Ashura

The Battle and Its Related Events

part: 2

The narrator says: “When Husayn (a.s.) saw that the effect of his admonition was less, and the enemy was very eager to begin fighting he told his brother Abbas, If you could get a period, and delay the war, it will be nice. We may offer prayers during this night for Allah, as He knows that I am very fond of prayers (Salat) and of reciting His holy Book.”

Abbas put up his proposal before them. Umar bin Sa’ad kept quiet. Amr bin Hajjaj Zubedi said to Sa’ad: “They are the family members of Muhammad; even if they were poor and low class people, their requests would have been accepted.”

Thus, their demand was accepted. The narrator says: Husayn (a.s.) who was in a sitting position fell asleep, and then woke up and said: “O sister! During this hour I saw in a dream my grandfather, Muhammad (S), my father Ali (a.s.), my mother, Fatima (a.s.), and my brother, Hasan (a.s.).” They said to me, “O? Husayn! You are coming to us very soon.”

According to another narration they said: “You’ll be with us tomorrow.” The narrator says: “Zainab slapped her face and screamed.” Husayn (a.s.) said: “Be quiet and calm. Do not make the enemy rejoice.”

Then came the night of Ashura.

Husayn (a.s.) gathered his companions. After praising Allah he turned towards them and said: “Now, verily, I do not find companions better than you, nor any family more righteous than my family! Allah may give you the best rewards. Now the darkness of the night has covered you. So make its use. Each one of you may hold the hand of one of my family members and get dispersed in this darkness, and leave this place because they do not want anyone except me!”

His brother, sons and the sons of Abdullah bin Ja’far10 said in one voice: “Why should we do like that?

To remain alive after you? May Allah never bring such a day.”

The first one to speak thus was Abbas Ibn Ali (a.s.), and others also spoke one after another.

The narrator says: Husayn (a.s.) looked at the sons of Aqil11 and said: “The martyrdom of Muslim is sufficient for you. All of you may leave. I permit you.” According to another narration: “At that moment all the brothers and family members of Husayn (a.s.) spoke up unanimously: “O son of the holy Prophet (S)! What will people say about us, and what should we say to the people? That we left our elder, chief, Sayyid, the Imam, the son of the daughter of the Prophet, and did not threw an arrow along with him? Nor held a spear in our hands nor did our sword fall on the enemy. No, by Allah! O son of the holy Prophet (S), we would never leave you. Rather our lives will guard your life until we die before your eyes. Whatever befalls you, will fall on us too. How wretched is the life after you!”

Thereafter, Muslim Ibn Awsajah12 stood up and said: “Shall we leave you alone, and return so that the enemy may surround you? No, by Allah! Allah may never allow such situation until I plunge my spear in the chest of your enemy till the time only its handle may remain in my hand, and I may crush the enemy under my feet. Even when I was unarmed I will fight with them. I will stone them, and will not separate from your honor until I drink the cup of martyrdom by your side.”

It is said that Saeed Ibn Abdullah Hanafi got up and said: “No, by Allah! O son of the Messenger of Allah! I will never leave you alone, unless Allah sees that we have remembered and acted upon the will of His messenger Muhammad regarding you. If I come to know that I were injured in your path and then will be burnt alive, and my ashes were dispersed in the air, and if this would be repeated for seventy times, even then I will not leave you until I see death and embrace martyrdom in front of you. Why not? This is only one death and thereafter, I will gain the eternal and everlasting generosity of Allah.”

Thereafter Zohair bin Qain Bajali stood up and said: “By Allah! O son of the messenger of Allah! How much do I like to be killed one thousand times and to return to life so that, by this deed, Allah may protect you, your brothers, and the young members of your family from any damage.”

A group of companions also uttered such words: “May our lives be sacrificed for you. We shall protect you by our entire beings, and if, we get martyred in your path, we would have fulfilled our promise of loyalty and would have kept our words.”

In the meantime news came to Muhammad Ibn Bashir Hazrami that his son was captured in the territory of Ray.

Muhammad said: “I like to get its compensation from Allah. I did not like to see him caught during my lifetime.” Husayn (a.s.) heard his words and said: “May Allah have mercy on you. I take back my allegiance from you for freeing your son. So go and so on.” Muhammad said: “May wild animals eat me up alive if I ever leave your company.”

The Imam (a.s.) then said: “Take this gift to your other son so that he may use it for freeing his captive brother.” Then he gave him something that valued 1000 dinars