Dialogue of Ummu-Salamah with Imam Hussein Peace Be Upon Him

Allamah Majlisi says that I have read in some books, that when Imam Hussein (A.S) decided to leave Medina, Ummu-Salamah 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 Hussein 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 murderer 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 along with me. 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 the holy Prophet (PBUH) gave some sand to Ummu-Salamah and said: when it turns into blood know that my beloved Hussein has been martyred.

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Taken from the book named: NAFASUL MAHMOOM

By Haj Shaikh Abbas Qummi (a.r)

Conversation of Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari with Imam Hussein Peace Be Upon Him

 

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 Hussein (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 Hussein 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 Hassan to testify regarding my action"?

Then Imam looked towards the heavens, suddenly I saw that the doors of heavens opened ajar and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Imam Ali (A.S), Imam Hassan (A.S), Hazrat Hamza (A.S), Hazrat Ja’far ibn 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 Hussein during the time of Hassan 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 Hussein 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 along with the other rebellious Satan. 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 Hussein,

"Come and mingle with me my dear Hussein."

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

"O Jabir! This son of mine is here along with 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."

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Taken from the book named: NAFASUL MAHMOOM

By Haj Shaikh Abbas Qummi (a.r)

Umar bin Sa'ad in Karbala

 

"Now then O Hussein! I have been informed that you have halted at Karbala. Yazeed has written to me not to recline my head on the bed and not be satiated until I send you to Allah, or you submit yourself to me and Yazeed bin Mu’awiyah."

When his letter reached Imam Hussein (A.S), he read it and said:

"The one who seeks the pleasure of people against the displeasure of Allah can never succeed."

The messenger asked him the reply for the letter, to which Imam said:

"He has no reply, but has the wrath (of Allah)."

When the messenger reached Ubaydullah and conveyed the Imam’s message to him, he was infuriated and looked towards Umar bin Sa’ad and appointed him to fight with Imam Hussein (A.S). Before that Ubaydullah had given the governorship of Ray to Umar bin Sa’ad, thus when Umar excused himself, Ubaydullah told him to return the post bestowed upon him. Umar asked for respite and thereafter agreed in fear of the governorship being taken away from him.

The author says that this (Umar bin Sa’ad’s excuse to Ubaydullah not to fight) seems unlikely to me. The reliable biographers and historians have mutually agreed that Umar bin Sa’ad reached Karbala one day after Imam Hussein (A.S) entered therein, and it was the day of third of Muharram (thus it proves that he was prepared for it from the very beginning).

It is written in Bihaar al-Anwaar, that Ubaydullah bin Ziyad kept dispatching troops one after the other to Umar bin Sa’ad (in Karbala) until he had thirty thousand horsemen and foot-soldiers with him. Then Ubaydullah wrote to Umar: “I have not left any excuse for you with respect to the (quantity of) army. Then remember to inform me, every morning and evening, about your affairs.” Ubaydullah had started inciting Umar (for battle) from the sixth of Muharram.

Habeeb bin Muzhaahir came to Imam Hussein (A.S) and told him, “O son of the Prophet of Allah (PBUH)! Nearby there is a branch of the tribe of Bani Asad. If you permit, I shall go to them and invite them to assist you; perhaps Allah will defend you through them.” Imam gave him permission and Habeeb, in the darkness of the night, disguised himself and went towards them. They recognized him then Habeeb replied, “I have brought the best gift for you. I have come to you to invite you to assist the grandson of our Prophet. He is here with a group of believers, each one of whom is better than a thousand men, and they shall not leave him, betray him nor surrender him (to the enemies). Then Umar bin Sa’ad has surrounded them. You are my tribesmen; hence I invite you towards welfare. Then today pay heeds to my words and assists him, so as to gain honor in this world as well as the Hereafter. I swear by Allah! Whoever among you is martyred in the way of Allah along with the grandson of the Prophet of Allah, and then he will be in the lofty station among the friends of Muhammad (PBUH).” Hearing this a man from among them, named Ubaydullah bin Basheer arose, and said, “I am the first one to accept this invitation.” Then he recited the following Rajaz: “The nation knows that when the horsemen are ready to fight, I stand as a warrior, valorous, similar to a forest Lion.” Then the men of the tribe gathered until ninety people prepared to go to assist Imam Hussein (A.S).

