Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Hussain's Martyrdom Prophesied in the Old Testamnet

"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 made drunk with their blood for the Lord God of hosts hath a sacrifice in the North country by the river Euphrates". (Jer. 46:10 The Old Testament)

SHIA'ISM OR ISLAM-ORIGINAL

People mostly ignorant of what actually SHIA'ISM is and what in fact the commitment of a SHIA is to his faith what actually it is in practice, are laboring under a gross misunderstanding of faith and its adherents. When asked what actually means SHIA'ISM and the commitment of a SHIA to his faith, the Sixth holy Imam JA'FAR IBNE MUHAMMAD AS-SADIQ gave the whole in a nutshell, after which there remains no room for any question about the faith or its adherents. "MAN KAANA LILLAH MUTEE'AN WAHOWA LANA VALI"

'He who is obedient to God is our friend (A SHIA)'. "MAN KAANA LILLAH ADOO'AN WAHOWA LANA ADOO".

'He who is hostile to God, i.e., disobedient to Him, he is our enemy (a non-SHIA)'. "WALA YANALO VILAYATENA ILLA BIL WARA'E WAL AMALIS SALEH". 'And reacheth not our love save through piety and righteousness'.

WHAT IS SHIA'ISM

SHIA'ISM is no religion, creed or faith. It is nothing but the Original-Islam in its original purity. It is the very same faith which was preached and practiced by the holy Prophet without anything added to or subtracted of it.

WHY THEN CALL IT SHIA'ISM AND NOT ISLAM?

It is an undeniably acknowledged and a universally acknowledged fact that the last exhortation of the holy Prophet Muhammad to his faithful adherents the Muslims was:

"I leave behind me amidst you the Two great things, the Book of God (the holy QUR'AN) and my 'ITRAT' my 'AHLUL BAIT' (the members of the holy Family, FATEMA, her husband Ali and her issues) Should ye be attached to these Two never, never shall ye be misled, after me, for verily these Two will never be separated from one another until they meet me at the Spring (the Spring of KAUTHER)" (TK., DM., SM., AND OTHER)

Under the above apostolic instruction form the holy Prophet every true Muslim ahs to abide by the Word of God (the holy QUR'AN) guided only by the 'AHLUL BAIT" and none else, and this is the one and only basis on which SHIA'ISM, i.e., The Islam-Original is based.

With the departure of the holy Prophet from the world, as the people of Moses and Jesus went astray so also the Muslim. The love of pleasures and the glory of this world maddened the masses and led them astray from the right path, under the evil influence of those in power. To get the religious authority and the powers to rule over the destinies of the people, the self-assumed rulers of the states, the self-made religious heads and the fanciful spiritual leaders, misinterpreted the holy QUR'AN and added much of falsehood to the Traditions or the Sayings of the holy Prophet, and many false traditions were fabricated to assume unwarranted powers and authority.

At the same time, to see that the masses do and get rightly guided by the holy 'AHLUL BAIT', and AHLUL BAIT were thrown into the background. They were not only totally neglected but also teased and tortured and all access to them by the public was strictly banned and if any one was found to have any friendly contact with these holy ones, he was severely punished even to the extent of his property being confiscated, his family being put to all sorts of torturous miseries and himself being mercilessly killed.

But a very few who feared none but God and cared not for any loss of property of the pleasures of this world against the perpetual gain and the everlasting bliss in the life hereafter, suffered the tortures and kept themselves faithfully attached to the AHLUL BAIT, to be on the right path. Some such godly devotees like MEESAM ATTAMMAR and others of his group were heartlessly tortured, which they bore with ideal patience and some were mercilessly put to death, but the great souls most willingly met even the most painful death with matchless courage and boldness but never gave up their attachment to the holy Ones.

When Islam was being corrupted at the hands of the aspirants for power and pleasures of this world, and the holy AHLUL BAIT were ignored, those who resorted to the right guidance from the right authorities were tortured and put to miseries and torturous death. It can be imagined how deep was the Truth buried and how difficult it was for any one to have it, but Truth was always there with the AHLUL BAIT and none could snatch it away from them at any cost, but only a very few, the sincere and bold ones, could have it. this state of affairs went on until the Sixth holy Imam JA'FAR IBNE MUHAMMAD, when the corrupted form of Islam was also called Islam, and the genuine or the original form of it which was with the holy AHLUL BAIT and practiced secretly by the faithful devotees to them needed to be distinguished with some particular name to identify it from the corrupt form.

Those who remained attached to the holy House of the holy Prophet, were known as the SHIAS of ALI IBNE ABI TALIB, and the True or the Original Islam was identified with the name MAZHABE-JA'FARI or SHIA'ISM (i.e., the Original Islam followed by the SHIAS). Thus SHIA'ISM is no other than the Islam-Original, but it is only identified with the name 'SHIA'ISM' just to distinguish it against the corrupted form. One can judge the Truth in this statement from the brief explanation of the Faith and the Article given in this book.

Thus the Original Islam is identified with the distinguishing token name 'TASHAYYU' or SHIA'ISM and its followers are known as the SHIAS. It means, the followers of the Islam-Original without the subsequent adulteration effected in it. SHIA'ISM (Islam-Original) strictly follows the holy QUR'AN, and the holy Prophet guided by the divinely commissioned Twelve holy Imams, whose physical and spiritual purity and personal excellence, the Islamic World as a whole unanimously acknowledges.

SHIA'ISM in order to help people to remain attached only to the Word of God as interpreted by the holy Prophet, wants its followers to strictly abide by the following Declarations of the holy Prophet. 1- At the start of his apostolic mission he declared that Ali was His Deputy, his Vicegerent, his Successor or his KALIF, with his orders to the assembly to listen to Ali an d to obey him.

2- Before the huge assembly of pilgrims numbering to several thousands, after his Last HAJ or the pilgrimage on the Eighteenth of ZILHAJ 10 A.H. at GHADEER-E-KHUM:

"Of whomsoever I am the MAULA (or the Lord), this Ali is his MAULA (or the Lord).

3- Just before his departure from this world saying:

"I leave behind me amidst you Two important things, The book of God (the holy QUR'AN) and the members of my family. As long as you keep yourselves attached to these Two, you shall never get astray after me. These Two shall never be separated from one another until they meet me at the Spring of KAUTHER".

With the above three main guiding factors, the Islam-Original or SHIA'ISM, keeps its faithful followers, the SHIAS, strictly attached to the Final Word of God, (the QUR'AN), the holy Prophet Muhammad, and his holy 'AHLUL BAIT' (i.e., the Divinely chosen members) of the apostolic family. SHIA'ISM demands every SHIA to cling fast to virtue and to be always with the virtuous, loving them more than their own lives. SHIA'ISM demands every SHIA to be always away from every vice and the wicked and be always aloof from them.

SHIA'ISM: ITS ARTICLES OF FAITH AND ITS PRACTICE

A SHIA Muslim believes in:

1- The absolute unity of God, with all his divine attributes as inseparable and essential qualities of His absolute Self.

2- The Perfect and flawless Equity of the Lord. Every word and act of the Lord being based on nothing but perfect justice. Inequity is imperfection and every imperfection is a defect and the lord is free from every defect.

3- The infallibility, sinless-ness and truthfulness of all the apostles of God, from Adam, the First of God's apostles to the holy Prophet Muhammad the Last of them. All the apostles were the personalities purified by the Lord Himself and by Himself conditioned for the services divinely assigned to them, and no apostle or prophet did come after the holy Prophet and neither any will come until the end of the world.

