Sunday, February 12, 2006

KARBALA:

KARBALA: FACT OR FICTION?
By Dr. Shabbir Ahmed
PART - 1
Who is Mahdi?
Earnestly needs the world that true Mahdi
Quakes whose vision the realm of thought!
- Allama Iqbal
Dear readers! In my humble view, Jamaluddin Afghani, a great benefactor of humanity, was so right in saying:
"After due reflection, I have reached the conclusion that the resurgence of Islam and uplift of Humanity is not possible without upholding the unifying supremacy of the Glorious Qur’an. Anyone working in that direction will be the real Mahdi, the true guide. All other "awaited ones" are nothing but fantasies that will NEVER materialize.
Humanity in general and Muslims in particular should bear in mind that no apostle, messenger, prophet or appointed one of God is coming any more. The exalted Muhammad (570-632 CE) was the last appointed apostle-prophet-messenger. He passed on after establishing a model State and delivering to all mankind the Supreme and Ultimate Divine Message."
- The Istanbul address of 1889, The Weekly Caliphate Center
Besides being a dynamic orator, the late Afghani was a man of action.
The 19th century, Sudan was under occupation by the British imperialism but a great patriot, Muhammad Ahmad, was carrying the banner of freedom. The greatest hindrance in his way was the rampant belief among the masses that emancipation and revival of Muslims was not possible unless the mythical "Imam" Mahdi appeared on the world scene.
Jamaluddin Afghani arrived in Khartoum in 1881. He met with the freedom fighter Muhammad Ahmad who updated Afghani on the pitiful situation. But Afghani only knew better. He advised the young Ahmad to declare himself as the awaited Mahdi. After a brief pause, Ahmad decided to follow the startling advice.
Some people protested that the Mahdi was supposed to emerge from the cave of Samera in Iraq, after a millennium of occultation. Others maintained that Imam Mahdi would appear making rounds in Makkah! Syed Afghani wasted no time in vain argumentation. He grabbed Muhammad Ahmad's arm and led him and his
comrades to the city's Jami'a Masjid. It was a Friday. The Imam of the mosque relinquished the pulpit as soon as he saw Syed Afghani approaching. Afghani, then delivered an inspiring sermon to the thousands present in the congregation. He advised them to give up their wait for 'holy men' and their supernatural powers.
Continuing his sermon, Jamaluddin Afghani said, "Folks! Your Mahdi has arrived. He is no other than Muhammad Ahmad standing by my side! His supernatural power is that he is a man of resolve, character and action. Strengthen his hands and he will give you freedom!"
No sooner than the sermon was over, than the Jamia Masjid reverberated with chants of "Mahdi Sudani, Mahdi Sudani!" The congregation right away acknowledged the virtuous Muhammad Ahmad, as their leader and commander. Men from Khartoum and suburbs rallied around Muhammad Ahmad.
On behalf of the British, the Muslim clergy in Sudan and Egypt piled up religious verdicts (Fatawa) - That Ahmad was not from the progeny of Prophet Muhammad; he had neither emerged from the Cave of Samera nor did he proclaim himself in the Ka'ba. How could he be the Mahdi? Indeed, he was an apostate!
Fortunately, in those days, the Grand Mufti of Egypt was a very enlightened man, Sheikh Muhammad Abde-Rabbuhu, popularly known as Sheikh 'Abduh (1849-1905). He was an ardent student of the great Syed Afghani. The Grand Mufti annulled all edicts by the clergy.
Watch the descent of God on the tower of your heart
Rid now yourself of the wait for Mahdi and Jesus!
- Allama Iqbal
Soon, the Sudanese masses that had been afflicted with the Mullah orthodoxy (just as the Muslims are today) sprung back to life. The Mahdi of Sudan declared, "While Mullahs wait in their homes for the Mahdi and the Messiah, and Sufis wait in their shrines, I have picked up the banner of freedom. I am the Mahdi of the times!"
During 1881 and 1885, this great freedom fighter and his comrades routed the British and captured Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. At lightening speed did they achieve liberty!
Years later the British Lord Kitchener went to Sudan, exhumed Muhammad Ahmad's remains and burned them! Such was the legacy of the Mahdi of Sudan! Was he not a true Mahdi, leader, commander and guide?
Incidentally, Lord Kitchner got drowned in a ship wreck as he was returning.
Rumor came by that he had survived but Allama Iqbal dispelled the rumor with humor, "Yea, he might have come back as fish liver oil."
PART - 2
The Mahdi In Religious Myths:
Ah! Mahdi Sudani - such are the true Mahdis. No cobwebs of myths or superstition surround them. They rise from the arena of real life and fulfill their mission for all to see and then face their Creator with flying colors.
Contrast this with how irrationally Mahdi is characterized in religious mythology. The tale begins mysteriously. I have picked only a few specimens and have simplified the account to a great extent.
All excerpts in this chapter have been taken from an authoritative, widely acclaimed and esteemed Shi'a book titled Ahsanul Maqal (The Best of Expressions.) The compiler of the book is "The Most Veracious Reporter of Traditions, Hazrat Maulana Sheikh Abbas of Qum". The translator is Honorable Maulana Syed Safdar Hussain Najafi.
This is the drama taking place in 873 CE, 241 years after the exalted Prophet passed on in 632
1. "I am Lady Maleka, daughter of the son of Kaiser, the King of Rome. My mother's name is Shamoun who is from the genealogy of Jesus Christ. [Jesus Christ was her ancestor!] Some time back, Prophet Muhammad met my great-grandfather, Jesus Christ son of Mary. The Prophet asked the hand of Jesus' daughter (me, Maleka) to be given in marriage to his son, Hasan Askari [d 874. Hasan Askari was the eleventh Imam of the Twelve Imami or Athna 'Ashri Shias]
Jesus Christ agreed. The ceremonial address (Khutba) of our wedding was recited by Prophet Muhammad [241 yrs after he passed on] I had become emaciated hiding my love for Hasan Askari. The Prophet's daughter, Fatimah [d 632 CE] came one day, hugged me and made me her daughter-in-law [in the 9th century] Ever since then not a night has passed without us drinking the honey of our love and consummating our marriage!" [The bride never had menstruation]
2. "I am Lady Maleka, also called Narjis. I am the daughter of the King of Rome. A few days ago, Ali (son-in-law of the Prophet) came [212 years after his martyrdom!] He said to me, "Narjis! Glad tidings to you of a son that will be the King of the East and the West! The news spread like wild fire that the wife of Imam Hasan Askari was going to be the mother of the Master of Times (Imam Mahdi).
One day Hasan Askari said, "Mahdi is going to be born today." A woman from the household said, "There are no visible signs of Narjis being pregnant". Ali said, "We saints and prophets are born from the thighs of our mothers so that we are not soiled." Imam Hasan [d 670] also came. Those present saw a splendid radiance in Narjis. Hasan saw that the Master of Times had been born and ever since his birth, had been in prostration facing the Qibla in Makkah. The newborn was pointing his index finger at the sky and reciting Kalima. Virgin Mary was in attendance with a thousand houris (heavenly beauties). The observant ones observed that the Imam Mahdi was already circumcised. They sought Allah's blessings for all Imams. There was illumination all around. The palace was flocked by white birds. Ali commanded a bird to take the baby away and to bring it back in 40 days.
Please remind yourself that the events are taking place 212 years after Imam Ali's passing away in 661. Mythology is such fun! But wait! We are not done yet! Now follows a more weird account.
"After 40 days the bird brought back the baby who was now two years old! Then the bird took the baby away and brought it back in 40 days. Imam Mahdi by then had grown into a man. We are not told how he grew up into a man in 80 days and how a bird picked up a grown up man by its beak! We are not told either where the palace was located!
3. Imam Mahdi, the Imam-in-Waiting, the Imam-in-Occultation, is the Master of Powers. He is the Imam of the World of the Unseen. It is not appropriate even to mention his name in absentia.
4. The Imam read all scriptures of the past prophets in their native tongues, Scriptures of Adam, Idrees, Noah, Hud, Saleh, Abraham, Moses, David, Christ, and the Qur'an of Prophet Muhammad.
5. Soon after birth, the Imam sneezed. The next night he enunciated a firm tenet that whoever sneezed, would not die for three days. [Science or insult to human intelligence?]
6. The angels clamored, "Who will avenge Hussain, O Allah?" "I will, through the Established One", answered God. [How will He avenge? Please wait for the next chapter]
7. The Words in the Qur'an, "Who can bring back water if Allah takes it away?" in effect pertain to the Master of Powers i.e. who can bring him back if Allah takes him away.
8. Imam Mahdi is from the seed of the Kaiser of Rome from the mother's side and of Muhammad (the exalted) from the father's side. [We are not told how from
Kaiser. And, didn’t he, if at all he was born, descend from Abu Talib and Hazrat Ali?]
9. The Qur'an of Ali is with the Established Imam. When he comes, even the wild animals will become friends to each other. Because of his splendor, the whole world will be lit up. Hence, there will be no sun during the day and no moon at night! [The sun and the moon will retire!]
10. He will ride the lightening and make a round of the seven heavens and the seven earths. [He will not be electrocuted] Shady clouds will always keep him cool. [But there will be no sun!] Swords for his use will descend from the heavens.
11. Countless palaces and treasuries are at his disposal. Those who have had a visit with him in the past centuries speak of the unparalleled magnificence of his palace. [No one knows where any of those palaces is]
12. He performs Hajj every year but no one can recognize him [Cannot recognize the one whose splendor lights up the whole world!]
13. At every Eid when people rejoice, God refreshes the sorrow of
Muhammad's progeny since their due right, the world supremacy, is in the possession of others. [It is in the White House these days]
14. Hazrat Ali mourns to this day. He has been seen reading the Book of Jafar [for over 1300 years] Jafar is the "Science" of dreams, calamities and disasters.
15. Whenever a Mu’min (Shia believer) falls ill, the Amir (Commander) of the Mumins, Ali, is also taken ill. [Among the believers, hundreds of thousands must be ailing at any given time. When does the Amir get well?]
16. Whoever waits for the Imam of the Times, will be seated in his glorious tent. The best action of a believer is to wait for the Imam. [The palace has now become a tent!]
17. A sure panacea: On a piece of paper write a message for the Imam of the Times. Place it in a grave or throw it into a deep well. The message is sure to reach him and the problems will be instantly resolved.
18. Among the 73 sects of Muslims, only those waiting for the Mahdi will go to Paradise.
[There are strong historical records that the 11th imam Hasan Askari had died in his youth leaving behind no children. On that account, Askari's real brother Ja'far bin Naqi had grabbed all his inheritance through due course of law. Ref. Shama'-e-Haqeeqat by Qazi Muhammad Ali]
Reminder: All criticism of the author is directed to the historians, and not at all to the respected personalities of Islam - Hazraat Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husain (R.A.) all of whom command our reverence and respect.
PART - 3
The Revenge and Tasks
Imam Mahdi bin Hasan Askari, was born in the year 255 or
256 A.H. [if he was born at all! Shi'a scholars are unable to decide which year it really was!] In 260 AH at the age of about five years, and just ten days before the demise of his father, he disappeared and hid in the nearby cave called Samara or Saraman Rai. With him he took away the entire Qur’an consisting of 40 (not 30) parts and 17000 (not 6200+) verses. He also took with him all the Scriptures of the prophets of old, the Book of Ali, the Book of Fatima, the Science of Jafar, all miracles of the prophets, the staff of Moses, the shirt of Adam, and the ring of Solomon.
He will reappear before the Dooms Day. He will exhume and resurrect Abu Bakr and Umar from their graves. In the course of one day and night he will execute both of them a thousand times after bringing them back to life each time. According to some accounts, he will dispense the same prescription to Usman. (Hablullah No.6,
P.32)
He will stone to death the mother of believers, Ayesha for adultery.
Hold your breath! The first one to tender submission to Imam Mahdi will be Prophet Muhammad. (Basair Darajat P. 213)
The Mahdi will resurrect people and send them off to heaven or hell.
(Miratul Anwaar P.68)
The Occult Imam Mahdi will appear and bring forth a new Book and a new Faith (Faslul- Khitab P. 283 and Anwaar Na'mania by Syed Naimatullah Muhaddis Aljazairee).
Only Mahdi will bring the genuine Qur'an. For the time being, fill in with the present one. (Faslul Khatab, ref. Hazrat Ali)
Mahdi will battle with Gog and Magog (Ref. Many books of Ahadith, Musnad-e-Ahmad, Al-Kafi, etc)
Who are Gog and Magog? Muslims have been labeling many different peoples as Gog Magog. Many Jews and Christians consider Russia, China and the Muslims as Gog Magog!
Ahsanul Maqal states that Imam Mahdi son of Hasan Askari will appear at the very end of this world. He will be around only for seven years. He will uphold equity and justice and then there will be the Great World War, Armageddon. [So, that will be it. He that was so anxiously awaited for centuries came and heralded the end of the world! Happy waiting to the waiters]
PART - 4
Reminder: All criticism of the author is directed to the historians, and not at all to the respected personalities of Islam - Hazraat Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husain [R.A.] all of whom command our reverence and respect.
The Episode of Torment and Calamity
From Sa’aadatuddarain fi Qatlil Hussain, by Sadrul Muhaqqiqeen (The Principal of Researchers), Sultanul Mutawakkileen (King of the Trusting), Hujjatul Islam Wal-Muslimin (Proof of Islam and Muslims), Sarkar Allama Ash-Sheikh (The Master Scholar, the Sheikh), Muhammad Hussain Saheb, Mujtahidul Asr (Modern Thinker of the Time), Mad-Zilluhu-'Aaali (The Glorious One of a Blessed Shade).
[Question: What is the connection between Imam Mahdi and Karbala? Please wait until Chapter 10 for the answer. Meanwhile please note some excerpts from the writings of the illustrious author mentioned above]
1. The real culprit of the murder of Hussain was Yazeed son of Mua’awia.
2. After Yazeed the second culprit was son of Marjanah, Ubaidullah Ibn-e-Ziyad. He was hand and glove with Yazeed.
3. The third person directly responsible was Umar bin Saad bin Abi Waqas.
These people used to claim that the world and its goodies were ever-lasting, and so they would never die.
- It can be said without fear of contradiction that the assassins of
Hussain were all Sunnis.
- Refer to the writings of Imam Hafiz Ibn-e-Jareer Tabari and you will know whether the assassins of Hussain were Sunnis or not.
[Many scholars claim that this Tabari was a Shi’a. The esteemed Allama Jaam-e-ul Uloom Tamanna Imadi proves that the so-called "Imam" Tabari was in fact a Zoroastrian]
- Mazahim bin Hareeth said, "I follow Usman's faith". Nafe' replied, "It means you follow the creed of Satan."
- No one knows who fathered Ubaidullah son of Ziyad, the Governor of Basra and Koofa. [Then who was Ziyad - And that Marjanah?]
- The historian Imam Tabari has written that Imam Hussain's cousin Muslim bin Aqeel ventured towards Kufa for battle, without informing his comrades. [Why would he go alone for battle?]
- Not even 10 people had stayed on with the exalted Prophet in the Battle of Uhad. On the other hand, 54 people turned out ready for sacrificing their lives for Hussain son of Ali. [What is the point they are trying to make?]
- From Makkah, Madinah, Taif, Yemen, Basra, Yamama and anywhere else, there was NOT a single shout, "O Grandson of the Prophet! We are here to help you." [No comments]
- Fifty five petitions, two bagfuls of letters, and seven couriers reached Makkah from Kufa promising to defend Imam Hussain by all means.
- Imam Hussain said to Abdullah ibn Zubair, "I know that someone in Makkah will be slaughtered like a lamb. I absolutely do not want to be that lamb. But I swear that even if I hide in a snake hole, people will pull me out of there."
- Muslim bin Aqeel reached a spring belonging to the tribe of Bani Tai. He saw a hunter shooting a deer with an arrow. Hazrat Muslim said, "This is a good omen. We shall likewise triumph over our enemies." [But what followed was quite the opposite]
- Muslim bin Aqeel reached Kufa on the fifth of Shawwal, 60 AH and stayed at the house of Honorable Mukhtar bin Ubaidullah Saqafi.
- In Kufa, 18,000 people pledged allegiance to Muslim bin Aqeel. Then, he wrote a letter to Imam Hussain inviting him to come to Kufa.
- Someone wearing a black turban entered Kufa. He had his face covered with a cloth. Sheikh Mufeed says, "Because of this guise people knew he was Hussain." [Imam Hussain would not cover his face like a bandit]
- Like Hazrat Ali, Imam Hussain also knew about all future events in the entire universe. He would say to people, "Ask me things before you do not find me
amongst you." An Imam never says La Adri (I do not know). According to the narrators, all other Imams used to make the same claim. [So, they had the knowledge of the Unseen which, according to the Qur’an, rests with Allah alone]
- It is written in Usool-e-Kafi that the true Imam (from Ali to Mahdi) would never say, "I don’t know!" [He is full of knowledge, past, present and future. After this, the Mujtahid Ash-Shaikh Muhammad Hussain, author of Sa’adatud Darain gives some examples of the tremendous knowledge of Imam Hussain]
- Umro bin Al-'Aas asked, "Why do our moustache gray before yours?" Hussain answered, "Because your women have foul breath."
- Umro bin Al-'Aas then asked, "Why do your beards grow thick but ours don’t?" Imam Hussain replied, "A pure land produces good vegetation, and an impure land produces bad vegetation."
Having heard such insightful answers, Mua’avia yelled, "Umro! Keep quiet. Don't you know you are debating with Ali's son?"
Here quotes the Mujtahid a couplet:
Secret behind the Prophet making Hussain suck at his tongue
Is that Hussain’s tongue virtually became the tongue of divinity
- Abdur Rahman Aslami taught Surah Hamd (Al-Fatiha) to one of the princes of Hussain. The honorable Hussain granted him a thousand dinars (gold coins) and a thousand robes, and filled his mouth with pearls. [The man might have choked. Why did the Imam not teach the Surah himself? See below]
- Someone asked Imam Zainul Abideen why his father had so few children. He replied, "I am surprised how we were even born! My father engaged himself in prayers, as many as one thousand Rak'as in one day and night." [Where was the time to do anything else? Are not such statements derogatory to Hazrat Hussain?]
- Even in his state of helplessness and thirst, Hussain slew 1,950 of the enemy soldiers all by himself. In addition, there were countless that he severely wounded. [Such gross exaggerations, too, are derogatory to Imam Hussain]
'Aashura, Muharram 10, AH 61 - Oct 12, 680 CE
- In Makkah, as the Imam recited Ism A'zam (the supposed greatest Name of Allah), the land in between Makkah, Madinah and Karbala sunk low. And he showed Umm Salma, the mother of believers, the spot where he and his companions would be killed. Then, handing Umm Salma some soil from the land of Karbala, he said, "When this soil in the bottle starts oozing blood, consider me
martyred." Honorable Umm Salma reports, "When on the tenth of Muharram, 61 AH afternoon, I saw the jars, they were indeed oozing blood." [It was not Umm Salma, but Tabari whose imagination saw this oozing centuries later]
- The head of the Lord of Martyrs was severed yet it kept on reciting the Qur'an. [Read again]
- Beasts in the jungle and fish in the water will keep weeping over
Hussain’s ordeal until the Dooms Day! [The fantasies of our master narrators and historians are boundless]
- Lady Fatima used to cry over the trials and tribulations of Hussain even before she conceived him.
- Imam Hussain said to Abdullah bin Umar, "My head will be presented before one of the bastards of Banu Umayya." (P.167 Saadatud Darain) [Would the great Imam Hussain use filthy language?]
Mujtahid Muhammad in this chapter of Sa’aadatuddarain fi Qatlil Hussain lays down a rule: The criterion to judge the authenticity of the events of Karbala is to accept without question that which the Ulema have committed to pen. [Think and reflect]
- Before leaving Makkah, Abdullah bin Mutea’ advised Imam Hussain to stay on in Madinah, and not at all go to Kufa because that was a cursed city of ill omens.
- When the Imam departed from Madinah, angels riding she-camels of the Paradise presented themselves to him in hosts.
- After that, some legions of Muslim Jinns appeared before the Imam and said that if the Imam so commanded, they would consume his enemies while he was still in Madinah.
- Whenever people cautioned the Imam against going to Kufa, the Imam would say, "I am destined to martyrdom in Karbala on the 10th of Muharram." [Had this been so, the Imam, a model of endurance and patience, would not weep and wail. More importantly, he had the free will to choose any other destiny]
- To angels and Jinns he answered, "By Allah, I have greater power than you have for overcoming my own enemies but I want that those who die should die by reason and those who survive should survive by reason. [Yet only his companions, and none of his chief adversaries, died in Karbala]
- Thus, journeying by stages he reached Madinah on Friday the 6th of
Sha'ban 60 AH.
- In an offensive, Muslim bin Aqeel packed to hell forty-one in Kufa. Then he commenced displaying his valor in the streets and the bazars. [But, there are reports that he had gone there solely as an emissary of Imam Hussain]
- Muslim bin Aqeel was beheaded and his head was sent to Damascus. Yazeed hanged it at the city's main gate.
- Abdullah ibn Abbas inquired, "Why are you taking women and children along?" "God wills to see them in the enemy captivity ", replied Imam Hussain. [No comments]
- There is a serious controversy regarding the number of stages between Makkah and Karbala" (Sheikh Muhammad, the Mujtahid)
- The Imam told the poet Farzooq and Bashar bin Ghalib that Allah does what He wills. [God is not a tyrant. He is Omnipotent and uses His Power with Wisdom and Compassion]
- "Banu Umayyah have instilled fright in me", said Hussain. [This is another insult to the Imam]
- He said to Siddiqa Sughra, "O My sister! Whatever has to happen must happen." [So there should be no effort]
- The Imam knew the end beforehand.
- "I swear by Allah, my murder by the insurgent pack is inevitable. There can be no resistance before Allah." [Was Allah siding with the insurgents?]
- "In a dream I saw some dogs biting me. Most ferocious among them was one with white spots." Mujtahid Allama Muhammad Hussain writes that that description of the dog points to Shamar bin Joshan who had Leucoderma i.e. white spots. [The exalted Prophet had admonished against relating sad dreams. This cannot be the language of the most decent and courageous Imam Hussain]
- As early as at twelfth stage of the journey, Imam Hussain and his companions had donned their turbans and were wielding their swords. [Why would the Imam assume an aggressive posture?]
- At the fifteenth stage of the journey he said: I had dozed off on my horse. In a dream I saw a rider saying, "These people are proceeding and their death is proceeding towards them." Now I know that we have been foretold of death. [Earlier on, it was stated that he always knew it]
- A gentle commander of Yazeed's troops, Hur bin Yazeed Ryahi came along at the head of a thousand troops. He said, "I beg you in the name of Allah to take
pity on yourself. You will be martyred if you fight." However, the Imam refused to yield.
- Majma' bin Abdullah said, "The dignitaries of Kufa are against you. Although common folk are disposed in your favor, yet tomorrow their swords will be drawn against you." And still the Imam did not relent.
- At the next stage of the journey Imam Hussain asked Hur, "What is the name of this place?" He said, "Karbala." The Supreme Martyr spoke with tears in his eyes,"O Allah! We seek refuge with You against anguish and tribulation." [Karbala = Karb and Bala = Anguish and tribulation. Why was this prayer not granted? What an insult that the tally of Hussain’s rejected prayers is being repeatedly increased and highlighted by these Mullahs!]
PART - 5
Reminder: All criticism of the author is directed to the historians, and not at all to the respected personalities of Islam - Hazraat Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain [R.A.] all of whom command our reverence and respect.
