Imam Husayn: remembrance, fidelity, and the meaning of victory

How great is thy station, how sublime thy rank, how momentous thy tragedy, how grievous thy affliction! By what measure shall I weep for thee, and for which of thy calamities shall I lament? Were I to weep with the waters of all the seas of creation and lament with all that is possible in invention, it would not equal an atom of what God decreed for thee of tribulation. Indeed, all others perceive the magnitude of thy tragedy according to the limitations of their own existence, yet they cannot truly know its reality as thou hast experienced it in the path of thy Lord.

Observe those who every year lament and wail over the oppression of the Prince of Martyrs - may the spirit of all else but Him be sacrificed for His sake - and His companions, and who curse the oppressors, while they themselves have manifested such tyranny that the oppression of former tyrants is as pure nothingness in comparison.

They slay Husayn and then weep for him.

Muhammad, the Apostle of God, bewails their deeds in the highest paradise - to this testifies He Who sent him with manifest sovereignty.

O thou who art assured of the Divine Manifestation! His Holiness the Prince of Martyrs (may the spirit of all existence be sacrificed for Him) offered up His life in the field of sacrifice on the plain of Karbila, and freely and generously sacrificed His soul and heart and kindred and children and all His possessions in the path of the All-Merciful, that He might teach the friends of God the way of divine love and impart to His spiritual companions the mysteries of the love of God.

What advantage did the wicked Yazid derive from his vast empire and limitless pomp and yet what loss and disadvantages befell the Prince of martyrs, Imam Husayn, the Master of the wronged ones of the world, in his homelessness, his suffering, his imprisonment, his captivity and finally with his martyrdom.

The abasement and lowliness of the Prince of Martyrs (may my spirit be sacrificed for him) in the desert of Karbila was the glory of both worlds and sovereignty of both realms.

Although that wronged one of the field of calamity, the martyr of Karbila (may the spirit of those nigh unto God be his ransom), in the beginning took the poisoned arrow, in the end, it was his everlasting glory that became well-known and established, and he was destined to attain eternal life in the world that abideth forever.

The Prince of Martyrs in Karbala had his body torn to pieces, yet was still victorious, for "verily it was incumbent upon Us to help the believers."

They have falsely attributed to you certain incidental matters. Therefore destroy their edifice with a clear and lofty explanation: that Husayn, peace be upon him, was indeed martyred, and whoever claims he was not killed has forgotten God's decree and what minds have witnessed, and is not more rightly guided than what was believed and said.

Know that Hussein has a station where no one can wrong him or usurp his right, as the Imam said in the hadith. How could it not be so when God's side cannot be wronged and God's sovereignty cannot be overcome? He is God's manifestation in creation and the face of the Worshipped One in the beginning and the end.

I have turned toward Thee, O Mystery of the Torah and the Gospel, and Dawning-Place of the verses of God, the Mighty, the Beautiful! Through Thee was built the city of detachment and was raised the banner of righteousness upon the highest peaks. Were it not for Thee, the fragrance of divine knowledge would have been cut off from the realm of possibility and the breeze of the All-Merciful from all lands.

I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy Name through which Thou didst create Muhammad, Thy Beloved, and by Thy Name through which Thou didst create Ali, Thy Friend, and by Thy Name through which Thou didst create Fatima, the fruit of the tree of Thy love, and by Thy Name through which Thou didst create Hasan and made him a proof unto Thy creation, and by Thy Name through which Thou didst create Husayn - Thy blessings be upon them all, now and before and after - and made him a proof from Thee unto Thy creation, that Thou mayest send upon him the most excellent blessings Thou hast ever bestowed upon any of Thy loved ones, and the most noble favors Thou hast ever conferred upon any of Thy chosen ones.

O my Lord, O Abu 'Abdu'llah! I testify that Thou wert the Illuminator of lights in the worlds of holiness and mysteries, and that when the light of Thy body shone forth upon the land of the Euphrates in this world, the essences in the worlds of realities were kindled, and the verities in the material worlds were established, and all atoms bore witness with the testimony decreed by the Divine Essence that He is exalted above all names and attributes.

And how could it be otherwise, when God's conclusive proof has made the excellence of visiting your praised shrine equal to visiting Husayn, peace be upon him, even though no excellence in the heavens or earth equals his? For he said - may my spirit and all in the kingdom of creation and command be sacrificed for him - "Whoever visits Husayn, peace be upon him, knowing his true station, is like one who has visited God above His throne."

