Embodying Honesty, Courage, and Loyalty
Honesty, courage, nobility, chivalry, and loyalty are traits shared in the songs that emanated from the mouths of the heroic martyrs of Al-Taf and confirmed their great loyalty and the intensity of their adherence to the cause of their master, Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). The bright journey of loyalty, where the pure ideological features were embodied in the words of those poets, with the sincerity of the stances taken by those heroes, the likes of whom time has not and will not produce in defending religion and belief. You will find the voice of each one of them reflecting the love and loyalty inside them for Hussein, to the point that it is as if those hearts were devoid of every love except the love of Al-Hussein. They were truly as Imam Al-Hussein (peace be upon him) described them: "I do not know of more worthy or better companions than my companions, nor any household more righteous and more connected than my household, so may God reward you all on my behalf with goodness."

The Supreme Sacrifice
What situation is greater and more wonderful than those situations whose heroes underestimated life and sacrificed their lives for the sake of belief and principle? What greater situation is there when one of them offers his son or brother, or a mother offers her son to die for the sake of God? Yes, they are the ones who rose to the highest levels of faith and certainty and won martyrdom and the company of the righteous. The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) compared their status to that of the martyrs of Badr when he passed through Karbala on his way to Siffin and said: "Martyrs will be killed in this place, no other martyrs like them except the martyrs of Badr" (1) and "they will enter Paradise without judgment" (2). The great companion Salman al-Farsi (may God be pleased with him) wished to be one of them, as he stated: "By the One in whose hand is Salman’s soul, if I had reached his days, I would have struck before him with a sword or cut off limb from limb before him, causing him to fall dead before him. For the one killed with him will be given the reward of seventy martyrs, all of them like the martyrs of Badr, Uhud, Hunayn, and Khaybar" (3). It was narrated on the authority of Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) that he said: "The Commander of the Faithful passed by Karbala and cried until his eyes filled with tears and said: This is the climate of their passengers, this is where their saddlebags lie, this is where their blood is shed. Blessed are you who have soil on which the blood of loved ones is shed. An atmosphere of tranquility, and the homes of martyrs who were not preceded by those before them, nor could those who came after them follow them" (4).

Immortal Words and Heroic Deeds
These great sayings, in the height of their status, were called upon by their great stance and the intensity of their contributions and their steadfastness in defending Islam and its people in word and deed. Their battles embodied the most wonderful images of epics, chivalry, nobility, and loyalty. They are the clear indicators of the extent of their steadfastness, cohesion, and steadfastness in the harshest and most challenging circumstances. These songs deserve a long study and should be drawn up on gilded plaques to personalize these immortal words, as their authors called them, in the highest levels of immortality. Let us listen to some of those eternal, heroic songs (hymns):

Zuhayr ibn al-Qayn
Zuhayr ibn al-Qayn comes out and places his hand on Hussein’s shoulder as he asks him for permission to fight, saying: "I advance. You have been guided, a guide, a Mahdi. Today your grandfather met the Prophet, Hassan, and Al-Murtada Ali. And the one with wings, the young man, and the lion of God, the living martyr."

It is the highest level of certainty. He was completely certain that Al-Hussein represents Islam in all its meanings and concepts, and that he will be with those he mentioned in his arrogance who became victorious. The magnificence was in the response of Al-Hussein (peace be upon him) in his confirmation of Zuhair’s certainty, so he said to him: "And I will throw them in your wake." During his heroic campaigns against the Umayyad army, he said: "I am Zuhair and I am Ibn Al-Qayn. I will harm you with the sword on the authority of Hussein."

Al-Hajjaj bin Masrooq Al-Jaafi
Al-Hajjaj bin Masrooq Al-Jaafi confirmed this truth while he was covered in blood from his many wounds, addressing Hussein: "I sacrifice myself for you as a guide and guide. Today your grandfather gave birth to the Prophet, then your father, the one with the dew, Ali. The one whom we know as the guardian."

