Crying on Imam Husain (a.s)

Crying is the shedding of tears in response to an emotional state in humans. Crying is believed to be an outlet or a result of a burst of intense emotional sensations, such as agony. A neuronal connection between the tear duct and the areas of the human brain involved with emotion has been established.

Recent psychological theories of crying emphasize the relationship of crying to the experience of perceived helplessness. From this perspective, an underlying experience of helplessness can usually explain why people cry. For example, a person may cry after receiving news of death and toture of his beloved and he feels powerless or unable to influence the event.

The relationship between the person crying and the person for whom he is crying decides the amount of tears, the duration and intensity of this emotional state of heart and the brain.

WHY DO WE CRY FOR IMAM HUSAIN (a.s.)

May our lives be sacrifriced on Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). We cry for Imam Husain (a.s.) for whom Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said "Hussain is from me, and I am from Hussain. May Allah love him who loves Hussain."

A true lover of Imam Hussain (a.s.) can feel the afflictions and oppressions Imam Hussain (as) suffered; his feelings are so immense that they break out into tears and wail. The pain of the beloved is the pain of the lover. Crying on Imam Husain (a.s) is the sign or expression of true love.

We cry because we love Imam Husain (a.s.). His love is obligatory upon us and is made wajib by Holy Quran. It is the sunnat of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). Whey we cry, we practise on his sunnat. It is the sunnat of Ahle Bait (a.s.)

Love of Imam Husain (as) in the Holy Quran

Say (O Muhammad), "I do not ask any recompense for it (my work as a messenger), except the love of my near relatives (Ahlul Bayt)..."  (Sura Ash-Shura, 42:23)

When asked who his near relatives were, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) replied that they were `Alí (a.s), Fatimah (a.s) and their two sons, Hasan (a.s) and Husain (a.s).Thus loving Ahlul Bayt (a.s) is the way a person shows his gratitude to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a).

Love of Imam Husain (a.s.) is the sunnat of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)

Historians have recorded many incidents and narrations in this respect. In one account it has been said that the Prophet's prostration took longer than usual in his prayer. People came to the Prophet and asked, "Were you receiving a revelation or order from Allah during prostration?" Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a) replied, "No, my son Hussain had climbed onto my back; I waited until he wished to come down." This is an example showing how the best creature of Allah (swt) treated Hussain (a.s) while he was in the best state of worship.

The companions had seen Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a) repeatedly carrying Hassan and Hussain (a.s) on his shoulders and play with them. In other traditions the Prophet would say, "Hassan and Hussain (a.s) are my two aromatic flowers from this world."

Love of Imam Husain (a.s.) is the sunnat of Ahle Bait (a.s.)

When Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a) informed Lady Fatimah (a.s) about the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (a.s) and the sufferings he will face, she cried and asked: "O father! When will this tragedy take place?" Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a) replied: "At a time when you, Ali, and I have left this world."
Upon hearing such, Lady Fatimah's (a.s) tears intensified, "O father! Then who cry for my son, and who will hold mourning ceremonies for him?"
The Prophet (s.a.w.s) answered: "My daughter! Verily the women of my nation will cry for the women of my Ahl al-Bayt; the men of my nation will cry for the men of my Ahl al-Bayt; and year after year, groups of people will revive this ceremony”. (Bihar al Anwar, vol. 44, pp. 292 & 293)

In the book, Kamilu Ziyarat, Chp 36 is named as

الباب السادس و الثلاثون في أن الحسين‏ع قتيل العبرة لا يذكره مؤمن إلا بكى‏

‘Imam Husain (a.s.) was “the martyrs of tears” – no believer mentions him without shedding tears’.

We quote two traditions from this chapter to understand the importance of tears for Imam Husain (a.s.).

‘Whenever Imam Husain (a.s.) was mentioned in the presence of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) during the day, he would not be seen smiling until nightfall. He (a.s.) used to say, “Imam Husain (a.s.) is the (cause of shedding) tear of every believer!”’ (Chp 36 tradition no 2)

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: Imam Husain said, “I am the martyrs of tears. No believer remembers me without weeping.”  (Chp 36 tradition no 3)

OUR REWARD

“Its fragrance can be perceived from a distance of a thousand years and such fragrances emanate from it onto the face of whoever drinks from it, that he will say, “I wish I had been left right here. I don’t need anything else and I don’t wish to be moved from here.”

O Kardin, know that you will be of those who will drink from it and everyone whose eyes wept on us will be blessed by looking at Kauthar and be given a drink from it.(Imam Sadiq(as)-Kamil al ziarah)

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said:

(On the Day of Judgment, a group would be seen in the most excellent and honourable of states. They would be asked if they were of the Angels or of the Prophets. In reply they would state): "We areneither Angels nor Prophets but of the indigent ones from the ummah of Muhammad (s.a.w.s)". They would then be asked: "How then did you achieve this lofty and honourable status?" They would reply: "We did not perform very many good deeds nor did we pass all the days in a state of fasting or all the nights in a state of worship but yes, we used to offer our (daily) prayers (regularly) and whenever we used to hear the mention of Muhammad (s.a.w.s), tears would roll down our cheeks".(Mustadrak al‑Wasail, vol 10, pg. 318)

Hazrat Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said "Those who shed tears when Husain (a.s) is mentioned in front of them will be rewarded by Allah (swt) Himself, even if their tears are as small as the wing of a fly. And Allah will not be pleased with any reward for them less than Paradise."

