Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

With The Caravan of Light

Author: HusseinAnsarian

www.alhassanain.org/english

Table of Contents

Publisher's Word 3

Notes:who is who? 3

Ahl-e Manteq: The logicians 3

Notes:Battles 6

Notes:Books 6

More Notes 7

A Unique Event 8

Divines beyond Comparison 8

Worldlings to the Worst Degree 10

The Viewpoint of Amir al-Mu'minin (a) 11

An Outstanding Figure Among the Husayni(a) Group 11

The Most Exalted and the Most Contemptible 13

Martyrs Without Peer 13

The Greatest Reality from the tonge of Jabir ibn- Abdullah 15

Constancy in Achieving Goals 15

Our Seeking God's Help In Attaining to Good Conduct 15

The Reverence Shown to Imam Husayn (a) By his Companions 16

Good versus Evil 17

Our Great Responsibility Concerning the event of Karbala 17

The Constancyof Husayn's (a) Companions 18

Undergoing the Divine Test 20

Nafi ibn- Hilal 20

Nafi ibn- Hilal's Very Strange Story 20

Yazid ibn- Thabit' Abqassi 21

Abis ibn- Shabib Shakeri 21

Hafhaf ibn- Mahnah Basrawi 22

Suwid Hadrami 22

The Moon of the Bani Hashim 22

Husayn (a) 23

Publisher's Word

With a view to making the rich culture ofShi'ism more profoundly known around the globe, the DAR AL-SADEGHAIN Cultural and Publishing Institute, in accordance with the aims of its Council of Founders, established an International Centre for this purpose in March 1998.

In fulfilling our responsibilities to this end, we feel duty-bound to provide theShi'ite communities of the world with easier access to sources of knowledge on landmarks in the history of Islam. Hence, we have been engaged in researching, compiling and translating these valuable writings onShi'ism .

Our first publication is this book "With the Caravan of Light" byHusayn Ansarian , awellknown cleric and religious orator. The book gives a short account of the personality of the companions of ImamHusayn (a), the third Imam ofShi'ite Islam.

We would like to express our thanks to all the scholars and erudite personalities for their comments and suggestions.

M. J. Al-Yazdy

Managing Director

Notes:who is who?

`Ubaydullah , son ofZiad ibn-Abih : The young governor of Iraq, appointed byYazid ibnMuawiyah . He was a faithless, aggressive and blood-thirsty oppressor of low birth who never abided by his promises. His mission was to hold ImamHusayn ( a) prisoner or to kill him by whatever means he could. With an army of three thousand men, this fiendish man initiated the tragic event of Karbala and has remained cursed and detested by all pious people for ever.

Abdullahibn Umeir andAmr ibn-Jinada : Both companions of ImamHusayn ( a) and martyred in Karbala. Their murderers flung their decapitated heads towards theImam( a).

AbuJa ' farTabari : An eminentShi'ite personality whose trustworthiness, dignity, eloquence and profound knowledge was known to all.Abul Aswad Da 'ali : A loyal companionofHadrat Ali( a) who learned syntax and the rules for the correct pronunciation of Arabic words from him.Abul Hatuf ibn-Harath andSa'd ibn-Harath : They were brothers from theAnsar tribe of Medina. For twenty years they were members of the group that had revolted againstHadrat Ali( a) and were notorious for being his bitter enemies. Feeling sympathetic towards ImamHusayn ( a) for being so tyrannically oppressed, they abandonedYazid and fought for the Imam's holy cause and were martyred.

Aqilian : They were of the family ofAqil , the brother of Amir al-Mu'minin ( a). They were martyred in the battle of Karbala.

Ahl -eManteq : The logicians

Ahl-i-Ussul : Scholars versed in Islamic law and canonical doctrines namely Scripture,Sunna , theConsenus of Opinion and Deduction of legal rulings. A philosopher is thethe person who, through using scientific laws, thought, reason and purificationofhi s soul investigates the true nature of things in existence.

