STRAIGHTPATHMONTHLY December 2011
63
him? What an awry thing have you brought forth that it
is likely that the heavens would fall down and the earth
would disperse, while the mountains would crumble
down as much as the fill of the earth and the heavens.
The bride of your affairs is hairless, unfamiliar,
indecent, blind, ugly and sullen. You wonder why the
"O these who weep! And who else except them have heavens rain blood. The chastisement of the hereafter is
killed us?"
more disgraceful and there will be no helper. Let not this
Sayyidah Zainab (a.s.), the daughter of Ali (a.s.) signaled
respite make you frivolous, for none has the power to
the men to remain silent. Hizam Asadi continues that by Allah!
anticipate upon Allah, the Mighty, the Sublime, and
I have never seen a modest woman more eloquent than her and
seeking vengeance does not lapse from him. No, not at
she spoke in the voice of the Commander of the faithful Ali
all, your Lord is in ambush for you".
(a.s.). She signaled to the men to pay heed, their breaths
stopped in their breasts and their chimes faded. She
Then she recited the following elegies:
then glorified Allah and sent salutations upon the Prophet of
Abu Mansoor Tabarsi in his Ehtijaj relates, that the
Allah (S) and said,
sermon of Sayyidah Zainab (a.s.), the daughter of Imam Ali
bin Abi Talib (a.s.), in the midst of Kufans on that day was a
"Now then! O Kufans! O men of vaunt! O
suppression and reproach of them. Hizam bin Sateer Asadi
treacherous men! O retreaters! Beware! May your
relates, that when Imam Ali bin Husayn (a.s.) was brought from
lament never cease and may your wailing never end.
Verily your similitude is that of a woman who untwirls
"What will you reply when the Prophet shall ask
the threads spinned by herself. You have broken your
you, how did you fair, while you were the last nation,
pledges by deceit and there remains nothing in you
with my progeny and my children, the noble ones, that
except pretense, self-conceit, exorbitance and dishonesty. some of them are captivated and some drenched in their
You have adopted the flatter of maids and coquettishness
blood, this is not the recompense regarding which I
of the enemies as your customs. Your similitude is of
advised you with which you treated my 'Near-ones', I
that of the expanse vegetation or jewelry in the
fear that a wrath similar to the people of Iram might
graveyard.
descend upon you".
Beware! What an evil have you brought forth for
yourselves that has invited Allah's wrath upon you and
Saying then she turned her face away from them. Hizam
you have earned a place of fury in the hereafter. You
says that I saw that all the men wandered away and were
weep for my brother? Verily yes by Allah! You should
deeply remorseful. An old man standing besides me wept
weep, for you deserve it. Weep abundantly and laugh
bitterly until his beard was soaked with his tears. He held up his
less, thus you are tainted with disgrace and trapped in hands towards the heavens and said, "May my parents be
contempt that you shall never be able to wash off. How ransom upon those whose elders, youth and women are
will you wash off the blood of the son of the 'Seal of
the chosen ones among all elders, youth and women.
Prophethood (S)' and the 'Mine of Apostleship' from
Their family is respectful and their grace eminent".
yourselves, who was the Master of the youth of Paradise, Then he said, "Theirs are the best of elders and the best
the General of the battlefield, and an Asylum of your
progeny. And when tomorrow the progenies are taken
group. He was a residence of repose for you and your
into account, theirs will not be from among the ruined
well-being. He healed your wounds and safeguarded you and damned ones".
against whatever evil came towards you. You
Imam Ali bin Husayn (a.s.)'s remonstration amidst the
approached him when you quarreled among yourselves. people of Kufa and his reproach to them for their breach of
He was your best counsel and you relied upon him, and trust and deception
he was a lantern of your path.
Then Hizam bin Sateer says that Imam Ali Zainul
Beware! What evil have you brought forth for
Abedeen (a.s.) came forward facing the men and signaled them
yourselves and what load have you put upon
to remain silent. Then he sat down and praised and glorified
your neck for the day of Qiyamah. Perdition!
Allah and sent salutations upon His Prophet, then said,
Perdition! Destruction! May your search go vain and
"O people! Those of you, who know me, know me,
may your hands paralyze that you have handed over the
while thos