Safinah al-nejat
Volume:4 Issue: 15, Summer 2019

Lexically, the Arabic word "muharram" means "honored, honorable, sanctified; forbidden, interdicted; inviolable". As the name of an Arabic lunar month, it has since been regarded as one of the four "sanctified" months in the ancient Arab culture and civilization. This mode of sanctity is still inseparable connected and attached with it. Despite the sanctity attached with the month Muharram, the harshest and fiercest war took place in it on the plain of Karbala in 61 AH/ 680. Yazid, the second Umayyad ruler, never paid any attention to the pre-Islamic sanctity of Muharram and waged a battle against the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. This war took place on the tenth day of Muharram, i.e., on Ashura. There have occured so many horrible wars in the world, yet the Battle of Karbala on Ashura has proved the most conspicuous of them all. Why? There are many reasons that can briefly be reviewed here. The Battle of Karbala took place in the month when clashes are ritually forbidden. However, despite creating clashes, the wronged and oppressed side of the clashes were the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, notably Imam al-Husayn, who was massively invited by Kufans who had penned at least 12,000 letters of invitation. The most horrible scene is that this praiseworthy guest was not only intercepted on the way to Kufah, he and his camp received the worst kind of treatment there. However Imam al-Husayn showed zealousness and interest in guiding the ruthless pro-Umayyad Kufan army to the right path, they showed him all sorts of maltreatment. Besides imposing a war on him, they denied him of having easy access to water. Although he had quenched the intense thirst of the enemy forces that had intercepted him, he was denied of water in return to his vital help. His infant babies, children, and female companions were not only deprived of the substance of life, they were taken as prisoners of war, too. Humiliation proved more pressing than martyrdom. The event of Ashura has since been a lesson not only for Muslims but also for mankind. The more one studies the Karbala phase of the early Islamic history, the more eternal lessons can be derived from it. It has still many, many untold, universal messages for mankind. This is why not only Muslims but all rational people come to venerate Imam al-Husayn and the tragic-but-triumphant event of Ashura.

Ahmad Hanbal placed Imam ‘Ali among the caliphs of Rashidin and mentioned a set of Hadith about him. In his work, Ahmad quoted some narratives that many Sunni traditions refused to quote. Traditions such as the hadith of dignity, the hadith of Ghadir, a brotherhood between the Prophet and imam ‘Ali, and Ali in Khaybar war. Ahmad ibn Hanbal said, for no one is there any more virtue than what has been said to imam ‘Ali. After the demise of holy Prophet, ‘Ali was going to be his successor to continue his path. But unfortunately and due to ignorance of people the course of history changed. The right of ‘Ali for successorship was usurped. But his right and his great part in the history of Islam could not be kept hidden. Shia and non-Shia authors recorded Hadiths in his honor and greatness. Ahamd Hanbal is one of the authors who recorded hadiths about imam Ali which are very frequent. The hadiths include Ghadir event and other important historical scenes. In the present article, some hadiths regarding various saying about him are presented from the book of Ahmad Hanbal. Similar to these narrations quoted by Ahmad are quoted in some Shia sources.

In the history of Islam, there were many devout women who were actively involved in sensitive political scenes. Among these women and the best example of them was Zaynab (SA) who attended the Karbala Movement and took great responsibility to spread the message of it throughout the history. According to the author, Zaynab (SA) is responsible for the great responsibility of preserving and transferring the message of Imam Husayn. She was trained by the infallible leaders and Imam Husayn (as) on his way to Karbala. Imam’s recommendations made her sister more prepared. The article explains the role of Zaynab in the day of Ashura and also after. She spoke in defense of Imam Sajjadchr('39')s life and in support of women and children.Her role in Kufa and Shaam and Ibn Ziyad’s and Yazid’s stance have been discussed in the following.

Taqiyyah  (literally  means  worship  and  protection)  is an  Islamic  rhetoric referring  to  preventive  hypocrisy  or  denial  of  religious  belief  and  prejudice  in  the face of persecution. Another word that refers to this concept is concealment (in the sense of covering) giving a more specific meaning of hypocrisy by silence or neglect. Shichr('39')a, in which believers are allowed to conceal their beliefs when threatened with persecution or persecution, has emphasized the tradition of taqiyya. However, this is also permissible under certain  conditions  in  Sunni  Islam.  In the following,  we  are discussing this term.

There is no doubt Fatimah, the honored daughter of the holy Prophet of Islam enjoys a great place in Islam. Therefore, there would be no wonder if we find her trace in Quran. The present study deals with the place of her holiness in Quran.

Sheikh Mohammad Sanad Bahrani in the book "Islam Ma’iyat al- Thaqalayn lil-Islam al-Mushaf Munsikhan Min al-Hadith" in 28 chapters responds to the Quraniyun claim who said Qurchr('39')an is sufficient in understanding religion. The author of the present article, after an introduction to Quran sufficiency and opinions of its followers and a list of 28 chapters of the book of Sanad, briefly explains some of them, including: checking Mutashabihat in Quran with its Muhkamat, specification of the Qurchr('39')anchr('39')s interpretation to Ahl-e-Tathir and their scientific knowledge about Quran, explanation of the fundamentals of al- hadith and kinds of revelation.