The Virtues Of Weeping
Allah, the Almighty, sent the best of the Prophets, the most perfect of Messengers, the best creation and the reason for existence of the Universe, Hazrat Muhammad Mustufa (s.a.w.a.) with the holy religion of Islam for guidance and eternal deliverance of man. He also chose the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as the last Prophet, Islam as the last religion and Holy Quran as the last Divine Book. Hence, there will never be another messenger after the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.), neither any Divine Book after the Quran and nor any other religion after Islam for man’s guidance till the Day of Judgment.
In an era of ‘clear deviation’, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) invited the people towards a True and Rightful God and called the people towards Islam. People, who preferred darkness to light and poison to water, strongly opposed it and used all means to put an end to this great mission. However, the teachings of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Islam had such an impact that it resulted in changing of hearts and people began accepting Islam. Hearts that were harder than the gate of Khyber opened up. Flowers of divine cognition began to blossom in the valleys of hearts and gradually the entire atmosphere of Arabia changed. Mecca, where caravans were looted earlier had now become a center of cleanliness, peace and tranquility. The nature and habits of people changed. Selfishness made way for generosity. Sacrifices became famous instead of bloodshed and thieves became benefactors. The entire scenario changed so drastically that beasts transformed to humans. : However, this change was disliked by the brutal enemy of mankind, ‘Satan’ and the enemy of goodness i.e. man’s carnal self. Since the very beginning, mischievous and evil minded people came together, decided a time and location and schemed against Islam. Masjid-e-Ziraar was constructed wherein a conspiracy was hatched to assassinate the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in the darkness of night by knocking him over from a camel. The attempt failed. The enemies awaited the death of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) to actualize their plans. They distanced themselves from the army of Osama to accomplish their plans. Despite the repeated insistence of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), they were neither seen in the streets of Medina and nor did they join the army of Osama.
When Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) left this world, they began to execute their plans. Power hungry politicians gathered in Saqifah, the door of Janabe Zahra (s.a.) was burnt, Imam Ali (a.s.) was dragged by a rope fastened around his neck, Janabe Zahra (s.a.) was martyred and Imam Ali (a.s.) was confined to the four walls of his house. Personal opinions were introduced in the religion against the commands of Allah and the Messenger (s.a.w.a.), new rules regarding the permissible and the prohibited were introduced. Innovations (Bid’ah) were not only regarded as Sunnah but were practiced more than the Sunnah. Gradually the face of religion changed. Those people who, on one hand under the pretext of Islam recited the Quran, on the other hand, they engaged in actions like drinking, attending to their desires which were prohibited, considered impure and acts of Shaitan and declared them permissible. Yazid, who was a transgressor and sinner in the eyes of Islam, became a self-proclaimed Caliph of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) violating all limitations. People assisted Yazid, few joined his army and arrived in the battle of Karbala while some others distanced themselves from Imam Husain (a.s.) and discreetly developed a soft corner for Yazid in their hearts. They preferred the grandson of Abu Sufyan over the grandson of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). The companions and the followers accepted and welcomed these changes so openly that the real face of Islam became extinct and such an Islam started to spread in the society which Allah had not even revealed.
Imam Husain (a.s.) who was not only the grandson of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) but also Allah’s representative on the earth, took steps for the protection of Islam due to which Islam exists today. He accepted martyrdom for his entire family and loyal companions to achieve this. People killed the grandson of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), his progeny and companions so mercilessly that its parable is not found in history. The event of Karbala was not the result of an event spanning a few months or years but was the peak of all oppression and tyranny which began after the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). An oppressor, a tyrant is hallucinated by his power at the time of committing an act of oppression but does not realize its consequences. But when the news of his oppression spreads, his supporters start to remorse. They do not like being criticized.
The survival of Islam is due to the mourning rituals associated to martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.) and the remembrance of all the atrocities that befell upon him and his family members. When hearts are affected by listening to the atrocities, tears roll down from the eyes. An oppressor always hates tears. Hence there has been opposition against mourning and shedding tears.
