MERITS OF MOURNING ON THE AFFLICTIONS OF IMAM HUSAYN (A.S.)

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “Husayn Minni Wa Ana Minal Husayn”. It means: “Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn”. The first part of this tradition is clear that Imam Husayn (a.s.) being the grandson was from him, but the second part when he said that he was from Imam Husayn (a.s.) needs further elaborations. Allah (s.w.t.) assigned the task of preaching and defending Islam to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) which he performed completely. After his sad demise, Bani Umayyad wanted to destroy Islam. Hence Imam Husayn (a.s.) sacrificed his life to protect Islam. Khawaja Moin uddin Chishti (r.a.) had truly summed up Imam Husayn (a.s.)’s sacrifice for Islam when he said:

 “Shah ast Husayn, Badshah ast Husayn, Deen ast Husayn, Deen Panah ast Husayn,                     Sar dad na dad dast Dar daste Yazid, Haqqa ke Binae La Ilahast Husayn.”

But for the sacrifice of Imam Husayn (a.s.), we are Muslims in 21^st century! Suarah al-Rahman Ayah 60: “Hal Jaza’al Ihsan Illal Ihsan!” which means: “Can anything else be a response to a favor but a favor?”

Hence, in order to thank the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and his beloved grandson, the King of Martyrs, Imam Husayn (a.s.), the Muslims should practice Islam in their lives.

Shaykh Abbas Qummi was a master traditionist, being the student of the celebrated scholar Ayatullah Mirza Husayn Noori Tabrasi. He had authored numerous important books including Safinatul Bihar, Tohfatul Enab, Baytul Ehzan, Tohfatur Razawiyyah, Mafatihul Jinan, Manazelul Akherah and Nafasul Mahmum. Nafasul Mahmum pertains to the heart rending tragedy of Karbala. In this book he has collected Forty Traditions (Ahadiths) regarding the merits of mourning over the afflictions of Imam Husayn (a.s.), the rewards of invoking curse on his murderers, and prophesies regarding his martyrdom. Some of the Traditions from the book are reproduced as under:

Through authentic chain of authorities, Shaikh Abul Jafar Qasim Qawlawayh Qummi relates from the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.): “One day, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) visited our house and after eating some dates and milk, he went to the place of worship in a corner and prostrated and wept for a long time. No one could dare go near him and inquire about the reason of crying. Husayn went and sat on the thigh of the Messenger and said: “O Dear father! Why do you weep?” The Messenger replied: “I looked at you all and was happy and contented to an extent as I was never ever pleased before. Then Jibra’eel descended and reported to me that you all will be martyred, and your graves will be far away from one another. Hence I thanked Allah for what will befall (you all) and asked goodness for you.” Husayn said: “Then O Father! Who will look after our graves and come to visit them in spite of such distance?” The Messenger replied: “Those people among my nation (ummah) will come to visit your graves, who intent seeking my pleasure and goodwill. And hence I will go to assist them on the station of accounting (in Qiyamah), and hold their hands and relieve them from the fear and hardship of that day.”

Shaikh Abul Qasim Qawlawayh Qummi relates from Musme’ Karden: “The Infallible Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) inquired from me about the afflictions of troubles on Imam Husayn (a.s.), I replied and said that I am disturbed by it and that I cry for his troubles. The Imam said: “May Allah have mercy upon your tears! Verily you are one of those people who are afflicted by our grief, those who rejoice at our prosperity and lament at our sorrows. In fact, when you die, you will find our Blessed Forefathers close to you, and they will counsel the Angel of Death regarding you, and glad tidings shall be given to you which will illuminate your eyes. Then he shall be more compassionate and merciful towards you than a mother is to her son.” Saying this Imam started weeping and I could not control my tears. Then he (a.s.) continued: “Praise be to Allah, Who with His Mercy, has exalted us over all creatures, and favored our Household with His Blessings. O Musme’! Verily the heavens and the earth have been lamenting since the time the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) was martyred. The angels who weep over us are numerous, and their tears have never dried up from the time of our martyrdom. And no one weeps over us and our afflictions, except that Allah sends His Blessings upon him before his tears fall upon his cheeks from his eyes. And if one tear, which have fallen from their eyes, is thrown in the pit of Hell, its heat would cool down as if no fire existed there. The one whose heart feels pain for us will rejoice on the day he sees us during his death and (his delight) will remain intact till he meets us on the Fountain of Kauthar. Kauthar itself will be contented to see our friends, and such delicacies will be placed in his mouth, that he will not be ready to move from there.”