Dua For Our Parents !

This poem is a poetically refracted rhymed English rendition of supplication 24 of Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him), known as "A Dua for His Parents".

In the name of Allah, the Source of Mercy to all of creation
The Source of Mercy to the believing congregation

 

Oh Allah Bless Muhammad's Soul And Rain Down Peace Oh His Household.

Oh You who rules over the Earth, seas, and skies,
Who sustains every creature that walks, swims, and flies,
Bless Muhammad, Your Messenger, Your most perfect slave,
And his most holy Household, the guiltless and brave;
And Grace Them With Blessings Befitting Their Rank
With Mercy Filled Favors From Your Limitless Bank.
Make Plain Their Distinction In The Eyes Of All Others.
Thus distinguish our parents, our fathers and mothers.

Though they're not nearly as perfect as Our Prophet's Chaste Kin,
Though they're subject to wrong, and the wages of sin,
We beg You for Mercy, By The Grace Of This Prayer.
Please grace them with blessings that's more than just fair,
Oh Source Of All Mercy To All Of Creation,
Oh Source Of The Mercy To The Faithful Congregation.

Oh Allah Bless Muhammad's Soul
And Rain Down Peace On His Household.

Move us through knowledge to think, say and do
Towards mother and father what surely is due,
By The Rules Of What's Right That Were Laid Down By You,
Oh Source Of All Rightness And All That Is True.
Perfect every defect in our duty towards them.
Don't let us grow weary in spirit or limb...
Not too lazy, too weak, too bored nor too tired
To dutifully act as Your Knowledge Inspired
By the dignified spirit our persons acquired
Through the Ahlul Bayt's Intercession Which Is Surely Required.

Oh Allah Bless Muhammad's Soul
And Rain Down Peace On His Household
And Bless Us For Believing In His Household.
And Thus Bless Muhammad's Prophetic Chaste Soul,
And Rain Down Peace On His Household.
Because Of The Worthiness Of His Mission's Goal,
And Due To The Preeminence of His Prophetic Chaste Soul
And The Angelic Nature Of His Charismatic Features
And Because He's The Premier of The God-Ordained Teachers,
We Have An Edge Over Some Of Your Creation And Creatures.

Oh Allah!
With The Grace That This Light Of Muhammad Doth Bring
Make me respect my folks' rule as one would a king,
And love them with the love of a mother's heart-string.
Make my taste for obeying them a most pleasant thing
More precious to me than a grand diamond ring.

Make me want to obey them like obeying them is a thirst
That can only be quenched by putting their wishes first
prioritizing their will over my will, and their needs over mine…
Realizing this relationship is God's Cosmic Design.
So let me express that when I assess even the small good they've done for me,
What they chose to invest is the best, most blessed, manifest magnanimity
Compared to the seemingly big things that I've managed to do for them,
Which is comparatively fluff, but not enough... rather light-weight and super slim.

Oh Allah!
Move me to lower my voice when my parents are near.
Make their presence a remembrance that You Domineer.
Make my words warm them with tones sweet and sincere,
Using soft words, and phrases that are pleasant to hear,
Never loud, rude nor angry, and not cavalier
Always love-filled… respectful... with reverent good cheer
A tone that bespeaks that their presence is dear.
Make me soft towards my parents with all of my heart.
Make my parents my companions with whom I won't part.
Friends to The End In Love Ever More,
The source of my life whom I'll always adore.

Oh Allah!
Give them a great gratuity for their most gracious Care
Their ingenuity In rearing me, and for just being there.
And watch over them... as they watched over me
Throughout my needy vulnerability in the helplessness of my infancy.

Oh Allah!
Whatever pain has touched my parents through my omission or commission,
Whatever displeasure I caused them through my lack of submission,
Whatever duty I neglected which would have improved their condition,
Count all the burdens I've laid on them as sincere acts of contrition
Which will make them ultimately free from Your Infernal Perdition.

Oh You Who Turns Wrong Views away from Right States of Mind,
Whatever my folks said to me that was unjust or unkind,
Whatever they did to me that was way out of line,
Whatever right which they trampled or chose to decline,
Whatever debt that they still owe me after the final deadline,
Through careless mismanagement or wrong-headed design
I forgive and remit every consequent fine.

