,whenmanyofthemwerekilled,andmanymore42NahjulBalaghaletter14wounded,thentheywentdownontheirkneesandproposedthesamething,whichIhadproposed

beforethebloodshedhadbegun.Iacceptedtheirproposalsothattheirdesiremightbefulfilled,myintentions of accepting the principles of truth and justice and acting according to these principlesmightbecomeclearandtheymighthavenocausetocomplainagainstme.Nowwhoeveradheresfirmlytothepromisesmadewillbetheonewhosesalvationwillbesaved

byAllahandonewhowilltrytogobackuponthepromisesmade,willfalldeeperanddeeperintoheresy, error and loss. His eyes will be closed to realities and truth in this world and he will bepunishedinthenextworld.”4343NahjulBalaghaletter58

11ChapterMARTYRDOMOFMALIKAL-ASHTAR

Ali’sgovernorinEgyptwasMuhammadibnAbuBakr.In658(38A.H.)MuawiyasentAmrbinAas

withanarmyof6000warriorstoconquerEgyptforhim.MuhammadrequestedAlitosendhimaidtodefendEgypt.AlirealizedthattheonlymanwhocouldsaveEgyptfromtheclutchesofMuawiyaandAmr bin Aas, wasMalik ibn Ashter. He, therefore, sent him (Malik) as the new governor ofEgypt, and recalled Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr to Kufa, but neither Malik nor Muhammad everreachedtheirdestinations.MalikleftKufatotakechargeofEgypt.ButMuawiya'sagents,disguisedasinnkeepers,werewaitingto"greet"himatthefrontier.Theyadministeredpoisontohiminhisdrink,andhediedfromitseffect(AbulFida).Malik was Muawiya's nemesis. The agent who had administered poison to Malik, immediately

reportedhis "exploit" toMuawiya, andhe (Muawiya) couldn't believehisowngood fortune. In anecstasyofdelight,heexclaimed:"TodayAlihaslosthissecondarm."BykillingAmmaribnYasir,inthebattleofSiffin,MuawiyahadcutAli'sonearm;andnowbykillingMalik,hehadcuthis(Ali's)otherarmalso.AfterthedeathofMalik,Alihadlostbotharms.Muawiyahad"cut"Ali'sarmwiththeaidofhissecretbutpowerfulweapon–poison!Poison"dissolved"Muawiya'snemesis,andfreedhimfromfearforalltime.InthoseyearsAmrbinal-AasreconqueredEgyptfortheOmayyads,eliminatingthroughpoison,

Malik al-Ashter whom Ali had dispatched there as governor. (Francesco Gabrieli The Arabs, ACompactHistory,p.69,1963)ToAli,thedeathofMalikwasastaggeringblow.IfevertherewasamaninArabiawhowasaone-

manarmy,itwasMalik.Hispresenceinspiredconfidenceinhisownarmy,andhisnamestruckterrorintheheartsofhisenemies.TheArabsneverproducedamoreformidableswordsmanthanhim.Bydintofgrit andability, hepropelledhimself to the topof the tree. It is oneof the tragediesof thehistory of theMuslims that his career was cut short in the prime of life. Hewas brave, resolute,intelligent,chivalrousandfaithful.Thereweremanymenwho,until thedeathofAmmaribnYasir,wereundecidediftheyshouldorshouldnotfightonAli'sside.ItwasonlyafterthefulfillmentofthepredictionoftheApostleofGodthatAmmarwouldbekilledbythepeopleofiniquity,thattheywereconvincedthatjusticeandtruthwereonAli'sside.ButMalikneverhadsuchhang-ups.HeknewthatAliandTruthwereinseparable,andhewasmostconsistentinhisdevotionandsupporttohim.MalikibnAshterdiedatatimewhenAlineededhimmost,andtherewasnoonewhocouldtakehis

place.The shock to Ali, of the death of friends like Ammar ibn Yasir and Malik ibn Ashter, was

devastatingbuthewassustainedbyhisFaith.Heconsideredeachnewshock,eachnewsorrow,andeachnewmisfortune,anewtestofhisfaith,anditremainedunshaken.HisfaithinthemercyofhisCreatorwasgreaterthananythingthatcouldeverbefallhim,andheneversurrenderedtodespair.Malikwastrulyextraordinary.Hewastheconsummatemilitaryprofessional,dedicated,dignified,

andsupremelycompetentandself-confident.Hewasakingamongmen.Amore remarkableman thanhim inhisboldandsalient individuality,andsharplymarked light

andshadow,isnowheretobeseeninArabianhistory.Propagandahasmadethenamesofsomeothermenmorewell-knownthanhisbutheremainsincomparable.HewasthePhoenixofIslam.Perhapsit isimpossibletopayMalikibnAshteratributegreaterthantheonepaidtohimbyhis

ownmaster,AliibnAbiTalib.InthebattleofLayla-tul-Harir,AliplacedhishandsontheshouldersofMalik,andsaid:"You have served me with the same distinction and devotion with which I served my master,

Muhammad,theblessedApostleofGod."44When news of the assassination of Muhammad b. Abi Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him,

reachedAmirulMomineen,peacebeuponhim,hewrote toMalikb.al-HarithalAshtar,mayAllahblesshimwithmercy,whowasthenresidingatNasibayn.(Hewrote):"Youaresurelyamongthosefrom whom I seek help to keep the banner of Islam high and to crush the haughtiness of thedisobedient and to fortify the threatened borderline. I had appointedMuhammad b.AbiBakr,mayAllahblesshimwithmercy,togovernEgypt,buttherebelsattackedhimandashewasinexperiencedaboutwarfare,hewasmartyred-mayAllahblesshimwithmercy.Now,comeovertomesothatwemaylookinto thematterconcerningEgypt,andappoint inyourplaceareliable,sanepersonfromyourcompanions."ThenMalik-mayAllahbepleasedwithhim,appointedShabibb.Amiral-Azaditosucceedhim,andprecededtillhearrivedtomeetAmirulMomineen,peacebeuponhim.Thenhe(i.e.Ali)explainedtohimthesituationinEgyptandinformedhimaboutitspeople.Thenhesaid:"Thereisnooneforthisassignmentexceptyou,sobereadytogo.Andifthereis

anything,aboutwhichIhavenotguidedyou,youwilldependuponyourjudgmentandseekassistancefrom Allah for your intention. (In your dealing with them), mix severity and harshness withtenderness and gentleness, and be friendly for as long as friendliness serves the purpose. And beresolutewhenthereisnoalternativetoseverity."Hesaid:ThenMalikal-Ashtar-mayAllahbepleasedwithhim,roseandpreparedforhisjourney

toEgypt.AndAli,44TheRestatementoftheHistoryofIslamandMuslimsbySayedRazwypeacebeuponhim,sentalettertothepeopleofEgypt,before(Malik)arrivedthere:"InthenameofAllah,MostMerciful,MostBenevolent,IpraiseAllah,nonetobeworshippedbut

He;andbeseechAllahtoblessHisProphet,Muhammadandhisprogeny.Surely,IhavesentuntoyouaservantfromtheservantsofAllah,whodoesnotsleepinthedaysoffearanddoesnotrecoilfromtheenemyfearinganydisaster.HeisfromthestrongestamongHisservantsandthenoblest;andto

thetransgressors,morethreateningthantheburningfire.Andfromignoranceandblemish,heisthefarthest.He isMalikb.al-Harithal-Ashtar,neitheracutting toothnorabluntededge.He ispatientamidthreats,calmandcomposedat thetimeofwar.Hehasanoriginal judgmentandanagreeablepatience.Solistentohimandobeyhim.Ifhecommandsyoutomarchforth,marchandifcommandsyoutohalt,haltforhedoesnotadvanceorhaltexceptbymyorder.Ihavesenthimtoyouinspiteofmy need for him, for the sake of your welfare and because of my deep concern about youradversaries.MayAllahguardandprotectyouwithguidanceandkeepyousteadfastwithTaqwa.MayHeblessusandyouwithwhatHelikesandloves.MaypeaceandmercyofAllahandHisBlessingbeuponyou."WhenMalik al-Ashtar completed his preparations for journey toEgypt, the spies ofMo'awiyah

fromIraqwrotetoinformhim.Hewasverymuchdistressed,becausehehadhiseyessetonEgypt.He knew that he would lose Egypt if al-Ashtar arrived there and to him al-Ashtar was a morepowerfulpersonthanthesonofAbuBakr.Sohecontactedachiefwhopaidtherevenueataplacecalledal-Qulzum, informinghimthatAli (AS)hasappointedal-Ashtar togovernEgyptand ifyougotridofhimonmybehalf,Ishallgiftawaytherevenuetoyouforaslongasyoulive,soplantokillhimineverywaypossible.ThenMo'awiyahcollected thepeopleofSyria and said: "Verily,Alihas sent al-Ashtar toEgypt.

ComeandletuspraytoAllahthatHemayrelieveusofhim."Thenheprayed,andsodidthepeoplewithhim.Al-Ashtartravelledontillhecametoal-Qulzum.Thechiefreceivedhimandgreetedhimandthen

said:"Iamamongthosewhoisliabletopaytherevenue.Andyouandyourcompanionshavearightuponallthatgrowsonmyland.Sobemyguestandallowmetoserveyouandyourcompanionsandletyouranimalsfreelygrazeonmyland,andIwillcountitfrommyliability."So, al-Ashtar became his guest and he served him (alAshtar) and his companions for all their

needs.Andhebroughttothemfood,includingsomehoney,whichhadpoison.WhenalAshtardrankfromthathoney,itkilledhimandhediedbecauseofthat.Mo'awiyah got the news, so he collected the people of Syria and said: "Happy tidings for you!

Allah,MostHigh, has answered your prayers; has relieved you of him and has killed him."Theyrejoiced.When thenewsofAshtar'sdeathassailedAmirulMo'mineen,peacebeuponhim,he sighedand

grieved,saying:"WhatanexcellentmanMalikwas!Hadhebeenamountain,hewouldhavebeenitsfirmrock,andhadhebeenfromstone,hewouldhavebeensolid.ByAllah,somemenintheworldwillbeplacatedbyhisdeath;butitbehavesforthemournerstomournoverhim."Thenhesaid:"WeareforAllahanduntoHimshallwereturn;andallpraisetoAllah,theLordof

all Universe. I shall seek reward from you for this sacrifice, for surely, his death is among thegreatestworldlycalamities.MayAllahblessMalikwithmercy;nodoubt,hefaithfullydispersedhischarge and completed the appointed term (of life) andmet his Creator;whilewe have reconciledourselvestoforbeareveryadversityafterbeingbereavedoftheProphet,peacebeuponhimandhisprogeny,forthatwasthegreatestcalamity."45

45Al-AmalibySheikhAl-Mufid9thsessionHadith4

12ChapterTHEMARTYRDOMOFMOHAMMADIBNABUBAKR

Muhammad IbnAbiBakrwasbroughtupby theCommanderof theFaithfulandwasoneof the

staunchestfriendsoftheHolyAhleBait.Addressingthisillustriousfamilyhesays:"OdescendantsofFatima!Youareaplaceofsafetyfor

myguardian andme. It is through you that on theDay of Judgment, the significance ofmy goodactionswillbegreater.Sincemyloveforyouissincere,Idonotmindifsomebodybarksnearme."Althoughhewasthesonofthefirstcaliph,AbuBakr,andthebrotherofA'yesha,hewasnotcalled

Khalu'l-Mu'minin(likeMuawiyawas).Hewasabusedanddeprivedofhisfather'slegacy!WhenAmrBinAsandMu'awiyaBinKhadijconqueredEgypt,thesupplyofwaterwascutofftoMuhammadBinAbuBakr.Whenhehadnearlydiedofthirst,hewaskilled.Hewasthenenclosedintheskinofanassandthe

bundlewasthrownintoafire.WhenMu'awiyalearnedofthis,hewasverypleased.46AmrbinAasenteredEgyptwithoutanyopposition,andwhenheencounteredMuhammadibnAbu

Bakr,heeasilydefeatedhim.Muhammadhadnoarmy,andhetriedtofightwithahandfulofsoldiers.TheSyrianscapturedhim,and torturedhimtodeath.AmroccupiedEgypt,and itbecameapartofMuawiya'sdominions.AlilovedMuhammadibnAbuBakrashisownson.Hisdeathwasanotherterribleshockhehadto

endure.Heprayedfor46PeshawarNightsbySultanulWaizinShirazihim,andinvokedGod'sblessingsandmercyuponhisnoblesoul.47Hearingthesefacts,theSunni’sdonotquestionwhythesedamnedpeopletreatedAbuBakr'sson,

Khalu'l-Mu'minin Muhammad Bin Abu Bakr, so cruelly, but when Mu'awiya is cursed theyimmediatelybecomeangry?!So,yousee theopposition to theprogenyof theHolyProphetand itcontinuestoday.SinceMuhammadBinAbiBakrwasoneofthefriendsofthedescendantsoftheHolyProphet,theSunni’sneithercallhimKhalu'l-Mu'mininnorregrethismurder.SinceMu'awiyawasthebitterestenemyoftheAhleBaitoftheHolyProphet,theycallhimKhalu'l-

Mu'minin.MayAllahsaveusfromsuchfanaticalperversity!In the sura Nisa (The Women) Allah says: "And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his

punishment isHell; he shall abide in it, andAllahwill sendHiswrath on him and curse him andprepareforhimapainfulchastisement."(4:93)ThisHolyverseexplicitlysaysthatifamankillsasinglebelieverintentionally,hedeservesAllah's

curseandhisabodeisinHell.Wasn'tMu'awiyaassociatedwiththemurderofbelievers?WouldyouhesitatetocallMu'awiyaaccursed?IsitnotafactthatintheBattleofSiffinthegreat

companionoftheHolyProphet,AmmarYasir,wasmartyredbyMu'awiya'sorder?AlltheprominentulemasaywithoneaccordthattheHolyProphetsaidtoAmmarYasir:"Itwillnotbelongbeforeyouwillbekilledbyarebelliousandmisguidedgroup."47TheRestatementoftheHistoryofIslamandMuslimsbySayedRazwyHave you any doubt that thousands of devout believerswere killed byMu'awiya's subordinates?

Wasn'tthepureandvaliantwarrior,MalikAshtar,poisonedbyMu'awiya'sorder?CanyoudenythatMu'awiya'schiefofficials,AmrBinAsandMu'awiyaBinKhadij,brutallymartyredtheCommanderof theFaithful's governor, the piousMuhammadBinAbiBakr?Not contentwith that, they put hisbodyintothecarcassofadonkeyandsetitonfire.IfIweretogiveyouthedetailsaboutthebelieverskilledbyMu'awiyaandhisofficials,itwouldrequirenotonenight,butseveral.4848PeshawarNightsbySultanulWaizinShirazi

13ChapterASSASSINATIONOFIMAM‘ALIWHILEINSALAT

Muawiya, thegovernorofSyria, hadbeen steadily escalatingviolence against thedominionsof

Ali.SomeofhisinroadsreachedAin-at-TamarandAnbar,only170milesnorthofKufa.ThemenofKufa were so unwilling to fight against the Syrians that Ali found it impossible to take effectivepunitiveaction.MuawiyahimselfledaraidrightacrosstheJazirafromRaqqatoMosul,andmetnoresistanceanywhere.Atlast,AlideclaredinthemosqueofKufathathewouldleavethecitywiththefewofhisfaithfulfollowers inanattempt tohalt theSyrianaggressionagainst Iraq,evenif itcosthimhislife.ThisthreatawakenedthecitizensofKufatothespecterofbeingleftleaderlessifAliwaskilled fighting against the Syrians. They were stung into action and they began to mobilize fordefense.The battle of Siffin had been the first trial of strength betweenAli andMuawiya.Militarily, the

battlehadbeenanearvictoryforAli,butpolitically, ithadbecomeastalemate.Aftersome time, itbegantoappearthatAliwouldtakeupthechallengeofMuawiya.ButjustthenAliwasassassinatedinthemosqueofKufa,andthesecondtrialofstrengthnevertookplace.Accordingtothehistoricalaccountssomeofwhicharequiteplausible,threeKharjismetinKufa

(some say in Makkah) to hatch a conspiracy. Each of them volunteered to kill each of the threeleadingpoliticalfiguresoftheDar-ul-Islam–Ali,MuawiyaandAmrbinAas.Bykillingthem,itisalleged,theyhopedtoputanendtocivilwarsinIslam,andtorestorepeacetotheMuslimumma.OneofthethreeconspiratorswasacertainAbdurRahmanbinMuljam.HestayedinKufatokill

Ali,and theother twowent toSyriaandEgypt tokillMuawiyaandAmrbinAas.Theplansof thewould-beassassinsofMuawiyaandAmrbinAas,accordingtothestoriesincirculation,wentawry,andtheywerecapturedandwereexecuted.TheKharjishadbeendefeatedatNehrwan,andmostofthemhadperishedinthebattlebutafew

hadescaped.AbdurRahmanbinMuljamwasoneofthosewhohadescaped.HewasconsumedwiththedesiretokillAli,andwasinquestofanopportunitytodoso.Byacoincidence,hemetaKharjiwoman,oneQattama,whose fatherandbrothershadalsobeenkilled inNehrwan,andshe toohadnursedanundyinghatredofAli.AbdurRahmanfellinlovewithQattama,andproposedmarriagetoher.ShetoldhimthatthepriceofherhandwastheheadofAliibnAbiTalib.ThisonlystrengthenedAbdurRahmaninhisresolution.Hepromisedhisloverthemoonifsheaskedforit,butshesaidthatnothingwasofinteresttoherifshecouldnotgettheheadofAliibnAbiTalib!AbdurRahmanbinMuljamcarefullyworkedouthisplanstokillAli.AfewothertrustedKharjis

alsovolunteeredtheirservicestohim,andtogethertheyrehearsedtheassassination.

AbdurRahmanbinMuljamtookoneextraprecaution–heputhisswordindeadlypoison,andletitsoakinitforthreedays.Onthemorningof the19thofRamadanof theyear40A.H.,Alicameinto theGreatMosqueof

Kufa, andcalledAdhan (thecall toprayer).He tookhisplace in thealcoveandmoments later theworshippersbegantoarrive.Theystoodbehindhiminserriedranks,andtheprayerbegan.Standinginthefrontrow,withotherworshippers,wereAbdurRahmanbinMuljamandhisconfederates.TheywerewatchingAli'smovements.Inthefoldsoftheircloaks,theywerecarryingswordsburnishedtoahighsheen,andsoakedinpoison.JustwhenAlitouchedthegroundwithhisforeheadforsajda,AbdurRahmanbinMuljamstepped

out of his row, and crept into the alcove.And just whenAli lifted his head from the ground, ibnMuljamstruckthefatalblowathisforeheadwithsuchdeadlyforcethatitsplitopen.BloodsquirtedfromAli'sforeheadinseveraljets,andheexclaimed:"BytheLordoftheKaaba,Iamsuccessful!"Themembersofthecongregationrealizedwhathadhappened,andassoonastheyconcludedthe

prayer,theysurroundedhim.Hissons,HasanandHusain,carriedhimtohishouse.Aphysiciancame,andtriedtodresstheghastlywoundbutcouldnotstopthebleeding.Theblowoftheswordwasfatalanyway,butthepoisonfromitsbladewasalsospreadingrapidlyinhisbody.TheArabhistorianssaythat itwas the second time thatAliwaswounded in the forehead, the first timebeingwhen, in thebattleoftheTrenchfoughtin627,theswordofAmrbinAbdWuddcutthroughhisshieldandhelmet,andstruckit.HisforeheadstillborethescarleftbytheswordofAmr.ThisistheaccountleftbytheArabhistoriansoftheassassinationofAli,andthevastmajorityof

theMuslimshasaccepteditasauthentic.Though this account has the authority of "consensus" of the historians behind it, its authenticity,

nevertheless, is suspect on the grounds of "circumstantial evidence." There are too many"coincidences"init.NoonequestionsthefactthatitwasIbnMuljamwhokilledAli.Butwasithisownideatokillhim?

Itisquiteprobablethatsomeoneelsewhousedsubliminaltechniquesfordoingsoplantedtheideainhismind.IbnMuljamdidn'tknowthathewasonlyacat'spaw,andhewentaheadandkilledAli.AtthistimenooneinDar-ul-IslamwasmoreinterestedintheassassinationofAlithanMuawiya.

TheplottokillAli,theskilldisplayedinitsexecution,anditssuccess,showthetouchofconsummatesubtletyandahighdegreeofprofessionalismthatwerecharacteristicofMuawiyaalone,whereasIbnMuljamwasnothingmorethanabumpkin.Muawiyaemployedthesame"skill"inremovingfromthescene,realorfanciedthreatstohisown

security and power, on numerous other occasions in later times,with the same results.Muawiya'sspieshad informedhimthatAliwasmakingpreparationsfor the invasionofSyria. In thebattleofSiffin, Muawiya had not responded to chivalrous treatment by Ali. This time, therefore, Ali haddecided, not to fight a lingering action but a swift one that would quellMuawiya's rebellion, and

wouldrestorepeacetotheembattledempireoftheMuslims.MuawiyaalsoknewthatAlihad,thistime,boththeabilityandtheresolution,tobringtheconflict

toaspeedyandsuccessfulconclusion.Hisonlyhope,therefore,forhissafetyinfuture,asinthepast,lay in the succor that he could get from his old and trusted "allies" – treachery and intrigue. He,therefore,mobilizedthem,andtheydidn'tdisappointhim.MuawiyamadetheactoftheassassinationofAlilookabsolutelyspontaneousandconvincingbymakinghimselfandhiscrony,AmrbinAas,thepotentialandintended"victims"oftheconspiracyandfanaticismoftheKharjianarchists.Butbothofthem"escaped"assassinationbyarare"strokeofgoodluck."Oneofthem"fellill"onthedayhewastobe"assassinated,"anddidnotgointothemosque;theotherdidnotfallill,butwentintothemosquewearinghisarmorunderhiscloak.Hewas"attacked"byhis"assassin"butwas"saved"byhisarmor."Fallingill"wouldhavebeenanindiscreetact,andwouldhaveexposedboth"victims."Inthismanner,"illness"and thearmor"saved"bothMuawiyaandAmrbinAasfromthedaggersof theirKharjiassassins,butAliwasnotso"lucky."Hedidnotfallill,andhedidnotputonhisarmorwhenentering themosque. In themosque, IbnMuljamwasawaitinghimwitha sword soaked inpoison.WhenAlirosefromsajda,hestruckathisforehead,andcleftit.Theblowprovedtobefatal.MostoftheArabhistorianswrotehistoriesthatwere"inspired"byMuawiyaandhissuccessors.He

wasofcoursefreetoinjectanyaccountintothosehistories.He,therefore,managedtosavehimselfandAmr binAas from the indictment of history, and itwas IbnMuljam alonewhowent down inhistorybooksastherealandtheonlyvillainofthecrime.Byacoincidence,theassassinationofAlitookplaceontheeveofhisinvasionofSyria.ThoughtheKharjianarchistshadaimedtheirdaggersatallthreeoftheleadingpoliticalfiguresof

theMuslimworld,viz.,Ali,MuawiyaandAmrbinAas,byacoincidence,thelattertwoescapedtheattemptsontheirlives,andAlialonewaskilled.By still another coincidence, the two men who escaped, i.e., Muawiya and Amr bin Aas, were

intimatefriendsofeachother,andbothofthemwere–coincidenceagain–themortalenemiesofthethird,i.e.,Ali,whowastheonlyonetobekilled.TherearetoomanymysteriouscoincidencesthatsavedthelivesofMuawiyaandAmrbinAasbut

tookthelifeofAli.Ali spent the time still left to him in prayer and devotions; in dictating his will; in giving

instructions to his sons, ministers and generals regarding the conduct of the government; and inurgingthemallnevertoforgettheold,thesick,thepoor,thewidowsandtheorphansatanytime.Alideclaredthathiselderson,Hasan,wouldsucceedhimastheheadoftheKingdomofHeavenon

Earth,andasthesovereignofallMuslims.ThoughAliwassteadilyweakeningfromthelossofbloodandfromtheactionofpoison,allhis

facultiesweresharpandclearrighttothelastmoment.Toallthosepeoplewhocametoseehim,hesaidthat theyought tobeaware,atall times,of thepresenceof theirCreator in their lives, to loveHim,toserveHim,andtoserveHisCreation.

Thepoisonhaddoneitswork,andonthemorningofthe21stofRamadanof40A.H.,AliibnAbiTalibleftthisworldtogointothepresenceofhisCreatorwhomhehadlovedandservedallhislife.Hewas"God-intoxicated."HisgreatestambitioninlifewastowaituponhisCreator,everymomentofhis existence, andhe realized it, and this is themeaningofhis exclamation in thealcoveof themosque when he felt the edge of the sword at his forehead: "By the Lord of the Kaaba, I amsuccessful."HasanandHusainwashedthebodyoftheirfather,drapeditinashroud,offeredthefuneralprayers

for it, and then buried it silently at midnight at Najaf Ashraf, at some distance from Kufa. Nomarkingswereplacedonthegrave,andthegrave-sitewaskeptasecret,asdesiredbyAlihimself.Ali, Islam's greatest saint, hero, statesman, philosopher andmartyr, had left this world, and the

worldwas not to find aman sublime like him to all eternity.Many among theMuslimswere themourners ofAli's death but nonemourned himmore dolorously than theDhimmis (the Jews, theChristians, and theMagians). Theywere utterly heart-broken.Andwhen the sick, the disabled, thecripples, theorphansandthewidowsintheempireheardthathehaddied, theyfelt thattheirworldhadcollapsed.Hehadbeenafathertothemall.Hehadtakenthemallbythehand.Hehadtakenthemallintohisprayers.Manyamongthemdidnotknowuntilafterhisdeaththatitwashewhohadfedthemandhadtaken

careofthem.Hehadtakenallmankindintohisgrasp.WhereasAliwasaccessibleatalltimestothepoorandtheweak,hisowngreatestanxietyandfear

were lest any of thembe inaccessible to him. Itwas only in his dominion that theDhimmis (non-Muslims),thepowerlessandthedefenselessenjoyedcompletesecurity.Noonecouldterrorizethemorexploitthem.Withhisdeath,theirsecuritywasgoneforever!It is a truism that exercise of power cannot be combined with saintly purity, since once aman

assumesresponsibilityforpublicaffairs,themoralsimplicitieswithinwhichitisjustpossible,withluck,tobeabletoleadaprivatelife,aresoonhideouslycomplicatedtoanextentthatprecludesallcleardistinctionsbetweenrightandwrong.Thistruism,however,hasitsownexception–inAli.Heupheldprinciple,inpubliclifeasinprivate,regardlessofcost.Heinvariablyputtherightthingaheadofthesmartthing,regardlessofcost.ThesourceoftheprinciplesthatguidedhisprivateandpubliclifewasAl-Qur ’anal-Majidasitwasalsothesourceofhispoliticalphilosophy.Alihasmanycriticsandenemiesbuttheycannotpointoutasingleinstancewhenhedeviatedfrom

aprinciple.Theycannotpointoutanyconflictbetweenhis thoughtandspeechon theonehand,orbetweenhisspeechanddeedontheother.Hewasconsistentlyconsistentinthought,speechandaction.Alirepresentedtheultimatetriumphofcharacterandideology.Hewasararecombinationoflove

ofGod,devotiontoduty,strengthtemperedwithtenderness,symmetryofdisposition,andinflexibleintegrity.HisgreatestlegacytotheworldofIslamwillremainforeverhissublimecharacter.49IfA'yesha repentedofher revoltagainstAmiru'lMu'mininwhydidsheperformaprostrationof

thanks when she heard the news of the Holy Imam's martyrdom? Abu'l-Faraj Ispahani, author ofAghani,writingabouttheHolyImaminhisMaqatilu't-Talibin,says:"WhenA'yeshaheardthenewsofthemartyrdomofAmiru'l-Mu'mininAli,sheofferedaprostration(ofthanks)."Laterhowever,she

asked the informantwhohadkilledAli.Shewas told that itwasAbdu'r-RahmanIbnMuljimof theBaniMuradclan.Instantlysherecitedthefollowingcouplet:"IfAliisawayfromme,thenewsofhisdeathwasbroughtbyaslave,whomaynothavedustinhismouth."49TheRestatementoftheHistoryofIslamandMuslimsbySayedRazwyZainab,daughterofUmmeSalma,waspresentatthattime.SheaskedA'yeshaifitwasproperfor

hertoexpressherjubilationanduttersuchwordsaboutAli.Itwasabadthing.A'yesharepliedthatshewas not in her senses and that she uttered thosewords through forgetfulness. "If such a thingappearsinmeagainandIrepeatthosethings,youmayremindme,sothatImayrefrainfromdoingthat."ThesefactsclearlyshowthatA'yeshadidnotrepentlaterinlife.Inviewofthemisdeedsofthisaccurseddynasty,thebodyoftheCommanderoftheFaithful,Ali

was buried during the night, and no trace of his grave was left. The grave remained virtuallyunknownuntilthedaysofCaliphHarunar-Rashid.OnedayHarunwenthuntinginthelocalityofNajaf,wheredeerlivedinlargenumbers.Whenthe

houndschasedthedeer,theytookrefugeonthemoundofNajaf,smallhillwhichthehoundswouldnotascend.Severaltimes,whenthehoundsretreated,thedeerwouldcomedown,butwhenthehoundsagainleaptatthem,thedeertookrefugeonthemound.Understandingthattherewasareasonforthehounds'behavior,Harunsenthismento inquire inNajaf.Theybroughtanoldmantohimand thecaliphaskedaboutthesecretofwhythehoundsdidnotclimbuponthemound.The old man replied that he knew the secret, but that he was afraid to disclose it. The caliph

guaranteed him safety, and theman told him: "Once I came herewithmy father,whowent on themoundandofferedprayersthere.WhenIaskedhimwhatwasthere,hesaidthattheyhadcometherewithImamJa'farSadiqforavisit.TheImamhadsaid that thiswasthesacredgraveofhisreveredgrandfather, theCommander of the Faithful,Ali, and that itwould shortly become known."At thecaliph'sbehest thatplacewasdugup,and thesignsofagravebecameapparentalongwitha tabletwithaninscriptioninSyriac,meaning:"InthenameofAllah,theBeneficent,theMerciful.This grave has been prepared by the Prophet Noah for Ali, theVicegerent ofMuhammad, 700

yearsbeforetheDeluge."CaliphHarunpaidrespectstotheplaceandorderedtherestorationoftheearth.Hethenperformed

two rak'ats of prayer.Heweptmuch and laid himself on the grave. Thereafter, on his orders, thewholematterwasdisclosedtoImamMusaKazimatMedina.TheImamconfirmedthatthegraveofhisreveredgrandfather,CommanderoftheFaithful,Ali,wasatthatplace.HarunthendecreedthatastonebuildingbeerectedoverCommanderoftheFaithful’ssacredgrave,whichcametobeknownasHajar Haruni, "The stone structure built by Harun." In due course, the news spread, andMuslimsvisitedtheHolyplace.5050PeshawarNightsbySultanulWaizinShirazi

14ChapterCRUSUFICTIONOFMAYTHAMAT-TAMMAR

Imam Ali bought Maytham as a slave and then freed him. He asked him what his name was;

"Salim",hesaid:"ButIheardtheProphetsayingthatyourtruenamewasMaytham"."Hewascorrectandyouarealsocorrect.MytruenameisMaytham".“ThenstaywiththenamementionedbytheHolyProphetandgiveuptheothername".ImamAliboughtandfreedhim,butheputabondoflovearoundhisnecksothatheremainedwith

himuptothelastmomentofhislife.Evendeathcouldnotbreakthisbond.Maythamwas awonderfulman.With his remarkable ability he gradually secured an honorable

positionamongthecompanionsofImamAli.Hebecameawareoftherealitiesandcouldunderstandtheirfinedistinctions.HehadgreatloveforImamAli.Hewasasfondofhimasathirstyplantisofrain. He took his inspiration from Imam Ali. With him he lived and in him he remained fullyabsorbed.ImamAliwasthelightofhisheartandtherejoicingofhissoul;andhewasnotwillingtolosethisrejoicingeventogainallthewealthofthewholeworld.OnedayImamAlisaidtoMaytham"Aftermydeathyouwillbehanged.Aspearwillbethrustinto

yourbody.Onthethirddayyourbeardwillbestainedwiththebloodofyournoseandmouth.YouwillbehangedbesidethehouseofAmribnHuraythalongwithnineothers.Thegallowsonwhichyouwillbehangedwillbetheshortest.ComealongI'llshowyouthedate-palmfromthebranchesofwhichyouwillbeultimatelyhanged".AndthenheshowedMaythamthetree.Yearspassed.ImamAliwasmartyred.TheUmayyadsgainedpoweroverthepeople.Maythamwentout fromtime to time to lookat the tree;offeredhisprayersandspoke to it thus

"Tree,mayAllahblessyou!Ihavebeencreatedforyouandyouaregrowingforme".IntheyearofhismartyrdomMaythamhadthehonorofvisitingKa'bah,theHouseofAllah.There,

he met Umme Salama, the Mother of the Faithful. “I've often heard your name from the HolyProphet",shesaid."HerecommendedyoutoAli",sheadded.MaythamaskedaboutImamHusaynandlearntthathehadleftthecity.“Conveymyregardstohim",hesaid,"andtellhimthatitwillnotbelongbeforeheandIseeeach

otherinthepresenceofourLord"

UmmeSalamaorderedperfumetobebrought.Sheappliedit to thebeardofMaytham.Thenshesaidtohim."Beforelongyourbeardwillbepaintedwithyourownblood"(becauseofyourlovefortheProphetandhisprogeny).Maytham thenwent toKufah,where IbnZiyad'sagentsarrestedhim.WhenhewasproducedbeforeIbnZiyad,thefollowingdialoguetookplacebetweenthem.IbnZiyad"WhereisyourAllah?"Maytham"Heislyinginwaitfortheoppressors,andyouareoneofthem."IbnZiyad'WhatdidyourmasterAlisayaboutmeandyou?"Maytham"Hesaidthatyouwillhangmealongwithnineothers,andmygollowswillbeshorter

thanthoseofothers".IbnZiyad"Iwouldliketogoagainstwhatyourmastersaidandkillyouinsomeotherway".Maytham"Howcanyou?HelearntthatfromtheProphetandtheProphetlearntitfromAllah.Can

yougoagainstAllah?Ievenknowtheplaceofmymartyrdom.IalsoknowthatIamthefirstMusliminwhosemouthabridlebitwillbelaid".Ubaydullah ibnZiyadwas enraged.Heordered that for the timebeingMaythammight be taken

backtoprison.ItwasinthisveryprisonthatMaythamgaveMukhtarThaqafi thegoodnewsofhisrelease,andsaid"InrevengingfortheDoyenoftheMartyrsyouwillkillIbnZiyad".Andsoitwas.Anyhow,at lastMaythamwas taken to theplacewherehewas tomakesupremesacrifice; to the

place of his spiritual rise; the place fromwhich he was to soar to the greatest heights of humanspirituality.HewashangedbesidethehouseofAmribnHuraythfromthetreethathealreadyknew.Thepeoplegatheredroundhim,andonthegallowshefoundagoodopportunitytotellthemofthevirtuesofImamAli.Hespokeandmovedtheheartsofthepeople.Hemadethemacquaintedwiththetruth.IbnZiyadwasinformedthatMaythamwasdefaminghimwhereuponheorderedhimtobegagged

sothathemightnotutterawordfurther.AsImamAlihadforetold,aspearwasthrustintoMaytham'sbody.AllabuAkbar",hecried.Atthe

endof the thirdday thebloodfromhismouthandnosefloweddownandcolouredhisbeard.MaypeaceofAllahbeuponhim!51Itwasdawn.Asusual,Maythamwenttothedate-palmtrunk.Hesplasheditwithwater.Thegood

groundsentoutasweetsmell.MaythamsaidtwoRaka'as.Thenheputhisbackagainstthedate-palmtrunk.51Master&MastershipbyAllamaMurtazaMutahhariMaythamhadvisitedthedatepalmformorethantwentyyears.Ithadnotbeenameredrytrunk.It

hadbeenatalldatepalmbeforetwentyyears.

Days,months,andyearspassed.MaythamsaidtwoRaka'asnearthedatepalm.Thenheaddressed

it:Allahhascreatedyouforme.AndHehascreatedmeforyou.Maythamlikedthatdatepalm.Hewatereditwhenitwasgreen.Oneday,hecametothedatepalm.Hefounditadrytrunk.Hecutthetopofthetrunk.Thattalldate

palm became a mere short trunk. Still Maytham went on visiting that dry trunk. What was therelationshipbetweenhimandthatdatepalm?MaythamwasbornatNihrawannearKufa.HebelongedtoIran.AwomanfromBaniAsadbought

him.Oneday,ImamAli[a]boughtandgavehimhisfreedom.Maythambecamefree.HesolddatesinKufaMarket.Maythamlivedasimplelife.Twothingsgrewinhisheart:faithin

Islamand love for ImamAli [a]. ImamAli [a] taughthim that Islamwas theonlyway to freedom.ImamAli [a] likedMaythambecause hewas a goodman.The Imamwent toMaytham's shop.HetaughthimaboutIslam.ImamAli[a]boughtMaythamfromawomanbelongedtoBaniAsad.TheImamaskedMaytham:What'syourname?Saalim.TheImamsaid:AllahApostle[s]hastoldmethattheIranianscallyouMaytham.Maythamwasastonishedbecausenooneknewhisrealname.So,hesaid:AllahandHisApostleare

truthful.Sincethatday,MaythamhadnotlefttheImam.Whoevergoestothedesertatnightwillseetheskyfullofstars.HisheartwillbeafraidofAllah.