Nafi’ bin Hilal Al-Jamali
This truth that their souls were certain of was declared by everyone who advanced to fight, and everyone who wanted to leave bid farewell to Al-Hussein (peace be upon him) by saying: "Peace be upon you, O son of the Messenger of God." Al-Hussein answered him, "Peace be upon you, and I am following you." Then he recited the Almighty’s saying: "And among them are those who have died, and among them are those who wait, and they have not changed anything." Then Nafi’ bin Hilal Al-Jamali comes out and is shaking: "I am the Yemeni boy, Al-Jamali. My religion follows the religion of Hussein, and I must be killed. Today, this is my hope."

Suwayd bin Amr bin Abi Al-Mutta’
And he said, like what Suwayd bin Amr bin Abi Al-Mutta’ said: "Hussein came forward today to receive praise, and your holy sheikh, Ali, who is dewy and beautiful as the full moon, and fulfilled the happiest. And your uncle, the wandering and wise man, Hamza, may God be called a lion. And the one with wings, spends a seat in Paradise of Firdaus rises upwards."

Abdullah and Abdul Rahman, Sons of Urwa Al-Ghafari
One of the most wonderful hammocks of that day is the argoza of the two martyred brothers, Abdullah and Abdul Rahman, sons of Urwa Al-Ghafari. When they saw the sunburst carrying what remained of Al-Hussein’s companions and the large number of those with him, until they almost reached Al-Hussein, they competed in battle and martyrdom in the hands of Al-Hussein, and they were among the nobles of Kufa. They were brave and loyal to the people of the House, so they stood together and greeted Al-Hussein, then they shook with verses, one of them trembling in part and the other continuing it: "I have truly learned that Banu Ghaffar and Khandaf are after Banu Nizar. Let us strike the people of the ungodly with every sharp and sharp club. O my people, defend the Banu al-Ahrar. In Al-Musharrafi and Al-Qana Al-Khattar."

The Family of Junada bin Ka’b
We find in the family of the martyr Junada bin Ka’b something beyond description. This family was filled with a firm faith that could not be shaken by speeches or grievances. Junada was martyred at the hands of Hussein in the first campaign, so his wife came to her eleven-year-old son and dressed him in war clothes. She presented him in the hands of Al-Hussein (peace be upon him), but he did not give him permission and said: "This is a boy whose father was killed in the first campaign, and perhaps his mother would hate to fight him" and he brought him back. But that great mother refused except to present her son as a martyr in the hands of Al-Hussein, so she returned him to Al-Hussein, and he said to him: "Sir, my mother commanded me." So Al-Hussein (peace be upon him) gave him permission and rewarded them well. Then the boy went out to battle saying: "My prince is Hussein and what a good prince. Surur Fouad Al-Bashir Al-Nazir. Ali and Fatima are his parents. Do you know of anyone like him who has a countenance like the morning sun, who has bangs like Badr Munir."

The Unwavering Love for Hussein
Love for Hussein has captured the hearts of this entire family. Consider what this boy says when he describes Hussein. He is describing the dearest person on the face of the earth to him. If his mother had not sent him to Hussein, he would have gone to fight without anyone’s request, even though his age does not allow him to participate in a battle. This boy was killed, so his mother took a pole from the tent and attacked the Umayyad army, saying: "I am old and weak, empty, worn out, and thin. I will strike you with a violent blow, excluding the honorable sons of Fatima."

Al-Hussein returned her to the camp and rewarded her with good. Karbala witnessed Persia’s epics, the celebration of his history with jihad for the sake of God, to complete in Karbala the final scene of his life with martyrdom. Persia inhaled the perfume of prophecy at Badr and Hunayn, so he stood defending Islam, and he inhaled that perfume in Al-Hussein, so he stood defending the family of Muhammad. Persia heard the Prophet saying, with Al-Hussein in his lap: "This son of mine will be killed in a land called Karbala. Whoever witnesses him, let him support him." So he stood and recalled the hadith of the Prophet, adding to his determination and faith in his stance. He was the great companion Anas bin Al-Harith Al-Kahili who emerged with his turban tied around his waist and his eyebrows raised with a bandana as he asked Hussein’s permission to fight. When he looked at him, Al-Hussein in this form cried and said: "Thank God for your effort, Sheikh." Then he emerged and said: "I have taught Malik and Al-Dudan and the Khandafis and Qais Aylan that my people are the scourge of peers with the raiders and the masters of the knights. Immediate death by stabbing is imminent. We do not see the inability to stab. The family of Ali are Shiites of the Most Merciful. The family of Ziyad are Shiites of Satan."

