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Abdullah?! He (peace be upon him) replied: He has no reply from me, for the word of punishment has been confirmed against him. So the messenger returned to him and informed him of this, and the enemy of God grew exceedingly angry at it. He turned to Umar ibn Sa'd and ordered him to fight Hussein (peace be upon him), having appointed him governor of Rayy before that. But Umar asked to be excused from it. Ibn Ziyad said: Then return our pledge to us. So he asked for time, and after a day he accepted, out of fear that he would be removed from the governorship of Rayy.
عبدالله ؟! فقال ( عليه السلام ) : ما له عندي جواب ، لأنه قد حقَّت عليه كلمة العذاب ، فرجع الرسول إليه فخبَّره بذلك ، فغضب عدوّ الله من ذلك أشدَّ الغضب ، والتفت إلى عمر ابن سعد وأمره بقتال الحسين ( عليه السلام ) ، وقد كان ولاَّه الريَّ قبل ذلك ، فاستعفى عمر من ذلك ، فقال ابن زياد : فاردد إلينا عهدنا ، فاستمهله ، ثم قبل بعد يوم خوفاً عن أن يُعزل عن ولاية الريّ.
Sheikh al-Mufid, may God's mercy be upon him, said: When the next day came, Umar ibn Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas arrived from Kufa with four thousand horsemen and encamped at Ninawa. He sent to Hussein (peace be upon him) Urwa ibn Qays al-Ahmasi, saying to him: Go to him and ask him what has brought him here, and what he wants. Now Urwa was among those who had written to Hussein (peace be upon him), so he was ashamed to go to him. He proposed the task to the chiefs who had written to him, but all of them refused and were loath to do it.
وقال الشيخ المفيد عليه الرحمة : فلمّا كان من الغد قدم عليهم عمر بن سعد ابن أبي وقاص من الكوفة في أربعة آلاف فارس ، فنزل بنينوى ، فبعث إلى الحسين ( عليه السلام ) عروة بن قيس الأحمسي ، فقال له : ائته فسله ما الذي جاء بك ؟ وما تريد ؟ وكان عروة ممن كتب إلى الحسين ( عليه السلام ) ، فاستحيى منه أن يأتيه ، فعرض ذلك على الرؤساء الذين كاتبوه ، وكلّهم أبى ذلك وكرهه.
Then Kathir ibn Abdullah al-Sha'bi—a brave horseman whom nothing could turn back—rose to him and said: I will go to him, and by God, if you wish, I will assassinate him. Umar ibn Sa'd said to him: I do not want you to assassinate him, but go to him and ask him what has brought him here. So Kathir came toward him, and when Abu Thumama al-Sayadawi saw him, he said to Hussein (peace be upon him): May God set you aright, O Abu Abdullah! The most wicked of the people of the earth has come to you—the boldest of them in shedding blood, the most treacherous. He rose to him and said: Lay down your sword. He said: No, by God, nor any honor; I am only a messenger. If you listen to my words, I will convey to you what I was sent with, and if you refuse, I will depart from you. He said: Then I will hold the hilt of your sword while you speak your errand. He said: No, by God, you shall not touch it. He said to him: Tell me what you have come with, and I will convey it for you, but I will not let you draw near to him, for you are a corrupt man. So they cursed one another, and he returned to Umar ibn Sa'd and informed him of the news.
فقام إليه كثير بن عبدالله الشعبي ـ وكان فارساً شجاعاً لا يردّ وجهه شيء ـ فقال له : أنا أذهب إليه ، والله لئن شئت لأفتكنَّ به ، فقال له عمر بن سعد : ما أريد أن تفتك به ، ولكن ائته فسله ما الذي جاء به ؟ فأقبل كثير إليه ، فلمّا رآه أبو ثمامة الصيداوي قال للحسين ( عليه السلام ) : أصلحك الله يا أبا عبدالله! قد جاءك شرّ أهل الأرض وأجرأه على دم وأفتكه ، وقام إليه فقال له : ضع سيفك ، قال : لا والله ولا كرامة ، إنما أنا رسول ، إن سمعتم كلامي بلَّغتكم ما أرسلت به إليكم ، وإن أبيتم انصرفت عنكم ، قال : فإني آخذ بقائم سيفك ثم تكلَّم بحاجتك ، قال : لا والله لا تمسّه ، فقال له : أخبرني بما جئت به وأنا أبلِّغه عنك ، ولا أدعك تدنو منه ، فإنك فاجر ، فاستبَّا وانصرف إلى عمر بن سعد فأخبره الخبر.
So Umar ibn Sa'd called Qurra ibn Qays al-Hanzali and said to him: Woe to you, meet Hussein and ask him what has brought him here and what he wants. Qurra came to him, and when Hussein (peace be upon him) saw him approaching, he said: Do you know this man? Habib ibn Mazahir said: This is a man from Hanzala of Tamim, and he is our nephew. I used to
فدعا عمر بن سعد قرة بن قيس الحنظلي ، فقال له : ويحك ، الق حسيناً فسله ما جاء به ؟ وماذا يريد ؟ فأتاه قرّة فلمّا رآه الحسين ( عليه السلام ) مقبلا قال : أتعرفون هذا ؟ فقال حبيب بن مظاهر : هذا رجل من حنظلة تميم ، وهو ابن أختنا ، وقد كنت
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know him to be of sound judgment, and I never thought he would witness this scene. He came until he greeted Hussein (peace be upon him) and conveyed to him the message of Umar ibn Sa'd. Hussein (peace be upon him) said to him: The people of this land of yours wrote to me to come. But now, if you are loath to have me, I will depart from you. Habib ibn Mazahir said: Woe to you, O Qurra, where are you going? To the wrongdoing people? Support this man through whose forefathers God supported you with honor. Qurra said to him: I will return to my chief with the reply to his message and consider my course. So he returned to Umar ibn Sa'd and informed him of the news, and Umar ibn Sa'd said: I hope that God will spare me from warring against him and fighting him.
أعرفه بحسن الرأي ، وما كنت أراه يشهد هذا المشهد ، فجاء حتى سلَّم على الحسين ( عليه السلام ) وأبلغه رسالة عمر بن سعد إليه ، فقال له الحسين ( عليه السلام ) : كتب إليَّ أهل مصركم هذا أن اقدم ، فأمَّا إذا كرهتموني فأنا أنصرف عنكم ، فقال حبيب بن مظاهر : ويحك يا قرة ، أين تذهب ؟ إلى القوم الظالمين ؟ انصر هذا الرجل الذي بآبائه أيَّدك الله بالكرامة ، فقال له قرة : أرجع إلى صاحبي بجواب رسالته وأرى رأيي ، فانصرف إلى عمر بن سعد وأخبره الخبر ، فقال عمر بن سعد : أرجو أن يعافيني الله من حربه وقتاله.
And he wrote to Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad: In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. To proceed: when I encamped before Hussein (peace be upon him), I sent my messenger to him and asked him what brought him here and what he seeks. He said: The people of this land wrote to me, and their messengers came to me asking me to come to them, and I did so. But now, if they are loath to have me, and something other than what their messengers brought me has become apparent to them, then I will depart from them.
وكتب إلى عبيدالله بن زياد : بسم الله الرّحمن الرّحيم ، أمّا بعد ، فإني حيث نزلت بالحسين ( عليه السلام ) بعثت إليه رسولي فسألته عمَّا أقدمه وماذا يطلب ؟ فقال : كتب إليَّ أهل هذه البلاد وأتتني رسلهم ، ويسألوني القدوم إليهم ففعلت ، فأمَّا إذا كرهوني ، وبدا لهم غير ما أتتني به رسلهم ، فأنا منصرف عنهم.
Hassan ibn Qa'id al-Absi said: I was with Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad when this letter reached him, and when he read it he said:
قال حسان بن قائد العبسي : وكنت عند عبيدالله بن زياد حين أتاه هذا الكتاب ، فلمَّا قرأه قال :
Now, when our claws have fastened upon him,
he hopes for escape—but it is no time for refuge.
الآن إِذْ عَلِقَتْ مَخَالِبُنَا به
يرجو النَّجَاةَ وَلاَتَ حينَ مَنَاصِ
And he wrote to Umar ibn Sa'd: To proceed: your letter has reached me, and I have understood what you mentioned. So offer Hussein (peace be upon him) that he pledge allegiance to Yazid, he and all his companions. If he does that, then we will consider our course. And peace.
وكتب إلى عمر بن سعد : أمَّا بعد ، فقد بلغني كتابك ، وفهمت ما ذكرت ، فاعرض على الحسين ( عليه السلام ) أن يبايع ليزيد هو وجميع أصحابه ، فإذا فعل ذلك رأينا رأينا ، والسلام.