ImamAli [a]went to thedesertatnight tosayhisprayers.He tooka friendofhis to thatdesert toteachhimalessonaboutIslam.Sometimes,ImamAli[a]tookMaythamtothedesert.Hetoldhimaboutfuturematters.TheImam

hadlearntfuturemattersfromourMasterMuhammad[s].MaythamlistenedtoImamAli'swords.TheImamsaidhisprayers.Maythamsaidthembehindhim.

HelistenedwithawetotheImam'sprayers.Maythamwasbrilliant.HegothisknowledgefromImamAli[a].OnedayhesaidtoAbdullahbin

Abbas, the nation's scholar: Ask me whatever you want about the Qur'an explanation. I've learnteverythingfromImamAli[a].So,binAbbassatbeforeMaythamtolearnlessonsabouttheQur'anexplanation.AmrubinHuraithwasaleaderfromKufa.Maythamsaidtohim:I'llbeyourneighbour.Treatme

kindly.Amrusaid:DoyouwanttobuybinMasoud'shouseorbinal-Hakim's?Maythamkeptsilent.AmrubinHarithwaspuzzled.Hewondered:WhatdoesMaythammean?Days and years passed. Unjust rulers succeeded each other over Kufa. They treated its people

rudely. Ziyad binAbeeh became a ruler over Kufa. He began killing ImamAli's companions. He

carriedoutMu'awiyahorders.Mu'awiyahwasfullofspite.HeorderedpeopletoabuseImamAli[a].Therulerappointedamantolookafterthemarket.Themanwasunjust.Thepeoplecomplainedof

his bad treatment. The people were afraid of the man. Thus, they went to Maytham. They askedMaythamtogowiththemtothePrince.Theysaidtohim:Maytham,comewithustothePrince.Maythamwentwiththem.HemetthePrinceandtoldhimabouttherudetreatmentinthemarket.A

policemaninthePalacewasdispleasedwithMaytham'swords.HesaidtothePrince:YourHighness,thePrince,doyouknowthisman?ThePrincesaid:No!He'saliar!Thesupporterofaliar!ThepolicemanmeantthatMaythamwasoneofImamAli'scompanions.Maytham said: Surely, I'm truthful! I'm the supporter of a truthful man. Really, he's Amirul

Mu'mineen!(theCommanderoftheFaithful)HabeebbinMudhahirwasagoodcompanion.AfterourMasterMuhammad'sdemise,HabeebhadacloserelationshipwithImamAli[a].Oneday,Maythamwasridingahorse.HabeebbinMudhahirwasridingahorse,too.TheymeteachotherbeforeBaniAsad.Theyhada

shorttalk.BaniAsadlistenedtotheirtalk.Habeebsaidwithasmile:IpredictthatabaldmanwithabigbellywillsellmelonsatDaral-Rizk.ThemanwillbekilledfortheloveofhisProphet'sfamily.Maythamsaid:Iknowthataredmanwithtwoplaitswouldappear.Themanwillsupportthesonof

thedaughterofhisProphet.Themanwillbebeheaded.HisheadwillbecarriedthroughthestreetsofKufa.Thetwofriendssawoffeachother.BaniAsadsaid:Theyareliars.In the meantime, Rasheed al-Hajry passed by Bani Asad, He asked them about Habeeb and

Maytham.BaniAsadsaid:They'vejustgoneaway.ThenBaniAsadtoldRasheedaboutHabeeb'sandMaytham'spredictions.Rasheed saidwith smile:MayAIlahhavemercyonMaytham,He's forgotten to say:Theperson

whobrings the headwill be given an extra hundreddirhams.Rasheedwent away.BaniAsadwereastonishedathiswords.Thentheysaid:Rasheedisaliar;too!Dayspassed.InMuharram,61A.H.,BaniAsadsawHabeeb'shead.Itwastiedtoalongspear.They

sawIbnZiyad'spolicemencarryingtheheadandwalkingthroughthestreetsofKufa.Mu'awiyahbinAbuSufyandied.HissonYazeedsucceededhim.Yazeedwasayoungmanaged30.

Hedrankalcohol.Heamusedhimselfwiththedogsandthemonkeys.So, Imam Husayn [a] refused to pay Yazeed homage. Meanwhile, the Kufians were tired of

Mu'awiyah'spersecution.Thus,theysentImamHusayn[a]manyletters.Intheirletters,theyaskedtheImamtocometosavethemfromtheUmayyadpersecution.The spies toldYazeed about the situation inKufa.Yazeed had a spiteful Christian doctor called

Sergon.He asked the advice of the doctor. Sergon advised him to appointUbaidullah binZiyad aruleroverKufa.ManycompanionsofImamAli[a]supportedImamHusayn[a].ManyMuslimssupportedhim,too.Ubaidullah bin Ziyad arrived in Kufa, He began arresting and imprisoning Imam Husayn's

supporters.Maytham,Mukhtaral-Thaqafy,Abdullahbinal-Harithwereinthesameprison.ImamHusayn[a]diedamartyrforIslam.Theprisonersfeltpainforhim.Mukhtarsaidtohistwo

friends:BereadytomeetAllah!AfterImamHusayn'skilling,UbaidullahbinZiyadwillkilltheImam'ssupporters!Abdullahbinal-Harithsaid:Yes,hewillkill

ussoonerorlater!Maythamsaid:No,hewon'tkillyou.MydearImamAli[a]hastoldmethatyou(Mukhtar)willget

revenge of Imam Husayn's killers. And you will kick Ubaidullah's head with your foot. ThenMaythamsaidtoAbdullahbinal-Harith:You'llruleBasrah.MaythamdeeplybelievedinAllah.Hewasnotafraidoftheunjust.PeoplewereafraidofIbnZiyad.

Theyshookwith fearwhen theysawhim.ButMaythamdidnotpayattention tohim.Heknew thatUbaidullah'sdeathwascertain.Heknewthattheunjustwouldnotstayaliveforever.Mu'awiyahandhissonYazeedpreventedpeoplefromlovingImamAli[a].Thepolicearrestedand

killedtheImam'scompanions.ImamAli[a]hadtoldhiscompanionsabouttheUmayyadpolice.OnedayhesaidtoMaytham:TheUmayyadwillorderyoutodisownme.Willyoudothat?Maythamsaid:No,Iwon't!MaythamthoughtthattodisownImamAli[a]meanttodisownIslam.

AndtodisownIslammeanttodisownAllah.TheImamsaid:Surely,you'llbekilled!Maythamsaid:I'llbepatient!DeathislittleforAllah!Thelmamsaid:You'llbewithmeinParadise.UbaidullahbinZiyadorderedthepolicetobringMaytham.Hesaidtohim:I'veheardthatyou'rea

companionofAli's!Maythamsaid:Yes.UbaidullahbinZiyadsaidtoMaytham:Willyoudisownhim?Maythamsaid:No,Iwon't!UbaidullahbinZiyadsaid:Surely,I'llkillyou!Maythamsaid:ByAllah,

ImamAli[a]hastoldmethatyouwillkillme!Hehastoldmethatyouwillcutmyhands,legs,and

tongue!IbnZiyadstormilysaid:YourImamisaliar!Maythamjeeredatthatfoolishperson(Ubaidullah).

Ibn Ziyad ordered the police to tie Maytham to the datepalm trunk near the house of Amru binHuraith.Besides,heorderedthemtocutoffhishandsandlegs.Maythamwas tied to thedatepalmtrunk.AmrubinHuraithsawhim.AmrurememberedMaytham'swords:“I'llbeyourneighbour.Treatme

kindly.”So,AmrubinHuraith orderedoneof his daughters to sweep theground around thedate-palmtrunk.Healsoorderedhertosplashitwithwater.ApersonlookedatMaythamandsaid:DisownAlitosaveyoursoul!Maythamsaidwithasmile:ByAllah,thisdatepalmhasbeencreatedforme!AndI'vebeencreated

forit!Thus,peopleknewthesecretofMaytham'svisittothedatepalmthroughoutthelongyears.Maythamaddressedthepeople:“People, ifyouwanttohearsomeinformationaboutAlibinAbi

Talib,thencometome.”ThepeoplecrowdedaroundMaytham.Hebeganteachingthemvariouskindsofknowledge.ThespiestoldUbaidullahbinZiyadaboutMaytham'swords.IbnZiyadorderedapolicemantocut

offMaytham'stongue.Maythamsaid:AmirulMu'mineenhastoldmeaboutthat.ThepolicemancutoffhisMaytham'stongue.Anotherpolicemanstabbedhimwithasword.Thus,

thismujahid'slifewasputoutlikeacandle!Maytham did a lot of good for people. The people loved him verymuch. Theywanted to take

Maytham'sbodytoburyit.Butthepolicestrictlypreventedthemfromapproachingit.Onenight,sevendates-sellerscame.Theysawthepolicemenburningafire.Twoofthemsawedthe

trunk.Thesevendates-sellerscarriedMaytham'sbodyoutsideKufa.Theyburieditataknownplace.Thentheycamebackhome.Six years passed.Mukhtar announced his revolution in Kufa. His armymet Ubaidullah's on al-

Khazir Riverbank. Ibrahim al-Ashtar could behead Ubaidullah bin Ziyad. Some fighters broughtMukhtar the head of Ubaidullah. He stood up and kicked Ubaidullah's head. He rememberedMaytham'swordsinprison;Mukhtar,you'llgetoutofprison.You'llgetrevengeonImamHusayn'skillers.Dayspassed.ImamHusayn'skillersperished.Peoplehavecursedthemthroughouthistory.Today,

whenavisitor leaves theHolyCityofNajaf andgoes to see theKufa ruins, on thewayhe sees abeautifuldome.ThedomedecoratesMaytham'sshrine.52

52MaythamAt-TammarbyKamalSyyed

15ChapterMARTYRDOMOFHUJRIBNADI,HISSONANDCOMPANIONS

Hujral-KhayrorHujrIbn'AdiwhohadbeenamongtheHolyProphet'sdisciples,didlaterrange

himselfwith 'Ali's firmanddevotedShi'iteMuslims.Hebelonged to the tribeofKinda,asoutherntribe in Hijaz, who had migrated to Iraq in 17 A.H. This tribe was involved in Iraqi events asparticipantsinSiffinandlateroninMukhtar'suprising.AcrowdfromamongthemwasatoddswithHusaynIbn'Ali(a)inKarbala.InthecourseofSiffin,

his activitywasutterlybroad andheplayed a role as a commander in 'Ali's army,yetwhenmanyabandonedImam(a),uptotheverylastmomenthestayedbesidehim.Hujrcouldbefoundamidthemost pious disciples ofAllah'sApostle (S).HukaymNiyshaburi called him themonkofProphet'sdisciples.After'Ali'smartyrdom,hewasamongttheonesstimulatingthenationtoswearallegiancetoHasan

Ibn'Ali(a).Intheprocessofcompromising,HujrseemeddiscontentedbutImamelaboratedthathehadtoconsentmerelyduetoprotectingthelivesofindividualslikehim.NonthelesslaterMu'awiyabynomeansremainedfaithfultohispledgeandmartyredbothHujrandhisfollowers.During thegovernorshipofMughiraoverKufa that lasteduntil thebeginningof50’s (A.H.), in

spiteofrelativefreedom,insultswerestillhurledatImam'Ali(a)inthemasque.Theleadershipof'Ali'sShi'iteMuslimswaslaidwiththecharacterssuchasHujrIbn'Adiand'AmrIbnHamiqKhuza'i.Hujrwas among thosewho frequently objected toMughira accustomed to insult Imam 'Ali (a).

WhenMughirawaspavedthewaytosendacaravancarryingsomepropertiestoMu'awiyawhowasinneed,Hujrinterceptedthecaravananddeclaredthataslongashehasnotgrantedtherightsoftherightful, on no accounts would he allow these properties to be conveyed. At Mu'awiya's behest,Mughirahadcommandedthemtotakepartinthecongregationalprayeratthemosque.OnceHujrwasurgedbyMughiratogoupthepulpitandcurseImam'Ali(a)hewentupandsaid,

“Mughirapropelsmetocurse'Ali(a),cursehimyouall.”Immediately, the congregation perceived that his intention had beenMughira himself.Mughira,

however,hadalreadydeclared thathenever intended tobe the firstonemurdering thecelebrityofKufaandas a result contribute toMu'awiya'sgrandeur in thisworld andhisownabjectness in theHereafter.ThisstatementwastheresponsetothoseobjectingwhyhedidnotarrestorharassHujr.Following the demise of Mughira and Ziyad's governorship over Kufa, the status quo altered

perceptibly.

Ziyad, from the very first night of his governorship, did commence his rigors.His exceptional

sermonforthreateningKufapeoplehasbeenrecordedasatypicalArabsermoninhistoricalsourcesatthatjuncture.Well acquainted with Hujr Ibn 'Adi, he warned him stating, “You and I have been in the same

situation that you know yourself (concerning 'Ali's amity) but today anything has converted.Holdyour tongue and stay at your home.My throne can be yours too. Iwill doubtlesslymeet all yourdemands provided that you get along withme although you are rash.” Seemingly, Hujr who wasconvincedwentaway.Once again the status quo changed. It is said that one time Hujr interrupted Ziyad's remarks

protractedandthetimeofprayerwaselasping,yellingout,“Al-Salat”(prayer).ItisalsonarratedthathealongwithotherShi'iteMuslimshadbeenconveningmeetingsafterZiyad'sdeparture toBasra.Ziyad's substitute, 'Amr IbnHurayth,wrote toZiyad that if hedesired tomaintainKufa, he shouldreturnwithoutdelay.Inthisrespect,Hujrwasnotmerelysolitary,butalsohewasunderanycircumstancesaccompanied

byanumberofShi'iteMuslims.Quotedly,whenHujrprotestedagainstMughirainthemosque,morethanone-thirdoftheaudiencevalidatedhisremarks.As written by Abu l-Faraj, in the absence of Ziyad, being in Basra, Hujr together with his

companionsoccupiedone-thirdorhalfofthemosqueandbegandenouncingandvilifyingMu'awiya.ZiyadhimselfhaddenouncedthenoblesofKufa that“Youareonmysidewhereasyourbrothers,offspringandtribesareonHujr'sside.”Afterawhile,amultitudeofthoseonHujr'ssidedispersedsincethechiefsoftribeshadmenaced

themembersofthetribes.Therefore,therewasnomorecompanionremainedwithHujr.When a groupwas sent to arrest him, he addressedhis friends as saying, “Since you are byno

meansable todefy them, there isnoway foranystruggle.Eventually,Hujrconceded to surrenderprovidedthatfordrawingdeductionheshouldbetakentomeetMu'awiya.Havingaccepted thecondition,Ziyadwasmakinganattempton theotherhand toexposehim to

murder.Bythesametoken,hecompelledfourcharactershavingbeenappointedasthechiefsofthetribesinKufatomakeanaffidavitagainstHujr.ItwasstipulatedintheaffidavitthatHujrhadformedsomeassemblieswhereinMu'awiyahadbeencursed.HisbeliefwasthatnoonemeritedthecaliphatesavethosefromTalib'slineage.Asstatedbythem

havingcausedchaoswithinthetown,hehadexpelled'AmrIbnHurayth,thegovernor;furthermore,hehadnotonlysaluted'Ali,butexpressedhisdisgustforhisfoesandthosehavingcombatedhim.Ziyadwhohadonnoaccounts approved theaforesaidaffidavitorderedAbuBurda, sonofAbu

MusaAsh'ari,toprepareamorepungentone.Whathewroteasaresultwas,“Hujrhasdeclinedtocomplywiththecaliphandsecededfrom“Jama'a”.Hehascursedthecaliph

and summoned all to a battle and sedition.Having congregated the people around himself, he has

urged them tobreach theirpledges.HedethronedMu'awiya,Amiral-Mu'minin, from thecaliphateandblasphemedagainstAllahinaddition.”This time Hujr was labeled a blasphemer. Abu Burda who was one of the eminent Sunni

traditionistsborethewitnessofit.Ziyadpersuadedotherstosignittoo.AmongthesignatorieswereIshaq andMoses, sons of Talha,Mundhir, Zubayr's son, 'Umar, son of Sa'd Ibn AbiWaqqas and'Umara,sonof'UqbaIbnAbiMu'ayt.Asnarratedbyhistorians,whileHujrwasbeingarrested,heyelledout,“Iamstill faithful tomy

allegiance”.HewasabsolutelyrightbecausehenevereverintendedtorevoltagainstMu'awiya.Whathe insisted on was about 'Ali not to be insulted. And it was precisely what had been stipulated inMu'awiya'scommitmentandconcededbyhim.Fascinatingly,itwasspecifiedintheaffidavitthatHujrbelievedthatcaliphatewaswelldeservedto

no one but those fromTalib's lineage. Itwas themanifestation ofHujr's purifiedly Shi'ites belief.“PurifiedShi'iteMuslims”denotes thosebeing religiousShi'iteMuslims.ThebeliefofsuchShi'iteMuslimsisthatImamatedoessolelybelongtoProphet'shousehold(AhlalBayt).InapoemquotedfromHujrweread,”AliwasafriendoftheProphet's(S)andhewasgratified

withhisexecutorship.”Hujrdescribed'AliasProphet'sfriendandexecutor.AtthattimemanywereofthisbeliefinIraq.

WhenAbul-AswadDu'aliwassneeredduetohisin-depthenthusiasmfor'Ali,hestatedinapoem,“IadoreMuhammad(S),'Abbas,Hamzaandtheexecutor('Ali)”Hedidintroduce'AliastheHolyProphet'sexecutormanifestubghissuccessorship.Corresponding

to it is Malik's statement regarding 'Ali, “The executor of the executors and the inheritor of allProphets'bodyofknowledgeishe.”Thisdescriptionwasalsowhat Imamal-Baqir'sShi'iteMuslims likeJabir IbnYazidJu'fiuttered

about 'Ali (a).Further instanceshavebeenpresentedearlier indiscussionofShi'ismat Imam 'Ali'stime.Ultimately,Hujralongwithhisfourteencompanions,knownastheheadsofHujr'sfollowers,was

senttoDamascus.AfewofthemwereintercededandforgivenbyMu'awiyainDamascus.AlthoughHujralsowas interceded,Mu'awiyadid innowayaccept.Reportedly,Mu'awiyawasat

firstambivalentandonthisaccounthehadalreadywrittentoZiyadthathebelievedthatHujrshouldneverbemurderedbutZiyadhadrepliedthatliberatinghimwouldresultincorruptionofIraq,andhecouldallowHujrtoreturntoIraqontheconditionthathedidnotrequireKufa.Mu'awiyaeventuallymadeadecisiontoassassinateHujr;notwithstanding,sincehewasterrifiedto

meethimfacetoface,hecommandedtodetaintheminMarj 'Adhra'afewfarsangsfarawayfromDamascus.LaterhereadouttheaffidavitofdwellersofKufatothoseofDamascusandappealedtothemto

voice their opinions! It was utterly evident that what they could ever say when the disciples'descendantswereofthatopinion!Mu'awiyadeployedanumbertoMarj'Adhra'tocarryoutwhattheyweresupposedto.Theywereat

firstduty-boundtoproposethemthatiftheyexpressedtheirloathingfor'Ali(a),theverdictwouldbedeclared null and void.Under no circumstances didHujr and his companions agree.And itmighthavebeenowing to this fact that Imam 'Ali (a)hadasserted thatafterhim if theywere impelled toinsulthim,theyshouldabidebybutnevereverexpressloathingforhim.Subsequently digging their own graves, Hujr and his companions spent dusk to dawn in

worshiping.Eightoutofthemweresetfreebutsixofthemannouncedtheirreadinessformartyrdom.Nextmorningtheywereagainrequestedtoexpresstheirideaabout 'Uthman,“Theever-firstone

who did injustice was 'Uthman”, they retorted. They were asked whether they would pronouncedisgustfor'Ali.Theyresponded,“No,never,wedoalllovehimandhatethosewhohatehim.”Thentheypreparedthemselvesforbeingmartyred.Hujrwhowasprominentamongthedevoutof

Iraqsaidavery-longtwo-Rak'atprayer(Rak'at,unitofprayerconsistingofthreepostures)andstated,“Asyet,IhaveneverperformedaprayershorterthanthisandIyearnedtoprolongitifyoudidnotaccusemeofbeingscaredofdeath.”Six of themweremartyred.Karim Ibn 'AfifKhath'ami and 'Abd al-Rahman IbnHassan al-'Anzi

were both taken to meet Mu'awiya. Karim was interceded but when it was 'Abd alRahman's turn,Mu'awiyaquestionedhimabout'Ali(a).“Youhadbetternotenquireanyquestion”,heresponded.When Mu'awiya insisted, he declared, “ I do attest that he was among the ones bearing Allah

invariablyinmind,enjoininggood,establishingjusticeandbeingmagnanimous.”Andwhenhewasaskedabout'Uthman,hereplied,“Hewasthefirstonewhoopenedthedoorofinjusticeandclosedthedoorsofjustice.”Mu'awiyasenthim to Iraqand instructedZiyad tokillhimbrutally.Then,hewasburiedaliveat

Ziyad'sbehest.53ReferencesinrelationtothekillingofHujrbinAdial-AdbarcanbelocatedinthefollowingSunni

texts:•AlBidayawaalNihaya,Volume8page53Dhikr51Hijri•TarikhKamil,Volume3page249Dhikr51Hijri•TarikhibnAsakir,Volume12page227DhikrHujribnAdi•TarikhibnKhaldun,Volume3page13Dhikr51Hijri•alIsaba,Volume1page313DhikrHujribnAdi•Asad'ulGhaba,Volume1page244DhikrHujribnAdi•ShadharatulDhahab,Volume1page57Dhikr51Hijri•TabaqatalKubra,Volume6page217DhikrHujribnAdi•MustadrakalHakim,Volume3page468-470DhikrHujribnAdi•AkhbaralTawaal,page186DhikrHujribnAdi

•TarikhAbu'lFida,page166Dhikr51Hijri•MurujalDhahab,Volume3page12Dhikr53Hijri53HistoryofTheCaliphsFrom theDeathof theMessenger (S), to theDeclineof the 'Umayyad

Dynasty11-132AHbyRasulJa'fariyan•TarikhYaqubi,Volume2page219WereadinAlIsaba:After thebattleofQudsiyaHujr ibnAdiparticipated inJamalandSifeen,alongsideAliandwas

amongsthisShi'a.Hewaskilledupon theordersofMu'awiya inavillagecalledMarjAdhranearDamascus.Atthetimeofhisexecutionherequested: 'DonotremovethesechainsafterIamkilled,norcleantheblood.WewillmeetagainwithMu'awiyaandIshallpetitionmycaseagainsthim'.WereadinAlBidaya:WhenthetimeofdeathapproachedMu'awiya,hesaidtohimselfthrice:'HujrbinAdi!Thedayofansweringforyourmurderisverylengthy'WereadinTarikhibnAsakir:"Ayeshasaid:'Mu'awiyayoukilledHujrandhisassociates,ByAllah!TheProphettoldme'Inthe

ditchofAdrasevenmenwillbekilled,duetothisalltheskiesandAllahwillbeupset".WereadinAsad'ulGhaba:"Hujr and his associateswere arrested and taken to a ditch inAdhrawhichwas nearDamascus.

Mu'awiyaorderedthatHujrandhisassociatesbeexecutedinthisditch"HujrbinAdial-AdbarwasapiousloverofMaulaAli(as).Mu'awiyamadehisbastardbrotherthe

GovernorofKufa,hewoulddisgracethefamilyoftheProphet(s)whilststandingonthepulpit,HujrasatrueloverofMaula'Ali(as)wasunabletotoleratesuchinsults.HewouldpraiseMaula'Ali(as)and object to such insults. Ibn Ziyad through his usual deception fabricated 243 allegations toMu'awiyawhoordered that theybe apprehended and sent tohim.On route toDamascusMu'awiyaordered their execution. This is a fact that the Nawasib cannot escape, a fact that has even beenvouchedforbytheSalafischolarscholarHasanbinFarhanal-Malikiwhoonpage170ofhisbook‘QeraahfiKutubal-Aqaed’said:“TheBaniUmayakilledandhumiliatedtheloversofAhlulbayt,andruthlesslykilledHujrbinAdi

duringMu’awyia’sreignonaccountofhiscriticismoftheiractofcursingAlifromthepulpits”It is also said that when the time came when they were about to murder Hujr they asked him

accordingtothecustomsiftherewasonelastrequestthattheycouldgranthim.Hujraskedthemiftheycouldkillhis son in frontofhimbefore theykilledhim.Theexecutioneraskedwhatwas thereasonforthis?HujrsaidthathewouldliketoseethathissonwoulddiewiththeloveofAliinhisheartandthathewasafraidthatifhehimselfwaskilledfirstthenhissonmightleaveonaccountoffear and go over to the side of Muawiya and denounce Ali. These cruel heartless people thenmurderedHujr ’ssoninfrontofhimandthenproceededtomurderHujrnext.MayAllahblessHujribnAdi,hissonandhisfaithfulcompanions!

16ChapterMARTYRDOMOFQAMBARTHESERVANTOFALI

Qambarwasalsooneofthosebravemenwhosecuredahighpositionthroughtheinfluenceofthe

spiritualpoweroftheProphetMuhammadandImamAli.Hewasnotafraidoftellingthetruthandfollowingtherightpath.Thoughfromtheviewpointof

theworldlypeoplehewasapparentlynomorethanaslave,hespirituallysecuredsuchahighpositionthathebecameaconfidantofImamAli.ThepowerfulandpiercingwordswithwhichthismanofironwillrepliedtoHajjajbinYusuf,the

bloodthirstysadist,arewell-known:OnceHajjajsaid"Qambar!WhatwereyourdutieswhenyouwereintheserviceofAli?"Qambar"Iusedtobringhimwaterforablution".Hajjaj"Onfinishingablution,whatdidheusetosay?"Qambar"HeusedtorecitethisverseoftheQur'an“WhentheyforgotOuradmonition,Weopenedtothemthegatesofeverythingtheydesired;but

justastheywererejoicinginwhattheyweregiven,Weseizedthemunawareswiththeresultthattheywereleftconfused.Thusthelastremnantofthepeoplewhodidwrongwascutoff.PraisebetoAllah,theLordoftheworlds".(Surahal-An'am,6:44—45)Hajjaj"Ithinkthatheappliedthisversetous".Yes",saidQambarboldly.Hajjaj:"IfIputyoutodeath,whatwillyoudo?"Qambar"Ishallbeluckyandyouwillbeunlucky".Hajjaj"ConfessthatyounolongeracknowledgeAlitobeyourmaster".Qambar"IfIrenouncehisway,canyoushowmeabetterway?"Hajjajdidnotanswerthisquestion,andsaid"InanycaseIamgoingtoputyoutodeath.Nowtell

mehowyouwouldliketobekilled".

Qambar"Ileavethatchoicetoyou".Hajjaj"Why?"Qambar"Thewayyouwillkillme,thesame

wayI'llkillyouinthenextworld.Ali,mymastertoldmethatI'dbebeheadedunjustly".SoHajjajorderedhimtobebeheaded.Indeed, if a man obeys Allah, the Holy Prophet and his Ahl al-Bayt, he can have spiritual and

esotericguidanceeventodayandcantreadthepathofperfectionandproximity.Forhimthen,thereshallbenofearnorgriefforbecausehewillbeaMuslimperfectlyspiritualanddivine.TheHolyQur'andeclares“Asfor thosewhosaythatourLord isAllahandthen theyremainfirmin their faith, theangels

willdescendonthemsaying:Neitherbeafraidnorbegrieved".(Surahal-Fussilat,41:30)5454Master&MastershipbyAllamaMurtazaMutahhari

17ChapterMASSMURDER&TORTURINGTHESHIAOFALI

Mu'awiya sent anothercircular letter saying: "If anyperson is suspectedofbeinga supporterof

AhlulBaythe shouldbe subjected to tortureandhishouse shouldbedemolished".ThisorderwasimplementedsostrictlythataswrittenbyIbnAbilHadid,theShi'ahtookrefugeinthehousesoftheirrelativesandfriends.Eventhentheywereafraidoftheirslavesandslavegirlslesttheyshoulddivulgethesecret,becauseifanyonewasnotongoodtermswithanotherhereportedtotheauthoritiesthatsuchandsuchpersonwasasupporterofAhlulBayt.Thepeoplewere, therefore,arrestedonmereaccusationandsuspicionandweretormentedandmadehomeless.ThispersecutionwasmoresevereinIraqduringtheruleofZiyadbinSumayyaascomparedwithotherplaces.InspiteofImamAli'sbrilliant past record and the honor enjoyed by him in Islam itwasmade necessary that, in all theIslamiccountriesandtheareas,whichformedpartoftheterritoriesofIslam,heshouldbeabusedandcursedinthesermonsofFridayprayersandalsoatothertimes,andMu'awiyaandYazidshouldbehonoredandpraised.Mu'awiyawroteofficiallytoZiyadbinSumayya,theGovernorofIraq,thattheevidencegiveninanymatterbyaperson,whowasknowntobeaShi'ah,shouldnotbeaccepted,andthose,whoprovidedhimsheltershouldalsonotbetreatedtobehonorable.HujrbinAdi,RashidHujariandtheirelevencompanionsweresubjectedtotheseverestpersecution

andtorture,somuchsothatMu'awiyakilledsixofthemwhowereatthattimethebestpersons.Thereweremany,whosehandsandfeetwereamputatedandpinsreddenedinfirewerethrustintotheireyes,andsomeotherswereburiedalive.TheevilpropagandaofMu'awiyaandhisagentsinSyriaandotherIslamicterritoriesmisledthe

people.Whosoever uttered aword againstMu'awiyawas treated to be amurderer ofUthman andsheddinghisbloodwasconsideredlawful.Credulouspersons,whoarenumerous inallages,andareeasily impressedbyevilpropaganda,

cametobelievethatUthman'sbloodwasshedwithoutanyjustification,andthose,whoweresatisfiedwiththisactdeservedtobepunished.Thiswas howMu'awiya andhis agents poisoned the publicmind.TheKhawarij, too,whowere

inimicaltowardsbothMu'awiyaandImamAlikeptquietwithregardtoMu'awiyaonaccountoffear,butabusedtheCommanderoftheFaithfulopenlyandtreatedhimtobeaninfidel.Thisthinginitselfrenderedgreathelp toMu'awiyaandcreatedagrudge in theheartsof thepeopleagainst ImamAliandhisfollowers,somuchsothatwhenonthedayofĀshuraImamHusaynmentionedthereasonforhiscomingtowardsKufaandthenaskedhisopponentsastowhytheyhadgatheredtokillhimtheyreplied:"Itisduetothegrudge,whichwehaveagainstyourfather".55ImamAli spokeabout theUmayyad’s in a sermon fromNahjulBalagha: “ByAllah, theywould

continuelikethistilltherewouldbeleftnounlawfulactbeforeAllahbuttheywouldmakeitlawfulandnopledgebuttheywouldbreakit,andtilltherewouldremainnohouseofbricksorofwoolentents but their oppression would enter it. Their bad dealings would make them wretched, till twogroupsofcryingcomplainantswouldrise,onewouldcryforhisreligionandtheotherforthisworldandthehelpofoneofyoutooneofthemwouldbelikethehelpofaslavetohismaster,namelywhenheispresentheobeyshim,butwhenthemasterisawayhebackbiteshim.ThehighestamongyouindistresswouldbehewhobearbestbeliefaboutAllah.IfAllahgrantsyousafetyacceptit,andifyouareputintroubleendureit,becausesurely(good)resultisfortheGodfearing.”5655AProbeintotheHistoryofAshurabyDr.IbrahimAyati56NahjulBalaghasermon98In659MuawiyasteppeduphiswarofnervesagainstAliandsentseveralcontingentsintoJazirah

andHijaz to terrifypeople and todestroy theirmorale.Hispolicyat firstwas to strikea sparkofterrorandthentoletthefiredotherestbuthiscaptainssoonchangeditintoasceneofviolenceanddeath.InJazirah,Ne'manbinBashirattackedAin-at-Tamarwith2000men;SufyanbinAufattackedAnbarandMadaenwith6000soldiers;AbdullahbinMasadahFizari attackedTimawitha forceof1700 freebooters; andZahhakbinQays and his followers laidwaste the township ofWaqsa.Theykilled all those men, women and children whom they suspected to be friendly to Ali, and theyplunderedthepublictreasurywherevertheyfoundone.(Dr.Hamid-ud-Din)The acquisition ofEgypt immeasurably strengthenedMuawiya's hands.He then sent units of his

army into Hijaz, Jazirah and Iraq. They went around plundering, spreading terror and killing.MuawiyaattackedthebanksoftheTigrisinperson,andseizedthepublictreasuryinJazirah.(HistoryofIslam,Lahore,Pakistan,p.204,1971)Muawiyaandhisgeneralshadadoptedapolicyofwagingirregularwarfareagainstthesuccessor

of the Prophet of Islam and the sovereign of all Muslims. To them irregular warfare meantunconventional warfare; limited conventional military actions, and unlimited terrorism. TheyplungedtheDarul-Islamintoatraumafromwhichithasneverrecovered.In 660, Muawiya sent Bisr bin Artat with 3000 soldiers to Hijaz and Yemen on a rampage of

pillaging,destroying,burningandkilling.InYemen,Bisrkilledwithhisownhands,theinfanttwinsofObaidullahibnAbbaswhowasthegovernorofthatprovince.WhenhereturnedtoSyria,gorgedoninnocentblood,tensofthousandsofMuslimshadbeenkilled.Oneof thegovernorsofAli inafrontierdistrict,wasKumayl ibnZiyad.Hesoughthismaster's

permissiontoraidSyria.SuchraidsintoSyria,hesaid,wouldcompelMuawiyatohalthisownraidsintoHijazandIraq.ButhisapplicationdrewforthacharacteristicreplyfromAliwhowrotetohim:

"IhardlyexpectedyoutosuggestthatweraidthetownsandvillagesinSyria.ItistruethattheSyriansareourenemiesbuttheyarealsohumanbeings,andwhat'smore,theyareMuslims.IfwesendraidingpartiesintoSyria,itismostprobablethatthevictimsofourpunitiveactionwillnotbetheSyrianmarauderswhoviolateourbordersbuttheSyriancivilpopulation-thenoncombatant

folks.Isitthereforerightandfairtoplunderandtokillthemforthecrimestheydidnotcommit?No.Theywillnotpaythepenaltyforthecrimesoftheirleaders.Thebestthingforustodo,therefore,istostrengthenourowndefensesagainsttheenemy,andtorouthimbeforehecandoanyharmtoour

people."

