oh people of the world, listen, listen to what the holy prophet (pbuh) has said "Oh Fatima every eye shall be weeping on the day of judgement, except the eye which has shed tears over the tragedy of hussain for surely that eye shall be laughing and shall be given the glad tidings of the bounties and comforts of paradise."
On the day that Hussain was born
the Prophet took him in his arms
he looked at him with grace
but tears came rolling down his face
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
Fatima saw this sight, that left her in a fright
Father why do you cry
tell me please tell me why
The Prophet replied my love
the tyrants will kill Hussain
He'll cry out for help many times
yet they will continue with their crimes
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
The tyrants will leave Hussain thirsty
with horses they will trample his body
His companions will not be spared
on spears they will carry their holy heads
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
After the tragic death of Hussain
the oppressors will parade Zainab
they'll take her through Kufa and Shaam
the mighty daughter of MY IMAAM
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
Fatima began to weep, felt an ache very deep
Father will I be there? Father will you be there?
The prophet replied my dear
Hussain will be all alone
neither you nor Ali nor Hassan
nor me My Daughter, there'll be no one
Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain Ya Hussain
Sorrow grief and despair, darkness pain filled the air
Father how can this be? who will cry, who will plea?
The Prophet consoled Fatima
and wiped the tears off Her face
oh My Daughter don't fear
Allah will bring a nation called the Shia
Fatima looked up high, raised Her hands in the sky
those who mourn My Hussain, God keep them safe give them no pain
We are the prayer of Fatima, daughter of the prophet of Allah
We will never stop remembering Hussain
till the last day, you'll hear his name
everywhere we go every step we take
we'll remember in this world why we came
as a prayer of Fatima, our mission we will fulfill
from every corner of this world you will hear
" Hussain Hussain (x5) "
This voice and poetry came from you Fatima
"ADEEYA SAANIA MAHUM" wish for this Fatima
when your lovers hear this noha Ya Fatima
May their hearts at that time cry out loud ...
YA HUSSAIN (x5)
Friday, 13 January 2012
Why Arbaeen ? Significance of Arbaeen and the performance of the Ziyarat of Arbaeen !
Arba'een (Arabic: اربعين, "forty") or Chehelom (Persian: چهلم "the fortieth [day]"), is one of the largest pilgrimage gatherings on Earth, in which over 10 million people go to the city of Karbala in Iraq. As it is known by Persian-speaking and Urdu-speaking Muslims in Central and South Asia, Arba'een is a Shia Muslim religious observation that occurs 40 days after the Day of Ashura, it is observed all over the world. It commemorates the martyrdom of Hussein bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad which falls on the 20th day of the month of Safar. Husayn and 72 supporters died in the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (680 CE), killed by Yazid I's army. Chelom is also observed 40 days after the death of a family member or loved one. Forty days is the usual length of the time of mourning in many Islamic cultures.
Imam Hasan Al-Askari (a.s.) includes the performance of Ziyarat-e-Arba’een as one of the five marks for a believer, in addition to reciting 51 raka of sala, audible recitation of Bismillah, wearing a ring on one’s right hand, and doing sajda on dust. (This hadith has been narrated by Sheikh Tusi in the book Tahthib).
Why is so much importance given to the performance of the Ziyarat of Arba’een and the observance of Arba’een (40 days of mourning)?
Ziyarat, as we all know is a visitation, which in essence, is the act of speaking with and visiting our role models. Of course the physical manifestation of the ziyarat is actually being present in Kerbala to perform the Ziyarat of Arba’een, but, in reality, that is not possible for every believer. So does making ziyarat while not in Kerbala give one the same benefits? Ahadith tell us that performing the Ziyarat of Imam Hussain (a.s.) far from Kerbala would hold the same significance as being in the land of Kerbala, as long as the person performing the Ziyarat has truly understood the status of the Imam and seeks to emulate him.
Imam Muhamed al-Baqir (a.s.) states that the heavens wept over Imam Hussain (a.s.) for forty mornings, rising red and setting red. As we complete 40 days of remembrance of our Imam, we re-assert our pledge of obedience and loyalty to him,
“I bear witness that you are the Imam (who is) the upright, the pious, well-pleased (with Allah), the pure, the guide and the rightly-guided.
I bear witness that you fulfilled the pledge of Allah and you struggled in His way…I am a friend of whoever befriends him ...”
By performing the Ziyarat of Arba’een, we pledge that we will continue to follow the path of justice and righteousness and will reject injustice and speak up against the oppressors of the time,
I am an enemy of whoever is his enemy
In essence, we make a promise to continue to mold our lives according to the teaching of Imam Hussain (a.s.).
But why is it that we mourn and remember Imam Hussain (a.s.) for a period of forty days and then move on?
Our Prophet has said, “The earth mourns the death of a believer for forty mornings.” Therefore it appears that the deceased should be remembered and mourned over for a period of forty days. Performing an act for a continuous period of forty days is also known to help one to not just form a habit, but also to carry on the practice for the rest of his life.
If we look at studies dealing with bringing a lifestyle change, we notice the time period emphasized to bring about a change is usually 6 weeks which is about the same time period as 40 days (to be exact it is 42 days).
In the book 40 Days to Personal Revolution: A Breakthrough Program to Radically Change Your Body and Awaken the Sacred Within Your Soul, the author Baron Baptiste explains the significance of forty days:
Why forty days? Because the number 40 holds tremendous spiritual significance in the realm of transformation. Jesus wandered in the desert for forty days in order to experience purification and come to a greater understanding of himself and his mission. Moses and his people traveled through the desert for forty years before arriving at their home in the holy land. Noah preserved the sacredness of life by sailing his ark for forty days and forty nights. According to the Kabbalah, the ancient Jewish mystical text, it takes forty days to ingrain any new way of being into our system….
Reciting particular duas for a period of 40 days is highly recommended in our practices as well.
The unit 40 (forty) is said to be very effective. If a particular Duaa is recited 40 times, or 40 people gather to recite it, or it is recited for 40 days then its effectiveness is highly increased. (Duas.org)
It is reported from Imam Ja'fer Sadiq (a.s.) that whoever recites Dua-e-Ahad for forty days, after morning prayers will be amongst the helpers of the 12th Imam (a). Visitation of the shrine of Imam Hussain (a.s.) as well as Masjid-e-Sahla for 40 consecutive Thursdays is also very highly recommended and is one of the acts that promises a visit from the 12th Imam (ajtf).
