Author: Sheikh Mateen Charbonneau

When Qasim saw that Aun and Muhammad had been granted permission to march out on the entreaties of their mother, he rushed to his mother’s tent. Almost sobbing with disappointment, he told Umme Farwa that Aun and Muhammad had secured the Imam’s permission on the intercession of their mother but he had nobody to plead on his behalf with his uncle. In utter despondency he said; “If I am not destined to be a martyr on this day, life has no charm left for me. Am I destined to be a captive and led through the streets to a prison cell?”
Upon seeing Qasim so bitter and dejected Umme Farwa burst into tears of grief. Controlling herself she began to think what to do to get Husain’s permission for him. Her first reaction was to go over to the Imam and to implore him as his brother’s widow and seek…

Rayyan Ibn Shabib narrated:

Imam al-Ridha (as) said, “O Son of Shabib! Muharram is a month in which even the people of the former age of ignorance forbade oppression and bloodshed due to its sanctity. However, this nation did not honor the sanctity of this month nor did they honor the sanctity of their Prophet. In this month, they killed the Prophet’s progeny, enslaved his women, and plundered his belongings. May Allah never forgive them for these crimes.
O Son of Shabib! If you wish to cry for anything or anyone, cry for al-Husain Ibn Ali for he was slaughtered like a sheep. Eighteen members from his family who were unparalleled on earth were also killed along with him. Certainly, the seven heavens and earths cried because of the murder of al-Husain. Four thousand Angels descended on earth to aid him, but (when they were allowed to reach there) they…