The dominant logic of "mirror image" ofmatching terrorwith terror did not appeal toAli; heconsideredisbasicallyfallacious.ThoughAlidrovetheintrudersoutofhisdominions,lawandorderhadbrokendown.TheSyrians

began to violate the frontier with growing frequency. Bisr bin Artat defeated the small garrisondefendingthestrategictownofAnbarandoccupiedit.Hethenputthewholepopulationtotheswordaswascustomarywithhim.AlicalledupontheIraqistostandupindefenseoftheirhomesagainsttheSyriansbutfoundthem

unresponsive.Inwintertheysaidthatitwastoocoldtogoonacampaign,andinsummertheysaidthat itwas too hot.Many Iraqi leaderswere stillworking forMuwaiya in return for his gifts andpromises,and theyspreaddisaffection in thecountry.Muawiyaalsoworkedhard toundermine theallegiancetoAlioftheIraqiarmy.Forhim,conflictwasnotlimitedtotheoperationofarmies,butwas carried on behind the front by his agents and partisans, by subversion and sabotage, and bypropagandaandindoctrination.Since there was no punitive action against them, the Syrian marauders were emboldened to

penetratedeeperanddeeperintoIraq.AlimademanyattemptstoshaketheIraqisoutoftheirlethargybuttheyactedasiftheSyrianraids

werenothurtingthem.Theirhead-in-the-sandattitudesoexasperatedhimthathetoldthemthatiftheydidnotobeyhisorders,andtakeuparmstodefendtheirborders,hewouldabandontheminKufa,andwith thehandfulof loyal followershe stillhadwithhim,wouldgoand try to stop theenemy,regardlessoftheconsequences.Thisthreatappearstohaveworked.TheIraqissuddenlyrealizedthatifAliabandonedthem,they

wouldbeleftleaderless.They,therefore,assuredhimthattheywouldobeyhim-inpeaceandinwar.Aliimmediatelysettoworktoreorganizethearmy,andtomobilizefreshtroops.Hesummoned

Abdullah ibnAbbas fromBasra, and he ordered other leaders and their troops to assemble in thecampatNukhaylanearKufa.Ali hadplunged intowork tomakeup for time already lost through the earlier tardiness of the

Iraqisinobeyinghisorders.Butthisnewspurtofenergyalarmedhisenemies,andtheyplungedintointriguetoforestallhim.AlihadcompletedhispreparationsforaninvasionofSyriabutjustwhenhewasgivingfinishing

touches to his logistical plans, he was assassinated in the Great Mosque of Kufa at the dawn ofRamadan19of40A.H.(January27,661).57WealsocondemnAbuHurairaforhiscollusionwithBusrIbnArtatinthemassacreofthousands

ofMuslims.IthasbeenreportedbytheSunnihistorians,includingTabari,IbnAthir,IbnAbi'l-Hadid,AllamaSamhudi,IbnKhaldun,Ibn57TheRestatementoftheHistoryofIslamandMuslimsbySayedRazwy

Khallikan,andothersthatMu'awiyaIbnAbuSufyansentthecruelBusrIbnArtatwith4,000Syrian

soldiers to Yemen viaMedina to crush the people of Yemen and the Shias of Ali. The assailantsmurderedthousandsofMuslimsinMedina,Mecca,Ta'if,Tabala'(acityofTihama),Najran,Safa,anditssuburbs.TheydidnotsparetheyoungoroldoftheBaniHashimortheShiasofAli.Theyevenmurdered the twosmall sonsof theHolyProphet'scousin,UbaidullahBinAbbas, thegovernorofYemen,whohadbeenappointedbyAli.It issaidthatmorethan30,000Muslimswerekilledontheorder of this tyrant. The Bani Umayya and their followers committed these insane atrocities. TheSunni’sbelovedAbuHurairawitnessedthisslaughterandwasnotonlysilentbutactivelysupportedit.Innocentpeople,likeJabirbinAbdullahAnsari,andAbuAyyubAnsarisoughtrefuge.EventhehouseofAbuAyyubAnsari,whowasoneof theProphet's chief companions,was set on fire.When thisarmyturnedtowardsMecca,AbuHurairaremainedinMedina.Now I ask you to tell us, in the name ofAllah,whether this deceitfulmanwho had been in the

company of theHoly Prophet for three years, andwho narratedmore than 5,000 hadith from theProphet, had not heard those famous hadith regardingMedina. The ulema of both the sects (likeAllamaSamhudiinTa'rikhu'l-Medina,AhmadBinHanbalinMusnad,SibtIbnJauziinTadhkira,page163) have quoted from the Holy Prophet, who said repeatedly: "He who threatens the people ofMedinawithoppressionwillbethreatenedbyAllahandwillbecursedbyAllah,byHisangels,andbyhumanity.Allahwill not accept anything fromhim.Mayhe be cursedwho threatens the people ofMedina.IfanyoneharmsthepeopleofMedina,Allahwillmelthimlikeleadinfire."SowhydidAbuHuraira join thearmywhichdevastatedMedina?Whydidhefabricatehadith in

oppositionto therightfulsuccessor to theProphet?Andwhydidheincitepeopletorevile themanaboutwhomtheProphethadsaid:"Toabusehim is toabuseme"?YoudecidewhetheramanwhofabricatedhadithinthenameoftheProphetwasnotcursed.Abu'l-Faraj Ispahani and Allama Samhudi in Ta'rikhu'lMedina, Ibn Khallikan, Ibn Asakir and

Tabari in their histories; Ibn Abi'l-Hadid in Sharh-e-Nahju'l-Balagha, vol.I, and many others ofnotableulemahavewrittenthatMu'awiyaorderedBusrtoattackSan'aandYemenfromMedinaandMecca.HegaveasimilarordertoZuhakBinQaisAl-Fahriandothers.Abu'l-Farajreportsitinthesewords:"Whoever from the companions and Shia of Ali is found should be killed; even women and

childrenshouldnotbespared."Withthesestrictorders,theysetoutwithaforceof3000andattackedMedina,San'a',Yemen,Ta'if,

andNajran.WhentheyreachedYemen,thegovernor,UbaidullahIbnAbbas,wasoutofthecity.TheyenteredhishouseandslaughteredhistwosonsSulaymanandDawudinthelapoftheirmother.IbnAbi'l-HadidwritesinhisSharh-e-Nahju'l-Balagha,vol.I,p.121,thatinthisraid30,000people

werekilled,excludingthosewhowereburntalive.In the sura Nisa (The Women) Allah says: "And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his

punishment isHell; he shall abide in it, andAllahwill sendHiswrath on him and curse him andprepareforhimapainfulchastisement."58

ThisHolyverseexplicitlysaysthatifamankillsasinglebelieverintentionally,hedeservesAllah'scurseandhisabodeisinHell.Wasn'tMu'awiyaassociatedwiththemurderofbelievers?DidhenotorderthekillingofHajarIbnAdiandhissevencompanions?DidhenotorderthatAbdu'r-RahmanBinHasanAl-Ghanzibeburiedalive?IbnAsakirandYaqubBinSufyanintheirHistories;BaihaqiinhisDala'il;IbnAbdu'l-BarinIsti'ab;andIbnAthirinKamilhavereportedthatHajarBinAdiwasoneofthe

eminent58Quran4:93companionswho,alongwithsevencompanionswasbrutallymurderedbyMu'awiya.Theircrime

wasrefusingtocurseAli.ImamHasanwas the elder grandson of theHoly Prophet.Was he not included inAshab-e-Kisa

(peopleofthemantle)?WashenotoneofthetwoleadersoftheyouthsofParadiseandabelieverofexalted rank?According to the reportsofMas'udi, IbnAbdu'l-Bar,Abu'l-Faraj Ispahani,TabaqaofMuhammadBinSa'd,TadhkiraofSibtIbnJauzi,andotheraccreditedulemaoftheSunnis,Mu'awiyasent poison to Asma' Ju'da and promised her that if she killed Hasan Ibn Ali, he would give her100,000dirhamsandwouldmarryhertohissonYazid.AfterthemartyrdomofImamHasan,hegaveher 100,000 dirhams but refused to marry her to Yazid. Would you hesitate to call Mu'awiyaaccursed?IsitnotafactthatintheBattleofSiffinthegreatcompanionoftheHolyProphet,AmmarYasir,wasmartyredbyMu'awiya'sorder?AlltheprominentulemasaywithoneaccordthattheHolyProphet said to Ammar Yasir: "It will not be long before you will be killed by a rebellious andmisguidedgroup."Have you any doubt that thousands of devout believerswere killed byMu'awiya's subordinates?

Wasn'tthepureandvaliantwarrior,MalikAshtar,poisonedbyMu'awiya'sorder?CanyoudenythatMu'awiya'schiefofficials,AmrBinAsandMu'awiyaBinKhadij,brutallymartyredtheCommanderof theFaithful's governor, the piousMuhammadBinAbiBakr?Not contentwith that, they put hisbodyintothecarcassofadonkeyandsetitonfire.IfIweretogiveyouthedetailsaboutthebelieverskilledbyMu'awiyaandhisofficials,itwouldrequirenotonenight,butseveral.DoyougentlemenstilldoubtthatMu'awiyadeservestobecursed?!5959PeshawarNightsbySultanulWaizinShirazSlayingShi'iteMuslimshadbegunsinceImam'Ali'sterm.AfterImam'sforcesdispersedandthere

wasnosecurityfoundbutinIraq,Mu'awiyadeployedhistroopsalongwithsomeenvoystovariousareas amongwhomwere Busr IbnArtat, Sufyan Ibn 'AwfGhamidi andDhahhak IbnQays. Theirresponsibilityincitieswastotraceand,“KillanyShi'itestheynoticedatMu'awiya'sbehest.”BusrsetouttoMedinawerehemartyredmanyof'Ali'sdisciplesandenthusiastsanddemolished

theirhousesaswell.HethenwenttoMeccaandSaratrespectivelyandslayedanyShi'iteMuslimhediscovered.Ultimately,heleftthereforNajranandmartyred'AbdAllahIbn'Abdal-Muddanaswellashisson.Earlierwepresentedaprofileofhiscrimes.

AmongareasthatBusrpassedenrouteandplunderedwasanareatheresidentsofwhichwerefromthetribeofHamdan,'Ali'sShi'iteMuslims.Ambushingthem,Busrkillednumerousmenandcapturedanumberofwomenandchildren.For

the ever-first time Muslim women and children were captured. These measures were once againadoptedlaterinKarbala.AboutBusr,Mas'udihaswrittenthatheslayedanumberfromthetribesofKhuza'aandHamdan togetherwithagroupknownasal-Abna' (fromIranian race) inYemen.“Hekilledanyoneofwhoseattachmentto'Aliheheard.”SettingouttoAnbar,'AwfIbnSufyanmartyredIbnHassanal-BakriinadditiontoShi'itesmenand

women.AfterHasanIbn'Ali(a)hadtocompromisewithMu'awiya,oneofthemenacesImamfeltwasthe

securityof'Ali'sShi'iteMuslims.Henceitwasstipulatedwithinthecontractthat'Ali'sdisciplesshouldbeallendowedwithsecurity.AlthoughMu'awiyahadconceded it, immediatelyon thesamedayheannouncedthathewoulddisregardtheentirecommitments.Ziyad's,Muawiya’sGovernorofKufa,mainmissionwastosuppresstheShi'iteMuslimsofKufa

throughoutIraq.“HewasalwaysseekingafterShi'iteMuslimsandanywhere tracingheslayed them”, IbnA'tham

said.ThefirstmeasuretakenbyZiyadwascuttingoffthehandsofthose(nearlyeighty)whowerenot

convincedtoswearallegiancetohim.Ziyad'sharshtreatmentinBasra,withagroupoftheKharijitesinadditiontoShi'iteMuslims,wasproverbial.HehaddeclaredakindofmartiallawinBasra.Atnights,followingthenightprayer,theopportunitypeoplehadforstayingoutdoorswasaslong

as reciting theSura (chapter) ofTheCow.During the curfew,Ziyad's soldiers slayed anyone theytraced.HistorianshaveintroducedZiyadastheever-firstonewhodrewhisswordtopeople,arrestedthembyaccusingthemandchastizedthemwithsuspicion.AmongtheShi'iteMuslimsmartyredbyZiyadwereMuslimIbnZaymurand'AbdAllahIbnNuja

whowerebothfromthetribeofHaďram.InalettertoMu'awiyasucceedingHujr'smartyrdom,ImamHusayn(a)hadcommemoratedtheirmartyrdomtoo.Hecutoff the limbsofpeopleandblinded them.Mu'awiyahimselfmurderedagreatnumberas

well.ElsewhereithasbeenwrittenthatMu'awiyahadissuedtheverdictofexecutingagroupofShi'iteMuslims.ZiyadassembledShi'iteMuslimsinamosqueinordertomakethemexpressloathingfor'Ali.HealsosearchedforShi'iteMuslimsinBasratokill.InaletterImamHasan(a)objectedtoMu'awiyainthisregard.Treatingthesameway,SamuraIbn

Jundab,asubstituteforhiminBasra,hadallegedlyaugmentedthenumberoforphansinBasraandmassacrednearly8000peopleuntilZiyadobjectedhim.Althoughtheaccuracyoftheabove-mentionedfiguresisnotdefinite,itmanifestsaprofileoftheir

atrocities.Ziyad'streatmenttowards'Ali'sfriendswasunjust,inarealsenseexactlythesameasthat

of'AbdAllahIbn'Amir,Mu'awiya'sanothergovernor.Nu'manIbnBashir,ex-governorofthisarea,onaccountofhis acute rancor todwellersofKufadidnot evenwant toobeyMu'awiya'sorder toincreasetheirprovisionsfromBaytal-Mal(publicfund).Undertheguiseofapeace-seekingcharacter,Mu'awiyahadcommandedZiyadtodecimateanyone

at'Ali'sreligion.“Killanyoneamongstyouwhoisfrom'Ali'sShi'iteMuslimsoraccusedofhisamity”,hewroteto

his agents, “and for it find evidence even hidden under the rocks even though it was solely anassumption.Excludethenameoftheoneforwhoseamityto'AliyoufoundanyprooffromBaytal-Malanddiscontinuehisprovision.”He then wrote in conclusion, “Kill anyone from among yourselves who is accused of having

devotionto'Alianddemolishhishouseaswell.”IbnAbil-HadidhasalsowrittenthatasfarasZiyadwaswellacquaintedwithShi'iteMuslims,“He

massacredthemallanywherewhomhenoticed,intimidatedthem,cutofftheirlimbs,blindedthem,hungthemfromtreebranchesandbanishedthem.”6060HistoryofTheCaliphsFrom theDeathof theMessenger (S), to theDeclineof the 'Umayyad

Dynasty11-132AHbyRasulJa'fariyan

18ChapterMARTYRDOMOFIMAMHASSAN&HISBURIALMETWITHARROWS

WhilehewasstillonlyviceroyofSyriaMuawiyacreatedastrongmaterialbaseforhimself,his

kin and hismilitary following, becoming a very big landlord by large-scale seizure of land. TheUmayyad Caliph Muawiya rested on far stronger economic foundations and possessed moretrustworthy armed forces than his political opponents. He had become the allpowerful permanentviceroy of the rich and civilized Syria as early as the days ofOmar, and having spentmore thantwentyyearsinthisimportantpost,becametherecognizedleaderofArabtribalaristocracyinSyria.(Arabs,IslamandtheArabCaliphateintheEarlyMiddleAges,1969)Itwas in thismanner thatMuawiya, thepoliticalphoenixof theArabs, rose from theashesofa

failedefforttorestoreapaganpast,tobecome,firstthearch-rivalofAliibnAbiTalib,thesuccessoroftheProphet,andthentobecomethesuccessorhimself!Muawiyawasamanofmanyinnovations.Hechangedkhilafatintomonarchy,andopenlyboasted:

"I am the first of the Arab kings." Monarchy, of course, has to be hereditary, and it had to behereditaryinhisfamily.He,therefore,madeYazid,hisson,hissuccessor.EventhoseMuslim’swhoeithercondonedorconnivedathiscrimes,wincedwhenhestruckthisblowforhisfamily.ThedesignationbyMuawiyaofhisson,Yazid,askhalifa,wasaflagrantbreachofthepledgehe

hadgiven toHasan ibnAli not to appoint his own successor.ButMuawiyawas not theman to beinhibitedbyanypledgeorcodeofethics.Ethicsinhishandsbecamethefirstcasualty.Muawiya,however,wasawarethatMuslimswouldnotwillinglyacceptYazidastheirkhalifa.He,

therefore, silenced oppositionwith gold and silver orwith bluff and threats.But if theseweaponsfailed,thenheemployedasubtle,secretandfailsafeweapon–poison.Hewasa"pioneer"inMuslimhistory in the art of silencing his critics and opponents forever through poison. AnticipatingoppositionfromHasantoYazid'ssuccession,heengineeredhisdeath.Thehistorian,Masoodi,writes:"MuawiyasentwordtoJo’dahbintAsh'ath,thewifeofHasan,thatifshewouldkillherhusband,he

would pay her 100,000 dirhems, and would marry his son, Yazid, to her."Muawiya awakened inJo’dah the ambition to become a queen, and when he sent the poison to her, as it was arrangedbetween them, she administered it to her husband, and he died from it.Muawiya rewarded her bypaying100,000dirhems,butbackedoutofhispromisetomarryhertoYazidbysaying:"Ilovemyson."61Abu'l-FarajIspahaniinhisMaqatilu't-Talibin,IbnAbdu'l-BarinhisIsti'ab,Mas'udiinhisIsbatu'l-

Wasiyya,andmanyotherulemahavereportedthatAsmaJu'da,byorderandpromiseofMu'awiya,

gavepoisontoAbuMuhammadHasanIbnAli.IbnAbdu'l-BarandMuhammadBinJarirTabarihavealso reported that whenMu'awiya was informed of the demise of the Holy Imam, he shouted thetakbir("AllahisGreat").

AYESHA'SPREVENTINGTHEBURIALOFIMAMHASSAN,THEGRANDSONOFTHEPROPHET

SomemembersofAyesha'sownfamilywishedshehadneverledarmiesandfoughtbattles.Onone

occasion,shesentamessengertohernephew,IbnAbil-Ateeq,askinghimtosendhis61TheRestatementoftheHistoryofIslamandMuslimsbySayedRazwymuletoherforriding.Whenhernephewreceivedthemessage,hesaidtothemessenger:"Tellthe

motherofbelieversthatbyGod,wehavenotwashedthestainsofthebloodshedinthebattleofthecamelyet.Does shenowwant to start abattleof themule?" (Baladhuri inAnsabal-Ashraf, vol. I,page431)IbnAbilAteeq'sremarkwaspromptedinjest.Butin669thedayactuallycamewhenAyesharodea

muleinanother"campaign."WhenthecoffinofImamHasanwasbroughttothemausoleumofhisgrandfather,MuhammadMustafa,forburial,Marwanbinal-HakamandothermembersoftheBanuUmmayaappearedon thescene, inbattledores.Theyweregoing toprevent theBanuHashimfromburyingImamHasanbesidehisgrandfather.TheUmayyadswerenotalone;Ayeshacamewiththem,ridingamule!AyeshamayhavelostthebattleinBasrabutshe"won"the"battle"inMedina.Hasancouldnotbe

buried with his grandfather because of her and Umayyad opposition, and he was buried in thecemeteryofJannat-ul-Baqi.62We have discussed how she vexed the Holy Prophet and how she subsequently went into battle

mountedonacameltofightagainsthissuccessor.Butlater,thistimemountedonamuleshestoppedthecorpseof theeldergrandsonof theHolyProphet frommovingaheadforburialnear theHolyProphet. The sunni eminent ulema and historians, including Yusuf Sibt Ibn Jauzi in his TadhkiraKhawasu'l-Umma,p.122;AllamaMas'udi,authorofMuruju'z-Dhahab,inIsbatu'l-Wasiyya,p.136;IbnAbi'l-Hadid in Sharh-e-Nahju'l-Balagha, vol. IV, p.18, reporting from Abu'l-Faraj and Yahya BinHasan,authorofKitabu'n-Nasab;MuhammadKhwawindShahinhisRauzatu's-62TheRestatementoftheHistoryofIslamandMuslimsbySayedRazwySafa,andmanyothershavewrittenthatwhenthecorpseofImamHasanwasbeingtransportedto

Medina,A'yesha,mounted on amule and accompanied by a group of theBaniUmayya and theirslaves,stoppedthegroupwithImamHasan'sbody.TheysaidthattheywouldnotletImamHasanbeburiedbythesideoftheHolyProphet.AccordingtothereportofMas'udi,IbnAbbassaid:"Itisstrangeofyou,A'yesha!WasnottheDay

ofJamal,thatis,yourenteringthebattlefieldmountedonacamel,sufficientforyou?NowshouldthepeoplealsokeepinmemorytheDayofBaghl(mule)?Mountedonamule,youhavestoppedthebierofthesonoftheHolyProphet.Onedaymountedon

acamel,anothermountedonamule,youhavetornasunderthemodestyoftheHolyProphetofAllah.

Are you determined to destroy the Light of Allah? But surely Allah perfects His light howeverunpleasantitistothepolytheists;verily,weareAllah'sandtoHimshallwereturn."SomepeoplehavewrittenthatIbnAbbassaidtoher:"Onetimeyoumountedacamelandonetime

amule. If you live longer, youwill alsomount an elephant (that is youwill fight againstAllah)!Thoughoutofone-eighthyouhaveone-ninthshare,yetyoutookpossessionofthewhole."TheBaniHashimdrewtheirswordsandintendedtodrivethemaway.ButImamHusainintervened

andsaidthathisbrotherhadtoldhimthathedidnotwantadropofbloodtobespilledbecauseofhisfuneral procession. Accordingly, the corpse was taken back from there and buried in Baqi' (acemeteryinMedinastillvisitedbypilgrimstoday)6363PeshawarNightsbySultanulWaizinShiraz

19ChapterMARTYRDOMOFZAIDIBNALIANDHISSONYAHYAIBNZAID

TheZaidiyyasfollowZaidBinAliBinHusain.TheyconsiderImamZainu'l-Abidin'sson,Zaid,to

behissuccessor.AtpresentthesepeoplearefoundinlargenumbersinYemenanditssurroundings.TheybelievethatofthedescendantsofAliandFatima,heis"TheImamwhoislearned,pious,andbrave.Hedrawstheswordandrisesagainsttheenemy."DuringthetimeoftheoppressiveUmayyadCaliph,HishambinAbdu'l-Malik,HazratZaidroseagainstthoseinauthorityandcourtedmartyrdomandwasthereforeacknowledgedasImambytheZaidiyyas.ThefactisthatZaidpossessedafarhigherpositionthanthatwhichtheZaidiyyinclaimforhim.He

was a great Seyyed of theHashimite dynasty, andwas known for his piety, wisdom, prayers, andbravery.Hepassedmanysleeplessnightsinprayerandfastedfrequently.TheProphetprophesiedhismartyrdom,asnarratedbyImamHusain:"TheHolyProphetputhissacredhandonmybackandsaid:'OHusain, itwillnotbe longuntil amanwillbebornamongyourdescendants.HewillbecalledZaid; hewill be killed as amartyr.On the day of resurrection, he and his companionswill enterheaven,settingtheirfeetonthenecksofthepeople.'"ButZaidhimselfneverclaimedtobeanImam.Itissheerslanderforpeopletosaythathedid.Infact,herecognizedMuhammadBaqirastheImamandpledgedhisfullobediencetohim.ItwasonlyafterMuhammadBaqir'sdemisethatunknowingpeopleadoptedthedoctrinethat"heis

nottheImamwhoremainssittingathomeandhideshimselffromthepeople;theImamisonewhoisadescendantofHazratFatima,anAlim,andwhodraws theswordandrisesagainst theenemyandinvitespeopletohisside."Historians of both Shias and Sunnis recorded that when Hisham bin Abdu'l-Malik became the

caliph,hecommittedmanyatrocities.WithregardtotheBaniHashim,hewasparticularlycruel.Atlast, Zaid binAli, the son of ImamZainu'l-Abidin andwell known as a great scholar and a pioustheologian,wenttoseethecaliphtoseekredressforthegrievancesoftheBaniHashim.ButassoonasZaidarrived,thecaliph,insteadofgreetinghimasadirectdescendantoftheHolyProphet,abusedhimwithsuchabominablelanguagethatIcannotrepeatit.Becauseofthisdisgracefultreatment,ZaidleftSyriaforKufa,whereheraisedanarmyagainsttheBaniUmayyad.ThegovernorofKufa,YusufbinsUmarThaqafi, cameoutwithahugearmy to facehim.Zaid recited the followingwarpoem:"Disgracefullifeandhonorabledeath:botharebittermorsels,butifoneofthemmustbechosen,mychoiceishonorabledeath."Althoughhefoughtbravely,Zaidwaskilledinthebattle.Hisson,Yahya,tookhisbodyfromthe

field and buried him away from the city near the river bank, causing the water to flow over it.However, thegravewasdiscovered and, underYusuf's orders, thebodywas exhumed,Zaid's head

wascutoffandsenttoHishaminSyria.InthemonthofSafar,121A.H.,HishamhadthesacredbodyofthisdescendantoftheProphetplacedonthegallowsentirelynaked.Forfouryearsthesacredbodyremainedon thegallows.Thereafter,whenWalidBinYazidbinAbdu'lMalikbinMarwanbecamecaliphin126A.H.,heorderedthattheskeletonbetakendownfromthegallows,burnt,andtheashesscatteredtothewind.ThisaccursedmancommittedasimilaratrocitytothebodyofYahyabinZaidofGurgan.This nobleman also opposed the oppression of theBaniUmayya.He toowasmartyred on the

battlefield.HisheadwassenttoSyriaand,asinthecaseofhisreveredfather,hisbodywashungonthegallows-forsixyears.Friendandfoealikeweptatthesight.Waliu'd-dinAbuMuslimKhorasani,whohadrisenagainsttheBaniUmayyaonbehalfofBaniAbbas,tookhisbodydownandburieditinGurgan,whereitisaplaceofpilgrimage.6464PeshawarNightsbySultanulWaizinShirazi

20ChapterMARTYRDOMOFMUSLIMIBNAQIL,HISSONSANDHANEEIBNORWAH

Pin-dropsilenceprevailedinthemosqueatKufawherealargecongregationhadgatheredtooffer

eveningprayers.Outsidethemosquethetowncrierwasreadingouttheproclamation.Everyoneofthecongregationwasstraininghisearstolistentoeverywordwithraptattention.At the top of his voice the town-crier was shouting: "Be it known to the people of Kufa that

Obeidullah,sonofZiad,hasassumedthegovernorshipofKufaundertheordersoftheKhalifYazidibnMuawiya.HehasnotedwithperturbationthatthepeopleofKufahaveextendedtheirwelcometoMuslim, son ofAqil,who has come fromMedina as an emissary ofHusain, son ofAli,who hasdeclinedtooweallegiancetotheKhalif.Itisherebyproclaimedfortheinformationofallthecitizensof Kufa that any person found associating with Muslim, son of Aqil, will be considered a rebelagainst theKhalif and, byway of punishment, hewill be hanged, drawn and quartered, his entirefamilywill be put to the sword and his property confiscated. In case of thosewho have hither toextendedtheirwelcometohim,iftheynowrepentanddesistfromdoingso,amnestywillbegiven."Withbatedbreatheveryonelistenedtotheproclamation.ItwasthissameMuslim,sonofAqil,who

wastoleadtheprayersthatevening,andastheproclamationendedhearosetofulfillhisduty.Afewexchanged enquiring glances with their friends. Some others whispered some words to theirneighbours. At this moment the call for prayers was given and Muslim silently rose to lead thecongregationalprayers.WhenMuslimcompletedtheprayersandturnedback,hefoundthemosqueempty,exceptforone

persononlyHaneeIbneOrwahatwhosehouseMuslimwasstayingasaguest.Thetwolookedateachother.NowordswereneededtotellMuslimwhythepeopleofKufahaddesertedhim.ThepeopleofKufa,whohadsopersistentlyaskedHusaintocomeovertothemandtakeuptheresponsibilitiesoftheirspiritualamelioration,hadonhearingtheproclamation,gotscaredoutoftheirwits.Thesewerethe people who had in the past betrayedMuslim's Uncle Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, andshown cowardice in times of trouble and tribulations. These were the people who had desertedMuslim'scousin,Hasan,sonofAli,inhishourofneed.Muslimstoodforawhilemotionless.Hisfacewasfullofanguish.Hewasnotdismayedatthefate

thatawaitedhim,becauseafightingdeathwastheheritageofhisfamily.Hewasonlydisconsolateatthe thought that he had reposed confidence in these people's sincerity and written to his cousin,Husain, to come over to Kufa as their moral, mental and spiritual preceptor, to save them fromsinking into thedepthsofmoral degradation.Howhewishedhehadnot beenhasty about judgingthesepeople.

Amoment'sreflectionwassufficienttomakeuphismind.Atleasttherewasonemanwithhimwhocouldbereliedupon.IfhecouldonlysendamessagetoHusainthroughHaneeIbneOrwahaboutthetreacheryofthepeopleofKufa!With these thoughts Muslim turned towards Hanee. Before he could give expression to his

thoughts,HaneeIbneOrwahanticipatedhiswords.In lowwhispershesaid:"Muslim,myrespectedguest,Iknowwhatisuppermostinyourmind.IfGodenablemetoleavethiscursedtownintime,Ishall rushpost-haste towarnourmasterandImamto turnback."Hehunghisheaddownand, inatonewhichwashardlyaudible,added,asifmutteringtohimself:"Muslim,mydutytowardsyouasyourhostdemands that I should remainhere toprotectyouand shed the lastdropofmyblood inyourdefence.ButIknowthatyouwouldlikemetoattendtothehigherdutythatwebothowetoourmaster,HusainibnAli.ThereishardlytimetobelostandsoIbidyoufarewell.MayAlmightyGodprotectyouandyourinnocentsonsfromthefuryofthesetreacherousfiends."HaneeIbneOrwahrushedoutoftheMosque.Heknewthathehadtoactquickly,ifatallhewasto

succeedinhismission.BeforeleavingKufahehadtodosomethingforthesafetyofthetwoyoungsonsofMuslimwhohadnotyet reached their teens.Hewasquicklyrevolving inhismindhowhecouldhidetheseinnocentboysandwhere.Hecouldnotthinkofanybodyknowntohimwhocouldbetrustedtogivesheltertothem.HehardlyhadanytimeathisdisposaltomakearrangementsbecausehisparamountobligationwastoconveyMuslim'smessagetoImamHusain.Hisquick-workingminddecidedthatthechildrenofMuslimmustbewarnedtogetoutofthehousewheretheywerenolongersafeandleavetheresttoGod.On reachinghishouse,Haneeaskedhiswife towhisk thechildrenoutof thehouseby theback

door for their safety. He asked his servant to harness his horse as quickly as he could. HardlyMuhammadandIbrahim,theyoungsonsofMuslim,hadbeenputontheroadtofacetheworldanditsturmoilsinastrangeandunfriendlycity,thehouseofHaneewassurroundedbyarmedtrooperssentbyObeidullah.HaneerealizedthatthehopehehadcherishedtoleavethetownandcarrythemessageofMuslimtoHusainwascompletelyfrustrated.HeunsheathedhisswordandfelluponthehirelingsofObeidullahwiththeintentionofsellinghislifeasdearlyashecould.Theoddsagainsthimweretooheavy.HewassoonoverpoweredandchainedandmarchedofftothecourtoftheGovernor.AfterHanee'sdeparturefromtheMosque,Muslimreflectedforawhile.Atfirsthismindwasputat

easebyHanee'sassurancethathewouldcarrythewarningtoHusainaboutthehappeningsinKufa.ButonsecondthoughtsherealizedthattherewaseverypossibilityofHaneebeingcapturedbeforehecouldleavethetown.Whatifthathappened?HehadfullestconfidenceinHanee'ssincerity,buthowcouldhebesosurethatHaneewouldbeabletomakegoodhisescapefromKufa?AlthoughMuslimwasfullyalivetothelotthatwouldbefallhisinnocentsonsontheircapture,herealizedthattherightcourseforhimwastofindsomeotherpersonwhomhecouldtrusttocarrythemessagetotheImam.Kneelingdown inprayerhemuttered:"MercifulAllah, sparemeforawhileso that Icansend thewarningtomyImam."Hecameoutofthemosqueslowly.Hedidnotknowwhichwaytoturnheonlyknewthatthewhole

townhadturnedhostile tohim.Assoonashesteppedoutof themosque,hesawgroupsofpeoplecollected here and there and engaged in animated conversation. On seeing him coming out theyscatteredandwalkedawayasiftheyhadneverknownhim.Muslimrealizedthattheywere,oneandall,mortally afraid of the reprisals thatwould befall them if they stood by him.Nowhe sawhow

difficultitwasforhimtofindasinglepersonwhocouldfulfillhispurpose;wheretolookforhim;wheretofindhim?With a heavy heart Muslim was now trudging the narrow by-lanes of Kufa. The sun was fast

descendingandthedarknarrowlanesofKufabecomingdarkereverymoment.Makingahoodofhisgown, so as to cover his head to avoid identification, Muslim was walking on and on, almostaimlesslyambling.Thedesertedcobbledpavementswereechoinghisfootsteps.Theonlyothersoundtobeheardwasofthehorses'hoofsasthesoldierswerepatrollingthestreetsandsearchingforhiminallnooksandcorners.Whilstwalkingaimlesslyhewasfuriously thinkinghowtofindsomeonewhocouldcarryhismessagetoHusain.Soon darkness descended on thewhole town.As curfewhad been imposed by the orders of the

Governor,notasoulwasventuringout.ItbecameevidenttoMuslimthat,ifhewalkedontherewaseverypossibilityofhisbeingarrestedbythepatrolmenand,ifthathappened,hislasthopeoffindingamessengerwouldvanish.Theeventsofthedayhadmadehimtiredinbodyandsoul.Hesatonthedoorstepofahouse,hesitatingwhethertoknockatthedoorandaskforwater.Whilst

hewasstillwavering,heheard theopeningof thedooragainstwhichhewas leaning.Anold ladystoodtherewithaflickeringcandleinherhands.Fromherenquiringeyeshecouldunderstandthatshewaswonderingwhyhewasseatedthere.Muslimturnedtoherandrequestedaglassofwater.Sheaskedhimtowaitforaminuteand,goingintothehouse,returnedwithatumblerofwater.Muslimdrankittothelastdropandthankedtheladyprofusely.Heagainsatdownonthedoorstep.Theoldladylookedathimforawhileandthenaskedhim:"Myson,whydoyounotreturntoyourhouse?Doyou realizehowyourwife and childrenmust beworrying aboutyoubyyour remaining awayfromthehouseinsuchtroubledatmosphere?Don'tyouhaveahousewithwifeandchildren?"AlumpcameintoMuslim'sthroatwiththerecollectionofhisfamilyandhome.Controllinghisemotionsandchecking the tearswhichweregushing fromhiseyeshesaid:"Good lady, Ihaveahouse,but inadistantland.MywifeandyoungdaughtersareathomeandmysonsareinKufabutperhapstheywillwait for me forever." After a brief pause he added: "In this unfriendly town I have no home andnobodytowhomIcanturnforshelter."Thesewordsofdespondencymovedthelady.Sympatheticallyshesaid:"Fromwheredoyoucome

andwhyareyouhereinthesetroubledtimes?"Muslimmurmured in reply: "I am from the city of the Prophet. I came on the invitation of the

peopleofKufaastheirguest.Thoughthousandswelcomedmeonmyarrival,thereisnownotasoulwhowilladmitmeintohishouse."Thevenerableold ladywas takenabackby this reply.She raised thecandle shewascarrying to

bring itnearerMuslim's face.Withanexclamationof recognitionshebentdownonherkneesandsaid: "MyGod, you areMuslim, the emissaryofmy Imam,mybelovedHusain,who is huntedbyObeidullah'ssoldiers.HowdidInotrecognizeyouatthefirstglancewhenyourwords,youraccent,yourdemeanor,allhadthestampofpeopleoftheProphet'sHouse?"Sobbingbitterlyandovercomebycontritionsheadded,"HowwillIfacemyLadyFatimaonthedayofreckoningwhenshewillaskme: "Taha, my Husain's emissary came to you, friendless and shelterless, but you callously andrelentlesslyturnedhimout!"WhatreplywillIgivetoher?TheleastthatIcandoforyouistogiveyoushelterinmyhousetillanopportunityarisesforyoutomakegoodyourescapefromthiscursed

citywhosepeoplearesteepedinperfidy."Muslimfeltreluctanttoacceptherofferforfearthatthegod-fearingoldladymightbevictimized

forgivinghimprotection.Butonsecondthoughtshedecidedtostayinherhousewiththehopethat,if he could avoid arrest for some time,hemightbe able to find someone to carryhismessage toHusain.TahaaskedMuslimtoremainintheatticofthehouse.Shegavehimwhateverfoodtherewasinthe

housebuthecouldhardlypartakeofanything.Howcanapersoninhispredicamentrelishfood?Hedecidedtopassthenightinprayersashehadapremonitionthatthiswouldbehislastnight.Beforeretiringintotheattic,MuslimtoldTahaabouthisdesiretosendamessagetotheImamnot

tocometoKufainviewofwhathadtranspired.Sheassuredhimthatwhenherson,whowasintheGovernmentarmedforces,returnedfromhisbeat,shewouldtakehiminherconfidenceandenlisthissupportinfindingsomereliablepersonforthismission.Hardly a few hours had passedwhenTaha's son returned home.He looked tired andworn out.

