Saturday, December 28, 2013

KARBALA IN THE LIGHT OF THE BATTLE OF BADR

Battle of Badr, the first decisive battle between Islam and the Polytheists, was fought in the year 2 A.H. at Badr, a place about 80 miles South West of Madinah.
In order to fully and completely fathom and understand the horrific and bloody encounter of Yazidi army and a handful of True Muslims, it is essential to have a thorough knowledge of the Battle of Badr.
Abu Jahal, the leader of the Makkans advanced towards Madinah with an army of 1000 warriors including a cavalry of 100. A train of 700 camels carried the materials of war and other supplies. The infantry was wearing chain-mail and armor. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), along with 313 Muslims confronted the Makkans.
Three warriors of Banu Umayyad; Utbah son of Rabiah, Shaibah, his brother and Walid, his son, came on the battle field and challenged Muslims to present who were equal in status with them! Their challenge was taken by Hazrat Hamzah, uncle of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), Obaidah son of al-Harith, and Imam Ali. Victor of Khyber, after few exchanges of swords, killed Walid. Hazrat Hamzah killed Utbah. Obaidah was mortally wounded, and when Imam Ali saw him collapsing, he attacked Shaibah. Obaidah was carried by Imam Ali and Hazrat Hamzah into the Muslim lines.
Seeing this, Abu Jahal, the commander of the Makkans ordered a total attack. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) raised hands in prayer and said: “O’ Lord, if this group is annihilated today, none else will worship you on the face of the earth!”
Muslims were victorious leaving 49 Makkans , including their commander, Abu Jahal killed while 14 Muslims attained martyrdom. Out of 49 Makkans, 27 were killed by Imam Ali (a.s.), including the leading members of Banu Umayyad clan.   
Sir John Glubb says: “Badr was the first encounter between Islam and the Polytheists. Ali, the young lion, brought victory for Islam, and his victory was the signal of triumphs for Islam. All other battles of Islam followed the same pattern. Ali was the victor in every one of them.”
After the horrific tragedy of Karbala, where “The Chief of the Youths of Paradise” Imam Hussayn (a.s.), Commander of the army of Warriors, Hazrat Abbas ibn Ali (a.s.) along with Hazrat Ali al-Akbar, Hazrat Qasim ibn Hasan, Hazrat Aun and Muhammad, the Little Hero of Karbala, six-months old Hazrat Ali al-Asghar along with the brave companions of Imam Hussayn (a.s.) were mercilessly slaughtered. The tents of the Imam were looted and set ablaze forcing the sacred “Daughters of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)” to run out to save their lives. Imam Ali, Zayn al-Abedin who was sick, was imprisoned along with the families of AhlulBayt and the companions. This small caravan was lead to Kufa and then to Damascus. When the sacred AhlulBayt were presented to Yazid (l.a.), he recited the following:
            “I wish my forefathers at Badr had witnessed
             How the Khazraj are by the thorn annoyed
             They would have Glorified and Unified Allah
             Then they would make tehlil and say in elation
             May your hands, O Yazid, never be paralyzed!
             We have killed the masters of their chiefs
And equated with Badr, and it was so, indeed;
Hashim played with the dominion so
No news came, nor a revelation descended.
I do not belong to Khandaf if I do not
Seek revenge from Ahamd’s Offspring
For what he had done.
Sani-e-Zahra (s.a.), Hazrat Zaynab (s.a.) replied to his confessions and said: “All Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, Allah has blessed His Messenger’s Progeny. Allah, Glory to Him, has said the truth when He said:
Then the end of those who committed evil was that they disbelieved in Allah’s Signs, and they were ridiculing them. “   (30:10)
Reference:         The Life of Muhammad, The Prophet              by Sayyid Saeed Akhter Rizvi
                         The Message                                                  by Ayatullah Jafar Subhani

                          Maqtal al-Hussayn                                         by Abdal Razzaq al-Muqarram

No comments:

Post a Comment