To my parents' possession I henceforth consign
Everything that they owe me of the debt You assigned.
Thus their debts are wiped clean on The Last Bottom Line.
For I have no wish, nor cause to indict them for harming me in any way,
Neither by omission or commission have they caused me dismay.

So Oh Lord Who Guides The Guided And Calls Those Astray!
I wish not to pursue a petition to sue my parents now or on The Deyn's Day.
Their claims upon me are much more intense.
Because the good they have done for me is so right and immense,
I can't ever begin to pay them an appropriate recompense.

Oh my God, Lord Of The Heavens And Lord Of The Earth!
What can I pay them that's equal in worth
For taking the God-chosen role and being the means of my birth?
What's worthy as a wage for rearing me in the best way that they could…
For the long, hard, self-sacrificial task of nurturing me through the helplessness of infancy, and the difficulties of childhood.

The very thought is ridiculously absurd. Unquestionably, I cannot.
I cannot even repay them for what they've done that I've forgotten.
I can never repay my parents. I owe an indelible, all-encompassing debt.
I'm duty-bound to serve them long as winter ice is cold and spring time rain is wet.

So Allah, Bless Muhammad's Soul
And Rain Down Peace On His Household.
Oh You for Whom Helping Is the Most Famous Role
Please Give Us Your Help
Oh Best Of All Helpers Whom Eyes Can't Behold
Oh Greatest Guide Whom We Turn To For Perfect Assistance
On The Day Of The Deyn Which None Can Out Distance,
Don't place me with those who dishonored their parents with bratty resistance,
When Each Soul Will Be Fined Or Paid Their Promised Recompense
When Souls Will Reap What They Sowed… The Ultimate Consequence.

So Oh Allah, Bless Muhammad's Soul
And Rain Down Peace On His Household.
And reward my mother and father with a great commendation
Like Momin parents are favored in each Dispensation
Of Father Ibrahim Khaleelul Lah's Blessed Momin Nation,
And Help Me, Oh Loving Helper In Each Situation,
Oh One Whose Folks Pray To In Awed Supplication.

Oh Merciful Creator Of the Heavens And the Earth,
Whose Word Becomes Flesh And Enters Through Birth,
Make me remember my parents after each prayer
In day time or night time… anytime, everywhere.

Oh Allah Bless Muhammad's Soul
And Rain Down Peace On His Household.
For the sake of my prayer for them pardon me,
So that consequently my prayer is more worthy.
And for the sake of the good they have done for me
Give them Everlasting Peace, and Security.
Please grace my parents with Your Pleasure And Purity.
Through my intercession make Your Pleasure A Surety.

And if You've already forgiven them before this du'a was prayed,
Make their plea for me be an un-passable blockade
That keeps me from hell which Man's Evil Has Made
Then we can gather together
In Your Most Clement Presence Forever And Ever
With Our Mothers And Fathers In A Bond That Won't Sever,
Where's there's no remorse, strife nor grief… no evil whatsoever.
Surely Yours Is A Rich Boundless Treasure, Impossible To Measure
And Your Generosity Spans Eternity – No Beginning And No End
And You Are The Merciful Source Of All Mercy… The Most Formidable Ally.
The Most Valued Friend.

Oh Allah Bless Muhammad's Soul
And Rain Down Peace On His Household.

 

Author of this article: Shaikh Ali Abu Talib

Brotherhood, Courage, and Loyalty in Abbas bin Ali (a.s) !

Who was Abbas (peace be upon him), whose birth anniversary is being celebrated this week? To the Muslims, Abbas is known in different ways: as the lion of Ali, the hero of Karbala, the flag-bearer of Hussain, the beloved brother of Zainab, and the loving uncle of Sakina (peace be upon them all).

Abbas was the son of Imam Ali, the first Imam and successor of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny). He was the brother of Imam Hussain. Fifty years after the demise of the Prophet Muhammad, his grandson Hussain stood up against Yazid, the tyrant ruler of the time, and refused to pledge allegiance to him. As a result of this protest, Hussain, his family-members, and a small group of his companions were surrounded by Yazidi forces in the desert of Karbala, prevented from water for three days, and, finally, on the Day of Ashura, Hussain with about 100 souls faced an army of 25,000 soldiers. They were given the choice of pledging allegiance to Yazid or face death. In that uneven battle, Hussain chose an honorable death over a disgraceful life under a tyrant like Yazid. It was in that historical event that Abbas was made the commander-in-chief and flag-bearer of Hussaini forces. That battle-field gradually turned into a place of pilgrimage, and today the shrines of both these brothers, with their golden domes, form the skyline of Karbala in Iraq.