The First Assemblage of Hussain (From Sa’adatud Darain by Sadrul Muhaqqiqeen Sultanul Mutawakkileen Hujjatul Islam Wal-Muslimin Sarkar Allama Ash-Sheikh Muhammad Hussain Saheb, Mujtahidul Asr Mad-Zilluhu-'Aaali)
[At this juncture please make a note that the entire tale of Karbala has been narrated by the so-called Imam Tabari bin Rustam, the Zoroastrian, 239 years after the supposed event. Time and again he begins with, "Abu Mukhnif said this and Abu Mukhnif said that …"
Renowned scholars like Shah Abdul Aziz, Allama Tammana Imadi, Maulana Habibur Rahman Kandhalwi have conducted in depth research and declared that Abu Mukhnif is a fictitious character. Other scholars have established that even if such a person existed in flesh and blood, he had died more than fifty years before Tabari was born. Moreover, Tabari does not once claim that he ever met Abu Mukhnif. This being the state of affairs, it becomes obvious that the myth of Karbala is the product of Tabari’s own imagination. Some said Tabari was a Shia, others contend that he was a Sunni. In fact he had changed his name from Tabari bin Rustam to Tabari bin Yazeed for deceiving the masses. Tabari ascribes all atrocities to Yazeed, yet, he associates his own name with Yazeed, a shameless attempt to get some credibility]
The discerning reader should make note of this very important point.
The year of the martyrdom of Hazrat Hussain is 61 AH and Tabari penned this fable down around the year 300, i.e. 239 years later. And all this on hearsay! There should have been hundreds of men to write about the episode (had it
really happened) during this long duration, but we find none!
Let us continue with the handiwork of the criminal historians of Islam.
- Where was Madinah and where Karbala
Whence came the wayfarer of whence
- Mir Anees?
- Imam Hussain gathered his kith and kin. He cast an eye on the enemy throngs and broke down in tears. He prayed in all tenderness, "O Allah! We are the Prophet’s kin. Please grant us victory over the tyrants."
How numerous was the enemy? Aqai Darbandi says the (opposing) cavalry in Karbala numbered 600,000 and the infantry assembled for the battle numbered 20 million! [Even the entire population of Arabia and Iraq at the time would not total twenty million! No empire could possibly assemble a force of this size]
According to Ibn-e- Jozi, they numbered 6 thousand. Syed binTaoos puts the number at 20 thousand. Abi Faras said they were 50 thousand and Abi Nahaf Azwi reported 80 thousand!
Commemorating the Imam
The authoritative book we are referring to, Sa’aadatuddarain fi Qatlil Hussain, includes a lengthy directive on how to conduct assemblies commemorating Imam Hussain. In summary, this directive prescribes the following set of commandments:
- Weep profusely over the oppressed Imam's fate because such weeping atones for the most grievous sins.
- Without intent of a fast, go without food and drink until early evening on the Day of Ashura (the 10th of Muharram).
- On that day, hold gatherings for mourning and shed tears profusely. This is the noblest of deeds.
- Do no worldly work on that day.
- Recite Ziarat-e-Ashura and do all the mourning that is prescribed in the special books on prayers for this occasion.
[We can virtually hear Allama Iqbal: Listen to the music of delight in the mansions of Europe - And watch too the readiness for chest-beating in Iran]
- Immensely curse the murderers of Hussain and his kin. Repeat the chanting at least a thousand times, "O Allah! Let thy curse fall on the assassins of Hussain and his companions."
- Absolutely refrain from hilarity, lavish food and nice clothes.
- Undo the buttons of shirts and roll up the sleeves up.
- Throw dust or ashes on your head and rub your forehead with it.
Which lion is out of the den that the battle-ground is trembling!
Now, what was the size of the forces with Imam Hussain?
According to Allama Mujtahid (Revivalist) Muhammad, here is a controversy again. Abi Faris says they were 1,000 (Sharhe Shafia). Sheikh Mufeed says their total number was 72 (32 horsemen and 40 foot soldiers). But Imam Baqir reports they were 145.
[Ironically, after shooting their arrows of conjecture, our historians, theologians and reporters of Hadith play a trick on Allah and Rasool a.s. They pass the buck to Allah, "Wallahu A'alam" (And Allah knows best). That is that! They simply won't admit, "I do not know". If they decide to pass the buck to the exalted Prophet, they would write, "Qaal aw kama qaal" (He said this, or something to that effect)]
- Ibn Ziyad said to the Imam, "I will not lay my head on a soft pillow nor taste good food until I slay you." The Imam replied, "The people of your city Koofa had written to me, so I came. If you dislike my coming, I must go back." Then he also requested *Umar bin Saad, "Let me leave since the earth is vast", but he did not get the leave.
[According to the Mujtahid writer, Imam Hussain was there for Jihad. Why, then, would he ask to leave? Persians bore a special grudge against Hazrat Sa'd bin Abi Waqas because he had conquered Persia half a century earlier. So, the name of his son, *Umar bin Sa'd was tagged here although he was commanding troops in Syria at that time. Ref. Al-Milil Wanhil by Imam Sheristani]
- On the Ashura Day (10th Muharram) Imam Hussain said, "Yazeed the bastard, son of a bastard has forced me to choose between death and disgrace." [But the Imam had willfully decided to come to Koofa against the strong advice of many outstanding personalities. Also, could this be the language used by the noble Imam Hussain?]
- Three days before the martyrdom of Hussain, Umar bin Sa'd put a 500 strong guard at the river Euphrates to completely deny the Imam and his companions any access to water. The Imam delivered a speech saying, "Think! Who my
father, my mother and grandmother were and whose brother and whose grandson I am!" Voices were heard from the enemy camp, "We know all this, yet we must kill you in the state of thirst."
- The Imam, nevertheless, demonstrated a miracle near his tent. He slightly dug the earthl with a spade. All of a sudden a fountain of cool and sweet water gushed forth from the dry desert soil. All of them drank to their fill and filled up their water-skins [Lo and behold! The water problem is watered down]
- From those tyrants the Imam sought respite for one night. This was the Ashura night. The Imam and his companions spent the night in prayers, supplication and repentance and pleadings to Allah for mercy. They wailed and chanted over their rosary beads. There were sounds from the tents like the humming of bees from a beehive. [Such earnest prayers of the most pious ones were not heard! What are our theologians trying to accomplish? - Mock and insult them]
- Many people left the Imam and sneaked away into the darkness of the night. To those who were left with him, he gestured to look up at the sky. That is when every one of the companions beheld his abode in Paradise. [According to the Qur’an, the Paradise encompasses the heavens and the earth. Imam Hussain would not contradict the Quran]
- Imam Zainul Abidin relates that when Imam Hussain uttered some couplets about his death, Zain's paternal aunt, Hazrat Zainab started beating her face and rent her clothes. She then fainted. Imam Hussain said, "My sister! I serve an oath on you. Please keep my oath. After I am gone, neither tear up your clothes, nor scratch your face, nor do the least bit of wailing." But no one including Zainab complied with the Imam's advice and last will.
- On the other side there was an army of hundreds of thousands. Yet, the exalted Imam arrayed his small force thoroughly for battle including the right flank, the left flank and the flag bearer. Aqai Darbandi writes that the opposing army comprised of 600,000 horsemen and 20 million infantry.
[Even if the enemy amounted to the well-armed thousands, was it not a collective suicide? Would the enlightened Imam Hussain adopt such a fatal course? Victory being out of question, if his objective was martyrdom, he would not expose women and children and his companions to this peril. The exalted Prophet had warned believers against getting disgraced by inviting a peril that one could not cope with]
- The Imam addressed Shimar bin Zil-Joshan, "O Son of a goat tending woman!"
- The Imam cursed Ibn-e-Abi-Javeria for the torment of fire. At once he fell in blazing fire in a trench and turned into ashes. He prayed, "O Allah! Kill Tamim bin
Hasseen by thirst this very day." Suddenly stricken with thirst, Tamim fell off his horse by the Euphrates bank and his horse trampled him to death.
[With Imam Hussain being so readily accepted in his prayers, why could he not ward off Karb and Bala (anguish and calamity)? The highly exaggerated and superstitious accounts betray conjecture and fabrications by the historians. Hazrat Hussain wouldn't have even dreamed such non-sense. In fact, the then governor of Iraq, Imam Hussain was assassinated by Jaban bin Hormuzan in the governor house of Koofa. Chapter 14]
- The parties arrayed themselves in battle formation. 20, 600,000 (Twenty million and six hundred thousand) on one side and seventy two men on the other! [What sense would arranging the troops make? 72 against even 30,000 would have been an outright disaster. But let us read on]
- That day there was loud hue and cry in the tents. It was a divinely ordained calamity for them. The Imam kept briefing them about the oncoming events many times a day as revealed to him by Allah. [According to the Allama Mujtahid, all this was a pre-ordained and not an unforeseen calamity. Why, then, the hue and cry as we note further?]
- O Creatures of Allah! I have taken refuge with Allah against harm from you. [Refuge not granted]
OUT OF THE DEN CAME THE LION, ROARING!
- The Imam called for the steed of Rasoolullah called Murtajiz. He rode the steed and started urging his companions to gear up for the battle. Hur walked over to Hussain's side. [The events are taking place fifty years after the exalted Rasool passed on. The steed Murtajiz should have been about seventy years old then. Do the horses live that long!]
- Hur said, "O People of Koofa! After his passing away this is how you have treated the descendents of the Rasoolullah!"
- Upon hearing this, Umar bin Saad shot the first arrow at Hussain’s army and with this followed a shower of thousands of arrows.
[Dear reader! Only a few excerpts have been picked out cautiously for the sake of brevity. But I have not restricted the account to merely ten or twenty points from various voluminous books in order to convey to you what has been written in them about the illustrious Imam. The books from which the excerpts have been taken are so numerous that several pages are needed just to record the list of their long titles. Below are given only a few titles as examples:
Tareekh-e-Tabri, Asool-e-Kafi, Sunan Ibn Maja, Shaheed-e-Insaniat, Aashir
Bahaar, Sirre Shahadatain, Amali Saddooq, Tafseer Baizawi, Nehjul Balagha, Ainee Sharh-e-Bokhari, Irshade Shaikh Mufeed, Al-Akhbar-il-'Awaalee, Maqtal-e-Makram, Maqtal Ibn Sahili, Kaamil Ibn Kaseer, Nafsil Mahmmom, Qamqam, Al-Hussain Maqtali Maqram, Nasikh-ut-Tawareekh, Waqai-Ayyam-e-Muharram, Zakheera-tud- Daarain, Murawwaj-uz-Zahab, Maqtal Khuaarizimi, Manaqib Shahr Ibn Ashobe, Maqatilul Talibeen, Shahadat-e-Hussain, Zibh-e-Azeem, Al-Imamat Was-Siasat, Kanzul Amaal, Iste'aab, Sawa'iqul Muharraqa, Addam'ah As-Sakiba, and so on.
All these references can be looked up in Mustatab Saadat-ud-Darain fi Qatlil Hussain by Allama Sarkar Ash-Sheikh Muhammad Hussain, printer Maktabah As-Sibtain]
- As soon as the downpour of arrows from the enemy troops began, the illustrious Imam launched a swift attack on them. The battle continued for one hour. Fifty of his companions embraced martyrdom. [Against a shower of thousands of arrows, not one of the 72 arrayed combatants could have survived for a minute]
- A martyr has seven benefits from Allah. One of them is that his head rolls into the laps of two houris. [One lap should suffice one head]
- The esteemed Habeeb bin Mazahir dispatched to hell 65 of the Koofis and, Zuhair Al-Bijli sent to the Fire 120. Aabis bin Abi Shabib knocked down more than 200, Yahya bin Kathir 50, Janada bin Haaris 16. Qarib, the Turkish slave of the Lord of Martyrs, sent to Hell 70. The 95 year old Anas bin Al-Haris dispatched to hell 18 of the Fire-worthy. Hajjaj bin Masrooq killed 25, Anees bin Moaqqal 20 and Ibrahim bin Al-Hasseen 84. Malik bin Dawud and Dharghama bin Malik slew 60 each. [The count down goes on and on]
- Eight slaves of the Lord of Martyrs were slain. [The exalted Prophet had abolished slavery. How could Imam Hussain take slaves? The title ‘Lord of Martyrs’ has been reserved by many historians for Hazrat Hamza, the Prophet's (S) uncle]
- Prince Ali Akbar desired to have grapes. Imam Hussain raised his hand to the pillar of the mosque and [out of thin air] grabbed a bunch of grapes for the prince. [The historians maintain that Hazrat Hussain had taken up arms to destroy monarchy. Yet, they call his offspring princes and princesses]
- Prince Ali Akbar was married since he had an Umm-e-Walad. [Umm-e-Walad = A concubine who bears a child, yet remains less than a wife]
- Prince Ali Akbar killed 200 soldiers. However, his horse took him to the enemy troops. The barbarians shredded him into pieces with their swords. [That treacherous horse must have an effigy made and flogged in the Ta'zia
processions]
INSULTS TO INTELLIGENCE ABOUND
Readers! Along with these events, the historians have related a relentless exchange of verses and dialogues as if it were a vocal contest of which they were eyewitnesses, or the audio-video records were being made. This is in spite of the fact that Tabari compiled the first history of Muslims nearly two hundred and fifty years after Imam Hussain's martyrdom. In order to keep this book reasonably small, we are disregarding much of the running commentary.
- Many authors accept one criterion for the authenticity of the events of Karbala: If an event is found in any of the books of Ulema, so did it happen, period. [Wow!]
- The books are replete with reports that the Lord of Martyrs broke down in tears at the killing of a certain person or at such and such happening. [The exalted Prophet had said, "The true patience is that which is resorted to at the time of misfortune." Suggesting that the valiant Imam Hussein broke down time and again is an insult to him]
- At the martyrdom of Prince Ali Akbar, sounds of wailing came from the tents. Imam Hussain says, "My daughter Sakeena! Don't you fear Allah?" [Crying, wailing, and chest beating displease Him]
- The five or six remnants of Abu Talib's progeny launched a ferocious attack on the army of thousands.
- Prince Qasim son of Imam Hasan came out of the tent on his way to the battlefield. The Uncle Hussain and the Nephew embraced each other and wept so much that both fell unconscious.
- Allah dispensed an extraordinary punishment upon the one who had killed Muhammad bin Ali bin Abi Talib. He drank so much water that his belly burst open to his demise. (Wow!)
- Abdullah bin Hasan was eleven years old. He courageously addressed one of the enemies, "O son of an evil woman!"
- Abbas son of Ali was called the 'moon' of the (tribe of) Banu Hashim. He was so well-built that when he rode a horse his feet would touch the ground. [OK]
- Abbas launched such fierce attacks that the right wing of the enemy turned upon the left wing and the left turned upon the right.
Hold your breath
Finally, came Imam Hussain's turn. The evening was drawing close. He was all alone, fifty-seven years old, hungry and thirsty for several days, in intense heat, broken-hearted in grief.
Excellent portrayal by Mir Anees:
The gloom of tyranny has engulfed Zahra's Moon
What loneliness has gripped Shabbir this day
Zahra is the title of Hazrat Fatima, the mother of Hazrat Hussain whose title is Shabbir.
The author of Saada-tud-Darain writes, "If Hussain had really wanted to defeat the enemy and triumph to power, it was simple and easy. He would have placed Abbas on one of his sides, Ali Akbar on the other, while Muhammad bin Hanfia (son of Hanfia and Ali) and Muslim bin Aqeel would be somewhere in the middle. Then he would have attacked the rival army [of 20 million 600 thousand or 30 thousand as the case may be] It would have changed the face of the battlefield at Karbala."
[Imagine how five men could change the fate of such a one-sided battle]
- In the meanwhile God sent down a bird that fluttered its wings over Imam Hussain‘s head. The bird said, "Allah says that if you wish, He shall grant you victory over the adversary." This was Allah's help.
- Then 4,000 angels came on to the Karbala battlefield with shouts of support. However, the Lord of the Martyrs did not allow them to take part in Jihad.
- Then countless Jinns came to offer their services, but the Imam did not accept their offer.
- The Imam brought the suckling infant Prince Ali Asghar out of the tent. He requested the enemy water for the infant. But some barbarian shot an arrow as a response to the request for a sip of water. The little prince breathed his last in the Imam’s arms. The blood that gushed forth, the Imam caught in his palm and threw up to the sky. Not a drop of this sacred blood came back down.
- In the tents, Imam Hussain bade good bye to Sakeena, Fatima, Zainab and Um Kulsoom. Sakeena said, "Baba! Have you prepared yourself for death?" Imam answered, "What can a friendless, helpless person do but accept death?"
PART - 6
Reminder: All criticism of the author is directed to the historians, and not at all to
the respected personalities of Islam - Hazraat Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain [R.A.] all of whom command our reverence and respect.
On the authority of the Qur'an, Allah was pleased with the Prophet's companions and they were pleased with Him. Obviously, unrealistic reverence carried beyond limits becomes SHIRK and insult.
All the references for this chapter can be looked up in Mustatab Saadat-ud-Darain fi Qatlil Hussain by Allama Sarkar Ash-Sheikh Muhammad Hussain, printer Maktabah As-Sibtain. See page 22 of the book in your hands.
Hussain Appears:
Out came Shabbir the tent door
As a gloomy funeral leaves the house
-Mirza Dabeer
[Could the lion-hearted Imam proceed to fight for his martyrdom like a man who dies before dying?]
- Four Thousand archers were showering arrows but the son of the Lion of Allah killed 1,950 rascals. [And that under a shower of arrows. The Lion of Allah refers to Hazrat Ali]
- To get a drink of water, the Imam spurred his horse towards the Euphrates. The arrow of a cursed one pierced his throat. Blood filled his palms and he tossed the blood upwards. His horse of the Lord of Martyrs lowered its head to drink water. The Imam said, "O Steed! Even you are thirsty. I will not drink until you do." But the loyal steed raised back its head. The Imam came back to the tents. He warned his family to get ready for trials and tribulations.
- Then, he went back to the battlefield with the arrow still stuck in his throat and started killing the enemy rank upon rank. The enemy had to re-arrange the troops. So many arrows were shot at the Imam that his 'Naazneen' (femininely delicate) body became like that of a porcupine. Yet, the Imam kept launching his counterattacks. [Re-arranging the troops against one man]
- Battling the enemy, the Imam reached a place called Zulkifl about twelve miles away, with his body as that of a porcupine.
- The wounds received so far were counted and they were 1,950. [We are not told who counted them and how]
- One of the tyrants hurled a stone at his forehead. Then he plunged a three pronged arrow that pierced the Imam's body and went through the pure chest that bore no malice. The Imam unsuccessfully tried to pull out the arrow.
- Then spears, arrows and swords started striking him from all directions. His condition was failing due to thirst. Again and again he was asking for water but the enemy was advancing towards him in droves. [What more could the swords, spears and arrows do to a body already like that of a porcupine?]
- The Imam could not pull out from the front the three pronged arrow piercing his body, so he bent down and pulled it out from the back. [The three-pronged arrow would pull out with it the heart and lungs]
- Blood spurted like a water-fall. He cupped the blood in his hands and tossed it skywards. Not a single drop came back down. [OK]
- One of the tormenters struck him in the back with a spear with such force that the Imam could not stay up on his saddle and landed on his right cheek. But he stood up and walked quite a distance to the place destined for his slaying.
- Hasseen Tameemi shot an arrow into his mouth. Abu Ayyub shot at his throat. Zara'a bin Shareek struck a blow with the sword at his left arm. Another cursed one struck the right shoulder with a sword. Sanan bin Anas struck a spear at the collar bone that made the Imam fall face downwards. Then he got up and pulled out the arrow from his throat.
- Now the enemy surrounded him and they set about to kill him. [What more had they to do for killing him? It appears that the narrators would not pronounce anybody dead until his head was still on the shoulders. Had Imam Hussain not been struck fatal blows already? If his surviving all that was due to some immunity as an Imam, why had Hazrat Ali died of the blow from Ibn Maljam and Imam Hasan from poisoning, both so easily?]
- Now Her Excellency Zainab came to the tent door. She addressed the entire force of the enemy requesting them not to kill the Imam. But, alas! The Bibi could not save her brother's life.
- With the Imam squatting on the ground, Malik bin Nasr struck a sword on his head. The cap underneath his turban got cut up. [The turban and the cap stayed in place after such a fierce struggle!]
- The honored head was split. The cap was filled with blood. The Imam took the cap off. Then he bandaged his head. Quite a while had gone by since his fall to the ground from the horse but no one had the courage to slay him.
- Now Shimar-Al-Joshan came forward. This accursed one had vitiligo. [The narrators seem to have forgotten that earlier they had described him as a leper]
- The accursed Shimar sat down in an indescribably insulant fashion. The Lord of
Martyrs looked toward him and said, "The Prophet was right that he was witnessing a dog with white spots dipping its snout in his family’s blood." [Can such be the language of the exalted Prophet?]
- That heartless man struck twelve times with a blunt sword and severed the head of the Rasool’s grandson from the hind side of his neck. [And our narrators counted those twelve blows centuries later. Or, was someone making an audio-video?]
It is truly amazing to note Munajaat-e-Zainul Abideen, a book supposedly written by Imam Zain in the last year of his life makes no mention of Karbala at all!
PART - 7
Sham-e-Ghareebaan (The Eve of Destitution)
[The contents of this chapter have been taken from many books. References are given at appropriate places]
Reminder: All criticism of the author is directed to the historians, and not at all to the respected personalities of Islam - Hazraat Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain [R.A.] all of whom command our reverence and respect.
Ash-Sheikh Muhammad Hussain says:
- There are a lot of gatherings for wailing. As soon as the Muharram moon is sighted, mourning attire is worn, wailing sessions are held, eulogies and mournful chants are recited, and alluring speeches made, heard, tears shed, heads and faces slapped, and chests beaten. If this is all that we have learnt from the martyrdom of Hussain, then it is no less a tragedy for the Islamic world than the tragedy of Karbala itself.
Matam karain Hussain ka lootain Husnpurah
Mourning Hussain, looting the town of beauties - that's what the congregation does.
- The holy Imams used to richly reward poets reciting acclamatory odes and mournful poems.
- Professional story tellers of the martyrs of Karbala conduct elegy (Marsiah) sessions at prostitute houses and charge them fees.
- If paganism rises from Ka'bah itself, whence could go Islam?
- Speakers and Elegists endeavor to draw acclaim from the audience and win the approval of sponsors.
- The Rasool (S) said, "It is enough for being a liar to repeat all that one hears." (Nehjul Balagha, considered a collection of Hazrat Ali's speeches).
[But the story of Karbala is nothing but word of mouth carried over generations. From the great detail of the story of Karbala appearing in these books, one would think someone was making a running commentary as an eyewitness. The same ailment afflicts our poets]
- The Reciters should not read in a sing song fashion because there is a saying of the Rasool (S) that the first ever song was sung by the Satan when Adam had eaten of the forbidden fruit. (Mun La Yahdhar Al-Faqeeh)
- The reciters portray the Karbala episode as if it was a spectacle of quail fighting quail. (Muqaddama Sa'adah)
- Imam Musa Kazim insisted, "Do not acquire knowledge of Deen from anyone other than Shias."
- Wail and whimper to your heart's content or at least make a mournful expression. In this way, you will eventually become accomplished in the art of crying.
- Imam Hussain's date of birth was the fifth of Sha'ban, 4 AH, 626 CE.