Aqabaibn-Sam'an : He had the letters from the peopleofKufa inviting ImamHusayn ( a) to come to their city. When addressing theKufans , theImam( a) toldSam'an to produce these letters.

Aqilian : They were of the family ofAqil , the brother of Amir al-Mu'minin (a). They were martyred in the battle of Karbala.Ayatullah Haj Aqa Rahim Arbab : A learned figure in the Theological Seminary in Isfahan. He taught theosophy, philosophy and Islamic Law and its principles. He was endowed with fine moral qualities.

Bani Hashim : Among the most famous tribes ofQureish from which came famous personalities includingAbd al-Muttalib , AbuTalib , Ali's(a) father and Abdullah, the Prophet's(s) father.

Barir andSa'id : Both companions of ImamHusayn ( a). The former was martyred while fighting and the latter during the noon prayers.Fadl ibn-Shadhan : Ail erudite Shiite fromNishabur , He was a great author, unequalled thinker and free of temporal attachments. His tomb is visited by men with heart, understanding and knowledge.

Habib ibn-Mazahir Asadi : A prominent companion of ImamHusayn ( a) who leftKufa for Karbala at the requestofthe Imam. He was an old man but spiritedly put up a good fight and was martyred.Hafhaf ibn-1Vlasruq: A companion of ImamHusayn ( a) who accompanied the Imam(a) to Karbala. He called out the times of prayer and on the day ofAshura was martyred.

Haniibn-'Urwah : a prominentShi'ite known for his devotion who acted for a short while as host of Muslimibn-Aqil , ImamHusayn's (a) messenger toKufa . He was apprehended byUbeidullah ibn-Ziad and then killed because he refused to give information about Muslim's whereabouts.

Hashim Ilahi Qumsha'i : An outstanding figure in the Theological Seminary as well as in the University. He was pious, and a mystic, free of temporal attachments. His book of poems with more than twelve hundred pages is always within reach for men who are on the path of mystical experience of the truth. He has commented onIbn Farabi's Fusus and has written a two-volume book on the Philosophy of Illumination.

Hurr ibn-Yazid Riahi : He was from a well known Arab tribe and a commander inYazid's army in Iraq. He was ordered byUbeidullah ibn Ziad to hold ImamHusayn ( a) prisoner. On the day ofAshura , however, the pricks of conscience made him turn away fromYazid and repent. He joined ImamHusayn ( a) in the battle and was martyred.

Husayn ibn -Ali Baghdadi: A historian in the tenth century A. H. , the author ofJawharah alThamin .

Ibn Bashir Hadrami : A prominent figure among the companions of ImamHusayn ( a). On the night ofAshura he got the sad news that his son was taken prisoner. Although theImam( a) permitted him to leave the camp to free his son, he insisted on staying with the Imam(a) and was martyred.Luqman : A sage free of temporal attachments, pure in soul and inspired with divine wisdom. ASurah of the Qur'an is named after him inwhich reference is made to some of his wise sayings.

Mariqin : Those who revolted againstHadrat Ali( a) and fought him inNahrawan , a town near Baghdad.Miqdad ibn-Aswad ,Abudhar Ghaffari andSalman Farsi: Three distinguished Companions of the Prophet(s) and wererecognised by God and His Messenger(s) for their devotion, righteous deeds and morality.

Muawiyah ibn-Wahab : A companion Of ImamSadiq ( a) and a reliable and learned narrator.

Muslimibn-Aqil : ImamHusayn's ( a) cousin and emissary toKufa . TheKufans betrayed him and he was taken prisoner and killed by the order ofUbeidullah Ziad .

Nakithin : Those who broke their pledge of allegiance toHadrat Ali( a) and brought about the battle of Jamal.

Qasitin : Those who pledged allegiance toMuawiyah and fought ImamHusayn ( a).

Saravi -Muhammadibn -Aliibn Shahr Ashub : From Sari,Tabaristan (Mazandaran ). He was an outstandingShi'ite traditionalist andbiogragher .The author of some very important books including "Manaqib Ali binAbi Talib (The Virtues of the Family ofAbi Talib )."

