by Akil Kanani
December 2011
THE INFANT ALI ASGHAR A.S
When Abbas a.s was killed, Imam Hussain a.s turned to
see none to help him against his foes. He looked and saw how
his family members and companions lied slaughtered on the
ground. He heard the wailing of the orphans and the cries of
the children.
As loud as he could, he called out, "Is there anyone
who defends the sanctity of the Messenger of Allah? Is
there anyone who believes in the Unity of Allah and who
fears Allah in our regard? Is there anyone who comes to
our rescue and who wishes by doing so to please
Allah?"
The voices of the women now grew even louder as they
cried. Imam Sajjad a.s stood up. He was leaning on a cane
and dragging a sword. He was sick and could hardly move,
but Hussain a.s called on his daughter Umm Kulthum a.s
saying, "Confine him so that the world may not run out
of the progeny of Muhammad (S.A.W)," so she took him
back to his bed.
Imam Hussain a.s now ordered his dependents to be
silent, and he bade them farewell. He was wearing a dark silk
jubba (long robe) and a florid turban with two tresses let loose
on the sides and wrapped himself with the same burda (gown)
which the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him and his progeny, used to wear, and was carrying his
[Prophet's] sword.
He asked for a thawb (garment) which nobody wanted
and which he put underneath his clothes so that nobody
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would be interested in it and, hence, in removing it from his
body, since he knew that he was going to be killed soon. They
brought him small trousers but he was not interested in them
since they were the outfits of ignominy, so he took a worn out
garment which he ripped, placing its pieces underneath his
clothes. Then he asked for wrapping trousers which he also
tore then put on so that nobody would take them away from
his corpse.
He then ordered his infant son ['Abdullah] to be brought
to him so that he would say good-bye to him. Zainab a.s
brought him his baby son 'Abdullah as well as the mother of
the latter, Rubab a.s. He placed him in his lap and kept kissing
him and repeating this statement: "Away with these people
when your grandfather the chosen one (SAW) is their
opponent."
Then he brought him to those folks and asked for some
water for him. Harmalah Ibn Kahil al-Asadi shot the infant
with an arrow that slaughtered him. Hussain a.s received his
blood in his hand then threw it up towards the heavens.
Imam Abu Ja'far al-Baqir a.s has said, "Not a drop of it
fell." In this regard, the Hujjah of the Progeny of
Muhammad s.a.w, may Allah hasten his reappearance, says,
"Peace be unto 'Abdullah, the slaughtered infant, the
one shot with an arrow, the one whose blood was shed
in a most cruel manner and whose blood ascended to
the heavens, the one slaughtered with an arrow in his
father's lap! The curse of Allah be upon the person who