Section 3

Discourse of Allamah Majlisi in Bihaar al-Anwaar

Allamah Majlisi relates in Bihar al-Anwar that Mohammad bin Abu Talib Musawi says, that when Waleed received the letter to slay Imam Husain (a.s) it was very hard upon him and he said,

"By Allah! May Allah not let me witness the murder of the son of His Prophet, even if Yazeed gives me the entire the world and whatever is contained therein in lieu of it."

It is said that one night Imam Husain (a.s) stepped out of his house and went to the head of the grave of his Grandfather and said,

"Salutations be upon you O Prophet of Allah! I am Husain the son of Fatemah (a.s). I am your beloved and the child of your beloved. I am your son whom you have left as your heir among your ummah. Thus O Prophet of Allah! Be a witness that these people have deserted me and neglected me while refusing to protect me. This is my complaint to you until I come to your presence."

Then he arose and started reciting the Prayers, constanty bowing and pros­trating. Waleed went to his house to inquire whether the Imam had left Madina of no. When he saw that the Imam was not there he said, "Thanks to Allah that he has left and I have been saved from being indicted and in­volved in spilling his blood." Then Imam returned to his home and on the second night he again went to the grave of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s) and recited some units of Prayers. After finishing the Prayers he said,

"O Allah! This is the grave of Your Prophet, and I am the grandson of Your Prophet. You are aware as to what has befallen me. Verily I cherish virtue and righteousness and abhor evil. O Lord of Glory and Honour! I adjure You by the right of this grave and the one who is buried therein, to bring forth for me that which is approved by You and Your Prophet."

Imam con­tinued weeping until the morning, then he placed his head on the

grave and slept for a short time. He dreamt that the Prophet (s.a.w.s), surrounded by the Angels from the left, right and front, coming towards him. The Prophet came near and pressed Imam Husain (a.s)'s head to his chest. Then he kissed him between his eyes and said,

"O my beloved Husain! It is as if I see you smeared in blood at the place of grief and trials, and a group from among my people have beheaded you, and you are thirsty while they do not quench your thirst. Inspite of this they desire my intercession (on the day of Qiyamah). May Allah keep them away from my intercession. O my beloved Husain! Your Father, Mother and Brother have come to me and they are desirous of meeting you. And you have acquired such a lofty position in Paradise, that unless you attain Martyrdom you shall not get there."

Imam looked at his Grandfather and said,

"O Grandfather! I do not desire to return back to this world. Please take me alongwith you and enter me into your grave."

The Prophet replied,

"You should return back (towards the world) and attain Martyrdom, and thus gain whatever great rewards Allah has reserved for you. For on the day of Qiyamah, you, your Father, your Uncle and Yours Father's Uncle shall arise as a distinguished group until you all enter Paradise."

Imam Husain (a.s) arose from his sleep alarmed and nar­rated his dream to his family and the progeny of Abdul Muttalib. On that day no one in the world was more grievous and sorrowful than the family of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s).

Thus, Imam Husain (a.s) started making preparations for the journey. During midnight he went to the graves of his Mother Hazrat Fatemah (a.s) and his Brother Imam Hasan (a.s) to bid them farewell. In the morning when he returned to his home, his brother Mohammad ibne Hanafiyah came to him and said, "O dear brother! You are most dear and beloved to me than anyone else. And I will not refuse to advise anyone except you, being most worthy of it, for you are from me, and are my life, my spirit and my eyes and the elder of my family. Your obedience is obligatory upon me for Allah has exalted you over me and has chosen you as the Master of the Youth of Paradise." Then he recited the entire Tradition narrated by the Prophet (s.a.w.s) viz.

"Hasan and Husain are the chiefs of the youth of Paradise."

Then he said, "I desire that you go to Makkah, if you find peace, stay there, and if the matter turns out to be different, then go to Yemen, for the people therein are among the helpers and followers of your Grandfather and Father. And they are the most kind-hearted and merciful among men, while their towns and cities are vast. Then if you can hault there, do so, if not, then seek

shelter in the deserts and mountain-caves and go from one town to the other until you witness the state of affairs of people, and may Allah judge between us and the group these of evil-doers."

Imam Husain (a.s) replied,

"O brother! Although there is no place left in this world for sheltering me, I shall never ever swear the oath of alle­giance to Yazeed."

Hearing this Mohammad ibne Hanafiyah concluded his speech and started weeping and the Imam too wept. Then he said,

"O Brother! May Allah reward you favourably, for you have advised me and have opined righteously. As regards yourself O dear brother! You may stay behind in Madina and be alert and keep informing me about the affairs of the enemies."

