Question:Why did no one of Muhammad ibin Alhanafya’s sons go out with Hussein?

Answer:In the name of Allah, be advised, my son, several narrations report that Husseini (PBUH) was ordered by Allah to take only those he took with him to Karbala and to leave all those whom he left. Allah knows best.

Question:Who is Sarjoon the Roman? What is his role in Karbala?

Answer:In the name of Allah, he was a writer and a supporter for Muawyaa and then for Yazid (may Allah curse them). When Muslim ibin Aqeel came to Al-Kufa, and many people pledged their homage to him, Yazid (may Allah curse him) consulted Sarjoon saying “what is your opinion that Hussein has sent Muslim ibin Aqeel to Al-Kufa to seek people’s homage for Hussein? I was told that Al-Numan ibin Basheer has a bad and weak performance. Whom do you think to appoint in Al-Kufa? Yazid had in mind Ubaidullah ibin Zyad to be appointed. Sarjoo, then, said that if Muawiya was brought alive, would you take his opinion? Yazid said “yes”. Sarjoon showed the appointment document of Ubaidullah ibin Zyad on Al-Kufa, saying that this is Muawyaa’s opinion. Muawyaa ordered to include the two countries to Ubaidulah ibin Zyad before he died. Yazid said “do then. Send the appointment document of Ubaidulah to him”. This is mentioned in Al-Irshad by Sheikh Al-Mufeed (p. 42), Tareekh Al-Tabari (vol.4. p. 258), Al-Kamil fil Tareekh (vol.4, p.22), Albidaya wal Nihaya (vol.8, p.164) and others. It is not proved that Sarjoon was in Karbala. Allah knows best.

Question:It is narrated in some of the books which narrate the biographies and killing events that that Al-Abbas (PBUH) used to seek permission form Imam Hussein (PBUH) for fighting in the battle and then Imam Hussein (PBUH) would permit him. The last time that Imam Hussein (PBUH) permitted him was to bring some water for the children. Does that mean that Al-Abbas was brought for fighting or for bringing water? How would you describe the virtue and greatness of watering Imam Hussein’s (PBUH) family through this and other attitudes?

Answer:In the name of Allah, what you have mentioned exists in the books of killing events. In these two situations, it seems that Imam Hussein (PBUH) does not like to push Abu Alfadhl Al-Abbas to fight the enemies, a reason why Imam Hussein (PBUH) only asked him for bringing water. It is known that the fighter whose job is only fighting can kill more enemies than that whose job is to fight and bring water. This fighter will be defending the water and fighting at the same time; his power will be divided between the two purposes. Be advise, my son, that we have reiterated that the narrations on the tragic event of Al-Taff are speculated and different due to many reasons. Some of the reliable narrations say that Imam Hussein and Al-Abbas (PBUT) both went out to fight; if one got into the fight the other would cover the former’s back. This narration is regarded as a foreign, different one from that ones which are known in the books of the killing events where Imam Hussein (PBUH) assigned Al-Abbas the job of bringing water. However, let the Husseini speakers mention what they have memorized of these narrations. Do not argue them. Allah knows best.

Question:The following text is mentioned in the visitation text of Abu Al-Fadhl Al-Abbas (PBUH) “I bear witness to you of submission, believing, loyalty and advice” [ishadu laka biltasleem wal wafa wal nasiha], and in another text, it is mentioned “I bear witness that you have exaggerated in advice and given the utmost of efforts” [ashadu inaka qad balaghat filnasiha]. What is meant by “advice” in the two contexts? How is it embodied in Abu Al-Fadhl Al-Abbas (PBUH)?

Answer:Advice here, in these two contexts, means to guide those who need to be guided. Abu Al-Fadhl Al-Abbas (PBUH) did that in more than one situation in the battle of Al-Taf. He offered advice to the wicked ones to allow the family of the prophet (PBUH&HF) to have water. He also advised the wicked one not to fight the prophet’s (PBUH&HF) grandson. This is the meaning of the word “advice” in these two contexts of the visitation text, for it shows Al-Abbas’s (PBUH) attitudes on the day of Ashura. The difference between the two contexts is that the first one uses the word “advice” in its linguistic meaning while the second one uses it in the way that we have aforementioned. In this attitude, Abu Alfadhl Al-Abbas used all his power devotedly to the extent that his advice reached to the rational levels in terms of way and quantity with the devoted advisor’s efforts. Allah knows best.

Question:When did lady Narjis, the mother of the Awaited Imam (may Allah hasten his reappearance) die? Was that during the life of Imam Al-Askari (PBUH) or after his martyrdom? Was she Sayqel who claimed the pregnancy, held in prison and observance after Imam Al-Askari was martyred? Or was she another woman?

Answer:In the name of Allah, narrations state that the Imam’s mother died in the life of Imam Al-Askari (PBUH). It was reported that she asked Imam Al-Askari (PBUH) to pray to Allah for that, and he told her that she would face troubles in her search for the greatest Imam (PBUH). ,,………..,, As for the other woman, she is not the mother of the Awaited Imam (may Allah hasten his reappearance). She claimed that she was pregnant in order to camouflage and conceal the true pregnancy of the Awaited Imam (nay Allah hasten his reappearance) because Banu Al-Abbas were afraid of the Imam as they knew that he would rule the world. When Saqeel claimed that she was pregnant (hamil), she might mean that she was carrying (hamil) the rosary in order to camouflage them [the oppressors] and to keep attention away from the Awaited Imam (may Allah hasten his reappearance). We pray to Allah to let him reappear to rule the world by justice. You should know that the name of that maid who claimed the pregnancy was disputable. She might have more than one name among the other maids at that time. Be advised, my son/daughter, that the name mentioned in the narrations is Saqeel, not Sayqel. Allah is the all Helper.

