Shrine of Hazrat Imam Hussain (a.s.) Slideshow

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Battle of Khyber

24th of Rajab marks the anniversary of the victory of Islam against the Jews in the battle of Khyber. This battle was fought in the 7th Hijrah.

Background

Khyber was a locality at a distance of about 160 Kms from Madina. It consisted of eight (or ten) popular and very strong forts where the Jews lived and also gave refuge to the enemies of Islam. They had become an active center of conspiracies against Islam. In the 7th Hijrah, our Holy Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) got information about the conspiracy being hatched by the Jews against Muslims in connivance with other hostile elements of Islam.  He(sawaw) decided to take on the challenge.

Preparation for War

In a consultative meeting, it was decided by the Muslims to take on the enemy outside Madina.  A force of 1,400 muslim fighters (History of Muslims of the World by K.A.Hameed) set out of Madina to protect themselves and their homeland against a Jewish force of more than 14,000 fighters (Allama Tabrisi).  Before the start of the battle, the Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) took ill. Imam Ali(a.s.) was also not able to participate in this battle in the beginning due to a illness in his eyes.

The battle starts

The battle started with the siege of the forts at Khyber. The siege continued for a period of about one month. Some individual battles were followed by a general assault from both sides for three continuous days but a decisive result could not be achieved.  This was mainly due to the fact that the Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) was not commanding the military moves himself as well as because Imam Ali(a.s.) was not taking part in the battle. The so called “Mujahideen-e-Islam” who always complained of not being given sufficient chance to show their skills were in charge and no victory was in sight.

In Tarikh Abul Fada (Vol1 page 187) it is stated that “Due to the illness of Prophet Mohammad(sawaw), Hazrat Abu Bakr took the banner and went to fight but returned unsuccessful and then Hazrat Umar took the banner and fought even harder but he as well returned unsuccessfully. Thereafter, Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) was informed of this situation”.  It is quite clear that the Prophet(sawaw) never awarded the banner to any of the two, they took it by themselves and went to fight and returned unsuccessful.

After five days of general battle, Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) declared that “Tomorrow I will award the Standard of the Islamic forces to a man who loves Allah(swt) and his Prophet(sawaw) and Allah(swt) and his Prophet(sawaw) love him. He is the one who attacks forcefully and does not run away from the battlefield and he will not return until Allah(swt) grants victory on his hand”.  Every Sahabi was waiting and wishing to be awarded this honor.

The next day Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) called for Imam Ali(a.s.). People said that Ali(a.s.) was suffering from a disease in his eyes but the Prophet(sawaw) insisted on him being called and when he arrived, the Prophet(sawaw) applied his saliva on the eyes of Imam Ali(a.s.) which cured him instantly and then he prayed to Allah(swt) and awarded him the standard of Islam.

Advances of Imam Ali(a.s.)

Imam Ali(a.s.) led the Islamic forces to the strongest fort of Khyber named QAMOOS and when they came near, the battle was started by the Jews. One of their strongest man, Haris, attacked and martyred two Muslims after which Imam Ali(a.s.) took on Haris and killed him instantly. He was followed by the strongest man among the Jews - Marhab. Marhab faced the same fate. His body was equally divided into two parts by the zulfiqar of Imam Ali(a.s.).

After this, general battle started. The Muslim forces fought with a lot of courage under the leadership of Imam Ali(a.s.).

Upon realizing that they were losing the battle, the Jews started running towards the fort and closed the huge iron gate of the fort from inside. This was the gate which used to be opened and closed by 40 strong men. Imam Ali(a.s.) alone lifted and broke the gate in one strong jolt. He then used the same gate to make a bridge on a trench so that the Islamic forces could enter the fort and conquer it. The remaining frightful Jews cried of mercy and Imam Ali(a.s.) ordered to stop the battle and declare peace for them who had surrendered.  One after the other, the muslim fighters under the leadership of Imam Ali(a.s.) conquered various forts of this stronghold and completed the grand victory of Islamic forces over the Jews.

Brother Mohsin Naquvi Adds:

Marhab's mother had had a dream in her youth and when Marhab was only a baby. In her dream she had seen that a lion had killed her. Because of that dream, she used to say to her son (when he had grown up and had become a renowned fighter in Arabia): Son, never fight a man whose name resembles the meaning of 'lion.'

