Safar e Sham Final

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INTHENAMEOFALLAH,

MOSTGRACIOUS,MOSTMERCIFUL


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Dedicated to my grandfather-Haji Mushtaq Hussainji Rasiya


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTIowemydeepsenseofgratitude toDr.ZarinaTaj, forhersustained interest in theexecutionof this

work

and

for

her

continuous

encouragement,

invaluable

guidance,

constructive

suggestions

and

valuablecriticismsateverystageofthiswork.

IamthankfultoGODandmyparents,AlimazherandQutubwhohavedevotedtheirvaluabletimefor

myscriptandfortheirinvaluablesupport,care,encouragement,guidance,helpandappreciation.Iam

extremelythankfultomygrandparentsfortheirconstantencouragement.

Finally,Iamthankfultoallthosewhodirectlyorindirectlyhelpedmeinbringingmyworktoitspresent

form.


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INTRODUCTION: It was under planning since August, 2009 but somehow due to prevailing

circumstances,itwaspostponedcontinuouslyviz.ticketfares,officeholidays,badhealth,etc.

But therewas a feeling thatbyMoharramorChehlumwe should visit Syria (AshSham)! Itwasnot

possibletogothereinMoharrambecauseofhighairfares.SamewasthecasethroughoutChehlum,but

oneday ithappenedthatwecametoknowabout the firstanniversaryofWataniyaAirways!On that

particularday,

Wataniya

declared

very

low

air

fares

to

any

destination.

We

inquired

about

Syria

and

finallywebookedairticketstoSyria.Weappliedforvisaanditwasalsodone.Toourgoodluck,wegot

leavesfromofficealsoveryeasily.Alhamdulillah!

I recitemanymarsiyas and nauhas, but for thisparticular tour, I learnt some new ones.Normally I

remembermarsiyasandnauhasbutasapartofconcernthat Ishouldnot forgetanything intheholy

shrines, Iwrittendownallthe lyricsandeverything that I remembered.Finally thebagswerepacked

andthehistoricdayarrived(28.02.2010)aboutwhichIwasthinkingsincelong.

Whenweboardedtheaircraft,myeyeswerefilledwithtearsasIwasfeelingsomething..Idonthave

wordsto

express

that

feeling.

In

my

mind

there

was

constant

thought

of

Bibi

Sakina

(AS).

Iwas

not

able

tobelievethatIamgoingtomeetthebeloveddaughterofImamHussain(AS)!Asweapproachednear

Syria, our captain Anthony Johnson told about the outside temperature which shocked us 9 C

whereas inKuwait, itwas28C!When I lookeddown, ItoldQutubthat itsraining inSyria!Fromthe

aircraftitself,wewereabletomakeoutthatSyriaisanagriculturalcountry!

SYRIA:

Syriaisaplacewhosenamewhenwehear,thesceneofextremeinjusticecomesbeforeoureyesthe

verymoment.This isaplacewhere,aftermartyrdomofImamHussain(AS),the ladyfolkofhishouse

alongwith the Imam of time, Imam Sajjad (AS)were bitterly tortured by Syrians! The heads of the

martyrsweremountedon spearsand theveilsof theholy ladieswere takenoff,and theKafilawas

madetopassthroughthestreetsofSyriawhichwasmost insulting.This isaplacewhichmade Imam

Sajjad(AS)weepbitterlytilltheendofhislife!

Whenwe arrived,we experienced terriblewinds.Our guidenamedAfzalmetuson airport andwe

startedproceedingtowardsourhotel.ThenameofourhotelwasAlHussainlocatedinZenabiya,300

mawayfromSayyedaZenab(AS)sshrine.

SAYYEDAZENAB(AS):

SayyedaZenab (AS)GranddaughterofProphetMohammed (SAWW),LionessdaughterofHazratAli

(AS)andSayyedaFatima(AS),SisterofImamHassan(AS)andImamHussain(AS),WifeofAbdullahbin

JafarTayyar (AS),MotherofAunandMohammed (AS),Defenderof ImamSajjad (AS), theheroineof

KarbalaandSham..YaZenab(AS)!YaZenab(AS)!YaZenab(AS)!


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ThereisafloodofthousandsofShiyaneAliallthetimeatSayyeda

Zenab(AS)sshrine,criesofYaZenab,YaSayyeda,YaUmmul

Masaib,etc.ThedomeofSayyedaZenab(AS)ismadeofgoldand

insidewallsarealsocoveredwithgoldendesigns.Severalhadiths

arewritteninthedomeaboveSayyedaZenab(AS)!

Iwas intothe ladiessection.WhenIsawthezariforthefirsttime,

my eyes couldnotbelieve themight! Tearsburstoutof the eyes

whenIsawthezarimubarakofSayyedaZenab(AS)andprayed. Iapproachednearto it,gotaholdof

thecageof the zari fromwhichsmellofstrongessencewascomingout. I forgoteverythingandjust

cried for some time.Beforemyeyeswere the scenesof the timeof61Hijriwhen tookplace in this

world,most inhumancrime,.Iwasrecallingthetimewhenherveilwastakenoff.howshe

playedaroleofAbbas(AS)inguardingtheladyfolkandImamSajjad(AS)!HowsheshookthefullSyria

byherLionvoicedsermon!HowshecriedandgrievedforherbelovedbrotherImamHussain(AS)!

PhotoofSayyedaZenab(AS)sgraveinsidethezari


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Also,onemajor thinghappened there. Inside shrine, though Iwascrying,grievingandpraying, there

wasasortoffear inmyheartbythemightofSayyedaZenab (AS)! I,then,gotupandrecitedseveral

marsiyasandnauhasandsalamsandalsoperformedmatam.Asapartofpursadari,Irecitednauhasof

ImamHussain(AS),Abbas(AS),Zenab(AS),Sakina(AS),etc.

Mere

ghazi

gairat

wale,

meri

chadar

ke

rakhwale,

Mujhegirkesambhalnaaagaya,mujhepaidalchalnaaagaya,Abbas..

