Allah the Almighty says about the oppressors in Surah Shura (26), Verse 227 of the Holy Quran:
“… and they who act unjustly shall know to what final place of turning they shall turn back”
We understand from this verse that the oppressors shall very soon reach to their evil fate of oppression. And this is the same verse which the severed head of Imam Husain (a.s.) recited when the oppressors suspended it on a tree.
[Tafseere Noor al-Saqalain, vol. 4, p. 74]
In this short treatise, we shall try to bring those traditions and incidents which prove how soon Allah chastised those who were involved in the killing of Imam Husain (a.s.), and how their greedy plans and motivations for which they undertook this heinous crime of killing Imam Husain (a.s.) failed and did not materialize.
Imam Husain (a.s.) had warned the accursed Umar Ibn Saad Ibn Abi Waqqaas that:
“Indeed after (killing) me you will not even taste the wheat of Rayy.” In reply, this accursed mischievously retorted that if not wheat then I shall manage with barley. Whatever Imam Husain (a.s.) prophesied transpired, he could not reach the city of Rayy and Janab Mukhtar Thaqafi killed him.
(Al-Manaaqib of Ibne Shahr Aashob)
It is found in another tradition about those perfumes that were stolen from the tents of Imam (a.s.) and when they were applied by any woman, she would be inflicted with leprosy.
Abul Qasim has narrated that a person told Imam Husain (a.s.); “O Husain! You shall not get even a drop of water from Euphrates until you die or you accept the order of Ibn Ziyad”. Imam Husain (a.s.) replied: “O Allah destroy him by thirst and never forgive him”. This person was afflicted by thirst such that how much ever water he drank he would not be satiated and he used to scream “I am thirsty” and finally a time came when his stomach burst out.
These were those wretched people who did not have the recognition of Imam Husain (a.s.). The love of this world had rendered them heedless towards the severe chastisement of the hereafter. They had banned water for Imam Husain (a.s.) while the fact is that Allah sends water from the skies due to the Holy personality of the Imam of the time, and only then this whole universe enjoys the benefit of a great bounty like water. They were such companions of hell who had restricted water for Imam Husain (a.s.), while this water satiates this world and all its creatures for his sake only. O Allah You inflict Your severe chastisement on those who restricted water upon Imam Husain (a.s.) and oppressed him, degrade and insult them in this world and render hell as their abode, for all those who were satisfied with the killing of Imam Husain (a.s.).
An illegitimate person who was from the tribe of Daaram sent an arrow towards Imam Husain (a.s.) that hit the blessed neck of Imam (a.s.), due to which his neck started bleeding and Imam used to collect the blood and throw it towards the sky. Then this wretched person got inflicted with such a calamity that he used to complain of severe heat and cold simultaneously in his body. His back would burn of flames of fire and his chest would shiver due to intense cold. People used to ignite fire at the back of this debased man and would fan his chest and apply ice on his stomach for relief. Yet this accursed would shout of thirst. He would continue drinking water but would not be satiated and finally his stomach burst.
Ibn Baabwayh has narrated through reliable sources from Yaqoob bin Sulaiman that during the time of Hajjaaj, due to fear some of us left Kufa and went out of the city secretly. I was also along with them till we reached Karbala and were in search of some resting place when our eyes fell upon a tent near the shores of Euphrates. So we decided to take some rest in this tent. While we were relaxing a stranger came to us and told that “I am a traveler, can I pass this night along with you in this tent?” We allowed him. When the sun had set and the darkness of night started spreading, we lit the lantern and started remembering Imam Husain (a.s.) and the calamities that befell upon him. We said that whoever was involved in the killing of Imam Husain (a.s.) Allah made His chastisement reach him in this world only. That stranger said that he too was among those who were involved in the killing of Imam Husain (a.s.) but by Allah till date not even a single calamity has befallen upon him from the side of Allah. Indeed you are a nation that has lied. Silence filled the atmosphere when suddenly the light in the lantern started to diminish, this stranger got up so that he could fix the light with his own hands. The fire caught his hands and his beard. With the intention of extinguishing the fire he screamed and jumped into the Euphrates. By Allah! We saw that he immersed his head into the water but the fire stayed on top of the water. Wherever this person would move his head inside the water, the fire would reach that place and would catch hold of him he would then re-immerse his head in the water and continued till he reached the hell fire.
Ibn Baabwayh has narrated from Qasim Ibn Asbagh that a person from Bani Daaram came to me who was involved in the killing of Imam Husain (a.s.). His face had turned black despite the fact that he was very handsome earlier. I told him that due to the change in color of your face could not recognize you, how did this transformation take place? He replied that I have killed a handsome man from the companions of Imam Husain (a.s.) whose forehead bore the marks of prostration. I have brought his head along with me. Qasim narrates that I saw that on the legs of his horse was suspended a head which would bang in the legs of the horse whenever the horse would start walking. I murmured to my father that how I wish he would place the blessed head at some height so that this head would not have suffered due to its current position. My father replied that the trouble that befalls on this killer is much more in severity than the trouble that is faced by the blessed head due to the legs of the horse. My father continued that this killer has informed me that since the time I have killed this person each night when I go to sleep a person comes me in my dream and by snatching my collar drags me towards the hell fire and throws me into the hell, and I continue to stay in it till morning sets in.