In all previous sorties the Prophet of Islam would appoint a commander and then send some soldiers under the command of that commander to attack the fort. When the Prophet (pbuh) asked Ali to take charge and attack, Imam Ali(a.s.) did not bother about the soldiers. He took the banner in one hand, the sword in the other hand and marched uphill on the double. The only companion who went with him was Abu Rafay (other Muslim soldiers followed later), the personal attendant of the Prophet on whose authority the whole story is told. Abu Rafay narrates:

When we arrived at the top of the hill, we were out of breath, because Ali had been marching on the double uphill. He established the banner in the rocks and looked upto the fort. When we arrived at the gate of the fort, there was an old Jewish guard watching us approach from one of the turrets. He looked at Imam Ali(a.s.) and shouted - Who are YOU?  Notice the emphasis on YOU. Imam Ali(a.s.) replied by reciting the following verse:

anal lazi sammatni ummi hydara zarghaamu aajaamin, laithun, qaswara

Translation: I am the one who was named HYDER by his mother, I am the lion of the valley, I am the great lion, the lion who attacks his prey  by chasing it.

The old man turned to his people inside the fort and said: YOU ARE DESTROYED!!!

Shah Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlavi writes: Apparently, the old man had read some FAZA'EL of Imam Ali(a.s.) in his books and he recognized him for those. That is why he said what he said to his own people.

It is indeed true that Imam Ali(a.s.) was named HYDER by his mother in his infancy. What is curious is that Imam Ali(a.s.) uses three more words meaning 'lion' of different qualities. Here is an explanation:

But before that, let us read some Urdu poetry, which in its simplicity and recording of fact is an all-time classic.

PATTHAR PA ALAM DEEN KA GARA KIS NE LALKAAR KE MARHAB TO PACHAARA KIS NE

AS-HAAB-E-PAYAMBER SABHI THAI HAZIR KAHDO DAR-E-KHYBER KO UKHAARAA KIS NE

The Imam comes to this world with a covenant with Allah that he would protect and preserve the law of Allah. If in that process the Imam needs to raise his sword he will do that with that intention and full committment to welcome martyrdom or win over the enemy. The main purpose of an Imam's life is to guide people and lead people. His main purpose in life is not killing people. But, if it comes to that, the Imam will not relent.

That is why Imam Ali(a.s.) comes to the battlefield reciting those famous verses in which he uses three different words for the word lion. That was the indication that the Imam will first try HIDAYAT and then if all else fails he will not back away from using the sword. He wanted Marhab to remember his mother's dream. And if he had any sense he would go back and not confront Imam Ali(a.s.). As we saw, the old Jewish guard did recognize Imam Ali(a.s.) for his FAZA'EL. But Allah had destined something else for Marhab.

We feel good about Imam Ali(a.s.) killing Marhab and Haris and pulling the gate of Khyber from its hinges. But those things really did not make Ali great. What made Imam Ali(a.s.) great was his devotion to Islam and his full commitment to the commands of the Prophet. After the famous hadeeth of Khyber when Imam Ali(a.s.) was ready to leave, he asked a question of the Prophet as to how long he should fight. The Prophet replied: Either until you are victorious or they accept Islam.

He added: And remember ALi, if a single non-Muslim accepts Islam on your invitation, it is better for you than having a herd of one hundred red camels. That is why, after all the victory, Imam Ali(a.s.) did not bother to collect even the personal armour of his slain enemies, let alone looting wealth from the fort, which other Muslims did do after him, and it was quite legitimate in the circumstances. Reports tell us that  he came down the hill of Khyber after victory totally empty-handed....

That is what made Ali great.

As Imam Ali(a.s.) was coming down the hill, the Prophet of Islam waited to greet him. Suddenly from one side, J'afar bin Abi Talib appeared who was now returning from Abyssinnia (Habsha) after twelve years' stay there. The Prophet was doubly pleased. He put his one arm round Imam Ali(a.s.)'s shoulder, the other round J'afar's shoulder. He would look at Ali and then at J'afar and would say:I don't know what makes me happier today, my brother Ali conquering the fort of Khyber or my brother J'afar returning from Habsha after twelve years. It was definitely one of the happiest moments in the life of  te Prophet of Islam.

The hadeeth of Khyber is also the true manisfestation of Imam Ali(a.s.)'s personality. The Prophet had said: Tomorrow mrning shall I give this banner to  a MAN, who attacks repeatedly, and does not retreat. He loves Allah and his Rasool and Allah and His Rasool love him. Allah will give victory(FATAH) on his hands.