Imam Ridha (a.s) said (to Ibn Shabib):
O’ Son of Shabib!  If it makes you happy (and you desire) to be with us in the elevated ranks of paradise, then be sad in our grief and happy at our happiness.(Wasaail al‑Shiah, vol. 14 pg. 502)

WE ARE NOT ALONE IN CRYING

سَلَامَ مَنْ قَلْبُهٗ بِمُصَابِكَ مَقْرُوْحٌ، وَ دَمْعُهٗ عِنْدَ ذِكْرِكَ مَسْفُوْحٌ،

Salutations from the one whose heart is wounded due to the tribulations you have suffered, and whose tears flow in your remembrance,….

فَلَأَنْدُبَنَّكَ صَبَاحًا وَ مَسَاءً وَ لَأَبْكِيَنَّ لَكَ بَدَلَ الدُّمُوْعِ دَمًا، حَسْرَةً عَلَيْكَ وَ تَأَسُّفًاعَلٰى مَا دَهَاكَ وَ تَلَهُّفًا،

I will, therefore, lament you morning and evening, and will weep blood in place of tears, out of my anguish for you and my sorrow for all that befell you,

حَتّٰى أَمُوْتَ بِلَوْعَةِ الْمُصَابِ، وَ غُصَّةِ الْاِكْتِيَابِ،

until I meet death from the pain of the catastrophe and the choking grief.

(Imam Zamana (a.t.f.s.) in Ziarat Nahiya)

Mourning

Mourning is an important responsibility of every believer. It is essential for us to know the traditions narrated from our Aimmah (a.s.) to understand the importance given by them to his holy act.

We start our discussion with the help of this tradition of Hazrat Imam Ali Reza (a.s.) who said to his companion Ibn Shabeeb (a.r)

ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا ابْنَ‏ شَبِيبٍ‏ ….

يَا ابْنَ‏ شَبِيبٍ‏ إِنْ بَكَيْتَ عَلَى الْحُسَيْنِ ع حَتَّى تَصِيرَ دُمُوعُكَ عَلَى خَدَّيْكَ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ كُلَّ ذَنْبٍ أَذْنَبْتَهُ صَغِيراً كَانَ أَوْ كَبِيراً قَلِيلًا كَانَ أَوْ كَثِيراً

1)    "O son of Shabeeb! If you weep over the afflictions of Husain (a.s) such that tears flow from your eyes and fall upon your cheeks, Allah will forgive all your sins whether big or small and less or large in number."

يَا ابْنَ‏ شَبِيبٍ‏ إِنْ سَرَّكَ أَنْ تَلْقَى اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لَا ذَنْبَ عَلَيْكَ فَزُرِ الْحُسَيْنَ ع

2)    "O son of Shabeeb! If you desire to meet Allah the Glorified in a state purified of all sins, then go for the pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.)

يَا ابْنَ‏ شَبِيبٍ‏ إِنْ سَرَّكَ أَنْ تَسْكُنَ الْغُرَفَ الْمَبْنِيَّةَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ وَ آلِهِ ص فَالْعَنْ قَتَلَةَ الْحُسَيْنِ

3)    "O son of Shabeeb! If you desire that you may abide in the palaces of Paradise in the company of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s) and his Progeny, then invoke Allah's curse upon the murderers of Imam Husain (a.s)."

يَا ابْنَ‏ شَبِيبٍ‏ إِنْ سَرَّكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ لَكَ مِنَ الثَّوَابِ مِثْلَ مَا لِمَنِ اسْتُشْهِدَ مَعَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فَقُلْ مَتَى مَا ذَكَرْتَهُ‏ يا لَيْتَنِي كُنْتُ مَعَهُمْ فَأَفُوزَ فَوْزاً عَظِيماً

4)    "O son of Shabeeb! If you desire to earn the reward of those who were martyred alongwith Imam Husain (a.s), then whenever you remember him, say: I wish I had been with them, then I too would have attained the Great Triumph."

