Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Imam Hassan (as), A Brief Look into his Life

(This is) an account of the Imam after the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, the date of his birth, the evidence for his Imamates the period of his succession, the time of his death, and the place of his grave. (It also provides) a brief outline of the reports about him.

The Imam after the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, was his son al-Hasan, the son of the mistress of the women of the worlds, Fatima, daughter of Muhammad, the Lord of messengers, may God bless him and his pure family. (Al-Hasan's) kunya was Abu Muhammad. He was born in Medina, on the night of the middle day of the month of Ramadan, three years after the hijra (624).

His mother, Fatima, peace be on her, brought him to the Prophet, may God bless him and his family, on the seventh day in a silken shawl from Heaven, which Gabriel had brought down to the Prophet, may God bless him and his family. He named him Hasan and sacrificed a ram for him (in the ceremony of aqiqa).

[It is reported by a group (of authorities), including Ahmad b. Salih. al-Tamimi on the authority of Abd Allah b. Isa, on the authority of Jafar al-Sadiq b. Muhammad, peace be on him;]

Al-Hasan, peace be on him, was the most similar person to the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, in form, manner and nobility.

[It is reported by a group (of authorities), including Ma'mar, on the authority of al-Zuhri, on the authority of Anas b. Malik, who said:]

No one was more like the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, than al-Hasan b. Ali, peace be on them.

[Ibrahim b. Ali al-Rafi'i reported on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandmother Zaynab, daughter of Abu Rafi' - and Shabib b. Abi Rafi' al-Rafi'i on the authority of those who told him - she said:]

Fatima, peace be on her, brought her two sons, al-Hasan and al- Husayn, peace be on them, to the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, at the time when he was suffering from the sickness from which he died.

“Apostle of God,” she said, “these are your two (grand) sons. Give them something as an inheritance.”

“As for al-Hasan,” he replied, “he has my form and my nobility. As for al-Husayn, he has my generosity and my bravery.”

Al-Hasan b. Ali, peace be on him, was the testamentary trustee (wasi) of the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, over his family, his children and his followers. He bequeathed him to look after his position and (the position of) his taxes (sadaqat) and he wrote him a covenant (of succession) which is well-known.

His testamentary trusteeship is obvious in terms of the outlines of religion, the essential characteristic of wisdom and good-breeding. A great number of scholars have reported this trusteeship and many of the men of understanding have realised the truth of this through his (attitude to) the world. Al-Hasan's Succession to the Caliphate and his Abdication When the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, died, al- Hasan addressed the people. He reminded them of his right (to authority). The followers of his father pledged allegiance to him in terms of fighting those he fought and making peace with those with whom he made peace.

[Abu Mikhnaf Lut b. Yahya al-Azdi reported: Ashath b. Suwar told me on the authority of Abu Ishaq al-Sabi'i and others, who said;]

Al-Hasan b. Ali, peace be on them, addressed the people towards dawn on the night in which the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, died. He praised and glorified God and blessed the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family. Then he said:

There has died tonight a man who was the first among the early (Muslims) in (good) actions. Nor did any later (Muslims) attain his level in (good) actions. He used to fight alongside the Apostle of God, may Allah bless him and his family, and protect him with his own life. The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, used to send him forward with his standard while Gabriel supported him on his right and Michael supported him on his left. He would not return until God brought victory through his hands.

He, peace be on him, has died on this the night on which Jesus, son of Mary, was taken up (to Heaven), on which Joshua, son of Nuh, the testamentary trustee (wasi) of Moses, peace be on him, died. He has left behind him no gold and silver except seven hundred dirhams of his stipend (ata'), with which he was intending to buy a servant for his family.

Then tears overcame him and he wept and the people wept with him.

Then he continued:

I am the (grand) son of the one who brought the good news. I am the (grand) son of the warner. I am the (grand) son of the man who, with God's permission, summoned (the people) to God. I am the (grand) son of the light which shone out (to the world) I am of the House, from whom God has sent away abomination and whom God has purified thoroughly.

I am of the House for whom God has required love in his Book, when God, the Most High, said: Say: I do not ask you for any reward except love for (my) kin. Whoever earns good, will increase good for himself [ XXXIII 33 ]. The good is love for us, the House.

Then he sat down.

Abd Allah b. al-Abbas, may God have mercy on him, arose in front of him and said:

People, this is the son of your Prophet, the testamentary trustee (wasi) of your Imam. So pledge allegiance to him.

The people answered him saying:

No one is more loved by us nor has anyone more right to succession (khilafa).

They rushed forward to pledge allegiance to him as successor. That was on Friday on the eleventh of the month of Ramadan in the year 40 A.H. (660). Then he assigned (the posts of) the tax collectors and he gave instructions to the governors (of the provinces). He sent Abd Allah b. al-Abbas to Basra. He took charge of all the matters.

When Mu'awiya b. Abi Sufyan learnt of the death of the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, and the people's pledge of allegiance to his son, al-Hasan, peace be on him, he sent a man of secretly to Kufa and a man from Banu al-Qayn to Basra. They were to write reports to him to undermine affairs for al-Hasan, peace be on him.

Al-Hasan, peace be on him, learned of that. He ordered the Himyari to be brought out from among (the tribe) of Lakhm in Kufa. He had him brought out and executed. (Al-Hasan) wrote to al-Basra, ordering the Qayni to be brought out from among the Banu Sulaym. He was brought out and executed. Then al-Hasan, peace be on him, wrote to Muawiya:

You sent men to use deception and to carry out assassinations and you sent out spies as if you want to meet (in battle). That is something which will soon happen so wait for it, if God wills. I have learnt that you have become haughty in a way that no wise man would become haughty. In that you are just as al-Awwal described:

Say to him who desires the contrary of the one who has died: Prepare for another like him, as if (from the same) root.

I and the one among us who has died are like the one who goes in the evening so that (the other) may come in the morning.

Muawiya replied to him with his letter, which there is no need to mention. There followed between him and al-Hasan, peace be on him, correspondences messages and disputes regarding the right of al- Hasan, peace be on him, to authority and the unlawful seizure of power of those who came before his father, peace be on him, and of Mu'awiya's attempt to strip the nephew of the Apostle of God, may God bless him anel his family, from his authority and of their (the House's) right to it apart from them. (All these) matters would take too long to describe.

Muawiya set off towards Iraq. When he reached the bridge of Manbij, al-Hasan, peace be on him, reacted. He sent Hujr b. Adi to order the leaders of Amman to set out and to call the people together for war.

They were slow to (answer) him and then they came forward. (Al- Hasan) had a mixed band of men: some of them belonged to his Sh'ia and to his father's: some of them were members of the Muhakimma (i.e. Kharijites) who were influenced by (the desire of) fighting Muawiya with every means (possible); some of them were men who loved discords and were anxious for booty; some of them were doubters; others were tribal supporters who followed the leaders of their tribes without reference to religion.

He set off until he came to Hammam Umar, then he went on to Dayr Kab. He stopped at Sabat, just before the bridge and spent the night there. In the morning, he, peace be on him, wanted to test his followers and make their situation clear with regard to obedience to him, so that in that way he might be able to distinguish his friends from his enemies and be in a clear mind (about his position) to meet Mu'awiya and the Syrians. He ordered the call to be made:

The prayer is a general one (which all should attend) (al-salat jamia).

They gathered and he went up on the pulpit and addressed them. He said:

Praise belongs to God whenever a man praises Him. I testify that there is no god but God whenever a man testifies to Him. I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His apostle whom He sent with the truth and whom He entrusted with revelation, may God bless him and his family. By God, I hope that I shall always be with God's praise and kindness.

I am the sincerest of God's creatures in giving advice to them. I have not become one who bears malice to any Muslims nor one who wishes evil or misfortune tor him. Indeed what you dislike about unity (jama'a) is better for you than what you like about division. I see what is better for you better than you see for yourselves. Therefore do not oppose my commands and do not reject my judgement. May God forgive both me and you and may He guide me and you to that in which there is love and satisfaction.

[He reported:]

The people began to look at one another and asked each other, “What do you think he intends by what he has just said?

“We think that he intends to make peace with Muawiya and hand over the authority to him” they answered.

“By Gods the man has become an unbelievers they declared and they rushed towards his tent. They plundered him to the extent that they even took his prayer mat from under him. Then Abd al- Rahman b. Abd Allah b. Ja'al al-Azdi set on him and stripped his silk cloak from his shoulder. He remained sitting, still girt with his sword but without his cloak. He called for his horse and mounted it. Groups of his close associates and his Shia surrounded him and kept those who wanted (to attack) him away from him. He said:

Summon (the tribes of) Rabia and Hamdan to me.

