Why are Hazrat Abbas's (pbuh) sacrifices so valuable?
Abbas Ibn Ali’s value resides in his jihad, self-sacrifice, devotion and knowledge of Imam of his time. His significance is his patience and endurance, his refusal to drink water while dehydrated; standing over the river without any religious or customary prohibitions for ingesting water. The value of those martyred at Karbala resides in the reality that they safeguarded a just cause, in the most difficult conditions anyone could imagine.
Some people are ready to fight in a great, lost war and perhaps perish in the heat of the battle, which is indeed a highly ranked position. Yet, not everyone is ready for such a sacrifice, since martyrs and those who fight on the path of God are numerable. Praise Be to God, during our war, we had outstanding martyrs. However, becoming martyred on that battlefield was very different from being martyred on the battlefield of Karbala, especially with a feeling of loneliness, pressure, thirst and threats or harassment that plagued one’s family.
One may often say, “I am ready to die on this battlefield, but it’s not possible because my child will go hungry or lacks medicine”, it becomes a justification. Sometimes, individuals care more about their families than they care about themselves. They care about their infant more than self. Imagine men going to the battlefield with an infant, wife, mother or the entire family; while all of them are exposed to this danger one must prevent the weakness of his resolve. The significance of Abbas Ibn Ali, Habib Ibn Mazahir and John Bin Huwai resides in this persona, not in their height or muscular built. There are many people in this world who are equal of height and many people of muscular stature, but this is not a spiritual significance.
Imam Khamenei,
Imam al-Husayn b. 'Ali (a)
Imam al-Husayn b. ‘Ali (a) Al-Ḥusayn b. ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib (a) (Arabic: الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب) (b. Sha’ban 3, 4/January 8, 626 – d. Muharram 10, 61/October 10, 680) also known as Abu ‘Abd Allah and Sayyid al-Shuhada’, was the third Imam of the Shi’a who was martyred in the Battle of Karbala after 10 years of Imamate. He was the second son of Imam ‘Ali (a) and Lady Fatima (a), and the grandson of the Prophet (s).
At the time of his birth, the Prophet (s) foretold his martyrdom and chose al-Husayn as his name. The Prophet (s) introduced him and his brother, Imam al-Hasan (a), as the Masters of the Youth of Paradise. The Prophet (s) loved the two (al-Hasanayn) and instructed people to love them. Al-Husayn (a) is one of the Ashab al-Kisa’, one of the participants of the Mubahala, and one of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) about whom al-Tathir Verse is revealed. There are scores of hadiths narrated directly from the Prophet (s) that only add more to the distinctive status of al-Husayn (a).
There are few reports about his life in the three decades after the demise of the Prophet (s). In the period of the caliphate of Imam ‘Ali (a), he accompanied his father and participated in the battles of Siffin, Jamal, and Nahrawan alongside his father. After the demise of Imam ‘Ali (a), he followed and supported Imam al-Hasan (a). He confirmed the treaty between Imam al-Hasan (a) and Mu’awiya. Even after the martyrdom of Imam al-Hasan (a), Imam al-Husayn (a) adhered to the treaty until the Mu’awiya’s death. In response to letters from Kufa which invited him to lead an uprising against Mu’awiya he recommended them to remain patient until the time of Mu’awiya’s death.
The imamate of Imam al-Husayn (a) coincided with the rule of Mu’awiya, who supposedly respected the Imam (a) but, at the same time, took pleasure in weakening and subjugating the Shi’a. Imam al-Husayn (a) rebuked Mu’awiya in several cases, he wrote Mu’awiya a letter, condemning him for the murder of Hujr b. Adi. On another occasion, when Mu’awiya introduced Yazid as his successor, Imam al-Husayn (a) refused to pledge allegiance to him, calling him unfit for leadership and proclaimed himself as the rightful leader of the ummah. The sermon of the Imam (a) in Mina can also be regarded as a political lecture against the Umayyads.
After Mu’awiya died, Imam al-Husayn (a) refused to give allegiance to Yazid and considered his rise to caliphate as illegitimate. When al-Walid b. ‘Utba, the governor of Medina, was sent to order Imam al-Husayn (a) to either pledge allegiance to Yazid or be killed, Imam al-Husayn (a) made his way from Medina towards Mecca on Rajab 28, 60/May 4, 680. In the four months he stayed in Mecca, he received many letters that urged him to assume the leadership of ummah. As Imam (a) and his companions approached Kufa, the army of ‘Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad intercepted Imam’s caravan on Yazid’s order.
For fear of revenge from Yazid’s army, the people of Kufa reneged on their promises to support the Imam (a). As a result, the Battle of Karbala took place on the Day of ‘Ashura’. Imam (a) along with a handful of his companions (around seventy-two) were martyred and the remaining companions were taken as captives to Kufa and Syria.
There are differing views as to the purpose of Imam’s (a) journey from Medina to Karbala. Some believe that Imam (a) intended to establish a government, but others hold that Imam (a) merely wanted to protect his own life.
The martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a) has had a deep impact on Muslims in general and on the Shi’a in particular; it has been a source of inspiration for various resistance movements and revolutions throughout history.
Following the school of the Imams (a) visiting the shrine of Imam al-Husayn (a), the mourning ceremonies, and other associated rituals that ensued to commemorate his martyrdom, found their unique place among Shi’a circles especially during months of Muharram and Safar.
