Hazrat Ali Akbar A.S
The accomplished boondocks of Medina was bustling with activity. Humans from all locations of the boondocks were searching into the artery of the Hashimites area a band was accepting accessible for a journey. The elders of the boondocks were talking to anniversary I added in hushed tones, abandoning the words of the Prophet, that a day will aurora if his admired grandson Husain (as) would leave Medina with his sons, brothers, nephews and affinity never to return. There was affliction on the faces of all, adolescent and old. The age-old humans were afraid at the anticipation of Husain traveling abroad for ever. They were acclimatized to axis to him in all their needs. The youths of Medina were afflicted by the anticipation of Abbas and Ali Akbar and Qasim traveling abroad for good. Their afraid inquiries could abandoned arm-twist this abundant information, that Husain with his affinity and children, was traveling for Hajj and from there to an alien destination.
Thoughts of departing were disturbing not abandoned the macho citizenry of Medina but aswell the womenfolk of the town. They too were acclimatized to the munificence of the ladies of the Prophet's house. Who was there amidst them who had not accustomed advice and admonition from the daughters of Fatima? Who would be larboard now to whom they could about-face in their hour of need, if Zainab and Kulsum, Umme Rubab and Umme Laila had larboard Medina? Had not times out of amount their accouchement accustomed ability and favours from Sakina and Rukayya?
As was their wont, the humans of Medina, men and women, adolescent and old, had gone to the tomb of the Prophet to adjure and seek alleviation to adjure to God with the invocations of His Prophet that they ability be absolved the affliction of break from Husain and his family. There at the tomb of the Prophet they witnessed a afflicted scene. They saw Husain and Zain abject with affliction and sorrow, behest adieu to the Prophet. They saw both of them visiting the grave of Fatima and black over the separation, as if they were departing for ever.
It was rumoured that Husain was abrogation Medina to align the alliance of his son Ali Akbar with some Princess, some adult of a blue-blooded stocks I it in some abroad land. Could this rumour be correct? They all knew that there was not a adolescent lad of alliance able age in Arabia who could be said to be fit to authority a candle afore him. His handsome looks were akin by his handsome deeds. His dignity of character, his faculty of duty, his generosity, his chivalry, his geniality, his adulation of amends and fairplay had admired him to every soul. It was a acclaimed actuality amidst the Arabs throughout Hejaz that Ali Akbar was abode a arresting affinity to the Angelic Prophet. In looks, in voice, in mannerism, in amble and in every way, he resembled the Prophet. The affinity was so apparent that humans from far and advanced were advancing to see him, to be reminded of the Prophet whom they were missing so much. Those who had not had the acceptable affluence to see the Prophet were told by their elders that Ali Akbar was the actual angel of Muhammad, may Peace of Allah be on Him. There could, therefore, be no allowance for agnosticism that the noblest families of Arabia would accept it a arresting honour if this begat of the Prophet's ancestors were to ask for their babe in marriage. But then, if Husain and his ancestors were abrogation Medina for Ali Akbar's marriage, they would not be backstairs about it. The Prophet's grandson would in that case accept accustomed out the acceptable advice to the public. There was not a active accepting in that boondocks whose amore would not accept been abounding with joy to apprehend about the affiancing of Ali Akbar. And if alliance of Ali Akbar was the purpose, absolutely Husain would not accept this division if alfresco the haven of Medina, the baking calefaction of summer was baking the arid sands!
After continued discussions, by a accord of opinion, it was absitively to access Husain in a appointment and to dissuade him from adventure the journey. Some of the admirable assembly of the Prophet undertook to accustom Husain of their forebodings and their bond of his grandfather's apocalypse that, if Husain migrated from Medina with his family, he would not return.
The band was about accessible to depart. The horses were neighing with agitation and champing their $.25 in the backbreaking calefaction of the day. Husain was continuing abreast his horse attentively watching the arrange accepting fabricated by Abbas and Ali Akbar. He was reflectively afterward their movements as they were allowance anniversary adult and anniversary adolescent to arise the camels, as they were lending a allowance duke to the ladies with breakable affliction and affection; as the ladies were affably and abundantly thanking them for the accomplished arrange they had fabricated for their abundance and for attention them from the abundant calefaction by captivation their own gowns over their active as a canopy. This afterimage had some baffling aftereffect on Husain, for his eyes were bright with tears. The all-overs displayed by his brother and son for the ladies and accouchement should accept abounding him with happiness; but instead, the aftereffect on him was just the opposite. Was he attending the caliginosity of some advancing events?
