ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Life of Imam Husain ('a) In Kerbala The caravan of the Purified Progeny halted and camped at Kerbala on Thursday, 2 nd of Mohurrum 61 A.H., [1] while a condition of distress and anxiety reigned upon them as they were now sure that a terrible disaster was to befall them. Imam knew the hardships of his mission and the terrible disasters that were to befall him had become clear to him. Historians say: His Eminence gathered his Ahle Bayt and companions.

Then he glanced at them with kindness and compassion knowing that very soon their bodies shall be cut up into pieces. He began to weep profusely and raised up his hands to pray to the Lord. He spoke in a confidential manner and complained about the great calamities that had surrounded him, and he said: “O my Lord, we are the Progeny of Your Messenger, Muhammad (s) whom the Bani Umayyah forced out of the sanctuary of our grandfather. They banished us, persecuted and oppressed us.

O Allah, take up our rights for us and make us victorious over the unjust people.” Then he glanced at those stalwarts and said, “People are the slaves of the world and religion is like leftover food that clings to their tongue that as long as their life passes in comfort they follow it. But when they fall into hard times, very few remain religious.” [2] What a brilliant statement it is, that describes the reality of the people in all the stages of history.

Because they are slaves of material world in all times and in all the places but no kind of religious view was found in the depths of their consciences. And whenever a storm of calamities falls on them they become disgusted of religion and they desert it... Yes, religion is present in the very nature only for Imam Husain, the selected ones of Ahle Bayt and the companions of His Eminence that their sentiments were fused with it and their emotions were merged with it.

Therefore they rushed forward to the fields of death so that their position may be exalted and that they may impart lessons in astonishing loyalty with regard to religion. After praise and glorification of the Almighty the Imam addressed his companions, “So to say: No doubt you are aware of the gravity of the situation which you are witnessing yourselves here and now. Life has certainly changed disguises and its good has gone forever.

This has continued till the remaining good in it amounts to [1] Ansaab al-Ashraaf 3/385. The new moon of Muharram that year was on Wednesday.