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Imams (a.s.) are aware of all the affairs till the Day of Judgment. They were aware that there would be restrictions in spreading the virtues and travails of Ahle Bait (a.s.) especially the sufferings of Imam Husain (a.s.) while virtues and the sufferings are a part of Islam. They made such arrangements for continuous remembrance of grief and misery that it will remain till the Day of Judgment. Love of Imam Husain (a.s.) is to mourn over him. Shedding tears on his agony is the practice of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and diversion from it is clear deviation.
Intense Love of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: O Imran! For everything there is a place in the heart but the love of these children (Hasan and Husain) occupies a special place in my heart. Imran said: Is it only for these children? He (s.a.w.a.) said: What you do not know is much more than this. Allah has commanded me to love them.
(Kaamil al-Ziyaaraat, Chapter 14, H.2)
Abuzar al-Ghaffari has narrated: I saw the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) kissing Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husain (a.s.) while saying:
One who loves Hasan and Husain and their children sincerely, the fire of hell with not burn him even if his sins are equal to foam of the sea except those sins which eradicate his faith.
(Ibid, H. 4)
Abdullah bin Masood heard the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) say:
Whoever loves me should love these two because certainly Allah has commanded to love them.
(Ibid, H.5)
Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s.) narrates from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.);
Those who want to hold onto the ‘firmest handle’ (Surah Baqarah 2: Verse 256) of Allah, which He has mentioned in Quran, should love Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Hasan and Husain (a.s.), for indeed, the Almighty Allah loves them more than His Throne.
(Ibid, H. 6)
Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) narrates from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.):
One who bears enmity with Hasan and Husain (a.s.) will come on the Day of Judgment without any flesh on his face and will not receive my intercession.
(ibid, H. 7)
Allah says in the Holy Quran: If you love Allah then follow me, Allah will love you.
(Surah Aale Imran (3): Verse 31)
Obedience of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is a pre-condition to love Allah. In order to follow Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), loving Imam Hasan and Imam Husain (a.s.) is necessary. Loving Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is not possible without loving his grandsons.
The mourning of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) before the martyrdom
Hazrat Imam Mohammad Baqir (a.s.) narrates from Ameerul Momineen (a.s.):
One day the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) came to our house. Umme Aiman (s.a.) had sent milk, ghee and dates as gift to us which we presented before the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). He ate them, recited few units of prayers and cried a lot in the last prostration. Considering his (s.a.w.a.) reverence, no one had the audacity to ask him for the reason of his grief. At that moment Imam Husain (a.s.) got up, sat in his (s.a.w.a.) lap and inquired: The joy we experience by your visit, we do not experience it by anything else. But you cried and hence we too became depressed. What was the reason for your grief? He (s.a.w.a.) replied: 0 the light of my eyes! Jibraeel descended a few moments ago and informed me that all of you will be killed and the places of your killing will be different. Imam Husain (a.s.) asked: What is the reward of someone who visits our grave even though our graves are at different places? He (s.a.w.a.) responded: A group of people from my nation will visit your graves and will seek blessings through it. It is my duty that I go to them on the Day of Judgment and relieve them from the difficulties of Qiyamat and their sins, and Allah will grant them a place in paradise.
(Ibid. Chapter 16, H. 9)
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), on hearing the news of martyrdom did not just cry but wept profusely and that too in the last prostration of Namaz.
This proves that –
1. Mourning over the tribulations of Imam Husain (a.s.) is the practice of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) 2. Not only mourning but weeping profusely is the practice of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
3. The crying was not only in the form of tears but something else by which those who were present there were astonished and could not question him (s.a.w.a.)
4. This mourning was in the state of prayers
5. This mourning was in the state of prostration which is the ascension of prayers when the servant is closest to Allah
6. Mourning on Imam Husain (a.s.) in prayers does not invalidate the prayers but brings the mourner closer to Allah
7. When the severity of grief is so extreme before martyrdom, then what would it be like after it?
The entire creation has cried
Husain bin Suwair has narrated that: We, Yunus bin Zabyan, Ma’aqil bin Umar and Abu Salmah Siraj went to Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.). Since Yunus was the eldest amongst us he was speaking with Imam (a.s.). During the conversation Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said:
When Imam Husain (a.s.) was martyred, all the seven skies cried on him, the seven layers of the earth cried on him and whatever is in between (sky and earth) cried on him. Even those creations of Allah cried which are getting converted into heaven and hell. Those things cried which can be seen and those things cried which cannot be seen. Only three things did not cry. Yunus asked: What are those three things. He (a.s.) said: Basrah, Damascus and progeny of Usman bin Affan.