At this moment came the assembly of the humans of Medina. With one articulation they entreated Husain to carelessness the abstraction of adventure this journey. Their leader, with abode in his age-old voice, besought Husain to acquaint them why he had absitively to leave them and the Prophet's tomb for which he had so abundant attachment.
O Son of the Prophet, if we accept affronted you in anyway, amuse absolve us.
At this affectation of adulation and amore Husain was confused to tears. Suppressing his sobs he replied:
My baby brethren, accept me that my amore is bleeding
at this parting, departing from you and from the graves of
my admired grandfather, my angel mother and my brother,
whom I captivated dearer than my life. Had it not been for the
alarm of duty, I assure you I would accept abandoned the abstraction
of abrogation Medina. It grieves me a lot of that I cannot for
already admission you your wishes if you all adulation me so dearly.
But Almighty Allah has so absolute it and in His all-powerful
allotment advancing that I should undertake this journey.
I apperceive what hardships anticipate me; but the Prophet has clean-cut
me from my adolescence to face them.
Seeing that the duke of afterlife was abduction abroad Husain from them, they conferred amidst themselves and appropriate that, if his accommodation to go from Medina was final, he should yield with him all the able bodies of the boondocks so that they could assure him and his people. They reminded him of the betrayal that was all-knowing the atmosphere in the abutting regions. Husain, acutely confused by their aboveboard application for his safety, thanked them profusely. But he told them that, in accordance with the wishes of the Prophet, he had to accomplish the mission of his blare abandoned with those who were destined to be associated with him in the assignment adjoin him.
When they accustomed this acknowledgment to their entreaties, from Husain, the adumbrative of the Medinites requested Husain to admission them one ambition to leave Ali Akbar abaft him in Medina.
O Husain," they said, "we cannot buck the anticipation of
departing with your son Ali Akbar, He is the actual angel
of the Prophet. Whenever we feel affected by the afterthought
of Muhammad, we go to Ali Akbar to accept a attending at him
and yield comfort. We shall attending afterwards him bigger than
we attending afterwards our own sons. We affiance that we shall amusement
his every ambition as a command. In fair acclimate and abhorrent we
shall angle by him. Even if we die, we shall command our
accouchement as our dying ambition to appear to all his comforts and
needs. His admirable activity has been an article assignment for our
sons who are adherent to him as if he were their brother.
These pleading, which had a ring of artlessness and earnestness, rendered Husain absolutely aghast for a time. How could he acquaint them what was in abundance for Ali Akbar who they admired and adored so much? If his sad reflections had subsided, he replied to them in a accent adventurous with pathos,
Alas, I abandoned ambition I could allocate my Ali Akbar to your
care! In my mission he has to play a role, the accent
of which time abandoned will tell. I cannot accept to your
appeal for affidavit which I cannot acknowledge to you; but blow
assured that I shall consistently bethink your amore to me.
I shall backpack with me active memories of this departing and
bethink you in my prayers.
When the blast were aglow with the endure application of day, the band larboard on its long-drawn adventure to the alien destination. Soon black descended aloft Medina as if allegorical of the black and affliction which the abandonment of Husain had casting on the town, associated with a countless memories of his childhood.
Meandering through the desert, the band had accomplished its destination, a destination which Allah had absolute for it. The advance of Husain and his affinity in this apple had ended; but it was just the alpha of their advance adjoin their absolute goal. With the aurora of the 10th day of the ages of Muharram the events, for which the Prophet and Ali and Fatima had able Husain, started advance themselves. What a day it was and what acute contest it encompassed!
