The Triumph Of Truth

(14) The Triumph of Truth

     A day dawned, when there was a stir in the prison The jailors were puzzled; what could be the reason The Queen of Damascus, was visiting the prison To even imagine such a thing, was an act of treason! Zainal Abedeen was in prayers, a guard entered the cell Fizza, the oldest amongst prisoners, he turned to tell About the visit of Her Highness, Queen Hind, and to ensure, That not a word of complaint was uttered, by way of censure. With her ladies-in-waiting, Hind entered the cell Gloomy, was the dungeon, unventilated and dark, as hell With bowed heads, and faces covered with long tresses, The ladies were sitting, with torn and tattered dresses.
     An emaciated figure, with heavy chains and manacles Was busy with prayer, though unable to stand in shackles A lady, with her head, lay prostrate on a small grave In a corner of prison, portraying the sad and pitiable tale. Hind, was perplexed; she was dumb-founded Approaching the grave, the lady she sounded "My good lady, do let me know, who are you For what crimes, you are behind the bar?"
     "Which family you belong to? Whose grave is this?
     Untold sufferings, your sorrowful face reveals." The lady burst into sobs; her lips were sealed Gently stroking her head, Hind herself kneeled. Another lady sat in a corner, surrounded by others She must be the one, who was, perhaps, their elder This was the lady, who had roared like a lion To hurl defiance at the court of the tyrant.
     "What are the reasons for your sufferings and plight" Hind inquired of Zaynab; her tone was so polite "My husband is evading, annoyingly, my repeated inquiries On grounds, that they relate to governmental diaries."
     "Lady Fatima, I am seeing frequently in my dreams In a most disconsolate state, she is, so it seems; I am perplexed, I am unable to understand What all this means. Explain to me if you can" "In the laps of luxury, Hind, you are comfortably living, Tortures, beyond human endurance, my children are facing; You are, no doubt, utterly in the dark of what has happened, To my near and dear ones, and my beloved son, Husayn."
     "My Lady's coming and her constant lamentations has it any connection with your incarceration. I really wonder, how can it at all be true Prophet's family, to do anything with you." The eyes of the two ladies met, for a moment One depicting a soulful of agony and torment, The other reflecting bewilderment and inquiring Zaynab burst into sobs, trying to control her feelings. She had not recognised her, so much the better It saved her the humiliation, to narrate the torture She partially covered her face, with her long hair Hoping that Hind would soon go away and leave her. Hind, suddenly remembered that, she had seen In better times, the venerable lady had been With a gasp, she cried, "Are my eyes deceiving me? Is that Lady Zaynab, O' no! how can it be?" "How can I, even entertain such a thought?
     I feel, I am getting demented, O' my Lord! For the sake of Lady Fatima, I, beseechingly, implore you Are you related to Lady Zaynab? Is it true?"
     "Hind, Zaynab died long ago on Karbala's plain, with youths of her family, who were slain; the shadow of Zaynab, is now before you.
     Those who can recognise her are, indeed, few." Covering her face, her tears, she tried to hide Falling prostrate at her feet, Hind cried "Lady, forgive my utterly unpardonable neglect" begging forgiveness, she expressed profound regret. Zainal Abedeen had just completed his prayers; Turning to him, "O' my Imam, your forgiveness I crave, It was sheer thoughtlessness, for not probing deep I do not know how I could eat, drink or even sleep."
     "When my suspicion was aroused, on that first day when someone demanded, the young girl, Sakina as a slave; she must be the beloved daughter of my Lord Husayn. Was she enslaved, by some brute, with a wicked brain?"
     Zaynab stood up and going slowly towards Hind "In vain, you are looking for my beloved Sakina she is sleeping peacefully in that yonder grave relieved of sufferings, she had courageously braved."
     "May I ask, what was the cause of her untimely death?" this fragrant rose bud withered away, unsung, unwept she narrated the sufferings, she had bravely endured how her earlobes kept bleeding, how her body turned blue. Recounting her sufferings, Zaynab and others were crying Only one lady, sitting near the grave, was quietly lying Seeing her loosing consciousness, Zaynab immediately rushed Putting her head on her lap, she was very caressingly brushed. Hind, ordered cold water, from her nearby palace She sprinkled it on Umm Rabab's ash white face Opening her eyes with a dazed look, she glanced She faintly uttered, as if she was in a trance. Her grief stricken mind had created a protective shield To resist the cruel impact, of what fate had purposefully built To escape the grief laden atmosphere around the grave Of her darling daughter, who had, all sufferings braved.
     Zaynab felt, she must be awakened from this stupor Or else she would loose her sorrowing mind, for ever; She gently explained, that Sakina had joined her father, At this, she returned, to the word of reality with a shudder! Hind, excusing herself, to the palace she hurried Mu'awiya, her son, was the only male issue of Yazid Only they had access to him, without announcement They found Yazid, pacing up and down, himself denouncing.