They were summoned to him and they surrounded him and defended him, peace be on him, from the people. A mixed group of others went with him (as well). When he was passing through the narrow pass of Sabat, a man of Banu Asad called al-Jarrah b. Sinan caught hold of the reins of his mule. He had an axe in his hand. He cried:

God is greater (Allaku akbar)! You have become a polytheist, Hasan, just like your father became a polytheist before.

Then he stabbed him in the thigh. It penetrated right through to the bone. He seized (al-Hasan) by the neck and they both fell to the ground. A man from al-Hasan's Shi'a called Abd Allah b. Khatal al- Tai; pulled the axe away from his hand and struck him with it in the stomach. Another man called Zubyan b. Umara attacked him, struck him upon the nose and killed him. Another man who had been with (al-Jarrah) was caught and killed.

Al-Hasan, peace be on him, was carried on a stretcher to al- Mada'in where he was lodged with Sa'd b. Masud al-Thaqafi. The latter was the governor of (Ali), the commander of the faithful, peace be on him, there and al-Hasan had confirmed him in that position.

Al-Hasan, peace be on him, was distracted by his own (discomfort) and with treating his wound. (In the meantime) a group of the tribal leaders wrote secretly to Mu'awiya offering to accept his authority (lit. to listen and obey). They urged him to come to them and they guaranteed to hand over al-Hasan, peace be on him, when they got to his camp, or to kill him treacherously.

Al-Hasan, peace be on him, learnt of that when a letter came to him from Qays b. Sa'd, may God be pleased with him. He had sent Qays with Ubayd Allah b. Abbas (to go on ahead) when he had set out from Kufa to meet Muawiya and to drive him out of Iraq, and make himself a commander of a unified people (jama'a). He had said to Ubayd Allah:

If you are struck down, then the commander will be Qays b. Sad.

Qays b. Sad's letter arrived informing him that they had stopped Muawiya at a village called al-Habubiyya opposite Maskan. Then Muawiya had sent to Ubayd Allah b. Abbas, urging him to come to him and offering him a million dirhams, half of which he would give him immediately, and the other half on his entry into Kufa. Ubayd Allah had slipped away in the night with his close associates to (join) Muawiya's camp. In the morning the people found their leader missing. Qays b. Sa'd, may God be pleased with him, said the prayer with them and took charge of their affairs.

Al-Hasan's awareness of the people's desertion of him increased, (as did his awareness) of the corrupt intention of the Muhakkima (the Kharijites) against him, which they made obvious by cursing him, accusing him of disbelief, and declaring that it was lawful to shed his blood and plunder his property. There remained no one to protect him from his unfortunate predicament except the close associates from his father's Shia and his own Shia, and they were a group which could not resist the Syrian soldiers.

Muawiya wrote to him about a truce and peace treaty. He also sent him the letters of his followers in which they had guaranteed to kill him treacherously or to hand him over. He offered him as many conditions as he wanted, to answer his (call) for peace and he gave his (sworn) covenant by whose fulfilment everybody's interests would be served.

Al-Hasan, peace be on him, did not trust him. He was aware of his deception and his attempts at assassination. However he could find no escape from assenting to his demands to abandon the war and bring about a truce because of the weakness of his followers' understanding of his right, their corrupt attitude towards him and their opposition to him.

(In addition, he was aware) of the view of many of them in declaring it lawful to shed his blood and to hand him over to his rival. (He also knew) of his cousin's desertion (of him) and his joining his enemy, as well as the inclination of the people towards the immediate present and their reluctance (to show concern) for the future.

Therefore he, peace be on him, bound himself (in a treaty) with Muawiya as a result of the confirmation of the proof (of his situation) and with the excuses before God, the Most High, and all the Muslims, of what had taken place among them. He stipulated:

That the cursing of the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, should be abandoned and the practice of using the personal prayer (qunut) in the formal prayer (salat) (as prayer) against him should be set aside;

That his Shia, may God be pleased with them, should be given security and that none of them should be exposed to any evil; That each of them who had certain rights should attain those rights.

Muawiya accepted all that and made a treaty with him to observe that. He swore to him that he would fulfil it. When the truce had been concluded, Muawiya went on until he reached al-Nukhayla. That was on a Friday; he prayed the mid-morning prayer (duha al nahar) with the people, and he addressed them. In his address, he Said By God, I have not fought against you to make you pray, nor to fast, nor to make the pilgrimage, nor to pay zakat. Indeed you do that (already). I fought so that I might have power over you and God has given that to me when you were reluctant to (obey) Him. Indeed I have been requested by al-Hasan, peace be on him, (to give him) things and I have given things to him. All of them are now under my foot. And from now on I will not fulfil anything.

Then he went on until he entered Kufa. He resided there for several days. When the pledge of allegiance by its inhabitants had to be carried out, he went up on the pulpit and addressed the people. He mentioned the commander of the faithful, peace be on him, and that he had taken from him and from al-Hasan, peace be on him, what he had taken.

Al-Hasan and al-Husayn, peace be on them, were present. Al- Husayn, peace be on him, rose to reply but al-Hasan, peace be on him, took him by the hand and made him sit down. Then he, himself, (al-Hasan) arose and spoke:

O you who mention Ali, I am al-Hasan and Ali was my father. You are Muawiya and your father was Sakhr (Abu Sufyan). My mother was Fatima and your mother was Hind. My grand father was the Apostle of God and your grandfather was Harb. My grandmother was Khadija and your grandmother was Futayla. May God curse him who tries to reduce our reputation and to diminish our nobility, who does evil against our antiquity and yet who has been ahead of us in unbelief and hypocrisy.

Groups of the people in the mosque shouted out: “Amen, Amen”

When the peace between al-Hasan, peace be on him, and Muawiya was concluded in the way we have mentioned, al-Hasan, peace be on him, left for Medina. He resided there, restraining his anger, staying close to his house, and awaiting the command of his Lord, the Mighty and High, until Muawiya had completed ten years of his administration. (Then) the latter decided to have the pledge of allegiance given to his son, Yazid, (as his successor).

He communicated secretly with Ju'da, daughter of al-Ash'ath b. Qays- she was the wife of al-Hasan, peace be on him - to urge her to poison him. He gave an undertaking to her that he would marry her to his son, Yazid, and he sent her a hundred thousand dirhams. Juda gave him the poison to drink but he lingered on sick for forty days.

He passed along his (final) road in the month of Safar in the year 50 A. H. (670). At that time, he was forty-eight years of age. His succession (to the Imamate) had been for ten years. His brother and testamentary trustee (wasp), al-Husayn, peace be on him, undertook the washing and shrouding of his body, and buried him with his grand mother, Fatima, daughter of Asad b. Hashim b. Abd Manaf, may God be pleased with her, in (the cemetery) of al Baqi.

Reports of the Cause of the Death of al-Hasan, Peace be on him, and of Mu'awiya Poisoning him, the Story of his Burial and the Actions and Statements Concerning that.

[Isa b. Mihran reported: Ubayd Allah b. al-Sabb'ah told us: Jarir told us on the authority of Mughira, who said:]

Muawiya sent to Juda daughter of al-Ashath b. Qays:

I will arrange for you to marry my son, Yazid, on condition that you poison al-Hasan.

He also, sent her a hundred thousand dirhams.

She did that: she poisoned al-Hasan, peace be on him. (Mu'awiya) gave her the money but did not marry her to Yazid. Instead he gave her a man from the family of Talha as a substitute. The latter gave her children. Whenever any argument occurred between them and the clans of Quraysh, they would revile them saying:

Sons of a woman who poisons her husbands.

[Isa b. Mihran reported: 'Uthman b. Umar told me Ibn Awn told us on the authority ot 'Umar b. lshaq, who said.]

I was with al-Hasan and al-Husayn, peace be on them, in the house. Al-Hasan, peace be on him, came in from outside and then went out again. He said:

I have been given poison to drink several times but I have never been given poison like this. A bit of my liver has come out of my mouth and I began to turn it over with a stick I had.

Who gave you the poison to drink, al-Husayn, peace be on him, asked him, and what do you want for him? Do you want him killed? If he may remain as he is, then God will be more terrible in His vengeance than you. It he may not remain as he is, then I should like to be free of any blame.

[ Abd Allah b. Ibrahim reported on the authority of Ziyad al- Makhariqi, who said:] When death was close to al-Hasan, peace he on him, he summoned al-Husayn, peace be on him, and said.

My brother, I am leaving you and joining my Lord. I have been given poison to drink and have spewed my liver into a basin. I am aware of the person who poisoned me and from where I have been made a subject to this deceitful action. I will oppose him before God, the Mighty and High. Therefore by the right I have with regard to you, say nothing about that and wait for what God, the Mighty and High, will decide concerning me. When I have died, shut my eyes, wash me and shroud me.

