The Life of Ima`m 'Ali
In many of his traditions, Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, talked about the life of his
grandfather, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, the pioneer of fairness and justice. The following is one of his traditions:
Zara`ra b. A'yun reported on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, who said: "When 'Ali, peace be on him, performed the morning prayer, he went on praying till the sun rose. When the sun rose, the poor, the needy, and other people gathered about him. Then, he taught them Islamic jurisprudence and the Koran. He appointed a time to end that assembly of his. One day, he ended his assembly and passed by a man. The man hurt his feelings with a rude word. Thus, the Ima`m came back (to the mosque). He went up on the pulpit. He ordered the prayer to be general. When the people gathered, he thanked Allah and praised Him, blessed His Apostle, and then he said: 'O People, there is nothing more hateful and more harmful with Allah than the ignorance and foolishness of an Ima`m. He who has no preacher of his own self, Allah will not protect him. Whoever is just of his own accord, his life will increase nothing but glory. Indeed, humbleness for obeying Allah
____________
1. Ibn Hisham, al-Sira al-Nabawiya, vol. 2, pp. 429-430.
(250)
is nearer to Him than haughtiness for disobeying Him.’ Then he asked: 'Where is the one who has already spoken?’ He (the man) was unable to deny that. Then, he said: 'Here I am, Commander of the Faithful. If wanted (to punish me), you would. If you forgave and pardoned (me), then you were worthy of that.’ 'I have forgiven and pardoned (you),’ replied the Ima`m.
1
The Commander of the Faithful predicted the Murder of al-Husayn
Many traditions were reported on the authority of the Commander of the Faithful concerning the murder of his son, Ima`m Husayn, peace on him. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, reported one of those traditions. He, peace be on him, said: "'Ali, peace be on him, delivered a sermon in Ku`fa. He said: ' Question me before you lose me. By Allah, if you question me about the group (of people) that will misguide a hundred (persons) and guide a hundred (persons), I will tell you about its caller and its leader.’ Then a man rose and said: 'Tell me the number of the hair in my head and in my beard.’ Thus, 'Ali said: By Allah, my friend
(i. e. , Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family) told me that there was in every hair in your head an angel cursing you, that there was in every hair in your beard a Satan deluding you, that there was in your house a lamb (baby) who would kill the grandson of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, whose name would be Sina`n b. Anas al-Nakha`'i.’
2
Then, this prediction of the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, occurred. That was when this wicked person, Sina`n b. Anas, was among those who killed the grandson of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family.
The Characteristics of the Commander of the Faithful
Isha`q b. 'Abd Allah b. Abu` Farwah asked Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-
____________
1. Sharh Nahjj al-Balagha, vol. 4, pp. 109-110.
2. Ibid, vol. 2, 386.
( 251 )
Ba`qir), peace be on him, about the characteristics of his grandfather, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him. So, he, peace be on him, replied: "He was a man with intense brownness, great eyes, and a big abdomen. He was bald. He was nearer to shortness.
1
The Events of Siffin
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, reported many events about the (Battle of) Siffin. Nasr b. Muzahim, al-Tabari, b. Abu` al-Haddid, and other historians reported these events on his authority. The following are some of them:
Raising the Siege from the Water
Mu'a`wiya had taken his fighters and headed for Siffin before the Ima`m's army went there. He decided to occupy the Euphrates. He surrounded it with many fighters to prevent the Ima`m's fighters from drinking water. When the Ima`m's fighters came, they saw Mu'a`wiya's fighters occupying the Euphrates. Thus, they were unable to reach it. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, reported the way how the fighters of the Ima`m, peace be on him, could raise the siege from the Euphrates. He, peace be on him, said: "Al-Ash'ath called 'Amru` b. al-'As. He said to him: 'O Bin al-'As, woe unto you! Let us drink water. By Allah, if you do not do that, we will fight with you.’ 'By Allah, we will not leave the river till we fight against you. Then, our Lord will know today who is more patient.’ So, al-Ash'ath, al-Ashter, the wise companions of Ima`m 'Ali, peace be on him, along with twelve thousand fighters dismounted from their horses. They attacked 'Amru`, Abu` al-A'war, and the Syrians who were with them. They removed them from the river to the extent that the horses of 'Ali's fighters entered the water.
