He supplicated Allah to enable him to find some water.

He supplicated Allah to enable him to find some water. Allah responded to him. A cloud came and heavily rained. [^1] The guardian is (Imam Ali), the Commander of the faithful. [^2] Al-Mubarrad, al-Kamil, p. 545. [^3] Al-Bayan wa al-Tabiyyin, vol. 3, p. 360. Hijr took his need of the rain.[^1] He had many virtues and glorious deeds.

We have to deal with the reason for his martyrdom: After Imam al-Hasan (a.s) had made peace with Mu’awiya, Hijr kept on his creed and set a record in criticizing the Umayyad blind policy; that policy which threatened the society with serious dangers, revived the pre-Islamic tribalism that Islam had destroyed, demolished qualifications and talents, monopolized authorities, plundered foodstuffs, terrified the people, divided them, made them poor, abased them, enslaved them, and openly committed sins and errors.

Hijr and his chosen, believing companions came to know that silence and refraining from criticizing this political policy was nothing but going too far in practicing falsehood, strengthening the forbidden, and making light of the truth. They knew well that it was incumbent on the true Muslim to follow the Sunna of Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, that summoned Muslims to fight against the oppressive, the dictators, and the enemies of peoples.

Indeed Hijr understood Islam, knew its objectives, and was aware of it. He was a pupil in the school of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family. He graduated from the school of Imam Ali. So he condemned Mu’awiya’s falsehood, resisted his oppression and that of his governors, and combated their heresies and their mean desires. Hijr saw al-Mughira ascending the pulpit in the mosque of Kufa and heard him cursing Imam Ali (a.s), during his speech. He was unable to keep silent.

He faced him and criticized him, saying: “Be maintainers of justice, bearers of witness for Allah’s sake. I bear witness that the one you dispraise and revile is worthier of excellence, and the one you praise is worthier of dispraise.” A group of Hijr’s companions said as he said. So al-Mughira turned to Hijr and said to him: “O Hijr, they have shot me with your arrow (lit. You have provoked them).

If I am the governor over you, O Hijr, then beware of the Sultan’s anger; beware of his anger and influence. That is because the Sultan’s anger destroys many people like you.” Yet Hijr enthusiastically condemned the Umayyad policy.