     Yazid was surprised to see Hind's hair disheveled; Her eyes full of tears, charges she defiantly leveled Both mother and son, spared no words to make it plain, "Set free this very day, the family of Imam Husayn."
     The cup of cruelty had got filled to the brim Yazid was aware, the situation was getting grim; Realization had dawned that time was running out Nemesis might overtake him, unless he had stopped the rot. He was having nightmares, with Prophet upbraiding him Everyday, he was having most horrifying and frightening dreams "O' Yazid, what had my Husayn done to deserve your vengeance What made you bestow upon my family such inhuman penance."
     "Is your hatred, for me and my family, not yet satisfied Such tortures, you are inflicting, as can not be narrated."
     He was brooding about ways, to resolve the dilemma Which was his own creation, a self created drama! Now his own son, his own flesh and blood With Queen Hind, was flinging at him mud The time was now ripe to act with grace A little delay, and he would loose the race.
     "A strange way for pleading for mercy, you have Could you not find, a better way, to remonstrate I accede, to your request, to set the prisoners free I shall summon my court and announce my decree."
     "Now, both of you may rest, in peace, till they are free Let me have some respite, after the shock you have given me."
     "Peace, did you say?" in surprise, Hind burst out and cried "Can we ever have peace, after knowing what has transpired." "For these unforgivable atrocities and unpardonable sins Make best amends, to Lady Zaynab and Zainal Abedeen Restore them to the place of honor, which is their right."
     It is through them, that God sheds His Merciful Light! Decked, in a jeweled dress of silk and brocade Yazid sat on the throne; of solid gold it was made With full display of regalia, of Umayyad's courts It was late in the evening, all had assembled in the Fort. With all solemnity, the ushers announced in the Fort The grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was entering the court His garments tattered, but with dignity in his bearing Zainal Abedeen entered, with everyone admiring his daring. There was a radiance on his countenance; a "halo" on his face It inspired awe in their hearts; they stood up out of grace Yazid got up from his throne, seeing the spontaneous gesture Impelled by an uncontrollable force of undiscriminating nature. With a slow halting gait, Zainal Abedeen walked to the pulpit His aching lacerated legs, made walking an ordeal, a bit The rustling of the curtain, indicated the ladies had entered Seated behind the pulpit were the ladies, with Zaynab centered.
     Yazid offered condolences; his words sounded hollow Cursing his lieutenants; he tried to paint a "halo" He pleaded innocence, as if he had in it no hand He expressed profound regret, for all that happened. He told the Imam, that they were all know free He offered any amount, they wished as blood money Seeing the Imam's face turning red with rage He urged it in the name of religious usage.
     Zaynab, who was listening from behind the curtain, cried out "On the day of judgement, you shall be answerable, no doubt You offer, what you possess, on that day, to Prophet Muhammad It is not for us, to accept any money, for the Martyr's blood!" Yazid was abashed by the daughter of Ali's bold retort He had seen her courage, even as a prisoner in his court He changed the subject and addressing Zainal Abedeen He declared, "You are free to demand from me anything."
     "At your disposal, is a house of status and position befitting Highest honor and respect will be extended to you beings."
     "All we want is the severed heads of our near and dear ones Our looted property and clothes, though tattered and torn."
     Yazid, expressed extreme surprise, at the simple request They had not even ornaments, at the time of their arrest He could not see anything of value, in the things looted; The immense sentimental value, which in them, was rooted. He ordered restored of all their belongings, forthwith He endeavored their every desire, every wish, to meet Medina, via Karbala, they wished, to immediately return Canopied camels and best horses; the purchase was done. The local citizens paid their respectful condolences To serve them, they vied with one another, for chances "Stay on in Damascus, for sometime", they all jointly pleaded. For burial rites, their presence in Karbala, was needed. The entire city turned out to bid them adieu Hind, had remained all along with Zaynab, now knew Time of parting was near; was unimaginably sad, When you live and venerate someone, more than your dad. She begged for forgiveness, for the past neglect, from each one She was about to leave, when came a call from someone Umm Rabab expressed, to Zaynab, her departing wish To visit the grave of Sakina, to bestow a farewell kiss!
     The disconsolate mother fell on Sakina's tiny grave With a heart-rending shriek; vent to her feelings she gave Turning to Hind, and other ladies of the unhappy town, "Occasionally, offer Fateha," she cried, and fell in a swoon.

