Imam Husain’s uprising – manifestation of the Holy Qur’an (9)

Welcome to the 9th episode of “Imam Husain’s uprising – manifestation of the Holy Qur’an”.

Today is the sad day of Tasu’a or the 9^th of Muharram when Imam Husain (AS), surrounded in Karbala and deprived of access to the waters of the River Euphrates by the bloodthirsty Omayyad hordes, sent one of his loyal companions named Amr ibn Qardha to the enemy camp, asking for a meeting with their commander Omar ibn Sa’d, who in vain pursuit of the riches of the transient world had joined the army of Yazid despite being the son of Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, a senior companion of Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

The Imam was acting in accordance with the teachings of the holy Qur’an. Thus the two met along with 20 men each, and for the final discussion, the Prophet’s grandson proposed a private meeting accompanied by their nearest ones.

The Imam was accompanied by his elder son, Hazrat Ali Akbar and brother Hazrat Abbas (peace), while Ibn Sa’d came along with his son Hafas and a slave. When the Imam questioned Omar ibn Sa’d about his hostile stand in spite of fully knowing the prime position of the Ahl al-Bayt, whose merits have been explicitly mentioned in the holy Qur’an, he replied that he feared the destruction of his house by the Omayyads. The Imam told him that he will provide for him a grand house, to which Ibn Sa’d said his properties might be seized by the regime. The Imam said he will give him better property and wealth in Hijaz, to which Ibn Sa’d said that he feared the tyrannical governor of Kufa, Obaidollah ibn Ziyad, might slaughter him and his family.

At these lame excuses, which were in violation of the letter and spirit of the holy Qur’an, Imam Husain (AS) stood up and said: What has happened to you; God might cause you to die in your own bed, and on the Day of Resurrection and Judgement He would never forgive you for such a cardinal sin of yours. By God, don’t be deceived by the Omayyads, for you are not destined to taste even a single grain of the wheat of Rayy (in Iran), whose governorship they have promised you.

Omar ibn Sa’d said in a disbelieving tone that if wheat was not to be his food he would content with some barley of that flourishing land in Iran, ignoring the fact that Imam Husain (AS) has been hailed by the Prophet as the Leader of the Youth of Paradise, and knew things of the future that ordinary persons cannot perceive.

Omar ibn Sa’d returned to his encampment greatly disturbed, and wrote a letter to Obaidullah ibn Ziyad, asking him to let Imam Husain (AS) return to Hijaz or any other place instead of harassing him. Ibn Ziyad became angry and immediately dispatched the despicable Shimr Zil-Jowshan with a letter to Karbala, demanding that either Ibn Sa’d extract allegiance to Yazid’s ungodly rule, or kill the Prophet’s grandson, and if not, should hand over command of the army to Shimr.

With the arrival of the Godless Shemr Zil-Jowshan in Karbala with a letter from Yazid's tyrannical governor of Kufa, Obaidollah bin Ziyad, to tighten the siege around Imam Husain (AS) and attack him, the ungodly Omayyad hordes led by their commander, Omar bin Sa'd, advanced on the small encampment of the Prophet’s grandson. The Imam sent his brother, Hazrat Abbas (AS) to tell them to delay the attack until the next morning so that he and his followers would pray and supplicate to God on the eve of their eventual martyrdom, since it was out of question to yield to the enemies’ demand.

That night the Imam extinguished the lamp and told his followers to avail of the darkness of night and leave him, since it is his life the heartless enemies want and not theirs. The seventy-odd pious and steadfast men refused to leave him, vowing that death in his company was better than a life of humiliation. When Shemr tried to offer a letter of amnesty to Hazrat Abbas (AS) and his brothers on condition of deserting Imam Husain (AS), this valiant standard-bearer spurned the offer and swore never to leave the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

The night was spent in prayers, supplications and reciting of the holy Qur’an by the Imam and his followers, as they prepared themselves for glorious martyrdom, rather than yielding to the Godless enemy or endorsing the illegitimate rule of the tyrant, Yazid.

Imam Husain (AS), by raising the flag of reform, guided the ship of monotheism through the stormy waters of Omayyad tyranny. Karbala echoed with recitation of the holy Qur’an, as the best remedy for all pains and the best companion of those moments. The Imam said: I praise Allah and thank Him for his favours. I glorify You for having honoured us with Prophethood and enlightened us with the dynamic teachings of the holy Qur’an.

The Imam, with these words showed that he was calm and confident of the path he has chosen, and by expressing the truths of the Qur’an, he made the hearts calmer and more secure. The narrator says: That night from the encampment of the Imam until the morning, the voice of the Qur'an and supplications were heard."

Earlier, before reaching Karbala when the caravan of Imam Husain (AS) halted at a place called Qasr Bani Moqatel, a prominent person of Kufa named Obaidullah ibn Horr Juh’fi was seen camping nearby. The Imam sent a courier and asked him to join the army of righteousness, and then personally met him.

Obaidullah ibn Horr said: By God! O son of the Messenger of Allah, if in Kufa there were those who helped you and fought for you, I would be the most resistant against your enemies. But I witnessed in Kufa that those who claimed to be your followers remained in their homes due to the fear of the Omayyads. So excuse me from joining you. I will not hesitate to help you with any financial help. I give you my horse and my sword; both are unique in their kind.

 Imam Husain (AS) said: If you are not ready to sacrifice your life in the way of God, we have no need for your properties. Then the Imam recited ayah 51 of Surah Kahf:

“Nor do I take those who mislead as assistants.”

Thus, the Imam taught that brave and self-sacrificing people are needed, since the cowardly and weak people can never be guardians of the Godly values. He continued reciting the holy Qur’an, especially ayah 196 of Surah A’raf:

“My guardian is indeed Allah who sent down the Book, and He takes care of the righteous.”

AS/ME