4- With the conclusion of the ministry of the holy Prophet Muhammad the Last one of God's apostles the infinite mercy of the Lord, for the guidance of man on the right lines of His revealed religion Islam, instituted the series of godly souls His own commissioned Imams, or Guide or Leaders from the same Lineage Abraham to continue the divine guidance and thus started the institution of Imamate in the place of 'RISALALT', i.e., apostleship. The Twelve God's commissioned Guides or Imams are:

(I)- Ali son of ABU TALEB the Cousin germane, the Son-in-Law of the holy Prophet and his Vicegerent, Brother, Heir and KALIF declared by him at the outset of his ministry at the 'DAWATE ASHEERA' and at the close of the apostleship, at GHADEER-E-KHUM at the command of the Lord revealed in verse 5:67.

(II)- HASSAN son of ALI IBNE ABI TALEB and the holy Lady FATEMA ZAHRA. The First grandson of the holy Prophet martyred by poison

(III)- HUSSAIN the second son of ALI IBNE ABI TALEB and the holy Lady FATEMA ZAHRA. 'ZIBHE AZEEM' i.e. Great Sacrifice, butchered with the Seventy two godly souls of his kith and kin and devotees, in the wholesale slaughter at KARBALA enacted by the KALIF YAZID son of MU'AVIAH.

(IV)- ALI ZAIN UL-ABIDEEN AS-SAJJAD the first son of HUSSAIN the King of Martyrs of KARBALA, the Prisoner of YAZID martyred by KALIF WALEED BIN ABDUL MALIK.

(V)- MUHAMMAD AL-BAQUIR son of ALI ZAIN UL-ABIDEEN the Fourth Imam, martyred by HISHAM BIN ABDUL MALIK

(IV)- JA'FAR AS-SADIQ son of MUHAMAMD AL-BAQUIR the Fifth Imam, martyred by MANSOOR.

(VII) MOOSA AL-KAZIM son of JA'FAR AS-SADIQ the Sixth Imam, martyred by the ABBASIDE KALIF HAROON AR-RASHEED.

(VIII)- ALI AR-RIZA, son of MOOSA AL-KAZIM the Seventh Imam, martyred by the ABBASIDE KALIF MAAMOON AR-RASHEED.

(IX)- MUHAMMAD AT-TAQI, son of ALI AR-RIZA, the Eighth Imam, martyred by the ABBASIDE KALIF MO'TASIM.

(X)- ALI AN-NAQI son of MUHAMMAD AT-TAQI, the Ninth Imam, martyred by the ABBASIDE KALIF MO'TASIM

(XI)- HASSAN AL-ASKARI, son of ALI AN-NAQI, the Tenth Imam, martyred by the ABBASIDE KALIF MO'TMAD

(XII)- MUHAMMAD AL-MAHDI son of HASSAN AL-ASKARI, living by the will of the Lord as is Jesus in the seed of Isaac through his virgin mother Mary. Both this holy Imam and the holy Prophet Jesus will re-appear at the will of the Lord before the end of the world after which will be the Last Day of Resurrection and Final Judgment.

The Last Day Of The Final Judgment (QIAMAT)

It is now for any intelligent one to say that if the above fundamentals of the faith are those prescribed by the holy QUR'AN or not, or if they contain anything more or less than what the holy Prophet preached and enjoined upon his followers. As regards the practice of the faith a SHIA Muslim shall:

1- Offer regularly the prescribed five times compulsory prayers.

2- Fast the whole of the holy month of Ramadan.

3- Perform 'HAJ' i.e. pilgrimage to the holy KA'BA in Mecca at least once in his life provided he could afford to do it as laid down by the holy Prophet.

4- Pay the 'ZAKAT' (the prescribed poor-rate) of his assists as prescribed by the holy QUR'AN and explained by the holy Prophet.

5- Pay the 'KHUMS' (the 1/5th of the net savings as laid down by the holy QUR'AN and explained by the holy Prophet.

6- Endeavor his most, i.e., 'JEHAD', as needed for the defense and the welfare of the faith and the faithful and even fight in the way of the lord for the purpose if called to do it by the Apostle of God or any one of God's commissioned Guides the Imams.

7- Preach or enjoin what is good to his brethren in all peaceful and desirable ways.

8- Preach abstinence from evil, to his brethren in all peaceful and desirable ways.

9- Love God, God's chosen men and godliness and be always attached to the godly ones particularly to the holy Prophet Muhammad and his holy AHLUL BAIT.

10- Always keep himself away from evils and the evil ones, having nothing to do with the wicked ones with definite aversion to their wicked conduct and character.

Let any unbiased reader who pursues the above fundamentals and their practice declare, if there is nothing but good and it is nothing but godliness pure, in belief and practice, or if there is anything bad or objectionable in it. As regards the holy QUR'AN, a SHIA Muslim believes that the present holy QUR'AN is the very same Book of God, complete in itself without any deduction or addition to it and without any alteration or misarrangement of its verses. This is the holy QUR'AN which was revealed to the holy Prophet which was then and there recorded in writing by ALI IBNE ABI TALEB, ABDULLAH IBNE MAS'OOD, and MA'AAZ IBNE JABAL and which was read out to the holy Prophet during his very lifetime.

As regards the 'QIBLAH' or the point of turning towards, during prayers, a SHIA Muslim holds the holy KA'BA in Mecca as his QIBLAH. As regards the daily prayers a SHIA Muslim offers regularly the five times compulsory daily prayers with the number of the RAK'ATS or units as given below:

PRAYER WAJIB RAK'ATS (or units) SUNNAT FAJR (morning) 2 = 2 ZOHR (mid-day) 4 = 8 ASR (afternoon) 4 = 8 MOGHRIB (evening) 3 = 4 ISHA (night) 4 = 2 Total Compulsory 17 = 24 The 'KALEMA-E-SHAHADAT' or the verbal declaration of the faith, the KALEMA of a SHIA Muslim is the same as that of any other Muslim:

"LA ILLAHA ILLALLAH MUHAMMADUR RASOOLULLAH"

'There is no god save (the One God) Allah. Muhammad the Apostle of God'

A SHIA Muslim declares his identity with the Islam-Original to mean that this Islam is that of the AHLUL BAIT whose head after the holy Prophet was Ali, and not the Islam adulterated by unwarranted authorities, pronouncing his faith in Ali as the Friend of God or the Divinely commissioned Guardian over the Muslims after the holy Prophet. To do this a SHIA Muslim declares with in continuation of the above declaration: "ALLIYYON WALIULLAH WASIYYU RASSOLILLAH".

'Ali the Friend of God the Successor of the holy Prophet' Be it known that the above two clauses are pronounced not a part of the KALEMA but just as a note of distinction of the faith from the creed adulterated alter.

This is the whole of the SHIA'ISM or the Islam-Original and nothing else.

Under the Ninth article of the practice of the faith called 'TAWALLAH' a SHIA Muslim mourns the martyrdom of each of the holy ones of the AHLUL BAIT and expresses his sorrow and grief for the miseries and the calamities the holy ones suffered, individually and also collectively in congregational services called the MAJALIS-E-AZA in which are recited the holy QUR'AN and the life-readings of the holy ones with the Islamic philosophy and religious teachings for the information of the fellows in the SHIA faith.

Let the readers themselves judge if the above conduct could be in agreement or the token of devotion of God and the loyalty to the godly ones who suffered the calamities and laid their all in the way of the Lord for the guidance of mankind, or it could in any manner or sense be in the least objectionable. At the same time it has at last to be judged that not doing so will be ingratitude and disloyalty to God and the godly ones or not.

THE COMMEMORATION OF THE HISTORIC 'ASHOORA'

'ASHOORA' means the "Tenth" i.e., the Tenth day, of the Lunar month of MUHARRAM 61 A.H. on which historic day, HUSSAIN surrendered his all in the way of the Lord to save the Truth and thus to save humanity from getting beguiled by the Brute on the throne and the brutal forces of the mercenary scholars whom he had enlisted under his command. All those who love truth and the welfare of mankind at large, will naturally love HUSSAIN and his holy family, and will naturally be moved to express their sympathy and sorrow for the Great Godly Hero of KARBALA who sacrificed his all, suffered the worst of miseries and met the most torturous and brutal death but neither vielded to the blasphemy perpetrated by the Brute not the destruction of the Divine Principle of his holy Grandfather.

