Mouood Mouood English Edition
Abu‘Amr Ahmad bin Muhammad Qurtubi Marwani narrates in his book Iqdul Fareed, that people inquired from Imam Ali Zainul Abedeen (a.s.) as to why his father had a few children. To which Imam replied,
“I am astonished as to even how could such a few children have been born, when he would recite a thousand units of Prayers daily, where had he got the time to visit his wives”?
(Manaqib) It is related that when the time of Sahr came, Imam Husayn (a.s.) reclined his head upon a bed and dozed off. Then he awoke and said,
“Do you know what I just dreamt”?
People replied, “O son of the Prophet! What have you seen”?
Imam replied,
“I saw that some dogs have attacked me, while a pie-bald dog among them is more severe towards me. And I presume that the one who will kill me will be a leper among this nation. Then I saw my grandfather the Prophet of Allah (S), along with the group of his companions. He addressed me: O my dear son! You are a Martyr of the Progeny of Muhammad (S). The dwellers of the heavens and the heavenly Angels give glad tidings to you. Tonight you shall break your fast with me, thus hasten and do not delay. These Angels have come from the heavens so as to collect your blood and preserve it in a green bottle. Verily I have derived that my end is near and it is time to depart from this world, while there is no doubt in it.”
Tabari relates from Azdi, who relates from Abdullah bin Asim, who in turn relates from Zahhak bin Abdullah Mashriqi, who says that on the night of the tenth (of Muharram), Imam Husayn (a.s.) and all his companions spent the entire night in Prayers, repentance, supplications and lamenting. He says that a contingent of guards passed by us when Imam Husayn (a.s.) was reciting the following verse of the Qur’an:
“Let not those who disbelieve think that our giving them respite is good for their selves, We only give respite to them that they may increase in sins, and for them is a disgraceful chastisement. It is not for Allah to leave the believers in the state in which you are, until He has distinguished the wicked from the fair ones.” (Surah aal-‘Imran, 3:178-179)
When one of the horsemen guarding us heard this verse, he said, “By the Lord of the Ka’bah! Verily we are the fair ones (referred to in the above verse), who have been distinguished from you.” Zahhak says that I recognized that man and then asked Burayr bin Khuzayr whether he recognized him. He replied in the negative. I said, “He is Abu Harb Sabee’i Abdullah bin Shahr. He is a jester, a profligate while being of a noble descent, brave and a slayer. Sa’eed bin Qays had arrested him due to some crime of his.” Burayr bin Khuzayr turned towards him and said, “O evil-doer! (do you assume that) Allah has included you among the fair ones”?
He asked him as to who he was, to which Burayr revealed to him his identity. He said, “Verily we are Allah’s and verily unto Him shall we return. Thus I have perished O Burayr!” Burayr replied, “Do you repent over the great sin of your’s? By Allah! We all are the fair ones, while you all are the wicked ones.”He replied, “I too verify the truthfulness of your words.” Zahhak says that then I told him, “Then will not this intelligence of yours benefit you”? He replied, “May I be your ransom! (if I do so) Then who will accompany Yazeed bin Azrah Anzee, who is presently with me.” Hearing this Burayr said, “May Allah spoil your view and your policy! For verily you are a futile man in everything.” Zahhak says that then Abu Harb returned back and our guard that night was Azrah bin Qays Ahmasi, who was the commander of the horsemen.
Sayyid ibn Tawoos says that on that night twenty-two men from the ranks of Umar bin Sa’ad joined the companions of Imam Husayn (a.s.).
It is related in Iqdul Fareed regarding Imam Husayn (a.s.)’s request to Umar bin Sa’ad to accept one out of the three proposals, hearing which thirty two Kufans, who were in the ranks of Umar bin Sa’ad, told him, “The grandson of the Prophet of Allah is asking you one out of the three options, and you disagree.”Saying this they left his rank and came over to the Imam and fought along with him until all of them were martyred.