Then carry me on my bier to the grave of my grandfather, the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, so that I may renew my covenant with him. After that take me to the grave of my grandmother, Fatima daughter of Asad, may God be pleased with her, and bury me ther. My brother, the people will think that you intend to bury me with the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family.

For that reason, they will gather to prevent you from doing it. I swear by God that you should not shed even your blood into the cupping-glass in (carrying out) my command.

Then he made his testamentary bequests to his family and his children. (He gave him) his heirlooms and the things which the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, had bequeathed to him when he had made him his successor, had declared him worthy to occupy his position, and had indicated to his Shia that he was his successor, and set him up as their sign-post after himself.

When he passed on his (final) journey, al-Husayn, peace be on him, washed and shrouded his (body). Then he carried him on his bier. Marwan and those of the Banu Umayya who were with him had no doubt that they would try to bury him beside the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family.

They gathered together and armed themselves. When al-Husayn, peace be on him, approached the tomb of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, with (the body of al-Hasan) so that he might renew his covenant with him, they came towards them with their group. 'A'isha had joined them on a mule and she was saying:

What is there between you and me that you should allow someone I don't want to, to enter my house?

Marwan began to recite:

O Lord, battle is better than ease.

(Then he went on:)

Should Uthman be buried in the outskirts of Medina and al-Hasan be buried alongside the Prophet, may God bless him and his family? That will never be while I carry a sword. Discord was about to occur between the Banu Umayya and the Banu Hashim. Ibn 'Abbas hurried to Marwan and said to him;

Go back to where you came from, Marwan. Indeed we do not intend to bury our companion with the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family. But we want him to be able to renew his covenant with him by visiting him. Then we will take him back to his grandmother, Fatima, and bury him alongside her according to his last instructions concerning that.

If he had enjoined that he should be buried alongside the Prophet, may God bless him and his family, you know that you would be the least able to deter us from that. However, he, peace be on him, was much too aware of God and His Apostle and the sacredness of his tomb to bring bloodshed to it as others have done (who) have entered it without his permission. Then he went to A'isha and said to her:

What mischief you bring about, one day on a mule and one day on a camel! Do you want to extinguish the light of God and fight the friends (awliya') of God? Go Back ! You have been given assurance against what you fear and have learned what you wanted (to know). By God, victory will come to this House, even if it is after some time.

Al-Husayn, peace be on him, said:

By God, if there had been no injunction to me from al-Hasan, peace be on him, to prevent bloodshed and that I should not even pour blood into a cupping-glass in (carrying out) his command, you would have known how the swords of God would have taken their toll from you, you have broken the agreement which was made between you and us, you have ignored the conditions which we made with him for ourselves.

Then they went on with (the body of) al-Hasan, peace be on him, and they buried him in (the cemetery of) al-Baqi' beside his grandmother, Fatima daughter of Asad b. Hashim b. 'Abd Manaf, may God be pleased with her.

Imam Muhammad Baqir (as)

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s) was born in the 58th year of the Hijra, on the third day of the month of safar, in the city of Medina. His honoured father is Imam Sajjad and his revered mother, Fatema, daughter of Imam Hassan (a.s). Imam Sajjad (a.s), according to the command of Allah and the decree of the prophet, appointed his son, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, to Imamate and leadership of the people, and introduced him as such.

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s), like the other Imams, in knowledge and science had no equal. Great learned men benefited from his knowledge and science and used to ask him to solve their problems.

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s) instructed people in percepts of religion, taught them the ethics of life, and used to strive very hard to educate, culture and guide the people. During the course of his life, he taught the people thousands of theological and religious principles, as well as scientific subjects, and his teachings have been handled down to us. His wisdom and learning was so much that he was called Baqir ul-ulum, which means “the opener of sciences”.

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s), lived in this world for a period of 57 years, and in the 114th year of the Hijra, on the seventh day of the month of Zul-Hijjah, in Medina he left this world. His body was buried in Baqi cemetry alongside the graves of Imam Hassan and Imam Sajjad (a.s) in Medina.

Imam Ali al-Hadi (as)

Our tenth Imam is al-Imam Ali al-Hadi (a.s), who is also called al-Imam Ali-al-Naqi. He was born to al-Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (a.s) on 15th Dhul al Hijjah, in one of the villages around Medina. According to the Divine decree and the command of the Prophet (s.a.w), al-Imam Muhammad al-Jawad designated Ali al-Hadi (a.s) as his successor, the Imam and leader of the people after himself.

Like his father, al-Imam Ali al-Hadi (a.s) attained the position of Imamate at a very tender age, and in this position he guided and led the people.

From his early childhood al-Imam al-Hadi (a.s) was a perfect model of Islam. He was free of all faults and defects, and was adorned with all good qualities and virtues. It was for this reason that the people called him al- “Naqi” which means pure and holy, and al- “Hadi” which means guide.

With great determination and effort al-Imam al-Hadi (a.s) worked hard to guide the people, and he taught them the correct manner of living. The people were extremely fond of him, and they benefited greatly from his guidance, his knowledge and his awareness. Through him they found the right path in life.

Al-Mutawwakkil, the bloodthirsty Abbasid tyrant, was envious towards al-Imam al-Hadi (a.s) and fearful of the Imam's powerful influence. For this reason he summoned the Imam from al-Madinah to Samarra, in present day Iraq, and placed him under surveillance in an army camp.

Al-Imam al-Hadi (a.s) lived in this world for forty years. He was always opposed to the oppression of the ruling Abbasids, and used to condemn their tyranny and oppression. The result was that on 3rd Rajab, 254 A.H, he was martyred in Samarra through poison. His sacred body was buried in Samarra. May eternal peace be upon him.

Hazrat Muslim ibne Akeel (as)

Imaam Hussain's caravan left Madina on 28th Rajab, 60 A.H. and reached Mecca on the fourth of Shabaan. Imaam had not yet made up his mind on where to go. For the time being he decided to stay in Mecca at least until the month of Dhul-Hajj and perform the pilgrimage.

The people of Kufa in Iraq heard of what had happened in Madina. Kufa was an important Shiah centre. The Shiahs there had long suffered under Muawiya. They feared even greater sufferings under Yezid. They felt that slowly Islam would be totally destroyed by the greed for power and glory of these two men.

They were anxious to preserve the teachings of the Holy Prophet. They needed an Imaam who would teach the tafseer of the Holy quraan and relate to them the true sayings, ahaadees, of the Holy Prophet.They a held a meeting in the house of Sulayman bin Surad and decided to write a letter to Imaam Hussain inviting him. In this letter they wrote: “We invite you to come to Kufa as we have no Imaam to guide us. Through you Allah will unite us on the path of truth.”

A messenger took the letter to Mecca and gave it to Imaam Hussain. A few days later the people of Kufa sent an emissary, a special messenger, to Imaam to persuade him to go to Kufa. His name was Qais ibne Musheer as-Saydawi.

There followed hundreds of other letters and many special emissaries from the people of Kufa to Imaam Hussain.The Governor in Kufa was a man called Nu'amaan bin Basheer. Although he was a follower of Muawiya and Yezid, he was not by nature a cruel man. The people of Kufa believed that Imaam would be safe in Kufa.

When Imaam Hussain received so many petitions and messages from Kufa he decided to send Hazrat Muslim as his emissary to Kufa to study the situation there and report to Imaam. Imaam would go only if there would be no danger to the people of Kufa or to Imaam or any of his companions or family.

He wrote a letter to the people of Kufa and gave it to Hazrat Muslim. In this letter Imaam said, “I am sending my cousin and one of the most trusted ones from my family, Muslim ibne Aqeel, to report to me about your affairs. If his report agrees with what you have writ_ten I will soon be with you. You must be clear of the fact that the Imaam is only one who follows the book of Allah, and serves Allah in all matters and affairs with justice, honesty and truth.”

Who was Muslim ibne Aqeel? He was the son of Aqeel ibne Abu Taalib. He was a famous warrior. He married Ruqayya binti Ali, Imaam's sister through another mother. We know of his four children. Abdullah aged about 15 years, Muhammad who was about ten years old, Ibraheem who was eight and young Ruqayya who was just five or six. All these children had travelled with their parents and were in Mecca.

As Hazrat Muslim was preparing for the journey, Imaam Hussain went to him and said: “Muslim, the whole world knows that you are one of the bravest warriors. It is just possible that seeing you in Kufa some people may think that our intention is to fight Yezid. Take your two sons Muhammad and Ibraheem with you. When they see you with such young children, they will know that our intentions are peaceful.

Hazrat Muslim and his two sons said good-bye to all and left Mecca. Their journey through the desert in the heat of summer was very difficult.

They arrived in Kufa towards the end of Dhul Qaad. They were received extremely well by the people of Kufa. Very soon more than eighteen thousand people appeared before Hazrat Muslim and pledged their allegiance to Imaam Hussain as their Imaam.