Honestly, not to commemorate such a solemn occasion will be thanklessness and ingratitude to godliness and God Himself, and to do it will surely earn the blessings of the Lord. Every one who has the least appreciation or the admiration for the matchless sacrifices, the Great Hero and his godly comrades who suffered martyrdom along with him, will naturally be moved to express his sorrow on the solemn occasion, and those who love devilry and the Devil YAZID, will naturally by festive on that day.

INTERCESSION OR SHAFA'AT

The possibility of intercession for the sinners on the Day of Judgment is quite obvious from the repeated declarations of the holy QUR'AN. The declarations are so clearly worded that none can misinterpret them otherwise: "…who is any one to intercede with Him, save with His permission…" [2:255]. According to this verse, intercession is possible only with permission of the Lord. There are the following verses clearer still: "They shall not own intercession, save he who has covenanted with the Beneficent God" [19:87]. "On that Day (of Judgment) no Intercession shall avail except of him whom the Beneficent Lord allows and with whose word He (God) is pleased with" [20:109]

The above verses are too clear to create any doubt against some dear ones to the Lord having the authority form Him to intercede. Who else could be more entitled to this divine grace and unique privilege than the apostles of God, more particularly the Last one, the chief of them, and those who have surrendered their lives in the way of the Lord like HUSSAIN and his faithful comrades who were martyred along with him. The point is that to one who sincerely seeks to know the truth, a straight answer, with the simplest logic, will certainly suffice, but to one who wants to go on arguing merely for argument's sake, even the apostles from God could not satisfy. No amount of arguing will be of any avail when the understanding is never to come at all from within the enquirer. One can give an argument but never an understanding.

THE HOUSES OF MIRACLES AND RESPONSE TO PRAYERS

Let the materialist world know from the millions of devoted Muslims, who have visited the Shrines in Iraq and other holy places, how brightly the Glory of God shines in the shrines of HUSSAIN and the members of his holy family and also of his faithful comrades who sacrificed their lives along with him in KARBALA. One need not wait long to witness any miraculous event on any of the week days, in the shrines of HUSSAIN and ABBAS,

particularly the holy shrine of ABBAS-E-ALAMDAR (i.e., ABBAS the Standard Bearer of HUSSAIN) is the place where from hundreds of thousands of the sufferers get their prayers immediately heard, and many a time this valiant son of ALI, the Lion of God, has rendered miraculous and timely rescue to those who invoked the mercy of God in his holy name. it can be most confidently said, let any one try his holy name. it be most confidently said, let any one try his luck if hi needs any help from God with the necessary sincerity and devotion to the great saintly brother of the King of Martyrs. Even today the holy name 'ABBAS' is a watchword for millions and millions of his sincere devotees for the immediate and miraculous rescue needed in any unavoidable risk or danger. Where is the wonder, for one who surrenders himself to God, God will also surely honor his name when mentioned in any prayer to Him. God Himself enjoins on man to seek a medium unto Him.

"Seek ye a medium unto Him (God)" [5:35]

It is the disbelievers who get hopeless of their dead. Be it noted that the 'KALIMA' or the Word of the Declaration of the Faith 'SHIA'ISM', is only: "LAILAH ILLALLAH Muhammad RASOOLULLAH" 'There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the (holy) Prophet of God.

RESPECT, REGARD AND REVERENCE TO THE SACRED EMBLEMS

"ALAMS (the Emblems of HUSSAIN, ABBAS and the other A'IMA), the ZAREES, MINVARS, IMAMBARAS and the other things dedicated to the sacred memory of the holy Ones of the AHLUL BAIT, held with feelings of sanctity by the SHIAS (the devotees of the HOLY AHLUL BAIT)"

SOME GUIDING CLARIFTCATIONS

Of late, it is frequently preached by some ill-informed people against paying respect, regard or reverence to ALAMS, ZAREES, MINBARS, IMAMBARAS or any such things dedicated to the sacred memory of the members of the holy AHLUL BAIT, terming it, 'SHIRK' or 'BID' or 'KURF'. Since there is the possibility of some innocent and ignorant Muslims and Non-Muslims alike, not knowing the difference between 'MAWADDAT' (i.e. love or faithfulness), and, 'OBBODAT' (i.e. Worship), getting astray, it has become necessary to issue the following clarifications.

Be it known that the move to criticize the expressions of Respect, Regard and Reverence to the holy AHLUL BAIT and the things dedicated to their sacred memory, is nothing new. Such criticisms and accusations against the devotees of the holy ones, the SHIAS, have been in vogue since centuries having their start immediately following the departure of the holy Prophet.

'MAWADDAT' (i.e. love or devotion) practiced by those attached to the holy AHLUL BAIT has always been misrepresented as 'OBOODIAT' (i.e. worship), just to condemn attachment to the holy Family, terming the love and the devotion to the holy ones, as 'SHIRK' (i.e. Polytheism) or 'KUFR' (i.e. infidelity). This was done to stop people's attachment to the AHLUL BAIT, and to enlist strength against those who, in-spite of the vicious propaganda, against them and even suffering the miserable persecution, remained devoted to the holy Ones of the Prophet's family. The first of such a cry, motivated with the vicious object mentioned above, was raised by some opportunists aspiring for power and authority, immediately as the holy Prophet departed form this world, saying:

"MAN KANA YA'BUDU MUHAMMAD FAQAD MAAT".

'Let every one who was worshipping Muhammad now know that he is dead (and gone)'. This satiric cry was raised against the devotees of the holy House, to declare them as 'KAFIRS' infidels (i.e. those who worshipped the holy Prophet) instead of God, terming their 'MAWADDAT' to the holy ones, which means only love and devotion, as 'OBOODIAT' i.e. worship, and thus to declare the attachment to the AHLUL BAIT as 'SHIRK' or 'KUFR', whereas only the devotees to the AHLUL BAIT are Muslims in the true and the strict sense of the term, as they worship none but the One and the Only True God, and love the holy Prophet and his AHLUL BAIT and remain devoted to them under the divine ordinance:

"Say unto the people O' Apostle Muhammad! 'I seek not of you any 'AJR' (Compensation) for it (the service of the apostleship) save love of my relatives…" [42:23]

Under the above ordinance from the Lord, none who does not pay the holy Prophet the 'AJR' (i.e. recompense) in the love and devotion to the AHLUL BAIT, demanded him, can never be a Muslim at all.

In short, 'MAWADDAT' i.e. the love towards the holy AHLUL BAIT, is purposefully termed as 'OBOODIAT' i.e., worship to blackmail their devotees, the SHIAS as 'MUSHRIKEEN' (i.e. the Polytheists) and 'KUFFAR' (the infidels), and to dissuade people from attachment to the holy Ones. It must first be remembered that 'SHIRK' means associating any thing with God, and these things which are held sacred by the SHIAS are never at all held as God, or gods, or in place of God, or that the holy ones to whose memory they are dedicated. They are mere Emblems and Memorials, dedicated to their memory. This fact has already been made clear and it is once again repeated here for the information of the new uninformed or misinformed critics.

The move against respecting these sacred memorials of the dedicated tokens, is only to dissuade the public from their devotion to the AHLUL BAIT, in the guise of preaching 'TAUHEED' i.e. the Unity of God, and warning against 'SHIRK' which is the most abhorred thing in Islam, particularly in SHIA'ISM which is the Islam-Original.

