The Governors wrong their Subjects
'Abd al-Malik appointed the most wicked of Allah's creatures over the Islamic world, and they spread tyranny and oppression. He appointed Hisha`m b. Isma'il al-Makhzu`mi as governor over Medina (Yathrib), and he behaved badly, governed the people with injustice, and wronged the family of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family.
3 Moreover he mistreated Sa'id b. al-Musayyab, a jurist, and ordered him to be whipped sixty times.
4 The subjects complained to 'Abd al-Malik, but he did not respond to them; rather he scolded them. Al-Nimri also complained to him of wrongdoing, persecution, and plundering properties. Addressing him in a poem, he said:
As for the poor, their milk she-camels have been
taken; everything has been taken even the hair (of camels).
Hence their families have become poorer!
The rich have also become poor, and nothing of their
possessions has remained because of the disorders.
If you raise (this sate) from them now, you will refresh
them; otherwise they will perish in the next year.5
These lines of poetry mean that the authorities had confiscated
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3 Al-Ya'qu`bi, Ta`rikh, vol. 2, p. 340.
4 Ibid., p. 327.
5 Ibn Sala`m, Tabaqa`t, p. 441.
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the norishments of the poor and deprived them of their properties. They took all things from them even the hair of the camels. They also transgressed against the rich and stopped the development of their properties. The poet asked sympathy from 'Abd al-Malik to refresh his people and to raise wrongdoing from them. He thought that if he had not helped them they would have perished.
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin and 'Abd al-Malik
As for the affairs of Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, with 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwa`n, they are as follows:
The Ima`m with him during Circling the Kaaba
'Abd al-Malik circled the Kaaba, so did the Ima`m. The pilgrims surrounded the Ima`m and magnified him. Hence 'Abd al-Malik asked the people about him, and they said to him: "This is 'Ali b. al-Husayn." He summoned him and said to him: "O 'Ali b. al-Husayn, I am not the murderer of your father! What has prevented you from coming to me?"
The Ima`m did not take care of him and answered him: "The murderer of my father has spoiled his life in this world through his deed, and my father has spoiled the life of his murderer in the next world. If you want to be such a person, then be so."
The vainglory of 'Abd al-Malik became lower, and he said: No, but come to us, that you may attain something of our world."
The Ima`m, peace be on him, refused to respond to him.
1
'Abd al-Malik seeks the Prophet's Sword
'Abd al-Malik heard that the sword of Allah's Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family, was with Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him. Hence he sent for him and asked him to give to him (the sword) as gift or need. However, the Ima`m refused to respond to
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1 Ithba`t al-Huda`t, vol. 5, p. 229.
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him. As a result 'Abd al-Malik wrote to him and threatened him with cutting off his livelihood from the Public Treasury, so the Ima`m, peace be on him, answered him:
"Now then, Allah has guaranteed the relief of the Allah-fearing from where they are forced, and provision from where they deem not. He, Great be His Name, said: 'Surely Allah loves not anyone who is unfaithful, ungrateful.' Then think: who is worthier of this verse-I or you? Greetings.
1"
His Criticizing the Ima`m
'Abd al-Malik appointed a spy in Medina to inform him of all things therein. The Ima`m, peace be on him, had released a slave girl and married her. 'Abd al-Malik made use of this event, criticized the Ima`m for it, and wrote to him:
"Now then, I have been informed of your marrying a slave girl. I know that there are qualified Qurashi (women) who will bear you noble children. You have not thought of yourself nor have you thought of your children. Greetings."
This message contains the essence and customs of the pre-Islamic people, who refrained from marrying non-Arab women. Hence the Ima`m replied to him with the following letter which has included Islamic logic: "Now then, I have received your letter in which you have scolded me for marrying my slave girl, claimed that there are Qurayshi women through whom I can be glorious, and have noble children, that there is no glory and generosity higher than Allah's Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family. (As for the slave girl), she had been the possession of my right hand. I have released her according to the command of Allah, the Great and Almighty. I have besought His reward through her. Then I have returned her according to His norms of sunna. He who is honest in the
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1 'Aya`n al-Shï'a, 4/Q2/980.