WhenTahaenquiredfromhimthereasonforhiscominghomesolate,hetoldherthat,alongwithothersoldiershewaspatrollingthestreetsinsearchofMuslim.Shewasaghastatthethoughtthatherson,ofallpeople,shouldbeinthepartysearchingforMuslim,whensheherselfwassodevotedtotheHouseoftheProphet.Shestronglyprotestedtohersonattherolehewasplaying.Thatcunningmanturnedroundandassuredhismotherthat,thoughhehadinthecourseofhisdutytopretendasifhewas searching forMuslim, in reality hewas asmuchdevoted toMuslim, and theHouse of theProphet,asshewas.Hisdisingenuousassurancescarriedconvictiontothesimpleoldladyand,aftermakinghimswearbyhisfaith;shetookhersonintoconfidenceandtoldhimeverythingaboutthehappeningsofthatevening.ThecraftysonofTahawasinwardlyelatedatthethoughtthathewouldbeabletocollecttheprize

placedonMuslim'shead.Hisfirst thoughtwastobeheadMuslimachievedinhissleepbut,cowardthat he was, he got scared at the fate that would befall him if Muslim would wake up before heaccomplished his purpose. He thought furiously for a few moments and then decided to go andinformObeidullah IbnZiad that he hadMuslim in his house and he could be easily captured.Hiswarpedmind quickly invented an excuse for going out in the dead of night,without arousing thesuspicionsofhisnoblemother.Hetoldherthat,asinhispresence,HaneeIbnOrwah,atwhosehouseMuslim and his two sons had been staying, had been beheaded and as the two young boys wereroamingthestreetsofKufa,hethoughtithisboundendutytosearchforthemandbringthemhomesothatthefatherandsonscouldbereunited.HetoldTahathathewouldalsoseeoneofhistrustedfriends and through him arrange to conveyMuslim's message to the Imam for which he was soanxious.Tahawastakeninbytheguilesofherperfidiousson.Shefeltelatedthathersonwassokeentodothegoodworkthathecouldnotwaittilldaybreak.TheavaricioussonofTahahastenedtotheGovernor'shouseandlostnotimeingettinghimself

admittedtohispresence.InfactObeidullahwasawakewaitingforthenewsofMuslim'sarrestashewasmightyafraidthat, ifMuslimremainedat large,hemightsucceedinrallyingroundhimafewpersonswho could offer very stiff opposition to his forces and even upset his ugly plans.He feltrelieved and overjoyed at the tidings brought to him by Taha's treacherous son. Heimmediatelyorderedoneofthecommandersofhisforcestogettogetherawell-equippedcontingent

forMuslim'sarrest.Accompaniedbymountedsoldiers, the traitor returned tohishouse forMuslim'sarrest.Muslim

wasatthattimeengagedinprayers.Whenheheardthebeatingofseveralhorses'hoofsonthepavedroads,heunderstoodthatthesoldiershadcomeforhisarrest.Hesnatchedhisswordwhichwaslyingbyhissideandrushedout.Tahastoodatthethresholdofherhouseflabbergastedtoseethathersonhad brought the soldiers for the arrest of her revered guest. She fell onMuslim's feet and cried:"Muslim,myprince,howcanIexplaintoyouthatIhavenotbetrayedyoubutmycursedson,whomItrusted andnever suspectedof suchblatant treachery, has ruinedme. I shall not let themcrossmythresholdexceptovermydeadbody."MuslimdidnotrequiretobetoldthatTaha'savermentsweresincere.Hegentlytoldher,"Mybenefactor,Iknowthatyouhavebeenverykindandconsideratetomeandthethoughtofbetrayingmecannotevencrossyournobleandpiousmind.Idonotintheleastblameyouforthetreacheryofyourson.Asyourguest,whohaspartakenofyourhospitality,Icannotallowyoutobekilledbythesemercilessbrutesandletyourhousebereducedtoashambles.LetmegooutofthehouseandsellmylifeasdearlyasIcan."MuslimgentlypushedasideTahafromthethresholdandwalkedoutswordinhand.Bythistimethe

soldiers had reached the house.Theywere takenby surprise at seeingMuslimemerging from thedoorlikeanenragedlion.Thelanewassonarrowthattwohorsescouldnotcomeupabreast.ThisgaveMuslimthebestopportunityforsinglecombat.Thoughhewasonfootandthesoldieroppositetohimwasmounted,hepossessedtheprowesswhichwastheheritageofAli'sfamily.Oneaftertheother thesoldiersweretastingtheswordof thiswarriorandfallingdownfromtheirhorses.In theprocesstheyweregettingcrushedandtrampledunderthehoofsofhorsesoftheirownmen.Theleaderofthebandofsoldiers,whohaddiscreetlykepthimselfbehindhismen,sentwordfor

moremen. Thoughmore andmore soldierswere pouring in, the topography of the scene of thisstreetbattlewassuchthattheycouldnotattackenmasse.Headsofenemysoldierswerefallinglikenine-pins.HourspassedbutstillMuslimwasfightinghisdefensivebattlemostcourageously.WhenObeidullahIbneZiad'scouriers,whowerebringingtohimthenewsofthefight,informed

him thatMuslimwas giving a fight the like ofwhich had not been seen since the days ofAli, theKhalif, he got infuriated. He tauntingly asked his generals howmany thousands of warriors theyneededtocaptureonesolitaryperson.Oneofthemangrilyretortedtohimthathewasforgettingthattheperson tobe capturedwasnot anordinaryhome-keepingyouthor shopkeeperbut a renownedwarrioroftheHouseofAli.HeevensuggestedthatifObeidullahhadnoconfidenceinthegenerals,hecouldhimselfdemonstratehisskillwiththeswordbyofferingcombattoMuslim.Thissuggestionscared thewitsoutofObeidullah.He,ofallpeople,knewwhat itmeant tocrossswordswithAli'snephew.Swallowingthetaunt,hereplied:"Mygoodgeneral,Ifullyknowwhatitmeanstofightwithapersonsodesperatewhofindshimselfatbay.Insteadoflettingourmendiebyhisswordinsuchlargenumbers,whycannotsomeoneadoptsomestratagemtomakehimleavehisvantagepositionsothatitmaybeeasiertoattackhimfromallsides?"This suggestion appealedverymuch to the cowardly soldiersofKufa.After someconsultations

amongstthemselves,theydecidedtosendsoldierstothetopoftheroofofanadjoiningbuildingandfromtheretohurlstones,burningembersandmissilesatMuslim.Itdidnottakethemlongtocarryouttheirstrategy.Withshowersofarrows,stones,fireandmissiles,Muslimwassomuchwoundedthathedecidedtogiveuphisvantageposition.Hechargedonthesoldiersinfrontofhimandthey

fellback.Hewentforward,wieldinghissword,andintheprocess,sendingthosewhowerewithinitsreachtotheperditionanddoomthattheymerited.Once again hasty counselswere held among the captains of the army. Someone suggested that,

sinceMuslimwasnowdesperatelymovingforward,atrenchcouldbedugontheroadandcoveredupwith straw so that itwas completely camouflaged.The ideawas to trapMuslim as hemarchedforward.Itwasrealizedthat,withoutsuchsubterfuge,Muslimcouldnotbekilledorcapturedwithoutsacrificingthecreamofthearmy.ThetreacherousruseproposedbyObeidullah'smercenariesworkedasplanned.Whilerushingon

and wielding his sword dexterously, Muslim fell into the trench. Now those who were avoidingcomingwithinthereachofhisswordswoopeddownonhim.WithgushingbloodMuslimcouldnotregainhisfeet.Hetoppledoverandlayunconsciousinthetrench.Itwasnowamatterofminutestocapturehimandsoonhewaschainedandbound.WhenMuslimregainedconsciousness,hefoundhimselfacaptive.Hiswoundshadaccentuatedhis

thirst. The dawn was now breaking and the call for prayers was raised in the mosques of Kufa.Muslimrequestedhiscaptorstogivehimsomewatertodrinkandforablution.Insteadofaccedingtohisrequest,theymockedandjeeredathim.MuslimwasextremelysurprisedandpainedtoseethatthepeopleofKufa,whowereclaimingtobethefollowersoftheProphet,werefloutingtheinjunctionsofIslamforkindnesstoallinahelplesspredicament.LittledidMuslimknowthatthesesamepeoplewouldbehavewithutter callousnessandbeastliness towardsHusainandhis children in thenot toodistantfuture.BeforebeingmarchedofftotheCourtofObeidullah,Muslimwasparadedthroughthestreetsof

Kufawithheavychainsonhishandsandfeet.ThepeopleofKufa,whoonlyafewdaysbeforewerevyingwithoneanotherjust tohaveaglimpseofhim,werenowwatchinghimfromtheirwindowswithperfectequanimity,asifhewasanutterstrangertothem.Somedevilsamongstthemwerehard-heartedenoughtopeltstonesathim.WhenMuslimwaspresentedbeforeObeidullahhestooderectwithdignity.TheGovernorasked

him whether he knew the fate that awaited him and his master Husain Ibn Ali.With utter disdainMuslimreplied"OmercenaryofYazid,Idonotcarewhatyoudotome,butIdonotliketohearyourcursedtonguementioningHusain'sname."ObeidullahIbneZiadfeltcrestfallenatthisboldrebukeofMuslim.Withintentionofcreatingan

impression of hismagnanimity on the peoplewhowere gathered in his court, he said toMuslim,"According to the age-old Arab custom I want you to mention your last desire before you arebeheadedsothatImayfulfillit."AglintofhopecameintoMuslim'seyes.Couldhetakethismanathiswordandaskhimtosendthe

messagethathewantedtobeconveyedtohismaster?Likeadrowningmanwhocatchesatastraw,Muslimdecidedthat,ifatall, thiswashisonlychance.Heimmediatelyreplied:"Obeidullah,ifyouaretruetoyourword,fulfillmylastwishandsendamessagetomymasterImamHusain,askinghimtogobacktoMedinaandabandontheideaofhisvisittoKufa."Obeidullah had never expected this request fromMuslim. He had thought that perhapsMuslim

mightrequesthimtosparethelivesofhistwoyoungsonswhentheywerecaptured,astheyweresuretobe.Forawhilehewasnonplussed;hewasatalosswhattosay.Heknewthathecouldnotfulfillthis wish ofMuslimwithout incurring the displeasure of Yazid; but to decline this request wouldbetrayhiminhistruecolor.Hiscrookedminddidnottakelongtofindasolutiontothisproblem.HebeckonedtohisexecutionerstotakeMuslimtothetopoftheGovernmentHouseandtobeheadhim.Heimmediatelydismissedhiscourtandhurriedbacktohisapartment.WhentheswordoftheexecutionerwasswayingoverMuslim'sheadhislastthoughtswerewithhis

master,Husain,whomhehadlovedandcherishedmorethananythinginlife.Hisonlyregretwasthattilltheendhecouldnotdowhathewantedmost,towarnHusainagainstthetreacheryofthepeopleofKufa.As the sword fell onhis neckhe silentlymuttered a prayer toGod to so ordain thatHusainmightcome toknowof thehappenings inKufa.Thiswas the lastprayerof thebravewarriorwhostoodsteadfastindeathasinlife.Merciful God did not allowMuslim's last prayer to go in vain. He who listens to the prayers

emanating from the hearts of sincere devotees like Muslim, enabled one witness to the ghastlyenactmentsofthatday,whohadsomesparksoffaithinhim,togoridingoutofKufaattheearliestopportunity. He reached the camp of Imam Husain a few days after Muslim's martyrdom. HeconveyedthesadtidingstoHusainwhoweptbitterlyasifhisheartwouldrend.HecalledtheyoungdaughterofMuslim,whowastravellingwithhim,andtoldherthathenceforthsheshouldregardhimasherguardian.HegaveonepairofearringstoherandonetoSakina.WhenthemessengeraskedhimwhetherhewasturningbackandreturningtoMedinainviewofwhathadhappenedtoMuslim,he replied: "I amgoing forward tomeetmydestiny; to fulfill thepurposeofmy life.Mydeath isbeckoningtomeandsothereisnoquestionofmyretracingmysteps."65Muslim ibn 'Aqil had taken two of his sons to Kufah with him. The older son was called

MuhammadandtheyoungerIbrahim.Bothof themwereunder theageof tenyears.WhenMuslimibn'AqilrealizedhowdangerousathreatIbnZiyadwas,hecalledforQadiShurayhandhandedoverhistwosonstohim.65TearsandTributesbyZakirQadiShurayhkeptthetwoboysinhishouseuntilthemartyrdomofMuslimibn'Aqil.AfterthedeathofMuslimibn'Aqil,IbnZiyadissuedawarningsayingthatanyonewhowasaware

ofthewhereaboutsofthesonsofMuslimibn'Aqilanddidnotinformhimwouldbeputtodeath.Onhearing this, Qadi Shurayh went to the sons of Muslim ibn 'Aqil. He showed them affection andkindnessasheshedtears.Theboysaskedhim,"Whyareyouweeping?"Shurayhreplied,"Yourfatherhasbeenmercilesslykilled."Thechildrencriedingrief,"Ofather!

O exile!"AfterShurayhhad consoled them, he informed themof IbnZiyad's threats against them.Hearing this, the children stopped crying out of terror. Seeing this Shurayh said, "Do not befrightened.Youaretheapplesofmyeye.Iwillnotallowanyharmtocometoyou.IhavearrangedforyoutobeinthecareofatrustworthypersonwhowillseetoitthatyouaretakenbacktoMedina."ShurayhcalledforhissonAsadandgavehimthefollowinginstructions,"Newshascometome

that a caravan is preparing to depart forMedina. Take these children and hand them over to the

trustworthypersonwhowillseetoitthattheyreachMedinasafely."Shurayhkissedthetwoboysandgavethemeach50dinars.ThenhebadethemfarewellandhandedthemovertohissonAsad.Inthedarknessof thenight,Asadcarried the twoboys inhisarmsuntilhewasa fewkilometersoutsideKufahinordertomeetwiththecaravan.However,thecaravanhadsetoffbeforetheyarrived.Thedark shapesof the rearof the caravanwerebarelyvisible in thedistance.Asadbid the two

orphansofMuslim ibn 'Aqil farewelland told to runafter thecaravanuntil theycaughtupwith it.Undernocircumstancesweretheytostopbeforetheyhadreachedit.Inthedarknessofthenightthetwoorphansstartedrunningthroughthedeserttowardsthecaravan.

However, tiredness overcame them and they paused for a while. It was at this moment that aninhabitantfromKufahhappenedtobepassing.HesawthetwoboysandrecognizedthemasbeingtheorphansofMuslimibn'Aqil.HeseizedthemandbroughtthemtoIbnZiyad.IbnZiyadsummonedthejailorandhandedthetwoorphansovertohim.Thejailorwasapersonby

thenameofMashkurandhewasamongtheloversoftheHouseholdoftheProphet.WhenMashkurlearnedoftheidentityofthetwoboys,hetreatedthemwithgreatkindnessandaffectionandbroughtthem foodandwater.Finally in themiddleof thenight,Mashkurdecided to free the twoboys.HegavethemhisringandinstructedthemtogotoQadisiyyahwheretheywouldfindhisbrother.Hetoldthem to give the ring to his brotherwhowould then assist them to get toMedina.When news ofMashkur's freeing of the boys was given to Ibn Ziyad, he ordered him to be given fifty lashes.Mashkurdiedasthesentencewasbeingcarriedout.On thesamenight IbrahimandMuhammad, thesonsofMuslim ibn 'Aqil, leftKufahandstarted

their journeytowardsQadisiyyah.Theywalkedallnight.However,duetothedarknessandthefactthattheydidnotknowtheway,theyfoundthemselvesstillontheoutskirtsofKufahinthemorning.The frightened boys saw a palm-grove andwent to it. There they hid themselves on top of a datepalm.AnEthiopianmaidcametothepalm-grovetodrinksomewaterfromapondunderneaththetreein

which the childrenwere hiding.As she knelt down by the pond, she saw the reflection of the twochildreninthewater.Themaidquicklylookedupatthetreeandsawtheyoungboysconcealedinit.She treated themwithkindness andgentleness and took them tohermistress,whowas thewifeofHarithibn'Urwah.Assoonasthiswomansawthem,sheputherarmsaroundthemandaskedthemwhotheywere.Theyreplied,"WearefromthefamilyoftheProphetandarethesonsofMuslimibn'Aqil."When she learned of their true identities, she showed them greater affection and embracedhermaidinjoy.However,shewarnedhertonottoinformherhusbandHarithabouttheboysbecausesheknewofhisevildisposition.Aftertheboyshadeatenandgonetobed,Harithreturnedhomeinastateofrage.WhenHarith's

wifeaskedhimofthereasonforhisanger,herepliedthatthathehadbeeninsearchofthetwosonsofMuslimibn'AqilwhohadbeenfreedbyMashkurthejailor.HesaidthatithadbeenannouncedinthepalaceofIbnZiyadthattheonewhocapturedtheboyswouldberewardedhandsomely.However,despitealengthysearchduringwhichhishorsehaddiedofexhaustionandinwhichhehimselfhadbecometired,hehadbeenunabletofindthem.AtthisHarith'swifesaid,"Maysorrowbeyourlot!FearGodandthedayonwhichMuhammadtheMessengerofAllahwillbeyouropponent.Donotharmthosechildren."Harithreplied,"Silence!Owoman!IfIweretofindthem,Ishouldberewarded

byvastamountsofgoldandsilverfromIbnZiyad.Getupandpreparemysupper."AftereatinghissupperHarithwenttohisbed.MuhammadandIbrahimwereasleepinoneofthe

rooms. SuddenlyMuhammad the elder brother of the twowoke up from his sleep. He had had adreamthathaddisturbedhim.HesaidtoIbrahim,"Wakeup!Obrother!IhavejusthadadreamandIamafraidthatthatwewillsoonbekilled.IsawtheProphetwithImamAli,al-Hasan,al-HusaynandLadyFatimahsittinginParadisewithourfather.TheProphetlookedatusandwept.Thenheturnedtoour father and said, 'OMuslim!How could you leave your sons among the enemies?'At this ourfathersaidthattheywouldbeunitedwithustomorrow."Ibrahimreplied,"Ihavehadthesamedream."Thechildrenembracedeachotherinthedarknessofthenight,frightenedandnotknowingwhatwastobecomeofthem.Harithwaswokenfromhissleepbythesoundofthechildren'svoices.Holdingacandlehecame

insidetheroomandsawthetwofrightenedchildrensittinginacorneroftheroomclingingtoeachother.Heasked,"Whoareyou?"Theyanswered,"Weareyourguests,thefamilyoftheProphet.WearethesonsofMuslimibn'Aqil."Harithshoutedangrily,"Ihavedestroyedmyselfandmyhorseinsearching foryouwhileyouwere sitting insidemyownhouse?"Harithbegan to slap thechildrenviciously.Thenhetiedtheirhandsandfeetandpushedthemintoacorneroftheroom.Harith'swifecametohimandkissedhishandsandfeetbegginghimtonottoharmthechildrenas

theywereorphansandfromthefamilyoftheProphetandtheirguests.However,thehardheartedmanwaswithoutanycompassionandpaidnoheedtoherpleas.Thustheboyswereleftinthatstateuntilthemorning.InthemorningHarith,withhisswordinhishandandaccompaniedbyhissonandhisservant,took

thetwosonsofMuslimibn'AqiltothebanksoftheEuphrates.Harith'swifewascryingandpleadingwithhimasshefollowedthem.However,whenevershegotneartothem,Harithwouldpushherawaywithhissword.AttheEuphratesHarithgavehisswordtohisservantandorderedhimtobeheadthetwoboys.TheservantrefusedtocarryouthisordersandHarithkilledhim.AfterthisHarithhandedtheswordtohissonandtoldhimtobeheadthetwochildren.Atthishissonreplied,"IseekrefugewithAllah!Neverwill I commit sucha crimeand Iwillnot allowyou tokill them."Harith'swifecried out, "What crime have these children committed? Take them alive to the governor." Harithanswered,"Ihavenooptionbuttokillthem,IhavenoguaranteethatmembersoftheShi'ahwillnotrescuethemfrommewhileImakemywaytothegovernor."AtthisHarithtookholdofhisswordwithanintentionofkillinghisownson.Hiswifescreamed

andbeggedformercybuttonoavail.Harithtookhisson'slife.Thenheturnedtothechildrenwhowerecryingandshakingwithfearatwhattheyhadwitnessed.Thechildrenbeggedforsometimeforthem to offer their final prayers butHarith did not grant them theirwish.Harith grabbed hold ofMuhammadbutIbrahimthrewhimselfonMuhammadinanattempttosavehim.Muhammaddidthesame in order to save the life of his younger brother. Impatiently Harith struck his sword atMuhammadbeheadinghim.Ibrahimgrabbedtheheadofhisbrotherinhislap.Asheweptoverhisbrother,HarithstruckatIbrahimneckbeheadingtheorphan.HariththrewtheheadlessbodiesoftheorphansofMuslimibn 'Aqil intheriverandplacedtheir

headsonastakeandsetofftothepalaceofIbnZiyad.

TheheadsoftheorphansofMuslimibn'AqilwerebroughtandplacedinfrontofIbnZiyad.Thelatterasked,"Whoseheadsarethese?"Harithreplied,"ThesearetheheadsofyourenemieswhomIcaught and beheaded in return for the reward that you promised." IbnZiyad asked, "Which ofmyenemies?" Harith answered, "The sons ofMuslim ibn 'Aqil." Ibn Ziyad asked for the heads to bewashed and brought on a tray. Then he gazed at them and said to Harith, "May sorrow be yourreward!Whatwrongdidthesechildrendotoyou?"IbnZiyadcalledforhispersonaljesterMuqatilwhowasadevotedloveroftheHolyFamilyandto

denythemurdererdeathat thehandsofsoldierssaid,"Thisaccursedmanhaskilled thesechildrenwithoutmypermission.TakehimtothebanksoftheEuphrateswherehemurderedthechildrenandexecute him as you will."Muqatil grabbed Harith by the shoulders andmarched him through thestreetsofKufahbare-footedandbareheadedasheshowedtheheadsoftheorphanstotheonlookersshouting,"Opeople!ThisisthemurdererofthetwoorphansofMuslimibn'Aqil."Thepeopleweptat the sight of theorphan's heads and cursedHarith.AsMuqatil proceeded to the river, thepeoplegatheredwithhim towitnessHarith's execution.When theyarrivedat theplacewhere thechildrenwerekilled,theyfoundthedeadbodiesofHarith'ssonandhisslaveandhisbruisedwifecryingoverherson.Thepeoplewereextremelydisturbedatthescene.HarithaskedMuqatiltoreleasehimforthesumoftenthousanddinars.TothisMuqatilreplied,"ByAllah!Ifallthewealthoftheentireworldwereyoursandyouoffered

ittome,Iwouldnotaccept.IdesiretoattaintheParadiseofAllahbyexecutingyou.HisheadwasbroughttoIbnZiyad,itwasplacedonalanceandchildrenthrewstonesandarrowsat

itandsaid,"ThisisthemurdereroftheprogenyoftheProphet"6666TheTragedyoftheTwoYoungSonsofMuslimIbnAqil,NafasulMahmoom,ShaikhSadooqhas

relatedthisinhisAma-li

21ChapterTRAGEDYOFKARBALA

UponMu'awiya'sdeath,Yazid,30yearsold,managedtoimposehimselfonthepeopleandbecome

theKhalifa.AtfirstpeoplerefusedtoaccepthimasarepresentativeoftheProphet(pbuh)andIslamicUmmah,butYazidapproachedpeople inmosquesfor their favors.Likehis fatherMu'awiya,Yazidused all possiblemeans like bribery, coercion, pressure, threats, and force to receive the people'sacceptance of him as the legitimate ruler. Many people were worried, threats to their lives andlivelihoodwere toomenacing, so theygrudginglyand reluctantlygave in.But, ImamHusain (a.s.)andhis family(whopracticedIslamin its truesense),didnotgive in.As the truerepresentativeofProphetMuhammad(pbuh),Al-HusainflatlyrefusedacceptingYazideitherasaKhalifaoraleaderofIslam.DespiteYazid'sintimidatingmilitarypowertheImamstoodfirminhisresolveandchosetochallengeBenuUmayya'sauthorities.Yazid commissioned Waleed Ibn Ut'ba, his Governor over Medina, to ask for Imam Husain's

allegianceof loyaltyorelseupon refusal,hishead.Waleed invitedAl-Husain toameeting for thepurpose.ImamHusaindidnotgivehiswordatthemeetinganddecidedtoleaveMedinaalongwithhisfamilytoproceedtoMecca.WhenAl-HusainreachedMeccahereceived12,000lettersfromKufaurginghim togo toKufa tobe their leader,andbe theKhalifa. Imamsentanemissary,hiscousinMuslimIbnAqeel,toKufatoascertainfirst-handinformationaboutthesituationinIraq.InthemeantimeYazidspreadanetworkofinformantsandsecretagentsinMeccatoassassinatetheImamduringpilgrimage. Imam learned about the spies, and carefully evaluated the situation in Mecca. ImamHusain knew that Yazid son ofMu'awiya had no regard for Islamic values and teachings, that hewoulddoanything toenforcehis tyrannical rule. ImamHusainalsoknewthatgivingallegianceofloyaltytoanimposterlikeYazidwouldcertainlyplaceIslamingreatjeopardy.ThereforehedecidedtoleaveMeccaforKufatoprepareforaconfrontationwithYazidandhisforces.ManyfriendsandrelativesurgedImamHusainnottogotoKufa,butheinsistedongoing.Imam

Husain,alongwithfamily,friends,andcompanionsbeganthejourneytowardKufa(1,100miles)inalongcaravanintheblisteringheatofsummer.ImamHusain received the first letter fromhis emissaryMuslim IbnAqeelwithgoodnews.The

letterindicatedthatthepeopleweremorethanreadytowelcometheImaminKufaandwerelookingforward tohis leadership. ImamHusaindecided to sendanother emissary toKufawithamessage.ThecaravankeptproceedingtowardKufa.ManydayspassedbuttheImamdidnotreceiveanymoreresponsesfromMuslimIbnAqeel.InKufaMuslimBinAqeelwith thehelpofMukhtarAlThaqafiandHaniIbnUrwahcontinuedto

holdsecretmeetingswith the supportersof the Imam.Withina short time thegatherings started togainmomentum.Yazidthroughhisspiesandinformants learnedaboutMuslim'ssuccesses inKufa.

He appointed the tyrantUbaidullah IbnZiyad to replace al-Nu'man Ibn al-Basheer asGovernor ofKufa.Meanwhile, asAl-Husain's caravangot closer to itsdestination (Kufa), coming to aplacecalled

Zubalah,ImamHusainunexpectedlyreceivedshockingnews.TheshockingnewswasaboutMuslimIbnAqeelandthepersonwhoprovidedhimshelter,Hani'sIbnUrwah,bothofwhomwerearrestedandbeheadedbytheGovernorIbnZiyad.MukhtarwasalsoarrestedandimprisonedandtorturedbyIbnZiyad.ImamHusaingatheredhiscompanionsanddisclosedto themabout thebadnews,andsaid,"Our

Shi'a have deserted us, those of youwho prefer to leave usmay do so freely andwithout guilt."Becomingscared,somecompanionsleftthecaravan.ImamHusaincontinuedwiththejourneyalongwithclosecompanionsandfamilymembersuntilhewasfacetofacewith1,000horsemenledbyHural-Riyahirepresentingtheenemy.TheenemyarmyblockedthecampsofImamHusain(a.s.)fromadvancing.Tensionstartedtorise

betweenthetwo.TheImamaddressedtheenemyexplainingtothemhismotivesforgoingtoKufa,that itwas in response to the invitation of the people.He even showed them a bagful of letters hereceivedfromKufa.Hursaidthatheandhismenwerenotthewritersofthoseletters.Imamtoldthemthat if they did not like him to advancewith the journey, hewas prepared to return toHijaz.Hurreplied,"WearecommissionedtofollowyouuntilwetakeyoutoGovernorIbnZiyad,andsuggestedto the Imam to go towards a station which is neither Kufa norMedina." Imam Husain found theproposal fair and turned the caravan away fromKufa. Hur and his armymarched parallel to theImam. The two sides reached a village called Nainawa where Ibn Ziyad's messenger (Yazid'sgovernoroverKufa)deliveredamessagetoHur.Themessageread,"…forceHusaintoahalt.Butlethimstopinanopenspace,withoutvegetationorwater."HurconveyedthecontentsofthelettertoImamHusain.TheImam,hisfamilyandcompanionsdefiantlyresumedtheirjourneyandreachedaplacewhereanotherenemyforceblocked theirmoveandforced themtostop.WhenImamHusainlearnedthattheplacewascalledKarbala,hefelthereachedthedestinationandorderedhiscamptobesetup.Thatdaywas2ndofMuharram,Hijri61.UponlearningthathisarmyhadsucceededtolayasiegearoundtheImam'scamp,GovernorIbn

ZiyadsentadditionalmilitaryunitstoKarbalaandappointedUmarIbnSa'adincharge.ImamHusain(a.s.)openedadialoguewithUmarIbnSa'adandconvincedhimtoliftthesiegesothattheImamwithhis family and companions could leave Iraq.Umar IbnSa'ad liked the Imam's proposal and sent amessagetoGovernorIbnZiyadnotifyinghimabouttheresultsofthetalkswithImamHusain(a.s.).IbnZiyadalsofoundtheImam'sproposalacceptable.Howeverbeforeagreeingtoitofficially,ShimrBin Dhil-Jawshan, opposed it strongly. As a result Ziyad wrote a letter to Umar Ibn Sa'adcommanding him to either go to war with Imam Husain (a.s.) or be relieved of his dutiesascommanderof thearmyandShimrwouldnotonly replacehimbutdispatch IbnSa'ad'shead toKufa.UmarIbnbinSa'adgottheletter.AfterponderingovertheconsequenceshedecidedtofightImam

Husain (a.s.). On the 7th day ofMuharram hemoved his troops closer to the camp and began tosurroundtheHusainicamp.IbnSa'adlaidablockadearoundthecamptocutitofffromaccesstotheriverEuphrates,todepriveitofwaterinamovetoforcethemtosurrender.

Twodays later, (on the9thofMuharram), theenemy'smilitary forcesclosed inon thecampofImamHusain (a.s.). Imamasked his brother,Abbas, to talk to IbnSa'ad and request a delay of theaggressionbyonenight.Umar IbnSa'adagreed to thedemand.Heorderedhis troops todelay theaggression till nextmorning. ImamHusain and his pious companions spent that night in prayers.During the night the Imam told the companions, "… .the enemy is interested in none butme,mealone. I'llbemostdelighted topermiteachandeveryoneofyou togoback,andIurgeyou todoso…."Allcompanionsscreamedinresponse,"ByAllah,never,never!Wewilleitherlivewithyouordietogetherwithyou."Finally,thedayofAshuraadawneduponthesoilofKarbala.ItwasthedaywhenJihadwouldbein

fullbloom,bloodwouldbeshed,72innocentliveswouldbesacrificed,andadecisivebattlewouldbewontosaveIslamandtheUmmah.Ithadbeenafewdayssincetheenemycutoffthewatersupply.Childrenwerecryingforwater,the

womenweredesperateforwater,Zainul-Abideen,thesonofImamHusain(a.s.)wassickwithfever.Thesufferingfromthethirstwastoopainfultobear.Anddespitethis,notasinglepersoninthecampmadeanycomplaintsorevenquestioned themissionof ImamHusain.Eachmembersupported theImamwholeheartedlyandenthusiastically.Nextmorning ImamHusain (a.s.)went out of the camp and sawUmar IbnSa'admobilizing his

troops to start thehostility.Hestaredat the intimidatingarmy,andas largeas itwas ImamHusainshowednosignsofcompromise.ImamHusainraisedhishandsinprayer:"OAllah!ItisTheeinwhomItrustamidallgrief.Youaremyhopeamidallviolence.Thouaremy

refugeandprovisionineverythingthathappenstome.Howmanygrievancesweakentheheartleavingmewithnomeanstohandlethem,duringwhichfrienddesertsme,andenemyrejoicesinit.IlayitbeforeTheeandcomplainofittoThee,becauseofmydesireinThee,Theealone.Yourelievemeofitandremoveitfromme.ThouaretheMasterofallGrace,theEssenceofGoodness,andtheUltimate

ResortofallDesire."

BeforetheactualengagementwastotakeplaceHur,thepreviouscommanderoftheenemyforce,felthisconscienceviolentlystirring,hewasinturmoil.Uponrealizingthegravityofthesituation,hesuddenlybrokeawayfromUmarIbnSa'ad'scamp(alongwithtwoothers).TheyrushedtowardImamHusain(a.s.) tojoinhiscamp.Hur'sheartwasjumpingwithjoy,hismindrelievedofanagonizingtension.Hur'sdefectionworriedUmar IbnSa'adverymuch, lestothersdo thesameanddefect.SoUmarIbnSa'ad threwanarrowin theair to indicate thestartof thebattle.Thiswas theoutsetofacatastropheandatragiceventthatMu'awiyahadonceconceivedtohappen.ImamHusain'ssupportersinsistedonbeingthefirsttofight.Therefore,theytookthebruntofthe

enemyattack.Thebattlewasferocious.WithinashorttimetheImam'ssupportersslayalargenumberoftheenemyfighters,theywereontheoffensiveandtheenemyonthedefensive.Thiscaused

apprehensionandconfusionintheenemymilitary,the72ofHusain'sagainstthe5,000oftheenemy(somesay30,000)beingonthedefensive.Soworriedandnervous,theenemycommander-in-chieforderedhisarmynotonlytosetfiretotheImam'stents(whichwereoccupiedmostlybyfrightened

femalesandchildren),butatthesametimereinforcedhisfighterswithmoretroops.

The heroes began to fall, they were men of valor welcoming martyrdom, they fell one after

another, for the enemywasoverwhelming innumber.Bynoon time the Imamstopped the fight toperform the Salat. By this time those left were mainly his family and a few supporters. TheyperformedtheSalattogether.TwosupporterswereguardingtheperformersofSalat.Theenemywasstandingstill,watching!!WhenSalatwasfinishedoneoftheguardsfelldead;therewere17arrowsinhisback.67Insteadofdodgingthearrowslikemostpeoplewouldthesebravesoulswerejumpinginfrontofthearrowstocatchthemwiththeirbodies.ThiswastoprotectImamHusainandhisShiawhowereprayingsothattheydidnotgethitbyarrowswhiletheywerecallinguponAllah.

WAHABIBNABUDULLAHQALBI

ThisisthestoryofayoungbrideandayoungbridegroomwhowereatKarbala’.Theyhadbeen

marriedonlytwomonths.Thebridegroomwashismother'sonlychild.AfterhismarriagethemotherdecidedtogoforHajjandtakethesonandhisbride.TheyleftKufa

forMeccainthemonthofShawwaal.Ontheirwayback,theyfoundKufasealedoff.AttheborderthemotheraskedwhyKufahadbeen

placedundersuchastrictblockade.ShewastoldthatarebelgroupwascampedatKarbala’andthatKufawassealedofftoprotectthecityanditsinhabitantsfromanattackbytherebels.Sheaskedwhotherebelswere.ShewastoldtheleaderwasHusaynIbnAliIbnAbuTaalib.67KarbalaChainofEventsbyRamzanShabirOnhearingthename,theladyalmostfainted.ThisladywasthewidowAbdullahQalbiandherson,

thenewlywedbridegroom,wasWahabBinAbdullahQalbi.HisfatherwasacompanionofHazratAli.In40HijrahwhenAbdullahQalbi'swifewaspregnantshebecameveryill.AbdullahQalbiwent toHazratAliandsaid,“MywifeandIhavebeenchildlessforsolong.NowthatsheisexpectingababysheissoillthatImayloseher.PleaseMawla,prayforher.”HazratAliprayed,andAbdullahQalbi'swiferecovered.SameyearHazratAliwasmartyred.AfewmonthslaterWahabwasborn.Twoyearslaterhisfatherdied.Thewidowhadbroughtuphersonwithgreatlove.NowsheheardthesonofAlibeingaccusedofwantingtoattackKufaandkillthepeoplethere.She

refusedtobelieveit.Shesaidtoherson,“Wahab, I must go and find out what is happening.”Wahab said, “Mother, I too would like to

come.”ThethreearrivedinKarbala’onthe7thMuharram.68On learning the true situationWahab decided to stay onwith ImaamHusayn and fight for him.

