Reflections
Al-Dai al-Ajal al-Fatimi Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA began today’s waʿz mubarak expressing gratitude for the the great bounty of having reached the human form and in turn answering the call of the Dawat with ‘labbaik ya Dai Allah (Here I am, present in your service, o’ Dai of Allah)’. It is by virtue of answering this call that the shahadat of Imam Husain AS is before our very eyes and through its remembrance we will ascend to the divine realm. Syedna Burhanuddin RA revealed that Imam Husain AS expressed his wish to reach the presence of Rasul Allah SA and then desired that the faithful come and meet him in that august presence.
Imam Husain AS is the Nuh AS of his era. Like the ark of Nuh Nabi AS which cut through mountain-like waves to ultimately moor upon Mount Judi, the ark of Imam Husain AS pierced the waves of oppression and tyranny in Karbala and anchored itself upon Mount Judi: Imam Ali Zain al-Abideen AS. Each Imam, and in his seclusion, the Dai Mutlaq is Judi. The unceasing succession of the Duat Mutlaqeen AS ensures that Mumineen in every age reach the shores of salvation.
Al-Dai al-Ajal al-Fatimi Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA narrated that, following the shahadat of Imam Husain AS, his haram reached Kufa and was made to stand before Ibne Ziyad in his court. Ibne Ziyad placed Imam Husain’s AS raʾs mubarak in a dish on the ground before him and proceeded to poke his blessed mouth with a stick in contempt and mockery. Upon witnessing this vile act, Zaid b. Arqam immediately fell to the floor and exclaimed,
Such disrespect! The raʾs mubarak of Rasul Allah’s SAW grandson lays on the floor while you are seated! Many a time I have heard the Nabi state that Imam Hasan and Imam Husain are the chiefs of the youth of Jannat.
Ibne Ziyad dismissed his protest, calling him senile.
Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA then narrated how Maulatona Zainab AS shielded Imam Ali Zain al-Abideen AS from the ill intentions of Ibne Ziyad. Syedna RA related that Maulatona Zainab AS the daughter of Maulana Ali AS, the granddaughter of Rasul Allah SA, the one whose upbringing took place in the house of Maulatona Fatema AS, was standing in the court of Ibne Ziyad, her head uncovered, the eyes of the base umma preying upon her. He added that the ladies of the haram had to resort to covering their faces with their hair. Ibne Ziyad pointed toward Imam Ali Zain al-Abidin AS and pretending to be unaware enquired, ‘Who is this?’
Imam AS answered, ‘I am Ali; I am Ali the son of Husain’, to which Ibne Ziyad replied, ‘Did Allah not kill Ali?’
Imam AS immediately countered, ‘Allah does not kill anyone; He takes their souls at the time of their deaths’.
Angered by his response, Ibne Ziyad directed his executioner to sever Imam’s head. At that instance, Maulatona Zainab AS wrapped herself around Imam AS, and rebuked him, ‘Have you no shame, you have slain all the men of our household; I will never let you harm him. To kill him you will have to slay me first!’
During the narration of Imam Husain’s AS shahadat we often hear the words ‘Haideri hamla’ used to describe Imam Husain’s AS offensive against his enemies. In this instance, while describing the manner in which Maulatona Zainab AS protected Imam Ali AS, Syedna RA used the words ‘Haideri jazba (fervour)’ to describe Maulatona Zainab’s AS protection of Imam Ali AS adding that her response caused Ibne Ziyad to shudder.
The caravan of Ahle Bayt AS was led from Kufa to Damascus. During this journey, the enemy would carry Imam Husain’s AS raʾs mubarak in a chest, raising it upon a spear every night when they stopped to rest. At one such stop at around midnight, a monk living there saw a radiant light searing towards the heavens from the raʾs mubarak and enquired as to whose head this was. When the enemy soldiers informed him it was that of the daughter of Rasul Allah SA, the Christian monk was aghast, stating that, ‘if the Messiah had left a son we would have taken him to our heart!’
The monk paid the soldiers 10,000 dinars to keep the raʿs mubarak with him for the night which he spent in lament and weeping. He gave his oath to Imam Husain AS and embraced the faith. In the morning, when he reluctantly returned the radiant raʾs mubarak, he asked if there were any descendants of Imam Husain AS accompanying them. They pointed out Imam Zain al-Abideen AS and the monk reiterated his oath to the imam and devoted himself to him.
When the soldiers neared Damascus, they decided to divide their ill-begotten wealth fearing that if Yazid came to know of it, he would confiscate it for himself. They opened the sack only to find shreds upon which the following verses could be read:
And never ever think that Allah is unaware of what the oppressors do.
and
The wrongdoers will come to know what evil end they will meet.
