In the twenty-ninth episode of our daily series, we look at the events which occurred on the 13th of Moharram in the year 61 AH in Karbala, three days after the tragic events of Ashura and the martyrdom of Imam Husain (PuH). The blessed bodies of the martyrs of Karbala were left on the sands, unburied and exposed to the scorching sun and the wind. This deplorable situation lasted for three days, until a group of Bani Assad tribesmen, who lived relatively close by, entered Karbala on the 13th of Moharram.
They were shocked and extremely saddened to find the decapitated and mutilated bodies and torn limbs of the martyrs of Karbala, and they cried for the martyrs. They wanted to bury the blessed bodies of the martyrs, but most of the bodies were decapitated, and even their clothes were ripped off by the savage Omayyad hordes!! It was difficult to identify the headless corpses. Thus the Bani Assad tribesmen were in a quandary about what to do with the bodies of the martyrs. Just then, a horseman could be seen approaching Karbala from the direction of Kufa. As he got closer, the tribesmen realized that he was Imam Ali Zain al-Abedin (PuH), the Survivor of the Tragedy of Ashura and the son and successor of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). He was among the noble captives that the Omayyad took to Kufa after the tragedy of Karbala. Now, as the 4th Imam, it was the Will of Almighty God that he come to Karbala miraculously, to identify the bodies of his father, uncles, brothers, cousins, and companions. He identified the bodies of the martyrs one by one, and helped the tribesmen bury them.
Imam Zain al-Abedin (PuH) then proceeded to bury the blessed body of his father, Imam Husain (PuH). As he placed the mutilated and headless body of his father in the grave, the grief-stricken son placed his own face on the neck of his father, and weeping aloud said: "How fortunate is the earth which covers your blessed and pure body. The world has become dark after you, while the other world has been lit up by your light. I cannot sleep at night, and there will be no end to my grief and sorrow. Until the time when the Lord enjoins us, members of your household, to you, and places us by your side; my greetings and salutation to you, O son of the Messenger of God, and the Lord's mercy and blessings upon you.
After these words, Imam Zain al-Abedin (PuH) climbed out of the grave, and filled the grave with soil, and wrote upon it with his finger: "Here lies Husain ibn Ali (PuH), who was killed in a state of thirst, lonely and far away from home".
Then Imam Zain al-Abedin (PuH) retrieved the pure and blessed body of his brother, Ali Akbar (PuH), and laid him to rest in a grave just beneath the feet of the grave of his father Imam Husain (PuH). The blessed bodies of the rest of the martyrs of Karbala, including family members and loyal companions, which were badly mutilated, were laid to rest in a mass grave located below the feet of the grave of Imam Husain (PuH).
Then, Imam Zain al-Abedin (PuH) directed the Bani Assad tribesmen towards a stream – a tributary of the Euphrates River – known as Alqamah. This was where his uncle, Hazrat Abu’l-Fazl al-Abbas (PuH ) had been martyred, after losing both his hands while trying to fetch water for the thirsty camp. The blessed and pure body of this valiant Standard-Bearer of Karbala was laid to rest in a grave exactly where he was martyred. As the grieving nephew laid the armless body of his uncle, to rest, painful tears streamed down his face, and he lamented: "O Moon of the Hashemite Clan!! Peace, mercy and blessings of God upon you!!
Then the Bani Assad tribesmen laid to rest one of their own elders, Habib ibn Mazaher, who was one of the closest and most loyal companions of Imam Husain (PuH). He was buried near the grave of Imam Husain (PuH).
After burying the Martyrs of Karbala, the 4th Imam who was supposed to be a prisoner in Kufa, suddenly disappeared towards that city, with the same speed that he had approached Karbala. Not even the Omayyad guards were aware of his brief absence from captivity, since this was all a miracle by the Will of God Almighty.
source : irib
