The scattered household – part 1

The Holy Household of Prophet Mohammad

By: Hussein Al-Rumaithi

Just browsing through the history of Prophet Mohammad’s household will raise enormous wonderings and questions about the limit of deceit, hypocrisy and brutality that so-called Muslims leaders had. Prophet Mohammad had given tens of narrations about the significance of his household, and the importance of abidance and sincerity to them, where the Prophet had placed the anger of Allah upon angering his household and specifically Lady Fatima Al-Zahra. However, as soon as the Prophet left this world, his household faced some of the vicious atrocities and oppressions and crimes, which makes any observer wonder if those Muslims were really believers of Islam.

Imam Ali (P.B.U.H)

This great man, who has been praised by non-Muslims more than Muslims was cursed in mosques, streets and houses for more than eighty years, by the orders of Muawiya Ibn Abi Sufyan. The first Islamic civil war was waged against him by one of the Prophet’s wives and other companions. He had to witness his wife and children being beaten and humiliated, and he was humiliated, tied and pulled to the mosque to legitimize a codetta.

Finally this man was assassinated and martyred during the month of Ramadan, while praying and yet he delivers one of the most astonishing sermons for humanity before his death, as he was severely wounded.

Lady Fatima Al-Zahra (P.B.U.H)

To trigger the tears of any Shia Muslims, it would only be enough to ask him/her, where is the tomb of Lady Fatima Al-Zahra? Imagine, the grave of Prophet Mohammad’s daughter was hidden and still remains hidden. This calamity by itself, makes any free mind wonder about the reason that makes Imam Ali hide her grave upon her request.

Her door was burnt, she was pushed behind the door, and she lost a child while in pregnancy, she was beaten, she was humiliated and cussed at before (Muslims), and yet no one dared to say: Stop, this is the daughter of Allah’s messenger.

Imam Al-Hassan (P.B.U.H)

Al-Hassan is among the individuals from the Prophet’s household, who was oppressed and personally attacked during his lifetime and after his death. He was cussed and humiliated, and his close companions betrayed him, while preparing for a battle. Imam Al-Hassan was stabbed by one of his soldiers, and later on forced to accept a seize fire with the governor of Damascus (Muawiya).

Finally, this great man’s spouse conspires against him with Muawiya, in a hope to receive prize and status and poisons him in his house. In addition, during his funeral and burial, Ayesha (Prophet Mohammad’s wife) comes out and refuses to let him be buried beside his grandfather, and his tomb gets shot by hundreds of arrows.

Imam Al-Hussein (P.B.U.H)

This great man, who will later makes history in the battle of Karbala, had to witness the calamities his father, mother and brother had to face. In addition, he was threatened in Medina, the city of his grandfather, and gets forced flee to Mecca, where later on he leaves the Haj rituals to save the city and the holy shrine from a possible catastrophe, as he knew Yazid Ibn Muawiya would not hesitate to burn the Ka’aba if he has to.

Although Imam Al-Hussein received thousands of letters and promises from Kufa, to go there and lead the people there to challenge Yazid’s corrupt rule, he was betrayed by majority of the people there. Ultimately, the army of Yazid and thousands of people from Kufa (including some of the ones who had sent letters) faced Imam Al-Hussein in Karbala and slaughtered the entire family of Imam Al-Hussein and his companions. Imam Al-Hussein’s head was decapitated and raised on a spear and taken from one city to another, while his family (women) were captive, and then taken to Damascus to Yazid. Imam Al-Hussein’s infant was also a victim of this battle, as he was shot by an arrow, when the Imam asked for some water for the child.

Imam Al-Sajjad (P.B.U.H)

It is narrated that Imam Al-Sajjad cried for the rest of his life after the battle of Karbala, where he had to witness the martyrdom of his father and his entire family, and if it wasn’t for his severe illness, he would have been among the ones slaughtered as well. Imam Al-Baqir (Imam Al-Sajjad’s son) narrates that every meal and cup of water was mixed with his tears, as he always remembered the calamity of Karbala and what happened on the day of Ashura.

This Imam was un-officially placed under house arrest, as his communication with the outside world was very minimal, and during his era the oppression of Umayyad dynasty had reached its peak. Ultimately, he was poisoned and martyred by Umayyad agents and buried beside his uncle Imam Al-Hassan in the cemetery of Bani Hashim in Medina.

Imam Al-Baqir (P.B.U.H)

This Imam was among the children, who witnessed the battle of Karbala and saw his entire family, including his grandfather, Imam Al-Hussein being massacred and slaughtered on the day of Ashura. According to narrations, he was five years old and he was among the women and children that were taken as captives to Damascus.

Imam Al-Baqir lived through reign of several brutal Umayyad caliphs and he was finally martyred and poisoned by Hisham Ibn Abdul Malek in the city of Medina and buried beside his father.

To be continued.