The events of only a few days earlier are still fresh in his mind. Before his eyes are the bodies of his father, brothers, family members, and companions. He has travelled for miles in captivity alongside the women and children of the Prophet’s household, and has now arrived in a land that is a center of hostility toward Muhammad ﷺ and his Ahl al-Bayt.
Exhaustion, grief, hunger, thirst, suffering, and hardship have reached their utmost intensity. As if all of this were not enough, they are also made to wait before being allowed to enter the palace.
Meanwhile, an elderly man from Syria arrives. He begins insulting the Imam and says, “Praise be to God that you people were killed at the hands of the Islamic army. God has brought an end to the troublemakers.” He continues with similar remarks, muttering for a long time and uttering whatever insults he can against the Imam and his forefathers.
Who could endure all of this without becoming angry? Who could possess such restraint as to remain silent while hearing insults directed at his martyred father and grandfather? Yet Imam Zayn al-Abidinؑ listens to everything with his head bowed.
Qat-e poshaak-e tahammul qad-e Sajjadؑ pe hai
Khatma sabr ka Shabbirؑ ki aulaad pe hai
Translation: The garment of patience has been torn upon the stature of Sajjadؑ;
The end of patience has come upon the descendants of Shabbirؑ.
(Mirza Salamat Ali Dabeer)
When the old man finally exhausts himself and falls silent, the Imam approaches him like a compassionate teacher and speaks to him with great respect:
“Have you read the Qur’an?”
The old man is surprised and replies, “Of course. I have read the Qur’an many times.”
The Imam then recites the verse of Mawaddah:
“Say: I ask of you no reward for it except love for my near relatives.”
(Surah al-Shura, 42:23)
He then asks, “Do you remember this verse?”
The man replies, “Yes, I remember it very well.”
The Imam says:
“By God, the relatives of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ whom God has commanded people to love in this verse are us.”
A disturbance begins to stir within the old man’s soul. He stands bewildered as the Imam recites another verse concerning the rights of the relatives of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
“And give the near relative his due.”
(Surah al-Isra, 17:26)
The Imam asks, “Have you read this verse?”
The Syrian has no choice but to nod affirmatively.
The Imam says:
“We are also among those to whom this verse refers.”
A profound upheaval takes place within the conscience of the Syrian man. He stares at the Imam in utter astonishment.
The Imam continues. He now recites the Verse of Purification:
“Indeed, Allah desires to remove all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and to purify you completely.”
(Surah al-Ahzab, 33:33)
He then asks again:
“O elderly man, have you ever come across this verse?”
The old Syrian immediately replies:
“Yes! I have read this verse many times.”
The Imam calmly says:
“The members of the Household of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ whose purity and sanctity Allah has testified to in this verse are we.”
Hearing all this, the old man sits down on the ground and begins to weep bitterly. He asks the Imam for forgiveness, then raises his hands toward God and says three times:
“O my Lord! Accept my repentance. I am ashamed of what I have done. I kept reading Your Book, yet I was so deeply immersed in prejudice that I never truly reflected upon Your verses! O God, I disavow and condemn the enemies and killers of Your chosen servants.”
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Lesson:
Even in the most unfavorable and difficult circumstances, patience, composure, forbearance, good character, and wisdom in dealing with people can help overcome great difficulties and transform a situation in one’s favor.
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Source: Tārīkh-e Āshūrā — Dr. Ibrahim Ayati