The fifth of them is prostration upon the soil of Husayn - upon him be thousands of praises and greetings - with the nose and forehead.

As for what you wrote regarding the visitation prayer for the Prince of Martyrs, peace be upon him - from the visitation prayer itself it is clear that what is meant by the Prince of Martyrs is the martyr of Karbala, the son of Fatimih-Zahra.

For the people are ignorant, indolent, unknowing, and heedless, and may imagine, God forbid, that the friends have grown remiss or deficient in their love for the Prince of the Righteous. Whereas we would lay down our lives in their path, would recite at length the visitation of the Prince of Martyrs, and, when hearing it, would become, like the clouds of springtime, the companions of tearful eyes.

This Wronged One, for successive years in Zawra, during Muharram, did Himself make mention of the tribulations of the Prince of Martyrs, may the souls of all else be a sacrifice unto Him, while the Persians were engaged in lamentation.

During the days of Ashura, this Wronged One was occupied with commemorating the tribulation of the Prince of Martyrs, yet some cling to other practices, and this is a grievous error and a forbidden act.

Among them is the true account of Husayn, when he departed from his home with his family and companions, as ye hear tell each day and hour. The hosts of unbelief surrounded them from every side and prevented them from returning to God's sacred sanctuary.

His Holiness the Prince of Martyrs (may the spirit of all martyrs be sacrificed for him) was surrounded by enemies on the plain of Karbila.

Glory be to God, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe! O God! I pour out my sorrow and grief unto Thee! Alas, alas! Were all creation to gather to comprehend the thirst of 'Ali son of Husayn, peace be upon them, on the day of battle, they would fail. His liver - may my spirit be his sacrifice - had become from thirst like a piece of iron in fire. If they deny, then witness with thine own eyes how he bore the holy struggle with such tremendous thirst.

The hostile band and foolish company--that is, the tyrannous and rebellious group--were happy and joyful on the plain of Karbila, constantly boasting before friend and stranger, saying "Praise be to God! The Wronged One of the horizons has been surrounded with his family, their hearts are burning with the heat of thirst, all their possessions have been plundered and pillaged, the blessed body has been torn to pieces, the pure blood has stained the black earth, heads have been raised upon spears, and enemies have risen in strife.

O thou who dwellest in Hadba (Mosul)! Hearken unto the call of this Wronged One Who is imprisoned in 'Akka. Then remember those days when the heedless made captives of the family of the Apostle - those by whose faces Yathrib and Batha were illumined - until they entered spacious Damascus.

Most resplendent of all was the table of the Prince of Martyrs. In truth, it was a feast wherein every bounty was present - exile on one hand, plunder and pillage on another, the captivity of family and kindred on yet another, and after martyrdom the imprisonment of all and the martyrdom of many. It was a feast wherein every kind of food was present. Then the sacred household was taken captive and the holy heads were carried from city to city atop spears.

Consider that they did not bury His Holiness the Prince of Martyrs (may my spirit be sacrificed for him) and all his companions in Muslim cemeteries, but left them covered in blood and mixed with dust in the land of Taff.

His holiness, the Prince of Martyrs (Imam Husayn)- blessing and peace rest upon him- became a martyr in the desert of Karbala.

Consider that in former centuries, certain souls in the desert of Karbila experienced injury and trials and pillage and affliction and supreme martyrdom - may my spirit be sacrificed for them.

For example, how did it come to pass that souls who were among the companions, the emigrants, and the descendants of the helpers arose with such intensity and force to slay the Prince of Martyrs, may my soul be a sacrifice for him? It was all due to prejudiced tales and stories, for they spread among the people that "this person has made lawful what God has forbidden and forbidden what God has made lawful, has abandoned fasting and prayer and holy war, and has turned away from the religion of his grandfather." This is why in the pilgrim's prayer to that holy one it is stated: "I bear witness that you established prayer and gave the alms."

Blessed are they who drank the choice wine of martyrdom in My path, and woe unto him for the oppression he manifested, from which all in the heavens and earth declare themselves innocent, as thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, doth testify. He chose everlasting torment for himself. Fie upon him and upon those who made him their leader! the ungodly of the Plain of Taff were asked: "For what crime did you martyr the son of the Messenger of God?" They replied saying that he had risen against the Imam of the Age. Now they say that Hasan and Husayn had risen against the Friday prayer leader.

