A heart-touching Majlis on the 5th night of Muharram remembering the loyalty and martyrdom of Habib Ibn Mazaahir, the faithful companion of Imam Husayn in Karbala.
Surah al-Fatiha
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
Today is the 5th night of Muharram.
Our majaalis continue. We will recite more nawhas to mourn the great loss in Karbala. Our eyes will shed more tears and our matam will increase.
Day-by-day, the scene in Karbala is changing. More and more soldiers join the enemy’s camp. Thousands have gathered to kill Imam Husayn, the grandson of the Holy Prophet.
Habib Ibn Mazaahir in Kufa
Bibi Zainab said to her brother:
“Brother Husayn! Thousands of soldiers are gathering to fight you. We have hardly 72 men with us. Do you not have anyone to come to your help?”
Imam Husayn replied:
“My sister Zainab, many wanted to join me during the journey from Medina to Karbala. I politely discouraged them because their intention was not truthful. Many joined and have run away during the journey because they were scared of dying.
Zainab! My sister! Falsehood can buy many supporters, but truth has only a few friends. The soldiers on the other side have been bought. They prefer happiness in this world than in the world hereafter. My 72 truthful men prefer happiness in the world hereafter and that is why they are with me.”
That night, Imam Husayn wrote a letter to his childhood friend, Habib Ibn Mazaahir, who was in Kufa. Kufa was blocked off and nobody was allowed to leave.
Habib did not know the whereabouts of Imam Husayn until the letter arrived at his house. At the time, he was having breakfast with his wife and a young son.
Habib read the letter from Husayn. He kissed it, and tears began to flow from his eyes. His wife asked him what was wrong. Habib said:
“I have received a letter from my master, Husayn. He has asked me to join him in Karbala. Yazid’s soldiers have surrounded him and are after his life.”
Habib’s wife replied:
“Habib! Your childhood friend has called you. Your master needs your help. What are you waiting for? Go Habib, before it is too late!”
Habib’s worry was how to escape from Kufa without being seen. He instructed his slave to take his horse to a farm outside the city and to wait for him there. The slave obeyed.
The slave took Habib’s horse to a farm outside the city and waited for his master. As Habib was delayed, the slave began talking to the horse:
“O horse! Maula Husayn is in trouble. He needs help. He has asked my master Habib to join him. Master Habib is late. Horse, if he does not manage to escape from Kufa, I will ride on you and go to Husayn’s help.”
At Asr time, when most men were at the mosque, Habib escaped to the farm. He quickly mounted his horse and said to his slave:
“Go, my friend, Go! I am freeing you from my services.”
But the slave pleaded:
“Master! You are not being fair. I have served you faithfully for years. Now, I have a chance to serve the son of Bibi Fatimah, and you are asking me to go. Why are you denying me a place in Heaven?”
Habib was moved by the words of his slave. Pleased to hear his loyalty and understanding of truth versus falsehood, Habib allowed him to come along. Together they galloped towards Karbala.
Habib Joins Imam Husayn in Karbala
Habib reached Karbala late in the evening. Imam Husayn greeted him with great affection.
Bibi Zainab heard that Habib had arrived. She asked her maid Fizza to convey her greetings to Habib.
When Habib heard this, he screamed out in grief and anger. He threw his turban to the ground, slapped his face, and cried:
“What a sad day! What has happened to the household of Bibi Fatimah? The princess! Granddaughter of the Holy Prophet, the daughter of ‘Ali and Fatimah is sending her greetings to an ordinary person like me! Yazid! You beast, you tyrant! What have you done to the household of Bibi Fatimah?”
Martyrdom of Habib on the Day of ‘Ashura’
Days and nights of Muharram passed, and ‘Ashura’ came. At dawn, ‘Ali Akbar gave Adhan for the last time. Yazid’s soldiers blew the trumpets of war.
One by one, Husayn’s companions entered the battlefield and sacrificed their lives for Islam. Imam Husayn, Abbas, and ‘Ali Akbar were busy collecting the bodies of the martyrs.
Between Dhuhr and Asr, Habib came to Imam Husayn and said:
“My Master, Husayn, allow me to go to the battlefield. Let me sacrifice my life for Islam.”
Imam Husayn said:
“Habib, my childhood friend. Stay with me. You give comfort to me, my friend.”
Habib insisted. Eventually, Imam Husayn granted him permission. He mounted Habib on a horse and sent him to the battlefield.
Habib fought bravely, but he was finally overpowered. He fell to the ground. An enemy soldier approached and cut off his head.
All the martyrs of Karbala had their heads severed, but Habib’s was the first. Unlike others, Habib’s head was not placed on a spearhead. Instead, it was tied to a horse and dragged across Karbala.
Message from the Martyrs to the Living
Later in Shaam, Habib’s head was still tied to the horse’s neck. A young boy named Qasim followed the horse wherever it went.
One day, the man riding the horse asked:
“Why are you following me around? What do you want?”
Qasim simply stared at the head. The man asked again:
“Why are you staring at the head?”
Qasim replied:
“This head is the head of my father, Habib Ibn Mazaahir. Please give it to me so that I can bury my father’s head.”
Habib’s head seemed to speak to his son:
“My son Qasim, you are thinking of burying my head. What about the head of Husayn on that spearhead?”
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaih Raja’oon!
We are from Allah and to Him we will return!
Matam al-Husayn!
