Allāmah Majlisi relates in Bihār al Anwār that Muhammad bin Abu Tālib Musawi says, that when Waleed received the letter to slay Imām Husayn (a.s.) it was very hard upon him and he said,
“By Allāh! May Allāh not let me witness the murder of the son of His Prophet, even if Yazid gives me the entire the world and whatever is contained therein in lieu of it.”
It is said that one night Imām Husayn (a.s.) stepped out of his house and went to the head of the grave of his Grandfather and said,
“Salutations be upon you O Prophet of Allāh! I am Husayn the son of Fatima (a.s.). I am your beloved and the child of your beloved. I am your son whom you have left as your heir among your ummāh. Thus O Prophet of Allāh! Be a witness that these people have deserted me and neglected me while refusing to protect me. This is my complaint to you until I come to your presence.”
Then he arose and started reciting the Prayers, constantly bowing and prostrating. Waleed went to his house to inquire whether the Imām had left Madinā or no. When he saw that the Imām was not there he said, “Thanks to Allāh that he has left and I have been saved from being indicted and involved in spilling his blood.” Then Imām returned back to his home and on the second night he again went to the grave of the Holy Prophet (S) and recited some units of Prayers. After finishing the Prayers he said,
“O Allāh! This is the grave of Your Prophet, and I am the grandson of Your Prophet. You are aware as to what has befallen me. Verily I cherish virtue and righteousness and abhor evil. O Lord of Glory and Honor! I adjure You by the right of this grave and the one who is buried therein, to bring forth for me that which is approved by You and Your Prophet.”
Imām continued weeping until the morning, then he placed his head on the grave and slept for a short time. He dreamt that the Prophet (S), surrounded by the Angels from the left, right and front, coming towards him. The Prophet came near and pressed Imām Husayn (a.s.)’s head to his chest. Then he kissed him between his eyes and said,
“O my beloved Husayn! It is as if I see you smeared in blood at the place of grief and trials, and a group from among my people have beheaded you, and you are thirsty while they do not quench your thirst. In spite of this they desire my intercession (on the day of Qiyāmah). May Allāh keep them away from my intercession. O my beloved Husayn! Your Father, Mother and Brother have come to me and they are desirous of meeting you. And you have acquired such a lofty position in Paradise, that unless you attain Martyrdom you shall not get there.”
Imām looked at his Grandfather and said,
“O Grandfather! I do not desire to return back to this world. Please take me along with you and enter me into your grave.”
The Prophet replied,
“You should return back (towards the world) and attain Martyrdom, and thus gain whatever great rewards Allāh has reserved for you. For on the day of Qiyāmah, you, your Father, your Uncle and Yours Father’s Uncle shall arise as a distinguished group until you all enter Paradise.”
Imām Husayn (a.s.) arose from his sleep alarmed and narrated his dream to his family and the progeny of Abdul Muttalib. On that day no one in the world was more grievous and sorrowful than the family of the Holy Prophet (S).
Thus, Imām Husayn (a.s.) started making preparations for the journey. During midnight he went to the graves of his Mother Hazrat Fatima (a.s.) and his Brother Imām Hasan (a.s.) to bid them farewell. In the morning when he returned back to his home, his brother Muhammad ibn Hanafiyah came to him and said, “O dear brother! You are most dear and beloved to me than anyone else. And I will not refuse to advise anyone except you, being most worthy of it, for you are from me, and are my life, my spirit and my eyes and the elder of my family. Your obedience is obligatory upon me for Allāh has exalted you over me and has chosen you as the Master of the Youth of Paradise.” Then he recited the entire Tradition narrated by the Prophet (S) viz.
“Hasan and Husayn are the chiefs of the youth of Paradise.”
Then he said, “I desire that you go to Makkāh, if you find peace, stay there, and if the matter turns out to be different, then go to Yemen, for the people therein are among the helpers and followers of your Grandfather and Father. And they are the most kind hearted and merciful among men, while their towns and cities are vast. Then if you can halt there, do so, if not, then seek shelter in the deserts and mountain-caves and go from one town to the other until you witness the state of affairs of people, and may Allāh judge between us and the group these of evil-doers.”
Imām Husayn (a.s.) replied,
“O brother! Although there is no place left in this world for sheltering me, I shall never ever swear the oath of allegiance to Yazid.”
Hearing this Muhammad ibn Hanafiyah concluded his speech and started weeping and the Imām too wept. Then he said,
“O Brother! May Allāh reward you favorably, for you have advised me and have opined righteously. As regards yourself O dear brother! You may stay behind in Madinā and be alert and keep informing me about the affairs of the enemies.”