Question:Is it true that Al-Qsim son of Imam Al-Hassan had married during the tragic event of Karbala before happening to them what happened?

Answer:In the name of Allah, this has not been mentioned in our reliable references. Considering the situation of the tragic event in Karbala, one rejects this to happen. This has been reported in some of the unreliable books. Allah knows best.

Question:Some people question some of our narrations saying that these narrations contain the will of Muawya to his son Yazid in which there is an indication that Muawya is aware of Imam Hussein’s (PBUH) right, as follows: “As for Hussein, I have known his status through the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) that he is from his own flesh. I have known that people of Iraq will definitely bring him to them then abandon and leave him alone. If you find him, you should know his right and status to the Messenger of Allah. Do not hold him accountable for what he will do, because we are relatives. Do not ever harm him. The question is: does that make sense? Or there is something wrong with the narration.

Answer:In the name of Allah, there is no authenticated reference which contains Muawya’s will to Yazid. In his will which is narrated, there is an implication which is if anything happened to people of Iraq, send Ubaid Allah bin Zyad to them because he is a brutal tyrant. If what you have mentioned is true regarding Muawya’s admission of Imam Hussein’s (PBUH) right, why did Muawya send bin Zyad? If Muawya really said that, it is then a malignant plan as what had been done in the event of Al-Saqeefa to keep people away from loving Ahlulbait (PBUH). However, Ahlulbait’s (PBUH) love resides in the hearts, and what provoked people is Imam Hussein’s (PBUH) killing; a matter which led Umayyad ruling people to be defeated. Allah knows best.

Question:Some people question the following excerpt from Nahjul Balagha: “our start was we met the people of the Levant, and apparently we have one God, one call for Islam and we are not better than them in our faith in Allah and His Messenger. It is all the same except the issue of Othman’s killing from which we are innocent”. Accordingly, Muawya believed Imam Ali’s saying. What is your opinion?

Answer:In the name of Allah, be advised, my son, reflecting Imam Ali’s (PBUH) saying leads to the knowledge that Imam Ali (PBUH) admits what Muawya and his followers say publically, but he (PBUH) does not want to judge them with Kufur as long as they say “there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger”. On the other hand, Imam Ali (PBUH) did not judge the followers of Muawya as devoted people in Islam. Allah is the all Guide.

Question:Some people question the difference between the two following cases: a. Imam Ali’s (PBUH) rejection to Abdullah Ibin Abbas’s request which is instating Muawya Ibin Abu Sifyan on the Levant for a short time till the caliph is stable and then Imam Ali (PBUH) ousts Muawya. b. Imam Ali’s (PBUH) acceptance on Malik Al-Ashtar’s resquest for instating Abu Musal Al-Ashari Abdullah bin Qais to rule Kufa despite Imam Ali (PBUH) quickly ousted him. The reality was that both Muawya and Abu Musal Al-Ashari Abdullah Ibin Qais are same. They belong to the same class.

Answer:In the name of Allah, these two persons are not the same, my son. Muawya is the fruit and branch of the cursed tree of Banu Umayyad who was able to convince people of the Levant to his corrupt ideas. Unlike Muawya, Abu Musal Al-Ashari Abdullah bin Qais had no supporters as Muawya. Allah is the all Guide.

Question:What is your opinion regarding Al-Abbas bin Abdul Mutalib and Aqeel bin Abu Talib (PBUH)? There is a turbaned man who strongly dispraises them.

Answer:In the name of Allah, the narrations on Al-Abbas bin Abdul Mutalib are different and contradictory; some of them praise him, but they are not well authenticated. Some narrations dispraise him. Such narrations are well authenticated as in some of our references as in Ali Ibraheem Al-Qumi and Al-Ayashi’s interpretation to the holy verse “whoever is blind in this world, he will be blind in the hereafter too”. This verse is revealed against this man. Another verse “my advice does not benefit you” is also revealed against him. Convincingly, he did not defend Imam Ali Bin Abu Talib (PBUH); his name is not on the list of those who cared for Islam, rather he cared for Mizab as the greatest master (Al-Ustathul Adham) says. He did not care for Al-Zahraa (PBUH) either. Allah knows best. As for Aqeel, some narrations were attributed to him that he left Ali Ibin Abu Talib and joined Muawya for money. This is not proved in well authenticated references. Going to Muawya might be according to Ali Ibin Abu Talib’s (PBUH) order in order to find out about the reality of rumors on Ali Ibin Abu Talib (PBUH). The rumors spread by Muawya and his followers had affected the people of the Levant region in a way that they confused that Ali is a corrupt man who does not pray or fast, his mere goal is to loot people’s money and shed blood. Muawya might realize the situation of Aqeel, he did not let Aqeel meet people and let Aqeel stay in Muawya’s own house. When Aqeel did not succeed, he came back. This probability is certified by Imam Ali’s affinity to Muslim bin Aqeel, where Ali (PBUH) made Muslim marry his (PBUH) sister as in the references. All in all, the story was a mere lie aiming at political reasons for Muawya’s interest. Allah knows best.