When the reply reached Umar ibn Sa'd, he said: I feared that Ibn Ziyad would not accept the way of peace.(1)
فلمَّا ورد الجواب على عمر بن سعد قال : خشيت أن لا يقبل ابن زياد العافية (1) .
Muhammad ibn Abi Talib said: Ibn Sa'd did not offer Hussein (peace be upon him) what Ibn Ziyad had sent with him, for he knew that Hussein (peace be upon him) would never pledge allegiance to Yazid. He said: Then Ibn Ziyad gathered
وقال محمد بن أبي طالب : فلم يعرض ابن سعد على الحسين ( عليه السلام ) ما أرسل به ابن زياد ، لأنه علم أن الحسين ( عليه السلام ) لا يبايع يزيد أبداً ، قال : ثم جمع ابن زياد
1 ـ الإرشاد ، المفيد : 2/84 ـ 86 ، بحار الأنوار ، المجلسي 44/383 ـ 385.
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the people in the grand mosque of Kufa. Then he went out, ascended the pulpit, and said: O people, you have tested the family of Abu Sufyan and found them as you would wish. This is the Commander of the Faithful Yazid—you have known him to be of good conduct, praiseworthy in his ways, beneficent to his subjects, granting gifts where they are due. The roads have become safe in his time, just as his father Mu'awiya was in his era, and this is his son Yazid after him: he honors the servants, enriches them with wealth, and treats them generously. He has increased your stipends by a hundred each, and ordered me to pay them to you in full, and to send you out to war against his enemy Hussein. So listen to him and obey.
الناس في جامع الكوفة ، ثمَّ خرج فصعد المنبر ، ثم قال : أيها الناس ، إنكم بلوتم آل أبي سفيان فوجدتموهم كما تحبّون ، وهذا أمير المؤمنين يزيد ، قد عرفتموه حسن السيرة ، محمود الطريقة ، محسناً إلى الرعية ، يعطي العطاء في حقّه ، قد أمنت السبل على عهده ، وكذلك كان أبوه معاوية في عصره ، وهذا ابنه يزيد من بعده ، يكرم العباد ، ويغنيهم بالأموال ، ويكرمهم ، وقد زادكم في أرزاقكم مائة مائة ، وأمرني أن أوفرها عليكم ، وأخرجكم إلى حرب عدوّه الحسين ، فاسمعوا له وأطيعوا.
Then he descended from the pulpit, paid the people their stipends in full, and ordered them to go out to war against Hussein (peace be upon him) and to be aid for Ibn Sa'd in fighting him. The first to go out was Shimr ibn Dhi al-Jawshan with four thousand, so Ibn Sa'd became nine thousand strong. Then he followed him with Yazid ibn Rukab al-Kalbi with two thousand, al-Husayn ibn Numayr al-Sakuni with four thousand, so-and-so al-Mazini with three thousand, and Nasr ibn so-and-so with two thousand—making twenty thousand.
ثم نزل عن المنبر ، ووفَّر الناس العطاء ، وأمرهم أن يخرجوا إلى حرب الحسين ( عليه السلام ) ، ويكونوا عوناً لابن سعد على حربه ، فأول من خرج شمر بن ذي الجوشن في أربعة آلاف ، فصار ابن سعد في تسعة آلاف ، ثم أتبعه بيزيد بن ركاب الكلبي في ألفين ، والحصين بن نمير السكوني في أربعة آلاف ، وفلاناً المازني في ثلاثة آلاف ، ونصر بن فلان في ألفين ، فذلك عشرون ألفاً.
Then he sent to Shabath ibn Rib'i: Come to us, for we wish to dispatch you to war against Hussein (peace be upon him). But Shabath feigned illness, and wished Ibn Ziyad would excuse him. So he sent to him: To proceed: my messenger has informed me of your feigned illness, and I fear that you may be among those who, when they meet those who believe, say 'we believe,' but when they are alone with their devils, say 'we are with you; we were only mocking.' If you are in our obedience, then come to us quickly.
ثم أرسل إلى شبث بن ربعي أن أقبل إلينا ، وإنا نريد أن نوجِّه بك إلى حرب الحسين ( عليه السلام ) ، فتمارض شبث ، وأراد أن يعفيه ابن زياد ، فأرسل إليه : أمَّا بعد فإن رسولي أخبرني بتمارضك ، وأخاف أن تكون من الذين إذا لقوا الذين آمنوا قالوا آمنا ، وإذا خلوا إلى شياطينهم قالوا إنا معكم ، إنما نحن مستهزؤن ، إن كنت في طاعتنا فأقبل إلينا مسرعاً.
So Shabath came to him after the evening prayer, so that he could not look upon his face and see no sign of illness upon it. When he entered, Ibn Ziyad welcomed him and seated him close, and said: I would like you to set out to fight this man, as aid for Ibn Sa'd against him. He said: I will do so, O Amir. And he kept sending him troops until thirty thousand, horsemen and foot soldiers, had assembled with him. Then Ibn Ziyad wrote to him: I have left you no excuse regarding the abundance of cavalry and men. See to it that I receive no morning or evening without news of you reaching me morning and evening. And Ibn Ziyad was urging on Umar ibn Sa'd when six days of Muharram had passed.
فأقبل إليه شبث بعد العشاء لئلا ينظر إلى وجهه فلا يرى عليه أثر العلة ، فلما دخل رحَّب به وقرَّب مجلسه ، وقال : أحبّ أن تشخص إلى قتال هذا الرجل عوناً لابن سعد عليه ، فقال : أفعل أيها الأمير ، فما زال يرسل إليه بالعساكر حتى تكامل عنده ثلاثون ألفاً ما بين فارس وراجل ، ثمَّ كتب إليه ابن زياد : إني لم أجعل لك علة في كثرة الخيل والرجال ، فانظر لا أصبح ولا أمسي إلاّ وخبرك عندي غدوة وعشية ، وكان ابن ياد يستحثّ عمر بن سعد لستة أيام مضين من المحرم.
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Habib ibn Mazahir came to Hussein (peace be upon him) and said: O son of the Messenger of God, there is a clan of Banu Asad near us. Will you permit me to go to them and call them to your support, so that perhaps God may ward off harm from you through them? He said: I grant you permission. So Habib went out to them in the depth of night, disguised, until he came to them. They knew him to be of Banu Asad, and said: What is your need? He said: I have come to you with the best that any envoy has ever brought to a people. I have come to call you to the support of the son of the daughter of your Prophet (God's blessings be upon him and his family). He is with a band of believers, each man of whom is better than a thousand men; they will never abandon him nor surrender him ever. And this Umar ibn Sa'd has surrounded him, and you are my people and my kin. I have come to you with this counsel, so obey me today in supporting him, and through it you shall attain the honor of this world and the next. For I swear by God, no one of you is killed in the path of God alongside the son of the daughter of the Messenger of God (God's blessings be upon him and his family), patient and seeking reward, but that he shall be a companion of Muhammad (God's blessings be upon him and his family) in the highest heavens. He said: A man of Banu Asad—named Abdullah ibn Bishr—leapt up to him and said: I am the first to answer this call. Then he began to chant:
وأقبل حبيب بن مظاهر إلى الحسين ( عليه السلام ) فقال : يا ابن رسول الله ، ههنا حي من بني أسد بالقرب منا ، أتأذن لي في المصير إليهم فأدعوهم إلى نصرتك ، فعسى الله أن يدفع بهم عنك ؟ قال : قد أذنت لك ، فخرج حبيب إليهم في جوف الليل متنكراً حتى أتى إليهم ، فعرفوه أنه من بني أسد ، فقالوا : ما حاجتك ؟ فقال : إني قد أتيتكم بخير ما أتى به وافد إلى قوم ، أتيتكم أدعوكم إلى نصر ابن بنت نبيكم ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ، فإنه في عصابة من المؤمنين ، الرجل منهم خير من ألف رجل ، لن يخذلوه ولن يسلموه أبداً ، وهذا عمر بن سعد قد أحاط به ، وأنتم قومي وعشيرتي ، وقد أتيتكم بهذه النصيحة ، فأطيعوني اليوم في نصرته تنالوا بها شرف الدنيا والآخرة ، فإني أقسم بالله لا يُقتل أحد منكم في سبيل الله مع ابن بنت رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) صابراً محتسباً إلاَّ كان رفيقاً لمحمد ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) في عليين ، قال : فوثب إليه رجل من بني أسد ـ يقال له عبدالله بن بشر ـ فقال : أنا أول من يجيب إلى هذه الدعوة ، ثم جعل يرتجز ويقول :
The people know, when they shrink back from one another,
and the horsemen recoil when they shift away,
that I am brave, a champion, a fighter,
as though I were a fierce lion of the thicket.
