Imam Al-Hussein (peace be upon him) took the infant Abdullah from the hand of the Hashemite Aqila after his mother’s milk had dried up, hoping to get a little water to quench the thirst of the child who was suffering from dehydration.
"O people, if it is the sin of the adults, then what is the sin of the children?"
The Symbolism of Abdullah the Infant in the Battle of Karbala
The participation of the infant Abdullah in the painful battle of Al-Taf is no less symbolic than the participation of many of the symbols of Karbala. One of the effects that was intended to reach humanity is that all levels and ages paid a price in Karbala, and the infant Abdullah had a special symbolism. He was still a young child and all he asked for was water, yet he was struck with an arrow, killing him in his father’s arms. This act of brutality highlights the inhumanity of those who falsely claimed to belong to Islam and were stripped of all human values, principles, and ideals, in addition to religious and moral values.
The symbolism of Abdullah the Infant in the Battle of Karbala serves as a powerful reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by all members of Imam Hussein's family, regardless of age, and highlights the brutal inhumanity of their opponents.
The martyrdom of the infant Abdullah, who was not yet 6 months old, according to the narratives, in a rare scene that represents the cruelty and hatred of the Umayyads. The followers of Yazid, may God’s curse be upon him, went so far as to throw that noble infant while he was in his father’s hands and the people were asking for water for him. With a three-pronged arrow, he slaughtered him from vein to vein.
Youngest martyr from the lineage of Banu Hashim was Abdullah who was not even six months.
The infant, unconscious from severe thirst, felt the heat of the arrow, raised his hands from under his swaddle, and embraced his father Al-Hussein (peace be upon him), fluttering in his hands like a slaughtered bird.
The voices of the women mix with the sound of the caravan of the slaughtered infant from vein to vein.
“Peace be upon Abdullah bin Al-Hussein, the infant who was shot, covered in blood, whose blood was lifted into the sky, slaughtered by an arrow in his father’s lap. May God curse his shooter, Harmalah bin Kahil Al-Asadi, and his family”
The Heart-Wrenching Procession of Infant Abdullah
The cry began from the shrine of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) on the eighth day of Muharram al-Haram, when the procession of Infant Abdullah lifted the child’s carrier. The servants and lovers of Hussein were calling out to the people in a voice filled with sadness and sorrow. On this day, the tenderest and most beloved caravan was slaughtered one after the other by enemies of the House of Prophethood. The sky received the blood of the infant from the hand of the Imam, in the greatest offering in existence, in a situation that neither the earth nor the heavens had witnessed in terms of the pain and suffering that the infallible Imam endured. Despite his agony, he prayed to God, thankful, praising, and patient. This is the day that softened the back of Abu Abdullah.
Al-Hussein (peace be upon him) took the infant Abdullah from the hand of the Hashemite Aqila after his mother’s milk had dried up, hoping to get a little water to quench the thirst of the child who was suffering from dehydration. He called out: "O people, if it is the sin of the adults, then what is the sin of the children?" This painful scene, which was established by the sons of Hussein from the service of the holy Hussein shrine, moves like a convoy laden with worries and pains. They address in their chants and poems, Aba Al-Fadl Al-Abbas, blaming and mourning the youngest martyr in Karbala.
A solemn procession on foot, composed of a spontaneous, loving, and sympathetic crowd, is overtaken by fever over the greatest casualty that Karbala witnessed. The procession of the infant Abdullah floated around and the grieving souls floated with it, returning to the day when the people debated over Hussein’s child. The voices rose: some said, "Do not give him water," and others said, "Give him water," while still others said, "Do not leave anything left for the people of this house." Then the voice of the accursed one, Umar ibn Saad, called to Harmala ibn Kahil al-Asadi (may God curse him) and said: "Oh Harmala, end the people’s dispute."
Harmala put the arrow in the bow’s liver and sent it to the infant’s liver. The infant, unconscious from severe thirst, felt the heat of the arrow, raised his hands from under his swaddle, and embraced his father Al-Hussein (peace be upon him), fluttering in his hands like a slaughtered bird. What a great calamity it was. How great was your patience, my lord Hussein, as you confronted the ungratefulness, injustice, cruelty, and rebellion with the brutality of man. Addressing the Almighty Creator, you said: "Oh God, let nothing be more insignificant to You than the sacrifice of a Saleh camel." Not a single drop of that blessed blood fell to the ground.
The procession enters the shrine of Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas. The voices of the women mix with the sound of the caravan of the slaughtered infant from vein to vein, and its echo resonates under the dome of the Imam, marked by the courage with which he carried the water. He was the patient warrior, defending the silks and sanctuaries of Al-Hussein. The sound echoes a groan that breaks the hearts that turn their gaze towards the tenderness to witness the bloody tragedy that befell Al-Hussein as an infant of God.
The procession places the baby’s cradle and his funeral in front of the qiblah of Bab al-Abbas and they call out, "And he who frowns, and he thirsts for him." The noble shrine glows from all its corners, as if the sound and light were merging into another unified sound that is not stopped by barriers. Silence prevails with the call to prayer (Allah is the Greatest) from the minaret, announcing thanks to the obligation of prayer. Keeping the pain, anxiety, and heat of tears, we console the mother of the infant Abdullah, the wife of Bani Hashim, Zainab, and the rest of the caravan of Husseini love.
It is mentioned that the infant Abdullah, known as Ali the Younger (peace be upon him), is the son of Imam Hussein (peace be upon them). His name and lineage are Abdullah bin Imam Hussein bin Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (peace be upon them), and his mother was Al-Rabab bint Al-Qays Al-Kalbiyyah.
