ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Hazrat Ali Akbar,the Beloved Son of Imam Hussain(a.s.) At the Battlefield of Karbala One by one the faithful followers went out to fight for the cause of Islam which forces of evil were attempting to stifle, and in the process faced death. In their glorious deaths they demonstrated what steadfastness and unflin- ching faith, what courage of conviction can achieve and attain against all odds.

With his devoted supporters now sleeping the sweet slumber of death from which nothing could awaken them, the turn of Hussain's sons and brothers and nephews came. In spite of Hussain's best efforts to send his son Ali Akbar to the battlefield before all his devoted friends and faithful followers, they would not even let him mention it. The thought of Ali Akbar, Hussain's beloved son, laying down his iffy in battle, when they were still alive, was too much for them.

It would be blasphemous for them even to entertain such an idea! Ali Akbar went over to his father to ask his permission to go out into that gory arena from which no person from his camp had returned. Hussain looked at his face; it would be more correct to say that for a couple of minutes his stare was fixed on that face which he loved so much; which reminded him every time of his grandfather whom he resembled every inch. He tried to say something but his voice failed him.

With considerable effort he whispered with downcast eyes: Akbar, I wish you had become a father; then you would have known what I am experiencing at this moment. My son, how can a father ask his son to go, when he knows that the parting would be for ever! But Akbar, the call of duty makes me helpless in this matter. Go to your mother, and to your aunt Zainab who has brought you up from childhood and loved you and cared for you more than for her own sons, and seek their permission.

Ali Akbar entered the tent of his aunt Zainab. He found her and his mother Umme Laila gazing vacantly towards the battlefield and listening intently to the battle-cries of the enemy hordes. Their instinct made them aware that, now that all the devoted followers of Hussain had laid down their dear lives defending him and them, the turn of his sons, and brothers and nephews had come. It was now only a question of time. It was only a question who would go first from amongst them.

The light footsteps of Ali Akbar roused both of them from their reverie. Both of them fixed their gaze on him without uttering a word.