Thus, as we perform the Ziyarat of Arba’een and commemorate the Arba’een, 40 days of mourning of Imam Hussain (a.s.), we hope and pray that this forty days of remembrance of Imam Hussain (a.s.), brings about a transformation in us by which we can continue to follow the path of Imam Hussain (a.s.) and carry on his message of upholding justice with true faith and a strong sense of sacrifice!
Refs:
A’maal of Muharram and Safar (Tayyiba Publishers)
Kerbala and Beyond by Yasin T. Al-Jabouri
The Miracle of Ziyarat-e-Ashoora
Commentary on Ziyarat Ashura, translated by Saleem Bhimji from the work of Ali Asghar Azizi Tehrani
Kitab al-Irshad, translated by IKA Howard, authored by Sheikh Al-Mufeed
Imam Hasan Al-Askari (a.s.) includes the performance of Ziyarat-e-Arba’een as one of the five marks for a believer, in addition to reciting 51 raka of sala, audible recitation of Bismillah, wearing a ring on one’s right hand, and doing sajda on dust. (This hadith has been narrated by Sheikh Tusi in the book Tahthib).
Why is so much importance given to the performance of the Ziyarat of Arba’een and the observance of Arba’een (40 days of mourning)?
Ziyarat, as we all know is a visitation, which in essence, is the act of speaking with and visiting our role models. Of course the physical manifestation of the ziyarat is actually being present in Kerbala to perform the Ziyarat of Arba’een, but, in reality, that is not possible for every believer. So does making ziyarat while not in Kerbala give one the same benefits? Ahadith tell us that performing the Ziyarat of Imam Hussain (a.s.) far from Kerbala would hold the same significance as being in the land of Kerbala, as long as the person performing the Ziyarat has truly understood the status of the Imam and seeks to emulate him.
Imam Muhamed al-Baqir (a.s.) states that the heavens wept over Imam Hussain (a.s.) for forty mornings, rising red and setting red. As we complete 40 days of remembrance of our Imam, we re-assert our pledge of obedience and loyalty to him,
“I bear witness that you are the Imam (who is) the upright, the pious, well-pleased (with Allah), the pure, the guide and the rightly-guided.
I bear witness that you fulfilled the pledge of Allah and you struggled in His way…I am a friend of whoever befriends him ...”
By performing the Ziyarat of Arba’een, we pledge that we will continue to follow the path of justice and righteousness and will reject injustice and speak up against the oppressors of the time,
I am an enemy of whoever is his enemy
In essence, we make a promise to continue to mold our lives according to the teaching of Imam Hussain (a.s.).
But why is it that we mourn and remember Imam Hussain (a.s.) for a period of forty days and then move on?
Our Prophet has said, “The earth mourns the death of a believer for forty mornings.” Therefore it appears that the deceased should be remembered and mourned over for a period of forty days. Performing an act for a continuous period of forty days is also known to help one to not just form a habit, but also to carry on the practice for the rest of his life.
If we look at studies dealing with bringing a lifestyle change, we notice the time period emphasized to bring about a change is usually 6 weeks which is about the same time period as 40 days (to be exact it is 42 days).
In the book 40 Days to Personal Revolution: A Breakthrough Program to Radically Change Your Body and Awaken the Sacred Within Your Soul, the author Baron Baptiste explains the significance of forty days:
Why forty days? Because the number 40 holds tremendous spiritual significance in the realm of transformation. Jesus wandered in the desert for forty days in order to experience purification and come to a greater understanding of himself and his mission. Moses and his people traveled through the desert for forty years before arriving at their home in the holy land. Noah preserved the sacredness of life by sailing his ark for forty days and forty nights. According to the Kabbalah, the ancient Jewish mystical text, it takes forty days to ingrain any new way of being into our system….
Reciting particular duas for a period of 40 days is highly recommended in our practices as well.
The unit 40 (forty) is said to be very effective. If a particular Duaa is recited 40 times, or 40 people gather to recite it, or it is recited for 40 days then its effectiveness is highly increased. (Duas.org)
It is reported from Imam Ja'fer Sadiq (a.s.) that whoever recites Dua-e-Ahad for forty days, after morning prayers will be amongst the helpers of the 12th Imam (a). Visitation of the shrine of Imam Hussain (a.s.) as well as Masjid-e-Sahla for 40 consecutive Thursdays is also very highly recommended and is one of the acts that promises a visit from the 12th Imam (ajtf).
Thus, as we perform the Ziyarat of Arba’een and commemorate the Arba’een, 40 days of mourning of Imam Hussain (a.s.), we hope and pray that this forty days of remembrance of Imam Hussain (a.s.), brings about a transformation in us by which we can continue to follow the path of Imam Hussain (a.s.) and carry on his message of upholding justice with true faith and a strong sense of sacrifice!
Refs:
A’maal of Muharram and Safar (Tayyiba Publishers)
Kerbala and Beyond by Yasin T. Al-Jabouri
The Miracle of Ziyarat-e-Ashoora
Commentary on Ziyarat Ashura, translated by Saleem Bhimji from the work of Ali Asghar Azizi Tehrani
Kitab al-Irshad, translated by IKA Howard, authored by Sheikh Al-Mufeed
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
BIBI FATIMA MASOOMA E QOM {HISTORY AND HER LIFE } !
Hazrat Masooma e Qom Was Born On 1st Zqaad, 173 A.H. In Madina e Munawwara. Her Real Name Was Fatima Kubra_sa Because She Was Eldest Among Her Four Sisters And Her Other Sisters Were Also Named Fatima. Her Famous Title
of All Her Titles Is Masooma_saBcause She Was A Very Pious Lady And This Title Was Gifted To Her By Her Holy Brother Imam Ali Raza_as.
Janab e Masooma e Qom Was Only 10 Years Old When Her Father Imam Moosa Kazim Was Martyred In The PrisonOf Baghdad. Now She Had Only Her oly Brother To Look Up To. This Major Grief Made Her Very Weak And She Carried The Strenght To Be Alive Only For Her Brother Sake.Imam Ali Raza And Fatima Masooma_sa Were Born From The Same Mother And That Was Why The Bond Between Them Were So Strong.