- Rasool (S) nourished Hussain by letting him suckle on his tongue. The Rasool would stick his tongue in Hussain's mouth and he would suck so much that the flesh of the Prince Hussain grew out of the flesh of the Rasool. The Prince did not suck milk from the breast of his mother Syeda Fatima or of any other woman. (Ad-Dama' As-Sakiba)
[This narration is an obvious insult to Imam Hussain, his mother Fatima (R) and to the exalted Prophet. It ridicules common sense, reason, the Laws of Nature and insults human intelligence]
- When Imam Hussain was born, Allah ordered houris to enhance their beautification and the angels to increase glorifying Allah (Bahaarul Anwaar).
- Accompanied by four thousand angels, the angel Gabriel presented his congratulations in the court of Rasoolullah, at the same time offering his condolences (Amali Sheikh Sadooq) [Congratulations and condolences at the same time!]
- One day Ibrahim, the son of Allah's Rasool, and Hussain, his grandson were perched on his left and right thighs respectively. Gabriel appeared with a message from Allah that He did not wish both of them to live so the Prophet must sacrifice one for the other. The Rasool said, "Ibrahim's mother is a bondwoman. If he dies, only I will grieve." (Nafsil Mahmoom)
[The Qur'an had abolished all forms of slavery. Could the exalted Prophet still hold on to slaves? Was not the bondwoman a mother and human?]
- The Rasool said, "I sacrifice Ibrahim for Hussain." So, Ibrahim died three days later. [Note the helplessness of the Almighty, and personality worship to its pinnacle]
- In his lifetime the Rasool brought into being four creatures who were the exact replicas of himself. These were Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain. (Akhlaqul Aimma)
- An Imam and a Prophet must be capable of performing miracles ('Aashir Bahar)
- About the Persian Princess Shahrbano, daughter of Yazdjard son of Shaheryar, son of Parvez, son of Hormuz, son of Cisra Nawshervan: Sheikh Mufeed says that she arrived during the time of the "Visible" Caliphate of the Lord of the Faithful, Hazrat Ali. (Muntakhib-ut-Tawareekh) [There is no mention of an "Invisible" as against a "Visible" caliphate in either the Qur'an or the Hadith. What does the "Invisible" caliphate mean? - That even today it is Hazrat Ali and his Fatimi progeny ruling the Universe]
- Imam Zain-ul-Abedin was born to the same Shahrbano. That is why he is called Ibnul Khairatain (Son of twin nobilities) i.e. the progeny of Bani Hashim of Arabia and of Nawshervan of Persia. (Bahaarul Anwaar). [But was it not her great grandfather, the same insolent Khusro Parvez who tore up the memorandum sent to him by the Rasool (S)? To compare the nobility of the Persian kings to the household of the Prophet betrays the inferiority complex of the narrators and it is an to insult to the exalted Prophet]
- Rubab, that matchless wife of Imam Hussain, lived only a year after the Karbala episode. She spent that entire one year in the sun and never sat in shade. (Muntakhibut Tawareekh)
- Reliable books describe only five wives of Imam Hussain -Shahrbano, Laila, Rubab, Umm-e-Ishaq, Qadha'iyah. He had others in addition. (Muntakhibut Tawareekh)
["Reliable books" mention two hundred wives of Imam Hasan]
- Imam Hussain had four sons and two daughters. The sons were Zainul Abedin, Ali Akbar, Ali Asghar and Ja'far and the daughters were Fatima and Sakeena.
Ali Akbar and Ali Asghar were martyred in Karbala. Ja'far's fate could not be determined. Descendants to Imam Hussain came only through Zainil Abedin. Today Hussain's progeny outnumbers the stars but there is no trace of Yazeed's descendants. [An empty claim]
Quoting from Muntakhibut Tawareekh the Mujtahid writes that the above statement is the gist of Surah Al-Kauthar. In other words, the Surah is addressing Imam Hussain that Allah will give him abundance.
- From the daughters, the lineage proceeded through Fatima Sughra who was the wife of Hasan Muthanna son of Imam Hasan.
[The Qur'an had done away with distinctions of lineage, color, and caste and the exalted Prophet had trampled them under his feet. Is it appropriate to make distinctions on that basis?]
A couplet:
Mohsin Bhopali is around, alive and kicking. May Allah grant him happiness and success! He is a good poet. He wrote a couplet which has become immensely popular since it resonates with the Ummah's line of thinking. Translation:
Nairangiye siaasate doraan tau daikhiye
Manzil unhain mili jo shareeke safar na thay
Witness momentarily the vagaries of the politics in vogue
Destination found those who were not even in the caravan
Whoever lagged behind, neither examined his own shortcomings, nor observed the qualities or the fitting strategy of others, but rather made excuses and played the blame game.
What a calumny that the author of Saadat-ud-Darain uses this couplet to incriminate Sahaba Karam (the companions of the exalted Prophet)! He says, "The true successors of the Rasool were cast aside to sit at home and the others captured the Khailafat."
The Right to Rule
[Hazraat Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali would never covet government ranks. In fact, whenever an office was offered to them they considered it a burden. The Rasool (S) had declared, "We do not confer office upon someone who seeks it. So, these God conscious honorables could never covet power and rule (Khilafah
or the Blessed Government). Nor could the Rasool (S) authorize hierarchy. According to the Qur'an, character can be the only measure of a person's superiority.
Muhammad Ali Bab of Iran who launched the Bahai creed in the Nineteenth century was a descendant of the exalted Prophet. Father of (late) King Hussain of Jordan, the Sharif of Makka, was a descendant of the Prophet as well. But he joined hands with Lawrence of Arabia for pitting Arabs against the Turks?
If the criterion of esteem is the ancestry or race, all Muslims should accept Prince Kareem Agha Khan as the Imam and unite under his leadership since he is a descendant of the exalted Messenger. And yes, the drunkard poet, Josh Maleehabadi of "Yadon Ki Barat" also claimed to be a descendant of the Rasool (S)]
[LINEAGE: Contrary to the Qur'an and sayings of the exalted Prophet, we find the Shia scholars laying great emphasis on progeny. Such and such was an illegitimate child and therefore ----. Such and such was the son of a "Masum" (sinless), therefore he was perfect.
Millions of Syeds! Yet, we notice, especially in the Indo-Pak subcontinent, every Tom, Dick and Harry to be a "Syed" meaning a direct descendant of the Prophet (S). Not only is this a mathematical impossibility, but the hard fact remains that the vast majority of Muslims in the subcontinent originate from those who had converted to Islam from Hinduism. Countless ignorant people consider the 12 Imams and these "Syeds" as Ma'soom meaning innocent or sinless and revere them just on that account!]
The Favorite Tales of Denying Water to the Foe
[Perhaps for emotional impact, stopping water supply finds great favor with our historians as a weapon of the oppressors] On the authority of the so-called Imam Tabari, "Mujtahid" Muhammad Hussain writes, "The besieging forces surrounded Hazrat Uthman’s palace and stopped the supply of water to him. Hasan and Hussain managed to get through with water-skins defying blockade by thousands upon thousands!" [Just two men against thousands]
- The Battle of Jamal took place on 10th of Jamadiuthani, 36 AH Hazrat Ali was 59 at the time. The world witnessed the sword that gleamed in the Battles of Badr, Uhad, Khandaq and Khyber against the infidels, now shining against Talha, Zubair and Ayesha. Thirty thousand lives were lost. [The world witnessed nothing like that. The Criminals of Islam who were Muslims in disguise, spun this tale and Jareer bin Rustam Tabari recorded it as history 280 years after these Sahaba Karam]
- Muawia seized the access to river Euphrates and stopped the supply of water to Ali r.a. Then, Hazrat Ali's forces snatched the riverbank but did not deny water
to the enemy. This happened during the Battle of Saffain in which seventy thousand (mostly Sahaba Karam) perished. [This story is an invention of the so-called Imam Shahab Zahri and written by "Imam" Jareer bin Rustam Tabari. It is fascinating to note the Mullah-in-Chief of the 20th century, Maulana Syed Abul A'la Maududi (Our Master, Owner, Father of the Most Glorious, Maududi) saying, "If we do not believe in such stories, what will be left with us?"]
- In the Battle of Saffain (37AH) Abu Musa Ash'ari said to Umro bin Al-’Aas, "You are a dog". Umro responded, "You are an ass."
[Could the people groomed by the Rasool (S) behave like this?]
- However, in 38 AH, Hazrat Ali had to battle with the Khawarij (Those who broke away). It is called the Battle of Nahrwan. The Khawarij, who were on Hazrat Ali’s side in the Battle of Saffain became estranged because of his negotiating truce with Muawia. Thousands were killed in the Battle of Nahrwan as well." (Tabari)
- Muawia the Governor of Syria, occupied Egypt and started a guerilla war against Hazrat Ali's army" (Tabari).
[How could the Islamic Empire continue to thrive in spite of such destructive civil wars?]
Hazrat Ali's Assassination
- Hazat Ali resolved to invade Muawia in Damascus to end the friction once and for all. He delivered a forceful sermon in the Koofa mosque and obtained popular support. Alas! Not a week had passed when on the 19th of Ramadhan, 40 AH, right in the middle of his praying in the mosque, Abdur Rahman Ibn Maljam Muradi Al-Kharji struck on his head with a sword steeped in poison. He succumbed to the wounds on Ramadhan 21. [It is odd that Imam Ali, who was supposed to be aware of each and every event, anywhere and at all times up to the Doomsday, remained unaware of the impending attack of Ibn Maljam! If that is assumed as a reconcilement with fate, why did he exhort his forces to attack Damascus? Was he going to maneuver blood-shed amongst Muslims? Was his assassin indeed a Muslim named Abdur Rehman Ibni Muljim from the Khawarij and if so, was it his individual act? Is it possible that he (Ali) fell to another Maggian plot? See Chapter 13]
- Hazrat Ali was so fed up with his people that he had been harboring a death wish. He would say, "You have filled my heart with pus and my chest with grief and exasperation." ["The Lion of Allah" could not have said this. He never was a despondent man]
- The Amir Ali used to say, "I wish that Muawiya takes ten men from me and in return give me just one of his. It would be like exchanging gold with silver."
(Nehjul Balagha, Irshad-e-Mufeed)
The Splitting Poison
- Amir Muawiya, through a conspiracy with Ja'adah, a wife of Imam Hasan, had her administer him poison that split the Imam's liver into pieces. Ja'adah was paid one hundred thousand dirhams and she was promised marriage with Yazeed. (Irshad-e-Mufeed)
[There might be a poison that can split the liver into pieces, but this defies known medical science. Also, it is a matter of deliberation that Imam Hasan was a person capable of throwing away thousands of dirhams in charity. How could his wife be bought off for a hundred thousand silver coins? Also the point to ponder is that in various books on the subject, Yazeed has been depicted as ugly, characterless and vulgar. How could Ja'adah or any other woman prefer Yazeed to Imam Hasan? According to the same historical accounts, Imam Hasan was extremely rich, generous and commanded spiritual authority. He had more than ample resources, huge following, and a harem of four hundred wives, concubines and slaves]
Further Calumny
- Imam Hussain sent a forceful letter to Muawiya and challenged him to deny that he had taken a born slave, Ziyad bin Sumaiyya, as brother (Kitab-e-Irshad). [Again the falsehood of slaves and color and race! The Qur'an had categorically abolished slavery by declaring that all humans are worthy of honor regardless of where they are born. Nothing but character would endow distinction to individuals]
- Muawiya poisoned Abdur Rahman, son of Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed through his Jewish physician. That poison rent apart his belly (Kitab-e-Isti'ab). [We do not know what poison would do that]
- (Before that) the chief aid to Hazrat Ali, Malik Ashtar had also been killed by poisoning (Tabari). His tummy had also split asunder.
- Muawiya said to Imam Hussain, "You are a lamb of sacrifice!" (Nasikh-ut-Tawarikh = Eraser of All Histories)
- When Muawiya lost hope of any support from Aisha, he dug a pit and she fell in that pit to her demise (Kitabei-Awail by Jalaluddin Sayyuti).
- In 60 AH, after ruling for a full forty years, Amir Muawiya died at the age of 78 or 85 (Tabari and Sa'ada). [A discrepancy of seven years is nothing. Our smart historians can get away even with a century]
- Yazeed was a drunkard, lover of kebabs, and a drug addict. He wore silk and played on the tambourine (Sa'ada). He used to dress up monkeys as Ulema and made them dance.
- While proceeding to the Battle of Tabuk, the Prophet appointed Ali as his deputy in Madinah. His companions became sure that he would appoint Ali as his successor. So, they hatched a plot for killing the Prophet. While he was on his way back from the Battle, 12 to 14 men advanced toward him and attempted to assassinate him. Hazrat Umar was one of the assailants! He once swore to Hazeefa, "By God! I am of the hypocrites." (Meezanul E'tidal, by Imam Zahabi)
- Hadzat Umar stated, "When at the event of Ghadeer, the Rasool announced Ali to be the Master, Mun Kuntu Maulahu Fa Ali-yu Maula, a handsome, fragrant young man happened to be standing near me. He told me that the Prophet had that day tied a knot that none but a hypocrite would be able to undo." The Rasool said to Janab-e-Thani (the second Caliph) Hazrat Umar, "O Umar! This was Angel Gabriel. You better be careful and never untie that knot." (Muwaddah, Syed Hamadani).
[Dear reader! Such are the tales concocted in the mythology of religions. Angels become fragrant young men, walk around and make miracles. For committing sins, they are suspended in wells and their beloved beauties are hung in the sky as Venice. Think of the Mullah commentaries of the Qur'an relating to angels Haroot and Maroot]
- In Safar 11 A.H, a few days before he died, the Rasool, held back Ali and commanded the trio of companions, i.e. Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman to leave Madinah and go away for fighting the Romans under the command of Usama bin Zaid. He wanted them away in order to prevent them from disputing the Caliphate of Ali. But, they did not leave. (Al-Milil Wanahil)
[What sort of company had the exalted Prophet selected? The Qur'an calls him Al-Muzammil = The best selector of companions]
The Paper Episode: In his last days the Rasool wanted to write down a decree to save Muslims from straying. But the Number Two (Hazrat Umar) barred him stating, Innarrajul liyahjur (This man is talking delirious). Hasbuna Kitabullah (Allah’s Book is sufficient for us.) (Muslim, Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal etc)
[These very books claim that the companions were not present with the Rasool at the time of his death. Then, they also say that after this so-called Paper Episode, the Prophet lived three more days. Could he not write down the decree later? Could he not give verbal command for others to write? Why would he leave this Paper pending till the last days of his 23 years old Mission as the Prophet?]
- If the companions did not refrain from making an attempt on the
Prophet’s life for personal ends, murdering his grandson was no big deal for them. (Sa’ada)
- When the Prophet died, the companions abandoned his dead body and disappeared. They came back after three full days. Number one (Hadhrat Abu Bakr) too came back after three days and thus the corpse remained without coffin and burial for three days. People were busy pledging allegiance to Number One. (Tabari and Seera Halabia)
[The son of the defeated Persia, Rustam's Zoroastrian son Tabari has woven a yarn from which none of our historians has managed to break loose. The Qur’an bestows laurels on Sahaba Karam in the most luminous ways]
- The same Tabari writes, "Hazrat Umar accompanied by some others came at the door of Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Fatima with firewood and said, "Come out and pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr, otherwise I will set your house on fire."
[Such was the blinding magic of Tabari that Allama Shibli Nomani writes in his 20th century book, Al-Farooq: Considering the fiery temperament of Hazrat Umar, such behavior was not beyond him]
- Number One (Abu Bakr) arranged fire and firewood and Number Two (Umar) carried this stuff. So, it is not surprising that Shimar raised his sword against Imam Hussain 50 years later.
Inheritance
Mujtahid Muhammad Hussain asserts, "It is a settled principle of Islamic Shari'a that sons and daughters must inherit their father's property." [He has not made plain whether he is referring to a
Mullahmade Shari'a or it is a Commandment from the Qur'an. The Qur'an is explicit on this subject. Making a will is an obligation (2:180), and can be in benefaction of anyone, whether someone of the kin, or not. The prescribed shares of relatives are only from the estate leftover after distribution according to the will (if any 4:11).
- Syeda Fatima died of grief that she her inheritance of the Garden of Fadak was denied.
[Is not this assertion a grievous insult to the noble lady? Both Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Fatima had been trained by the exalted Prophet and they were above and beyond the petty craving for wealth or power]
- Election of Hazrat Uthman was disastrous for Islam." (Sa’ada)
[On the other hand, for centuries after the reign of Hazrat Uthman, Islam advanced like a torrent that no one could hold back]
- Imam Ibn-e-Taimiya, Mohyuddin Ibn Arabi, Mullah Ali Qari, Hafiz
Ibn-e-Hajar, Haji Makki, and Imam Ghazali et al have applauded the killing of Imam Hussain! (Sa'adah) [Isn’t it pathetic? Like all others, these big names will be answerable for their doings]
- Imam Hasan had handed over his own Caliphate to Amir Muawiya with the stipulation that after Imam Hasan the Caliphate would return to Hasan's family. (Isti'aab) [What happened to the Qur'anic injunction of Shura i.e. Mutual counsel?]
- Amir Muawia used to be served a huge variety of dishes, more than seventy at every meal time. He would exhaust himself of eating and eating but his stomach never got filled. (Anwarul Lugha)
Yazeed, Son of Hazrat Muawiya
There was no consensus in the reign of Amir Muawiya. (Ibid)
If the government is run without Shura (mutual counsel) and power is transferred through inheritance, it would be a monarchy, not a caliphate. [How could, then, Caliphate flow in Hazrat Ali's progeny, generation after generation? - It would be Monarchy]
- Yazeed son of Muawiya raised dogs, monkeys and leopards. He used to wed his step-mothers and took his daughters and sisters in marriage. He drank openly. At nights, surrounded by hoards of thieves and robbers, he loved to listen to the tales of loot and plunder. He used to dress up monkeys as the Ulema and then made them dance. (Tareekhul Khulafa)
[Here, one speculates that the imagination of our historians has peaked out but]
- Three days and nights in Hijrah 62, Yazeed ransacked Madinah. Ten thousand people of Madinah were killed and seven hundred companions of the exalted Prophet were put to death. Hundreds of women and three hundred virgins were dishonored. He had mules and donkeys tied in Masjid-e-Nabvi. (Ibid)
- Imam Zahabi writes, "Due to Yazeed's evil doings, God did not prolong his life and he died in 64 AH at the age of 30 and many of his daughters were widowed at the ages of five and six. (Meezanul E'tidaal) No, he lived to be 38. (Tareekhul Khulafa)
[The assumption seems to be that dying young is a sign of vice and dying old is a sign of virtue! The problem is that many Imams of the Athna Asri Shias died
young. For example Imam Hasan Askari lived only up to age 28. On the other hand Amir Muawiya’s life was blessed with longevity!]
- Mujtahid Muhammad Hussian, the author of Sa’ada expounds on the authorities of Ahmad bin Hanbal, Syed Aloosi, Ibn-e-Jozi, Jalaluddin Sayyuti, Qazi Shahabuddin, Imam Zahabi, and Mullah Abdul Hayee Farangi Mahli: To keep cursing Yazeed is true worship. [But, the Qur'an declares that those of old have passed on, and you shall not even be questioned about what they used to do]
- Khilafah is not child's play, Khala ji ka ghar nahin. (Anwarul Lugha)
[So, why keep it confined in one family?]
- Our historian seems to forget the account he just rendered about Yazeed's attack on Madinah. The Mujtahid now says on page 142, "One thousand virgins were deflowered and every one of those girls became pregnant. One thousand companions of the Rasool were put to sword, seven hundred Qaris (reciters) of the Qur'an were slaughtered, dogs and wolves were let loose in the Masjid Nabawi.
Is there any hope of Yazeed's salvation?" [Shouldn’t the Mullah be more concerned about his own redemption?]
Prayers
- The Mujtahid Muhammad Hussain has penned a line to the effect:
Who would have said prayers if Hussain had not sacrificed his head?
[Who indeed is 'saying prayers', Sunnis? - According to Muhaddith Al-Jazairi, and some other ulema, a Sunni's prayer is fornication! Tafseeril Burhan, attributed to Imam Ja'far Sadiq.
Shi'as? - Well, according to Abdul Qadir Jilani the prayer of a Shi'a is idolatery. Ghaniatut Talibeen]
- Imam Hussain took up his Jihad with the purpose of promoting virtue and stopping evil. (Qumqam) Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlavi writes that the insurrection by Imam Hussain was for liberating the masses from tyranny. The Mujtahid says that the Imam razed to the ground the palace of Yazeed. [When did that happen? The actual objective of Imam Hussain's strife has remained a matter of contention between our historians]
Despair
It is narrated from Hazrat Ali in Amali Sheikh Suddooq, "I, Fatimah, Hasan and Hussain were with Allah's Messenger. Suddenly he looked at us and started crying over the atrocities that we were destined to face." Hazrat Ali broke down
so much that tears started trickling down from his beard onto his chest. [Neither the Messenger of Allah, nor the great Hazrat Ali was such weakling as to break down in the fashion described. They were the noble ones who, with resolution, character and valor changed the world forever]
- Imam Hasan said, "A poison will be secretly sent to my martyrdom."
(Addam'ah As-Sakiba) [The same book repeatedly asserts that nothing remains hidden from an Imam]
- Imam Hasan told Imam Hussain, "Blood will rain from the skies on your slaying and everything in the universe will scream weeping over the tribulation. Even the beasts in the jungles and fish in the oceans will be shedding tears. (Ibid)
[If you can make today's enlightened generation drink this kind of Islam, more power to you!]
- Nafsil Mahmoom, Aashir Bahaar and other books repeatly claim that the calamities and tribulations were preordained for Imam Hussain and his household. [But, the Qur'an does not preach fatalism at all. Layisa lil Insaani illa ma sa'aa (A human deserves that which he strives for). Man determines his own destiny. And if we accept predestination then the entire bustle and bother is pointless. Why keep crying over the spilt milk?]
- Imam Hussain said, "I have heard from my grandfather (the exalted Prophet) that Khilafah is contraband for the seed of Abi Sufian." (Aashir Bihaar and Malhoof) [According to the Qur'an, kinship and ancestry carry no significance. The only criterion of superiority among people is character. Hence, the Messenger of Allah could not have said this]
- Before departing from Madinah, Hussain saw a dream that made him cry. He broke down crying at the grave of the exalted Messenger. Then, he cried after meeting his kin. He prayed, "O Allah! Guide me to the path that pleases You and Your Messenger. Then, he cried a great deal. (Maqtal Awalim, Aashir-ud-Damah) [Obvious contradictions abound in these reports - Predestiny, Approval of Allah and His Messenger, yet, Hussain the son of the Lion of Allah (Ali), breaking down in tears at each and every step! And that too when Paradise, the venerated grandfather, parents and kith and kin were awaiting him in there]
- Half-brother of Imam Hussain, Muhammad bin Hanfia, did not accompany him to Karbala from Madinah. The Imam took the progeny of his paternal grandfather Abu Talib. This included the Imam's two sisters, Zainab and Umm Kulsoom, brothers and their sons. For some unknown reason, none from the clan of Banu Hashim except the descendants of Abu Talib accompanied him.
The poet Mir Anees lamented:
Where was Madiah and where Karbala
The traveler of whence came whence
Reminder: All criticism of the author is directed to the historians, and not at all to the respected personalities of Islam - Hazraat Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain [R.A.] all of whom command our reverence and respect.
