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When we look at the battle of Karbala, we learn numerous lessons of bravery, patience, sacrifice, selflessness, sincerity and courage. In this set of articles entitled “Bravery and Sacrifice in Karbala” we will learn about how the Shuhada fought with courage and how they eventually sacrificed their lives for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.
At the commencement of the battle, Ibn Sa’d moved the army forward and ordered his slave, Dhoo Yad, who was the flag holder of the army, to bring forth the flag. Dhoo Yad came and stood near Ibn Sa’d, who joined his arrow with his bow and faced the Hussaini army saying to his followers, “Be witnesses to the fact that I was the first to shoot an arrow.” Upon hearing these words of their commander, excitement and passion overcame the soldiers and all of them began to shoot arrows towards the army of the Ahle Bait. Hence the battle began and soldiers from both sides came out in order to show their bravery.
Firstly, Yasaar and Saalim who were the freed slaves of Ziyaad and Ibn Ziyaad, arose from the side of the Ahle Kufa and came onto the battlefield calling out anyone from the other side to come and compete with them. Two of Hazrat Imam Hussain’s (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) devoted companions, Habeeb Ibn Muzaahir and Borair Ibn Hudhair, arose but Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) stopped them. Upon seeing this, Abdullah Ibn Omair Al-Kalbi, who had come with his wife Umm Wahb in order to assist Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) arose and sought permission to fight. Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) assessed Abdullah Ibn Omair carefully from head to toe and then realised that he was young, strong and robust. Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) then allowed him to go onto the battlefield if he wished to do so. Abdullah Ibn Omair Al-Kalbi went alone onto the battlefield to compete with Yasaar and Saalim who asked him who he was. Abdullah informed them of his name and his lineage. Yasaar and Saalim remarked how they did not know him and it was their desire that Zohair Ibn Qain, Habeeb Ibn Muzaahir or Borair Ibn Hudhair should have come forward to fight them. Yasaar was in front of Saalim at that time. Abdullah said, “O son of an unchaste woman! You find it disgraceful to fight against me?” Whilst saying this, he attacked Yasaar with such a hard strike that Yasaar died on the first blow. Saalim then suddenly attacked Abdullah, leaping onto him. Abdullah defended himself from Saalim’s sword using his left hand which resulted in his fingers being cut but Abdullah attacked Saalim with such a harsh blow using his right hand that Saalim fell onto the ground dead. Passionately, Abdullah Ibn Omair recited a verse which meant, “If you don’t recognise me then do so now. I am a son of the Kalb tribe. In order to understand my lineage, it is enough to know that my household is the ‘Olaim family. I am very strong and during times of trouble I do not lack spirit!”
Upon seeing her husband’s passion, Abdullah’s wife also became passionate and she grabbed some timber from the camp and charged forward exclaiming, “My mother and father are sacrificed upon you! Continue to fight for the grandson of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Abdullah approached his wife and attempted to encourage her to return to the camp but she was not prepared to accept. Abdullah was carrying a sword in his right hand which was drenched with the blood of the enemy whilst the fingers on his left hand had been cut and blood was flowing from them. Abdullah tried with all his might to force his wife to return to the camp but this excited woman was not prepared to do so. She exclaimed, “I shall not leave your side. I shall sacrifice my life with you.” Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) called out to them both, “May Allah reward you both on behalf of the family of Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Lady, please return to the camp. Fighting is not obligatory upon women.” Obeying the command of Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) Abdullah’s wife returned to the camp.
Thereafter, a man named Malik Ibn Urwah, who was an enemy of the Ahle Bait came before Sayyiduna Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) making his horse jump. When he saw that around the army of Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), fire was fuming from the trenches and he saw that the flames were high and thus through this scheme, the people within the camps were being protected, this vile person said to Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), “O Hussain, before the fire of that place (i.e. Hellfire) you have kindled a fire here.” Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) replied, “You have lied, oh enemy of Allah.” This was because he was making a ridiculous claim that Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) would enter the Hell fire (Astaghfirullah).
Sayyiduna Muslim Ibn Owsajah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was enraged by this vile remark and sought permission to shoot an arrow towards the mouth of this wretched being. Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) did not grant Sayyiduna Muslim Ibn Owsajah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) permission to do this but he prayed that Allah punish the man with the fire of the earth before punishing him with the fire of Hell. As soon as Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) made this supplication, the feet of Malik Ibn Urwah’s horse got stuck in a hole which caused him to fall off his horse. As Malik was falling off the horse, his foot got entangled by the stirrup of the horse. The horse now dragged him and flung him into the fire of the trenches. Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) performed a Sajdah of Shukr (gratitude) and also praised and glorified Allah Ta’ala for punishing an individual who hated the Ahle Bait.
When Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) praised Allah Ta’ala, a person from the lines of the enemy shouted, “What connection is there between you and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)?” This sentence was extremely hurtful for Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), who prayed that Allah Ta’ala should encompass this foul-mouthed individual with disgrace. As soon as he made this Dua the man received the call of nature. The man descended from his horse and found a place where he sat down naked in order to answer the call of nature. A black scorpion stung him and he began to jump up and down whilst impure until he disgracefully died in this state in front of his fellow comrades. These heartless people still had no realisation.
Another person approached Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and said, “Look how the waves are moving in the Euphrates. By Allah, you shall not receive a drop of water from the Euphrates and you shall be ruined whilst you are thirsty.” Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) said in reply to this individual, “O Allah kill him whilst he is thirsty.” The man’s horse jumped and the man fell whilst his horse fled. The man chased after the horse but was overcome with thirst. He shouted, “Thirst, thirst!” When water was placed near his mouth, not even a drop would enter until he eventually died due to the severity of this thirst.
SubhanAllah! The Yazeedis were being given a chance through the miracles of Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) to consider the outcome of their actions but they, who were the physical manifestation of wickedness, did not learn from these signs of Allah.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq to sacrifice our lives for His Sake, Ameen.
[Compiled from Khutbaat-e-Muharram by Faqeeh-e-Millat Hazrat Allama Mufti Jalaaludeen Ahmad Amjadi Rahmatullah Alaih]