At that moment, a man from among them went and apprised Umar bin Sa’ad about the situation and he sent Ibne Azraq with four hundred horsemen towards Bani Asad. When they (Bani Asad) were coming towards the army of Imam Hussein (A.S), the horsemen of Umar bin Sa’ad stopped them on the bank of the river Euphrates. A quarrel started between them which turned into a fierce battle. When the people of Bani Asad realised that they were incapable of resisting them, they returned to their tribe. They left their place that very night fearing Umar bin Sa’ad. Habeeb returned to Imam (A.S) and apprised him of the situation and Imam said:

“There is no Might and no Power except with Allah, the Most High, and the Most Great.”

Then Ubaydullah wrote to Umar bin Sa"ad: "Now then! Prevent Husain and his companions from getting water. They should not get a single drop of water.

Umar bin Sa'ad immediately sent Amr bin Hajjaj with five hundred horse-men to go to the bank of the river Euphrates and block the supply of water for Imam and his companions. They did not allow them to take even a single drop of water, and that was three days before the martyrdom of Imam Hussein(A.S)

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Taken from the book named: NAFASUL MAHMOOM

By Haj Shaikh Abbas Qummi (a.r)

?What Does Karbala Teach Us

 

Husayn had shown by his acts as well as his various discourses during the seven days of Muharram at Karbala, that this conflict was much more universal in nature, and that he knew that he was going to live for ever through his martyrdom.

Yazeed died as uselessly as he lived, only three years after the battle of Karbala took place. While trying to race a baboon, he fell from his horse and broke his neck. As history has recorded, those who were apparent victors at Karbala have disappeared without trace. While the plain of Karbala was transformed from a deserted piece of barren land into a bustling town, of which, the central monument is Husayn's glorious tomb.

Hundreds of thousands of people visit the tomb in reverence, all the year round, day and night. Husayn's martyrdom is observed with solemn deference all over the world, every year during the first ten days of the month of Muharram, by his followers. Public gatherings are held, speeches are made in which the story of Karbala is retold in touching tones and prayers are made to the effect that may the almighty Allah grant the same courage and strength to his followers in their hour of trial as he did to Husayn. At the end of these gatherings, the audience stand up and pay homage to Husayn and his companions in the following formal terms:

I wish I was with you ( at Karbala ) and would therefore, have attained the same exalted station ( as you did ).

Although, the observance of commemoration of Husayn in Muharram has only recently started in the Western countries, they are a part of the Muslim culture in India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and other eastern countries.

New centers have been established in Canada, the USA, and in many European countries where these practices of Muharram are done with all the elaborate details. The main element of these commemorative practices is the message of Husayn, which is also the message of the Prophet of Islam, that is Islam in its purest form. That is as follows:

1. Islam is a universal religion

2. Islam is the religion of human rights and common sense

3. Islam upholds the basic right of every person to hold his/her own views

4. Islam stands for the poor, the downtrodden and the weak

5. Islam teaches to side with the Mazloom and fight the Zalim

6. Islam appeals to human conscience and consciousness to see the right from wrong

7. Islam appeals to man through his own awareness and power to distinguish between good and evil.

8. Islam does not impose the law by brute force.

Karbala is a gift to humanity. The story of Karbala teaches us the following lessons:

1. It teaches the parents how to love and cherish their children - however, when comes the time of sacrifice, the parent is in the forefront to sacrifice his/her child for the right cause.

2. It teaches men and women how a husband should behave with her wife, and vise-versa. Even when the family is threatened for life, property, and honour, how sensible people keep their heads and act according to Allah's and nature's laws.

3. It teaches the faithful that your beliefs and your convictions are the most important thing in the world.

4. It teaches the faithful to find the right Imam and follow him

5. It teaches the faithful that helplessness and lack of power in this world do not mean a thing as long as one has chosen the right path and he/she is convinced that he/she is on the side of the truth.

