The Seventeenth Narration: The head of Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu was brought to ‘Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad and placed in a dish. He began poking it and said something about his beauty. Anas radiya Llahu ‘anhu observed, “He was the closest in resemblance to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.” His hair was dyed with indigo.

The Sixteenth Narration: Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu faced Muawiyah radiya Llahu ‘anhu with military squadrons like mountains. ‘Amr radiya Llahu ‘anhu said, “By Allah! I see military squadrons that will not turn back until they kill their opponents.”…
February 19, 2019
The Eighteenth Narration: He was marching with ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu towards Siffin and when we reached Nineveh, ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu cried in a loud voice, “O Abu ‘Abdullah! Be patient. O Abu ‘Abdullah! Be patient beside the River Euphrates.”…..
February 19, 2019
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The Seventeenth Narration

Anas ibn Malik radiya Llahu ‘anhu says:

 

أتي عبيد الله بن زياد برأس الحسين رضي الله عنه فجعل في طست فجعل ينكت و قال في حسنه شيئا فقال أنس كان أشبههم برسول الله صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم و كان مخضوبا بالوسمة

The head of Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu was brought to ‘Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad and placed in a dish. He began poking it and said something about his beauty. Anas radiya Llahu ‘anhu observed, “He was the closest in resemblance to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.” His hair was dyed with indigo.[1]

 

Imam al Bukhari has narrated it thus. The narration of Abu Ya’la if as follows:

Anas ibn Malik radiya Llahu ‘anhu says:

 

لما أتي برأس الحسين بن علي إلى عبيد الله بن زياد ، جعل ينكت بقضيب في يده ، ويقول : إن كان لحسن الثغر . فقلت : والله لأسوءنك  لقد رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقبل موضع قضيبك من فيه

‘Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad began playing with a stick at the nose and mouth of Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu and saying something about his handsome features. I said to him, “By Allah! I will retaliate, lift your hand, I had seen the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam kiss the place your hand is on.”[2]

 

A similar narration has been recorded by al Tabrani on the authority of Zaid ibn Arqam.

 

Commentary and Lessons Learnt from this Narration:

 

  1. This narration holds great virtue for Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu as the one who resembled Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam the most. Other narrations though cite Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu as the one that resembled Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam the most. Anas radiya Llahu ‘anhu himself says:

 

لم يكن أحد أشبه بالنبي صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم من الحسن بن علي

There was no one who resembled Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam more than Hussain ibn ‘Ali.[3]

 

The scholars have interpreted this to mean that Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu resembled Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s upper body more whilst Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu resembled Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s lower body to a greater degree. They cite the statement of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu to support this which has been reported by al Tirmidhi.

Others, however, have reconciled the contradiction between these two narrations by saying, ‘There wasn’t anyone that had a greater resemblance to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam than Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu, period. However, after he had passed away the only one to resemble Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to such a high degree was Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

This view is supported by other narrations recorded by al Tirmidhi and others that cite Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu as one of those that resembled Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam the most. This proves that Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu did, in fact, bear a greater resemblance to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

 

  1. Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu was murdered in cold blood. He is a martyr who preferred to not spill the blood of another Muslim; just like the better of the two sons of Adam ‘alayh al Salam.

 

  1. How fortunate was he that Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had kissed him.

 

  1. The Ahlul Bayt held a lofty status in the hearts of the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum and the pious predecessors.

 

  1. The virtue of the Ahlul Bayt should be professed in front of those evil paganistic men who are hell bent on being blind to it.

 

  1. Those that harm the Ahlul Bayt will be punished with an act the like thereof and worse! The narrations mention ‘Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad and his people met their end at the hands of Ibrahim ibn al Ashtar. Their heads were put on spikes and thrown at the feet of Muktar al Thaqafi. Their bodies were then taken to Makkah and burned. The narration of al Tirmidhi also mentions that a snake had entered through the nostrils of ‘Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad after his death.

 

  1. This is the last authentic narration that has been recorded on the whereabouts of the blessed head of Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Other narrations that specify the location after this are all fabrications which have no proper chain of narration. Furthermore, there is no need to delve into the issue of the whereabouts of his body and head as these issues have no practical application. Yes, one should supplicate for these pure souls.

 

  1. The above recorded narrations and others depicts the displeasure and extreme frustration of Anas ibn malik, Zaid ibn Arqam, and Abu Barzah radiya Llahu ‘anhum in the presence of ‘Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad. This incident had therefore occurred Iraq and not in Sham in the presence of Yazid ibn Muawiyah as some have stated. Will Yazid be responsible for the actions of ‘Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad as the governor? Some have cursed him due to this whilst others have taken the path of solemn silence on this issue. Whatever the case may be, this was a great loss for the ummah. To Allah do we belong and to Him is our return.

 

  1. Ibn al Taymiyyah writes in Minhaj al Sunnah:

 

وأما ما ذكر من سبي نسائه والذراري والدوران بهم في البلاد وحملهم على الجمال بغير أقتاب، فهذا كذب وباطل، ما سبى المسلمون ـ ولله الحمد ـ هاشمية قط، ولا استحلت أمة محمد – صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم – سبي بني هاشم قط، ولكن كان أهل الجهل والهوى يكذبون كثيرًا

The statements that seem to imply the imprisonment of the women and children of the Ahlul Bayt and going with them through the cities upon camels, hold no water. These are all lies and fabrications. It is the grace of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala that no Hashimi has ever fallen a prisoner to as Muslim nor has the ummah ever declared a free for all on their lives. The ignorant and flagrant are never short of lies.[4]

 

  1. Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu had followed the Sunnah in dyeing his beard. The difference of opinion in using black dye is famous amongst the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum and those after them.