After The Death Of Her Holy Father, Now Imam Ali Raza_as Was Charged The Responsibilities Of Imamat, But The Cruel Abbasside Kings Like Haroon Rasheed (l.a) And His Son Were Not Going To Let The Imam_as Live Peacefully. After The Death Of Haroon Rasheed (la),Mamoon Rasheed Came To The Power. His WayOf Ruling Was Completly Same As His Father,s And Imam Ali Raza_as Was Now Forced To Leave His Whole Family In Madinah For The Journey To Khurasan Iran.
For Almost A Year Hazrat Masooma_sa Put Up With The Seperation Of Her Brother But After A Year Of Sufferig His Seperation, She Could'nt Stand It Longer And Decided To Leave Madinah And Reunion With Her Brother Imam Ali Raza_as. Hazrat Masooma_sa Left Madinah For The Journey To Marw Aliong With Her Five Brothers, Fazal, Jafar, Haadi, Qasim And Zaid, His Nephews And Some Servants Were Also With Her.
Together They Went Through Many Difficulties That Occured In Their Way. Very Soon They Reached Sawa, A Place Where There Were Many Enemies Of Ahl e Bayt_as And Therefore The Carvan Of Hazrat Masooma_sa Was Attacked By These Enimies Of Sawa And Totally 23 Men Which Among Them Were The Brothers And The Nephews Of Hazrat Masooma Was Martyred.After This Tragedy, Hazrat Masooma_sa Became Very Ill And Weak. When The Leader In Qum, Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra, Who Was A Shia And A Good Hearted Man, Heard About This Tragedy, He Immidiatly Sent His Men To Bring Hazrat Msooma_sa To Qum.
Qum Was The City Where Lovers Of Ahl e Bayt_as Were Settled. When Hazrat Masooma's_sa Carvan Was Directed To Qum And When She Approached The City, She Observed That Everyone Was Dresses In Black And Black Banners Were Visible Everywhere. Observing This Sad Atmosphere, Hazrat Masooma_sa Ordered Her Servant Lady To Ask Someone Who Could Tell Them About What Had Happened? Janab e Masoomaa_sa Thought And Was Almost Sure That May Be A Great Leader Of This City Had Died.
When Carvan Of Hazrat Masooma_sa Stopped Then Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra Himself Came To Offer His Salutation. When The Reason Behind The Black Dressed People And The Sadness InThe Atmosphere Were Asked? Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra At First Stood Quiet With His Head Bent Down But When Hazrat Masooma_sa Insisted Then Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra Begaan To Cry At First And Offered His Condolences At The Death Of His Brother Imam Ali Raza_as.
On Hearing These Words Hazrat Masoomaa_sa Lammed Her Head And Cried So Much That She Became Unconcious. The Servant Laadies Stopped The Caravan And The Partition Was Arranged By Moos Ibn e Khazraj_ra, So That The Doctor Could Examine Her. In Between Hazrat Moosa_ra Sometimes Gained Her Conciousness And Then Cried For Her Brother Lamenting " O' Ghareeb Ul Watan" Where Are You My Brother? nd Then She Was Unconcious Again.
She Was So Deeply Hurt By This Grief That After Her Arrival In Qum She Was Only Alive For 17 Days. At Her Death The WomenOf Qum Commited Ghusl And Kafan and The Grave Was Also Dug By The Women And No MenWere Allowed inHer Funeral.At The Time Of Burying The Body Suddenly And Miraculously Two VielCoverd Horsemen Were Sighted. They Approached The Funeral Ceremony And One Of Them Carried The Holy Body Of Hazrat Masooma_sa And Handed It Over To The Other Who Had Stepped Inside The Grave.
When The Funeral Prayers Were Conducted The Two Mysterios Horse men Were Disappeared. It s Reported That These Veil Covered Horsemen Were Imam Ali Raza_as And Imam Muhammad Taqi_asWho Miraculously Had Come To Bury The Body Of Masooma e Qum_sa. After Burring Hazrat Masoom_sa, Moosa Ibn e Khazraj Arranged A Canvas Over The Grave Of Masooma e Qum_sa. Thereafter Zainab Bint e Imam Muhammad Taqi_as Arraanged The Tomb Of The Grave. In413 A.H This Tomb Was Painted. In 529 A.H Na Tomb Was Made.
In 592 A.H The Tomb Was Rebuilt .In 1203 A.H The Area Around The Holy Shrine Of Masooma e Qum_sa Was Renewed. In1218 A.H The Holy Tomb Was Rebuilt And Gold Plated With 12000 Golden Bars. In 1275 A.H The Grave Was Surrounded By A Silvery Zari.Hazrat Masooma_sa as Burried in the Holy City Of Qum And Every Year This Shrine Is Visited By Millions Of Millions Of Her Lovers All Around The World.May Allah Give All The Shia Muslims The Opportunity To Pilgrimage To Iran To Visit These Sacred Places. Ameen !
of All Her Titles Is Masooma_saBcause She Was A Very Pious Lady And This Title Was Gifted To Her By Her Holy Brother Imam Ali Raza_as.
Janab e Masooma e Qom Was Only 10 Years Old When Her Father Imam Moosa Kazim Was Martyred In The PrisonOf Baghdad. Now She Had Only Her oly Brother To Look Up To. This Major Grief Made Her Very Weak And She Carried The Strenght To Be Alive Only For Her Brother Sake.Imam Ali Raza And Fatima Masooma_sa Were Born From The Same Mother And That Was Why The Bond Between Them Were So Strong.
After The Death Of Her Holy Father, Now Imam Ali Raza_as Was Charged The Responsibilities Of Imamat, But The Cruel Abbasside Kings Like Haroon Rasheed (l.a) And His Son Were Not Going To Let The Imam_as Live Peacefully. After The Death Of Haroon Rasheed (la),Mamoon Rasheed Came To The Power. His WayOf Ruling Was Completly Same As His Father,s And Imam Ali Raza_as Was Now Forced To Leave His Whole Family In Madinah For The Journey To Khurasan Iran.