Whenhetoldhismotherofhisdecision,shesaid,“IamtheproudestmotherinIraq.”Wahab bin Abdullah bin Habbab Kalbi came out into the battlefield. His mother too was

accompanyinghimonthatday,whotoldhim,"AriseOson!AnddefendthegrandsonoftheProphetof Allah (s.a.w.s.)." Wahab replied, "Verily I shall not act miserly." Thus he came out into thebattlefieldwhilesaying:"Ifyoudonotknowme,IamfromBaniKalb,verysoonyouwillseemeandmysword,andwillbeholdmyattackandinfluenceinbattle,Iwillseekmyrevengeaftertherevengeof my companions, and I will ward off grief and affliction before my grief, to fight me in thebattlefieldisnotajoke."HeattackedtheKufanarmyandkilledagroupamongthemoneaftertheother.Thenhereturned

backtohismother68TheJourneyofTearsbyBashirHassanaliRahim

andwifeandstoodfacingthemandsaid,"Omother!Areyoupleasednow"?Shereplied,"IshallnotbepleaseduntilyouattainmartyrdominthepresenceofImamHusain(a.s)."Thenhiswifesaid,"IrequestyouinthenameofAllahnottobereaveme."Hearingthishismothersaid,"Odearson!Donot acceptwhat she says, go and fight in theway of the grandson of the Prophet, so that hemayintercedeforyouonthedayofQiyamah(resurrection)."Wahabreturnedbacksaying:"IsweartoyouOUmmeWahab,tostrikethemwithspearsandsword,similartotheswordsmanshipofayouthwhobelievesintheAlmighty,soastogiveatasteofthebitterbattle tothisnation,Iamvalorousandayouthpossessingaclear-cutsword,Iamnotfearfulduringbattle,Allah, theWise, issufficientforme."Thenhelaidsiegeuntilhehadkillednineteenhorsemenandtwelvefootsoldiers.Bothhishands

weresevered, seeing thishismother liftedapegof the tentand ran towardshimsaying,"Maymyparents be your ransom! Strive in the way of the Household of the Prophet of Allah." Wahabproceededfurthersoastoreturnherbacktothetents,whenshecaughtholdofhisshirtandsaid,"IshallnotreturnbackuntilIamkilledalongwithyou."WhenImamHusain(a.s.)sawthishesaid,"MayAllah rewardyou favorablydue to the rightofmy family!Returnback to the ladies,may

Allahhavemercyuponyou."HearingthisthewomanreturnedbackandWahabfoughtuntilhewasmartyred(MayAllah'sMercy

andBlessingsbeuponhim).Thewife ofWahab came and sat at his head and startedwiping the blood from the face of her

husband.WhenShimrsawher,hecommandedhisretainertostrikeherwithhisclub.HedidsoandshewasthefirstwomantoattainmartyrdomintheranksofImamHusain(a.s.)(MayAllah'sMercyandBlessingsbeuponher).ItisstatedinRawzatulWa'ezeenandAmaliofShaikhSadooq,thatformerlyWahabandhismother

wereChristians,andtheyhadacceptedIslamatthehandsofImamHusain(a.s.).TheyaccompaniedtheImamtoKarbala,andonthedayofAshuraWahabmountedhishorse,whileapegofthetentwasinhishands.Hefoughtuntilhehadkilledsevenoreightmenamongtheenemies.ThenhewasarrestedandtakentoUmarbinSa'ad,whoorderedhimtobebeheaded.AllamahMajlisisays,thathesawinanarrationthatWahabwasformerlyaChristian,thenhealong

withhismotheracceptedIslamatthehandsofImamHusain(a.s.).Whenheenteredthebattlefield,heput to sword twenty-four foot soldiers and twelve horsemen.Thenhewas arrested andbrought toUmarbinSa'adwho toldhim, "What amarvelousvalor youpossess."Thenheorderedhim tobebeheaded.Hewas beheaded and his headwas thrown towards the tents of ImamHusain (a.s.).Hismotherliftedhisheadupandkissedit,thenshethrewittowardsthearmyofUmarbinSa'ad,whichhitamanandkilledhim.ThensheliftedupapegofthetentsandkilledtwoothersuntilImamHusain(a.s.)sawherandsaid,"OmotherofWahab!Returnback.YouandyoursonwillbealongwiththeProphetofAllah,while

Jihadisliftedofffromthewomen."Hearingthisshereturnedbacksaying,"OLord!Donotdisappointme."Imamtoldher,

"MayyourLordnotdisappointyou,OmotherofWahab"!69On thedayofAshura,Wahabfought for ImaamHusayn.Whenhewaskilled themotherand the

bridewerestandingatthegateofthecamp.Theirfaceswereradiantwithpride.UmarSa'adorderedWahab's head to be cut off from the body.He threw the head atWahab'smother.Shepicked it up,kissed it and threw it back atUmarSa'ad saying, “Whatwehave sacrificed for our Imamand forIslamwedonottakeback.IamsorryIhave69NafasulMahmoombySheikhAbbasQummionesononly.IfIhadtwenty,theyallwouldhavefoughtYazidtoday.”Thenshewentintothecamp,

andtooktheyoungbrideinherarms.Justthen,thetent'scurtainliftedandBibiZainabcamein.Sheembraced them both and offered her condolences saying: “May Allah grant you patience to bearWahab'sloss!!70

JOHNBINHUWAITHEFREEDSLAVEOFABUDHARR

Among thosewhoweremartyred atKarbala’were sixteen slaves or freed slaves.Most of them

were fromAbyssinia, thepresentdayEthiopia.Someof thembelonged to ImaamHusayn's familyandotherstothecompanionsofImamwhoremainedwithhim.OnthenightbeforeAshuraImaamandthecompanionsfreedalltheirslavesandurgedthemtogo

awayandseektheirsafety,butthesesixteenwouldnotleave.AmongstthemwasanAbyssiniancalledJohnbinHuwai.HazratAlihadgivenJohn toAbuDharrGhiffari,AbuDharr freedhim,but JohnstayedonwithAbuDharrasacompanion.WhenAbuDharrwasexiledfromMadinaJohnwentbacktoHazratAliwhoinvitedhimtostayonashiscompanion.InthecompanyofHazratAlihelearntthe

tafseer ofQuraan and the traditions of theHolyProphet.He also knew theHolyQuraan by heart.WhenHazratAliwasmartyredJohnstayedwithImaamHassanandafterImaamHassanhemovedinwithImaamHusayn.WhenImaamHusaynleftMadinaJohninsistedonaccompanyinghim.AtKarbala’JohncouldalwaysbeseenatthesideofImaamHusayn.Hewasanoldman,darkwith

greycurlyhair.Becauseofhisprofoundknowledgeandpleasantmannershewasgreatlyrespectedbyall.70TheJourneyofTearsbyBashirHassanaliRahimJohn spent thewhole night ofAshura sharpening his sword.On the following day he helped in

repellingthefirsttwoattacksfromYazid'sarmy.Atmidday,aftertheZuhrprayers,JohncametotheImaam,andstoodsilentlywithhisarmsfolded.ItwashishabitnevertospeakinthepresenceoftheImaamuntilspokento.ImaamHusaynlookedatJohnandsaid,“John,Iknowyouhavecomeformypermissiontogoto

thebattle-field.Youhavebeenagoodand trustedfriend. IwillnotdenyyoumartyrdomforIslam.Go,Allahbewithyou!”Johnsmiledhappily.Hefacedtheenemyandrecitedapoemthatsaid“IamasoulwillingtodieforAllahandhaveaswordthirstyofthebloodoftheenemiesofAllah.BeforeIdieIshallfighttheenemiesofAllahwithmyswordandmytongue,andthusshallIservethegrand-son of the Holy Prophet.” John fought courageously, all the time reciting the poem. He receivedseveralmortalblowsbuthisrecitationofthepoemcontinued.Johnfellfromhishorse;hestillcontinuedtofightwithhistonguebyrecitingthepoem.Andthena

fewhorsemenmovedtowherehelay.John,theAbyssinian,wassilenced.

ALIAKBAR

AliAkbarwentovertohisfathertoaskhispermissiontogooutintothatgoryarenafromwhich

nopersonfromhiscamphadreturned.Husainlookedathisface;itwouldbemorecorrecttosaythatforacoupleofminuteshisstarewasfixedonthatfacewhichhelovedsomuch;whichremindedhimeverytimeofhisgrandfatherwhomheresembledeveryinch.Hetriedtosaysomethingbuthisvoicefailedhim.Withconsiderableefforthewhisperedwithdowncasteyes:Akbar,Iwishyouhadbecomeafather;thenyouwouldhaveknownwhatIamexperiencingatthis

moment. My son, how can a father ask his son to go, when he knows that the parting would beforever!ButAkbar,thecallofdutymakesmehelplessinthismatter.Gotoyourmother,andtoyourauntZainabwhohasbroughtyouupfromchildhoodandlovedyouandcaredforyoumorethanforherownsons,andseektheirpermission.AliAkbar entered the tent of his auntZainab.He foundher andhismotherUmmeLaila gazing

vacantly towards thebattlefieldand listening intently to thebattle criesof theenemyhordes.Theirinstinctmadethemawarethat,nowthatallthedevotedfollowersofHusainhadlaiddowntheirdearlivesdefendinghimandthem,theturnofhissons,andbrothersandnephewshadcome.Itwasnowonlyaquestionoftime.Itwasonlyaquestionwhowouldgofirstfromamongstthem.ThelightfootstepsofAliAkbarrousedbothofthemfromtheirreverie.Bothofthemfixedtheir

gazeonhimwithoututteringaword.Zainabbrokethesilencewithanexclamation:OhGod,canitbetruethatAkbarhascometobidmeandhismotherthelastfarewellAkbardonot

saythatyouarereadyforthelast journey.SolongasmysonsAunandMuhammadarethere, it isimpossibleformetoletyougo.AkbarknewwhatloveandaffectionhisauntZainabhadforhim.Hewasconsciousofthepangsof

sorrowshewasexperiencingatthatmoment.Heraffectionforhimtranscendedeverythingexceptherlove for Husain. He looked at her face, and at his mother's who was rendered speechless by hersurging feelings of anguish. He knew not how to tell them that he had prepared himself for thejourneytoHeaventhatlayahead.HesummonedtohisaidhismostcoaxingmannersthathadalwaysmadehismotherandZainabaccedetohisrequestsandsaid:Myaunt,forallmyfather'skinsmentheinevitablehourhascome.Iimploreyou,bytheloveyou

bearforyourbrother,toletmegosothatitmaynotbesaidthathesparedmetillallhisbrothersandnephewswerekilled.Abbas,myuncle,isCommanderofourarmy.Theothersareallyoungerthanme.Whendeathisacertainty,letmediefirstsothatIcanquenchmythirstattheheavenlyspringofKausaratthehandsofmygrandfather.TheearnestnessofAkbar'stoneconvincedZainabandhismotherthathewasdeterminedtogo.It

seemedtobehislastwishtolaydownhislifebeforeallhiskinsmen.Sinceonnootheroccasiontheyhaddeniedhimhiswishes,itseemedsodifficulttosaynotohislastdesire.WithagaspZainabcouldonlysay,

Akbar,mychild,ifthecallofdeathhascometoyou,go.Hismothercouldonlysay:MayGodbewithyou,myson.WithyouIamlosingall Ihadandcaredfor in thisworld.Your

fatherhastoldmewhatdestinyhasinstoreforme.Afteryou,formepleasureandpainwillhavenodifference.WiththesewordsshefellunconsciousinAliAkbar'sarms.Thebattlecryfromtheenemy'srankswasbecominglouderandlouder.AliAkbarknewthathehad

togooutquicklylesttheenemy,seeingthattheirchallengesforcombatwereremainingunanswered,gotemboldenedtomakeaconcertedattackonhisfather'scamp.Evensuchathoughtwasunbearableforhim.Solongashewasalive,howcouldhepermittheonslaughtofYazid'sforcesonhiscampwhere helpless women and defenseless children were lying huddled together? He gently put hismotherinhisauntZainab'sarmssaying:Zainab,myaunt,Iamleavingmymothertoyourcare.Iknow,fromyourchildhood,yourmother

BibiFatimahaspreparedyouforthesoul-stirringeventsoftodayandwhatistocomehereafter.Mymotherwillnotbeable tobear theblowsandcalamities thatare tobefallher,unlessyou lendheryourcourage.Iimploreyoubytheinfiniteloveyoubearformetoshowthefortitudethatyouarecapableof,sothatyourpatiencemaysustainmymotherwhensheseesmydeadbodybroughtintothecamp'smorgue.Ientrusthertoyourcarebecausetherewillbenonetosolaceherandlookafterherintheyearsofdismayanddespondencythatlieaheadofher.AliAkbar embraced his loving auntZainabwith tender love and affection for the last time. she

exclaimed:Akbar,go.Mychild,IentrustyoutoGod,toeaseyourlastmomentsIpromiseyouthat,solongas

Ilive,IshalllookafterUmmeLailawiththeaffectionofamother.WithaheavyheartAliAkbarreturnedtohisfather.Therewasnoneedforhimtosaythathehad

bid farewell to hismother and auntZainab, for the sorrowdepictedonhis face spokevolumes toHusain.SilentlyheroseandputtheProphet'sturbanonAkbar'shead,tiedthescabbardonhiswaistandimprintedakissonhisforehead.Inafailing,falteringvoicehemuttered:GoAkbar,Godistheretohelpyou.TreadingheavilyAkbar cameout of the tentwithHusain following closelybehindhim.Hewas

abouttomounthishorsewhenhefeltsomebodytuggingathisrobe.Hecouldhardlysee,becausehiseyeswerealmostblindedwithtears.HeheardthevoiceofhisyoungsisterSakinasupplicatinghimnottoleaveher.Omybrother,"shewassaying,"donotgotothebattlegroundfromwhichnobodyhasreturned

alivesincethismorning."SoftlyAkbarliftedher,gentlyandaffectionatelykissedheronherfaceandputherdown.Hisgrief

was too deep forwords.Husain understood the depth ofAkbar's feelings andpickedupSakina toconsoleher.The sceneofAliAkbar'smarch towards thebattlefieldwas suchaswoulddefydescription.The

criesofladiesandchildrenofHusain'scampwererisingabovethedinofbattlecriesandbeatingofenemydrums. Itwas appearing as if a deadbodyof anonly son, dead in theprimeof youth,wasbeingtakenoutofahouseforthelastrites.AliAkbarwasnowfacingtheenemyhordes.HewasaddressingtheforcesofUmaribnSaadwith

an eloquence that he had inherited fromhisGrandfather and theProphet.Hewas telling them thatHusain, his father, had done themno harm and had devoted his life to the cause of Islam.HewasexplainingtothemthatbysheddingthebloodofHusainandhiskinsmentheywouldbeincurringthewrathofGodanddispleasureoftheProphetwhohadlovedHusainmorethananyotherperson.HewasexhortingthemnottosmeartheirhandswiththebloodofapersonsoHoly,soGod-fearingandsorighteous.Hiswordscastaspellonthearmyoftheopponents.TheolderonesfromamongstthemwereblinkingtheireyesinamazementandwonderingwhethertheProphethaddescendedfromtheHeavenstowarnthemagainstthesheddingofHusain'sblood.WhataresemblancetherewaswiththeProphet, in face, features and evenmannerism!Even the voicewas ofMuhammad!But on secondthoughts, they realized that thiswasAliAkbar, the 18- year-old sonofHusain, aboutwhose closeresemblancewiththeProphetpeopleweretalkingsomuch.SeeingtheeffectthatAliAkbar'saddresshadproducedonhissoldiers,UmaribnSaadexhortedthemtochallengehimtosinglecombat.Afewofthem,covetingthehonorandrewardstheywouldgetiftheyoverpoweredandkilledthisbravesonofHusain,emaciatedbythreedaysofhungerandthirst,cameforwardtochallengehim.Onebyonehemettheminbattle,gavethematasteofhisskillandprowessinfightingandflungthemfromtheirhorsebacktomeetthedoomtheysomuchdeserved.NowitwashisturntochallengethewarriorsofYazidtocomeforward.Seeingthatinspiteofhishandicaps,hewascapableofdisplayingvalorandbattlecraftforwhich

his grandfather Ali had acquired name and fame and which had struck terror into the hearts ofenemiesofIslamnonedaredtocomeforward.AliAkbarhadreceivedseveralgapingwoundsinthecourseofhisvictorioussinglecombats.He

wasfastlosingbloodandtheeffectofhisthirstwasgettingaccentuatedwitheverysecondthatwaspassing.Herealizedthatthetreacherousenemieswouldattackhimenmasse.Hehadlefthismotherin a dazed condition.An irresistible urge to see his dear ones for the last time seized him and heturnedhishorsetowardshiscamp.Hefoundhisfatherstandingatthedoorstepofthetentandhismotherandauntstandinginsidethe

tent.Husainhadbeenwatchingthebattlesof this thirstyyouthandthetwoladieswerewatchinghisface: theyknew that if anycalamitybefellAliAkbar,Husain's expressionwould indicate it.WhilstwatchingHusain'sface,theywerebothprayingofferingsilentprayers:OAllah,WhobroughtbackIsmailtoHajra;OAllah,WhograntedtheprayersofthemotherMusa

andrestoredhersontoher;OAllah,WhoreunitedYakoobwithhissonYusufinresponsetotheagedfather'ssupplications,grantusouronewishtoseeAliAkbarforonce.WasittheeffectoftheseprayersthatbroughtbackAliAkbartothecamp?

AliAkbarwasnowfacinghisagedfatherandhislovingmotherandZainab.Withanexclamation

ofjoyandrelieftheyclungtohim.Husainlovinglyembracedhissonsaying:Bravo,myson.Thegallantryyouhowdisplayedtodayremindedmeofthebattlesofmyrevered

father,Ali. The only differencewas that, during his fights,my fatherAli had not to battle againsthungerandthirstasyouhadto.AliAkbarwithhisheadbentreplied:Father,thirstiskillingmebecausemywoundshaveaddedtoitseffect.Itisusualtoaskforrewards

from parents for celebrating victories in single combats and I would have asked for a cup ofrefreshingwaterfromyou.Butalas!Iknowthatyouhavenotevenadropofwaterwithwhichyoucanquenchthethirstoftheyoungchildren.Father,knowingthis,Ishallnotembarrassyoubyaskingforwater.Ihavecomeonlytoseeyouandmydearonesforthelasttime.Ali Akbar met each and every one of his family. The second parting was sad as the first one,

perhapssadder.Withoutbeingtold,everyonerealizedthatthiswasthelasttimetheywerebeholdingAkbar.Fizza, the faithfulmaidofFatimaandZainab,wasasdisconsolatewithgrief asZainabandUmmeLaila.HusainfollowedAliAkbaroutofthetent.Asherodeaway,Husainwalkedbehindhimwith a brisk pace for some distance, as aman follows his sacrificial lamb inMina.WhenAkbardisappearedfromhissight,heturnedheavenwardsand,withhishandsraised,heprayed:OAllah,ThouartmyWitnessthatonthisdayIhavesentawayforsacrificeonewhomIlovedand

cherishedmost,todefendthecauseofrighteousnessandtruth.Hesatonthegroundasiftryingtolistenexpectantlytosomecallfromthebattlefield.Itwasnotverylongbeforehereceivedawailingcall,acallfromAliAkbar,acallofanguishand

pain:Father,Akbarhasfallenwithamortalwoundinhischest.Father,cometomeforIhavenotlongto

live.Ifyoucannotreachme,Iconveymylastsalutationstoyouandmydearones.ThoughHusainwasanticipatingsuchacall,whataghastlyeffectithadonhim!Herosefromthe

ground and fell; he rose again and fell again.Withonehandonhis heart he struggled tohis feet.Torrentialtearswerefloodinghiseyes.Herushedinthedirectionfromwhichthecryhadcome.ItseemedasHusain'sstrengthhadebbedawayonhearingthatfatefulcryofhisdearestson,forhewasfalling at every few steps.Hewas sobbing:Akbar, giveme another shout so that I can follow itsdirection.Akbar,mysightisgonewiththeshockIhavereceivedandthereisnobodytoguidemetowhere

youlie.Abbas came rushing to the aidofhismaster.Holdinghishandhe ledhimon to theplace from

whereAkbar'sdyingcryhadcome.

NowHusainwasstumblinghiswayonwardsrestinghishandsonAbbas'shoulders.ThedistanceseemedinterminablebutatlastHusainandAbbasreachedtheplacewhereAkbarwaslyinginapoolofhisownblood.Ah,thattragicsight!Maynofatherhaveoccasiontoseehisyoungsoninsuchacondition.Withonehandonhis chest coveringadeepwound fromwhichbloodwasgushingout,withhisfacewrithingwithpain,Akbarwaslyingonthegroundprostrateandunconscious.Withtheagonyhewasenduringonaccountofthewoundandthethirstthathewassuffering,hewasdigginghisfeetintothesand.WithacryofanguishHusainfellonthebodyofAkbar.Myson,tellmewhereyouarehurt;tellmewhohaswoundedyouinthechest.Whydon'tyousay

something?MyAkbar,Ihavecomeinresponsetoyourcall.Sayonewordtome,Akbar.SeeingthatAkbarwaslyingtherewithoutanyresponse tohisentreaties,Husain turnedtoAbbas

andsaid:Abbas,whydon'tyoutellAkbar tosaysomethingtome?Mydutifulson,whousedtogetupon

seeingme,islyingonthegroundpressedbythehandofdeath.HusainonceagainflunghimselfonthebodyofAkbar.Hisbreathingwasnowheavier,agurgling

soundwascomingfromhisthroat.Itseemedthathisyounglifewasengagedinanunevenstrugglewithdeath.HusainputhisheadonAkbar'schest.HelifteditandputhisowncheeksagainstAkbar'sandwailedAkbar,foronceopenyoureyesandsmile,asyouwerealwayssmilingtogladdenmyheart.ThoughAkbardidnotopenhiseyes,afaintsmileappearedonhislipsasifhehadlistenedtohis

father'srequest.Withthesweetsmilestillplayingonhislips,heheavedagaspandwiththathissouldeparted.Thecheeksofthefatherwerestilltouchingthecheeksoftheson,indeathassomanytimesinlife.Onseeinghisson,hisbelovedson,breathehis last inhisownhands,Husain'sconditionbecame

suchasnowordscandescribe.Forquitesometimeheremainedthereweepingasonlyanagedfatherwhohaslostason,inhisprimeofyouth,insuchtragiccircumstances,canweep.Abbassattherebyhis side shedding tears.Whatwordsofconsolationcouldheofferwhen the tragedywasof suchamagnitude?Allwordsofsolaceandcomfortwouldsoundhollowandbe invainwhenafather,anagedfather,givesventtohispentupemotions.Afteratime,AbbasreverentiallytouchedHusainonhisshouldersandremindedhimthat,sincehehadrushedoutofthecamp,Zainabandtheotherladiesofhishousewerewaitingforhim,tormentedbyanxiety,dementedbythethoughtsofthetragedythathad befallen them.Onlymention of thiswas enough forHusain.He knew that, as the head of thefamily,itwashisdutytorallybythesideofthegrief-strickenmother,hisgrief-strickensisterZainab,andthechildrenforwhomthisbereavementwasthegreatestcalamity.HusainslowlyrosefromthegroundandtriedtopickupthedeadbodyofAkbarbuthehimselffell

ontheground.Abbas,seeingthis,bentoverhimandsaid:Mymaster,Abbas is still alive by your side.Howcan I leave you carry the bodyofAkbar and

remainasilentspectator.Letmecarryhisbodytothecamp."

NoAbbas,repliedHusain,letmedothisasalasttokenofmylove.Toholdhimbymyheart,eveninhisdeath,givesmesomecomfort,theonlycomfortthatisnowlefttome.Sayingthis,hemadealltheeffortsthathewascapableofand,assistedbyAbbas,heliftedthebody

ofAkbar.Clasping it close tohisbosom,he started the longwalk tohis camp.Howhe reached isdifficulttosay.ItwouldnotbetoomuchtoimaginethathisgrandfatherMuhammad,hisfatherAli,hisbrotherHasanandperhapshismotherFatimahaddescendedfromheaventohelphiminthistask.Husainreached thecampand laiddownAkbar'sbodyon theground.HecalledUmmeLailaand

ZainabandKulsum,SakinaandRokayya,Fizzaand theother ladiesof thehouse tosee thefaceofAkbar for the last time. The loving mother came, the loving aunts came, the children came, andsurroundedthebodyofAliAkbar.TheylookedatAkbar'sfaceandthenatHusain's.TheyknewthattheirweepingwouldaddtoHusain'sgriefthatwasalreadybrimful.AliAkbar'smotherwentuptoherhusbandandwithstifledsobsandbenthead,shesaidtohim:Mymaster, I amproudofAkbar for dying such a noble death.Hehas laid downhis life in the

noblestcauseandthisthoughtwillsustainmethroughtherestofmylife.Iimploreyoutoprayforme,toprayforallofus,thatAlmightyAllahmaygrantuspatienceandsolace.Saying this she turned to thedeadbodyofher son lyingon thegroundandputher faceonhis.

Zainab andKulsum,Sakina andRokayya had all flung themselves onAkbar's body.The tears thatwere flowing from their eyeswere sufficient towash away the clotted blood from thewounds ofAkbar.Husainsatforafewminutesnearthedeadbodyofhisson;thesonwhomhehadlostinsuchtragic

circumstances;thesonwhohaddiedcravingforadropofwatertoquenchhisthirst.Hefeltdazedwithgrief.Qasim,thesonofhisbrother,whohadcometoseekhispermissiontogotothebattlefield,awakened him fromhis stupor.He rose from the ground,wiped the tears fromhis aged eyes andmutteredVerilyfromGodwecome,anduntoHimisourreturn

THEYOUTHSOFKARBALAQASIM,AUNANDMUHAMMAD

NexttothebattlefieldwentthesonsofImamAl-HasanandZainab.Theywereallintheirteensbut

each stood bravely, believing in the mission, facing a formidable enemy, and showed no lessenthusiasmintheirquesttoembracethemartyrdom.'Thedaysofouryoutharethedaysofourglory'.Whathopesandfeelingssurgeinyounghearts

during this timeof life!Howeverynerve and tendonquiverswith the joyof living!But there aresomeyouthstowhomthecupoflifeisdealtinanothermeasure.Therearesomebuddingflowersthataredestinedtobesweptawaybythehotdesertwindsbeforetheyhavetheopportunitytobloom.Suchwas the destiny of Husain's three nephewswhowere gathered outside the tents on the eve of thateventfuldayofMuharram.Qasim,AunandMuhammadweregathered todiscuss thepart theywouldplayon the following

day indefenseof theiruncle.Therewasgrimdeterminationwrit largeon theiryoung faces.Theywere watching the progress of the moon as it was marching slowly through that cloudless sky,anxiouslywaitingforthemorrowtounfolditsevent.Eachoneofthemhadthedesiretogofirstintothebattlefieldtoshedhisblood.EventhefewwordstheyexchangedamongstthemselvespertainedtotheiranxietylesttheiruncleHussainmightholdthemback.TheywerediscussingamongthemselveshowtosecurethepermissionoftheImamtomarchoffintothebattlefield.Their talks were interrupted by someone coming and informing Qasim that his mother Umme

Farwawantedhimtoseeher.Hehurriedtothetent.Assoonasheenteredit,hismotherputherarmsroundhimandsaid:"Qasimmyson,doyouknowwhyIcalledyou?Iwanttoremindyouaboutyourduty towards your uncle, Hussain. I want to tell you something about the unparalleled love andaffectionHasanyourfatherhadforHussain.The twoof themweresomuchdevoted toeachotherthattheywerealwaysthinkingandactinginunison.Theotherinstantaneouslyfelttheslightestpainsufferedbyoneasiftheyweretwinsfromthesameembryo.WiththeuniqueloveyourfatherhadforHussain,Icanwellimaginehowhe,ifalive,wouldhavefelttoday!Hewouldhavebeenthefirsttosacrificehislifeforhisbelovedyoungerbrother."She stopped for a few seconds and then, in a soft tone, as if reminiscing, added: "I am sure he

wantedyoutodeputizeforhimonthisday.Mychild,whenhepassedaway,youweretooyoungtounderstand life.On his death-bed his lastwords tomewere: "UmmeFarwa, I entrust you andmychildrentoGodandHussain.WhenQasimgrowsup,youtellhimthatmydyingdesirewasthatheshouldstandbyHussain through thickand thin. I cansee thecloudsof treacherygatheringagainstHussain.Adaymaycomewhenhemayneedtheunflinchingdevotionandsacrificeofhisnearanddearones.ThoughIwillnotlivetoseethatday,asmylastwishIwantyoutoprepareQasimforitfromhischildhood."Hervoicechokedwithemotion, as shecontinued: "MyQasim, since thatdayyourfatherbreathedhislast,Hussainhaslookedafteryouashisownson.Nay,hehastreatedyouonalloccasionsbetter thanhisownsons.Youknowhowhehas fulfilledyoureverywishso thatyoumaynotmisstheloveandaffectionofyourfather.Nowitisyourturntoshowthatyoucanrepay,tosomeextent,yourdebtofgratitudebylayingdownyourlifeforhimbeforeanyofhissons,brothersand kinsmen. Now is your chance to reciprocate his love and affection, by demonstrating to theenemiesthatyouareascionoftheHouseofAliandcanwieldtheswordindefenseoftruth."

Qasimlistenedtohismotherwithhisheadbowedinrespect.Hefeltverymuchrelievedbywhathis

mother had said to himbecausehehad felt very apprehensive as to how shewould reactwhenheapproachedherforherpermissiontogoforthefight.Heknewhowhismotherwasattachedtohimafterhisfather'sdeath.Hewaswellawarehowrestlesssheusedtobecome,ifshewouldnotseehimevenforafewhours.Hehadthoughtthattheveryideaofhersonmarchingoutintothebattlefieldwouldmakeherdemented.Hefeltas ifhismotherhad takena loadoffhishead.Heaffectionatelyhuggedherandsaid"Mydearestmother,IknownothowIcanthankyouforwhatyouhavesaidtome just now.You knowmy filial affection formy uncleHussain. Frommy childhood I have notknownwhatafather'slovemeansbutIknowthisforcertainthatevenmyfather,ifalive,wouldnothavebeensokind,soconsiderate,soaffectionatetomeasmyuncleHussainhasbeentome.HehasnotallowedmetofeelevenforamomentthatIamanorphan.Thankstohim,inourhousemyeverywish has been a command. How is it possible for me, the son of Hasan, to be oblivious of myobligationstohim?FormedeathwouldbefarbetterthanlifewithouthimandmydearuncleAbbas,andmycousinsAliAkbar,Muhammadandothers."UmmeFarwafeltelatedatthebravereplyofherbraveson.Apainfulthoughtpassedhermind,the

thoughtthat thisdearchildwhowassodevotedtoherandinwhomshehadreposedallherhopes,wouldperishonthefieldsofKarbala.Withgreateffortsshecontrolledherself.OnthedepartureofQasim,AunandMuhammadwaitedforsometimeforhimtoreturn.Thenboth

of them returned to their tent to console their mother, Zainab, whose grief and sorrow defieddescription.As they entered the tent they saw her sitting on the groundwith a candle in her handlookingintentlyatAliAkbar,theircousin,whomshehadbroughtupasherownsonandforwhomher love and affection was without a parallel. When she saw both of them entering the tent, shebeckonedtothemtocomeandsitnearAliAkbar.Bothofthemdidsoaccordingtoherbidding.Sheturnedtowardsthemandsaidinalowtone:"Mychildren,doyouknowwhattomorrowhasinstoreforus?Itwillbeadayoftrial;itwillbeadaywhenthebloodofourfamilywillflowlikewater;itwillbeadayonwhichall thevendettanurturedbytheenemiesof theProphet'shouseforall theseyearswillbespilledout.Iwantbothofyou,mybelovedsons,todefendyouruncleHussainandhischildrenatthecostofyourlives."Afterapausesheadded:"WhenIwasleavingMecca,yourfatherAbdullahaskedmetotakebothofyouwithmesothat,ifanoccasionaroseyou,Aun,couldbethedeputyofyourfatherinseekingmartyrdom,andyou,Muhammad,couldbemyofferinginthecauseofIslam."Hearingtheirmothertalkinthisveintouchedbothofthemtothequick.Howcouldtheytelltheir

mother Zainab that they were fully prepared for the doom that awaited them; that they were bothcovetingmartyrdomindefenseofthecauseofIslamanditsinviolableprinciplesforwhichHussainstoodupsoboldlyandfirmlyinthefaceofodds!Aunwasthefirsttospeak.Hisvoicewasquiveringwithemotionwhenhesaid:"Mother,webothfeelsoelatedtoknowthatwehaveyourpermissiontofightindefenseofouruncleandhisfamily.Godwilling,webothwillshowthearmyofUmaribnSaadthatwearethegrandsonsofJaafar-e-Tayyarwhoseprowessinbattlehadbecomelegendary.Weshalloffersuchfighttomorrowthat,wheneveryouwillrememberusandmournforus,yourgriefwillbemingledwithpridethatweliveduptothereputationofourfamily."Hardly had Aun concluded when Muhammad, the younger one, burst out saying, "My loving

mother,donotthinkthatweneedanyexhortationtofightvaliantlytomorrow.Iamitchingtogoout

in defense ofmy uncle. Frommy childhood I have been hearing about the valor ofmymaternalgrandfather Ali, and paternal grandfather Jaafar-e-Tayyar. It is not for nothing that we both havelearnt the art of single combat from our uncle Abbas. You may rest assured that, so long aswebreathe,weshallnotlettheleastharmcometoouruncleHussainortoanyofhischildren."With this replyof thebraveyoungstersZainab felt reassured. Itwasnot that she, for amoment,

doubted their devotion or sense of duty. It was not that she considered it necessary to instill anycourage in them, for she knew that both of themwere brave andnoble sons of a brave andnoblefather.Herloveforherbravesonswassurgingwithinher.Shewasfeelingasifherheartwasgettingsqueezedwhenshewasconjuringupthevisionoftheseyouthsdyingasmartyrs.AliAkbarwhowaslisteningquietlytothetalkbetweenthemotherandthetwosons,lookedatthe

faceof themother and thenat the son's.With a faint smileplayingonhis lipshe said: "Weof theProphet's familywillgoout tomeetdeathas isourwont. Inwhatorder itwillbe, it is forGod todetermine."When he said this, perhaps he had the conviction that Hussain would never allow hisnephewstodiesolongashe,AliAkbar,wasthere.Howrightlyhehadsurmised,theeventsofAshurawouldshow!Likeallpassingthingsthatnightalsopassedawaytobecomeachapterofhistory.Thedaydawned

andwithitbeganthegoryeventsthatmakemankind,whohavethevestigesofhumanity,tremblewithrageandgrief.AsAliAkbarhadsurmisedthatnight,whentheturnofmembersofthefamilycame,Hussaincameovertohimand,withhishandonhisheart,saidtohim:"Myson,goforwardtofulfillyourappointed task."MuchasZainabandUmmeFarwaprotested that, so longas their sons lived,theycouldnotthinkofAliAkbarlayingdownhislife,muchasAbbaspleadedtolethimbethefirstamong the Hashimites to die fighting, Hussain insisted that he would send Ali Akbar as his ownrepresentative to be the first among his kinsmen.AliAkbarwent to the battlefield never to returnfromit.Zainabwas disconsolate on Ali Akbar's death. NowAun andMuhammadwere hovering round

Hussainwithentreatiestoletthemgo.QasimwasnolessvehementinhissupplicationfortheImam'spermissiontodieonthebattlefield.