قد علم القومُ إذا تواكلوا
وأحجم الفرسانُ إذ تناقلوا
أني شجاعٌ بطلٌ مُقَاتِلُ
كأنني ليثُ عرين بَاسِلُ
Then the men of the clan rushed forth until ninety men had gathered, and they came forward intending to reach Hussein (peace be upon him). At that time a man went out from the clan to Umar ibn Sa'd and informed him of the situation. So Ibn Sa'd called for one of his companions named al-Azraq and joined to him four hundred horsemen, and dispatched him toward the clan of Banu Asad. While those people were coming forward, intending to reach the camp of Hussein (peace be upon him) in the depth of night, the cavalry of Ibn Sa'd met them on the bank of the Euphrates, when between them and the camp of Hussein (peace be upon him) was but little. The two groups skirmished, and fought fiercely. Habib ibn Mazahir shouted at al-Azraq: Woe to you, what is between us and you? Turn away from us, and let someone other than you be made wretched by us. But al-Azraq refused to return, and Banu Asad knew that
ثم تبادر رجال الحي حتى التأم منهم تسعون رجلا ، فأقبلوا يريدون الحسين ( عليه السلام ) ، وخرج رجل في ذلك الوقت من الحيّ حتى صار إلى عمر بن سعد فأخبره بالحال ، فدعا ابن سعد برجل من أصحابه يقال له الأزرق فضمَّ إليه أربعمائة فارس ، ووجَّه نحو حي بني أسد ، فبينما أولئك القوم قد أقبلوا يريدون عسكر الحسين ( عليه السلام ) في جوف الليل إذا استقبلهم خيل ابن سعد على شاطىء الفرات ، وبينهم وبين عسكر الحسين ( عليه السلام ) اليسير ، فناوش القوم بعضهم بعضاً ، واقتتلوا قتالا شديداً ، وصاح حبيب بن مظاهر بالأزرق : ويلك ، مالك ومالنا ؟ انصرف عنا ، ودعنا يشقى بنا غيرك ، فأبى الأزرق أن يرجع ، وعلمت بنو أسد أنه
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they had no power against the people, so they fled, returning to their clan. Then they departed in the depth of night, fearing that Ibn Sa'd would attack them by night. Habib ibn Mazahir returned to Hussein (peace be upon him) and informed him of this, and he (peace be upon him) said: There is no power and no strength save in God.(1) And how excellent are the words of Sheikh Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Dandan al-Ahsa'i, may God's mercy be upon him, when he says:
لا طاقة لهم بالقوم ، فانهزموا راجعين إلى حيِّهم ، ثم إنهم ارتحلوا في جوف الليل خوفاً من ابن سعد أن يبيِّتهم ، ورجع حبيب بن مظاهر إلى الحسين ( عليه السلام ) فخبَّره بذلك فقال ( عليه السلام ) : لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله (1) ولله درّ الشيخ حسين بن محمد الدندن الأحسائي عليه الرحمة إذ يقول :
He came to the valley of al-Tuff with young men
who meet death with their souls to ransom him—
men of Mudar, mighty, raised by Hashim,
like his father's sons, his uncle, and his brother.
A band rallied to defend him,
their souls answering the call of his caller—
each fierce one drinking the gushing of blood,
and the blade's edge slaking him from the necks,
until they died of thirst by the keenness of the blades,
the blood streaming from their throats quenched them.
He called to them: O lions of the thickets of war,
to whom shall I give the banner after you?
And he went forth alone, finding no helper
but the spear and a cutting sword to protect him.(2)
فأتى إلى وادي الطفوفِ بفتية
تَرِدُ الرَّدَى بنفوسِهَا تَفْدِيهِ
مُضَريَّة غُلْب نَمَاها هاشمٌ
كبني أبيه وعمِّه وأخيهِ
وتنادبت للذَّبِّ عنه عُصبَةٌ
لبَّت نُفُوسُهُمُ نِدَا دَاعِيهِ
من كلِّ أشوسَ يرتوي فَيْضَ الدِّمَا
وَشَبَا الحُسَامِ من الطُّلاَ يُرْوِيهِ
حتَّى قضوا عطشاً بماضيهِ الظُّبا
أَرْوَاهُمُ من نَحْرِهِمْ هَامِيهِ
فَدَعَاهُمُ يَا أُسْدَ غَابَاتِ الوَغَى
لِمَنِ اللِّوى مِنْ بَعْدِكُمْ أُعْطِيهِ
وَغَدَا وحيداً لم يَجِدْ من ناصر
غيرَ السِّنَانِ وصارم يَحْمِيهِ (2)
May God magnify your reward, O believers, and may God grant you good consolation in the affliction of Hussein (peace be upon him). Thus did the people of hypocrisy and discord tighten the noose upon him, and prevent anyone from reaching him to support him. He remained with that handful of his companions—they were a little over seventy men—and his household (peace be upon them), who were seventeen men. Oh, my sorrow for Hussein (peace be upon him) when his companions were struck down on the tenth day of Muharram, and he (peace be upon him) remained after them alone, isolated, with no helper and no supporter, crying for aid but receiving none, seeing his companions slain on the soil of Karbala.
عظَّم الله لكم الأجر أيها المؤمنون ، وأحسن الله لكم العزاء في مصاب الحسين ( عليه السلام ) ، وهكذا ضيَّق عليه أهل النفاق والشقاق ، ومنعوا أن يصل إليه أحد لنصرته ، وبقي مع هؤلاء الثلّة من أصحابه ، وكانوا نيِّفاً وسبعين رجلا ، وأهل بيته ( عليهم السلام ) وكانوا سبعة عشر رجلا ، فلهفي على الحسين ( عليه السلام ) لما صُرِّع أصحابه يوم العاشر من المحرَّم ، وبقي بعدهم ( عليه السلام ) وحيداً فريداً ، لا ناصر له ولا معين ، يستغيث فلا يغاث ، ويرى أصحابه صرعى على بوغاء كربلاء.
Some of the narrators said: Then he (peace be upon him) turned toward the people, and began to look right and left, but he saw none of his companions or supporters except those whose foreheads kissed the dust, and whose moaning death had silenced. So he (peace be upon him) called out: O Muslim ibn Aqil, O Hani ibn Urwa, O Habib ibn Mazahir, O
قال بعض الرواة : ثم توجَّه ( عليه السلام ) نحو القوم ، وجعل ينظر يميناً وشمالا ، فلم ير أحداً من أصحابه وأنصاره إلاَّ من صافح التراب جبينه ، ومن قطع الحمام أنينه ، فنادى ( عليه السلام ) : يا مسلم بن عقيل ، ويا هاني بن عروة ، ويا حبيب بن مظاهر ، ويا
1 ـ بحار الأنوار ، المجلسي : 44/386.
2 ـ مجلة تراثنا ، مؤسسة آل البيت : عدد 29/ ص 190.
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Zuhayr ibn al-Qayn, O Yazid ibn Mazahir, O Yahya ibn Kathir, O Hilal ibn Nafi', O Ibrahim ibn al-Husayn, O Umayr ibn al-Mutaa', O Asad al-Kalbi, O Abdullah ibn Aqil, O Muslim ibn Awsaja, O Dawud ibn al-Tirimmah, O Hurr al-Riyahi, O Ali ibn al-Husayn, O champions of purity, O knights of the battlefield! Why is it that I call you and you do not answer me, and I summon you and you do not hear me? Are you asleep, and I hope you will awaken? Or has your affection turned away from your Imam, so you will not support him? Here are the women of the Messenger (God's blessings be upon him and his family), grown thin from losing you. So rise from your sleep, O noble ones, and ward off these tyrannical wretches from the sanctity of the Messenger. But by God, the calamities of fate have struck you down, and treacherous time has betrayed you—otherwise you would not fall short of my call, nor be veiled from my support. So here we are, grieving over you and soon to follow you. Indeed, we belong to God, and to Him we shall return.
