Martyrs of Karbala - a distinctive perspective

The Holy Quran says:
'We said: O fire! be a comfort and peace to Ibrahim!' (21:59)

Jabir narrates from Imam al-Baqir [a]:'Before his martyrdom, Imam al-Husayn bin Ali [a] said to his companions:
Indeed the Apostle of Allah [s] said [to me]:
O my dear young son, surely you will be led to ‘Iraq; it is a land where Prophets of Allah and Successors of the Prophets have met; It is a land called Amura.
And indeed you shall be martyred there together with a group among your companions who would not sense the pain of the touch of iron.
Then Imam al-Husayn [a] read the  verse: ‘O Fire, be cool and peaceful for Ibrahim’ (21:59). The war will be cool and peaceful on you and them.'
(Qutb al-Din al-Rawandi, al-Khara'ij wa al-Jarayih, v.2, p. 848)

Explaining this situation of the Imam, the grand Ayatullah Jawadi Àmuli says:
According to a tradition from Imam al-Baqir [a] the army of al-Husayn [a] did not feel the pain of the blows and wounds on ‘Ashura’ day save a pinch...why is that?
This is because the spirit is the origin of pain and happiness.
One of you may fast and feel the pangs of hunger and thirst...
whereas another would fast but we would find in him nothing but happiness and high-spiritedness...aren’t the physical conditions similar for both?
So why is the first in torment while the second does not feel anything?
This is because the spirit of the second is attached to a realm distant from the material conditions.
Indeed the gallant warriors of Karbala were among those great spirits overcome by the unseen plane of existence.
(Ayatullah Jawadi Amuli, Thawrat al-’Ishq al-Ilahi, p. 232)
Shaykh Muhammad Khalfan; The Sacred Effusion

Muhammad bin Marwan is reported to have said:

I heard him Imam al-Sadiq [a] say:
Visit al-Husayn [a], even if it is once a year, for whosoever comes to him, with knowledge of his station, and not a nonbeliever, would not be given other than Paradise, and he would bebestowed with extensive sustenance, and Allah would quickly relieve him (from his problems).
Indeed Allah entrusted four thousand angels on the grave of al-Husayn [a], all of who weep for him.
They accompany the visitor until he returns to his family, and if the visitor gets sick they visit him, and if he dies, they witness his bier and seek for his forgiveness and mercy.
Ibn Qulawayh, Kamil al-Ziyarat, pp. 175-176

Prophets [s] conversation with Fatima [a] regarding the lovers of Hussein [a]

Chief Scholar, Ibn Qulawayh al-Qummi, Kaamil al-Ziyarat

Abu Abdillah (Imam al-Sadiq [a]) said:
Fatima [a] was carrying Hussein [a] one day when the messenger of Allah [s] took him from her.
He said to Hussein [a], 'Allah's curse be upon those who will kill you. Allah's curse be upon those who will loot you. May Allah destroy those who will help one another against you. MayAllah judge between me and those who will support others against you.'
Fatima [a] asked, 'O Father! What are you saying?!'
The Prophet [s] replied:
O My Daughter! I remembered the tragedies that will befall him after me and you, and how he will be hurt, oppressed, betrayed and violated. When this happens, he will be accompanied by a group of people who are like stars of the sky, and they will be led towards death.'
The Prophet [s] continued:
'It is as if I can see their camp, the place where they will dismount from their sumpters, and their dust.' (referring to Karbala)
Fatima [a] asked, 'O Father! Where is this place you are describing?'

The Prophet [s] replied:
'It is a land called Karbala. It is a land of KARB (agony) and BALAA (affliction) for us and for the nation. The most wicked ones of my nation will rise against them (Hussein [a] and his companions). Even if all of the inhabitants of the heavens and the earths intercede for one of those who rise against Hussein [a], their intercession will not be accepted, and they will abide in hell eternally.'
Fatima [a] asked, 'O Father! So he (Hussein [a]) will be killed?'