(Ibid. Chapter 26, H. 7)
In another tradition Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: o Zurarah, the skies rained blood for 40 days over the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.). In the same tradition it is further mentioned: Allah likes and admires the eyes and tears which weep over Imam Husain (a.s.). Whenever anyone cries on Imam Husain (a.s.) he has performed Sil-e-Rahm with Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) and has helped her in mourning. He has done Sil-e-Rahm with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and he has fulfilled our right. On the Day of Judgment every eye shall weep except that eye which has shed tears over Imam Husain (a.s.). Glad tidings will welcome them and their faces will be happy while others will be engrossed in the difficulties of accounting. They will be calm and composed while people will be presented for accounting. They will be busy conversing with Imam Husain (a.s.) under the shade of the Divine Throne. They will not be afraid of the trials of the Day of Judgment. Paradise will call out to them but (they will be so busy in the conversation that) no one will be ready to go to Paradise. (Ibid. Chapter 26, H. 6)
Let us analyze this tradition
- Mourning on Imam Husain (a.s.) is the most precious act near Allah (s.w.t.)
- Mourning is equivalent to joining relations with the Lady of the Universe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) and is a favorable gesture towards her
- It also corresponds to joining relations with Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
- On the Day of Judgment, eyes will be at peace due to this mourning
- Mourning is a Glad Tiding for Paradise and the reason for happiness on the Day of Judgment
- Through mourning one would converse with Imam Husain (a.s.) under the throne of Allah
- It will relieve a person from the difficulties of accounting.
Four Thousand Angels are mourning
Angels are those creatures of Allah who never disobey Him. They perform only those actions by which Allah is satisfied and pleased. All the actions of angels are liked by Allah. The aim of creating man is worship of Allah i.e. acting as per the will of Allah. Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) narrated to Janab Fuzail bin Yasaar:
Why don’t you all go for the Ziyarat of Imam Husain (a.s.)? Four thousand angels shall weep on the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.) till the Day of Judgment.
(Chapter 27, H. 3)
Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) narrates: Four thousand disheveled angels, covered with dust, cry over Imam Husain (a.s.)…
(Chapter 27, H. 10)
In another tradition Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) narrates:
Since the day Imam Husain (a.s.) was martyred, Allah has appointed seventy thousand angels who are disheveled and covered with dust; to invoke blessings on Imam Husain (a.s.) and pray for mercy on him as long as Allah wills, that is till the time of the Qaim (a.s.).
(Chapter 27, H.5)
Imam Mohammad Baqir (a.s.) narrates: Allah has appointed seventy thousand angels to the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.) who are disheveled and covered with dust to cry over him until Judgment Day. They pray at his grave and each of their prayers equals a thousand prayers of human beings and the rewards of their prayers is for one who performs the Ziyarat of Imam Husain (a.s.).
(Chapter 27, H. 14)
Intense grief of Janabe Zahra (s.a.) and the angels
Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) narrates: When you go for the Ziyarat of Imam Husain (a.s.), maintain silence and except for good do not say anything, because angels of the night and day who are the guards and keepers, go to the angels who are in the holy shrine and shake hands with them. But the angels of the holy shrine do not speak to them, because they are crying intensely. So they wait from them until noon or sunrise and then speak to them about some affairs of the heavens.
The angels mourn so severely or the effect of their grief is so intense that they are unable to speak to each other. It is obvious that this intense mourning of the angels is due to the high recognition (Marefat) of Imam Husain (a.s.). Yet there is no comparison between the grief of the angles and the grief of J. Fatima Zahra (s.a.).