Amr bin Khalid Al-Azdi
Amr bin Khalid Al-Azdi rejoiced on that day as he longed to meet his Lord and eternity in Paradise with the righteous, so he emerged to fight and said: "Today, O soul, to the Most Merciful. You will go with the spirit and with basil. Today you will be rewarded for goodness. In the past, there was something from you that was written on the tablet before the Judge. Today that has passed with forgiveness. Do not be alarmed, for every living thing is mortal. And patience will grant you wishes."

After him, his son Khalid bin Amr Al-Azdi emerged, congratulating his father on the martyrdom: "Be patient with death, Banu Qahtan, so that may you be in the pleasure of the Most Gracious, the One who has glory, glory, and proof. O Father, you have arrived in Paradise, in the palace of a beautiful building."

The Continuing Legacy of Heroic Songs
The enthusiastic songs sung by the heroes of kindness continued, stemming from absolute loyalty and pure adherence, and that solid will emanated in them. In patience and persistence, one of Al-Taf’s heroes, Saad bin Hanzalah Al-Shabami, came out and said: "Be patient with swords and sharp teeth. Be patient with them to enter Paradise. O soul, for rest, so strive for it. And for seekers of goodness, so reject it."

Abd al-Rahman al-Yazani
The martyr Abd al-Rahman al-Yazani said: "I am the son of Abdullah from the family of Yazan. My religion follows the religion of Hussein and Hassan. I beat you like a boy from Yemen. I hope that I will win with the trustworthy."

Listen to this epic song from the martyr Amr bin Abi Al-Mutta’ Al-Ja’fi: "I am the son of Ja’fi and my father is Muta’. And in my right hand is a delicate, sharp-skinned man with shiny teeth. He sees He has from his light the ray of today. The battle has been good for us. Without Hussein, the beating and struggle. We hope for that victory and defense. From the heat of fire when there is no benefit."

The Ultimate Sacrifice
We find in the martyr Abdullah bin Omair Al-Kalbi and his wife the utmost that a human being can offer in sacrifice for the sake of religion. Let us listen. Their story on that day is a wonderful chapter of Ashura, where they fulfilled the duty of martyrdom with all the great meaning of this word. Two people emerged from the Umayyad army for a duel, and Abdullah bin Umair jumped up to fight them, killed them, and returned to Al-Hussein, shaking: "If you deny me, then I am Ibn Al-Kalbi. Sufficient for me is my house in knowledge. Sufficient for me is that I am a man of temper and nerve, and I do not bellow when I am in distress. I am your leader, Umm Wahab, by attacking them in advance and beating a boy who believes in the Lord."

He returned to fighting, but his wife was not satisfied with the fact that her husband was fighting alone. Rather, she wanted to participate in this fight with him in the hands of Hussein, so she took a pole and approached him. He saw her and tried to push her back, but she did not obey him and refused to return, saying: "I will not leave you without dying with you!!!" God is great. What is this love that shines from these pure souls? What is this deep, pure faith contained in those pure hearts? Umm Wahb did not return except when Hussein asked her to return, saying: "You have rewarded the people of the family with goodness. Return, may God have mercy on you, to the tent, for women are not required to fight." Her husband Abdullah was killed in battle while she was looking at him. She walked to his death and sat by his head, wiping the blood and dirt off him, and said: "Congratulations to you in Paradise. I ask God, who granted you Paradise, to accompany me with you." The soldiers of the Umayyad army were spread out on the battlefield, and her husband’s death was still imminent. Here, the woman waved to Al-Shamr as she uttered those words, and he said to Abdo Rustam: "Hit her head with a pillar," and it happened so that the pure soul flew on the wings of angels.