ToQasim'srepeatedrequestshisuncle'sreplywas:"Mydearchild,howcanIpermityoutogowhenI know for certain that death awaits those who venture out. Your father, my beloved Hasan, hadentrustedyoutomycareonhisdeathbed.Myhearttremblesattheverythoughtofsendingyouintothejawsofdeath."This reply of Hussain broke Qasim's heart. He thought that his uncle would not under any

circumstancesallowhimtosharethefateoftheothermartyrs.Withtearsinhiseyeshestoodthere,notknowingwhattodotosecureHusain'spermission.At that moment Zainab came over to her brother.With folded hands she said to Hussain, "My

dearestbrother, inmywhole life Ihaveneveraskedyou fora favor.Now, for the first time, I amrequestingyoutograntmeonewish;letmysonsfollowinthefootstepsofAliAkbar."HussainlookedatZainabandthenathersons.Withhisheadbent,hereplied;"Zainab;mydearest

sister,Ifinditimpossibletodenyyourfirstandlastrequest,thoughmygrantingitmakesmyheart

sinkwithinme."TurningtoAunandMuhammadhesaid:"Mydearchildren,goforwardandfulfillyourheart'sdesiretodielikeheroes.Ishallsoonbejoiningyouonyourjourneytoeternity."Atthisreplythetwoyoungheroesfeltdelightedinthemidstofunboundedsorrows.Theyfellat

theirmother's feetandaskedher forherblessings.Zainab'sgriefat thepartingwith thesebelovedchildrenfounditswaythroughhertearswhichwerenowpouringfromhereyesintorrents.Shefeltanurgetoclaspheryoungsonstoherbosombeforetheymarchedoutontheirlastjourney;butforfearthatsuchdisplayofemotionmightunnervethem,sheheldback.Shecouldnotsayanythingtotheminfarewell.Withsuppressedsobsshewhisperedtothem:"Mybelovedones,mayGodbewithyouandmayHegrantyouquickrelieffromtheagoniesthatyouaretoendure.ItisZainab'slottoendureignominieswithnobrothers,nonephews,nosonstoconsoleher.Mylastrequesttoyouistofightbravelyandtodiebravelysothat,inthemidstofmyunbearablesufferingsincaptivity,Imayatleasthaveoneremembrancetoconsoleme:yourbraveryinthefaceofoverwhelmingodds."Shemutelywatchedhersonsmounting theirhorsesassistedbyHusain.Her lipsweremoving in

silentprayers;hereyeswerefollowingthehorsesastheygallopedoutintothearena.Whentheybothgotoutofsight,withasighshesatonthesandnearhertentasiflostinareverie.When Qasim saw that Aun and Muhammad had been granted permission to march out on the

entreatiesoftheirmother,herushedtohismother'stent.Almostsobbingwithdisappointment,hetoldUmme Farwa thatAun andMuhammad had secured the Imam's permission on the intercession oftheirmotherbuthehadnobodytopleadonhisbehalfwithhisuncle.Inutterdespondencyhesaid;"IfI amnot destined tobe amartyr on this day, life hasno charm left forme.Am I destined tobe acaptiveandledthroughthestreetstoaprisoncell?"Upon seeing Qasim so bitter and dejected Umme Farwa burst into tears of grief. Controlling

herselfshebegantothinkwhattodotogetHusain'spermissionforhim.Herfirstreactionwastogoover to the Imam and to implore him as his brother's widow and seek permission for Qasim.However,inaflashsherememberedherhusband'swordstohershortlybeforehisdeath.Hehadtoldher that for Qasim a timemight come when he would find himself in the trough of despair anddespondency and feel dejected and depressed beyond description. He had told her that, when thishappened, she should deliver to him an envelope wherein he had kept a letter especially for thisoccasion.This shehadcarefullypreservedandkeptwithherashermostcherished thing inabox.Fortunately for her, shehadbrought theboxwithher.Shehastened to fetch the letter andhandingover theenvelopetoQasimshesaid:"Qasim,yourpresentplightbroughtbacktomeyourfather'swordsthatadaylikethiswouldcomeforyouandwhenthishappened,Ishoulddeliverthelettertoyou."With rekindled hopes and expectationQasim took the envelope from hismother's hand andopenedit.InithefoundtwolettersoneaddressedtohimselfandtheotheraddressedtoHussain.Heanxiouslyopenedthelettermeantforhimandreaditaloudforhismother'sbenefit.Hasanhad

writteninit:"Mychild,whenthisletterreachesyou,Iwillbenomore.Whenyoureadit,youwillfindyourselftornwithaconflictbetweenyourdesiretodoyourdutyandfulfillyourobligationsanddemonstrateyourloveandesteemforyouruncle,andhisloveandaffectionforyoucompellinghimtoholdyouback.MyQasim,IhaveprovidedforthiseventbyarmingyouwithaletterformydearestbrotherHussain.YoumaydeliverthelettertoHussainsothathemaygrantyouyourheart'sdesire.There is much that I could say for this occasion but when you read this, you will find that timeseparating us is not long. So hurry along, my child, as I am waiting for you with open arms to

welcomeyou."WhenhehadcompletedreadingtheletterQasimfeltchokedwithemotion.Hismotheralsostood

speechlesswithfeelingssurginginherheart.BothwerethinkinginunisonhowlovingandthoughtfulitwasofHasan toprovideasolution for theirdilemma.Qasimreverentiallybowedover the letterandkissedit.Thetearsrollingfromhiseyesfellonthewritingbut,insteadofsmearingthelettering,theylentglittertoit.UmmeFarwawas the first togetoutof the reverie.Shebroke the silenceandsaid: "Mydearest

Qasim, now that your father has come to your rescue even in death, take his letter to your uncleHussain.Ihavenodoubtthatnowhewillnotbeabletorefuseyouhispermissionforlayingdownyourlife."Qasim could now hardly contain himself.He rushed towards the tent of ImamHussainwith the

letter in his hands. He found Hussain standing outside Zainab's tent looking intently towards thebattlefield.AbbaswasbyhissideandZainabwasstandingnearthedoorholdingupthecurtainandlookingatthefacesofHusainandAbbasQasimknewthattheywereallwatchingthecombatsofAunandMuhammad.Howcouldhedisturbhisuncleatsuchatime?HestoodquietlybythesideofHusainandAbbasandgazedinthedirectionofthearmypittedagainsthistwoyoungcousins.Hecouldseefromcloudsofdustrisinginthefardistancethatoneofthemhadgoneaheadoftheother.Notsofaraway he could see the younger one, Muhammad, battling against a number of enemy soldiersclusteredroundhim.Hardlyafewminuteshadpassedinwatchingthebattle,whentheysawAunfallingfromhishorse

andgivingacrytohisuncletocometohimandcarryhisbody.Husain,whohadalreadybornetheafflictionsofhiscompanions'deathandthelossofhisdearestson,AliAkbar,seemedtowinceasifhehadreceivedastabinhischest.HeturnedtoZainabtoseeherreactiononhearingherson'slastcry.AbbasandQasimrushedtohersidetoholdher.Asifthisblowwasnotenough,Muhammadalsofell fromhishorsemortallywoundedand similarly shouted toHusain to come tohim.Abbas andQasimknewthatforHusaintoreachhisdyingnephews,oneaftertheother,wastootryingevenforapersonofhismettlewhohadrightthroughthemorningperformedthistaskhimself.AbbaswantedtoaccompanyHusainandassisthiminbringingthedeadbrotherstothecamp,leavingQasimtoattendtoZainabwhohadcollapsedwithgrief and sorrowonhearing thepartingcryofMuhammad.ButHusainbeckonedtohimtoremainwithZainab.QasimtriedtofollowhimbutHusainaskedhimalsotoremainnearZainabandconsoleher.Husain first reached theplacewhereMuhammadwas lyingmortallywounded.Hebent over his

bodytofindthat,onaccountoflossofblood,hisyounglifewasebbingfast.Thechildwasgaspingheavily.Histhroatwassoparchedthatevenwithgreateffortshewasnotabletospeakclearly.HusainputhisearnearMuhammad'smouth.Inafaint,falteringvoicetheyoungladsaid:''Mylastsalutationstoyou,uncle.TellmymotherthatIhaveliveduptoherexpectationsandamdyingbravelyassheandmyfatherwantedme.Givemylastsalaamstoherandconsoleherasmuchasyoucan."Theeffortsmadeby thechild insaying thesewordsappeared toexhausthim.Headdedaftera fewseconds:"IheardthecryofAunbeforeIfell.NowthatIambeyondanyhelp,Unclepleasegoovertohimandseeifyoucandosomethingforhimbeforeitistoolate."Hardlyhadhesaidthesewords,whenhislifebecameextinct.Husainwasbesidehimselfwithgrief.Buthecouldnotremaintherelongashehad togoover toAun.He rushed in thedirectionwhereAunhad fallen.On reachinghisbodyhe

foundthathehadbreathedhislast.Hepickeduphislifelessbodyandpressedittohisheart.Withaheavytread,withtearsflowingintorrents,theagedunclebeganhismarchtowardsthecamp

withthebodyofhisnephewinhisarms.Abbascamerushingfromthecamptowardshimandsaid,"LetmecarryAun'sbodytothemorgueandyoutakeMuhammad'sbody.Mymaster,Abbasisstillalivetoshareyourburdenandgrief."QuietlyHusainhandedoverAun'scorpsetoAbbasandwentovertopickupMuhammad'sbody.Thetwobrothers,oneoldandoneyoung,wereeachcarryingthebodyofayoungnephew.Thesightwassuchastoevokesorrowandgriefintheheartsofthemosthard-heartedpersons.OnreachingtheircampHusainandAbbaslaidthebodiesofAunandMuhammadontheground.

Zainabwhowaswaitingfor themcameoverandfellon the twobodiesofhersons."Mysons,mysons,"shecried,"WhatmotheristheretosendherbelovedonestomeetdeathasIhavesentmine?"Herfacewasbathedintears.Withsobsshewassaying:"Mydarlings,youhavegonefromthisworldwith your thirst unquenched. Your grandfather Ali will be there to quench your thirst in heaven.Mybelovedsons,forZainabthereisstillalong,weary,unendingfuturetofacewithoutyoutwotolighten the burden with your brave talk." Overpowered by her grief and emotions she fellunconsciousonthedeadbodies.Husain,Abbas,Qasimandtheladieswhowereallstandingandcryingbyherside,gentlypickedup

Zainaband tookher toher tent.Theyallknew that in suchagreat tragedyashadbefallenher; allwordsofconsolationwouldonlybeinvain.Aswas the practice ofYazid's army, they started beating the drums on the slaughter of the two

nephewsofHusain,toheraldtheirvictory.Whenthebeatingofdrumsstopped,theyraisedtheusualcrychallengingtheyoungdefendersofHusaintocomeoutintothefieldtofacedeath.NowQasimcameovertoHusain,whowasstandingnearZainab'sprostrateformwithhisheadbent.QasimcouldnotmustersufficientstrengthtosaywhathehadcometoconveytotheImam.HequietlyhandedovertheletterofhisfatherforHusainthathehadfoundintheenvelopegiventohimbyhismother.Husainglancedatthehandwritingontheletterandatoncerecognizeditashislatelamentedbrother's.Withsurpriseheopenedtheletterandasheeagerlyreadit,hecouldnotcontrolhimselfandburstintoacryofgrief.Intheletteritwaswritten:"MybelovedHusain,whenthisletterwillbereadbyyou,youwill be surrounded by sorrows on all sides, with dead bodies of your near and dear ones strewnroundyou.Iwillnotbetheretolaydownmylifeforyou,Husain,butIamleavingbehindmyQasimtobemydeputyonthisday.Husain,Ibeseechyounottorejectmyoffering.Inthenameoflovethatyoubear forme, I imploreyou to letQasimgo forthanddie inyourdefense.Dearestbrother, inspiritIamwithyou,watchingyourheroicsacrificesandsharingyourwoesandaffliction."Hasan's letterbroughtbacktoHusainthememoriesofhisdearbrother towhomhewasdevoted

andheweptcopiouslyrecollectinghisloveandaffection.WhatuniqueloveHasanhadforhimthat,thoughdead,hehadlefthisdeputyinQasimforthisday!WitheffortHusaincontrolledhimself turned toQasimsaying:"Dearchild,your father'swishes,

whichIregardascommandsforme,leavemenootheralternative.MarchonQasim,asyourfatherwishedyoutodo.IfitissoordainedthatImaybearthewoundofyourmartyrdom,IshallbowtotheWillofGod."

Qasim bowed reverentially and hurried to hismotherUmmeFarwawhowas sitting dazedwithgriefonreceivingthesadnewsofAunandMuhammad'smartyrdom.AsQasimenteredhertent,sheraisedherheadandlookedathimexpectantly.Shecouldseefromthelookofsatisfactionhehadonhis face that he had received Husain's permission for which he had been begging so long. AnexchangeoflooksbetweenthemotherandsonconfirmedtoUmmeFarwathatshewasright.SlowlysheroseandsaidtoQasim:"Mybelovedson,alltheseyearsIhavebeenwaitingforthedaywhenyouwouldbecomeabridegroom,anddressedasagroom,cometoreceivemyblessings. Itseemsthatfate has decreed otherwise.Qasim, I have preserved the dress your fatherwore on the day of hismarriagewithme.Ihadhopedthat,onyourweddingday,Iwouldaskyoutowearit.Nowthatyouaregoingtothelandofnoreturn,mywishisthatyouputonthatdresssothatmydesiretoseeyoudressed as a groommay be fulfilled." After a pause she continued in a reflective tone: "It is thecustomforgroomstoapplyhennaontheirhands-ThoughIhavenonewithme,Iknowthatyouwillnotneed it.Yourhandswill bedyedwithyourownblood."With thesewords shekissedher son'scheeksandembracedhim. Itwasa longembrace, theembraceofamotherwhoknewthatshewasseeing her youngdarling for the last time in thisworld.Holding him tightly in her arms shewaslookinglonginglyathisface,asifshewantedtolethisimagesinkintohermind'seyeforever.Allpartingsaresadbutwherethepartingisforever,andinsuchcircumstances,whatwordscandescribeit?Themotherandsontorethemselvesfromeachotherlesttheirsurgingloveandattachmentmight

maketheirpartingimpossible.UmmeFarwabroughtouttheweddinggarmentsofHasanforQasimtowear.DressedintheseclothesQasimwaslookingtheveryimageofHasan.Theson,followedbythemother,wentovertoZainab'stenttobidhergood-bye.Zainabhadnotcompletelyrecoveredfromherswoon: Inherdazedmindshe thought foramoment thatHasanhaddescendedfromheaven todefendhisbrother.Itwasjustaflittingthoughtthatpassedawaylikelightning.SherealizedthatitwasQasimwho had come to pay his last respects She looked at him and then at thismotherwhowasfollowinghim.SheunderstoodwithwhateffortsUmmeFarwawascontrollingherfeelings.Muchasherownheartwasburstingwithgriefatthispartingwithherbelovedbrother'sson,sheknewthatitwasessentialforhertocontrolherselfforthesakeofUmmeFarwa.Withonehandonherheadandthe other on her heart, she came forward to bid adieu toQasim.With hot tears rolling down hercheeksshekissedQasimonhisforeheadsaying:"Qasim,mydearchild,youragedaunthadhopedthatyou,mydearones,wouldcarrymyfuneral

bier. But it is written in Zainab's fate that she should see the young lives of her dearest onesextinguished before her. It has fallen to my lot to see you all dead before me and to carry yourmemoriesfortherestofmydreary,unendingdays.MarchonmychildwiththenameofGod."Qasimcame toHusainand reverentiallykissedhishands.SeeingQasimsovividly resemblingHasan,hisdear,departedbrother,Husainweptbitterly.HekissedQasimonhischeeksandheld thehorse forhimtomount.AbbascameforwardtodothisservicebutHusainwouldnotlethimdoso."Thisisthelastoccasionformetogiveasend-offtomyQasimandletmedothisforhim."HeturnedtoQasimandsaid:"Qasim,Ishallnotbelonginjoiningyou."Reachingthebattlearena,Qasimaddressedtheenemywithaneloquencethatremindedmanyofthe

sermonsofhisgrandfatherAli.Withgapingmouthstheyweretransfixedtothegroundathiswordsof admonition on the betrayal of the Imam.Umar Ibne Saad ordered hismen to challenge him tosinglecombat,fearingthatthisyouth'seloquencemightrousethevestigesofgoodnessinsomeofhismen.Qasim fought battleswith several of them and threw them from their horses as if hewere a

seasonedwarriorandnotayouthof14,withthreeday'sthirstandhunger.Suchwashisskillwiththeswordandhorsemanship thatHusain,whowaswatchinghisnephew'sfight fromahillocknearhiscamp, burst into spontaneous acclamation. Now no warrior from the enemy ranks was comingforward tomeet the challenge of this brave son ofHasan.Hewas now repeatedly challenging thesoldiersofUmaribnSaadtocomeforwardandmatchtheirskillandswordsmanshipagainsthiminsinglecombat.Umar ibnSaad, seeing thatnoneofhiswarriorswasprepared for this,orderedhissoldierstoattackQasimtogether.Itwasnowafightbetweenoneandthousands,ifsuchathingcanatall be called a fight. How long couldQasimward off the attacks of swords, spears, daggers andarrowscomingathimfromalldirections?Hewaswoundedfromheadtofoot.Whenhesawthathecouldnolongerremaininthesaddle,hegaveacryofferinghislastsalutationtohisuncleHusain.Husain,whowaswatchingfromadistancethedastardlyattackofthemultitudeofsoldiersonhis

helplessQasim,heard this cry fullof agonyandpain.He felt as ifhehadhimself receivedall thewoundsinflictedonQasim.Heunsheathedhisswordand,likeanenragedlion,herushedtowardsthebattlefield.Withswordinonehandhegallopedhishorsecuttingthroughtheenemyhordes.SuchwasthefuryofhischargethattheenemywereremindedofthechargesofAli,hisfather,inthebattleofSiffin,whenthedexterousLionofGodhadsinglyscatteredtheenemy,runningthroughthemlikeaknifethroughbutter,andkillinghundredswiththepowerfulsweepsofhissword,whiletheremainderof the arrant towards ran helterskelter to save their contemptible lives. The stampede of Yazid'ssoldierswassuch that thebodyofQasimwas trampledunder thefeetofhundredsofminionswhowereadisgraceoftheircalling.WhenthebattlefieldwasclearedofthecowardsandHusainreachedthebodyofQasim,hefound

that itwas torn topieces.What feelings thisgruesomesightevoked inHusain'sheartcanbetterbeimagined thandescribed.Husainstumbleddownfromhishorseand fell to thegroundexclaiming:"MyGod,whathavethesecowardsdonetomyQasim?"Forsometimeheweptwithsuchagonythathisbodyconvulsed.AfterawhilehetookoffhisrobeandstartedpickinguppiecesofQasim'sbody.One by one he put them all in his robe and, lifting the bundle, put it on his aged shoulders andmountedthehorse.Ashedidso,hemuttered:"MyQasim,yourmotherhadsentyououtdressedasagroom.Nowyouarereturningtoyourmotherwithyourbodycuttopieces."Ashewasridingbacktowardshiscamp,Husainwasdisconsolatelyexclaiming:"MyGod,hastherebeenaninstancewhereanunclehadtocarryhisownnephew'sbodyinsuchastate?"OnreachingthecampHusainputdownthebodyontheground.HecalledAbbasandaskedhimto

bringUmmeFarwaandhissistersZainabandKulsumtothemorgue.HebesoughtFizza,hismother'sdevotedmaid,toconsoleUmmeFarwaandZainab,forheknewthattheconditionofQasim'sbodymightgivethemsuchashockaswouldkillthem.Qasim'smothercamewithZainabononesideandUmmeKulsumontheother.Fizzawentoverto

the ladies and said: "Ibe seechyou, in thenameofmy ladyFatima, tomuster all the strengthandcourageyoucantoseeQasim'smortalremains.TheymaybetornandcuttoplecesbutrememberhissoulisnowwithmyladyandHasan,whomusthavewelcomedhimwithopenarms."Sayingthis,sheopenedtherobeandunfoldedthebody.Zainabheldherachingheart,KulsumheldherreelingheadandUmmeFarwafellwithashriekandfainted.Whatpencannarratethegriefofamotherwhohaslostheronlyson?Whatwordscandescribethe

agonyofamother'slovingheartonseeinghersoninsuchastate?ThelandofKarbalawasechoing

thecriesoftheladiesandthewailingofthechildrenonQasim'sdeath.CananyoneattempttodepictHusain'splightatthattime?RestinghisheadonAbbas'sshoulders,Husainwassaying:"MyGod,myGod,ifmyenemieswantedtokillme,theycoulddoso;butwhathavemydearonesdonethattheyslaythemsomercilessly?"Husainstoodthereforsometimeasifinatrance.Abbaswhosoftlysaidtohim“Mymaster,now

let me go, as others have done, brought him back to the reality of the situation. I am now thecommanderofsoldierswhoarenomore."Husainforamomentdidnotreply.Thenheequallysoftlysaid:"VerilywecomefromGodanduntoHimweshallreturn."

ABUFADLABBASIBNALI

TheshiftingsanddunesofKarbalaweresmearedwithblood.Nearoneofthewashduneslaythe

prostratefigureofayouthwithbloodgushingoutfrominnumerablewounds.Thecrimsonlife-tidewasebbingfast.Evenso,itseemedasifhewasanxiouslyexpectingsomebodytocometohim,tobenearhimbeforehebreathedhis last.Throughhis starched throathewas feeblycalling somebody.Yes,Abbaswasanxiouslyexpectinghismastertocometohimbeforehepartedwithhislife,ashehadcome to the sideof all hisdevoted friendswhohad laiddown their dear lives forhimand inespousinghiscause.It is said that before aman's death all the past events of his life pass before hismind's eye in a

flashback. In his last moments Abbas was experiencing this. He was seeing himself as a child inMedina following Husain with a devotion that was considered unique even for a brother. He wasseeingtheeventsofthathotandsultrydayinKufawhenhisillustriousfatherAliwasaddressingacongregation in themosqueandhe, as a child,withhis characteristicdevotion,was lookingat thefaceofhisbelovedbrotherwatchinghimintentlysothathecouldattendtohiswishesonaninstantcommand.SeeingfromtheparchedlipsofHusainthathewasfeelingextremelythirsty,howhehaddarted out from themosque and returnedwith a tumbler full of cool, refreshingwater and in thehurrytocarrythewaterasquicklyaspossibletoquenchtheconsumingthirstofhisdearestbrother,how he had spilled water on his own clothes. He was recalling how this incident had made hisillustriousfatherstopinthemidstofhisspeech,withtearsrollingdownhischeeksatthesightofhisyoungsonallwetwithwater.Hewasrememberinghisfather'sreplytothequeriesfromhisfaithfulfollowersastowhathadbroughttearsinhiseyes,thatAbbaswhohadwettedhisbodywithwaterintheprocessofquenchingHusain'sthirstwouldinthenottoodistantfuturewethisbodywithhisownbloodinattemptingtoquenchthethirstofhisyoungchildren.Hewasvividlyseeingthesceneonthe21stRamazan,waybackin40Hijra,whenhisfathermortallywounded,waslyingonhisdeath-bedandentrustinghischildrenanddependentstothecareofthehiseldestbrother,Hasan-allexcepthim.SeeingthathisfatherhadcommendedallbuthimtothecareofHasan-howhe,achildof12,hadburstoutintouncontrollabletears.Hisfather,onhearinghimsobbing,hadcalledhimtohissideandgivenhishandinHusain'shandwiththewords:Husain,thischildIamentrustingtoyou.Hewillrepresentmeonthedayofyoursupremesacrifice

andlaydownhislifeindefendingyouandyourdearones,muchasIwouldhavedoneifaliveonthatday.Howhisfatherhadturnedtohimandaffectionatelytoldhim:Abbas,mychild, IknowyourunboundedloveforHusain.Thoughyouare tooyoungtobe told

aboutitwhenthatdaydawns,considernosacrificetoogreatforHusainandhischildren.He sawbeforehismind's eye thatpartingwithhis agedmotherFatima inMedina.Howshehad

affectionatelyembracedhimandremindedhimofthedyingdesireofhisfathertolaydownhislifeinthedefenseofHusainandhisdearones.Afaintsmileofsatisfactionflickeredforabriefmomentonhisparchedlipsasmileofsatisfaction

thathehadfulfilledhisfather'swish;thathehadperformedhisdutyforwhichhewasbroughtup.Itjustflittedforamomentandvanishedasotherscenescamebeforehismind'seye.Hewasrelivingtheeventsofthenightbefore.HewasseeingShimrstealthilycomingtohim;andtalkingtohimabouthisties of relationship; about the protection he had been promised for Abbas by the Commander ofYazid's forces,only if hewould leaveHusainandgoover toYazid's camp; about thepromisesofrichesandrewards thathewouldget;howhehadspurnedthesuggestionofShimrwith theutmostdisdaintothechagrinofthatservileminionwhohadsoldhissoulforamessofpottage.Howhehadscaredawaythatcowardbyhisscathingragesaying:You worshipper ofMammon, do not think that Abbas will be lured by your tempting offer of

powerandpelf.IfIdieindefendingmymaster,Husain,Ishallconsidermyselftheluckiestperson.O’ coward, remember thatvaliantdiebutonce.Nobody isborn to live eternally.Bybetrayingmymaster,youhavebetrayedtheProphet,whosereligionyouprofesstofollow.OntheDayofJudgmentyouwillbedoomedtoeternalperdition.Iamashamedtoownanyrelationshipwithyou.Haditnotbeen for the fact that you have come here unarmed, Iwould have given you the chastisement youdeserveforyourimpudenceinaskingmetobecomeaturncoat.Howthatwretchhadscamperedfromthereseeinghimroaringlikeanenragedlion.Thethoughtof

thatunpleasant interlude contractedhisbrows.Orwas it the excruciatingpainhewas sufferingonaccountofthedeepgasheshehadalloverhisbody?YetanotherscenepassedbeforeAbbas'seyes-Sakinaleading42children,eachwithadrywater

bag.ThechildrenwereshoutingasifinchorusThirst,consumingthirst,iskillingus.Sakinacomingtohimandputtingherdrywaterbagathisfeetandsayingtohim:Ouncle,Iknowyouwilldosomethingtogetwaterforus.Evenifyoucanbringonebagfullof

water,wecanwetourparchedthroats.Hecouldseethatthirst,aggravatedbythescorchingheatofthedesert,wassqueezingtheiryoung

livesoutof them.The sightof theseyoungstershadmovedhimmore thananyother soul-stirringeventsofthatfaithfulday.HowhehadpickedupthewaterbagwithassurancetoSakinathathewouldgoandbringwater-GodWilling.HowhehadtakenHusain'spermissionandmarchedoutofthecampwithaswordinonehand,the

flagintheother,andthebagonhisshoulder,withthechildrenfollowinghiminagroupuptotheouterperimeterofthecamp.HowHusainhadrepeatedlyrequestedhimtoavoidfightingasmuchaspossibleandconfinehimselftothetaskofbringingwater!Histhoughtsswitchedovertotheeventsthathadprecededhisfallfromthehorse.Withtheobject

ofprocuringwaterforhisdearlittleSakina,hehadchargedontheenemywhoheldtheriverbanks.Hehad run through theenemy ranks likeaknife throughbutter.Again this surgingon slaught thecowardscouldnotstandandhadrunhelter-skeltershoutingforprotection.ForamomentitseemedasifAli,theLionofGod,haddescendedfromheaven.InnotimeAbbaswasneartherivulet.Hehadjumpeddown from thehorseandbent to fill thewater-bag.When itwas filled to thebrim,hehad

takensomewaterinhiscuppedhandtodrinkandsatisfyhiskillingthirst.But,onsecondthoughts,hehad thrown the water away. How could he drink water when Sakina and the children were stillwitheringwithout it?Howcouldhebesocallousas to forget thathismasterHusainhadnothadadrop ofwater since the last three days.He had turned to his horse that had been let loose so thatitcouldsatisfyitsthirst.Theanimalhadbeenintentlylookingatitsmasterasiftosay:Itooamawarethat,solongasourmasterandhischildrenremainwithoutwater,ourthirstcannot

bequenched.Withthewaterbagfilledhehadjumpedintothesaddlewithonethoughtuppermostinhismind,to

getthewatertotheanxiouslywaitingchildrenasquicklyaspossible.Seeinghimgallopingtowardsthe camp of Husain, the enemy had turned. Somebody had shouted from the enemy ranks that ifHusainandhispeoplegotwater,itwouldbedifficulttofightthemonthebattlefield.Thoughitwasanuneven fight, he fought them with valor that was so characteristic of his fathers. Though he wasthirstyandhungryhechargedonthemandscatteredthem.ThemercenariesofYazidwererunninglikelambsinafoldwhenchargedbyalion.Seeingthatafrontalassaultonamansobravewasnotpossible,theyhadresortedtoabarrageofarrows.Whenarrowswerecomingfromallsides,Abbashadonlyonethoughtinhismind,howtoprotectthewater-bagratherthanhislife.SeeingthatAbbaswaspreoccupiedwith this thought,one treacherous foe,hidingbehindasanddune,had rushedoutanddealtablowonhisrighthandandcutitoff.InaflashAbbashadtransferredhisswordtohislefthand and the standard he was bearing he had hugged to his chest. Now that the Lion of Ali wascrippled,thefoeshadfoundcouragetosurroundhim.Ablowfromanenemy'sswordseveredhisleftarm.Theoddswerenowmountingagainsthim.Heheldthebagwithhisteethandprotectedtheflagwithhischestpressedonthehorse'sback.Nowtheparamountthoughtinhismindwastoreachthecampsomehowortheother.Asilentprayerhadescapedhislips:MercifulAllah,sparemelongenoughtofulfillmymission.Butthatwasnottobe.Anarrowhadpiercedthewaterbagandwaterhadstartedgushingoutofit.

WasitwaterthatwasflowingoutofthatbagorthehopesofAbbas?Allhiseffortshadbeeninvain.AfterallSakina'sthirstwouldremainunsatisfiedandallherhopeswouldbefrustrated.Theenemieswhohadmadebold to surroundhim,nowseeinghishelplesscondition,werenowgathering thickroundhim.Oneofthemcamenearhimandstruckmortalblowwithanironmace.Hereeledoverandfell from thehorse.He tossedon theburningsandwithexcruciatingpain.He felt that lifewas fastebbingoutbuthiswishtoseehismasterhadremainedunfulfilled.Withonelasteffort,withall thestrengththatwasleftinhim,heshouted:Omymaster,docometomebeforeIdie.Asitinanswertohisprayershefeltsomefootstepsnearhim,Yes,hisinstincttoldhimthatitwas

hislord.Anarrowhadblindedhisoneeyeandtheotherfilledwithbloodandsohecouldnotsee.Buthefelthismasterkneelingdownbesidehim,liftinghisheadandtakingitintohislap.Notawordwassaid for a few secondsbecausebothwere chokedwith emotion.At last heheardHusain's voice, ahalf-sob,half-muffledcry:Abbas,mybrother,whathavetheydonetoyou?IfAbbascouldsee,wouldhehaverecognizedhismaster?Withbackbentandbeardturnedwhiteandhoary,onhearingthepartingcryofhisbelovedbrother,

Husain'splightwassuchthatnobodycouldhaverecognizedhim-suchwashistransformation.Abbas

wasnowfeelingthelovingtouchofhismaster'shand.Withefforthemuttered:Youhavecomeatlast,myMaster.IthoughtIwasnotdestinedtohavea

last farewellwithyoubut, thankGod,youarehere.With thesewordsheputhisheadon the sand.TenderlyHusain liftedhisheadandagainput itonhis lap, inquiringwhyhehad removed it fromthere.MyMaster, repliedAbbas, the thought thatwhenyouwillbebreathingyour last,nobodywillbe

theretoputyourheadinalapandtocomfortyou,makesmefeelthatitwouldbebetterifmyheadliesonthesandwhenIdie,justasyourswouldbe.Besides,Iamyourslaveandyouaremymaster.Itistoomuchformetoputmyheadonyourlap.Husain burst into uncontrollable tears. The sight of his brother, whose name was to become a

bywordfordevotionandunflinchingfaithfulness, layingdownhisdearlifeinhisarms,washeart-rending.Abbaswasheardtowhispersoftly:Mymaster,Ihavesomelastwishestoexpress.WhenIwasborn,Ihadmyfirstlookatyourface

anditismylastdesirethatwhenIdie,mygazemaybeonit,too.Myoneeyeispiercedbyanarrowandtheotherisfilledwithblood.Ifyouwillclearthebloodfrommyoneeye,I'llbeabletoseeyouandfulfillmylastdyingdesire.MysecondwishisthatwhenIdieyoumaynotcarrymybodytothecamp. I hadpromised tobringwater toSakina and, since I have failed inmyattempt tobringherwater, I cannot faceher even indeath.Besides, I know that theblows that youhave received sincemorninghaveallbutcrushedyouandcarryingmybodytothecampwillbeheartbreakingworkforyou.AndmythirdwishisthatSakinamaynotbebroughtheretoseemyplight.Iknowwithwhatloveandaffectionshewasdevotedtome.Thesightofmydeadbodylyingherewillkillher.Husainsobbinglypromisedhimthathewouldcarryouthislastwishesadded:Abbas, I toohaveawish tobe fulfilled.Sincechildhoodyouhavealwayscalledmemaster.For

onceatleastcallmebrotherwithyourdyingbreath.Thebloodwasclearedfromtheeyeonebrotherlookedattheotherwithalonginglingeringlook.

Abbaswasheardtowhisper:“Mybrother,mybrother.”Andwith thesewordshesurrenderedhissoul tohisMaker:Husainfellunconsciousonthedead

bodyofAbbaswithacry:“OAbbas,whoislefttoprotectmeandSakinaafteryou?”The flow of Furat became dark aswinter and amurmur arose from the flowingwater as if to

protestagainstthekillingofathirstywaterbeareronitsbanks.71

THE6MONTHOLDINFANTSONOFHUSAIN,ALIASGHAR

By the afternoon 70 brave persons had sacrificed their lives in Karbala to save Islam. All had

foughtundernerverackingconditions,severethirst,dehydration,exhaustion,andagonizingfeelingofwhatwould happen to the family of the Prophet (pbuh) afterwards.Husain endured all that andmore,forhesawhisentirebelovedonesbrutallycuttopieces,includingchildren.Remaining theonlyone, ImamHusainwas to face the enemyheadon.Precisely at thatmoment

ImamHusainheardhisbabycryingincessantly,agonizingbecauseofthethirst.ImamHusain'slovefor his familywas unbound, especially for a suffering baby.He held the sixmonths old baby, hisyoungest son (AliAsghar) inhisarms,andappealed to theenemy fighters for somewater for thebaby. Imamwanted to awaken their conscience and stir their human feelings but the stoneheartedenemy,insteadofgivingwater,zoomedanarrowtowardtheagonizingbabyandkilledhiminstantly.ImamHusainwasshocked.Hefeltanunbearablewaveofpain.Thesightofthelimpbabyinhisarmswasagonizinglypainful.Hefilledhispalmwiththebloodofthebaby,andthrewitupwardstowardthesky,complainingtoAllah(swt),71TheJourneyofTearsbyBashirHassanaliRahim"O'Allah,O'myLord!MyconsolationisthefactthatThouinThineMajestyarewitnessingwhatI

amgoingthrough."72

IMAMHUSAIN(as)

OurImamisallalone!Helooksaroundhim.TherelieHabeebibnMazahir,MuslimibnAwsaja,

Zuhair ibnQain and all his friends and companions. There lie Awn andMuhammad. He looks atQasim'strampledremains.HelooksatAliAkbar,hisbelovedson,withthatdreadfulwoundonhischest.HelookstowardsFuraat.Gentlyhewhispers,'Abbas,Abbas,Iamalone,Soveryalone!'SlowlyImamHusaynmovestowardsthetentofImamZainul'Abideen.Zainul'Abideenislying

unconscious on his bed.Lovingly Imam shakes his son by the shoulder. The sick Imamopens hiseyes, 'Father,Father,whyareyoualone?WhereismyuncleAbbas?WhereisAliAkbar?WhereisQasim?Whereareallyourcompanions?' ImamHusaynsays, 'Son,noman, saveyouand I, is leftalive.AllofthemhavediedforIslam.'ImamZainul'Abideentriestogetup.'Whereareyougoing,myson?'asksImamHusayn.'Tofight

Yazid's army!' replies theyoungman. 'No,myson,youare too sick for Jihad. Ihavecome to saygood-bye.Lookafter the ladiesand thechildren.And,myson,whenyouget toMadina,givesmylovetoSugra.TellherthatIalwaysrememberedherandthatintheselastmomentsofmylife,IwishIcouldgiveherahugbefore Igetkilled. .Andalso,myson,givesalaams toour friendsand tellthemtothinkofmewhentheydrinkwater!'Imam Husayn then stands in the centre of the camp and cries out, “O Zainab, O Kulthoom, O

Sakina,ORuqayya,O72KarbalaChainofEventsbyRamzanShabirRubaab,OFizzamygreetingstoyou!Farewelltoyouall!”Theladiesandchildrenweepandwail

astheysayfarewelltoImam.Imamwalkstowardshishorse.Thereisnoonetohelphimmount.BibiZainabstepsforward.She

holds the reins as Imammounts the horse. The horsemoves a few steps and then it stops. ImamHusaynurgesthehorsetomove,butitstandsstilllookingtowardsitshindlegs.Imamturnshishead.HeseesSakinaclingingtothehorse'sleg,pleading,'Ohorse,donottakemyfatherawayfromme.Donotletthemmakemeanorphan!'Imamdismounts.Hesays,'Sakina,youarethegreatgranddaughteroftheHolyProphet!Iloveyou

somuchthatifyoutellmenottogo,Iwillnot.ButthenIslamwillbedestroyed.HowwillyouorIbeable to face theHolyProphet on theDay of Judgment?' Fighting back her tears the four year oldSakinacanonlymanage to say, 'Bismillah, father!'The fouryearoldholds the reins asher fathermountsforacertaindeath!!Husaynrideson.Hestandsonahillandcriesout,“Whoistherewhowillcometomyhelp?”OfcourseourImamisnotexpectinganyoftheenemysoldierstocometohishelp!Towhomishe

addressingthispleaforhelp?OurImamisaddressingthepleatoalltheMuslims,ineveryageandeverywhere,youngandold,menandwomen,grownupsandchildrenurgingusall toalwaysfight

YazidismandrefusetodisobeythecommandsofAllah.EverylittleeffortwemaketopreserveandactaccordingtoourIslamicconscienceisaresponsetoourImam'scallwithLabbaikaYaaHusain!LabbaikaYaaHusain!Imamridestowardstheenemy.Thereisashowerofarrows!Imamignoresthearrowsandrides

on.HewantstomakeonelastefforttopreachtrueIslamtotheenemiesofIslam.Hestopsandturnstowards theenemyandbegins tospeak:“O thoseofyouwhodonotknowme,knowthat IamthegrandsonoftheHolyProphet.Iamonthepathoftruth.Yazidpersonifiesfalsehoodandcorruption.HewantstoleadyouawayfromIslam.Donotfollowhim.DonotkillthegrandsonofAllah'smessenger.Allahwillneverforgiveyou!

RememberthatwhenyouseearulerwhodoeswhathasbeenforbiddenbyAllahandHisMessenger,who indulges in sins,whooppresses thepeoplehe rules, andyoudonothing to stop sucha ruler,beforeAllahyouareasguiltyasheis.Youknowmyancestry.Myparentsdidnotraisemetosubmitmyselftoaneviltyrant.IamyourImam.YouhavesurrenderedthefreedomofyourmindtotheevilwaysofYazid.IfyoudonotcareforIslam,do,atleast,careforthefreedomofyourspirit!!”UmarSa'adcriesout,“DonotfallvictimstoHusayn'soratory!Killhim!”From all directions the soldiers advance towards ImamHusaynwith their naked swords! Imam

says: “You are determined to fight me then fight you I shall! I do not fear death. Death tome issweeterthandishonor.NowIshallletyouwitnessthevalorofthesonofAliibnAbuTaalib!”ImamHusayntakesouthisswordandbeginstofight.Thirsty,tired,wounded,grieving,ourImam

fightsasnoonehadeverseenanyonefight!Whereverheturnsto,thesoldiersfleeasrabbitsdoatthesightofalion!UmarSa'adsendsallhisbestwarriorsagainstImam.Theyallperish.Noonedarescomenear our Imam! Imamstandsonhis stirrups.Casts his eyes towhereHazratAbbas lies, andmurmurs,“Abbasdidyouseethebattleofyourbrother,thethirsty,thebrokenheartedbrother?”AndthenJibra'eelappearsandsays, 'OHusayn,Allahispleasedwithyourbravery.Themoment

hasnowarrivedforyoutosaveIslamwithyourlife!”Husaynlooksatthesky!Yes,itisthetimeofAsr!Husayn returns the sword into the sheath. Lowers himself on the horseback.Whispers to thehorse“Takeme towheremymotherFatimah iswaiting forme!But,Omyfaithfulhorse,gopastwheremyAkbarislyingsothatImayseemybelovedsonjustonemoretimebeforeIdie.”SeeingthatImamhassheathedhisswordtheenemycamefromallsidessomethrewstonesathim,

somehithimwithswords.Arrowsareshotathim!Suddenlythehorsestops!“Myson,myson!”criesout thesoulofFatimahZahra. ImamHusaynfalls fromthehorse!Buthisbodydoesnot touch theground.Itisrestingonthebladesofthearrows.HeperformshisAsrprayerslyingonthismusallah(prayermat)ofarrows!Nowhegoesintohislastsijdah(prostration)andsays:“OAllah!AllpraiseistoYouandYoualone!”SomeoneismovingtowardswhereourImamisinsijdahonthearrows.Heisholdingadaggerin

his hand. The earth trembles! The sun goes into eclipse! Jibraeel cries out “Oh Husayn has beenkilled,Husaynhasbeenkilled!!!!”

