Sermon of Imam al-Sajjad (a) in Kufa

Priority: c, Quality: b
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Sermon of Imam al-Sajjad (a) in Kufa
SubjectImam al-Sajjad's (a) speech after the event of Karbala and during captivity in Kufa
Shi'a sourcesAl-Ihtijaj • Al-Luhuf


Sermon of Imam al-Sajjad (a) in Kufa was a speech of Imam al-Sajjad (a) after the event of Karbala in captivity in Kufa. When the captives of Karbala entered Kufa, Imam al-Sajjad (a) gave a speech after Lady Zaynab (a), Fatima Sughra (a) and Umm Kulthum and criticized the people of Kufa.[1]

The most important messages of this sermon are:

  • Disloyalty and betrayal of the people of Kufa
  • Admonishing the people of Kufa by the Prophet (s) in the words of Imam al-Sajjad (a)
  • Elegies on the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a)

According to some reports, people who were sad by Imam's (a) words began crying and made a suggestion to Imam (a) to take revenge; but, Imam (a) mentioned breaking of their promises and said, "I ask that you neither help us, nor fight us".

Some believe that the situation in Kufa and the suppression of the agents of the government and the fear of the people of Kufa from them, makes it difficult to accept that such speeches were given. Moreover, the sermon of Imam al-Sajjad (a) is very similar to his speech in the mosque of Damascus. Thus, it is mentioned possible that by the passage of time, narrators mixed the events with each other.[2]

Text of The Sermon

Huzaim b. Sharik al-Asadi said:[3] Imam Sajjad (a) went to people and signaled them to become silent. After extolling and praising Almighty Allah and conveying salutations on Prophet (s), He said:

O people! Those of you, who know me, know me, while those who do not know me I am Ali, the son of Husayn, who was beheaded without any fault or error on the banks of the Euphrates. I am the son of the one whose sanctity was violated and was robbed off the blessing of his life. His wealth was plundered and his women were captivated. I am the son of the one who was killed by a collective group, while this honor (Martyrdom) is sufficient for us.

O people! I tell you in the name of Allah! Do you not know that you had written a letter to my father inviting him? You deceived him while pledging and promising to aid him and took the oath of allegiance to him. And in return you fought against him and abandoned him? May you be ruined by that what you have brought forth and may your ideologies be ugly! How shall you face the Prophet of Allah (S) when he shall say to you: You killed my progeny and violated my sanctity, you are not from among my nation.

Due to the admonishment of Imam (a.s.), the people became remorseful and guilt overtook them. The voice of wailing of men arose and they started telling one another, "You are ruined and you do not know".

Then Imam (a.s.) continued, May Allah’s Mercy be upon him who accepts my counsel and safeguards my recommendation in the way of Allah, the Prophet of Allah (S) and his Progeny, that we possess better following while having relation with the Prophet of Allah (S).

They said" "O son of the Prophet of Allah! All of us are heedful ones, obedient and admirers of your sanctity. We shall not desert you nor turn away from you. Then command us, may your Lord have mercy upon you, we are along with you in times of conflict and peace. Then we shall seek revenge from the one who oppressed you or ourselves."

Imam replied: "Alas! Alas! O deceivers loaded with fraud! There is a large obstacle between you and your futile caprice. You desire to fair with me similarly as you have faired with my fathers? No, never. By the Lord of the joyous Camels of the pilgrims! The deep wounds of the martyrdom of my father and my family have not yet healed. The wounds inflicted upon the breasts of the Prophet of Allah (S), my father and his sons have not yet been forgotten. The bones of my neck are broken due to the sorrow and its bitterness exists in between my throat and larynx. And the bones of the heart are suffocating me. My desire is that you should not be of those who benefit us nor of those who harm us".

Then Imam recite a poem, "No wonder that Husayn (a.s.) is killed, similar to his father, who was better and greater than him. O Kufans! Do not rejoice upon this affliction of ours which is a great affliction, who has been lying martyred on the bank of the Euphrates, may my life be his ransom, while the retribution for his murder shall be the fire of hell". [4]

See Also

Notes

  1. ↑ Shahīdī, Zindigānī-yi ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn (a), p. 56.
  2. ↑ Shahīdī, Zindigānī-yi ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn (a), p. 57.
  3. ↑ Ṭabrisī, al-Iḥtijāj, vol. 2, p. 119; Ibn Ṭāwūs, al-Luhūf, p. 119; Ibn Namā al-Ḥillī, Mathīr al-aḥzān, p. 89.
  4. ↑ Translation of the text is taken from the website: alkausarmagazine

References

  • Ibn Namā al-Ḥillī, Jaʿfar b. Muḥammad. Mathīr al-aḥzān wa munīr subul al-ashjān. Qom: Intishārāt-i Madrisa-yi Imām Mahdī, 1406 AH.
  • Ibn Ṭāwūs, ʿAlī b. Mūsā. Al-Luhūf ʿalā qatl al-ṭufūf. Tehran: Nashr-i Jahān, 1353 Sh.
  • Shahīdī, Sayyid Jaʿfar. Zindigānī-yi ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn (a). Thirteenth edition. Tehran: Daftar-i Nashr-i Farhang-i Islāmī, 1385 Sh.
  • Ṭabrisī, Aḥmad b. ʿAlī al-. Al-Iḥtijāj ʿalā ahl al-lijāj. Edited by Ibrāhīm al-Bahādurī. Third edition. Qom: Dār al-Uswa, 1422 AH.
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