ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Nafasul Mahmum, Relating to the heart rending tragedy of Karbala' Dispatching of the blessed heads of the Pure Household by Ubaydullah bin Ziyad, the accursed, from Kufa to Syria, and the events that occurred thereafter (Irshad) After they paraded the blessed head in Kufa, they brought it back to the palace.

Ibn Ziyad handed over the head to Zahr bin Qays, as also the heads of the companions, and dispatched him to Yazid along with Abu Burdah bin Aun Azdi, Tariq bin Zabiyan and a group of men from Kufa, until they reached Yazid, the accursed.

Here I intend to increase the grief (upon the Imam) and quote the words of the `Commander of the faithful’, the ‘Master of the Vicegerents’ Imam Ali (a.s.) as a comparison, “Where are the ones who had pledged together to sacrifice their lives, while their heads were taken to the wicked men.” I also quote these elegies as comparison, “Ransom upon the heads which were raised upon the lances, and were taken to Syria as a gift, ransom upon the beloved cheeks, that were smeared harshly in dust and blood, May I be ransom upon the bare bodies laid upon the earth, that were skilled for mourning, weep upon the orphans of the Progeny of Muhammad (S), that the Qur’an was dispersed from them, the Masters of Religion and administrators of guidance, that sacrifice (in Makkah) and the pilgrimage is unsuitable except through their medium”.

Abdullah bin Abi Rabi’ah Humayri relates, that I was in Damascus with Yazid, when Zahr bin Qays entered therein. Yazid said, “Woe be to you! What news follows you? And what have you brought along with?” He replied, “Have glad tidings of the victory of Allah. Husayn, along with eighteen men of his family and sixty from among his adherents, revolted against us.

Thus we confronted them and offered him to submit to the order of commander Ubaydullah bin Ziyad or else fight us, and they preferred battle upon submission. We pounced upon them as soon as the sun arose and surrounded them. And when our swords landed upon their heads, they fled away without having any place of refuge. And they sought refuge upon every low and high places when we attacked them, similar to a pigeon that takes refuge from the falcon. O Commander of the faithful (Allah’s refuge)!

By Allah! A time needed to slaughter a camel or dozing off during day-time had not yet passed, that we killed the last of them.