(15) The Savior of Islam

     Sweet melodies blew the heavenly horn A joyous tiding; Husayn was born The sun rejoiced; the moon was gay Each in its orbit, each did away. The waters rippled; the wind was all play Never were they, so happy and gay It was Muhammad's light and Ali's ray The Savior of Islam, had come to stay. A gift to Muhammad, from his Lord A son to Ali, the sun of God A fruit of love, to the Lady of Light A brother to Hassan, to cause him delight. Born was he, out of God's grace A beacon light, to the human race A soul of souls, whom God made pure With heavenly love, the world to cure. The Prophet rejoiced; his eyes shed tears For here was one, to him most dear For here was one, for Islam's sake His life and all, would one day stake.
     For truth and justice, he would fight In cause of God, without respite For he was one, decreed by God To lay his life, for the love of Lord. The heavens were glad, for such a one The Lord should choose, Ali's son For best was he; the world had seen Whose vision one craves, even in dream.
     "Fed with love, by the Lady of Light" he got the best, of what was right and from his father, the 'Godly Knight' he drew his strength and his might. But Muhammad did give, beyond measure All that he had, as his treasure For he was his treasure, beyond doubt As he often publicly proclaimed aloud. "Love them my Lord, I do implore, Who love Husayn and him adore He is of me and I of him" Such a bond, the world had not seen! He sucked his tongue, in playful jest His breast he made, a place of rest The reins he made, his curls of hair His back he made, a stately mare. Such was the love, the Prophet bore For he was his grandson, and more An anchor sheet, to all who care To live and be, 'just and fair.'
     The life he lived; the path he led He earned by sweat; the poor he fed Not a pie had he, that he kept But the poor he gave, ere he slept. A king of kings, in simple attire The crowns of world, he never aspired To the uncared widow, and the needy orphan He gave his all, and all so often. Many a day, he tightened his loins To buy his own bread, he had no coins So noble of heart so pure a soul To please his Lord, was his goal. He lived for Lord and His delight He toiled by day and prayed by night The simplest of life, he liked to live The best of things, he liked to give.
     His life was such, a guiding light To know the wrong and know the right And such a soul, was asked to bow To one who was, the lowest of low. Yazid, the godless son of a crafty father Was proclaimed a king or Caliph rather Money and wine, most lavishly flowed Till all the worldly heads had bowed.
     But not the heads, who had bowed To God alone, who had showed The path of right, through Islam's ray Eighty and odd, among them, were they. To save Islam from its sinking depth Too glad were they, to face death But to the ungodly one, they refused to bow Undaunted and unnerved, they faced the foe. It was not a fight, for a kingdom Nor a family feud, as is not seldom It was a fight for principles and truth As imbibed by Islam, in its holy book. If he had bowed to the ungodly one Riches and honor he would have won Islam would then have been in name Its seal., would have adorned, the devil's reign. The time soon came for their test They were ready to lay their best With women and babes, handful were they Ready to face thousands, in battle array.
