THE SAVIOR OF THE MISSION OF IMAM HUSAYN (A.S.)

The Master of Martyrs the Infallible Imam Husayn (a.s.) was the savior of Islam and his sister Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) saved the Mission of her beloved brother Imam Husayn (a.s.)

To fathom the depth of any personality, one must review the social environment of that society. Arabia, before the dawn of Islam, was a society where women had no place or respect. If a girl was born, the father falsely felt humiliated and even bury the new born alive! When the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s) introduced Islam, the women folks were given their rightful place in the society. According to the revealed law of Allah, women are hidden treasures, neither to be displayed nor advertised. The Commander of Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) asked Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.), “Who is the best among women?” She replied, “Those who do not see men nor are seen by them” This is the reason why there is little known about Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) and other women in Islam. However, when the social norms are disbalanced, then that is the time when women are compelled to emerge in open arena. After the tragedy of Karbala, when there was no one left that had the courage to stand up to the tyranny and speak the truth. It is through her extraordinary handling of the wretched trials that she had endured that we have caught the glimpses of the untold depths of her courage, forbearance, patience and submission to the will of Allah. She shared with her brother Imam Husayn (a.s.), the task of rescuing the prophetic legacy from being eclipsed by the shadows of kufr (denial of Truth).

After the “Victory of Makkah”, the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) pardoned all those Quraysh who had fought all the wars against him (s.a.w.a.s.). Abu Sufyan and Muawiyah were among them. It is the irony of fate that Muawiya cunningly managed to take the leadership of Muslim Ummah. He poisoned the grandson of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.); Imam Hasan (a.s.), tore apart the peace treaty and appointed his son Yazid who openly ridiculed Islam! Yazid asked for Imam Husayn (a.s.)’s allegiance who rejected it and left Madinah and proceeded to Makkah but fearing his covert assassination, he did not wait for Hajj but performed Umrah and proceeded towards Kufa. It is reported that at the time of her marriage, Imam Ali (a.s.) had instructed her husband to let her go with Imam Husayn (a.s.) when such an occasion arose. Hence, she with her two sons, joined Imam Husayn (a.s.) for the decisive confrontation with the kufr.

After the painful events of Karbala, she became the leader of the caravan. Yazid’s governors falsely propagated that a rebel had challenged the Khalifa, hence he and his followers were killed, and the women were made captive. Imagine fourteen hundred years ago when there were no means of mass communication, the news would travel by word of mouth. Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) delivered sermons with the eloquence like her father Imam Ali (a.s.) introducing themselves in the streets, in the courts of the governors and lastly in front of Yazid (l.a.). If she would not be there, the great sacrifice of Karbala would have disappeared in history. When people came to know who the martyrs and the captives were, there was hue and cry everywhere even in the court of Yazid (l.a.). Signs of revolt appeared in the kingdom and forced Yazid (l.a.) to release the family of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.). She demanded the return of all looted belongings, a house where the women could mourn the martyrs of Karbala. This was the victory of Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) that the first mourning assembly (Majlis) was held near his palace! 

      

Also refer the articles – Sayyida Zaynab bint Ali, Bibi Zaynab’s Journey of Courage, Ziarat Hazrat Zaynab (s.a.)

Sources: Ziaraat.com, WIKIPEDIA, A Probe into the History of Ashura by Dr. Ibrahim Ayati, Victory of Truth by Muna Haeri Bilgrami

                             

ALLAH, THE FASHIONER AND SHAPER (MUSAWWIR)

Allah (s.w.t.) has 1,000 names in the Supplication of “Dua-e-Jaushan-e-Kabeer” or as normally known as “Asma’-ul-Husna” which are 99.  One of His name is al-Musawwir or the Fashioner or Shaper. There is a difference between Khaliq and Musawwir. Khaliq or Creator denotes His creation of creatures with life like human beings or animals or even plants. His creation of lifeless things is sun, moon stars, earth etc. When He wants to create, He intends “Kun” and it comes into existence.

The word “Musawwir” denotes one who arranges forms and colors and makes beautiful objects. The word “Musawwir” has been used in the Glorious Qur’an 6 times as detailed below:

Surah al-Imran Ayah 6, “Huwallazi Yusawwrekum Fil Arhaame Kaifa Yashau La Ilaha Illah Howal Azizul Hakeem.” “It is Allah who shapes you in the wombs as He wills. He is the only Lord, the Majestic, and All-wise.”                                                                                                                                                                      

Surah al-A’raf Ayah 11,” “Wa Laqad Khalaqna’kum Summa Sawwarnakum Summa Qulna LilMala’ekatesjudu LeAdama Fasajadu Illa Iblees Lam Yakun Minassajedeen.” “We created and shaped you, then told the angels to prostrate themselves before Adam. All the angels obeyed except Satan, who did not.”

Surah al-Gha’fir Ayah 64, “Allahul Lazi Ja’alakumul Arza Qararan was Sama’a Bana’an wa Sawwarakum faAhsana Suwarakum wa Razaqakum minat Tayyaba’ate Za’lekumullahu Rabbakum faTabarakallahu Rabbul A’alameen.” “It is Allah who has created earth as a place for you to live and the sky as a dome above you. He has shaped you in the best form and has provided you with pure sustenance. This is Allah, your Lord. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the Universe."

Surah al-Hashr Ayah 24, “Huwallahul Khalequl Ba’reul Musawwiru Lahul Asmaul Husna Yusabbehu lahu Ma Fissamaw’ate walarze wa Huwal Azizul Hakeem.” “He is Allah, the Creator, the Designer, the Modeler, and to Him belong all beautiful names. Al that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. He is All-majestic and All-wise.”

Surah al-Taghabun Ayah 3, “Khalaqassamawate walarze bilhaqqe wa Sawwarakum faAhsana Suwarakum wailaihilmasir” “He has created the heavens and the earth for a genuine purpose and has formed you in the best shape. To Him all things return.”

Surah al-Ifitar Ayah 6-8, “Ya’ayyuhannasu Ma Gharraka beRabbekal Karim Allazi khalqaka fasSawwaka faadalaka Fiayyie suratim Masha’a Rakkabaka.” “Human being, what evil has deceived you about your Gracious Lord? Who created you proportionately and fashioned you in whatever composition He wanted.”

The creation of human being in the wombs of their mothers needs special treatment here. His name “al-Khaliqu” may be denoted to the creation of man as a rule, but His name “Musawwiru” is demonstrated in varied types of men and women having distinct colors of their skin, different shapes of their faces, colors of their eyes etc. Every human being has a unique DNA, no two persons have same faces, no two persons have similar shapes of markings on their fingers. For a modern artist, he needs pencils, brushes, colors, paper and day light. But Allah makes mankind in the wombs of their mothers without any of these things and within three curtains in dark as stated in Surah al-Zumar Ayah 6, “……He creates you in successive creations in the wombs of your mothers behind three curtains of darkness.” These dark curtains are called; anterior abdominal wall, uterine wall, amniochorion membrane.

Source: The Glorious Qur’an and Medical Journal