Jaomaktalkobhaiyasidharo,yebhisadmauthayegiZenab,

Dekhtejaomudkarbehanko,firkahatumkopayegiZenab..

ItwasconstantlyrainingoutsideduetowhichIwasexperiencingfeveranduptothetimeofNamaze

Isha,IlostallmystaminaandtoldQutubtomovetoHotel.

IthankAllahthat Igotthechancetocomenearthisholyshrine inspiteofsomanyhurdlesbythe

worldlyaffairs!

MayallfollowersofAhlulbayt(AS)visitthisholymightyshrinebythegraceofAlmightyAllah!

Note: Syria is still the same..Outside the holy shrine in the market, people are selling ladies

undergarments..Norespectfortheladywhowasconcernedaboutveil,whowashidingherfaceby

herhairsinthestreetsofSyria!

REMAININGZIYARATSOFSYRIA:

NextmorningAfzaltoldustogetreadyby10:30am.ButweforgottoanalyzeourtimeinSyriathatin

whattimewhatweshouldcover!

AfzaltoldusthathewouldtakeustothemountainousholyplacesfirstandthenotherZiyarats!Wefirst

wenttoAshabeKaif!

1. AshabeKaif:Itisacavewhereallshiyamuslimsvisit.Ithasa

storybehind. Inancient times, therewasaking

who regarded himself as theGOD and used to

kill the persons speaking against him. Some

peoplewhodidnotbelievedhim,escapedfrom

hisreignandhide themselves in thiscave.They

also carried a dog with them. They were very

frightened andafter sometime they fell asleep.

Afteraround300400years,theywokeup.They

werefeelinghungry.OneoftheAshabcameoutandfoundagreatchangeinthelocality.Earlier

itwasdesertandnowhefoundacommunityresidingthere.Hecamenearoneshopandasked


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the shopkeeper for some food.Hecarriedancientcoins towhich the shopkeeperquestioned

him.By gestures thatAshab told the shopkeeper about their story. Largenumberofpeople

gathered there to see themiracle!TheyallwalkedwithAshab to thecave.Asandwhen the

Ashabenteredthecave,thedoorofthecavewasclosed.NowitispredictedthattheseAshabs

aresleepingandwillwakeupatthereturnofourImamoftime(AS) i.e.onQayamat!Prophet

Mohammed(SAWW)

when

came

to

this

cave,

he

greeted

with

Salam

to

these

Ashabsthey

repliedforthegreetingofProphetMohammed(SAWW)frominsidethecave!

Accordingtosomehadiths,thiscaveisinEgypt,YemenandJordantooandtherewere5,7or9

Ashabs.Jordanisthecorrectlocationofthiscaveaccordingtosomescholars!

2. ZiyaratofHazratHabeel(AS):HazratHabeel (AS) sonofProphetAdam

(pbuh) was killed by his brother Kabeel.

HazratHabeel

(AS)

and

Kabeel

had

an

argumentwhichturnedtobet.Thebetwas

both of them will represent offering to

Almighty Allah and the person whose

offering will be accepted by Allah will be

dearer to Allah. So Habeel slaughtered a

lamb and offered to Allah. At the same

time,after lotofhesitation,Kabeelofferedsomepulses.Therewas lightning intheskywhich

tookaway the slaughtered lamband rejected thepulsesofKabeel.Thiswasbecause,Kabeel

thoughtalotbeforegivinganythinginthewayofAllah.Thisledtoextremehatredintheheart

ofKabeel forhisbrotherHabeel.Sowitha stone,hekilledhisbrotherHabeel.Thiswas first

murderon the faceofearthand the firstdeath.Nowwhat todowith thebody?Thismade

Kabeelrestlessandhecarriedthecorpseofhisbrotherforabout7080daysandwanderedin

severalforestsandmountains!BythegraceofAllah,twocrowsarrivedbeforeKabeel.Onecrow

killedanotheronewithitsbeak.Thenthatcrowdugoutpitinthegroundandburiedthedead

crow.ThishelpedKabeeltobuildagraveforhisbrotherHabeel.Thisgraveisthefirstgraveon

the earth Length 40 feetwhich have now became 18 feet. This grave is situated onHigh

MountainfromwhichLebanoncanbeseen.Snowcoveredpeaksarevisible.Visitors feelvery

coldatthisplace.

Whenwereached,Iwasfeelingverycold.Asweenteredtheshrine,theIranianswereoffering

namaz.SowewaitedforawhileandthenperformedZiyarat!The lengthofthegrave isreally

horrifying. Outside scenery is very good. I remembered my Kashmir trip seeing the snow

coveredpeaksofLebanonwhichwashardly10kmfromthatarea!


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3. MakameArbaeen:This isaplaceonMountJudiwhereKabeelkilledHabeel.Actually,wewentthereon the last

dayofourtripbutasthisplace isconcernedwiththeabove literature (Ref.point2); Ishould

writeitheresothatitislinkedproperlywiththewholehistoricincident.

Photoofcryingmountain

WhenKabeelkilledHabeel, themountcriedwhich is stillvisible.Themouthof themount is

openedwithtongue,cheek,teethallvisible!Atthelocationneareye,waterdripseventoday

as an evidence thatmount still cries for themurder of innocent Habeel (AS)! The blood is

splashed therewhich isstill red incolour!ThestonewithwhichHabeel (AS)waskilled isstill

present there. Some people sprayed olive oil on it and tried to burn itit burned for

continuously

200

300

years!

As

murder

of

Hazrat

Habeel

(AS)

was

first

murder

on

the

face

of

earth,themounttriedtodothejusticebyfallingonKabeelbutAllahsentAngelGibrael(AS)to

stopitasgenerationofAdam(pbuh)hastocontinue.AngelGibrael(AS)stoppeditwithjustone

hand!ThemarksoffingersofAngelGibrael(AS)onthemountarestillvisibleandwecantouch

too! This place is also having three holes (similar to cave shape resembles the symbol of

therefore). It is said that severalprophetspassed through theseholesandnever returned.