2
Worth mentioning, when 'Ali's fighters recaptured the river, they wanted to prevent the Syrians from drinking water. However, the Ima`m did not permit them to do that. Rather, he treated the Syrians kindly and let them drink water.
____________
1. Al-Tabari, Tarikh, vol. 5, p. 153.
2. Ibn Abi al-Haddid, Sharh Nahjj al-Balagha, vol. 3, p. 324.
( 252)
Mu'a`wiya and 'Amru` b. al-'As
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, narrated a talk that took place between Mu'a`wiya and 'Amru` b. al-'As. He, peace be on him, said: "Mu'a`wiya asked 'Amru` b. al-'As to prepare the ranks of the Syrians. Then, 'Amru` said to him: 'I must rule when Allah kills b. Abi Ta`lib and the country yields to you.’ 'Are you not the ruler of Egypt?’ asked Mu'a`wiya. 'Will Egypt be a recompense for the garden? Will the murder of b. Abi Ta`lib be the recompense for the ever lasting torment or the fire?’ asked 'Amru`. 'Abu` 'Abd Allah, you shall have your rule when ('Ali) b. Abi Ta`lib is killed. Speak slowly. Do not let the people hear your words,’ replied Mu'a`wiya. So, 'Amru` said to the Syrians: 'Arrange your ranks. Lend Your Lord
your skulls. Ask Allah, your Lord, for the help. Fight against the enemy of Allah and your enemy. Kill them. May Allah kill and destroy them. And be patient. Indeed the earth belongs to Allah. He causes such of His servants to
inherit it as He pleases. And the final result will be for the pious.
1
With deception and error Mu'a`wiya was able to fight with Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, the pioneer of wisdom and justice in the earth.
Ima`m 'Ali delivered a Sermon at Siffin
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, reported the sermon which his grandfather, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, delivered at Siffin. In the sermon, Ima`m 'Ali, peace be on him, talked about the high moral standards of the great Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, and the heavy loss that inflicted mankind when he, may Allah bless him and his family, died. In the sermon, the Ima`m also talked about his rank and position with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family. Then, in it, he
summoned the Moslems to wage holy war against his enemy, Mu'a`wiya b. Abi Sufya`n. The following is the text of the sermon:
Praise belongs to Allah for His overabundant blessings for all
____________
1. Waqq'at Siffin, p. 267.
( 253 )
His creatures whether they are righteous or the sinners, and for His strong proofs over his creatures whether they are obedient or disobedient. If He has mercy (on them), then it is out of His bounty and favor. If He tortures (them), that is out of what their hands earn. Indeed, Allah does not wrong the servants. I thank Him for the good tribulation and the manifest blessings. I ask Him to help us with what has befallen us from the affairs of here and the hereafter. I believe in Him and trust in Him. Allah is sufficient as a protector. I bear witness that there is no god apart from Allah, Who is unique and without partners. I also bear witness that Mohammed is His servant and His Apostle. He sent him with guidance and the religion of truth. He settled him for that. He (the Prophet) was worthy of that. He chose him over all the creatures to convey His message. He made him as a mercy from Him over His creatures. He (the Prophet) was, as His knowledge of him, compassionate and merciful. He was the noblest of all the creatures of Allah in lineage, the most handsome of them in sight, the most generous of them in the soul, the most obedient of them to the parents, the most clinging of them to blood relations,
the best of them in knowledge, the heaviest of them in clemency, the most faithful of them (in fulfilling) the promise and the most honest of them in agreement. Neither a Moslem nor an unbeliever had a complaint against him. Rather he was wronged, and he forgave. He was powerful, and he pardoned and forgave till he, may Allah bless him and his family, passed away. He was obedient to Allah. He was patient toward what had inflicted him. He struggled for Allah as His is due till certitude came to him. Thus, his departure was the greatest disaster that befell all the people of the earth, whether they were righteous or sinners. Then he left among you Allah's Book that enjoins you to obey Allah and prohibits you from disobeying him. Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, made a covenant for me. So, I will not deviate from the covenant. Now, you are present before your enemies. You know that their leader is a hypocrite, the son of a hypocrite. He leads them to the fire. The cousin of your Prophet is with you and among you. He guides you to the garden and summons you to obey your Lord. He has put into effect the sunna (practices) of your Prophet. He who prays before every praise (of Allah) is not
