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Hazrat
Ali Akbar (AS)
By: Fatima Jafri
Fatima currently attends Dana
Hall School and she is in the tenth grade. She is fifteen years old and
she lives in Dover.
The night of Shabe-Ashoor was scorching and
miserable. The echoes for water haunted Imam Husayn (AS). What could our
Imam do for these parched and famished children? Hazrat Ali Akbar (AS)
was the son of Imam Husayn (AS). He was a handsome young man of
eighteen. He so much resembled the Holy Prophet (SAW) that Imam Husayn
(AS) was often heard to say that whenever I want to remember the Holy
Prophet (SAW) I look at Akbar (AS). Hazrat Ali Akbar (AS) had a powerful
beautiful voice. It was he who always recited adhaan.
The morning of Ashoora was no different, Hazrat Ali Akbar (AS) recited
adhaan. Every one knew that it was the last time they
would hear his
brawny and beautiful adhaan. Imam Husayn (AS) began to weep and the
ladies could also front of Imam Husayn (AS). He said, "Father please I
request for permission to go and fight the enemies of Islam." Imam
looked at his son lovingly. He said, "Akbar, you have my permission. May
Allah be with you! But Akbar, you know how much your mother, sisters and
aunts love you. Go and say farewell to them. And ask for their
permission too". Hazrat Ali Akbar (AS) went into the tent of his mother.
Every time he wanted to come out of the tent his mother, aunts and
sisters would pull his cloak and say, "O Akbar, How can we live without
you!" The flap of the tent would continuously open and close. The Bibia
could not see this young man go into the battlefield. Umme-Laila (AS)
sorrowfully let her adored son go but knew she was doing the right
thing in her heart. Bibi Zainab (AS) was the most reluctant to let her
beloved
nephew go, she said, "I would sacrifice a thousand lives to save Bibi
Fatima’s (AS) son, Husayn." Finally, Imam Husayn (AS) had to go in and
plead with all to let his son go. Imam helped his youthful son to mount
the horse,
Hazrat Ali Akbar (AS)
looked back and said for the last time "Khuda Hafiz" to all. As Hazrat
Ali Akbar (AS) began to the ride towards the battlefield, he heard
footsteps behind. He looked back and saw his father. He said, "Father,
we
have said good-bye.
Why are you walking behind me". Imam Husayn (AS) replied, "I want to see
my son for as long as I can. I will stop now but please look back every
step. I want to see my son for as long as I can." Hazrat Ali Akbar (AS)
fought very bravely. No one dared come close to him in single combat
after he had killed many well-known warriors. Umar Sa'ad ordered his
soldiers to finish off the young man saying, "When he dies, Husayn will
not want tolive! Ali Akbar is the life of Husayn." This sad statement
was so true. While a few soldiers attacked Hazrat Ali Akbar (AS)
another slowly crept up to him and threw a spear at his chest with such
ferocity that it penetrated Ali Akbar’s (AS) chest and he felt faint. As
he was falling from his horse, he cried out. "O Father, my last salaams
to you!" As he hit the ground the spear broke but the blade remained
lodged in Hazrat
Ali Akbar's
(AS) chest. When Imam Husayn (AS) heard Hazrat Ali Akbar's (AS) salaam
he looked at Furaat where Hazrat Abbas (AS) lay and said, "Abbas! Now
when your brother needs you most, where have you gone? Oh Abbas". With
all his strength sapped by the anguish in Ali Akbar's (AS) voice, Imam
Husayn (AS) began to walk towards the battlefield. When
Imam Husayn
(AS) got to where Hazrat Ali Akbar (AS) lay he took him in his arms.
Hazrat Ali
Akbar (AS) had his right hand on the chest. He placed his left arm over
the
shoulder of his
father. Imam Husayn (AS) said, "Akbar, why do you embrace me with one
arm only?" Hazrat Ali Akbar (AS) would not reply. Imam Husayn (AS) tried
to move
Hazrat
Akbar’s (AS) hand, however he resisted. Imam (AS) gently moved the hand.
Then he saw one of the most horrific sights of the day of Ashoora! He
saw the blade of a spear.
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Imam Husayn (AS) laid Ali Akbar (AS) on the ground and then
sitting on his knees he put both his hands on the blade of the
spear. He then looked at Najaf, and cried out, "Baba Ya Mushkil
Khusha (Help me Baba!)" He
pulled out the blade, Hazrat Ali Akbar (AS) took a deep sigh,
and then lay still forever. At such a young age Hazrat Ali Akbar
(AS) gave up his life for Islam. His bravery and faith should be
a lesson for all of us to overcome our daily jihad to stand up
for the respect of our religion it so undeniably deserves.
Imam Husayn’s (AS) family sacrificed their
lives for Islam and that alone deserves much respect.
May Allah
Give Our Young Generation The Taufeeq To Follow The Footpath Of Hazrat
Ali Akbar (AS) And Allah Give Life, Health And Iman To Our Youth For The
Sake Of Hazrat Ali Akbar (AS) Ameen.
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