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religion does not oppose any of Allah's commands. Through Islam Allah has abolished mean things, completed shortcomings, and taken away ignobility. Therefore, the Muslim blames not; rather those who (follow) the pre-Islamic thoughts blame!
1"
Islam has adopted abolishing all kinds of racism and all the barriers which divide the members of Islamic society, create selfishness and hatred among them. The organization of the Muslim family has been based on equity, not on lineage. However, 'Abd al-Malik did not understand this brilliant reality, hence he criticizing the Ima`m, peace be on him, for marring a miserable slave girl after he had released her. There is no blame or injury against the Ima`m; rather blame and injury are against the corrupt customs of those who lived before Islam. The historians said: "When 'Abd al-Malik read the message of the Ima`m, peace be on him, he admired it and said: '' 'Ali b. al-Husayn increases in honor, while the people abase themselves.
2"
The Ima`m sends a Message to 'Abd al-Malik
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, sent a letter to 'Abd al-Malik and summoned him therein to fear Allah and obey Him. The letter is as follows:
"Now then, nothing exalts you except Allah, and you are in need of Him. If you are exalted through him, then pardon (men) for Him, for you are powerful through Him, and to Him you will return. Greetings.
3"
This, though brief, is one the Arab most eloquent messages, and contains affairs of great importance. They are as follows:
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1 Ibid., 4/Q2/479. There is a letter similar to this in al-'Aqdd al-Farïd, vol. 7, p. 121.
2 Al-'Aqdd al-Farïd, vol. 7, p. 121.
3 Abi Hayya`n al-Tawhïdi, al-Basa`'ir wa al-Dhakha`'ir, p. 217. Bahjat al-Maja`lis wa Uns al-Maja`lis, vol. 2, pp. 321-322.
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1. Reverential fear of Allah is the reason for exaltation and glory; kingdom and authority are not two reasons for them.
2. Though 'Abd al-Malik had a great kingdom, he was in need of Allah, who was capable of depriving of his kingdom.
3. The Ima`m summoned 'Abd al-Malik to pardon those evildoers, that he might seek nearness to Allah, to Whom he would return.
His Arresting the Ima`m
The Ima`m's knowledge, asceticism, piety, and reverential fear spread all over the Islamic world. In their assemblies, the people spoke about his excellencies and laudable deeds. 'Abd al-Malik was informed of this, and he became very angry. Hence he ordered his men to arrest the Ima`m and send him to Damascus. While the Ima`m was being preparing for going there, a miracle occurred. Al-Zuhri narrated the miracle saying: "I witnessed 'Ali b. al-Husayn on the day when 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwa`n ordered him to be sent from Medina to Syria. He made him heavy in iron, and entrusted him to many guards. I asked permission from them to greet and see him off. They permitted me, and I went to him. He was in a dome. His hands and legs were shackled. Hence I wept and said to him: 'I wish I were in your place, and you were safe!' He said: 'O Zuhri, do you think that the shackles around my hands, legs, and neck grieve me? If I willed, they would not be!' Then he brought his hands and legs out of the shackles. Then he said: 'I will not pass by two way stations of Medina with them!'" Al-Zuhri added: "We passed four nights, and the guards came and looked for 'Ali b. al-Husayn in Medina, but they did not find him. I asked the guards about him, and one of them answered me: 'We saw none following him, nor did we see him dismounting. We were around him. We did not sleep, for we were observing him. When we entered upon morning, we found nothing in his place except the shackles.'" Then al-Zuhri added: "After this I went to 'Abd al-Malik,
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and he asked me about 'Ali b. al-Husayn, and I told him. Then he said to me: ''Ali b. al-Husayn came to me on the day when the helpers lost him, and asked me: 'What am I? What you are?' Then I said to him: Stay with me. He said: 'No, I dislike this.' Then he went out. By Allah, my garment was full of fear of him.'" Al-Zuhri said: [So I said:] "O Commander of the faithful, 'Ali b. al-Husayn is not as you imagine. He is busy with himself. 'Abd al-Malik said: ' How an excellent work!'"