Horriblevoicesareheard fromtheholes,visitorsareafraid.Nowgovernmenthasplacedcage

ontheseholes.Atthisplacethereare40musallasonwhichseveralprophetsprayed.It issaid

thatifonepraysonanyfivemusallas,hissinsareforgiven.Thisisaveryhorribleplacetovisit!

Ididnt

climb

this

mountain

as

it

is

very

high

and

Ihave

problem

of

asthma.

Qutub

climbed

this

mountainbutevenhewasafraidandeventuallyfellsickafterhisreturn!Hetoldthathewasso

muchfrightenedthatwithin1.3hourheclimbed,saweverythingandrusheddownthemount!

InshaAllahnexttime,Iwilltrytoclimbthismountnomatterhowsoevermyhealthresponds!

Aameen!


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4. SakinabintImamAli(AS):SakinabintImamAli(AS)wasthedaughterofImamAlibinAbiTalib(AS).Heridentityandgrave

werediscoveredrecentlyandnowtheshrine isunderconstruction!Wevisitedthisshrinetoo

andofferednamazthere!

5. BazareSham:This istheBazareHamidiyawhich isnowknownasSoukAlHamdi.This is thehorrible route

whichremindsusofthepainandgriefafflictedonImamSajjad(AS)!Thisroutecanbecovered

innearly1520minutesbutAhlulbayt (AS)covered this route inaround3648hours.Allholy

ladieswerehidingtheirfacesbytheirhairs.PeoplegatheredtoseetheKafilastartedthrowing

stonesandshoesonthem!SayyedaZenab(AS)wasfeelingveryuncomfortableandgrievinga

lotseeingthisHazratAbbasAlamdar(AS)sheadfellfromthespear!!!

BazareSham

Modernagehaschangedthebazartoomuchbutstillthe ironceiling,windowsandpillarsare

sameasthattime!Itsahorriblebazartopassthrough.Iwalkedtosomedistancebutthenlost

theholdofmyhusband.Immediatelyturnedbackandcontactedhim.Irecitedthefewlinesof

thenauha,

HaayeShaamkabazarHaayeShaamkabazar,

Sajjadseronekasababpoochrahahai.

Fromthisbazar,wecametothegatenamedBabusSaat.


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6. BabusSaat:SaatmeansClock inArabic.This istheplacewhereKafilawasmadetowaitforaround4850

hoursbecausecourtofyazid(LA)wasunderprocessofdecoration.Thiswasthefirsttimethat

SayyedaZenab(AS)lostherpatienceandcried.Sheraisedherhandsandwasabouttoprayto

AllahwhenHeadofImamHussain(AS),fromthelance,showedagesturesoastostopSayyeda

Zenab(AS)

from

Baddua

otherwise

everything

will

go

in

vain!

There

is

anearby

place

where

elephantshorsesweretiedonce,now itsaplacewherepigeonsgatherandpeoplefeedthem

withpulses.

7. CourtofYazid(LA):This is a very big palace with a vast compound.

Therewecameacrossthreepoints.Firstpointisthe

high decorated pulpit where Sayyeda Zenab (AS)

delivered a sermon. Middle one is a place for

performingwudhu.

Third

one

is

the

small

decorated

pulpitwhereImamSajjad(AS)deliveredsermon.

DarbareKhas:

This is originally a church but later on it was

converted tomosque.Have a look at the ceiling,

the window panes and walls which are still the

same.

In thischurch,there is theshrineofHazratYahya

(AS) John theBaptist! Prayers of thepeople in

needofchildrenareansweredhere!

Baptism:WeallarebornthroughProphetAdam

(pbuh).ProphetAdam (AS)haddisobeyedAllah

andsobecauseofhissinhewassenttoearth.It

meansweallarebornwiththatsin.ButHazrat

Yahya(AS)wasbornpure.TheprayersofHazrat

Zachariah(AS)weregrantedbyAllahandsohis

wife conceivedHazratYahya (AS)by theGrace

and Might of Allah! So it is said that Hazrat

Yahya(AS)JohntheBaptistforChristians,cametobeknownasBaptistbornwithpurity!The

dropofHazratYahya (AS)sbloodwasmixedwith somewater in abowlwhich is lying in

DarbareKhas. At the time of Jesus (pbuh), Christians used to give bath to their new born

babieswith thiswater so that the childattainsbaptism!After Jesus (pbuh), thewater in the


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bowldriedup!Inpresenttimes,alltheChristiansspraysomespecialwatertotheirnewlyborn

babiessothattheycanattainbaptism!

TakhteYazid(LA):

Thisistheshamefulplacewhereyazid(LA)seatedandmadefunofinnocentAhlulbayt(AS).

MakameAhlulbayt(AS):

This is the place where Imam Sajjad (AS) along

withtheKafilawaschainedandmadetostand in

frontofYazid (LA). Oneof theSyriandemanded

Sayyeda Sakina (AS) as a slave at which Imam

Sajjad (AS) pointed his finger towards him and

cursedhim.BythecurseofAllahhebecameblind

theverymoment. Someothermanpresentinthe

courtasked

who

is

Zenab?

Iwant

to

see

her.

At

this, JanabeFizza (AS) came in frontofhimand

roaredthatWhensuncannotseeZenabwithoutherveil,whothehellareyou?Howcanyou

dare somuch? Shedelivered sucha speech that thatman feltextremeguilt in frontof the

court!

ThisisthesamecourtinwhichSayyedaSakina(AS)wasinsultedtoomuch.Whenthemasooma

cried,Yazid (LA)made funofhermisfortuneandchallenged that,ifyouare sodear toyour

father,justcallhim,and letmeseewhetherhe listensyouornot.SayyedaSakina(AS)raised

hersmallhandsandcalledher father ImamHussain (AS)atwhich theHeadof ImamHussain

(AS)cameoutofthespearandstartedrevolvinginthecourt.After7rounds,itcameinthelaps

ofhisbeloveddaughter(AS)togiveproofoftheirlove!Thecourtwassurprisedatthisandthere

waslongsilence!