( 254 )
equal. No one preceded me in prayer with Allah's Apostle. I am from the people who took part (at the Battle) of Badr. Mu'a`wiya is a released prisoner (of war), the son of a released prisoner. By Allah you are right, and they are wrong. The people have gathered for their falsehood. Do not separate yourselves from your right. So, their falsehood will overcome your right. 'Fight them. Allah will punish them by your hands.’ If you do not do that, Allah will punish them by the hands of other than you. So, his companions answered him, saying: 'O Commander of the Faithful, lead us to our enemy and your enemy, if you want that. By Allah, we want no one other than you. We will die with you and live with you.’ So, he (Ima`m 'Ali) said to them: 'By Him in whose hand is my soul, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, looked at me before I hit (the enemies) with my sword. So, he said: 'There is no sword but Dhu al-Faqar. There is no youngman but 'Ali.’ Then, he said: 'O 'Ali, your position to me is as Aaron had with Moses, except that there will be no Prophet after me. O 'Ali, your life and your death will be with me.’ 'By Allah, I have never told lies nor (anyone) has accused me of lying. I have never gone astray (nor anyone) has misled me. I have never forgotten what he has entrusted to me. I say it word by word. I know my Lord clearly. For I follow the clear path.’
1
The Day of al-Harrir
The Day of al-Harrir was the greatest of all the days of (the Battle of) Siffin, and the most critical of them in the situation. The historians have called it the Greatest Day. For the fire of war burnt, and its heat became intense on that day. So, fright and death spread over the people. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, talked about that day, saying: "When the Greatest Day came, Mu'a`wiya's companions said: 'By Allah, we will not leave the field till we die or Allah grants us victory.’ And the companions of 'Ali, peace be on him, said: 'We will not leave the field till we die or Allah grants us victory.’ So, they started fighting early in the morning on a day. It was a long hot day. They threw arrows at each other to the extent that there were no more
____________
1. Ibid, pp. 354-356.
(255)
arrows. They stabbed each other to the extent that the spears were broken. Then the people dismounted their horses. They advanced against each other. Then they hit each other to the extent that the swords were broken. Then the knights fought against each other with swords and iron bars. So, the listeners heard nothing except the mumble of the people, the clashing of the swords at the field, and the biting of the mouths. Then, the sun was eclipsed. The fighting was intense. The standards and banners got lost. The time of four prayers passed. No on prostrated himself in worship to Allah, except saying 'Allah is Great’. So, during those critical moments, the old men shouted: 'O People of Arabia, fear Allah regarding the women and the girls.’
1
When Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, reached these words, he wept.
1 For those painful memories, whose awe melted the hearts, moved him. He remembered the disaster of his grandfather, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, when he was afflicted by that traitorous group of people who spared no effort to eradicate Islam, to remove its achievements, and to renew the pre-Islamic practices in the earth.
Among the ugliest tricks in human history was that of 'Amru` b. al-'As, who raised copies of the Koran. Rawahost Milar regard it as the ugliest and the worst trick in human history.
2 Ima`m 'Ali's army was about to win a victory. Mu'a`wiya's army suffered from heavy causalities, so Mu'a`wiya was about to escape. However, he asked the advice of 'Amru` b. al-'As. The latter advised the former to raise copies of
the Koran. Al-Ash'ath b. Qays, who was a wicked cunning person in the army of Ima`m 'Ali, cooperated with 'Amru` b. al-'As to weave this trick.
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far talked about the number of the copies of the Koran. He, peace be on him, said: "They received 'Ali carrying a hundred copies (of the Koran). Each wing (of their army) carried two hundred copies. So, all the copies were five hundred.