1
Allah, the Exalted, make miracles and excellencies run through the hands of His friends, that He may exalt them, magnify their importance, and strengthen their spiritual forces.
With this we will end our speech about the events which occurred between the Ima`m, peace be on him, and 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwa`n.
The Death of 'Abd al-Malik
'Abd al-Malik became ill. His doctors treated him, but all their efforts were in vain. Hence death approached him quickly. Then he died. The historians said: "'Abd al-Malik was anxious and disturbed. His evil works attacked him, hence he hit himself on the head, and said: 'I wish I earned my livelihood day by day, busied myself with worshipping and obeying my Lord, the Great and Almighty.'
2"
'Abd al-Malik appointed his son al-Walid as successor after him. He ordered him to take care of al-Hajja`j, a terrorist criminal, saying: "Consider al-Hajja`j and honor him. It is he who has paved the way to the pulpits, and he is your sword, Walid, and your hand against your enemy. Listen not to anyone's words against him. You need him
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1 Kifa`yat al-Ta`lib, pp. 448-449. Ja`mi' Kara`ma`t al-Awliya`', vol. 2, p. 156. Sharh Sha`fiyat Abi Fira`s, vol. 2, p. 104. Ta`rikh Dimashq, vol. 36, p. 148. Mata`lib al-Sa'u`l fi Mana`qib Al al-Rasu`l, vol. 2, pp. 43-44. Bahr al-Ansa`b, p. 42. Al-Majjlisi, Biha`r al-Anwa`r, vol. 46, p. 123. A'ya`n al-Shï'a Q/4/235. Hulyat al-Awliya`', and others.
2 Al-Bida`ya wa al-Niha`ya, vol. 9, p. 68.
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more than he needs you. When I die, summon the people to pledge allegiance to you. Employ your sword against those who refuse it.
1"
These commandments represent 'Abd al-Malik's inclinations toward evil even in the last hours of his lifetime. He advised his son to take care of al-Hajja`j, the sinful shedder of blood, who drowned the Islamic countries in afflictions and misfortunes, spread bereavement, sorrow, and mourning among the Muslims. He also ordered him to kill those who were dissatisfied with the Umayyad government. Nothing remained after these commandments except moments, and then he died.
2 His death was on Wednesday, the first half of Shawwa`l, in the year 86 A. H.
3 Al-Hasan al-Basri was asked about 'Abd al-Malik, and he said: "What will I say concerning a man one of whose evil acts was al-Hajja`j?
4"
Al-Walid Bin 'Abd al-Malik
Al-Walid held the reins of government on the day when his father 'Abd al-Malik died. Al-Mas'u`di described him saying: "Al-Walid was a stubborn, unjust, and malicious tyrant.
5" He made grammatical mistakes. He delivered a sermon in the Mosque of the Prophet saying: "Ya` ahlu al-Medina (O People of Medina)." Ahl is a noun in the vocative. The grammatical rule says that such a noun must be in the accusative. However, he used damma in stead of fattha. One day he delivered a speech saying: Ya` laytuha` ka`nt al-qa`diya [O would that it had made an end (of me)]. He used damma in stead of fattha on the letter. Hence 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz said: "May it be against you and relieve us from you!" His father blamed him for his making grammatical mistakes saying: "None can be a ruler over the Arabs
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1 Al-Siyu`ti, Ta`rikh al-Khulafa`', p. 220.
2 Haya`t al-Ima`m al-Ba`qir, vol. 2, p. 40.
3 Al-Bida`ya wa al-Niha`ya, vol. 9, p. 68.
4 Al-Mas'u`di, Muru`jj al-Dhahab, vol. 3, p. 96.
5 Ibid.
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except him who speaks their language well." Then he gathered the grammarians to teach him. Hence al-Walid entered a house and did not go out of it for six months. Then he went out of it while he was more ignorant of grammar than he was before.
1 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz criticized al-Walid's government saying: "Al-Walid was one of those who filled the earth with tyranny!