One example from our times will suffice to explain this point.

A few days ago, 25 young girls were burnt to death inside a school building in Saudi Arabia. When the fire started in the building, children ran to the gate to save themselves from getting burnt. The religious police of Saudi Arabia would net let them get out of the building because they did not have the proper HIJAB on!!!!!!

When tents were burning in Karbala, Zaynab Husayn's sister approached her 24 year old nephew, Ali Zayn al-Abideen and asked him: "Nephew, you are our Imam now, what is your command about us, shall we all get burnt to death or save our lives and go out of the tents without our HIJAB?" Ali Zayna al-Abideen replied: " Aunt, saving your life is wajib, go out and save yourselves and the children."

The head coverings (chadars) had already been looted from the heads of the ladies by the enemy soldiers. However, Zaynab was the daughter of Ali and Fatima, the grand-daughter of the Prophet of Islam. She did not need anyone else to tell her what was the law. She had grown up with Islam. By this one act, Zaynab showed to the world the importance of the Imam of the time. At the same time, Ali Zayn al-Abideen's reply showed that Islamic law is what it is, but common sense always prevails.

Source: alhassanain.com

The Important Choice in Karbala Part 3

 

From the beginning, Hurr was hoping that the events would not lead to war, but now war seems to be unavoidable. Human-beings have limited capability in tolerating shame and scorn, except for those who are genius in this respect and can tolerate disgrace unlimitedly.

Hurr never had thought that being an employee of the government of Yazid would mean collaborating in Yazid's criminal acts. For him his job was just a source of income without having anything to do with politics or his religion.

Hurr now realizes that adding his position with his religion is impossible. Thus, hopelessly and as a last resort he talks with the commander of the Army (Umar bin Sa’ad) who like himself is reluctant to get in a war and has accepted the mission to become the governor of the province of Ray. What would then be better than coming up with some sort of a solution without getting involved in the blood of the grandson of the Prophet and his family.

Hurr and Umar bin Sa’ad both have come all the way from the palace of Yazid to Karbala together and they share the same status and social class. Hurr asks Omar:

Can’t you find a peaceful solution for this situation?

You know that if it had been up to me I would have done as what you propose, but your master Ubaydullah bin Ziyaddid not accepts a peaceful resolution!

So are you going to fight with this man (Hussein)?

Yes, by God, I will fight a battle the least consequence of which will be separated heads and broken arms!

Now, it is evident that no longer can he play games with his religion. Now, the two separate their paths.

For Hurr, Yazid’s army of tens of thousand is now nothing more than a bunch of faces, without meaning. A crowd of men without selves, a group of people without hearts, those who shout but don’t know why, fight but don’t know for whom. Now the Jesus of love and conscience cures a blind and resurrects a dead, creating a martyr from a murderer. In a journey it is not enough to ask for the destination, but one should also ask from the origin.

Thus, the length of Hurr’s journey becomes evident when one realizes from where he started, and to where he ended, all in half-a day’s time. In his emigration from Satan to Allah, Hurr did not study philosophy or theology, nor did he attend any lectures or schools.

He just changed his direction, and it is in fact this direction which gives meaning to everything: art, science, literature, religion, prayers, hajj, Muhammad, Ali... Having started his journey, and riding his horse, he slowly leaves his Army toward Hussein. Muhajer-ebn-Ous, who sees him agitated and worried, asks:

What’s wrong with you Hurr? I am puzzled by your case, by God if I were asked about the bravest man in our army I wouldn’t hesitate to mention your name, and now you are so disturbed and worried?

I find myself between the Hell and the Heaven, and I have to select between them, and by God I will not choose but Heaven, even if I were cut to pieces or burnt to ashes!

The creation of Hurr was completed and the fire of doubt has led him to the verity of certitude. He slowly approaches the camp of Hussein, and as he gets closer he hangs his boots from his neck, and keeps his armor down (as a sign of remorse)

I am the one who closed your path O Hussein. He didn’t accept Hussein’s invitation to rest for a while...

