The Good Character, Chivalry, Protective Honor, Contentment, and Patience of That Noble One (a.s.).
حسن خلق، مروت، غيرت، قناعت و صبر آن حضرت
هشتم حسن خلق است، و آنحضرت با شدت مصيبت و تفرقهي حواس، با دوست و دشمن چنان اظهار ملاطفت و حسن خلق ميفرمود كه مورد تعجب است.نهم مروت است و كامل از آنحضرت ظاهر شد آنوقتي كه تمام لشكر دشمن را سيراب كرد [273] ، و راضي نشد كه طائفهي جن او را ياري كنند [274] ، و عجب آنست كه هنگامي كه شمر لعين به نزديك خيمه آمد كه سخن گويد يكي از اصحاب خواست تيري به جانب او اندازد حضرت مانع شدند و فرمودند: من ابتدا به قتال نميكنم. [275] .دهم صفت غيرت است، نسبت بنفس و اهل و عيال و در آن به حدكمال بود اما نسبت به نفس پس، از اقوال و افعال او معلوم است، يكي از آنها كه دل را مجروح مينمايد آنست كه چون طاقتسواري از براي آنجناب نماند به سبب ضربت صالح بن وهب از اسب بر زمين آمد، پس از شدت غيرت برخواست، باز صدماتي بر او وارد شد كه از ايستادن ضعيف گرديد و بر زمين نشست، باز او را با آن حالت نگذاشتند و به قسمي نمودند كه گاهي مينشست و گاهي ميافتاد [276] ، و اين همه خودداري به جهت آن بود كه او را افتاده نبينند و شماتت كنند. [ صفحه 126] و اما نسبت به عيال، پس بذل جهد نمود در حفظ ايشان به كندن خندق و آتش كردن در آن [277] و التماس كردن از دشمن كه فرمود: «اقصدوني بنفسي و اتركوا حرمي» [278] [از حرم دست كشيد و به سوي من آئيد.]، تا به حدي كه با كمال تشنگي و قدرت بر آب، آبرا از دست ريخت با اينكه به نزديك دهان رسانيده بود، چون ملعوني ندا كرد كه: اي حسين (عليهالسلام) آب ميخوري و حال آنكه لشكر به خيمه ريختند [279] !يازدهم صفت قناعت است، و آن حضرت به جهت اتمام حجت قناعت نمود كه دست از او بردارند كه به طرف سرحدي از حدود اسلام برود، راضي نشدند [280] ، باز قناعت نمود از تمام دنيا به يك جامهي كهنه، باز آنرا به بدنش نگذاشتند.دوازدهم صفت صبر است، و آن مناط امامت است و ثواب ايشان منوط به آن است، چنانكه كلام خدا شاهد آن است كه فرموده: (وجعلناهم ائمة يهدون بامرنا لما صبروا) [281] ، و فرموده: (و جزاهم بما صبر و اجنة وحريرا) [282] و از حضرت صادق (عليهالسلام) روايت شده است كه خداوند در شب معراج وحي نمود به پيغمبر (صلي الله عليه و آله) كه من تو را امتحان نمايم به سه چيز تاصبر تو معلوم شود، عرض كرد: تسليم ميشوم امر ترا، و استعانت به تو ميجويم بر صبر كردن، وحي رسيد كه:اول: فقراي امت را بر خود ترجيح دهي، عرض كرد: قبول دارم و صبر ميكنم،دوم: آنكه متحمل اذيت و تكذيب شوي از قوم، عرض كرد قبول دارم و صبر ميكنم.سوم: آنكه بايد صبرنمائي بر مصايبي كه به اهل بيتت خواهد رسيد، اما برادرت علي (عليهالسلام) پس حق او را غصب ميكنند و بر او ظلم و تعدي خواهند نمود، و دخترت را از ارث محروم مينمايند، و او را اذيت ميكنند، و ميزنند در حالتي كه [ صفحه 127] حامله باشد، و در خانهي او به قهر داخل ميشوند، و مراعات حرمتش نميكنند، و پسرت حسن (عليهالسلام) را به زهر شهيد ميكنند، و او را زخم ميزنند، و اسباب او را غارت مينمايند، و پسرت حسين (عليهالسلام) را ميطلبند كه او را ياري كنند، پس او را به سختي ميكشند، و اولاد و اصحابش را شهيد ميكنند، و عيالش را به اسيري ميبرند، عرض كرد تسليم ميشوم و از تو طلب صبر ميكنم. [283] .
