Today, in the fifty-ninth episode of our series, we look at the pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Husain (AS) by the first-ever pilgrim to Karbala, Jaber ibn Abdullah Ansari, the loyal companion of the Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). He reached Karbala on the Day of Arba’een, exactly 40 days after the martyrdom of the Prophet’s grandson on the 10th Moharram 61 AH.
After the tragic martyrdom of the Chief of Martyrs, Imam Husain (AS), the Muslim Ummah was intimidated by the brutal power of the Godless Omayyad regime. But some Muslims were undaunted. They weren’t intimidated at all by the tyrant Yazid and his clique, and decided to unmask the Omayyads, to expose their true nature to the Muslim masses. One of these courageous and undaunted individuals was Jaber ibn Abdullah Ansari, a close companion of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).
Jaber was an old man – he was well into his 80s. He was weak and he had health problems. But nonetheless, despite his weak sight, he decided to undertake the long and physically arduous journey from Medina to Karbala, to visit the grave of Imam Husain (AS). In spite of his old age, Jaber gladly accepted the hardships of this journey, in order to awaken Muslims, to warn Muslims, and to bring to them the message of grandson of the Prophet.
Jaber was accompanied by his servant, “Atiyyah Oufi”, in the long journey from Medina to Karbala. He reached Karbala, in Iraq, on the day of Arba’een, that is, exactly 40 days after the Martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS). He went straight to the place where the Imam was martyred, and touched the gravestone of Husain (AS) and said “Ya Husain” three times. He then became unconscious. When he gained consciousness, he addressed the Prophet’s grandson by saying: “O Husain! Why don’t you answer?” A short while later he answered his own question by saying: “How can you reply when the veins and arteries of your throat have been cut, and your head has been separated from your body? I testify that you are the grandson of the last Messenger of Allah, and you are the son of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS); may the greetings, blessings, and paradise of God be for you.”
Then Jaber went towards the mass grave of the loyal companions of Imam Husain (AS), and addressed them by saying: “Greeting upon you O souls of you people who died in the way of Husain (AS), and by the side of Husain (AS). I stand witness that you prayed to the Lord, you paid your Zakaat (SA), you encouraged people to do that which is lawful, and you dissuaded people from doing that which is forbidden (unlawful), and you fought in a jihad against the godless atheists and unbelievers, until death overtook you”.
Then Jaber said: “By the Lord who rightly appointed the Messenger of God, that we too, have a share of what you have done!!”
Jaber’s servant, Atiyyah, who was surprised by this remarks from Jaber said: “O Jaber, please elaborate for me.”
Jaber replied: “O Atiyyah. I heard from my friend, the Messenger of God that anyone who loves a group of people, will be with them on the day of resurrection, and anyone who approves the actions of a group, he will share their action, or will be party to their action! By God, I have the same intention now, as Imam Husain (AS) and his companions had here in Karbala”.
source : irib
