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...

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...