| Remembering and weeping for Imam al-Husain |
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| Author : Dr Vahid Majd | |
| Publisher : Naba Cultural Organization | |
| Publish Year : 2004 | |
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When a faithful individual is reminded of the Prophet and Ahl al-Bait (PBUT) and the troubles, they confronted and endured his heartbreaks and his tears flow. A tearful eye is a blessing from Allah bestowedupon his servants, and draws near even greater blessings. As one avoidssins, clears his heart from the love of worldly pleasures, imploresAllah for help, turns to His chosen ones, he will have a more humble,responsive, and pure heart, as well as more tearful eyes. Althoughemotions such as liking, loving, and shedding tears depend on the stateof one’s heart, one should try to increase his love of what Allah loveseven if his heart does not initially respond, by avoiding what Allahhas prohibited and acting upon what He has ordered. One such order isto remember the tragedies that Ahl al-Bait (PBUT) faced until oneenters a sorrowful state and is induced to crying. According to thetraditions, trying to cry (Tabaaki) for Imam al-Husain (PBUH) isrewarded even if one cannot bring himself to shed a tear. (i) Puttingoneself in the state of crying, in the meetings held in memory of theChief of the Martyrs (PBUH), may also affect others and make them cry. The traditions concerning the rewards and benefits of remembering Ahlal-Bait (PBUT) and their hardships and the shedding of tears for them,especially concerning Imam al-Husain (PBUH), are numerous andenlightening. Here, for the sake of brevity, only a few traditions willbe quoted. For more comprehensive presentation, the readers may referto the excellent book written by a great traditionist of the latterera, Sheikh Abbas al-Qummi (RA), called, “The Breath of the Grieved”(Nafasul Mahmum), which has also been translated into English. (ii) Shedding tears for Imam al-Husain is considered a natural outcome of faith. (iii) Ibn Sinan narrated: Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) said, “The Prophet(PBUH&HF) looked at al-Husain Ibn Ali (PBUH) as he was approaching.He sat him in his lap and said, ‘Verily, for the martyrdom of al-Husainthere shall be a heat in the hearts of the believers that shall neversubside.’” Then, the Imam (PBUH) continued, “He (i.e., al-Husain(PBUH)) is the martyr of tears.” I asked, “What is the meaning of themartyr of tears, O son of the Messenger of Allah?” He (PBUH) replied,“No faithful remembers him except that he weeps.” (iv) Rayyan Ibn Shabib narrated: Imam al-Ridha (PBUH) said, “O Son of Shabib!Muharram is a month in which even the people of the former age ofignorance forbade oppression and bloodshed due to its sanctity.However, this nation did not honor the sanctity of this month nor didthey honor the sanctity of their Prophet (PBUH&HF). In this month,they killed the Prophet’s progeny, enslaved his women, and plunderedhis belongings. May Allah never forgive them for these crimes. O Son of Shabib! If you wish to cry for anything or anyone, cry foral-Husain Ibn Ali (PBUH) for he was slaughtered like a sheep. Eighteenmembers from his family who were unparalleled on earth were also killedalong with him. Certainly, the seven heavens and earths cried becauseof the murder of al-Husain (PBUH). Four thousand Angels descended onearth to aid him, but (when they were allowed to reach there) theyfound him martyred. So they remained at his grave, disheveled anddusty, and will remain there until the rising of al-Qa’im (Imamal-Mahdi (PBUH)), whereupon they will aid him. Their slogan will be,‘Vengeance for the blood of al-Husain.’ O Son of Shabib! My fatherrelated to me from his father, who related from his grandfather thatwhen my grandfather Imam al-Husain (PBUH) was martyred, the sky rainedblood and red sands. O Son of Shabib! When you weep over the afflictions of al-Husain (PBUH)so that tears flow from your eyes onto your cheeks, Allah will forgiveall your sins, big or small, few or numerous. O Son of Shabib! If youwish to meet Allah, the mighty and the majestic, free of sin, thenperform the Ziyarat of al-Husain (PBUH). O Son of Shabib! If it pleases you to abide in the palaces of Paradisein company of the Prophet (PBUH&HF) and his family, then invokeAllah’s curse upon the murderers of Imam al-Husain (PBUH). O Son ofShabib! If you wish to earn the reward of those who were martyred withal-Husain (PBUH), then whenever you remember him, say, ‘If only I hadbeen with them so that I would have attained the great felicity.’ O Sonof Shabib! If you desire to be with us in the highest degree ofParadise, then grieve in our sorrows and rejoice in our happiness.Remain attached to our love, for even if a person loves a stone, Allahshall resurrect him with it on the Day of Judgment.” (v) Masma’ Ibn Abd al-Malik narrated: Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) asked me, “Do you remindyourself about what happened to al-Husain (PBUH)?” I answered, “Yes.”He asked, “Do you become grieved?” I answered, “Yes, by Allah! And Ished tears so much so that my family members notice its effect on myface and I abstain from food in such situation.” He (PBUH) said, “MayAllah have mercy on your tears. Truly, you are counted among the peoplewho are concerned about us, who rejoice in our happiness and grieve inour grief. Indeed, at the time of your death you will see the presenceof my ancestors who will give you glad tidings and will give theirrecommendations to the Angel of death about you. He will thus becomemore compassionate and merciful towards you than a tenderhearted motheris to her child... None (among the believers) sympathetically weeps forus and for what befell us but that Allah bestows upon him His mercy,even before his tears flow from his eyes. (It is so rewarding that) ifa drop from the tears that flows on his cheeks drops over Hell, it willextinguish its heat completely …” (vi) Several authorities narrated that Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) said: “Anyone (of the believers) who recites poetryabout al-Husain (PBUH) and cries and makes another one cry, Paradisewill be written for both of them. Anyone (of the believers) in whosepresence al-Husain (PBUH) is mentioned, and tears come to his eyes evento the extent of a wing of a fly, his reward is with Allah, and Allahwill not be pleased with anything less than Paradise for him.” (vii) -------------------- i) See, e.g., Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, vol. 10, p.318, Hadith 14; Wasa’il al-Shia, vol. 14, p.596, Hadith 19889. ii) The English translation of this book was published by Islamic StudyCircle, Mumbai, India. It is also available online at:www.al-islam.org/nafas/ iii) Certainly, all true believers cry for Imam al-Husain (PBUH), butthis does not mean that any one who cries for Imam al-Husain (PBUH) isnecessarily a believer. A person who does not fully believe in theWilaya of Ahl al-Bait (PBUT) (i.e., does not consider their sayings andactions are to be followed even if they are against one’s opinion orthe opinion of others), his sympathy for Imam al-Husain (PBUH) may onlyhave worldly benefits for him, but will not save him from the hereafterpunishment. According to numerous traditions, true faith (i.e.,believing in the Wilaya of Ahl al-Bait (PBUT)) is the major requirementof salvation. Therefore, all the traditions concerning the rewards ofZiyarat or weeping for Imam al-Husain are only meant for the believers.Nevertheless, sympathy for Ahl al-Bait (PBUT) has eventually led manypeople to true faith before their death. Their attraction towards faithwas usually initiated by their sympathy for the sufferings of Imamal-Husain (PBUH). Hence, they owe their salvation to the programs heldin memory of the Chief of the Martyrs (PBUH). iv) Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, vol. 10, p. 318, Hadith 13. v) Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha (PBUH), vol. 1, p. 299, Hadith 58; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 44, p.285, Hadith 23. vi) Kamil al-Ziyarat, p. 101, Hadith 6; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 44, p.289, Hadith 31. vii) Thawab al-A’mal, p. 84; Kamil al-Ziyarat, p. 104; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 44, p. 288. ** This Article has been extracted from "Ziyarat al-Nahiya al-Muqaddasa" . A book by "Dr Vahid Majd". Newer Items:
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