2"
In the time of this arrogant tyrant (al-Walid), Sa'id b. Jubayr, a great scholar, was murdered by al-Hajja`j b. Yousif. His murder was among the critical events which terrified the Muslims.
This tyrant (al-Walid) appointed Sa`lih b. 'Abd Allah al-Murri governor over Medina (Yathrib). He wrote to him to bring al-Hasan b. al-Hasan, an 'Alid person, out of prison and whip him five hundred times. Hence Sa`lih took al-Hasan to the Mosque in order to whip him before the people. When Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, heard of this, he hastened to al-Hasan, approached him, and said to him: "O cousin, supplicate (Allah) with the supplication for grief, and He will relieve you."
"What is it?" al-Hasan asked.
Say: "There is no god but Allah, the Clement, the Generous! There is no god but Allah, the All-high, the All-mighty! Glory belongs to Allah, Lord of the seven heavens, Lord of the Great Throne! Praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds!"
Al-Hasan repeated this supplication, and supplicated Allah sincerely. Hence Allah turned the affliction away from him. The Governor did not carry out what he was commanded to do. Then he wrote to al-Walid about al-Hasan's affair, and he ordered him to release him.
3
The historians said: "Al-Walid was the most malicious toward Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him. He thought that the kingdom
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1 Ibn al-Athïr, Ta`rikh, vol. 3, p. 138.
2 Al-Siyu`ti, Ta`rikh al-Khulafa`', p. 223.
3 Al-Itha`f bi Hub al-Ashra`f, p. 76.
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and authority would not go well with him as long as the Ima`m, peace be on him, was (alive). Hence he gave him poison to drink.
1" I (the author) will mention this at the end.
Any how, al-Walid was the last Umayyad king with whom the Ima`m was coeval.
The Ima`m's Attitude
As for the Ima`m's attitude toward the kings of his time, it was distinguished by hatred and detest toward them, for their works were corrupt, their policy was evil, and they deviated from the Straight Path. In the meantime, he expected that Islam would be exalted, and its troops would be victorious over the troops of those who deviated from it, that the Banner of Allah might wave high over the earth.
The Ima`m's Supplication for the
People of the Frontiers
This is one of the great supplications, which display the highest moral traits of the Ima`m, peace be on him, and his great talents, which did not yield to any desire except the truth. Now, let's listen to this great supplication with which he would supplicate for the people of the frontiers:
"O Allah, bless Mohammed and his Household, fortify the frontiers of the Muslims through Your mighty, support their defenders through Your strength, and lavish upon them gifts through Your wealth! O Allah, bless Mohammed and his Household, increase their number, hone their weapons, guard their territory, defend their midst, unite their throng, arrange their affair, send them supplies in a steady string, undertake Yourself to suffice them with provisions, support them with victory, help them with patience, and give them subtlety in guile! O Allah, bless Mohammed and his Household, give them the
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1 Al-Durr al-Nazïm, p. 182.
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knowledge of that of which they are ignorant, teach them what they do not know, and show them what they do not see!
"O Allah, bless Mohammed and his Household, make them forget when they meet the enemy to remember this cheating and delusive world of theirs, erase from their hearts the thought of enchanting possessions, place the Garden before their eyes, and display to their sight that part of it which You have prepared for them(the homes of everlastingness and mansions of honor, the beautiful houris, the rivers gushing forth with all sorts of drinks, the trees hanging low with all kinds of fruits(lest any of them think of turning his back or suggest to himself to flee his opponent!"
