In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Master of Appreciation

Appreciation is a Hussein-like tradition. These are virtues of Hussein, caressing the good (people), appreciating the good (acts), and valuing acts of love and honesty. 

In a battlefield where thirst has sucked up every drop of the lives, it was Hussein (PBUH) whom despite all his wounds and losses, and the tears and pains of his family does not forget the efforts of his devoted companions. 

From the start of battle up until the bloody heart of war, Hussein (PBUH) rushes to the fallen bodies of his companions, to be with them at the time of departure with kindness and smile as they leave to meet their Beloved.  What is sweeter than when a person departs this world in the arms of their master, their Imam, as he proudly smiles at them?

The martyrdom of Ali Akbar (PBUH) is a painful wound of Ashura on the thirsty body of the Imam.  He resembles the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) in appearance, manners, truthfulness, and behavior.  In his second battle he fell to the ground of Karbala with a split head.  The Imam came to his body, and in a trembled voice filled with grief he said, “After you, may dirt be upon this world!”¹

Another martyr whom the Imam came to his body on foot as the martyr had fallen was the brave water-bearer of Karbala, Abalfazl al-Abbas (PBUH); the handless water-bearer of Ashura, with his torn to pieces water-pouch and his blood mixed with the reminder of water, had fell beside the Euphrates River.  The Imam kneeled and with eyes full of tears and voice full of tremble recited, “And now my back has broken, and my choices have reduced to few!”²

For the Imam (PBUH) there is no difference between his family, friends, or servant; they are all worthy of appreciation and praise.  He treats them all as he does his son, lowering his face to their faces. 

Hurr is the victor repentance.  He was the first to close the path on the caravan of the Master of Martyrs (PBUH), disallowing them from continuing on their path.  On the day of Ashura, he went from the enemy’s line to the line of the Imam.  And as he was dying, the Imam came to his side, held his spit head in his arms and caressed his forehead so that he doesn’t feel embarrassed from the Imam.  And he said to him, “You are free, just as your mother has named you.”³ With wings filled with the love of the Imam, Hurr left this world to a divine heavenly destination. 

Juwn, the black servant of the Imam is the other martyr whom the Imam approached his fallen body on Ashura.  Blood had covered his face.  He had asked the Imam to pray for him to attain a beautiful and glowing face.  The Imam prayed for him, “O Allah beautify his face, and make his scent delightful….”⁴

The Imam appreciated his other companions as well, when he told them, “I do not know any one more loyal than you.”^5,6 In another place he compares them to sturdy mountains and rocks.  And in the night of Ashura he shows them an epiphany of paradise.⁷ Yes.  The tradition of Hussein (PBUH) was one of appreciation. 

And woe onto the last moments of the Imam; the moment in which wolves attacked the unmoving body of the son of the Prophet (PBUH&HP), using their stones and spears on his holy body.  The loneliness of the Imam is unbelievable.  Shimr, exits the ditch of murder with his body shaking.  Moments later the head of the Imam is on a spear. 

“Peace be upon him whom his aorta was cut; peace be upon the lonely defender; peace be upon the blood covered face…”^8,9

Selection taken from the book Hussein (PBUH), the Imam of Virtue and Beauty by Mohammad Reza Sangari (with minor changes)

Roshd Website offers its condolences to all Muslims across the world, especially you dear friend, upon the arrival of Ashura, the martyrdom of the Master of Martyrs, the oppressed of the ground of Karbala, Imam Hussain (PBUH), and his respected companions.

Roshd Islamic Shia Website

Footnotes:

1. Manaqib Ibn Shahr Ashub, vol. 4, p. 109

2. Tasliat alMajaalis wa Zinat alMajaalis, vol. 2, p. 310

3. Luhuf, pg. 44

4. Tasliat alMajaalis wa Zinat alMajaalis, vol. 2, p. 293

5. Irshaad, vol. 2, pg. 91

6. The narration by Imam Hussein (PBUH) about the Imam being infallible and having divine knowledge is to say that there have not been companions as loyal as his companions. 

7. Al-Jara’ij, vol. 2, p. 847

8. Section of Ziarat Nahiya; Mazar Kabir, p.499

9. Hussein (PBUH) was someone who full-heartedly sacrificed anything/anyone he had, all from his companions, brothers, son (even his baby boy), in the way of Allah.  And Allah, as a way to show his satisfaction with the act of the Imam, showered the utmost special blessings upon him, “Truly Allah placed four characteristics as a reward for the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH): the power of healing placed in his Turbat (pure dirt from Karbala), the answering of prayer under his dome, the Imams after him are his direct descendants, and the time his pilgrims spend for him is not considered as part of their lives,” (Amali Sheikh Tousi, p.318)