Then Imam Husain (a.s) asked for paper and pen and wrote the following recommendation for his brother Mohammad bin Hanafiyah:

"In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. This contains that which has been willed by Husain bin Ali bin Abi Talib to his brother Mohammad re­nowned as Ibne Hanafiyah. Verily Husain bears witness that there is no Lord except Allah Alone. And bears witness that Mohammad (s.a.w.s) is the Slave and the Messenger of Allah, who has been righteously chosen by Him. And that Paradise and hell are truth, and without doubt the day of Qiyamah will come. And Allah will arise all those who are buried inside their graves. I have not risen to spread evil or to show off, nor for spreading immorality or oppression. But I have left for the betterment of the ummah of my Grand­father and I desire to propagate the Religion and forbid against evil, thus following the foot-steps of my Grandfather and Father Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s). Thus the one who accepts truth through me, will have received truth from Allah, while the one who betrays me, I shall forebear until Allah judges between myself and the oppressive creed and verily Allah is the Best Judge. This is the testimony to you from me O brother. And my favour is with Allah Alone on Whom alone I rely, and my return is towards Him."

Then he folded the letter and affixed his seal on it and gave it to his brother Mohammad ibne Hanafiyah and bade him farewell and left in the darkness of the night.

Mohammad bin Abu Talib says that Mohammad bin Ya'qoob has related in Wasael from Mohammad bin Yahya, from Mohammad bin Husain, from Ayyub bin Nuh, from Safwaan, from marwan bin Isma'il, from Hamza bin Humran who says that we questioned Imam Ja'far as Sadiq (a.s) regarding the uprising of Imam Husain (a.s) and the lagging behind of Mohammad ibne Hanafiyah in Madina. Imam replied,

"O Hamza! I shall relate to you a report after which you will never put forward such questions to me in any gathering. When Imam Husain (a.s) intended to leave Madina, he called for the paper and wrote therein: In the Name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful. This is from Husain bin Ali bin Abi Talib to the Bani Hashim. Now then! The one who accompanies me shall be martyred, while the one who separates from me will not attain success and peace. Salutations."

Conversation of Angels with Imam Husain (a.s)

Shaikh Mufeed has narrated through his chain of transmitters, that Imam Ja'far as Sadiq (a.s) said, that when Imam Husain (a.s) left Madina, a group of Angels, having distinct marks, met him on the way. They carried swords in their hands and had mounted the horses of Paradise. They came to Imam, saluted him and said, "O Allah's Proof (Hujjah) upon the creatures after your Grandfather, Father and Brother! Allah the Glorious had rendered help to your Grandfather through our medium in many of his battles, and has now sent us to assist you." Imam replied,

"The promised land is called Karbala, thus you may come to me there."

They said, "O Proof of Allah! You may command whatever you desire and we will comply to it and obey you. If you fear the enemies we shall defend you against them." Imam replied,

"They have no way upon me and they will not be able to hurt me until I reach my (destined) mausoleum."

The army of genie in defense of Imam Husain (a.s)

Numerous groups of Muslim genie came to Imam Husain (a.s) and said, "O our Master! We are your adherents and helpers thus we shall fulfil your command, whatever it be. If you desire we will hault here and slay all your enemies." Imam replied,

"May Allah reward you with goodness! Haven't you read the Qur'an which was revealed to my Grandfather, wherein is stated:

"Wherever you be, death will overtake you, even if you be in towers (strong and) lofty."[1] and it is stated, "Those for whom slaugh­ter was ordained would certainly have gone forth to the places where they (now) lie (slain)."[2]

Then if I remain in this place, how would this unfortunate nation be tested and tried? And who will lay in my grave in Karbala. (On the day) When Allah the Glorious spread the earth, He chose that land for me. And has made it a place of refuge for my followers (Shi'ah) so that they might find

peace thereunder in this world as well as the hereafter. Come to me on Saturday, for I shall be martyred in the end of the week on the tenth. No one from among my family, friends, brothers and relatives will remain alive after my death, my head will then be taken to Yazeed."

The genie said, "O friend of Allah! And O the son of the friend of Allah! If the obedience of your orders would not have been obligatory on us and killing would not have been unlawful, we would surely have killed all your enemies before they reach you." Imam replied,

"By Allah! We are competent enough to kill them than you. But the intention is that one should be killed with (presenting valid) proofs and reasons, and should be guided with proofs and reasons."