زهير بن القين ، ويا يزيد بن مظاهر ، ويا يحيى بن كثير ، ويا هلال بن نافع ، ويا إبراهيم بن الحصين ، ويا عمير بن المطاع ، ويا أسد الكلبي ، ويا عبدالله بن عقيل ، ويا مسلم بن عوسجة ، ويا داود بن الطرماح ، ويا حر الرياحي ، ويا علي بن الحسين ، ويا أبطال الصفا ، ويا فرسان الهيجاء ، مالي أناديكم فلا تجيبوني ، وأدعوكم فلا تسمعوني ؟! أنتم نيام أرجوكم تنتبهون ، أم حالت مودتكم عن إمامكم فلا تنصرونه ؟! فهذه نساء الرسول ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) لفقدكم قد علاهنّ النحول ، فقوموا من نومتكم أيها الكرام ، وادفعوا عن حرم الرسول الطغاة اللئام ، ولكن صرعكم والله ريب المنون ، وغدر بكم الدهر الخؤون ، وإلاَّ لما كنتم عن دعوتي تقصرون ، ولا عن نصرتي تحتجبون ، فها نحن عليكم مفتجعون ، وبكم لاحقون ، فإنّا لله وإنّا إليه راجعون.
Abu Mikhnaf narrated that he (peace be upon him) composed these verses:
وروى أبو مخنف أنه ( عليه السلام ) أنشأ يقول :
A people who, when called to ward off a calamity,
with the horses between trampling and crowding,
clothed their hearts upon their armor and advanced,
hastening to the loss of their own lives.
They supported Hussein—oh, what young men!—
who spurned life and were clothed in fine silk.(1)
قومٌ إذا نُودُوا لِدَفْع مُلِمَّة
والخيلُ بين مُدَعَّس وَمُكَرْدَسِ
لَبسوا القُلُوبَ على الدروعِ وأقبلوا
يَتَهَافتون على ذَهَابِ الأَنْفُسِ
نصروا الحسينَ فيالها من فتية
عَافُوا الحياةَ وأُلبسوا من سُنْدُسِ (1)
And how excellent are the words of al-Hajj Taha al-Aradi, may God Almighty's mercy be upon him, when he says of these noble young men:
ولله درّ الحاج طه العرادي رحمه الله تعالى إذ يقول في هؤلاء الفتية الأمجاد :
Ask the sanctuary of Karbala about the state of those who were slain
in it—how many of them its bends have gathered!
My sorrow for a band that left their homes,
whose landmarks now weep for their glories.
My sorrow for them in the bends of al-Tuff—for the one who failed them,
woe to the one who abandoned them; away with the one who hated them!
The ruins became desolate after them, though
they once shone radiant at dawn, their dwellings.
By God, full moons by whose light one was guided
in times of confusion—they tumbled into their pits.
Oh, the loss of generosity and goodness after them!
Oh, the disappointment of the delegation—nay, the humbling of its captives!
وَسَلْ حِمَى كربلا عن حَالِ مَنْ قُتِلُوا
فيها فكم قد حَوَتْ منهم مَحَانيها
لهفي على فئة عن عُقْرِها نَزَحَتْ
أضحت مَعَالِمُها تبكي مَعَاليها
لهفي لها في مَحَاني الطفِّ لِنَاكِلِها
وَيْلٌ لِخَاذِلها بُعْداً لشانيها
قَدْ أصبحت بَعْدَها قفرى الرُّسُومُ وقد
كانت بها سحراً تزهو مَغَانيها
للهِ أقمارُ تَمٍّ يُستضاءُ بها
في المُبْهَمَاتِ تَهَاوَت في مَهَاويها
وَاضَيْعَةَ الجودِ والمعروفِ بَعْدَهُمُ
واخَيْبَةَ الْوَفْدِ بل وَاذُلَّ عَانِيها
1 ـ ناسخ التواريخ : 2/377 ، معالي السبطين : 2/19 ، مقتل الحسين ( عليه السلام ) أبو مخنف : 133.
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Oh, the loneliness of war and the prayer-niche, when they lost,
after them, any who would weep or smile within them!
Who will tell asceticism and piety that those
foundations have been demolished and their structures have collapsed?(1)
وَاوَحْشَةَ الحَرْبِ والمحرابِ إذ عَدِما
مِنْ بَعْدِهِم باكياً أو باسماً فيها
مَنْ مُبْلِغُ الزُّهْدِ والتقوى بأَنْ هُدِمَتْ
تلك القَوَاعِدُ وانهارت مَبَانيها (1)
The Second Gathering, of the Sixth Day
The Companions of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him)
It is stated in the noble Ziyarat al-Nahiya: Peace be upon you, O best of supporters. Peace be upon you for the patience you showed—how excellent is the final abode! God has settled you in the dwelling of the righteous. I bear witness that God uncovered the veil for you, smoothed the ground for you, and bestowed bounty upon you generously, and you were not slow toward the truth. You are our forerunners, and we are joined with you in the abode of permanence. And peace be upon you and the mercy of God and His blessings.(2)
جاء في الزيارة الناحية الشريفة : السلام عليكم يا خير أنصار ، السلام عليكم بما صبرتم فنعم عقبى الدار ، بوَّأكم الله مبوَّأ الأبرار ، أشهد لقد كشف الله لكم الغطاء ، ومهَّد لكم الوطاء ، وأجزل لكم العطاء ، وكنتم عن الحق غير بطاء ، وأنتم لنا فرطاء ، ونحن لكم خلطاء ، في دار البقاء ، والسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
(2) .
It is narrated from Anas ibn al-Harith, may God Almighty be pleased with him, who said: I heard the Prophet (God's blessings be upon him and his family) say: This son of mine—meaning Hussein—will be killed in a land of Iraq. Whoever among you witnesses it, let him support him. He said: So Anas was killed alongside Hussein (peace be upon him).(3)
روي عن أنس بن الحارث رضى الله تعالى عنه قال : سمعت النبي ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يقول : إن ابني هذا ـ يعني الحسين ـ يقتل بأرض من العراق ، فمن أدركه منكم فلينصره ، قال : فقتل أنس مع الحسين ( عليه السلام ) (3) .
And from Ash'ath ibn Uthman, from his father, from Anas ibn Abi Suhaym, who said: I heard the Messenger of God (God's blessings be upon him and his family) say: This son of mine will be killed in the land of Iraq. Whoever among you witnesses it, let him support him. So Anas was present with Hussein at Karbala and was killed alongside him.(4)
وعن أشعث بن عثمان ، عن أبيه ، عن أنس بن أبي سحيم قال : سمعت رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يقول : إن ابني هذا يقتل بأرض العراق ، فمن أدركه منكم فلينصره ، فحضر أنس مع الحسين كربلا وقتل معه (4) .
Ibn Abbas was reproached for abandoning Hussein (peace be upon him), and he said: The companions of Hussein were neither one man fewer nor one man more; we know them by their names before their presence.
وعُنِّف ابن عباس على تركه الحسين ( عليه السلام ) فقال : إن أصحاب الحسين لم ينقصوا رجلا ، ولم يزيدوا رجلا ، نعرفهم بأسمائهم من قبل شهودهم.
And Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya said: His companions are recorded with us by their names and the names of
وقال محمد بن الحنفية : وإن أصحابه عندنا لمكتوبون بأسمائهم وأسماء
1 ـ رياض المدح والرثاء ، الشيخ حسين القديحي : 708 ـ 709.
2 ـ إقبال الأعمال ، السيد ابن طاووس الحسني : 3/80.
3 ـ بحار الأنوار ، المجلسي : 18/141.
4 ـ بحار الأنوار ، المجلسي : 44/247.
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their fathers.(1)
آبائهم (1) .
Sheikh al-Mufid, may God's mercy be upon him, said: As for the companions of Hussein (peace be upon him), they are buried around him, and we cannot determine their graves, but the enclosure encompasses them.(2)
قال الشيخ المفيد عليه الرحمة : فأمَّا أصحاب الحسين ( عليه السلام ) فإنهم مدفونون حوله ، ولسنا نحصِّل لهم أجداثاً ، والحائر محيط بهم (2) .
It is narrated that the Messenger of God (God's blessings be upon him and his family) was one day with a group of his companions, passing along a certain road, when they came upon some children playing in that road. The Prophet (God's blessings be upon him and his family) sat down beside one of the boys and began to kiss the space between his eyes and treat him gently. Then he seated him on his lap and kissed him much. He was asked about the reason for this, and he (God's blessings be upon him and his family) said: I once saw this boy playing with Hussein, and I saw him lift the dust from beneath his feet and wipe his face and eyes with it. So I love him for his love of my son Hussein, and indeed Gabriel informed me that he will be among his supporters in the battle of Karbala.(3)
وروي أن رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) كان يوماً مع جماعة من أصحابه مارّاً في بعض الطريق ، وإذا هم بصبيان يلعبون في ذلك الطريق ، فجلس النبي ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) عند صبيّ منهم وجعل يقبِّل ما بين عينيه ويلاطفه ، ثم أقعده على حجره وكان يكثر تقبيله ، فسُئل عن علة ذلك فقال ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) : إني رأيت هذا الصبيَّ يوماً يلعب مع الحسين ، ورأيته يرفع التراب من تحت قدميه ويمسح به وجهه وعينيه ، فأنا أحبُّه لحبِّه لولدي الحسين ، ولقد أخبرني جبرئيل أنه يكون من أنصاره في وقعة كربلاء (3) .