 

Brotherhood

By his supreme sacrifice, Abbas became a universal soul that transcends time and space. Let us start with concept of brotherhood: Brotherhood can be understood on two different levels, a physical and personal level, and a spiritual and social level. Both aspects are important. However, the brotherhood based on blood relationship should be synchronized with the brotherhood based on spiritual relationship. In case of tension between the two relationships, the spiritual brotherhood will take precedence over the physical brotherhood. ("Verily the believers are brethren [of one another]." 49:10) Imam Zainul Abideen (peace be upon him), the fourth Shia Imam and nephew of Abbas, in his famous the Charter of Rights, writes about the rights of a brother. He says brothers should consider one another as a source of support and protection, and they should be sincere in giving advice and helping one another towards the path of God. He concludes by writing: "…Then if he obeys his Lord and properly answers His call [it is good for all]; otherwise, Allah, rather than your brother, should be your choice and the object of your reverence."

 

It is human nature for two brothers to love and support one another. Almighty God tends to leave natural issues to nature and does not talk about it that much, and only points out issues when humans deviate from their nature. On brotherhood, there are two negative examples in the Qur'an: the example of Qabil (Cain) who murdered his brother Hãbil (Abel); and the brothers of Yusuf (Joseph) who conspired to get rid of him. In the scale of zero to ten, we can put Qabil's relationship at zero, and that of Yusuf's brothers at three – on the positive side, we can surely put the relationship of Abbas to Imam Hussain at ten.

 

The devotion of Abbas to Hussain was not just on the physical level; it was also based on the spiritual level. This is reflected in his statement to Shimr bin Dhil Jawshan. Shimr, one of commanders of the Yazidi forces, was related to Abbas through his mother who was from the Kilabiyya tribe (while Hussain's mother was the daughter of the Prophet). Shimr had come to Karbala with an amaan, assurance of protection or amnesty signed by Iraq's governor, for Abbas and his three full brothers. When Shimr presented that amnesty to Abbas, Abbas responded by saying: "May God curse you and your amnesty. You give assurance of protection to us, but the son of the Prophet's daughter has no amnesty!"

 

Abbas bin Ali's message to us is quite clear: we have to strengthen the ties of brotherhood with fellow Muslims irrespective of their race, color, language, or geographical location. All of us are brethren in faith; all other relationships must be synchronized with that. We should be able to feel the pain of one another, as the Prophet Muhammad once said, "Muslims are like one body: when one limb is injured, the hurt is felt by the entire body."

 

Between Abbas and Imam Hussain, this level of closeness and concern is symbolized in the words of Hussain: when he heard Abbas calling for help as he was falling down from the horse, the Imam felt the pain and said, "Now my back has broken, and my options are few."

Courage

What is courage? In Islamic ethics, courage is not defined by physical strength; courage means to have control over one's emotions and feelings and to use them only for the right cause. A person who only relies on his physical strength and cannot control his emotions is not a courageous person; he is rather a foolhardy person.

 

While describing the Prophet and his true followers, Allah says: "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are firm against the enemies but soft with their own." (48:29)

Iqbal, the famous poet of the Indian sub-continent, presents the same concept in his poetic style:

 

In the struggle of truth, the believer is as solid as the steel
But in midst of his friends, he is as soft as the silk

 

Abbas was not the slave of his desires and emotions; even his courage was linked to the spiritual relationship: Abbas was very stern and firm when he confronted the enemies, but he was very kind, compassionate, and caring towards the good people. The children of Hussain and the clan of Banu Hashim adored him. He was the favorite uncle of Sakina, the four years old daughter of Imam Hussain.

Unfortunately, what we see in the world today is that the tyrants, the kings, and the generals who rule over Muslim countries behave in the opposite manner: they are humble in front of the enemies but very bold when they deal with their own people and oppress them!

