Hussein the Saiviour of Islam

Abbas the Brave, Guards the Camp of the Holy Imam

THE CAMP OF the Holy Imam contained the ladies and the children of the House of the Holy Prophet. Apprehending a surprise attack from the enemy's forces which consisted of people who had turned treacherous to the Holy Imam and his family, a ditch was dug around the camp and fire was lighted the whole night and Abbas the Brave, guarded the camp in a vigil the whole night walking around it with his sword in his hand mindful of the safety of the Holy Imam and the inmates of the camp, with a vigilant eye on the ranks of the enemy.

The Night in the Yazidian Camp

WHILE THE HUNGRY and thirsty devotees of God in thc Holy Imam's camp spent the night in prayers and the devotional sup- plicative services to God, the soldiers in the Yazidian ranks in the opposite camp spent the whole night in drinking, feasting and making merry in the hope of the promised rewards from Yazid in return for the destruction of the family of the Holy Prophet. God alone knows how many thousands of bowls of wine were emptied on that night. The Yazidian forces anxiously awaited the break of the dawn of the next day to effect the brutal slaughter of the Holy Imam and the small band of his kith and kin and faithful devotees.

The Holy Imam's Last Prayer with His Devotees on Earth

AT THE BREAK of the dawn of the fateful day, 10th Muharram 61 A.H. (October 68o A.D.), Husain called his son Ali (Ali-e- Akbar) who resembled the Holy Prophet the most, and said:-

"Ali, my dear! Let me hear thy 'Azan' (the call for prayer) for the last time in this world!"

When Ali e-Akbar gave the call 'Azan' in the Sahara, reporters say that the voice resembled the voice of the Holy Prophet and Husain hearing the last ' Azan' of his son in the voice of his Grand- father, remembering the Apostle of God, shed tears, and as the voice of Ali e-Akbar reached the inmates in the camp, Zainab along with Umme Laila, the mother of Ali-e-Akbar and the other ladies came out of the tents to hear the call for prayer in the sweet enchanting voice of the beautiful son of Husain resembling the voice of the Apostle of God, raising their hands to heavens prayed for the safety of their dear Caller to prayers.

It was the third day of the thirst inflicted on the whole camp of the Holy Imam. The Holy Imam and his devotees performed 'Tayammum' instead of ' Wozu' (Ablution) and the Holy Imam offered the last congregational prayers with his devotees on earth. An Urdu poet has referred to this historic 'Namaz' (Prayer) and the ' Namazies', i.e., the supplicants in a beautiful couplet:-

" Chand shar' maa'ey Chah'ray mutajalli aisay Na Imam aisa,howa Phir na musalli aisay."

"Ashamed would be the Moon, faces so bright, The Imam of the kind, never did appear Nor the supplicants like these.

Husain had not even finished his prayers when a rain of arrows from the Yazidian forces began to shower on the praying Imam and his godly devotees. It is reported that Omar Ibne Sa'd was the first to take the how in the Yazidian camp and shoot an arrow towards Husain saying: (addressing the men of his forces):-

"Witness ye all that I am the first to shoot an arrow against Husain."

Reporters of the event relate that along with Omar 4,000 archers in the Yazidian ranks simultaneously shot towards the Holy Imam's camp, and before the holy souls could conclude their prayers, thirty (30) of the godly ones, who were engaged in the prayer, were shot dead.

Soon after the prayer was over, the Holy Imam ordered all his faithful companions to fall in, and divided his small godly band into three flanks, i.e., the right and the left wings and the central body. Husain called his brave brother, Abbas, the Faithful and presented to him the Holy Standard of Truth and thus Abbas from that day came to be known as ' Abbas-e-Alamdar' or Abbas the Standard Bearer.

Sermon of the Holy Imam on the Day of Ashoora

AT LAST WHEN it became sure that the devilish forces were bent upon a wholesale massacre, Husain spoke out aloud addressing the men of the Yazidian forces in an apostolic tune.

"o' people! Do ye recognise me?

By God tell me?" The reply from the enemy was: " By God, yes, We do recognise thee, Thou art the Son of the Holy Prophet." Husain again said:-

" Do ye know me! Am I not the son of the Apostle of God?"

The reply was:-

" Yes, we do know thee, Thou art the son of the Apostle of God."

