By Allah, only burying it will, only burying it will.

By Allah, only burying it will, only burying it will.”[^2] When al-Ma'mun heard about this incident, he issued his orders to all regions to curse the Prophet (S) from the pulpits, but people thought that that was monstrous, indeed, and there was a great deal of uproar among the people, so much so that he was advised to withdraw his orders, which he did.[^3] The ‘Abbasides pretended to express their love for al-Husayn (‘a), filling the air with their shouts denouncing the atrocities committed against the family of Muhammad (S) during the Taff Battle.

Having attained their goal, however, they turned against Muhammad's family, wiping them from the face of earth. Musa Ibn ‘Eisa, the ‘Abbaside (general) who commanded the assault at Fakhkh, said, “Had the Prophet opposed us, we would have struck his nose with the sword.”[^4] These and their likes are the ones from whom one's conscience is detached.

They will never be protected against the Almighty's wrath although the nation benefitted from their eradication of its enemies who belonged to the offspring of Harb and Umayyah. Harb's sons coveted to see In him submission to force and oppression, They tried to hunt his valiant heroes Like birds they shook off humiliation and flew. They wished to forcibly drag him into disgrace, Though to dignity he was accustomed and to grace. How could he swear and submit To filth only for fear of death?

He refused, hence the event that Shook the world in awe and in fright. So he came in an army and marched Against hosts that filled the plains, He and lions from ‘Amr, exalted ones Wearing for the brawl steadfastness. They dealt blows in a desert where Death became in the morrow their mark So they exalted justice and were spent Pure in honour, clean of filth they went. They sacrificed souls great and precious Too dignified to please the lowly ones.[^5] [^1]: Abul-Faraj al-Isfahani, Al-Maqatil, p.

165 (Tehran edition). [^2]: Ibn Abul-Hadid, Sharh Nahjul-Balagha, p. 165 (Tehran edition). [^3]: al-Mas’udi, Muruj al-Thahab, Vol. 1, p. 343, where al-Ma’mun is discussed. [^4]: Abul-Faraj al-Isfahani, Maqatil al-Talibiyyin, p. 158 (Tehran edition). [^5]: Excerpted from a poem by Sayyid ‘Abd al-Muttalib al-Hilli published in its entirety in al-Khaqani's book Shu’ara’ al-Hilla. Previous…