Imam Hussayn (a.s.)
had send his cousin, Hazrat Muslim bin
Aqil (a.s.) as his emissary to Kufa to ascertain the truth about the
thousands of letters sent to the Imam (a.s.) from the Kufans requesting him to
come to Kufa for guidance. Hazrat Muslim took two of his sons with him. They
were Muhammad and Ibrahim. Both were of the age below 10
years. Hazrat Muslim (a.s.), after reaching Kufa and witnessing the treachery
of the Kufans handed them over to Qazi Shurayh who kept them up to the time of
the martyrdom of Hazrat Muslim (a.s.).
Subsequently, Ibn Ziyad issued the warning that whoever had
the knowledge of the whereabouts of the sons of Hazrat Muslim (a.s.) and did
not communicate to him, would be killed. Qazi Shurayh told his son to take the
young boys to a caravan heading to Madinah.
When they reached the place, the caravan had just departed
and could be seen from behind. Hazrat Aqil (a.s.)’s orphans ran towards it but
lost the track. Tired and hungry, they were captured by the Ibn Ziad’s forces
and sent to the prison. When the jailer came to know their identity, he freed
them. When Ibn Ziad was informed about their escape, he ordered that 50 lashes
be whipped over him. The jailer died before completing 50 lashes. They were
once again on the run. They were hiding on a tree, when an Ethiopian woman came
to collect water from the pond, when she saw their bright images in water she
took the boys to her mistress, who was the wife Harith bin Urwah. When she came
to know that they were from the A’ale
Muhammad, she treated them respectfully and warned them of her husband’s
character and that they may rest in a separate room. After eating meals, the
boys slept.
Harith returned late and told his wife that Ibn Ziad had
announced a big reward for the capture of Hazrat Muslim (a.s.)’s orphans. In
the middle of the night, the elder brother, Ibrahim was awakened and told his
brother, Muhammad that he had seen “The
Panjetan” in the dream who were telling him about their shahadat. The
younger brother said that he had also the same dream. Harith was awakened by
their talk and came in the room and was delighted to see them. He slapped the
children, tied them and left.
In the morning, he took the boys, his son and his slave and
arrived at the river Euphrates .
He ordered his son and the slave to kill the orphans, but
both of them refused. The ruthless man killed his own son and the slave and wanted
to kill the orphans. They begged him to give time to pray the final namaz but
he refused to grant their request. His wife continued to ask him to refrain
from the heinous crime, but he tried to kill Ibrahim but Muhammad tried to
shield his brother. Ultimately he killed both the orphans, severed their heads
and threw the bodies in the river.
When Harith brought the heads of the orphans to Ibn Ziad, he
was furious and disclaimed their killings but wanted them alive. Hence, Harith
was brought at the spot where the boys were mercilessly slaughtered; he was
also executed.
It is a good example of “Lust for material wealth” and how
stoop a man can go down and behave like animals or worst than that.
Allah says in the
Noble Qur’an, Surah al-Shura, Ayah 23; “(Muhammad, say, I do not ask you for
any payment for my preaching to you except (your) love of (my near) relatives.”.
It is an irony that Muslims had inflicted insults, injuries and opressions to
the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) after the demise of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.).
Reference
The Noble Qur’an
Azadari Jaunpur
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