For Almost A Year Hazrat Masooma_sa Put Up With The Seperation Of Her Brother But After A Year Of Sufferig His Seperation, She Could'nt Stand It Longer And Decided To Leave Madinah And Reunion With Her Brother Imam Ali Raza_as. Hazrat Masooma_sa Left Madinah For The Journey To Marw Aliong With Her Five Brothers, Fazal, Jafar, Haadi, Qasim And Zaid, His Nephews And Some Servants Were Also With Her.
Together They Went Through Many Difficulties That Occured In Their Way. Very Soon They Reached Sawa, A Place Where There Were Many Enemies Of Ahl e Bayt_as And Therefore The Carvan Of Hazrat Masooma_sa Was Attacked By These Enimies Of Sawa And Totally 23 Men Which Among Them Were The Brothers And The Nephews Of Hazrat Masooma Was Martyred.After This Tragedy, Hazrat Masooma_sa Became Very Ill And Weak. When The Leader In Qum, Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra, Who Was A Shia And A Good Hearted Man, Heard About This Tragedy, He Immidiatly Sent His Men To Bring Hazrat Msooma_sa To Qum.
Qum Was The City Where Lovers Of Ahl e Bayt_as Were Settled. When Hazrat Masooma's_sa Carvan Was Directed To Qum And When She Approached The City, She Observed That Everyone Was Dresses In Black And Black Banners Were Visible Everywhere. Observing This Sad Atmosphere, Hazrat Masooma_sa Ordered Her Servant Lady To Ask Someone Who Could Tell Them About What Had Happened? Janab e Masoomaa_sa Thought And Was Almost Sure That May Be A Great Leader Of This City Had Died.
When Carvan Of Hazrat Masooma_sa Stopped Then Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra Himself Came To Offer His Salutation. When The Reason Behind The Black Dressed People And The Sadness InThe Atmosphere Were Asked? Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra At First Stood Quiet With His Head Bent Down But When Hazrat Masooma_sa Insisted Then Moosa Ibn e Khazraj_ra Begaan To Cry At First And Offered His Condolences At The Death Of His Brother Imam Ali Raza_as.
On Hearing These Words Hazrat Masoomaa_sa Lammed Her Head And Cried So Much That She Became Unconcious. The Servant Laadies Stopped The Caravan And The Partition Was Arranged By Moos Ibn e Khazraj_ra, So That The Doctor Could Examine Her. In Between Hazrat Moosa_ra Sometimes Gained Her Conciousness And Then Cried For Her Brother Lamenting " O' Ghareeb Ul Watan" Where Are You My Brother? nd Then She Was Unconcious Again.
She Was So Deeply Hurt By This Grief That After Her Arrival In Qum She Was Only Alive For 17 Days. At Her Death The WomenOf Qum Commited Ghusl And Kafan and The Grave Was Also Dug By The Women And No MenWere Allowed inHer Funeral.At The Time Of Burying The Body Suddenly And Miraculously Two VielCoverd Horsemen Were Sighted. They Approached The Funeral Ceremony And One Of Them Carried The Holy Body Of Hazrat Masooma_sa And Handed It Over To The Other Who Had Stepped Inside The Grave.
When The Funeral Prayers Were Conducted The Two Mysterios Horse men Were Disappeared. It s Reported That These Veil Covered Horsemen Were Imam Ali Raza_as And Imam Muhammad Taqi_asWho Miraculously Had Come To Bury The Body Of Masooma e Qum_sa. After Burring Hazrat Masoom_sa, Moosa Ibn e Khazraj Arranged A Canvas Over The Grave Of Masooma e Qum_sa. Thereafter Zainab Bint e Imam Muhammad Taqi_as Arraanged The Tomb Of The Grave. In413 A.H This Tomb Was Painted. In 529 A.H Na Tomb Was Made.
In 592 A.H The Tomb Was Rebuilt .In 1203 A.H The Area Around The Holy Shrine Of Masooma e Qum_sa Was Renewed. In1218 A.H The Holy Tomb Was Rebuilt And Gold Plated With 12000 Golden Bars. In 1275 A.H The Grave Was Surrounded By A Silvery Zari.Hazrat Masooma_sa as Burried in the Holy City Of Qum And Every Year This Shrine Is Visited By Millions Of Millions Of Her Lovers All Around The World.May Allah Give All The Shia Muslims The Opportunity To Pilgrimage To Iran To Visit These Sacred Places. Ameen !
Saturday, 31 December 2011
The 5 Signs of a Believer !
Every existWence is coupled with signs. These signs are a reflection of its essence. Often times, we follow the signs to reach the existence; other times we start with the existence and seek the signs. The faith of a Muslim is no different and is accompanied by specific signs.
The Qur'an and the narrations of the Infallibles (peace be upon them) point out a variety of signs that we Muslims should not only learn, but also incorporate into our everyday lives. This article will focus on the following narration that lists five signs of the believer: Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) says, "[t]he signs of the believer are five: praying fifty-one Rak'at [including mandatory and optional prayers], Ziyarat al-Arba'een, wearing a ring in the right hand, prostration on dirt, and saying 'Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem' in a raised voice." (Wasa'il ush-Shi'a)
At first glance, one can easily infer that some of the reasons behind these acts being considered signs of a believer include that in some cases they are considered from the Mustahibbaat, and in others cases pay tribute to a representative of Allah.
However, we shall examine these signs from a different perspective and hopefully reach a common intersecting point.
Praying 51 Rak'at
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) says "Prayers is the ascension of the believer." (Safinat al-Bihar) The person who is in love with Allah and wants to reach Allah will seek the path to Him, and prayer is that path. Prayers include speaking to Allah. Prayers include supplications. Prayers include deepening our beliefs. When prayer is all that and more, the believers will surely want to fulfill their obligatory duties – but they will not stop there as they will want to take advantage of every opportunity to communicate with Allah, and the optional prayer is exactly that: opportunity.
It is the optional prayer that should be the main focus of our examination, as it is already obvious that praying the five mandatory prayers is part of the circle of Islam. For the sake of completeness, the 34 optional Rak'ats are: 2 Rak'ats before Fajr, 8 Rak'ats before Duhr, 8 Rak'ats before Asr, 4 Rak'ats after Maghrib, and 2 Rak'ats from a seated position (thus considered as one) after Isha, and 11 Rak'ats (8 Nafila, 2 Shafa', 1 Witr) for Salat al-Layl. Along with the 17 Rak'ats of the five mandatory prayers, the total becomes 51 – the count referred to by Imam Hasan al-Askari.