____________
1. SharhNahjuj al-Balagha, vol. 2, pp. 212-213.
2. Al-'Aqida wa al-Shari'afi al-Islam, p. 190.
( 256 )
Moreover, a group of Mu'a`wiya's army called at the Iraqi camp: "O People of Arabia, keep Allah in view in respect of the women, the girls, and the children. Tomorrow, beware of the Romans, the Turkish, and the Persians when you perish. Keep Allah in view in regard of your religion. This is Allah's Book between you
and us."Ima`m 'Ali was displeased with that trick. So, he said: "O Allah, You know that they do not want the Book. So, judge between us and them. Indeed, You are the manifest true judge.
1
This trickery aborted the victory which Ima`m 'Ali's army won. Furthermore, it led the Ima`m's army to discords. For example, al-Ash'ath b. Qays was about to mutiny against the government of the Ima`m. However, the realized that critical situation. Thus, he showed matchless slowness and patience. Accordingly, he unwillingly commanded his fighters to stop fighting. In the mean time, he commanded Ma`lik al-Ashtar, the leader of his military forces, to withdraw from the battle field, while he was about to win the final victory.
The Document of the Arbitration
Ima`m 'Ali, peace be on him, was forced to accept the arbitration that saved the government of Mu'a`wiya and toppled the government of Ima`m 'Ali, peace be on him. The leaders of the discord in the army of Ima`m 'Ali competed with the Syrians to write the conditions to end the battle for a time so that the two arbitrators would meet. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, reported the text of the document. Then the historians reported it on his authority. The following is the text of the document:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 'Ali b. Abi Ta`lib, Mu'a`wiya b. Abi Sufya`n, the judge of 'Ali b. Abi Ta`lib over the Iraqis, those who are with him from his followers (Shi'ites) from among the believers and the Moslems, the judge of Mu'a`wiya b. Abi Sufya`n over the Syrians, and those who are with him from his followers (Shi'ites) from among the
believers and the Moslems have agreed on this:
____________
1. Sharh Nahjj al-Balagha, vol. 2, p. 212.
( 257 )
We have yielded to the decree of Allah, the Exalted, and His Book. Nothing brings us together but He. Indeed, the Book of Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, is among us, from its beginning to its end. We enliven what the Koran enlivens and deaden what the Koran deadens. If the two arbitrators find that in the Book of Allah, they should follow it. If they do not find it (in the Koran), they should follow the unified just Sunna. The two arbitrators are 'Abd Allah b. Qays and 'Amru` b. al-'As. The two arbitrators will impose a commitment on 'Ali, Mu'a`wiya, and the two armies that they (the two arbitrators) must be two custodians over their souls, and their properties. The community must support them.
1
The two parties signed this document that did not prevent Mu'a`wiya from requesting the blood of 'Uthma`n, which he used as means to mutiny and aggress against the government of Ima`m 'Ali. Surely, Mu'a`wiya was indifferent to 'Uthma`n. For 'Uthma`n asked Mu'a`wiya for help when the revolutionists besieged his house. However, Mu'a`wiya kept silent till 'Uthma`n was killed. When the latter was killed, the former used his murder as means to achieve his ambitions.
With this, we will end our talk about the narrations of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far regarding the events (of the Battle of), that made the Moslems liable to great disasters and misfortunes and threw them into great evil.
The Tragedy of Ima`m Husayn
The Moslems were very afraid of the tragedy of Ima`m Husayn, peace be on him. For, through this tragedy, the members of the Umayyad Army violated the sacredness of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, when they killed his grandsons and attacked his family. They intended to eradicate the family of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family. They committed the ugliest crimes against them. People have never seen such crimes throughout the stages of this life.
____________
1. Ibid, pp. 233-234.
( 258 )
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, was a young man when he attended the Battle of Karbala`'. Thus, he saw those great disasters that befell the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. The Umayyads drew the events of that tragedy into his inner self. So, he and his father, Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, remembered them throughout their lives.