The Prophet replied:

'Yes O My Daughter! No one has ever been killed or will be killed other than Hussein [a] on whom the heavens, the earths, the mountains, the angels, the beasts and the whales in the oceans will cry. And if these created beings had been given permission to destroy everything to avenge Hussein [a], no living object would have survived after the killing of Hussein [a].
Verily a group of people who love us will go to him (his Ziyarah). Verily no one on earth knows Allah better than they do and no one is more committed to our rights than they are.
Verily no one on earth other than them will pay attention to Hussein [a].
Verily they are the lights in the darkness of oppression.
They are the intercessors and they are those who will join me by my pool tomorrow on the day of Judgment.
I will recognize them by their marks when I see them (on the day of Judgment).
On that day, the followers of every religion will look for their leaders and they (those who go to the Ziyarah of Hussein [a]) will look for no one other than us.
They are the pillars of the earth, and the rains shower down through them.'
This is an excerpt from a longer hadith. For more information, refer to Tafseer Furaat Ibn Ibrahim Al-Kufi.

Cure in the Ha'air of al-Husayn [a]

The Chief Scholar, Ibn Qulawayh al-Qummi, Kaamil al-Ziyarat, Addendum

My father and Muhammad ibn Hassan both narrates to me from Hasah ibn Mattil, from Sahl ibn Ziyad, from Abi Hashim al-Ja'fari (refers to Dawud ibn Qasim ibn Ishaq ibn Abdillah ibn Ja'far ibn Abi Talib [as] who was one of the high ranked and noble companions of the AhlulBayt [as] and the companion of Imam Rida, Imam Jawad, Imam Hadi and Imam al-Askari [as])

When Abul Hassan (Imam al-Haadi [as]) was ill, he sent for Muhammad ibn Hamzah and I.Muhammad ibn Hamzah arrived there before I did and told me that Imam [as] kept saying, 'Send some one (on my behalf) to the Haa'ir! Send some one (on my behalf) to the Haa'ir!'
I said to Muhammad ibn Hamzah, 'Why did you not say that you would go to the Haa'ir (on his behalf)?!'

Then I went to the Imam [as] and said, 'May I sacrifice myself for you! I will go the Haa'ir.'
Imam replied, 'Plan it carefully, for Muhammad cannot keep this matter hidden from Zayd ibn Ali and I do not want him to find out about this.'

I mentioned this to Ali ibn Bilal and he asked, 'Why does the Imam [as] want to send someone to the Haa'ir while he is (as sacred as) the Haa'ir?!'
I went back to Askar (Samarra) and went to visit the Imam [as]. When I was about to leave, the Imam [as] asked me to stay. Once I felt comfortable, I mentioned that which Ali ibn Bilal had said.
Therefore the Imam said:
'Why did you not reply to him saying that the Messenger of Allah [saw] used to circumambulate the Kaaba and kiss the Hajar al-Aswad even though the sanctity of theProphet [saw] and even a believer is greater than the sanctity of the House of Allah?!
(Moreover), Allah ordered him (the Prophet [saw]) to go to Arafah and stay in it (while he is more sacred than Arafah). This is because these are places in which Allah loves to be called upon.
And I love to have someone pray for me in a place where Allah loves to be called upon, and the Haa'ir is one of these places.'

 Similar narration 
Al-Amili, Wasail al-Shia, v.14, p. 537 (Extract from 'The Sacred Effusion', Sh Muhammad Khalfan)

It is narrated that Imam al-Sadiq (a) once got ill, and ordered someone who was near him to tell his people to hire someone, so that he may pray for him near the grave of al-Husayn (a). So they found a person, and told him to do what is required.
He said: I will go, but al-Husayn (a) is an Imam who must be compulsorily obeyed (muftarad al-ta'a) and he (i.e. Imam al-Sadiq [a]) [likewise] is an Imam who must be compulsorily obeyed.[Aren’t they equal in status?]
So they went to Imam al-Sadiq (a) and informed him what the person had said. The Imam (a) said: What he said is correct. However, is he not aware that Allah has places, wherein supplications are accepted. And that spot [i.e. near the grave of al-Husayn (a)] is among those places.