Is there repentance for me? He can’t wait any longer, he returns to the front and attacks the army of Omar with the most severe and bitter words, letting his ex-army and ex-commander know that he is no longer a slave, he is free, he is Hurr.

Umar bin Sa’ad, his ex-commander, responds by throwing an arrow and yelling

Be witness and let Amir-al-momenin know that I was the one to throw the first arrow at the army of Hussein!

And this was how the battle of Karbala started...

by: Dr. Ali Shariati

Source: rafed.net

The Important Choice in Karbala Part 2

The history of Islam is full of contradicting features. The two lines starting from Habil and Qabil, existing throughout the history side by side though in different faces, have also continued in Islam. Now, both these streams are dressed in Islam, but in opposite directions. Ironically, our hero is faced to choose between the most extreme end sins each of these parties:

Yazid, and Hussein.

Indeed, had this story been created by an author, he should have been recognized for his genuine and art...

What is the name of this hero? For a historic figure, what is important is the role he plays, and not his name, since his name is something chosen for him by his family, according to his parent's taste. On the other hand, if the story is created by an ingenious writer, he would choose a name which is relevant to the role of his hero.

In this story however, our hero has been named by his mother, Hurr, as if she has been able to foresee the sensitive role his son is going to play. And thus, when the Imam of freedom attends his bloody body, just before his death, tells him: O Hurr! God bless you! You are free both in this world and in the world to come, just like what your mother called you!

Although Hurr has played a unique role in the history, the essence of his role is not just confined to himself. The meaning of his action, in fact, includes all human-beings, and indeed defines humanity.

It is what distinguishes the human-beings from other creatures, underlining the responsibility of man with respect to God, people, and himself. And Hurr has not played this with words and concepts, but with love and blood. If one grasps the depth of this saying from Imam Sadiq(A.S) that All days are Ashura, and all places are Karbala, and all months are Muharam one readily feels the extension: and all human-beings are Hurr!

Our history, starting from Habil and Qabil, is the manifestation of the eternal conflict between the two poles of God and Satan, though in each period of time these two poles have disguised differently. Therefore, in each period of time, every human-being finds himself just in the same position as Hurr did: alone, in the middle, hesitating, between the same two armies.

On the one side, the commander of the army of evil shouts on his soldiers: O Army of God! Attack! And on the other side, an Imam, with a voice echoing throughout the history asks -and not commands- Is there anybody who wishes to assist me? And you, the man, should choose.

It is by this choice that you become human. Before this choice you are nothing, you are just an existence without essence, you are standing in the middle.

Thus, the man who has found existence through birth finds essence through choice. It is by this choice, that the creation of man completes, and this is exactly when the man feels this heavy burden on his shoulders and finds himself alone, as God and the nature have left him on his own on this dangerous decision.

Now we can evaluate our hero, we can feel what a long journey he has gone through in what a short time, to change him from a Yazidian Hurr, to a Husseinian Hurr. If he stays with the army of Yazid, his world is guaranteed, and if he joins the small army of Hussein, his death is eminent. It is the morning of the day of Ashura, and although the battle has not yet started in the fields, Hurr realizes that the opportunity would not last. Time goes by fast, and the moments count. The storm has already started within him.

by: Dr. Ali Shariati

Source: rafed.net

The Important Choice in Karbala Part 1

Hurr was the name of one of the high-ranking commanders of the army of Omar-e-Sad who faced the grandson of the Prophet of Islam, Hussein-ibn-Ali, with orders from Yazeed-ibn-Muawiah to either get Hussein’s allegiance for his corrupt Khalifat, or kill Hussein and all his friends. It was Hurr and his army who first faced Imam Hussein, and then kept them under siege, preventing them from getting water.

On the day of Ashura, Hurr made a huge decision. Right before the battle started, he left his position and the army he was commanding, and joined Imam Hussein, and was the first to be killed in the way of Allah, by the army he used to be a commander of just a few hours earlier.

The name Hurr means free, freeborn, noble, freeman.