The Moslem scholars and narrators came to Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. They questioned him about the tragedy of Karbala`'. So, he, peace be on him, supplied them with all details about it and they wrote them down.
Thus, the scholars at that time wrote about sixty thousand books on his authority. All the books have the title (Maqtal al-Husayn).
The Narration of 'Amma`r al-Dihni
Al-Tabari reported that 'Amma`r al-Dihni came to Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, to question him about the murder of al-Husayn and he, peace be on him, answered him. Al-Tabari reported the narration in a disorderly manner. However, we have organised the paragraphs of the narration. We have mentioned some ideas about it at the end. The following is the text of the narration:
[Zakariya b. Yahya` al-Darir informed me. He said: Ahmed b. Janab al-Musaysi, who was given the kunna of Abu` al-Walid, informed us. He said: Kha`lid b. Yazid b. Asad b. 'Abd Allah al-Qasri informed us. He said: 'Amma`r al-Dihni informed me. He said: I (i. e. , 'Amma`r al-Dihni) said to Abu` Ja'far: Tell me about the murder of al-Husayn as if I had been present with him.]
He (i. e. , Abu` Ja'far), peace be on him, said: "Mu'a`wiya died. Al-Walid b. 'Uttba b. Abi Sufya`n was (a governor) over Medina. He sent for al-Husayn b. 'Ali. He (al-Husayn) said to him: 'Delay me and be kind (to me).’ So, he delayed him. Then he (al-Husayn) went to Mecca. Then, the Ku`fa`ns came to him. They said to him: 'We will sacrifice our souls for you. We will not attend the Friday (prayer) with the governor. So, come to us.’ Al-Nu'ma`n b. Bashir al-Ansa`ri was (the governor) of Ku`fa. Al-Husayn sent for his cousin, Moslem b. 'Aqil b. Abi Ta`lib, and said to him: 'Go to Ku`fa and think about what
( 259 )
they have written to me. If it was true, I would go to them.’ So, Moslem walked on till he arrived in Medina. He took two guides there. They led him through the desert. They were so thirsty that one of the guides died. So, Moslem wrote to al-Husayn to ask permission to return. Thus, al-Husayn wrote to him: 'Go to Ku`fa.’ Then, Moslem
walked on till he arrived in Ku`fa. There he stopped at a man called b. 'Awsaja.
1When the Ku`fa`ns heard of his coming, they went to him to pledge allegiance to him. Then twelve thousand persons pledged allegiance to him. A man from those who were inclined to Yazid b. Mu'a`wiya rose and said to al-Nu'ma`n b.
al-Munzir: 'You are weak.’ So, al-Nu'ma`n said to him: 'To be weak and to obey Allah is more lovable with me than to be strong and disobey Allah.
So, the man wrote to Yazid about the words of al-Nu'ma`n. Thus, Yazid summoned a retainer of his called Sargon. Yazid used to seek his advice. He told him about the story. Thus, Sargon said to: 'Would you accept (the advice) from Mu'a`wiya if he was alive?’ 'Yes,’ replied Yazid. 'Then, accept (it) from me. No one can (govern) Ku`fa except 'Ubayd Allah b. Zyya`d. So, appoint him over it,’ advised Sargon. Yazid was indignant with 'Ubayd Allah. He tried to remove him from Basrah. So, he wrote to him to please him. Then, he appointed him governor over Ku`fa and Basrah. Then, he wrote to him to look for Moslem b. 'Aqil to kill him if he found him.