 

When Imam Hussain asked Abbas to try and get water for the children, Abbas confronted the enemy force and he was easily able to disperse them and got access to the river. Abbas entered the river and filled the water-bag with water. On the way back, he had to pass through some palms trees, and that is where the enemy was hiding behind the trees to attack him from the back. One Yazidi soldier attacked him from behind in such a way that he lost his right hand. Abbas courageously got hold of the water-bag and consoled himself by the following verses:

 

By God, though you have severed my right hand
My faith, I will surely forever defend
I will defend the truthful leader of conviction
The grandson of the pure and truthful Prophet

Loyalty

We see that loyalty is a very important quality, especially the loyalty toward one's

faith and community. Abbas's loyalty has become proverbial in the literature of Karbala. On the eve of Ashura, when Imam Hussain asked his friends and family members to go away and leave him, since the enemies were after his blood only, the first person to stand up and express his loyalty was Abbas bin Ali. He said, "And why should we abandon you? So that we may live after you! May God not show us such a day ever."

 

On the day of Ashura, when Imam Hussain asked him to get water for the children, he succeeded in gaining access to the stream. He galloped into the stream, got down, and filled the water-bag. As a person who had been thirsty for three days, Abbas could have quenched his thirst, but he did not do so. Legally as well as morally, nothing prevented him from drinking water. But he did not do so. It was his sense of loyalty to Imam Hussain and the love for Hussain's children that prevented Abbas from drinking the water.

 

While filling the water, he recited the following verses:

 

While Hussain is drinking the syrup of death
You are imbibing the coolness of joy

 

When you look at the flag of Abbas, you always see that a water-bag is attached to it, hanging on to it. It reminds us of the loyalty of Abbas to Hussain and his children. That flag challenges us to be loyal and true to our faith and its values. It urges the followers of Abbas to stand up against oppression, tyranny, and injustice in whatever shape or form that we see in our own times – all in the name of God and to serve the cause of God.

 

And so we end with a tribute to Abbas in the famous words of the Sixth Imam who praised him by saying:

"I bear witness that you submitted [to your Imam], affirmed [his truth], and were loyal and sincere [to him]."

 

 

Author of this article: Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi

The Women of Karbala: Keeping Imam Hussain's Message Alive !!

The women present at the Battle of Ashura in Karbala, Iraq, in 61 AH were entrusted with a special mission: to keep Imam Hussain's (peace be upon him) message alive. Under the guidance of Imam Zainul Abideen and the leadership of Lady Zainab (peace be upon them), the women were to spread the message of Imam Hussain's sacrifice even while they went through huge ordeals and sorrows. Their grief at the murder of the Imam was a vehicle of change, and cannot be separated from their accomplishment of the mission.

Without the presence of the families of Imam Hussain and his companions, the Imam's sacrifices would have been laid to waste when it came to challenging corruption, as the Muslims would not have woken from their slumber of indifference. The Imam and his supporters had fought in self-defense in the desert, sacrificing their lives to save the spirit of Islam, rather than give in to the corrupt rule of the tyrant Yazid. Before he died, Imam Hussain gave his sister Lady Zainab the heavy mission of spreading the message of truth to the greater public. It was to a woman that this savior of Islam left the rest of his mission, under the guidance of his successor Imam Zainul Abideen.
Imam Zainul Abideen, Lady Zainab, Lady Umme Kulthoom, and the other women carried out the task of spreading news at the grimmest time of their lives, when their husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons had just been killed as they protected Imam Hussain. In the end they saw the Imam himself ruthlessly killed. Then, the ladies' tents were set on fire, their veils were ripped away, and they were put in chains. Made to walk through the desert, the ladies and children were paraded through Kufa and Damascus by Yazid's army.