Hazrat Muslim reported to Imaam Hussain that most of the people in Kufa were ready to receive him as their Imaam and advised that Imaam should proceed to Kufa. Amongst the people of Kufa there were many spies employed by Yezid to report to him direct. When Yezid heard from them of the invitations to Imaam Hussain and the arrival in Kufa of Hazrat Muslim he was filled with fury.

He sent a message to his Governor in Basrah, Ubaydullah ibne Ziyad, to go to Kufa and take over the position of Nu'amaan ibne Basheer. Ibne Ziyad was also told to arrest Muslim and kill him and do all that was necessary to suppress the Shiahs in Kufa.

Ibne Ziyad was a cruel and unjust man. He arrived in Kufa on the evening of 2nd Dhul Hajj. On the following day he went to the mosque and addressed the people of Kufa. He first announced his appointment as Yezid's governor. He then threatened any one who was engaged in any activity against the government with immediate death, and ordered them to surrender Hazrat Muslim to him.

Ibne Ziyad sealed Kufa in such a way that no one could go in or out of the city without the governor's permission.

At this time Hazrat Muslim was staying with Al Mukhtar. At the invitation of Hani bin Urwah, another leading member of the Shiah community, he moved to Hani's house. This was done secretly and except for a few people no one knew where Hazrat Muslim was. Through a spy who pretended to be a Shiah, Ibne Ziyad found out where Hazrat Muslim was. Hani was arrested and thrown into prison. Not wishing to endanger the lives of his friends, Hazrat Muslim and his two sons left Hani's house.

He left the children with Qadhi Shurayb, a judge, and went into the desert to try and get back to Imaam Hussain to warn him not to go to Kufa. This was the seventh of Dhul Hajj. That whole day and the following day Hazrat Muslim tried to get out of the city. He found all the exists sealed and guarded by Ibne Ziyad Soldiers.

On the eighth, late in the evening, tired, hungry and exhausted, Hazrat Muslim knocked at the door of a house on the outskirts of the city. A lady opened the door. Hazrat Muslim requested for a little water to quench his thirst. The lady gave him water. When she learnt who he was, she invited him in and offered him shelter for the night. This lady was called Tau'aa. She gave Hazrat Muslim some food and water and took him to a room where he might spend the night.

Late that night Tau'aa's son came home. When he learnt that the man Ibne Ziyad was looking for was in his mother's house, he felt that he would be rewarded by the governor if he got Hazrat Muslim arrested. Unknown to his mother he slipped out in the darkness of the night and gave the information to a captain in ibne Ziyad army.Early the next morning, five hundred soldiers surrounded the house of Tau'aa and demanded Hazrat Muslim's surrender. Hazrat Muslim came out holding his sword. Three times he drove the enemy away. Twice Ibne Ziyad had to send in reinforcements.

While Hazrat Muslim was fighting, some soldiers went up the rooftops and began throwing stones and lighted torches at him. Others dug a trench in the path of Hazrat Muslim and covered it with grass. Although badly wounded and totally exhausted, Hazrat Muslim kept on fighting. Then he fell into the trench. More than fifty soldiers pounced upon him and chained him. He was dragged to the court of Ibne Ziyad.

Ibne Ziyad told Hazrat Muslim that he would be killed and asked him if he had any last wishes. Hazrat Muslim said: “I owe a debt which should be discharged by selling off my sword and armour. Secondly I want my body to be given a proper burial. Thirdly I want a message sent to Imaam Hussain advising him not to come to Kufa.” Ibne Ziyad agreed to the first request but refused to do anything about the second and third requests. He then ordered Hazrat Muslim to be taken to the roof of the palace to be executed and his body thrown to the ground.

Hazrat Muslim was calm and composed as he was dragged up the steps. He was reciting “Allahu Akber” until the last moment. Then there was an absolute silence followed by a thud as Hazrat Muslim's body fell to the ground.

This was on 9th Dhul Hajj. Immediately after Hazrat Muslim was killed Hani bin Urwah was dragged to the roof top and executed.

Hazrat Muhmammad and Ibrahim (as)

Hazrat Muslim had taken with him his two sons Muhammad and Ibraheem. After Hazrat Muslim was killed, Muhammad and Ibraheem were also arrested and put into a dungeon. It is said that Muhammad was just eight years old and Ibraheem was ten years old.

On the 20th of Dhul-Hajj in 60 Hijrah, when the jailer came to give the children their evening meal, he saw them saying their prayers. The jailer waited. When the boys had finished their prayers, he asked them who they were. When the jailer learnt that they were the sons of Muslim Ibne Aqeel and the grandsons of Hazrat Ali, he let them escape.The children came out of the prison.

It was a dark night. Their first thought was to go to Imaam Hussain and warn him not to go to Kufa. Everywhere they went, they found the roads blocked by Ibne Ziyad soldiers. It was impossible to get out of Kufa. Now it was almost day-break. Where could these two young boys go?

They found themselves by the side of the river Euphrates. They drank some water from the river and then went up a tree to hide for the day. Just then a woman came to the river to get water. She saw the two young boys and asked them who they were. Ibraheem said, “We are two orphans, could you please leave us alone and not tell any one that you have seen us?” The woman asked them to accompany her to her mistress who would help them.

The woman's mistress was a kind lady. After talking to the boys for a while she realized who they were. She gave them food and said to them, “You can spend the day here and I will try to help you. Unfortunately my husband Harith is working for Ibne Ziyad. He is out at the moment. You can rest in the spare room but make no noise otherwise when he comes back, he will find out you are here”.

The children said their prayers and went to sleep. In the evening Muhammad woke up and started crying. Ibraheem asked him why he was crying. Muhammad said “I saw our father in a dream. He was calling out for us”. Ibraheem said, “Brother, be patient. I also saw our father in a dream beckoning us to him”. They both started weeping.

Harith, who had come back heard the children crying. He opened the door and asked the children who they were. On learning they were the sons of Muslim Ibne Aqeel, he tied both the boys to a pillar. Harith's wife tried to stop him, but he beat her up. Harith wanted to collect the reward which Ibne Ziyad had offered to anyone capturing the children.

The children spent the whole night tied to the pillar. In the morning Harith dragged them to the river-bank. He took out his sword. Ibraheem asked him, “Harith, are you going to kill us?”. Harith said “Yes !”. Ibraheem said, “In that case give us time to finish our morning prayers”. The two boys said their prayers.

They raised their hands and cried out “Inna Lillaah wa Inna IIay-hi Rajeeoon! O Allah we are coming to you. Give our mother courage when she hears of our death and judge between us and our killers!!” The sword came down! There were splashes in the water. Two young bodies were seen floating away in the waters of the river Furaat.

Imam Ali (as) - Our First Imam

Born inside the Holy Kaaba in Mecca on Friday the 13th Rajab, 30 Amulfeel, 11th October 599 A.D. His father was Hazrat Abu Talib, his mother was Bibi Fatema Binte Asad, his wife was Bibi Fatema Binte Muhammad and he was the father of Imam Hassan (AS), Imam Hussein (AS), Bibi Zaynab (AS) and Bibi Kulthum (AS).

At the age of twelve, Imam Ali (AS) was the only one who stood up and declared his allegiance and full support for the Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) mission. In return, the Prophet blessed Imam Ali (AS) and said, From now on you are my helper, my Wazeer and the Khaliph after me on Earth. History bears witness that all his life Imam Ali (AS) fulfilled this pledge and supported the Prophet of Islam in his mission.

On the famous night of the migration of the Prophet (SAW) from Mecca to Medina, when 40 swordsmen were preparing to murder the Holy Prophet (SAW), Imam Ali (AS) occupied the Prophet's bed while the Prophet, on instructions from Allah (SWT), escaped their evil intentions in the darkness of the night.

In Medina Imam was always with the Prophet and his presence was felt at every battle that was fought to defend Islam: Badr, Ohad, Khandaq, Khayber, Honain were all fought and won under the command of Imam Ali (AS).

He regarded it his duty as the Holy Imam to give advice on religion, to whoever asked him. The famous historial Yaqubi puts Imam Ali's name on the top of the list of jurists at the time of the first three Caliph's. After the death of the third Caliph, Hazrat Uthman (RA) in 36 A.H, people of Medina bespeeched him to accept the mantle of Caliphat, which he reluctantly accepted saying that :

Had they not swom unconditional allegiance to me, had they not sworn their gratefulness in my accepting their rulership and had Allah (SWT) the Almighty not taken a promise from the guides of religion to put a check on the luxurious and vicious lives of the oppressors and tyrants, as well as to reduce poverty and starvation of the oppressed, I would even now have left the rulership of the State and would have allowed it to sink into anarchy and chaos as i did in the early days. The pomp and glory of a vicious life is to me worth less than the sneeze of a goat.