In other words, the Imam did not wish that they be destroyed before submitting his proofs unto them. (Here ends that which has been quoted in the book of Mohammad bin Abi Talib)

Dialogue of Ummu-Salamah (a.s) with Imam Husain (a.s) during his journey

Allamah Majlisi says that I have read in some books, that when Imam Husain (a.s) decided to leave Madina, Ummu-Salamah (a.s) came to him and said, "O my dear son! Do not aggrieve me by going towards Iraq. For I have heard your Grandfather say that my son Husain will be killed in Iraq at a place called Karbala." Imam replied,

"O dear Grandmother! I too am aware of it and I shall be forcefully killed while there is no escape from it. By Allah! I know the day when I shall be killed and recognize my murderor besides being aware of the Mausoleum where I shall be buried. And I know all those people among my family, relatives and followers who shall die alongwith me. And I wish to show you the place where I shall be buried."

Then he pointed towards Karbala and the land thereat arose and he showed her the places where he would be buried, where he would lay martyred, the site of his encampment, and the place where he would hault. When Ummu-Salamah saw this she wept bitterly and offered all decree to the Almighty. Then Imam said,

"O Grandmother! Allah Almighty desires to see me killed and that my head be severed with cruelty and injustice. Besides (Allah) desires that my family and womenfolk be expelled, and my children oppressed, bare headed, arrested and bound in chains. And they would plead and call out for help, but none would come to their aid."

In another tradition it is stated that Ummu-Salamah told Imam Husain (a.s) that, "I have with me some sand which your Grandfather had given and which

lies in a bottle." Imam replied,

"By Allah! I shall be killed even if I do not go to Iraq."

Then he lifted a handful of earth (from the land of Karbala which had risen) and giving it to Ummu-Salamah said, "Mix this with the sand in the bottle given to you by my Grandfather, when it turns into blood, know that I have been martyred." (Here ends the quotation of Bihaar al-Anwaar).

Conversation of Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari with Imam Husain(a.s)

Sayyed Bahrani in Madinatul Ma'ajiz quotes from Saqibul Manaqib, and others quote from Manaqibus Sua'da that Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari says, that when Imam Husain (a.s) intended going towards Iraq, I came to his presence and said, "You are the son of the Prophet of Allah and one of his two endeared grand children. I do not hold any other opinion except that you too enter into a peace-treaty (with Yazeed) as your brother had done with Mu'awiyah, and verily he was trustworthy and rightly guided." Imam Husain replied,

"O Jabir! Whatever my brother did was ordained by Allah and the Prophet, and whatever I shall do too shall be according to the command of Allah and His Prophet. Do you wish that at this very moment I invite the Holy Prophet, Imam Ali, and my brother Hasan to testify regarding my action"?

Then Imam looked towards the heavens, suddenly I saw that the doors of heavens opened ajar and Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w.s), Imam Ali (a.s), Imam Hasan (a.s), Hazrat Hamza (a.s), Hazrat Ja'far at Tayyar (a.s) and (my uncle) Zaid descended from the heavens upon the earth. Seeing this I became frightful, when the Prophet said,

"O Jabir! Did not I inform you prior to Husain during the time of Hasan, that you would not become a believer unless you surrendered to the Imams and not object to their actions? Do you desire to see the place where Mu'awiyah will dwell and the place of my son Husain and of his murderer Yazeed" ?

I replied in the affirmative. Then the Prophet struck his foot onto the ground and it tore apart and another ground ap­peared beneath. Then I saw a river flowing, which also tore apart, under­neath which was another ground. Thus seven layers of the ground and rivers ripped apart (one below the other) until there appeared hell. I saw that Waleed bin Mughirah, Abu Jahl, Mu'awiyah and Yazeed were bound together in a chain alongwith the other rebellious Satans. And their torment was more severe than that of the other people of hell. Then the Holy Prophet com­manded me to lift my head. I saw that the heavens had opened their doors and Paradise was apparent. Then all those

blessed people who had descended from there returned. When they were in the air the Prophet called out to Imam Husain,

"Come and mingle with me my dear Husain."

I saw that Husain ascended too and joined them onto the high status in Paradise. The Holy Prophet then caught hold of the hand of Husain and told me,

"O Jabir! This son of mine is here alongwith me, submit to him and do not fall in doubt so as to become a believer."

Jabir says that, "May both my eyes turn blind if whatever I have seen and related from the Prophet is false."