Imam Husain (A.S.) and the Man from Syria

Isam bin Mutlaqe Shaami says, that once when I went to Madinah, I saw Imam Husain ibn Ali (A.S.). I was very much influenced by His conduct and manners, and thus envy overtook me .I thought of revealing the enmity which I bore towards his father. I went unto Him and said, "Are you the son of Abu Turab? You should know then, that the inhabitants of Syria attributed this name to Ali (A.S.), and thereby ridiculed and insulted him. I again asked him, "Are you the son of Abu Turab"? Imam (A.S.) answered, "Yes, I am. Then I started abusing Imam (A.S.) and His Father.

He looked at me with kindness and said, "Take to forgiveness and enjoin good and turn aside from the ignorant. And if a false imputation from the Shaitaan afflict you, seek refuge in Allah. Surely He is hearing, knowing. Surely those who guard (against evil), when a visitation from the Shaitaan afflicts them they become mindful, and to they see. And their brethren increase them in error, then they cease not". (Surah-al-A'araf : 199-202). In this verse, the Holy prophet's (S.A.W.S.) good conduct is discussed. Allah ordered the prophet to bear patiently the bad behaviour of the people, and stopped Him from taking revenge by bad attitude in exchange of people, and behaviour and ordered Him to ignore foolish people, and to seek refuge of Allah from the temptation of Shaitaan.
Then Imam Husain (A.S.) said, "(O Isam) remain silent and thus lessen your burden (of sins) and seek forgiveness for your self and for me. If you seek my help, I shall give you a helping hand, if you are desirous of gifts, I shall present you. And if you desire consultation in any matter, I shall advise you". Imam Husain (A.S.) by his knowledge of the unseen (Ghaib) and wisdom (Hikmah) understood that I was regretting my mistake and was repenting upon it. He therefore said, "He said, (There shall be) no reproof against you this day, (Surah-a1-Yusuf : 92)

The above verse was said by prophet Yusuf (A.S.) to His brothers who repented. Imam Husain (A.S.) then asked me, "Are you a native of Syria"? I answered in the affirmative. Then He said, "Verily the people of Syria are accustomed to abuse and ridicule us, for Mu'awiyah has left this as his custom amongst them, may Allah keep them alive as well as us too. Whatever desire you may have ask from me frankly, that will surely be fulfilled, and you will find me the best in it."
After hearing these words from the mouth of Imam Husain (A.S.), I was very much ashamed for the abuses, which I incurred upon Him and His father. I was so much abashed that I wished the earth would swallow me. I tried to sneak away from His sight and hide myself amongst other people. However, from that day onwards no one was dearer to me than Imam Husain (A.S.) and His father (A.S.).

The verse (Ayah) which Imam Husain (A.S.) recited in the context of prophet Yusuf's (A.S.) tale is narrated that the brothers of Prophet Yusuf (A.S.) recognized him that the king who had mercy on them was no other than their brother, whom they had tried to kill. Yusuf invited them to come along with their father (Prophet Ya'qoob). They said, "whenever you invite us to your banquet every morning and evening, we feel ashamed about what we had done with you . To which Prophet Yusuf replied that you are responsible for my present honour and glory. Even now I have ascended the throne of Eygpt, people look at me with the same sight and say: Glory be to Him who bestowed such honour to a slave purchased in twenty dirhams. In reality it is because of you that I have gained this prestige and have become respected in the eyes of men, because they now know that I am your brother (and the son of prophet Ya'qoob), and not a slave (as they previously thought). In fact I am from the progeny of prophet Ibraheem (A.S.) "It is also narrated that when prophet Ya'qoob met prophet Yusuf, He asked Him as to what befell Him, to which Yusuf replied," O father do not ask me as to what (bad) my brothers did to me, but ask me what (favour) my Lord did to me".