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The attachment of Imam Husayn (as) with the Holy Quran was very strong. Infact, this is evident from his Ziyaaraat (salutations) that we recite on different occasions.

For instance, in the Ziyaarah of Laylatul-Qadr, we recite:

“I bear witness that you established prayers, and gave Zakat, enjoined the good and forbade evil. You recited the Book (Quran) the way it should be recited…”

Similarly in the Ziyaarah of Imam Husayn (as), which is recited on the day of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Ad-haa, we say: “I bear witness that you were the recitor of Quran…Peace be on you O companion of Quran”.

In his Ziyaarah of Imam Husayn (as), our 12th Imam, Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (AJ) has stated: “You were for the Prophet – a son and for the Quran – a support”. (Bihar al-Anwaar)

GIVING IMPORTANCE TO LEARNING QURAN

Abdul-Rahman Salmi taught one of the sons of Imam Husayn (as) to recite Suratul-Fatiha from the Holy Quran. When the child read the Surah in presence of his father, Imam (as) gave 1000 dinars to the tutor and added many other lavish gifts.

Somebody asked the Imam (as) as to why he (as) had given away so much and the Imam (as) replied, “Whatever I have given cannot be matched with what he (the tutor) has given to my son”. In another narration, it is mentioned that the Imam (as) said, “These gifts are valueless if it were matched with the learning of Quran”. (Tafseer al-Burhaan)

What the Imam (as) implied was that his gifts which he (as) gave to the tutor of his son were nothing in comparison with the gift the tutor had given to the child of teaching him the Holy Quran.

RESPONDING WITH QURANIC VERSES

Imam Husayn (as) used to respond to people with quotations from the Holy Quran.
‘Assam Ibn Mustalaq reports that:

[Once, as I was entering into Madina, my eyes fell upon Husayn bin Ali (as). Seeing him filled my heart with awe and respect for him. However, the hatred of his father, which was hidden in my heart, erupted.

I went to him and asked, “Are you the son of Abu Turab (Ali)?”

“Yes” he (as) replied.

Thereupon, I started abusing him and his father in the most degrading manner. Meanwhile Imam Husayn (as) patiently listened to me and there was no sign of anger or annoyance apparent in him. Eventually, he (as) recited the following verse from the Holy Quran:

“I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. Adopt (the policy of) excusing (the faults of) people, bid what is right, and turn away from the ignorant. Should a temptation from Satan disturb you, invoke the protection of Allah; indeed He is All-hearing, All-knowing. When those who are Godwary are touched by an insinuation of Satan, they remember (Allah) and, behold, they perceive. But their brethren, they draw them into error, and then they do not spare (any harm)”. (7:199-202)

Then the Imam (as) said, “You have been misled and I pray for your forgiveness. If you desire any help then we shall help you; If you desire any support then we shall support you; and if you need any guidance then we shall guide you”.

When I heard these words, I felt ashamed and remorseful about my action. Seeing this, the Imam (as) recited, “He said: There shall be no reproach on you today. Allah will forgive you and He is the most Merciful of the merciful”. (12:92)

Then he (as) asked, “Are you from the people of Shaam (Damascus)?”

I replied, “Yes”. Imam (as) said, “I do not give importance to what you have said to me. May Allah (SWT) protect you and us. Now tell me what can we do for you? Godwilling, whatever we give, you will find it more than you hoped for and your misunderstanding about us shall disappear”.

I did not find any place to hide myself due to the embarrassment and wished the earth would tear apart and swallow me in it. Today, there is no one on the face of this earth whom I hold dearer than Imam Husayn (as) and his beloved father.] (Safeenah al-Bihar)
Abbas bin Ali (as) was the brother of Imam Husayn (as). It is related that when they were in Karbala, Abbas (as) came to Imam (as) and said, “The army of Yazeed has arrived and they claim that they have received the command of their Ameer that we should choose one of the two options: either we swear oath of allegiance to Yazeed or prepare for the battle”.

Imam Husayn (as) told his brother thus: “Go and tell them to delay the battle until tomorrow. I want an opportunity of one night wherein we can pray, supplicate and ask for forgiveness from our Lord. These people are aware that I love praying, reciting the Book of Allah and supplicate extensively”. (Quran-o-‘Itrat)

HIS ADMONITIONS FROM QURAN

The following is the sermon of Imam Husayn (as) to the people about Amr bil-Ma’roof & Nahyi ‘anil-Munkar (Enjoining good & Forbidding evil):