'Ubayd Allah and the prominent figures from Basrah came to Ku`fa. He was veiled. When he passed by an assembly of the Ku`fa`ns, he said: 'Peace be on you.’ 'And on you be peace, son of the daughter of the Apostle of Allah,’ they said. They thought that he was al-Husayn b. 'Ali, peace be on them. When he stopped at the palace, he summoned a retainer of his. He gave him three hundred thousand (dirhams) and said to him: 'Go and look for this person to whom the Ku`fa`ns are pledging allegiance. Tell him that you are from Hams and that you have come for this affair and that you give him this sum of money to be strong.’ So, the retainer looked for Moslem b. 'Aqil. At last he met an old man from Ku`fa, who supported the pledge of
____________
1. The historians know that Moslem was the first to stop at al-Mukhtar's house.
( 260 )
allegiance (to Moslem). He asked the old man about Moslem. So, the old man said to him: 'Your meeting with me has pleased me and it has displeased me. As for that which has pleased me from that, it is what Allah has guided you to. As for that which has displeased me, it is that our affair has not become strong yet. Then the old man led the retainer to Moslem. Thus, the retainer handed the sum of money to Moslem and pledged allegiance to him. Then he came back to 'Ubayd Allah and told him about that.
When 'Ubayd Allah b. Zyya`d came, Moslem left the house where he was and moved to the house of Hani b. 'Urwa al-Muradi. Then, Moslem wrote to al-Husayn b. 'Ali, peace be on him. He told him that twelve thousand persons from Ku`fa had pledged allegiance to him. Besides he ordered him to come (to Ku`fa). 'Ubayd Allah said to the notables from the Ku`fa: 'Why did Hani b. 'Urwa not come with those who came to me?’ So, Mohammed b. al-Ash'ath and a group of his people went to Hani. While Hani was standing at the door of his house, they came and said to him: 'The Emir has mentioned you and found you slow. So, set off to him.’ They insisted on him till he rode with them. He walked till he came to 'Ubayd Allah. Shurayh, the judge, was with 'Ubayd Allah. When 'Ubayd Allah looked at Hani, he said to Shurayh: 'The fool's legs have brought him to you.’ Hani greeted 'Ubayd Allah. However, 'Ubayd Allah asked him: 'O Hani, where is Moslem?’ 'I do not know,’ replied Hani. So, 'Ubayd Allah ordered his retainer, who handed the dirhams (to Moslem), to come out. When the retainer saw Hani, he affirmed him. So, Hani said: 'May Allah make the Emir righteous. By Allah, I did not invite him to come to my house. However, he came and stopped at me.’ 'Bring him,’ commanded 'Ubayd Allah. 'By Allah, if he was under my own feet, I would not raise them from him,’ answered Hani. 'Bring him nearer to me,' commanded 'Ubayd Allah. So, he was brought nearer to him. Then, 'Ubayd Allah hit him on the eyebrow and split it. Hani tried to draw the sword of a police-man. However, he was prevented from that. 'Allah has made your blood lawful,' said 'Ubayd Allah. Then he ordered him to be imprisoned by the palace.
1
____________
1. Al-Tabari, Tarikh, vol. 5, pp. 347-349.
( 261 )
After this al-Tabari reported a speech regarding the details of the event. Then he mentioned the speech of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, who said: "While Hani was in prison, Madhhaj (the tribe of Hani) heard of that. Suddenly, 'Ubayd Allah heard noise at the gate of the palace. 'What is this?' he asked. 'Madhhaj,' they answered. So, 'Ubayd Allah said to Shurayh: 'Go out to them and tell them that he has imprisoned him to question him.' Then he sent a spy after Shurayh to hear his words. Shurayh passed by Hani. So, Hani
said to him: 'O Shurayh, fear Allah. 'Ubayd Allah will kill me. ' However, Shurayh walked on till he stopped at the gate of the palace and said to (Madhhaj): 'There is no harm on Hani. The Emir ('Ubayd Allah) has imprisoned
him to question him. ' So, Madhhaj said: 'He is truthful. There is no harm on your leader. ' Thus, they scattered. Then Moslem heard of that. So, he declared his slogan. Thus, four thousand Ku`fa`ns gathered around him. Then he placed his vanguard at the head and mobilized the right and the left wings (of his fighters). He was in the middle. Then he marched to 'Ubayd Allah. For this reason 'Ubayd Allah sent for leading Ku`fa`ns. He gathered them around him in the palace. When Moslem arrived at the gate of the palace, the leading Ku`fa`ns
spoke to their tribes and held them back. Then Moslem's companions slipped away. Thus, only five hundred of them remained with him. When it got dark, they slipped away too.
