Story No. 337 – Miracle or Mojeza of Imam Ali bin Hussain (as)

After the martyrdom of his father Imam Hussain (as), the 3rd Imam the army of Yazid cut-off the heads of all the martyrs of Karbala and removed them from their bodies. Then they left those bodies without burying them. They did not allow Imam Ali bin Hussain (as) to bury these martyrs. Instead, they took him a prisoner to Kufa, Iraq.

After the army of Yazid had left for Kufa, Iraq, the tribe of Bani Asad, who lived in the neighbourhood of Karbala, came to bury the martyrs. Since there was no way by which they could know whose body belonged to whom, they were worried.

Suddenly, they saw a man on a horse coming in their direction. Fearing that this could be a spy of Yazid coming to check on them, the Bani Asad went into hiding. The man came where they were hiding and called them to come out. He told them that he was Imam Ali bin Hussain (as) and had come through miracle from Kufa, Iraq to help them identify and bury the martyrs.

In this way Imam Ali bin Hussain (as) buried the martyrs and his father Imam Hussain (as) where they lie buried today.

His coming to Karbala was very important for two reasons. Firstly, an Imam from Allah (SWT) has to be given the burial services, when he dies, by the Imam who takes over from him. No one could give the burial services to Imam Hussain (as) except Imam Ali bin Hussain (as). But he was miles away and in chains as a prisoner of Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad in Kufa, Iraq. Imam Ali bin Hussain (as) therefore came to Karbala by Miracle or Mojeza. Secondly only he knew who was who. Otherwise, we would never know who was buried where the way we know today.

Courage of our 4th Imam, Imam Ali bin Hussain (as)

After the event of Karbala, once Imam Ali bin Hussain (as) went for Hajj pilgrimage. Whilst performing circumambulation (Tawaf), Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (5th Umayyad Caliph) happened to be behind the Imam Ali bin Hussain (as). Disappointed that the Imam Ali bin Hussain (as) had ignored him, he called out the Imam Ali bin Hussain (as) and said, “O son of the Prophet! Have I killed your father that you do not turn and even look at me?” Imam Ali bin Hussain (as) responded, “O Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan! Those who killed my father are paying dearly for it in the hereafter, do you desire the same for yourself?” The Umayyad Caliph was silent for a while and then said, “I did not mean this! What I meant is that if you stayed closer to me, you would most certainly find me generous in my wealth towards you.” Upon hearing this, Imam Ali bin Hussain (as) threw his cloak on the floor and turning towards Holy Kaaba, said, “O Allah (SWT)! Fill this for me.” Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan saw that the cloak of Imam Ali bin Hussain (as) was suddenly filled with precious pearls which Imam Ali bin Hussain (as) took and distributed them to the needy Muslims. Then turning towards Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, he said, “O Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan! We do not need your wealth, for Allah (SWT) is our sole Provider.” (Dam’at al-Sakibah)