لطفا منتظر باشید ...
The Road to Sham
After the plunder and massacre at Karbala, the Ahlul Bayt (A) of
the Prophet (S) were subjected to harrowing tribulations by Yazid's forces on
their way to Sham (Syria). Indeed these afflictions surpassed those meted out at
Karbala in their intensity as well as their hostility. It left the members of
Imam Hussain (A)'s household completely scarred for the rest of their lives.
Sayyid Ibne Taoos (r.a.), the great traditionalist, has recorded
in his 'Iqbal' that in the latter half of the Day of Ashura, soon after Imam
Husain (A) was martyred, the ladies of his household encountered nerve-racking
bereavement and trauma. They were taken captives by Yazid's barbarians. In
captivity, they were engaged in the mourning and lamenting for their loved ones.
They were subjected to such intense humiliation and abasement in that latter
half of Ashura, that Ibn Tawoos could never adequately capture that suffering on
paper.
Imam Sadiq (A) recounts from his father, Imam Baqir (A), who
inquired from his father Imam Sajjad (A), in what condition had Yazid (the
accursed) summoned him ?
Imam Sajjad (A) replied:
"I was made to mount a lame camel that was without any saddle.
Imam Hussain's severed head gazed at us from atop the lance. Our ladies trailed
us mounted on mules. Yazid's sentries held guard on the rear side. Raised lances
and spears hovered threatening around us. If one of us dared to shed even a
single tear (in grief), he/she was subjected to agonising prodding of lances in
the head. This was until we reached Damascus and one of the Syrians announced
our arrival thus, 'O people of Sham, these are the prisoners from the accursed
clan!'" (We seek refuge in Allah) !!
Abdullah b. Rabeeah narrates:
"I was present in Damascus in Yazid b. Muawiyah's court when Imam
Hussain (A)'s household were brought to Sham. Zuhair b. Qais entered the court.
Yazid exclaimed, 'Woe to you! What news have you got for me?' Zuhair answered
proudly 'I bring glad tidings of Allah's conquest and triumph. Hussain (A) along
with eighteen members of his family and his sixty companions confronted us ...
we surrounded them and attacked them with our daggers and lances. They scurried
for shelter like pigeons. They scattered for refuge with panic. All this in as
much time taken as to slaughter a camel or of the afternoon siesta. Till we
decimated every single one of them, down to the last rebel. We plundered their
corpses, not sparing even their clothes. We dyed their dress with their blood.
We ground their faces in the earth so that the sun could cast its blazing heat
on them. So that they would be left at the mercy of storms and gales. So that
the predators of the desert would linger around them.' Having heard this, Yazid
dismissed him without any reward. Ubaydillah b. Ziyad then summoned Imam Hussain
(A)'s head to be advanced. He then summoned the children and the ladies of Imam
(A)'s household. And ordered that Imam Sajjad (A) chained in iron fetters and
escorted by Makhfar b. Thalabah Aaezee and Shimr b. Zil Jawshan (may Allah curse
both of them). They accompanied Imam (A) till he joined those who had the holy
head of Imam Hussain (A). Imam (A) walked in studied silence, not conversing
with either of his escorts till they reached Damascus."
Both Shiite and Sunni historians have recorded that when the
carriers of Imam Hussain (A)'s head reached their first destination, they began
drinking alcohol in their euphoria. They were gazing at Imam (A)'s holy head
with regalement and gratification, when a palm emanated off a wall clutching an
iron pen, and wrote a few words in blood : "Are the murderers of Hussain (A)
hopeful of the Prophet's (S) intercession on the Day of Judgement?" On
witnessing this, they were petrified and quickly left that place.
Sibt b. Jauzi has reported from Ibne Sireen in his 'Tazkeratui
Khawaas' that a stone relating to an era that preceded the Prophet's
proclamation (be'sat) by five hundred years, was discovered on which some words
in the Syrian dialect were engraved. Its Arabic translation was similar to the
aforementioned tradition.
Sibt b. Jauzi has recorded a tradition from Abu Muhammad Abdul
Malik b. Hisham Nahvi: "On their way to Sham, at every halt, Yazid's army had
the practice of removing Imam Husain (A)'s head from the chest (which was
specially made for his head). They then placed his head aloft the lance. At one
of their halts at a church, they removed Imam (A)'s head from the chest as was
their practice, raised it atop the lance and guarded it. They inclined this
lance against the church. A lone Christian priest inhabited this church. At
around midnight, this priest witnessed an amazing spectacle. He saw a ray of
light extending from Imam (A)'s head to the skies. Amazed, he then inquired from
Yazid's men, 'Who are you?' They responded, 'We are Ibne Ziad's soldiers.' The
priest then sought the identity of the severed head. They replied that it was
the head of Husain b. Ali b. Abi Talib, son of Fatima, daughter of the Prophet.
Amazed, he requested, 'Will you let me keep this head for the night's duration
in exchange for ten thousand dinars? I will return it (when you are ready to
leave this place)?' They acquiesced and handed over Imam (A)'s head to that
priest in exchange for the agreed amount. The priest, then cleansed Imam (A)'s
head and applied fragrance to it. He held the head closely and wept for the
entire night. In the morning, he confessed to Imam (A)'s head:
"I have nothing remaining with me save my life. I bear witness
that, there is no God except Allah and Muhammad (S) is His Messenger and I am
your slave."
