On Sunday 18 October 2015, Eve of the 5th of Mahe-Muharram 1437, Sheikh Abbas Jaffer gave a brief exegesis of the supplication Allahumma Arrifni Nafsak. Further information on this important dua can be found on duas.org or a pdf of the dua can be downloaded here. A video of the lecture can be found on our […]
Continue Reading{youtube}P0w_UoN_Paw{/youtube} In the midst of the scorching deserts of Karbala and the deadly thirst, Hussain and his valiant 72 followers stood like a GREAT WALL against the hypocrites. Amongst these heroes is the young Wahab Al-Nasrani (The Christian), a brave Warrior who reverted to Islam before his martyrdom.
Continue Reading{youtube}cx8pj2STAX8{/youtube} Dramatization of the Martyrdom of Zuhayr ibn Qayn one of the heroic companions of Aba Abdillah (A) Imam Husayn (A) on the day of Ashura (Muharram 10, 61AH) against the forces of the despotic tyrant Yazid ibn Muawiyyah headed by Omar ibn Sa’ad and Shimr ibn Dhil Jawshan on the plain of Karbala in […]
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Imam Ali ibne Musa Al Reza (a.s) said:
“O son of Shabeeb! Muharram is such a month that the Arabs of the age of ignorance (pre-Islāmic) too respected its sanctity and forbade oppression and blood-shed in it.
But these people (the Umayyads) did not honor the sanctity of this month nor of their Prophet.
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Imam Ali ibne Musa Al Reza (a.s) said:
“O son of Shabeeb! Muharram is such a month that the Arabs of the age of ignorance (pre-Islāmic) too respected its sanctity and forbade oppression and blood-shed in it.
But these people (the Umayyads) did not honor the sanctity of this month nor of their Prophet.
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And what a night it was for the daughters of the Messenger of Allah (S) whom lofty eminence never forsook ever since they were born! It was only yesterday that they lived in the pavilions of greatness and the chambers of dignity, lit during the day by the sun of Prophethood and during the night by the star of caliphate and by the lanterns emitting the radiance of sanctity. During this night, they were left in the pitch dark, having lost those shining lights, their belongings plundered, their chambers burnt, fear overwhelming them.
They remained among the corpses of those who used to be their protectors. Now they have neither protectors nor defenders. They do not know anyone who could defend them if they were to be attacked, or who would repel those who might terrorize them, or who would calm and pacify those who have lost their loved ones. Yes, there were among them children crying in anguish There were mothers of children waned by the arrows, sisters of those who were martyred, mothers who lost their sons. And they were mourning their dear ones.
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When his condition worsened, al-Husain (A) raised his eyes to the heavens and said,
“O Allah! Sublime You are, Great of Might, Omnipotent, Independent of all creation, greatly Proud, Capable of doing whatever You please, Forthcoming in mercy, True of Promise, Inclusive of Blessings, Clement, Near to those who invoke Him, Subduing His creation, Receptive to Repentance, Able, Overpowering, Appreciative when thanked, Remembering those who remember Him! You do I call upon out of my want, and You do I seek out of need! From You do I seek help when in fear and cry when depressed! Your help do I seek in my weakness, and upon You do I rely! O Allah! Judge between us and our people, for they deceived and betrayed us! They were treacherous to us, and they killed us though we are the ‘Itrat of Your Prophet and the offspring of the one You love: Muhammad (S) whom You chose for Your Message and entrusted with the revelation! Do find an ease for our affair and an exit, O most Merciful of all merciful ones! [786]
Continue ReadingWhen al-’Abbas was killed, al-Husain (A) turned to see none to help him against his foes. He looked and saw how his family members and companions lied slaughtered on the ground. He heard the wailing of the orphans and the cries of the children. As loud as he could, he called out, “Is there anyone who defends the sanctity of the Messenger of Allah? Is there anyone who believes in the Unity of Allah and who fears Allah in our regard? Is there anyone who comes to our rescue and who wishes by doing so to please Allah?” The women’s voices now grew even louder as they cried. [730]
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None remained with al-Husain (A) except his Ahl al-Bayt who were determined to face death with their might and to maintain their dignity. They came bidding each other farewell [661] the first being Abul-Hasan [662] ‘Ali al-Akbar [663] who was twenty-seven years old. He was born on the 11th of Sha’ban, 33 AH/653 AD [664], and he was a mirror reflecting the Prophet’s own beauty and a model of his own sublime code of ethics, a specimen of his wise speech One poet of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) praised him saying:
Al-’Abbas could no longer bear life after having seen how his companions and the members of his family killed and how the Hujjah of his time was suffering from the great number of the enemies surrounding him after his supply route had been cut off and after hearing the women wailing and the children crying of thirst. He, therefore, sought permission from his brother. Since al-’Abbas (A) was the most precious asset to the grandson of the Prophet (S), who is soon to be martyred, especially since the foes always dreaded having to fight him and feared his advance, and how the ladies felt a sense of security upon seeing the standard raised high, the sacred soul of the Father of the Oppressed did not accept to part with him.
The Imam (A) said to him, “O brother! You are my standard-bearer!” [718] Al-’Abbas (A) said, “I am fed-up with these hypocrites, and I want to seek revenge against them.” Al-Husain (A) ordered him to bring water for the children, so al-’Abbas went to those people and admonished them, warning them of the Wrath of the Omnipotent, but all of that fell on deaf ears. He then shouted: “O ‘Umar Ibn Sa’d! Here is al-Husain son of the daughter of the Messenger of Allah! You have killed his companions and family, and here are his children suffering from thirst! Give them some water, for thirst has burnt their hearts!” As he kept repeating his pleas, he also kept saying to them, “Let me go to Rome or to India, and I shall leave Hijaz and Iraq for you all.”
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