The optional prayers have been emphasized by our Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) on numerous occasions, and for the sake of example, consider that Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) asked Lady Zainab (peace be upon her) to remember him in her night prayers. His emphasis on the night prayers is worth analyzing.
This alone shows the importance of these optional prayers and a true believer will not let this opportunity slip by. But optional prayers go further than that. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) was struck by Ibn Muljim (may Allah remove His mercy from him) on the 19th of Ramadan while the Imam was praying the Nafila of Fajr. When one considers that our beloved Imam was martyred while he was praying the optional prayers, those who love Imam Ali would find it only logical to be like him and follow his ways. It is truly a sign of faith when the person wants to love Allah the way the Imam does, and the optional prayers help reinforce his/her love for the Imam and ultimately for Allah.
Ziyarat al-Arba'een
According to history, the 20th of Safar is the day Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) visited Imam Hussain – the first Ziyarat (Misbah al-Mutahajjid). It is also the day that the caravan of the Ahlul Bayt returned to Karbala from Damascus. The person who follows the path of Imam Hussain will want to be part of that caravan. The 20th of Safar was emphasized by the Ahlul Bayt due to the tragedy of "returning to Karbala" after the massacre. Visiting Imam Hussain on Arba'een follows in the footsteps of Lady Zainab and Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him). It is a commemoration of the tragedy. Who else will want to bother with the Ziyarat other than those who understand the status of Imam Hussain and the meanings of his revolution – who else other than those who love Imam Hussain, the Prophet, and the Ahlul Bayt? And those who love the Prophet and his holy household are those who love Allah. And whoever loves them follows them. That is the path of every true believer and Imam Hasan al-Askari emphasizes that. It is important to realize that the term "visiting" is not limited to being physically there (although it the best realization of visitation); rather, narrations from the Ahlul Bayt allow the believers to do Ziyarat from a distance. Also, one should not limit the Ziyarat to only one day of the year. In fact, Ziyarat al-Arba'een is to be recited on the 20th of Safar and on other days of the year, independent of whether the believer is physically at Karbala or not. When done regularly, the connection with Imam Hussain and the Ahlul Bayt deepens as the sign of belief shines.
Ring on Right Hand
Symbols are common in today's world and can be seen in many different political, academic, cultural, professional and other kinds of organizations. During the Battle of Siffin, Amr ibn al-Aas (may Allah remove His mercy from him) set a trend by putting his ring on his left hand and falsely claimed that Imam Ali not be the Imam and the Caliph. The followers of the Umayyid dynasty made it a symbol of remembering that incident by wearing rings on their left hands. Thus, wearing the ring in the right hand goes beyond blessings and rewards. It has become a symbol of following Imam Ali. It is a revolution against those who hate our Imam. And clearly, those who hate and do not follow the Imam have gone astray. On numerous occasions, the Prophet said, "Oh Ali! Only believers will love you and only hypocrites will hate you." (Sahih al-Tirmidhi).
Prostration on Dirt
The true believer understands that they are nothing without Allah and their pride and ego is to be put aside when connecting with Allah. When the person puts their head on dirt, they are in a position of humility before Allah. Prostration on dirt goes even further as it represents the beginning and end of this life. We began from clay and we will end up buried in dirt. True believers always remember their genesis and their destination. The prostration on dirt is a reminder of that. But the significance of prostration goes even further: when this dirt comes from the holy city of Karbala, then the prostration on dirt takes the believer to a much higher level. It becomes a form of remembering the tragedy of Karbala. It serves as a reminder of how Imam Hussain was left on the blazing desert sands of Karbala for three days. It reminds us of how Shimr (may Allah remove His mercy from him) slaughtered Imam Hussain from the back of his neck while his was on the ground. Indeed, prostration on dirt is a connection between us and Imam Hussain, the Ahlul Bayt and ultimately Allah.
The Basmala
Finally, the topic of saying "Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem" (the Basmala) It is enough to quote the following narration by Imam Ali that ties the Basmala to him: "Know that all the secrets in the divine books are in the Qur'an. All that is in the Qur'an is in al-Fatiha. All that is in al-Fatiha is in the Basmala. All that is in the Basmala is in the 'Baa' [of 'Bism']. All that is in the 'Baa' is in the dot under the 'Baa'. And I am the dot under the 'Baa'." (Yanabee al-Mawadda)
The Intersection Point
The completion of the religion of Islam was the Wilaya of Imam Ali and his successors. From the above discussion, it is clear that these signs listed by Imam Hasan al-Askari, in one way or another, lead us back to our infallible Imams. These signs are a source of blessings and they are signs of followers of Prophet Mohammad and his holy family.
In order to be included among those followers, we should start incorporating these signs into our lives. Wear a ring in the right hand – it is such a simple task to make a habit of. Start to pray the optional prayers – the Ghufayla prayer and Salat al-Layl is a great place to begin. Prostrate on a Turba from Karbala, as it is widely practiced by the followers of the Ahlul Bayt, and so is the loud recitation of the Basmala. On the day of Arba'een, the number of visitors to Karbala has exceeded 10 million people and Insh'Allah will continue to increase. We should be putting in the effort not to miss out on these great blessings. Along the way, we should always remember our Imams, especially Imam Ali and Imam Hussain, both of whom these five signs seem to remind us of the most. Let us hold tight onto these signs and let us do our best to be among the true believers, in this world and the Hereafter.
Who are the Shia of Imam Ali (a.s) ?
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) was asked by Ibn Abbas about the verse of the Holy Qur'an, "And the Foremost Ones are the foremost ones: they are the ones brought near to Allah" (56:10-11), to which he replied, 'This refers to Ali and his Shia – they will be the foremost to enter Paradise, the ones brought near to Allah through His Magnanimity over them." (Amali al-Tusi)
What Does it Mean to Be a Shia of Ali?
