Indian Antiquary Vol 08

SR No.: 032500
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 404
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 293

BOOK NOTICES.
SEPTEMBER, 1879.]
traitor alighted on my head whilst thus bowing myself, and cut down as far as my forehead.
"Na'mán, probing the wound-Alas! let me see what heaven, the supporter of the faithful, has done to the noble cousin of the Prophet? Alas! alas! mayest thou be subverted, O heaven! Mayest thou be plunged in the ocean of blood like the head of the Lion of God! For the pate of 'Ali, the equal of Aaron, the son of Imrân," is cloven asunder, and the unjust blow has reached down to the forehead.
"Hasan. I adjure thee by the living God, O Na'mân, to cure the wound of our father the priest of the age. Let not the two tender plants of 'Ali be rooted up by overwhelming sorrow, but deliver them from the bonds of desolation, if thou
canst.
"Na'man (to the family).-Wash your hands at once of Haidar's life; have no more hope of his recovery. 'Ali will be but for one hour more with you, his dear ones. O children of the Lion of God, you will ere long become fatherless. Read the Kur'an over your father, for he is gone. Prepare for him winding-sheets, and do not leave him alone. Tell Zainab to put on black, and mourn for her father.
"All's Family, crying and lamenting.-Make us not fatherless, O Lord, O God! Shall we be orphans and sorrowful ones, O Lord, O God? Take our souls instead of his, O Lord, O God! Make us not tearful-eyed, O Lord, O God!
"All (to his family).-O my poor, sad family, gather ye yourselves together around me, like the constellation of Pleiades about the moon; and you, O brightness of my eyes, Hasan and Husain, come near me for awhile, dear sons; and come thou, Zainab my daughter, see thy father's face, for the time has arrived that thou shouldst put on black on account of my death.
"Hasan.-May I be offered unto thee, O thou glory of the people of the age! I am Hasan, thy poor orphan son. Thou art greatly desirous to go to Paradise, the abode of the just, and hast, therefore, forgotten us altogether.
"All-O thou tender plant of the garden of Time's glory, thou brightness of my tearful eyes, Hasan, come to me, that I may commit unto thee the secret knowledge of the Imâmat, or priesthood. Come let me put my lips to thy delicate lips, and deliver the mystery of religion in this way to thy heart. Thou art the guide of men after me, O my successor! Perform the rites of Imâmat for the people after my departure. "Hasan.-What shall I, thy oppressed son, do
Sale's Koran (ed. 1734) chap. iii. p. 88. Muir's Life of Mahomet, vol. III. p. 172. Sale's Koran n. s. chap. ii. p. 50.
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when thou art taken away from us? To whom shall I look hereafter for comfort and solace? May Hasan be offered for thy parched throat, O father? Come, let me put my lips to thine as thou didst order me to do.
"Al-Oh my poor helpless, weeping family, leave me alone in the room for awhile; for I have to speak my secrets to my Creator, and make supplication to Him, before I leave this world:
"Hasan.-O ye, my brothers and sisters, go out all of you from this room, with tearful eyes, and let everyone put a copy of the Kur'an on his head, and pray earnestly to the holy Creator for the recovery of our father and protector.
"All-O thou beneficent Creator, the sole, the almighty God, I adjure Thee by Thine own glory, O Thou who art without any equal, and by that pearl-like tooth of Thy chosen and glorious Prophet, which was knocked out with a stone in the battle of Ohod; and by the disappointment of his child Fatima, and by the fracture which she suffered in her side; and by the tearful eyes of his distressed family; and, lastly, by this blood-stained beard of mine, to forgive, O eternal, ineffable Maker, the sins of 'Alf's followers in the Day of Judgment. Now I depart this life with the desire of meeting the Messenger of God in the, next world. I do therefore, bear witness that there is no God except God. (Dies.)
"Zainab, perceiving that 'Ali is dead.-Why has thy mouth ceased from speaking, dear father P Has heaven thrown black dust on our head to make us miserable? Alas! his honour, the Lion of God, has departed this life! He is gone to the garden of Paradise to visit Zahrah! Dear ones, inform 'Alf's afflicted servant of his master's death, that he may cover Haidar's mule 'Duldul's with
black.
"Hasan and Husain together.-Come let us put shawls of mourning round our necks. Come let us groan and make a sad noise. Come, dear sisters, dutifully close our father's eyes.
"Zainab and Kulsum together.-Alas! our father is, after all, gone! Alas! he is gone' as an arrow out of our hand! Come, let us put on black; let us dishevel our hair over his corpse.
"Al's Servant, leading the mule 'Duldul' draped in black.-Oh! they have killed the owner of 'Duldul,' 'Ali, the prince of believers! Alas! they have slain the chief, the Lion of the Lord of all creatures! The master of the crown and standard has suffered martyrdom by the sword of Muljam the traitor! They have destroyed the all-wise successor of the chosen of God.
"Duldul," one of Muhammad's mules, was given to Alt by the Prophet while the latter was alive, that no one might quarrel about it after his death.-Meyrick's Life of Mohammed, p. 870.