28/07/2023
In the name of the Most High
The month of Muharram is regarded the first month on the Lunar Hijri Calendar. Islamically, it brings with it controversial historical and religious issues. While some Muslims consider it a time of merry making for some reasons, for other reasons, other Muslims also view the month as a time for grief, lamentation, and mourning. The former are of the view that the tenth day of the month, specifically, is the day in which Prophet Musa and other previous prophets had victory over their enemies, hence celebration and fasting on the day. Conversely, the later hold the view that, it should serve as a day of mourning because it was the day in which Husain (a), the son/grandson of the Prophet (s), was slaughtered and martyred together with seventy one people on the plains of Karbala in Iraq, fifty years after the demise of the holy Prophet (s).
This brief survey sets to look at the actions and reactions of the holy Prophet (s) as to the news of the martyrdom of Husain (a) prior to its occurrence; his continues weeping for Husain, his reactions to the soil of the land of Karbala, and the walk he embarked on to inform his companions of the sad news.
*The Prophet’s continuous weeping over Husain’s martyrdom*
1. *At birth:*
From Asma’:
“I assisted your grandmother [Fatima (A)] during the birth of Hasan and Hussain (A). When Hasan (A) was born (she gave details and then continued) ... When Hussain (A) was born, the Holy Prophet (S) came to me and said, 'O Asma! Bring my son [Hussain (A)].' I wrapped Hussain (A) in a white cloth and took him to the Holy Prophet (S) and placed him in his blessed hands. The Prophet (S) recited the Azan in his right ear and Iqamat in his left ear. Then he kept him on his lap and began to weep profusely. I enquired, 'May my parents be sacrificed for you. Why are you weeping?' The Holy Prophet (S) said: 'I am weeping upon this son of mine.' I asked, 'He is just born?' The Prophet (S) replied: 'A group of oppressors will kill this son of mine. Allah will not allow them my intercession.' Then he (S) continued, 'O Asma! Do not tell this to Fatima (s.a) because she has just delivered (the baby)”. (Maqtal al Hussain', Khwarazmi, Vol. 1, p. 87-88)
2. *As a growing child:*
From 'Aesha:
"While the messenger of Allah (s) was laying down, al-Hussain came crawling towards him so I moved him away from him and I got up to do something. So he got close to him and he woke up crying. So I said: ‘What makes you cry?’ He said that: ‘Gabriel showed me the sand on which Hussain will be killed’. The anger of Allah is great on whomever sheds his blood. He opened his hands, in which a grab of sand. He said: Oh, 'Aesha, by the One whom my soul is in His hands, it saddens me! Who is this from my nation (Ummah) who kills Hussain after I am gone?!" (Al-Taba’qatal-Kubra, Ibn Sa’ad).
Note: These set of traditions teache us that, crying on the day of the Martyrdom of Imam Husain (a) is a Sunnah of the Prophet worth emulating.
*Different categories of Angels inform the Prophet of the martyrdom of Husain*
Arch Angel Jibreel:
From Ali (a):
“I was present in the service of the Holy Prophet (S). He (S) was weeping. I asked: ‘O Prophet of Allah, has someone angered you? Why are there tears in your eyes?’ The Holy Prophet (S) replied: ‘Jibreel (A) had come to me. He had left before you came. He informed me that Hussain will be martyred on the banks of Euphrates. Jibreel (A) told me: 'do you wish to smell that soil?’ I said, 'Yes'. Jibreel (A) extended his hand and gave me a handful of the soil. I was not able to control myself and tears inevitably flowed from the eyes”. (Zakhaerul Uqba' p. 148)
The Angel in charge of rainfall:
From Anas bin Malik:
“The Angel of Rain took permission from his Lord to visit the Prophet Ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) so He gave him permission. The Prophet Ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told Umm Salamah raḍyAllāhu 'anhaa (may Allah be pleased with her) to watch the door so no one could come in. Al-Hussain raḍyAllāhu ‘anhu (may Allah be pleased with him) came wanting to enter and I stopped him. But he jumped, entered, and started sitting on the back of the Prophet Ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) [al-Hussain was a young child at the time], and on his shoulders. Then the Angel asked the Prophet Ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), ‘Do you love him?’ He said: “Yes’. The angel said, “Indeed your Ummah will kill him, and if you wish, I can show you the place where he will be killed”. Then, he struck with his hand and came with red clay. So Umm Salamah raḍyAllāhu ‘anhaa (may Allah be pleased with her) took it and tied on it in her veil. Thaabit [the sub-narrator] said, “It has reached us that it’s Karbala” (Musnad Ahmad, vol.3, p.242)
*An Angel who has never visited the Prophet before:*
The Prophet said: “an angel that has never visited me before, entered my house today and said to me: ‘this son of yours will be killed. If you wish I can give you some soil from the earth wherein he shall die’. The prophet then said: ‘the angel brought to me soil that was red” (Fadail Sahaba, Ahmad, hadith 1357).
Note: these set of traditions portray the importance of the issue of the martyrdom of Imam Husain in Islam.
*The Prophet walked to inform the world of the martyrdom of Husain*
From Aisha:
“At the time of the descent of revelation, Hussain (A) climbed upon the shoulders of the Holy Prophet (S) and began to play upon his back. The Holy Prophet (S) remained bent. Jibreel (A) told the Holy Prophet (S) "O Mohammed! Do you love him?" The Prophet (S) replied "Why should not I love him? He is my son!" Jibreel (A) said, "After you, your Ummah will kill him". Then Jibreel (A) stretched out his hand and brought a handful of white soil and said, "O Mohammed! Your son will be killed on this land. The name of this place is Taff". When Jibreel (A) departed, the Holy Prophet (S) held the handful of soil and wept. He (S) said "O Ayesha! Jibreel (A) has informed me that my son, Hussain (A) will be slain in the land of Taff. After me, my Ummah will be afflicted with trials and tribulations." Then he (S) was still weeping when he came out to his companions. The companions included Ali, Abu Bakr, Umar, Huzaifa, Ammar and Abu Zar. They enquired, "O Messenger of Allah! Why do you weep?" The Holy Prophet (S) replied, "Jibreel (A) informed me that after me my son Hussain (A) will be killed in the land of Taff. And he brought me this handful of dust and told me, 'The grave of Hussain (A) will be on this soil'." ('Elaamun Nabuwwah, p.83)
Note: It can be concluded from the above, that walking on procession for the sake of Imam Husain (a) is a Sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.a), therefore binding on all practicing Muslims.
*The Prophet smelt and kissed the soil on which Husain was killed*
From Ummu Salamah (r.a):
“Hasan and Hussain (A) were in my house, playing with the Holy Prophet (S). Just then Jibreel (A) descended and pointing towards Hussain (A), said: ‘O Mohammed, after you, your Ummah will slay this son of yours’. Ummu Salama says: ‘The Holy Prophet (S) embraced Hussain (A) and began to weep’. Jibreel (A) said: ‘This handful of soil is a trust with you’. He (S) smelt the soil and said: "This soil smells of sadness, calamity and tragedy”.
Ummu Salamah further adds: “The Holy Prophet (S) then told me: ‘O Ummu Salamah! When the soil turns into blood, you will know that my son has been martyred”.
The narrator says, "Ummu Salama poured the soil in a bottle and she used to look at it every day and say, "O soil! The day you turn into blood shall be a great day (of sadness)!" (Tarikh-e-Sham).
Note: This hadith also indicates the soil of the place where Husain (a) was martyred is special and ought to be revered by all Muslims just as the Prophet (s) did.
Muhammad Kabir
