THE STORY OF KARBALA - PART 8
THE MARTYRDOM OF AWN AND MUHAMMAD (ZAYNAB.s TWO SONS) AND OF QASIM IBN HASAN

Zaynab, Husayn's sister, now exhorted her two sons Awn and Muhammad, to go and fight. They were the sons of Abdullah Ibn Jafar. While Awn was Zaynab's own son, Muhammad was her step-son. When Husayn tried to stop them, Zaynab explained that it was their father's express wish that they would be sacrificed for Islam, if such a situation did arise. Both brothers went and fought bravely and were killed. It is reported that when Husayn brought their remains back to his camp Zaynab neither lamented nor wept. Although, she had wept and lamented for Husayn's son cAli Akbar.

Among the Hashimi young men was Husayn's fourteen-year old nephew, Qasim Ibn Hasan. He now approached his uncle and wanted to go and fight. Husayn looked at him and said: 'When I wanted to see my brother, Hasan, I would look at your face. Your presence gave me support and satisfaction. How could I let you go and get killed ? Besides, you are so young.' Qasim was disappointed. He went away and sat in a corner thinking. Suddenly he remembered something. His father, Hasan, had left a will for him which was tied on to his arm as an amulet. His father had said to him while dying: 'When you find yourself in great distress, open this amulet and read it.' Qasim opened the amulet and read it. It said: 'My son ! There would come a time when my brother would be deserted by all his friends. But he would be on the right path. He would be surrounded by blood-thirsty enemies. I would be long gone then. When that happens, I urge you to help my brother and sacrifice your life in my place, protecting him and his mission. This is my last will for you.'

Qasim was overjoyed. He had been granted the wish of his heart. He ran to his uncle with the writing. Husayn read it. He had seen his brother's hand-writing after ten years. Husayn remembered his brother and wept. Now he had to let Qasim go. He took Qasim to his own tent. Put on his brother's cloak over him. Armed him and prepared Qasim for the battlefield with his own hands. Qasim's widowed mother watched this quietly. Husayn helped Qasim mount the horse and came halfway to the battlefield to see him off to fight.

Humayd Ibn Muslim, the official battlefield report has recorded as follows:

'I saw a youth coming to the battlefield. His face was glowing like a full moon. I can never forget that he was not wearing armour and that the lace of his left shoe was untied. He came with his sword in hand and called out for a dual. Several soldiers came to fight and were killed one after the other. cAmr Ibn Sceed Azdi was standing next to me, he said "I am going to kill this lad." I said: "He is only a kid, why do you want to kill him." cAmr said:" O! yes, I will definitely kill him." When the troops surrounded the lad from all directions, cAmr came and hit him over the head with his sword. The boy fell from his horse and called for his uncle. I saw that Husayn rushed to his side like an eagle dives on to its prey, and struck cAmr with his sword.

cAmr tried to ward off the blow with his arm, his arm was cut from the elbow. He screamed with pain and called for help. But Husayn killed him while the Umayyad soldiers tried to save him. There was a lot of confusion. When the dust settled I saw Husayn standing by the side of the dying youth. Husayn then picked him up in his arms. He walked towards his camp holding the youth close to him. His chest was against Husayn's chest and his legs were brushing the ground as Husayn carried him and laid him next to his son cAli Akbar. I was told that this youth was Qasim Ibn Hasan.'

Soon afterwards, one by one, all Husayn's relatives were killed in action.


Thank you for reading.

sincerely,

Syed-Mohsin Naquvi