Did my Hasan deal faithlessly amongst you, unlawfully devour your wealth, or shed your blood? Judge ye fairly, O people, and be not of them that speak falsely! Explain ye, O people of the Furqan! For what crime did ye slay my Husayn in the Land of Sad?"

This is the year wherein Hasan sacrificed himself in the path of God, the Lord of the worlds, and after him Husayn, who attained the most great martyrdom.

Blessed is he who visits My Name Husayn, concerning whom My Most Exalted Pen has spoken, and who says before his grave:

"By God! Through you the tale of sacrifice was renewed, and the Concourse on High lamented, and the Lote-Tree of the Far Boundary cried out. Blessed is the soul that turned to you and visited your dust and remembered your days and what befell you from the enemies of the Self of God, your Lord.

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O Scions of that House! Verily, there hath come upon you in the path of God that which came upon the descendants of the Apostle and their women and children in the Land of Taff [Karbila] and elsewhere.

In truth thou art a manifestation of the return of the wife of the Prince of Martyrs Imam Husayn [Shahr-Banu]. Like thee that wronged one of the world was afflicted with mighty calamities; like thee she suffered grievous wrongs.

Therefore, O my God, this is Husayn who hath come with his own self and his kindred before the city of Thy decree, desiring what Thou hast willed by Thy fulfillment, and ever thankful for what came upon him in the path of Thy good-pleasure from time immemorial. Once, O my God, Thou didst entrust him to the hands of his brother who was named Cain, and he slew him with the sword of hatred between earth and heaven, whereupon tears flowed upon the cheeks of those near unto Thee and, beyond them, all things. Yet under the sword he gave thanks to Thee and called upon Thee with the tongue of those who remember.

Glorified is He Who hath left Husayn to make His dwelling amidst the hosts of His enemies, and exposed His body with every breath to the spears of hatred and anger; yet do We yield Him thanks for all that He hath destined to befall His Servant Who repaireth unto Him in His affliction and grief.

The All-Merciful intended by the mention of Joseph the very soul of the Prophet and fruit of the Virgin, Husayn son of Ali son of Abu Talib, as witnessed.

… What aileth you, O hosts of Satan? Did not the Truth come to you upon his steed on the Day of Ashura, after he had proclaimed unto you, in truth and by the truth, God's most great Cause from his own self, with utmost intensity? Did he not humbly seek water for himself and for his infant child, prostrate upon the earth in sublime truth, weak in that mighty Cause?

For they are ignorant and know not that the Dawning-Place of verses and the Manifestation of clear proofs hath appeared and speaketh. Moreover, they are heedless of the traditions that they themselves consider authentic, such as the saying of the Prince of Martyrs - may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for his sake - that after the Qa'im, One bearing the name Qayyum shall appear and all the Prophets and chosen ones shall gather beneath His shadow.

Say: By God! This is Husayn Who hath appeared among you in truth with a holy and wondrous beauty, with mighty signs of attraction, with delicate melodies of the spirit, and with sweet strains of love - yet ye recognized not His worth, nor hearkened to His melodies, nor perceived His beauty, nor attained unto the radiant beauty of His light.

They counted the martyrdom of Husayn ibn 'Ali as a mighty proof of the manifestation of the Seal of the Prophets, yet they remain heedless and veiled from that which has come to pass in these days. Say: This is Husayn Who hath appeared after the Qa'im.

They used to say that if in the time of the Prophet there had been no proof, no Quran, the martyrdom of the Prince of Martyrs and his sacrifice alone would have been conclusive proof, and indeed the sacrifice of the Prince of Martyrs is a complete proof, yet they do not consider the sacrifice of all these souls as proof. In the plains of Karbila seventy-two were martyred, while here thousands stepped into the field of martyrdom with utmost joy and contentment...

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In the days of the Prince of Martyrs, may my spirit be sacrificed for him, that wellspring of divine knowledge and source of heavenly bounty - the water of life was flowing and coursing, but there was not a thirsty soul to be found.

On the day of His martyrdom on the field of Karbala, Husayn ibn `Ali spoke these words: "Is there anyone truly capable of dispensing victory who will come to aid me?"