Qiblainthiscourtisbuiltverybeautiful.

Mimbar(Pulpit):

This isthepulpitwhere ImamSajjad (AS)deliveredsermon.Sayyeda

Zenab (AS)was roaring in this court like her Father Imam Ali (AS).

Yazid (LA)wasafraidthat ifshecontinuesherspeech,thepeopleof

Syriacanrevoltagainsthisrule.Howtostopalady?AndthattooAli

(AS)s daughter and sister of Imam Hussain (AS)? So he started

insulting Imam Sajjad (AS) thinking thathe is very illandhavingno

energy.sohewillnotbeable todefendhimself.ActuallyYazid

(LA)wantedtomakefunofhiscondition.ButImamSajjad(AS)though

in ailment, climbed the pulpit and started delivering a sermon.His


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sermonwassotouchingthatthewholecourtweptbitterlyandthey(Syrians)begantorealize

theirmistakeofoppressingtheHolyImam(AS).Yazid(LA)wasevenmoreafraidthanbeforeof

therevolution.HowtostopImamSajjad(AS)fromdeliveringsermon?Soheordered7mento

atoncestartrecitingadhantosuppressthevoiceof ImamSajjad (AS)buthisvoicewaseven

higher than those 7men.When they recited adhan, Imam Sajjad (AS) interrupted, You are

pronouncingthe

name

of

our

grandfather

(SAWW)

in

this

adhan,

is

he

your

grandfather

our

ours? Ifyou sayyes, thenOpeopleofSham, this is the false rulerand ifyou sayno, thenO

peopleofSham,yourrulerhavecommittedtheworstsinbykillinghisgrandson!Therewaspin

dropsilenceatthattimeandpeoplebegantocrybitterlyandstartedslappingthemselves for

supportingsucha ruler!Tilldateadhan is recitedby7menhere.Allofyoushould listen this

adhan.WhenwewereleavingDarbareYazid(LA),itwasAsrtimeandbyluckwewereableto

listen.

RasulHussain(AS):

Thisistheplacewheretherewas lockerofYazid(LA).Heusedtokeephis

preciousthings

there.

Head

of

Imam

Hussain

(AS)

was

priceless

for

him.

So

hekeptithere.

MehrabeZainulAbedein(AS):

This isasmallroomwhereonlyonemancansleeporoffernamaz.Inthis

place, Imam Sajjad (AS)was chained and imprisoned.Here, Imam Sajjad

(AS)usedtoprayandweepinmemoryofhisbelovedfatherImamHussain

(AS).

ShohdaePaghdi:

Thisistheplacewhereturbansofmartyrswerekept.

Right now there is one green turban kept which

symbolizes the Head of Imam Hussain (AS). Shiya

muslimsweep here for ImamHussain (AS). 2 rakat

nafalsalatisrecommended.

WhenIsawthisgreenturban,tearsburstoutfrommy

eyesasifIhaveseentheHeadofmyholyImam(AS)!

ForlongtimeIstoodthereholdingthebars.

Salauddingazikigadi:

ThisissimilartothecartplacedincompoundofthePalaceofYazid(LA).Thiscartwasusedto

carryheavystones.Withthehelpofthiscart,Salauddingazikilled70,000menandfreedBaitul

Muqaddas.HewasfoeofAhlulbayt(AS).Hisgraveislyingoutsidethepalace;Jewsworshiphim.


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Gateofpalace:

OntheothersidethereisoneoldwornoutgatefromwhichHindaenteredthepalacewithout

herveil.HindawasYazid (LA)swife.Whensheentered insuchastate,Yazid (LA)questioned

her,uponwhichshereplied,Ifyoucanseetheholyladies(PBUT)withouttheirveils,thenyou

shouldnothaveproblemaboutmyveiltoo.

From this gate, there is away to Sayyeda Sakina (AS)s shrine. This routewasoriginally the

prisonbutnowconvertedtothemarket.

8. SAYYEDASAKINA(AS) [SAYYEDARUQAIYA(AS)ACCORDINGTOARABS]:ThisisthesmallshrinewherethebeloveddaughterofImamHussain(AS)isresting.Thisisthe

placewherenobodycancontroltears.Thisistheplacewhichistheliveexampleoftheinjustice

that inflictedonKafilaafter the tragedyofKarbala.This is theplacewhichwasoriginally the

prisonandhasnowconvertedtothelovelyshrine.ThisistheplacewhereMasoomaSakina(AS)

diedgrievinginmemoryofherfather(AS).Thisistheplacewheresheisstillrestinginherworn

outclothes

without

getting

ashroud!

Nanhisikahakabrbanautumhari,

Qaidmeqazakitunemeripyari,

Sarpe chadarnahikafankahase laumai

vari

Kya akhri khidmat kare maa dard ki

mari?

When I reachednear the zariof Sayyeda

Sakina(AS),myheartwasbeatingfastand

there was a figure of crying child in my

imagination. I was just struck by the

brightness surrounding the holy shrine.

Themasoomawasafraidof thedarkness

and now there are lamps and crystals

shiningeverywhere!

Hayehaishehreshaam,

ChhotiShehzadikahaiyahiparQayam,aajrozepehairoshnisubahshaam,

Pursadaaronkahaimatamiashdahaan,fatrahahaijigarsochtihuagar,

Kaisatareektha,kaisaveerantha

KaisaveeranthakalyeZindaanthaBadaroyiSakinayaha,badaroyiSakinayaha

Iwentaroundthe fullzariofSayyedaSakina (AS),kissed thebarsandprayed. Insidethezari,

there is even smaller zari located. Inside that smaller zari there is a small grave of Sayyeda


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Sakina (AS). 23 cradles are placed above grave of Sayyeda Sakina (AS) to give her pursa

(condolence)forthedeathofherbelovedlittlebrotherAliAsgar(AS).

AliAsgar(AS)wasa6montholdbabybrotherofSayyedaSakina(AS). When inKarbalaImam

Hussain(AS)cried,Halminnasireenyansurna?threepersonsrespondedtohiscall.Firstwas

thedead

body

of

his

beloved

brother

Hazrat

Abbas

(AS)

near

the

river

Euphrates.