There is not a single Companion for whom the Prophet of islam had fulfilled the prophecy of Allah's love like that. It was reserved for Imam Ali(a.s.), and him alone. The Prophet had ascribed in so many words Imam Ali(a.s.)'s non-compromising attitude to his mission, and Imam Ali(a.s.)'s future life became a living proof to that.

Then the Prophet had used the word FATAH in his statement. This word is used in three different meaning is Arabic. The miracle of the Prophet's speech is that all three meanings came true in this story.

Fatah means: 1. To open, 2. To conquer, and, 3. To begin

Imam Ali(a.s.) was victorious, he opened the closed gate of Khyber, and, the conquest of Khyber turned out to be the beginning of a long- lasting prosperity on the Muslim community.

Journey of Imam Hussain(a.s.) towards Karbala

Rajab 28th – Start of Journey of Imam Hussain (a.s.), his family members and companions towards Iraq.

After hatching the conspiracy and achieving ultimate martyrdom of Imam Hasan (a.s.), Moawiya started campaigning openly for the succession of his son Yazid to the office of Caliphate. Until that time he had always planned in secret about this intention. To materialize his plans, he started his campaign among his most trusted people in Syria where he had established his headquarters. Later on, his missionaries took the message to other parts of the Islamic world and with the help of lot of money and bribery he got support for the caliphate of Yazid from a number of important Islamic cities. After his death on 15th Rajab of the 60th Hijrah, Yazid sat on his throne and started the campaign of getting Baiyat of all muslims so that they would accept him as the Caliph. The materialistic personalities of that time came forward and accepted his caliphate. Among them were mostly the people who were known for their enmity towards the Ahl-e-Bait (a.s.) of our Prophet Mohammad (sawaw). The other group was of the people who were either coerced by force or treachery or their loyalties were bought through material offers.

When the campaign crossed the borders of Syria, instructions were sent to the Governor of Madina – Walid ibn-e-Aqba ibn-e-Abu Sufyan – as well to get the baiyat of Imam Hussain (a.s.). According to some historians, Yazid also mentioned that if Imam Hussain (a.s.) declines his baiyat then Walid should kill him and send his head to Syria.

Walid invited the Imam (a.s.) to his court and gave him the orders of Yazid and demanded his baiyat.  Imam (a.s.) replied “A person like me would never accept the baiyat of a person like Yazid”. In this statement, Imam (a.s.) gave a clear guideline for all the future time to come.

One of the advisors of Walid named Marwan bin Hakm incited Walid on getting Imam (a.s.) killed right there but Imam (a.s.) was joined by a few of his followers from Bani Hashim under the leadership of Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) and returned safely from the court.

Within a few days time, the political developments made it very clear that Yazid is going all out to either obtain the baiyat of Imam Hussain (a.s.) or to get him killed. Imam (a.s.) had the sanctity of Madina as well as the salvation of the religion of Islam in his mind, therefore, he decided to leave Madina and go towards Iraq. He asked for the preparation of a Caravan of his selected family members and his trusted friends and set off for this long journey on the 28th of Rajab.

Inshallah in future newsletters, details of the journey of Imam Hussain (a.s.) and his caravan will be presented. Since it is a day of grief and sorrow, I will relate some masaib of this event now.

Some words of Masaib

When Imam (a.s.) had made his decision to leave Madina, he went to the grave of his brother Imam Hasan (a.s.) with a very heavy heart. There he stayed for some time talking to his brother saying “O brother now your killers are after my blood. It looks like time for my martyrdom is near and I am leaving you now.”.  I imagine that Imam Hasan (a.s.) would have replied from his grave – O my brother I bid you farewell and give you my son Qasim to become your sadqa in Karbala.

After that Imam (a.s.) went to the grave of his grandfather, the Holy Prophet Mohammad(sawaw). He stayed there for a long time and wept a lot until he went to sleep. He saw the Prophet (sawaw) in his dream and said to him “O my grandfather, my salutations to you. The land of Madina has become small for me. Tyrants among your ummah are after my blood and I am leaving Madina with a heavy heart”.

Finally Imam Hussain (a.s.) came to the grave of his mother Hazrat Fatima Zahra (s.a.).  Historians write that Imam (a.s.) ran towards her grave just like a child runs toward his mother and he fell on her grave just like a child falls in the lap of the mother. Imam (a.s.) said “O my mother accept my last salam. I am leaving the land of Madina and would not come back. The prophecy of my grandfather is about to come true”. I imagine that Bibi Zahra (s.a.) would have said from her grave “O my beloved son, O the one whom I have raised by keeping awake in the night, I would not let you go alone. From this day I would not rest in my grave but I would accompany you throughout your journey.”