Then Imām Husayn (a.s.) asked for paper and pen and wrote the following recommendation for his brother Muhammad bin Hanafiyah:
“In the Name of Allāh, the Beneficent, the Merciful. This contains that which has been willed by Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Tālib to his brother Muhammad renowned as Ibn Hanafiyah. Verily Husayn bears witness that there is no Lord except Allāh Alone. And bears witness that Muhammad (S) is the Slave and the Messenger of Allāh, who has been righteously chosen by Him. And that Paradise and hell are truth, and without doubt the day of Qiyāmah will come. And Allāh will arise all those who are buried inside their graves. I have not risen to spread evil or to show off, nor for spreading immorality or oppression. But I have left for the betterment of the ummāh of my Grandfather and I desire to propagate the Religion and forbid against evil, thus following the footsteps of my Grandfather and Father Ali bin Abi Tālib (a.s.). Thus the one who accepts truth through me, will have received truth from Allāh, while the one who betrays me, I shall forebear until Allāh judges between myself and the oppressive creed and verily Allāh is the Best Judge. This is the testimony to you from me O brother. And my favors is with Allāh Alone on Whom alone I rely, and my return is towards Him.”
Then he folded the letter and affixed his seal on it and gave it to his brother Muhammad ibn Hanafiyah and bade him farewell and left in the darkness of the night.
Muhammad bin Abu Tālib says that Muhammad bin Yā’qoob has related in Wasael from Muhammad bin Yahyā, from Muhammad bin Husayn, from Ayyub bin Nuh, from Safwaan, from Marwān bin Ismā’il, from Hamzā bin Humrān who says that we questioned Imām Ja’far as Sādiq (a.s.) regarding the uprising of Imām Husayn (a.s.) and the lagging behind of Muhammad ibn Hanafiyah in Madinā. Imām replied,
“O Hamzā! I shall relate to you a report after which you will never put forward such questions to me in any gathering. When Imām Husayn (a.s.) intended to leave Madinā, he called for the paper and wrote therein: In the Name of Allāh the Beneficent, the Merciful. This is from Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Tālib to the Bani Hāshim. Now then! The one who accompanies me shall be martyred, while the one who separates from me will not attain success and peace. Salutations.”
-Conversation of Angels with Imām Husayn (a.s.)
Shaikh Mufeed has narrated through his chain of transmitters, that Imām Ja’far as Sādiq (a.s.) said, that when Imām Husayn (a.s.) left Madinā, a group of Angels, having distinct marks, met him on the way. They carried swords in their hands and had mounted the horses of Paradise. They came to Imām, saluted him and said, “O Allāh’s Proof (Hujjah) upon the creatures after your Grandfather, Father and Brother! Allāh the Glorious had rendered help to your Grandfather through our medium in many of his battles, and has now sent us to assist you.” Imām replied,
“The promised land is called Karbalā, thus you may come to me there.”
They said, “O Proof of Allāh! You may command whatever you desire and we will comply to it and obey you. If you fear the enemies we shall defend you against them.” Imām replied,
“They have no way upon me and they will not be able to hurt me until I reach my (destined) mausoleum.”
-The army of genie in defense of Imām Husayn (a.s.)
Numerous groups of Muslim genie came to Imām Husayn (a.s.) and said, “O our Master! We are your adherents and helpers thus we shall fulfill your command, whatever it be. If you desire we will halt here and slay all your enemies.” Imām replied,
“May Allāh reward you with goodness! Haven’t you read the Qur’ān which was revealed to my Grandfather, wherein is stated:
“Wherever you be, death will overtake you, even if you be in towers (strong and) lofty.” (Surah an-Nisaa’, 4:78)
and it is stated,
“Those for whom slaughter was ordained would certainly have gone forth to the places where they (now) lie (slain).” (Surah aal-‘Imraan, 3:154)
Then if I remain in this place, how would this unfortunate nation be tested and tried? And who will lay in my grave in Karbalā. (On the day) When Allāh the Glorious spread the earth, He chose that land for me. And has made it a place of refuge for my followers (Shi’āh) so that they might find peace there under in this world as well as the hereafter. Come to me on Saturday, for I shall be martyred in the end of the week on the tenth. No one from among my family, friends, brothers and relatives will remain alive after my death, my head will then be taken to Yazid.”
The genie said, “O friend of Allāh! And O the son of the friend of Allāh! If the obedience of your orders would not have been obligatory on us and killing would not have been unlawful, we would surely have killed all your enemies before they reach you.” Imām replied,
“By Allāh! We are competent enough to kill them than you. But the intention is that one should be killed with (presenting valid) proofs and reasons, and should be guided with proofs and reasons.”