The Martyrdom of Hazrat Ali Asghar (PBUH)
Hazrat Ali Asghar (peace be upon him) was one of the children of Hazrat Imam Husayn (peace be upon him). He was born to Rabab, the daughter of Imru' al-Qais bin Adi of the Kilab tribe. Rabab was also the mother of Sakinah (peace be upon them), making Ali Asghar (peace be upon him) and Sakinah (peace be upon her) siblings. It is believed that Hazrat Ali Asghar (peace be upon him) was born in the month of Rajab (1).
Historical Context
Sources from history and the accounts of various fighters often refer to Hazrat Ali Asghar (peace be upon him) as Abdullah. Some sources mention that Hazrat Ali Asghar (peace be upon him) was also known as Abdullah bin Husayn (peace be upon him). Various narrations cite different individuals as responsible for the martyrdom of Abdullah bin Husayn, including Abdullah bin Uqba Al-Ghanawi and Hani bin Thabit Al-Hadrami. Other sources, such as Al-Amali Shajari and the Rose Gardens, attribute his martyrdom to Harmala bin Kahil (2).
The Fateful Day of Ashura
On the day of Ashura, Hazrat Ali Asghar (peace be upon him), an infant, was tragically martyred. Visiting narrations emphasize the cruelty inflicted upon him. One famous narration from the visit to a holy area describes the event: “Peace be upon Abdullah bin Al-Hussein, the infant who was shot, covered in blood, whose blood was lifted into the sky, slaughtered by an arrow in his father’s lap. May God curse his shooter, Harmalah bin Kahil Al-Asadi, and his family” (3).
Sayings from Religious Texts
In the book "Iqbal," the visit narration mentions Hazrat Ali Asghar (peace be upon him): “May God’s blessings and peace be upon you, your fathers, your children, and the angels residing in your sanctuary. May God’s blessings be upon you and upon them all, and upon the martyrs who were martyred with you and before you, may God’s blessings be upon you, upon them, and upon your son, Ali the youngest, with whom you were distressed” (4).
Sayyed Ibrahim Mianji's book, "Uyun Hebrew," states: “Abdullah, the infant, is not the son of the youngest, nor is Ishaq’s mother. The text was generated by Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and his code was added to the device and then entered. Abdullah Ghanawi or Hani Hadrami, you see him as a child with a newborn son, and now he is in the middle of nowhere, at the entrance to a tent, or he has a certificate. Wali Ali Asghar (peace be upon him) in Jinj Square, Shahadat Rasayd. Harmala bin Kahil Asadi or Raba Teri slaughtered Namoud” (5).
Historical Accounts
Ibn Wadh Yaqubi, who died in 292 AH, mentioned in his history that a child was born on the day of Ashura. He stated: “Then they advanced, man by man, until only he remained with him.” None of his family, his children, or his relatives, for he was standing on his horse when a child was born to him at that hour. So he called in his ear and made his palate when an arrow came to him and fell into the boy’s throat, so he slaughtered him. Al-Hussein (peace be upon him) removed the arrow from his throat and smeared it with his blood. He says: "By God, you are more honorable to God than a she-camel, and Muhammad is more honorable to God than Salih. Then he came and placed him with his son and his brother’s sons” (6).
In the book "Muntaha Al-Amal," a heart-wrenching scene is described: “But I was present at the end of the tent of Amad, and with it, Zainab (peace be upon her) was present, so he said: Your code is small, I saw it from the gap, or, farewell, like a word, but that your code is infallible. Damn, Terry's eyes are broken, and he's a stubborn child, and he's a Kurdish martyr and a poet. Where did he feel about him? Where was the calamity of a Kurdish gesture?”
In one narration, Hazrat Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) took his infant son to the battlefield, seeking water for the child from the enemy. Instead, Harmala bin Kahil shot an arrow that pierced the child's throat. Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) caught the blood in his hands and threw it towards the sky, saying: “O Lord, if you have withheld victory from us, then make this a means for something better and take revenge on these oppressors” (7).
In the book "Nafs al-Mahmoum," the narrative of Rabab's grief is highlighted. Rabab, a witness to the atrocity, was left with the painful memory of her child’s martyrdom. Her lamentations and those of the other women filled the air with sorrow (8).
Reflections on the Martyrdom
The martyrdom of Hazrat Ali Asghar (peace be upon him) is commemorated with great sorrow. His father, Imam Husayn (peace be upon him), held the infant’s body, lamenting the cruelty of the enemy. The scene is one of the most poignant in the tragedy of Karbala, symbolizing the ultimate sacrifice and the depth of injustice faced by Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) and his family (9).
References:
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Al-Tarikh Al-Yaqubi, volume 2, page 245 - Translation of Al-Tarikh Al-Yaqubi, volume 2, page 181 - Dhakhira Al-Darain, Al-Ha’iri, page 305 - Pazwahshi Peramun Shahadai Karbala, page 235
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Bihar Al-Anwar, volume 98, page 270
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Al-Iqbal for Good Deeds, volume 3, page 71
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Encyclopedia of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), volume 13, page 56, with a Hebrew translation, page 174
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Investigation of the first forty days of Hazrat Sayyid al-Shuhada (peace be upon him), pages 371-370.
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History of Yaqubi, volume 2, pages 181-182
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Muntaha al-Amal fi Tarikh al-Nabi wa al-Ayl, peace be upon them, volume 2, pages 892-891
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Lhoff, pages 149-151
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History of Yaqubi, volume 2, pages 181-182