One by one the affectionate followers went out to action for the could could could could cause of Islam which armament of angry were attempting to stifle, and in the action faced death. In their august deaths they approved what adventuresomeness and unflin- ching faith, what adventuresomeness of confidence can accomplish and attain adjoin all odds. With his adherent supporters now sleeping the candied coma of afterlife from which annihilation could activate them, the about-face of Husain's sons and brothers and nephews came. In animosity of Husain's best efforts to advanced his son Ali Akbar to the battlefield afore all his adherent accompany and affectionate followers, they would not even let him acknowledgment it. The anticipation of Ali Akbar, Husain's admired son, laying down his capricious in battle, if they were still alive, was too abundant for them. It would be cursing for them even to absorb such an idea!
Ali Akbar went over to his ancestor to ask his permission to go out into that bleeding amphitheatre from which no accepting from his affected had returned. Husain looked at his face; it would be added actual to say that for a brace of annual his beam was anchored on that face which he admired so much; which reminded him every time of his grandfathering whom he resembled every inch. He approved to say something but his articulation bootless him. With ample accomplishment he aside with downcast eyes:
Akbar, I ambition you had become a father; afresh you would accept
accepted what I am experiencing at this moment. My son, how can
a ancestor ask his son to go, if he knows that the departing
would be for ever! But Akbar, the alarm of assignment makes me
abandoned in this matter. Go to your mother, and to your aunt
Zainab who has brought you up from adolescence and admired you and
cared for you added than for her own sons, and seek their
permission.
Ali Akbar entered the accoutrement of his aunt Zainab. He begin her and his mother Umme Laila gazing vacantly appear the battlefield and alert attentively to the battle-cries of the adversary hordes. Their aptitude fabricated them acquainted that, now that all the adherent followers of Husain had laid down their baby lives arresting him and them, the about-face of his sons, and brothers and nephews had come. It was now abandoned a catechism of time. It was abandoned a catechism who would go aboriginal from amidst them.
The ablaze footsteps of Ali Akbar animate both of them from their reverie. Both of them anchored their boring on him afterwards uttering a word. Zainab bankrupt the blackout with an exclamation:
Oh God, can it be accurate that Akbar has appear to bid me and
his mother the endure adieu Akbar do not say that you are
accessible for the endure journey. So continued as my sons Aun and Muhammad
are there, it is absurd for me to let you go.
Akbar knew what adulation and amore his aunt Zainab had for him. He was acquainted of the affliction of affliction she was experiencing at that moment. Her amore for him transcended aggregate except her adulation for Husain. He looked at her face, and at his mother's who was rendered aghast by her surging animosity of anguish. He knew not how to acquaint them that he had able himself for the adventure to Heaven that lay ahead. He summoned to his aid his a lot of adulation amenities that had consistently fabricated his mother and Zainab accept to his requests and said:
My aunt, for all my father's affinity the assured hour
has come. I appeal you, by the adulation you buck for your brother,
to let me go so that it may not be said that he absolved me
till all his brothers and nephews were killed. Abbas, my uncle,
is Commander of our army. The others are all adolescent than me.
If afterlife is a certainty, let me die aboriginal so that I can allay
my appetite at the adorable bounce of Kausar at the easily of my
grandfather.
The absorption of Akbar's accent assertive Zainab and his mother that he was angled to go. It seemed to be his endure ambition to lay down his activity afore all his kinsmen. Aback on no added break they had denied him his wishes, it seemed so difficult to say no to his endure desire. With a blow Zainab could abandoned say,
Akbar, my child, if the alarm of afterlife has appear to you, go.
His mother could abandoned say:
May God be with you, my son. With you I am accident all I had
and cared for in this world. Your ancestor has told me what
afterlife has in abundance for me. Afterwards you, for me amusement and
affliction will accept no difference.
With these words she fell benumbed in Ali Akbar's arms.
The battle-cry from the enemy's ranks was acceptable louder and louder. Ali Akbar knew that he had to go out bound lest the enemy, seeing that their challenges for action were actual unanswered, got emboldened to accomplish a concerted advance on his father's camp. Even such a anticipation was abundant for him. So continued as he was alive, how could he admittance the aggression of Yazid's armament on his affected area abandoned women and caught accouchement were lying awash together? He acclaim put his mother in his aunt Zainab's accoutrements saying:
Zainab, my aunt, I am abrogation my mother to your care. I
know, from your childhood, your mother Bibi Fatima has
able you for the soul-stirring contest of today and
what is to appear hereafter. My mother will not be able to
buck the assault and calamities that are to action her,
unless you accommodate her your courage. I appeal you by the
absolute adulation you buck for me to appearance the backbone that
you are able of, so that your backbone may sustain my
mother if she sees my asleep physique brought into the camp's
morgue. I allocate her to your affliction because there will be
none to alleviation her and attending afterwards her in the years of agitation
and dejection that lie advanced of her.
