It was in Baitul Maqdas

بيت المقدس بود

مجلس پانزدهم: بيت‌المقدس بود، كه ذاكر خدا، و مستمع و نوحه‌گر زكريا بود، چنانكه از قائم عجل‌الله فرجه و سلام الله عليه مروي است كه زكريا سوال نمود از باري تعالي كه أسماء خمسه‌ي طاهره را تعليم او نمايد، پس جبرئيل بر او نازل گرديد و او را تعليم نمود، پس زكريا هر وقت محمد (صلي الله عليه و آله) و علي (عليه‌السلام) و فاطمه (سلام الله عليها) و حسن (عليه‌السلام) را ذكر مي‌كرد هم و غمش زايل مي‌شد، و چون اسم حسين (عليه‌السلام) را ذكر مي‌كرد گريه در گلويش گير مي‌كرد و دلش به طپش مي‌آمد، پس عرض كرد: خدايا چه مي‌شود كه چون آن چهار بزرگوار را ذكر مي‌نمايم از هم و غم مي‌رهم، و چون حسين (عليه‌السلام) را ياد مي‌كنم اشكم مي‌ريزد و دلم مي‌سوزد؟ پس خداوند او را خبر داد از قضيه‌ي آن حضرت و فرمود: (كهيعص) پس كاف اشاره است به كربلا، و «هاء» هلاك عترت طاهره، و «ياء» به يزيد عنيد كه قاتل حسين (عليه‌السلام) است، و «عين» به عطش آن جناب، و «صاد» به صبرش بر مصائب، پس چون زكريا شنيد اين واقعه هائله را سه روز از مسجد بيرون نيامد و مردم را از خود منع نمود، و متصل گريه و ناله مي‌كرد، و عرض مي‌كرد: خدايا آيا بهترين خلق خود را به مصيبت فرزندش مبتلا مي‌نمائي؟ آيا چه جامه‌اي است اين مصيبت بر تن علي (عليه‌السلام) و فاطمه (سلام الله عليها) مي‌پوشاني پس عرض كرد خدايا فرزندي به من عنايت نما كه چشم من به او روشن گردد و محبت او را در دل من زياد كن، پس مرا مبتلا نما به مصيبت او، چنانكه حبيب خود را مبتلا خواهي كرد به مصيبت فرزندش، پس خداوند يحيي (عليه‌السلام) را به او عطا فرمود و [ صفحه 223] او را مبتلا كرد به مصيبت او، و حمل يحيي شش ماه بود، چنانكه حمل حسين (عليه‌السلام) نيز شش ماه بود. [618] .مترجم گويد: در اينجا شبهه هست كه به مقتضاي آنچه در تواريخ ضبط كرده‌اند حضرت يحيي بعد از زكريا در حيات بود و بعد به درجه‌ي شهادت رسيد پس چگونه مبتلا شد به مصيبت او؟ و جوابش آنست كه مقتضاي تشبيه به مصيبت خاتم انبياء نيز همين است، زيرا كه شهادت حسين (عليه‌السلام) هم مدتي بعد از وفات پيغمبر (صلي الله عليه و آله) بوده، و سرش آن است كه حيات و ممات ايشان مساوي است - و الله يعلم - انتهي.

It was in Baitul Maqdas

The fifteenth gathering took place in Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem). The speaker was Allah, while the listener and mourner was Zakariyyā (a.s.).

It is narrated from al-Qāʾim (ʿajjalallāhu farajahū al-sharīf) that Zakariyyā (a.s.) asked Allah to teach him the names of the Five Pure Ones. Then Jibrāʾīl descended and taught them to him.

Whenever Zakariyyā (a.s.) mentioned Muhammad (s.a.w.a.), ʿAlī (a.s.), Fāṭimah (a.s.), and Ḥasan (a.s.), his grief and sorrow would disappear. But whenever he mentioned the name of Imam Husain (a.s.), tears would choke his throat and his heart would tremble.

He said:

“My Lord, why is it that whenever I mention those four noble ones, my grief is removed, but whenever I remember Imam Husain (a.s.), my tears flow and my heart burns?”

Then Allah informed him of the tragedy of Imām Imam Husain (a.s.) and explained:

كهيعص

(Qur'an 19:1)

According to this narration:

The letter Qaaf refers to Karbalāʾ.

The letter Haa refers to the destruction of the Pure Family (ʿItrah Ṭāhirah).

The letter Yaa refers to Yazīd, the stubborn enemy who would kill Imam Husain (a.s.).

The letter Ayn refers to the thirst of Imam Husain (a.s.).

The letter Swaad refers to his patience in the face of calamities.

When Zakariyyā (a.s.) heard of this tremendous tragedy, he did not leave the mosque for three days. He prevented people from coming to him and remained continuously weeping and lamenting.

He would say:

“My Lord, will You afflict the best of Your creation with the tragedy of his son? Will You place upon ʿAlī (a.s.) and Fāṭimah (a.s.) the garment of such a calamity?”

Then he prayed:

“My Lord, grant me a son who will be the comfort of my eyes and increase his love in my heart. Then test me with the calamity of losing him, just as You will test Your Beloved with the calamity of his son.”

So Allah granted him Yaḥyā (a.s.) and later tested him through his tragedy.

The period of Yaḥyā's pregnancy was six months, just as the pregnancy of Imam Husain (a.s.) was also six months. [618]

The translator says:

There is a question here. According to what is recorded in historical works, Yaḥyā (a.s.) remained alive after Zakariyyā (a.s.) and was later martyred. So how was Zakariyyā (a.s.) tested through his tragedy?

The answer is that the comparison itself requires this understanding, because the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.) also occurred some time after the passing of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.). The secret of this matter is that, for them, life and death are alike in their reality—and Allah knows best.

End.