The Tale of The Martyrdom of Imam Hussain (a.s.)

The Tale of the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain

Author	Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad Bahr al-Uloom
Language	English
Published	2017
Publisher	Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Pages	56

The book The Tale of the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain (A.S.) is the tale of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain in the desert of Karbala.

About the author

Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad Bahr al-Uloom was a Twelver Shi'a Islamic leader and politician in Iraq, who served as the President of the Governing Council of Iraq. By 1992 he had moved to London where he opposed Saddam's rule for many years. He was an active member of London's Shi'a community and was the head of AhlulBayt Centre in South London. In November 1992, at the Salahuddin gathering, within the safety of the southern air exclusion zone, along with Masoud Barzani and Colonel Hassan al-Naqib, he was one of the three men to be appointed to the presidential council by the Iraqi National Congress. After the United States deposed Saddam Hussein in 2003, as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Bahr al-Uloom was appointed to the Iraq interim governing council. He agreed to participate in the interim government and was appointed to the nine-member rotating presidency. He was the first president of the council, in an interim capacity, serving in that position from 13 July 2003 until 1 August 2003. He later returned to the council, and became president again on 1 March 2004, serving until 1 April 2004.

About the book

This booklet published in Createspace Independent Publishing Platform (May27, 2017), has 56 pages. It is written by Sayyid Mohammad Bahr al-Uloom and translated to English by Najim al-Khafaji, B.A.

The author’s aim has been accuracy of the reports, doing away with exaggerations and half-truths. In this story, it is described how the enemies of Imam Hussain unveiled their true colors in unprecedented dishonesty and cruelty against the Imam, members of his family and companions at the battle of Karbala; a glaring demonstration of enmity, oppression, ruthlessness, and brutality was meted out by the Umayyad rule.

Abstract of chapters

Part 1 - Deliberation and Preparation

At the dawn of the 10th of Muharram, 62 A.H. (680 AD.) Imam Hussain mobilized his band for war. He then addressed his followers, stating with praise of and thanks-giving to Allah, "Allah has destined that you and me shall be killed today. I, therefor, would urge you to be resilient in fighting".

Part 2 - The Arena (The desert of Karbala, Iraq)

Karbala was a sweltering, simmering, broiling land in which the Profit's grandson; with his group a tranquil guild, not a militant troop, in this somber, dreary terrain, fought. In this battle, Omar bin Sa'ad, the commander of the enemy's army came with 30,000 of troops. He made Amr bin al-Hajjaj az-Zubaidi the commander of the right flank of his army and Shimr bin Thil al-Jawshan the commander of the left flank. Izra bin Qais Al-Ahnasi was made the commander of the horsemen, Shibth bin Ribi'e took charge of the archers.

Part 3 - Meeting the Enemy

When the two belligerent sides confronted each other and the fire was raging in the trench, Imam Hussain raised both his hands to the sky and prayed, then he talked to his followers: Allah created this world and made it an abode of destruction and transience, taking its inhabitants from one phase to another. It deceives the conceited and seduces the wretched. Let not this world deceive you for it is capable of dashing the hopes of those who put their trust in it and let down those who are greedy for its riches.

Part 4 - Hussain, the Grandson of the Prophet (S)

Imam Hussain called the enemies: Am I not the son of your Prophet's daughter and the son of his vicegerent and cousin, the first of the believers in Allah and his Messenger? Consider whether it is right for you to kill me and encroach upon my integrity.

Part 5 - Warning to the People of Kufa

Imam Hossein warned the enemies of God's punishment. Allah has entrusted us with the progeny of His Prophet, Mohammad as a measure just to see how you and we behave towards them.

Zuhair bin al-Qain retorted, "Oh Men! the sons of Fatima have more right to befriend and support than the son of Sumayya. If you do not support them, I pray to Allah that He guard you against killing them. You are therefore, requested to dissolve this man from Yazid; upon my life! He will be contented with your obedience without the killing of Hussain (A)".

Part 6 - Water is Denied

Burair bin Khudhair Al-Hamadani who was an old devout man, an authority on Qur'an recitation, and well placed and revered by the Hamadani's asked to be permitted to address the people of Kufa. He was given the permission. He called the enemy leader: this is the River Euphrates, the water of which is free for all kinds of animals, pigs and dogs. Yet you have denied the son of daughter of the Messenger of Allah access to it. Is this the way Mohammad should be rewarded?". The response from them was that they fired arrows at him which made him retreat!

Part 17 - Surrounded by the enemies of Islam

Imam Hussain attacked the enemy like a roaring lion, no sooner he could engage anyone he left him dead. He received many wounds all over his body mainly as a result of arrows. When Imam Hussain was thirsty and asked for water, Shimr answered, "You are not going to taste it until you enter hell fire!"

Part 18 - Hussain is killed on the Plains of Karbala

When Imam Hussain’s condition deteriorated, he raised his eyes towards the sky in supplication and prayed: "Adjudge between me and them for You are the best of judges". Then he was shot with an arrow which lodged into his forehead, Hussain took it off causing the blood to stream down his face. Hussain's horse started roaming around Imam Hussain and staining its forehead with his blood.

Part 19 – Epilogue

Hussain did achieve his basic aim, (an eternal triumph, he could claim). He realized that no common beliefs held him and Yazid together. Hussain thought that Islam should be better acted, better practiced and better observed. In short, better presented to comply with the holy text (Qur'an) and the divine will. He administered a shock treatment, to achieve this aim, and the world of Islam came out of the deep slumber, with a jolt, as a direct result of his sacrifice. He deployed a singular strategy; lost the battle yet won the campaign. The total effect was immensely impressive all of which stemmed from his steadfastness that is to say faithfulness to the religious principles. Hussain established a new moral and religious consensus to which even (most of) his opponents felt constrained to make obeisance.

Source

• Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad Bahr al-Uloom, The Tale of the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain (A.S.), CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017