Author: Sheikh Mateen Charbonneau

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…

Muslim ibn ‘Aqil had taken two of his sons to Kufah with him. The older son was called
Muhammad and the younger Ibrahim. Both of them were under the age of ten years. When
Muslim ibn ‘Aqil realized how dangerous a threat Ibn Ziyad was, he called for Qadi Shurayh and
handed over his two sons to him. Qadi Shurayh kept the two boys in his house until the
martyrdom of Muslim ibn ‘Aqil.
After the death of Muslim ibn ‘Aqil, Ibn Ziyad issued a warning saying that anyone who was
aware of the whereabouts of the sons of Muslim ibn ‘Aqil and did not inform him would be put 171
to death. On hearing this, Qadi Shurayh went to the sons of Muslim ibn ‘Aqil. He showed them
affection and kindness as he shed tears. The boys asked him, “Why are you weeping?”
Shurayh replied, “Your father has been…