Hujr ibn Adi was also called, Hujr al-Khayr. He was among
the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)’s companions, who subsequently became a staunch
supporter of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.). He belonged to the
tribe of Kinda, a southern tribe in Hijaz, who migrated to Iraq
in 17 A.H. This tribe was involved in Iraqi events as participants in Siffin
and later on in Amir Mukhtar’s uprising. In the battle of Siffin, his
activities was utterly broad and he played a role as a commander in Imam Ali
(a.s.)’s army, yet when many abandoned the Commander of the Faithful, he stayed
with the Imam (a.s.) up to the last moment. Hujr could be found among the most
pious companions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). Hukaym Naishapuri called him “The Monk of Prophet’s companions.”
After the martyrdom of the Commander of the Faithful, he was
among those who stimulated the nation to give allegiance to Imam Hasan (a.s.).
In the process of compromising, Hujr seemed discontented but the Imam (a.s.)
elaborated that the Imam had to compromise to protect the lives of people like
him. Nonetheless, later Mua’wiya by no means remained faithful to his pledge
and martyred Hujr and his followers.
By order of Mua’wiya, Commander of the Faithful was cursed
from the pulpits. Hujr was naturally opposed to this practice. Once, when
Mughira, the governor of Kufa, urged him to go to the pulpit and curse Imam Ali
(a.s.), Hujr went up the pulpit and
said; “Mughira propels me to curse Imam Ali (a.s.), curse him you all.”
After Mughira, Ziyad became the governor and warned Hujr to
hold his tongue and even hinted that if he cooperated, he might be the next
governor. As Hujr’s perception of Mua’wiya was well-known, he was framed by
Ziyad not only on account of his disapproval of Muawiya, but also was accused
of blasphemy which was considered a severe crime. Ultimately, Hujr was arrested
but at the time of his arrest, he yelled out, “I am still faithful to my
allegiance.” He was absolutely right. He only insisted that Imam Ali (a.s.)
should not be insulted from pulpits. Hujr and fourteen of his followers were
sent to Mua’wiya, in Damascus .
Hujr and his companions were asked whether they would
pronounce disgust for (Imam) Ali. They responded, “No never, we do all love
him, and hate those who hate him.” Imam Ali (a.s.) had asserted that after him,
if they were asked to insult him they should abide by it.
Then they prepared themselves for martyrdom. Hujr, who was
prominent in the devout of Iraq ,
said a long two-rakat prayer and said, “As yet, I have never performed a prayer
shorter than this and I yearned to prolong it if you did not accuse me of being
scared of death.”
As narrated in Tabrisi, The Holy Prophet had predicted about
the martyrdom of Hujr and his companions and prophesied that they will be
killed by Mua’wiya.
Hujr’s name was specially mentioned in The Peace Treaty
between Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Mua’wiya. However, as Islamic historians had
written unanimously, Mua’wiya killed Hujr and six of his companions and one of
them name Abdul Rahman bin Hannan Ghazi was buried alive by Ziyad in Iraq .
They refused to curse Imam Ali (a.s.), which was a glare contravention of the
Peace Treaty.
Sheikh Abbas Qummi
had numerated specifically 16 crimes committed by Mua’wiya in his book; “Nafasul Mahmum Relating to the heart
rending tragedy of Karbala
In his very last breath, Hujr requested to be buried in the
same shirt owing to the fact that he desired to stand before Mua’wiya in that
state on the Day of Judgment.
After Hujr’s murder, the people of Iraq
rose against the Umayyad tyrannical rule spear-headed by Amir Mukhtar in which
Hujr’s two sons also took part in it.
He was buried in Goristan-e-Ghareeban in Syria .
References: Ashura Lectures 1990 by Dr. I.K.A. Howard
History
of the Caliphs by Rasul Ja’fariyan
Hayat
al Quloob volume 2 by Allama Majlisi
A
Probe into the History of Ashura by Dr.
Ibrahim Ayati
Nafasul
Mahmum by
Shaikh Abbas QWummi
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