Let the misinformed advocates of 'TAUHEED' and the Warners against 'SHIRK' rest assured that the SHIAS, in particular when they pray for any divine boon or mercy in the name of ht holy Imams, they never imagine for a while that the actual giver or the bestower of the boon or the giver of the help prayed for, is any one other than the Almighty Lord of the Universe, and the prayer in the name of the holy Ones is only to invoke the mercy of the Lord through the medium of these holy souls who have been declared as God's chosen ones and the nearest and dearest ones to Him.

The misleading question which the critics raise, in that way should not one seek the help he needs directly from God? This question has in itself the answer that when such great devotees of God (i.e. the critics) get ill, why do they go to the doctor? Who is the actual Curer, God or the doctor? Why not they depend upon God for the cure and avoid the means of the doctor, when the doctor is not the actual curer? No, they do it because they have to seek a means or a medium and they do it for they cannot avoid it. This is quite in accordance with the divine guidance from the lord: "Seek ye the means to reach Him (God)" [5:35]

None can reach God without the proper means to the end. God Himself has enjoined the holy Prophet to seek his 'AJR' or recompense in the love and devotion to his AHLUL BAIT (See 42:23) and the 'AJR' in the love and devotion to the holy AHLUL BAIT has been made the way to the Lord (See 25:57) I ask not any 'AJR' (recompense) for it (i.e. apostleship) save ye take the way to the Lord (25:57).

And what the 'AJR' (recompense) is, has been mentioned in 42:23.

The reverence and the regard for things dedicated to the sacred memory of the holy ones, is clearly warned by the verse 2:158 in which the Muslims have been ordained to run between the hillocks 'SAFA' and 'MARWA' while performing the 'HAJ'. And the following verse of the holy QUR'AN clearly declares the regard for any signs of God (i.e. anything by means of which man remembers God's Glory, His Authority or His Existence) as the piety of the heart of the individual:

"And whosoever respects the signs of God, it surely is of the piety of the heart" [22:32].

SHIAS go to 'IMAMBARA', the 'MAHFILS', the 'MINBARS' and recite there 'FATEHA' (i.e. 1st SURA of the holy QUR'AN), and the masterly edited prayers of the great divines viz. AMIRUL MOMINEEN ALI IBNUL HUSSAIN and the other Imams. Let the advocates of 'TAWHEED' and the warners against 'SHIRK' go through the 'DUA-E-JAWSHAN-E-SAGHEER' or any other prayers 'DUA' prescribed by the holy Imams and then say if there can be a greater and a surer source of approaching God or invoking His Mercy, than these mediums. People ignorant of these great things, are those who speak against the heavenly means to get nearer to the Lord to be blessed by Him.

It is also necessary to inform the advocates of 'TAUHEED' and the Warner against 'SHIRK' that it is declared faith and the conviction of every SHIA that nothing without the compulsory SALAT or NAMAZ, duly performed, can eve r benefit any one in approaching God or getting any boon or help from Him any one of the holy ones, and the Mosque is the holiest place with nothing to be compared to it.

SAJDAH

Who said SAJDAH or prostration in obeisance to any one besides God is allowed SAJDAH to 'GHAIRALLAH' or 'MASILLAHL' (i.e. other than God) is 'HARAM' i.e. strictly prohibited, and SHIA'ISM the Islam-Original, more than any other school of faith, abhors it, and guards its adherents against it, both from the pulpit and the press. The critic should first know that SAJDAH to God differs from the act of merely laying the head on the ground which also is termed as SAJDAH. The SAJDAH to God is not only laying the head on the ground, but submitting one's self wholly to God with the realization of one's negation of his finite existence granted to him, before the infinite. Almighty and the Absolute Existence of the Only Self Existing One,

with the intention of worshipping Him as the only Creator, Sustainer, Lord of the Universe. Mere laying of the head on the ground before any one in any ceremonial way of paying any conventional regard or formal reverence to any other than God, can never be the 'SAJDAH-E-OBOODIAT' (the prostration of subservience). It will be a 'SAJDAH-E-TAZEEMI' (i.e. the prostration or regard) which was demanded of the angels for Adam: "(SAJDAH) (Prostration) to Adam, they did offer (SAJDAH) prostration save 'IBLEES' (the Devil) …" [2:37 & 7:11].

This is what God Himself ordered the angels to do:

"When I have made him (Adam) complete and breathe into him spirit of Me, fall ye all down (offering SAJDAH) Prostration to him" [15:29]. If SAJDAH in any sense whatsoever was prohibited save to God, the stars would not have been caused to appear to Joseph in his vision, offering 'SAJDAH' or prostration to him.

"When Joseph said to his father, 'O' My father: Verily I saw eleven stars and the sun the moon, I saw them, offering SAJDAH (prostration) to me" [12:4].

And why did YACOOB (Jacob) an apostle of God, offer 'SAJDAH' to his son Joseph:

"And he (Joseph) raised his parents to the throne and they offered SAJDAH (prostration) to him" [12:100]. It is sufficiently clear if one wants only to know the truth that SAJDAH by way of worship to any object besides God, is strictly prohibited as 'HARAM' and abhorred by SHIA'ISM which is Islam-Original, whereas the act of mere lying of head anybody expressing one's humanity to any greatness, or excellence particularly in the case of any divine object, which was expected of the angels even by God Himself, and was practiced even by a prophet of God like Jacob, is not worship, and hence not objectionable.

The Looted Caravan

After burning their dead and leaving the bodies of the holy Imam and his martyred devotees unburied, lying on the plain of the massacre, the Devil's forces left the plain of KARBALA for KUFA with the virtuous ladies and the innocent children of HUSSAIN'S family as their captives, on bare backs of camels, snatching away their veils, without any purdah, with their necks tightly tied in ropes. The sick holy Imam Ali son of HUSSAIN, who could not even sit up owing to his illness, was bound in heavy chains and was made to walk barefooted on the thorny plains and on the burning sand of the desert, form KARBALA to KUFA and from KUFA to Damascus.

THE TORTURES OF THE JOURNEY

The history of the tortures of the journey from KARBALA to KUFA and from KUFA to Damascus which the sick Imam Ali, the helpless ladies and the young children were put to, is a very pathetic record of the worst brutality ever recorded on earth, the narration of which in detail needs a separate volume. The captives of the family of the holy Imam were first marched on public roads and through the streets of town of KUFA, to the open court of IBN-I-ZIAD the Governor of KUFA, and from there they were marched to Syria to be presented in the open court of the brute YAZID who before an audience of hundreds of his courtiers, seated on the throne there, were purchased by his wealth and who had signed the death warrant of the holy Imam supporting the claims of the Brute to be Deputy of the holy Prophet.

THE DIVINE LIGHT SHINES OUT

Every soldier who was given the severed head of a martyr, to carry it raising it on his lance was made responsible for its safe custody. KHOOLE a hard-hearted tyrant was put in charge of the holy head of HUSSAIN. As the Brute's army marched from KARBALA after the great massacre, it halted near KUFA where KHOOLI lived. KHOOLI left the camp in the night to visit his wife in the town and carried with him the holy head, and to hide it form his wife, he kept it covered under ashes of the hearth in the kitchen of his house. When KHOOLI'S wife came out of her room in the middle of the night, she fund pillar of light rising out from the hearth in the kitchen. She was stunned and when she saw through a hole in the door, she found some heavenly figures descending form heaven on a severed head in the hearth. She rushed back into her room and waking up KHOOLI reported the matter to him. KHOOLI could no more conceal the matter and spoke out to her what he had hidden in the hearth. The good lady cried aloud cursing his saying: "May the wrath of God be on thee O' cursed One! Thou hast brought the holy Head of HUSSAIN the holy Imam in my house". Crying aloud, shedding tears, the good lady madly rushed out of her house again entered the house, and ultimately gave up her life crying for the holy Imam.