God has made the love of Imam Ali an incumbent article of faith. Only a believer would love Imam Ali, and only a hypocrite could ever hate him. Imam Ali is the friend of the believer through a natural human inclination towards perfection and lofty morals – attributes possessed by Imam Ali. However, history has recorded many individuals who claim love the Commander of the Faithful while displaying tendencies antagonistic to such love. According to the Prophet, the guardianship of Imam Ali is an obligation all humans will be accountable for on the Day of Judgment: "I swear by the Magnificence and Glory of my Lord that Ali is the door to God that leads to Him. Ali is Allah's 'Straight Path', and it is the guardianship of Ali that Allah will ask about on the Day of Judgment." ( Amali al-Saduq)
Narrations such as these may give some of us a sense of comfort, because we are led to believe that we are safe both in this life and the hereafter through our love of Imam Ali. However, the conscious believer should recognize that many of us have yet to realize what it truly means to love Imam Ali with both our hearts and our tongues. What does it mean to be a Shia of Ali today, in a world filled with corruption and the promotion of the greatest of sins?
The Shia of Ali Are Humble and Aware
Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) explains the need for humility and God-consciousness in anyone claiming to be a Shia of Ali ibn Abi-Talib: "Our Shia are none other than those who are consciously wary of their duty to Allah and obey Him. They are known solely for their humbleness, their humility, their returning promptly whatever is entrusted in their care, and their abundant remembrance of Allah." (Tuhaf al-Uqool) It is not possible to merely claim one is a Shia while remaining oblivious of one's duties towards God, the Holy Prophet, and the Purified Household. This awareness of our duties in Islam establishes both humility and a firm foundation of faith and practice.
The Shia of Ali Are Able to Control their Speech
Wonder of wonders! How can it be that the same tongue that invokes blessings of Allah on Ali backbites about a fellow believer? Imam al-Sadiq has warned us to be cognizant of the dangers of the tongue and its hindrance on our faith: "O Shia community, be an adornment for us [among people], and not a disgrace to us. Say good words to people, guard your tongues, and restrain yourselves from mindless chatter and offensive speech." (Amali al-Saduq)
The Shia of Ali are Pious and Noble
It is not enough to claim one is a Shia through speech and not actions! In fact, the title Shia is not a characterization we are born with, but rather one that is earned by those who are steadfast in their duties to God. Imam al-Baqir advises on our true identity as Shias and those loyal to Imam Ali, "Do you think that it suffices for one to say that he likes Imam Ali and he is his follower, but does not do anything to support his claim? Or he says that he likes the Prophet, who is even better than Imam Ali, but does not take his example and follow his deeds and act according to the Prophet's tradition? Just having love for the Prophet is of no use for him. Therefore, be conscious of God, and act in such a way as to attain what is near God, since there is no relation of kin between God and anyone. The one most loved by God is the one who is the most God-conscious, and the noblest one is the one who fears God and obeys Him. I swear by God that it is not possible to get close to God unless by His obedience, and we do not hold the key to relief from the Fire of Hell, and no one has any authority over God. Whoever is obedient to God is our friend, and whoever disobeys God is our enemy. No one can attain our friendship unless through God-consciousness and good deeds." (Tuhaf al-Uqool)
The Shia of Ali Are Careful about Prayers
In his last will and testament, Imam Ali stresses the importance of prayers to his Shia, "Fear Allah in relation to your prayers. It is the pillar of your religion." Imam al-Sadiq on his deathbed also mentions prayer and states, "Verily our intercession will not avail one who takes his prayer lightly." (Wasail al-Shia) He has also said, "Test our followers at three occasions: during the prayer times [to see] how much importance they give it; and by our secrets to see how they protect our secrets from our enemies; and with their wealth to see how they help their brothers in faith with it." (Bihar al-Anwar)
We cannot claim to be a Shia simply because we were born into the sect, or because we claim love Imam Ali. Indeed, the status of the Shia of Imam Ali is great and exalted, and therefore, so are the duties and responsibility in our faith and actions. By claiming to love Imam Ali, we must also love his great qualities and strive to implement them in our daily lives and actions. In many traditions, our Imams state their Shias are those who hold themselves accountable everyday for their actions and are those who improve their conduct every day. We ask God to grant us the honor of being among the followers of the Commander of the Faithful in this life and the next .
What Does it Mean to Be a Shia of Ali?
God has made the love of Imam Ali an incumbent article of faith. Only a believer would love Imam Ali, and only a hypocrite could ever hate him. Imam Ali is the friend of the believer through a natural human inclination towards perfection and lofty morals – attributes possessed by Imam Ali. However, history has recorded many individuals who claim love the Commander of the Faithful while displaying tendencies antagonistic to such love. According to the Prophet, the guardianship of Imam Ali is an obligation all humans will be accountable for on the Day of Judgment: "I swear by the Magnificence and Glory of my Lord that Ali is the door to God that leads to Him. Ali is Allah's 'Straight Path', and it is the guardianship of Ali that Allah will ask about on the Day of Judgment." ( Amali al-Saduq)
Narrations such as these may give some of us a sense of comfort, because we are led to believe that we are safe both in this life and the hereafter through our love of Imam Ali. However, the conscious believer should recognize that many of us have yet to realize what it truly means to love Imam Ali with both our hearts and our tongues. What does it mean to be a Shia of Ali today, in a world filled with corruption and the promotion of the greatest of sins?
The Shia of Ali Are Humble and Aware
Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) explains the need for humility and God-consciousness in anyone claiming to be a Shia of Ali ibn Abi-Talib: "Our Shia are none other than those who are consciously wary of their duty to Allah and obey Him. They are known solely for their humbleness, their humility, their returning promptly whatever is entrusted in their care, and their abundant remembrance of Allah." (Tuhaf al-Uqool) It is not possible to merely claim one is a Shia while remaining oblivious of one's duties towards God, the Holy Prophet, and the Purified Household. This awareness of our duties in Islam establishes both humility and a firm foundation of faith and practice.