When Moslem found himself alone, he frequented in the streets. He saw a door. He knocked the door. A woman came out. He said to the woman: 'Give me water.' She gave him water. She entered and remained for awhile, and then she came out. She saw Moslem sitting at the door. She said to him: 'O Servant of Allah, indeed your sitting is doubtful. Stand up.' 'I am Moslem b. 'Aqil. Have you a shelter?' asked Moslem. 'Yes,' she replied. Her son was the retainer of Mohammed b. al-Ash'ath. So, he went to Mohammed and told him. Then Mohammed went to 'Ubayd Allah and told him. So, 'Ubayd Allah commanded 'Ubayd Allah b. Hurayth al-Makhzumi, the commander of the police, and 'Abd al-Rahma`n b. Mohammed b. al-Ash'ath to arrest Moslem. Unexpectedly, they surrounded Moslem in the house. When Moslem knew of that, he went out drawing his sword. He fought them. Then 'Abd al-Rahma`n gave him security. He
( 262 )
took him by the hand and brought him to 'Ubayd Allah. 'Ubayd Allah ordered Moslem to be taken to the top of the Palace. There Moslem was beheaded and his body was thrown down to the people. Then 'Ubayd Allah ordered Hani to be taken to al-Kanasa. Hani was hanged there. In this connection their poet said:
If you do not know what death is,
then look at Hani and (Moslem) b. 'Aqil in the market- place.
The command of the governor struck them (down).
and they became legends for those who travel on every road.
Is Asma' riding in safety a mount which moves at walking place
while Madhhajj urged him to seek vengeance?
1
Then al-Tabari mentioned other narrations on the authority of Abi Mukhnif and the like regarding the details of the events. After that, he said: [Kha`lid b. Yazid b. 'Abd Allah al-Qasri in formed us. He said: 'Amma`r al-Dihni in formed us. He said: I (i. e. , 'Amma`r al-Dihni) to Abu` Ja'far tell me about the murder al-Husayn as if I had attended it. He (Abu` Ja'far) said:]
Then al-Husayn b. 'Ali came according to the letter which Moslem b. 'Aqil sent to him. When there were three miles between him and al-Qadisiyah (a city in Iraq), al-Hur b. Yazid al-Timimi met him and asked him: 'Where do you want to go?' 'I want to go to that city,' replied al-Husayn. 'Go back. I have left behind me nothing good for you,' said al-Hur. Al-Husayn tried to return. The brothers of Moslem b. 'Aqil were with him. So, they said: 'By Allah, we will not return till we have taken vengeance or we are killed.' 'There is no good in life after you,' said al-Husayn. Then al-Husayn marched, so the foremost horses of 'Ubayd Allah met him. When he saw that, he went to Karbala`'. He dismounted and camped at a land full of reeds to face (his enemy)
in one direction. His companions were forty-five knights and a hundred men. 'Ubayd Allah b. Zyya`d had appointed 'Umar b. Sa'd b. Abi Waqqa`s a governor over Ray. He said to him: 'I want you to fight this man on behalf of me.'
'Leave me, said 'Umar b.
____________
1. Ibid, pp. 349-351
(263)
Sa'd. However, 'Ubayd Allah refused to leave him. 'Give time for this night,' said 'Umar b. Sa'd. Thus, 'Ubayd Allah delayed him. Then, 'Umar thought of his order. When he entered upon the morning, he went to 'Ubayd Allah. He was satisfied with what he had been ordered. So, 'Umar b. Sa'd headed for al-Husayn. When he came to al-Husayn, al-Husayn said to him: 'Choose one of three: either you leave me, then I will go where I came from or you leave me, so I will go to Yazid or you leave, so I will go to the border cities. 'Umar accepted that. Then 'Ubayd Allah wrote to him: 'No, he must put his hand in mine.' Al-Husayn said to him: 'Ten young men from my family (have been killed).' Then an arrow came and hit his son who was on his lap. He began rubbing the blood from him and saying 'O Allah, judge between us and the people who summoned us to support us and then they killed us.' Then he ordered a garment to be brought to him. He tore the garment and wore it. Then he went out with his sword. He, peace be on him, fought till he was killed. A man from Madhhajj killed him. The man cut off his head and sent it to 'Ubayd Allah, saying:
Fill my stirrup with silver or gold,
for I have killed the veiled king.
