The Sacred Effusion Volume 1

Chapter 6: The Exceptionally Unique

The Exceptionally Unique

Commentary

The Exceptionally Unique

The original meaning of al-witr in the Arabic language is al-fard (single) and man la thaniya lah (one who does not have a second)’[^1]. And al-mawtur which is an adjective of al-witr also means the same, but is brought as an emphasis[^2] in this case. A similar example[^3] has come in the Qur`an with regard to hijr (forbidden) and mahjur (prohibited), the latter being an emphasis of the former:

On the day when they shall see the angels, there shall be no joy on that day for the guilty, and they shall say: It is a forbidden thing totally prohibited. (25:22)

And in the well-known supplication of al-Sabah, Amir al-mu’minin ‘Ali (AS) tries to emphasize al-layl (the night) with the adjective al-alyal (nightly):

Bless, oh Allah, the guide to You in the darkest night, him who, of Thy ropes, clings to the cord of the longest nobility...[^4]

Some scholars opine[^5] that al-witr refers to Imam al-Husayn (AS)’s unique spiritual status which the Holy Prophet (S) and the Infallible Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) also possess. Hence, in relation to the rest of the creation an infallible leader (al-imam al-ma’sum) the like of Imam al-Husayn (AS) occupies a unique station, and hence is al-witr al-mawtur.

Amir al-mu’minin ‘Ali (AS) describing an Infallible Imam as:

He is peerless, no substitute can represent him.[^6]

And in another tradition, Imam al-Ridha (AS) describing the qualities of an infallible Imam, says:

The Imam is unique in his time. None can come closer to him in rank...[^7]

We may also say that Imam al-Husayn (AS) is a manifestation of the Divine Name al-Witru. The Holy Prophet (S), after speaking about the Divine Names, is reported to have said:

Surely He [Allah] is Unique, and He Loves the unique[^8]

Expounding the meaning of Ya Witru in his commentary on the supplication of al-Jawshan al-Kabir, Mulla Hadi Sabzawari says:

Ya Witru means that He is Sheer Existence, which is Simple [Non-composite], and nothing accompanies it like quiddity (mahiyya), matter (madda), potentiality (quwwa) or potential (isti’dad)...[^9]

The corollary of being ‘sheer existence’ (al-wujud al-sirf) and ‘non-compositeness’ (al-basata) is uniqueness. This is because it is impossible for a non-composite entity to have a second. Hence, no entity can be likened to His Sacred Essence, nor can any entity be compared to Him.

Imam ‘Ali (AS) explaining the meaning of the phrase Allahu Akbar says:

It means that He is One, Non-composite, the like of which there is nothing, and nothing can be compared to Him...[^10]

The Ahl al-Bayt (AS), being the most perfect manifestations of the Divine Names, enjoy such an exalted station near Allah, that none can be compared to them. They undoubtedly are manifestations of the Divine Name al-Witr, which means مَنْ لاَ ثَانِيَ لَهُ (One who does not have a second). In a tradition narrated from Zurara, Imam al-Baqir (AS) says:

And surely we cannot be described, and how can a people be described from whom Allah has removed impurity, which is doubt...[^11]

Apparently the doubt that is spoken about in this tradition is related to the realities of the Creator and His creation. The Ahl al-Bayt (AS), due to their lofty spiritual status, transcend the lower levels of conviction and enjoy the level of haqq al-yaqin or even higher. Therefore the absence of doubt should not be conjectured to be merely in the conceptual level.

The Exceptionally Unique

Some commentators give the possibility that this verse refers to Imam al-Husayn (AS)’s uniqueness with regard to everyone, including Prophet Muhammad (S) and the other members of his infallible progeny (AS). This however is not because his spiritual station is higher than theirs, for all of them unite in the Muhammadan Light (al-Nur al-Muhammadi). In a conversation with Salman and Jundub, Imam ‘Ali (AS) says:

I revive the dead, and make the living ones die by my Lord’s permission; I can inform you about what you eat and what you store in your homes by my Lord’s permission; and I know what is hidden in your hearts; and the Imams from my progeny (AS) can [also] know this and do the aforesaid if they desired and wanted, because all of us are one**: the first among us is Muhammad, the middle one among us is Muhammad, the last among us is Muhammad, and all of us are Muhammad; therefore do not differentiate between us**.[^12]