THE SEVERED HEAD OF HUSSAIN RECITES THE WORD OF GOD

The Devil's army marched with severed heads of the martyrs raised on their lances. Among the heads, were the head of the baby son of HUSSAIN, ALI-E-ASGHAR. It is now left to the tender hearts of gentle women to imagine in their own places, what would have been the feelings of the mothers, the sisters and the children among the captives who were marched along with the army, looking all the time at the severed heads of their dear ones, on the points of the lances raised before their eyes. Historians, reporting the gruesome events of the great tragedy, say that people noticed the lips of the severed head of the holy Imam moving, and when people applied their ears carefully, the heard the holy lips uttering clearly the following verse of the Chapter 'KAHF' of the holy QUR'AN:

"…AAYAA TINA AJBAD" [18:9] "Thinkest thou that the Fellows of the Cave and the Inscription were of Our wonderful Signs". [18:9] The one who heard the recital of the sacred words, immediately cried out saying: "Nay! O son of the holy Prophet! The event of thy wonderful sufferings and patience is more astonishing". Since its severance from its body, the holy head of HUSSAIN till its burial after about a year of remaining in the custody of the Brute at Damascus, it manifested miracles after miracles proving the Unity of God, the glory of the Lord of the Universe, the bonafide of the apostleship of his grandfather, the holy Prophet Muhammad, and the truthfulness of Islam, as God's prescribed religion for Mankind as a whole.

THE CAPTIVES IN DAMASCUS

Even during the most miserable journey, the severed head of the holy Imam manifested several miracles which guided several good-hearted Christians and Jews to embrace Islam, most of whom after embracing the Truth attacked the brutes and were ultimately martyred by the Devil's forces.

When the looted Caravan entered Damascus, at the orders of the Devil YAZID, the whole town was ordered to be fully decorated and the people to be engaged in rejoicing and making merry at the success of their Ruler. To please the Brute the people dressed in the festive robes were extremely jubilant, amusing themselves in fanciful plays and merrymaking. When the looted Caravan of the holy House of the Prophet passed through the public streets and the busy bazaars,

people in huge numbers thronged to have a view of the captives whereas the godly ladies of the family of the holy Imam who where captives, felt mortally ashamed and insulted and covered their holy faces under the hair of their heads. While the sorrow-stricken ladies were seated on the bare backs of the camels with the hair of their heads covering their faces, the heads of the martyrs raised on the point of the lances were marching before them. The poor ladies sometimes looked at the heads of their martyred husbands, brothers and children, with tears flowing from their eyes. The children seeing the severed heads of their loved ones cried aloud innocently calling them to return to them and to relieve them of their torturous miseries.

After parading through the crowded streets and the busy bazaars thronged with the rejoicing public, the ladies and the children tied in ropes and the sick Ali in chains with the severed heads of the martyrs, were presented openly in the fully attended court of YAZID surrounded by his courtiers. YAZID sat on the throne and kept the severed head of the holy Imam down in front of him, drank wine, and ridiculed the holy Imam and his family standing before him utterly helpless tied in ropes as captives. What all before the holy Family in the Devil's court is also a long history of unbearable sorrow and the worst degradation of the godly ones, which will surely move the coldest heart to tears.

The captives were imprisoned in every narrow, dark and roofless cell. The members of the holy Family suffered the hardships and the tortures of imprisonment in the cell for a long time until in the prison expired SAKINA the three years old dearly loved daughter of HUSSAIN. She died of wounds caused by the whips and slaps of the tyrants, particularly of the wounds she received from the stone-hearted SHIMER. After a long imprisonment, the sick Imam Ali, with the other captives, was released. They returned to KARBALA, and after burying the bodies of HUSSAIN and the other martyrs which were lying unburied till then, they returned to Medina. Thus the holy Imam HUSSAIN offered the Greatest Sacrifice to reestablish the Truth firmly never again to be shaken by any one until the Day of Judgment.

THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHESIES THE MARTYRDOM

This is the Sacrifice which has been prophesied also in the Old Testament in which God promise to avenge the blood of the holy Imam HUSSAIN: "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 made drunk with their blood for the Lord God of Hosts hath a Sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates" Jer. 46:10 This is the 'ZIBHE AZEEM' or the Greatest Sacrifice, the Lord has foretold to take place instead of Abraham's Sacrifice:

"Most surely this is a manifest trial, And We ransomed with a Great Sacrifice And We have shifted it among the later generation". This happened on 61 A.H. on the Bank of the Euphrates at KARBALA in Iraq.

WHO WAS VICTORIOUS: YAZID OR HUSSAIN?

Although the hosts of the Devil numbered in thousands and the supporters of the cause of Truth for which the holy Imam stood, could be counted on fingers, and the holy Imam, with his numbered devotees, was mercilessly massacred and the ladies, the queens of virtue and chastity along with the innocent children were taken captives and put to every disrespect, indignity understood who was the Arch-Devil and who was the Divinely Chosen Guide for Humanity. Many people embraced Islam at the guidance they received from the severed head of HUSSAIN when thy saw it glorifying the Lord even from the point of the lance during the torturous journey to KUFA and from KUFA to Damascus.

The realization of the Truth, the World exhibited after the martyrdom of holy Imam, made even the Devil acknowledge the virtual, spiritual Victory of the holy Imam. Identifying oneself as the admirer of YAZID is far beyond any possibility when there is none today who would even like the idea of taking the devil's name in connection with any goodness save those who would like to associate themselves with the Brute in the licentious performances enacted. Whereas ever since the martyrdom of HUSSAIN, the act of admiring and appreciating the holy Imam and his devotees is enjoined as a duty of every true believer in God and the sincere lover of Truth, deeming it with a conviction that admiration of the Great Sacrifice and feeling for the sorrowful plight of the holy Imam and his godly devotees carries special blessings in this world, and with high spiritual honors and great rewards in the life hereafter.

WHAT IS 'SHAHADAT' OR MARTYRDOM

Whoever is taken unawares or shot dead or suddenly killed be that even for any matter of goodness on the part of the murdered one, other than God's cause, cannot be called a martyr. It can no doubt be said that the assassin had been cruel and the good man had been unjustly killed, but he cannot be a martyr in the proper or the right sense of the term, for, perhaps, if the murdered one had an opportunity or the chance to escape death, he might have successfully avoided it, or if he had been warned of the fate, he would have changed his views or conduct to avoid the cause for the murder.

A martyr in the true and the proper sense of the term is the one who stands for Truth and Righteousness even at the cost of his life and property not excluding his near and dear ones.

Jesus and Hussain

The holy QUR'AN asserts in unequivocal terms that Jesus was neither killed nor crucified by the people: [4:157-158]

Even taking for granted the statement of our Christian brethren the crucifixion of Jesus under the evidence of the holy Bible of the Christian Church itself, can never be a martyrdom at all as the Bible says that Jesus avoided the end by hiding himself which suggests his unwillingness to meet death in the cause of Truth. Besides, when caught by the enemies, he began imploring God to see that the cup was passed over and he be saved, and while he was put on the cross as alleged by the Christian belief, he began crying aloud to God in agony saying that he had been forsaken by Him. Could this be becoming even of any ordinary believer in God with the conviction of his faith in Him? How could such a weak-hearted one totally void of faith in the All-Merciful Lord, be a religious leader, even that the son of God? How could the one forsaken by God be the savior of Humanity? The Bible itself declares:

"And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed saying O' my Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt". "And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: 'Eli, Eli LAMA SABACHTHANI', to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me". Math (27:46)

The above statement of the Bible of the Christian church establishes the following points against Jesus:

1- Jesus was frightened of death.

2- Jesus was unwilling to drink the cup of death in the way of the Lord.

3- Jesus wanted God to avoid his drinking the cup of death.