John: The Pure Servant
Then comes the role of John, a graduate of the Abu Dharr Al-Ghafari School, from whom he was inspired by the most wonderful meanings of love for the people of the household. John, that servant with a pure, bright and living conscience, stood up to give those sitting in the epicenter of Umayyad humiliation and submission lessons of true freedom. John emerged as he trembled: "How do you see the infidels beating the lions? With the sword, I will smite the children of Muhammad. I will defend them with the tongue and the hand. With him, I hope for Paradise on the Day of Resurrection."

Al-Hurr: The Repentant Knight
Al-Hurr emerged, that repentant knight who did not expect them to dare to fight the son of the Messenger of God, and who asked Al-Hussein to be the first to be martyred before him. He emerged and said: "It is me. The heat and the shelter of the guest. I strike your necks with the sword. For the best of those who live in the land of fear. I strike you and I do not see any shame."

Umair bin Abdullah Al-Madhaji
It is the shame of a man who is desperate to fight while defending a firm and flawless belief, and similar to him is the shame of Umair bin Abdullah Al-Madhaji: "I learned Saad’s revelation. Madhaj. I am in the presence of the radiant, an embarrassed lion. I raise my sword with the point of the tamed. And I leave the horn when I am limping, the prey of the lowly, lame hyena."

Muslim bin Awsaja
Muslim bin Awsaja shudders: "If you ask about me, I am a man of long hair. From the branch of Qurm, from the descendants of the sons of Asad. So whoever follows me is deviated from the right path. And an infidel with a fat, tyrannical religion."

Amr ibn Qarza al-Ansari
Amr ibn Qarza al-Ansari shudders as he ransoms Hussein with his attack and everything he owns: "I have learned from the Ansar battalion. I will protect the Dhamar estate. Beating up a boy who is not defeated by a bad person. Hussein has left my home and my home."

Wahb ibn Hubab al-Kalbi
Wahb ibn Hubab al-Kalbi, that hero, was handed over to Hussein (peace be upon him) so that he could obtain, through his conversion to Islam, the highest honor in Islam, which is martyrdom in the hands of Al-Hussein. He appeared on the day of Ashura and said: "If you deny me, then I am Ibn Al-Kalbi. You will see me and you will see my beatings and my campaign and my arrival in the war. I realize my revenge after the revolt of my companions. And I will push back anguish in front of anguish. My jihad is not in the desire to play."

Anis bin Maqil
Anis bin Maqil stood out and burst into tears with these passionate verses: "I am Anis and I am bin Maqil. And in my right hand is the blade of a polished sword with which I raise the arrows in the middle of the canal. On the authority of Al-Hussein Al-Majid Al-Mufaddal, son of the Messenger of God, the best messenger."

The Martyrs of Al-Taf
We conclude with these wonderful pictures of Al-Taf’s martyrs engraving their names in the record of eternity with the arjoza of the leader of the Ansar and their standard-bearer, the hero Habib bin Mazahir Al-Asadi, whose killing threatened Al-Hussein and was greatly relieved and said: "In the sight of God, I count myself and the protectors of my companions." Habib appeared and said: "I am Habib and my father is Muzahir. Fares Haija and a war is raging. You are outnumbered and more. We are more loyal and patient than you. We are the highest in argument and more clear in truth and more pious than you and purer."

They were the elite, they were the best that cannot be repeated. We do not find a greater description, a more precise meaning, and a deeper expression to describe them that is more eloquent than the words of Hussein (peace be upon him) about them, saying: "By God, I tested them, and I did not find among them anyone who was comforted by death rather than a child being comforted by his mother’s claws."

References:

1. Al-Tabarani, Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir

2. Nasr bin Muzahim, The Battle of Siffin, p. 140

3. The Killing of Al-Khwarizmi, vol. 2, p. 171, Al-Tarihi in Muntakhab Al-Tarihi, Part 1, p. 87

4. Ibid