This part is full of prayers for the Muslim defenders and guards , who were at the frontiers, and stood as strong barriers in order to prevent the enemies from entering the Islamic lands. The Ima`m supplicated to Allah for them in order to exalt them, to support them, to increase their number, and to make their weapons penetrate the necks of their enemies. He asked Him to unite their throng, to arrange their affair, to send them supplies in a steady string, and to suffice them with provisions, that they might be stable and free from need. He asked Him to support them with victory when they met their enemies, to make them forget the remembrance of the world, the thought of possessions which would prevent them from resisting their enemies, and to place the Garden before their eyes, that they might fight with faithfulness and sincerity. These brilliant paragraphs of the Ima`m, peace be on him, show that he had a wide experience in war techniques and psychological ways which would give the strugglers a success in fighting against the enemies. Now, let's listen to other parts of this great supplication:
"O Allah, defeat their enemy through that, trim their nails from them, separate them from their weapons, pull out the firm ties from their hearts, keep them far away from their stores, bewilder them in their roads, turn them astray from their direction, cut off reinforcements from them, chop them down in numbers, fill their hearts with terror, hold back their tongues from speaking, scatter by
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them the ones behind them, make them a lesson for those beyond them, and through their degradation cut off the hopes of those who come after them.
"O Allah, make the wombs of their women barren, dry up the loins of their men, cut off the breeding of their mounts and their cattle, and permit not their sky to rain or their earth to grow! O Allah, through that strengthen the prowess of the People of Islam, fortify their cities, increase their properties, give them ease from their fighting to worship You and from their warfare to be alone with You, so that none will be worshipped in the regions of the earth but You and no forehead of theirs may be rubbed in dust for less than You!"
These paragraphs are full of supplications against the enemy troops which warred against Islam. The Ima`m, peace be on him, asked Allah, the Exalted, to defeat their troops, to divide them, to separate them from their weapons, to fill their hearts with fear and terror of the Muslims. He asked Allah, the Exalted, to tie back their tongues from speaking, and to inflict on them a destructive defeat which would make them a lesson for those beyond them. He asked Allah to dry up the loins of their men and to make the wombs of their women barren, for they would give birth to unbelievers. He asked Him to destroy their economic life, that they might not be strong enough to war against the Muslims. Then he asked Him to exalt and strengthen the Muslims, that they might devote themselves to worshipping and obeying Him. Now, let's listen to another part of this Holy Supplication:
"O Allah, send out the Muslims of every region on raids against the idolaters who face them! Reinforce them with angels in ranks from You, till the idolaters are routed by them to the end of the land, slain in Your earth or taken captive, or till they admit that You are Allah, other than whom there is no god, You are alone, who has no associate! O Allah, include in this Your enemies in the regions of the lands, the Indians, the Byzantines, the Turks, the Khasars, the Abyssinians, the Nubians, the Zanjis, the Slavs, the Daylamites, and
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the rest of the idol-worshipping nations, those whose names and attributes are concealed, but whom You count in Your cognizance and oversee through Your power! O Allah, distract the idolaters from reaching for the borders of the Muslims through the idolaters, bar them from cutting them down through being cut down, and hold them back from massing together against them through dissension! O Allah, empty their hearts of security and their bodies of strength, distract their hearts from thinking of stratagems, make their limbs too feeble for clashing with men, make them too cowardly for contending with champions, send against them a troop of Your angels with some of Your severity as You did on the Day of Badr, so that through it You may cut off their roots, harvest their thorns, and disperse their number!"
This paragraph shows that the Ima`m took great care of the victory of the Muslims over the idolaters. He asked Allah to reinforce them with angels in ranks from Him, till the idolaters were routed by them to the end of the land, slain in His earth or taken captive, or till they admitted the Unity of Allah, the Creator of the universe and Giver of life.
