Meesam was a slave belonging to a woman of Bani
Asad. Hazrat Ali (A.S.) purchased this slave from the woman and set
him free in the way of Allah. He was a man of high character and a
true lover of Allah (SWT), Prophet Mohammad (SAW) and his Ahl-e-Bait
(A.S.). Meesam desired his name to be kept as Salem. Hazrat Ali (A.S.)
approached the Holy Prophet (SAW) who said that he should be known
as Meesam but he could keep the Kuniyet as Abu Salem.This very
Meesam proved to be one of the nearest disciples of Hazrat Ali (A.S.).
He used to sell dates and on this account he was known as
Meesam-e-Tammar. He used to take lessons from Hazrat Ali (A.S.) and
Hazrat Ali (A.S.) acquainted him with a good many secrets of the
faith. Hazrat Ali (A.S.) taught him many branches of knowledge which
included ilm-e-Manaya wal Balaya (the knowledge of death and future
calamities) and ilm-e-Taweel (Interpretation and exegesis of Quran).
At times with the permission of his master, Meesam used to acquaint
the public about the deep secrets learnt by him. At times on account
of the frank speech of Meesam people used to think that Meesam had
lost his head. They could hardly understand the depth of his words.
Once Hazrat Ali (A.S.) told him that he (Meesam) would be hanged
on account of love for his master. He also gave the address and told
him that he would be hanged in a farm next to the house of Amr lbn
Huraith. The tree on which he would be hanged was the smallest of
the ten trees existing in the farm at that time. Meesam was also
informed that his tongue would be cut out because he would not stop
praising his master [Hazrat Ali (A.S.)].
After getting this information, it is recorded in history that,
Meesam used to go to the tree pointed out by Hazrat Ali (A.S.),
clean the place and water the tree and offer prayers saying, "Oh
tree! You are for me and I am for you.
Months and years passed by, Hazrat Ali (A.S.) was martyred then
Imam Hassan (A.S.) was martyred and Meesam kept waiting for the
time. Finally came 60 A.H. when Ubaidullah Ibn-e-Ziyad was appointed
Governor of Kufah/Koofa.
Meesam then went to perform Hajj and there after returned to Kufa.
One-day Ubaidullah Ibn-e-Ziad, the Governor of the place, called him
and asked him in the Court, "Oh Meesam! Inform me where your God
is?" Meesam immediately replied. "He is in quest of an opportunity
to punish the transgressors." Ibn Ziad then asked him about his
connection with Hazrat Ali (A.S.). Meesam replied that Hazrat Ali (A.S.)
was his master and that he loved him. Ibn Ziad then asked him. "Did
your master tell you anything about your end?"
Meesam replied, "Yes, he informed me that I would be hanged and
that my tongue would be cut." Ibn Ziad sent a roar of laughter and
said, "I will see that your master did not tell you the truth (Naozo
Billah). I will see that his prophecy is belied." Meesam said, "My
master's words are true because he got that information from God.
The Prophet was informed by Jibrael and Jibrael came with the
message of Allah." Ibn Ziad ordered Meesam to be jailed. Meesam
escaped from jail and joined Mukhtar. Mukhtar had risen in revolt to
avenge the massacre of Karbala. Discussions took place between
Mukhtar and Meesam. Revenge was planned. But Meesam was caught by
the order of Ibn Ziad and was ordered to be hanged.
Meesam was brought to the same tree to be hanged as pointed out
by Hazrat Ali (A.S.). Meesam began singing the praises of his
master, and about a thousand people gathered to see Meesam being
hanged. Even after being hanged, the tongue of Meesam went on
singing the praises of Hazrat Ali (A.S.). Ibn Ziad was informed
about this and the tyrant ordered that the tongue of Meesam is cut
and thus the prophecy of Hazrat Ali (A.S.) came true and Meesam died
after his tongue was cut out. Inna lillahe wa inna ilehe rajeoon. |
|
|
It was for some time that Zakariyya, son of Ibrahim,
felt attracted towards Islam although his father, mother and all the
family members were Christians and he too was the believer of
Christianity. Both his conscience and heart were inviting him
towards Islam. At last, against the liking of his father, mother and
family-members, he accepted Islam and surrendered himself to the
commandments of Islam.The Hajj season commenced. Young Zakariyya
left Kufah with the objective of performing Hajj and had the honour
of meeting Al-Imam As-Sadiq (AS) in Madinah. He narrated to Imam
(AS) the incident of his acceptance of Islam. Imam (AS) enquired:
"What virtue of Islam attracted your attention?" He replied: "I
can only say that it was Allah's words in Qur'an which impressed me
and holds true in my case. Allah says to his Prophet (SAW) in Qur'an:
"O Prophet! Earlier you didn't know what the Book is and didn't know
what the faith is, but We revealed to you this Qur'an and made it a
light by which We guide whomsoever We wish."
