Habib Ibn Mazaher
Habib Ibn Mazaher, whose real name was Habib Ibn Mazhar, was from the Banu Asad tribe and a companion of the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH). He was born a year before the mission of Muhammad bin Abdullah (the last Prophet). His childhood coincided with the years when the Prophet (PBUH) was calling people to monotheism and worship of God in Mecca.
He was considered one of the companions of the Holy Prophet of Islam and had heard many hadiths from him. He was present in the Karbala uprising at the age of 75 and was martyred there.
Habib is among those who have been blessed with the visit of the five infallible Imams. His face was beautiful and his spiritual beauty had reached perfection. He had become famous among others for his worship, courage, knowledge, asceticism, and defense of the sanctity of the guardianship (Velayat).
A summary of the biography of Habib Ibn Mazaher
"Habib Ibn Mazaher Asadi" was one of the special companions of Imam Ali (a.s.), Imam Hassan (a.s.) and Imam Hussein (a.s.). He was from Kufah and from the Banu Asad tribe and had the nickname Abu al-Qasem. His birth year is written in some history books as 14 years before the Hijra or one year before the Prophethood.
Habib Ibn Mazaher migrated to Medina with his family in the 9th year of the Hijri and settled there. He was martyred at the age of 75 in the event of Ashura.
Moral virtues of Habib Ibn Mazaher
In addition to leading a simple and unpretending life in which he was completely disinterested in worldly matters, Habib Ibn Mazaher was in high moral and religious standing. He was a pious and sincere person who devoted every night to worshipping God Almighty.
Habib Ibn Mazaher was also a memorizer of the entire Holy Quran and, as instructed by Imam Hussain (a.s.), he would recite the Quran every night. Habib was also particularly skilled in other fields such as literature, debate and argumentation, commentary, jurisprudence, and recitation.
The role of Habib ibn Mazaher during the time of the Prophet of Islam
Habib ibn Mazaher was a young man when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) began his call to Islam in Mecca. At that time, he was the companion of Sayyed al-Shohada (peace be upon him), so the Prophet was very fond of him and said about him: I love him because my son Hussain (peace be upon him) loves him.
After the Prophet migrated from Mecca to Medina, he went to the Prophet and learned the rules of Islam from him. After that, he was among the companions of the Prophet and became one of the well-known friends of the Prophet and the Ahl al-Bayt. Whenever Habib heard a hadith from the Prophet, he would tell it to others.
The role of Habib ibn Mazaher during the time of Imam Ali
Habib Ibn Mazaher came to Kufah when Imam Ali (a.s.) made it the center of his caliphate. He accompanied Imam Ali (a.s.) in all his wars and was considered one of his special companions.
Another of his duties was to convey the knowledge of Imam Ali (a.s.) to others, along with others such as Amr Ibn Hemaq al-Khoza'i, Meytham Tammar, and Rashid al-Hijri. He was member of a group called "Shurta al-Khamis", which included a special group of companions of (Ali Ibn Abi Talib)and carried out special missions on behalf of the Imam.
The role of Habib ibn Mazaher during the time of Imam Hussein and before Ashura
In the year 60 AH, after the death of Moawiyyah, Habib Ibn Mazaher, along with other Shiite dignitaries in Kufah such as Musayyeb Ibn Nojabah, Suleyman Ibn Sord, and Shaddad Bajali, refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid. They wrote a letter to Imam Hussain (a.s.) inviting him to Kufah to rise up against Yazid. Also, when Muslim Ibn Aqeel came to Kufah, Habib Ibn Mazaher spoke about Muslim at Mukhtar's house to support him and also rushed to Muslim Ibn Aqeel to help him.
After the Kufians betrayed Imam Hussain (a.s.), Habib Ibn Mazaher went to Karbala. Seeing the Imam's few supporters and many enemies, he asked him to go to the nearby Bani Asad tribe and invite them.
The Imam gave him permission to go. Then he went there and began to preach, but in the end, Umar Ibn Sa'd sent an army to prevent that tribe from joining the companions of the Imam (a.s.).
Habib Ibn Mazaher on the evening of “ Tasu'a” and the night of “Ashura”
During the era of Tasu'a, Habib Iibn Mazaher, in order to preach to the enemies of Imam Hussain (a.s.) who were seeking to attack the tents of the Imam, warned them against war and mentioned the features and characteristics of the Imam and his companions.
He also advised the person who had brought a letter to Imam Hussain (AS) from Umr Ibn Sa’ad and warned him against returning to the side of the oppressors. He also went to Imam Hussain (AS) on the night of Ashura with the companions of Imam Hussain (AS) and announced that he would support the family of the Prophet of Islam (AS) until the last drop of his blood.
The role of Habib Ibn Mazaher on the Day of Ashura and the story of his martyrdom
Before the war began to escalate on the morning of Ashura, Imam Hussein (a.s.) stationed Zohair Ibn Qein on the right side of the army, Habib Ibn Mazahir on the left side, and Hazrat Abul Fadl (a.s.) with the flag in the heart of his army.
At the beginning of the war, when the army of Umar Ibn Sa’ad began to call for fighters, Habib Ibn Mazaher and Boreyr intended to go to the battlefield, but the Imam prevented them from going. During the noon prayer of Ashura, Habib Ibn Mazaher attacked "Hassin Ibn Nomeyr" who was addressing the army of Imam Hussein (a.s.) saying that your prayers was not accepted, and struck his horse in the face with his sword and threw it to the ground.
Then Hassin's companions attacked and rescued him from Habib's clutches. After the war resumed, Habib Ibn Mazaher, despite his advanced age, heroically struck at the Imam's side with his sword and killed about 62 of the enemy's soldiers.
Then, a man from the enemy army named "Badil Ibn Sarim Aqfani" attacked and struck him on the back of the head with his sword. At this time, another man attacked him with a spear and threw Habib off his horse. In the end, while Habib's face was stained with blood from his head, Badil cut off his head from his body.
The text of Habib's praise at noon on Ashura
I am Habib and my father is Mozher, I’m the warrior of the battlefield and the blazing fire of the battle. Your numbers are more and higher, but we are more loyal and more patient in the path of truth than you. Our proof is superior and clearer, in fact we are more pious and more accepted than you.
Burial place of Habib Ibn Mazaher
After the end of the war, when the Bani Asad tribe began burying the martyrs of Karbala, they buried the headless body of Habib, who was one of their elders, separately, ten meters from the holy grave of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him).
Years later, the tomb of Habib Ibn Mazaher was placed inside the shrine of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and is now located in the southern portico of the shrine. His head was also buried next to the heads of Ali Akbar and Abbas Ibn Ali in the tomb of "Bab al-Saghir" in Syria.
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