The Epic of Imam Husain (Part 53)

In this, the fifty-third episode of our daily series, we look at another interesting event which occurred in the court of the tyrant Yazid in Damascus, Syria, on the advent as captives of the noble ladies and children of the household of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).

The cruel and arrogant Yazid was seated on an elevated gold throne, while his courtiers and foreign envoys sat on gilded chairs around him. Hundreds of tribal elders, and important and famous people were present in his court. As part of his supposed “victory celebration” the accursed oppressor had the head of the Prophet’s grandson, Imam Husain (AS), on a tray at his feet. One of those present in this gathering, was a distinguished Jewish Rabbi. He asked Yazid: Whose head is this?

The self-styled Omayyad caliph replied: This is the head of Husain ibn Ali, who rose up against me, and he was killed.

The Rabbi said: Who was he? To which family did he belong?”

Yazid replied: He was the son of Fatema (SA), the daughter of Mohammad (SAWA).

The Jewish Rabbi was taken aback and shaken by this brazen answer, and found it absolutely unbelievable that a person who considered himself not only a Muslim but the ruler of Muslims by claiming to be the political heir of the Prophet of Islam, could cut off the head of the grandson of his own Prophet, and then quite happily “celebrate” this event. The cruelty and callousness was unimaginable.

The Rabbi, horrified and shaken by what he had just heard, said: Glory to God.  This is the son of the daughter of your own Prophet whom you have murdered. How dreadful and horrible is your treatment of the progeny of your own Prophet. I swear to God, if our Prophet, Moses (AS), had left behind a son after his passing away, we the Jews would have been very kind to him, and we may even have venerated him and his progeny. Your Prophet left this world relatively recently, and today you have attacked and murdered his grandson. What a nasty and wicked people you are!!”

The tyrant Yazid who did his best not to lose his temper, and to maintain his appearance, was nonetheless irritated by the Jewish Rabbi’s remarks. He tried to remain calm and said: If the Messenger of Allah had not said that ‘anyone who harasses or hurts a non-Muslim living under Islamic protection, has in effect harassed and hurt me’, I would have ordered your punishment!”

The Jewish Rabbi chuckled and said: If the Prophet of Islam reprimands those who hurt or harass a non-Muslim living under Islamic protection, will he not reprimand the murderer of his own grandson?!

The Jewish Rabbi then got up, and looked directly at the severed head of Imam Husain (AS). He addressed the blessed radiant head, saying: O Husain! Be a witness for me, and vouch for me in front of your grandfather on the Day of Resurrection, that I am now a Muslim!!

Yazid said: Well, since you are no longer a Jew, and you now claim to be a Muslim, I am allowed to punish you!!

The Rabbi got up, and said in a loud voice to all those present in the Great Hall of Yazid’s palace: Do, whatever you want to do. Punish me, if you want, or kill me. But let me tell you, I have read in the Torah that whoever kills the offspring of a Prophet of God, he shall burn in the fire of Hell, and he shall be damned forever, and when he dies, he will go straight to hell, by the order of the Lord!!

MD/AS/SS