December 2011
MARTYRDOM OF THE TWO
SONS OF MUSLIM BIN AQEEL
by Haj Shaikh Abbas Qummi
"Allah has bestowed him with two wings, so he flies
along with the Angels wherever he desires." The child
then said, "Do you then know Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.)"? The
old man said, "Yes I do know him, for he is the cousin and
brother of my Prophet." The child retorted, "O Shaikh! We
are from the progeny of your Prophet and are the sons of
Muslim bin Aqeel bin Abi Talib (a.s.). We have been in
prison under you for a long time.You do not give us good
food and you persecute us in the prison." The prison guard
fell upon their feet and said, "May my life be your ransom
O progeny of the chosen Prophet of Allah! The doors of
this prison are open for you, you may go away to
whichever place you desire." When night fell, he brought
two bread of barley and a jar of water and showed them the
way, then said, "Travel during the night and hide during
the day till Allah grants you relief."
The two children came out at night and went to the house
of an old woman and said, "We are small travelers and do
not know the road, and the darkness of the night has
fallen. Give us refuge in your house for today's night, and
we shall go away as soon as it dawns." The woman said,
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"Who are you my dear ones? I have never smelt a
similar fragrance which is emanating from you." They
replied, "O woman! We are from the progeny of the
Prophet and have escaped from the prison of Ubaydullah
bin Ziyad having escaped death." The woman said, "O
dear ones! My son in law is an evil man, who was
present in the massacre of Karbala among the faithfuls of
Ubaydullah. I fear lest he finds you here and kills you."
The children replied, "We desire to hault here only for a
night, and as soon as it dawns, we shall go away from
here." The woman agreed and brought some food for them.
The children had food and water and went to sleep.
The younger brother said to the elder one, "O dear
brother! I desire that we spend this night in peace. Come
closer so that we may embrace one another and go to
sleep and kiss each other, lest death might part us." They
embraced each other and went to sleep.
When night advanced, the evil son in law of the old
woman came and slowly knocked at the door. The woman
inquired as to who it was. He replied that he was her son in law.
The woman told him, "Why have you come at this