In other words, the Imām did not wish that they be destroyed before submitting his proofs unto them. (Here ends that which has been quoted in the book of Muhammad bin Abi Tālib)
-Dialogue of Umme Salmā (a.s.) with Imām Husayn (a.s.) during his journey
Allāmah Majlisi says that I have read in some books, that when Imām Husayn (a.s.) decided to leave Madinā, Umme Salmā (a.s.) came to him and said, “O my dear son! Do not aggrieve me by going towards Irāq. For I have heard your Grandfather say that my son Husayn will be killed in Irāq at a place called Karbalā.” Imām replied,
“O dear Grandmother! I too am aware of it and I shall be forcefully killed while there is no escape from it. By Allāh! I know the day when I shall be killed and recognize my murderer besides being aware of the Mausoleum where I shall be buried. And I know all those people among my family, relatives and followers who shall die along with me. And I wish to show you the place where I shall be buried.”
Then he pointed towards Karbalā and the land there at arose and he showed her the places where he would be buried, where he would lay martyred, the site of his encampment, and the place where he would halt. When Umme Salmā saw this she wept bitterly and offered all decree to the Almighty. Then Imām said,
“O Grandmother! Allāh Almighty desires to see me killed and that my head be severed with cruelty and injustice. Besides (Allāh) desires that my family and womenfolk be expelled, and my children oppressed, bare headed, arrested and bound in chains. And they would plead and call out for help, but none would come to their aid.”
In another tradition it is stated that Umme Salmā told Imām Husayn (a.s.) that, “I have with me some sand which your Grandfather had given and which lies in a bottle.” Imām replied,
“By Allāh! I shall be killed even if I do not go to Irāq.”
Then he lifted a handful of earth (from the land of Karbalā which had risen) and giving it to Umme Salmā said, “Mix this with the sand in the bottle given to you by my Grandfather, when it turns into blood, know that I have been martyred.” (Here ends the quotation of Bihārul Anwār).
-Conversation of Jābir bin Abdullāh Ansāri with Imām Husayn (a.s.)
Sayyid Bahrāni in Madinatul Ma’ājiz quotes from Saqibul Manāqib, and others quote from Manaqibus Sua’da that Jābir bin Abdullāh Ansāri says, that when Imām Husayn (a.s.) intended going towards Irāq, I came to his presence and said, “You are the son of the Prophet of Allāh (S) and one of his two endeared grandchildren. I do not hold any other opinion except that you too enter into a peace treaty (with Yazid) as your brother had done with Mu’āwiyah, and verily he was trustworthy and rightly guided.” Imām Husayn replied,
“O Jābir! Whatever my brother did was ordained by Allāh and the Prophet, and whatever I shall do too shall be according to the command of Allāh and His Prophet. Do you wish that at this very moment I invite the Holy Prophet, Imām Ali, and my brother Hasan) to testify regarding my action”?
Then Imām looked towards the heavens, suddenly I saw that the doors of heavens opened ajar and Prophet Muhammad (S), Imām Ali (a.s.), Imām Hasan (a.s.), Hazrat Hamzā (a.s.), Hazrat Ja’far at Tayyār (a.s.) and (my uncle) Zaid descended from the heavens upon the earth. Seeing this I became frightful, when the Prophet said,
“O Jābir! Did not I inform you prior to Husayn during the time of Hasan, that you would not become a believer unless you surrendered to the Imams and not object to their actions? Do you desire to see the place where Mu’āwiyah will dwell and the place of my son Husayn and of his murderer Yazid”?
I replied in the affirmative. Then the Prophet (S) struck his foot onto the ground and it tore apart and another ground appeared beneath. Then I saw a river flowing, which also tore apart, underneath which was another ground. Thus seven layers of the ground and rivers ripped apart (one below the other) until there appeared hell. I saw that Waleed bin Mughirah, Abu Jahl, Mu’āwiyah and Yazid were bound together in a chain along with the other rebellious Satans. And their torment was more severe than that of the other people of hell. Then the Holy Prophet (S) commanded me to lift my head. I saw that the heavens had opened their doors and Paradise was apparent. Then all those blessed people who had descended from there returned back. When they were in the air the Prophet (S) called out to Imām Husayn (a.s.),
“Come and mingle with me my dear Husayn.”
I saw that Husayn (a.s.) ascended too and joined them onto the high status in Paradise. The Holy Prophet (S) then caught hold of the hand of Husayn (a.s.) and told me,
“O Jābir! This son of mine is here along with me, submit to him and do not fall in doubt so as to become a believer.”
Jābir says that, “May both my eyes turn blind if whatever I have seen and related from the Prophet is false.”
References
Nafasul Mahmum, Relating to the heart rending tragedy of Karbala’, Sheikh Abbas Qummi, ISLAMIC STUDY CIRCLE, Mumbai, India