Sayyid ibn Tawus : A greatShi'ite scholar fromHellah in Iraq. He was exemplary in virtue and religious devotion. He wrote the book "Lahuf ' on the historyofKarbala and the tragic martyrdom of ImamHusayn ( a) and his companions.

Shimr ibn-Dhul Jowshan :Ofthe Arab tribe of theBani Kilab . He was once a companion of Amir al-Mu'minin ( a). At the time of the Arbitration, a groupofpeople inNahrawan had revolted againstHadrat `Ali( a) during his caliphate.Shimr was a member of that group and then later he joined the Umayyad party. Years later he went to Karbala as ordered byUbeidullah ibn Ziad and fought in the battle. He volunteered to kill ImamHusayn ( a) and subsequently beheaded the Imam(a). He was doomed to be treated as a contemptible outcast in this world and condemned toapainful punishment in the fire.

The Fourteen Sinless Ones: The Prophet of Islam(s), his daughter Fatimah Zahra, his son-inlaw , Amir al-Mu'minin and their eleven descendents(a) all of whom held the position of Imamate.

The LateAkhund Mulla MuhammadKashi : A man of great learning. At the time of theQajar Dynasty he taught philosophy, theosophy, mysticism and ethics at the Theological Seminary in Isfahan. The LateHaj Sayyid Rida Sadr : An eminentcomtemporary theologian and author whose works in the realm of Islamic law, ethics and history are well known.

Umayyad Caliphs: Irreligious individuals of low birth, steeped in lusts and typical throwbacks to the pagan culture of the early years of Islam. They ruled over the oppressed Muslims for one thousand months committing innumerable atrocities during their rule.Wahab ibn -Abdullah: A young man from the tribe ofKilab . He had been newly-wed when he came to Karbala with his mother and wife to join ImamHusayn ( a). He and his wife were martyred for the cause of Allah.

Wahab ibn-Manbah : A popular individual in the days of the Umayyad Caliphate. He claimed he had knowledge of the Torah, the Gospel and seventy-two other scriptures especially about the prophets. TheShi'ah authorities do not believe him and refute his claims and statements because he was a rank liar.

Zahir ibn -QinBajali : He was a distinguished manofKufa and a follower of the CaliphUthman . On his way from Mecca to Karbala he met ImamHusayn ( a) and became attracted to his divine, sublime personality. He fought bravely to protect the Imam's life and was killed.

Ziad ibn-Abi Sufyan orZiad ibn-Abih : father ofUbeidullah whose faith and religionMuawiyah bought for a mere trifle. Because his motherSumayyah was promiscuous, it is not known who AbuSufyan's father was.Muawiyah , alleging that his fatherAbi Sufyan had had an affair withZiad's mother, declaredZiad his brother.

Notes:Battles

Nahrawan : The battle brought about by theKhawarij -those who revolted againstAli( a). They were completely defeated.Siffin : The battle waged against AmiralMu'minin ( a) byMuawiyah . The war ended through an arbitration maliciously plotted byMuawiyah andAmr A' as to the detriment of the believers.

The Battle of Jamal: The battle brought about byAyisha ,Talha andZubeir against Aliibn-Abi Talib ( a), the rightful Caliph immediately after the Prophet(s).Hadrat All( a) was victorious in the battle. The triple battles: Jamal,Siffin andNahrawan .

Notes:Books

`Unsur Shuja'at : An eight-volume book that discusses the personalityofImam Husayn ( a) and his loyal companions byMirza Khalil Kamarah 'i , the great philosopher and celebrated theologian.

A1Rijal : A biographical work byShaykh Tusi about the narrators of theSunna of the Prophet and of the People of his Household.Amali -e-Saduq : A book byShaykh Saduq discussing ethical traditions and narrations.