Al-Rawandi, may God's mercy be upon him, narrated from al-Thumali, who said: Ali ibn al-Husayn (peace be upon him) said: I was with my father on the night in whose morning he was killed, and he said to his companions: This night—take it as a shield, for these people want only me. Were they to kill me, they would pay no heed to you. You are free and at liberty. They said: By God, this shall never be. He said: Tomorrow you will all be killed, and not one man of you will escape. They said: Praise be to God who has honored us with being killed alongside you.
وروى الراوندي عليه الرحمة ، عن الثمالي قال : قال علي بن الحسين ( عليه السلام ) : كنت مع أبي في الليلة التي قتل في صبيحتها ، فقال لأصحابه : هذا الليل فاتّخذوه جُنَّة ، فإن القوم إنما يريدونني ، ولو قتلوني لم يلتفتوا إليكم ، وأنتم في حلٍّ وسعة ، فقالوا : والله لا يكون هذا أبداً ، فقال : إنكم تُقتلون غداً كلكم ، ولا يفلت منكم رجل ، قالوا : الحمد لله الذي شرَّفنا بالقتل معك.
Then he prayed and said to them: Raise your heads and look. And they began to look upon their places and stations in Paradise, while he was saying to them: This is your dwelling, O so-and-so. So each man would meet the spears and swords with his chest and face, that he might reach his station in Paradise.(4)
ثمَّ دعا فقال لهم : ارفعوا رؤوسكم وانظروا ، فجعلوا ينظرون إلى مواضعهم ومنازلهم من الجنة ، وهو يقول لهم : هذا منزلك يا فلان ، فكان الرجل يستقبل الرماح والسيوف بصدره ووجهه ليصل إلى منزلته من الجنة (4) .
And from Ibn Amara, from his father, from Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him), who said: I said to him: Tell me about the companions of Hussein (peace be upon him) and their boldness toward death. He said: The veil was uncovered for them until
وعن ابن عمارة ، عن أبيه ، عن أبي عبدالله ( عليه السلام ) قال : قلت له : أخبرني عن أصحاب الحسين ( عليه السلام ) وإقدامهم على الموت ، فقال : إنهم كُشف لهم الغطاء حتى
1 ـ بحار الأنوار ، المجلسي : 44/185.
2 ـ بحار الأنوار ، المجلسي : 44/199.
3 ـ بحار الأنوار ، المجلسي : 44/242 ح 36.
4 ـ بحار الأنوار ، المجلسي : 44/297 ـ 298.
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they saw their dwellings in Paradise, so each man among them would advance toward being killed, hastening to a houri he would embrace, and to his place in Paradise.
رأوا منازلهم من الجنة ، فكان الرجل منهم يقدم على القتل ليبادر إلى حوراء يعانقها ، وإلى مكانه من الجنة.
And how excellent are the words of the most accomplished poet and man of letters, Sayyid Muhammad, known as Abu al-Filfil al-Khatti, may God's mercy be upon him—and indeed he excelled in this—when he says:
ولله درّ الشاعر الأديب الأكمل السيد محمد المعروف بأبي الفلفل الخطي عليه الرحمة إذ يقول ـ ولقد أجاد في ذلك ـ :
The men of chivalry and faithfulness were his supporters;
they had a roar against the army of the wretched.
Their souls were purified by the goodness of their origins,
for pure were the elements and the laps that bore them.
The palaces appeared before them, though they—
had the palaces not appeared—were not deficient.
Nothing made them long for death but the call of the
Merciful—not its eternal youths nor its houris.(1)
وذوو المروَّةِ والوَفَا أنصارُهُ
لَهُمُ على جيشِ اللئامِ زئيرُ
طَهُرَتْ نفوسُهُمُ لطيبِ أُصُولِها
فَعَنَاصِرٌ طَابت لهم وحُجُورُ
فتمثَّلَتْ لَهُمُ القُصُورُ وَمَا بِهِمْ
لولا تمثَّلتِ القُصُورُ قُصُورُ
مَا شَاقَهُمْ للموتِ إلاَّ دَعْوَةُ الـ
رحمنِ لاَ وِلْدَانُها والحُورُ (1)
And another said:
وقال آخر :
They attacked him by night, when the vast plain grew narrow upon him,
at an appointed time beyond which lay annihilation,
until, when war the next day bared
its leg for them and its kindled flame blazed,
young men rushed forth to defend him, radiant,
high-nosed, who neither swerved nor faltered,
as though they were gathering for themselves something sweet,
beyond death—honey from the supple spear.
The houris appeared in the highest palaces to them,
unveiled, so what they sacrificed became easy for them.(2)
وبيَّتوه وقد ضاق الفسيحُ بِهِ
منهم على مَوْعِد من دونِهِ العَطَلُ
حتَّى إذا الحربُ فيهم من غَد كَشَفَتْ
عن سَاقِها وَذَكَا من وَقْدِهَا شعلُ
تبادرت فتيةٌ من دونِهِ غُرَرٌ
شُمُّ العرانينِ مَا مَالُوا ولا نَكَلُوا
كأنَّما يُجتنى حُلْوَاً لأنفسِهِمْ
دُوْنَ المنونِ من الْعَسَّالَةِ العَسَلُ
تراءت الحُورُ في أعلى القُصُورِ لهم
كشفاً فهان عليهم فيه ما بذلوا (2)
It is narrated from Abu Ja'far the Second, from his forefathers (peace be upon them), who said: Ali ibn al-Husayn (peace be upon him) said: When matters grew severe upon Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), those who were with him looked at him and found him to be the opposite of them. For whenever matters grew severe, their colors changed, their limbs trembled, and their hearts quaked, whereas Hussein (peace be upon him) and some of those of his close companions who were with him—their colors brightened, their limbs grew calm, and their souls became tranquil. Some of them said to one another: Look, he does not fear death. Then Hussein (peace be upon him) said to them: Be patient, O sons of the noble, for death is but a bridge that carries you across from misery
وروي عن أبي جعفر الثاني ، عن آبائه ( عليهم السلام ) قال : قال علي بن الحسين ( عليه السلام ) : لما اشتدَّ الأمر بالحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب ( عليه السلام ) نظر إليه من كان معه فإذا هو بخلافهم ، لأنهم كلمّا اشتدَّ الأمر تغيَّرت ألوانهم ، وارتعدت فرائصهم ووجلت قلوبهم ، وكان الحسين ( عليه السلام ) وبعض من معه من خصائصه تشرق ألوانهم ، وتهدأ جوارحهم ، وتسكن نفوسهم. فقال بعضهم لبعض : انظروا لا يبالي بالموت ، فقال لهم الحسين ( عليه السلام ) : صبراً بني الكرام ، فما الموت إلاَّ قنطرة تعبر بكم عن البؤس
1 ـ نفثة المصدور ، الشيخ عباس القمي : 629 ، سعادة الدارين فيما يتعلق بالحسين ( عليه السلام ) الشيخ حسين القديحي : 296.
2 ـ الدمعة الساكبة ، البهبهاني : 4/278.
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and harm to the spacious gardens and the everlasting bliss. Which of you would hate to move from a prison to a palace? But for your enemies, it is only like one who moves from a palace to a prison and torment.
والضرّاء إلى الجنان الواسعة والنعيم الدائمة ، فأيُّكم يكره أن ينتقل من سجن إلى قصر ؟ وما هو لأعدائكم إلاَّ كمن ينتقل من قصر إلى سجن وعذاب.
Indeed my father told me, from the Messenger of God (God's blessings be upon him and his family), that the world is the prison of the believer and the paradise of the disbeliever, and death is the bridge of these to their gardens, and the bridge of those to their hellfire. I have not lied, nor have I been lied to.
إن أبي حدَّثني عن رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) أن الدنيا سجن المؤمن وجنَّة الكافر ، والموت جسر هؤلاء إلى جنانهم ، وجسر هؤلاء إلى جحيمهم ، ما كَذبت ولا كُذبت.
And how excellent are the words of Sayyid Haydar al-Hilli, may God's mercy be upon him, when he says:
ولله درّ السيد حيدر الحلي عليه الرحمة إذ يقول :
Lying in the dust, when the brave warriors looked upon him,
terror snatched away their colors.