Husain said :-

" Do ye know that my father is Ali-a l-Murtaza son of Abu Taleb, and my mother is Fatema Zahra, the daughter of the Apostle of Cod and my grandmother is Lady Khadija daughter of Khowailad, who was the first to embrace Islam?"

The reply was:-

" Yes. It is so."

Husain said: -

" By Cod, tell me, is not Harnza the Chief of the Martyrs of Islam, one of my uncles?"

The reply was:-

" Yes.

Husain said:-

"0' people! Do ye recognise this turban on my head, is it not the turban of the Holy Prophet and this sword at my hand, that of the Apostle of God?"

The reply was:-

" Yes we do recognise."

Husain said :-

" Do ye know that my father Ali ibne Abi Taleb was the first among men to join the Holy Prophet in the faith Islam, and he was the most learned, and the most forbearing of all men and was the ' Maula' (or the Master, Lord) of all men and women?"

The reply was:-

" Yes! We know that everything thou sayest is truth." Then Husain asked aloud:

" Say ye then, why do ye make lawful the shedding of my blood? "

The reply from the brutal forces was:-

" Yes! We shall kill thee in thy thirst."

The voice of the Holy Imam was heard in the tents in camp. The ladies and the children hearing the last reply from the enemy began to weep for Husain and Zainab and Omme Kulthoom the two sisters of Husain, the daughter of Ali and Fatema were the most effected. (Zindagani Husain-Imadzadeh, Tehran)

Hur joins the Holy Imam

HUR, THE COMMANDER of Yazid's regiment, who had obstructed Husain's way near Kufa, was also present in the enemy's forces in Karbala. He spent all his time in repenting for having obstructed the way of the son of the Holy Prophet. The enemy's officers and soldiers were only wondering at the mysterious sorrowful silence and the serious pensive mood in which Hur spent all his time since his arrival on the plain.

While he distributed weapons of defence to his devotees in his camp, the Holy Imam reserved a lance but did not say for whom it was. He only announced in a mysterious tone that a faithful one in the enemy's ranks was to join the ranks of the fighters for Truth. In the meanwhile, there in the ranks of the enemy Hur called his brother and his son secretly in his tent and said:- " We are doomed-driven towards ' hell.' There is yet time. I have decided to dash out of the ranks of Satan and join the side of the Holy Imam and seek pardon of the son of the Apostle of God. Would you like to accompany me or stay where you are?" The brother and the son of Hur both readily consented to accompnay him and Hur's slave who was a faithful and trusted one of his master, was present in the tent and implored saying ' Master! take me away from this God's cursed side, along with thee. Pray leave me not for hell' and Hur agreed.

Hur, with his son, brother and a slave, dashed out of the enemy's ranks and joined the Holy Imam. Hur appearing before the Holy Imam, begged his pardon for the wrong he had done. The return of Hur had already been foretold by Husain in his camp. Hur was received very warmly by Husain and his companions and when the fight against the Devil began, Hur was the first one who went into the field against the enemy and laid down his life.

The Battle of Truth Against Falsehood

THus THE BATTLE of Truth against Falsehood began. One after another of the godly ones from the Holy Imam's side went into the field and laid down his life after exhibiting wonderful bravery, courage, valour and prowess. It looked as if the thirst, hunger, heat and the wounds had no effect whatsoever on the patience, the strength and the determination of Husain's devotees. At last when the deceitful Ibna-i-Sa'd saw the wonderful fhght, he was astonished that each one from the Holy Imam'S side easily destroyed dozens before he fell, and who proved unconquerable, he or dered a sally in contravention of the solemn agreement entered into, the previous night. The bravery and the skill displayed by the faithful supporters of the sacred cause, the matchless resignation to the Divine will, and the flawless devotion and the ideal attachment of each one of the hungry and thirsty sufferers of the godly cdmp, to the Holy Imam and to the sacred cause of Truth, drowned the Devil's army and their officers in wonder and astonishment, and they had become so awe-stricken at the miraculous strength and unparalleled courage of the helpless suffcrers that they began to dread the very countenance of each of the godly devotees of the Holy Imam who came alone into the field and fought and fell in the way of God.

