Islamic Articles

Ibn Jarir [al-Tabari] has said that when the news of al-Husayn's martyrdom was announced, ‘Abdullah Ibn Ja’far held a mourning majlis, so people came to him to offer their condolences. His slave, Abul-Lislas,61 said to him, “This is what we got from ...

Ibn Jarir [al-Tabari] has said that when the news ...

Ibn Jarir [al-Tabari] narrates the following: Ibn Ziyad wanted to send ‘Abd al-Malik Ibn al-Harith al-Salami to Medina in order to inform ‘Amr Ibn Sa’id al-Ashdaq48 of the killing of al-Husayn (‘a), but he sought to be excused of such an undertaking...

Ibn Jarir [al-Tabari] narrates the following: Ibn...

My heart goes for your head atop a spear Outfitted with its own lights with an attire, Reciting the Book from the top of the spear, Through him did they raise the Book even higher.38 The martyred grandson of the Prophet (S) remained an ally of the Q...

My heart goes for your head atop a spear Outfitted...

At the same time when Ibn Ziyad ordered the captives to be brought to his meeting place, he also ordered al-Mukhtar son of Abu ‘Ubayd al-Thaqafi to be brought to him, too. Al-Mukhtar had been in prison since the assassination of Muslim Ibn ‘Aqil. Wh...

At the same time when Ibn Ziyad ordered the captiv...

Hammad said to the Imam (‘a), “I have personally witnessed some of what you have just described.” The Imam (‘a), then said, “Praise to Allah Who has made some people come to us, praise us, and mourn us, and praised is He for making our enemy shame th...

Hammad said to the Imam (‘a), “I have personally w...

Imam Zayn al-’Abidin (‘a) walked to his father's body, hugged it and wept loudly. Then he came to the gravesite and lifted a handful of its soil. A grave already dug appeared, and so did a pre-constructed shrine... He placed his hands under the Imam...

Imam Zayn al-’Abidin (‘a) walked to his father's b...

Historians record that the Master of Martyrs (‘a) set up a tent on the battlefield,1 ordering those killed from among his companions and Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) to be carried to it. Whenever a fresh martyr was brought, he (‘a), would say, “You have been ki...

Historians record that the Master of Martyrs (‘a) ...

‘Ali Ibn al-Husayn (‘a) was brought on a lean camel. Chains were placed on his neck, and he was handcuffed. Both sides of his neck were bleeding. He was repeating these verses: O nation of evil, may your quarter never tastes of water! O nation that ...

‘Ali Ibn al-Husayn (‘a) was brought on a lean came...

Umm Kulthum said, “Silence, O people of Kufa! Your men murder us, while your women mourn us! The judge between us and you is Allah on the Day of Final Judgment. O people of Kufa! Horrible, indeed, is what you have committed. Why did you betray Husay...

Umm Kulthum said, “Silence, O people of Kufa! You...

Fatima, al-Husayn's daughter,8 delivered a speech saying, “All Praise is due to Allah, as much as the number of the sands and of the stones, as much as the ‘Arsh weighs up to the ground. I praise Him, believe in Him, and rely upon Him, and I testify...

Fatima, al-Husayn's daughter,8 delivered a speech ...

The daughter of the Commander of the Faithful (‘a) explained to people Ibn Ziyad's villainy and meanness in a speech which she delivered to them. She signaled to the large crowd to calm down. They did, standing as if birds were resting on their heads...

The daughter of the Commander of the Faithful (‘a)...

When Zainab al-Kubra, daughter of ‘Ali (‘a),21 read his face, she felt upset on his account and took to consoling him and admonishing him to be patient although even the mountains could not match him in his patience and fortitude. Among what she said...

When Zainab al-Kubra, daughter of ‘Ali (‘a),21 rea...

When Ibn Sa’d sent the heads to Kufa, he remained with the army till the time of zawal on the eleventh day [of Muharram]. He gathered those killed from his army and performed the funeral prayers for them then buried them, leaving the corpses of the ...

When Ibn Sa’d sent the heads to Kufa, he remained ...

Ibn Sa’d ordered the heads to be severed from their bodies. They were distributed to various tribes that used them as means to seek favour with Ibn Ziyad. The Kindah tribe took thirteen brought by their envoy, Qays Ibn al-Ash’ath. The Hawazin tribe ...

Ibn Sa’d ordered the heads to be severed from thei...

Ibn Sa’d shouted, “Who volunteers to make sure that the chest and the back of al-Husayn (‘a) are run over by the horses?” Ten men stood up.1 Those miscreant “volunteers” were: Ishaq Ibn Hawiyyah,2 al-Ahbash Ibn Murshid Ibn ‘Alqamah Ibn Salamah al-Ha...

Ibn Sa’d shouted, “Who volunteers to make sure tha...

O father of al-Hasan! The one best to protect his neighbour, To you do I complain with overflowing tears, Let alone a great shame that overspread Wherein tears are part of my address. Should you overlook as you today see How Umayyah's offspring sough...

O father of al-Hasan! The one best to protect his ...

Abu ‘Ali, al-Muhsin Ibn ‘Ali al-Tanukhi, the judge, quotes his father saying, “Abul-Hasan, the scribe, inquired once about who the son of the mourner was. Nobody in the meeting place at Karkh6 knew the answer besides myself. I asked him, ‘What is th...

Abu ‘Ali, al-Muhsin Ibn ‘Ali al-Tanukhi, the judge...

Anyone who follows the path of the Infallible Imams, peace be upon them, will surely feel very grieved if he had the opportunity to spend the eleventh night at the grave of the oppressed Imam (‘a). Signs of disappointment and depression as well as g...

Anyone who follows the path of the Infallible Imam...

The enemies of Allah waited for a short while then returned to al-Husayn (‘a) whom they surrounded as he sat on the ground unable to stand. ‘Abdullah son of Imam al-Hasan (‘a), grandson of the Prophet (S), who was then eleven years old, looked and sa...

The enemies of Allah waited for a short while then...

Hani Ibn Thabit al-Hadrami has said, “I was standing with nine other men when al-Husayn (‘a) was killed. It was then that I looked and saw one of the children from al-Husayn's family wearing a robe and a shirt, and in his ears there were two rings. H...

Hani Ibn Thabit al-Hadrami has said, “I was standi...

Then he (‘a), bade his family farewell for the second time, ordering them to be patient. He put on the outer mantles as he said, “Get ready for the affliction, and be advised that Allah Almighty shall protect and safeguard you, and He shall save you ...

Then he (‘a), bade his family farewell for the sec...