Amr b. Junada al-Ansari
Amr b. Junada al-Ansari was among the companions of Imam al-Hussain and the martyrs of Karbala. After the martyrdom of his father, Junada b. Harath, Amr's mother ordered him to ask permission from Imam al-Hussain to go to the battlefield. Then he went and fought with the enemies and was martyred.
| Amr b. Junada al-Ansari | |
|---|---|
| Native name | عمرو بن جناده انصاری |
| Full Name | Amr b. Junada b. al-Harith al-Ansari |
| Companion of | Imam al-Hussain |
| Wellknown Relatives | Junada b. Harath (father) |
| Death/Martyrdom | 61/680 |
| Cause ofDeath/Martyrdom | Martyred in the Battle of Karbala |
| Burial Place | Holy Shrine of Imam al-Hussain, Karbala |
| Activities | Participating in the Battle of Karbala |
His Name and Lineage
Some sources have mentioned his name Umar. His father, Junada b. Harath was among the companions of the Prophet and sincere followers of Imam Ali who participated in the Battle of Siffin. According to some sources, his mother was Bahriyya, daughter of Mas'ud al-Khazraji, who was among brave women present in Karbala.
Joining Imam al-Hussain
Amr b. Junada was 21 years old when he was martyred and according to another report, he was 11 or 9 years old. He joined Imam al-Hussain with his mother and father in Mecca and after his father, Junada was martyred on the Day of Ashura; his mother ordered him to go and fight the enemy, telling him, "My son! Go and help al-Hussain!" He went to Imam and asked for permission to go to the battlefield. First, Imam did not give permission, so Amr once again mentioned his request. Then, Imam said, "This young man's father has been martyred; so, maybe his mother would not like him to go to the battlefield." He said, "O son of the Prophet! My mother has ordered me to help you and has put on me the clothes for fighting." Thus, Imam gave him permission and he went to the battlefield.
His War Cry
In the battlefield, Amr shouted this war cry:
"My commander is Hussain and what a good commander he is. He is the delight of the heart of the Prophet, giving glad tidings and the warner. His father is Ali and his mother is Fatima. Do you anyone like him? He has a face of bright sun and a forehead like the moon."
Some have also reported that he shouted the war cry as following:
"I will make breathing difficult for son of Hind and I will shoot arrow at his throat; by the help of the horsemen of the Helpers and the Immigrants who colored their spears with the blood of disbelievers under the dust of the battlefield. At the time of the Prophet of God, Muhammad, spears were colored and today they will be colored by the blood of mischief-makers. They will be colored with the blood of people left the Qur'an to help villains and they seek their blood spilt in the Battle of Badr and they hid it under sharp swords and erected spears. By God I swear, I will hit mischief-makers with sharp sword. Today, this is the right upon me and obligatory for me an everyday, it is to be encountered and to be helped."
His Martyrdom
It is reported that 'Amr fought with the enemies until he was martyred. Malik b. Nasr beheaded him and threw his head toward the army of Imam al-Hussain. Amr's mother picked up his head and said, "Bravo my son! O delight of my heart and O light of my eyes!" Then she threw the head toward one of the people of the enemy. Then, she pulled the pole of the tent and by which attacked the enemy. Imam brought her back and prayed for her. Some reports say that she recited the following poem when she attacked the enemy:
"I am a weak, old and disabled woman among women; but I will hit you hard in defense of the children of the Noble Fatima."
Al-Khwarazmi has written that this woman killed two people of the enemy in her attack.
In the Ziyarah al-Shuhada, the names of Amr and his father have been mentioned, "Peace be upon 'Junada b. Ka'b al-Ansari al-Khazraji and his son Amr b. Junada."