The war never cleared away from one like him—
a slain man who shamed its champions.
عفيراً متى عاينتُه الكُماة
يَختطفُ الرعبُ ألوانَها
فما أجلت الحربُ عن مِثلِه
صريعاً يُجبنُ شجعانَها
And how excellent are also the words of Sayyid Muhammad Husayn al-Qazwini, may God's mercy be upon him, when he says:
ولله درّ السيد محمد حسين القزويني عليه الرحمة إذ يقول أيضاً :
He chose to march toward death with patience,
for patience is the nature of the soul that refuses injustice.
So he passed over the scorching ground a mangled corpse,
his insides plundered by the spears and the keen swords.
He died among the points of lances, thirsty,
with burning insides whose thirst was hotter than embers.
Oh, my sorrow for him upon the trampled earth,
over whose body the lean, branded horses ran.(1)
وآثَرَ أَنْ يسعى إلى الموتِ صابراً
ونفسُ أبيِّ الضيمِ شيمتُها الصبرُ
فأمضى على الرمضاءِ شِلْواً تناهبت
حَشَاه العَوَالي والمهنَّدةُ البُتْرُ
قضى بين أطرافِ الأسنَّةِ ظامئاً
بحرِّ حشاً من دون غلَّتِها الجمرُ
فلهفي عليه فوقَ ساليةِ الثَّرَى
على جِسْمِهِ تجري المسوَّمَةُ الضُّمْرُ (1)
Abu Basir narrated from Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him), who said: There is no martyr but that he wishes Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon them both) were alive so that they might enter Paradise with him.(2) Some of the narrators said: It was said to a man who witnessed the Day of al-Tuff with Umar ibn Sa'd: Woe to you! Did you kill the progeny of the Messenger of God (God's blessings be upon him and his family)? He said: May you bite upon stone! Had you witnessed what we witnessed, you would have done what we did. A band rose against us, their hands upon the hilts of their swords, like raging lions, smashing the horsemen right and left, hurling themselves upon death, accepting no safe-conduct, desiring no wealth, with nothing standing between them and arriving at the watering-places of death or seizing dominion. Had we held back from them
وروى أبو بصير ، عن أبي عبدالله ( عليه السلام ) قال : ما من شهيد إلاَّ وهو يحبُّ لو أن الحسين بن علي ( عليهما السلام ) حيٌّ حتى يدخلون الجنة معه (2) وقال بعض الرواة : قيل لرجل شهد يوم الطف مع عمر بن سعد : ويحك! أقتلتم ذرّيّة رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ؟ فقال : عضضت بالجندل ، إنك لو شهدت ما شهدنا لفعلت ما فعلنا ، ثارت علينا عصابة ، أيديها في مقابض سيوفها ، كالأسود الضارية ، تحطِّم الفرسان يميناً وشمالا ، وتلقي أنفسها على الموت ، لا تقبل الأمان ، ولا ترغب في المال ، ولا يحول حائل بينها وبين الورود على حياض المنية ، أو الاستيلاء على الملك ، فلو كففنا عنها
1 ـ مثير الأحزان ، الجواهري : 116.
2 ـ بحار الأنوار ، المجلسي : 44/297 ـ 298.
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for but a little while, they would have brought destruction upon every soul in the army. So what were we to do?!(1)
رويداً لأتت على نفوس العسكر بحذافيرها ، فما كنا فاعلين ؟! (1) .
Al-Rawandi, may God's mercy be upon him, narrated from Jabir, from Abu Ja'far (peace be upon him), who said: Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon them both) said to his companions before he was killed: Indeed the Messenger of God (God's blessings be upon him and his family) said: O my son, you will be driven to Iraq, and it is a land where the prophets and the successors of the prophets have met, and it is a land called Amura, and you will be martyred there, and a group of your companions will be martyred with you, who will not feel the pain of the touch of iron. And he recited: "We said: O fire, be coolness and peace upon Abraham"—the war shall be against you and them coolness and peace. So rejoice, for by God, even if they kill us, we shall come to our Prophet (God's blessings be upon him and his family).(2)
وروى الراوندي عليه الرحمة ، عن جابر ، عن أبي جعفر ( عليه السلام ) قال : قال الحسين بن علي ( عليهما السلام ) لأصحابه قبل أن يقتل : إن رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) قال : يا بنيَّ ، إنك ستساق إلى العراق ، وهي أرض قد التقى بها النبيون ، وأوصياء النبيين ، وهي أرض تُدعى عمورا ، وإنك تستشهد بها ، ويستشهد معك جماعة من أصحابك لا يجدون ألم مسِّ الحديد ، وتلا : « قُلْنَا يَا نَارُ كُونِي بَرْداً وَسَلاَماً عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ » تكون الحرب عليك وعليهم برداً وسلاماً ، فأبشروا ، فوالله لئن قتلونا فإنّا نرد على نبينا ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) (2) .
How excellent they were, when they supported Hussein (peace be upon him) and fought before him, rejoicing and glad. And how excellent are the words of the poet when he says:
فلله درّهم ، إذ نصروا الحسين ( عليه السلام ) وقاتلوا بين يديه فرحين مستبشرين ، ولله درّ الشاعر إذ يقول :
They supported the son of the daughter of their Prophet—blessed are they!—
they attained, through supporting him, lofty ranks.
نصروا ابنَ بنتِ نبيِّهم طُوبى لهم
نالوا بنُصْرَتِهِ مَرَاتِبَ ساميه
Among these supporters was Muslim ibn Awsaja, may God's pleasure be upon him, who counseled support for Hussein (peace be upon him) in life and in death. The narrator said: Then Amr ibn al-Hajjaj, may he be cursed, charged with his right wing from the direction of the Euphrates, and they clashed for a while, and Muslim ibn Awsaja was struck down. Amr and his companions turned away, and when the dust cleared, there was Muslim, fallen!
ومن هؤلاء الأنصار مسلم بن عوسجة رضوان الله عليه ، الذي أوصى بالحسين ( عليه السلام ) حياً وميتاً ، قال الراوي : ثم حمل عمرو بن الحجاج لعنه الله في ميمنته من نحو الفرات ، فاضطربوا ساعة ، فصُرع مسلم بن عوسجة ، وانصرف عمرو وأصحابه ، وانقطعت الغبرة فإذا مسلم صريع!
Muhammad ibn Abi Talib said: He fell to the ground with a breath of life still in him, so Hussein (peace be upon him) walked to him, with Habib ibn Mazahir accompanying him. Hussein (peace be upon him) said to him: May God have mercy upon you, O Muslim—"Among them are those who have fulfilled their vow, and among them are those who wait, and they have not changed in the least." Then Habib drew near to him and said: It is hard upon me, your falling, O Muslim. Rejoice in Paradise. He said to him in a faint voice: May God give you good tidings. Habib said to him: Were it not that I know I am following in your track, I would have loved for you to entrust me with all that concerns you. Muslim said:
وقال محمد بن أبي طالب : فسقط إلى الأرض وبه رمق ، فمشى إليه الحسين ( عليه السلام ) ومعه حبيب بن مظاهر ، فقال له الحسين ( عليه السلام ) : رحمك الله يا مسلم ، فـ « مِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَضَى نَحْبَهُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَنْتَظِرُ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا تَبْدِيلا » ثمَّ دنا منه حبيب فقال : يعزّ عليَّ مصرُعك يا مسلم ، أبشر بالجنة ، فقال له قولا ضعيفاً : بشَّرك الله بخير ، فقال له حبيب : لولا أعلم أني في الأثر لأحببت أن توصي إليَّ بكل ما أهمَّك ، فقال
1 ـ شرح نهج البلاغة ، ابن أبي الحديد : 3/263.
2 ـ الخرائج والجرائح ، الراوندي : 2/848 ح 63.
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I entrust you with this one—and he pointed to Hussein (peace be upon him)—so fight in his defense until you die. Habib said: I shall surely delight your eye. Then he died, may God's pleasure be upon him.
مسلم : فإني أوصيك بهذا ـ وأشار إلى الحسين ( عليه السلام ) ـ فقاتل دونه حتى تموت ، فقال حبيب : لأنعمنّك عيناً ، ثم مات رضوان الله عليه
Ibn Awsaja counseled Habib, saying: Fight
in his defense until you taste death.
They supported him in life, and at their death
the tender-hearted counsels the tender-hearted to support him.