Sunni Muslims speak highly of Imam al-Husayn (a), because of a) the hadiths they have transmitted about his virtues and b) his resistance against Yazid.
Imam al-Husayn’s (a) hadiths, letters, sermons, poems, and supplications have been collected in Mawsu’at kalimat al-Imam al-Husayn (The Encyclopedia of Imam al-Husayn’s Words) and in Musnad al-Imam al-Shahid (The Musnad of the Martyred Imam). Many works have also been published regarding aspects of his life and personality.
Imam Hussain Quotes
1.“The most generous person is the one who offers help to those who do not expect him to help”
2.“Whoever seeks the satisfaction of people through disobedience of God; Then God subjects him to people”
3.“Wisdom will not be complete except by following the truth”
4.“To me , death is nothing but happiness, and living under tyrants nothing but living in a hell”
5.”Those who worship God for the hope of gaining , they’re not real worshipers ,they’re merchants. Those who worship God out of fear ( of punishment ) , they’re slaves. And those who worship God to be grateful towards their creator , they are the free people, and their worship is a real one. ”
6.”Beware that the need of people to you is among the blessings of God to you. So do not scare away the needy people when they come to you, as the God’s blessings will return and go elsewhere. ”
7.”One who reveals your faults to you like a mirror is your true friend, and one who flatters you and covers up your faults is your enemy. ”
8.”Hastiness is foolishness.”
9.”Among the signs of ignorance is arguing with irrational people.”
10.”Among the signs of a learned man is criticizing his own words and being informed of various viewpoints.”
11.”Being thankful for a grace of God makes God reward you with another grace.”
12.”Beware that the need of people for you is among the graces of God, so do not neglect the needy as the graces will turn into difficulties. Do know Good deeds bring you people’s respect and praise and God’s rewards. If you could personify and visualize good deeds as a human being you would see him as kind and good looking , whose sight is pleasant for everyone to see. And if you could picture evil acts , you would see him ugly and disgusting , hearts detesting him , and eyes closing to his sight.”
13.”Best of wealth is that with which one protects his fame and dignity.”
14.”Avoid doing what you might later be asked to apologize for it! Because the believer does not harm and does not ask for apology, while the hypocrite always harms and apologizes. ”
15.”When you are frustrated and do not know a way out, only flexibility and moderation towards difficulties will save you.”
Neglector of the Bismillah
Dawud As-Sarmi related: My master Imam Al-Hadi (A.S.) ordered me to do many actions then he tested whether I had retained them all. When he noticed that I could not maintain them all, he took a pen and wrote down.
“In the Name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful. I will remember it, Insha’Allah. All the matters are in Allah’s hand
” I smiled and the Holy Imam(A.S.) asked me about the reason. I said, “Allah make me your sacrifice, this record reminds me of the report that one of our acquaintances related to me on the authority of your grandfather Imam Reza(A.S.). He said that whenever the Imam (A.S.) ordered of a matter, he used to write down: “In the Name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful. I will remember it, Insha’Allah.”
The Holy Imam(A.S.) said: O Dawud, I am honest to tell you that the neglector of the Bismillah is as same of the neglector of the (obligatory) prayers.
The Friends of Imam baqir
Imam baqir(as) Since Imam baqir (A.S.) was living in an age where in the Marwani Caliphs (Bani Omaiyd) were busy with their own affairs and they were spending their time in a struggle against Bani Abbas, therefore, more chances and possibilities of the propagation of Islamic learning’s got available for him. Imam (A.S.) started laying the foundations of educational and research assemblies and trained students of his school of thought, each one of whom was unmatched and incomparable. A number of them consisted of:
1. Abban Bin Taghlib:
Who had been present in the office and company of Imam Sajjad (A.S.), and was counted to be one of the important personalities of knowledge and learning and was an authority over the jurisprudence, exegesis, Hadith, and language. To the extent that Imam said “Oh Abban sit in the mosque of Madina and pronounce judgments to the people.
2. Zurara:
This person had been present before Imam Mohammad baqir (A.S.) and Imam Sadiq (A.S.) and he had ample expertise in the fields of Hadith, Jurisprudence, and Shiite leanings. So that Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said about him “If Zurara and his companions were not there the effects of the Prophets (P.B.U.H.) would have finished (ceased to exist).
3. Kumait Asadi:
He was an expert and capable poet and he was unparallel and unmatched regarding the language and literature and the statement of facts and criticizing the cruel and brutal rulers.
He used to stand up to the defense of Ahl al-Bayth (A.S.) by virtue of his language, which was in the mould of beautiful and attractive verses. Sometimes he was threatened to be slain by the usurper rulers. In the age of Bani Omaid it was very dangerous and perilous to state the effects and virtues of Ahl al-Bayth (A.S.). But this freedom-loving poet had bought all the risks and dangers at the cost of his life, for the sake of Ahl al-Bayth (A.S.). Kumait was the enamored and infatuated of Imam Mohammad baqir (A.S.). One day, he recited a number of nice rhymes before the Imam (A.S.), so Imam (A.S.) turned his face towards Kaabah and said,
“Oh God do bless Kumait.”
4. Mohammad Bin Muslim:
Who was titled as the “jurisprudent of Ahl al-Bayth (A.S.)” was one of the true friends of Imam Mohammad baqir (A.S.) and Imam Sadiq (A.S.). He was one of those about whom Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said, “The knowledge and learning of Ahl al-Bayth (A.S.) remained living and was established through him.