An introduction to the book 'Nafasul Mahmoom'

Name of the book: Nafasul Mahmoom
Author: Raisul Mohaddisin Aqa Sheikh Abbas Qummi. (May Allah raise his grades in Paradise).
Translator: Hujjatul Islam Allamah Syed Safdar Husain Najafi. (May Allah raise his grades in Paradise).

The title of this year's book is 'Nafasul Mahmoom'. 'Nafas' means breath and 'mahmoom' means the grieving one. It is quite possible may be that the title refers to the famous tradition of Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.)
Arabic

'The mournful sigh from grieving over the persecutions done to us is Glorification of Allah (Tasbeeh) and the grief regarding our affairs is worship. '(Usule Kafi vol 2, pg.226, Beharul Anwar vol. 2, pg.64.)

The respected author
The Seal of the Traditionalists (Khaatemul Mohaddisin) the great historian and researcher Sheikh Abbas b. Muhammad Reza Abul Qasim Qummi (r.a.) was born in the city of Qum after 1290 AH. After finishing his basic studies in Qum he went to Najaf in 1316 AH to pursue various religious subjects like Muqaddamaat and Usule Fiqh. In Najaf, he got the opportunity to attend lectures of great scholars and remained under the tutelage of the esteemed teacher Mirza Husain Noori (r.a.) till the latter expired in 1320 AH.

Haaj Sheikh Abbas Qummi (r.a.) was the embodiment of virtues of abstinence and piety. He was second to none in the training of oneself, being aware of the religious laws, trying to follow the infallible Ahle Bait (a.s.) in worship, obedience, caution in speech, and keeping every aspect of oneself away from the prohibitions. He used to give lectures regarding advice and admonitions, the remembrance of Ahle Bait (a.s.) and conveying the traditions of the Holy Ahle Bait (a.s.). During these lectures tears would flow from his eyes to the extent that they would moisten his beard.

The esteemed author of 'Zareeah' Sheikh Aqa Buzurg Tehrani (r.a.) says regarding Haaj Sheikh Abbas Qummi (r.a.): 'I have found him to be the ideal man and having great knowledge. He possessed a quality that made everyone who came to know him, like him. His behavior was excellent, his demeanor was very humble, his personality was noble and honorable, he had combined knowledge with piety and strict abstinence. I stayed with him for a good period and was therefore close to him.'

Haj Sheikh Abbas Qummi was always involved in teaching and training, and wrote extensively with such interest that nothing could deter him from continuing this good work. He has authored numerous works in Arabic and Persian some of which are listed here:
1. Safinatul Behar wa Madinatul Hikam wal Aasar
2. Al-Kuna wal Alqab
3. Al-Fawaid Al-Razawiyah fi Tarajame Olema Al-Jafariyah
4. Mafatehul Jinan (which is unparalelled for its acceptance in the Shia world)
5. Madinatul Ahbaab fil Maroofeen bil Kuna wal Alqab
6. Muntahal Amal fi tarikh al-Nabi wal Aal (this book is translated in urdu as Ahsanul Maqal)
7. Tatammotul Muntaha fi Waqaae Ayyam al-Khulafa
8. Al-Anwarul Bahiyyah fi Tawarikh al-Hojajil Ilahiyyah
9. Baytul Ahzan fi Masaeb Sayyidatin Niswan
10. Al-Ghayatul Quswa fi Tarjomate Urwatul Wusqa
11. Kohlul Basar fi Seerate Sayyadil Bashar
12. Manazelul Akherah
13. Nafasul Mahmoom (the summary of this book is presented n this article)
14. Hadiyatuz Zaeereen

Haaj Sheikh Abbas Qummi (r.a.) passed away in Najaf on Tuesday the 23rd of ZilHajj 1359 AH. He was buried in the courtyard of the holy shrine of Amirul Momeneen (a.s.) in the same chamber as his teacher Mohaddise Noori (r.a.). May Allah shower his mercy on both of them.