يَا ابْنَ‏ شَبِيبٍ‏ إِنْ سَرَّكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ مَعَنَا فِي الدَّرَجَاتِ الْعُلَى مِنَ الْجِنَانِ فَاحْزَنْ لِحُزْنِنَا وَ افْرَحْ لِفَرَحِنَا وَ عَلَيْكَ بِوَلَايَتِنَا فَلَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا تَوَلَّى حَجَراً لَحَشَرَهُ اللَّهُ مَعَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة

5)    "O son of Shabeeb! If you desire to reside in the exalted status of Para­dise alongwith us, then bemoan our sorrows and sufferings and rejoice in our happiness and remain attached to our love. For even if a person is attached to a stone in this world, Allah shall make him arise with it on the day of Qiyamah." (Nafasul Mehmoon, Section 2, Tradition no 1)

6)    Ali ibn Musa ar-Reza (a.s) says: "When the month of Moharram would approach, no one would see my father (Imam Moosa al Kazim) ever laughing until the tenth, and grief would prevail upon him. And the tenth would be the day of sorrow, grief and lamenting, and he would say: This is the day when Husain (a.s) was massacred."

7)    Abu Haroon Makfoof, who says that once I went to the presence of Imam Ja'far as Sadiq (a.s). Imam told me to recite some couplets to which I started reciting. Then Imam (a.s) said, "Not like this, recite as you do so for him (Imam Husain) among yourselves and (standing) on the head of his grave." Then I recited, ….Then Imam (a.s) started weeping and hence I became silent. Imam Sadiq told me to continue and recite some more, thus I recited ….Abu Haroon continues that Imam Sadiq wept bitterly and the women of his household too wept. When they became silent, Imam said, "O Abu Haroon! If a person recites couplets about Imam Husain (a.s) and makes ten people weep by it then Paradise is reserved for him at that very mo­ment." Then Imam started reducing the number of persons till he reached one and said, "If a person recites couplets about Imam Husain (a.s) and makes a single person weep by it, then Paradise is reserved for him at that very moment."

8)  Musme' Kardeen who says that one day Imam Ja'far as Sadiq (a.s) told me, "O Musme'! Being a resident of Iraq do you go for the pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Husain (a.s)"? I replied, "No, for the people of Basra know me well and they are the adherents of the Caliph and there are numerous enemies from the nasibies (those who bear enmity towards the Prophet's Ahlulbait) of the clans and others around us. I fear lest they malign me in presence of the sons of Sulayman (bin Abdul Malik, the Abbaside Caliph), who would then torture and harass me." Then Imam said, "Then do you remember the troubles which were inflicted on Imam Husain" and I replied in the affirmative. Imam again asked, "Are you then disturbed by it"? I replied, "Verily yes, by Allah! And this grief effects me such that the people of my family see this (it's effects) upon my face, and I even leave my meals while this sorrow becomes apparent on my cheeks." Imam Sadiq said, "May Allah have mercy upon your tears! Verily you are of those people who are afflicted by our grief, those who rejoice at our prosperity and lament over our sorrows, and who are attached to us in our time of dread and peace. In fact when you die, you will find our Blessed Forefathers close to you and they will counsel the Angel of death regarding you, and glad tidings shall be given to you which will illuminate your eyes. Then he shall be more  compassionate and merciful towards you than a mother is to her son."

9)    Imam Ja'far as Sadiq (a.s) once told Fuzayl that, "Do you discuss our traditions when you sit in each others company"? Fuzayl replied, "Yes we certainly do so, may I be your ransom"! Imam said, "Whoever remembers our traditions, or in whose presence we are discussed and tear equal to the  size of a wing of a fly flow from his eyes, Allah will forgive all his sins although they be equal in number to the foam (of the water) of the river."

10)   Imam Ali ar Reza (a.s) said, "Whoever avoids attending to his worldly affairs on the tenth of Moharram, Allah will fulfill all the wishes and desires of this world as well as the hereafter. Whoever considers this day to be a day of mourning, sorrow and weeping for himself, Allah the Glorified will make the day of Qiyamah to be a day of rejoicing for him and his eyes will be cooled in Paradise on account of us. And whoever considers the tenth of Moharram to be a day of prosperity and buys something for his house (considering it a good omen), then Allah will not give him affluence in that thing. And on the day of Qiyamah he will be made to arise alongwith Yazeed, Ubaydullah bin Ziyad and Umar ibne Sa'ad (may Allah's curse be on all of them) and will be thrown into the lowest abyss of hell."

11)  The Narrator Dawood Raqqi, says that once I was in the presence of  Imam Ja'far as Sadiq (a.s) when he asked for water to drink. When he drank it, grief overtook him and his eyes became full of tears. Then he said, "O Dawood! May Allah's curse be upon the murderers of Imam Husain (a.s). There is no servant (of Allah) who drinks water and remembers Husain and curses his enemies, except that Allah writes one lac virtues in his record, and forgives one lac sins of his, and elevates his position one lac times. It is as if he has freed one lac slaves, and on the day of Qiyamah he shall arise satiated."

Each of the above tradition from the Section 2 of the book Nafasul Mahommom introduces some acts done by Aimmah (a.s.) for Imam Husain (a.s.). These traditions are teaching us to seeking nearness to Imam Husain (a.s.) by performing them. May Allah give us the taufeeq to be greivious, sorrowful, tearful throught the month of Moharrum and Safar.