 

NEXT⇒  The Eighteenth Narration

[1] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 3748.

[2] Musnad Abu Ya’la, Hadith: 3981; Al Tabrani in al Kabir, Hadith: 2878.

[3] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 3752.

[4]Minhaj al Sunnah, pg. 558.

BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents

 

The Seventeenth Narration

Anas ibn Malik radiya Llahu ‘anhu says:

 

أتي عبيد الله بن زياد برأس الحسين رضي الله عنه فجعل في طست فجعل ينكت و قال في حسنه شيئا فقال أنس كان أشبههم برسول الله صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم و كان مخضوبا بالوسمة

The head of Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu was brought to ‘Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad and placed in a dish. He began poking it and said something about his beauty. Anas radiya Llahu ‘anhu observed, “He was the closest in resemblance to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.” His hair was dyed with indigo.[1]

 

Imam al Bukhari has narrated it thus. The narration of Abu Ya’la if as follows:

Anas ibn Malik radiya Llahu ‘anhu says:

 

لما أتي برأس الحسين بن علي إلى عبيد الله بن زياد ، جعل ينكت بقضيب في يده ، ويقول : إن كان لحسن الثغر . فقلت : والله لأسوءنك  لقد رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقبل موضع قضيبك من فيه

‘Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad began playing with a stick at the nose and mouth of Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu and saying something about his handsome features. I said to him, “By Allah! I will retaliate, lift your hand, I had seen the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam kiss the place your hand is on.”[2]

 

A similar narration has been recorded by al Tabrani on the authority of Zaid ibn Arqam.

 

Commentary and Lessons Learnt from this Narration:

 

  1. This narration holds great virtue for Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu as the one who resembled Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam the most. Other narrations though cite Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu as the one that resembled Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam the most. Anas radiya Llahu ‘anhu himself says:

 

لم يكن أحد أشبه بالنبي صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم من الحسن بن علي

There was no one who resembled Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam more than Hussain ibn ‘Ali.[3]

 

The scholars have interpreted this to mean that Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu resembled Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s upper body more whilst Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu resembled Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s lower body to a greater degree. They cite the statement of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu to support this which has been reported by al Tirmidhi.

Others, however, have reconciled the contradiction between these two narrations by saying, ‘There wasn’t anyone that had a greater resemblance to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam than Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu, period. However, after he had passed away the only one to resemble Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to such a high degree was Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

This view is supported by other narrations recorded by al Tirmidhi and others that cite Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu as one of those that resembled Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam the most. This proves that Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu did, in fact, bear a greater resemblance to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

 

  1. Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu was murdered in cold blood. He is a martyr who preferred to not spill the blood of another Muslim; just like the better of the two sons of Adam ‘alayh al Salam.

 

  1. How fortunate was he that Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had kissed him.

 

  1. The Ahlul Bayt held a lofty status in the hearts of the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum and the pious predecessors.

 

  1. The virtue of the Ahlul Bayt should be professed in front of those evil paganistic men who are hell bent on being blind to it.

 

  1. Those that harm the Ahlul Bayt will be punished with an act the like thereof and worse! The narrations mention ‘Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad and his people met their end at the hands of Ibrahim ibn al Ashtar. Their heads were put on spikes and thrown at the feet of Muktar al Thaqafi. Their bodies were then taken to Makkah and burned. The narration of al Tirmidhi also mentions that a snake had entered through the nostrils of ‘Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad after his death.

 

  1. This is the last authentic narration that has been recorded on the whereabouts of the blessed head of Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Other narrations that specify the location after this are all fabrications which have no proper chain of narration. Furthermore, there is no need to delve into the issue of the whereabouts of his body and head as these issues have no practical application. Yes, one should supplicate for these pure souls.

 

  1. The above recorded narrations and others depicts the displeasure and extreme frustration of Anas ibn malik, Zaid ibn Arqam, and Abu Barzah radiya Llahu ‘anhum in the presence of ‘Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad. This incident had therefore occurred Iraq and not in Sham in the presence of Yazid ibn Muawiyah as some have stated. Will Yazid be responsible for the actions of ‘Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad as the governor? Some have cursed him due to this whilst others have taken the path of solemn silence on this issue. Whatever the case may be, this was a great loss for the ummah. To Allah do we belong and to Him is our return.

 

  1. Ibn al Taymiyyah writes in Minhaj al Sunnah:

 

وأما ما ذكر من سبي نسائه والذراري والدوران بهم في البلاد وحملهم على الجمال بغير أقتاب، فهذا كذب وباطل، ما سبى المسلمون ـ ولله الحمد ـ هاشمية قط، ولا استحلت أمة محمد – صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم – سبي بني هاشم قط، ولكن كان أهل الجهل والهوى يكذبون كثيرًا

The statements that seem to imply the imprisonment of the women and children of the Ahlul Bayt and going with them through the cities upon camels, hold no water. These are all lies and fabrications. It is the grace of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala that no Hashimi has ever fallen a prisoner to as Muslim nor has the ummah ever declared a free for all on their lives. The ignorant and flagrant are never short of lies.[4]

 

  1. Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu had followed the Sunnah in dyeing his beard. The difference of opinion in using black dye is famous amongst the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum and those after them.

 

NEXT⇒  The Eighteenth Narration

[1] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 3748.

[2] Musnad Abu Ya’la, Hadith: 3981; Al Tabrani in al Kabir, Hadith: 2878.

[3] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 3752.

[4]Minhaj al Sunnah, pg. 558.