Ali Akbar accepted his admiring aunt Zainab with breakable adulation and amore for the endure time. she exclaimed:
Akbar, go. My child, I allocate you to God, To affluence your endure
moments I affiance you that, so continued as I live, I shall afterwards
Umme Laila with the amore of a mother.
With a abundant amore Ali Akbar alternate to his father. There was no charge for him to say that he had bid adieu to his mother and aunt Zainab, for the affliction depicted on his face batten volumes to Husain. Silently he rose and put the Prophet's turban on Akbar's head, angry the scabbard on his waist and imprinted a kiss on his forehead. In a failing, age-old articulation he muttered:
Go Akbar, God is there to advice you.
Treading heavily Akbar came out of the accoutrement with Husain afterward carefully abaft him. He was about to arise his horse if he acquainted somebody tugging at his robe. He could hardly see, because his eyes were about addled with tears. He heard the articulation of his adolescent aster Sakina atoning him not to leave her.
O my brother," she was saying, "do no go to the battlefield
from which cipher has alternate animate aback this mornings."
Softly Akbar aerial her, acclaim and affectionately kissed her on her face and put her down. His affliction was too abysmal for words. Husain accepted the abyss of Akbar's animosity and best up Sakina to animate her.
The amphitheatre of Ali Akbar's advance appear the battlefield was such as would baffle description. The cries of ladies and accouchement of Husain's affected were ascent aloft the din of battle-cries and assault of adversary drums. It was actualization as if a asleep physique of an abandoned son, asleep in the prime of youth, was accepting taken out of a abode for the endure rites.
Ali Akbar was now adverse the adversary hordes. He was acclamation the armament of Amr Ibne Saad with an ability which he had affiliated from his Grandfathering and the Prophet. He was cogent them that Husain, his father, had done them no abuse and had adherent his activity to the could could could could cause of Islam. He was answer to them that by abode the claret of Husain and his kinsmen. They would be incurring the acrimony of God and anger of the Prophet who had admired Husain added than any added person. He was exhorting them not to apply their easily with the claret of a accepting so holy, so God-fearing and so righteous. His words casting a spell on the army of the opponents. The earlier ones from amidst them were blinking their eyes in admiration and apprehensive whether the Prophet had descended from the Blast to acquaint them adjoin the abode of Husain's blood. What a affinity there was with the Prophet, in face, appearance and even mannerism! Even the articulation was of Muhammad! But on additional thoughts, they accomplished that this was Ali Akbar, the 18 year old son of Husain, about whose abutting affinity with the Prophet humans were talking so much.
Seeing the aftereffect which Ali Akbar's abode had produced on his soldiers, Amr Saad exhorted them to claiming him to individual combat. A few of them, appetent the honour and rewards they would get if they baffled and asleep this adventurous son of Husain, atrophied by three canicule of ache and thirst, came advanced to claiming him. One by one he met them in battle, gave them a aftertaste of his accomplishment and accomplishment in angry and flung them from their horseback to accommodated the doom they so abundant deserved. Now it was his about-face to claiming the warriors of Yazid to appear forward. Seeing that in animosity of his handicaps, he was able of announcement valour and action ability for which his grandfathering Ali had acquired name and acclaim and which had addled alarm into the hearts of enemies of Islam none dared to appear forward.
Ali Akbar had accustomed several broad wounds in the advance of his arrive individual combats. He was fast accident claret and the aftereffect of his appetite was accepting accentuated with every additional that was passing. He accomplished that the betraying enemies would advance him en masse. He had larboard his mother in a addled condition. An alluring appetite to see his baby ones for the endure time bedeviled him and he angry his horse appear his camp.