Extraordinary angels of the day of Ashura, alongside the Qaaim [af]

Ibn Qulawayh Al Qummi, Kaamil al-Ziyarat


Abaan Ibn Taghlib narrates from Abu Abdillah (Imam Sadiq [as]) who said,
It is as if I can see the Qaaim [af] in Najaf (next to) Kufah wearing an armour of the Messenger of Allah [saw].

He will shake the armour (first) and then it will wrap itself around him, after which he will cover it with a robe made of brocade.

He will be riding a pitch-black horse which has a raceme (a simple flower cluster having the flowers on short stalks along a stem) on its forehead. He will jump with the horse in such a way that people in every country will see him as if he is with them in their (own) country.
Then he will unfold the flag of the Messenger of Allah [saw]. The flag pole is from the pillars of the Throne while the rest of the flag is from Allah's victory! If he points this flag to anything, Allah will destroy it. When he shakes the flag, the heart of every believer will become like a strong piece of iron and each believer will be given the strength of forty men.

Every believer who has died will feel the happiness (of the rising of the Qaaim [af]) in his grave. They (the dead believers) will start visiting one another in their graves and will give glad tidings to one another about the rising of the Qaaim [af].

Then thirteen thousand three hundred and thirteen angels will join the Qaaim [af].
I (Abaan Ibn Taghlib) asked, 'This many angels will join him?'

Imam [as] replied:
 'Yes. (These are) the angels who were with Nuh in the ark [Quran 11:36-48], with Ibrahim when he was cast in the fire [Quran 21:51-70], with Musa when he split the sea for the Bani Israel[Quran 26:52-66], and who were with Isa when Allah ascended him to Himself [Quran 4:157-159].

Among these angels are also the four thousand '(fully equipped) distinguished angels' [Quran 3:125] and the one thousand 'angels who came in an unbroken succession' [Quran 8:9] who were with the Prophet [saw], the three hundred and thirteen angels who fought in the battle of Badr and the four thousand angels who descended to fight along with Husein [as] but who were not permitted to fight.
Four thousand angels descended on the day of Ashura to fight along with Husein [as] but they were not permitted to fight. Therefore they ascended back to the heavens to seek permissionfrom Allah. However, by the time they came back, Husein [as] had been killed. Therefore they remain next to his grave, disheveled and covered with dust, and they cry over him (and will continue to do so) until the day of Judgment. Their chief is an angel named Mansur.

These angels receive everyone who comes to the Ziyarah of Husein [as] and they accompanythem when they bid farewell to Husein [as]. They visit them if they become ill, establish prayerson them in their funerals when they die, and seek forgiveness for them after their death.
All of these angels are on earth waiting for the rising of the Qaa'im [af]'

Significance of the Ziyarah of Hussein ['aS]

Ibn Qulawayh Al Qummi, Kaamil al-Ziyarat

Hanan Ibn Sadiq from his father narrates through a chain of narrators:

Abu Abdillah (Imam Sadiq [as]) asked me, 'O Sadir! Do you perform the Ziyarah of the grave of Husein [as] once every day?'
I replied, 'May I sacrifice myself for you! No.'

Imam [as] said: 'How negligent you people are! Do you perform his Ziyarah once every month?'
I replied, 'No.'

Imam [as] asked, 'What about once every year?'
I replied, 'Sometimes.'

Imam said:
'O Sadir! How negligent you people are toward Husein [as]. Do you not know that Allah has onemillion angels who are disheveled and covered with dust, who cry over Husein [as], and who perform his Ziyarah (at all times) and they never pause?!

O Sadir! How difficult is it for you to perform the Ziyarah of the grave of Husein [as] five times every friday and once every day?'
I replied, 'May I sacrifice myself for you. There is a great distance between us and his [as] grave.'