أَوْصَى ابنُ عوسجة حبيباً قال قا
تِلْ دُوْنَهَ حتى الحِمَامَ تَذُوقا
نصروه أحياءاً وعند مَمَاتِهِمْ
يُوْصِي بنُصْرَتِهِ الشفيقُ شفيقا
He said: And a maidservant of his cried out: O my master! O son of Awsaja! So the companions of Ibn Sa'd called out, rejoicing: We have killed Muslim ibn Awsaja! Shabath ibn Rib'i said to some of those around him: May your mothers be bereaved of you! Indeed you are killing yourselves with your own hands and debasing your own glory. Do you rejoice at the killing of Muslim ibn Awsaja? By the One to whom I have submitted, many a noble stand he had among the Muslims! I saw him on the day of Adharbayjan kill six of the polytheists before the Muslim cavalry could close ranks.(1)
قال : وصاحت جارية له : يا سيّداه ، يا ابن عوسجتاه ، فنادى أصحاب ابن سعد مستبشرين ، قتلنا مسلم بن عوسجة ، فقال شبث بن ربعي لبعض من حوله : ثكلتكم أمهاتكم ، أما إنكم تقتلون أنفسكم بأيديكم وتذلّون عزّكم ، أتفرحون بقتل مسلم بن عوسجة ؟ أما والذي أسلمت له لرُبَّ موقف له في المسلمين كريم ، لقد رأيته يوم آذربيجان قتل ستة من المشركين قبل أن تلتام خيول المسلمين (1) .
And among them was that little boy whose father was killed in the battle, and whose mother was with him. His mother said to him: Go out, my son, and fight before the son of the Messenger of God! So he went out, and Hussein (peace be upon him) said: This is a youth whose father was killed, and perhaps his mother dislikes his going out. The youth said: My mother is the one who ordered me to do so. So he advanced, saying:
ومنهم ذلك الصبيّ الصغير الذي قتل أبوه في المعركة ، وكانت أمه معه ، فقالت له أمُّه : اخرج يا بني ، وقاتل بين يدي ابن رسول الله! فخرج فقال الحسين ( عليه السلام ) : هذا شابٌّ قُتل أبوه ، ولعلّ أمه تكره خروجه ، فقال الشاب : أمي أمرتني بذلك ، فبرز وهو يقول :
My commander is Hussein, and what an excellent commander—
the delight of the heart of the bringer of glad tidings and the warner.
Ali and Fatima are his parents—
so do you know of any equal to him?
He has a countenance like the morning sun,
he has a brow like the radiant full moon.
أميري حسينٌ ونِعْمَ الأميرْ
سُرُورُ فُؤَادِ البشيرِ النذيرْ
عليٌّ وفاطمةٌ وَالِدَاه
فَهَلْ تعلمون له من نظير
له طَلْعَةٌ مِثْلُ شَمْسِ الضُّحَى
له غُرَّةٌ مِثْلُ بَدْر مُنيرْ
And he fought until he was killed, and his head was cut off and thrown toward the camp of Hussein (peace be upon him). His mother took up his head and said: Well done, my son! O delight of my heart and coolness of my eye! Then she hurled her son's head at a man and killed him, and took the pole of his tent and charged at them, saying:
وقاتل حتى قُتل وجُزَّ رأسه ورمي به إلى عسكر الحسين ( عليه السلام ) ، فحملت أمه رأسه وقالت : أحسنت يا بنيَّ ، يا سرور قلبي ويا قرّة عيني ، ثمَّ رمت برأس ابنها رجلا فقتلته ، وأخذت عمود خيمته ، وحملت عليهم وهي تقول :
I am an old woman, my master—weak,
worn out, decrepit, frail—
I strike you with a violent blow
in defense of the sons of noble Fatima.
أنا عَجُوزٌ سيِّدي ضعيفه
خاويةٌ باليةٌ نحيفه
أضربُكُمْ بضربة عنيفه
دون بني فاطمةَ الشريفه
1 ـ بحار الأنوار ، المجلسي : 45/19 ـ 20.
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And she struck two men and killed them, so Hussein (peace be upon him) ordered her to be turned back and prayed for her.(1)
وضربت رجلين فقتلتهما ، فأمر الحسين ( عليه السلام ) بصرفها ودعا لها (1) .
May God magnify your rewards, O believers, and may God grant you good consolation. For what was the state of Hussein (peace be upon him) when his companions were killed, and he remained after them alone, with no helper and no supporter, seeing them slain upon the soil of Karbala, drenched in their blood, crying for aid but receiving none? And how excellent are the words of Sayyid Muhammad Husayn al-Qazwini, may God's mercy be upon him, when he says:
عظم الله أجوركم أيها المؤمنون ، وأحسن الله لكم العزاء ، فما حال الحسين ( عليه السلام ) لما قُتل أصحابه ، وبقي بعدهم وحيداً ، بلا ناصر ولا معين ، وهو يراهم صرعى على بوغاء كربلاء مضرَّجين بدمائهم ، وهو يستغيث فلا يغاث ، ولله درّ السيد محمد حسين القزويني عليه الرحمة إذ يقول :
And the grandson came to turn his eyes about, seeing
nothing but their corpses laid still upon the dust.
Seventy thousand surrounded him, yet he turned them back
scattering, like ostriches dispersed.
He stood, devoid of any helper, among their throngs,
alone, defending the path of Ahmad,
until he fell to the earth a mangled corpse,
his parched heart never slaked from the burning of thirst.
He fell, and with him fell monotheism, and guidance was effaced,
and the bonds of the upright, well-built faith were loosed.
God be with him—his heart cleft from thirst,
slain upon the face of the blazing earth.
He lay in the noonday heat, defiled with dust,
shaded by the tawny, splintered spears.
And the raiding horses came over his chest,
going and coming to the charge of the assault.
And a bereaved woman, crying out from beside the curtain,
appeared, grief-stricken, striking her cheek with her hand.(2)
وأضحى يُديرُ السبطُ عينيه لا يرى
سوى جُثَث منهم على التُّرْبِ رُكَّدِ
أحاطت به سبعون ألفاً فردَّها
شَوَارِدَ أَمْثَالَ النّعامِ المشرَّد
وقام عَدِيمُ النصرِ بين جُمُوعِهِم
وحيداً يحامي عن شريعةِ أحمدِ
إلى أن هوى لِلأرْضِ شِلْواً مبضَّعاً
ولم يُرْوَ من حَرِّ الظما قَلْبُهُ الصَّدِي
هوى فهوى التوحيدُ وانطمس الهدى
وحُلَّت عُرَى الدينِ الحنيفِ المشيَّدِ
له اللهُ مفطورَ الفؤادِ من الظَّمَا
صريعاً على وَجْهِ الثرى المتوقِّدِ
ثوى في هجيرِ الشمسِ وهو معفَّرٌ
تظلِّلُه سُمْرُ القنا المتقصِّدِ
وأضحت عوادي الخيلِ من فَوْقِ صَدْرِهِ
تروحُ إلى كَرِّ الطِّرَادِ وتغتدي
وهاتفة من جَانِبِ الخِدْرِ ثاكل
بَدَتْ وهي حسرى تَلْطُمُ الخدَّ باليدِ (2)
The Third Gathering, of the Sixth Day
Habib ibn Mazahir al-Asadi (peace be upon him)
His arrival at Karbala and his noble martyrdom
It is narrated, among that with which Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari, may God Almighty be pleased with him, visited the martyrs on
روي مما زار به جابر بن عبدالله الأنصاري رضي الله تعالى عنه الشهداء في
1 ـ بحار الأنوار ، المجلسي : 45/27 ـ 28.
2 ـ مثير الأحزان ، الجواهري : 111.
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the day of al-Arba'in, that he said: Peace be upon you, O souls that have alighted at the courtyard of Hussein and made their resting-place at his abode. I bear witness that you established the prayer, gave the alms, enjoined what is right, forbade what is wrong, struggled against the apostates, and worshipped God until certainty came to you. By the One who sent Muhammad in truth as a Prophet, we have shared with you in that which you entered into. Atiyya said: I said to him: O Jabir, how, when we descended into no valley, nor climbed any mountain, nor struck with any sword, while the people had their heads severed from their bodies, their children orphaned, and their wives widowed? He said to me: O Atiyya, I heard my beloved, the Messenger of God (God's blessings be upon him and his family), say: Whoever loves a people will be resurrected with them, and whoever loves the deed of a people shares in their deed. By the One who sent Muhammad in truth as a Prophet, indeed my intention and the intention of my companions is upon that which Hussein (peace be upon him) and his companions died upon.(1)
يوم الأربعين قال : السلام عليكم أيّتها الأرواح التي حلّت بفناء الحسين ، وأناخت برحله ، وأشهد أنكم أقمتم الصلاة ، وآتيتم الزكاة ، وأمرتم بالمعروف ، ونهيتم عن المنكر ، وجاهدتم الملحدين ، وعبدتم الله حتى أتاكم اليقين ، والذي بعث محمداً بالحقّ نبياً لقد شاركناكم فيما دخلتم فيه قال عطية : فقلت له : يا جابر ، كيف ولم نهبط وادياً ولم نعلُ جبلا ولم نضرب بسيف ، والقوم قد فُرِّق بين رؤوسهم وأبدانهم ، وأوتمت أولادهم ، وأرملت أزواجهم ؟ فقال لي : يا عطية ، سمعت حبيبي رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يقول : من أحبَّ قوماً حُشر معهم ، ومن أحبَّ عمل قوم أشرك في عملهم ، والذي بعث محمداً بالحق نبياً ، إن نيّتي ونيّة أصحابي على ما مضى عليه الحسين ( عليه السلام ) وأصحابه (1) .