Second

respondcamefromthebedofImamSajjad(AS),whothoughinextremeailmentgotuptohelp

his father ImamHussain (AS).Third responsecame from thecradleofAliAsgar (AS)who fell

fromthecradlehearingthecryofhisfather(AS).ImamHussain(AS)tookhimtothebattlefield

togethimsomewaterbuttheheartlessforcesofYazid(LA)shotdeadthatbabyinthelapofhis

father (AS). Intheprison,SayyedaSakina (AS)wouldalwaysthinkaboutherbrotherAliAsgar

(AS)whiledrinkingwater.

Every time in theprison Sakina (AS)would cry forher father (AS).One nightwhen shewas

sleepinginhermother(AS)slap,shewokeupsuddenlycrying.Oninterrogating,sheanswered

thatshe

saw

her

father

(AS)

in

her

dream

and

told

that

her

father

was

calling

her.

She

told

that

ImamHussain(AS)promisedher indreamthatHe(AS)willtakehersoonwithhim.Everybody

startedcrying.ThesoundofthecriesreachedthepalaceandYazid(LA)wokeupfromsleep.He

toldhismen togiveHeadof ImamHussain (AS) toSakina (AS) tomakeherquiet.When she

receivedher father (AS)shead,shetook it inherarmsandcrieda lotcomplaininghimabout

thetorturesandinjusticewhichinflictedherafterhisdeath!Withinfewminutesthecryingbaby

wasquiet!Shepassedaway!ImamSajjad(AS)madehergraveinthatprisononly.Shewasnot

buried in shroudbecauseher clotheswereglued toherbodyby theblood coming from the

wounds.

Thisisaplacewherenobodycancontroltearsandnobodywouldliketoleavethisplace.Ialso

stayed there fora long timesittingbeside thezariofSayyedaSakina (AS)and recitedseveral

nauhas.

Allahjanekahahoaeybaba,

Kitniraatein..guzargayibaba

Bejurmkanzakhmihueaurtamachekhaye

Jochahemujhfalakkisatayikophirsataye

ShehzadiyeHussainkibeshaanhogayi..babamaikyunaaappe

babamaikyunaaappequrbaanhogayi..Allahjanekahahoaeybaba

Sabketheshanebandhemerabandhathagala

Sabketheshanebandhemerabandhathagalamaipanjopechaltirahibaba

Thenaftersometime,welefttovisitBabAlSaghir.


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9. BabAlSaghir:Thisisagraveyard.ManyZiyaratsarelocatedhere.

HazratBilal(AS)andAbdullabinJafarTayyar(AS):

Hazrat Bilal (AS) was a Negro and firstMoazzin of Islam. Sun

wouldrise

upon

his

adhan

recitation.

After

the

death

of

prophet

(SAWW),hecametoSyria.Oneday,SayyedaFatima (AS)called

him to listen adhan from him. He was surprised as normally

peoplecallSayyedaFatima(AS)buttodayshecalledhim!When

he recited adhan, Ashhado anna Mohammadun Rasulullah,

Sayyeda Fatima (AS) was shocked! She thought her fathers

(SAWW)name ispronounced ineveryadhan,peopleusedtorespecthis familyandnowafter

hisdeath,thesamepeoplearedoing injusticetohisfamily! Ineverygathering,whenProphet

(SAWW)wouldcome,everybodywouldstandupforrespectbutwhenFatima(AS)wouldcome,

ProphetMohammed(SAWW)himselfusedtostandup forrespect.Thinkingallthese,shefell

unconscious.Hazrat

Bilal

(AS)

stopped

the

adhan

that

very

moment.

He

never

recited

adhan

afterthattillhisdeath.

Abdullahbin JafarTayyar (AS)sgrave isnear to thegraveofHazratBilal (AS)butwe cannot

acceptthisashisrealgraveislocatedinMedina!

AbdullahbinJafarSadiq(AS):

HisshrineisalsolocatedinBabAlSaghir.

ThreegravesofBibi(AS):

ThreegravesofBibi(AS)arelocatedalltogetheratonceplace.ThesegravesareofAsmabint

Ummais,MemunabintImamHasan(AS)andHamidabintMuslimbinAqeel(AS).Thereisaway

downstairswheretherealgravesarelocated.

JanabeFizza(AS):

Fizza(AS)wasprincessofHabsh.ShecameasaslavetothefamilyofProphet(SAWW)atthe

timeofbirthofSayyedaFatima (AS).AfterservingtheProphet (SAWW),SayyedaFatima (AS),

HazratAli (AS), ImamHasan(AS)and ImamHussain (AS),sheservedSayyedaZenab (AS)from

KarbalatoSyria!When inthecourtofYazid (LA), itwasorderedtoexecute ImamSajjad (AS),

Fizzacame in front,deliveredsermontoHabshispresentthereandrescued ImamSajjad (AS).

Tillherdeath, shewoulddo cleaningofSayyeda Zenab (AS)s shrineand in theevening, she

wouldgototheshrineofSayyedaSakina (AS)to lightthecandle. ItwasSayyedaZenab (AS)s

wishthateveryeveningFizza(AS)shouldlightcandleatSayyedaSakina(AS)sgravesothatthe

childisnotafraidofthedarknight!Atthetimeofdeath,hersonAdnancamefromMedinabut

shedidnotaccepthim.Shesaidthatifyouweretrulymyson,thenwhydidntyoudefendImam

Hussain(AS)inKarbala?ImamBaqir(AS)camefromMedinatocarryoutherfinalrites.


16/24

Whenwereached,hergravesdoorwasclosedduetosomereason.Wesawfromwindowand

prayed.Outsideone Iranian groupwas sitting and their leaderwas reciting some nauha for

JanabeFizza(AS)!

UmmSalma(AS)andUmmHabiba(AS):

Theseare

the

graves

of

wives

of

Prophet

(SAWW).