The book Nafasul Mahmoom

Sources of the book:
Haaj Sheikh Abbas Qummi (r.a.) has taken help of the following source books
S.No. Name of the book Author/Year of death (Hijri)
1 Irshad al-Qulub Sheikh Mufid (r.a.) / 213
2 Al-Luhuf ala Qatlil Tofoof Sayyid Ibn Taawoos (r.a.) / 664
3 Tarikh Tabari Mohammad b. Jarir Tabari / 310
4 Tarikh Kamil Ibn Athir / 630
5 Maqatalut Talibeen Abul Faraj Isfahani / 356
6 Murujuz Zahab Masudi / 346
7 Tazkerato Khawas al Ummah Sibt b. Jawzi / 653
8 Matalebis Sooul Ibn Talha Shafei / 855
9 Kashful Ghummah Bahauddin Ardbeli / 687
10 Al Aqdul Fareed Shahabuddin Qaratibi Andalusi / 338
11 Al Ehtejaaj Sheikh Tabarsi (r.a.)
12 Kitabul Manaqib Ibn Shahr Ahshub / 588
13 Rawzatul Waezeen Fattal Nishapouri
14 Rawzatus Safa Mohammad Ibn Khawandeh Shah / 903

This book consists of an introduction, five sections and a conclusion.

(1) Introduction
The author starts with the narration of the birth of Hazrat Sayyidush Shohada - Imam Husain (a.s.) and brings it alongside the birth of Hazrat Yahya (a.s.). He has narrated one tradition from Seqatul Islam Kulayni (r.a.) that Imam Husain (a.s.) was brought to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to put his thumb in the mouth of Imam Husain (a.s.) who would suck on it to the extent that it would be enough for him for the next two or three days (i.e. he would not feel the need for mother's milk). Then the blood and flesh of Imam Husain (a.s.) is made from that of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) himself.

Fitrus sought the protection of his cradle, while we, after him, seek the protection of his grave.' (Beharul Anwar, vol. 98 pg.348, Ziyaratul Husain Yawmul Wiladat; Iqbalul Aamal by Sayyid b. Tawoos (r.a.) vol.1 pg 689)

(2) Section One - Virtues and merits
This section is regarding the virtues of Imam Husain (a.s.) and the rewards for grieving over the difficulties he faced, about cursing the killers of Imam Husain (a.s.) and those who fought him and a look at those traditions which revolve around Imam's (a.s.) martyrdom. This section consists of two chapters - 1st chapter is regarding a brief enumeration of the virtues of the Holy Imam (a.s.). In the 2nd chapter, the author brings forty traditions about mourning. Here we should specially consider the following narration of Rayyan b. Shabib:
Imam Reza (a.s.) says "O Ibn Shabib, if you wish to mourn anything then mourn for my grandfather Husain (b. Ali b. Abi Talib (a.s.)) for he was slaughtered like sheep along with eighteen brave youths from his family the likes of which were not to be found in the whole word. O Ibn Shabib if you cry for Husain (a.s.) to the extent that tears flow over your cheeks, than Allah will forgive each and every sin that you have committed, be it small or big, little or more.'