Bibi Khadija (as)

Bibi Khadija's father was a merchant like most of the tribe of Quraysh in Makka. He sent caravans to other cities to trade in the summer and winter. Her mother and father both died within 10 years of each other. Their wealth was divided amongst the children but it was bibi khadija who took over the family business and expanded it. With the profit she made she helped the poor, widows, orphans, sick and the disabled people of Makka.

She had a cousin called Waraqa bin Naufal who was very learned man and who was not an idol worshipper. Both Waraqa and Bibi Khadija believed in one Allah.

Becauise of her excellent Akhlaq the Arabs (who at that time used to look down upon women) called her Tahira - the pure one. She was also known as the 'princess of Makka' because of her wealth. A lot of Arab nobles and princess wanted to marry her but she refused all of them.

In 595 AD, Bibi Khadija was looking for someone to be in charge of her caravan to Syria. Abu Talib suggested the Prophet to her. She had heard of his trustworthiness and agreed to employ him although he did not have much trading experience. To help him she sent her slave Maysara. The trading caravan was a great success and when Bibi Khadija heard of the Prophet's skills and excellent conduct, she became his admirer.

Soon it was arranged for Bibi Khadija to be married to the Prophet (S.A.W). Abu Talib read the Nikah on behalf of the Prophet whilst Waqara read it for Bibi Khadija. Abu Talib paid the mehr for his nephew and fed the people of Makka for 3 days in celebration. Bibi Khadija too fed the people. The marriage was a very happy one and their first child was a son called Qasim. The second was Abdullah. Both died in infancy. Their third and last child was Bibi Fatema Zahra (A.S).

When the Prophet used to go to meditate in the cave of Hira on Jabel An Noor, it was Bibi Khadija herself who would climb up there to give him his food and necesseries. Bibi Khadija was the first person to accept Islam as taught by the Prophet (S.A.W).

In 616 AD, the Quraysh isolated the Bani Hashim (the family of the Prophet) and they took refuge ina ravine called Shib e' Abu Talib. Bibi Khadija was there too and it was her wealth (which she donated for Islam) that sustained the Muslims at that time. The seige lasted for 3 years during which time they experienced hunger, thirst, and the cold and heat of the desert.

In 619 AD, Bibi Khadija died. When she died nothing was left of her wealth. Abu Talib died in this year too. The Prophet called the year Aamul Huzn (the year of grief).

Imam Hassan Askari - A Brief Look at his Life

Name: Hassan.

Title: Al-Askery.

Kuniyya: Abu Muhammad.

Birth: 10th Rabi-ul Aakher 232 a.h. in Madina.

Mother: Bibi Sulail (or Hudaitha).

Father: Imam Ali un Naqi (a.s.)

Death: 8th Rabi-ul Awwal 260 a.h. in Saamarra

Buried: In Saamarra.

Birth & Childhood

When he was born his father said that it was an order from the prophet s.a.w. that he should be named Hasan. It was so well known that the last Imams father would be called Hasan that people had previously looked for the 12th Imam amongst the sons of Imam Hasan Al-Mujtaba (a.s.)

His mother was Sulail (or Hudaitha) who was a slave of the 10th Imam whom he had freed and subsequently married. The 10th Imam said of her that she was one who was free from all vice and pollution and that she was one of the righteous ones. After the 11th Imam's martyrdom he left all the “orders” of Imamate with her (his mother).

Once when Imam Hasan Al-Askery (A.S.) was a young child he fell into a well near their house. His father Imam Ali An-Naqi (A.S.) was praying and didn't even notice the commotion around him of the ladies crying. When he finished praying and asked what had happened, he was told. He went towards the well. The water rose and all saw the 11th Imam sitting peacefully on the water and playing.

Bahlool once saw the young Imam crying in the street where all the other children were busy playing with their toys. He asked whether Imam was crying because he had no toys to play with. Imam replied: “We have not been created to play!”

Bahlool asked where he had learnt his from and the Imam said :

“Have you not read the Qur'an where it says - “Do you think we have created you in vain and that you will not be returned to us”. When Bahlool heard this he asked Imam for some advice. Imam talked about death, barzakh and qiyama and cried so much, he fainted. When he came to, Bahlool asked him why he was so fearful as he was not even baligh yet. Imam said:

“I have watched my mother light a fire; she uses the little twigs to get the big pieces of wood to burn; I fear that on qiyama Allah too will use little ones to light the big ones.

Title: Al-Askery

The 10th and 11th Imamayn were both called Al-Askery as they lived in an area of Samarra called Askery.

Another reason that the 11th Imam was called Askery is said to be that once Mutawakkil wanted to show the Imam the strength of his army of 90,000 men and so he asked his men to fill their sacks with sand and pile all the sacks up. He then showed Imam this mountain of sacks. Imam asked Mutawakkil, to look through his (Imam's) two fingers, where he saw a an army of armed Angels. Imam told him that they were at his disposal but he would not use them. (An army is called Askery).

Imam Husayn (as)

Our Imaam is all alone! He looks around him. There lie Habeeb ibne Mazahir, Muslim ibne Awsaja, Zuhair ibne Qain and all his friends and companions. There lie Awn and Muhammad. He looks at Qasim's trampled remains. He looks at Ali Akber, his beloved son, with that dreadful wound on his chest. He looks towards Furaat. Gently he whispers, 'Abbas, Abbas, I am alone! So very alone!'

Slowly Imaam Hussain moves towards the tent of Imaam Zain ul 'Abideen. Zain ul 'Abideen is lying unconscious on his bed. Lovingly Imaam shakes his son by the shoulder. The sick Imaam opens his eyes, 'Father, Father, why are you alone? Where is my uncle Abbas? Where is Ali Akber? Where is Qasim? Where are all your companions?' Imaam Hussain says, 'Son, no man, save you and I, is left alive. All of them have died for Islam'.

Imaam Zain ul 'Abideen tries to get up. 'Where are you going, my son?' asks Imaam Hussain. 'To fight Yezid's army!' replies the young man. 'No, my son, you are too sick for Jihad. I have come to say good-bye. Look after the ladies and the children. And, my son, when you get to Madina, give my love to Sugra. Tell her that I always remembered her and that in these last moments of my life, I wish I could give her a hug before I get killed.. And also, my son, give salaams to our friends and tell them to think of me when they drink water!'

Imaam Hussain then stands in the centre of the camp and cries out, “O Zainab, O Kulthoom, O Sakina, O Ruqayya, O Rubaab, O Fizza my greetings to you! Farewell to you all !” The ladies and children weep and wail as they say farewell to Imaam.

Imaam walks towards his horse. There is no one to help him mount. Bibi Zainab steps forward. She holds the reins as Imaam mounts the horse.The horse moves a few steps and then it stops. Imaam Hussain urges the horse to move, but it stands still looking towards its hind legs. Imaam turns his head. He sees Sakina clinging to the horse's leg, pleading, 'O horse, do not take my father away from me. Do not let them make me yateemah!'

Imaam dismounts. He says, 'Sakina, you are the great grand daughter of the Holy Prophet! I love you so much that if you tell me not to go, I will not. But then Islam will be destroyed. How will you or I be able to face the Holy Prophet on the Day of Judgement?' Fighting back her tears the four year old Sakina can only manage to say, 'Bismillah, father!' The four year old holds the reins as her father mounts for a certain death !! Hussain rides on. He stands on a hill and cries out,

“Who is there who will come to my help?”

Of course our Imaam is not expecting any of the enemy soldiers to come to his help! To whom is he addressing this plea for help? Our Imaam is addressing the plea to all the Muslims, in every age and everywhere, young and old, men and women, grown ups and children urging us all to always fight Yezidism and refuse to disobey the commands of Allah. Every little effort we make to preserve and act according to our Islamic conscience is a response to our Imaam's call with LABBAIK! LABBAIK!

Imaam rides towards the enemy. There is a shower of arrows! Imaam ignores the arrows and rides on. He wants to make one last effort to preach true Islam to the enemies of Islam. He stops and turns towards the enemy and begins to speak :

“O those of you who do not know me, know that I am the grandson of the Holy Prophet. I am on the path of truth. Yezid personifies falsehood and corruption. He wants to lead you away from Islam. Do not follow him. Do not kill the grandson of Allah's messenger. Allah will never forgive you!

Remember that when you see a ruler who does what has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, who indulges in sins, who oppresses the people he rules, and you do nothing to stop such a ruler, before Allah you are as guilty as he is. You know my ancestry. My parents did not raise me to submit myself to an evil tyrant. I am your Imaam. You have surrendered the freedom of your mind to the evil ways of Yazeed. If you do not care for Islam, do, at least, care for the freedom of your spirit!!”

