Draft:Zuhayr ibn Qayn

Zuhayr ibn Qayn Bajali was one of the great and loyal companions of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and he was considered one of the noble and brave men of the city of Kufa and his tribe, and due to his presence in many battles and conquests, he had attained a high status. He was called Zuhayr ibn Qayn ibn Qays Anmari Bajali.

He was of the Uthmani sect, but after meeting Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) a few days before the Event of Karbala, he joined him and was martyred on the day of Ashura.

Characteristics of Zuhayr ibn Qayn

1. Zuhayr's courage and steadfastness compelled him to stand alongside the defenders of Islam. He participated in some Islamic conquests and recorded great honors. Allamah Samawi writes in this regard: "He had famous positions and witnessed scenes in the battles" He had famous positions and a witnessed status in battles.
2. One of the instances of Zuhayr's participation in conquests was his participation in the Battle of Balanjar, of which a memory is also recounted.
3. Another example is his presence in Karbala. He was rightly considered the powerful arm of the Imam. His bravery and valor were such that Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) on the day of Ashura, while organizing his army which consisted of more than seventy people, appointed him to the right wing; placed Habib ibn Mazahir in the left wing, positioned himself in the heart of the army, and entrusted the flag to his brother Hazrat Abbas.
4. Another characteristic of Zuhayr is his eloquence, which was renowned among specific and general people, friends and foes. He was so masterful in speech that sometimes he was asked to appear in gatherings and speak in defense of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him).
5. The third characteristic of Zuhayr, which is in fact his most important characteristic, is his love for his Imam of the time, Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him).
6. Zuhayr displayed this characteristic well in speech and action, on the way and in Karbala at various times. His speech on the night of Ashura and his action on the day of Ashura are the best testimony to the correctness of this statement.

On the night of Ashura, when Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) gave him permission to leave, he stated: "لا و الله لا یکون ذلک ابدا ا اترک ابن رسول الله(صلی الله علیه) اسیرا فی ید الاعداء و انجو انا؟! لا ارانی الله ذلک‌الیوم." No, by God sworn, never will such a thing be. Shall I leave the son of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) a prisoner in the hands of enemies and save myself?! May God not show me that day. When Zuhayr returned from the service of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) on the way from Mecca to Kufa, he addressed his wife and companions and said: I have decided to be with Hussein until I sacrifice my life for him and....

Joining Imam Hussein (peace be upon him)

Zuhayr ibn Qayn left Kufa in the year sixty هجری towards the obligation of حج, along with his wife and a group of his companions. He left مکه after performing the Hajj obligation and headed towards Kufa. Zuhayr and his companions traveled so fast that they reached the vicinity of the stopping place in the shortest time. They always tried to disembark a little farther from the temporary location of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). The Imam and his companions disembarked at a place called Zarud and pitched their tents. Zuhayr's caravan arrived, but since they did not find a suitable place farther than the Imam's tents, they pitched their tents in the same vicinity. شیخ عباس قمی writes: A group from the tribes of Fazara and Bajila have narrated thus: We were accompanying Zuhayr ibn Qayn al-Bajali during the return from Mecca. At the stations where we reached Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), we would keep away from him; because we did not like traveling with him. Consequently, whenever the Imam moved, Zuhayr would stay, and whenever he stopped, Zuhayr would set out. At one of the stations, he disembarked on one side and we were forced to disembark on the other side. When we were engaged in eating, suddenly a messenger came from Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and after expressing greetings to Zuhayr, said: Aba Abdullah (peace be upon him) summons you.

From extreme astonishment, we dropped the morsels we had in our hands and remained silent and motionless for a moment, as if a bird had sat on our heads. Zuhayr's wife, who was named Dalham, said to Zuhayr: Glory be to God, the son of پیامبر (صلی الله علیه و آله و سلم) summons you and you hesitate to go... Arise and hasten to him, see what he says.

Zuhayr arose and went to serve the Imam, and not much time passed before he returned, happy and cheerful, with a glowing face, to his wife and companions. Immediately, he ordered his tent to be struck and pitched near the pavilions of the Imam. Then he said to his wife: You are released from the bond of my marriage; join your family; because I do not want any harm to reach you from my side.

شیخ مفید adds: Then he said to his companions: Whoever among you wishes to be with me, so much the better; otherwise, this is our last meeting. Then he said: I will inform you of a truth. I do not forget, when we participated in the غزوه بحر; خداوند granted us victory and we obtained spoils. سلمان فارسی, was with us, when he saw everyone happy about this incident, he said: Are you happy about this victory that God granted you and the spoils you obtained?! We said: Yes. سلمان said: If you encounter the Master of the Youth of the Family of Muhammad, be happier for supporting him than what you have achieved today. And now I bid you farewell. Yes, he bid farewell to his family and companions to go after the lost one he had been seeking for years. He left everything and everyone and went to become Husseini and sacrifice his life for Hussein and his school and belief.

