STRAIGHTPATHMONTHLY December 2011
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back and prayed for her.
I (the author) strongly perceive that the youth was none
other than the son of Muslim bin Awsaja Asadi. For the report
as stated in Rawzatul Ehbab and Rawzatush Shohada, in
context of the martyrdom of the son of Muslim bin Awsaja
after the martyrdom of his father, is quite similar to this. (Allah
knows best).
Then a Turkish retainer of Imam Husain (A.S.), who was a
memorizer (Hafiz) of the Qur'an, stepped out while reciting the
following Rajaz: "The ocean will set on fire due to my
striking with the sword and spear, and the atmosphere
will become full of my shooting arrows, when the sword
comes into my right hand, the heart of the envious
bursts."
He killed numerous men, and some say that he killed
seventy men and then fell down from his horse. Imam Husain
(A.S.) came to him and wept and placed his cheek upon that of
his retainer. He opened his eyes and saw the face of Imam
(A.S.) and smiled and left for the heavenly abode (May Allah's
Mercy and Blessings be upon him).
He was followed by Malik bin Dawdan, who came out
saying: "This stroke towards you is from Malik who is a
ferocious Lion, the stroke of the one who defends the
liberal and honourable people, and who desires reward
from Allah, the Possessor of favour." And then attained
martyrdom (May Allah's Mercy and Blessings be upon him).
Then Abu Samamah Saedi followed him while saying:
"Condolence for the Progeny of Mustafa (S.A.W.) and his
daughters, due to the seige by the enemies of the son of
Mohammad (S.A.W.), the best of humans, condolence for
Zahra (A.S.), the daughter of the Prophet and for her
husband, who is a treasure of knowledge after the
Prophet, condolence for the dwellers of the East and the
West, and wail for the army of Husain, the good doer,
then who is there to reach my message to the Prophet
and his daughter, that your son is fallen in trouble."
Then he fell a martyr. (May Allah's Mercy and Blessings be
upon him).
He was followed by Ibraheem bin Haseen Asadi, who was
saying: "I will strike at your joints and calves with the
sword, so that this nation spills my blood, and Abu Ishaq
may attain martyrdom, by the nation I mean the
mischievous sons of adulteress women." Then he was
killed (May Allah's Mercy and Blessings be upon him).
Then Umro bin Qartah followed, whose martyrdom we
have already mentioned. He was followed by Ahmed bin
Mohammad Hashmi, who was reciting: "Today I shall test
my ancestry and my Religion, through my clear-cut
sword which is in my right hand, and I shall defend my
Religion in battle with it." And was ultimately killed (May
Allah's Mercy and Blessings be upon him).
It is quoted in Manaqib, that the group of companions of
Imam Husain (A.S.) who fell martyr in the first raid were:
(1) Na'eem bin Ajalan, (2) Imran bin Ka'ab bin Haris
Ashja'ee, (3) Hanzalah bin Umro Shaybani, (4) Qasit bin
Zuhayr, (5) Kinanah bin Ateeq, (6) Umro bin Mashee'ah, (7)
Zarghamah bin Malik, (8) Amir bin Muslim, (9) Sayf bin
Malik Namiri, (10) Abdul Rahman Arhabi, (11) Mujme'
A'ezi, (12) Habbab bin Haris, (13) Umro Janda'ee, (14) Jallas
bin Umro Rasebee, (15) Sawar bin Abi Umayr Fahmi, (16)
Ammar bin Abi Salamah Walani, (17) Mas'ood bin Hajjaj,
(18) Abdullah bin Urwa Ghifari, (19) Zuhayr bin Basheer
Khas'ami, (20) Ammar bin Hissan, (21) Abdullah bin
Umayr, (22) Muslim bin Kaseer, (23) Zuhayr bin Saleem,
(24) & (25) Abdullah and Ubaydullah sons of Zayd Basari,
(26) Umroh, the retainer of Imam Husain (A.S.), (27) & (28)
two freed retainers of Imam Ali (A.S.), (29) Zahir Umro, the
Retainer of Ibne Humaq. (May Allah's Mercy and Blessings
be upon them).
In my (the author's) opinion, the name of the (above
referred) last person is quoted wrongly, while the correct one is
Zahir, the Retainer of Umro bin Humaq. Thus in the Ziyarate
Nahiyah, referring to the martyrs, and the related Ziyarate
Rajabiyah (as quoted in Misbahuz Zaer), it is quoted: "Peace
be upon Zahir, the Retainer of Umro bin Humaq
Khuza'i." Thus it is correct that the one referred to is the
same.
The proficient Erudite Qazi Mo'man Misri says that Umro
bin Humaq was among the Emigrant companions
(Muhajereen) of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) and the Tabe'een
for whom Paradise was proclaimed by the Prophet, and who
remained (faithful) with Imam Ali (A.S.). Umro remained alive
after the death of Imam Ali (A.S.). Once when Mu'awiyah
pursued him, he fled away to an island, alongwith him was
another companion of Imam Ali (A.S.) named Zahir. Both of
them dismounted at a valley and a snake bit Umro at midnight.
When it dawned, a tumor appeared and Umro told Zahir,
"Move away from me, for I have heard my friend the
Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) saying that the genies and men
will be involved in my murder, and very soon I will be
killed." They were talking when suddenly they saw the necks
of horses, who were in pursuit of Umro. Umro told Zahir, "O
Zahir! Hide yourself, and then when they have killed me
and taken away my head and left my body, you may
bury me." Zahir said, "No I shall not do so, but I will fight
them with my arrows and when they are exhausted, I
too will be killed alongwith you." Umro replied, "Do what
I tell you to do. Allah will give you success in that." Thus
Zahir hid himself and the people came and killed him. Then
they beheaded Umro and took his head along with them, this
being the first head in Islam, which was raised on a lance.
When they returned back, Zahir came out of his hiding and
buried Umro, after that he remained alive until he was
martyred along with Imam Husain (A.S.) in Karbala. [65]
Thus it is proved through this narration that Zahir was
from among the distinguished companions of Imam Ali (A.S.).
He was equal in rank to Umro bin Humaq Khuza'i, the
companion of the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) and the disciple of
Imam Ali (A.S.). He was a virtuous slave (of Allah), whom
excessive worship had made old, body feeble and his colour
pale. He had the good fortune of burying Umro, his felicity was
favoured until he made assisting Imam Husain (A.S.) his
sustenance, and attained martyrdom.
And among the progeny of Zahir is Abu Ja'far Z Z\