PART - 8
After Hussain’s Martyrdom
- There was convulsion in the universe. Dark storms raged. Earthquakes rocked the whole of earth. Blood rained from the skies. There was thunder all around. Darkness fell all over and stars became visible in daytime. Total darkness lasted for three days. Apparel and buildings became red with blood raining from skies. Blood filled every pitcher and pot. Blood oozed out even when a pebble was moved. (Aashir, Qumqam, Tareekh Ibn Asakir, Sawaaiq)
- These books state that for three days, people around the world came to think that end of the world had come. [However, such a huge universal turbulence finds no mention in the histories of Rome, Egypt, Greece, India and other countries]
- What you call the red of twilight was never seen before the martyrdom of the Lord of Martyrs. The twilight is in fact the blood of the Karbala martyrs. (Sawaaiq)
- When Hussain was martyred Allah sent down seventy thousand angels at Karbala who would keep on shrieking in grief until the Doomsday. These facts prove that weeping and wailing over the martyrdom of Hussain and expressing grief and sorrow is a way of the Almighty God. The Almighty God has been crying since that fateful 10th day of Muharram and will keep on crying. (Ghuniat-ut- Talibeen) Imam Shehristani writes that Allah cried so much over Karbala that His eyes became sore and angels came to Him asking about His health. [So, God is not Almighty. He is a helpless God]
- To throw dust in one’s beard and on the head on 'Aashura, the 10th day of Muharram, is a tradition of the exalted Prophet. (Tirmizi Shareef, vol ii Pg 218, Delhi Edition). [It should be borne in mind that the exalted Prophet had passed away 50 years before the supposed Karbala tragedy. Let us hear more from the historians writing three to five centuries after the supposed events]
- The barbarians even stripped off the clothes on the holy body of Imam Hussain, the clothes that were already in tatters. The shirt was stripped by Ishaq Hadhree, the trousers by Abjar Tameemi, the turban by Akhnas Hazrami, shoes by Aswad
bin Khalid, and the ring by Bajad Al-Kalibi. He also cut off the finger while doing so. The Imam's shawl was pulled by Qais bin Ash'ash. Umar bin Sa'd took away the armor called Tabra and men from the 'Adoo tribe made away with his sword. This was not the famous sword Zulfiqar since that happens to be with Imam Mahdi in occultation (Malhoof).
- All of the ten horse-riders who trampled Hussain's corpse under the hoofs, proved to be bastards by studies undertaken by Abu Umar Zahid as recorded in Malhuf. [And this research took place five hundred years later! Ah, Islam had come to do away with all manmade distinctions of color, race, and ancestry. With Allah, every human being is respectable as a birth right regardless of his origin]
- After Imam's martyrdom, his horse toppled forty riders of the enemy and trampled them to death. (Manaqib Shahr Ashob). No! The charger reddened its forehead with Imam's blood and started knocking its head on the earth until it died (Aashir Bahar). Sorry, again! The horse committed suicide in the Imam's grief by drowning itself in the Euphrates (Nasikhut Tawareekh).
The Household
- The poet ignites the story-teller thus:
Cart away mementos of Ali and Batool
Drive away captives the family of Rasool
- Those left behind after Imam Hussain, were the sick Imam Zainul Abedin bin Hussain, a few ladies in purdah, and some children. Those who plundered goods from them met with a sorry fate. The man that used the looted saffron got burnt. The henna became ashes and the camel meat turned poison bitter.
- Imam Zainul Abedin was in captivity. Yet, through a miracle, he personally led the funeral of his father. He became two persons, one there and one here. (Rijal Kushi)
- Then, Imam Zainul Abedin moved a little dust from the grave-site. A grave was found already well-prepared. The sick Imam lifted his father’s body all by himself and lowered it into the grave. (Lil-Maqram)
The Sacred Head
Question: Where is the head of Imam Hussain?
Answers:
- It is buried in Madinah. (Usool-e-Kafi, Tehzeebil Ahkam)
- It is near the grave of Imam Hasan Mujtaba in Madinah. (Khulasat-ul-Wafa)
- No! It is somewhere else in Jannatul Baqee' (Fatawa Qartabi)
- It was buried by the side of Ali the Ameer in Najaf Ashraf. (Kaamil-uz-Ziarah)
- No again. It is in the Riqqah Mosque. (Abdullah bin Razzaq)
- The Prophet himself rose from his tomb and came from Madinah and by way of a miracle, took away the head from Damascus to Madinah. All other tales are false. (Qutub Rawindi)
- Impossible! The fact is that Yazeed paraded the head in many towns for public view. People carried it from place to place until it ended up in Asqalan. The chief of Asqalan buried it there.
- Wrong! Yazeed deposited the head in his treasury. When Sulaiman bin Abdul Malik came to the throne, he learned of the head's presence in the treasury. He saw the head radiant like polished silver. After keeping it with him for some time, he wrapped it in a shroud and got it buried with respects. [The time of this burial is supposed to be 98 AH i.e. 37 years after the supposed event of Karbala. The authors of Sawaa'iq and Tehzeeb recorded the treasury to burial story centuries later]
- No, No! Umar bin Abdul Aziz buried the head in Karbala during his reign in 100 AH. (Ibne Qayyim)
- Tehzeebul Ahkam records also that when Abbasids came to power in 130 AH (750 CE) they plundered Yazeed's treasury. A soldier caught sight of a bag. When he untied the bag in an isolated field, he saw the sacred head wrapped in silk. It had an Arabic writing on it, "This is the head of Hussain bin Ali." Secretly, the soldier dug the ground with his sword and buried the head. [The soldier had secretly buried the head but Ibn Hasan Toosi of Tehzeebil Ahkam got wind of it three hundred years later. One may recall that the same author of the Tahzeeb had mentioned Sulaiman bin Abdul Malik in this context]
- Ibn Jozi rebuts all this. According to him, the Abbasid Caliph Mansoor found the head in a locked box in the treasury of the Umayyads. He buried it in Damascus.
- Sensing the abundance of the flying tales, another historian named Maqraizi, flayed all other chroniclers, and brought forth his own 'research'. He writes that in the times of Crusades, for fear of the Christians, the head was taken from Damascus to Asqalan. It was then dug up again on the 8th of Jamadiul Awwal, 548 AH and brought to Cairo. The head gave off the fragrance of musk and was dripping of fresh blood. That is where it was buried.
The Essence of Narratives
- Truth was beheaded in Karbala. Shimar's dagger cut off Imam Hussain's head" (Nafsil Mahmoom). [Earlier, it was said that the sacred head was severed by twelve blows of Shimar's sword (Nafsil Mahmum). If Truth was beheaded, all sacrifice ended in vain]
- The head of the Martyr in the Way of Allah was raised up high on a spear. That was the moment that the truth was decapitated. (Shaheed-e-Insaniat.
[If that is so, Muhammad Ali Jauhar is wrong in his poetry:
Hussain's murder is indeed death to Yazeed
Islam gets revived after each Karbala]
- Bibi Shahr Bano took her own life by jumping in the Euphrates (Manaqib, Ibn Shahr Ashob)
- (Impossible)! Bibi Shahr Bano died at the birth of Imam Zainul Abedin. (Israrush Shahadat)
- According to Kitab-e-Israr, Bibi Shar Bano rode away to Jabal-e-Toos on the Imam's steed and her end remains one of the unsolved mysteries of Nature. [But the Imam's steed had died too]
- The caravan of the captives of Karbala consisted of a string of 40 camels carrying Fatima's progeny, some children and some women. (Ashir Bahar) [Forty camels sound far too many for such a small number]
- Fatima Sughra bint Hussain said to a person from Koofa, "Sit you like a dog, the way your father used to." (Malhoof) [The author of Malhoof is presenting this as a specimen of Fatima Junior's eloquence]
- Imam Zainul Abedin said to Ibn Ziad, "No one dies without Allah's Decree. My father also died by His Decree." (Maqatilut Taalibin) [With such firm faith in Allah's will it would not befit him to wail in Ibn Ziyad's court]
- Imam Hussain's head was being paraded in the streets of Koofa. The head was constantly reciting the ayahs, "See that the matter of the People of Kahf and Raqeem was one of Our unique signs." The audience spoke out, "O Son of the Prophet! Your case is even more wondrous!" (Ashir Bahar)
Every Clan will Long for Hussain … but
- Imam Hussain used to call us profanities. Imam Hussain used to draw his sword to slay us. (Bani Ziyad's taunt, Nasikhut Tawareekh)
- When this destitute caravan was entering Syria, Yazeed was watching the scene from the top of his castle in Jerone. A crow cawed and Yazeed was delighted. He started humming a tune, "I have settled scores with the Prophet." [Tabeen Najafi, the author of Tazkiratul Khawas, hears this caw-caw five hundred years later]
- Damascus was wearing a festive look that day (Qumqam). [How could the Muslim masses celebrate the martyrdom of the exalted Prophet's grandson?]
- One of the fifty people who brought the Imam’s head from Koofa to
Damascus reported that they had a round of drinking around the sacred head. One dark night it so happened, that the gates of heaven were flung open with thunder and lightning. All Messengers from Adam to Muhammad descended, accompanied by Gabriel and thousands of other angels. Gabriel lifted the sacred head, embraced and kissed it. All other Messengers (124,000) then did the same. Looking at the head of his grandson, the Prophet of Allah wept profusely. Other Messengers helped him compose himself. (Nafsil Mahmoom). [Angel Gabriel should have carried the head to heavens]
- Ibn Jozi has written in his Tazkarah, "Five hundred years before the birth of the Prophet, there was a verse etched on a stone in Siryani language that there would be a people who slay Hussain and yet hope for intercession by his grandfather. [Ibn Jozi does not tell us who saw the stone and where]
- Near a mountain called Joshan, one of Hussain’s wives suffered a miscarriage. There were some people at work nearby. She requested them for some water to drink. They not only rejected her request but spoke rudely. The lady cursed them. There was a red copper-mine in that mountain. That mine suddenly exploded (Mo'jamil Baldan). [Why could her curse not destroy the army of Ibn Ziyad?]
- It is reported in Maqtalil Hussain, "In the bazaars of Syria, the sacred head of Hussain went on counting beads of a rosary. It was calling out, "My martyrdom and the mounting of my head on the spear is more wonderous than the story of Dwellers of the Cave." [The Mullah takes this yarn as strengthening the faith, whereas the educated young make fun of their own religion when they hear such irrationalities]
The Royal Court of Yazeed
- On the command from Yazeed, a dining cloth was spread over the sacred head. Yazeed indulged in a drinking spree along with his friends. He placed the head in a platter of gold and placed a pillow on it and spread chessboard over the pillow. When Yazeed would win rounds of chess from his friends, he would drink three chalices of liquor and would spill the froth near the sacred head. He kept on repeating, "This is the revenge for Badr." (Mun La Yahdhar)
- Yazeed read out to Imam Zainul Abedin the verse from the
Qur'an, "The misfortune that befalls you is a consequence of your misdeeds." "This ayah is not for us", said Imam Zainul Abedin. (Aqdul Fareed)
- Yazeed asked, "What ayah has been revealed for you?" The Imam replied, "All misfortunes that come to you are pre-ordained." So we are people who do not mourn our dead. (Tafseer Qummi) [Do we notice the open contradiction here? For centuries, grieving and mourning has indeed been an integral part of the lives of these Mullahs and their followers. Is not the continued 'ceremonial' weeping and wailing these books so often attribute to the family of the exalted Prophet demeaning to his household? Isn't it against the honored Imam's own injunctions? Is there another people in the world that consider wailing and mourning an integral part of worship?
As Allama Iqbal said,
Hear the bustle of merriment in the mansions of the West
And have a glimpse at Iran getting ready for chest-beating]
- By Yazeed’s orders the sacred head of Imam Hussain was hung at the gate of his palace and then, for forty days it remained perched on the minaret of the Jama' Masjid (Nafsil Mahmoom). [Could the thousands upon thousands of the Muslim masses idly witness the insult?]
- A lady of the house, Hind bint Abdullah bin Aamir left the harem of the Lord of Martyrs and became a wife of Yazeed. (Ashir Bahar) [What! This is another serious insult to Imam Hussain]
The Sick Imam (Zainul Abedin)
- Yazeed commanded a policeman to take Imam Zainul Abedin to a certain garden, kill him and bury him there. He took the Imam to the garden and dug a grave with his sword. He was at the point of killing the Imam when an invisible hand slapped him so hard in the face that he died and fell buried in the same grave (Tazallum-uz-Zahra). [Why did not such miracle happen for Imam Hussain?]
- Imam Zainul Abedin was 23 at the time of the Karbala tragedy. Historians reports that he incessantly wept over the woes of his late father for forty years. [These add up to 63 years. Malhoof records his year of birth as 38 AH and of his demise in AH 95. If he lived for 57 years in all, how is it that he kept weeping till he was 63? And if he incessantly cried forty years long, what became of his status as Imam!]
- As it happened, Ali son of Imam Hussain (Zainul Abedin) set off towards the
desert. His slave followed him and heard him wailing loudly. The slave tried to calm him down and asked, "O My Master! Will your wailing ever stop?" He replied, "Prophet Yaqub had twelve sons. One of them, Yusuf was away from his presence for a while and even though he was still alive, Hazrat Yaqub had become almost blind crying for his son. I, on the other hand, have seen seventeen of my household lying dead including my father, brother and others. So my wailing cannot stop." (Malhoof) [This does not befit an ordinary man of faith, let alone a person of the stature of the Imam. Those honorable models of fortitude could not have spent their lives in wailing and crying.
PART - 9
Reminder: All criticism of the author is directed to the historians, and not at all to the respected personalities of Islam - Hazraat Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain [R.A.] all of whom command our reverence and respect.
Some Leading Characters
Let us now look at the facts. Unfortunately, whatever dogmas we are raised up with since childhood, become a part of our inner self. Indeed, they intertwine with our emotional fabric. That is why people in general tend to block their minds to new information and even get upset. A Mullah would conveniently dispense the verdict of infidelity.
Alas, hundreds of thousands of things to be said
Remained unsaid for fear of mass commotion
- A poet
However, according to Qur'an, concealing the truth is a great offense (2/140). To begin with, here are the years of death of some notables:
Years of Birth and Demise
AH (Al-Hijrah) CE (The Common Era)
The exalted Prophet Muhammad 11 570-632
Hazrat Abu-Bakr Siddiq 13 573- 634
Hadhrat Umar Farooq 23 583-644 Hazrat Uthman 35 583-656
Hazrat Ali ibn Abi-Talib 40 600-661
THE SHI'A IMAMS (Years of death given in AH only)
1. Ali ibn Abi-Talib ..... 40 ….. 600-661
2. Hasan bin Ali .…. 49 ….. 625-670
3. Hussain bin of Ali ….. 61….. 626-680
4. Zainul Abedin bin Hussain ….. 95 ….. 659-712
5. Muhammad Baqir bin Zain ….. 117 .…. 676-731
6. Ja'far Sadiq bin Baqir .…. 148 .…. 702-765
7. Musa Kazim bin Ja'far .…. 182 .…. 746-799
8. Ali Raza bin Musa Kazim .…. 20 .…. 765-818
9. Muhammad Jawad Taqi bin Raza .…. 220 ….. 811-835
10. Ali Hadi Naqi bin Taqi ….. 254 …... 846-868
11. Hasan Askari bin Naqi ….. 260 ….. 846-870
12. Abul Qasim Muhammad Al-Muntazar Imam-uz-Zaman Al-Mahdi (if at all born) - exact year of birth not known. It was 254 or 255 AH. He disappeared at age four or five in 260 AH = 874 CE.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Hazrat Muawiya ….. 60 ….. 604-680 (First Banu Ummayad Ruler)
Yazeed bin Muawiya ….. 64 ….. 645-683
Now let us have a look at the chronology of the historians who initially committed our history to writing, including the Karbala episode. Although the historians are a different commodity from the Muhadhithin (writers of Hadith) yet, both groups trespass their boundaries whenever they wish. Therefore, we find history mixed up with Hadith and vice versa. These massive volumes are loaded with endless amount of contradictions within themselves and against each other since all these books were based on word of mouth. 'He heard from him who heard from her, and she heard from so and so who in turn heard it from this and that. Then there is the description and analyses of the character and credibility of the persons in the 'chains of narration'. The funny thing is that one narrator who is trustworthy before ten "scholars" is a fabricating liar before another ten.
Most Prominent Historians & Muhadhithin
Author with Year of Death
- Imam Ibn Jareer Tabari 310 (923 CE) - The first exponent of the Qur'an and the first ever historian)
Imams of Sunni Hadith:
- Imam Muhammad Ismail Bukhari 256 AH (870 CE)
- Imam Muslim Bin Hajjaj Al-Qasheeri 261 AH (875 CE)
- Abu Abdullah Ibn Yazeed Ibn Majah 273 AH (886 CE)
- Suleman Abu Dawood 275 AH (888 CE)
- Imam Abu Musa Tirmizi 279 AH (883 CE)
- Imam Abdur Rahman Nisai 303 AH (915 CE)
Imams of Shi'a Hadith:
- Sheikh Muhammad Bin Yaqoob Bin Ishaq Al-Kaleeni 329 (941 CE)
- Sheikh Saddooq Abu Ja'far bin Ali Tabrasi 381 (993 CE)
- Sheikh Abu Ja'far Muhammad Ibn-e-Hasan Toosi 460 (1,071 CE )
Imams of Fiqh (Jurists - AH year of death):
- Imam Malik Bin Anas 179
- Imam Abu Hanifa 150
- Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal 241
- Imam Shafi'i 204
The greatly revered Mulla Jalaluddin Rumi wrote about the Imams of Fiqh:
They sculpted four sects out of the True Deen (Religion)
And created a rift in the Deen of the exalted Prophet
Further on the same Rumi says:
The Companions so loved of this world that
They abandoned Mustafa (the Prophet) coffinless
The "Science" of Asma-ur-Rijaal
These were the names of the gurus of our history and tradition. Here it is noteworthy that first history of Muslims was written by Tabari, about 250 years after the exalted Prophet and 225 years after the supposed incident of Karbala. And he had nothing in his hands to refer to. In fact, he admits in the very beginning of his "Mother of all Histories" that he was writing only that which others were narrating. The narrators, therefore, should be held responsible for any and all errors.
From the Shiite standpoint, history was first recorded by Imam Kaleeni later than Tabari, at the start of the fourth century AH or about 240 years after the supposed Karbala. Tabari and Kaleeni both built their fancies on hearsay. "He heard from so and so who heard from so and so, and so on."
Besides being gullible, we Muslims have a strange characteristic. We take pride in what we should be ashamed of! The scandal that should shame us is the so-called "Science" of Men's Names (Isma-ur-Rijaal). The Mullah thumps his breast claiming that Muslims have preserved the names of their 500,000 self-proclaimed narrators/scholars. Dr. James Gibbs of Great Britain has correctly assailed Muslims over this spectacle, "The Muslims possess a living Book but, sitting in their mosques, madrasahs and monasteries, they continue playing with obsolete accounts of history. These five hundred thousand phantom players are responsible for sectarianism amongst the Muslims."
Some More Info About Our Historians
It is significant that our 'recognized' historians, numbering in hundreds, belong to the post Tabari/Kaleeni era. None before them! What happened to the record of the golden period of the Muslim history? In 165 AH, when Abbassid Khalifa Haroon Rasheed asked Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal for evidence supporting one of his theories, he could not produce a scrap of paper! Imam Hanbal reportedly endured flogging by Mamoon Rashid over the pointless debate whether the Qur'an was a creation or not. But none of these "Imams" pronounced monarchy being un-Islamic. So, despotism continued to gain strength with time.
Just as Imam Abu Yusuf, a disciple of Imam Abu Hanifa had become the royal court jurist (Faqeeh) of Umayyad Dynasty similarly Tabari dug heels in the court of Khalifa Mo'tamid in 270 AH. Imam Ibn Jareer bin Yazeed Tabari, (the name adopted by him) graciously submitted to the whims of Khalifa Al-Muqtadar Billah. In many accounts the "Imam's" real name is given as Ibn Jareer bin Rustam Ibn Tabari disclosing him being a Parsi. (For example, Kitabul Istaqama, P.137) Today there are confusing reports about him whether he was a Shia or a Sunni, Khariji or Rafizi or Zoroastrian (Yaqoot Hamdi’s Muajjamil Adaba 302 AH) Legend also has it that Imam Tabari bin Yazeed and Imam Tabari bin Rustam were two different persons, although both were born on the same day, both were historians, lived in the same town, and died on the same day. Both of them looked the same and dressed the same. [Impossible for a co-incidence]
Union of the Mullah and the Monarch
In short, during the reign of Khalifa Muqtadir Billah, royal delegates were dispatched to Makkah, Madinah, Damascus, Qadisia, Koofa and other provincial centers. The contents of their libraries were destroyed and replaced by books written by people who were in reality the criminals of Islam. The question arises, how Tabari and other "scholars" like him acquired this much of power.
The Nine Muhaddithin Were Persian
Well, it is amazing to know that all the six so-called Sunni Muhadditheen of Sahah Sitta (the Six Right Ones - the six 'canonical' books of Hadith), Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Daood, Ibn-e-Maja, Tirmizi and Nasai hailed from the defeated Persian Empire. Likewise, the three Shia Muhadditheen Sheikh Saddooq, Jafar Toosi and Abu Ali Tabrasi (writers of the four 'canonical' Shia books of Hadith) were of Persian origin. Not one of these nine was an Arab.
Abu Muslim Khurasani
The Zoroastrians from Persia had become very influential in the Abbassid government in the very beginning. In fact, the founder of the Abbassid dynasty, Abu Muslim Khurasani was an ardent Maggian. By 129 AH, due to the ineptitude of the last Banu Umayya rulers and propaganda by the Ajamis, unrest had taken root among the people of Khorasan. Many of the masses wanted to install Muhammad bin Ali bin Abdullah bin Abbas as Khalifa.
Like Imam Zainul Abedin, his son Imam Baqir and after him his son Imam Ja'far Sadiq had altogether quit the political arena. Luckily for Abu Muslim Khorasani, Marwan II son of Marwan bin Hakam turned out to be a very incapable ruler.
Abu Muslim found the ground all to himself. Imam Muhammad bin Ali died in 126 AH and his son Ibrahim was declared Imam. Abu Muslim Khorasani talked Imam Ibrahim into killing all Arabs in Khorasan, a Persian province. But, the plot was exposed. Marwan II imprisoned Imam Ibrahim and then got him killed. His brother succeeded Imam Ibrahim as Imam Abul Abbas. Abu Muslim's mission was to prevent the consolidation of a central authority among the Ruling Arabs, indeed among the Muslims in general. Finally, in 132 AH the combined armies of Abu Muslim and Imam Abul Abbas destroyed the Umayyad regime. Marwan II was killed. All except women and children from Banu Umayya were annihilated. Only a prince named Abdur Rahman managed to escape to Andalusia (Spain).
Fearful of Abu Muslim's rise to power, Abul Abbas got him assassinated. Still, the Persians remained very powerful in the early reign of the Abbassids. In fact, from 129 to 132 AH the Persians directly ruled the Muslim empire. (Tareekh-e-Islam by Dr. Hameeduddin)
Haroon Rasheed and the Baramikah
This rise of the Zoroastrians lasted about two hundred years. Their influence, albeit covert, was so much that a powerful king like Haroonur Rasheed would at times find himself helpless against them. It is a little known fact that Haroonur Rasheed himself was the son of a Persian woman named Khaizran.