Arba'in Qazi : A research work byShahid Qazi Tabataba 'i , Imam of theJuma prayers in Tabriz, discussing the return of the Household of the Prophet(s) who were held prisoners for forty days after the martyrdom of ImamHusayn (a).

Bahr al-Ma'aruf :Abook onthe subjectofmystical and moral issues, byMulla Abd al-Samad Hamadami . Bihar al-Anwar or the Encyclopedia ofShi'ism : A book in 110 volumes, by Mullah MuhammadBaqir Majlisi . Dar al-Salam: A scholarly book, byHaj Mirza Husayn Nouri , aShi'ite scholar.

Farsan al-Hija : A book about the companions of ImamHusayn ( a) byHaj Shaykh Dhabihulla Mahallati , a learned traditionalist.Ilal al-Sharayi : A valuable bookonthephilosophy of Islamic tenets and doctrines byShaykh Saduq .Kamil al-Ziarat : A very important book concerning the religious traditions and narrations about the martyrdom of the Sinless Imams(a), eulogies about them and about visits to their holy shrines.

Kanz al-Amal : A sixteen-volume book about theSunna of the Prophet(s), byMuttaqi Hindi, a Sunnite learned man.Kanz al-Fawa ' id: A book about divine teachings, prophetic traditions and narrations, by the late scholarKarajaki .Kharaj -e-Ravandi :Avaluable workbythe Shi'ite scholar, the lateRavandi .

Ma'am al-Akhbar : A scholarly book explaining the narrations of the people of the Household of the Prophet(s).Manaqib : A book in four volumes, byIbn Shahr Ashub Saravi .

Maqtal Khwarizmi: A book about the history of the martyrs, by A1 Khwarizmi, a famous scholar.Pishva -e-Shahidan :Aresearch workontheevent o1'Karbala, byAyatullah Sayyid Rida Sadr .Rijal -e-Kashi : A biographical book about the companions of the Prophet(s) and of the SinlessImams( a), by the lateKashi .Sahuf : A book about the event of Karbala, bySayyid ibn-Tawus , aShi'ite learned man.

Sharh -e-Nahj ul Balagha : A twenty-volume book expounding upon the wise sayings ofHadrat Ali( a), byIbn Abi al-Hadid , a great Sunnite scholar.Sharh Shafia : An important work ofIbn Faras .

Sharh -e-Nahjul Balagha : A book in Persian in more than thirty volumes byAllama MuhammadTaqi Ja'fari .Tadhkerah : A book about Islamic facts byIbn Jouzi , the Sunnite scholar.Tafsir Tha'labi : A book commenting on the Qur'an byTha'labi , a great scholar.

Thawab al-A 'amal andIqab al-A'amal (Rewards and Punishments for one's Deeds): A book byShaykh Saduq , a majorShi'ite traditionalist. The Miracle of History: A book in eight volumes of `Unsur Shuj a' at, discussing the eventofKarbala and the martyrdom of ImamHusayn ( a), by the lateMirza Khalil Kamarah'i .

Notes: geographical Areas Basra and Ctesiphon: Cities in Iraq

Hamun : A plain.

Isfahan: A famous city in Iran noted for Islamic and historical monuments.

Karbala: A famous city in Iraq, where ImamHusayn ( a) and his companions are buried. It is aQiblah for pious and true lovers of that sinless and yet oppressed Imam.

Kufa : A city in Iraq, whose inhabitants were notorious for breaking their allegiance to ImamHusayn ( a).

Kufan : Inhabitant ofKufa .

Madressa -e-Sadr : A school in Isfahanforreligious studies attended by manyshi'ite scholars.

Shamian : Inhabitant of Sham (Syria).

TheKa'aba : The Muslim holy shrine, The Inviolable House of God in Mecca.

More Notes

Hunut :Annointing dead bodies with camphor. Force and Matter: This subject comprises a philosophical question discussed by many philosophers in their writings.Iftar : The breaking of the fast at the end of each day during the month of Ramadan.