Such was the women's self-control that, despite having gone through such ordeals, they remained focused on their mission of propagating the truth. The women were in sorrow because of the events that had transpired, but let it not be assumed that their grieving was a hindrance to their mission.
The women of Karbala mourned with legitimate reason for Imam Hussain's murder, and that mourning led to purposeful action. These women were entrusted with a precious mission, and without them, the lives of the men would have been lost in vain if the Muslim community at large did not wake up. Not only did the women mourn, the Fourth Imam mourned also. They all had sadness and they all had anger, but they channeled those emotions into their words and actions for a purpose.
The community was in need of reform, and only Imam Hussain's sacrifice could awaken it to its negligence of the true principles of Islam. In a time without today's media resources, it turned out that the speeches of the women of Karbala were the only way correct news could be spread of that sacrifice. They showed the public reasons for opposing Yazid, who had murdered the grandson of the Prophet, and they showed that a return to the true Islam was required. Imam Hussain was victorious in his mission, but the victory was surrounded in sorrow. From before Ashura even took place, prophets, the Infallibles, and even the angel Gabriel mourned how this grandson of Prophet Muhammad would be killed. Truth always wins over falsehood, but that victory does not make what transpired at the hands of Yazid any less horrendous.

When the women and children were being paraded as prisoners through the cities, the government's purpose was to hold them up as an example to those who would dare oppose Yazid. They were meant to be a warning to others of the humiliation and punishment that would be meted out to resistors. But Yazid's purpose was thwarted. The Fourth Imam, Lady Zainab, and the group of women used their trials and tribulations to awaken the Muslim community from its indifference to evil and matters of leadership.

When Lady Zainab gave powerful speeches in the streets about Ashura, her words also shook people to the core. When she spoke, she had the eloquence and fire of words that her father had had.
In the way Lady Zainab had been called the "Beauty of her Father", Lady Fatima had been known as the "Mother of her Father". They were both truly daughters of their fathers in spirit as well as blood. They both knew when to stay quiet and when to speak out, according to the wishes of their Imams. They both gave fiery speeches while trying to preserve their modesty, and they both did so while having recently suffered personal family losses, because their Imams' rights and their rights had been trampled upon. They grieved, legitimately, while still standing up for the truth. Mourning and action went hand-in-hand.

City streets had been decorated to celebrate Yazid's so-called victory, but the public ended up crying with horror instead of rejoicing when Lady Zainab spoke, because they learned what really took place on Ashura.

When the public saw the Fourth Imam, ladies, and children as prisoners, learned of their identity, and heard their words, those who had been ignorant of the truth realized that Yazid had falsely portrayed Imam Hussain to them as an enemy of Islam. Seeing the grief and hearing the words of the families, the people came to know the truth.

Seeing the children, wives, and mothers were being mistreated like this, being made to go through the streets in horrible conditions, the public was left with no doubt that Yazid was making a deliberate personal attack on Imam Hussain. The harsh way the prisoners were being treated served to underscore the ladies' and children's claim of being on the side of Truth.

If the ladies had not been there, Yazid's men would have narrated their own version of events. Politicians would have twisted the story as they wished to make Yazid out as a hero, but with the women present and speaking the truth, there was living proof of Imam Hussain's message and his martyrdom. These women were the shield of Islam, who informed the listeners that the martyrs were from the Household of the Prophet and that the current regime was oppressive and full of lies.
The tragic events of Karbala were publicized so widely and effectively in such a short span of time that it caused a reversal of public feeling towards Yazid. With eloquent speeches and narrations of the sad events to the people, the women of Karbala revealed the truth. No other method would have worked as well.

Lady Zainab was mourning Imam Hussain both as her Imam and as her brother. What control and fortitude she displayed on Ashura and afterwards! The patience she demonstrated did not mean she was not grieved. In fact, she spent the rest of her life in continuous mourning, remembering Imam Hussain. Her grief did not fade away with time. And neither has her message.

 

The Ladies

Aside from the ladies of the Imam's household itself, there were many other women who played important roles at Karbala. These were the wives and daughters of Imam Hussain's companions.
When her husband Abdullah son of Umayr Kalbi told her that he was going to leave Kufa to defend the grandson of the Holy Prophet, Lady Umme Wahab told him, "It is an excellent idea. May Allah guide you in all circumstances. Please take me with you too."

Umme Wahab was watching Abdullah from the families' tents when he was fighting on the day of the battle at Karbala. She became so concerned for the Imam's safety and had such devotion to him that, even though she had no weapon and no way to fight, she grabbed a stick and came to the battlefield. She told Abdullah, "May my parents be your ransom, sacrifice your life for the sake of the children of the Holy Prophet."