4- Jesus wanted God to avoid His Will to take place.

5- In the agony against the fear of death Jesus lost all faith in God and believed to have been forsaken by Him, Thus according to his own words, the forsaken son can do nothing for others for he himself has been forsaken.

Let us take the case of HUSSAIN:

1- HUSSAIN traveled all the distance from Medina to KARBALA to drink the cup of death accompanied by untold miseries and tortures.

2- HUSSAIN offered not only himself but the dearest ones of his nearest kith and kin, and the sincerest of friends with matchless faith in God and devotion to Him.

3- At every step, HUSSAIN suffered the worst tortures and the greatest loss with perfect patience, fortitude, submission and surrender to the Divine Will, every time praying for his offerings to be accepted by the Lord.

4- While under the swords of the heartless assassins, he only prayed to God for the salvation of the Faithful, far from being a complainant, he prayed for his sacrifices to be accepted.

5- He proved his being the Greatest Martyr, the King of Martyrs who offered not only himself but his dearest ones counted to about seventy-two, by glorifying God in God's own Words when his head was severed and raised on the point of the lance.

In short, HUSSAIN'S martyrdom has no parallel in the history of great scholar IMADUDDIN HUSSAIN ISPHAHANI known as IMAD ZADEH, TEHRAN, His inquiry is based upon the following sources:

1- TABARI.

2- IBNE ATHIR.

3- KITBUL JAMAL OF SHAIKH MUFEED.

4- RIJAL MUMQANI.

5- ABU MAQNAF.

6- ZAKHIRATUD DARAIN.

7- HADAIQ.

8- IRSHAD.

9- OYAONAL AKHBIAR.

10- MANAQIB-E-IBNE-SHAHR-ASHOOB.

11- ABSARUL AIN IF ANSARAL HUSSAIN.

12- KIFAYATU TALEB.

13- TABAQAT IBNE SA'D.

14- BIDAYAH-WAN-NEHAYAH.

15- AL-HUSSAIN (EGYPTIAN EDITION).

16- MAJALIS-E-ISMAIL (CONSTANTINOPLE EDITION).

17- MINHAJ-AS-SANAH OF IBNE TAIMIAH.

18- AMMALI IBNE SHAIKH (IRANIAN EDITION).

19- MASAILAL JAHILIAH (OF MD'BIN ABDUL WAHAB).

20- AASARL BAQIAH.

21- BEHARUL ANWAR-E-MAJLISIS.

22- AL ARDHU WAT TURBATUAL HUSSAIN (AYATULLAH KASHIFUL-GHITA).

THE MARTYRS OF KARBALA: THE KIND OF MEN THEY WERE

As already said in the foregoing pages, 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. Each one of the great martyrs was a model of the integration of the unique personality traits some of which each one of them possessed as peculiar to himself. They were the noblest models divinely set up for the members of the human family to follow.

The faith in God, the sincere devotion, the dauntless courage, the unconquerable fidelity, the unfailing patience, the charitable disposition, the ideal consideration for the life after death and the ever mindfulness of the Day of Judgment which the great martyrs manifested in the hour of heir trial at KARBALA were obviously the qualities they were divinely conditioned with for the fulfillment of the Divine Plan of the enactment of the glorious 'ZIBHE AZEEM'. Every one of martyrs was a glorious human metal with the polish necessary to get reflected through it the divine attributes of the Creator Lord of the Universe. In short, KARBALA was a historic, a unique and the greatest exhibition of the best specimens of the various noble qualities endowed in the children of Adam, particularly those of the seed of Abraham through Muhammad, Ali and FATEMA. Any one desirous of having a view of the glorious manifestation of divinity in man, and the ideal integration of the Divine attributes in a human personality may look into the wonderful sacrifice which HUSSAIN, the King of Martyrs, offered in KARBALA, in the way of the Lord.

It is a historic fact that a large crowd followed HUSSAIN from Mecca but before the great offering he had to make, HUSSAIN started shifting the human stuff there with him through his repeated sermons prophesying the torturous sufferings and the gruesome massacre in store for those who remain with him. Thus the holy Imam made the questionable stuff leave his camp after which remained only the sincere ones who were wholly devoted to the Lord and who were really anxious of surrendering themselves in His way. While he wanted those who were then with him to leave him and go away, HUSSAIN 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, Shunting out all the unworthy stuff.

THE COMPANIONS OF HUSSAIN AND THOSE OF THE HOLY PROPHET

It is the historic truth that the kind of faithful companions the holy Imam HUSSAIN 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 him 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 life.

But in the case of HUSSAIN, 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 eyes of men, women and even children in sympathy for the great sufferers in the way of the Lord.

BRIEF NOTES ON SOME OF THOSE MARTYRED IN KUFA AND KARBALA

1- ABU BAKR IBNE ALI IBNE ABI TALEB:

He was called 'MUHAMMAD EL ASGHAR' of ABDULLAH from LAILA daughter of MAS'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'D (Both sons of HUR).

Both from KUFA who joined the holy Imam at KARBALA

5- ADHAM son of OMAYYA AL ABDI:

From BASRA son of ABI QBAIDA, whose father had been the constant attendant on 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 EL KAHILI son of BANIAH son of KAHLI

Who was one of the companions of the holy Prophet.

8- BORAIR IBN 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. The details about the faithful and the devotion of BORAIR are many.

9- OMAYYA BIN SA'D AT TAIE:

He was one of the companions of AMIRUL MOMINEEN.

10- BISHR BIN AMRUAL HAZRAMI:

From the famous ones among the faithful devotees to the holy Prophet

11- BAKR BIN HAI AT TAIMI:

Of the BANI TAIM tribe who came to the holy Imam and volunteered to be martyred in the way of the Lord 12- JABIB IBNE HAJJAJ AT TAIMI:

He was the follower of MUSLIM BIN AQEEL in KUFA. Since Muslim was arrested, he hid himself until HUSSAIN arrived in KARBALA, and reported himself to the holy Imam and got martyred. 13- JIBILATH IBNE ALI E SHAIBANI:

The one who was attending on AMIRUL MOMINEEN in the battle of SIFFIN 14- JA'FAR IBNE ALI IBNE ABI TALEB:

The Third brother of ABBAS the Standard Bearer of the holy Imam 15- JA'FAR 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 came to the holy Imam and fell down on his feet and prayed to be permitted to be martyred. 18- JAUN:

The liberated slave of ABI ZAR who after the death of ABI ZAR, joined the Second holy Imam and thereafter he remained with HUSSAIN and had come to KARBALA with HUSSAIN. He was trained under ABI ZAR and was a very pious devotee of the holy Imam. 19- JAUN BIN MALIKE TAMEEME:

Of the tribe of BANI TAMEEM. One who was in YAZID'S army. Seeing the Devil's forces decided to attack the holy Imam which he never thought that it would ultimately happen, left the ranks of the Devil's forces and joined the holy Imam and was martyred. 20- HARS:

The liberated slave of HAZRAT HAMZA the uncle of the holy Prophet, had come from Medina along with HUSSAIN to get martyred. 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 AMRAUL QAIS E TAIMI: 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 he hands of Muslim was martyred in KUFA, HABIB left KUFA and joined the holy Imam of his way to KARBALA and got martyred 24- HABIB BIN MUZAHIR AL-ASADI:

He was known as HABIB IBNE MUZAHIR BIN RE'AAB BIN AL-ASHTAR from the lineage of 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 to KUFA when the Capital was shifted from Medina to KUFA, and accompanied Ali in all the battles he had to fight against the rebels and traitors. His ideal faithfulness and sincere devotion to the holy Imam has many glorious details. 25- HAJJAI BIN MASROOQ AL-JAUFI:

One of the faithful companions of AMEERUL MOMINEEN ALI in KUFA 26- HAJJAJ BIN BADR AS SA'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 YAZID AR RIYAHI:

He was the son of YAZID IBNE NAJIYAH BIN QA'NAB BIN YITAB BIN HUR in the lineage of AL-YARBO'IR RIYAHI. A famous nobleman of KUFA, an experienced warrior specially selected by IBNE ZIAD to command a contingent against HUSSAIN, He was the one who obstructed HUSSAIN'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. HUSSAIN said: "HUR, as thy mother has named thee (a free man) thou art 'HUR' in this world and in the hereafter".

