Ashura

The Battle and Its Related Events

part: ۱۰

The narrator says: Husayn (a.s.) called for a robe and bound his head with it. He put a mitre on his head and fastened his turban over it. After a short pause the enemies returned to Imam and encircled him. At that time Abdullah27 Ibn Hasan Ibn Ali, who was about twelve years old, came from the camp of the women and rushed towards the Imam. Zain- ab, daughter of Ali (a.s.) went to him to stop him. Abdullah forcefully

refused to turn back and said: “By Allah, I will not leave my uncle.”

Bahr Ibn Ka’b or Harmala Ibn Kahil - advanced towards Imam with a sword in hand. Abullah said: “Woe unto you, the offspring of malicious man! Are you killing my uncle?”

The teenager shielded Imam from the stroke of a sword whereby his hand was cut and began to dangle. Abdullah cried: “O uncle!” Husayn (a.s.) took hold of his nephew and drew him to his chest saying: “O? the son of my brother! Bear patiently what you have suffered, and consider it good, because Allah will make you meet your pious forefathers.”

Harmala bin Kahil threw an arrow at Abdullah and martyred him by the side of his uncle.28 Thereafter Shimr Ibn Ziljushan attacked the tents of Husayn (a.s.) saying: “Give me fire so that I may burn down these tents with all the inmates.”

Husayn (a.s.) said: “O son of Ziljushan! You are demanding fire to burn my family? May Allah burn you in fire.” Then came Shabth whom Imam admonished. So he returned ashamedly. Then Husayn (a.s.) asked his family: “Give me an old cloth so that I may wear it as an undergarment, and they may do not uncover my body.” A tight shirt was brought. He said: “Not this, because this is a disgraceful dress.”

Then he took an old cloth, made some tears in it, and wore it beneath his dress. But they stripped him after his martyrdom, and that cloth looted too.

Thereafter Imam (a.s.) called for “Hebari” trousers and made holes therein so that they may not rob it from his body, and wore it. Yet, after his martyrdom, a man called Bahr Ibn Ka’ab stole it, and left Husayn (a.s.) bare bodied. After Ashura day, both hands of Bahr Ibn Ka’ab became dry, like a couple of dry sticks during winter.

During summer his hands used to become swollen with blood and puss oozed therefrom till Allah killed him. When many wounds were inflicted on the holy body of Husayn (a.s.) and his body became like a porcupine29, a mean-minded cursed fellow called Saleh Ibn Wahab al Mazni (may Allah curse him) inflicted a forceful hit on the flank of Imam which made Husayn (a.s.) fall on the right side from his horse30, and then he stood on his feet.

The narrator said: Zainab (s.a.) came out of the tent and yelled: “O my brother! O my leader! O my household! I wish the sky had fallen down on earth. I wish the mountains had come down to the plains, scattered.” Shimr cried out to his soldiers, “What are you waiting for?” Thereafter, they attacked Imam from every side.

Zar’at Ibn Shuraik (curse of Allah be on him), inflicted a wound on the left shoulder of Imam. The Imam also gave him a blow killing him.

Another fellow struck his sword on the back of Imam, which caused Husayn (a.s.) to fall down on earth headlong. After this he sat up with much difficulty, and again fell on the earth and rose up and walked. Sinan bin Anas Nakhai31 (curse of God be on him) inflicted a wound with his spear on the cavity of Imam’s (a.s.) pharynx and then pierced his spear in the chest.

Thereafter, Sinan shot an arrow, which pierced the Imam’s neck. He fell again and then sat up and pulled out the arrow from his blessed neck. But thereafter he caught the lower part of his neck with both of his palms, which were filled with his holy blood. He colored his head and beard with it and said; “I am going to my God with such a hair dye, while my rights have been violated.”

Umar Ibn Sa’ad told to a man who was on his right: “Woe unto you. Come down and relieve Husayn.” Khuli Ibn Yazeed Asbahi went forward to cut off the head of Husayn but began to tremble! Sinan bin Anas (may he be cursed by Allah) came down and struck his sword on the holy throat saying: “By Allah, I am cutting your neck despite knowing that you are the son of Allah’s Prophet, and the best offspring from the view- point of parents. Then he cut off the holy head

The Battle and Its Related Events

part: ۹

Then the enemy separated Abbas from Husayn (a.s.), encircled him, and killed him - May his soul be sanctified. Husayn (a.s.) wept very much over his brother’s death. The poet portrays it like this:

The worthiest of all the youths is one over whose death his brother weeps;

His martyrdom brought Husayn to tears over;

His brother and the son of his father Ali, Abul Fazl who;

became red-faced with the blood.

