In The Name Of Allah
Hazrat Ali Asghar was the youngest child of Imam Husain. He was born
only a few weeks before Imam left Madinah. His mother's name was Rubaab
daughter of Imra'u'l Qais who was the chief of the tribe of Kinda
Rubaab had two children, Sakina and Ali Asghar. She and her two children
accompanied Imam to Karbala. The fact that Imam took with him a newly
born baby further demonstrates that his intention was never to engage in
any armed rebellion
At Karbala Asghar was only six months old. From the seventh Muharram
there was no water in Imam's camp. Asghar was in great pain because of
thirst
On Ashura day, after Ali Akber had been killed, Imam Husain was standing
outside the camp. He was left all alone and he was preparing to go into
the battlefield. Just then he heard a child cry. It was Ali Asghar,
tormented by the pangs of hunger and thirst
Imam walked into Bibi Rubaab's tent. He lifted the child from the
cradle. "Rubaab," he said, "I will take him to Yazeed's army. Surely
they can not possibly deny this little infant a few drops of water?"
Rubaab changed Ali Asghar's clothes. She even tied a small turban on his
head. Like any other mother she wanted her son to look at his best in
front of strangers
Imam Husain carried the child to the battle field. Walking up to
Yazeed's soldiers Imam Husain said, "This child has done you no harm. He
is dying of thirst. I am begging for a few drops of water for
him."There was no response. Imam said, "If you are afraid that when you
bring Asghar any water I will drink it, look, I will put him on the
ground and you can come yourself and give him water." He put the child
on the sands of Karbala and moved a couple of steps back. You can
imagine how hot the desert sand was. Asghar lay there not even wincing.
He turned towards the enemy and stared at them. A murmur arose among the
soldiers but no one came forward to give water to the baby. Imam took
Asghar in his arms and in a clear voice said, "Asghar, my son, show them
how thirsty you are!" Asghar turned his head towards the soldiers. He
smiled sweetly. Opened his mouth. Brought out his dry tongue and moved
it over his lips. The ultimate sword had been unsheathed!l
The soldiers were so moved by this that they could be heard sobbing.
Still, they were very afraid of Yazeed and none dared come forward to
give water to Ali Asghar
Umar Sa'ad was worried. It seemed that Asghar was emerging victorious in
this confrontation against the might of Yezid. He looked at Hurmala, a
famous archer, and said, "Silence Husain!"l
Then a terrible thing happened. Hurmala lifted his bow. Aimed an arrow
at the child. The arrow flew across the hot desert. There was a hissing
sound. Asghar smiled. He lifted his head and arched his neck!! No
civilized mind can even imagine what happened next. The hissing sound
stopped and Asghar lay still on his father's arms
Imam Husain looked down at Asghar's neck, he saw the arrow, he saw the neck, he saw the smile and then he could see no more!!!l
Our Imam began to feel faint. For a moment everything went dark. He
could not see! There was a total silence over Karbala, broken only by
the sound of the gentle waves of Furaat. Even the enemy appeared
stunned
Slowly Husain turned round and now looked at the baby in his arms
The arrow had passed through the tender neck and lodged in Imam Husain's
chest. There was no way Imam Husain could dislodge the arrow. His two
arms were supporting the still child. He looked at the sky, and prayed
"Ya Allah, give me courage in this most difficult moment of my life. No
Prophet ever was subjected to a test as severe as this."l
It is said that the Imam was so shaken up by what had happened to the
infant child that all of a sudden his beard went all grey and he looked
an old man. With his teeth he pulled his abaa over Asghar to shield the
body from the scorching sun. Then he took a few deep breaths, and began
to walk towards his camp
As he got near he saw Rubaab standing at the entrance to her tent. He
saw the anxiety, the hope, the fear and the restlessness in her eyes.
Our Imam seemed to lose all strength. He could not walk forward towards
Bibi Rubaab. He took seven steps back saying "INNA LILLA-HI WA INNA
ILAY-HI RAJEEOON". He stopped and thought that he must take the child to
his mother. He again took seven steps forwards saying "INNA LILLA-HI WA
INNA ILAY-HI RAJEEOON". Once again his eyes met with those of Bibi
Rubaab's. Again our Imam seemed to lose his courage and walked backwards
repeating "INNA LILLA-HI WA INNA ILAY-HI RAJEEOON". Imam Husain did
this seven times. Forward and backward. All the time Bibi Rubaab's eyes
remained transfixed on the child. Each time Imam reciting "INNA LILLA-HI
WA INNA ILAY-HI RAJEEOON"l
Finally, somehow, he got the arrow dislodged. He now took the dead
infant to Bibi Rubaab. He said, "Rubaab! This is a test from Allah which
no mother has ever been asked to go through. Come with me" Bibi Rubaab
followed. With their own hands they dug a small grave! The father and
the mother together buried Ali Asghar!!l
