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After burying his infant shehzada with his own hands, Husain Imam (SA) returned to the khaimah. He was now all alone! He bid a final salaam to the harem and instructed them to wear two layers of clothes, for he knew that the enemy would loot their belongings and snatch away their ridas. He entrusted his son, the ailing Ali Zainul Abedeen (SA) with Imamat, and placed the care of the harem into his hands.
As he approached his horse, he saw that no one was left to hold the horse for him to mount. Everyone was brutally slain in the battlefield of Kerbala. Maulatuna Zainab (AS) came forth to do this final khidmat for her beloved brother.
Husain Imam (SA) rode out into the battle; no one dared come face to face in combat with the mighty son of Ali (SA). The Imam cut down 1950 enemy soldiers sending them to jahannam where they belonged. In desperation, laeen Amr bin Saad exhorted his cohorts, "You must all attack all at once, for this is the stalwart son of Shere Khuda Ali!" The enemy attacked Imam Husain (SA) from all sides. Cutting through the columns of warriors, Imam Husain (SA) headed towards the river Euphrates. Upon reaching the banks he urged his horse to drink water. The faithful horse adamantly shook his head, as if to say, "My master is thirsty since three days, I will not drink!" For the sake of the horse, Husain (SA) dismounted and gathered water in his palm.
A shout rose up from the enemy, "Husain, you drink water while your khaimah are burning to the ground." Throwing the water, he rushed back to see to the khaimah, which were safe; it was a ploy of the enemy to keep the Imam thirsty. Once again the Imam rode out into battle.
Asr was fast approaching, the time of shahadat was drawing ever nearer. Jibraeel came to Imam Husain (SA) and offered the khidmat of all the malaikat to vanquish the enemy, whereupon the Imam asked, "What is the will of Allah?" Through his tears, Jibraeel respectfully replied, "Allah wishes that you attain shahadat." Imam Husain sheathed his sword. Duldul, the Imam's faithful horse, sensed that the Imam wished to dismount and bent his forelegs to the ground. Imam Husain rested at the base of a palm tree. His body had become like a sieve from the wounds he had received, and his blood gushed forth. The horse, mourning the thousands of wounds of his Maula, dipped his mane in the Imam's blood and ran to the khaimah neighing loudly.
Hearing the horse the Sayyedaat rushed out, thinking Imam Husain had returned. Alas! There was no rider on the horse! Zainab stood on a hillock, and saw that the enemy had surrounded Imam Husain from all sides, attacking with rocks, spears, arrows… Laeen Shimr approached! He carried a blunt knife…on his feet were socks of iron. He came close to the Imam and kicked him viciously to the ground and spitefully sat on his chest. Laeen Shimr put his knife to Imam Husain's throat and viciously slashed 12 times.
"Get up!" commanded Imam Husain, "your blunt weapon will not work here, though you may try 12000 times, for this is the place where Rasulullah (SAW) used to kiss. I wish to do sajda and pray for all mumineen , then you can do as you will."
Imam Husain laid down his forehead in sajda and bestowed the barakaat of his dua upon all mumineen till the day of Qayamat. Laeen Shimr brutally severed his raas mubarak from his badan e athar.
Victory belonged to Imam Husain, for the battle goes to the one who achieves what he has set out to do, and indeed the mighty sacrifice of Imam Husain, his Ahl e Bayt and As'haab is engraved forever upon the hearts of his followers, while not a trace remains of the evil Yazid and his henchmen. The enemy wished to extinguish the noor of Allah; to end the line of Imams. They failed miserably as they couldn't touch Imam Zain ul Abedeen (SA), the son of Imam Husain (SA), the next Imam. This line of succession of the Aimmat Tahereen (SA) from Imam Zain ul Abedeen (SA) will continue until the day of Qayamat.
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