The fate, sometimes, plays a game. The factory of creation, constantly producing uncountable things, stones, trees, rivers, animals, insects, human beings, sometimes shows a scene of humor, creates an innovation or an exception: it writes a poem, paints a work of art, does something unique...In one word, it can be said that these items have a character. From among the houses, Kaba, from all the walls, the China Wall, from the planets orbiting the sun, earth, and....from all the martyrs: Hurr.

The artistic hands of destination have composed this scene with utmost precision, and as if to emphasize the importance of the story, have selected all the characters of the play from the absolutes, to make the story most effective.

The story is about a choice, the most important manifestation of the meaning of human being. But what kind of choice? We are all faced with several choices in our everyday life: career, friend, wife, and house, major... But in this story, the choice is much more difficult: the good and the evil. And even so, not from a philosophical, scientific, or theological perspective. Instead, the choice here is between the truthful and the deceiving religion, between the just and unjust politics, with life being the price to pay.

To further emphasize the sensitivity of the situation, the author has not put the hero of this story in the middle, equally between the right and the evil. Instead, the hero is the head of the army of the evil. On the other hand, the director of this play has to find symbols for his story to make them most effective.

Should he have Promote on one side and some demons on the other side? But this makes the story too mythical...Spartacus? No...This makes the story nationalistic and gives it a class dependent nature. How about Ibrahim and Nimrod? Moses and Pharaoh? Jesus and Judas? No... Again, for most of the people these are metaphysical and heavenly characters different from common ordinary people.

Having them as heroes reduces the effect of the story, and causes people to admire them, but never think about following their examples in their everyday life.

However, the main purpose of this story is to teach, to show the ability of the man to change, to show how it is possible for a common and even sinful man to reject all his social, family, and class ties and show a god-like change.

by: Dr. Ali Shariati

Source: rafed.net

Lessons of Ashura

Ashura was a battle between right and wrong; a divine battle which is not forgotten by time. The more time is lapsed from its date of happening, the clearer its teachings become for us.

Hussein bin Ali was a great person, who, through his sacrifices, taught many lessons to the coming generations.

Imam Hussein’s battle has many aspects. One aspect is its behavioral teachings, which are as follow:

1. The Message of Freedom

Freedom here does not mean to be free from moral bondages, as that would be slavery to the worldly desires. Freedom means that one should not accept oppression, but live an honorable and graceful life. Imam Hussein was such a person.

He once said, “Dying gracefully, is better than having a mean life.”‌ That is the destiny he chose for himself in Ashura.

2. Selflessness and Sacrifice

Selflessness is a characteristic of great men. Although they need what they have, they give priority to others. Such people are ready to sacrifice their lives or their properties. Both are valuable acts for God. Imam Hussein sacrificed everything he had for the cause of God; his life, his children and his relatives.

3. Trust in God

In order to show to people who Yazid really was, Hussein bin Ali left Medina and went to Mecca. There, he spoke to the people about the evil ruler. When they tried to kill him, he left Mecca, as a sign of respect for Kaba, and went to Iraq, although he knew that some people were trying to kill him. He trusted God in his journey.

On the day of Ashura too, Imam Hussein said that he only relied on God and that he had faith and trust in Him, “I have trust in God, who has created you and me.”‌

4. Courage and Bravery

Children of Prophet Muhammad, are all courageous, brave, and have strong determination. The bravery of Imam Hussein in regards to the event of Ashura was extraordinary:

“Come with me tomorrow, any of you who is prepared to sacrifice his life for God”‌, said he to his followers before leaving Mecca for Iraq.

5. Loyalty towards Vows and Promises

Believers are committed to God and keep their words to the people. This is also apparent in the battle of Ashura. Talking about the people of Kufa, not keeping their promise, Imam Hussein said, “I am not surprised by this development. That is what you did to my father and to my cousin, Muslim bin Aqeel as well.”‌

And later, he lauded his followers for their loyalty, on the night before Ashura, “Never have I seen people more loyal than my followers.”‌

6. Sincerity in Behavior

One’s behavior is a result of one’s beliefs. Whatever the believers do is for the sake of God, while others do everything for fame and for position.