Umm

Habiba

was

sister

of

Muawiya

(LA)

and

auntofYazid(LA).

JanabeAbdullahbinZainulAbedein(AS):

Hisgraveisalsolocatedhere.

MashhadeSareShohdaeKarbala(AS):

Atthisplace,16headsofMartyrsofKarbalaareburied.

When Imam Sajjad (AS) was burying the heads of

martyrs,hewanted towash them i.e.Ghusl,butYazid

(LA)didnt

gave

him

water

to

perform

ghusl.

So

Imam

Sajjad(AS)byhismightgeneratedawaterstreamforit.

Nowonegreendomeisbuiltwherestreamgushedout.

Water has dried. People write their problems on the piece of paper and place there for

blessings!Thereisonemosquelocatednearby,pleaseoffertworakatnafalsalat.

Zariwhere16headsareburiedisbuiltbySayyednaMohammedBurhanuddin.Thenamesof16

martyrsareHabibbinMazahir,AlibinAbibakr,UsmanbinAli,JafarbinAqeel,JafarbinAli,

HussainbinAli,UmarbinAli,AbdullahbinAli,MohammedbinAli,MohammedbinMuslim,

AbdullahbinAqeel,HurrRiyahi,AbdullahbinAuf FazlilAbbas, JanabeQasim binHasan,Ali

AkbarandAliAsgar.Thisisaverytouchingplace.Wecriedalotlookingattheheadsfrominside

thebars.

Sakina(AS)andUmmKulsoom(AS):

The real graves are located downstairs. Peoplemistake this Sakina (AS) for the daughter of

ImamHussain(AS).ActuallythisisSakinabintHussainbinZaidbinImamSajjad(AS).

UmmKulsoom(AS)srealnameisZenabeSugra.Kulsoomishernickname.Shewasdaughterof

AbubakrandAsmabintUmmais.AfterdeathofAbubakr,shewasbroughtupbypureHazrat

Ali(AS).ThatiswhysheiscalledasUmmKulsoombintAli(AS).SheweptalotfordeathofImam

Hussain (AS)with Sayyeda Zenab (AS). Shewas not having any child, so Hazrat Abbas (AS)

defendedImamHussain(AS)fromhersideandachievedmartyrdom.

Whenwereachedthere,theplacewassomuchcrowdedthatwebothweresandwichedand

gothurtatmanyplaces.


17/24

FatimaSugra(AS):

HerealsopeoplemistakeherforthedaughterofImamHussain(AS)whowassickinMedinaand

couldnotaccompanyhiminKarbala.DaughterofImamHussain(AS)isrestinginJannatulBaqi

inMedina.

Afterperforming

all

these

Ziyarats

we

went

back

to

our

hotel.

After

taking

our

meal,

we

had

a

shortsleepandthenatmidnightwestartedforHalab,RiqqaandHamma.

OnthewaytoRiqqa,QutubenjoyedadeepsleepinthecarbutIwasawake.Aftersometime

forhardlytwohours,Ifellasleep.

RIQQA:

We reachedRiqqa in themorning at around 5:00 am.Outsideweatherwas extremely cold.

Someotherguideaccompaniedus in this tour.Hewenttosee thewatchmanso thatwecan

entertheshrinesandperformprayers.Aftersometime,gateopenedandwewentinside.Thisis

alarge

shrine

covering

arelatively

large

area.

We

first

performed

Fazr

namaz

and

went

to

Zari

of

UhvaisKarni(AS).

UhvaisKarni(AS):

UhvaisKarni(AS)wasashepherd.Helovedourprophet(SAWW)toomuchandthattoowithout

even seeing him! Ashab is a name given to the personwho is the companion of Prophet

(SAWW) i.e.who isphysicallyaccompanyinghim.Butherethecasewasdifferent.Hehasnot

seenprophet(SAWW)butstillheissaidtobehisAshab!

Everybody of us loves Prophet (SAWW)without seeing him butwhat is the guarantee that

Prophet(SAWW) lovesus?UhvaisKarni(AS)wastheoneforwhomProphet(SAWW)saidthat

hetooloveshim!UhvaisKarni(AS)wastheonlysonofhismother.HewantedtomeetProphet

(SAWW),sohecametoMedina.ButProphet(SAWW)wasoutofMedinaatthattime.Uhvais

Karni(AS)hadpromisedhismotherthathewillreturnsoon,soheleftMedinawithoutmeeting

Prophet(SAWW).WhenProphet(SAWW)returnedtoMedina,heinquiredforhim.Hesaidthat

oneofmyAshabhasvisitedthisplacebecauseIcanfeelhissmell!OnceUhvaisKarni(AS)was

toldthatProphet(SAWW)lostoneofhistoothinthewar.Hewassodeeplymovedthathetoo

broke one of his tooth. Later hewas confused about the exact tooth location. Actually he

wantedtobreakthesametoothasProphet(SAWW)butinhisconfusion,hebrokeallhisteeth.

Now how to eat and survive? So banana came into existence in thisworld by the grace of

AlmightyAllah.UhvaisKarni(AS)lateronaccompaniedHazratAli(AS)andachievedmartyrdom

inthebattleofSiffin.

AmmarbinYasser(AS):

HewasalsoAshabofProphet(SAWW).HismothernamedSumaiyyawasthefirst ladymartyr

ofIslam.Theywereverypiousfamily.HisnearnesstoProphet(SAWW)was likeoftheeyesto

eyebrows!Prophet (SAWW) toldhim thathewillbemartyred in thebattleandhis lastmeal


18/24

wouldbeacupofmilk!InthebattleofSiffin,hewasfightingfromHazratAli(AS)sside.Hewas

woundedbadlyduringthebattle.Sohewasbroughttotentforsomerest.Hisslaveofferedhim

acupofmilkheunderstood the timeofdeath isnearing.Heagainwent to thebattlefield,

foughtandachievedmartyrdom.

Aftervisiting

these

two

shrines,

when

we

came

out

of

the

mosque,

it

was

morning

6:00

am.