     To cut off water, was the only way To weaken them, they thought, for the fray So frightened were they, of Ali's son To fight them they knew, was no fun. Husayn was fully alive, to things at stake He knew well, his family's fate He was aware, that his was the Martyr's cup His end was near, his time was up! The sad day dawned; the heavens were aghast Truth was at stake; the die had been cast Never had they witnessed, so supreme a test; Falsehood at its worst versus truth at its best. The wind was aggrief, it tore each leaf Wild was its anger, wild with grief It shook the river by its throat The waves, it tossed all things afloat. The sun glared down, wild with fire It burned with rage; fierce was it's ire If only it could make itself somehow free From the chains of bonds of heaven's decree. The river was ashamed; hapless was it's plight Destiny's decree, how could it dare fight It's waters were controlled, by the rule of might Who cared a nought, for wrong or right. They guarded the river; they threw a ring To deny water was worst of a vindictive thing The hounds, they drank, and so did the drunks Innocent babes; parched were their tongues. For three torturous days and three night Muhammad's beloveds were in waterless plight Young babes of most holy and innocent fare Wailing and whining, the torture they share.
     O' Lord of Lords! What a pathetic sight Yazid's hordes, displaying their might Thousands and thousands of blood-thirsty hounds Waiting to pounce on eighty odd crowns. While handful of souls, engrossed in prayer Unheedful of them; a sight so divinely rare Young and old, they prayed to Merciful God With humble devotion, His help they sought. To give them strength; no, not to fight But to be content, in whatever plight For well they knew, their role of life Was to save Islam, from being knifed! The battle he lost, the fight he won Yazid's title of sanctity was shorn Islam's plant survived the onslaught Husayn's blood had watered the drought. The revenge was complete, so it seemed Abu Sufyan's pledge to Satan was redeemed The worldly eyes could, however, hardly see Husayn's blood had kept Islam pure and free.

(16) Tributes and Prayers

     My respectful condolence to the dearest sister of Husayn My tearful home, to the wife of Abdulla Tayyar, O' Zaynab Never was a woman, subjected to such sorrow and pain, As the daughter of Ali and Fatima, O' Zaynab! Aun and Muhammad, two unblossomed flowers of youth Ali Akbar, was no less dear, than your own sons O' Zaynab You sacrificed them all, at the altar of truth, So that, Islam may be rid of the Satan's hold, O' Zaynab! The tortures you bore; the insults you faced, Would have torn asunder any heart, O' Zaynab You did not flinch, even in grace, To the worst of ignominies and cruelties, O' Zaynab!
     Your unique faith in God; your invaluable support, Enabled Husayn to sacrifice his all, O' Zaynab Between brother and sister, never was such a rapport Your indomitable will, sustained his mission, O' Zaynab! Your heroic efforts, saved his sacrifices from going in vain Your courage, saved his lineage from extinction, O' Zaynab You presented the issues involved, in the sacrifices of Husayn Most eloquently, and in proper perspective, O' Zaynab!
     Your virtues are endless, as eternity, and so, till then, You will be mourned and gratefully remembered, O' Zaynab Pray to God, to grant my wish to serve Husayn And you, my lady, in this world, and the next, O' Zaynab!