Sakina fallson to thegroundunconscious!BibiZainab runs to the tentofour fourth Imam. 'Oh

Son!Whathashappened?”ImamZainul'Abideenstaggerstowardsthecurtainofhistent.Liftsitup,andpointinghisfingerataheadmountedonalance.Hecriesoutinatremblingvoice:“Assalaamu'alaika,YaaAba'Abdillah!!!”73Shimrwhosemotherwasadisbeliever,cameforwardandseveredImamHusain'snobleheadfrom

thebody,thenobleheadkissedoftenbytheProphet(pbuh)!ThenarrationssaythatImamHusainwasbeheadedwhilehewaspatient.Whenyouslaughterananimalyougiveitwaterbeforeandyoucuttheneckfromthefrontsothattheveiniscutandthedeathisfast.ImamHusainwasnotgivenanywaternorwashisheadcutlikethis.Hewasbeheadedfromthebackofthenecksothathehadtofeeleverybitofpainandsufferingbeforetheknifereachedthefront!ShimrandothershadtheaudacitytocarryitonthetipofaspeartoYazid,600milesaway!UmarIbnSa'adorderedthehorsementotrampleuponthesupinebodiesofImamHusainandall

otherskilled,todisfigure73TheJourneyofTearsbyBashirHassanaliRahimthemevenfurther,asifthewounds,thebloodiedbodies,andtheheadlessformswerenotenough.For three days the exposed bodies of the martyrs were left lying in the desert of Karbala.

Afterwards,thepeopleofthetribeofBani-Asad,whowerenotfarawayfromthebattlefield,helpedburythem.74

نلٱ قا نتةف مفلة ھ ترٱ بہق طصٱ مو ب نو ( ٢٧ ) ر مأہئب لٱ ن ام ءق ةم بس نی مكلہر فضرش ( ٢٨ ) ن او دا بحا مفص تھ طاع ىف قع ف ( ٢٩ ) ر باذع نا یفك ك نو نإرذى لس ر ام او ر ن لع یہا ةح ی مص ةدح فوٲ ناك او كھ لٱ می ش تح م لو ( ٣١ ) دیقظر نر س لٱ قا نا رء تح بمل ذل )ھرفك ٣٢ ) كر دم نم إل ( ٣٠ ) أان لس “ForWewillsend theshecamelbywayof trial for them,Sowatch them(OSaleh)andpossess

thyself in patience!And tell them that thewater is to be divided between them: each one's right todrinkbeingbrought forward (by suitable turns).But theycalled to their companion, andhe tookasword inhand,andhamstrung(her).Ah!How(terrible)wasMyPenaltyandMyWarning!ForWesentagainstthemasingleMightyBlast,andtheybecamelikethedrystubbleusedbyonewhopenscattle.AndWehaveindeedmadetheQur'aneasytounderstandandremember:thenisthereanythatwillreceiveadmonition?”75IfAllahdestroyedthepeopleofProphetSalehforkillingashecamelofaProphetcanyouimaginethefateofthosewhokilledthegrandsonoftheirProphet!7674KarbalaChainofEventsbyRamzanShabir75Quran54:27-3276NotefromcompilerUmarIbnSa'adandhisforces(representingBenuUmayya)thentookthewomenandchildrenas

prisonersinshackles,putthemoncamels,andproceededinacaravanfromKarbalatoKufa.Attheforefront of the procession were the heads of ImamHusain (a.s.) and his followers on the tip ofspears. The scenewas both grotesque and pathetic. Thiswas the leftover of the beloved family of

ProphetMuhammad(pbuh),insuchadeplorableunimaginablecondition,allcausedbypeoplewhocalledthemselvesMuslims!Karbalaisthecruelesttragedyhumanityhaseverseen.Yet,thestartling(thoughappalling)events

inKarbalaprovedlikeapowerfulvolcanothatshooktheveryfoundationofMuslims,itstirredtheirconsciousness, ignorantor learnedalike.For sincereMuslims,Karbala turned into a triumph.ThetragiceventbecametheverybeaconoflighttoalwaysremindMuslimstopracticeIslamhonestlyandsincerely,todowhatisrightirrespectiveofconsequences,andfearnooneexceptAllah(swt).Ontheotherhand,Yazidneverachievedwhatheandhisfatherhadplannedtoachieve,forwithin

threeyears,Allah'swrathfelluponhim,causinghimtodieattheageof33years.Andwithinafewdecades the rule of Benu Umayya crumbled and came to an end. The tragedy of Karbala taughthumanityalessonthatstandingforthetruthandfightinguntodeathismorehonorableandvaluablethansubmittingtothewrongful,especiallywhenthesurvivalofIslamisatstake.7777KarbalaChainofEventsbyRamzanShabir

22ChapterTHEFATEOFTHEWOMENOFAHLULBAYTAFTERKARBALA

Itwasafter'Asr(afternoon)onthedayofAshura.ImaamHusaynlaydead.Theearthhadtrembled!

Furaathadbrokenitsbanks!FromthecampofthefamilyoftheHolyProphetsuchlamentationaroseashadneverbeenheardbefore!Yazid's army had brutally murdered our Imaam, his sons, his brothers, his nephews, his

companions.Noonewas spared.Amongst themale adults there remainedonlyour fourth Imaam,ImaamZainul 'Abideen,who layunconscious inhis tentwithhisyoungsonMuhammadhoveringaroundhim,weeping.Onewouldthinkthateventhedevilhimselfwouldhalt inexhaustionaftersomuchevil.But that

wasnottobe!UmarSa'adreceivedaletterfromibnZiyad.ThegovernorofKufainstructedthattheyshouldnot

be satisfied with the death of Husayn. His body must be subjected to the ultimate insult of beingtrampledbythehoovesofhorses.AndthiswasdonetothegrandsonoftheHolyProphet!!As the sunwas setting in thehorizon, the soldiers rushed to ImaamHusayn's camp in searchof

booty.Theylootedeverytent.Everylady,andeverygirlwasstrippedofherveil.Fatimah'sdaughterswere left bareheaded. Sakina's earringswere pulled off her ears, splitting her ear lobes.When thelittlegirlpleadedforherveiltobeleftuntouched,shewasslapped.Surely theywouldstopnow?But theydidnot.Theyset fire toall the tents.HumaydIbnMuslim

describeshowhesawalittlegirlwithherdressonfire,herearsbleeding,runningfromthesceneofcarnage.Hesays:“Iranafterher.Itookherbyhand.Putoutthefireinherdress.Iwipedthebloodoffherears.Shelookedatmeandsaid,“Youseemlikeakindperson,areyouaMuslim?”ItoldherIwas.Shethoughtawhileandthensaid,“CanyoupleaseshowmethewaytoNajaf?”Iasked,“Whydoyouwant togotoNajafat thishourandin thisstate?”Shesaid,“Iwant togoandcomplain tomygrandfather Ali ibn Abi Talib about how they killed my father.” Realizing that she was Husayn'sdaughter,ItookherbacktoherauntZainab.”Asthenightdescended,BibiZainabgatheredall theladiesandchildren,intoonesmallspacein

betweentheguttedtents.ImaamZain-ul'Abideenlayonthegroundsurroundedbythesewidowsandorphans.Therewasnofire,nolight.Onlythemooncastitsdulllight.UmarSa'adaskedHurr'swidowtotakesomefoodandwatertotheladiesandthechildren.Asshe

neared towhere theywere resting,BibiZainab recognizedher.She stoodup,went towardsHurr's

widowandofferedhercondolences for thedeathofHurr.Thisgestureon thepartofBibiZainab,who had suffered somuch, lost somany, and carrying somuch grief in her heart, is a lesson inIslamicakhlaqthattheworldshouldneverbeallowedtoforget.BibiZainabtookthejugofwater.ShewenttoSakinawhohadfallenintoafretfulsleep.Gently she stroked thegirl'sdisheveledhair.Sakinaopenedher eyes.BibiZainab said, “Here is

somewater,Sakina.Pleasedrinka little.Youhavebeen thirsty for so long!”Onhearing theword'water'Sakinacriedouthopefully,“HasmyuncleAbbascomeback?”WhenshewastoldthatHurr'swidow had brought thewater, she got up,went toHurr'swidow, thanked her and then askedBibiZainab:“Haveyoualldrunkwater?”BibiZainabshookherhead.Sakinaasked,“Whythendoyouaskmetodrinkwater?”BibiZainabsaid,“Because,mydear,youaretheyoungest.”Sakinareplied,“No!no!Asgharisthe

youngest!”Sakinatookthejugofwater,rantowardswhereAsgharlayburied,crying“YaaAsghar!YaaAsghar!”ThiswashowthehomelessspenttheirnightinKarbala’.ThiswasShaamal-Gareeba,thenightof

thehomeless.Theyhad losteverything.Theirmenhaddied.Theirchildrenhadbeenkilled. In thisdesolatedesertourfourthImaam,thewomenandtheremainingchildrenarehuddledwhereonlyafewhours before had stood their camp.Abbas,QasimandAliAkbar had taken turns to guard thecamp.NowBibiZainabandBibiKulthoomlayawaketomakesurethatImaamZainul'Abideenandthechildrenwerenotattacked.Suddenly,BibiZainabnotices thatSakinahasdisappeared.She isalarmed.She looksaroundbut

Husayn'sdarlingdaughterisnottobeseen.BibiZainabslowlywalkstothebattlefield.Shecomestowhere Abbas lay.”Abbas! Abbas! My dear brother, have you seen Sakina?” There is silence! Shemakes herway towhereHusayn's headless body lay. There, hugging her father, she finds Sakina,deepinsleep!!DawnbreaksoutonthedesolatesandsofKarbala’.Whatwasthebattlefieldyesterdayisastretchof

desertcoveredwiththebodiesoftheslain.InthecornerwheretherehadstoodImaamHusayn'scampthemourningwidowsandorphanshavecompletedtheirmorningprayers.ImaamZainul 'AbideenisinsijdahglorifyingAllah.UmarSa'adwalksoverwithafewsoldiers

andordersthewomenandthechildrentobetiedwithropesascaptives.Thereisarenewedwailing.OurfourthImaamconsolesthem.Hehimselfisputunderheavychains.Yazid'ssoldiersspendthedayburyingtheirdead.ThebodiesofthegrandsonoftheProphetofIslamandtheothermartyrsareleftunattended.ImaamZainul'Abideenpleadstobeallowedtoburybutallhispleasgounheeded.Another night in Karbala’ followed by another dawn! The prisoners remain tied. Our Imaam

suffers thediscomfort of the chain.Hiswrists and ankles arebruised.On themorningof the12thMuharram the enemy brings unsaddled camels upon which the women and children are made tomount.Ahugeprocessionisbeingprepared.At the head of the procession isUmar Sa'ad followed by the officers. Then a few foot soldiers

carryinglancesuponwhicharemountedtheheadsofthemartyrs.IntheirmidstisourfourthImaam,

chainedandshackled,thenthecamelscarryingthewomenandchildrenasprisoners.Shimrandtherestoftheinfantrybringuptherear.ThejourneytoKufabegins.Yes,thetaleofKarbala’isataleoffivesadjourneys!Nowbeginsthethirdjourneyoftears.We

lookatthetravellers.Someofthosewhohadsetoutonthatfirstjourney,fromMeccatoMadina,canbeseenbuttherestcannot.No!Theyalsocanbeseenifwelookaround!TheyarelyingslaughteredonthesandsofKarbala’.Whoistheheroandwhoistheheroineofthisthirdjourney?Weseethehero,handcuffed,chained,

exhaustedwiththelongillnessandthegreatsuffering,ourFourthImaam,Zainul'Abideen.Andtheheroine?Yesweseethelady.Sheisbareheaded.Herfacefullofpainandyetreflectingcourageandthe strength of her spirit! She knows that for the sake of Sakina and the other ladies she can notpossiblygiveintohergriefandsorrow.Yes,itisBibiZainab!UmarSa'adcrueltyisnotexhausted.Hedecidestoleadtheprocessionpastwherethebodiesofthe

martyrs lie. As the camel carrying Bibi Zainab goes past the body of ImaamHusayn she can nolongercontainherpainandanguish,andturningherfacetoMadinashecriesout:“YaMuhammad,The angels in heaven send their blessings upon you! Look, here lies your beloved Husayn, sohumiliatedanddisgraced,coveredwithbloodandcutintopieces.HereareweyourdaughterstakencaptivesbyYazid!”ImaamZainul'AbideenwalksovertoBibiZainab.”DearAunt,havepatience.Yoursacrificesfor

Islamhaveonlyjustbegun.”IbnZiyad, theGovernorofKufa,haddeclaredaholiday.Thecitywasdecoratedwith flags and

pennants.Peoplehadbeen told that the rebelswhowanted toattack theircityandmurder themhadbeendefeatedatKarbala’andthattheirwomenwerebeingbroughtintothecityasprisoners.Thosewhobelievedthis,andmanydid,cameouttolinethecitystreetsthroughwhichtheprocessionwastopasssothattheymightmockandjeerattheprisoners.Bigcrowdshadgatheredeverywhere.Therewasaholidaymood.Theprocessionslowlyentered

thecityandbegantomovetowardstheGovernor'spalace.Peoplejeeredandshoutedattheprisoners.Therewereafew,however,whoguessedthetruth.WhentheysawImaamHusayn'shead,andsawthemiseryandgriefofthewidowsandorphans, theybegantoshedtears.Themajoritywereignorant.Theybelieved,orfounditconvenienttobelieve,thelieswhichUmarSa'adhadtoldthem.78TheSunni’stillthispresentdayandtimecelebrateonthedayofAshura,the10thofMuharram.I

don't knowhow anybody can celebrate onAshura day?!This is the daywhen the grandson of theprophet was martyred along with his 6 month old baby, his sons, nephews, and close friends. 72peoplewhodidn’teatordrinkfor3daysagainst100,000troopsofYazid'ssocalledMuslims.TheirheadswerecutoffandputonstickstobeatthefrontofthecaravanofHussain'swomenandchildrenwhoweremadetomarchacross thehotdesertfromKarbala,IraqtoDamascus,Syriaasprisonersboundandshackled.Rememberingsuchtragiceventshowcanonebegintoevencelebrateanything?!ThebigquestioniswouldyouthinkthattheProphetwouldhavecelebratedonAshuradayknowinghisgrandsonwouldbekilledon thatday?!It is reportedfromJabirAbdullahAnsari that theangelGabriel brought some clay/soil to the prophet and told him this was from the land where ImamHussainwouldbekilledandtoldhimtheeventswhichweretohappenwhereupontheProphetwept

andwasverysad.Hegave78TheJourneyofTearsbyBashirHassanaliRahimthisclaytooneofhiswivesUmmSalmaandtoldhertokeepthisinasafeplaceandwhenshesees

thisclayturnintobloodshewillknowthatImamHussainwasmartyred.Thisprophecycametrueonthe10thofMuharram.Therulersofthetimewantedtogetthepeopletocelebratethisdaymakingitaholidaywithfastingandbigiftar(dinner)aftertomakeyouforgetaboutthetragiceventsofthe10thofMuharram.Theywant to replace theeventsof thedaywith somethingelse todistractyou fromwhat they did to the grandson of the Prophet.Wake up and remember true Islam as taught by ourImamHussain,not the"Islam"oftherulerswhokilledhimandcelebratedhisdeathasavictorytotheir regime.Weshouldmourn the lossofour Imamandremember thesacrifices thatAhlulBaytmadeforsavingIslam.Astheprocessionnearedthepalace,thecrowdsthickened.Mostofthepeoplewhogatheredaround

theGovernor'spalacewere thosewhoworkedforYazidorsupportedhim.The jeeringand insultsgrewlouder.ThefaceofBibiZainabwasredwithanger.Shestooduponthecamel, lookedat thecrowd and in a loud and clear voice said: “Praise be toAllah and blessings uponmy grandfatherMuhammad,HisbelovedProphet!!Woeuntoyou,OpeopleofKufa!Doyouknowwhomyouhavekilled?Doyouknowwhatpledgeyouhavebroken?Doyouknowwhosebloodyouhaveshed?Doyouknowwhosehonoryouhavedefiled?”Therewasastunnedsilencethenagentlesoundofpeoplecrying!Therewasablindoldmaninthe

crowd.HehadbeenacompanionofHazratAli.WhenheheardBibiZainab'svoice,hecriedout,“ByAllah,ifIhadnotknownthathehaddied,IcouldhaveswornthatwhatIjustheardwasthevoiceofmymasterAliibnAbuTaalib.”ImaamZainul'Abideenwentuptohimandsaid,“OhShaikh!ThisisnotAlibuthisdaughterZainabbintiAli!SheisthedaughterofFatimah,thebeloveddaughteroftheHoly Prophet.”The sound ofweeping from the crowd grew louder. But as Bibi Zainab continued.Immediatelytherewasahushedsilence:“Andwellmayyouweep,OpeopleofKufa!ThecrimewhichyoucommittedagainstyourProphet

wassogreatthattheskiesshook,theearthtrembled,andmountainscrumbleddown!YouhavekilledyourImaam,andbydoingsolostyourshelteragainsthardship,evilandkufr!Hisbloodstainsyoursouls.NothingcanprotectyoufromtheangerofAllahforhavingkilledthesonofthelastofHis

Prophets!”

People could no longer control their wailing. Umar Sa'ad was frightened and quickly led theprisoners into the palace. The prisoners were brought before ibn Ziyad. Shaikh al-Mufid (A.R.)reports that ibn Ziyad sat on his throne and in front of him was the head of Imaam Husayn. Hefrequentlypokedthefacewithhiscane.AnoldcompanionoftheHolyProphet,ZaydbinArqam,wasinthecourtandwhenhewitnessedthisindignitybeinginflictedontheheadofImaamhecriedout,“Takeyourcaneawayfromthoselips!ByAllahIhaveseenthelipsoftheApostleofAllahonthoselips!”IbnZiyadwaslividwithrage.Heretorted,“Ooldman!Howdareyouinterruptourcelebrationsof

thevictoryofourImaam,YazidibnMuawiya.BecauseofyourageIspareyourlife.Leavemycourtimmediately.”

IbnZiyadthenpointedatImaamZainul'Abideenandasked:“Whoisthisyoungman?”“HeisAli

ibnalHusayn,”repliedUmarSa'ad.”“Whyishealive?”askedibnZiyad.andadded,“Killhimstraightaway!”BibiZainabrushedforwardandplantedherselfinfrontofImaamZainul'Abideen.”Youwillhave

tokillmefirst!”ShesaidlookingatibnZiyadwithsuchdefiance,determinationandangerthatibnZiyadgotupandwalkedawayorderingthattheprisonersbelockedup.BibiZainab'sspeecheshadstirredKufa.ThepeopleofKufawerefilledwithremorse.Therewas

unrestinthecity.Inthemarketplacetheywerewhispering:'Whathavewedone?How couldwe invite the Prophet's grandson and then desert him to bemercilessly butchered at

Karbala’? How can we permit the Holy Prophet's grand daughters be paraded in the streets likeslaves?Whathavewedone?'Ibn Ziyad feared that the people of Kufamight rise against him. He ordered that the prison be

strictlyguarded.Noonewasallowedtovisitthem.Onlythemosttrustedguardswereallowedinoraround theprison. In themean timemessengers ranbetweenKufaandDamascus.Althoughat firstYazidhadorderedthat thecaptivesbedetainedatKufauntilhehadcompletedall thearrangementsfortheirentryintoShaam(Damascus),becauseofthemoodinKufa,IbnZiyadwasanxioustohavetheprisonersoutofKufaassoonaspossible.ItwasagreedthattheybetakentoShaam.Onceagain theprisonerswereassembledandaprocession leftKufa.But this time thedeparture

waskeptsecretfromthepeopleofKufaandtookplaceatnight.Sobeganthefourthjourneyoftears!Itwasalonganddifficultjourney.Who was the hero and who was the heroine of this journey through the Iraqi and the Syrian

deserts?Was itBibiRubaab,whofromherunsaddledcamelkeptonstaringatAliAsghar'scradleloaded on another camel carrying the goods looted from Husayn's camp during the Shaam al-Gareeba?WasitSakinawhonowsatmournfullyonhermother's lapstaringat the 'alamofHazratAbbasandhermashkstilltiedtothe 'alam,andwhokeptwhispering:“Iamnotthirsty,Uncle,Iamnotthirsty!”WastheheroImaamZainul'Abideenwhowasmadetowalkalltheway,thehotchainseatingintohisflesh?SometimesourFourthImaamwouldfaint.Hiscaptorshoweverknewnopity.Theywouldfloghim

ifhesloweddownorfainted.OntheseoccasionsBibiZainabwouldintervenetostoptheImaamfrombeingfloggedtodeathThiswasthejourneyofwhichtheherowasthevalorofHazratAliwhichruledtheheartofImaam

Zainul'Abideenandtheheroinewasthesabr(patience)ofFatimahZahrawhichinspiredBibiZainab.The journey fromKufa toShaamwasa longone. It tookover twentydays.Thewomenand the

childrenwere exhausted.Their sufferingwasgreat!Quite often the childrenwould faint under thescorchingdesertheatandfalloffthecamels.

Themotherswould scream. ImaamZain ul 'Abideen andBibiZainabwould go looking for thechildren. Sometimes they would find them by the roadside barely alive and there were occasionswhentheywerediscoveredtoolate.OurfourthImaamwoulddigagravetoburythedeadchild.Ahistorian revisiting this route a few years later discovered a large number of small graves on thewayside!SomeZakirsnarrate thefollowingstory:OnceBibiZainablookedat thecamelonwhichSakina

wasriding.Sakinawasnotthere!Shelookedatalltheothercamels;Sakinawasnowheretobeseen.Shepanicked.WherecouldImaamHusayn'sdarlingdaughterbe?SheaskedShimrtountiehertothatshecouldgoandlookforSakina.AtfirstShimrrespondedwithhiswhip.Unmindfulofherownpainshekeptonbegging.Shimruntied herwith thewarning that if she did not return soonhewould flog ImaamZain ul

'Abideentodeath.BibiZainabraninthedirectionfromwhichtheyhadtravelled.SomedistanceawayshesawanelderlyladyholdingSakinaaffectionately,kissinghercheeksandwipingawayhertears.ShecouldhearSakinatellingtheladyhowheruncleAbbashadgonetofetchherwaterandhowhehadneverreturned.WhenSakinasawherauntsheexplainedthatshehadfallenoffthecamelbutthekindladyhadlookedafterher.BibiZainabturnedtotheladyandsaid,“MayAllahrewardyouforyour kindness to this orphan!” The lady replied, “Zainab,my dear, how can you thank your ownmother?Doyounotrecognizeme?”Astheladyliftedherface,BibiZainabsawthatitwasFatimahZahra!!79

THECHRISTIANMONK

Onenight they rested in themountaintopof a hermitageof amonkwhohaddevotedhis life to

prayersandmeditation.Shimrgavetheheadsofthemartyrstohimforsafekeeping.JustonelookatthefaceofImamHusainconvincedthehermitthatitwastheheadofasaint.Hetookitwithhimandkeptitnearhisbedandthenretiredtosleep.AtnighthedreamtthatalltheProphetsandangelshaddescendedfromheaventokeepwatchover

thehead.Hewokeupfromhissleepstartledandbaffledastowhatheshoulddo.Hedecidedtoasktheleaderoftheguardsabouttheidentityofthepeoplewhomtheyhadbeheadedandwhosefamilytheyhadtakenprisoners.Rushingout of themonasteryhewokeupShimr anddemanded to knowwho themartyrswere.

WhenShimrtoldhimthatthearmyofYazidhadkilledthegrandsonoftheProphetMuhammadwhohad defied the authority of the ruler Yazid ibnMuawiya and refused to acknowledge his spiritualsuperiorityand theywerecarrying theheadsof all thepeoplewhohadbeenkilled inKarbala, thehermitwasshockedbeyondwords.Recoveringhimselfhesaid“Youcursedpeople!Doyourealizethatyouhavecommittedthemost

heinouscrimebybeheadingyourownProphet’sgrandsonwhoundoubtedlywasagreat saint!Fieupon you coward that not satisfied with what you have done that you are so brutally treating hisinnocentladiesandchildrenandsubjectingthemtosuchatrocities!”8079TheJourneyofTearsbyBashirHassanaliRahim80TearsandTributesbyZakirHeaskedtokisstheheadbuttheyrefusedtillhepaidthemsomemoney.Hedeclaredthetestimony

offaithandembracedIslamthroughtheblessingoftheonewhowasjustbeheadedforsupportingthedivinecall.81Thesewordsof thehermit enragedShimrwhohadevenotherwise losthis temperwithhim for

waking him up from sleep in the dead of night.With one sweep of his sword he chopped off thehermitshead.ThisbrutehadlittleregardfortheProphet’sinjuctionsandordersgrantingthefullestprotectiontothosewhohadretiredfromtheworldanddedicatedtheirlivestoprayersandpenance.Whenthe lifeof theProphet’sowngrandsonwasnotsparedby thisbrutewhatregardcouldhebeexpectedtohaveforthecommandsoftheProphet?82When they left thatplace they lookedat themoney themonkhadgiven themand saw thisverse

inscribedonit“Andthosewhooppressedshallcometofindhoweviltheirendshallbe.”83WhenthecaravanreachedtheoutskirtsofDamascusOmarSa'adsentamessagetoYazidthatthey

had arrived.Yazid ordered that the caravan remainwhere itwas until themorning.Hewanted thepeopleofShaamtolinethestreetstolookatthecaptivesandwitnesshisvictory.Inthemeantimethestreetsthroughwhichthecaptivesweretobemarchedwerebeingdecoratedwithflagsandpennants.

BibiZainabhadconqueredKufa.NowShaamhadcomeandwaswaitingforher!81KarbalaandBeyondbyYasinAl-Jibouri82TearsandTributesbyZakir83KarbalaandBeyondbyYasinAl-Jibouri

THECOURTOFYAZID

WhenatlonglastthecaravanreachedtheoutskirtsofDamascus,UmarSa’adreceivedamessage

that the prisoners were not to be brought into the capital until Yazid had completed all thepreparations.Yazidinvitedalltheambassadors,foreigndignitariesandleadingcitizenstohiscourt.Peoplewere

orderedtolineupthestreets.Musicianswereaskedtoplaymusicanddancersweretoldtodanceinthestreets.SuchwerethefestivitiesorganizedbytheKhalifahfortheentryofthegrandsonandthegranddaughtersof theHolyProphet of Islam intowhathadbecome themetropolis of the IslamicEmpire!!Surroundedbythedancers,themusiciansandthejeeringcrowdsofthecitizensofDamascusthe

prisonerswereledtowardthepalaceofYazid.Theladieswhohadneversteppedoutsidetheirhomeswithout theirheadsand facesbeingcovered,hadbeen forced to travel fromKarbala’ toKufa, andKufatoShaambareheadedandwiththeirarmstiedwithasinglerope.Ifanyoneofthemstumbled,shewaswhipped.NeverinthehistoryofIslamhadprisonersbeentreatedwithdisrespect, letalonethecrueltymetedouttothemembersoftheHolyProphet'shouseholdandnowthisultimateinsultofbeingledintothecourtofYazidlikeaherdofcattle!BibiZainabseemed tobedrawingstrength fromsomedivine source.Shewipedawayher tears.

Drewherhairoverherfacesoastohideasmuchofherfacefromthestaringcrowdsasshecould.Other ladies did the same. Imaam Zain ul 'Abideen straightened himself. Exuding dignity andconfidence,hemaintainedhispositionbehind thebearerof the lanceuponwhichwasmountedhisfather'shead.Suchwas the jostleof themultitude thronging the streets that it took themmore thantwelvehourstotraversetheshortdistancebetweenthecitygatesandthepalace.TheyenteredthepalaceandweremadetostandinfrontofYazid.Thetyrantwasdressedinhisbest

finery.UmaribnSa’adformallypresentedImaamHusayn’sheadtohim.Yazid,withacupofwineinonehand,ceremoniouslyacceptedtheultimatesymbolofhisvictoryandcommandedUmarSa'adtocalloutthenamesoftheprisoners.And then, in his drunken arrogance, Yazid recited a few couplets which enshrine a diabolical

confession,aconfessionthatexplainsthehistoryofthedivisioninIslamandthemotivesnotonlyhisbutofhisfatherandgrandfatherinacceptingIslam!Hesaid:“IfmyvenerableancestorswhofellatBadrfightingMuhammadhadwitnessedhowthesupporters

ofMuhammad'sfaithwere thrownintoconfusionwith thrustsgivenwithmyspears, theywouldbeblessingmetoday.TheBanuHashimplayedatricktowinpower.Therewasneveranyrevelationtothem nor did they receive any revelation. Today the souls of my ancestors and friends killed byMuhammadatBadrwillrestinpeace!”ThefoundationoftheUmayyaddynastywasvengeanceagainstIslam,abloodthirstycontinuation

ofUhudwhereYazid'sgrand-motherhadbeenonlypartiallysuccessfulinherdeterminationtohaveAli andHamza killed in retaliation for the deaths of her father and brother at Badr!!Yazid never

believedinIslam,andyetthesystemforceduponthepeopleafterthedeathoftheHolyProphethadresultedinthisworstofallthehypocritesbecomingtheKhalifahoftheHolyProphetandtheAmeer-ul-Mu'mineenoftheummah!!Yazid lookedat theprisoners linedup in frontofhim.Hesaid:“IthaspleasedAllah tograntus

victory!LookhowHehascausedthedeathofHusaynandhumiliatedhisfamily!”HethenrecitedanayahoftheHolyQuraanwhichmeans'AllahgrantshonortowhomHepleasesandbringsdisgraceuponwhomHepleases.'There were over seven hundred dignitaries sitting in the Court. They smiled and nodded

approvingly.BibiZainabcouldstand itnomore!Shewas filledwithwrath.Howdare thisuncleanmansaysuchthings?HowdarehewithhisnajistonguerecitefromHolyQuraan?HowdarehemakemockeryofthefamilyoftheHolyProphet?InaloudandclearvoiceBibiZainabsaid:“OYazid!Doyou think that it is Allah who has caused you to commit all these foul deeds? Do you blame theRahmanandtheRahimfortheoppressionwehavesuffered?DoyoublameAllahforthedeathofthebelovedgrandsonofhismostbelovedProphet?Howdare

youmake these falseaccusationsagainst theAlmighty?No,Yazid, itwasnotAllah! It isyou,withyour insatiable ambition andgreed forwealth andpower,who are the only cause of the sufferinginflictednotonlyuponthehouseholdoftheHolyProphetbutonIslamitself!DonotforgetwhatAllahhassaidintheHolyBook:“Letnottheunbelieverstakeitthattherespite

we give themwould do them any good.We allow them time in order that theymight continue toindulgeinsintotheirhearts'content.Indeedahumiliatingpunishmenthasbeenkeptreadyforthem.”Doyouthinkthatbykilling thegrandsonof theHolyProphetandbringingus toyourpalaceas

prisoners,youhavescoredavictoryagainstIslam?No,Yazid,No!Husaynwithhisbloodhasmadesure that tyrants likeyouwillnotbeable touse Islamasa toy tocarryout theirevildesigns.Thevictoryisnotyours.ThevictoryisofHusayn!ThevictoryisofIslam!”Yazidwasstunned!Thepeoplepresenttherecouldnotbutbemovedbywhatthiscourageouslady

hadtosay.Thislady,whohadseenandexperiencedgreatsuffering,daredtodaydefytheverymanwhohadinflictedthosesufferings.Whowasshe?Theyaskedoneanother.WhentheylearntthatshewasthegranddaughteroftheHolyProphet,theirheartsbegantofillwithadmiration!InanefforttosavethesituationYazidturnedtowardsImaamZainul'Abideenandsaid:“Wellyou

cantelluswhohasbeenvictorious.Imaamlookedathimandreplied:

“Yazid,finalvictorycanonlybelongtothoseontherightpath.LetuslookatyouandlookatHusayn.Myfather,whomyougotkilledsomercilessly,wasthegrandsonoftheHolyProphetwhohadsaidthat“HusaynisfrommeandIamfromHusayn.”HewasbornaMuslimandallhislifehe

upheldthelawsandprinciplesofIslam.YouarethegrandsonofAbuSufiyanandHinda,whomostoftheirlivesfoughtIslamandtheHolyProphet!”

Yazid was now greatly embarrassed. To silence the Imaam he asked his muezzin to recite the

adhaan. When the Muezzin cried out 'Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar-Rasuul’ul-lah' (I testify thatMuhammadisthemessengerofAllah)ImaamZainul'Abideen,addressingYazid,said,“Yazidspeak

thetruth!WasMuhammadmygrandfatheroryourgrandfather!”Yazidorderedtheprisonerstobemovedtoaprison.Thiswasnotaprison.Itwasadungeon!Only

apartofithadanysortofceiling.Therestwasopentothesky.Anirongrillsurroundedtheplacesothatnoonecouldgetinorout.BibiZainabreportsthattheplacewassocoldatnightsthatnoonecouldhavepropersleep.During

theday,itgothotlikeanoven.ItisherethatourfourthImaam,stillunderchains,theladiesandthechildrenspentmanydaysofgreatagonyanddiscomfort.

