In mentioning the heart-wrenching tribulations of Imam Husain (a.s.).
در ذكر مصائب جانسوز حضرت امام حسين
حمد و ثنا مخصوص ذات اله است، و درود بيمنتهي بر، گزيدهگان آن درگاه، خصوصا رسول اكرم و اشرف اولاد آدم محمد مصطفي (صلي الله عليه و آله و اهل بيت طاهرين) آنجناب، كه شاهراه هدايتند و شفعاي قيامت (صلوات الله عليهم ما دامت السموات العلي و الارضون السفلي).اما بعد:ر چنين گويد: بندهي حقير جعفر بن حسين شوشتري (عفي الله عنهما) كه چون ديدم زمان پيري رسيد و ايام جواني گذشت، اساس بدن را از هر طرف شكست آمده، و عمر از شصت گذشته، نه از آن حاصلي ديده، و نه ثمري چيده، و نه فايدهاي برده، عن قريب است كه آينده نيز بر همين و تيره خواهد گذشت، پس با نفس گناهكار غافل خطاب نمودم كه: واي بر تو، تا كي غافلي؟ بهار جواني به خريف نامهربان مبدل شده، و هنگام زراعت و كشت تخمي نكاشتي، و حاصلي برنداشتي، پس اين دو روز را درياب، و خرمنها را به غفلت تلف نمودي، پس در كشتن اين دو خوشه بشتاب، سرمايهي عمر را به باد دادي، قدر اين جزئي متاع را بدان، چون نفس غافل را پنبه درگوش بود، و به اين صدا به هوش نيامد، ناچار بصداي بلند او را ندا كردم: اي مسافر بيزاد و راحله، باز خواهي ماند از قافله، ببين چه كاشتهاي؟ كه هنگام درو نزديك است! و اي تاجر مغرور زمانه، و ظالم بر خويش و بيگانه، توئي آنمرغ كه صياد مرگت در كمين، و هزار بلايت همنشين است، ميعادت معاد، و خدايت در مرصاد است، باز اين ندا در آن خفته اثري [ صفحه 76] نبخشيد، پس نزديك رفته او را حركت دادم كه هان بيدار شو، كه گردنه سخت است، و پاي برهنه و پياده بايد عبور نمائي، چه وقت خواب است؟! و منازل مخوفه در پيش داري، با دست خالي، كارت خراب است، اندكي حركت كن و تعجيل نما، تا كي بطالت و كسالت؟ چشم بگشا و نظر كن، كه روزي در پيش داري تاريك، و راهي باريك، گوش خود بگشا و كلام اميرالمؤمنين (عليهالسلام) را بشنو كه ميفرمايد: «اي پير محاسن سفيد، چگونه خواهي بود وقتي كه طوقهاي آتش به استخوان گردنت چسبند، و غل جامعه گوشت بازويت را خورد» [125] .باز ديدم نفس از اين همه صيحه و ندا به حركت نيامد، پس مرا گمان شد كه مرده است، به حال او گريان و نالان شدم، و بر فقد عمر عزيز نوحه سرا گشتم و گفتم:در معاصي شد همه عمرت تباه قامتت خم گشت از بار گناهموي تو در روسياهي شد سفيد يعني از رو قاصد مرگت رسيدپس اندكي نفس كشيد كه مرا اميد به حيات او شد، آنگاه به نرمي گفتم: آخر بر خود رحم كن و به فرياد خود برس، در اين نفس آخر توشهاي بردار و فرصت غنيمت شمار، پيش از آنكه اجل به سرآيد، و مرگ به درآيد، و باب توبه مسدود گردد، آيا اين همه كتابهاي آسماني و انبياء مرسلين كه آمدند، و همه تو را از اين راه ترسانيدند، تو را كفايت نميكند؟ آيا گمان داري كه اين آسمان و زمين و مابينهما از مخلوقات، همه به عبث خلق شده باشند؟ و دار جزا و انتقامي نباشد؟ از كجا چنين يقين از براي تو حاصل است، و خاطرت جمع است كه تو از اهل نجات خواهي بود؟ چون نفس شوم اين سخن سخت را شنيد، اندكي از جاي خود جنبيد و قدري ملتفت گرديد، پس از براي تقويت و تحريك او به سوي طلب كمال و خلاص از وبال، اسباب خوف و رجا را كه به منزلهي دو بالند، به ياد او آوردم، به اين تفصيل: [ صفحه 77]
In mentioning the heart-wrenching tribulations of Imam Husain (a.s.).