The one who did fellowship;

with Husayn To such an extent that he was his partner even in his thirst.

The narrator said: Then Husayn (a.s.) challenged the enemy to come and fight with him. Then whoever came for- ward to confront him was sent to hell by Husayn’s (a.s.) hand. It continued until he killed many of them. He said:

“Martyrdom is better than acceptance disgrace, and humiliation is better than burning in (Hell) fire.”

One of the narrators says: “By Allah, I have never seen a man who had lost his family members and companions, and bearing the sorrow of all calamities, yet showing so much courage and bravery on the battle- field. The enemy continuously launched collective attacks on him. He responded all of them as a consequence of which they fled from him, like a flock of goats flee from a wolf.”

Sometimes he attacked the crowded army of enemy, and scattered them. Then the Imam would return to his main place and said: La hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil a’liyyil a’zeem (There is no strength nor power, except from the Almighty Allah).

The narrator said: The Imam fought continuously till the time the enemy came between him and the womenfolk and separated them. The Imam shouted at them: “Woe unto you, o followers of the family of Abu Sufyan. If you have no religion and do not fear the Hereafter and Resurrection, then at least be free and noble in your world; and if you are Arabs, then return to your race (in good behavior).”

Shemr yelled: “O son of Fatima! What are you saying?”

Husayn (a.s.): “I say I am fighting you and you are fighting me. And it is no fault of the women. So until I am alive, these rebels, renegades and unwise people should not disturb my family.” Shemr said: “It is your right, O son of Fatima.” Then the enemies began to attack on him, and he continued fighting. In the meanwhile, he sought water but could not get it until he suffered seventy-two wounds and injuries.

Then Imam (a.s.) halted for a moment to take rest, when a stone thrown by the enemy hit his forehead. Imam tucked up his shirt to prevent the flow of blood from his head. Then a poisoned trident arrow pierced his blessed chest. Imam (a.s.) said: “In the name of Allah, and by Allah, and according to the religion of the Messenger of Allah (S).” Imam raised his blessed head towards the sky and said: “O Allah! You know that these people are killing a man who is the only son of the daughter of Your messenger on the surface of the earth."26

Then he fetched out the arrow from his back, and blood gushed through the wound like a drain- pipe, depriving Imam from his battling strength. Every person from the enemy camp who approached the wounded Imam (to kill him) turned back fearing that he would have to meet Allah as a partner criminal in killing the Imam.

Then a man from Kandah, named Malik bin Nasr (May Allah’s curse him) came and uttered bad words to the Imam, and hit the Imam’s blessed head with his sword. It cut the top of the helmet reaching the skull. The helmet overflowed with the holy blood

The Battle and Its Related Events

part: ۸

Thereafter, one after the other from the holy household of Imam rushed to the battleground and won the honor of martyrdom.

Imam cried: “O my cousins! O my family members! Be patient. Show forbearance. By Allah, after this day, you will never be dishonored or humiliated.” The narrator says: A moonlike radiant face23 youth came out and went to war. Ibn Fuzail Azadi inflicted a wound on his holy head. He fell down on earth and yelled: “O my uncle!”

Husayn (a.s.) rushed like a preying eagle or an angry lion and struck Ibn Fuzail with his sword. He took the blow on his hand, which got cut off from elbow by the Imam’s sword. Ibn Fuzail gave out a loud yell. Hearing his yell his army rushed to save him. The horses crushed the blessed body of that handsome youth and thus he was martyred.

The narrator says: Once the storm of war settled, I saw that Husayn (a.s.) had stood by the head of the youth and he was hitting the ground with his feet. Imam said: “Far from the Mercy of Allah are those who killed you; those with whom your grandfather will quarrel on the Day of Judgement.”

“It is unpleasant for your uncle to hear your cry for help and he does not respond. Or that he responds but without any benefit for you. By Allah, today his enemies are frequents, and his friends few.” Then he embraced the youth and carried him to the place of the martyrs of the household of the Prophet (S).

The narrator said that when Husayn (a.s.) saw the slain bodies of his companions he personally became ready for fighting with the enemy.