Imam said:
'Go to the roof of your house, look to the right and left, raise your head towards the sky, and then try to face the direction of the grave of Husein [as] and say:
'Assalamu Alayka Ya Aba Abdillah. Assalamu Alayka wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh'
'Salam to you, O Aba Abdillah. Salam to you and may Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you'

By doing so, a Zawrah will be registered for you. And Zawrah is the performance of a hajj and anUmrah'

Sadir added, 'After hearing this, there were times when I would perform this Ziyarah twenty times during the day.'

Imam Sadiq [as]'s secret to Safwaan

"O Safwaan! Allah has sworn that one who recites my grandfather's (Imam Husain [as]) ziyaarat from near or afar, and raises his hands to seek his demands after reciting this ziyaarat, shall find Allah fulfilling his demands. Allah, on account of this ziyaarat, shall not let disappointment and dejection befall his servant. Allah will bestow him with nothing less than Paradise andimmunise him from the Fire. His stature shall be elevated manifold, so that he will be bestowed with powers of intercession on the day of mahshar. O Safwaan! Reciting Ziyaarat of Imam Husain (a.s) is equal to Ziyaarat of Allah at the Arsh (throne)."
(Bihar al-Anwar vol.98 pg 300)

The faith of Hussein [as]

Ibn Qulawayh Al Qummi, Kaamil al-Ziyarat

Jaabir (Al-Ju'fi) through a chain of narrators narrates from Abu Abdillah (Imam Sadiq) [as] who said:

Ali, (the Commander of the believers [as]) said to Husein [as], 'Oh Aba Abdillah, it has been previously established that you will be the leading example' (One of the possible meanings of this statement is that Imam Husein [as] has always been the leading example for all people and specifically for those who suffer from any affliction, even before his time).
'May I sacrifice myself for you. What is my status?' Husein [as] asked.
'You have the knowledge of that which others do not and those who are knowledgeable shall benefit from their knowledge,' the Commander of the Believers [as] replied.
The Commander of the Believers [as] continued:
'O my son! Listen and envision this before it happens to you. I swear to He who has my life in his hand, that the Bani Umayyah will spill your blood but they will not be able to deviate you from your religion nor will they be able to make you forget extolling your Lord.'
Husein [as] replied, 'I swear to He who has my life in his hand, that this is sufficient for me. I submit to that which Allah has revealed, I believe the words of the Messenger of Allah (saw) and I do not belie the words of my father.'

An Important Rule Often Neglected 29

A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West: Interaction in social life » Questions and Answers
Fatawa of Ayatullah al Uzama Syed Ali al-Husaini Seestani


327: Question: Is it permissible for those who reside in the West to send their muhajjaba daughters to co-ed schools (irrespective of whether or not education is compulsory) while there exist non co-ed schools which obviously are expensive, located faraway or of a low academic standard?

Answer: It is not permissible, [even] if it [just] corrupts their character, let alone if it harms their beliefs and commitment to the faith which is what normally happens!

Imam Sajjad (as) and The Caravan to Hajj

A caravan of Muslims was headed towards Makkah. As it arrived in Madina, it rested a few days, and continued on towards Makkah.
On their way from Madina to Makkah, a man joined the group. This man noticed one of them who had the appearance of a guided person. He was eagerly busy in service of the passengers. The man recognized him. With much surprise, he asked the pilgrims if they knew this man who was at their service.
''No, we don't know him. He joined us in Madina. He is a decent and pious man. We haven't asked him for help. But he has been eager in helping us."
"Obviously you don't know him. For if you did, you would never have allowed a man like him to be at your service."Who is this person?"
"This is 4th Imam, Imam Sajjad (as)."
The group stood with shame and apologized to Imam Sajjad (as). Then complaining to him, they said:
"Why did you treat us as such? We may have gone beyond our bounds in our ignorance, and would have committed a big sin in being disrespectful to you."
Imam Sajjad (as): "I intentionally joined your group, for you didn't know me. When I join a group, where people know me, for the sake of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh), they are very kind to me. They don't allow me to be of some service. Thus I was eager to join a group where I will be anonymous, so that I may have the honor of being of some service to my brethren."
Moral: Service to fellow Muslims should be a pleasure, something we should go out of our way to do! Besides it being one of the fundamentals of the spiritual journey - Hajj!