(3) Section Two- It contains 22 chapters.
1. The death of Muawiyah b. Abi Sufyan.
2. The governor of Medina and Imam Husain (a.s.)
3. Imam (a.s.) bids farewell to the graves of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), his mother (s.a.) and his brother (a.s.). Also the author has brought here the will of Imam Husain (a.s.) which he addressed to his brother Mohammede Hanafiyya. Following is an excerpt from this will "…have you not read the Book revealed on my grandfather the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) that 'wherever you are death will overtake you, though you are in lofty towers.' (Surah Nisa: 78) and Allah glorified be He has declared, 'though a group of them, for whom martyrdom is necessary, will come out of their homes towards their places of rest (Surah Ale Imran: 153) If I remain unmoving then by whom will this blatant and disgraced nation be tried and who will then occupy my grave at Karbala? That Karbala which Allah has chosen for me from the very day on which the earth was stretched out (Dahwul Arz), and He has made it a refuge for the Shias so that it be a place of peace for them in this world and the next. (pg. 105)
4. The journey from Mecca to Medina.
5. The departure of Hazrat Muslim b. Aqeel (a.s.)
6. The letter of Imam (a.s.) to the prominent people of Basra.
7. The arrival of Ibn Ziyad in Kufa.
8. The martyrdom of Hazrat Muslim b. Aqeel (a.s.) and Janabe Hani b. Urwah (r.a.)
9. The martyrdom of Meesame Tammar, Rushaid Hujari, Hujr b. Adi, Amr b. Hamaq, Kumail b. Ziyad Nakhai. (Mercy of Allah be on all of them)
10. The martyrdom of the sons of Hazrat Muslim b. Aqeel (a.s.)
11. Imam (a.s.) decides to go to Iraq
12. The departure for Iraq, the letter of Amr b. Said (in which he tries to dissuade Imam (a.s.) from going to Iraq), Imam's (a.s.) letter to the people of Kufa, the meeting with Zuhair b. Qain (r.a.) and the report of the martyrdom of Hazrat Muslim b. Aqeel (a.s.). When the news of the martyrdom of Hazrat Muslim b. Aqeel (a.s.) reached Imam (a.s.), he glanced at the children of Aqeel and asked: What is your opinion now as Muslim has been martyred? They replied: By Allah we shall not return till we either avenge the death of Muslim or taste what he has savored (i.e. martyrdom).
13. Imam (a.s.) meets Hurr (r.a.) and his (a.s.) speech.
14. Imam (a.s.) meets Obeidullah b. Hurr Jofi.
15. Imam (a.s.) conversation with Amr b. Qays and his (a.s.) reaching Karbala.
16. Imam (a.s.) camps at Karbala, Omar b. Saad takes control of Karbala, selection of Habib b. Mazahir (r.a.), the attempt of Yazid b. Haseen Hamdani to get water and Imam (a.s.) meets Umar b. Saad.
17. Shimr comes to Karbala and his misconduct.
18. The night of Ashoora, a ditch is dug around the camp and fire is lit in it, Imam (a.s.) consoles the ladies. It is narrated from Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.): On the night of Ashoora my father was making ready the graves and Jaun (r.a.) the slave of Abu Zarr (r.a.) was in front of him. My father was saying;
" Woe to you O time! For you are an unworthy friend; on many a dawn and dusk you have killed a friend and he who claimed his right; time will not accept change while the matter is with Allah, the Possessor of Majesty and every living one will walk this very road.'
19. The day of Ashoora, Imam (a.s.) addresses the army of Ibn Saad and the people of Kufa.
The last three chapters relate the intense battle on the day of Ashoora, the martyrdom of Imam (a.s.), his friends, supporters, near ones, family and children. While narrating the martyrdom of the infant Ali Asgar, the author quotes a couplet presenting the moment in a touching manner.

"As he was bowing down to kiss his child; the arrow kissed the child's throat before he could".

The author writes relating the battle of Imam Husain (a.s.) "… He put to sword all those who came close to him (with such ferocity) that the dead ones were lying piled up. Then he attacked the enemy tents and was saying, 'Death is better than resorting to baseness and to suffer disgrace is better than entering the Fire of Hell.' Although the fight was intense and the sound of clashing of swords filled the air, Imam (a.s.) had his objective in sight. He was clarifying his stand to the people and was reciting this battle cry, 'I am Husain b. Ali (a.s.), I have vowed not to turn away from my enemies, I will protect my family (the family of my father) and I will leave this world following the religion of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.).