He cried: “Is there anyone to defend the family of the Prophet of Allah? Is there anybody who knows Allah and fears Him regarding our rights? Is there any helper to help us for the sake of Allah’s mercy? Is there any helper who would help us, seeking the Allah’s Rewards?”

At that time, a wailing arose from the womenfolk. The Imam came to the entrance of the tent said: “O my sister Zainab! Bring my little son24 so that I may bid him goodbye.” Imam took him up to kiss him. Harmala25 threw an arrow, which pierced the neck of the little infant. Imam asked Zainab: “Hold him.” Then he collected the child’s blood in his palms and threw it towards the sky, saying: “How easy are these afflictions that have befallen me in the Path and Presence of the Almighty Allah!”

Imam Baqir (a.s.) has said, “Not even a drop of that blood fell back on the ground.” According to another tradition, which appears more reason- able, it was not a normal situation and the Imam, was so busy in the battle, who should not had called for the child. It is said that at that mo-ment Zainab, sister of Imam, brought the baby to him and said: “This child of yours has not had water for the last three days. Please ask water for quenching his thirst.”

Imam (a.s.) took the child in his arms and exclaimed: “O people! You killed my companions, friends, and my household. And now only this infant has remained which is wailing for water. Give him some water for quenching his thirst.” While Imam was uttering those words, a man from the enemy army threw an arrow, which pierced the infant’s neck.

The narrator said: Husayn (a.s.) became extremely thirsty. He rode a horse and intended to reach the Euphrates river. This was so when his brother Abbas stood before him. The army of Umar bin Sa’ad blocked their way. A man from Bani Daram threw an arrow towards Husayn (a.s.), which cut below his chin. Imam placed his hands below the wound, and when his both hands got filled with blood he flung it up-wards and exclaimed: “My God! I complain to You about what is happening to the son of the daughter of Your Prophet.

The Battle and Its Related Events

part: ۷

Then he turned towards Husayn (a.s.) and said: “Should I not proceed towards my God and join my friends?” Husayn (a.s.) said: “Go towards what is better for you than the world and whatever is in it. Do proceed towards the kingdom where there is no doom.”

Then he rushed forward and fought a severe fight, like the great fighters, tolerated all troubles, and attained martyrdom. May Allah be pleased with him. Then it was the time for noon prayer. Husayn (a.s.) ordered to Zohair Ibn Qain and Saeed bin Abdullah Hanafi to stand in front of them so that the remaining companions may perform the “Prayer of insecure time.”

Every arrow which was thrown at Husayn (a.s.) was defended by Saeed Ibn Abdullah on himself, and he continuously defended the life of the Imam, and did not step back until he fell down on the ground and said: “O Allah! Curse be on these people, as You cursed the people of Aad and Thamud. My God! Convey my salutation to Your messenger and let him know, how we are bearing the wounds inflicted on us. I seek my reward in helping the progeny of Your messenger.” Then he attained martyrdom. May Allah be pleased with him. In addition to wounds inflicted by sword and spears thirteen arrows were found in his body.

The narrator said: Suwaid Ibn Umar Ibn Abil- Muta22, who was a man of God and always busy in worship, rushed forward and dashed like a lion freed from the cage. He bore numerous hits with perfect patience, until he became unable to move. He fell between the killed ones till he heard that Husayn was killed. He collected his latest energy and tried to fight the enemy, till he gained martyrdom. May Allah be pleased with him.

It is said: The companions of Husayn (a.s.) went to battle in front of him. They were as described by a poet:

A group, which is called out for crushing the calamity,

Ought to be mounted on marked horses and in rows,

They have covered their armor by their chests,

And they are competing with one another in giving away their lives;

When all his companions were martyred and none except his household remained, Ali Ibn Husayn (a.s.) who was more handsome than all the companions, and most pious from the viewpoint of morals, sought permission from his father. Imam permitted him. Imam hopelessly had a glance at his son and wept with lowered eyes and then said: “O Allah! Be witness. Surely a youth has rushed to battlefield who is the most similar person to your messenger in appearance, nature, and manners. Whenever I longed to look at Your Messenger, I would to look at him.”

Then he yelled and said: “O Ibn Sa’ad, may Allah cut off your generation just as you cut off my kinsfolk.”

Then Ali rushed to the battlefield and waged a furious war and sent a number of unbelievers to the hell. Then he returned to his father and said: “O dear father! Thirst has almost killed me, and the weight of the armor has sapped my strength. Is any water available?”