Umar Ibn Umayr Tamimi says that when the heads of the accursed Ibn Ziyad and his wretched companions were brought to Kufa, I too gathered with the crowd to observe the scene, I heard the people say “look it came”, I then saw a snake crawling and searching for the head of the accursed Ibn Ziyad and as soon as it found the head of this accursed one it entered into the head through one of its nostrils and came out of another and repeated this act time and again.
Ibn Shahr Aashob has narrated that the accursed the hands of Abjar Ibn Ka’ab, with which this accursed removed a part of the dress of Imam Husain (a.s.) used to turn in to two pieces of dry wood during the summers and during the winters blood would ooze out from them.
It is narrated in traditions that as soon as Jabir bin Yazid put the turban of Imam Husain (a.s.) on his impure head he turned insane.
Ibn Haashir says that one of our companions went to fight against Imam Husain (a.s.). When he returned he brought some saffron and a camel along with him. It was observed that when that saffron was drunk, fire would emerge out of it. Also, his spouse had applied that saffron on her hands due to which her hand got inflicted with leprosy. And when that camel was being slaughtered, at which ever place on the body of the camel knife was passed, fire would surface from it.
Khalid says that once while I was sitting with my father Abu Rajaa al-Attaari, he instructed me that, for the Ahle Bait (a.s.) do not say anything except goodness. At that moment a person came who was present in Karbala against Imam Husain (a.s.) and had uttered inappropriate words for Imam Husain (a.s.). Then Allah threw at him two arrows and both his eyes lost sight due to this.
Those who laid the foundation for the oppression upon the Ahle Bait (a.s.) have not just deprived the world of the best guides and trainers but have also played a key role in extending the oppression upon them. Thus whatever problems that arose due to deprivation of Ahle Bait (a.s.), disputes which occurred among the people, whenever any powerful person oppressed the weak, was entirely due to those who deprived the world of the leadership of Ahle Bait (a.s.). Thus in the 1400 years of Islamic history there is not a single innocent person who was murdered, none were oppressed, no rights were snatched except that the fundamental blame of this goes on to those who distanced the world from the Door of the city of Knowledge, oppressed them (a.s.) and honoured the debased ones with the help of lies and false claims. Thus when the list of the killers of Imam Husain (a.s.) shall be prepared the foremost in it shall be the one who usurped the right of the master of the universe (a.s.).
Sayed Ibn Tawoos has narrated in his book Lohoof from Abdullah Ibn Riyah that he met a blind man who was involved in the killing of Imam Husain (a.s.). It was asked from him about the reason for losing his eyesight for which he replied, “I am from those who had gone to fight Imam Husain (a.s.), I was accompanied by nine people, I did not throw even a single sphere nor did I use my sword or throw an arrow in the war. When Imam Husain (a.s.) was killed and 1 returned home and was sleeping after finishing my Isha prayer. I saw a dream that a man came to me and said that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has summoned you. I told him what work do I have with him? This man did not reply, pulled my collar and took me to the presence of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). I saw that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) was sitting in a desert in the condition of grief and sorrow. His sleeves were rolled up till his elbow with a weapon in his hand. An angel was standing by his side with a sword of fire and with it he was killing those nine friends of mine who had accompanied me. As soon as his sword touched someone, his body caught fire and turned to ashes. He then came back to life and the angel repeated the killing again. When I saw this condition I sat on my legs two fold and said “Peace be on you o Messenger of Allah”, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) did not reply to my salutation. He lowered his head for a moment and said, “O enemy of Allah! You have attacked my honor and killed my progeny and have not observed my right.” I replied, “O Messenger of Allah! I did not use my sphere, sword or arrow. Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) replied, “You are right but you were a part of that army and increased the number of that army with your presence. Come close to me.” When I went closer I saw a tray that was filled with blood placed in front of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.). He (s.a.w.a.) said, “This is the blood of my Husain.” He put two lines from the blood into my eyes and when I woke up I had turned blind.
Thus, we can conclude that those who were present in Karbala, even if they did not use their arrows and swords against Imam Husain (a.s.) but simply increased the number of the army of the opponents, also deserved the wrath of Allah (s.w.t.). Exactly in the same way, the successor of Imam Husain (a.s.), Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) shall take revenge after his reappearance from those who even today are satisfied with the killing of Imam Husain (a.s.). This is the reason that by cursing the killers of Imam Husain (a.s.) we register our dissociation against the killers of Imam Husain (a.s.). Likewise, we also express our distancing from the usurpers of the right of the beloved of the Messenger of Allah, Janab Zehra (s.a.), against those who oppressed her and pushed the burning door upon her by cursing them. We pray to the Almighty Allah by the right of Ahle Bait (a.s.) that He hasten the reappearance of His last Hujjat (a.t.f.s.) and enumerate us among his beloved ones, his helpers and supporters and that He affirms in our heart, till our last breath, the detachment from the enemies of Ahle Bait (a.s.).