The Shia of Ali Are Able to Control their Speech
Wonder of wonders! How can it be that the same tongue that invokes blessings of Allah on Ali backbites about a fellow believer? Imam al-Sadiq has warned us to be cognizant of the dangers of the tongue and its hindrance on our faith: "O Shia community, be an adornment for us [among people], and not a disgrace to us. Say good words to people, guard your tongues, and restrain yourselves from mindless chatter and offensive speech." (Amali al-Saduq)
The Shia of Ali are Pious and Noble
It is not enough to claim one is a Shia through speech and not actions! In fact, the title Shia is not a characterization we are born with, but rather one that is earned by those who are steadfast in their duties to God. Imam al-Baqir advises on our true identity as Shias and those loyal to Imam Ali, "Do you think that it suffices for one to say that he likes Imam Ali and he is his follower, but does not do anything to support his claim? Or he says that he likes the Prophet, who is even better than Imam Ali, but does not take his example and follow his deeds and act according to the Prophet's tradition? Just having love for the Prophet is of no use for him. Therefore, be conscious of God, and act in such a way as to attain what is near God, since there is no relation of kin between God and anyone. The one most loved by God is the one who is the most God-conscious, and the noblest one is the one who fears God and obeys Him. I swear by God that it is not possible to get close to God unless by His obedience, and we do not hold the key to relief from the Fire of Hell, and no one has any authority over God. Whoever is obedient to God is our friend, and whoever disobeys God is our enemy. No one can attain our friendship unless through God-consciousness and good deeds." (Tuhaf al-Uqool)
The Shia of Ali Are Careful about Prayers
In his last will and testament, Imam Ali stresses the importance of prayers to his Shia, "Fear Allah in relation to your prayers. It is the pillar of your religion." Imam al-Sadiq on his deathbed also mentions prayer and states, "Verily our intercession will not avail one who takes his prayer lightly." (Wasail al-Shia) He has also said, "Test our followers at three occasions: during the prayer times [to see] how much importance they give it; and by our secrets to see how they protect our secrets from our enemies; and with their wealth to see how they help their brothers in faith with it." (Bihar al-Anwar)
We cannot claim to be a Shia simply because we were born into the sect, or because we claim love Imam Ali. Indeed, the status of the Shia of Imam Ali is great and exalted, and therefore, so are the duties and responsibility in our faith and actions. By claiming to love Imam Ali, we must also love his great qualities and strive to implement them in our daily lives and actions. In many traditions, our Imams state their Shias are those who hold themselves accountable everyday for their actions and are those who improve their conduct every day. We ask God to grant us the honor of being among the followers of the Commander of the Faithful in this life and the next .
ALI ALI ALI ALI !
Ali Ali Ali Ali!
A Most Honored Place In History
The Bane Of Lies, And Tyranny
The Mushrik's Worst Catastrophe
The Guardian Of Prophesy
Ali Ali Ali Ali
The Guardian Of Prophecy
Began His Life Auspiciously
Born To A Holy Legacy
The Orphaned Seal Of Prophecy
Was Raised By Ali's Family
And Prophet Raised The Great Ali
To Be The Guard Of Prophecy
Ali Ali Ali Ali
A Child Of Ten On Prophet's Knee
What Prophet Saw He Could Not See,
But With Pure Faith And Certainty
He Witnessed The Reality
That Ahmad Received Prophecy
First Man To Witness Openly
Ali Ali Ali Ali
The Hero Of The Wells, Ali
The Hero At Uhud, Ali
The Hero At The Ditch, Ali
The Hero At Hunain, Ali
Wisdom, Valor, Chivalry
Ali Ali Ali Ali
Today Recall To Memory
The Help God Gave To Prophecy
By Causing This Great Man To Be
Praise God In All Sincerity.
Ali Ali Ali Ali
Ali Ali Ali Ali
Ali Ali Ali Ali
Ali Ali Ali Ali
Oh Allah Bless Muhammad's Soul
And Rain Down Peace On His Household.!
A Most Honored Place In History
The Bane Of Lies, And Tyranny
The Mushrik's Worst Catastrophe
The Guardian Of Prophesy
Ali Ali Ali Ali
The Guardian Of Prophecy
Began His Life Auspiciously
Born To A Holy Legacy
The Orphaned Seal Of Prophecy
Was Raised By Ali's Family
And Prophet Raised The Great Ali
To Be The Guard Of Prophecy
Ali Ali Ali Ali
A Child Of Ten On Prophet's Knee
What Prophet Saw He Could Not See,
But With Pure Faith And Certainty
He Witnessed The Reality
That Ahmad Received Prophecy
First Man To Witness Openly
Ali Ali Ali Ali
The Hero Of The Wells, Ali
The Hero At Uhud, Ali
The Hero At The Ditch, Ali
The Hero At Hunain, Ali
Wisdom, Valor, Chivalry
Ali Ali Ali Ali
Today Recall To Memory
The Help God Gave To Prophecy
By Causing This Great Man To Be
Praise God In All Sincerity.
Ali Ali Ali Ali
Ali Ali Ali Ali
Ali Ali Ali Ali
Ali Ali Ali Ali
Oh Allah Bless Muhammad's Soul
And Rain Down Peace On His Household.!
The Younger Zainab (a.s) !
From the plains of Karbala emerged a legacy of timeless heroes from the most honorable martyr, Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) to the eloquent messenger of Karbala, Lady Zainab to the 72 men of God who stood defiantly in the face of unparalleled tyranny. Neglected however, in the yearly mourning gatherings of thousands of believers, is Lady Umm Kulthum (peace be upon her). Who was Lady Umm Kulthum? What was her role during the tragedy of Karbala and its heart-breaking aftermath?
The House of Islam
Lady Umm Kulthum ranks among the few historical figures in Islam who have been honored with ties to the house of Islam and the Holy Quran. Her grandfather was God's last messenger and Prophet, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny). She was born in the 9th year after Hijrah (the Prophet's migration to Medina) and two years before the death of her beloved grandfather. Her blessed parents were Lady Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) who is regarded as Islam's most perfect woman and her father was the commander of the faithful and the Prophet's successor, Imam Ali (peace be upon him). The leaders of the youth of paradise, Imam Hassan and Hussain were Lady Umm Kulthum's brothers and role models. With such surroundings emerged Lady Umm Kulthum's praised personality and character. Her traits resemble the peerless, excellent qualities of her mother and older sister, Lady Zainab (peace be upon her). In fact, historians have consistently mentioned that Lady Umm Kulthum's title was Zainab al-Sughra (the Younger Zainab) with her older sister, Lady Zainab, being Zainab al-Kubra.
Lady Umm Kulthum was 2 years old when her mother passed away, marking the opening of her life's calamities. Following the martyrdom of Lady Fatima Zahra, Lady Umm Kulthum lived under the guidance and care of her father, Imam Ali and her siblings. When Imam Ali was struck with the poisoned sword by the misguided and conniving Ibn Muljim, he stayed at the residence of Lady Umm Kulthum. She is therefore the source of the accounts of information on what occurred on the last night of the life of Imam Ali.