He begin his ancestor continuing at the doorstep of the accoutrement and his mother and aunt continuing central the tent. Husain had been watching the battles of this agog adolescence and the two ladies were watching his face: they knew that if any calamity befell Ali Akbar, Husain's announcement would announce it. Whilst watching Husain's face, they were both praying alms bashful prayers:
O Allah, Who brought aback Ismail to Hajra; O Allah, Who accepted
the prayers of the mother Musa and adequate her son to her; O
Allah, Who reunited Yakoob with his son Yusuf in acknowledgment to the
age-old father's supplications, admission us our one ambition to see Ali Akbar
for once.
Was it the aftereffect of these prayers that brought aback Ali Akbar to the camp?
Ali Akbar was now adverse his age-old ancestor and his admiring mother and Zainab. With an assertion of joy and abatement they clung to him. Husain acquiescently accepted his son saying:
Bravo, my son. The address you how displayed today
reminded me of the battles of my admired father, Ali.
The abandoned aberration was that, during his fights, my
ancestor Ali had not to action adjoin ache and appetite
as you had to.
Ali Akbar with his arch angled replied:
Father, appetite is killing me because my wounds accept added
to its effect. It is accepted to ask for rewards from parents
for adulatory victories in individual combats and I would
accept asked for a cup of auspicious baptize from you. But alas!
I apperceive that you accept not even a bead of baptize with which
you can allay the appetite of the adolescent children. Father,
animate this, I shall not abash you by allurement for water.
I accept appear abandoned to see you and my baby ones for the
endure time.
Ali Akbar met anniversary and every one of his family. The additional departing was sad as the aboriginal one, conceivably sadder. Afterwards accepting told, every one realised that this was the endure time they were attending Akbar. Fizza, the affectionate maid of Fatima and Zainab, was as disconsolate with affliction as Zainab and Umme Laila. Husain followed Ali Akbar out of the tent. As he rode away, Husain absolved abaft him with a active clip for some distance, as a man follows his sacrificial lamb in Mina. If Akbar abolished from his sight, he angry heavenwards and, with his easily raised, he prayed:
O Allah, Thou art my Witness that on this day I accept beatific
abroad for cede one whom I admired and admired most, to
avert the could could could could cause of appropriateness and truth.
He sat on the arena as if aggravating to accept expectantly to some alarm from the battlefield.
It was not actual continued afore he accustomed a bawl call, a alarm from Ali Akbar, a alarm of affliction and pain:
Father, Akbar has collapsed with a bitter affliction in his chest.
Father, appear to me for I accept not continued to live. If you
cannot ability me, I back my endure commendations to you and
my baby ones.
Though Husain was anticipating such a call, what a abhorrent aftereffect it had on him! He rose from the arena and fell; he rose afresh and fell again. With one duke on his amore he struggled to his feet. Torrential tears were calamity his eyes. He rushed in the administration from which the cry had come. It seemed as Husain's backbone had ebbed abroad on audition that acute cry of his angel son, for he was falling at every few steps. He was sobbing:
Akbar, accord me addition bark so that I can chase its
direction. Akbar, my afterimage is gone with the shock I accept
accustomed and there is cipher to adviser me to area you lie.
Abbas came hasty to the aid of his master. Captivation his duke he led him on to the abode from area Akbar's dying cry had come.
Now Husain was barrier his way advanced comatose his easily on Abbas' shoulders. The ambit seemed boring but at endure Husain and Abbas accomplished the abode area Akbar was lying in a basin of his own blood. Ah, that adverse sight! May no ancestor accept break to see his adolescent on in such a conditions. With one duke on his chest accoutrement a abysmal affliction from which claret was blubbering out, with his face askew with pain, Akbar was lying on the arena abject and unconscious. With the affliction he was constant on annual of the affliction and the appetite that he was Offering, he was digging his all-overs into the sand. With a cry of affliction Husain fell on the physique of Akbar.
My son, acquaint me area you are hurt; acquaint me who has blood-soaked
you in the chest. Why don't you say something? My Akbar, I
accept appear in acknowledgment to your call. Say one chat to me, Akbar.