Historians write that throughout the journey various people reported to Imam (a.s.) that when everyone goes asleep during the night, we hear feminine voices of weeping and a bibi’s voice crying “Ya Hussain, Ya Hussain”. Imam (a.s.) told them “O my trusted companions this is my mother Zahra(a.s.) who is with me ever since I have left Madina”.

Ala Laanatullahe ala qaum-iz-zalimeen (May Allah’s curse be on the group that committed atrocities on Imam Hussain (a.s.) and his companions and family members)

Imam Hussain(a.s.)

3rd of Shabaan, - The birth anniversary of the third Holy Imam, Syed-us-Shuhada and the leader of the youth of the paradise, Imam Hussain (a.s.) ibn-e-Imam Ali (a.s.).

His Birth

One year after the birth of Imam Hasan (a.s.), Allah (swt) bestowed the house of Bibi Fatima (s.a.) and Imam Ali(a.s.) with the birth of Imam Hussain (a.s.) on 3rd Shabaan in the 4th Hijri. On hearing the news of his birth, the Prophet(sawaw) rushed to the house of Bibi Fatima (s.a.) and asked Asma binte Amees “O Asma, bring me my son”.

Bibi Asma brought Imam Hussain (a.s.) in a white piece of cloth and the Prophet (sawaw) took him in his arms and recited Azan in his right ear and Aqama in his left ear and then returned the baby to Asma.

Spontaneously he started weeping. Bibi Asma inquired the reason for his grief. The Prophet(sawaw) replied “O Asma this baby will be killed by a renegade group after me. Allah (swt) will not allow them to seek my shifaat. And Asma, do not give this news to my daughter Fatima since she has recently given birth to this baby.”

He (sawaw) then turned to Imam Ali (a.s.) and asked “How have you named my son”.  Imam Ali (a.s.) replied “How could I give a name to the baby when you are present.” In the meantime,

the Prophet (sawaw) received wahi in which Allah (swt) suggested the name HUSSAIN for the child and so it happened. This was the first time that a child was named HUSSAIN. The Prophet (sawaw) gave his tongue and then his finger in the mouth of the child to feed him and this practice continued in the future as well to feed the baby.

There is another tradition in Ilalus-Sharae where Prophet Muhammad (sawaw) had named Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Hussain (a.s.) after the names of the sons of Prophet Harun (a.s.) - Shabbar and Shabbir which in Arabic are Hasan (a.s.) and Hussain (a.s.).

Greetings by Angels

On the birth of Imam Hussain (a.s.), archangel Jibreel (a.s.) came down with a large group of angels to present his greetings to the household of Propet Mohammad (sawaw). He was accompanied by a couple of angels who were castigated by Allah(swt) due to some tark-e-oola and they were forgiven by Allah (swt) due to the sanctity of the baby Imam (a.s.). Their names as mentioned by the historians are Fitrus and Dardayeel.

Shaikh Sadooq (May Allah sanctify his grave) quotes Imam Ja'far as Sadiq (a.s.) as saying that when Imam Hussain (a.s.) was born, Allah(swt) commanded Jibra'eel to descend upon the earth with a thousand Angels and congratulate the Prophet (sawaw) on His behalf and himself. Jibra'eel descended and on the way he passed by an island where an Angel named Fitrus, who was a bearer of the empyrean, lay there banished. Allah (swt) had once assigned a job to Fitrus who delayed it due to laziness; hence Allah (swt) took away his wings and expelled him to the island. Fitrus worshipped Allah (swt) there for seven hundred years until the time Imam Hussain(a.s.) was born.

When Fitrus saw Jibra'eel he inquired of him as to where was he going. Jibra'eel answered that, "Allah, the Exalted, has bestowed His Blessings (Imam Hussain) upon Mohammad (sawaw), thus Allah has commanded me to go and congratulate him on His behalf and myself." Fitrus said, "Then O Jibra'eel! Take me too alongwith you to the presence of the Prophet, perhaps he might pray for me." Ji¬bra'eel lifted him up and brought him to the Holy Prophet (sawaw).

When he reached there he offered felicitations to him on behalf of Allah (swt) and him¬self, then he presented the matter of Fitrus. The Prophet (sawaw) commanded Fitrus to touch himself with the body of Imam Hussain (a.s) and arise. Fitrus did so and ascended upwards saying, "O Prophet of Allah! This son of yours will be mercilessly killed by your nation. Therefore, it is incumbent upon me in exchange of this favour that I recompense.

