STRAIGHTPATHMONTHLY December 2011
66
and righteousness.
I send to you my cousin, my brother and a
trustworthy person from among my family Muslim bin
Aqeel. And I have instructed him to inquire about your
affairs and write to me regarding it. And if he writes to
me that your elders, the wise and the learned men hold
the same opinion as your messengers have conveyed to
me and as written in your letters, then I shall come to
you quickly, Allāh willing.
I swear by my life, that he is not an Imām and guide
except he who judges in accordance to the Book of Allāh,
and establishes justice, and professes the True Religion
and dedicates himself to the will of Almighty Allāh.
Greetings."
the treason of the Kufans and stopping him from coming there
besides dispatching his two infant sons towards Imām to convey
the message."
Note how the author used Muslim bin Aqeel (a.s) as a kind
of "litmus test" of loyalty. Such is also true for the
Ambassador of Imam e Zamana (a.j.f), the Yamani (a.s).
A Note:
I use the word Ambassador here to describe both Muslim
bin Aqeel (a.s) and Ahmad al-Hassan (a.s). The similarities are
numerous. Neither are one of the 12 Imams. Neither is the first
born son of one of the 12 Imams. Both are related to the
Imams closely. Ahmad al-Hassan (a.s), as a descendant of
Imam e Zamana (a.j.f) even has an advantage over Muslim bin
Aqeel (a.s), who is the son of the brother of Ameer ul
In the footnote it is further stated:
Momineen Ali (a.s). Yet all the furore I hear for saying
"alayhis Salam" after the name of anyone is not an angel, a
Imām Husayn (a.s.) sent his representative to Kufa
Prophet or one of the 12 Imams is deafening. Muslim bin
declaring his authority to be assured of the seriousness of the
Aqeel (a.s) is considered of the Ahlul bayt without being either
Kufans. Any opposition or support to his representative would
Prophet, Imam or even the son of an Imam. But those who
be considered an opposition or support to the Imām himself..... want to defame Ahmad al-Hassan (a.s) will pick any flimsy
This was not a mission of secondary impor-tance but involved excuse to do it.
representation from a revolutionary leader, who was also a
Coming back to the word "Ambassador". At some point
guardian of Religion, upholder of faith and a refuge for
the enemies and misled innocents bring up the argument that
humanity. It needed a man of great foresight and experience
Imam e Zamana (a.j.f) can have no Naib. This goes back to a
with complete grasp of the political situation of the time as well narration where the Imam (a.j.f) said that after the fourth Na'ib
as the principles of the sacred teachings of Islām. It needed a
(representative) there can be no more Na'ibs. This is based on a
man of firm moral standing and integrity, who would be a true Mursal Hadeeth. However, there is also a Hadeeth considered
authentic by majority of people about a man who will be the
representative from such a sacred person as Husayn bin Ali
Yamani (a.s) who will lead the Muslims to their "Maula". The
(a.s.). Imām Husayn (a.s.) chose Muslim bin Aqeel (a.s.), his
famous Hadeeth is from Imam Baqir (a.s) and is accepted by all
cousin and brother in law, the husband of his sister Ruqayya,
Shia experts who have ever discussed the topic of Yamani. It is
the daughter of Imām Ali (a.s.) through his marriage with
as follows:
Ummul Baneen (mother of Abbās), for this import-ant mission.
"There is no banner better than that of the banner of
In the eyes of Husayn, Muslim possessed all those requisite
Yamani, it is the banner of faith and dedication, because
qualities that were desirable for such an assignment. He was a
he calls to your Maula (a.j.f).... and it is prohibited for
man of great courage who would not lose himself in times of
any Muslim to turn away from him, and who ever turns
victory and would remain steadfast and patient at times of
away from him, then he's from the people of hell,
defeat and opposition, a man of all seasons. Thus, those who
because he calls to the truth and to the right path."
would assist him (like Hani bin Urwah) would be the ones firm
So even if one says "There can be no more
in their faith and obedience to Islām and Imām, while those
Representatives of Imam", then who is this Ambassador
who would not be able to help him for whatsoever reason,
Yamani, who has the same role in relation to Imam e Zamana
although being ardent be-lievers (like Habib bin Mazāhir,
(a.j.f) as Muslim bin Aqeel (a.s) has with Imam Hussain (a.s)?
Muslim bin Awsaja, Abu Samāmah), they would hasten to
The Ambassadors of Imams are always accused
assist the Imām at Karbalā in compensation for being unable to
defend his envoy (Muslim). While those who would deliberately of breaking the unity:and impo-tently withdraw their support of Muslim, but would
We read in Nafs ul Mahmoom, Section 8,
prefer to remain silent spectators, their faltering faith and
Then he (Ubaydullah ibn Zyad) turned towards Muslim
hypocrisy would be apparent; hence it would act as a litmus test
and said,
for faith and steadfastness. Muslim would commu-nicate the
"O son of Aqeel! The people were unified and in
Imām's objectives to the people and prepare them for the ulaccordance with one another, but you came and divided
timate occurrence, as can be observed, that a