In the same tradition Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) further narrates: When Hazrat Fatima Zahra (s.a.) sees the visitors of Imam Husain (a.s.), she is accompanied by a thousand messengers, a thousand truthful ones, a thousand martyrs and a million near ones. They all accompany her in mourning and she weeps bitterly and says that there is not a single angel in the heavens who does not cry on hearing them. She continues to lament till the time the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) comes to her and says that O my beloved – all the inhabitants of the sky have left the glorification of Allah and are crying with you.
(Chapter 27, H. 16)
We can gauge from this tradition that J. Zahra (s.a.w.a.) cries even today and when she cries, she cries intensely and with acute pain. It clearly shows that the sorrow of Imam Husain (a.s.) is fresh even today and its effect is the same as earlier. The grief is not impacted by the passing of the day and night. This grief, like the Holy Quran is always fresh and leaves its effect. Many rulings were passed against this grief and people tried to weaken it in the name of improvisation but everything has failed and this grief is alive and upright.
It is clear through traditions that not only humans and angels but animals have also cried on Imam Husain (a.s.) and have written eulogies. (Chapter30 & 31) : The animals have cried and the pigeons have lamented and have cursed the killers (Chapter 30)
The owl has cried too (Chapter 31)
Reward of Mourning
When traditions narrating the reward of mourning are discussed, some people are unable to bear it and oppose them in various ways that how come one drop of tear has such great reward. How is it possible? Those who oppose forget that can anyone count the infinite bounties that have been created for man. If Allah can give these bounties to a disbeliever, polytheist and sinner then why not to someone who sheds a tear in sorrow of the most beloved grandson of His most beloved messenger. Kindly read the below mentioned traditions carefully and repeatedly.
Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) has narrated a tradition from his father Hazrat Imam Zain al-Abideen (a.s.). Abul Qasim Jafar bin Mohammad Qulawayh al-Qummi has narrated this tradition in his reliable book Kaamil alZiyaraat. Many scholars and jurisprudents have considered this book reliable. Hazrat Imam Zain al-Abideen (a.s.) says:
Any believer who weeps over Imam Husain (a.s.) with a single tear will be rewarded by Allah for it; he will be made to dwell in rooms in Paradise for long ages. Any believer who cries over us with even a single tear; because of his grief over the way in which our enemies hurt us in this life, will be rewarded by Allah for it; he will be made to dwell in good settlements in Paradise. And any believer, who cries with a single tear because of his suffering from the pain of being hurt in our way, will be kept away from the difficulties of Judgment Day by Allah and will be safe from Allah’s wrath and Hellfire.
(Chapter 32, H. 1)
There are many traditions from the Imams (a.s.) in this context. The question here is not about one drop of tear but about the love due to which tears emerge whereas man cries at every difficulty in this world. Now please read tradition more carefully.
Misma’ bin Abdul Malik Kirdin al-Basri says that Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) asked me:
Misma’, you are from Iraq; don’t you go for the Ziyarat of the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.)?
I replied: “No. I am famous among the people of Basra; we have some people who are supporters of the Caliph and we have many enemies from the tribes, enemies of Ahle Bait (a.s.) and others. I don’t feel safe, for they might report me to Ibn Sulaiman (the governor of Kufa) and they will torture me to act as a deterrent for others.
Imam (a.s.) asked, “Do you relate to them what was done to him (Husain (a.s.)]?”
I replied, “Yes”.
Imam (a.s.) asked, “Do you grieve impatiently on it?”
I replied, “Yes, by Allah. I cry over it so much that my family sees its effect on me. And I abstain from food and its effects show on my face.”
Imam (a.s.) said: May Allah have mercy on your tears. Indeed, you are among those who grieve for us impatiently, those who are joyous in our joy and grieve in our grief and those who are afraid when we are afraid and feel safe when we feel safe. Indeed when you die, myforefathers(a.s.) will be there for you and recommending to the Angel of Death. Indeed, the glad tidings they give you will be greater than this. Indeed the Angel of Death will be kinder and more merciful to you than a kind mother on her son.
Then the Imam (a.s.) began to weep copiously and I wept with him.
Then he (a.s.) said:
Praise be to Allah, who by His mercy, preferred us and favored us, Ahle Bayt, above His Creation. Misma! Indeed, the earth and heavens cry for us continuously, sympathizing with us since the day Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) was martyred. And angels who cry over us are even more than this. Their tears have not stopped since our killing began.