The Good Character, Chivalry, Protective Honor, Contentment, and Patience of That Noble One (a.s.).
The eighth quality is good character (ḥusn al-khuluq). Despite the intensity of the calamities and the distraction of mind caused by them, that noble one (a.s.) displayed such kindness, gentleness, and good character toward both friend and foe that it is truly astonishing.
The ninth quality is chivalry and noble manliness (murūʾah). Its most complete manifestation appeared from him when he gave water to the entire enemy army. [273]
He was also not willing to accept the assistance of the jinn who offered to help him. [274]
What is even more astonishing is that when the accursed Shimr approached the tents to speak, one of the companions wished to shoot an arrow at him, but Imam Husain (a.s.) prevented him and said:
“I do not initiate fighting.” [275]
The tenth quality is protective honor and jealousy (ghayrah), both with respect to himself and to his family and dependents. In this quality he had reached the utmost perfection.
As for himself, many of his words and actions testify to this. One example that wounds the heart is that when, due to the strike of Ṣāliḥ ibn Wahb, he no longer had the strength to remain mounted, he fell from his horse to the ground. Yet, because of the intensity of his sense of honor, he rose again. More injuries then struck him until he became too weak to stand and sat upon the ground. Even then they did not leave him alone, and they treated him in such a manner that at times he would sit and at times he would fall. [276]
All of this effort to remain upright was because he did not wish to be seen lying helpless on the ground and become the object of mockery and gloating.
[ صفحه 126]
As for his concern regarding his family, he exerted every effort to protect them by digging a trench and setting fire within it. [277]
He also pleaded with the enemy, saying:
«اقصدوني بنفسي و اتركوا حرمي»
“Direct your attack toward me and leave my family alone.” [278]
His concern reached such a degree that although he was suffering from extreme thirst and had gained access to water, he poured the water from his hand after bringing it close to his mouth, because an accursed man cried out:
“O Imam Husain (a.s.)! You are drinking water while the army has descended upon your tents!” [279]
The eleventh quality is contentment (qanāʿah). For the purpose of completing the proof against them, he was content that they merely leave him alone so that he could go to one of the frontier regions of the Muslim lands, but they refused. [280]
Then he became content with the entire world being reduced to a single worn garment, yet even that garment they did not leave upon his body.
The twelfth quality is patience (ṣabr), and this is the foundation of Imamate, while the reward of the Imams (a.s.) is dependent upon it, as the Word of Allah bears witness:
«وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا»
“And We made them Imams guiding by Our command when they were patient.” [281]
And He says:
«وَجَزَاهُمْ بِمَا صَبَرُوا جَنَّةً وَحَرِيرًا»
“And He rewarded them, because they were patient, with Paradise and silk.” [282]
It is narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) that Allah revealed to the Holy Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.a.) on the Night of Miʿrāj:
“I shall test you with three matters so that your patience may become manifest.”
The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) replied:
“I submit to Your command, and I seek Your help in being patient.”
Then the revelation came:
“First: that you should give preference to the poor of your community over yourself.”
He replied:
“I accept and I shall be patient.”
“Second: that you shall endure harm and denial from your people.”
He replied:
“I accept and I shall be patient.”
“Third: that you must be patient regarding the calamities that will befall your Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.).
As for your brother Ali (a.s.), his right will be usurped, and oppression and transgression will be committed against him.
Your daughter will be deprived of her inheritance. She will be harmed and struck while pregnant. People will forcibly enter her house and will not observe her sanctity.
Your son al-Hasan (a.s.) will be martyred through poison and will be wounded.
His belongings will be plundered.
Your son al Husain (a.s.) will be invited under the pretense of receiving support, but then he will be killed in the most severe manner.
His children and companions will be martyred, and his family will be taken captive.”
The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) replied:
“I submit, and I ask You for patience.” [283]
[ صفحه 127]