BIBISAKINA

BibiSakinawastheyoungestdaughterofImaamHusayn.Shewasavivaciouschild,fulloflove

andhappiness.Everyone lovedSakina.Shewasalsoavery religiousgirl.Sheenjoyedreading theHolyQuraanandnevermissedherprayers.Fromtheageoftwoshetookgreatcaretomakesurethatherheadandfacewereproperlycoveredwheninpublic.Sakina was ImaamHusayn's most beloved child. Our Imaamwas often heard to say, “A house

withoutSakinawouldnotbeworthlivingin!”Shealwayshadasweetandcheerfulsmileandaveryfriendly nature. Other children sought her company asmuch as the grown-ups did. Shewas verygenerousandalwayssharedwhatevershehadwithothers.TherewasaspecialbondbetweenHazratAbbasandSakina.Helovedhermorethanhedidhisown

children.IfSakinarequestedforanything,Abbaswouldnotrestuntilhesatisfiedherrequest.TherewasnothingthatAbbaswouldnotdotomakeSakinahappy.During the journey fromMadina toMecca and thenMecca to Karbala’, Abbas was often seen

ridinguptowhereSakinasattomakesurethatshehadeverythingshewanted.Sakinalovedherunclejustasmuch.WhileinMadinashewould,severaltimesaday,visitthehouseinwhichHazratAbbaslivedwithhisfamilyandhismother,UmmulBaneen.Likeanyotherfour-fiveyearoldwhenSakinawenttobedatnightshewantedtospendsometime

withherfather.ImaamHusaynwouldtellherstoriesoftheProphetsandofthebattlesfoughtbyhergrandfatherAli.Shewouldrestherheadonherfather'schestandHusaynwouldnotmovefromheruntil she fell asleep.When from the second ofMuharram the armies of Yazid began to gather atKarbala’,HusaynsaidtohissisterZainab,“ThetimehascomeforyoutogetSakinausedtogoingtosleepwithoutmybeingthere!”SakinawouldfollowherfatheratnightandHusaynhadtogentlytakehertoZainaborRubaab.AtKarbala’whenfromtheseventhMuharramwaterbecamescarceSakinasharedwhatever little

water shehadwithother children.When soon therewasnowater at all, the thirstychildrenwouldlook at Sakina hopefully, and because she could not help them she would have tears in her eyes.Sakina'slipswereparchedwiththirst.OntheAshuraday,shegaveherMashktoHazratAbbas.Hewenttogetwaterforher.Thechildren

gatheredroundSakinawiththeirlittlecups,knowingthatassoonasHazratAbbasbroughtanywater,Sakinawouldfirstmakesurethattheyhadsomebeforetakinganyherself.WhenSakinasawImaamHusaynbringingtheblooddrenched'alamsheknewthatheruncleAbbashadbeenkilled.FromthatdayonSakinanevercomplainedofthirst.ThencamethetimewhentheearthshookandSakinabecameanorphan!Buteventhenshealways

thoughtoftheothersfirst.ShewouldconsolehermotheronthedeathofAliAsgharandwhenshesawanyotherladyorchildweepingSakinawouldputherlittlearmsaroundher.YesSakinaneveragainaskedanyoneforwater.BibiZainabwouldpersuadehertotakeafewsips,

butsheherselfwouldneveraskforwaterorcomplainofthirst!!!!FromthetimewhenImaamHusaynfellinthebattlefield,Sakinaforgottosmile!Kufasawherasa

somber little girl lost in thought.Quite often shewould sit up at night.When asked if shewantedanything,shewouldsay,“Ijustheardababycry?IsitAsghar?Hemustbecallingoutforme!”Knowingthatherweepingupsethermother,Sakinawouldcrysilentlyandquicklywipeawayher

tears!IntheprisoninShaamshewouldstareattheflockofbirdsflyingtotheirnestsatsunsetandinnocentlyaskBibiZainab,“WillSakinabegoinghomelikethosebirdsflyingtotheirhomes?”84InthedeadofthenightSakinagotupwithashriek!Sheburstintotorrentsoftears.Herweeping

and wailing aroused everybody. Zainab rushed to her side and tried to console her. “My belovedchild,” she said, “How often have I told you that the lastwish of your fatherwas that you shouldendureallthesufferingsthatareinflictedonyouwithcompleteresignationtothewillofAllah?”thechildtriedtocontrolherselfandreplied“Dearaunt,Iknowthat,butinmydreamIsawmyfather.Hecametomeandsaid‘O’Sakinayouhavesufferedenough.Mydarling,thedaysofyoursufferingareover.NowIhavecometofetchyou.Comewithme!’O’sisterofmybelovedfather!InarratedtohiminmydreamallthesufferingsIhaveenduredsincehedidnotcomebackfromthebattlefield.Itoldhim how I had gone in the dark night in search of him. What a dream it was and what adisappointmentitisformetoknowthatinrealityIshallbeawayfrommybelovedfather!”Sayingthissheburst intouncontrollable lamentation.Suchwasthegriefof thechild thatall theladies lostcontrolovertheiremotionsandtheirwailingechoedthroughtheprisonwalls.Yazid in his palace adjoining the prison was pacing the floor. He heard the bemoaning and

lamentationsandsentforhisslavestoenquireaboutthecause.Soontheyhurriedbacktoreportwhathappened.WhenYazidwastoldthatSakinahadseenherfatherinherdreamandwasdisconsolate,heaskedhismentoputtheheadofHusainonasilvertray,coveritwithasilkclothandtakeit totheprison.Thiswasdoneandtheprisondoorwasopened.Yazid’smenenteredwiththecoveredtrayandthey

placeditbeforeSakina.Thechildcriedout“IamnothungryandIdonotwantfood.Ionlywanttoseemyfather.Whyhasheleftmeafter84TheJourneyofTearsbyBashirHassanaliRahimpromisingmethathewouldnotleavemeforlong?”OneofYazid’sattendantsremovedthecloth

fromthetrayandSakinabeheldthefaceofherfather,thefaceshehadkissedamilliontimes.Itwasthesamedear,dearfacethoughthebeardwassmearedwithblood.Withacrysheflungherselfonthetrayandsnatchedtheheadfromit,huggingittoherheart.Inindescribablegriefshebentdownovertheheadputtinghersmallcheeksagainstthecheeksofherfatherassheusedtodowhenhewasalive.Withinafewmomentshersobsstoppedandsodidherheartbeats.WhenZainab saw thechild lyingmotionlesson theheadofher father shewentover toher and

whisperedwithtearsinhereyes“O’Sakinahowlongwillyoulieonyourfathershead?”shetouchedherhandonlytofindthatlifewasextinct,tofindthatSakinahadgonewithherfathernevertoreturntothisworldwhereshehadknownnothingbuttorturesandtormentssinceherbecominganorphan.SherealizedthatherbelovedfatherHusainhadkepthispromisegiventothechildinherdreamnotto

leaveherinthecell.85HowwasSakinaburied?ZainabheldthestillchildasImaamZainul 'Abideendugagraveinthe

cell.Asthegravewasbeingfilledupaftertheburialthemotherletoutascream!HowcouldanyoneconsoleBibiRubaab?Whatcouldtheysay?Theyhuddledaroundher,andtheprisonwallsbegantoshakewiththecry:“YaaSakina,Yaamazloomah(O’OppressedOne)!!”BibiRubaabputhercheekonSakina'sgraveandcriedout:“Speaktome,Sakina!Onlyaword,mychild!Speaktome!!”ThetragedyofKarbala’hadbeguntoarousegreatsympathyfortheAhlulBaitinHejaaz(Arabia)

and Iraq.Even inDamascus somepeoplebegan toaskwhether itwasnecessary to inflict somuchsufferingonthemembersofthefamilyoftheHolyProphet.85TearsandTributesbyZakirWhenthecharminglittleSakinadiedandthepeopleofDamascuscametolearnaboutthedeathof

thelittlegirlwhomtheyhadseenandcometoadmire,theybegantotalkopenlyaboutYazid'scruelty.Yazidfearedthatthepeoplemightriseagainsthim.Hewasnowanxioustogetridoftheprisoners.HecalledImaamZainul'Abideenandtoldhimthathewaspreparedtofreethem,andcompensate

themforthedeathofthemartyrs.HealsoaskedthefourthImaamwhethertheywantedtoremaininDamascusorreturntoMadina.ImaamZainul'AbideenrepliedthathewouldconsulthisauntZainab.When Imaam spoke to Bibi Zainab she was grief stricken at the audacity of Yazid in offering

compensation. She said, “Tell Yazid to talk of compensation with the Holy Prophet. We wouldcertainly return toMadina.But firstYazid should provide a house so thatwemay holdmourningceremoniesforthemartyrsinDamascus.WeshallthengotoMadinaviaKarbala’tovisitthegravesofthemartyrs.”ImaamZainul'AbideenconveyedthemessagetoYazidwhoaftersomehesitationagreed.Inasking

forahousetomournthemartyrsinDamascusBibiZainabscoredamajorvictoryoverYazid.Whenthishousewasmadeavailable the ladiesheldAza’al-Husaynforsevendays in theverycitywhichwasthecapitalofYazidwhohadmurderedImaamHusayn.ThewomenofDamascuspouredintooffertheircondolencesandBibiZainabandtheotherladies

would tell them of how themartyrs had been killed, how they had been deniedwater, how youngchildrenhadbeencryingal-atash(I’mThirsty),howImaamhadtakenAliAsgharandpleadedforafewdropsofwaterandhowthebabyhadbeenslain.ThesetalessomovedtheladiesofDamascusthattheywouldbreakintosobsandbeginwailingandbeatingtheirchests.ThusintheveryhouseofthemurdererBibiZainablaidthefoundationofAza’al-Husayn.Thisis

somuchlikethestoryofHazratMusa(A.S.).FiraunordersallthemalechildrenofBanuIsraeltobeputtodeath.Allah'smiracleisthathisProphetfindsrefugeinthepalaceoftheveryFiraunwhohadplottedtokillhim!These majlises have continued to this day. Every Muharram Shiahs all over the world gather

togethertomournthetragedythattookplacemorethat1,350yearsago.Thesemajaalishaveagreatmeaningforus.Firstly,theymeanthatweloveourImaamandgrieveforthesufferingtowhichhe

wassubjected.Secondly theymean that year after yearwe protest against all that Yazid stood for.Wemake a

solemnpromisetoAllahnevertofollowYazid'sfootsteps.Inwhatevercountrywemaybe,wehavetorememberthattakingalcoholoranykindofdrugs,isYazid'sway.TokeepourselvesignorantofQuraanorIslamicwayoflifeisYazid'sway.Tooppressanyone,isYazid'sway.Toindulgeinanyun-Islamicactivity,isYazid'sway.WecannottrulymournHusaynandthencontinuetofollowYazidinouractions!!8686TheJourneyofTearsbyBashirHassanaliRahim

23ChapterBENEFITSOFZIYARATIMAMHUSAIN

Husain’splaceofmartyrdomhasbeenthevisitingplacefortheloversofAhlal-Baitwhostruggle

toreachthereenduringallthehardshipsandbarriersplacedbeforethem.Theycometohisshrinetoshowtheirloveandrespect,honorhissacrifice,renewtheircovenant,pledgethemselvestohisgoals,andfollowtheProphet’sadviceabouthim.ThefollowingisaninterestingtraditionfromtheProphetnarratedbyIbnAbbas.Hesaid:“IcametotheMessengerofAllahandsawal-Hasanonhisshoulderandal-Husainonhisthigh;

theProphetwaskissingthemsaying,“OAllahbefriendhimwhobefriendsthemandbehostiletohimwhoishostiletothem.”Thenhesaid,“OIbnAbbas!ItisasifIseethebeardofmysonal-Husain

dyedwithhisblood,callingpeoplebutisnotbeinganswered,askingforhelpbutisnotbeinghelped.”Iasked,“Whowilldothis?”Hereplied,“Thewickedofmynation.MayAllahdenythemmy

intercession!”Hethencontinued,“OIbnAbbas!Hewhovisitshimwhilerecognizinghisrights,Allahshallwriteforhimtherewardof1000Hajjand1000Umra.Behold!Hewhovisitshimhasindeedvisitedme,andhewhovisitsme,itisasifhehasvisitedAllah.AndtherightofthevisitorofAllahoverHimisthatHeshallnotpunishhimbyFire.Behold!Answering(ofsupplications)isguaranteed

underthedomeofhisgrave,cureisplacedinthesoilofhisplace(ofmartyrdom),andthe(succeeding)Imamsarefromhisprogeny…OIbnAbbas!TheirWilaya(divineguardianship)ismyWilaya,whichistheWilayaofAllah.Fightingthemisfightingme,whichisfightingAllah.Makingpeacewiththemismakingpeacewithme,whichismakingpeacewithAllah.Hethenrecited:‘TheirintentionistoputoutthelightofAllahwiththeirmouths;butAllahwillcompleteHislight,even

thoughthedisbelieversmaydetest.’(61:8)”TheAhlal-BaitputgreatemphasisonZiyaratoftheChiefoftheMartyrsandurgedtheirfollowers

toit.Inthismanner,theykeptalivethetwoimportantprinciplesoffaith,whicharetolovethefriendsofAllahandtodisassociatefromtheirenemies.What follows is a brief presentation of the importance and benefits of visiting Imam al-Husain

whilerecognizinghimasanImamwhoseobedienceisobligatory,asmentionedinthetraditions.Visiting Imam al-Husain is the sign of love for Ahl al-Bait.Whoever loves Ahl al-Bait should

aspiretovisitthegraveofalHusain.OnewhodoesnotvisitImamal-Husain,isdeficientinfaith,andifheeverentersParadise,hisrankwillbebelowtherankofbelieversinParadise.WhenAllahintendsgoodnessforaservant,Heplacesloveofal-Husainandloveofvisitinghimin

hisheart.

3-Accordingtoseveraltraditions,ZiyaratofImamalHusainisthebestdeed.4-IfawretchedpersonperformstheZiyaratofImamalHusain,felicityshallbewrittenforhim,

andheshallbecontinuouslyimmersedintheblessingsofAllah.5-HewhowishestolooktowardsAllahontheDayofJudgment,berelievedfromtheagonyof

death,andpassthestopsoftheDayofJudgmentwitheaseshouldgoforvisitationofthegraveoftheChiefofMartyrsfrequently.6-TheMessengerofAllahwillembracethevisitorsofImamal-HusainontheDayofJudgment.7-Byperforming theZiyaratof theChiefof theMartyrs,onehasmade/observeda relationship

with theMessenger ofAllah and the guiding Imams. The requests of the pilgrim at his grave arefulfilled, his supplications are answered, sooner or later, and what the pilgrim had left behind isprotected.8-OntheDayofJudgment,thevisitorsofImamalHusainwillbeseatedontablesoflight,because

ofwhatAllahwillgrantthemintermsofendlessdignityandhonor.TherewillbenooneontheDayofJudgmentexceptthathewouldwishtohavebeenapilgrimtothegraveofImamal-Husain.TheyshallbearoundheavenlytableswiththeProphet,LadyFatima,andtheImamswhilepeopleareheldinreckoning.9-OntheDayofJudgment,theLeaderoftheFaithfulwillcommandthebridge(al-Sirat)overHell

toyieldtothevisitorsofImamal-Husain,andwillcommandthefire(surroundingit)toholdbackitsscorchingheatbeforethemuntiltheypassitwithanAngelaccompanyingthem.10-IfpeopleknowwhatAllahhasplacedinthevisitationofthegraveofImamal-Husaininterms

ofexcellence,theywoulddieoutofeagerness,andtheirbreathwouldstopwithasigh.11- TheMessenger ofAllah, Lady Fatima, and the Imams pray toAllah for forgiveness of the

visitorsofImamal-Husain.12-TheAngelspraytoAllahfortheirforgiveness,welcometheirarrival,accompanythemintheir

departure,visit theirsick,attendtheirfuneralprayerswhenever theydie,continuetoprayfor themaftertheirdeath,andopenforthemagatetoParadiseintheirgraves.13-Allahhasappointed70,000AngelsaroundtheblessedgraveoftheChiefoftheMartyrs,who

stay there until theDay of Judgment and perform prayers; each of their prayers is equal to 1000prayersofhumanbeings.TherewardsandmeritsoftheseprayersareofferedtothevisitorsofImamal-Husain.14-TheAngelscover thepilgrimswith theirwings insuchaway that they feel theblessingsof

theirpresence.15- For each day that a pilgrim resides in that sacred place, the reward of 1000 months (of

worship)iswrittenforhim.

16-IfthepilgrimiskilledbyatransgressoronhiswaytoZiyaratofImamal-Husain,forthefirstdropofhisblood,allhismistakesshallbeforgiven.TheAngelsshallwashhischaracter,cleansingandpurifyingitoftheimpuritiesmergedinitfromthecharacteristicsofthepeopleofdisbelief,untilit becomes pure like the purity of the immaculate Prophets, and they shall cleanse his heart andbroaden his chest.He shall be rewardedwith the right to intercede for his family and 1000of hisfriends. His grave shall be widened and illuminated. The Angels shall bring gifts for him fromParadise.OntheDayofJudgment,thefirstpeopletoembracehimshallbetheMessengerofAllahandhisexecutors.17-IfthepilgrimisdetainedonhiswaytoZiyaratofImamal-Husain,foreachdayofhiscaptivity

and distress, he shall have certain happiness (in this world and after his death) until the Day ofJudgment.Foranypainthathisbodyreceives,onemilliongooddeedsarewrittenforhimandonemillionevildeedsareremovedfromhisrecord.OntheDayofJudgment,HeshallbeabletospeakwiththeMessengerofAllahuntilheisdischargedfromreckoning.Thecarriersofthethroneshallembrace him and shall tell him, “Ask forwhat youwish.”On the other hand, the person that hasharmedhimshallbe taken toHellwithoutquestioningand reckoning,andAllah’s requitalandHispunishmentforhimshallbeshowntowhomhehadharmed.18-ApilgrimwhogoestoZiyaratofImamal-Husaininastateoffearandinsecurity,heorshe

shallreceivesecurityonthedayofgreatterror,andshallbeundertheshadowofthethroneonthatday.HeshallreturnfromtheZiyaratforgivenandcoveredwithmercy.TheAngelsshallgreethimandtheMessengerofAllahshallreceivehimandshallprayforhim.19-IfapersoncomestoZiyaratoftheChiefoftheMartyrsbyship,andtheshipsinksandheis

drowned,acallerwillcallfromtheheaven,givinghimgladtidingsofParadise.20- For a single penny that the one gives as charity during the Ziyarat journey, or pays to

accommodatethejourneyofavisitorofImamal-Husain,Allahshallgranthim10,000bounties.AsperanotherHadith,AllahshallwriteforhimgooddeedstotheextentofthemountofUhud,andshallreimbursethemoneyhehasspentmanyfold.21-ForeachfootstepofonewhogoestoZiyaratofImamal-Husainonfoot,Allah,themightyand

themajestic,writesagooddeed forhimand removesa sin fromhis record.Whenhe reaches thesanctifiedplace,Allahwillwritehimamongsttheprosperous.22-Hewhorituallyrinseshisbody(Ghusl)intheEuphrates(al-Furat)intendingtheZiyaratofthe

ChiefoftheMartyrs,willbefreeofsinslikethedayhewasborn.23-Hewhosetsout for theZiyaratof Imamal-Husain leavesbehindhissinson thedoorofhis

house like apersonwhocrosses abridge.He returns tohis familywhile all hisburdens and faultshavebeenwipedoutfromhisrecord.Hissustenanceincreases,andAllahsufficeshimfromwhatheis concerned about the affairs of hisworldly life.No distressed one goes there, except thatAllahreturnshimdelighted.24-When thepilgrim intends to leave thesacredplaceof Imamal-Husain,aheavenlycallerwill

call,andwereitpossibleforthepilgrimtohearhisvoice,hewouldstaybesidethegraveoftheImamforever.Thecallerstates,“Blessedness(Tuba)isforyouOservant!Indeed,youprofited,aresaved

(fromHell),andareforgivenforthepast(sins).Thus,resume(good)deeds.”25-Numeroustraditionsconfirmthathewhovisitsthegraveofal-Husainbelievingthatheisan

ImamassignedbyAllahandthathisobedienceisobligatory,Allahshallforgivehispastandfuturesins.Inoneofmanytraditionsthatconveythis,Imamal-SadiqsworebythenameofAllahthreetimeswhenstatingthisfact.26- He who wishes to personally own a palace in Paradise should visit the grave of Imam al-

Husain.HewhodieswhilehehasnotvisitedImamal-Husain(duetonegligence)isnotatrueShia,andevenifheisadmittedtoParadiseduetohislovefortheAhlulBait,hewilldwellthereasaguestofthepeopleofParadise.27-Visiting thegraveof theChiefof theMartyrswill increaseone’ssustenance,prolongsone’s

life,andrepelsthecannonsofevil.Ontheotherhand,avoidingitwilldecreaseone’snaturallifetimeand(spiritual)sustenance.28-On theDayof Judgment, thevisitor of ImamalHusainwill be allowed to intercede for 100

peopleofhischoiceevenifforallofwhomHellhadbeennecessitated,exceptforaNasibi(onewhohatestheAhlulBayt)becausenoonecanintercedeforaNasibi.29-AnynumberofpilgrimagestotheHouseofAllahinMecca,withallitsdueimportance,cannot

replacetheZiyaratofImamal-Husain.OnewhoperformsthepilgrimagetoMeccayearly,yetdoesnot visit al-Husain, has indeed neglected one of the rights of Allah and His Messenger, becauseperformingitisadutyforeverycapablebelievingmanandwoman.The excellence of the reward of theZiyarat of ImamalHusain (PBUH) is somuch so that even

some of the lovers of Ahl al-Bait (PBUT) who lived during their lifetime could not digest thetraditionsinthisregard.Dharihal-Muharibinarrated:IsaidtoImamal-Sadiq(PBUH),“WhenInarratetomyfolksandfamilysomeoftherewardsof

thepilgrimagetothegraveofal-Husain,theydenymynarrations,andsaythatIamassociatingliestoJa’farIbnMuhammad.”TheImamreplied,“ODharih!Letpeoplebelievewhattheywant.ByAllah!AllahrecountsHisglory(totheAngels)forhavingservantswhoarevisitorsofal-Husain.Whenanewpilgrimarrives,thefavoredAngelsandthecarriersofthethronereceivehim.Allahtellsthem,‘Don’tyouseethepilgrimsofthegraveofal-Husainwhohavecometohimeagerly,andinloveforhim and for Fatima, the daughter ofAllah’sMessenger?ByMymight,majesty, and glory, I shallcertainlymakeincumbentMyhonorforthem,andshallsurelyenterthemtoMyParadisethatIhaveprepared for My friends, Prophets, and Messengers. O My Angels! These are the visitors of al-Husain, thebelovedofMuhammad,MyMessenger,andMuhammadisMybeloved.Whoever lovesMe,shouldloveMybeloved,andwhoever lovesMybeloved,shouldlovewhomheloves.HewhohatesMybeloved,hashatedMe, andhewhohatesMe, it isMy right tomakehimsufferwithMyseverest torment, burnhimwith theheatofMy fire,makeHell his abode, and tormenthimwith apunishmentthatIhavenotpunishedanyonewithintheworlds.’”WhenafaithfulindividualisremindedoftheProphetandAhlal-Bait(PBUT)andthetroubles,they

confrontedandenduredhisheartbreaksandhistearsflow.

A tearful eye is a blessing fromAllahbestoweduponhis servants, anddrawsnear evengreaterblessings.Asoneavoidssins,clearshisheartfromtheloveofworldlypleasures,imploresAllahforhelp, turns toHischosenones,hewillhaveamorehumble, responsive,andpureheart,aswellasmoretearfuleyes.Althoughemotionssuchasliking,loving,andsheddingtearsdependonthestateof one’s heart, one should try to increase his love ofwhatAllah loves even if his heart does notinitiallyrespond,byavoidingwhatAllahhasprohibitedandactinguponwhatHehasordered.OnesuchorderistorememberthetragediesthatAhlal-Baitfaceduntiloneentersasorrowfulstateandisinducedtocrying.Accordingtothetraditions,tryingtocryforImamal-Husainisrewardedevenifonecannotbringhimselftoshedatear.Puttingoneselfinthestateofcrying,inthemeetingsheldinmemoryoftheChiefoftheMartyrs,mayalsoaffectothersandmakethemcry.ThetraditionsconcerningtherewardsandbenefitsofrememberingAhlal-Baitandtheirhardships

and the shedding of tears for them, especially concerning Imam al-Husain, are numerous andenlightening. Here, for the sake of brevity, only a few traditions will be quoted. For morecomprehensivepresentation,thereadersmayrefertotheexcellentbookwrittenbyagreattraditionistof the latter era, Sheikh Abbas al-Qummi (RA), called, “The Breath of the Grieved” (NafasulMahmum), which has also been translated into English. Shedding tears for Imam al-Husain isconsideredanaturaloutcomeoffaith.IbnSinannarrated:Imamal-Sadiqsaid,“TheProphetlookedatal-HusainIbnAliashewasapproaching.Hesathimin

his lap and said, ‘Verily, for themartyrdomof al-Husain there shall be a heat in the hearts of thebelievers thatshallneversubside.’”Then, theImamcontinued,“He(i.e.,alHusain) is themartyroftears.”Iasked,“Whatisthemeaningofthemartyroftears,OsonoftheMessengerofAllah?”Hereplied,“Nofaithfulremembershimexceptthatheweeps.”RayyanIbnShabibnarrated:Imam al-Ridha said, “O Son of Shabib!Muharram is amonth in which even the people of the

formerageofignoranceforbadeoppressionandbloodshedduetoitssanctity.However,thisnationdidnothonorthesanctityofthismonthnordidtheyhonorthesanctityoftheirProphet.Inthismonth,they killed the Prophet’s progeny, enslaved his women, and plundered his belongings.MayAllahneverforgivethemforthesecrimes.OSonofShabib!Ifyouwishtocryforanythingoranyone,cryforal-HusainIbnAliforhewas

slaughtered like a sheep.Eighteenmembers fromhis familywhowereunparalleledon earthwerealsokilledalongwithhim.Certainly,thesevenheavensandearthscriedbecauseofthemurderofal-Husain.FourthousandAngelsdescendedonearthtoaidhim,but(whentheywereallowedtoreachthere)theyfoundhimmartyred.Sotheyremainedathisgrave,disheveledanddusty,andwillremainthereuntiltherisingofal-Qa’im(ImamalMahdi),whereupontheywillaidhim.Theirsloganwillbe,‘Vengeanceforthebloodofal-Husain.’OSonofShabib!Myfatherrelated tomefromhisfather,whorelatedfromhisgrandfather that

whenmygrandfatherImamal-Husainwasmartyred,theskyrainedbloodandredsands.OSonofShabib!Whenyouweepover theafflictionsofal-Husainso that tears flowfromyour

eyesontoyourcheeksAllahwillforgiveallyoursins,bigorsmall,fewornumerous.OSonofShabib!IfyouwishtomeetAllah,themightyandthemajestic,freeofsin,thenperform

theZiyaratofal-Husain.OSonofShabib!IfitpleasesyoutoabideinthepalacesofParadiseincompanyoftheProphetand

hisfamily,theninvokeAllah’scurseuponthemurderersofImamal-Husain.OSonofShabib!Ifyouwishtoearntherewardofthosewhoweremartyredwithal-Husain,then

wheneveryourememberhim,say,‘IfonlyIhadbeenwiththemsothatIwouldhaveattainedthegreatfelicity.’OSonofShabib!IfyoudesiretobewithusinthehighestdegreeofParadise,thengrieveinour

sorrowsandrejoiceinourhappiness.Remainattachedtoourlove,forevenifapersonlovesastone,AllahshallresurrecthimwithitontheDayofJudgment.”Masma’IbnAbdal-Maliknarrated:Imamal-Sadiqaskedme,“Doyouremindyourselfaboutwhathappenedtoal-Husain?”Ianswered,

“Yes.”Heasked,“Doyoubecomegrieved?”Ianswered,“Yes,byAllah!AndIshedtearssomuchsothatmyfamilymembersnoticeitseffectonmyfaceandIabstainfromfoodinsuchsituation.”Hesaid, “May Allah have mercy on your tears. Truly, you are counted among the people who areconcernedaboutus,whorejoiceinourhappinessandgrieveinourgrief.Indeed,atthetimeofyourdeathyouwillsee thepresenceofmyancestorswhowillgiveyouglad tidingsandwillgive theirrecommendations to theAngel of death about you.Hewill thus becomemore compassionate andmerciful towards you than a tenderhearted mother is to her child… None (among the believers)sympatheticallyweepsforusandforwhatbefellusbutthatAllahbestowsuponhimHismercy,evenbeforehistearsflowfromhiseyes.(Itissorewardingthat)ifadropfromthetearsthatflowsonhischeeksdropsoverHell,itwillextinguishitsheatcompletely…”Imamal-Sadiq(as)said:“Anyone(ofthebelievers)whorecitespoetryaboutalHusainandcriesandmakesanotheronecry,

Paradisewillbewrittenforbothofthem.Anyone(ofthebelievers)inwhosepresenceal-Husainismentioned,andtearscometohiseyeseventotheextentofawingofafly,hisrewardiswithAllah,andAllahwillnotbepleasedwithanythinglessthanParadiseforhim.”ImamMahdi(atf)said:“Iprayforanybelieverwhoremembersthesufferingsofmymartyredgrandfather,al-Husain,and

thenpraysformyrelief(al-Faraj)”8787ZiyaratNahiyaMuqaddasabyDr.VahidMajd

24ChapterAFEWINSTANCESTHATHAPPENEDDURINGTHEPERIODAFTERKARBALA

There aremany instances of theShia beingoppressedduring the timeof eachof our respected

Imam’s.TowriteaboutallofthenoblesoulswhosacrificedtheirlivesfortheloveoftheAhlulBaytwouldtakenumerousvolumesofbooks.Sayingthat,Iwouldjustliketomentionafewthatcametomindinmyconclusionofthisbook.

THEIMPRISONMENTOFTHEMANFROMDAMASCUSANDMIRACLEOFIMAMJAWAD

AliibnKhalidwasaZaydite,andassuchhedidnotacknowledgetheImam’swhocameafterImam

AliZaynalAbidin,thefourthImam.(37—95A.H.)HelivedinthetimeofImamMuhammadTaqial-Jawad,theninthImam.(195—220A.H.)Hesays"IwasinthecityofSamarrah,whenIwastoldthatamanfromDamascuswhoclaimedtobeaProphethadbeenbroughtthereandputinprison.AliibnKhalidwenttoseehimandaskedhimwhatwasthematterwithhim?"Hesaid"IwasinSyriawhereIwasbusyinworshipatthesitesupposedtobetherestingplaceof

theHolyheadofImamHusayn,theDoyenoftheMartyrs.OnenightIfoundallofasuddenamanstandingbeforeme.Heaskedmetogetup.IroseunconsciouslyandwentashortdistancewithhimwhenIfoundmyselfintheMasjidofKufah.HeaskedmeifIknewthatmasjid.IsaidthatIdidandthatitwastheMasjidofKufah.Heofferedhisprayers.Itooofferedmyprayersalongwithhim.Thenwesetoutagain.Wehadnotgonefar,whenInoticedthatwewereintheMasjidal-Nabi.ThereheinvokedblessingsontheHolyProphet,andthenwebothofferedourprayers.Thereafter,weleftthatplacetooandsetoutagain.AmomentlaterIfoundmyselfinMecca.TherewecircumambulatedtheKa'bah,andthenlefttheMasjidal-Haram.Afterwalkingafewsteps

IfoundmyselfatmyoriginalplaceinDamascus.Thenallofasuddenthatmandisappearedfrommysightasifhewasaslightdraughtofbreezethatsweptmyfaceandvanished.AyearhadpassedsincethisincidentwhenImetthatmanagain.Hetookmeonthesamejourney

andwevisitedonceagainall theHolyplaces thatwehadvisited the first time.Whenhewanted toleaveme,Isaidtohim:'IbeseechyouinthenameofHimwhohasgivenyousuchawonderfulpowertobesokindastoletmeknowyourname'.Hesaid'IamMuhammadibnAliibnMusaibnJa'far'.HewastheninthImam.Now I proceeded to tell this extraordinary event to everyonewhom Imet, till the news reached

Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik al-Zayyat. He ordered my arrest and accused me of posing as aProphet.Now,asyousee,Iaminprison".AliibnKhalidsaysfurther:"Isaidtohim:WouldyoulikemetowritetoMuhammadibnAbdal-

Malikaboutyourcase?"“Youmay",hesaid:Iwrote,butinmyreplyhewroteback:"Tellhimtoaskthepersonwhotook

himinonenightfromDamascustoKufahandthentoMeccaandMedinaandthenbroughthimbacktoDamascustogethimreleasedfromthisprisonalso".Iwasdistressedbythisreply.NextmorningIwent to theprisontoconveythereplyto thatman.

ThereIsawalargenumberofsoldiersandabigcrowdofotherpeoplecomingandgoingaroundtheprison. Iasked thepeoplewhathadhappened?They toldme that theprisonerwhoclaimed tobeaProphethadescapedfromtheprisonanditwasnotknownhowhehadescapedwhetherhehadgoneintothegroundorhadflowntotheskylikeabird.

AliibnKhalidsays"AfterseeingthisincidentIgaveupmyZayditecreedandbecameaTwelver

Shi'ah,believingintheImamateofImamJawad,theninthImaminthelineofAliibnAbiTalib.88

THEMURDEROFNISAITHEFAMOUSSUNNIAUTHOROFONETHESAHIHSITTA

Another instance of persecution was Abdu'r-Rahman Ahmad Ibn Ali Nisa'i's murder. He was a

dignifiedmanandisregardedasoneoftheauthorsofSahihSitta(SixAuthenticBooksoftheSunnisect).Hebelongedtothehigh-rankingulemaoftheSunni’sinthe3rdcenturyA.H.WhenhereachedDamascus in303A.H.,he saw that,becauseof theBaniUmayya, the residentsof thatplaceopenlyabusedthenameofAmiru'l-Mu'mininAliBinAbiTalibaftereveryritualprayer,particularlyintheaddressofcongregationalprayers.HewasmuchgrievedtoseethisandhedecidedtocollectallthehadithoftheHolyProphetinpraiseofAmiru'l-Mu'mininwiththechainoftheirsources,allofwhichheremembered.Accordingly,hewroteabook,Khasa'isu'l-Alawi,insupportoftheexaltedpositionandvirtuesofAli.HeusedtoreadtothepeoplefromthepulpitthehadithfromhisbookthepraisesoftheHolyImam.Onedaywhenhewas narrating the highmerits ofAli, a rowdygroupof fanatics draggedhim

fromthepulpitandbeathim.Theypunchedhistesticlesandcatchingholdofhispenisdraggedhimoutofthemosqueandthrewhimintothestreet.Asaresultoftheseinjurieshediedafterafewdays.HisbodywastakentoMeccawherehewaslaidtorest.Theseeventsaretheconsequenceofenmityandignorance.8988MasterandMastershipbyAllamaMurtazaMutahhari89PeshawarNightsbySultanulWaizinShiraziABUABDILLAHJA'FARB.MUHAMMAD(AS)SAID:"APERSONWHOSIGHSINGRIEFOVERTHEWRONGSMETEDOUTTOUS,THATSIGH

ISEXTOLMENTOFALLAH,ANDHISANXIETYABOUTUS ISANACTOFWORSHIP,ANDTOCONCEALOURSECRETSISASTRUGGLEINTHEWAYOFALLAH".THENABUABDILLAH(AS)SAID:"THISTRADITIONOUGHTTOBEWRITTENINGOLD."9090Al-AmalibySheikhal-MufidIn researching Islamic history I have found inmany cases that during the life time of theHoly

Prophet(sawa),andalsoduringthe timesof the twelverighteousImamsfromhisHolyHousehold(Ahl-ul-Bayt),someoftheChristiansstoodupforthemembersofHolyHouseholdwhentheywereoppressed.Itmakesonewonder,whydidtheseChristianssupportanddefendtheProphet(sawa)andhispurefamily,whentheybelongedtoadifferentreligion?TheProphetandhisfamily’scharactersweresonoblethateventheidolworshippersatthetimeoftheholyProphet(sawa),whohatedhim,could not come up with anything bad to say about his morals. The Prophet’s title, even beforeproclaiminghisProphethood,was “TheTrustworthy” (AlAmeen) and “TheTruthful” (As-Saadiq).TheseHolypersonalitiesshinedtheirlightoneveryonetheycameincontactwith.Itwasamazingforpeopletowitnesssuchsublimemoralityinahumanbeing,astheytreatedeveryonewithfairnessand

justice.TheChristiansfeltsafeunderthetrueIslamicgovernmentduringProphet’s(sawa)andImamAli’s

(as)rule,andalloftheirrightswereprotectedundertheirrulership.TheProphet(sawa)andhispurefamily(as)felt that itwastheirdutytohelptheirfellowhuman

beinginneed.WhentheChristianswitnessedtheProphet’s(sawa)familybeingoppressed,someoftheChristianmonksacknowledgedtherightof theirdivineleadership(Imamate)andtheystoodupforjusticeanddieddefendingthem.In this humble attempt I have compiled some historical accounts from the life of Prophet

Muhammad(sawa)andhisFamily’streatmenttowardsChristiansduringtheirrespectedtimes.Also,IhaveincludedhistoricalaccountsofChristianswhoprotectedtheHolyProphet(sawa)andsomewhogladlylaiddowntheirlivesforhisHolyFamily(as).IhopethisbookwillshowthereaderabouthowtheProphet(sawa)andhisfamilydemonstratedthetruerelationshipbetweenIslamandChristianityandhowitshouldbetoday.This is the Islam thatwaspracticedbyProphetMuhammad (sawa)andhisFamily,not the Islam

whichwashijacked,andisstillhijacked,bythecorruptrulersaftertheProphet’s(sawa)martyrdom.ProphetMuhammad(sawa)treatedeveryonewithjusticeandequality,buttherulerswhotookaway

thedivineleadershipfromhisfamily,excessivelyperformedterribledeedsinthenameofIslam.WeneedtorecognizethedistortedactionsperformedbythesecorruptrulersanddisassociatefromtheiractionsentirelyandshowpeoplethetrueformofIslamastaughtbyourProphetMuhammad(sawa)andhisHousehold.ItisuptousasGod-fearingpeopletobridgethegapsbetweenthetworeligionsofChristianityandIslam;andtotreatoneanotherkindlywiththeaimtopleasetheoneandonlyGodwhocreatedusall.Imam Ali (as) is reported as saying “Know that people are of two types: they are either your

brothersinreligionoryourequalincreation.”TheideathatpromptedmetowritethebookMysteryoftheShiawasduetothefactthatsomany

newconvertstoShiaIslamwouldalwaysaskmewhywedidthingsdifferentlythanothersects.Theywouldbeexposedtodifferentthingsupongoingtovariousmosques.Theywouldaskmewhypeoplepraywith theirhandsby theirsideswhileotherswouldfold theirarms,whywas thecall toprayerdifferent,whatisthat“stone”weprostrateon,etc.?Iusedtofindmyselfexplainingthesethingsonadailybasis,soIdecidedtowritethesequestionsandanswersdownandsharethemwithpeoplewhocametome.Thatwasthefirstphaseofthisproject.LateronIdecidedtoaddtheUsul-e-Deen(rootsof religion) and Furu-e-Deen (branches of religion) being that these differ from other schools ofthoughtaswell.AfterIlookedatwhatIhadputtogetherIthoughtthatthiswouldbeaverybeneficialpieceofinformationfornewconvertstoIslam.ThiswasdesignedtohelpthemnotonlytolearnwhyShiabelieveandpracticethewaywedo,butalsotolearnwithclearproofsfromthesources.Ithenproceededtoaddafewotherchapterstohelpgiveagoodbasicfoundationforonetostartintheirquestforknowledge.Intotalthisworkdealswithavarietyoftopicsincluding:•Usul-e-Deen

•Furu-e-Deen•TheWordShiaanditsMeaning•The30rightsofaMuslim•ForbiddenactsofaMuslim•SomeImportantDatesandThingstoKnow•CleanlinessinIslam•Wudhu•Salat•AhadithshowingtheimportanceofknowingtheAhlulBayt(as)•Whywesaybismillahaloudinsalat•Whywesayhayyaalakhayrilamalinadhan•Whywedontfoldourhandsinsalat•Whywetakbir3timesaftersalat•Whywedontsayas-salatukhayrumminnawminourfajradhan•Whywesaytaslimoncewhilelookingstraightinsteadofturningourheadrightandleft•Whyweprostrateonturbah•Whywesayaliyanwaliyallahinouradhanandiqamah

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