I truly wonder about one who says that al-Husayn (‘a) was...

I truly wonder about one who says that al-Husayn (‘a) was counting on the support of the people of Kufa. Such an individual has surely missed the mark.

Even if we surrender and say that al-Husayn (‘a) did not have a general knowledge of what was, what is, and what will be, how could he have not been informed by his grandfather (S) and his wali , his own father, of the events that would happen to him, and that he would be killed in the land of Karbala’ after being denied access to water, accompanied by his kinsfolk and followers and would all face a sure death?

Is he not the one who informed Umm Salamah of his own martyrdom when she expressed to him apprehension of his trip? The reason for it is that the truthful and the trustworthy one, who never said anything out of his own inclination (S), had already informed him of his being killed in the land of Karbala’ after being prohibited from drinking water. Among what al-Husayn (‘a) had said to her was: “ I know the day on which I will be killed and the time when I will be killed.

And I know who among my (‘a) and followers will be killed. Do you think that you know what I do not? Do you think that I can escape death? If I do not die today, I will tomorrow .” He said to his brother, ‘Umar al-Atraf, “ My father had informed me that my resting place will neighbour that of his own. Do you think that you know what I do not?

” To his brother Muhammad Ibn al-Hanafiyya he said, “ Allah has decreed to see me murdered and the women taken captive .” To Ibn al-Zubayr he said, “ Had I hidden in a hole in these ravines, they would have hunted me out and killed me .” To ‘Abdullah Ibn Ja’far he said, “ I saw the Messenger of Allah (S) in a vision ordering me to do something which I am going to do.

” When they were at a mountain pass, he said to his companions, “ I see myself being killed, for I saw in a vision dogs mauling me, and the most wild among them was spotted. ” When ‘Amr Ibn Lawthan suggested to him to stay away from Kufa becoming fully informed of its people's intentions, he (‘a) said, “ I am not ignorant of their views, but the will of Allah is never over-ruled.

As soon as they invite me, they will take out the blood clot in m e.” He made many such explicit and implicit statements in Medina, in Mecca, and on the way to Kufa, statements that you will read in this book in their entirety. They all testify that he (‘a), was fully aware of his being killed on the day with which he was familiar and in the land of Karbala’.