The Persian Baramika family had ascended to immense power within the
Caliphate as Haroon's viziers. Most historians acknowledge that in 187 AH Haroon had a golden opportunity for easy conquest of the present-day Cyprus and Turkey, including Constantinople (Istanbul). That must have obviated the horrible Crusades in the future. However, the Zoroastrian Baramikas kept him occupied with the Arabian Nights Tales and in fun and merriment.
Haroon's ministers Khalid, Yahya, Fazal and Jafar were all Baramikas. They replaced Arabic with Persian as the court language. It is astonishing to note that it was in Haroon's reign that the celebration of the Maggian festival of Nawroze started in great gusto replacing the customary Muslim Eid.
How were people like Tabari, Kaleeni, Zahri, Ibn Ishaq, Tirmizi, Saddooq, Ibn-e-Sa'd and Waqidi et al gain so much power?
Not only did they enjoy privileges from the rulers, but they also had monopoly over penmanship. In return they used to proclaim the king as God's shadow on earth and would fabricate history, Hadith and interpretations of the Qur'an that would endorse despotic kingship, palaces, harems and all kinds of royal indulgence.
An example: Shah Abdul Aziz of Dehli, (died 1229 AH) gave an example of this in his journal. One day Khalifa Mahdi Abbassi was flying pigeons. Ghias bin Mamoon Muhaddith saw this and uttered, "The Rasool (S) has said that archery, horse racing, and flying pigeons are a believer’s grandeur." The reported Hadith mentions camel racing instead of flying pigeons.
Irony: When the attention of "Maulana" Maudoodi, the renowned Mullah of the 20th century, was drawn to this falsification, he wrote, "If we start doubting our history, what shall we be left with?" (Mazhabi Dastanain P.29)
Khalifa Haroon Rasheed had the most magnificent kingdom and possessed the strongest army of the times. He could easily have subdued Byzantine, indeed the entire Roman Empire. Had he accomplished that task, there would have been no Crusades in later years and Islam could have claimed the entire Europe with its strength and benevolence.
Another Trickster - Ibne Shahab Zahri
Now let us examine "Imam" Ibn-e-Shahab Zahri (d. second century Hijrah). Hujjatullah Abdul Qadir Ali Al-Musvi, author of Mizanul Faris states that Zahri's real name was Ibn-e-Shahab Toosi. He was one of those hundreds of thousands of migrants who, after the Arab conquest of Persia, had settled in the Iraqi cities of Koofa, Basra and Baghdad. Some history books have named him as the second founder of Shia theology. (The first founder was Abdullah bin Saba, the Jew)
In his book "Imam Zahri and Imam Taabri, the Other Side of the Picture", Allama Tamanna Imadi states that Zahri's role features prominently in all the differences between the Shia and Sunni sects to this day.
He used to fabricate a Hadith and then it was passed over to the propaganda centers from where it made rounds of the entire Muslim world. Some Shia scholars acknowledge him as a Shia while others hold him to be a Sunni (Mufti Muhammad Tahir Makki). However, Ibn Shahab Zahri (Toosi) had descended from the royals of the Persian Sassanids and was a staunch Zoroastrian. Allama Imadi, Maulana Dost Muhammad Qureshi, Mufti Muhammad Tahir Makki and Allama Mujeebi all are unanimous in the view that some of the machinations of this Zoroastrian masquerading as "Imam" have lasted until this day. He:
- Made up stories casting doubts about the collection and compilation of the Qur'an.
- Broached the novel idea that some Ayahs of the Qur'an abrogate others.
- Concocted the foolish notion that the Qur'an was revealed over seven "readings".
- He was the man to name Hazrat Ayesha in context with Surah An-Noor, thus providing an open opportunity to "Imam" Bukhari to slander the Mother of Believers. The Qur'an had not named any person in the Surah.
- Made up the tales of dispute among Sahaba Karam concerning the exalted Prophet's succession in Saqeefa Bani Saa'dah.
- Fabricated stories of disputations between Hazraat Ali, Abu Bakr and Umar.
- Invented stories about persecution of Bibi Fatima, the dispute about the Garden of Fadak, and the maltreatment of the Prophet's daughter by Hazraat Abu Bakr and Umar.
- Topping it all, the tales like the Battle of Jamal between Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Ayesha, the Battle of Saffain between Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Muawiya, and the Battle of Nahrwan between Hazrat Ali and the Khawarij were creations of the scheming mind of Zahri. In fact, the Battles of Jamal, Saffain, Nahrwan and Karbala never took place!
Zahri was not alone in spreading the above mentioned horrendous plots. He had full support of his fellow Zoroastrians. Their ulterior motive was to divide Muslims in sects, engage them in mutual disputes and make them abandon the Qur’an.
Other culprits in this sordid business were Jews banished from the Arabian Peninsula. Many of them assumed Muslim names and settled in centers of Islamic Civilization to benefit from the prosperous Muslim state. A third force active in this endeavor was the Byzantine (the Eastern Roman) Empire which had been conquered by Muslims during the reign of Hazrat Umar.
Syria, Egypt, Jerusalem, Alexandria etc had fallen to Muslims. The
Romans were also bent upon avenging their defeat from Muslims.
The Enemy Camp
That is how the camp of the Zoroastrian, Jewish and Nazarene brains formed a coalition against Muslims. Misery seeks company. The three scheming, defeated elements held a series of secret conferences in Koofa, Syria, Yemen and Constantinople. (Lisanul Meezan)
It is to be remembered that Muslims had not invaded the Persian and Roman empires on their own or for occupying their lands. In both these superpowers of the time, a few elite were holding people in physical, mental and economic bondage. The accounts of the tyranny and the public outcry for help were reaching the capital of the new superpower in Madinah. The exalted Prophet had warned the tyrannical emperors that if they failed to reform and restore human rights, time were at hand that the elite would face the hardships that the masses were facing. Hazraat Abu Bakr and Umar only reaffirmed that warning.
This point is being made here for the reason that the Qur'an prescribes Jihad or warfare under only the following circumstances:
- When adversaries physically attack Muslims.
- When the enemy drives away Muslims from their lands and homes. - When innocent people are subjected to oppression and cry for help.
In their hearts, the Parsi and Christian masses were jubilant over the rise of Islam because it was the first time that they had witnessed the beauty of freedom. However, the courtiers and the elite of the old regime grieved for the good old days. The Jews had not forgotten the hurt of their banishment. In their private counsels these defeated elements had reached the conclusion that it was not possible to fight Muslims on the battlefield. Therefore, they resolved to sow the seed of discord among Muslims. The best way to accomplish the task was to make them desert the Qur'an. Henceforth, the war was philosophical and intellectual at which the plain Arabs were nowhere as mighty as they were in action.
Hormuzan, the first scheming mind of our history:
The Zoroastrian Hormuzan had been a military commander of the last Persian ruler Yazdgard as well as governor of his eastern provinces.
His was the brain behind the plot for assasisinating Hazrat Umar Farooq. Our history leaves us only a brief remark in the passing for this awful tragedy - that a non-Muslim Persian slave Firoz Abululu attacked Hazrat Umar with a dagger during morning prayers because of some personal grievance! (Tarikh Tabri)
- "Feroz killed the 'second' (Hazrat Umar) because the latter used to mistreat him."(Malhoof referring toTaoos)
- The third version is that Abululu Feroz used to work in Hazrat Mugheera's
house. He was a blacksmith and carpenter. One day he brought a complaint before Hazrat Umar that Hazrat Mugheera was not paying him enough wages. Hazrat Umar looked into his complaint and ruled that the wages were adequate, and Abululu assassinated Hazrat Umar on that account. Does it not sound like too trivial a reason? This was not the murder of just another man, Umar bin Khattab. It was the assassination of Umar Farooq the great! There was a monstrous plot behind it as we shall explore.
Abdullah bin Saba (also called As-Saudah) was a mysterious character. With Raa'en bin Saba as his real name, he was a Jewish mastermind with vowed designs of disrupting the Central Authority of the caliphate. In the time of Hazrat Uthman he rose to political eminence in Iraq in the guise of a Muslim. He forged some of the basic Shia tenets such as:
- Every prophet has a divinely appointed inheritor ('Wasi') and Hazrat Ali was the inheritor of Prophet Muhammad (S) inheriting the succession, the knowledge and wisdom and whatever the exalted Prophet left behind.
- The Caliphate was Hazrat Ali's divine right and the other Caliphs were usurpers and tyrants. With the Jews, Nazarenes and the Magians working in concert, Abdullah bin Saba succeeded in his evil designs.
- Another character was the Christian Jafeena of Hirah. He had been the incharge of the Royal security in the Roman court. He outwardly converted to Islam but he was assigned to hire assassins and engineer attacks on the Caliphate.
- Shahrbano daughter of Yazdgard: A princess of Persia, she was captured and brought to Madinah in 20 AH. Hazrat Hussain married her with her consent in 25 AH. (Usool Al-Kafi)
There are other report that the real name of this attractive princess of Yazdgard was Jehan Shah and that Hazrat Umar proposed two fine names for her, Salameh and Shahrbano. (Kitab Ash-Shafi)
Our research indicates the original name of this lady was Shahrzadi and she was the daughter of Shahryar and the sister of Yazdgard.
Regardless, this wedding was blessed by prominent Muslims. They were hoping that this marriage would create goodwill between the Arabs and the Ajamites. However, the remnants of the Persian monarchy took it as an insult. The pyre of hate kept on burning in their hearts until they assassinated Imam Hussain.
A Startling Admission - Hussein Kazimzada
This was a brief portrayal of some dark characters of our history. Now let us have a look at what a renowned 20th century historian of Iran writes in his Persian book Tajalliat-e-Rooh-e-Iran dar Adwar-e-Tareekhi (Splendor of the Spirit of Iran in the Annals of History):
"From the day that Sa'd Abi Waqas conquered Persia (20 AH) on behalf of the
Second Caliph (Hazrat Umar), the Persians nurtured a passion for revenge in their hearts. They could never forget that a handful of Arab Bedouins had dealt their mighty empire a shattering blow. Our fore-fathers followed the only course that was open to them. Firstly, they incited the Abbassids of Banu Hashim to eliminate the Umaiyyad Dynasty that ruled from 661-750 CE. Persisting with their long term goals, and persevering with their plans through centuries, at the most opportune time, they invited Hulagu Khan of Mongolia in 1258 CE and did away with the Arabian Abbassid Empire. In this way our forefathers avenged their humiliating defeat and the loss of their Empire at Qadisiyah in 637 CE at the hands of Arabs."
This was the revenge they took from Muslims. We have mentioned above the principal characters of the horrible drama staged by them. For revenge from Islam itself, these characters replaced the pristine Islam of the exalted Prophet Muhammad with an Ajamite Islam. Its foundations were laid during the reign of Khalifa Haroon Rashid. This Ajami Islam is rampant in the so-called Islamic world to date. Haroon born 766 CE, ruled from 786-809 CE (170-192 AH).
This is the same Islam, which, like Hussain Kazimzada, Allama
Iqbal called the Ajami Islam. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan temed it the Invented Religion, Allama Inayatullah Khan Al-Mashriqi named it Maulvi's Wrong Religion. I call it N2I, the Number Two Islam like the counterfeit medicines better known as "No. 2" medicines in the Indo-Pak Subcontinent.
Another Secret Revealed - Abdul Jabbar Qaramati
A book (a single handwritten document) by Abdul Jabbar Qaramati dating 280 AH (about the times of Abbassid Caliph Mo'tazid) exists in the Istanbul museum. It is titled Kitab-e-Dalail-e-Nabawwut Syedna Muhammad. This book tells us: Even two hundred and fifty years after the death of our Prophet the Islamic world is united as one body. Jews, Nazarenes and the Zoroastrians keep trying to sow the seeds of dissension in the Muslim ranks. Their chief strategy is similar to that of Abdullah bin Saba and Abu Muslim Khorasani, namely reviving the ethnic differences between Arabs and non-Arabs, all of which had been demolished by the Qur'an.
They propagated the belief that the Caliphate should have remained among the descendants of Hazrat Ali. On one hand, the conspirators were supporting the caliphate of the household of Hazrat Ali and on the other, they were assassinating successive Imams, so that people won’t unite under Hazrat Ali‘s descendants either. These assassinations were executed like that of Hazrat Ali by Jamshed Khurasani in the Koofa Masjid. It may be noted that Jamshed Khorasani was a Parsi but our history books name him as Abdul Rahman Ibn Muljam Khariji.
Abdul Jabbar Qaramati writes in this book that at the time of his martyrdom, Hazrat Ali was the Governor of Iraq appointed by Hazrat Uthman, just as he was
appointed by Hazrat Umar. Before assassinating Hazrat Ali, Abdullah bin Saba had already killed Hazrat Uthman in a night raid on the Governmenment house. Mention of this hand written book by Abdul Jabbar Qaramati has also been made by Dr. Hameeduddin, a renowned historian of the sub-continent (Ph.D. from Harvard) in his book titled History of Islam (Madinah Publications) on Page 486. It is worth noting that Qaramati makes no mention of any insurrection of thousands of rebels into Madinah, nor of a seige of Caliph Uthman's house. Hazrat Uthman was martyred in 35 AH.
Hazrat Ali, until his martyrdom in 40 AH 660 CE, continued as the Governor of Iraq as well as the new Caliph, Commander of the Believers.
So, out of the question are the Battle of Jamal between Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Ayesha or the Battle of Saffain between Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Muawiya, and lastly, the Battle of Nahrwan between Hazrat Ali and the Khawarij. All these tales are fantastic fabrications of some most mischievous minds.
Now let us pay attention to what is stated by Hujjatallah Abdul Qadir Ali Al-Moosvi in his book Meezanul Faris and by Hur bin Abdul Rahman, Governor of Andulus (Spain), in his diary, Muzakkrah Hur Bin Abdul Rahman. But before we do that, let us find out the answer to the question: What is the connection between our narrative about events concerning Imam Mahdi, and the reality or otherwise of Karbala?
PART - 10
Imam Mahdi and the Authenticity of Karbala
May be the reader has understood the connection but please recall that we started the first chapter of this book on Imam Mehdi. This was followed by the history of "Karbala" as told by our historians. The topic of "Imam Mahdi" and the story of "Karbala" are interrelated since the same authors together have rendered the two fables and heavily borrowed from one another. The same people who wrote the Mahdi fiction, created the fiction of Karbala.
Having come thus far with me, if you still believe that:
- Imams are born from the thighs of their mothers
- A bird used to pick up Imam Mahdi in its beak, carry it away and then bring it back every forty days
- Mahdi was a full-grown man when 40 days old
- Anyone who sneezes cannot die within three days
- The sun and the moon will retire when Mahdi son of Hasan Askari appears
- 20 million infantry and six hundred thousand cavalry were amassed to fight the
72 supporters of Imam Hussain
- His severed head went on reciting the Qur'an while being paraded in the streets
- The thisty grieved Imam had single-handedly killed 1950 foes with his sword in Karbala
- Beasts in the jungles and fish in the oceans keep crying over the martyrdom of Hazrat Hussain
- The world was rained with blood for three days
- God wept so much that His eyes became sore
Then, I am afraid my labor has been of no avail to you.
The conspiring historians must have contemplated as to who would believe their flight of imagination! But they seem to have known that there never is a dirth of the gullible.
Reminder: All criticism of the author is directed to the historians, and not at all to the respected personalities of Islam - Hazraat Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain [R.A.] all of whom command our reverence and respect.
PART - 11
An Eye Opener
Open the eye to see the earth the sky the space
And see the sun rising from the East
- Iqbal
Generally speaking, myths fashioned by religion are so mystifying that often we fail to fathom the insults to human intelligence. One cannot gauge their full impact unless one stops to think. The truth has the power of penetrating the hearts and the minds dispelling doubt and falsehood. At this stage I humbly suggest my book, The Criminals of Islam which clearly demonstrates how our historians and narrators have reduced Islam to a collection of fables and myths.
Memoirs of Hur bin Abdur Rahman
We have mentioned earlier in this book that when Abu Muslim Khorasani destroyed the Arab Caliphate of Banu Umayya, just one single member of the royal household managed to escape. This was a prince named Abdur Rahman. He was able to reach Andulusia (Spain). With Arabs already present there in great numbers, he was welcome and succeeded in establishing the Umayyad dynasty in Spain. (132 AH 745 CE)
Please note that one century of the solar calendar approximates to 103 years of the lunar calendar since a lunar year contains approx 354.5 days.
Before Abdur Rahman could reach there, Musa bin Nusair and Tariq bin Ziayd had already conquered Spain in 92 AH, 711 CE during the reign of Khalifa Waleed bin Abdul Malik. Then, for a short period of two years (99 to 101 AH) Umar bin Abdul Aziz was the Caliph of the Islamic State. This was the highly regarded personage who had rekindled the memories of the Khilafat-e-Rashida (The Rightly Guided Caliphate) in peoples' minds. This gifted Khalifa appointed a capable person, Hur bin Abdur Rahman as Governor of Spain. Like Muhammad bin Qasim in India, Hur proved to be a great administrator in spite of his young years. He won over the hearts of the people of Spain through his impeccable character and his competence as an administrator. It was under his leadership that the Muslim armies crossed Spanish borders over to the southern
France and conquered it. (History of Islam, by Dr. Hameeduddin, Madinah Publishing Company, Karachi, Page 299)
Hur bin Abdur Rahman used to maintain a diary of events in Arabic. About two hundred years later, in about year 920 CE, a Spanish officer Simone Ashbillia found this diary. He translated this diary, what was left of it, into Spanish. In 1910, Dennis Montgomery, a British scholar carefully analysed this diary and concluded that the complete diary must have contained over 300 pages. This diary covered the period around 100 AH.
Surprisingly, the contents of this diary support the research by the Iranian historian Hussain Kazimzadeh and Hujjatullah Abdul Qadir Ali Moosvi's Meezanil Faris. All these sources agree to a great extent with the writings of Abdul Jabbar Qaramati in the Istanbul archives.
Some Excerpts from the Memoirs of Hur bin Abdur Rahman:
Muzakkarah Hurr bin Abdur Rahman
The Diary of Hurr bin Abdur Rahman (died 734 CE)
(Translated from Spanish by Dennis Montgomery in 1910 from the historical archives at Barcelona, Spain)
(Translated into Spanish from the original Arabic by Simone Ashbillia in 920 CE in Gordova, Spain)
13 Safar, Al-Hijrah 100
They call me Abu Nafe, Amir Hurr bin Abdur Rahman. I call myself Ibn Abduh. Tonight won’t sleep. Have to meet with my deputies. No planning means no effective operation. No action means no achievement. Okay Ibn Abduh! Will see you tomorrow!
No Date
I am requesting Amir-ul-Momineen (Umar bin Abdul Aziz) to let us establish four army garrisons in Andalusia (Spain) just as Sayyedna Umar Farooq had established two new garrisons in Koofah and Basra.We are here to stay because people in this country love us. They feel liberated. There is total peace in our Emirah (Rule). Jews, Christians, Muslims, all live in harmony and without fear. There is no unrest of any kind, religious or otherwise.
26 Safar AH 100
I am very grateful for the confidence Amir-ul-Momineen ….. and
Amir-ul-Momineen Umar bin Abdul Aziz have placed in me. I am fully aware of the fact that we will have to ….. and turn good into better every day. (Dots ….. indicate not legible)
No Date
Just as the plots of the Maggians (Zoroastrians) had created trouble in Iraq during the first few decades of Islam, similarly we face conspiracies ….. that erupt now and then. The reason is obvious. The local rich elite, and the powerful leaders of the past hate social equity between people.
17 Rajab, AH 100
Although the situation in Spain is very much in control and improving every day, still I feel that the Khilafa in Damascus should appoint a more able governor in this land. I will feel honored to work under the command of such a governor as an ordinary soldier. I have expressed this desire to the Amir-ul-Momineen.
No Date
I understand that it is impossible to find people of the caliber of Ali,
Hasan and Hussain (r.a.) They, as Emirs (governors) have truly made Iraq a paradise on earth. Ali and Hussain (r.a.) sacrificed their lives in their noble offices as Emirs. The Maggians (Jamsed Khurasani and Jabaan bin Harmuzan) had thought that by assassinating these two honorables, Iraq would ….. to the Farisis (the Persians). But the sacred blood of Emir Ali and Emir Hussain was not shed in vain. Ambassadors from the Center (Khilafah) and elsewhere report that in Al-Hijrah 100 Koofa, Basra, and ….. are even more peaceful and prosperous than Syria, Palestine and Egypt.
No Date (some day in Al-Hijrah 101)
Ah! Amir-ul-Momineen Umar bin Abdul Aziz passed on. May Allah bless him! He was truly a man of Iman (Faith), character, will, and vision.
A big If in History!
In 116 AH (732 CE) one of the most important events in history took place. The Banu Umayya armies advanced from Spain to consolidate their victory over
France. A battle took place at Tours.
Abdur Rahman Ghafiqi commanding the Muslim forces fought valiantly but he was accidentally killed. Had Muslims won that battle, the Europe and America of today would have been Muslim continents. There could be several reasons for the defeat, but it appears that the garrisons suggested by Hur bin Abdur Rahman were still being built. The inability to obtain reinforcements was one of the causes of the Muslim defeat at Tours.
IMAM HUSSAIN, GOVERNOR OF IRAQ
Hazrat Hussain as the Governor of Iraq! The reader might be wondering why this crucial fact is not widly known!
It is not widely known today because the original records were whisked away in the era of the Abbassid dynasty. Let us recall that the last Abbassid Caliph Musta'sim Billah was a weak and inept ruler. He had delegated his royal powers to his Prime Minister Muayyaduddin Ibn-e-Alqami, an assumed name. His real name was Nasr Nawsher Alqami. Most historians report that he was an ardent Shia, but others maintain that he was a Zoroastrian. In the meanwhile, Naseeruddin Toosi, another staunch Shiite, was the chief adviser of Hulagu Khan (grandson of Chengiz Khan) of Mongolia. Since the Abbasid dynasty was wheeled into power by the Persians (Ajamites), they wielded much authority in the Abbasid government. We have seen the influence of Abdullah bin Saba, 'Imam' Ibn Shahab Zahri and Abu Muslim Khurasani in formulating the Shia doctrines and finally, toppling the Umayyads. Therefore, those Persians who had only assumed Islamic names and the Shiites had several common ambitions and goals. (Ajaaeb-it-Tareekh by Yaqoot Hamdi)
We have mentioned that the Maggian conspiracies revolved around the objectives of weakening the nucleus of the Muslim Empire and keeping Muslims away from the Qur'an. We have already seen the "achievement" of Khalifa Muqtadar Billah in Chapter 9.
How was the history distorted on such massive scale? How did the Persians create dissension between Muslims? Please go on to the next chapter.
PART - 12
The Archives of Khilafat-e-Rashida and the governorship of Hazrat Hussain disappear
Alqami, the prime minister of the last Abbasid caliph, and Toosi, the chief advisor and prime minister of Hulagu Khan were Zoroastrians in the guise of Muslims (ardent Shiites according to some reports). Their collaboration and secret
invitation by Alqami paved the way for the Mongol invasion of the Muslim Empire. Hulagu Khan then raided Baghdad like a tornado in 1258 CE.
In short, the Abbassid caliphate came to an end. Many chroniclers have reported that so many books were removed from Baghdad libraries and thrown into the river Tigris that its waters turned black. People could cross the river over the bridge made by the books on the shallow river.