The reason, as some great scholars like the late ‘Allama al-Tabataba`i[^13] and Ayatullah Sa’adat Parwar (may Allah elevate their noble spirits) expound[^14], why Imam al-Husayn (AS) occupies a unique station, is his utilization of the greater opportunity to manifest his perfect qualities by carrying out his great movement and sacrificing everything he had for the sake of the Only Beloved. The Holy Qur`an says that for everyone are stations according to what they did:

And for all are degrees according to what they did, and that He may pay them back fully their deeds and they shall not be wronged. (46:19)

If the other Imams (AS) faced the same conditions that Imam al-Husayn (AS) had encountered, they too would have done what he did. The opportunity however was gifted to Imam al-Husayn (AS) and accordingly he acquired a station that is unparalleled. The following tradition refers to a unique station for Imam al-Husayn (AS):

The Most Noble Messenger (S) said to his wife Umm Salama: Allah Revealed unto me that verily he (al-Husayn) has a station which none of the creation would attain.[^15]

And Imam al-Husayn (AS) just before his departure from Madina sees the Prophet (S) in his dream saying to him:

And indeed you have stations in the Paradise that you shall not attain save with martyrdom.[^16]

A Peerless Contingent Being

In his masterpiece Jalawat-e-Rabbani Ayatullah Muhammad Ridha Rabbani (may Allah elevate his spirit) believes and tries to establish that Imam al-Husayn (AS) is a peerless contingent being (mumkin al-wujud bila sharik). At one place he says: In our book Tawhid-e-Rabbani we have comprehensively explained the meaning of the magnificent name Allah. One of its meanings is, “aliha al-khalq ‘an darki ma’iyyatih wal ihata bikayfiyyatih” (The creation is baffled in comprehending His whatness and apprehending His howness)[^17], which the cleaver of the knowledge of the disciplines of the foremost and latter ones and the fifth brilliant star of Divine Leadership and Guardianship, Hadhrat Imam al-Baqir (AS) has mentioned. Imam al-Baqir (AS) has said that Allah is that God before Whose Essence and Attributes the intellects of the entire creation are bewildered, confounded and mystified.

Sa’di, the Persian poet says:

The entire creation is unanimous in his Godhood
Unable to apprehend the Essence of His Being

Thereafter Rabbani says that Imam al-Husayn (AS), who is a manifestation of the Name Allah, likewise, confounds the intellects and overcomes the human beings with perplexity and amazement.

O the marvel of existence, the intellect is exhausted in You; You confounded people of insight and confused the intellects

Who is this Husayn, that the entire world is mad after him; What candle is this, that all the souls are its moth(s)?

Imam Husayn (AS) not only puzzled and astounded the human world and realm of humanity, but also made the most exalted angels and the residents of the Divine throne as well as the entire chain of the sacred intellects, astonished at his display of intense love and self-sacrifice in the path of the Eternal and Infinite Beloved.[^18]

The martyr, whose near ones have been killed, but their blood have not been avenged for

Lexicologists like al-Turayhi in his Majma’ al-Bahrayn, have defined the word mawtur as one whose near one has been unjustly killed but his blood has not been avenged for as yet[^19]. And since he is mawtur, he necessarily is the tha’ir (avenger of the blood) as well. Muhammad bin Muslima in the battle of Khaybar employs a similar expression when he tells the Holy Prophet (S):

I am one whose kin has been unjustly killed but his blood not yet avenged, and I am the avenger.[^20]

The word witr also signifies ‘the blood that has been spilled unjustly’[^21]. Therefore when we address Imam al-Husayn (AS) as al-witr al-mawtur we mean he is the martyr whose near ones and companions were unjustly killed, but their blood has not been avenged for. Hence he is the avenger of their blood.

Some commentators opine that if we consider the Imam (AS) to be the one who would avenge the blood of his near ones, then that would transpire during his return to this world (raj’a). With regard to raj’a, Hamran narrates from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (AS):

Indeed the first one to return is your refuge al-Husayn (AS), who will rule [for so many years] until his eyebrows would hang over his eyes, out of old age.[^22]

The Alone who was Rendered Solitary

Sometimes the word witr is translated as ‘alone’, whereas the word mawtur as ‘one whose relation is slain, and so is separated from him and rendered solitary’.[^23] Imam al-Husayn (AS) was rendered solitary after he lost his near ones and noble companions and stood alone to fight against the forces of evil.