AMEN

Names of Martyrs who sacrificed their lives at Karbala for the sake of
the lofty principles of Islam as mentioned in "Ziyarah al-Nahiyyah"

     1. Imam Husayn ibn Ali (Amir al Mu'mineen) grandson of Prophet Muhammad (s.a) (killed by Shimr Dhiljaushan)

     2. Ali al-Akbar ibn Husayn ibn Ali (killed by Murrah bin Munqiz bin Noman al Abdi)

     3. Abdullah (also known as Ali al-Asghar) ibn Husayn ibn Ali (killed by Harmala ibn Kahil al Asadi)

     4. Abdullah ibn Ali (Amir al Mu'mineen) (killed by Hani bin Thubaet al Hadhrami)

     5. Abul Fadhl al Abbas ibn Ali (Amir al Mu'mineen) (killed by Yazeed bin Ruqaad al Heeti and Hakeem bin Tufail al Taai)

     6. Ja'far ibn Ali (Amir al Mu'mineen) (killed by Hani bin Thubaet al Hadhrami)

     7. Uthman ibn Ali (Amir al Mu'mineen) (killed by Khooli bin Yazeed al Adhbahi al Ayadi and Abaani al Daarimi)

     8. Muhammad ibn Ali (Amir al Mu'mineen) (killed by Abaani al Daarimi)

     9. Abi Bakr ibn al Hassan ibn Ali (killed by Abdullah bin Aqabah al Ghanavi)

     10. Abdullah ibn al Hassan ibn Ali (killed by Harmala bin Kahil al Asadi)

     11. Qasim ibn al Hassan ibn Ali (killed by Umar bin Sa'd bin Nufail al Azdi)

     12. Aun ibn Abdullah ibn Ja'far al Tayyar (killed by Abdullah bin Kutayya al Nabahani)

     13. Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Ja'far al Tayyar (killed by Aamir bin Nahshal al Tameemi)