Hulago Khan, his courtiers and his army were pagans. Making conquests had been their pastime since the days of Changez Khan. They invaded empires, nations, countries and cities, and ruined them. They had no empathy or enmity for knowledge and literature. Then why did they throw the books in the river? The scheme was to fill these libraries with books representing the Ajami i.e. The Number Two Islam. (Meezanul Faris). On the prompting of Alqami and Toosi, the Mongol armies took the extreme step of removing all books that they could lay their hands on, from homes, from scholars and from educational institutions. For reference please look up "Tasweer ka Dusra Rukh" (Other side of the Picture) by Jame-ul-Uloom Allama MohiuddinTamanna Imadi.
We find references in the widely accepted history books to hundreds of older works but they no longer exist. What happened to them? Thanks to Muqatdar Billah and Musta'sam Billah as well as Naseeruddin Toosi and Nasr Nawsher Alqami, the books that were saved were the ones like the History by Tabari (called the mother of histories, Umm-ut-Tawareekh, Tareekh-ul-Umam Wal-Mulook, and the 30 volume Tafseer by "Imam" Ibn Jareer Rustam Tabri. (Ref.Mua'jjamul Adaba) The works of such great scholars as Abu Muslim Isphahani and Abul Qasim Balakhi, Aqeel bin Asad were so completely eliminated that today their names can only be found as minor references in the books of other authors.
A Basketful of Dust
In times of Hazrat Umar, Muslims had conquered one of the super powers of the day, Persia completely. They also conquered the eastern half of the other super power, Byzantium of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire still survived in the west. We may recall when in 631 CE Khusro Parvez, the King of Persia tore up the letter that the exalted Prophet had sent him. The exalted Prophet had, then, predicted that the Persian Empire would be torn to pieces likewise.
Here is another example of the insolent behavior of Khusrau Parvez. He sent one of his governors named Bazan to the Prophet's court with the message, "O Mohammad! Even though you are but a slave unto me, you are tendering me advice! Offer yourself for arrest otherwise I will come in person to deal with you." Smiling, the exalted Prophet said to Bazan, "Go back and find out about your king. His son Sherovia has murdered him last night!
Now, Yazdgard became the fifth successor to Khusro Parvez. This was the king to whose court Hazrat Saad bin Abi Waqas sent emissaries inviting him to Islam. They conveyed a message from the Caliphate at Madinah warning him to cease oppressing his people otherwise the trouble would come close to him and his kingdom. Before giving an answer to the emissary, Yazdgard commanded one of his bodyguards to bring a basketful of dust. This done, the king said to the emissary, "Go and give this to your Commander Sa'd bin Abi Waqas." While accepting the gift, Hazrat Sa'd exclaimed, "Greetings, O Soldiers of Islam! Today the king of Persia has surrendered his soil to us!"
Demise of the Sassanid Dynasty
The series of combats between the Persians and the Muslims brought Qadisia (14 AH 636 CE) and Persia’s capital city Madain (16 AH) under the control of Hazrat Sa'd bin Abi Waqas. The last Sassanid emprror, Yazdgard ran for his life wandering from place to place. He ended up hiding in a water-mill where, taking him for a gold-laden bandit, a peasant killed him with his hatchet. Fire-temples became cold and as predicted by the exalted Prophet, the golden bracelets of Cisra were taken to Madinah. The Caliph, Hazrat Umar gave the bracelets to Saraqa bin Malik Ja'sham. Saraqa was the person who, tempted by a prize of one hundred camels, had tried to apprehend the Prophet (S) and Abubakr Siddiq (r) at the time of Hijrah (migration to Madinah). In that state of destitution fifteen years before, the Prophet (S) had said to Saraqa, "I see Cisra's bracelets adorning your arms."
The bizarre death of the last monarch of the Sassanid dynasty spread a pall of gloom all over Persia. They did not revere their monarchy all that much but:
No hindrance remains in the ways of tyranny
When the slaves become staunchly addicted to it
The Parsi Princesses
To make matters worse from the Persian standpoint, three daughters of the last monarch were captured in the course of the fighting and were brought to Madinah. Princess Shahr Bano was one of them. According to our research, her original name was Shahrzadi and she was the daughter of Shahryar and a sister of Yazdgard. When the princess got wedded to Imam Hussain, it was taken as a double jeopardy by remaining the Persian elite. This was 25 AH. Their urge for revenge became even more intense.
The Ajamite Plot - Meezanil Faris by Hujjatullah Moosvi
Jewels - Persian Design
Jewels: Like the famous Nine Jewels of the court of the Mughal King Akbar, Sassanid kings used to have twenty jewels or close courtier.
Fifteen of them survived the battles of Qadisia and Madain. All of them, then, took refuge with the Chinese Emperor Khaqan in Samarqand. They charted their future plans on the following lines:
- Thousands of the defeated Persian Empire settled in important cities of the Islamic World like Egypt, Madinah, Makkah, Damascus, Baghdad, Basra, Koofa, San'aa and Jerusalem. They only pretended to have become Muslims. (Mizanul Faris, Hujjatullah Moosvi)
Their mission was espionage in the Islamic world. They were reporting to those 'fifteen jewels', called Asawarah (those wearing the royal gold bracelets, a distinctive mark of the Persian courtiers).
These infiltrators were required to have mastery over the Arabic language. They had to have full knowledge of the Roman and Persian history as well as the manners of the Arab society. Most of the individuals picked for espionage had education and skills of one kind or the other like languages, writing, accounting, handicraft, smithies, welding, armory and medicine.
On the strength of their skills, these Persian converts (actually infiltrators), were to advance in their respective fields in the cities of their habitation. They had to procure jobs and penetrate into sensitive spheres of the government. And succeed they did in their designs.
The 'Jewels' most efficiently advanced their campaign while in refuge with the Chinese monarch. As a reminder, their mission was two-fold, one to undermine the Center of the Islamic rule by assassinating the caliphs one after the other, and secondly, to alienate the Muslims from the Qur'an. The seasoned Bazer of Samarqand, a former special advisor to Khusro Parvez, headed the committee of the Asawirah. The old Marzaban, another former advisor, was his deputy. Both were highly experienced scheming politicians.
PART - 13
Assassinations of the Caliphs of Islam
Hazrat Umar Farooq
After Persia’s defeat in the Battle of Qadisia, Harmuzan, the governor Tastar, was brought to Madinah as a prisoner (14 AH, 635 CE). Tastar was the most important province of Iran and hosted its biggest army garrison. He was presented before Hazrat Umar, the then Caliph of Islam who addressed him thus,
"Harmuzan! We Arabs are the desert-dwellers you considered two lowly for even fighting with. We used to get licked by small columns of your troops. Now you see your King’s throne and crown lying at our feet while he is running about places to save his life. How did that happen?" Harmuzan replied, "Sir, then it used to be a war between the Persians and the Arabs. Now you have your God with you." Because of his war crimes,
Harmuzan deserved to die. However, he saved his life through an ingenious trick. In the course of conversation, he asked for water to drink. He was presented water in a precious golden goblet that came from Tastar. Harmuzan requested Hazrat Umar for a reprieve for his life until he could finish his drink of water. His request was granted.
A Fairy Tale!
It sounds like a fairy tale but as soon as he got his stay of execution, Harmuzan spilled the water on the ground. He would not have a drink and therefore the royal reprieve would not lapse. Anas bin Malik and Ahnaf bin Qais who were at the scene, confirmed, "O Commander of the Faithful! You have indeed reprieved Harmuzan." Upon this, Hazrat Umar again addressed Harmuzan and said, "Harmuzan! I am a hostage to the generosity of these Muslims." Harmuzan was freed. Apparently, he embraced Islam and took up residence in Madinah.
Now we shall see that assassination of Hazrat Umar was not an individual act of Feroze Abululu, but part of a conspiracy by the fifteen 'Jewels'.
Feroz Abululu has variously been described in history as a Christian or a Maggian. Actually he was the latter. Whatever Feroz was, he was only serving as a tool. The important question is who was wielding that tool. The chief pawn of the 'Jewels' of Cisra in Madinah was no other than Harmuzan. In Madinah, his constant companion was Jafeena Al-Khalil. Jafeena was a staunch Christian and an expert scholar of the Bible and of Hebrew and Arabic. He was a political pawn of the Roman emperor and had served as an official in Damascus, Palestine and Heerah. Their third companion was a Jew named Saba bin Sham'oon. He was the person whose son Abdullah Ibn Saba would soon emerge as a notorious character of history. All three were living in Madinah as Muslims. All three were master conspirators and shrewd schemers.
The Messenger Pigeons
The Cardinal of Rome, Thomas Melon, wrote in the 11th Century that at the zenith of the Islamic Empire, Jewish settlers in the Middle East had no center of power as such, but they yielded much power through their covert plans. They had a sophisisticated communication system. The Nazarenes and Maggians took great advantage of this communication system. Trained pigeons would fly on a daily basis between Madinah, Koofa and Samarqand. These courier activities of the pigeons produced gruesome results. Some highlights:
One day Feroz Abululu came across Hazrat Umar. He said to Feroze, "I hear that you can make a windmill". Feroz retorted, "O Commander of the Faithful! I shall make a memorable mill in Madinah that will keep running indefinitely."
Meanwhile, Heraclius, the Byzantine King, fleeing from Islamic forces, joined the refugee courtiers of Persia in Samarqand. Courier pigeons kept flying between Madinah and Samarqand.
There was a person by the name of Ka'ab Ahbar. Till this day it is not certain whether he embraced Islam or not. He was a great scholar of the Torah. When Hazrat Umar arrived in Jerusalem on its conquest (16 AH, 635 CE) the Cardinal and Pope Severinus invited him to pray in the Holy Sepulcher. Hazrat Umar politely declined the offer saying, "I am afraid that Muslims might start converting churches into mosques." So, he conducted his prayers in the open ground near the ruins of the Temple of Solomon. He continued to do so till he stayed in Jerusalem. Ka'ab Ahbar took his shoes off while approaching the Rock of Jacob. Ka'ab suggested to Hazrat Umar to conduct his prayers at that spot. At this, Hazrat Umar remarked, "Don't you still have some Judaism left in you?"
Abdul Malik Bin Marvan had constructed a dome over the Rock of Jacob around 60 AH while constructing Masjid-e-Aqsa. It is now known as Dome of the Rock (Qubbah-tas-Sakhra).
Once, Hazrat Abuzar Ghaffari and Hazrat Umar were discussing the topic of Zakat. Ka'ab Ahbar said something. Abuzar rebuked him, "O Hebrew! Would you teach us Islam?"
Says Abdur Rahman bin Abu Bakr, "I saw Harmuzan the Maggian, Jafeena the Christian, and Feroz Abululu talking in whispers, the day before Hazrat Umar was assassinated. They had with them the same double edged dagger that was later found near the dead body of Abululu."
Three days before the assassination, Ka'ab Ahbar told the Amirul Muminin, Hazrat Umar that he would die within three days. Abbas Mahmud Alakkad, an Egyptian Historian has written that Ka'ab Ahbar was a staunch Jew and he was the prime accomplice along with Harmuzan and Jafeenatil Khaleel in the conspiracy for assassination.
The night before Hazrat Umar Farooq’s assassination, Ka'ab Ahbar said to Hazrat Umar, "The time has run out for you."
A researcher of the 20th century from Egypt, Dr. Taha Hussain, writes in his book, Alfitnatil Kubra, "At the time of this catastrophe, the Islamic Empire was so securely established and the mental grooming of the masses ensured complete peace and tranquility all around. Hordes of people were joining the Faith of God. No one could imagine the possibility of such a dire conspiracy. Had there been
dissension in the Muslim ranks or had there been bloody feuds during the first fifty to hundred years of the Islamic state, Muslims could not have overrun two thirds of the world. They belonged to the truly blessed era of Islam. The Qur'an bears witness to their being the unwavering believers, and that they were extremely affectionate to each other. Allah was pleased with them and they were pleased with Him, says the Qur'an. In this era of tranquility there appeared to be no prospect of any underground mischief. (Abdul Qadir Ali Moosvi)
The Tragedy 644 CE
With the call for prayer at dawn on the 26th of Zilhajj, 23 AH, companions of the exalted Prophet assembled in the Masjid-e-Nabawi. Harat Umar arrived to lead the prayers. No sooner had he called out the Takbeer than did a man suddenly approach him from the front and inflicted several wounds with his dagger upon him. People in the congregation ran after and seized Feroz Abululu. However, the assailant killed himself with his own dagger. The strongest evidence relating to the crime was lost forever.
Jafeena and Harmuzan were killed in the ensuing rage. The Jew Saba Bin Shamoon fled and joined his cohorts in Samarqand. Ka'ab Ahbar was not detained because he was considered an innocent Muslim. Ironically, this man continued insisting that he would not embrace Islam until he was fully convinced by seeing more blessings of the Islamic Way of Life.
With the assassination of Hazrat Umar, the Persian schemes accelerated in alienating Muslims from their God i.e.distancing Muslims from the Qur'an. Umar Farooq the Great was the chief obstacle in their way. When the news of his assassination reached Samarqand, the courtiers of Persia lit up the sky in jubilation with fireworks.
Hujjatullah Abdul Qadir Ali Al-Moosvi writes in Meezanul Faris that the consultative machinery of the Caliphate was so competent that without wasting a minute after the martyrdom, Hazrat Usman was selected as the new Caliph through mutual consultation of the blessed companions.
The Assassination of Hazrat Uthman 656 CE
We have already seen the Maggian, Jewish, and Nazarene modus operandi in the era of Hazrat Umar.
Muzakkarah Hur bin Abdul Rahman, Meezanul Faris, Fitnatul Kubra by Taha Hussain, Ajaibit Tareekh by Yaqoot Hamdi, Kitab Dalail-e-Nabawwut Syedna Muhammad by Abdul Jabbar Qaramati, Tasweer Ka Doosra Rukh and Intizar-e-Mahdi-o-Maseeh both by Muhaddithul Asr Allama Tamanna Imadi. Mazhabi Dastanain Aur Unki Haqeeqat, by Allama Habibur Rahman Kandhalvi, Shahkar-e-Risalat by Allama Ghulam Ahmad Parvez, Tarikh-e-Islam by Dr. Abdul Hameed, Professor of Harvard University, and many other books highlight the
history of the First Century Islam etched in gold letters. But it is scattered about like the pieces of a jig-saw puzzle. Putting these pieces together, the picture that emerges is surprisingly pleasant although sprinkled with hallowed blood.
As mentioned above, after the conquest of Persia, thousands of its people in the guise of Muslims settled outside, particularly in Iraq because of Iraq's proximity to Persia. They were more likely to be discovered and apprehended in the capital of the Caliphate so there were a lesser number of such Persians in Hejaz. Hazrat Umar was not unaware of this situation. So, in 18 AH he took counsel and appointed Hazrat Ali as the governor of Iraq for surveillance as well as education of these elements.
Contrary to the assertions by historians like Tabari, Ibn Hisham, and Kaleeni, it was all peace and tranquility in the era of Hazrat Uthman. The blessed tide of Islam was carrying all before it, lands, peoples and hearts. Hazrat Uthman had a vigilant eye over the capital Madinah and Hazrat Ali over the province of Iraq. Hazrat Muawiya in Syria and Hazrat Umro bin Al-'Aas in Egypt proved to be excellent governors. Theirs and other Sahaba's teamwork and exemplary character added to the passion for striving in the Cause of Allah was carrying Islam day by day from one pinnacle of glory to the other. All around was the slogan manifest, "Glorious is Your remembrance!" Great statesmen of Islam knew full well that establishment of the Qur'anic Order was the first priority of the State. The exalted Prophet had trained these eminent people himself and they were full of compassion for each other and for the humanity.
They were so engrossed in spreading the Message of Islam to all corners of the world that they cared little for their personal security. Immortality of the Qur'an gave them extreme confidence. One important thing to note is that in those times people were invited to Islam, not expelled like today. There were no edicts of apostasy and excommunication (Takfeer) against people. So, in that Islamic state anyone who professed Islam was accepted as a Muslim. No one 'dissected the hearts' to see if some one was a hypocrite, a Maggian, a Jew or a Christian at heart. Those companions of the exalted Prophet, held in awe all over the world, did not post sentinels in their doorways.
Taking advantage of this situation, the old Hebrew, Saba bin Shamoon who had assumed an Islamic name of Saba Assalameh, and his son Abdullah bin Saba entered the capital Madinah in the dark of the last hours of the night and killed Hazrat Uthman with their swords while he was reciting the Qur'an. Both assassins disappeared into the darkness of the night without leaving a trace. (35 AH)
Assassination of Hazrat Ali 661 CE
When Hazrat Usman was martyred, Hazrat Ali was the governor of Iraq. The deputies to Hazrat Uthman hastened to implement the Qur'anic injunction of
mutual consultation. A meeting of Sahaba Karam was held in Masjid Nabawi, Madinah. Two resolutions were passed - Firstly, that the next Caliph would be Hazrat Ali - Secondly, that the capital would be moved to the place where Hazrat Ali had his seat as the governor of Iraq. In this meeting again no measures for personal security of the Caliphs of Islam were passed because the companions did not want, under any circumstances, to distance themselves from the people. To them posting guards at the gates was a foreign custom.
Anyhow, the ship of the Islamic State sailed fine in those choppy seas of intrigue and conspiracy. But on Ramadhan 18, 40 AH, 661 CE the Persian courtiers struck again. At dawn, Hazrat Ali was praying in Koofa when a Maggian named Jamshed Khorasani, who had assumed an Islamic name, pounced from hiding and stabbed him with his sharp, double-edged dagger several times. The third day after this attack i.e. on Ramadhan 20, the fourth Caliph succumbed to his wounds. In our conventional history books, this Jamshed Khorasani is known as Abdur Rahman Ibn-e-Maljam Khariji.
Hazrat Hasan, the Governor
Now that Koofa was the capital, the Counselors met there. Only two names came up for election of the Caliph, Hazrat Hasan bin Ali and Amir Muawiya, the governor of Syria. Hazrat Hasan declined to accept becoming the Caliph. Therefore, Hazrat Mu'awiya took office as the new Caliph. He had some great assets such as a history of good administration, political acumen and general popularity.
The capital had now shifted to Damascus. Some Syrians started standing guard on him in civil clothing without the Caliph's knowledge. When in Ramadan 40 AH someone attacked Hazrat
Mu'awiya, a sentinel chopped the head of the assailant there and then. Hazrat Muawiya had received only minor injuries. Elements inimical to Islam came to understand that their designs were unlikely to succeed in Damascus which was now the capital. So, they turned their attention again to Iraq where Hazrat Hasan had been appointed the governor by Hazrat Mu'awiya. Steeped in compassion and generosity, Hazrat Hasan made his province a paradise on earth. Having set Iraq’s administration on an even keel, he resigned his office in 48 AH due to ill health and took up residence in Madinah.
Imam Ghazali reports that Imam Hasan had two hundred wives. At some places it is stated that he used to marry four new women and divorce four wives every week! Only people with the intent of insulting him can cast such a slur on the acclaimed Imam. There is a report re-iterated by Haq Ali Haq, a past President of Jami'a Al-Azhar that one of his wives Ja'da was unfaithful and Imam Hasan wanted to divorce her. However, before he could do so, she poisoned him and he died instantly. This happened in Madinah in 49 AH, 670 CE.
PART - 14
Reminder: All criticism of the author is directed to the historians, and not at all to the respected personalities of Islam - Hazraat Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain [R.A.] all of whom command our reverence and respect.
Hazrat Hussain: His Golden Rule
The determined caravans keep marching to their destination in spite of the challenges that come their way. After the resignation of Imam Hasan, Hazrat Mua'wiya appointed Hazrat Imam Hussain as the governor of Iraq. Caliphate of the Righteous continued in all majesty. For the first time the world was witnessing that in an empire as vast 3.5 million square miles, none could find a single person willing to accept charity. Nor would a dog die of hunger in the remotest areas. These were the exemplary times when a young woman loaded with jewelry could travel alone on a horse or camel a hundred plus miles with none to fear but God!
Harmuzan, the master-mind behind Hazrat Umar's assassination, was himself killed in 23 AH. His son Jaban bin Harmuzan had joined his kith and kin in Koofa at a young age. This is the same Jaban bin Harmuzan who had made an unsuccessful attempt on the life of Hazrat Hasan in 46 AH (Meezanul Faris). In that attack, Hazrat Hasan had received a serious injury on his thigh, but had recovered.
Here, it is worth noting that after assassinating Hazrat Uthman, Saba bin Shamoon and Abdullah bin Saba had vanished without a clue. According to Hujjatullah Moosvi, they spent the rest of their days in disguise in Yemen. Jaban bin Harmuzan had also succeeded in fleeing after attacking Hazrat Hasan while some other people remained suspect.
Martyrdom of Imam Hussain 680 CE
Hazrat Muawiya died in 60 AH, 680 CE. Meetings of the Consultative Council for selection of the new caliph were going on in Damascus, Koofa and Madinah when Jaban and his accomplices entered the Governor’s House in Koofa under the cover of a dark night. They murdered the Governor Hazrat Hussain with a single stroke of the sword severing his head from his body. Due to lack of security measures as well as the dark of the night, Jaban and his accomplices got away with ease. According to Allama Masoodi, Jaban remained active against Hazrat Abdulla bin Zubair during the few remaining years of his life. Eventually, he was killed while attempting on the latter's life in 70 AH. He too had assumed an Islamic name, Bilal bin Yousuf.
Some Weirdness About Our History
In presenting the reality of Karbala, I have picked up chapters of history from numerous resources. In spite of brevity, authentic references have been given. This research has required picking up a large number of bits and pieces from here and there and then putting them together to make the whole picture. The reader may ask why no one wrote such a book before. Perhaps the answer has been given in my book, The Criminals of Islam, "I really don't know." Very briefly, the reasons could be uncritical faith on the historians, lack of time and resources for fresh research, abject despair about finding breakthroughs, fear of life for departing from the main-stream, religious edicts from Mullahs etc. Some scholars may have attached more importance to other topics.
TABARI: The first ever Muslim history was written by 'Imam' Tabari (839-923 CE) at the junction of the third and the fourth century AH. He died in 310 AH. What were his sources? He did not have so much as a scrap of paper to refer to. Whatever he recorded was on the basis of "heard from someone". Heard from whom? Heard from someone who heard from someone else and so on … Tabari himself includes a disclaimer early on in his book that those who narrated to him the stories must be blamed for any absurdities in his writings! Worse still, Tabari wrote what he felt like… He wrote whatever his Maggian understanding suggested to him and … he wrote whatever his royal masters ordered him to. To top it all, he recorded all that was put into his mind by the intellectual progeny of Harmuzan, Jafeena and Saba bin Sham'oon. Tabari was a capable story maker and teller. He freed the monarchs from the quandary of do’s and don'ts. Only such history and exposition could suit the Abbassid kings that would sanctify and legalize their kingship, open up doors to opulence and indulgence, give license for amassing wealth, and help them keep harems of women. Tabari gave them everything. In return they showered him with gold, honors and endowments.
By compiling history (13 volumes) and exposition of the Qur'an (30 volumes) he was crowned as an Imam of the highest order. Who could, then, whimper at his elevated works?
KALEENI: Later it was the turn of Muhammad Bin Yaqoob bin Ishaq Al-Kaleeni. His Maggian heritage was also quite imposing (Meezanul Faris). Like Tabari, he did not have a scrap of written paper to go by. He too wrote down on mere hearsay and that too as late as the 4th and the 5th century AH. The open-minded reader can visualize what reality can be found in writings that are based merely on grapevine talk, "He said this since he heard it from that who heard it from him, so on and so forth."
Who Would Speak The Truth!