They charged and wheeled and fulfilled the right of their master
in a stand where the parent disowned the child.
The fruit of the hereafter made them long, so it took root
in their breasts—the spear-wood plucked away.
صالوا وجالوا وأدَّوا حَقَّ سيِّدِهِم
في مَوْقِف عقَّ فيه الوَالِدَ الوَلَدُ
وَشَاقَهُم ثَمَرُ العُقْبَى فأصبح في
صُدُورِهم شَجَرُ الخطيِّ يَخْتَضِدُ
Al-Kashshi, may God's mercy be upon him, narrated from Fudayl ibn al-Zubayr, who said: Maytham al-Tammar passed by on a horse of his and met Habib ibn Mazahir al-Asadi at the assembly of Banu Asad. They conversed until the necks of their two horses crossed.(2) Then Habib said: It is as though I see a bald old man with a large belly, selling watermelons by the House of Provision, crucified for his love of the family of his Prophet (God's blessings be upon him and his family), his belly slit open upon the wood. Maytham said: And indeed I know a ruddy man with two braids who will go out in support of the son of the daughter of his Prophet (God's blessings be upon him and his family), and will be killed and his head paraded about Kufa. Then they parted, and the people of the assembly said: We have never seen anyone more given to lying than these two. He said: The people of the assembly had not yet dispersed when Rashid al-Hijri came seeking them. He asked the people of the assembly about them, and they said: They parted, and we heard them say such and such. So Rashid said:
روى الكشي عليه الرحمة ، عن فضيل بن الزبير قال : مرَّ ميثم التمار على فرس له ، فاستقبل حبيب بن مظاهر الأسدي عند مجلس بني أسد ، فتحدَّثا حتى اختلف أعناق فرسيهما (2) ، ثم قال حبيب : لكأني بشيخ أصلع ضخم البطن ، يبيع البطيخ عند دار الرزق ، قد صُلب في حبِّ أهل بيت نبيه ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ويُبقر بطنه على الخشبة ، فقال ميثم : وإني لأعرف رجلا أحمر ، له ضفيرتان ، يخرج لنصرة ابن بنت نبيه ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ، ويُقتل ويُجال برأسه بالكوفة ، ثم افترقا ، فقال أهل المجلس : ما رأينا أحداً أكذب من هذين ، قال : فلم يفترق أهل المجلس حتّى أقبل رشيد الهجري يطلبهما ، فسأل أهل المجلس عنهما فقالوا : افترقا وسمعناهما يقولان كذا وكذا ، فقال
1 ـ بشارة المصطفى ، محمد بن علي الطبري : 125 ـ 126.
2 ـ قال المجلسي عليه الرحمة في البحار : ( توضيح : قوله : اختلف أعناق فرسيهما ، أي كانت تجيء وتذهب ، وتتقدَّم وتتأخَّر ، كما هو شأن الفرس الذي يريد صاحبه أن يقف وهو يمتنع ، أو المعنى : حاذى عنقاهما على الخلاف ).
(210)
May God have mercy on Maytham—he forgot: and a hundred dirhams will be added to the stipend of the one who brings the head. Then he turned away, and the people said: By God, this one is the most given to lying of them all. The people said: By God, the days and nights did not pass until we saw him crucified at the gate of the house of Amr ibn Hurayth, and the head of Habib ibn Mazahir was brought, having been killed alongside Hussein (peace be upon him), and we saw everything they had said.
رشيد : رحم الله ميثماً ، نسي : ويُزاد في عطاء الذي يجيء بالرأس مائة درهم ، ثمَّ أدبر ، فقال القوم : هذا والله أكذبهم ، فقال القوم : والله ما ذهبت الأيام والليالي حتّى رأيناه مصلوباً على باب دار عمرو بن حريث ، وجيء برأس حبيب بن مظاهر وقد قتل مع الحسين ( عليه السلام ) ، ورأينا كل ما قالوا.
Habib (peace be upon him) was among the seventy men who supported Hussein (peace be upon him), who met mountains of iron and faced the spears with their chests and the swords with their faces, while safe-conduct and wealth were offered to them and they refused, saying: We have no excuse before the Messenger of God (God's blessings be upon him and his family) if Hussein (peace be upon him) is killed while a single eye of ours still blinks—until they were killed around him.
وكان حبيب ( عليه السلام ) من السبعين الرجال الذين نصروا الحسين ( عليه السلام ) ، ولقوا جبال الحديد ، واستقبلوا الرماح بصدورهم ، والسيوف بوجوههم ، وهم يُعرض عليهم الأمان والأموال فيأبون ، فيقولون : لا عذر لنا عند رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) إن قتل الحسين ( عليه السلام ) ومنّا عينٌ تطرف ، حتى قُتلوا حوله.
And indeed Habib ibn Mazahir al-Asadi (peace be upon him) once jested, so Yazid ibn Husayn al-Hamdani—who was called the master of the reciters—said to him: O brother, this is no hour for laughter. He said: And what place is more deserving of joy than this? By God, it is nothing but that these wretches will charge against us with their swords, and we shall embrace the wide-eyed houris.(1)
ولقد مزح حبيب بن مظاهر الأسدي ( عليه السلام ) ، فقال له يزيد بن حصين الهمداني ـ وكان يقال له سيِّد القرّاء ـ : يا أخي ، ليس هذه بساعة ضحك ، قال : فأيُّ موضع أحق من هذا بالسرور ؟ والله ما هو إلاَّ أن تميل علينا هذه الطغام بسيوفهم فنعانق الحور العين (1) .
It is stated in the book Ibsar al-Ayn that Habib ibn Mazahir al-Asadi (peace be upon him) was a Companion who had seen the Prophet (God's blessings be upon him and his family), and he settled in Kufa and accompanied Ali (peace be upon him) in all his wars, and was among his close companions and the bearers of his knowledge. When Muslim ibn Aqil came to Kufa and stayed at the house of al-Mukhtar, and the Shia began to come and go to him, Habib and Muslim ibn Awsaja began to take the pledge of allegiance for Hussein (peace be upon him) in Kufa, until, when Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad entered Kufa, dissuaded its people from Muslim (peace be upon him), and his supporters fled, their clans concealed and hid the two of them. When Hussein (peace be upon him) arrived at Karbala, Habib and Muslim went out to him in concealment, traveling by night and hiding by day until they reached him.(2)
جاء في كتاب إبصار العين أن حبيب بن مظاهر الأسدي ( عليه السلام ) كان صحابياً رأى النبي ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ، ونزل الكوفة ، وصحب علياً ( عليه السلام ) في حروبه كلّها ، وكان من خاصّته وحملة علومه ، ولما ورد مسلم بن عقيل إلى الكوفة ، ونزل دار المختار وأخذت الشيعة تختلف إليه جعل حبيب ومسلم بن عوسجة يأخذان البيعة للحسين ( عليه السلام ) في الكوفة ، حتى إذا دخل عبيدالله بن زياد الكوفة ، وخذَّل أهلها عن مسلم ( عليه السلام ) وفرَّ أنصاره حبسهما وأخفاهما عشائرهما ، فلمَّا ورد الحسين ( عليه السلام ) كربلاء خرج حبيب ومسلم إليه مختفيين ، يسيران الليل ويكمنان النهار حتى وصلا إليه (2) .
Al-Darbandi, may God's mercy be upon him, narrated in his book Asrar al-Shahada, saying: It is narrated that
وروى الدربندي عليه الرحمة في كتابه أسرار الشهادة ، قال : روي أن
1 ـ اختيار معرفة الرجال الطوسي : 292 ـ 293 ح 133 ، بحار الأنوار ، المجلسي : 45/92 ـ 93 ح 33.
2 ـ إبصار العين في أنصار الحسين ( عليه السلام ) ، السماوي : 100 ـ 102.