Umar Sa'ad cries out, “Do not fall victims to Hussain's oratory! Kill him!”

From all directions the soldiers advance towards Imaam Hussain with their naked swords! Imaam says: “You are determined to fight me Then fight you I shall ! I do not fear death. Death to me is sweeter than dishonour. Now I shall let you witness the valour of the son of Ali ibne Abu Taalib !”

Imaam Hussain takes out his sword and begins to fight. Thirsty, tired, wounded, grieving, our Imaam fights as no one had ever seen any one fight! Where ever he turns to, the soldiers flee as rabbits do at the sight of a lion! Umar Sa'ad sends all his best warriors against Imaam. They all perish. No one dares come near our Imaam! Imaam stands on his stirrups. Casts his eyes to where Hazrat Abbas lies, and murmurs, “Abbas did you see the battle of your brother, the thirsty, the broken hearted brother?”

And then Jibra'eel appears and says, 'O Hussain, Allah is pleased with your bravery. The moment has now arrived for you to save Islam with your life!” Hussain looks at the sky! Yes, it is the time of Asr! Hussain returns the sword into the sheath. Lowers himself on the horse-back. Whispers to the horse “Take me to where my mother Fatimah is waiting for me! But, O my faithful horse, go past where my Akber is lying so that I may see my beloved son just one more time before I die.”

Seeing that Imaam has sheathed his sword the enemy come from all sides. Some throw stones at him, some hit him with swords. Arrows are shot at him! Suddenly the horse stops! “My son, my son!” cries out the soul of Fatimah Zahra.Imaam Hussain falls from the horse! But his body does not touch the ground. It is resting on the blades of the arrows. He performs his Asr prayers lying on this musallah of arrows! Now he goes in to his last sijdah and says :

“O Allah! All praise is to You and You alone!”

Someone is moving towards where our Imaam is in sijdah on the arrows. He is holding a dagger in his hand. The earth trembles! The sun goes into eclipse! Jibraeel cries out “OH HUSSAIN HAS BEEN KILLED, HUSSAIN HAS BEEN KILLED!!!!” Sakina falls on to the ground unconscious! Bibi Zainab runs to the tent of our fourth Imaam. 'Oh Son! What has happened?” Imaam Zain ul 'Abideen staggers towards the curtain of his tent. Lifts it up, and pointing his finger at a head mounted on a lance. He cries out in a trembling voice :

“Assalaamu 'alaika, Ya 'aba 'Abdillah !!!”

The Martyrs of Karbala

Those who surrendered their souls in the way of the Lord at Karbala were the divinely selected ones of the human family. They were ideal personalities with unique qualities which humanity could justly be proud to own in their kind as the matchless gems which the world had ever seen.

They were the noblest models of devoted Muslims. The faith in God, the sincere devotion, the dauntless courage, the unconquerable fidelity, the unfailing patience, the charitable disposition, the ideal consideration for life after death and the ever mindfulness of the Day of Judgment which the great martyrs manifested in the hour of their trial at Karbala were obviously the qualities they were divinely conditioned with for the fulfillment of the Divine attributes in a human personality may look into the wonderful sacrifice which Husayn, the King of Martyrs offered in Karbala, in the way of the Lord.

It is a historic fact that a large crowd followed Husayn from Mecca but before the great offering he had to make, Husayn started relating to these people through his repeated sermons the sufferings and the gruesome massacre in store for those who remain with him. The Holy Imam made those in doubt to leave his camp.

Only the sincere ones who were wholly devoted to the Lord and who were really anxious of surrendering themselves in His way were left. Husayn wrote letters and sent messages to the chosen few worthy of inclusion into his fold informing them of the arrival of the awaited hour. Thus were collected the gems worthy of presenting to the Lord.

The Companions of Husayn and those of the Holy Prophet

The kind of faithful companions the Holy Imam Husayn had gathered around him was not given to any of the Apostles of God including Jesus and even the Holy Prophet Muhammad to claim such a band of men of spotless character and godly conduct in such a large number among their companions. While one of the disciples of Jesus betrayed hem and connived to get him in the hands of his enemies, none of the other disciples offered to get killed with their Master.

In the case of the companions of the Holy Prophet, most of those who claim prominence in their devotion to him, deserted him leaving him in the jaws of death, not once or twice but on every occasion when they felt any danger to their lives.

But in the case of Husayn, the faithfulness and the devotion of his comrades in the worst and the most torturous miseries which culminated in the gruesome massacre of one and all of them, is nothing but a matchless marvel which has thrown the human world into wonder and has moved every human heart to sorrow and grief for them, with tears irresistibly rushing into the eyes of men, women and even children in sympathy for the great sufferers in the way of the Lord.

Husayn's Martyrdom was prophesised in the Old Testament

“For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiated and make drunk with their blood for the Lord God of hosts hath a sacrifice in the North country by the river Euphrates.”

Brief Notes on some of those Martyred in Kufa and Karbala

1. Abu-Bakr ibne Ali ibne Abi Taleb

He was called 'Muhammad-e-Azghar' or Abdullah from Laila daughter of Masu'ud, son of Hanzala, son of Manath, son of Tameem.

2. Abi Bakr son of the Second Imam Hassan, son of Ali.

3. Abdul Hatoof Ansari and his brother

4. Sa'ad (both sons of Hur).

Both from Kufa who joined the Holy Imam at Karbala.

5. Adhan son of Omayya-al Abdi. From Basra son of Abi Obaida, whose father had been the companion of the Holy Prophet.

6. Aslam-the slave who was purchased and liberated by the Holy Imam- was the scribe engaged to write communications from the Holy Imam.

7. Anas bin Hars-e-Kahili, son of Baniah, son of Kahli who was one of the companions of the Holy Prophet

8. Borair Zibe Khozair-e- Hamdani -

A very old, pious, and devoted companion of Amirul-Momineen, Ali ibne Abi Taleb, one of the prominent noblemen of Kufa. He was the one who came to the Holy Imam begging most humbly to permit him to get martyred for he wanted to die in the way of the Lord and show his face to the Holy Prophet on the Day of Judgment.

9. Omayyabib Sa'd at Tale :

He was one of the companions of Amirul-Momineen.

10. Bushr bin Amrual Hazrami from the famous ones among the faithful ones among the faithful devotees of the Holy Prophet.

11. Bakr bib Hai at Taimi :

Of the Bani Taimi tribe who came to the Holy Imam and volunteered to be martyred in the way of the Lord.

12. Jabib ibne Hajjaj al Taimi :

He was the follower of Muslim-bin-Aqeel in Kufa. Since Muslim was arrested, he hid himself until Husayn arrived in Karbala, and submitted himself until Husayn arrived in Karbala, and submitted himself to the Holy Imam.

13. Jibilath ibne Ali-e-Shaibani :

The one who was attending to Amirul-Momineen in the battle of Siffin.

14. Jafar ibne Aqeel ibne Abi Taleb :

The third brother of Abbas the Standard Bearer of the Holy Imam.

15. Jafar ibne Aqeel ibne Abi Taleb :

Brother of Muslim ibne Aqeel the Deputy of the Holy Imam to Kufa.

16. Jinadat ibne Ka'b Ansari Al-Khazraji :

Along with his son-martyred at Karbala- one of the greatest devotees of the Holy Imam.

17. Jundab bin Mujee al Khaulani :

One of the companions of Ameerul-Momineen who came to the Holy Imam, fell down on his feet and prayed to be permitted to be martyred.

18. Jaun-The liberated slave of Abi-Zar, joined the Second Holy Imam and thereafter he remained with Husayn and had come to Karbala with Husayn. He was trained under Abi-Zar and was a very pious devotee of the Holy Imam.

19. Jaun bin Malike Tameemi :

Of the tribe of Bani Tameem. One who was in Yazid's army. Seeing the Devil's forces decision to attack the Holy Imam, which he never thought would happen, left the ranks of the Devil's forces and joined the Holy Imam.

20. Hars-The liberated slave of hazrat Hamza, the uncle of the Holy Prophet-had come from Madina along with Husayn.

21. Habshi bin Qais-e-Nahmi :

Of a group from the tribe of Hamdan. His grandfather was one of the faithful companions of the Holy Prophet.

22. Hars bin Amarul Qais-e-Kandi :

A very brave nobleman of Arabia. He went into the armies of the Devil, and found his own uncle there. His uncle asked him: “Have you come to kill your uncle?” He replied Yes! you are my uncle, no doubt, but God is my Lord and you have come here against him.” He killed his uncle. Along with him three others from the enemy's ranks joined the Holy Imam. All were martyred.

23. Habib bin Amir-e-Taimi :

One who had already paid allegiance to the Holy Imam at the hands of Muslim, was martyred in Kufa. Habib left Kufa and joined the Holy Imam on his way to Karbala.

