In this part of the article titled “Prophecies of Imam Husain’s Martyrdom”, we shall highlight the prophecies made by other righteous servants of Allah (such as Hazrat Musa, Hazrat Sulaiman, Hazrat Isa and Prophet Muhammad) on the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s).
Hazrat Musa (AS)
Once Hazrat Musa (AS) was passing through Karbala when the straps of his sandals broke and thorns pricked his feet due to which they were badly injured. He implored, “O Allah why am I punished thus?” Allah revealed, “This is not a punishment. This is the place where the blood of Muhammad Mustafa’s (p.b.u.h) grandson will be shed. His killer shall be Yazid. The jinn, men, animals and birds will curse Yazid. I wish that your blood also mixes with his purified blood.” Hearing this Hazrat Musa (AS) also cursed Yazid.
Hazrat Sulaiman (AS)
Hazrat Sulaiman (AS) was sitting on his special mat when he ordered the wind to fly him. On receiving the order, the wind carried the mat on her shoulders and started flying. On reaching the plains of Karbala, the wind brought the mat slowly on the earth. Hazrat Sulaiman (AS) reprimanded the wind for this sudden landing. Explaining its action, It said, “This is the place where Hazrat Husain (AS) will be martyred.
Hence, I am unable to move”. Hazrat Sulaiman (AS) enquired, “Who is Husain?” The wind replied “Grandson of Ahmad-e-Mukhtar and son of Hyder-e-Karraar. His killer will be Yazid.” At this Hazrat Sulaiman along with all men and jinn cursed Yazid. With its (curse) blessings, the wind started blowing and the mat of Hazrat Sulaiman (AS) recommenced it’s flight (1).
Hazrat Isa (AS)
Traditions record that once during a journey along with his companions, Hazrat Isa (AS) reached Karbala. A tiger blocked their path. Hazrat Isa (AS) questioned the tiger the reason for its action. Allah, the Almighty gave speech to the tiger and it replied, “O Prophet of Allah, this is the place where the grandson of the unlettered (Ummi) Prophet (p.b.u.h) will be martyred. Until you curse his killers, I will not allow you to go further.” Finally, Hazrat Isa (AS) cursed the killer of Imam Husain (AS) and the tiger went on his way.
Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (p.b.u.h)
Great scholars of Ahli Sunnah and Shias have narrated prophecies of Imam Husain (AS)’s martyrdom from the Messenger of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad (p.b.u.h). Renowned books like As-Sawaaiq ul-Muhriqah, Dha’airul Uqba, Tazkirat ul-Khawaas, Kanzul Ummal, Maqtal-e-Khaarazmi, Talkhees of Luftullah-e-Saafi by the name of Azmat-e-Husain, etc. For the sake of brevity, we shall discuss only four traditions in this article. It is cited from Khwarazmi that Abu Ali Salaami Bayhaqi in his Tarikh quotes that the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) said to Imam Husain (AS): “Certainly there is a position in paradise for you which cannot be attained except through martyrdom”.
Sibte ibne Jawzi narrates, “When Imam Husain (AS) arrived at Karbala, he picked up the soil of Karbala. After smelling it he enquired the name of the place. His companions replied that it is famous as Karbala and locally is known as Nainawah. On this, he (AS) uttered, ‘Karb’ and ‘Balaa’. Later, he added that his Ummul Mumineen, Umme Salma (r.a.) had informed him, ‘One day Janabe Jibrail (AS) was in the presence of Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h). And you (Imam Husain (AS)) were sitting with me.
At that moment Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) asked for you, “Send my son to me “. You went in the presence of Holy Prophet. He (p.b.u.h) took you under his cloak. Janabe Jibrail (AS) asked the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) whether he (p.b.u.h) loved you. The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h) replied in the affirmative. Jibrail (AS) said, “Your nation will kill him and if you wish I can show you the place. Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) gave him the permission and Jibrail (AS) showed him (p.b.u.h) the place…”. After smelling the earth, Imam Husain (AS) remarked, “This is the same place about which Jibrail (AS) had spoken and shown to the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h). That is why the odour of this mud is the same as I had smelted before.”
Ibn Athir has narrated from Gurfa-e-Yazdi (who was from Ahle Saffa): One day I was with Hazrat Ali (AS) when some doubts had risen in my heart regarding him. We reached at a particular place when he stopped me and said: “This is the place where his horses and camels will be tied and his blood spilt. May my father be sacrificed for him; there will be no helper for him in the earth or the sky except Allah.” Gurfa states, “When Imam Husain (AS) was martyred, I came to Karbala and noticed that Husain, his companions and helpers were killed there. And this was the same place of which Amirul Mumineen Ali (AS) had foretold. I asked forgiveness from Allah about all the doubts concerning Ali (AS) which had already vanished.
Suwaid bin Gafala narrates that once I was in the presence of Amirul Mumineen (AS) when a person came to him saying: “O Amirul Mumineen (AS)! When I was passing by the valley of Qura, I saw that Khalid bin Arfata was lying dead and asked forgiveness for him.” Hazrat Ali (AS) retorted, “He will not die until he joins the army of the deviated ones and the flag-bearer of that army will be Habib bin Hammar. ” From that gathering, one person stood up and said: “O Amirul Mumineen, I am your friend and my name is Habib ibn Hammar.” Ali (AS) remarked, “Yes, you will be the flag bearer of that army.”
Ultimately Ibne Ziyad sent Umar Ibne Saad to Kufa to confront Imam Husain (AS). He appointed Khalid bin Arfata to lead the army and it’s flag-bearer was Habib ibn Hammar.
Yaqubi says that the first person to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS) in Medina was Ummul Mumineen Umme Salma (r.a.). Finally, it is necessary to draw the attention of the readers towards Zuhair Ibn Qayn Bajali.
He respected Imam (AS) so much that he even hesitated to put up his tent next to that of his Imam. When Imam Husain (AS) sent his son, Hazrat Ali Akbar to Zuhair Ibne Qayn, he was having his food and his wife Daylam, (who incidentally was the daughter of Umar) was sitting near him. He had not put the morsel in his mouth when his wife said “It is strange! The son of Fatima (SA) is beckoning and you are vacillating.”
While leaving, he turned towards his friends and said, “I am going with Imam Husain (AS) and will be martyred with him.” Then he turned to his wife and said, “You are free”. She: asked him whether he will intercede for her with Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) on the day of Judgment. He promised her that he would certainly do.(In some narrations, it is said that she also went with him).
Later, Zuhair offered his martyrdom to Imam Husain (AS) in the following words, “I remember, once I had gone with an army to Balanjar, an area of Turkistan for Jihad. We were successful in our campaign and a huge quantity of war booty came in our hands. I was very happy with it. Salman-e-Farsi was with me. He said, “When you are with the youth of Hazrat Muhammad’s (p.b.u.h) progeny, you will be much happier. A holy war in their company will bring you more joy than this war booty.”
NOTE:
_______________________________________
1. Bihar ul Anwar, (Urdu Tr.) on Imam Husain (AS), Vol. 1.