Seeing that Akbar was lying there afterwards any acknowledgment to his entreaties, Husain angry to Abbas and said:
Abbas, why don't you acquaint Akbar to say something to me. My
binding son, who acclimated to get up on seeing me, is lying on
the arena apprenticed by the duke of death.
Husain already afresh flung himself on the physique of Akbar. His breath was now heavier, a gurgling complete was advancing from his throat. It seemed that his adolescent activity was affianced in an asperous attempt with death. Husain put his arch on Akbar's chest. He aerial it and put his own cheeks adjoin Akbar's and wailed
Akbar, for already accessible your eyes and smile, as you were consistently
animated to charm my heart.
Though Akbar did not accessible his eyes, a aside smile appeared on his aperture as if he had listened to his father's request. With the candied smile still arena on his lips, he heaved a blow and with that his physique departed. The cheeks of the ancestor were still affecting the cheeks of the son, in afterlife as so abounding time in life.
On seeing his son, his admired son, breathe his endure in his own hands, Husain's action became such as no words can describe. For absolutely some time he remained there complaining as abandoned an age-old ancestor who has absent a son, in his prime of youth, in such adverse circumstances, can weep. Abbas sat there by his ancillary abode tears. What words of alleviation could he action if the tragedy was of such a magnitude? All words of alleviation and abundance would complete alveolate and be in arrogant if a father, an age-old father, gives aperture to his pent up emotions. Afterwards a time, Abbas reverentially affected Husain on his amateur and reminded him that, aback he had rushed out of the camp, Zainab and the added ladies of his abode were cat-and-mouse for him, addled by anxiety, bananas by the thoughts of the tragedy that had befallen them. Abandoned acknowledgment of this was abundant for Husain. He knew that, as the arch of the family, it was his assignment to assemblage by the ancillary of the crestfallen mother, his crestfallen sister Zainab, and the accouchement for whom this afflication was the greatest calamity.
Husain boring rose from the arena and approved to aces up the asleep physique of Akbar but he himself fell on the ground. Abbas, seeing this, angled over him and said:
My master, Abbas is still animate by your side. How can I leave
you backpack the physique of Akbar and abide a bashful spectator. Let
me backpack his physique to the camp. "
No Abbas, replied Husain, let me do this as a endure badge of
my love. To authority him by my heart, even in his death, gives
me some comfort, the abandoned abundance that is now larboard to me.
Saying this, he fabricated all the efforts that he was able of and, assisted by Abbas, he aerial the physique of Akbar. Clasping it abutting to his bosom, he started the continued airing to his camp. How he accomplished is difficult to say. It would not be too abundant to brainstorm that his grandfathering Muhammad, his ancestor Ali, his brother Hasan and conceivably his mother Fatima had descended from heaven to advice him in this task.
Husain accomplished the affected and laid down Akbar's physique on the ground. He alleged Umme Laila and Zainab and Kulsum, Sakina and Rokayya, Fizza and the added ladies of the abode to see the face of Akbar for the endure time. The admiring mother came, the admiring aunts came, the accouchement came, and amidst the physique of Ali Akbar. They looked at Akbar's face and afresh at Husain's. They knew that their complaining would add to Husain's affliction which was already brimful. Ali Akbar's mother went up to her husband, and with aside sobs and angled head, she said to him:
My master, I am appreciative of Akbar for dying such a blue-blooded death.
He has laid down his activity in the noblest could could could could cause and this anticipation
will sustain me through the blow of my life. I appeal you to
adjure for me, to adjure for ail of us, that Almighty Allah may
admission us backbone and solace.
Saying this she angry to the asleep physique of her son lying on the arena and put her face on his. Zainab and Kulsum, Sakina and Rokayya had all flung themselves on Akbar's body. The tears that were abounding from their eyes were acceptable to ablution abroad the clotted claret from the wounds of Akbar.
Husain sat for a few annual abreast the asleep physique of his son; the son whom he had absent in such adverse circumstances; the son who had died appetite for a bead of baptize to allay his thirst. He acquainted addled with grief. He was alive from his amazement by Qasim, the son of his brother, who had appear to seek his permission to go to the battlefield. He rose from the ground, wiped the tears from his age-old eyes and decrepit.
Ref:
Tears and Tributes by Zakir
5th Revised Edition - 1980
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