24. Habib bin Muzahir al-Asadi :

He was known as Habib ibne Mazahir bin Re'aab bin Al-Ashtar from the lineage of Asad Abdul Qasim Al-Asadi - aged 70 years. He was one of the faithful companions of the Holy Prophet, who after the Holy Prophet always remained with Ameerul-Momineen Ali and migrated toe Kufa when the Capital was shifted from Madina to Kufa, and accompanied Ali in all battles he fought against the rebels and traitors. His ideal faithfulness and sincere devotion to he Holy Imam has many glorious details.

25. Hajjaji bin Masrooq al-Jaufi :

One of the faithful companions of Ameerul-Momineen Ali in Kufa.

26. Hajjaji bin Badr as S'di :

Of Basra from the tribe Bani Sa'd, famous nobleman in Kufa. He was the one who carried the communications of the Holy Imam to the pious ones of the devotees of the House of the Holy Prophet in Kufa.

27. Hur ibne Yazdi ar Riyah :

He was the son of Yazid ibne Najiyah bin Qa'nab bin Yitab bin Hur in the lineage of Al'Tarbo'ir Riyahi. A famous nobleman of Kufa, and experienced warrior specially selected by Ibne Ziad to command a contingent against Husayn. He was the one who obstructed Husayn's way near Kufa, but he never believed that the venture of Ibne Ziad was to end in the martyrdom of the Holy Imam.

When at Karbala he found that the decision was to martyr the Holy Imam, Hur left the Devil's forces and joined the Holy Imam, seeking pardon for his previous conduct. The Holy Imam received him with special grace. Hur was among the foremost martyrs in the way of God.

28. Hallas bin Amro' ar Rasibi :

He was the son of Amru ar Rasibi who was one of the faithful companions of Ameerul-Momineen Ali.

29. Hanzala bin As'adus-Shabami :

He was the one who carried the message of exhortation from the Holy Imam to ibne Sa'd in Karbala.

30. Rafe' -the liberated slave of Muslim Azdi :

He came from Kufa and volunteered to be martyred in the way of the Lord.

31. Zavir bin Amro al Kandi :

A sincere devotee of the Ahlu Bait and a devoted companion of the Holy Imam. He was a noble personality very much revered and respected by the people.

32. Zohair al Qaine Bijilly :

He was a noble chieftain of his tribe, a man of great influence in Kufa. In the beginning he was attached to the Third Caliph Othman. Once returning from Haj he met the Holy Imam and became a staunch devotee of Husayn. He is the one who bade goodbye to his wife Dalham daughter of Amru, liberating her with a divorce to go to her relatives, and he joined the Holy Imam.

33. Ziad bin Areeb al Sa'idi :

Son of Areeb one of the faithful companions of the Holy Prophet. A very pious and brave noble personality enjoying the trust and the confidence of the people.

34. Salim the liberated slave of Amire Abdi :

A staunch devotee of Amirul-Momineen Ali, from Basra.

35. Salim the liberated slave of Bani Madinatul Kalbi :

Of the tribe Kalb one of the devotees of Amirul-Momineen Ali in Kufa.

36. Sa'd bin Hars and Abul hatoof bin Harse Ansari :

These twin brothers had come from Kufa employed in the forces of the Devil to fight Husayn. Later they left the ranks of the Devil's forces and joined the Holy Imam and got martyred.

37. Sa'd the liberated slave of Amirul-Momineen Ali :

After the martyrdom of Amirul-Momineen, he remained attached to Imam Hassan and later after the martyrdom of Imam Hassan, he remained devoted to Husayn.

38. Sa'd - the liberated slave of Amro bin Khalid :

He volunteered to be martyred for the Truth. A noble personality with a high degree of fidelity and valance.

39. Sayeed bin Abdullah Hanafi :

A noble and very influential personality in Kufa uniquely brave. He was the gentleman who carried Muslim's letter form Kufa to Husayn and remained with the Holy Imam until he was martyred. He was the man who, while the Holy Imam offered his prayers in the field of action (Karbala) stood in front of the Holy Imam and received the arrows from the Devil's forces, on his breast, and protecting the Imam in prayers.

40. Salman bin Mazarib bin Qais al Anmari al Bijilli :

A cousin of Zohair al Qain. He went to Mecca with Zohair and when on his return form Mecca Zohair decided to join the Holy Imam, he accompanied him and got martyred at Karbala. A man of very noble conduct and character endowed with strong will and prowess. A very pious personality fearing none but God.

41. Suleiman bin Razeen-A liberated slave of the Holy Imam :

A truthful and a very reliable gentlemen. A staunch devotee of the Holy Imam. He carried Husayn's letters to the devotees of the Ahlul-Bait in Basra. Ibne Ziad, the Devil's governor of Basra caught him and this faithful servant of the Holy Imam became a martyr.

42. Sawar bin Manyim-e-Nahmi :

A highly respected noble veteran of Iraq, travelled all the way to Karbala to join the Holy Imam to get martyred with him.

43. Suwaid bin Amro bin Abil Mataa al Anmari al Khash'mi :

A noble, highly respected, God-fearing and a brave personality. He fought and fell seriously wounded, and was lying unconscious, the enemy thinking him dead had left him but when he returned to consciousness and heard the rejoicing of the Devil's forces shouting that the Holy Imam had been killed, he got up, and fought, and was martyred.

44. Saif bin Hars al Jabiri and Malik :

These two cousins from Kufa joined the Holy Imam.

45. Saif bin Malid al Abdi a Basri :

A leading devotee of the Holy Ahlul-Bait.

46. Shabeeb a liberated slave of Hars-e-Jabiri-e-Hamadani :

A very brave man who got martyred in the very first attack from the enemy.

47. Shaneb-e-Shakiri :

Well-known in Kufa for his nobility of character, courage, and a revered noble veteran of the town.

48. Zarghaman abin Milik-e-Taghlabi :

A lion-hearted, brave who was faithful to Muslim bin Aqeel in Kufa. After Muslim's martyrdom, he joined the Holy Imam.

49. Aaiz bin Majama'al Aazi :

One of those six, who along with Hur ibne Yazid-e-Riyahi had joined the Holy Imam.

50. Aabis ibne Abi Shabeeb-e-Shakiri :

One of the most pious devotees of Amirul-Momineen, and one of the noblemaen of Kufa. He was one of those who helped Muslim ibne Aqeel in Kufa.

51. Amir bin Muslim at Badi Basri :

With his liberated slave Salim, both the devotees of Amirul-Momineen in Basra, joined the Holy Imam.

52. Abbas Ibne Ali ibne Abi Taleb, Qamare Bani Hashim :

This is the great son of the First Holy Imam Ali ibne Abi Taleb, from the noble lady Hazrat Ummul-Baeen, who was brought into this world to fulfill the desire of Amirul-Momineen to have his own representative, on his behalf to be martyred with Husayn in Karbala. Abbas is well-known to the Muslim World for the unique divine qualities he was endowed with.

This great lion-hearted son of the Lion of God in his qualities and position in Karbala, is next only to the Holy Imam Husayn.

The 'Alam' or the Banner which he held on behalf of the Holy Imam, was the Standard of Islam or the Truth, which is hoisted by the Shias, popularly during the mourning season of Muharram, and is revered as do the faithful subjects of good Kings as a token of their loyalty to him. The Banner being the Standard of Truth is only revered and respected and never worshipped as wrongly imagined and depicted by some ignorant ones.

Worship in Islam is due to none but the One, the Only True God.

53. Abdullah ibne Husayn, known as Ali-e-Asghar :

The 6-month old baby son of the Holy Imam, martyred in the very lap of his father whose martyrdom no human heart can bear without shedding tears.

54. Abdullah bin Hassan ibne Ali :

The son of the Second Holy Imam Hassan, a young boy who ran out of the tent to save Husayn when he was being martyred, and was martyred before the Holy Imam.

55. Abdullah bin Bushr Khash'ami tribe. A well known noble personality in Kufa. He came out of Kufa with ibne Sa'd but joined the Holy Imam.

56. Abduallah bin Omair Kalbi :

He had come to Kufa from Madina, and joined the Holy Imam. His wife also accompanied him to serve the Holy ladies. When Abdullah was martyred, his wife sitting at the dead body of her husband said “O Abdullah Thou hath entered Paradise, take me along with thee.” The good lady had not finished her lamentations when a slave of Shimar delivered a blow on her head with an axe and she was martyred.

57. Abdul Rahman and Abdullah sons of Orawah bin Harraq al Ghaffari :

These two brothers were noblemen of Kufa. Their grandfather Harraq, was one of the faithful companions of Ameerul-Momineen. They came to the Holy Imam and joined the noble cause.

