He then ordered his infant son [‘Abdullah] to be brought to him so that he would say good-bye to him. Zainab brought him his baby son ‘Abdullah8 as well as the latter’s mother al-Rubab. He placed him in his lap and kept kissing him9 and repeating thi...

He then ordered his infant son [‘Abdullah] to be b...

When al-’Abbas was killed, al-Husayn (‘a) turned to see none to help him against his foes. He looked and saw how his family members and companions lied slaughtered on the ground. He heard the wailing of the orphans and the cries of the children. As ...

When al-’Abbas was killed, al-Husayn (‘a) turned t...

Al-’Abbas could no longer bear life after having seen how his companions and the members of his family killed and how the Hujjah of his time was suffering from the great number of the enemies surrounding him after his supply route had been cut off an...

Al-’Abbas could no longer bear life after having s...

When al-’Abbas (‘a), saw how such a large number of his family members were being killed, he said to his brothers ‘Abdullah, ‘Uthman, and Ja’far, “Advance, O brothers, so that I may see you supporting the cause of Allah and His Messenger (S).” Then ...

When al-’Abbas (‘a), saw how such a large number o...

Abu Bakr, son of Imam al-Hasan son of the Commander of the Faithful (‘a), came out. His first name was ‘Abdullah al-Akbar [‘Abdullah senior] and his mother was an “umm walad”8 named Ramla.9 He fought till he was killed.10 After the latter, his full-...

Abu Bakr, son of Imam al-Hasan son of the Commande...

My heart goes for the ladies of the Prophet When thus they saw him in that condition. Their wailing and their cries did intensify So the minds and the souls were baffled by their cry. The wise ladies mourned their protector And so did virtues and mer...

My heart goes for the ladies of the Prophet When t...

Al-Husayn (‘a) wept and said, “O help! How quickly shall you meet your grandfather who will give you a drink after which you shall never suffer of thirst.” He gave him his tongue to suck then his ring to put in his mouth.16 He returns to bid farewel...

Al-Husayn (‘a) wept and said, “O help! How quickly...

None remained with al-Husayn (‘a) except his Ahl al-Bayt who were determined to face death with their might and to maintain their dignity. They came bidding each other farewell1 the first being Abul-Hasan2 ‘Ali al-Akbar3 who was twenty-seven years ol...

None remained with al-Husayn (‘a) except his Ahl a...

al-Hajjaj al-Ju’fi Al-Hajjaj Ibn Masruq al-Ju’fi fought till his body became soaked with blood. He went to al-Husayn (‘a) reciting: Today shall I meet your Grandfather, the Nabi, Then your father, the generous one, ‘Ali, The one we know as the wasi...

al-Hajjaj al-Ju’fi Al-Hajjaj Ibn Masruq al-Ju’fi ...

After him ‘Abdullah son of Muslim Ibn ‘Aqil Ibn Abu Talib and Ruqayya, the great daughter of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam ‘Ali (‘a),32 charged as he recited this verse: Today Muslim, my father, shall I meet With a band sacrificed for the Prop...

After him ‘Abdullah son of Muslim Ibn ‘Aqil Ibn Ab...

‘Amr Ibn Junadah al-Ansari came out after his father had been killed. He was only eleven years old. He sought al-Husayn's permission to fight, but al-Husayn (‘a) refused saying, “This is a young boy whose father was killed in the first campaign, and ...

‘Amr Ibn Junadah al-Ansari came out after his fath...

Anas Ibn al-Harith Ibn Nabih al-Kahili was an old man and a renowned sahabi who had met and listened to the hadith of the Prophet (S) and fought in his company the battles of Badr and Hunain. He, too, sought al-Husayn's permission to go and fight. H...

Anas Ibn al-Harith Ibn Nabih al-Kahili was an old ...

John63, a slave of Abu Tharr al-Ghifari, stood before al-Husayn (‘a) requesting him to grant him permission to fight. The Imam (‘a) said, “O John! You followed us seeking your good health, so you are excused.” But the old man fell on the Imam's feet...

John63, a slave of Abu Tharr al-Ghifari, stood bef...

'Abis Ibn Shabib al-Shakiri came to Shawthab61, a slave of Shakir. Shawthab was a sincere man whose house was always frequented by the Shi’as; it was there that they discussed the merits of Ahl al-Bayt (‘a). He said, “O Shawthab! What do you intend ...

'Abis Ibn Shabib al-Shakiri came to Shawthab61, a ...

Hanzalah Ibn Sa’d al-Shabami called out, “O folks! I fear for you the like of the day of al-Ahzab, the like of the people of Noah, of ‘Ad, of Thamud, and of those who came after them. Allah never intends to deal unjustly with His servants. O people!...

Hanzalah Ibn Sa’d al-Shabami called out, “O folks!...

Yazid Ibn Ma’qil57 called out, “O Burayr! How do you see what Allah has done to you?!” Burayr answered: “Allah has done very well to me while afflicting you with evil.” Yazid said, “You have lied, and before today you were never known to lie. Do you...

Yazid Ibn Ma’qil57 called out, “O Burayr! How do y...

When Wadih, a Turkish slave of al-Harith al-Mathhaji, received a heavy blow, he sought the help of al-Husayn (‘a) who came to him and hugged him. Having seen that, he retorted saying, “Who can be as lucky as I am when the son of the Messenger of Alla...

When Wadih, a Turkish slave of al-Harith al-Mathha...

Using poisoned arrows, Nafi’ Ibn Hilal al-Jamali al-Mathhaji shot arrows on which he had written his name50 as he recited these verses:51 I shoot it, and its tips trained In poison, on the wind borne, To fill the earth with shots, and the soul Is no...

Using poisoned arrows, Nafi’ Ibn Hilal al-Jamali a...

‘Amr Ibn Qarzah al-Ansari47 came and stood before al-Husayn (‘a), protecting him from the enemy and exposing his own chest and face to their arrows. Thus, al-Husayn (‘a) was not harmed. But when his wounds overpowered him, he turned to Abu ‘Abdullah ...

‘Amr Ibn Qarzah al-Ansari47 came and stood before ...

Salman Ibn Mudarib al-Bajali, a cousin of Zuhayr Ibn al-Qayn al-Bajali, came out and fought till he was killed. He was followed by Zuhayr Ibn al-Qayn who put his hand on al-Husayn's shoulder and sought permission to fight with these verses: Advance,...

Salman Ibn Mudarib al-Bajali, a cousin of Zuhayr I...

Al-Husayn (‘a) stood to perform his prayers. It is said that he led the prayers' service before the survivors from among his companions. It was a special prayer called Salat al-khawf, the prayer said by one fearing for his life. In front of him stood...

Al-Husayn (‘a) stood to perform his prayers. It is...