     14. Ja'far ibn Aqeel (killed by Khalid bin Asad al Johani)

     15. Abdullah ibn Muslim ibn Aqeel (killed by Aamir bin Sa'sa'ah)

     16. Abu Abdullah ibn Muslim ibn Aqeel (killed by Amr bin Sudaih Saedavi)

     17. Muhammad ibn Abu Saeed ibn Aqeel (killed by Laqeet bin Naashir al Johani)

     18. Sulaiman, slave of Imam Husayn (killed by Sulaiman bin Auf Hadhrami)

     19. Qaarib, slave of Imam Husayn

     20. Munjeh, slave of Imam Husayn

     21. Muslim ibn Ausajah al Asadi (killed by Abdullah al Dhubabi and Abdullah Khashkara al Bajali)

     22. Saeed ibn Abdullah al Hanafi

     23. Bishr ibn Amr al Khadhrami

     24. Yazeed ibn al Haseen (reciter of Qur'an)

     25. Imran ibn al Kalb al Ansari

     26. Na'eem ibn al Ajlan al Ansari

     27. Zuhair ibn al Qain al Bajali

     28. Amr ibn Qurzah al Ansari

     29. Habeeb ibn Madhahir al Asadi

     30. Hurr ibn Yazeed al Reyahi

     31. Abdullah ibn al Umair al Kalbi

     32. Nafe ibn al Hilal al Jamali al-Muradi

     33. Anas ibn Kahil ibn al Harth al Asadi

     34. Qais ibn al Mussahar al Saedawi

     35. Abdullah ibn Urwah ibn al Harraaq al Ghifaaree

     36. Abdul Rahman ibn Urwah ibn al Harraaq al-Ghifaaree

     37. Shabeeb ibn Abdullah Nahshali

     38. Jaun, slave of Abu Dharr al-Ghifaree

     39. Hujjaj ibn Zaid Sa'di

     40. Qasit ibn Zuhair al-Tha'labee

     41. Kursh (Muqsit) ibn Zuhair al-Thalabee

     42. Kinaanah ibn Ateeq

     43. Dhargham ibn Maalik

     44. Jowain ibn Maalik al-Dhabaai

     45. Zaid ibn Thubait al-Qaesi

     46. Abdullah ibn Zaid ibn Thubait al-Qaesi

     47. Ubaidullah ibn Zaid ibn Thubait al-Qaesi

     48. Amir ibn Muslim

     49. Qa'nab ibn Amr al-Namari

     50. Salim, slave of Amir ibn Muslim

     51. Saif ibn Malik

     52. Zuhair ibn Bashi al-Khath'ami

     53. Zaid ibn Me'qal al-Jo'afi

     54. Hujjaj ibn Masrooq al-Jo'afi

     55. Mas'ood ibn Hajjaj

     56. Son (name not known) of Mas'ood ibn Hajjaj

     57. Majma' ibn Abdullah al-Aezi

     58. Ammar ibn Hassan ibn Shuraib al-Taai

     59. Hayyan ibn Haarith al-Salmaani al-Azdi

     60. Jundab ibn Hujair al-Khanlani

     61. Umar ibn Khalid al-Saedaawi

     62. Saeed, slave of Umar ibn Khalid

     63. Yazid ibn Ziad ibn Mazahi al-Kindi

     64. Zaahir, slave of Amir ibn Humuq al-Khuzaa'ee

     65. Jabalah ibn Ali al-Shaybani

     66. Saalim, slave of Bani Medinat al-Kalbi

     67. Aslam ibn Khateer al-Azdi

     68. Zuhair ibn Sulaim al-Azdi

     69. Qasim ibn Habeeb al-Azdi

     70. Umar ibn al-Ohdooth al-Hadhrami

     71. Abu Thamaamah, Umar ibn Abdullah al-Saaedi

     72. Hanzalah ibn As'ad al-Shaami

     73. Abdul-Rahman ibn Abdullah al-Arhabi

     74. Ammaar ibn Abu Salaamah al-Hamdaami

     75. Aabis ibn Shabeeb al-Shaakiree

     76. Shaozab, slave of Shaaki

     77. Shabeeb ibn Haarith ibn Saree

     78. Maalik ibn Abdullah ibn Saree

     79. Sawwar ibn Abi Uman al-Nohami al-Hamdani¹

     80. Amar ibn Abdullah al-Junda'i²

Opinions Expressed by Distinguished non-Muslims
on the Martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali (A.S)

A reminder of the blood-stained field of Karbala, where the grandson of the Apostle of God fell at length tortured by thirst and surrounded by the bodies of his murdered kinsmen, has been at anytime since then sufficient to evoke, even in the most lukewarm and heedless, the deepest emotions, the most frantic grief and an exaltation of spirit before which pain, danger and death shrink to unconsidered trifles."


"In a distant age and clime the tragic scene of the death of Husain will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader." "In the history of Islam, especially the life of Imam Husain stand unique, unapproached and unapproachable by anyone. Without his martyrdom, Islam would have extinguished long ago. He was the saviour of Islam and it was due to his martyrdom that Islam took such a deep root, which it is neither possible nor even imaginable to destroy now."


"The best lesson which we get from the tragedy of Karbala is that Husain and his followers were the rigid believers of God, they illustrated that numerical superiority does not count when it comes to truth and falsehood. The victory of Husain despite his minority marvels me."


"If Husain fought to quench his worldly desires, (as alleged by certain Christian critics) then I do not understand why his sisters, wives and children accompanied him. It stands to reason therefore that he sacrificed purely for Islam."


"It was possible for Husain to save his life by submitting himself to the will of Yazid. But his responsibility as a reformer did not allow him to accept Yazid's Caliphate. He therefore prepared to embrace all sorts of discomfort and inconvenience in order to deliver Islam from the hands of the Umayyads. Under the blazing sun, on the parched land and against the stifling heat of Arabia, stood the immortal Husain."


____________
1 Wounded Martyr who was captured and died in prison.

2 Pierced together with Martyr No. 79.