Husayn (a.s.) wept and replied: “O my dear son! Wherefrom can I bring water? Put up some more resistance. Very soon you will meet your grandfather Muhammad (S) who will give you a drink, after which you will never feel thirsty.”

Ali went back to battlefield and gave the greatest fight. Manqaz Ibn Marrah Abdi threw an arrow, which made Ali fall down. He cried: “O father! Accept my Salam (farewell). May Allah protect you. Here is my grand- father who sends greetings to you, and says: Hurry up to us.” Then a jerk ended his worldly life.

Husayn (a.s.) came and stood by the body of his son, placed his cheek on his face and said: “May Allah kill those people who killed you. What made them bold enough to go against Allah and violate the honor of His Prophet? Life after you is but a spit.”

The narrator said: Zainab, daughter of Ali (a.s.), came out of the tent and threw herself on his body. Husayn (a.s.) came and asked her to return to the womenfolk.

The Battle and Its Related Events

part: 6

Habib went close to him and said: “O Muslim! This condition appears unpleasant to me. Congratulations to you for Paradise!” Muslim responded in a very weak voice: “May Allah also give you good rewards.” Habib said: “Though I am also following you in this path, I like to hear every wish from you so that I may carry it out.” Pointing to Husayn (a.s.), he (Muslim) said: “Wage jihad in the service of this master until death takes you up.”

Habib said: “I accept your will wholeheartedly.” At that moment he expired. May Allah’s pleasure be with him. Thereafter Amr bin Qarzatul Ansari sought permission of Husayn (a.s.), which was granted by the latter. He waged a war like the war of the lovers. He continued courageous fighting, killed many soldiers of Ibn Ziyad. His battle was excel- lent. He took and turned every arrow, which was shot at Husayn (a.s.) on his self.

Similarly he bore every hit of the enemies’ swords wholeheartedly. Until Amr was on his feet, no harm reached Husayn (a.s.). Then the ever-increasing wounds made him fall down, bleeding profusely. Then he looked at Husayn (a.s.) and asked: O son of the Prophet of Allah! Have I fulfilled my promise?”

Imam replied, “Yes! You will be in the Paradise prior to me! Give my re- gards to the holy Prophet (S) and inform that I am coming after you”. He got martyred soon. May Allah bless him.

Thereafter Jaun19, the black slave of Abu Zarr sought permission for battle.

Husayn (a.s.) said: “You are at liberty and permitted to take a path to safety. As you were restful with us, and you need not fall in the troubles of our path.” He submitted: “O son of the Prophet of Allah! In my life of ease and comfort I was extremely indebted to you. Now I will bear the difficulties, which you are undergoing. By Allah, my body?s odor is bad,

my race is low, and my skin is black. Do oblige me so that by following the path to Paradise I may attain pleasant odor, pure race and a white face. By Allah, I will not leave you until my black blood mixes with yours.” Thereafter, he fought fearlessly and became a martyr. May Allah be pleased with him.

The narrator says: Then Amr bin Khalid Saidavi20 got up for fighting and said: “O Aba Abdillah! May I be sacrificed for you. My intention is to join my friends and I do not consider it proper to go against them and to see alone your family and being killed.”

Husayn (a.s.) said: “Go ahead because we are following you to meet you within hours.”

So he went forward, fought and got martyred. May Allah be pleased with him.

The narrator says: Hanzala Ibn Sa’ad Shabami21 came and stood in front of Husayn (a.s.) to protect him with his chest, face and neck against the arrows, swords, and spears. He shouted to the army of the enemy:

“O People! I fear that what chastisement had befallen on the communities of Nuh, Aad, Thamud, and others may befall you too. Allah never desires to oppress His servants. O people! I am afraid of what will happen to you on the Day of Resurrection, when you will run away and will find no helper or refuge. O people! Do not kill Husayn (a.s.), otherwise you will be caught by the chastisement of Allah. Verily whoever makes false accusations would cause more torment for himself

The Battle and Its Related Events

part: 5

Wahab bin Habbab Kalabi18 rushed out and exhibited nice firmness, waged a perfect jihad. His wife and mother were with him. He returned to them and asked: “O mother! Are you pleased (with my performance)?”

His mother said: “No. I will be pleased when you are martyred before Husayn (a.s.).”

His wife said: “I give you an oath of Allah. Please do not give me your bereavement.” His mother said: “End this talk here. Go and wage the battle by the side of the son of the Prophet’s daughter, so that you may win the intercession of his grandfather on the Day of Judgement.”