“O People! Take lessons from the matters that Allah (SWT) has cited for His friends when He (SWT) dispraised the Rabbis (scholars of Jews) in His saying: ‘Why do not the rabbis and the scribes forbid them from sinful speech and consuming illicit gains? Surely, evil is what they have been working’. (5:63) And He (SWT) said, ‘The faithless among the children of Israel were cursed on the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary. That, because they would disobey and used to commit transgression. They would not forbid one another from the wrongs that they committed. Surely evil is what they had been doing’. (5:78-79) Allah dishonoured them because they did not forbid the wrong-doers from doing evil and committing sins while they were among them, for they had desired for gaining more gifts from the wrong-doers and they had feared them. Allah (SWT) says: ‘So do not fear the people, but fear Me’. (5:44) ‘But the faithful, men and women, are comrades of one another: They bid what is right and forbid what is wrong’. (9:71) Allah (SWT) has begun with enjoining good and forbidding evil because He (SWT) knows that if these two matters are carried out thoroughly, all the other obligatory duties, the easy and the difficult ones, will be carried out thoroughly. This is because enjoining good and forbidding evil is advocacy to Islam, reins to control injustice, opposition of the wrong-doings, (just) allotment of the booty and the spoils, and taking the alms to put them in the rightful places…” (Tuhaf al-‘Uqool)

Dhahhak bin Abdullah has reported that when the army of Umar ibn Sa’d was passing by Imam Husayn (as) in Karbala, the Imam (as) kept repeating the following verse: “Let the faithless not suppose that the respite that We grant them is good for their souls: We give them respite only that they may increase in sin, and there is a humiliating punishment for them. Allah will not leave the faithful in your present state, until He has separated the bad ones from the good”. (3:178-179)
Abdullah bin Sameer, a soldier in the army of Umar ibn Sa’d heard this so he said, “By the Lord of Ka’bah! We are the good and pure ones separated from you”. Burayr bin Khadheer heard this and said, “O transgressor! Do you think that Allah (SWT) can include the likes of you among the good and pure ones?” Abdullah asked, “Who are you?” and he responded, “I am Burayr bin Khadheer”. (Kitaab al-Irshaad)

HOLY QURAN – A PRIDE OF AHLUL-BAYT (AS)

It is reported from Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (as):

“On the eve of ‘Aashura (10th night of Muharram 61 AH) I heard my beloved father (Imam Husayn) saying to his companions:

‘I praise Allah (SWT) in the best possible manner. In difficulties and during ease, I extend my gratitude to Him. O my Lord! My (sincere) thanks to You for honouring us -the Ahlul-Bayt through Prophethood (of Muhammad) & for bestowing the knowledge of Quran (to us)’”. (Quran-o-‘Itrat)

RECITING QURAN IN KARBALA

Muslim ibn Awsaja was a companion of Imam al-Husayn (as) who laid down his life in the cause of Islam in Karbala. It is reported that after having fought bravely on the battlefront, when Muslim finally fell down from his horse wounded, and before succumbing to death, Imam al-Husayn (as) came by his side in the company of Habeeb ibn Mudhahir and said:

“O Muslim! May the Mercy of Allah be upon you”.

Thereafter, the Imam (as) recited the following verse of the Holy Quran:

“Of them are some who have fulfilled their pledge, and of them are some who still wait, and they have not changed in the least…” (33:23) (Al-Luhoof)

Ali ibn al-Husayn (as) was the young son of Imam al-Husayn (as) who was martyred on ‘Aashura day. He is commonly referred to as Ali Akbar in the history of Karbala. It is reported that when Ali Akbar departed for the battlefront, Imam al-Husayn (as) recited the following verse:

“Indeed Allah chose Adam and Noah, and the progeny of Abraham and the progeny of Imraan above all the nations; some of them are descendants of the others, and Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing”. (3:33-34) (Maqtal al-Husayn)

THE FOUR PEOPLE

The four people who talked after death are:

1. Yahya Ibn Zakariyyah.

2. Habeeb al-Najjar who said, “…Alas! Had my people known for what my Lord forgave me and made me one of the honourable ones”. (36: 26-27)

3. Ja’ffar bin Abi Talib (as) also known as Ja’ffar al-Tayyar who said, “Do not suppose those who were slain in the way of Allah to be dead…” (3:169)

4. Imam al-Husayn (as) who said, “And the wrongdoers will soon know at what goal they will end up”. (26:227) (Quran-o-‘Itrat)

THE HEAD OF IMAM (AS) RECITES HOLY QURAN

The head of Imam al-Husayn (as) was severed, place over a spear and then paraded from place to place. This is how the family members of Abu Sufyan and the Umayyads treated the grandson of the Holy Prophet (saww).

Historians have written amazing and miraculous incidents about the head of Imam al-Husayn (as) reciting the Holy Quran from the spear, as witnessed by the people.

Zayd bin Arqam has reported,

“I was in the room of my house when the head of Imam al-Husayn arrived (in our town) and was passing by my house. As I came out, I saw the head reciting: ‘Do you suppose that the Companions of the Cave and the Inscription were among Our wonderful signs?’” (18:9)

Zayd says that addressing the holy head, he said,

“O Son of the Prophet! Your recitation (of Quran) in this state is the greatest wonder!”. (Al-Irshaad)
As reported by Ibn Shahr Aashoob in his ‘Manaqib Aali Abi Talib, the other verses from the Holy Quran, which the Imam (as) was heard reciting after his martyrdom and whilst his holy head was being carried on a spear and paraded were:

“They were indeed youths who had faith in their Lord”. (18:13)

“And the wrongdoers will soon know at what goal they will end up”. (26:227)

“Allah shall suffice you against them, and He is the All-hearing, All-knowing”.(2:137)