Later, he abandoned the church and devoted the rest of his life to
the service of the Ahlul Bait (A). Indeed this incident of the Christian
priest's guidance by Imam Hussain (A) without a word transpiring from Imam (A)'s
severed head, bears articulate testimony to the Holy Prophet (S)'s
declaration'
"Certainly Hussain is the beacon of guidance and the ark of
deliverance."
Yazid's men proceeded with Imam (A)'s head. On approaching
Damascus, they resolved to distribute those dinars (given by the priest) as
Yazid was likely to deprive them of it. When they opened those bags containing
the dinars to their shock and dismay they discovered that the dinars had
transformed into worthless coins. Inscribed on one side was :
"Do not consider Allah to be unaware of what the evildoers
perpetrate."
And engraved on other side was
"Soon the evildoers shall find out where their hearts are
inclined"
Disillusioned, they were forced to dump those bags in the river.
('Seeratun Nabi' by Ibne Hisham)
Sayyed (r.a.) recounts from Ibne Lahseeah, (of which only the
necessary portion we shall mention over here), who relates, "I was
circum-ambulating (doing ta'waaf) the Holy Ka'aba when I overheard a person
beseeching with the Almighty Allah thus, 'O my Lord! I am expectant of (Your)
forgiveness although I know You will not forgive me.' When I tried to console
him, he disclosed to me the entire episode thus:
'I was among the fifty individuals who took Imam Husain's head to
Sham. On the way all, save me, drank alcohol in revelry and celebration. At
night, I witnessed awesome lightning. I beheld the various Prophets viz. Hazrat
Adam (A), Hazrat Nuh (A), Hazrat Ibrahim (A), Hazrat Ismail (A) and Hazrat
Muhammad (Ss.) descending from the skies. Accompanying them was a group of
angels ushered by Jibraeel (A) and Mikaeel (A). Prophet Muhammad (S) took the
chest with Imam's head and began wailing uncontrollably. All his companions
consoled him. Jibraeel (A) told the Prophet (S), 'Allah has ordained me to
obey you unconditionally. If you wish I can decimate your nation.' The
Prophet (S) declined Jibraeel's offer and said, 'Our nation's decision will
be taken on the Day of Judgment.'
Thereafter, the angels advanced menacingly towards us so as to
kill us. I cried, 'Peace! Peace! 0 Messenger of Allah!' The Prophet looked at me
in disgust and said, 'Go away! May Allah never forgive you!'
Abu Mikhnaf has chronicled in his 'Manaaqib' that when Imam
Hussain's head was brought in front of Yazid, it emanated a fragrance so sweet
and enchanting, so as to surpass all other fragrances.
Sayyed ibne Taoos (r.a.) has narrated a tradition that, when the
ladies of the Imam (A)'s house were approaching Damascus, Janabe Umme Kulsum (S)
approached the accursed Shimr requesting him, 'When you take us into the city,
please take us past the gate that has few spectators.' However, Shimr displaying
his malevolence, did exactly the opposite. He made the ladies pass through the
most crowded gates of Damascus and positioned them at the steps of the Masjide
Jaame'a where usually, the common criminals were made to stand.
Zaid has narrated from his forefathers who in turn recounted from
Sahl b. Sa'ad thus, '...in of one my sojourns to Sham, I was surprised to see
festivities abounding among its residents, akin to Eid. On seeking the reason
(for such festivities) from the people, I learned that the rejoicing was on
account of Imam Hussain, whose head was brought to Sham and the ladies of his
house, who were held as captives. I waited awhile till I saw the flags and
standards, one behind the other ... and I saw some women mounted on camels
devoid of any saddle. I approached the first camel of that procession which
incidentally was that of Sakina b. Husain (S). I introduced myself and sought
any demands that she might have. She requested that all the severed heads be
sent forward, preceding her. I accosted the guardians of the heads and offered
them three hundred dinars so they took the heads ahead of Janabe Sakina (S).
(Bihar al Anwar and Manaaqib)
It has been reported that the Ahlul Bayt (A) were detained at the
gates of Sham for three days, as if they were an adornment for the city that no
eye had ever witnessed in the past. Then about five lakhs from Sham's populace
greeted them playing the tambourine and drums. However, the fact is that all
these sufferings and more, are very evident for Imam-e-Zamana (A). He, in his
divine knowledge, aware of every vivid detail and every minute aspect of
Karbala.
Every Shia's most ardent desire is to find Imame Zamana (A) in the
precincts of Imam Hussain's shrine. And to say "Ameen" when Hazrat (A) beseeches
Allah beneath the dome of Imam Hussain (A)'s shrine, for his early reappearance.
Allah (the Mighty and the Glorified) responds to Imam (A)'s invocations. Only
then will Janabe Zahra (S) find solace and the Prophet's word will come to pass.
And we attain martyrdom under Imam (A)'s banner.