Allah will have mercy on whoever cries, sympathizing with that which was done to us, before his tears fall from his eyes. If one of those tears were to fall on Hell, it would extinguish the burning heat in such a way that no heat would remain in it.
Know that, one whose heart aches for us will be pleased by seeing us at the time of his death in such a way that his pleasure will stay in his heart until he meets us by the Pool (on Judgment Day). Indeed (the Pool of) Kausar will be delighted to see our lovers comes to it and will serve him with various kinds of food such that he will not wish to leave it ever.
Misma’! One who drinks even a sip from the pool will never feel thirsty again and they will never ask for another drink ever. It is as cold as camphor, as fragrant as musk and as tasty as ginger. It is sweeter than honey, softer than butter, purer than a tear and more aromatic than ambergris. It will emerge from (the river) Tasnim and passes through the streams of Paradise and flows over a riverbed of pearl and rubies. The number of jugs in it is greater than the number of stars; they are made of gold, silver and different gems. Its fragrance can be perceived from a distance of a thousand years and such fragrances emanate from it onto the face of whoever drinks from it, that he will say, “I wish I had been left right here. I don’t need anything else and I don’t wish to be moved from here.”
O Kirdin, know that you will be of those who will drink from it and everyone whose eyes wept on us will be blessed by looking at Kauthar and be given a drink from it. Desires of those who love us more will be satisfied in a greater way and they will get greater pleasure and will find Kauthar water tastier than those who love us less.
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) will be standing by Hauz Kauthar with a thorny stick, with which he will beat our enemies. One of them will say I used to bear the two testimonies (i.e. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger!’) Imam (a.s.) will reply, “Go to your so and so leader and ask him to intercede for you.”
The man will say, “My leader, whom you mentioned, dissociates himself from me.”
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) will reply, “GO back and ask the one whom you used to love, follow and whom you preferred above the rest of creation to intercede for you, since he was the best of creation in your eyes, for indeed only the best of creation can intercede.”
The man will say, “I am dying of thirst!” Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) will reply, “May Allah aggravate your thirst and need for water!”
I asked, “May I be sacrificed on you, how can he even come near the Pool when others cannot?”
Imam (a.s.) replied:
He stayed away from evil acts and abstained from insulting us when we were mentioned in his presence and he avoided some other sinful acts that others dared to commit. But this was not based on following or loving us. On the contrary, it was based on his diligence in worship and religious acts and on being preoccupied with himself rather than talking about others. But his heart was filled with hypocrisy and his religion based on hating us, those who incite hatred towards us, believing in the authority of those two persons of the past and giving preference to them over all.
(Chapter 32, H. 6)
Conclusion
When Allah saw that a few materialistic people from the first century want to shake the foundations of religion and there is no one (good) except a few people, He commanded Imam Husain (a.s.) to rise and he awakened the religion through devotion and sacrifice. He (s.w.t.) assigned great reward to his mourners so that mourning awakens people and Karbala remains alive whose aim was to shake the foundations of oppression and call people towards the forgotten truth about beliefs of Unity of God and Justice of God.
Hence, it is necessary that this mourning which is based on the foundations of such truths is granted such great rewards so that regardless of all the difficulties and hurdles people do not neglect it. But for this mourning, the sacrifice of Imam Husain (a.s.) would have been easily forgotten. The hard work of the Messenger of Islam (s.a.w.a.) along with the devotion and sacrifice of Imam Husain (a.s.) would have been overwhelmed especially those things which he (s.a.w.a.) had done for reviving Islam.
If we assume that Almighty Allah gives rewards based on benefits then the foundation of Islam and Shiaism is the result of mourning. The fortune of this world and the hereafter is dependent on Azadari.
Looking at the condition of Shiaism in the past eras and immense pressure that the enemies of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) created, this mourning has kept Shiaism alive. Hence we cannot imagine the contribution of Azadari. Hence, Allah grants such reward to Azadari which no eye has seen nor has any ear heard. This is nothing but the result of Divine Justice.