The Role of Zuhayr in the Event of Karbala

Zuhayr divorced his wife, separated from his companions, joined the Husayni camp, and took his place among the devoted and self-sacrificing soldiers of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). Along the journey, on various occasions, he would stand up and express approval of the Imam's words. Some of the instances in which Zuhayr displayed his sincere devotion are as follows:

Support for the Imam at Dhu Hasam After the Imam's encounter with the army of Hur at a place called Dhu Hasam. The Imam (peace be upon him) spoke to the gathered assembly. Then Zuhayr stood up and said to the Imam's companions: Will you speak, or shall I begin? They said: Yes, you speak. Zuhayr, after praising and glorifying God, addressed the Imam and said: O son of the Messenger of God, we have heard your words... By God oath, if the world were to remain for us and we were to stay in it, and leaving this world meant aiding you, we would still choose your companionship. The Imam (peace be upon him), while praising his high spirit, prayed for him.

Proposal of Battle Along the Way The Husayni caravan was moving parallel to Hur's army when suddenly a horseman appeared from the distance. He was a messenger from Ibn Ziyad and had brought a letter from him for Hur. In that letter, Ibn Ziyad had written: Upon receipt of this letter, pressure Hussein ibn Ali and make him disembark in a barren desert without water or vegetation. Hur read the text of the letter to the Imam and informed His Holiness of his mission. The Imam said: Then let us disembark in the desert of Nineveh, or Ghadariyat, or Shafiya. Hur said: I cannot agree to this proposal of yours; because I am no longer free in decision-making, and this very messenger is Ibn Ziyad's spy... At this moment, Zuhayr ibn Qain said: For us, fighting this small group is easier than battling the many individuals who are behind them. By God, it will not be long before many troops arrive to support these people, and we will no longer have the ability to resist them. The Imam (peace be upon him) responded to Zuhayr's proposal, saying: "Ma kuntu li-abdaahum bi-l-qital." I will never be the initiator of war.

Defense of Imam Hussein During the Mission On the afternoon of Tasu'a, when Umar ibn Sa'd ordered his companions to approach the camp of Hussein ibn Ali, His Holiness said to his brother Abbas: My dear Abbas, I am sacrificed for you; O brother, mount [your horse], meet them and ask why they have come? Abbas, with twenty horsemen, among whom were Zuhayr ibn Qain and Habib ibn Muzahir, went to meet the Yazidis. He said to them: What do you want? They said: An order has come from the Emir: either surrender or we fight. They said: Wait until we convey what you say to Abi Abdullah (peace be upon him). The Yazidis said: Meet him and bring news. Abbas returned to inform Hussein. His companions remained to converse with them. Habib ibn Muzahir said to Zuhayr: If you wish, speak to these people, and if you want, I will speak. Zuhayr said: You proposed to speak, so you attend to this matter yourself. Habib said to them: By God, on the Day of Resurrection before God, they are the worst of people, those who go to Him having killed the son of their Prophet, his family, and the worshippers of this city who perform night prayers... . Uzra said: Boast as much as you can. Zuhayr said: O Uzra, God has praised and guided him. O Uzra, fear God, I wish good for you; By God, O Uzra, you are among those who support misguidance over killing the chaste... . Uzra replied: O Zuhayr, among us you were not from the Shiites of this family, you were an Uthman supporter. Zuhayr said: From the position I now hold, do you not perceive that I am from the Shiites? By God, I neither wrote a letter to Hussein, nor ever sent a messenger after him, nor promised him aid; I encountered him on the way, remembered the Messenger of God and his position, and realized that he is coming toward the enemy... . So I resolved to aid him, join his party, and sacrifice my life for him; because you have wasted the right of God and His Messenger.

Reminder to Qamar Banu Hashim

After the return of the army of Umar ibn Sa'd to their camp, this time the voice of Shimr ibn Dhil-Jawshan was heard, who was saying loudly: Where are the sons of our sister, where is Abbas and his brothers? Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) said: Answer him, even though he is a sinner. Qamar Banu Hashim went towards him by the order of Abi Abdillah (peace be upon him) to hear his words. But immediately, while cursing him and the safe-conduct he had offered, he returned. Zuhayr ibn Qayn stood up and addressed Qamar Banu Hashim, saying: Shall I inform you of a narration that I have heard before?! Abbas said: Yes, relate the narration. Zuhayr said: When your father intended to marry, he asked his brother Aqil, who knew the genealogies of the Arabs, to choose a wife for him who would bear him brave sons, so that she would give birth to a child who would support his son Husayn in Karbala. Be aware! Your father has saved you for such a day; so never fall short in helping your brother and supporting your sisters. Qamar Banu Hashim said to Zuhayr: Zuhayr, you encourage me to support on such a day; by God, today I will show you a scene that you have not seen the like of.

Zuhayr and the Degrees of Love for Leadership

On the night of Ashura, when the Imam delivered a sermon and informed his companions of the final situation, one of those who spoke and expressed love and loyalty was Zuhayr ibn Qayn. He, after Muslim ibn Awsajah expressed loyalty, stood up and said: By God, I wish to be killed and brought back to life and killed again a thousand times; and God the Almighty keep death away from you and the youths and your household through my killing.

