ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Nafasul Mahmum, Relating to the heart rending tragedy of Karbala' Imam Husayn (a.s.) on way to Kufa Our Shaikh Saduq, through his successive chain of narrators, relates from ‘Amr bin Qays Mashriqi, who says that I along with my cousin came to the presence of Imam Husayn (a.s.) at Qasre Bani Maqatil. We saluted the Imam and my cousin asked him, “The color of your hair is due to the dye or a chemical dye”?

Imam replied, “It is dyed, for we, the Bani Hashim turn old very soon.” Then the Imam turned towards us and asked, “Have you come to assist me”? I answered, “I have a large family and I also have the trust of other people with me. I do not know what will be the outcome of this, and hence do not desire that the wealth of people (with me) may go waste.” My cousin too said something similar.

Then Imam said, “Then go away from here and do not remain so as to hear our cry or see our gloom, for the one who hears our cry and beholds our gloom and yet does not hasten to assist us, then it is the right upon Allah, the Honored, the Glorified, to throw him headlong into the fire of hell.” (Irshad) Then in the last part of the night, Imam ordered water to be taken and left from Qasre Bani Maqatil.

Uqbah bin Sam’an says, that we went along with the Imam and he took a short nap on the horse’s back. Then he woke up and uttered the words: “Verily we are Allah’s and verily unto Him shall we return. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” Then he repeated it twice or thrice. His son Ali bin Husayn (a.s.), who was riding a horse, came up to him and asked, “Why did you (suddenly) praise Allah and utter the words of “returning to Him”? Imam replied, “O my dear son!

Sleep overtook me, and I saw a rider come up to me from behind and said: These people are proceeding further, while death is advancing towards them. I perceived that they were our spirits informing us of our death.” Ali bin Husayn said, “O dear father! May your Lord not bring forth evil! Are we not on the right”?

Imam replied, “Why not, by Him towards Whom all servants return.” Then Ali said, “Then we do not fear, for we shall die on the right.” Imam said, “May Allah reward you abundantly, the reward which is due from a father to his son.” (Irshad and Kamil) When it dawned, Imam Husayn (a.s.) recited the morning Prayers and hastily ascended his horse and turned towards the left. He tried to dispel his companions (from Hurr’s army).