Syedna RA then mentioned that in the court of Yazeed in Damascus, the raʾs mubarak of Imam Husain AS was once again placed in a metal dish in front of the tyrant. An envoy of the Byzantinian emperor, present at the time, enquired as to whose head it was. When told that it was that of the Prophet’s grandson, the son of Fatema, he declared, ‘a depraved people you are, if the Messiah had a son we would cherish him’.
Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA informed us that Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA wrote the marthiya sharifa ‘Ya Sayyida Shohadai’ in 1348 H in Karachi. He added that such is the eminence of this elegy that Mumineen, Muminaat and their children the world over recite it. The 49th Dai Mutlaq, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA once came to a Mumin in his dream and directed him to recite this marthiya shareefa.
It was Imam Ali Zain al-Abideen AS who built the qabr mubarak of Imam Husain AS. Maulatona Rabab AS, the consort of Imam Husain AS, sought Imam Zain al-Abideen’s AS permission to return to Karbala and live the remainder of her days by the qabr mubarak of Imam Husain. The chronicler writes that the year 62 H did not dawn, a mere year after the events of Karbala, but Maulatona Rabab AS departed this world and entered the presence of Imam Husain AS.
Syedna Burhanuddin RA proceeded to pray salawat and salam upon Awliya Allah AS. He then stated, reading the words of Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA, ‘I will grant you a part of my dua. Others are others; I am I.’ He then prayed for betterment and well-being of Mumineen:
May you remain steadfast upon Islam; may you remain accepting and humble. May your gardens remain lush and verdant, filled with flowers and fruits. May the muhabbat of Aimmat Tahireen AS and Duat Mutlaqeen AS remain in your descendants for generations to come.
These words further revealed the niyyat (intention) of Imam Husain AS and his amal (deed) during his sajda on Ashura.
As he narrated the shahadat of Rasul Allah SA, al-Dai al-Ajal al-Fatimi Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS mentioned a set of counsels he gave to Amirul Mumineen AS and Maulana Abizer RA:
1. The one who passes away while reciting the Kalima al-Shahadat will be rewarded with janna.
2. The one who till his demise continues to feed the poor will be rewarded with janna.
3. The one who passes away having performed hajj will be rewarded with janna.
4. The one who passes away having done umrah will be rewarded with janna.
5. The one who performs jihad in the cause of Allah is deserving of janna.
On the Day of Ashura, Maulana Abbas RA, with the permission of Imam Husain AS, went before the adversaries and admonished them, ‘Why have you denied us water? Do you not see that our young children are convulsing out of thirst? If you feel no mercy for us, then at least show some to our women and children. Is there no reverence for our kinship with Rasul Allah SA?’ Despite his words, not one of them showed even a hint of compassion. Maulana Abbas RA conveyed this to Imam Husain AS who remained silent, tears flowing down his cheek. Soon, Maulatuna Sakina AS came to Maulana Abbas RA with a waterskin, ‘Thirst has slayed us! Aliasger can bear it no longer! If you were to bring us water we would never forget your benevolence upon us!’
Maulana Abbas RA replied, ‘Your benevolence upon me is far, far greater’. He clasped the waterskin, thinking I will either bring back water or sacrifice myself doing so. Nearly 4000 soldiers were positioned on the banks of the river and despite the rain of arrows, attacking like a ferocious lion he managed to disperse them all. He filled the waterskin and took not even a sip, thinking of what he would say on the Day of Qiyamat to Rasul Allah SA and Maulatona Fatema AS if they were to ask him why he drank water while Imam Husain AS was martyred thirsty.
As he returned to the camp, the enemies attacked him like a swarm of locusts, the wretched Shimar spurring them on. His body had become like a sieve, in tatters like an old piece of cloth. As he drew closer to the camp, the waterskin clenched with his teeth, both arms having been severed like Maulana Jafar al-Tayyar, he was able to see Maulatona Sakina AS eagerly anticipating his arrival. At that moment he was struck by an arrow piercing the waterskin. As he fell upon the plains of Karbala he called out to his Maula, Imam Husain AS. At his side within moments, Imam Husain AS prayed, ‘May Allah reward you! I too will shortly join you’.
As Imam Husain’s AS rose petal-like tears fell upon Maulana Abbas’ RA radiant face, he gestured to the Imam, ‘Have I fulfilled my obligations! Are you pleased with me!’ Imam Husain AS gripped his back, and then proceeded to offer his condolences to Maulana Abbas’s children while the haram wailed in anguish.
May Allah Taʿala grant al-Dai al-Ajal al-Fatimi Syedna Aali Qadr Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS a long life in pristine health until the Day of Qiyamat.
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