One of the ways that Aimmah (a.s.) have showed us to help Imam Zamana (a.t.fs.) is
through helping Imam Husain (a.s.). SayyidusShohada (a.s.) himself said to his
companions in Karbala
My grandfather (s.a.w.s.) informed me that my son Husain (a.s.) will be killed in the
plains of Karbala as a stranger, alone and thirsty. Anyone who helps him has helped me
and his son Qaem (a.t.f.s.)1
The helpers of Imam Husain (a.s.) are helpers of Imam Zamana (a.t.f.s.) in reality. In
the period of occultation of Imam Zamana (a.s.) Anyone wishing to help him should
consider this pure act as his slogan. And he should know that the faithful companions of
Imam Husain (a.s.) sacrificed the most precious thing for Imam i.e. their ‘Life’ and
registered their name in the group of chief of martyrs.
Imam AmeerulMomineen (a.s.) said: … The best of creation and their leader after my
son Hasan (a.s.) is his brother Husain (a.s.), the oppressed after him, the one who will
be martyred in the land of Karbala. Certainly he and his companions are from the chiefs
of martyrs on the Day of Judgment.2
Prior to the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.) and his companions, J. Hamza ibn Abu
Talib (a.s.) was honoured with the title of ‘chief of martyrs’. However, after the 10th of
Muharram 61 A.H. this title became specific with Imam Husain (a.s.). The other martyrs
of Karbala also benefitted from this and became famous as leaders of martyrs. This
group due to their recognition and love of Imam reached the zenith of helping Imam by
sacrificing their most expensive asset in order to help the Imam of their time with utmost
sincerity
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) considers fighting the enemies of Ahle Bait (a.s.) as the
highest form of support and describes this act to be at the highest fortune in this world
and the hereafter:
‘One who loves us with his heart and helps us with his tongue and fights with our
enemies (in our support) with their resources will be with us on our position on the day
of judgment and one who loves us and helps us with his tongue but does not help us by
fighting our enemies will be at a level lower than this.’3
Thus one who wishes to attain the highest level of helping Imam (a.s.) must fight the
enemies of Ahle Bait (a.s.) and must sacrifice his life in this path. The companions of
Imam Husain (a.s.) are the best example in this regard.
In this period of occultation of Imam e Asr (a.s.) we must ask Allah to grant us his true
recognition that even if we are not present with Imam Husain (a.s.) we can attain the
Taufeeq of helping the Imam of our time.
Helping Aba Abdillah Husain (a.s.) in this period
Imam Husain (a.s.) was martyred in the year 61 A.H. and today, almost after 1400
years, is it possible for us to help him and by virtue of this help in turn, register
ourselves in the group of helpers of Imam Zamana(a.s.)?
.
For those who were not present in Karbala in the year 61 A.H, and yet long to be
amongst the helpers of Imam Hussain (a.s), should attach themselves to Imam (a.s).
With the help of this intense love towards Imam (a.s) and by acting on the orders of
Imam (a.s) one can reach this lofty position of being considered as helper of Imam
Hussain (a.s)
Jabir ibn Abdullah e Ansari (a.s.) was one of the loyal helpers of the noble Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) and lived in the time of Imam Husain (a.s.) however he did not have the
fortune of being with Imam Husain (a.s.) on the day of Ashura.
Jabir visited Imam Husain on the 40th day of his martyrdom (Arbaeen) the same year
and since he was blind he requested Atiyah to place his hand on the grave of
SayyidusShohada (a.s.). Then he got up in utmost discomfort and sorrow and threw
himself on the grave. When he gained consciousness he cried three times “Ya Husain
Ya Husain Ya Husain” and said “A friend, whose friend could not reach him”
He then completed his conversation with Imam Husain (a.s.) and then saluted the other
martyrs and said: By Allah! Who has raised the Messenger (s.a.w.s.) with truth? We
were with you in all (the atrocities) that befell upon you.
Atiyah, the slave of Jabir questioned him “We did not travel through the mountains and
the deserts. We did not raise our swords. Our heads are not separated from our bodies
and our children did not separate from us and we did not bring our ladies to this desert
like them. Then how are we with them?”
Jabir replied: “O Atiyah! I heard my beloved Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) say: One who loves
a group will be raised with them and one who loves the action of a group he has
accompanied them in that action”.
Then he added “By the one who raised Mohammad (s.a.w.s.) with truth, surely my
intention and the intention of my companion is same as the intention of Imam Husain
(a.s.) and his companions”4
Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari, through the tradition of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has explained
a divine law. Love is an act of choice, through the medium of heart it makes a person
reach his beloved.
Hence, even if a person was not with SayyidusShohada (a.s.) in Karbala, irrespective of
the era he lived in, can still be a companion of Imam Husain (a.s.) in this world and can receive the reward of his loyal companions in the hereafter through ‘Intention’ and
‘Love’.