Imam (AS) said: "I confirm Allah has guided you."
Then Imam (AS) said thrice:
"O Allah! You Yourself be a guide to him."
Afterwards Imam (AS) said:
"My son, now whatever questions you have, asks me".
The Youngman said: "My father, mother and family-members, are all
Christians. My mother is blind. I am associated to them and I am
compelled to eat with them. What am I supposed to do in such
circumstances?"
Imam (AS): "Do they eat pork?"
Zakariyya: "No, O son of Prophet (SAW)! They don't even touch
pork."
Imam (AS): "Then, there is nothing wrong in your association with
them."
Then Imam (AS) said: "Be careful about your mother's health. Be
kind to her till she is alive. When she dies, don't give her body to
anyone else. You personally take charge of her corpse." Here, don't
tell anyone that you have met me. I will also come to Makkah. Insha
Allah (Allah willing), we will meet in Mina.
In Mina, the Youngman went in search of Imam (AS). There was a
huge crowd around Imam (AS).
The people, like the children surrounding their teacher and
asking questions one after the other without giving any time, were
asking questions one after the other from Imam (AS) and were
listening to his replies.
The Hajj season came to an end and the Youngman returned to Kufah/Koofa.
He had kept in mind Imam's (AS) advice. With firm determination, he
started serving his mother and never failed to be kind and loving to
his blind mother. He served food to her with his own hands. He even
used to check her clothes and head to see that no lice might be
present. This change in the behavior of the son, mainly after his
return from Makkah, was surprising for his mother. One day she asked
her son:
"Dear Son! Earlier, when you followed our religion, you were not
so kind to me. Now what has happened to you that though I and you
are not the same in respect of religion, you are more kind to me
than before?"
Zakariyya: "Dear mother! A person from the descendants of our
Prophet (SAW) has told me to do so."
Mother: "Is he himself a Prophet?"
Son: "No, he is not a Prophet. He is the son of the Prophet
(SAW)."
Mother: "My son! I think he himself is a Prophet as this type of
advices and preaching's not given by anyone except the Prophets."
Zakariyya: "No mother! Be sure that he is not a Prophet. He is
the son of the Prophet (SAW). Basically, no Prophet is supposed to
come to earth after our Prophet Muhammad (SAW)."
Mother: "My son! Your religion is very good. It is better than
all the other religions. Teach me your religion."
The Youngman told his mother the 'Shahadatayn' (meaning: "There
is no god but Allah and Muhammad (SAW) is his Messenger").
Thus, the mother became a Muslim. Then the Youngman taught his
blind mother the process of reciting salat (prayer). The mother
grasped it and recited the Zuhr (noon) and the Asr (afternoon)
salats. It became night. She succeeded in reciting both the Maghrib
(evening) and the Isha (night) salats. Suddenly, late in the night,
the mother's condition (of health) changed; she fell sick and got
bed-laid. She called her son and said:
"My son, once more teach all the things you had taught me."
Once again, the son taught his mother the Shahddatayn and all the
principles of Islam, that is, belief in Allah, Prophet (SAW),
angels, the Divine Books and the Ma'ad (Day of Resurrection). The
mother repeated all these as a symbol of her belief and acceptance
and offered her life to the Creator.
In the morning, the Muslims gathered for giving her
Ghuslul-Mayyit (obligatory bath to the dead) and her burial. The
person, who recited Sulatul-Mayyit (prayer for the dead) and buried
her, was none but her young son, Zakariyya. |
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment