Divine punishment on the murderers of Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him)

Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) was martyred at in the Battle of Karbala on the 10^th of Muharram in 61 Hijri on the command of Yazid.  Here the divine punishment that overtook the army of Yazid is being mentioned.

 

‘Allama Muhammad bin Yousuf Salihi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) relates in Subul Ul Huda War Rashad:

 

Translation: ‘Abbas bin Hisham bin Muhammad Kufi narrates on the authority of his father who narrates on the authority of his grandfather, he says:  There was a person in Karbala by name Zara’a.  This accursed man had shot an arrow at Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) when he had asked for water and wanted to drink it. His arrow had come between the Imam and the water.  The Imam supplicated:  Lord, make him thirsty.  The narrator says:  A person who was present at the time of his death told me that this person was feeling a lot of heat in his stomach and coldness in his back because of which he started screaming and shouting although ice was placed on his stomach and fans were used and at the back an urn was placed.  He would shout:  Give me water.  This thirst is killing me.  Honey mixed with barley, water and milk was brought to him in such quantity that it would suffice for 5.  He would gobble up everything and again cry out:  Satisfy me.  This thirst is killing me.  At last, his stomach split open like a camel’s.  (Subul Ul Huda War Rashad, Vol. 11, Pg. No. 79)

 

The person who shot an arrow at the Prince in whose excellence the Holy Quran was revealed and whose excellence has been mentioned in the Hadith, his end was so frightening that in spite of having all facilities, he could not have a shred of comfort.  He had a complaint of heat in his stomach and very severe cold in his back.  Because of disrespecting Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him), he spent his life in such agitation and when his death came, it came as a warning to all others.  Through this, Almighty Allah made it clear that those who oppress the Prophet’s Family, they will be punished in this world and in the hereafter.

 

Punishment to the one who hurt the Imam’s cheek

 

Imam Tabarani has related a Tradition in Mo’jam Kabeer:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of a person from the clan of Bani Kalb that a wretch had shot an arrow at Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) because of which the Imam’s blessed jaw was injured.  Hadhrat Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) supplicated:  May Allah not quench your thirst.  At that very moment, that wretch became thirsty.  He kept drinking water until his stomach burst and he died.  (Mo’jam Kabeer Tabarani, Hadith No. 2772)

 

This man’s arrow had injured Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him), when he was drinking water.  Because of this, his end was such that he would drink water, but his thirst wouldn’t be quenched.  At last, his body burst and he died.

 

Whatever he would drink he would vomit

 

A similar incident is written by Imam Ibn Atheer in Al Kamil Fit Tareekh:

 

Translation: ‘Abdullah bin Abil Haseen shouted:  O Hussain!  Do you not see water?  You will be martyred thirsty, but you will not get to taste a single drop of water.  Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  O Allah!  Kill him thirsty and don’t forgive him.

 

After this, that person fell ill.  He would drink a small quantity of water and vomit it out.  He would again drink water but his thirst wouldn’t be quenched.  He would drink and vomit it up.  This was his condition until he died.  (Al Kamil Fit Tareekh, Vol. 167)

 

He had taunted Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) with the words:  You will not get to taste a single drop of water.  His end was so shocking that he would take a sip of water and vomit it out, as if water itself wouldn’t want to stay in his stomach.

 

Punishment for snatching the blessed tunic of Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him)

 

‘Allama Ibn Atheer has written in Al Kamil Fit Tareekh:

 

Translation: ‘Umar bin Sa’ad announced among the people:  Who is the one who will face Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) and will pound his body with his horse?

 

Ten rogues stepped forward.  One among them was Ishaq bin Hayat Hadhrami.  This is the person who snatched the tunic off Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him).  Immediately after this, this person was afflicted with leprosy.  (Al Kamil Fit Tareekh, Zikru Maqtali Hussain)

 

This shows us that by disrespecting the Prophet’s Family, that person ended up with leprosy.  He had snatched away Imam Hussain’s (May Allah be well pleased with him) tunic, so Almighty Allah punished him by afflicting him with leprosy.

 

Death because of severe thirst

 

‘Allama Ibn Atheer (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has related yet another similar incident:

 

Translation: When Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) was moved by severe thirst, he moved closer to Euphrates.  A wretch by name Hisseen bin Nameer shot an arrow at him which struck the Imam in his blessed mouth.  Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) took that blood and tossed it at the sky, glorified Almighty Allah and said:  O Allah!  Whatever oppression is being done to the grandson of Your Prophet, I leave it to you.  Punish every single one of them and kill them helpless.  Don’t let a single one from among remain.

 

It is related that this person who had shot an arrow at Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) belonged to the clan of Bani Abaan bin Darim.  He had spent much time after this that he was assailed by thirst so much so that it couldn’t be quenched.  He was fanned and was given milk in big cups.  Even then, he would say:  Quench my thirst!  Then he was given water in huge vessels.  He would drink it, lie down for some time and again say:  Quench this thirst.  It is killing me.  He had not spent much time like this that his stomach burst open like a camel’s.  (Al Kamil Fit Tareekh, Zikr Maqtalal Hussain Raziallahu Anhu)

 

‘Allama Ismail bin Katheer (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has also mentioned this in Al Bidaya Wan Nihaya.

 

This shows that in the Battle of Karbala, Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) wasn’t helpless.  When the army of Yazid attacked the Prophet’s Family, disrespected them and tortured them, Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) prayed against them.  The effect of that prayer was that many of those soldiers got to see scenes from hell right in this world.  If Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) had so desired, the whole army would have been destroyed in Karbala itself.  However, the intent of Almighty Allah and the wish of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had been the aim of Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him).  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had already informed him of this trial.  As per this, Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) himself bore the temporary difficulties of this world and raised Islam’s flag for until the end of time.  By expressing his miracles now and then, Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) showed the world that he is the powerful grandson of the Powerful Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and that he is simply following the will of Allah.  He is not helpless but has all kinds of authority.

 

His horse goes out of control

 

Imam Tabarani (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has related another miracle of Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) in his Mo’jam Kabeer Tabarani:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Alqama bin Wail or Wail bin ‘Alqama (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says:  I was present in the Battle of Karbala.  A person stood up and said:  Is Hussain present among you?  People replied: Yes!  He said: Glad tidings of hell!  (May Allah protect us from this)  Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  Don’t say this.  Instead give glad tidings of meeting the Benevolent Lord and the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) who intercedes, whom the world obeys.  Tell me who are you?  He said:  I am Ibn Juwaiza or maybe he said:  I am Ibn Huwaiza.  Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  O Allah!  Drag him unto fire.

 

Immediately, his horse bolted.  He fell from the horse but his foot got stuck in the stirrup.  The narrator says:  By Allah!  Excepting that foot which had stuck in the stirrup no part of his body remained.  (Mo’jam Kabeer Tabarani, Hadith No. 2780)

 

He had talked about hell for Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) and he was destroyed that very moment and his very existence was wiped out.

 

Imam Abu Bakr Ibn Shaiba (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has also mentioned this is His Musannaf,Imam Nooruddin ‘Ali Haithami (May Allah shower His mercy on him) in Majma Uz Zawaaid and by ‘Allama Ibn Atheer (May Allah shower His mercy on him) in Al Kamil Fit Tareekh.

 

Debasement became their lot

 

Imam Tabarani (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has related a detailed Tradition about 2 soldiers of Yazid’s army.  In this, Hadhrat Sufyan (May Allah be well pleased with him) says about a person:

 

Translation: I saw the son of one of these persons.  He was mad.  (Mo’jam Kabeer Tabarani, Hadith No. 2788)

 

Imam Ibn Hajr ‘Asqalani (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has also related this in Tahzeeb Ut Tahzeeb and Imam Haithami (May Allah shower His mercy on him) also related this in Majma Uz Zawaaid.

 

May Allah save us!  What a frightening punishment!  Indeed those who disrespect the beloved of Allah, in this world itself, they are debased and humiliated and there is a great loss for them in the hereafter.

 

 

A villain loses his eyesight

 

Imam Tabarani (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has related a Tradition in Mo’jam Kabeer:

 

Translation: Abdul Malik narrated on the authority of the doorkeeper of ‘Abdullah bin Zyad that when Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) was martyred, I entered the palace behind Ibn Zyad and suddenly a fire sprang up in his face.  He used his sleeve to wipe out the fire and asked me:  Did you see something?  I said:  Yes.  He ordered me to hide this incident.  (Mo’jam Kabeer Tabarani, Hadith No. 2762)

 

The murderers of Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) were embroiled in various difficulties.  The punishment of the hereafter is certain, but even in this world, they were punished.  Every moment of their life was a punishment, as we can see from this incident of Ibn Zyad.