One of the teachings of Ashura is the message of action for the sake of God, as Imam Hussein had no other motivation to get himself, his family, and his followers killed, but the satisfaction of God.

7. Carrying out the Duty

People of God, who are just after the satisfaction of God, only want to carry out their duties and are not after a specific outcome. A soldier should fight wholeheartedly, whether he will be the winner or loser.

Imam Hussein was not after worldly victory or positions in his battle. He just wanted to carry out the duty God had assigned him.

“I hope God will grant us happiness and goodness for us, whether we win, or we lose.”‌ Said Imam Hussein.

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Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi

Devotion to Hussein

 

One cannot understand the depth of the devotion to Imam Hussein unless he becomes a devotee. The devotees do not talk about their devotion with people who are not among them.

In a terrestrial journey, it is feet and legs that are hurt, but in celestial journey it is hearts which get hurt. If a heart does not cry and anguish when thinking about the fate of Hussein, it is even hard to call it a heart, for heart is the means for cognition through intuition.

But, what do we expect from Imam Hussein? What is the nexus between devotees and Hussein? The secret is our devotion to him; our affection towards him.

Have you ever thought about it? Where in our beliefs should the devotion to Hussein stand?

In answer to a question, Imam Sadiq (A.S) said: “Our religion is nothing but devotion to and disavowal from others?”‌ Saying this, he is actually emphasizing on the importance of this matter, and introducing religion as a body of likes and dislikes.

True love, makes the lover closer to the beloved. Being connected more to the heart than to the reason, love and affection could affect other aspects of religion too, making them weaker or stronger. Therefore, in order to stay in the right path, we need to be very careful about our likes and dislikes, as a small mistake could have irreparable consequences.

The devotion to Imam Hussein has great affects on people. The more honest our affection towards him, the more benefits we get. That is the case for affection towards all the Imams. That is what Imam Mahdi (A.S) has asked for too.

Affection towards Imam Hussein makes one closer to God. Devotees of Imam Hussein are here to assist him and to ask for his assistance.

In order to get to Karbala, one should leave behind the worldly attachments and the limitations of time and space. Only selfless people can find the affection of Imam Hussein inside. Only one can be a devotee of Hussein who lets go of the things he likes because of God.

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Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi

Imam Hussein’s Words of Wisdom

The sayings and deeds of the true servants of God do not belong to their times only. Those words and acts always and forever guide the lost people towards happiness.

Following are some of the sayings of Imam Hussein (A.S) he said or wrote during the battle of Ashura. Words we could use today in order to get to the eternal happiness:

What is the greatest Misery?

Muawiya invited the great men of religion to make them pledge allegiance to his son, Yazid, as the next ruler.

Imam Hussein (A.S) told him in that meeting, “You want to deceive people, and in return for buying yourself misery in the hereafter, make your son happy in this world? This is the greatest loss ever.”‌

Imam Hussein (A.S) was actually referring to the following verses of the holy Qur’an: “There are among men some who serve Allah, as it were, on the verge: if good befalls them, they are, therewith, well content; but if a trial comes to them, they turn on their faces: they lose both this world and the Hereafter: that is loss for all to see!”‌, or “Truly, those in loss are those who lose their own souls and their People on the Day of Judgment: Ah! That is indeed the (real and) evident Loss!”‌

Saying this, Imam Hussein actually left us a great message; not to risk our happiness in the hereafter, because of someone else’s benefits in this world.

Examples in Today’s World

Many people today would do anything just for their candidate to be elected; they would commit every sin from lying to falsely accusing others, etc. Doing this, they are actually opening their ways towards Hell, in return for someone else’s having a position in this world for a short while. The other person might not even share his benefits with them after getting the position.

Prophet Muhammad’s Advise to Imam Ali (A.S)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told Imam Ali, “The worst among people is the one who would let go of his life in hereafter in return for gaining this world. Even worse than that is the one who would let go of his life in hereafter in return for gaining this world for someone else!”‌

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Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi

The Thirst in Karbala

The history of thirst began with the story of Prophet Abraham and his son Ismail. The next instance throughout the history was the story of Imam Hussein.