I have killed the best of all people in father and mother,
and the best in lineage.
Then 'Ubayd Allah ordered the man to send the head to Yazid. Abu` Barza al-Aslami was with Yazid. When the head was put before Yazid, he began hitting the head on the mouth with his cane, and reciting.
We will split the skull of proud men (who came) against us; they were very disobedient and oppressive.
So, Abu` Barza said to him: 'Raise your cane. By Allah, I saw Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, kiss him on the mouth.' Then 'Umar b. Sa'd sent to 'Ubayd Allah al-Husayn's womenfolk and children. No one of the family of al-Husayn b. 'Ali, peace be on him, remained alive except his womenfolk and an ill boy. Thus, 'Ubayd Allah ordered the boy to be killed. So, Zaynab threw herself on him and said: 'By Allah, you will not kill him till you kill
( 264 )
me.' Thus, 'Ubayd Allah felt pity for her, and then he left the boy.
Then 'Ubayd Allah prepared them and sent them to Yazid. So, Yazid gathered his Syrian followers. They entered and congratulated him on the victory. Then a man of them called Azraq Ahmar looked at a female servant of their womenfolk and said: 'O Commander of the Faithful, give me this (female servant).' So, Zaynab said: 'No, by Allah, you have no dignity nor him till he comes out of the religion of Allah.' Al-Azraq repeated that again. Thus, Yazid said to him: 'Then Yazid prepared them and sent them to Medina. When they
entered Medina, a woman from the family of 'Abd al-Mutalib received them. The woman was weeping and saying:
What would you say if the Prophet asked you: 'What have you,
the last of the (religious) communities, done
with my offspring and my family after my departure from them?
They are prisoners and slain and have been stained with their own blood.
What sort of reward is this for my advice, that you
should oppose me by doing evil to my blood relations?'
1
With this the narration of 'Amma`r al-Dihni about the tragedy of Karbala`' on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, has come to an end.
Criticisms
This narration has faced many criticisms. The following are some of them:
1. 'Amma`r al-Dihni asked Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, to tell him in detail about the murder of Ima`m Husayn, peace be on him, as if he been present with him. As for the answer, it is brief. Many events have not been mentioned. Most stages of that tragedy have been summarized. Thus, this answer does not match the question which `Amma`r asked to get detailed information.
2. In this narration, it has been mentioned that Ima`m Husayn,
____________
1. Ibid, pp. 389-390.
(265)
peace be on him, asked 'Umar b. Sa'd for three affairs when he met him. He asked him:
A. to let him go back to Medina (Yathrib).
B. to let him go to Yazid.
C. to let him go to the border cities.
Certainly, the last two requests are incorrect. For, if Ima`m Husayn, peace be on him, had
mentioned them, the Umayyad Army would not have fought against him. 'Aqba b. Sam'a`n accompanied the Ima`m from Medina to Mecca, and then to Iraq. He was with him till he was killed. Concerning the fabrication of this narration, he said:
I accompanied al-Husayn from Medina to Mecca, and then to Iraq. I did not separate myself from him till he was killed. I heard all his words. I did not hear from him what the people hand down. He did not say that he wanted to put his hand in Yazid's hand nor did he say that he wanted to go to the border cities. He did not say that in Medina nor in Mecca nor in Iraq nor at his camp. He never said that till he was killed. Yes, I heard him say: 'I will go to this wide land to wait for what the people reach.'
1
As this narration has these items, then we cannot attribute it to Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him. It is possible that some items have been added to this narration and some were omitted from it. Thus, it is disorderly. Therefore no one can rely on it.
With this we end our talk about the traditions reported on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far concerning the Prophet's life and all the events that occurred at the early time of Islam.