Temperaturewasverylow,wewereexperiencingverycoldbreeze.OurguidetoldusthatSiffin

isnot far from thatplaceandhe showedus theboundaryof that groundwherebattle took

place.

ThenweleftforHalabwhichis500600kmawayfromRiqqa.Ontheway,wecrossedabridge

overtheriver.ThatriverwasRiverEuphrates!!!ThesceneryofSyriaisjustlikeIndialongand

bigfarms,greeneryeverywhere!

HALAB:

Alsocalled

Aleppo,

is

abig

city

and

trade

center

of

Damascus.

There

are

three

places

of

concern

inHalab.

1. DareRahib:Thisisaplaceofspecialconcern aplacewhichbuildshopeinthelivesofeverydistressed

person,aplacetellingDontworry,ImamHussain(AS)isthere.Hewillsolveeverything!

StoneonwhichbloodofImamHussain(AS)isstillpresent


19/24

Rahibwasaman living inMedinaatthetimeofProphet (SAWW).Hewasnothavingany

child.Hewas very depressed by this accumulating grief. So he decided to visit Prophet

(SAWW)shouse thinking that hewill definitely solvehisproblem.Whenhe approached

Prophet(SAWW),hetoldhimabouthismysteryandaskedhimtopraytoAllahsothathe

gets at least one child! Prophet (SAWW) started praying for him but AngelGibrael (AS)

stoppedProphet

(SAWW)

and

told

him

that

Allah

is

not

willing

to

give

Rahib

any

child

in

life!

Prophet(SAWW)apologizedtoRahibaboutthis.Rahibwasreturningbacktohishousewith

allhisdreamsshatteredthathemetImamHussain(AS)ontheway.ImamHussain(AS)was

achildthattime.He interrogatedRahibthataftervisitingmyGrandfather(SAWW)splace

howcanyoulooksosad?Rahibtoldhimthematter.ImamHussain(AS)toldhimthatthisis

not fairand thathewill get child.Prophet (SAWW)uponhearing this sentence fromhis

Grandsoncameoutandwarnedhimtostopsaying like that!HetoldHussain (AS)thathe

cannotgoagainstthewillofAllahandthatheshouldstoppromisingRahib.ButHussain(AS)

didnot stop.He,onebyone,promised7 sons toRahib.At this time,AngelGibrael (AS)

cameagaintoProphet(SAWW)andtoldhimthatHussain(AS)sprayersareansweredand

Rahibwill

surely

get

7sons

because

Hussain

(AS)

is

having

aspecial

position

in

eyes

of

Allah

andthatAllahlovesHussain(AS)verymuch!

Onhearing thatHussain (AS)sprayersareansweredbyAllah,Rahibwasveryhappyand

invitedImamHussain(AS)tohishouse.ImamHussain(AS)promisedthathewillsurelyvisit

RahibshouseonedaybutRahibwouldnotbeabletorecognizehimatthattime!

WhentheKafilawastakenfromKarbalatoSyriaviaKufa, itrestedononemountainpeak

for anight.Rahib saw from very far that something is shiningon themountain in extra

ordinaryway!Onapproaching towards it,hediscovered that it is theheadof somepure

personbecausethatheadwasrecitingQuranonthespear.Rahibrequestedthe forcesto

givehimthatheadforanycost.Inthisway,hetookthatheadforonenight.Hebroughtthat

headtohishouseandplaceditonthestone.Hewasamazedattheradiationswhichwere

comingoutofthathead.Rahibswifesaidthatshecanhearsomebodysweepneartothat

head.Rahibwasverycurioustoknowwhosehead it is.Heaskedthathead,whoareyou

master?Atthis,Headof ImamHussain (AS)replied,Rahib, Ikeptmypromise. Ivisited

yourhouseand see; youarenotable to recognizeme! IamHussain (AS), grandsonof

Prophet(SAWW).ThisismyhouseholdwhichischainedbySyrianarmy.Thisweepwhich

youarehearingisthecryofmymotherSayyedaFatima(AS).Nextmorning,whenSyrian

armycametotakeHeadofImamHussain(AS)fromRahib,hehesitatedandtoldthemthat

Ifyouwant,takeheadsofmysonsbutIwillnotgiveHeadofmyMaster.Onebyoneall

hissonsweremartyredbutSyrianarmywasstubborntotakeHeadofImamHussain(AS).At

this,RahibcriedandprayedtoAllah,Icannotseeheadofmymasteronthespear.OAllah,

givemedeathbeforethat.HisprayerswereansweredandhelefttoHeaven!

ThatnightsomebloodrolleddownfromHeadofImamHussain(AS)onthestoneonwhich

Rahibhadplacedit.Thatstoneexistseventodayandwecanseethefreshbloodonit.


20/24

Whenwereached there,some Iranianswereofferingnafalsalat.They left fromtheplace

andthenweentered.ThemomentIsawthatstone,Iforgottheworldaroundme.Itwasas

if Iam standing in frontofmyMaula ImamHussain (AS).On theuppermost left corner,

thereisonebigclotofbloodpresent.Thebloodisstilloffreshredcolouranditissaidthat

every10th

Moharram

this

blood

becomes

even

more

fresh

(as

iffew

minutes

before

Imam

wasmartyred)!ForlongtimeIstaredatthatstoneandthebloodlyingonit.Iforgotwhatto

prayandwhatnottopray.Abovethatstone,there isonecrownplacedwhichsymbolizes

theHeadofImamHussain(AS).OutofthefulltourofSyria,thiswastheplacewhereIfound

.justdonthavewords!Crywascoming fromdeep insidemyheartas ifheart itself is

going to come out anymoment! This placemademe forget everything.Only one thing

persisted:MeandMy ImamHussain (AS)! Iwasnotabletosayanythingtohim,nordid I

complainhimaboutthemysteryandmisfortuneswhichlifeisshowingme.Iwasnotableto

pray also. Iwas having a feeling thatmy cry is enough to disclose everything to Imam

Hussain (AS). My cry soon turned to screaming of Ya Hussain! Ya Gareeb Maula! Ya

MazloomHussaina!

