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Umar sent out an army to fight the mighty Kisra, king of Persia. The muslim army could do little in the face of the great Persian army and defeat seemed inevitable. Umar rushed to Amir ul Mumineen (SA) and pleaded for help; You have resolved all trials that befell Islam and I beseech you today -you must fight the Persian army. Maulana Ali (SA) proclaimed; Allah o Akbar! Indeed Rasulullah (SAW) had informed me that I shall fight Kisra. Moulana Ali (SA) left with just four men. When the muslim army saw Maulana Ali (SA) they cried out; Allah o Akbar! Allah o Akbar!
Kisra heard the commotion and inquired if the muslims had received reinforcements. Spies were sent out to gather intelligence. They returned with the news that only five men had joined the muslim ranks. Kisra was a wise man- a man of knowledge; he immediately understood that Ali (SA) had arrived, the one on whose hands the mighty king would lose his kingdom.
A bridge lay between both armies. Amir ul Mumineen (SA) offered the Muslims a choice between conquering the bridge or taking on the enemy. The muslim army chose to occupy the bridge and Amir ul Mumineen (SA) single-handedly took on the enemy. The skies resonated with the proclamation;
Maulana Ali (SA) slayed Kisra and captured his crown; According to the Shariat it is the right of the commander in chief to take a booty for himself. Some people from the muslim army objected to this and wrote to Umar about it. Umar in turn remonstrated with Maulana Ali (SA) who replied firmly that if Umar wanted a crown he could fight Kisra's brother who had fled. Umar realized his mistake and pleaded with Maulana Ali (SA) to take on the brother as well.
Indeed Maulana Ali's (SA) intention in the battle was not to capture a crown, but to find Kisra's daughter, Shehre Banu who had already embraced Islam. Umar wanted to give Shehre Banu away to one of his sons as a slave girl. Amir ul Mumineen (SA) opposed this heatedly; She has embraced Islam, she cannot be enslaved! He then called upon Imam Hasan and Husain (SA), asking one of them to choose Shehre Banu as his bride. Both Imams left the choice to Shehre Banu who chose Imam Husain (SA).
Thus every Imam from the progeny of Imam Husain (SA) and Shehre Banu is the leader of Arabs and non-Arabs (Ajam) alike.
Amirul Mumineen (SA) grieved at the wedding of Imam Husain (SA) remembering the suffering of the daughter of Kisra who would be widowed and persecuted at the hands of the enemies in Kerbala.
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