VISION: THE CLIMAX OF HAJJ

When prophet Musa (‘a) went to Mount Sinai and had a secret mutual conversation with Allah for thirty nights [Wa waa‘adna Musa thalathina laylatan (and And We made an appointment with Moses for thirty nights- Qur’an 7:142], they actually were the thirty nights of the holy month of Dhu al-Qa’da [Ref: ‘Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.13, pp. 213-214], a month when those who aspire to meet the Beloved, and not merely His house (ka’ba), engage in spiritual pursuits in preparation for the fundamental vertical (spiritual) journey to the Beloved. 


Then Allah says “wa atmamnaahu bi ‘ashr” (And we completed them with ten [more days]-Qur’an, 7:142). Almighty Allah confers ten more days to Musa (‘a) for munajat. And these ten days are the very first ten days of the holy month of Dhu al-Hijja when the hajis are busy in their spiritual excursion. 


Having undergone specific stages of spiritual change through the help of his Lord, Musa (‘a) finally asks for vision. He says, “Rabbi arini anzuru ilayk” (My Lord, show [Yourself] to me, that I may look at You!’- Qur’an, 7:143). 

Insightful scholars like Imam Khumayni say that Musa (‘a) did not aspire for vision through the physical eye, free from such kind of thinking are the Prophets of Allah [Ref: Imam Khumayni, Notes on Nubuwwat, p. 352]. He yearned to see the Beloved through the heart. Such vision obviously is not “complete comprehension” which presumes the comprehending one to encompass the object of comprehension. It rather is a limited comprehension of the Divine Attributes according to the capacity of the beholder. And this can only be achieved through self-purification, whose fundamental stages according to authoritative divine sages are as follows:


1) Al-Tajliya (Strictly adhering to the apparent Islamic laws and refraining from whatever Islam has prohibited)
2) Al-Takhliya (Cleaning oneself through the water of repentance and tawba)
3) Al-Tahliya (Beautifying oneself with the perfections of the Absolutely Beautiful according to one’s capacity)
4) Al-Fana (Dissolution in the Beloved, such that one visions that no identity exists save that of Allah)


Aspirants of hajj should try to journey through these stages, so that on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja they deserve to put on the Ihram of Musa (‘a) and sincerely yearn for the vision of the Only Beloved.


What is so captivating is to behold the Musa of Karbala, who in the Mount Sinai [Bihar al-Anwar, v.98, pp. 108-109] of Ghadhiriyya (another name for Karbala), is reported to have said:

I left the entire creation in Your Desire
And made my family orphans so that I may see You
So even if you cut me into pieces in my love for You
My heart would not incline to other than You


This peerless Musa of history was so intensely sacrificing, that the Beloved bestowed him with peerless bestowals, one of which is:
Al-sujud ‘ala turbat al-Husayn (‘a) yakhriqu al-hujub al-sab‘ (prostrating on the clay of al-Husayn severs the seven veils [‘Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.82, pp. 153]). A probably meaning of the seven veils is ‘the seven levels of existence’, the highest of which is in the close proximity of the All-Beloved.


But the Beloved’s love is so special for this Moses of Karbala. According to a tradition narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) [Ref: ‘Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.98, pp. 87] Allah on the day of ‘Arafa begins with the visitors of the grave of al-Husayn first, and then the lovers stationed in the sacred plains of ‘Arafa.
We pray to Almighty Allah to enable us comprehend the secrets of Hajj better as we cross the stations of our transient life.


Shaykh Muhammad Khalfan

In consequence of a fractured leg,
God bestows a wing.
Likewise, from the depths of the pit,
He opens a door of escape.
God said, "Don't consider whether
you're up a tree or in a hole:
Consider Me, for I am the key of the way."
Rumi