Lady Umm Kulthum, following the death of her husband Aun ibn Jafar, embarked with Imam Hussain and Lady Zainab towards Karbala. During the events of Karbala, she assisted her older sister in the tents and with the children. However, her contributions to the legacy and propagation of the events of Karbala did not end there. In fact, she had given many sermons and speeches about the sacrifice of her brothers and family in the forsaken fields of Karbala.
The Story of Struggle Retold in the Prisons
The propaganda by the Umayyads was unparalleled and they sought to ensure that the story of Karbala was erased from the pages of history. However, the story lived on thanks to the bravery and graceful eloquence of Lady Zainab and Lady Umm Kulthum, who despite being taken as prisoners and paraded in the marketplaces of Kufa and Shaam, re-told the story and sacrifice of Imam Hussain wherever they went.
The Story of Struggle Retold in the Prisons
The propaganda by the Umayyads was unparalleled and they sought to ensure that the story of Karbala was erased from the pages of history. However, the story lived on thanks to the bravery and graceful eloquence of Lady Zainab and Lady Umm Kulthum, who despite being taken as prisoners and paraded in the marketplaces of Kufa and Shaam, re-told the story and sacrifice of Imam Hussain wherever they went.
In Kufa, the audience had been led to believe that Imam Hussain was a rebel seeking power rather than a pious and God-wary Imam. Upon entering the city of Kufa, Lady Zainab began explaining to the crowd that had gathered around them of the maliciousness of Yazeed. Lady Umm Kulthum also gave a speech which caused both the men and women of Kufa to lament loudly and cry:
"O Kufans! May you face evil! Why did you refrain yourselves from rendering assistance to Hussain, why did you kill him? Why did you plunder his belongings and become its possessors? Why did you imprison his women-folk and suppress him? May you be ruined and uprooted! Woe be to you! Do you know what you have brought forth? And do you know what load of sin have you taken upon your backs? And what blood have you shed? And which women-folk you have taken as captives? And what children have you loot? And what belongings have you plundered? You have killed the best of men succeeding the Prophet, while mercy has departed away from your hearts.
"Beware, verily the Party of Allah alone shall be the successful ones, and verily the party of Satan are the losers (Surah al-Mujadilah, 58:22 and 19)." (Nafasul Mahmum)
She further inquired of the Kufans, who were celebrating the death of Imam Hussain ignorantly with sweets and dancing:
What will you answer if the Prophet were to ask you?
What have you done while you were the last of the nations
To my progeny and household after my death?
From them are captives and others covered with their blood
This was not the recompense to which I directed you
That after me you deal with my kin with such evil
Indeed I fear that a curse will come upon you
Like the chastisement befalling the previous nations.
(Ma'ali al-Sibtayn)
What have you done while you were the last of the nations
To my progeny and household after my death?
From them are captives and others covered with their blood
This was not the recompense to which I directed you
That after me you deal with my kin with such evil
Indeed I fear that a curse will come upon you
Like the chastisement befalling the previous nations.
(Ma'ali al-Sibtayn)
Proses of Heart Break
Upon their return to Medina, Umm Kulthum uttered the following prose to reflect her sadness and heart break at the tragedies that had befell the Prophet's family:
O my forefather's city, do not accept us
With regret and sorrow returned us
With all our family members we left you
With no man, no child, we return unto you
We did gather before moving
We are ransacked when returning
Under God's protection it appears were we
Of oppressor's cruelty and perjury still fear we
Our companion was our leader Hussain
Homeless and patrollers are we
For our brother did mourn we
On camels we are carried
On rough ones we are carried
We are Taha's and Yasin's daughters
We did cry out for our fathers
The great infallibles are we
The bearers of events are we
The truthful advisers are we
Oh our forefather, the foes desire was fulfilled
By slaying us they have been cursed
Be disgraced the women by them
Be carried forcefully on camels by them
With regret and sorrow returned us
With all our family members we left you
With no man, no child, we return unto you
We did gather before moving
We are ransacked when returning
Under God's protection it appears were we
Of oppressor's cruelty and perjury still fear we
Our companion was our leader Hussain
Homeless and patrollers are we
For our brother did mourn we
On camels we are carried
On rough ones we are carried
We are Taha's and Yasin's daughters
We did cry out for our fathers
The great infallibles are we
The bearers of events are we
The truthful advisers are we
Oh our forefather, the foes desire was fulfilled
By slaying us they have been cursed
Be disgraced the women by them
Be carried forcefully on camels by them
Oh Medina! A caravan of sorrow to thee bring I
an abundant gift of tears to thee bring I
Oh Medina! Not opened your gate I,
no one, a gift of sorrow bestows, except I
Oh Medina! If a garden of flowers to Karbala took I
If my black hair be whitened by grief but glad am I
since a clear proof for our being oppressed carry I
I swear to friend life, if captive but glad am I
In the best way, my duty did perform I
Oh Medina, Yusuf of Ali's family took I
Now if not return him, but his shirt carry I
Oh Medina! None of Hashimites becomes aware,
the message of a man beheaded carry I
Oh Medina! Stop me not, if return to thou alive I
By so troubles, this half dead body carry I
Oh Medina look, these captivities cannot prevent I
What by my speeches did to enemies I?
an abundant gift of tears to thee bring I
Oh Medina! Not opened your gate I,
no one, a gift of sorrow bestows, except I
Oh Medina! If a garden of flowers to Karbala took I
If my black hair be whitened by grief but glad am I
since a clear proof for our being oppressed carry I
I swear to friend life, if captive but glad am I
In the best way, my duty did perform I
Oh Medina, Yusuf of Ali's family took I
Now if not return him, but his shirt carry I
Oh Medina! None of Hashimites becomes aware,
the message of a man beheaded carry I
Oh Medina! Stop me not, if return to thou alive I
By so troubles, this half dead body carry I
Oh Medina look, these captivities cannot prevent I
What by my speeches did to enemies I?
(Imam Hussain and the Tragic Saga of Karbala by Ali Nazari Munfared, translated by Ali Ebrahimi)
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After Imam Hussain, she conveyed his message with her sister. |
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