Tabari in particular acquired influence because of royal patronage. His leverage was such that if someone dared dispute with him, the Royal Qazis would label such a person a heretic, a Motazalite (one who stands apart by thinking
rationally) and would get him beheaded. And his writings would be thrown in the fireplace. This is why, unopposed with the passage of time, the writings of Tabari and the royal's favorite Muhaddithin gained more and more authenticity and sanctity. Who were the Motazila (deviators)? - Those that bothered to think and use their own mind.
Matters came to such a pass that whoever dared point a finger at these books was declared a heretic. Under these circumstances, who could speak out the truth? How could anyone raise an objection?
According to Allama Habibur Rahman Kandhalvi, the key offices of the Abbasids were held by the Maggians. Their women occupied the Abbasid harems. Such being the environs, serious deviations were created in the Faith. It was an absolute commotion as far as truthful reporting was concerned. The historians were Maggians and the writers of Hadith (the exalted Prophet's sayings) and Seera (his biography) were Jews and Maggians. The first chronicler of the exalted Prophet's battles and his biography was a Maggian under the name Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yassar. He has been recorded as Jewish in some reports. His compilation is non-existent! But its edited version by Seera Ibn-e-Hisham is based on it. His stratagem was similar to others in the line that of narrating some topics complimentary to the Prophet, in order to establish credibility followed by derogatory lines and paras. Most of his sources were Jews and Maggians. That is why Imam Malik had called Muhammad bin Ishaq a liar. Between Muhammad bin Ishaq and the first available derivation from his work by Ibn Hisham all reporters were Parsis and Jews such as Ziad Al-Bakai, Muslimatil Abrash and Hameed Razi. Also there was Waqidi, a hard-boiled Maggian and reputedly the biggest liar of the times (Mazhabi Dastanain aur Unki Haqeeqat by Allama Habib Kandhalwi).
Let us reproduce a specimen of the pearls strewn by these characters:
- Whoever renders two units of prayer while imagining the beauty of Princess Shahr Bano, will have seventy thousand palaces for him in Paradise. Every one of the palaces will have seventy thousand chambers, every chamber seventy thousand thrones and every throne will have seventy thousand of Houris ready to fall in a hug.
Another calamity that plagues these books is that there is no clear dividing line between the three disciplines, i.e. history, tafsirs (exposition of the Qur'an) and Hadith (the traditions of the exalted Prophet). They are all intertwined in a confusing manner. And they are loaded with contradictions.
Allama Shibli Nomani, on page 27 of his Seeratun Nabi has given a startling quote of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, "Three kinds of books are absolutely unfounded, Mughazi, Malaham and Tafseer" (Battles in which the exalted Prophet was present, Squirmishes and Expositions of the Qur'an).
All Sahaba Karam but Five Turn Heretic! Or, Was It Just One?
Imam Bukhari had asserted that the Companions of the Prophet had turned apostate upon his death (Kitabu Fatan). Tabari wrote: The Messenger of Allah said, "Some of my companions will visit me at the Pool. Allah will remove them from my presence. I will say: O My Lord! These are my companions. But I will be told: You know not what deeds they wrought after you." Rolling the ball forward, Hafiz Ibn Hajr asserts, "Umro bin Sabit has said that all of them, except five, turned heretic upon the Prophet’s death." And Ayatullah Aluzma Al-Hussaini shot the ball through the goal. He writes, "Those five that remained in the fold of Islam were Salman Farsi, Miqdad, Abu Zar, Ammar and Hazeefa."
Two More Gone! Not content with this performance, the "survivors" were further reduced to three. Hazrat Ammar and Hazrat Hazeefa were also thrown out of the pail of Islam. Two goals scored! Is it the end of the game? [Amazingly, the brilliant historians and collectors of Hadith forget to include even Hazraat Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain in the elite group of the few faithful. End of the road? No, not yet]
Another Goal Scored - Just One Muslim Remains! Said our historians that compared to the faith of Hazrat Salman Farsi, Hazraat Miqdad and Abu Zar Ghaffari too fell short and, hence, they should be considered heretics as well! So, in the upshot, after the exalted Prophet’s death, only one Muslim was left on the face of this earth, Salman Farsi. Notice that he originated from Persia!
Imam Malik of Muwatta fame would not lag behind. In fact he preceded the above group. He laid the foundations of the story by recording in the chapter Kitabul Jihad, "The Messenger of Allah said concerning the Martyrs of Uhud that he would himself testify to Allah about their faith. Hazrat Abu Bakr inquired about himself. The Prophet said, "I do not know what innovations you will hatch after me." Hazrat Abu Bakr started crying and cried and cried. The Prophet did not console him." The last few paragraphs are concisely given in Saat Sahaba Kay Halaat-e-Zindagi (Life Events of Seven Sahaba Vol 3, P19) by Ayatullah As-Syed Murtaza Hussain Nasir Ferozabadi of Nasir Printing Press. He has taken all the narratives from the six "authentic" books of Sunni Ahadith and sources.
The Gullible Muslims: It is remarkable that we Muslims consider these compilations of fable as the most accurate books, their authenticity being second only to the Qur'an. This is despite the outrageous insults to human intelligence they are! Some proclaim Bukhari and Muslim to be the most accurate books while others grant this distinction to Tabari, Al-Kaleeni and other Shia books.
The highly famous Mullah like "Maulana" Maudoodi, looking at this balderdash in the twentieth century, observes, "If we dismiss these tales, what are we left with?" Well, we will be left with the Book of Allah and reports that pass this Criterion of the Right and Wrong. But this simple rule fails to sink in the closed
Mullah minds. In fact, for Muslims this should be an easy task. What the historians and Muhaddithin have penned, should be double-checked with the Qur'an. For example, does the Qur'an at all say that the companions of the honored Prophet would turn heretics as soon as he leaves this world? Does not the Qur'an shower high laurels on all companions of the exalted Prophet?
Hypocrites Were Known: Many historians named in this work keep on making the point that even in the life-time of the exalted Prophet, most of his companions were hypocrites and remained unknown (except to these Criminals of Islam). But looking at the Qur'an 3:178, 40:30 it becomes abundantantly clear that the hypocrites had been well-identified in their lives.
Some Chronology - The Pristine Islam to today's Ajami Islam
The Qala Qala Qala Malady
Given below are the years of death of some of the historians and compilers of Hadith. This will help us determine who and when transformed the pristine Al-Islam to the currently prevalent counterfeit, manmade, Ajamite, Number Two Islam. Two facts are always worth keeping in mind. Firstly, the Prophet a. s. died in 11 AH, 632 CE. Secondly, that none of these authors had, at the time of their writings, even a scrap of paper to use as reference. All they wrote is based upon, "He said this or something like this, I heard that which he heard from him who heard from him and so on that the Prophet said this or something like this." - The QALA QALA QALA malady.
Attention Please!
Before we proceed, let us briefly examine what the Qur'an has to say about these forgers.
6:112 Thus We have appointed to every Prophet enemies. The rebellious among the urban and the rural folk rose in opposition, (since the Message struck at their vested interests). They plotted and inspired each other with fancy words. If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it. Nevertheless, disregard them and whatever they fabricate.
6:113 Only those who disbelieve in the Hereafter and whose hearts are inclined to them (to these forgers) would take delight therein. And let them earn from it what they may.
22:52 Yet whenever We sent a Messenger or Prophet before you, satanic people tried to confound the central theme of the Message (in his very life-time). But Allah rendered null and void all the aspirations these satanic people had. And Allah abolishes what the Satan proposes, then establishes His Messages clear in and by themselves. For, Allah is All Knowing, Wise. [Satanic people then tried to

alter his teachings after he passed on. Allah, then, sent another Messenger to restore the purity of His Messages 6:113. Until the Final Message was revealed and Allah Himself guaranteed its preservation]
22:53 (Allah allows these satanic people to advance their aspirations) so that He may make the Satan's proposals a trial for those in whose hearts is a disease and whose hearts eventually become hardened (and thus distinguish from them the true believers in Divine Revelation). For, behold! Those who relegate the Revelation in favor of human aspirations create schism and sectarianism far from the Truth. [Zulm = Relegation from the rightful place 2:53. The last portion of the verse has been rendered according to the context]
22:54 And that those who are given knowledge may recognize your Lord’s Truth, then have conviction in it, and their hearts may humbly submit unto Him. And verily, Allah is the Guide of those who attain belief, to the Straight Path. (5:48, 15:19)
22:55 And those who disbelieve (in the Revelation by failing to sort out the human aspirations), will remain in suspense about it until the Hour befalls them suddenly, or there comes to them the doom of a disastrous day.
We see that the Qur'an has strongly fore-warned Muslims about what conspiracies the historians and Muhadditheen will contrive.
The process of transition from Al-Islam, (DEENILLAH in the Qur'an) to N2I (Number Two Islam) was a devastating yet insidious conspiracy.
While the conspiracies had begun during the early Abbasid dynasty, they took time to get hold of the masses. The ways of writing, copying, communication, disseminating books were obviously slow and tedious. That is why the Islamic revolution carried on vigorously for many centuries. The evident moral, social, scientific and political decline of Muslims began about 800 years later in the 13th century CE, the hallmark being the onslaught of Hulago on the Center of the caliphate, Baghdad in 1258 CE.
Here is a list of some of the most important conspirators who turned Islam from DEEN to the manmade religion as we see it today. Their year of demise is given under *.
Please know that AH indicates AL-HIJRAH, the lunar 'Muslim' calendar. It begins with the migration of the exalted Prophet from Makkah to Madinah in 623 CE. One hundred years of the Gregorian calendar equal 103 lunar years. The exalted Prophet departed to the next Life in 632 CE or 9 AH. ---------------------------------------------
Now Those 'Luminaries'
- Imam Ibn Jareer Tabri 310* (The first exponent of the Quran and the first historian)

Imams of the Sunni Hadith:
- Imam Muhammad Ismail Bukhari 256*
- Imam Muslim bin Hajjaj 261*
- Imam Abu Dawood 275*
- Imam Abu Abdullah bin Majah 273*
- Imam Abu Musa Tirmizi 279*
- Imam Abdur Rahman Nisai 303*
- Imam Malik bin Anas 179* was also a Muhaddith (Compiler of Hadith). Strangely enough, he being the only Arab (non-Persian) Muhaddith, his collection Muwatta is not counted among Sahah Sittah (The Six Right Ones)!
The Imams of Fiqh (Jurists):
- Imam Malik bin Anas 179*
- Imam Abu Hanifa 150* (No book)
- Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal 241*
- Imam Shafi'i 204*
[Imam Ja'far Saadiq 145* accepted by Shias - No book]
The Imams of Shia Hadith:
- Sheikh Muhammad bin Yaqoob bin Ishaq Al-Kaleeni 329* Wrote Al-Kafi
- Sheikh Saddooq Abu Jafar Muhammad bin Ali Tabrasi 381* Man Yazharal Faqeeh
- Sheikh Abu Jafar Muhammad Ibn-e-Hasan Toosi 460* Tehzeebul Ahkam and Al-Istabsar
A Personal Statement
This is a probably a suitable juncture to state and affirm that Shabbir belongs to no sect. He knows well enough that sectarianism is Shirk (the unforgiveable offense of associating others with Allah) and that the exalted Messenger has nothing to do with those who choose a sect for themselves. (Al-Qur'an 6:160,
30:31-32)
I have sincerely tried to make things easy and save time for the respected readers. The reader is encouraged to have a brief look at some of these bulky, supposedly authentic and "sacred" books to confirm what has been written in them.
Many of my most respected readers and friends sincerely wonder that Shabbir has been critical of all religions and sects. Does he not realize the risks involved including the Mullah verdicts? Being fully cognizant of the risks involved, I must thank them for their sincere concerns. Yet, the established dogmas cannot be challenged without courage? The Qur'an commands us not to conceal the Truth (2:42). Please allow me to state that I have been challenging the beliefs held by the household in which I was born and we have seen the Light.
PART - 15
Question and Answer Session
Dear Readers,
In the course of putting this book together, some ladies and gentlemen have asked me some very important questions.
Question: Granted you do not belong to any sect but there must be some beliefs of others that might be repugnant to you? Hassan Akhtar, Detroit.
Answer: I affirm, with all my heart that I do not belong to any sect. Reverence and love of the Qur'an and the exalted Prophet, well-founded on reason, form the anchor of my 'religious' thought. Concerning others' beliefs, I think I carry no personal likes and dislikes. Taking the Book of Allah as the Ultimate Criterion, all of us must disregard non-Qura'nic dogmas wherever they are encountered.
Q. Apart from Shi'as, your book, Karbala: Fact or Fiction? - will not meet the approval of our non-Shi'a clergy. Hafiz Ghulam Muhammad, Jacksonville.
A. Meeting anyone's approval is not my goal. Integrity in research is what is important for me. In addition to medicine, I am a student of history, psychology, philosophy and theology. After due research according to the best of my ability, I present the sincere conclusions with due respects to all. Of course, a fallible student like me is likely to make mistakes. Shias, non-Shias and any other people have the absolute right to dismiss my research.
Q. Relevant to the theme of this book, I want to ask the reality of Panjtan Pak
(The Five Holy Figures, Muhammad (S). and Hazraat Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain). Humera Jaafri, Orlando.
A. Many Muslims of any sect consider these five exalted personages as Panjtan Pak. We have no doubts about their lofty character. Yet, the term Panjtan Pak or something to that effect does not appear in the Qur’an, nor does any name except Muhammad appear in the Book. According to Allah’s Book, ranks depend on individual deeds, not on kinship.
Q. Muslims keep making hue and cry about Trinity amongst Christians. What about their own Pentagon (Panjtan Pak)? Andrea Maseeh, Gujranwala.
A. Please see the last question and its answer. This is a non-Quranic dogma. For Muslims, indeed for the humanity at large, the final authority is nothing but the Book of Allah. There is no 'Pentagon' in the Qur'an.
Q. "Having gone through the manuscript of this book", Khateeb Muhammad Yaseen Jafri, a Muhaddith from Multan says, "Your book will be a great help in quashing countless exaggerations in our history. But please review the Ayah on 'Tatheer'."
A. I am grateful to the esteemed Mr. Jafri that he went through the manuscript and gave valuable advice. In compliance with his wishes I have reviewed the so-called Ayah Tatheer (33:33). Ayahs 28 to 34 of Sura Ahzab are all addressed to the wives of the exalted Messenger (Mothers of believers). Ayahs 33, 34 contain special commandments for these esteemed ladies and the household in general. Hazrat Ali was not a live-in son-in-law. Therefore, we find nothing in these verses that pertains to Hazraat Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain. All the narratives in this connection have been the third and fourth century AH inventions by people who were bent upon driving a wedge amongst Muslims.
Q. Honorable Sheikhul-Hadith Mufti Muhammad Irshad Nizami has also been gracious enough to critically review the manuscript. He says, "Your references are accurate. This effort is likely to create two types of reaction. Some people will get offended. On the other hand, dispassionate thinkers will find in it the potential for returning to the Qur'an and thus unifying the two major sects of Islam." Sheikh Sahib, with lots of prayers, further says, "This type of research should have been done by old-timers like me. It is only now in the twilight of my life (at 80 plus) I feel that I shall be able to leave this world with the gratification that someone has done the job that was over-due for centuries. Please do include two points on my behalf as they are frequently misrepresented.
One: The "Ayah Tatheer" 33:33 pertains only to the Prophet's household (Ahl-e-Bait) i.e. those individuals who had residence in the Rasool's (S) home, his wives and their children. In case Hazrat Ali is included because of him being a cousin, then how Hazrat Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib, the exalted Prophet's, can be left out?
The kinship of an uncle is closer than that of a cousin. And, how about the exalted Prophet's daughters other than Hazrat Fatima! Based on this history, many caliphs of the Abbasid dynasty claimed their rule as the rule of Ahl-e-Bait. Supporters of the first Abbasid Caliph Abul Abbas considered him as the rightful Imam.
Two: Muaddata fil Qurba must be correctly understood. This term in 42:23 means regard for the near ones.
42:23 This is the good news from Allah to His servants who believe and lead a righteous life. Say, "No reward do I ask you for this other than that you show loving kindness to the ones near in the human bond" (and thus seek the Way to your Lord 25:57). For, anyone who benefits people, We shall grant him additional good. And, verily, Allah is ever Absolver of imperfections, Responsive to gratitude.
Some people wrongly interpret 'Muaddata fil Qurba' as if the exalted Prophet is asking people to love his kin as a recompense for his services. This interpretation is wrong on every account and alien to the Qur'anic spirit according to which kinship, race, color and ethnicity cannot form a basis for esteem or favor.
Also, the term for relatives would be 'Zil Qurba or Aqraba', not 'Fil Qurba'.
Hazraat Nooh, Hud, Lut, Saleh, Shoaib, and all other prophets told their people that they were not asking for any recompense for their services. Then, how could the the exalted Prophet ask for a recompense? The Qur'an weeded out this concept by declaring that only the personal character of an individual could be the criterion of honor. Being the father of Hazrat Ibrahim could not benefit Azar, nor did being the progeny of a prophet avail Noah's son. Relationship did not avail the wife of Hazraat Nooh and Lut. Similarly, it was amongst the descendants of the Prophet that people like Muhammad Ali Baab were born who quit Islam and founded the Bahai religion."
Q. How could the Prophet leave this world without naming a successor?" Kazim Ali Zaidi
A. Surah Shoora ordains Mutual Consultation for running the affairs of believers.
Q. I think Maudoodi Sahib is right in asking what we shall be left with if we did not accept the writings of our historians. Alhaj Muhammad Raghib Siddiqui, Lahore.
A. Muslims are uniquely placed compared to others. They have the Qur'an which separates true from false. We should accept only those records of our early history and tradition that are confirmed by the Qur'an.
Q. But the Qur'an was not being revealed during Jamal, Saffain and the Karbala episode.
A. True. Yet, how could the historians three or four hundred years later give a
better description of the character of Sahaba Karam than that rendered by the Qur'an?
Mr. Surjeet Singh Lamba of Delhi, India has sent some of his poetry for inclusion in this book. (Translation from Urdu)
Who can be greater in Faith than Siddique
Who can be more just than Farooq
Who can be more generous than Uthman
Who can be braver than Ali the Lion of Allah
If such are the servants how great would be the Sultan
This brief expression bears a lesson for those Muslims who keep denouncing the Sahaba Karam under their deplorable sectarian beliefs.
Q. The way the Karbala episode has been related in the past, always created doubts. Your book has undone the knots in my mind. I pray that your book becomes a basis for unity amongst Muslims! Prof. Abdul Hamid Mansoori, Patna (India)
A. Indeed a top priority for the Ummah is uniting under the banner of Al-Qur'an. Mine is only a humble effort.
Q. A little thought would lead us to understand that Islam came to raise humanity to new heights, and not for persistent wailing and grieving for centuries. Fuad Haufmann, Turkey
A. Food for thought for people of discernment.
Q. According to Imam Ja'far Sadiq and Imam Ali Raza, Sufis are heretics. Even though I am a Shiite, I do not know the rationale of this verdict. Mrs. Amtul Quddus, Houston
A. The Athna Ashri scholars correctly regard the Sufis and Sufism as hoax, but for the wrong reason. According to them, anyone incapable of recognizing the Imam of the times cannot be a sage at all. The current Imam, according to them, is Mahdi in occultation.
Q. I have heard that there was kinship between Yazeed Ibn Muawiya and Hazrat Hussain? Feroz Malik, Faisalabad
A. A niece of Imam Hussain was Yazeed's wife and one of Imam Hussain's wives, Rubab was Yazeed's cousin.
Q.Even though a Zaidi, I have freed myself from the scourge of sectarianism. I am neither a Sunni nor a Shi'a, but simply a Muslim. Just for academic interest, what are the principal Shiite sects? Nawab Hussain Zaidi, Orlando
A. The Qur'an makes it clear that the exalted Prophet would have nothing to do with those who divide into sects (6/160). I appreciate your understanding. Quaid-e-Azam was born in an Ismaili Khoja family but when he was asked as to what
sect he belonged, he replied, "First tell me, to what sect did the Prophet and his companions belonged. Also see the answer to the next question.
Q. Are all Shi'as one or they too have sects like Sunnis? Niaz Ahmad Khan, Indiana.
A. Because of abandoning the Quran, there are such a large number of sects and sub-sects among Muslims that Alhaj Irshad Kareem Tughree of Istanbul counted 191 sects at the beginning of the 21st century! Following are just a few of the Shi'a sects:
(i) Athna Ashree Shias - Those who acknowledge 12 Imams
(ii) Kaisania - These regard Muhammad bin Hanfia, (died 84 AH) as the rightful Imam and the promised Mahdi. He was the son of Hanfia, another wife of Hazrat Ali, besides Fatima. Mukhtar Thaqafi belonged to this sect.
(iii) Zaidis - They recognize Zaid son of Imam Zainul Abedin (d.125 AH 739 CE) as the last Imam. Thus these would be called as "Five Imami" Shi'as as against the "Twelve Imami" Shi'as.
(iv) Ismailis - Imam Zainul Abedin, the fourth Imam had two sons Baqir and Zaid. The latter did not accept the former as Imam. The sixth Imam Jafar Sadiq had two sons Musa Kazim and Ismail. Those who accept Ismail and his progeny as Imams are called Ismailis. Prince Karim Agha Khan is their 49th Imam. On the other hand, those accepting the Imamate of Musa Kazim are called 12 Imamites or Asna Ashris.
Apart from these, there are other sects such as Fatimi, non-Fatimi, Alavi, Khariji, Bohra, Khoja, Shaikhia, Durooz, Jabria, Qadaria, Tawwabin and so on.
Q. What is the state of the Ahl-e-Sunna? Which, amongst the countless sects is on the right path? Salma Abdur Razzaq, Miami
A. The Ahl-e-Sunna (Sunnis) too have done a great job of division. Frankly deceiving the masses, the clergy describes their sects as "School of Thought'. Ahl-e-Sunna have two main sects, Muqallid and Ghair Muqallid, meaning Conformists and non-Conformists. Then there are believers in Fiqh and believers in Hadith. Going down further, amongst the Ahl-e-Hadith are quasi-Wahabis and other Wahabis. Amongst the Ahl-e-Fiqh there are Hanafi, Hanbali, Maliki and Shafi'i. Amongst Hanafis there are Deobandis and Barelvis. Among the latter there are Raza Khanis and Tawheedis. Among
Deobandis there are Qadeemis and Jadeedis, Jalal Abadis and New Townies, and so on.
Which sect is on the right path? No sect can be on the right path. The Qur'an declares every sect as Mushrik and estranged from the exalted Messenger. The Book names all who submit to Allah as Muslims (22:78). There is no room for a hyphenated Muslim in the Qur'an.
Q. "Controversy amongst the Ummah is Allah's blessing", quotes a Hadith, Banday Ali Hussaini from Kathiawar.
A. Many Ulema have accepted this Hadith as fabricated. Dissension or schism is a scourge in the Light of the Qur'an. The main characteristic of the Book of Allah is that it is free of contradiction.
Q. How can our sectarian splits be ended? Ms. Najeeb Chaudhry, Kot Radha Kishan
A. There is only one way. "Hold fast all of you together to the Cable of Allah (Al-Qur'an) and divide not." Hadith, history, biographies and traditions of the Prophet, all should be subjected to scrutiny based on the Qur'an rather than making the Qur'an subservient to them.
The famed poet, Akbar Ilahabadi very aptly wrote:
For smashing the impact of the Qur'an
Pounced upon us an army of narrators
Q. Is the Mahdi that Sunnis and Shias are waiting for, one and the same person or two different ones? Maqbool Sherwani, Texas
A. There is a host of tittle-tattle on that. The Mahdi of Qadianis came and died in 1908. That of the Sunnis was born in 1962, i.e. according to Dr. Israr Ahmad. But he failed to make his debut during Hajj 2002 when he would have turned 40.