Imam Hussain then said to her, "May Allah bless you with His best rewards, return towards the women and remain with them, may Allah bless you, women aren't supposed to fight in the war." She returned to the tents. With his wife's moral support, Abdullah was able to protect the Imam and became the second martyr of Karbala on the day of Ashura. When he died, Umme Wahab went to her husband's body on the battlefield, and wiping the dirt from his cheeks she said, "May paradise of Allah be pleasant for you! I ask Allah, who bestowed upon you Paradise, to make me your companion over there." Just then, Shimr commanded his slave to hit Umme Wahab with a stick. The blow killed her, and she died at her husband's side.

Another family that had come to Karbala with the Imam's caravan was that of Janada, son of Ka'b, who had come with his wife Lady Bahria and son Amr. When Janada died, Bahria sent Amr to help the Imam. Imam Hussain was hesitant to give the son permission to fight since his father had just been killed, and he thought that it would be too much of a trial for Bahria to lose her son too. The son told the Imam that it was Bahria herself who had dressed him for battle and sent him. So great was the strength of Bahria that she remained focused on the protection of the Imam when her husband had just been killed.

She had grief, yes, but she managed it for a higher purpose, which would not be an easy task for anyone in such circumstances, man or woman.

From her tent Bahria watched her son wage battle, and after Amr was martyred, Bahria herself went towards the enemy with an iron club. Such was her loyalty towards the Imam, she wanted to fight herself. In this instance also, Imam Hussain told her to go back, and she obeyed him and returned to the tents.

It must have been tempting for the women to fight when they saw their imam was in danger, but despite their feelings, they had enough strength inside to obey their Imam's command. They submitted to Imam Hussain's authority just as the men had submitted, because they knew he was the true leader, that he cared for them, and had a higher purpose in mind. That purpose would only become clear after the battle, when they would remain behind to continue the Imam's mission.
Not all the women had relatives who were Imam Hussain's companions from the start of the journey to Karbala. Some of the men switched to the Imam's side during the journey, often due to the influence of their wives.

Most famous among these ladies is Lady Dulham. She was married to Zuhayr son of Qayn, who was on the enemy's side during the journey to Karbala. At one of the stops, Imam Hussain sent a request for a meeting with Zuhayr, which surprised Zuhayr very much. That was when Dulham said, "Glory to Allah! The Holy Prophet's on has called you, has sent someone to see you, and how would you refuse to see him? Why don't you visit him and hear his words?!"
Respecting her advice, her husband went, came back elated, and declared that he was going to remain in the Imam's company and sacrifice his life upon him. When she bid her husband farewell, weeping, Dulham said, "May Allah be your helper and protector, bestow upon you good in this journey, and don't forget to mention about this, my self-sacrifice, to Imam's Grandfather [the Prophet] on the Day of Judgment." Her weeping as her husband left was not an impediment to her sacrifice – it was a part of it.

The women of Karbala contributed to the sacrifices for Islam in their own way at Karbala. These brave, pious, and modestly-attired women did not stand aside indifferently when they saw oppression taking place upon the household of the Prophet. If their male relatives were not on the side of the Imam, the women did not just keep quiet and do nothing. They used their influence in their families to encourage their husbands, sons, and brothers to support Imam Hussain, even if they would possibly have to mourn their own men. They wanted to save the Imam. Mourning the grandson of the Prophet would be worse. When the time was right, the women would speak out in their families and take a stand on the issue.

The women who were at Karbala are a supreme example of how ordinary people can become extraordinary beings who serve the Imam of their time in their own ways. By spreading the news of the events at Karbala, these women ensured that Imam Hussain's message of truth would continue to live on.

These were not the first women to play crucial roles in the history of Islam, nor were they the last. From the Prophet's first wife Lady Khadija, a prominent businesswoman who dedicated her wealth to the cause of Islam, to their daughter Lady Fatima, God's example for all women, to Lady Masooma, the sister of the eighth Imam, to Lady Hakima, the great-aunt of the Twelfth Imam (may Allah hasten his reappearance), to the same Imam's mother Lady Nargis, women have always played an important role in serving Islam. And while these abovementioned women are very special in their own right, most of all Lady Fatima, all women today have these examples to inspire them. Finding her own way to serve the Twelfth Imam even while he is in occultation is what each and every believing woman needs to do today.