Intention is an action of heart and it is the soul and life of the apparent action and it has
levels. Imam Mohammad Baqir (a.s.) says:
“Intention of a believer is greater than his action this is because he intend’s for
goodnessthat which he cannot comprehend and intention of a disbeliever is worse than
his action as the disbeliever intend’s for evil and hopes for such evil that which he
cannot comprehend”
5
Thus the intention of man could become greater than his action whether he performs
the action or not. The quality and value of the action is based on its intent. Allah will also
take into consideration the intention before rewarding a person. There are many actions
that a man intends to do but is unable to execute them, but he will find these actions in
his scroll of deeds on the Day of Judgment.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says: Certainly Allah shall gather people on the day of judgement,
based on their intentions.
6
Thus anyone who makes a sincere intention to help Imam Husain (a.s.) will get its
reward. However an important point here is submitting to this rule of Allah i.e. man
accepts this practice of Allah with his heart and soul and has faith in it and has hope on
this promise of Allah that by intending he will be included in the group of companions of
Imam Husain (a.s.). Imam JafarSadiq (a.s.) was not born when the event of Karbala
took place and his holy father was five years old. Even then he includes himself and his
Shias in group of martyrs of Karbala and says:
I do not consider myself excluded from the martyrs of Karbala and do not settle for a
lower reward because my intention is that if I was present on that day I would have
helped Imam Husain (a.s.) and similarly my Shias would attain martyrdom even if they
die in their beds.
Love of Imam (a.s.) and intention is the key to open the door of this great fortune.
Through these two voluntary actions man is capable of attaining great rewards.
Imam Reza (a.s.) advised Rayyan bin Shabeeb who came in his presence on the first of
Muharram
“O Son of Shabeeb! If you wish to earn the reward of those who were martyred with
Imam Husain (a.s.) then when you remember them, you say, I wish if was with them
then I would have attained thehigh position”
7
O friends of Imam Husain (a.s.) when you remember SayyidushShohada (a.s.) and his
helpers you wish from the depth of your heart that, If I was present on that day, I would
have sacrificed myself for him (a.s.). This intention and love is not artificial but the heart
witnesses for this inner wish and brings it on the tongue. In this manner, by the grace of
Allah, we would be included in this great reward
‘Regret’ of not being able to help Imam Husain (a.s.) and other Imams is a clear sign of
existence of this wish in the heart. If someone has really intended to sacrifice himself for
Imam Husain (a.s.) with true love will sincerely regret for not getting the chance to
actualize this opportunity.
Marhoom Syed ibnTawoos in his book ‘MisbahuzZaaer’ under the topic of
ZiyaratJaame’a of Imams (a.s.) writes:
‘O the progeny of Mustafa (s.a.w.s.)! May my mother and father be sacrificed on you.
We swear by Allah that we are with your companions and helpers in killing the
Naakeseen and Qaaseteen and Maareqeen (The people of Jamal, Siffeen and
Naharwan in the era of AmeerulMomineen (a.s.)) and we are also partners in shedding
our blood for AbiAbdillah (a.s.) on the day of Karbala with our intention, and our heart
and regret that we could not get the opportunity that your helpers received. And
salutations from our side and mercy of Allah be upon you’
If a man loses a precious thing he regrets, provided he knows its value. A few people
have reached such levels of recognition of Imam (a.s.) that when they remember
Karbala and companions of Imam Husain (a.s.), their heart regrets and their heart which
is overflowing with the recognition and love of Imam becomes sad and discomforted
that they were not present at that time and at that place to help SayyidusShohada (a.s.)
Anyone who has this regret in his heart and sincerely desires to be with Imam Hussain
(a.s), irrespective of the era in which he is, should consider himself as a helper of Imam
Husain (a.s.) and as a result is a helper of Imam Zamana (a.t.f.s.).
HazratVali e Asr (a.s.) is the one who will avenge the blood of Imam Husain (a.s.) and
more than anyone else feels the troubles of Ashura and more than anyone else wishes
to avenge the blood of his oppressed grandfather. A day will come when the sincere
helpers of Qaem e Aale Mohammad (a.t.f.s.) will help him avenge the blood of his
grandfather. InshaAllah.
1 FawaidulMashaidVol 2 Pg. 466
2 Bihar ulAnwaarVol 36 Pg. 253
3 Bihar ulAnwaarVol 27 Pg. 89 H. 39
4 BihaarulAnwaarVol 101 Pg. 196
5 Wasael us Shia Vol 1 Pg. 39 H. 17
6 Wasael us Shia Vol 1 Pg. 36 H 5
7 Bihar ulAnwaarVol 44 Pg. 286
Note: This article is translated from the book YAARI E AAFTAB by Mohammad
BaniHashemi under the same topic.
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