The Ima`m, peace be on him, went on supplicating against the unbelieving troops which spread in the regions of the earth. He asked Allah to abase and undermine them, to spread among them enmity and detest, so that they might not unite their throng against the Muslims. He asked Him to empty their hearts of security and their bodies of strength, make their limbs too feeble for clashing with the Muslims, to reinforce the Muslims with angels in ranks, that He might grant them a victory, as He did at the Battle of Badr, so that He might harvest the thorns of the idolaters, disperse their number and throng. Now, let's listen to another part of this great supplication:
"Mix their waters with pestilence and their foods with maladies, hurl down their cities, harass them with peltings, hinder them through drought, place their supplies in the most ill-omened part of Your earth and the farthest from them, bar them from its fortresses, and strike them with constant hunger and painful illness! O Allah, if a worrier
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from the people of Your creed wars against them or a struggler from the followers of your prescriptions struggles against them so that Your religion may be the highest, You party the strongest, and Your share the fullest, cast ease to him, arrange his affair, attend to him by granting success, select for him his companions, strengthen his back, lavish upon him livelihood, give him enjoyment of joyous vitality, cool for him the heat of yearning, give him sanctuary from the gloom of loneliness, make him forget the remembrance of wife and child, pass along to him an excellent intention, attend to him with well-being, make safety his companion, release him from cowardice, inspire him with boldness, provide him with strength, support him with help, teach him right conduct and the norms of the Sunna, point him straight in judgment, remove from him hypocrisy, purify him from seeking fame, and make his thinking and remembrance, his departing and his staying, be in You and for You! When he stands in ranks before Your enemy and his enemy, make them few in his eye, diminish their importance in his heart, give him a turn to prevail over them, not them a turn to prevail over him! But if You seal him with felicity and decree for him martyrdom, then let it be after he has exterminated Your enemies by slaying, captivity has afflicted them, the borders of the Muslims are secure, and the enemy has turned his back in flight!"
This part of the supplication of the Ima`m, peace be on him, contains the following:
Firstly, the Ima`m supplicated Allah against the idolaters who warred against Islam and showed enmity toward it. He asked Allah to strike them with the pestilence which is nowadays called Cholera, which spreads through water, and it infects those who drink it. In his supplication, the Ima`m has discovered this scientific reality. He also supplicated Him to mix their foods with maladies, that they might be unable to fight against Islam. Moreover, he asked Him to afflict their cities with eclipse and earthquakes, to strike them with drought and hunger, and to decrease their foods, that their sate might be worse.
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Secondly, the Ima`m, peace be on him, asked Allah, the Exalted, to strengthen those who struggled for His sake, in the way of Islam, and defeating the troops which showed enmity toward it. He asked Him to give them success, strength, activity, well-being, bravery, boldness, and harshness against the enemies. Any how, he asked Him to lavish upon them all good qualities. After this, let's listen to the last parts of his supplication:
"O Allah, and if a Muslim should take the place of a warrior or a soldier in his home, attend to those left behind in his absence, help him with a portion of his property, assist him with equipment, hone him for the struggle, send along with him a supplication for his purpose, or guard his honor in his absence, reward him with the like of his reward measure for measure, like for like, and recompense him for his act with an immediate compensation through which he will hasten to the profit of what he has sent forth and the joy of what he has given, till the present moment takes him to the bounty You have granted to him and the generosity You have prepared for him!
"O Allah, and if the affair of Islam should worry a Muslim and the alliance of the idolaters' against Islam should grieve him, so that he has the intention to go to war and is about to enter the struggle, but frailty keeps him seated, neediness keeps him waiting, a mishap delays him, or an obstruction prevents him from his wish, write his name among the worshippers, make incumbent for him the reward of the strugglers, and place him among the ranks of the martyrs and the righteous!
"O Allah, bless Mohammed, Your slave and Your messenger, and the Household of Mohammed, with a blessing high above all other blessings, towering beyond all other blessings, towering beyond all other salutations, a blessing whose end is never reached and whose number is never cut off, like the most perfect of Your blessings that have passed to any one of Your friends! You are All-kind, Praiseworthy, the Originator who takes back again, Accomplisher of what You desire."
1
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1 Al-Sahïfa al-Sajja`diya, supplication no. 27.
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The Ima`m, peace be on him, supplicated for him who took the place of a worrier or a soldier, attended to his family in his absence, helped him with a portion of his property, assisted him with equipment, and honed him for the struggle. He asked Allah to reward such a person with the like of the worrier's reward measure for measure. He also supplicated for the Muslim who took care of the affair of Islam, grieved because the idolaters massed together against Islam, intended to go to war, and was about to enter the struggle, but an obstruction kept him seated. The Ima`m, peace be on him, asked Allah to make his reward like that of the strugglers, and place him among the martyrs and the righteous.
With this we will end our speech about the kings with whom the Ima`m, peace be on him, was contemporary.