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 SHABANI:

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- ZAFIR BIN AMRO AL-KANDI:

A sincere devotee of the AHLUL BAIT who was a devoted companion of the holy Imam. He was a noble personality very much revered and respected by the people.

32- ZOHAIR BIN 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 KALIF OTHMAN. Once retuning from HAJ he met the holy Imam and became a staunch devotee of HUSSAIN. He is the one who bade goodbye to his wife DALHAM daughter of AMRU, liberation her with a divorce to go to her relatives, and he joined the holy Imam and got martyred. The details of ZOHAIR'S devotion to the holy Imam needs a lengthy note

33- ZIAD BIN AREEB AL-SA'IDI:

Son of AREEB one of the faithful companions of the holy Prophet and also a traditionalist, A very pious and brave noble personality enjoying the trust and the confidence of the people 34- SALIM the liberated slave of AAMIRE 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 HUSSAIN. 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 MOMINEED 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 HUSSAIN and got martyred 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 valiance 39- SAEED BIN ABDULLAH HANAFI:

A noble and very influential personality in KUFA uniquely brave. He was very helpful to MUSLIM BIN AQEEL in KUFA. He was the gentleman who carried Muslim's letter from KUFA to HUSSAIN 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, protecting the Imam in prayers, and got martyred.

40- SALMAN BIN MAZARIB BIN QAIS AL-ANMARI AL-BIJILLI:

A cousin of ZOHAIR BIN AL-QAIN. He went to Mecca with ZOHAIR and when on his return from 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- SULAIMNA BIN RAZEEN: a liberated slave of the holy Imam:

A truthful and a very reliable gentleman. A staunch devotee of the holy Imam. He carried HUSSAIN'S letter 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 got himself willingly martyred (at Basra). 42- SAWAR BIN MANYIM E NAHMI: A highly respected noble veteran of Iraq, traveled all the way of 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 got martyred.

44- SAIF BIN HARS AL-JABIRI and MALIK: These two cousins from KUFA joined the holy Imam and got martyred. 45- SAIF BIN MALIK AL-ABDI AL-BASRI:

A leading devotee of the holy AHLUL BAIT 46- SHABEEB a liberated slave of HARS E JABIRI E HAMDANI: A very brave gentleman who got martyred in the very first attack from the enemy 47- SHAUEB-E-SHAKIRI:

Well-known in KUFA for his nobility of character, courage, and a revered noble veteran of the town 48- ZARGHAMAH BIN MALIK E TAGHLABI: A lion-heart brave gentleman who faithful to MUSLIM BIN AQEEL in KUFA. After Muslim's martyrdom, he joined the holy Imam and was martyred along with him.

49- AAIZ BIN MAJMA'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 noblemen 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 and got martyred. 52- ABBAS IBNE ALI IBNE ABI TALEB, QAMARE BANI HASHAM:

This is the great son of the First holy Imam ALI BINE ABI TALEB, from the noble Lady HAZRAT OMME UL BANEEN, 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 HUSSAIN in KARBALA. ABBAS is so well-known to the Muslim World for the unique divine qualities he was endowed with, that he in the first place is to be made, it would need a separate volume. This great lion-hearted son of the Lion of God in his qualities and position in KARBALA, is next only to the holy Imam HUSSAIN.

The unique grace bestowed by God specially on his Great Martyr, is such that any one who prays for God's immediate help at the time of danger, invoking the divine grace in the holy name of ABBAS, is immediately heard and helped. There are millions and millions of those who have had their prayers heard by God, and who are still being graced by the Divine Mercy through the medium of this Great holy Soul, ABBAS the faithful brother and the Standard Bearer of the holy Imam at KARBALA. Let any one try his own luck even today by invoking the Mercy of the All-Merciful Lord in the holy name of this Saintly son of AMIRUL MOMINEEN ALI. His holy shrine in KARBALA stands today as the resort for the sure rescue of his sincere devotees to get the help from God at the times of unavoidable needs, risks and dangers.

In short, all the details about the greatness of ABBAS and the unique divine qualities he was exclusively distinguished with, cannot be given in this brief work.

He was next only to the holy Imam in KARBALA. The 'ALAM' or the Banner which he held on behalf of the holy Imam, was the Standard of Islam or Truth, which is hoisted by the SHIAS, popularly during the mourning season of MUHARRAM, and is revered as do the faithful Subjects of a good King 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 HUSSAIN, known as ALI-E-AZGHAR:

The six-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 HUSSAIN when he was being martyred, and was martyred before the holy Imam.

55- ABDULLAH BIN BISHR KHASH-AMI:

Of the ANMARI-E-KHASH'AMI tribe. A well-known noble personality in KUFA. He came out of KUFA with IBNE SA'D but joined the holy Imam and got martyred with him.

56- ABDULLAH BIN OMAIR KALBI:

He had come to KUFA from Medina, and joined the holy Imam. ABDULLAH was martyred, 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 lamentation when a slave of SHIMR delivered a blow on her head with an axe and she was martyred. 57- ABDUL RAHMAN and ABDULLAH sons of ORAWH BIN HARRAQ AL-GHAFFARI:

These two brothers were the noblemen of KUFA. Their grandfather, HARRAQ, was one of the faithful companions of AMIRUL MOMINEEN. They came to the holy Imam and joined the noble cause and were martyred.

58- ABDULLAH BIN MUSLIM BIN AQEEL:

Son of MUSLIM BIN AQEEL IBNE ABI TALEB. His Mother was ROQAIAH daughter of Ali through his wife SAHBA from YAMAMAH was martyred when he went to save the holy Imam.

59- ABDULLAH BIN YAQTAR-E-HIMYARI:

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 ZIAD-E-ABDI. OBAIDULLAH BIN ZIADE ABDI, YAZID BIN SABEEH 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, and got martyred.

61- ABDUL A'LA BIN YAZEED AL-KALBI AL-ALEEMI:

The famous and respected nobleman from KUFA.

62- ABDUL RAHMAN BIN ABDUL RAB-E-ANSARI KHAZRAJI:

One of the faithful companions of the holy Prophet and a Traditionalist and a faithful devotee of AMIRUL MOMINEEN 63- ABDUL RAHAMN 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. He came to HUSSAIN and got himself martyred. 65- ABDUL RAHMAN BIN MAS'OOD AT TAIMI: Came out of KUFA along with IBNE SA'D but later joined the holy Imam and got martyred. 66- OTHMAN BIN ALI IBNE ABI TALEB:

One of the brothers of HAZRATE ABBAS, the third son of OMMUL BANEEN 67- OMAR BIN JANADA-E-ANSARI:

This is the son of the godly lady who came to holy Imam and implored for his permission for her son OMAR to be martyred and somehow succeeded, in getting it. when her son was martyred, the Devil's army severed his head and threw it towards HUSSAIN'S camp. The godly lady, his mother, took up the severed head of her son and threw it back into the ranks of Devil's army saying: "That which has been given away in the way of the Lord is not taken back". She herself took up as tick from the camp and rushed to attack the devils. HUSSIAN held her back saying: "Islam allows not 'JEHAD' by women".