Wahab went back to the battlefield, fought constantly until both his hands were cut. His wife held up the mace and rushed to her husband and said: “May my parents be sacrificed for you! Continue battling to protect the family of the Prophet of Allah.”

Wahab looked at his wife so that she may return. The lady held the clothes of her husband and said: “I will never return until I also get killed along with you.”

Husayn (a.s.) said: “May Allah give good rewards to your family. Please return to the womenfolk. May Allah have mercy on you.” Then she returned to the womenfolk. Kalabi went to battlefield as before, and fought until he was killed. May Allah be pleased with this martyrdom.

Thereafter Muslim Ibn Awsajah went to war. He, too, exhibited perfect jihad against the enemy and remained steadfast during the calamities of battle until he fell. He was still breathing when Husayn (a.s.) went towards him alongwith Habib Ibn Mozahir. Husayn (a.s.) said:

“O? Muslim! May Allah have mercy on you.” Then Imam recited a Quranic verse:

“Then some of them (believers) carried out their responsibility, while others awaiting and they have not changed in the least;

The Battle and Its Related Events

3 :part

The narrator says that the soldiers of Ibn Sa’ad mounted their horses. Husayn (a.s.) sent Burair towards them so that he may admonish them. But his admonition was useless.

Husayn (a.s.) mounted his horse or camel, and stood before the army of enemy and asked them to be quiet. They became silent. Then he praised Allah and remembered His virtues and attributes, and invoked blessings on Muhammad (S) and the angels, and the messengers, and gave an impressive speech,

“Be you destroyed O group of the people! May you remain constantly in sorrow and grief! You sought justice from us with extreme distress and called upon us to help you. We speedily rose to help you. These swords, which are now in your hands, should have swung in our favor, not against us. This fire, which you have ignited to harm us, should have engulfed our enemies and your foes. Now you have befriended your foes without getting any justice or any usefulness from them!”

“Beware! Woe unto you. You left us even before the battle begins, and the storm of tyranny could stop. This is absurd and crazy. Yet you attended them like the forest locusts and gathered around them like moths!” “Go away, you slaves of bondmaids, the evil sects, those who have banished the Book, those who have changed the Word, you germs of sin and students of devil, and destroyers of the traditions.” “Have you imagined that the enemy is strong and so you turned away from us?”

“By Allah! Your trickery and unfaithfulness is indeed old. You shall be the worst sorrow for one who sees and the most unpalatable case for the tyrant.” “Behold! Verily the bastard, and the son of bastard, has cornered me between two options, either battle or death with honor, or accepting disgrace and contempt! How far is disgrace from us? Allah does not like dishonor for us. Similarly His messenger, the faithful people, the poor bodies and souls, and the high personalities who are most precious always prefer martyrdom to slavery by the mean people.”

“Now, verily, I am proceeding towards Allah and martyrdom along with my family members and insufficient friends.”

Then Imam added the following poem of Farwah Ibn Masik Muradi14:

If we win, we have been among the winners from the past;

And if we fail, we would never be actually defeated;

Fear has no room in our souls;

However, our death would precede the kingdom of others;

Whenever death spares someone it does grab another one;

Death of the brave nobles destroyed my community;

As was the case with the predecessors;

Were the kings everlasting, we too would have lasted forever;

And were the good people immortal; we also would have been alike;

Tell the evil wishers to rest assured regarding us;

As what has befallen us shall come to you also.

Then he added: “By Allah! You will not be given except a short time before you will be pressed by the passage of time. Yes, this is a promise from my father and my grandfather. So resolve upon your affair and (gather) your associates, and let not your affair re- main dubious to you. Then have it executed against me and give me no respite."15

“Rightfully, I have relied on the One Who is My Lord and your Lord. There is no living thing, out of His control. Justly, my Lord is on the right path.” “O Allah! Prevent the clouds from raining on them and make them suffer a famine like that of the time of Joseph. O Lord! Impose the child of Thaqif (Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf) on them so that he may make them taste all kinds of disgrace, indignity, injustice, and oppression as they have refuted me, and they have left me without friends. O? God! On you do we rely, and to you do we turn, and to you is the eventual coming."16

Then Imam came down and called for the horse named Mortajaz. He rode it and prepared his friends for the battle.

It is reported from Imam Baqir (a.s.) that the total number of Imam’s army was 45 horsemen and 100 persons on foot. Other things have also been reported