Zuhayr's Speeches on the Day of Ashura

Kathir ibn Abd Allah al-Sha'bi says: When we attacked Husayn, Zuhayr ibn Qayn came before us mounted on his long-tailed horse, armed, and said: Be alert, I warn you of God's punishment; it is incumbent upon a Muslim to advise his Muslim brother. Until now we were brothers and of the same religion; as long as the sword has not separated us, we are co-religionists and your advice is incumbent upon us. When the matter comes to the sword, the bond of brotherhood is severed; we will be one community and you another community. God tested us and you with the children of His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) to see what we are like. We call you to support him and withdraw from the rebellious son of the rebellious Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad, for we have seen nothing but evil from them and will not see; they gouge out your eyes, cut off your hands and feet, hang you on the gallows, cut off ears and noses, and kill your virtuous and scholars such as Hujr ibn Adi and his companions and Hani ibn Urwah and those like him. In response, they insulted him, praised Ibn Ziyad, and said: By God, we will not return until we kill your master and his companions or bring them to Amir Ubayd Allah. Zuhayr said: O servants of God; the son of Fatimah is more worthy of friendship and support than the son of Sumayyah. If you do not support him, may God protect you; But do not kill him and leave him to Yazid; I swear by my life, that Yazid is satisfied with your obedience even without killing Husayn. Shimr shot an arrow towards him and said: Be silent, you have tired us with your verbosity. Zuhayr said: O son of a Bedouin, I do not speak with you; indeed you are among the quadrupeds. By God, I do not think you know two verses of the Quran correctly. Glad tidings to you of disgrace and painful punishment on the Day of Resurrection. Shimr said: God will kill you and your master within another hour. Zuhayr said: Do you frighten me with death?! By God, death with Husayn is better in my sight than remaining eternal with you in that manner. Then addressing the people, he said: O servants of God, let not this lowly oppressor and his likes deceive you from your religion; by God, the intercession of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) does not reach people who shed the blood of his children and household and those who assist them in this oppression and kill their defenders. A man called out to him that, Abi Abdillah says: Come, by my life, if the believer of the Family of Pharaoh advised his people and conveyed the call to them, you too have advised these people and conveyed the call to them.

Repelling the Savage Attack

On the day of Ashura, Shimr ibn Dhil-Jawshan attacked the tents and the station of the haram of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and shouted: Bring fire so that I may burn this house with its inhabitants. The women ran out of the tent while screaming. Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) shouted: O son of Dhil-Jawshan, you seek fire to burn my Ahl al-Bayt's house with fire; may God burn you with fire. At this moment, Zuhayr, along with ten of the Imam's companions, attacked Shimr and his men to repel their assault, driving them away from the Husseinid sanctuary. In this conflict, Abu Uzzah al-Dababi, who had attacked alongside Shimr, was killed by Zuhayr ibn Qayn.

Fierce Combat

Zuhayr, like other companions of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), staunchly defended his school, creed, and Imam in confrontation with the enemies, and did not hesitate for a moment in supporting his beloved and purpose. Abu Mikhnaf writes: After the martyrdom of Habib, the fire of war flared up again. Zuhayr ibn Qayn entered the field alongside Hur. The two fought a hard battle. Whenever the enemies surrounded one, the other would rush to his aid and save him, until the weapon of martyrdom reached them. Then, when the Salat al-Khawf was led by Abi Abdullah (peace be upon him), Zuhayr returned to the field and began a fierce battle; A battle the like of which had not been seen or heard. As he attacked the enemy, he recited the following rajaz:

«انا زهیر و انا ابن القین‏» «اذودکم بالسیف عن حسین‏» I am Zuhayr and the son of Qayn, and with my sword, I keep you away from Hussein (peace be upon him). Then he returned to the Imam, and when he stood before the Imam, he said: فدتک نفسی هادیا مهدیا الیوم القی جدک النبیا و حسنا و المرتضی علیا و ذا الجناحین الشهید حیا May my soul be sacrificed for you, the guided and guiding. Today I will meet your grandfather the Prophet, also your brother Hasan and your father Ali al-Murtada, and that living martyr whom God granted two wings, I will meet. It seems Zuhayr bid farewell to the Imam with these words and set out for the battlefield once again. He continued fighting until Kathir ibn Abdullah al-Sha'bi and Muhajir ibn Aws attacked him and martyred him.

The Imam's Presence at Zuhayr's Bedside

Ibn Shahrashub writes: After the martyrdom of Zuhayr, Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) came to his bedside and said: «لا یبعدنک یا زهیر و لعن الله‏قاتلیک لعن الذین مسخوا قرده و خنازیر.» O Zuhayr, may God not distance you from His mercy, and may He curse your killers; like the curse that befell those who were transformed into monkeys and pigs.

See Also

• Imam Hussein (peace be upon him)
• Habib ibn Mazahir
• Shaykh Abbas Qomi
• Shaykh Mufid

Sources

• Adapted from the website Zuhayr ibn Qayn al-Bajali Rayat Shuja'at - Comprehensive Portal of Human Sciences