68- ALI-E-ADBAR son of the holy Imam:

The eighteen year son of the holy Imam who resembled the holy Prophet the most, was martyred by a lance pierced through his breast. See the brief note about the holy Imam offering this beautiful son of his in the way of the Lord. 69- OMER BIN ZABI'AH AZ ZABIYEE:

Son of ZABI'AH 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 other:

When these four persons 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: "Obstruct them not, they are coming to me with a good heart. They are my devotees". They joined the holy Imam and were martyred.

71- AMRU BIN ABDULLAH E JUNDAYI: Of the tribe of HAMDAN. He reported himself to the holy Imam and was martyred.

72- AMRU BIN QARTA AL-ANSARI: One of the faithful companions of the holy Prophet and also of AMIRUL MOMINEED.

73- AMRU BIN HA'B ABU THAMAMA AL-SA'IDI:

One of the faithful devotees and companions of AMIRUL MOMINEEN 74- AMRU BIN HASSAN AT TALEE:

One of the staunch devotees of the AHLUL BAIT 75- AMMARA IBNE SALMA AL-DAALAANI:

One of the companions of AMIRUL MOMINEEN 76- AUN AND MUHAMMAD sons of ABDULLAH BIN JA'FAR 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 JA'FAR 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 FATEMA, brought these tow young boys and implored her brother, the holy Imam, to permit them to free the enemy. At the persistent imploring 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 FATEMA, the granddaughter of the holy Prophet, stood quiet at the dead bodies of her children and said: "I will not lament for you, for you have gone in the way of the Lord". The whole camp wept but ZAINAB prevented them from crying saying: "Let not 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 salve girl of HUSSIAN. This lady after having been liberated by the holy Imam, was married to a gentleman and brought her son QARIB and presented him to the holy Imam and QARIB was brought up 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. See the note on his martyrdom. 79- QASIM BIN HABIB AL-AZDI:

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 from KUFA and offered themselves for the noble cause and achieved martyrdom. 81- QAN'AB AN NAMRI:

Of the devotees of AMIRUL MOMINEEN, came from Basra and was martyred in the way of God. 82- QAIS BIN MUSHIR AS-SAIDAVI:

A very pious personality from a group of the ASADI Tribe, extraordinarily 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 QUR'AN and a very brave, God-fearing, influential and powerful noble of KUFA. 84- MAJMA'UL JAHNI:

Son of ZIAD BIN OMAR JAHNI one of the aged companions of the holy Imam. When people began deserting the holy Imam on the Night of ASHOORA, 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. When on the ASHOORA Night, the holy Imam told his companions to find their own ways and save themselves from the wholesale 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 the AMRIUL 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 JA'FAR:

A young son of ABDULLAH son of HAZRAT JA'FAR E TAYYAR his mother was KHAUSA, daughter of HAFSA BIN RABI'A. 90- MUHAMMAD BIN MUSLIM BINAQEEL: One of the two young sons of MUSLIM BIN AQEEL the Deputy of the holy Imam who were martyred in KUFA. 91- MUHAMMAD BIN ABI SAEED 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:

Who accompanied QASIM BIN HASSA from Medina and got martyred.

93- MAUQ'BIN THAMAMAH ASADI SAIDAVI ABU MUSA: Of the devotees of the AHLUL BAIT in KUFA, escaped from the town at night and joined the holy Imam at KARBALA. 94- NAFE' BIN HILALE JAMALI:

A companion of AMIRUL MOMINEEN. Reciter of the holy QUR'AN and Traditionalist. a noble personality known in KUFA for his piety, 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 of HUSSAIN. He could not bear the least disregard for the holy Imam, from any one in the Devil's forces. 95- NASR BIN NAIZAR:

A liberated slave of AMIRUL MOMINEEN. 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 and got martyred. 96- WAZEH THE TURK: The Turkish liberated slave of HARSE MADHAJJ. A pious gentleman a good reciter of the holy QUR'AN, who came to KARBALA, presented himself to the holy Imam and was martyred 97- HANI BIN ORWAH:

Martyred at KUFA with Muslim BIN 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 HUSSAIN from KUFA and was martyred. 99- YAZID BIN MAGHFAL JA'IF:

A very pious devotee of AMIRUL MOMINEEN. A learned poet. His father and grandfather were faithful companions of the holy Prophet. 100- HUSSAIN IBNE ALI THE KING OF MARTYRS: The divinely promised and prophesied Martyr of the 'ZIBHE AZEEM' (the Great Sacrifice) in the seed of Abraham through his son ISMAEL, in the lineage of ISMAEL through Muhammad the Last Apostle of God, Ali the AMIRUL MOMINEEN, the First of the holy Imams and Lady FATEMA the Lady of Light. HUSSAIN THE INTERNATIONAL HERO

Today when the leaders of every religion are revered only by their respective followers, the holy Imam HUSSAIN is the International Hero who occupies a special position of love, honor, reverence and holiness in the hearts of the followers of all the religions in the world. People in every part of the world, without any distinction of caste, creed, color or nationality, love HUSSAIN and hold him in reverence, recognizing and hailing him as a Great Hero of Truth. Millions of educated men and women today with ample proof, believe that the holy Soul of the King of the Martyrs commend their prayers to be heard by God and thus draw great blessings from the All-Merciful Lord through the mediation of the Greatest of the Martyrs in His cause.

HUSSAIN, THE KING OF MARTYRS

Having gone through the above very brief sketch of the terrible sufferings of the holy Imam HUSSAIN along with his family and friends unequalled in History of Mankind, and the great unparalleled sacrifices he has offered in the way of God to save the Truth for the guidance of the human race as a whole with which the holy Imam defied the might of the Devil's forces surrendering his all, any intelligent person will unhesitatingly declare the holy Imam to be the King of Martyrs.

Some people have, even wrongly gone to the extent of worshipping HUSSAIN as God Himself or His incarnation which is totally wrong. Today Muslims, Hindus, Christians, PARSIS, Jews and people of every religion love HUSSAIN paying him their sincere homage and revere him in their own ways. Those who believe in God and godliness take pride in naming their children after the holy names of the House of the holy Prophet, but none even tolerates his issues to be called by the cursed names of those who had tortured the holy Family, although the great tyrants ruled empires in their respective times. Every, justice loving soul today hates the Arch-Devil YAZID, son of MU'AVIAH, deeming him the Devil incarnate.

WHERE IS YAZID?

Thus the holy Imam established the Truth and won an everlasting Victory over Falsehood. He has not only proved YAZID, the Drunkard, the Debauchee, the Gambler to be one worse than a brute and a devil but has crushed falsehood for ever and placed the Truth in the highest pinnacle of prominence and regard, in its original purity. And now no evil hand can touch it till the end of the world. YAZID has earned the curse of God and of the whole of the God-loving humanity in this world and a permanent abode in hell for himself and his comrades for ever.

THE FRIENDS AND FOES OF THE TRUTH, CLEAR DISTINCTION

Now, to know who are the followers of the Truth, and who are the supporters of Falsehood, is very easy. All those who love HUSSAIN will naturally be found weeping, mourning, or at least feeling sorrowful for the calamities that befell the holy Imam in establishing the Truth. Those who rejoice and make merry must naturally be the enemies of the holy Imam, and the supporters of the cause of Falsehood of which the Devil YAZID was an embodiment.

THE KING OF MARTYRS MOURNED

Every Since the massacre of the holy Imam and his faithful devotees at KARBALA, true Muslims during the month of MOHARRAM express their grief and feelings for the sufferings of the holy Imam, in their own ways according to the customs of their own countries. Some enthusiasts among the people beat their breasts to say that they who do not care for their own selves and hurt their own bodies in love for the holy Imam, in fighting against the forces of the devil. During this mourning period, the mourners men, women and children generally dress in black, and give up every kind of rejoicing. The mourning for the holy Imam is observed through organized congregations called 'MAJALIS-E-AZA' or the Mourning Congregations.