Thus, whenever a supporter of the Holy cause went against the Devil's forces and fell, the Holy Imam rushed out and brought his body and laid it in a tent pitched particularly for the martyrs. As the battle for Right against Might proceeded and the supporters of the Truth fell one after another, the tent containing the bodies. of the martyrs was turned into a' Ganje Shaheedan' or the 'Re- pository of the Martyrs.'

Zainab sends Her two Young Sons

WHEN DEVOTEE AFTER devotee fought and fell, in defence of the Holy Family,Husain's sister, Zainab, called her two sons, Aun and Muhammad aged 10 and g years respectively, who were with the Holy Imam, and asked them:-

"what ! death has come to so many of the Holy Imam's devotees and you are still alive?"

The children submitted:-

"Mother dear! We are only waiting for the Holy Imam's permission, get it for us now, our mother dear! and then see what these two slaves of yours would do."

Zainab immediately sent for her brother the Holy Imam and implored that her two Sons be permitted to go into the field. Husain could not say no to his sister. When these two boys went into the field, they got martyred. Husain and Abbas brought the two bodies of the young martyrs and laid them down in the tent of Zainab. Zarnab came to the two bodies of her sons and addressing them said:- " My dear children! Now I am pleased with you for you have proved your worth and Laid down your lives for Truth and pleased God and His Holy Prophet.

Qisim, son of Hasan

WHEN THE YOUNG Qasim aged about fourteen years, son of Imam Hasan, sought permission to go, it is reported that Husain re- membered the wish of his late brother Hasan that one of his daughtcrs be wedded to his son Qasim. At the same time Qasim presented to the Holy Hum a closed note, written and given to him by his father, to be opened only when the worst calamity befeIl him, in which was written addressing Qasim:-

"My dear Son Qasim when your uncle Husain is besieged by his enemites from all sides and when erery true lover of God and the Holy Prophet, lays down his life, defend- ing the cause of Truth, you sacrifice yourself for the cause on my behalf." The Holy Imam kissed his late brother's writing. It is reported that Husain wedded his daughter Fatema-Kubra to Qasirn and immediately after the wedding, Qasim took his uncle's permis- sion and went into the battlefield and after killing five famous warriors of the Devil's army (Azrag and his four sons) fell from his horse. Alas ! before Husain could reach Qasim in response to his call for help, the whole cavalry of the Devil moved trampling over Qasim's body.

Abbas the Brave-The Standard Bearer

WHEN ABBAS, THE Lion-Hearted son of Ali, went into the field, his fight very much resembled the fight of his father All, the Lion of God. Abbas' fight can never be described in a line or two. Anis and Dabir, the two famous Urdu Poets, have beautifully given a classical exposition of the marvellous encounter of Abbas with the Devil's forces. Abbas' strength, valour, dexterity, prowess, his devotion to the cause of Truth and his attachment to the Holy Imam, are unique in the history of the world. Against the wonder- ful dash which the Lion-Hearted son of the Lion of God-made, the Devil's men had to give way. After a terrible fight, Abbas reached the hank of the river and filled the sack with water for the thirsty children in Husain's camp but never tasted a drop of it saying:-

" Ah! When My Lord, the Holy Imam and his innocent children are thirsty, how can Abbas taste this water."

Alas! While Abbas was returning from the river with the sack of water on his shoulder, he was attacked from all sides and at last he fell near the bank of the river but not until he had lost both his hands which were severed by a treacherous attack from a hiding.

Ali-e-Akbar's Martyrdom

AFTER ABBAS, CAME the turn of Ali-e- Akbar, t o go to the battlefield. It is reported that this eighteen year old son was so very much loved by one and all in the camp that the account ofhis taking leave of his mother, aunts, sisters, brothers and other relatives is so pathetic that none can resist shedding at least a few tears over the heart-rending event. At last when the Holy Imam sent Ali-e- Akbar, the ' Ahmad-i-thani' , i.e., (Muhammad the Second), to the battlefield, he raised his head towards Heaven and said:-

"Lord! Here is sent in Thy way, the one who resemblcth the most with Thy Prophet Muhammad, whenever we did desire to have a view of the Holy Face departed away from us, we used to look at the face of this youth."

"Lord! Husain has one Ali-e-Akbar and lie is sent to be sacrificed for Thy cause, had I many more like him, I would have similarly offered them all in Thy way.