Take Provision in This Final Breath
Praise and glorification belong exclusively to the Divine Essence, and endless blessings be upon His chosen servants, especially the Noble Messenger and the most excellent of the children of Adam, Muhammad al-Mustafa (s.a.w.a.), and the purified members of his household, who are the broad highway of guidance and the intercessors on the Day of Resurrection. May the blessings of Allah be upon them as long as the lofty heavens and the lowly earths endure.
Thereafter:
Thus says the humble servant, Ja‘far ibn Imam Husain (a.s.) Shushtari (may Allah forgive them both):
When I saw that old age had arrived and the days of youth had passed; that the structure of my body had become weakened from every side; that my life had exceeded sixty years, yet I had seen no benefit from it, gathered no fruit from it, and gained no profit from it; and that soon whatever remains will likely pass in the same dark manner, I addressed my heedless, sinful soul:
“Woe unto you! How long will you remain heedless? The springtime of youth has been transformed into an unkind autumn. The season for sowing and cultivation arrived, yet you planted no seed and harvested no crop. Therefore seize these remaining two days. You wasted entire harvests through heedlessness, so hasten now to gather these two ears of grain. You squandered the capital of your life; now appreciate this small remainder of your merchandise.”
Since the heedless soul had cotton stuffed in its ears and did not awaken from this call, I was compelled to call out loudly:
“O traveler without provisions or mount! You will be left behind by the caravan. Look at what you have sown, for the time of harvest is near! O merchant deceived by the world, oppressor of yourself and others! You are that bird for whom the hunter of death lies in ambush, while a thousand afflictions accompany you. Your appointed meeting is the Hereafter, and your Lord lies in wait.
(مرصاد)”
Yet even this call had no effect upon that sleeping one.
[ صفحه 76]
So I drew near and shook him, saying:
“Awake! A difficult mountain pass lies ahead, and you must cross it barefoot and on foot. Is this a time for sleep? Fearful stages lie before you. With empty hands your affair is ruined. Move a little and hasten! How long will you remain in idleness and laziness? Open your eyes and look! Ahead of you is a dark day and a narrow path. Open your ears and listen to the words of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), who said:
«اي پير محاسن سفيد، چگونه خواهي بود وقتي كه طوقهاي آتش به استخوان گردنت چسبند، و غل جامعه گوشت بازويت را خورد»
‘O white-bearded old man! What will your condition be when collars of fire cling to the bones of your neck and comprehensive chains consume the flesh of your arms?’” [125]
Again I saw that despite all these cries and calls, the soul did not stir. I then imagined that it had died. I wept and lamented over its condition, and I mourned the loss of my precious lifetime, saying:
در معاصي شد همه عمرت تباه قامتت خم گشت از بار گناه
“Your entire life was wasted in sins; Your stature became bent beneath the burden of sin.”
موي تو در روسياهي شد سفيد يعني از رو قاصد مرگت رسيد
“Your hair turned white amidst disgrace; Meaning that the messenger of death has arrived before you.”
Then the soul drew a slight breath, and I became hopeful that it still possessed life.
Thereupon I spoke gently:
“At least have mercy upon yourself and come to your own rescue. Take provision in this final breath and regard this opportunity as precious before your appointed term comes to an end, death enters, and the door of repentance is closed.
Do not all these heavenly scriptures and the messengers who came and warned you of this path suffice for you?
Do you imagine that this heaven and earth, and all that lies between them among the creatures, were created in vain, and that there is no abode of recompense and retribution?
From where have you acquired such certainty? Why are you so confident that you will be among the people of salvation?”
When the wretched soul heard these severe words, it moved slightly from its place and paid some attention.
Then, in order to strengthen and motivate it toward seeking perfection and deliverance from ruin, I reminded it of the causes of fear and hope, which are like two wings, in the following manner:
[ صفحه 77]