(4) Section Three - It contains 14 chapters.
1. The incidents after the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.).
2. The tents are set afire.
3. The plundering of the tents.
4. The incidents of the evening of Ashoora. It is narrated: Then the ladies were turned out from their tents and the tents were set on fire. Then they were walking away with their heads uncovered, their veils snatched away, their feet bare, crying and imprisoned. They were wailing: We ask you by Allah to take us near the place where Imam Husain (a.s.) is (lying) martyred. Then, as they saw the martyrs they wailed aloud and began striking their faces in grief. The narrator says that I can not forget Janabe Zainab b. Ali (a.s.) lamenting over Husain (a.s.) and with a grieved heart and a sorrowful voice she was crying out;
'O Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) .. this is Husain (a.s.) lying in the pool of his blood, his limbs cut off, your daughters are prisoners, I complain to Allah, to Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.w.s.), to Ali Murtaza (a.s.), to Fatema Zahra (s.a.) and to Hamza (a.s.) - the chief of the martyrs. O Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) here lies Husain (a.s.) in the open dessert with the dessert winds blowing over him, the sons of heinous people have murdered him. We are surrounded by such devastating grief and distress, it is like my grandfather the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) himself has passed away today. O Allah this is the progeny of your last Prophet (s.a.w.s.) who are being herded like captives.
5. The Ahle Bait (a.s.) leaves Karbala for Kufa.
6. The burial of Imam (a.s.) and the martyrs and the dream of Ibn Abbas and Umme Salma.
7. The Ahle Bait (a.s.) enter Kufa and the speeches of Janabe Zainab (s.a.), Imam Zainul Abedeen (a.s.) and Fatema Sughra (s.a.) at Kufa, the tradition of Muslim Jasas.
8. The Ahle Bait (a.s.) enter the court of Ibn Ziyad, Zayd Ibn Arqam, and the conversation with Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.)
9. The martyrdom of Abdullah b. Afif and Awanah b. Hikam.
10. The news of the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.) reaches Medina, the speech of Ibn Zubair at Mecca.
11. The sacred heads of the martyrs are sent to Syria (Shaam).
12. The incidents of the journey to Syria.
13. The Ahle Bait's (a.s.) arrival in Syria, the report of Sahl b. Saad, the court of Yazid the accursed, the speech of Janabe Zainab (s.a.) in the court, Ibn Abbas' censure of Yazid the accursed, the speech of Imam Ali b. Husain (a.s.), the reply of the younger daughter of Imam Husain (a.s.).
14. The Ahle Haram return to Medina.

(5) Section four:
The events that came to pass due to the mourning and wailing of the creatures of the heavens and the earth. The angels complaining to Allah and reciting heartrending verses for Imam Husain (a.s.), the recitation of eulogies on the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.) by the jinns and the verses recited for him.

(6) Section five:
This section deals with the children of Imam (a.s.), his virtues and the atrocities committed on the holy grave of Imam (a.s.)
1. The wives and the children of Imam (a.s.)
2. The merits of the visitation (Ziyarat) of the chief of the martyrs - Imam Husain (a.s.), Sulaiman b. Khalid narrates that he heard from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that in everyday and every night Allah looks towards the earth one lakh times and during this He forgives whomsoever He wishes and chastises whomsoever He wishes and He is particularly forgiving with the visitors of the holy grave of Imam Husain b. Ali (a.s.) and with those for whom the visitor will intercede on the Day of Qiyamat, whoever they may be. The narrator asked that if that person (the interceded one) is already worthy of hell fire? Imam (a.s.) affirmed that even if he is already worthy of hell fire provided he is not a Nasibi (one who bears malice against the Ahle Bait (a.s.)) and an enemy of the Ahle Bait (a.s.).
3. The atrocities committed on the holy grave of Imam (a.s.)

(7) Conclusion:
The circumstances of the Tawwabeen (those Kufan Shias who repented for not joining Imam (a.s.) in Karbala), the uprising of Mukhtar and his slaying the murderers of Imam Husain (a.s.).

Let us pray to Allah to raise the grades of the venerable, blessed and the highly esteemed author of this priceless work Haaj Sheikh Abbas Qummi (r.a.) and also raise the grades of the honored translator Allamah Syed Safdar Husain Najafi (s.a.). O Lord bless us with the opportunity to read this priceless book and try to follow the path shown by our Imam (a.s.).

O Allah! Hasten the reappearance of the avenger of the blood of Husain (a.s.), the last hope of Janabe Zahra (a.s.) Hazrat Baqiatullah Al-Azam (a.s.). Ameen.