Prophet Abraham was going from Palestine to Mecca, while Imam Hussein was leaving Mecca to another Kaba…martyrdom.

The thirsty caravan was moving in the desert.

It was the second day of Muharram and the sun had just set. There was a deadly silence in the desert. Then Imam Hussein broke the silence with his beautiful voice,

“Stop! This is Karbala.”‌

“This is where they will take away our horses.”‌

“This is where they will kill us.”‌

“This is where they will disrespect us.”‌

“They will kill our men.”‌

“They will behead our children.”‌

“People will come to visit our graves here later.”‌

They stopped and they set up tents.

Approaching from far away, were soldiers who said, “We are against you. We are here to prevent you from having water.”‌

And the story of Karbala started.

Nights and days passed by and the men of Hussein fought while they were thirsty and were martyred.

The men of Yazid were the worst of the betrayers. They had asked Hussein to go to them and they promised to help him. But they started a fight with him when he arrived.

It was a difficult battle. Imam Hussein was tired. He would fight and he would check on the thirsty children in the tents. The suffering of the thirsty children was very hard for Imam Hussein to watch. He took a thirsty baby on his hands and said to the enemy, “Have mercy on this baby, if you have no mercy on me.”‌ But they killed the baby.

They say Ali Akbar was the first one of Abu-Talib’s sons who went to the battlefield. He asked for his father’s permission and his father beseeched God, “Lord! Here I send to war the one who is very much similar to your Prophet in looks and in manners. We look at him anytime we remember Prophet Muhammad.”‌

Anyway, Ali Akbar fought strongly for a while. Then he came back and said, “O, father! I am exhausted and thirsty. Have you got some water?”‌

“Your grandfather will soon give you water to drink. Just be patient.”‌ His father said.

He went back to the battlefield. He fought until he was injured. He fell down from horseback and called his father from far away and said, “God bless you, father! You were right. My grandfather just gave me water. I will never be thirsty again.”‌

That is how all the companions of Hussein were killed in Karbala, and by their martyrdom, they shed light on the right path for people in all times.

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Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi

Imam Hussein’s Important Speech in the Morning of Ashura

Addressing his companions in the morning of his martyrdom day, Hussein bin Ali delivered a speech in which he said: “You, servants of God! Be afraid of God and keep away from the world.”‌

As one can infer from the rest of this speech and from the verses of the Qur’an, Imam Hussein does not mean to turn away from the blessings of the world. He is just talking about keeping away from the worldly attachments, not to forget about the aim for which we were born, trying to achieve that goal and not to forget about the life after.

“If the world was supposed to keep some people in it forever, those people would have been the prophets who were the most deserving ones among us,”‌ he continued.

Imam Ali said, “One should have Prophet Muhammad as his role-model. Follow him in your lives, as he is the best role model for those who wish to follow his path and he brings comfort for anyone who seeks comfort in him. The best servants of God are those who follow Prophet Muhammad. He was very content. He was the thinnest of all and he was the hungriest among all the people. The world was offered to him, but he refused to accept it.”‌

This is the same thing that Imam Hussein said in his speech.

They both talked about the temporariness of the world and that if someone were supposed to live in the world forever, God would have chosen the best of his servants for this. While the lives of the prophets prove that they had a very normal life and they were even poor.

Imam Hussein continued his speech, “God has created the world to test us and it is nothing but temporary. Everything new becomes old in the world, everything gets destroyed and every happiness turns into sadness and sorrow. The world is just to reach and to leave.”‌ This world was created so that people are tested here and are given the chance to move towards perfection.

Imam Baqir said, “The world after is a place to stay, but this world is just a place to pass by it.”‌

Imam Ali says, “You people! This world is just to pass by and the world after is our eternal residence. Try to gain in this world what you could use in the world after.”‌

But what is that we should try to gain in this world that we could use in the world after?

Imam Hussein referred to the Qur’an in his speech and said, “But the best of provisions is right conduct.”‌

Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi/تبیان