Is not this offer more acceptable to God than that of Abraham who offered with his eyes blindfolded ? Is not this a Greater Sacri fice than that of Ishmael?

When Ali-e-Akhar went into the battlefield, it is reported that the Devil's forces were so much amazed at his resemblance with the Holy Prophet that such of those who had seen him before, wondered if the Holy Prophet had reappeared in the world to help his dear grandson Husain. People were so anxious to have a look at the enchanting beauty of the youth that those in the rear of the enemy's ranks, mounted on the horses and camels, even stood on the backs of the animals to have a look at the matchless and the wonder- striking beauty of this son of the Holy Imam. But lo! There was a treacherous onslaught and Ali-e-Akbar fell with a lance pierced through his breast as the Holy Imam had prophesied. God alone knows what a patient heart the Holy Imam had been endowed with, which never gave way against any catastrophe even that of the loss of such a son. The Holy Imam stood looking at his son dying before his eyes and lifting his head towards Heaven said:- " Lord! It will he quite sufficient for Thy Husain if thou accepteth this sacrifice and if thou art pleased with this humble offer.

Husain stands alone

WHEN EVERY ONE of his devotees was slain and none was left on the Holy Imam's side, he stood all alone in the field with his head resting on a lance and his garments drenched not only in his own blood but also of his martyred son, brothers, nephews and devotees, with the Devil's forces all around him.

Baby Ali-e-Asghar comes into the field

WHEN THE HELPLESS Imam stood all alone in the field surrounded by the enemies, he was summoned by a call from his sister Zainab in his camp. When he went into the tent, he found his baby son Ali-e Asghar, dying of thirst in his cradle and the poor mother Rubab, whose milk had dried up by the continuous thirst and hunger for the three consecutive days, could not help the baby with even a drop of her milk. Telling the mother that he would show the baby to the enemy and get some water for it if they give it, Husain took the babe to the field and getting on a camel and raising it up in his arms to enable everyone in the enemy's forces to see it said:-

"O' People! if in your opinion, Husaiu is guilty of any sin or crime, this innocent babe has done nothing to hurt any one of you. It does not even speak, and has not even uttered anything against you or your Amir at Damas- cus. He is dying of thirst. He had neither in milk nor water for the last three days. Would you quench his thirst by a fem drops of water. If you suspect that Idemand water for myself in the name of the babe, then I will kave it here, fyou want, and go away and you may return it with his thirst quenched."

It is reported that the address of the Holy Imam and the scene, with the thirsty innocent babe in his hands, was so touching, so pathetic and so heart-rending that even the men in the Devil's army could not help weeping and cursing the Devil and his Deputy Ibne Ziad, Governor of Kufa, who had gathered them there against such Holy and helpless ones. Ibna-i-Sa'd, fearing a revolt of his forces in sympathy for the Holy Imam, at once ordered a stone- hearted brute named Hurrnula to answer Husain. The tyrant, shot a three-pronged arrow from his bow which after piercing through the Imam's arm got stuck into the tiny neck of the innocent babe. Blood flowed from the neck and the baby looking at its father's face smiled and stopped breathing for ever. Husain col- lcctcd the little blood that came out of the tiny neck of his baby son in his -hand, and it is reported that when he wanted to drop it on the earth, from the earth the Holy Imam heard a voice saying:-

"O' Holy Imam! I can not bear this innocent blood."

And when Husain wanted to throw the blood towards heaven, he heard a voice saying:-

"O' Hoy Imam! Throw not the innocent blood towards me for I can not bear it."

An Urdu poet has vcrsified the event:-

"Inkar aasrna ko hai, Razi Zami nahi Asghar Tumhare Koon ka thikana Kahi nahi."

i.e.The heaven refuses and the earth does not agree, o' Ali-e-Asghar, thy blood has no place in the world.

It is reported that the Holy Imam smeared his face with the blood of the innocent baby.

Husain could not take the dead baby to be returned to its mother who was waiting anxiously for it, at the door of her tent in the camp. Hence he sat down to bury his baby son in the burning sand of the desert. Does not even this one single sacrifice suffice to touch every human heart ? Can we not call this one sacrifice alone greater than the sacrifice offered by Abraham ? God alone knows the degree of the patience and the fortitude which He had endowed in the Holy Imam to bear the series of such unbearable calamities.