Wa

Hussaina!

IrecitedseveralNauhasandSalamshere.Qutubalsoperformedmatamwithme.

Jhulakhalihuabanuronelagi

Jaankhonelagiauryukehnelagi,

LadoAsgarHussain,LadoAsgarHussain

AssalameHussain,AssalameHussain

Paasdaulatnahiaurtakatnahi

KyamuqaddarmeshahkiZiyaratnahi

Sadmasehnekiabmujhmetakatnahi

AbbulaloHussain,AbbulaloHussain

AbbulaloHussain,AbbulaloHussain

AssalameHussain.

IsisadmeseabtomarungiHussain

MautaajayegitokyakarungiHussain

MailahadmebhiroyakarungiHussain

LokhabaryaHussain,LokhabaryaHussain

LokhabaryaHussain,LokhabaryaHussain

AssalameHussain..

Koiaafatsemujhkobachatanahi

RaahNajafkikoibhidikhatanahi

ShaamKufakigaliyabatatanahi

RaahdikhadoHussain,RaahdikhadoHussain


21/24

RaahdikhadoHussain,RaahdikhadoHussain

AssalameHussain,AssalameHussain

ZehrakenooraeynAssalameHussain

WithgreatdifficultyandunwillinglywefinallyleftthisplaceandwenttootherZiyarat.

2. MohsinbinImamHussain(AS):MohsinbinImamHussain(AS)wasthesmallestchildofImamHussain(AS).Atthetimeof

battleofKarbala, ImamHussain (AS)toldhissisterSayyedaZenab (AS)about thebirthof

thischild.HetoldherthatonthewaytoSyria,thischildwillbedeliveredprematurely,but

hewillnot live long.YouhavetoburyhimandyoushouldnamehimMohsin.Yazid (LA)s

forceswere illtreatingtheKafilaandmakingthem fall fromcamels,etc.Sothebabywas

deliveredprematurelyandhedied.SayyedaZenab(AS)tookchargeofhisburial.

3. JanabeZachariah(AS):Janab

eZachariah

(AS)

was

the

father

of

Yahya

(AS).

His

shrine

is

similar

to

Darbar

eYazid.

Near the grave of JanabeZachariah (AS), there are 2 bottles placed. One bottle is

containinghairofProphetMohammed(SAWW)andotherhistooth.Onescentbottleisalso

placedthere.

ShrineofJanabeZachariah(AS)

Openingtimefortheshrine isfrom10:00am.Wereachedtherearound9:15am.Wehad

still45minutesleft.Sowetoldourdrivertotakeustosomehotelbecausewewerefeeling


22/24

verytiredandhungry.ButhetoldthatweshouldleavefromHalabnowaswehavetogoto

Hammatoo!AndhetoldustopraytoJanabeZachariahfromoutsideonly!Ihesitatedand

stood firmly there. I toldhim thatwewillenter shrine,pray,willgo tohoteland then to

Hamma.Wearehereonlyforprayersandthatwewillnotmissanyplace.Sohemadefaces

andwaited inthecarforus.Wewaitedthere,at10:00am,weenteredshrineandprayed

there.This

zari

is

too

high.

Afterprayinghere,wewent to take somebreakfast.Thenafter somehours,we reached

Hamma.

HAMMA:

InHamma,ononemountain,SayyedaSakina(AS)askedforsomewater.ButtheYazid(LA)s

forcesdidnotgiveherandafterwateringtheiranimals,theysplashedtheremainingwater

on theground.Yazid (LA)s forces challenged ImamSajjad (AS) that ifyouare real Imam

thengeneratewater.Atthis Imam (AS)wasveryangryandmiraculouslygeneratedwater

streamfor

his

beloved

sister

Sayyeda

Sakina

(AS).

Thisplace isalsoknownasMakameZainulAbedein(AS).Therearetwopiecesofstones

lyingthere. It issaidthat ifwetouchthesestones,ourdiseasewillbecured.There isone

Zulfiqar lying there. Thenwe saw thatwell, inwhichwaterwas generated for Sayyeda

Sakina(AS).Waterlevelhasgoneverydownsopeoplehadcoveredthatwell.Weremoved

somepartofcoveringandsawthewaterinside.Viewfromthatmountainisverybeautiful.

Thenwe lefttoDamascus.On thewaywedecidedtovisitone lastshrineofHazrbinAdi

(AS).

HAZRBINADI(AS):

HazrbinAdi(AS)andhissonwithfiveothermentotal7Ashabsareburiedtogether.They

werenativesofKindaandcollectivelyknownasMustajabutDawaat!Theyall lovedHazrat

Ali (AS)verymuch, so theywereheldcaptives inKufa.But inprisonalso, theycontinued

lovingandspeakingaboutHazratAli (AS).SotheyweresenttoDamascusbutontheway

theywere killed.Hazr binAdi (AS) requested that his son tobe slaughteredbeforehim

becausehedidnotwant thatafterhisdeath,his son changeshimselfand speakagainst

HazratAli(AS)!SayyedaZenab(AS)saysthatwhoevervisitsmeshouldvisitthisshrinetoo.

After visiting thisplace,Qutubwent toMakameArbaeen and Iwent to Sayyeda Sakina

(AS)sshrine.

AfterdoingfinalZiyaratofSayyedaSakina(AS),weleftforZenabiya.Onceagainweprayed,

touchedthezariandthendidfinalsaluteandreturnedtohotel.Inthemorning,wewentto

airportaround8:30amandthenboardedflightat10:30am.We landedonKuwaitat2:00

pm.


23/24

Our tourwas very pleasant. I am very lucky to see these holy shrines of the family of

ProphetMohammed(SAWW).GODWILLING,Iwithmyfamilywillvisithereagain.

MayalltheShiyaneAlivisitthisplacebythegraceofAllah,theSupreme!

Father,Ihopeyouwilllikethisscript!

Composedby:

ShaheenBohraS.(ShaheenRV)


24/24

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