Jami andMani' : A definition meaning the whole and only truth of something or about someone with no distortion whatsoever.Mukashifa : The mystical spiritual ecstasy that saints experience in which they realize spiritual and divine truths.

Qa'imiat : A prayer quoted fromHadrat Mahdi which gives a good account of the companions and children of ImamHusayn ( a).Tasua andAshura : Refer respectively to the 9th and 1Oth day of the month of Muharram during whichYazid declared a state of war against ImamHusayn ( a). Consequently the warring parties went out to battle in which the Imam and his companions were martyred.

The Preserved Tablet (Lawh -e-Mahfuz ): Men of heart believe that the preserved tablet represents God's knowledge. It is a divine tablet on which all that God decrees is recorded.

Zakat : The poor-rate,i . e., a legal rate on wealth that is used for relief and support of the poor.Ziarat : Paying a visit to the holy shrines of the Prophet(s) and of the sinlessImams( a).

Ziarat -e-Nahiah : A text containing prayers for the fallen in the battle of Karbala, composed by the 12thImam( a).Ziarat -e-Warith : A prayer rich in subtleties of language, quoted from the Sinless Imams. It is said on Friday nights as a homage paid to the memory ofHadrat Husayn ( a).

A Unique Event

We will speak here about those whoeffected a unique event on the face of the globe, a great tragic occurrence that has served as a lesson for all-all ages and lives- an incomparable fact and an overwhelming source of advice and admonition. Spiritual and worldly people alike would see such an event only but once, for never again will heaven andearth witness such a panorama.

Two tribes had clashed in battle in the desert of Karbala: one a tribe of pure divines; and the other totally corrupt and worldly. The first wasGodcentric , seeking nothing but for the love of Truth, striving to win Hisfavour , to hoist the banner of reality, and to maintain the light of virtue; theyendeavoured to overthrow despots and despotism, to uproot the tree of evil and keep green the tree of piety. The other group was centeredaround false deities-the pleasures of the flesh and the passion and worldly riches and blatantly disregarded morality.

Divines beyond Comparison

These angelic figures, seventy two in number, under the leadership ofHusayn ( a) pitched the camp of magnanimity,honour and faith and constancy in the arena desert of Karbala. They were human in body but angels in soul. The Prophet(s) is reported to have said:

The Believers are dearer to God than the angels nearest to Him.

(Kanz al-'Amal . vol. 1 p. 164) And in another narration he(s) said:

They deserve greater respect than the Ka 'aba . (Bihar al-Anwar vol. 68 p. 16)

And which believer could be more superior or praiseworthy than those who in watering the tree of religion, in preserving the culture of Divine unity, and in safeguarding the efforts of the previous prophets and saints with an unspeakable zeal, shed their precious blood in Jihad for the cause of Allah?

Never once did they fear their wicked enemies and, at the side of The Chief of theMartyrs( a), fought them to pay their debt to t he Truth and to steer the storm-stricken ship ofhumanityto thepeaceful shore of salvation. They were taught the Book of Revelation by the Messenger of Allah and by the People of his Household and with perfect sincerity practiced all that they were taught. As far as magnanimity and deep insight were concerned, they were second to none. They were perfect symbols of purity of soul, brightness of heart, unflagging faith, moral perfection, impeccable conduct and unstinting self-sacrifice.

Never did they stumble under the heavy burdenofresponsibility . They reflected the quintessence of Truth, standard bearersofnobility , geniuses in creation and doyens of all virtues; and graces. Those who wanted to harm them did them good and those who put them to the sword kept their memory alive. They stood and fought side by side with theImam( a) to the bitter end, withstanding the enemy's attacks and impervious to any offer to abandon their leader. There were a veritable sea of endurance, constancy,honour religious zeal and purity of heart, never succumbing to the fiendish temptations of their enemies.

One base fellow, under the command of the son ofS'ad was asked as to whyhad he been so ready to kill a descendantofthe Prophet Muhammad(s). He retorted that if others had themselves seen what he had seen, they certainly would have done exactly as he did, adding that they had won the day only by force of numbers.