In My vision I saw the head of the Imam Husayn, the Siyyidu'sh-Shuhada', which was hanging upon a tree. Drops of blood dripped profusely from His lacerated throat.

Follow the example of Ali ibn Husayn, peace be upon him. Hassan of Basra relates that one day in the desert of Hijaz, I observed from the direction of the wilderness that a radiant youth of perfect beauty and grace was coming, wandering and searching, but with bare head, bare feet and naked body.

Consider how the abasement of His Holiness the unique martyr, Ali ibn al-Husayn (peace be upon him) was what eternal glory, while the glory of the wicked Yazid and the rebellious Walid became what abasement and degradation in the eternal world - even in this mortal world.

Consider how the Prince of Martyrs lived in the world for many tranquil years but it is the significance of his calamities borne from dawn until dusk, which are of such consequence. Hast thou ever heard mention of his other days? Nay, rather all remembrance of that luminous being is restricted to his days of suffering and adversity in the land of Karbila.

How many kings are killed but there is no mention of them, but when one person is killed in the path of God how much dignity they have, how much radiance they have, how much grandeur they have. For one thousand three hundred years the Prince of Martyrs was killed, and still lamentations and cries are raised for him.

All their palaces and royal residences are ruined and not one trace is left behind; but the signs of the Master of the Martyrs, Imam Hossein are clear and manifest, even in this mortal world.

Yazid too departed this world, and the Lord of the Martyrs likewise departed this world - what a difference between them!

They razed to dust the site of martyrdom in Karbila and Najaf, then plowed it under. For nearly eighty years they plowed and planted crops so that no trace would remain. After eighty years, people came and said: "Yes, it was here." They built up that site of martyrdom. This was in the time of the Umayyads. Then when the Abbasids came, they built it up. In the time of Mutawakkil they destroyed it again and cultivated crops for nearly two hundred years.

The traces of truth cannot be eliminated. Even if all who dwell on earth were to unite and wish to obliterate the divine traces, they would be powerless to do so.

Outwardly they appeared as afflictions, severe and momentous, yet through them the ocean of mercy surged, the light of recognition shone forth, and the sun of grace dawned. His martyrdom became a support and champion to the resplendent Law of the Messenger of God. His deeds were, in their essence, as the sun in the heaven of the Qur'an, and he was the tender and waterer of the garden of inner meanings.

The trials of the desert of Karbila were unbearable, but in the palate of the Prince of Martyrs (may my spirit and the spirit of all be sacrificed for him) they were most sweet.

And where is my Husayn who accepted no ransom in the path of God, the Lord of all beings?

Be of Husayn's temperament, pass beyond fear and hope for the sake of one life, Enter the Karbila of love manfully, manfully.

Yet be not saddened, neither be thou sick at heart: for if placidity of heart, tranquillity of spirit, and bodily repose were truly beloved, praiseworthy and desirable, His Holiness the Prince of Martyrs would assuredly have sought and yearned after them; while all the Prophets and holy ones would have chosen them for themselves.

One of the ulama of Simnan during his governorship, whenever there was a gathering commemorating the martyrdom and suffering of the Lord of Martyrs, would repeatedly say with great anguish "Would that I had been with thee and attained a mighty triumph!"

I observed a group of people, grief-stricken and heartbroken, weeping and lamenting, engaged in reciting elegies for the Prince of Martyrs (peace be upon him), crying out: "O Husayn, what did they do when they made thee a sacrifice!" I said, "Glory be to God!

They rejoice in what they have wrought, even as those who slew Husayn rejoiced. Take ye warning, and be not of them that understand not.

If someone face to face reproaches or taunts you, say with perfect reasonableness: "The honored martyrs followed the example of the martyrs of the plain of Karbila. Would that I had been with them to achieve a great achievement!" It has always been thus - there is nothing new. "This is not the first flask that has been broken in Islam."

When they speak with vehemence, maintain a oppressed silence, and if they reproach with moderation or relate tales, say that this is a recognition of the plain of Karbila and commemoration of the Prince of Martyrs, and this is the glory and pride of the people of God.

O Muhammad, O thou noble one! Follow thou the decree of thy Lord, then go forth unto the Covenant of the Remnant of God, the manifest Imam of Justice. He it is in Whose hand lies the dominion of all things, and naught escapeth His knowledge, and verily He is the servant of God in a preserved Book.