Questions on Ashura (4)

Lady Zeinab, seeing Imam Hussein's shattered body, raised her head toward the sky and said in a very sad but firm voice, "My God! Accept this sacrifice from us." This phrase was like a sledgehammer on the enemy's head.

Then she continued, "O Mohammad! Greetings of God upon you and your progeny; and greetings of the angels upon you. This is your Hussein dipped in his blood while his body is fallen into pieces. O Mohammad (SAWA)! Your daughters are captivated and your children are killed while wind blows on their corpses. This is your Hussein, fallen on the soil, with his head cut off from back and his turban and cloak looted."

Zeinab's words make friends and enemies weep. The hearts were about to split open the chests. This time Imam Ali's daughter, Zeinab (Peace upon her), addressed the companions of her grandfather, "Today, as if my grandfather the Messenger of God has passed away! O companions of Mohammad! These are the children of your chosen Prophet who are being taken like captives!"

Now the question that may jump to the mind is: Why did Imam Hussein take his family with himself to Karbala? Why didn't the women and children of this chosen family stay in Medina or Mecca?

Imam Hussein (AS), being threatened to death by Yazid if he refused to pay allegiance to him, preferred to leave Medina. He left Medina on 28, Rajab, 60 AH along with nearly 100 members of his Ahl al-Bayt and companions. Some researchers maintain that if Imam Hussein (AS) had stayed in Medina, since Yazid was not committed to any religious or moral principle, he would have oppressed, imprisoned and tortured his family in a bid to coerce the Imam into submission. Therefore, the migration of the Prophet's household with Imam Hussein was quite logical and rational. They were in safety and security for four months. But when Yazid realized that the Prophet's grandson would not pay allegiance to him under any circumstances, he ordered his murder in Mecca. Thus, Imam Hussein (AS) decided to depart from Mecca to avoid the desecration of the holy city by his blood.

Other scholars are of the opinion that by taking his family, Imam Hussein (AS) showed that his intention of departing Medina and Mecca was not war. A caravan which is comprised of women and children and even infants does not go for war. When the people of Kufa sent thousands of letters to the Imam and invited him to their city, Imam Hussein left Mecca but still he didn't intend to go to battle.

In addition to the reasons mentioned for taking his family in his long journey, a very important point is that Imam Hussein had to safeguard the life of the next infallible Imam, his son Imam Sajjad (AS). During the tragic day of Ashura, Imam Sajjad was sick upon God's will and hence he didn't take part in the battle. After the martyrdom of Imam Hussein and his companions, the enemy shamelessly assaulted the defenseless tents of the Ahl al-Bayt and wanted to kill Imam Sajjad, too. But the bravery of Lady Zeinab prevented them.

Had there not been Hazrat Zeinab, the tragedy of Ashura would have been buried with the martyrs and the movement of Imam Hussein would have been abortive. The godless Umayyad regime intended to suffocate the voice of monotheism and worship of God for ever. The Umayyad agents took the progeny of the Prophet from town to town and from village to village, in a vain bid, to cement the bases of Yazid's tyranny. But their efforts backfired and the caravan of captives conveyed the message of Hussein to all.

Thus, Yazid was scandalized. Prior to this, Muawiyah had succeeded in founding the bases of Umayyad misrule on the unconsciousness of the people of Syria; but as the caravan of the Ahl al-Bayt arrived at the gate of the city in chains and fetters, Zeinab (Peace upon her) started her fiery speech which shook to the foundation the Umayyad palace. Thus, when she ended her speech, the trembling Yazid tried to shrug off responsibility of killing Imam Hussein and put the blame on others. Yet, he never succeeded and the everlasting curse and damnation remained for him and his forefathers till Doomsday.

RM/SS