58. Abdullah bin Muslim bin Aqeel :

Son of Muslim bin Aqeel ibne Abi Taleb. His mother was Roqiah, daughter of Ali through his wife Sahba, from Yamamah was martyred when he went to save the Holy Imam.

59. Abdullah bin Yaqtar-e-Himyart :

He was the son of the good lady who had served the Holy Imam as his nurse in his babyhood.

60. Abde Qais Basri-e-Abdi :

Along with Abdullah bin Zaid-e-Abdi. Obaidullah bin Zaide Abdi, Yazid bin sabeet al Abdi. These great men well-known and highly respected ones of their tribe came and requested the Imam to permit them to drink the cup of martyrdom along with him.

61. Abdul A'la bin Yazeed al Kalbi al Aleemi :

The famous and respected nobleman from Kufa.

62. Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Rab-e-Ansar Khazrji :

One of the faithful companions of the Holy Prophet and a Traditionist and a faithful devotee of Ameerul-Momineen.

63. Abdul Rahman bin Aqeel ibne Abi Taleb :

Son of Aqeel from his wife Omme Walad.

64. Abdul Rahman-e-Arhabi :

One of those who carried the letters of the devotees to the Holy Imam.

65. Abdul Rahman bin Mas'ood at Taimi :

Came out of Kufa along with Ibne Sa'd but later joined the Holy Imam.

66. Othman bin Ali ibne Abi Taleb :

One of the brothers of Hazrate Abbas, the third son of Ommul Baneen.

Joined the Holy Imam on his way to Karbala.

67. Omar bin Janada-e-Ansari :

This is the son of the godly lady who came to the Holy Imam and implored for his permission for her son Omar to be martyred and somehow succeeded in getting it.

68. Ali -e-Akbar son of the Holy Imam :

The 18-year old son of the Holy Imam who resembled the Holy Prophet the most, was martyred by a lance pierced through his breast.

69. Omer bin Zabi'ah Az Zabiyee :

Son of Zabiya at Taimi. Came out of Kufa with Ibne Sa'd but later joined the Holy Imam and was martyred.

70. Amro bin Khalid-e- Saidavi and three others :

When these four person marched towards the camp of the Holy Imam, Hur asked the Holy Imam for permission to stop them from getting near the camp for they were coming from the enemy's ranks. The Holy Imam miraculously said “Oh struck them not, they are coming to me with a good hears. They are my devotees.”

71. Amru bin Abdullah-e-Jundayi :

Of the tribe of Hamden.

72. Arm bin Quart al Ansari :

One of the faithful companions of the Holy Prophet and also of Amirul-Momineen.

73. Amru bin Ha'b Abu Thamama al Sa'idi :

One of the faithful devotees and companions of Amirul-Momineen.

74. Amru bin Hassan Talee :

One of the staunch devotees of the Ahlul-Bait.

75. Ammara ibne Salama al Daaalani :

One of the companions of Amirul-Momineen.

76. Aun and Muhammad sons of Jafar-e-Tayyar :

Two sons of Hazrat Zainab the sister of the Holy Imam. Aun was her own son and Muhammad was from the deceased wife (Khausa), of her husband Abdullah bin Jaffar Tayyar. These two were only young boys of about nine and ten years of age. The Holy Lady Zainab, the daughter of Amirul-Momineen and Lady Fatimah, brought these two young boys and implored her brother, the Holy Imam, to permit them to free the enemy.

At the persistent implorings from his sister the Holy Imam permitted, and these two young souls were martyred before the very eyes of their mother. This godly daughter of Ali and Fatima, the grand daughter of the Holy Prophet, stood quietly at the dead bodies of her children and said “I will not lament for you have gone in the way of the Lord.” The whole camp wept but Zainab stopped them from crying,

saying: “Let no my brother feel that I am sorry for losing them in the way of the Lord. Today I am pleased with my children.”

77. Qarib :

The son of a liberated slave girl of Husayn This lady, after having been liberated by the holy Imam, was married to a gentlemen and brought her son Qarib and presented him to the Holy Imam and Qarib was brought up by the Holy Imam. He was martyred along with the other devotees, offering himself in the way of the Lord.

78. Qasim bin Hassan bin Ali :

Son of the Second Holy Imam.

79. Qasim bin :

A well-known noble of Kufa.

80. Qasith, Kardoos, Musqit-Sons of Zohair al Taghlabi :

These three brothers were the devoted companions of Amirul Momineen who were with him in all his expeditions against the infidels and traitors. They came form Kufa and offered themselves for noble cause and achieve martyrdom.

81. Qan'ab an Namri :

One of the devotees of Amirul-Momineen who came for Basra.

82. Qais bin Mushir as Saidavi :

A very pious personality from a group of the Asadi tribe, extra-ordinarily brave, faithful and one of the sincere and faithful companions of the Holy Prophet. He reported himself to the Holy Imam, from Kufa, and was martyred.

83. Kannah at Taghlabi :

A very noble personality known for his piety in Kufa. A good reciter of the Holy Qu'ran and a very brave, God fearing, influential and powerful noble of Kufa.

84. Majma'ul Jahni :

Son of Zian bin Omar Jahni, one of the aged companions of the Holy Imam. When people began deserting the Holy Imam on the night of Ashura, this old devotee of the Holy Imam remained and achieved martyrdom.

85. Muslim bin Aqeel :

The Deputy of the Holy Imam to Kufa, where he was martyred.

86. Muslim Ibne Ausaja al Asadi :

One of the faithful companions of the Holy Prophet. An aged veteran who had earned a glorious name and fame for his valor and prowess in the expeditions against the infidels. On the night of Ashoora when the Holy Imam told his companions to find their own ways and save themselves from the wholescale massacre of his supporters which was in store for them the following day, Muslim addressing the Holy Imam said: “O son of the Holy Prophet! Where am I to go before myself getting martyred here”?

Muslim was one of the most prominent supporters of the Holy Imam in Karbala, and was martyred there.

87. Muslim bin Katheer al A'waj al Azdi :

One of the devotees of Amirul-Momineen in Kufa.

88. Mas'ood bin Hajjaj Taimy and his son Abdur Rahman bin Mas'ood :

The devotees of Amirul-Momineen from Kufa. These two were known for their piety and righteousness.

89. Muhammad bin Abdullah ibne Jafar :

A young son of Abdullah son of Hazrat Jafar-e-Tayyar, his mother was Khausa, daughter of Hafsa bin Rabi'a.

90. Muhammad bin Muslim Aqeel :

One of the two young sons of Muslim bin Aqeel the Deputy of the Holy Imam who was martyred in Kufa.

91. Muhammad bin Muslim bin Aqeel :

The grandson of Muslim bin Aqeel the Deputy of the Holy Imam to Kufa.

92. Munjeh--the liberated slave of the Second Holy Imam Hassan :

He accompanied Qasim bin Hasan from Medina.

93. Mauq' bin Thamamah Asadi Saidavi Abu Musa :

One of the devotees of the Ahlul Bait in Kufa who escaped from the town at night and joined the Holy Imam at Karbala.

94. Nafe' bin Hilale Jamali :

A companion of Ameerul-Momineen. Reciter of the Holy Qu'ran and Traditionalist. A noble personality known in Kufa for his piety, who escaped from Kufa and joined the Holy Imam in Karbala. A great devotee of Holy Imam who always remained by the side of Abbas the Standard Bearer of Husayn. He could not bear the least disregard for the Holy Imam, from anyone in the Devil's forces.

95. Nasr bin Naizar :

A liberated slave of Amirul-Momineen (The Leader of the faithful). He was presented to the Holy Prophet by the King of Persia and the Holy Prophet presented him to Amirul-Momineen, who freed him. He came to Karbala.

96. Wazeh the Turk :

The Turkish liberated slave of Harse Madhaji. A pious gentlemen, a good reciter of the Holy Qu'ran, who came to Karbala, and presented himself to the Holy Imam.

97. Hani bin Orwah :

Martyred at Kufa with Muslim ibne Aqeel.

98. Yazid bin Ziad bin Mohasir-e-Kandi-Behdile Abush-Sha'sa :

One of the nobles in Kufa. A staunch devotee of Ahlul-Bait. A very pious personality who joined Husayn from Kufa.

99. Yazid bin Maghfal Ja'fi :

A very pious devotee of Ameerul Momineen. A learned poet. His father and grandfather were faithful companions of the Holy Prophet. (s.a.w.a.s.).

100. Husayn ibne Ali, the King of Martyrs :

The divinely promised and prophesised Martyr of the Zibhe Azeem (The Great Sacrifice) in the seed of Abraham through his son Ishmael, in the lineage of Ishmael through Muhammad the Last Apostle of God, Ali the Ameerul Momineen, the First of the Holy Imams and Lady Fatima, the Lady of light.