The arrival of the captives from the family of Imam Al-Hussain to Kufa



The captives caravan headed towards the Emirate Palace, breaching the masses of the people in Kufa, crying for what happened to the House of Prophecy, for deceiving their promises to the grandson of the Prophet (Allah’s prayers be upon him and upon his holy Household) and the Imam of the Muslims; Al-Hussayn (peace be upon him). And here they are seeing his family and women captives, led by the Imam’s head on top of a long spear flying in the Kufa sky, after they have called him to be the leader of the Islamic nation and its guide towards wisdom.


The head of Al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) was entered to the palace, and put in front of Ibn Ziyad (Allah’s curse be upon him), who started beating the holy head with a stick he had in hand, with pride and joy, then the women, children and Ali Ibn Al-Hussayn (peace be upon them) were entered to his court.







I saw nothing but beauty. …It was Allah’s wish that they should be martyred, and they met their deaths valiantly. If this was your heart’s desire then you must indeed be content today. But you have killed those whom the Prophet (Allah’s prayers be upon him and upon his holy Household) held upon his knee when they were children and whose play filled him with joy. Soon you will stand with them before Allah and they will demand justice. Beware the day of reckoning. O son of Marjanah! May your mother be mournful for you.

It seemed to all, that Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) spoke so forcefully that her voice resembled the voice of her father, Imam Ali (peace be upon him). Taken aback, the arrogant and vindictive Ibn Ziyad turned to Imam Zayn Al-‘Abideen (who was still sick), and he asked: “Who are you?” Imam As-Sajjad (peace be upon him) answered, “Ali, son of Al‑Hussayn.” Ibn Ziyad retorted, “Was not Ali Ibn Al‑Hussayn slain by Allah?” 

Imam As-Sajjad (peace be upon him) answered, “I used to have an older brother also names Ali, and he was slain by people.” Ibn Ziyad retorted to intimidate him, “But Ali was killed by Allah.” As-Sajjad (peace be upon him) then quoted the Holy Quran {Allah takes the souls at the time of their death} (39:42). Ibn Ziyad did not appreciate him thus responding to his statement rather than remaining silent, so he ordered him to be killed, but his aunty, the venerable lady Zaynab, put her arms around him and said, “O Ibn Ziyad! Suffices you what you have shed of our blood… have you really spared anyone other than this? If you want to kill him, kill me with him as well.” Imam as-Sajjad (peace be upon him) said [to Ibn Ziyad], “Do you not know that we are used to being killed, and that martyrdom is one of Allah’s blessings upon us?”


The hatred, tyranny and barbarism of Ibn Ziyad did not stop at this, but he ordered the police to jail the captives and to carry al-Hussayn’s severed head around Kufa streets to frighten its people, defying any revolutionary spirit in them.


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