In general, the Mahdi of Sunnis is believed to be a man who will be born, rather than the Mahdi of Shi'as who was born and went into occultation in 878 CE and is running the universe from hiding in the Samera Cave in Iraq. Imams Zaid and Ismail respectively of Zaidis and Ismailis have yet to come; a second time that is. Muhammad bin Hanfia, the Mahdi of Kassania is also in line. There has already been a Mahdi in the Abbassid era whose name was Abdullah bin Maimoon. And the Abbassi Caliph Mansoor named his son Muhammad Abdullah Mahdi for ready acceptance as Mahdi.
There has been a Mahdi of Jaunpore too in the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent. Mr. Sherwani! I have seen a Mahdi in chains. There is plenty to choose from and you can take your pick. But Allama Iqbal said:
Behold the descent of God on the tower of your heart
Relinquish for once the wait for Mahdi and Jesus
Q. Why was there no Imam from among the descendants of Hazrat Hasan son of Ali, whereas, there were so many Imams amongst the descendants of Hazrat Hussain? Nadira Khatoon, Montreal
A. In spite of the Kaissania, Zaidi, Alavi and Ismaili movements, the more prevalent belief remains that the Imam would only be from the descendants of Hazrat Hussain. Numerous people, nonetheless, accepted Muhammad Nafs Zakiyah and Ibrahim (great grandsons of Hazrat Hasan), as the final Imams. There are some people who believe that both of these men will be the Mahdis of the End Times.
Q. Harmuzan is reported to have said to Hazrat Umar that with Muslims is their God. So, what did the Maggians do to alienate God from Muslims? Khan M. Bhutta, N. Carolina
A. You have asked a very important question. The central committee of the Maggian Asavirah indeed made a very astute plan to make Muslims abandon the Qur'an. If you get them trapped in traditions, they argued, you have alienated them from the Qur'an, and thus, alienated them from Allah. The exalted Prophet had made a very pertinent observation, "Nations of old were destroyed because they abandoned the Books of Allah in favor of manmade writings."
Q. How many Ahadith are there in the book Usul-e-kafi by Imam Yaqoob bin Ishaq Al-Kaleeni and how many of them are authentic? Syed Kazim Ali, Atlanta
A. Here is the answer from the translator of Usul-e-Kafi, Maulana Syed Zafar Hassan Amrohi from his preface to vol1: "There are 16,199 Ahadeeth in Alkafi, of which only 5072 are authentic." Which 5072? - He does not say.
Q. There is a general impression that wrong policies and nepotism caused the assassination of Hazrat Usman. How far is that true? This is what Maulana Maudoodi wrote. (Ms. Kafeela Asghar, Muradabad)
A. According to the Qur'an (9:51) Maulana (our Lord) is only Allah. So calling some human a Maulana is tantamount to Shirk. Mullah Maudoodi was trapped in the fiction of Zahri, Bukhari and Tabari like a fly is trapped in the spiderweb. Slandering a great companion of the
Prophet (Hazrat Uthman) is a crime, nothing less. Smear campaign against Sahaba Karam is a vicious conspiracy of the criminals of Islam. The Qur'an stands witness that all companions of the Prophet (S) were true believers (8:74), they were all brothers and sisters unto each other (3:103), Allah is pleased with them and they were pleased with Him. (9:100)
Q. This book demonstrates that there was in fact no episode of Karbala. Is this mere fiction then? Ghazala Shaheen, New Jersey
A. Yes, absolutely. You may read the book again.
Q. Why is there no mention in it of Mukhtar Saqafi? Dr. Farzand Ali,
Toronto
A. Because Mukhtar Saqafi had nothing to do with Hazrat Hussain. In the fabricated history books, he is supposed to have taken revenge from the killers of Karbala. But, he recognized Muhammad son of Hazrat Ali from Hanfia, as the rightful Final Imam Mahdi. He regarded all others as lost souls and usurpers. According to Hujjatullah Moosvi, (Meezanul Faris), Mus'ab bin Zubair had chopped Saqafi’s head off to please Hazrat Zainul Abedin since he refused to acknowledge Zain as Imam.
Q. Every sect has its own interpretation of the Qur'an, so… Firdous Jabeen, Florida
A. Interpretations differ only when we view the Qur'an through the lenses of the
so-called Imams and their writings. The Qur'an says that it expounds everything clearly and beyond any doubt. It is, indeed, easy to understand and explains itself. Only those will be able to touch (comprehend) it that are pure, i.e. the ones who approach the Book with an open, unbiased mind.
PART - 16
Shura (The Consultative Council)
After studying Karbala Ki Haqiqat (Karbala: Fact or Fiction?) for a month, the distinguished members of the Shura met twice on July 8th and 9th, 2000. The following members took part:
Qari Ghulam Muhammad Malik, London
Allama Zeeshan Qadri, Hyderabad Deccan
Syed Muhammadan Nuri, Damascus
Mrs. Mukhtar Begum, Durban
Mrs. Batool Sultana, Sweden
Hakeem Saadat Hassan Qarshi, Chittagong
Dr. Shujauddin Kirmani, Karachi
Maulvi Hafiz Muhammad Haq, Patna
Mrs. Rabab Naqvi, Qatar
Hassan Raza Akhtar, Montreal.
I am indebted to the opinions expressed by the members of the Council and other ladies and gentlemen. Here is a summary of the proceedings:
Qari Ghulam Muhammad Malik: Having written books on such sensitive issues, it is surprising that Dr. Shabbir Ahmed has not yet been honored with edicts from mullahs. Karbala Ki Haqeeqat is an eye-opening book. It is a wonderful and comforting reading. This publication should reach maximum number of Muslims.
Allama Zeeshan Qadri: Telling the truth beyond the danger level, the research is phenomenal.
Dr. Shabbir Ahmed: I request the members to please remain inclined towards criticism.
Allama Zeeshan Qadri: What is there to criticize? One cannot find a semblance of sectarian bias in any of your books including this one. And all statements are well-documented. I think this book will be tough on those rigidly following their forefathers. However, Al-Hamdulillah, the Muslim Ummah has become conscious enough. Knowing the truth will be a great relief to hundreds of thousands of people.
The manuscript was conveyed to Syed Muhammad An-Noori of Damascus, with hand-written highlights in English. He said, "It is a good thing that the book has been published so far in Urdu. I have traveled extensively and find that the people who should have been the most open-minded, namely the Arabs, are the most rigid today. They are stone-blind reactionaries. In Syria idlers squatting in the streets either glorify Hazrat Ali or insult him in reaction. There is a reported saying of the Prophet that people would go to the extremes in praise or ridicule of Hazrat Ali as the Jews and Christians did regarding Jesus Christ. For Muslims, this book will become a means of achieving balance in their thinking."
Mrs. Mukhtar Begum is an Islamic activist in Durban, South Africa. She says, "This book has fulfilled a great need of our times."
Mrs. Batool Sultana Agha of Stockholm, Sweden: Only people who lack vision and wisdom can believe the fiction about Imam Mahdi.
I do however, fear emotional reaction against this book and the author."
Allama Zeeshan Qadri: No work of any significance can be done in fear. I saw the book by Abdul Jabbar Qaramati in the Istanbul Museum myself in 1960 and I wrote some comments in Urdu and English for publication. However no journal had the daring to publish my comments.
Dr. Shujauddin Kirmani, a theologian and psychologist in Karachi, says: It has to be borne in mind that in our history there have been times when the narrators, scholars of Hadith and historians, would affiliate themselves with the royal courts. The kings would reward them generously for writings that pleased them. So, many of these authors danced to the tune their patrons.
Maulvi Hafiz Muhammad Haq: The insults to human intelligence have been exposed in Karbala Ki Haqeeqat enabling the reader to personally analyze Truth vs Falsehood.
Mrs. Rabab Aqeel Naqvi: Whatever we had been hearing and reading since our childhood has been demolished. The arguments and references are staring us in the face. Over a span of a few hours I have seen about 90 books scattered around Dr. Shabbir from which references have been taken for this book. Even the procurement of these rare books is a wondrous thing!
Dr. Shabbir Ahmed: I am indebted to my readers who keep sending me unique and hard-to-find books from every corner of the world.
Mr. Hassan Raza Akhtar (Librarian): I completely agree with Mrs. Rabab Naqvi. Since I have read this book, I feel I am living a renewed life. A huge load of confusion has been taken off from my mind.
Allama Zeeshan Qadri: I forgot to mention a very important point. Munajaat-e-
Zainul Abideen, a book supposedly written by Imam Zain in the last year of his life makes no mention of Karbala at all!
Dr. Shabbir Ahmed: Wow! I thank all honorable members of the Shura for their opinions. Even the books of Hadith written in the 2nd and 3rd century AH make no mention of it at all! Karbala Ki Haqeeqat is such a complicated subject that some imperfections might have remained in the text. In-Sha-Allah with your help and guidance these will be addressed in the next edition.
PART - 17
Reaction to the first edition
The first edition of this book was published in August, 2000. More than ten thousand books of this edition have been sold and distributed free during the last eight months. Here is a summary of comments on the Urdu version of Karbala: Fact or Fiction?
It has already been shown from the Qur'an that sectarianism is tantamount to Shirk (Polytheism). Anyone who identifies himself or herself with a sect breaks all bonds with the exalted Prophet. Nevertheless, we have observed a stark difference in the reaction to our book among the so-called Sunnis and Shi'as.
The Sunnis have overwhelmingly accepted the book. They have commented on the following lines:
- Having read this book we felt that we have been awakened from sleep.
- It is a pleasant liberation from the big deception spun by our star historians and narrators.
- We had been hearing the tale of Karbala since childhood. But certain dogmas, stories and practices just didn't click.
- We had been reading and listening to such bizarre tales that seemed to insults the intelligence. Perhaps we were too gullible.
- In contriving the tale of Karbala, Imam Tabari has truly reviled Sahaba and insulted the exalted Prophet.
- Some readers felt there should have been more details of Hazrat Hussain's governorship and his assassination by Jaban.
- Some others commented that the book seemed to end suddenly.
These comments will be addressed in the next edition, In-Sha-Allah.
To recapture a few points, it is difficult to give up our ancient beliefs. In this context it is worth mentioning that it was none other than Tabari bin Rustam who made up the tale of Karbala 240 years after the assassination of Governor Imam Hussain. And he attributed the Karbala conjecture to Abu Mukhnif who was dead 50-100 years before Tabari was born. "Abu Mukhnif said this and wrote that." But he had left not a scrap of paper! The fables we hear since childhood become ingrained in our personalities. Hence, most people would not listen to anything against what they have been raised with.
I can say from personal experience that only about ten per cent of the Muslims possess enough flexibility to entertain any ideas outside the mainstream. Revolutionary thought is too big a deal. Fortunately, it is always a small minority required to break the idol of set patterns.The majority will then follow suit.
Ten percent of our venerable Shiite readers, both ladies and gentlemen, have said that the truth has dawned upon them. So, from now on they will not do Maatam (Chest-beating) in Muharram.
Twenty percent of the Shiite readers exclaimed that this study sounds factual but what should be the course now?! I have told them that the matter is simple. They should embrace the Book of Allah. There should be no far fetched interpretations of the Book. The hoax of 'hidden meanings' must be discarded. Mullahs whether new or old and however big their names should not be followed without inquiry. Blind faith amounts to disbelief. The Qur'an should be interpreted from the Qur'an itself and not by history, traditions and the conjecture of Shan-e-Nuzool (Circumstances of Revelation). Some principles will then become crystal clear:
1. Heredity would not confer dignity on any person. With Allah there is a single criterion for eminence, i.e. character. Whether it is Banu Umayya or Banu Hashim, if the caliphate passes from father to son to grandson, then such a system is monarchy which is contrary to the Book.
2. According to the Qur'an, all Muslim issues including caliphate should get settled through mutual consultation.
3. Being a ruler in the Divinely Ordained System is a tremendous responsibility. True believers like the Sahaba could neither covet power nor indulge in a tug of war for power as is the wont of present day politicians. They used to consider caliphate a burden. Hazrat Ali and his siblings could not have craved for power. In portraying them covetous and hungry of power, the historians have been guilty of ridiculing them.
4. For a believer, wealth and riches are nothing but fleeting amusement. They
would not lose sleep over a piece of land or property just as they would not care for power.
5. For all times to come, the exalted Prophet abolished Thaar, the chain revenge of murder, generation after generation. The Qur'an firmly declares that none will carry the burden of another and everyone will be accountable for one’s own actions. So the urge for revenge can yield nothing but malice and grudge. In the Qur'an, the principle of Qisas (the Law of Just Recompense) is specifically against the offender through a court of law, not against the offender’s children or grand children.
6. The Qura'n tells us not to follow conjecture and that we will be held accountable for our faculties of hearing, sight and mind (17:36). The exalted Prophet said, "It is enough for a person to be a liar when one simply passes on to others what he has heard." The tale of Karbala consists of Tabari’s hearsay based only upon "Abu Mukhnif said this, Abu Mukhnif said that." With this hype, he promoted the plot of the enemies of Islam. Is Karbala not a tale based only on hearsay?
7. Allah commands believers not to grieve over what is lost (3:153). Now, is not holding sessions of mourning, wailing, and chest-beating a bold defiance of the Qur'an? Were Hazrat Hussain and his kin such a picture of grief and wailing as being presented? No, on the authority of the Qur'an, Sahaba were the kind of believers who had nothing to fear or grieve.
8. The Qur'an says more than once, "You will never see Allah’s Laws changing". Therefore, the Imamist miracles cannot be better than any Mythology. The Law of Cause and Effect is one of the unalterable Divine Laws operative in the Universe as repeatedly stated in the Qur'an.
9. According to the Qur'an, the Ultimate judge is Allah. None shall be asked about what the previous generations did. 'Allotting' heaven and hell to the companions of the Prophet, cursing the men of old and deifying some can only create schism and hate. "Those who dwell in the past forfeit the future," said Cisero.
10. The Qur'an commands us not to conceal the Truth. Therefore, the phony principle of Taqayyah (resoting to concealing the Truth and presenting falsehood) must be discarded.
Some Shiite scholars maintain that the severed head of Hussain was reciting the Qur'an and it was his miracle. Further on, some of them assert, "We accept that Imams being born of the thighs of their mothers, or a severed head reciting the Qur'an are irrational phenomena. Yet, believing in them strengthens Faith." Does it, really? Rather, it opens up a whole can of worms and the intellectually inclined youngsters make fun of such dogmas.
In the midst of uproar by the Mullahs on the first edition, I am reminded of the matchless poet Sheikh S'adi, "Silence is the best rebuttle to the ignorant."
This work is based on taking the Book of Allah as the Criterion, and the writings of the clergy have been scrutinized in that Light. Now, the readers should form their own opinions.
As these lines are being written, an elderly gentleman from Texas has commented that a solitary voice of truth will easily get drowned in the uproar of the universally formidable propaganda machine of the clergy. I agree that our clergy have always been the biggest hurdle in the way of reform. The ancient "Ulema" are the source of bread and butter for today's clergy. Yet, things are rapidly changing. Especially since the advent of Internet, Muslims in particular are discovering what is concealed in the huge volumes in the name of Islam. I say concealed since the masses seldom procure these huge books and only our clergy have the access and time to read them.
In less than a year, hundreds of thousands of individuals around the world have expressed agreement with my humble research under Karbala: Fact or Fiction? - And also The Criminals of Islam. These ladies and gentlemen come from all sects of Islam. Now they no longer adhere to any particular sect but describe themselves simply as Muslims. Happily, among them are the former Shiites that have been liberated from incessant wailing and chest-beating.
Dear readers! It goes without saying that I truly respect Ahl-e-Bait (the family of the exalted Prophet) more than the historians who have de facto insulted them in the guise of reverence as you have seen.
Every step I light a candle with my heart's blood
Someone might be following the same trail
PART - 18
Further Expositions
Let us now seek further clarication of certain issues.
1. Please refer back to the Diary of Hur bin Abdur Rahman in Chapter 11. This man of excellence was the governor of Andalusia (Spain) during the reign of Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz (99 to 101 AH). His diary tells us that:
Hazraat Ali, Hasan and Hussain were governors of Iraq in succession. Hazraat Ali and Hussain sacrificed their lives in the prestigious office. Their integrity,
vigilance and competence had turned today's unfortunate Iraq into a paradise on earth. When Jamshed Khurasani assassinated Hazrat Ali and Jaban bin Harmuzan assassinated Hazrat Hussain, the Persian conspirators rejoiced thinking that they had dealt fatal blows to the Islamic Caliphate and that Iraq would fall into their lap. On the contrary, the blood of Hazraat Ali and Hussain did not go in vain. Couriers coming from Damascus (the capital city of the Caliphate) tell us that in 100 AH Kufa, Basra and … (not legible) in Iraq are more prosperous than Syria, Palestine and Egypt."
Meezanul Faris by Moosvi:
(The Gauging Of Persia)
2. We have noted in Chapter 13 that Hazrat Uthman remained Amirul Mu'mineen (Commander of the Faithful) for 12 years after the martyrdom of Hazrat Umar in 23 AH. During the reign of Hazrat Usman as the Caliph in Madinah, Hazrat Ali continued as the Caliphate appointed governor of Iraq with Koofa being the provincial capital.
A magnificent book, Meezanul Faris published in Iran by Hujjatullah Abdul Qadir Ali Al-Mooosvi dedicates two detailed chapters drawing a beautiful picture of the era of Hazrat Usman the Generous. "It was a model State with exemplary justice, equity, peace, tranquility, progress and prosperity." The Meezan uses ancient sources on the history of Khilafat-e-Rashida (Caliphate of the Rightly Guided). Many of these sources have been discovered recently in Istanbul and Spain. Not at all surprisingly, the book has been banished in Iran.
Dalaail-e-Nabuwwah Syedina Muhammad
(Logical Analysis Of The Prophethood Of Muhammad, Our Leader)
- Abdul Jabbar Qaramati
3. Now please refer to Chapter 9. Only one hand-written manuscript of the book by Abdul Jabbar Qaramati exists in the Istanbul Museum.
The honorable Chairman of our Consultative Council, Allama Zeeshan Qadri Naqshbandi has had the privilege of having a look at the manuscript of this unique book. The author of this Arabic manuscript, Abdul Jabbar Qaramati, seems to be a man of Faith and a true devotee of the exalted Prophet. Even though the ‘Qaramati" sect is supposed to have had rather tainted beliefs, Abdul Jabbar appears to be completely free of all sectarianism.
Because of his long stay in Jordan, one of my distinguished readers, Fouad Hoffmann (no relation to Murad Hoffman), speaks and reads Arabic fluently. Translated below are some excerpts from the book copied by Fouad Hoffmann:
"What can be a greater argument in support of true Prophethood of the
Muhammad (S) than the fact that 250 years after his passing away he is still the Beacon of Light for all?"
"The Muslim Ummah got the gift of a rare jewel in the person of the honorable Abu Bakr Siddiq. Salutes to Abu Bakr! It was he who kept the System vibrant after the Prophet (S)."
"Salutations to Hazrat Umar - He preserved the Muslim Ummah against the repercussions of the catastrophic loss of the Prophet and his successor!"
"Salutes are due to Uthman the Generous, the Uthman of Two *Lights who filled the vacuum left by the Great Umar Farooq from 23 to 35 AH so well that the Caliphate kept working seamlessly." [Note that the fable of the supposed rebellion during the reign of Hazrat Uthman is categorically dismissed by Qaramati. "Of Two *Lights" was a title of Hazrat Uthman indicating that he was married to the second daughter of the exalted Prophet after the first one had died]
"Our salutations to Ali Ibn Abi Talib - He remained the governor of Iraq (13-40 AH), our prime province, while most amicably heading the Caliphate from 35 to 40 AH."
"Madinah, the Caliphate center, had become the seat of Zoroastrian and Jewish intrigues. It was the far-sighted strategy of Hazrat Ali that he shifted the Islamic capital from Madinah to Koofa at the right time."
"Even today (around 280 AH) the Islamic world is united like one body."
PART - 19 - CLOSING
Closing: A Favor - A Book - A Request
1. The Favor
My respected readers keep doing a great favor by sending me rare books, writings and articles which would otherwise be out of my reach. For this kind gesture, I remain indebted to them.
2. A Book
Ad-Deen Wad-Daulah
(Religion and the State)
By Ali bin Sahl Raban, written in 205 AH
As these lines were being written, I have received from an Arab lady in Madinah, the English version of a rare Arabic book, Ad-Deen Wad-Daulah.
The author was born in 160 AH which means that he predates the well known historian Tabari who was born 64 years later in 224 AH. Initial examination of the book reflects the author’s true love for the exalted Prophet. He has collected predictions in the Bible about the advent of the exalted Prophet Muhammad with great reverence and magnificent skill. Ali bin Sahl bin Raban was a scholar of the Bible and had great interest and expertise in dialogue with Jews and Christians.
In the foreword to the book, Adil Nowaihidh of Darul Afaq Publishing of Beirut says that Ali bin Sahl bin Raban has excelled and done full justice with the subject.
His book says:
"The companions of the Prophet and those who introduced Islam to others were most virtuous people.
It was due to the nobility of the exalted Prophet that individuals of such high stature as Hazraat Abu Bakr, Umar Ibn Khattab, Uthman bin Affan, and Ali bin Abi Talib became the stars of the Ummah.
The Ummah was further blessed with honorable men and women like the following:
Hasan bin Ali Khadijah
Hussain bin Ali Ayesha
Abdullah Bin Zubair Fatima
Abdul Malik Zainab
Waleed bin Abdul Malik Karimah [The wife of Umar bin Abdul Aziz]
Muhammad bin Hanfia Abdullah Bin Umar
Abdur Rahman bin Abu Bakr
Also it is due to the great training of the exalted Prophet that there has been no dissension amongst the Muslim Ummah. The names quoted above and others radiate like stars. They have all been living examples of, "All the faithful are brothers and sisters unto one other" until this day (205 AH).
No power on earth can halt the blooming Islamic revolution. In this Benevolent Order, any attempted intrigues die their natural death."
The Battles of Jamal, Saffain, Nehrwan and Karbala are Fiction
The above excerpts from Ad-Deen Wad-Daula very clearly show that the reports of internal unrest in the Muslim Empire such as the Battles of Jamal, Saffain,
Nehrwan, and Karbala are nothing but obnoxious divisive attempts of our historians.
3. The Request
Please allow me to say again that this book has criticized history and the historians. I remain extremely respectful to the holy companions of the exalted Messenger, and to his household. Progeny must be distinguished from household. While the latter were directly groomed by the exalted Prophet, the former did not have that advantage and many of them have been unscrupulous in their character and conduct throughout history.
I humbly submit that I do not consider my thoughts or findings to be etched in stone, but my research has been sincere. And I am open to suggestions and criticism. Of course, I respect the reader's right to differ with me. Please be assured that Shabbir Ahmed is not associated with any sect. My book Islam Kay Mujrim (The Criminals of Islam) is ample proof to that in which I have critically examined the non-Quranic beliefs of all sects. According to the Qur'an, choosing a sect amounts to Shirk (polytheism) and those with sectarian affiliations lose all bonds with the exalted Prophet. Finally, let us conclude this book with a saying of Hazrat Ali:
"See not who said it, but see what is said."
Respectfully,
Shabbir Ahmed, M.D.

1 comment:

Edward Ott said...

very thought provoking article.