The Martyrdom of Ĥusain ibn ‘Ali (a.s.) Revealed Through Jabra`ǐl

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: After Jabra`īl came down to the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) with the (news of the) killing of Ḥusain (a.s.), the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) held the hand of ‘Ali (a.s.) and spoke to him privately for most of that day until they were both overcome with tears. While they were still together, Jabra`īl – or a messenger (an angel) from the Lord of the Worlds – came down to them and said, “Your Lord conveys His Salām to both of you and says, ‘It is My Will that you should remain patient.” Imam (a.s.) continued, “Therefore, they (the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) and the Commander of the Believers (a.s.)) remained patient.” The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chains: A) Muḥammad ibn Ḥasan ibn Walīd, from Muḥammad ibn Ḥasan Al-Saffār, from Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn ‘Isā, from Muḥammad ibn Sinān, from Sa’īd ibn Yasār, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.). B) My father, from Sa’d ibn ‘Abdillāh, from Ya’qūb ibn Yazīd, from Muḥammad ibn Sinān, from Sa’īd ibn Yasār, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.).

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: When Fāťimah (s.a.) became pregnant with Ḥusain (a.s.), Jabra`īl came to the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) and said, “Verily Fāťimah will give birth to a son who will be killed by your nation after you.” Therefore, Fāťimah (s.a.) was averse to her pregnancy while she was carrying Ḥusain (a.s.), and she was averse to giving birth to him when she did. Then Imam (a.s.) continued: Have you ever seen a mother in this world being averse to giving birth to a son?! Her aversion came from knowing that he would be killed. This verse was revealed about him (Ḥusain (a.s.)), “We have enjoined on man to do good to his parents; his mother bears him with aversion, and with aversion she gives birth to him; and bearing him and weaning him takes thirty months” (46:15).

I heard Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) say: Jabra`īl came to the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) and said, “Salām to you, O Muḥammad! Should I give you glad tidings of a son who will be killed by your nation after you?” The Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) replied, “I do not need such a son.” Jabra`īl ascended to the heavens and then came back to him again, repeating what he had said. The Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) replied, “I do not need such a son.” Jabra`īl ascended to the heavens (yet) again and then came back to him for the third time, repeating what he had said. The Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) replied, “I do not need such a son.” Jabra`īl said, “Verily your Lord has placed the succession in his progeny.” The Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) said, “Yes, (I accept).” Then the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) went to Fāťimah (s.a.) and said, “Jabra`īl came to me and gave me glad tidings of a son who will be killed by my nation after me.” Fāťimah (s.a.) replied, “I do not need such a son.” The Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) said to her, “Verily my Lord has placed the succession in his progeny.” Fāťimah (s.a.) replied, “In this case, yes (I will accept).” Therefore, Allāh revealed this verse, “His mother bears him with aversion, and with aversion she gives birth to him” (46:15) because Jabra`īl informed her that he would be killed. So “his mother bears him with aversion” because he would be killed. “And with aversion she gives birth to him” because (she knew) he would be killed.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: Jabra`īl came to the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) and said, “O Muḥammad! Verily Allāh conveys His Salām to you and gives you glad tidings of a newborn son from Fāťimah who will be killed by your nation after you.” The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied, “O Jabra`īl! Salām be upon my Lord! I do not need a newborn son from Fāťimah who will be killed by my nation after me.” Jabra`īl ascended to the heavens and then came back to him again, repeating what he had said. The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied, “O Jabra`īl! Salām be upon my Lord! I do not need a newborn son who will be killed by my nation after me.” Jabra`īl ascended to the heavens (yet) again and then came back to him for the third time and said, “O Muḥammad! Verily your Lord conveys His Salām to you and gives you glad tidings that He has placed the Imamate, the Wilāyah, and the succession in his progeny.” The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) said, “I have accepted.” Then the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) sent (this message) to Fāťimah (s.a.), “Verily Allāh has given me glad tidings of a newborn son to whom you will give birth and who will be killed by my nation after me.” Fatima (a.s) replied, “I do not need a newborn son to whom I will give birth and who will be killed by your nation after you.” The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) sent (this message) to her, “Verily Allāh has placed the Imamate, the Wilāyah, and the succession in his progeny.” Fāťimah (s.a.) replied, “I have accepted.” Then Imam Sadiq (a.s.) recited the following verse: His mother bears him with aversion, and with aversion she gives birth to him; and bearing him and weaning him takes thirty months. When he attains maturity, and reaches the age of forty, he says, ‘My Lord, arouse me that I may thank you for the bounties You have bestowed on me and my parents, and that I may do good which pleases You, and make (some of) my offspring righteous (as favour) for me’ (46:15). If he (Hussain (a.s.)) would have said, “make [all of] my offspring righteous” then all of his offspring would have become Imams. Then Imam (a.s.) continued: Ḥusain (a.s.) was not breastfed by Fāťimah (s.a.) or any other woman. He used to be taken to the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) and the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) would place his thumb in the mouth of Ḥusain (a.s.); he would suck on the thumb of the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) (long enough) to suffice him for two or three days. Therefore, the flesh of Ḥusain (a.s.) grew (and developed) from the flesh of the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) and the blood of Ḥusain (a.s.) was made from the blood of the Prophet (s.a.a.w.). No one has been born after a gestation period of only six months except for ‘Isā, son of Maryam (a.s.), and Ḥusain, son of ‘Ali (a.s.). The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me trough the following chain: My father, from Sa’d ibn ‘Abdillāh, from ‘Ali ibn Ismā’īl ibn ‘Isā, from Muḥammad ibn ‘Amr ibn Sa’īd Al-Zayyāt, from one of our companions, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.).

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: (Once) Fāťimah (s.a.) came to the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) and saw that his eyes were filled with tears. She asked him, “What is upsetting you?” He replied, “Jabra`īl informed me that my nation will kill Ḥusain.” (When Fāťimah (s.a.) heard this), she became extremely grieved and restless. So the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) informed her of (the Imams from) her children who would reign. This (news) pleased her and relieved her.

The Commander of the Believers (a.s.) said: The Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) came to visit us (one day). Um Ayman had given us some milk, butter, and dates, so we offered it to the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.). After he ate, he went to a corner of the house and started praying. However, at the end of his last Sujūd, he began to cry profusely. Because of our respect and reverence for him, we did not ask him why he was crying. However Ḥusain (a.s.) went and sat on his lap and said, “O Father! When you entered our house (today), we felt a happiness that we had never felt before. But then you started to cry and your crying has grieved us. What made you cry?” The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied, “O my son! Jabra`īl came to me just now and informed me that you will all be killed and the places of your martyrdom will be far from one another.” Ḥusain (a.s.) asked, “O Father! What is the reward for those who come to the Ziyārah of our graves although they are far from one another?” The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied: O my son! Verily there will be some groups from my nation who will come to your Ziyārah seeking blessings. By doing so, they will deserve to be visited by me on the Day of Judgment. I will save them from the terrors of the Hour (Day of Judgment) and from their sins. Verily Allāh will make them dwell in Paradise.

(The Commander of the Believers), ‘Ali ibn Abī Ťālib (a.s.) said: The Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) came to visit us one day. We offered some food to him. We also offered him a platter filled with dates and a goblet filled with milk and butter, which Um Ayman had sent to us. After he finished eating, I stood up and poured water over his hands. He washed his hands and then wiped his face and beard with the remainder of the water on his hands. Then he went to the (designated) place of prayer in the corner of the house and started praying. He fell into Sujūd and started to cry. After crying for a long time, he raised his head. None of us, the Ahlul Bayt, dared to ask him anything. However, Ḥusain (a.s.) moved (toward the Prophet (s.a.a.w.)) and climbed on the lap of the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.). He placed the head of the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) over his chest with his chin on the head of the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.). Then he said, “O Father! What makes you cry?” The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied: O my son! When I saw you (the Ahlul Bayt) today I felt a happiness that I had never felt before, but then Jabra`īl came down to me and informed me that you will all be killed and that your graves will be far from each other. So I praised Allāh and asked Him to bless you (the Ahlul Bayt) with the best of all things. Ḥusain (a.s.) asked, “O father! Then who will come to the Ziyārah of our graves and stay committed to them even though they will be far from each other?” The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) replied, “Those from my nation who seek to please me and connect with me by coming to your graves. On the Day of Judgment, I will find them and take them by their arms and save them from the difficulties and terrors of that day.”