Hence there is no person who visits his grave except that I receive him, and there is no Muslim who offers salutations to him or who prays for him except that I take it to his presence and carry his message.".

Saying this Fitrus flew away. In another narrative it is related that Fitrus flew away saying, "Who is like me? For I am the freed one of Hussain (a.s), the son of Ali (a.s.) and Fatemah (a.s.), whose Grandfather is Ahmed(sawaw)" Sayyed ibne Tawoos says in Malhoof that there was no Angel in the Heavens who did not turn up to congratulate the Prophet (sawaw) on the birth of Imam Hussain (a.s.) and condole him for his martyrdom, and revealed the reward reserved for the Imam.

Aqeeqa and other rites

On the seventh day of the birth of Imam Hussain (a.s.), Prophet Mohammad (sawaw) went to the house of Bibi Fatima (s.a.) and a lamb was slaughtered to mark the aqeeqa. On the order of Prophet (sawaw), the head of the baby was shoven and silver in the equivalent weight was given as sadqa.


Some Quranic verses in praise of Imam Hussain(a.s.)
1. "Innama yureedallahu le-yuzhiba ankamur rijsa ahlal baiti wa utah-harukum tat-heera"
(Sura Ahzab 33:33 Part)
Translation: And Allah only wishes to keep away all abomination from you, ye members of the Family, and to make you pure and spotless.
Almost all schools of thought in Islam believe that this ayat was revealed in praise of Prophet Mohammad (sawaw), Imam Ali (a.s.), Bibi Fatima (s.a.), Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Hussain (a.s.).
2. "Innallaha wa malaikatahu yu sal-loona alan nabi ya ayyuhal lathina aamano sallu alaihi wa sallamu tasleemat" (Sura Ahzab 33:56)
Translation: Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.
Prophet Mohammad (sawaw) was asked by his companions “How should be send salawat on you?” and the Prophet (sawaw) replied “Say – Allahumma Salle ala Mohammadin wa aale Mohammad”.
3. "Qul la as-alokum alehe ajran il-al mawad-data fil qurba" (Ash-Shura 42:23 Part)
Translation: Say: "No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin."
When Prophet Mohammad (sawaw) was asked as to who are your QURBA with whom love has been made obligatory for all believers, Prophet(sawaw) replied they are Ali(a.s), Fatima (s.a.), Hasan (a.s.) and Hussain (a.s.).
4. "Faman haajaka feehe min baada ma jaa-oka minal ilme faqul ta-aalu nad-o abna-ana wa abnaokum wa nisa-ana wa nisaokum wa anfusana wa anfusakum summa nabtahal fanajal lanatullahe alal kazibeen" (Aal-e-Imran 3:61)
Translation: If any one disputes in this matter with thee, now after (full) knowledge Hath come to thee, say: "Come! let us gather together,- our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves: Then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie!"
When this ayat was revealed, Prophet Mohammad took Imam Ali (a.s.) in accordance with “anfusana”, Bibi Fatima (s.a.) in accordance with “nisa-ana” and Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Hussain (a.s.) in accordance with “abna-ana” as per will of Allah(swt) in the mubahila against the Jews.
This is only a small sample of ayats which were revealed in praise of Ahle Bait (a.s.) in which Imam Hussain (a.s.) glitters as a bright shining star.


Some Ahadees in praise of Imam Hussain (a.s.)
1. Ahmad ibn-e-Hambal, Tirmizi, Nisai and ibn-e-Habban quoted on authority of Hazrat Huzaifa (r.a.) and Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (r.a.) that Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) said – Hasan (a.s.) and Hussain (a.s.) are he leaders of the youth of paradise and Fatimah (s.a.) is the leader of the women of paradise.
2. Tirmizi and ibn-e-Habban quoted from Hazrat Usama bin Zaid(r.a.) that Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) said – Hasan (a.s.) and Hussain(a.s.) are my and my daughter’s sons. O Allah I love them so you love them too and you love anyone who would love them.
3. Abu Dawood quotes from Hazrat Miqdam bin Maad that Prophet Mohammad (sawaw) said – I am from Hussain and Hussain is from me – Allah befriends him who befriends Hussain.
4. Verily Hussain (a.s.) is the source of guidance and the ark of salvation.

Munqabat- Imam Hussain a.s