Some analysts of this radiant Ziyarat believe that the enemies of Islam right from the time of the Holy Prophet (S) planned how to isolate and make people be indifferent of the household of the Holy Prophet (S). The word al-witr can also allude to this situation that the Imam (AS) experienced. Therefore he was the lonely one, whose relation was slain and who was rendered solitary.

We must understand that the Imam (AS), due to his sublime rank was even lonelier than his companions and family members in the plains of Karbala. The station of Imamate is unique and has no parallel. In this sense he was not only from the strangers (ghuraba’) like his companions, but also gharib al-ghuraba’ (the stranger of the strangers). In a Ziyarat narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (AS) we address Imam al-Husayn (AS) as follows:

Peace be unto you, o stranger of the strangers.[^24]

In this state of intense ghurba, the enemies did not spare the lives of his noble family members and companions, and rendered him solitary and alone. It is in these moments that he cried from the depths of his heart:

Is there any helper to help the immaculate progeny? Is there any protector for the children of al-Batul (AS)? Is there any defender to guard the sanctuary of the Messenger of Allah?

Perhaps Imam al-Husayn (AS) summed up his message to his lovers in these short, but very meaningful expressions. The call was made to ‘the future’ and every receptive heart can hear it every moment. Imam al-Husayn (AS) was the epitome of Islam, and his call was the call for the emancipation of Islam. If we are receptive enough to hear his call, then every step of ours must be geared towards assiting Islam. If we struggle to eradicate sin and try to perfect ourselves as well as others and revive Islam, then we do respond to his call. Otherwise we should not be surprised if we also rank among those who left him alone. May Allah protect us from being among those who leave him alone.

The Alone and Deprived

Sometimes the word al-mawtur is employed to mean ‘one who is deprived’ (al-manqus). The following tradition of the Holy Prophet (S) is translated taking this meaning into consideration:

One who is deprived of his family and wealth is one who wastes the prayer of ‘Asr[^25]

Therefore if we take the word witr to mean ‘alone’, the phrase would mean ‘the alone who was deprived of his hometown, family and wealth’.

[^1]: Sayyid Husayn al-Hamadani, Sharh al-Asma’ al-Husna, p.143

[^2]: This variable has been discussed by great scholars like al-Naraqi in his Mushkilat al-Akhbar (p. 301) and al-Shubbar in his Masabih al-Anwar (p. 341). ‘Allama al-Tabataba`i also translated al-witr al-mawtur as ‘the unique one’ (Rukhshad, Dar Mahzar-e-’Allameye Tabataba’i, p. 184)

[^3]: Other examples that have come in Arabic literature are: bardun barid, shi’run sha’ir, etc.

[^4]: ‘Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v. 84, p. 339

[^5]: I heard this opinion from Ayatullah Ansari Shirazi, from whom I would study the 9th volume of the magnum opus al-Asfar of Mulla Sadra.

[^6]: ‘Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v. 25, pp. 169-170

[^7]: Shaykh al-Kulayni, Al-Kafi, v.1, p. 201

[^8]: ‘Allama al-Tabataba`i, al-Mizan, v.8, p. 359

[^9]: Mulla Hadi Sabzawari, Sharh al-Asma’ al-Husna, p. 722

[^10]: Shaykh al-Saduq, ‘Ilal al-Shara’i`, v.2, p. 320

[^11]: Shaykh al-Kulayni, al-Kafi, v.2, p. 182

[^12]: ‘Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.26, p.6

[^13]: Muhammad Husayn Rukhshad, Dar Mahzare ‘Allameye Tabataba’i, p. 184

[^14]: Ayatullah Sa’adat Parwar, Furugh-e-Shahadat, p.40

[^15]: ‘Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v. 44, p.225

[^16]: ‘Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v. 58, p.182

[^17]: ‘Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.3, p. 222

[^18]: Ayatullah Muhammad Ridha Rabbani, Jalawat-e-Rabbani, v.1, pp. 278-279.

[^19]: Shaykh al-Turayhi, Majma’ al-Bahrayn, v.4, p. 463

[^20]: Al-Zubaydi, Taj al-’Arus, v.7, p. 582

[^21]: Mirza Tehrani, Shifa’al-Sudur, p. 165

[^22]: ‘Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.53, p.43

[^23]: Al-Zubaydi, Taj al-’Arus, v. 7, p.583

[^24]: ‘Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.98, p.230

[^25]: ‘Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.80, p.28