Seeking Support During the Siege

طلب ياري كردن آن حضرت در وقت محاصره

هفتم: طلب ياري نمودن آن جناب بود [بعد] از آنكه گرد او را سي هزار نفر گرفته بودند، و حايل شدند ميان آن حضرت و ميان آب، پس حبيب بن مظاهر به نزد آن حضرت آمد، و عرض كرد كه در اين نزديكي طايفه‌ي بني‌اسد منزل دارند، اذن مي‌دهيد بروم و ايشان را به ياري تو بطلبم؟ شايد فايده‌اي به جهت دفع دشمنان داشته باشند، حضرت اذنش دادند، پس حبيب در دل شب به نزد ايشان رفت، و گفت: من از براي شما خير دنيا و آخرت را آورده‌ام، كه بيائيد فرزند پيغمبر (صلي الله عليه و آله)را ياري كنيد، با جماعتي از مؤمنين، كه هر يك بهتر از هزار مرد هستند، و در جان‌فشاني از براي آن حضرت بي‌اختيارند، و اينك عمر بن سعد ملعون او را محاصره نموده، و شما قوم و [ صفحه 314] عشيره‌ي من هستيد، نصيحت مرا قبول كنيد، تا به شرف دنيا و آخرت فائز گرديد در اعلي عليين، پس شخصي كه او را عبدالله بن بشير مي‌گفتند، برخاست، و گفت: من كسي هستم كه اجابت مي‌نمايم ترا، و رجزي انشاد نمود، و بعد از او جماعتي برخاستند، تابه نود نفر رسيدند، پس بيرون آمدند به قصد ياري آن جناب، و يكنفر از آن قوم به نزد ابن‌سعد شتافت، و اين خبر را به او داد، پس آن ملعون ازرق را با چهارصد سوار بطرف ايشان روانه نمود، و در نزد فرات به هم رسيدند، و با هم مقاتله‌ي سختي نمودند، پس حبيب صيحه زد بر أرزق كه ترا با ما چه كار است؟ برگرد و بگذار ديگري اين شقاوت را متحمل شود، آن شقي قبول نكرد، بني‌اسد ديدند كه تاب مقاومت ندارند با ايشان، فرار كردند و به عشيره‌ي خود برگشتند، و از ترس ابن‌سعد همان شب از آن محل كوچ نمودند پس حبيب برگشت به خدمت حضرت، و اين واقعه، به موقف عرض رسانيد، حضرت فرمودند: لا حول و لاقوة الا بالله. [941] .و اين آخرين استنصاري بود كه از آن جناب واقع شد، و ديگر مأيوس از يار، و ياور. و دانست كه ديگر كسي به ياري او نخواهد آمد، و دانست كه آن جهادي كه غرض از آن فتح و غلبه بر دشمنان است، از او ساقط گرديد، و باقي ماند جهاد مخصوصي، كه غرض از آن محض كشته شدن است، پس اصحاب را جمع كرد، و خطبه خواند به انكار و يأس، و فرمود: مي‌بينيد امري را كه واقع شد، و دنيا پشت كرده است، و معروف تمام شده است، تا آخر خطبه كه مضمونش آن است، كه ديگر من اميد ياور ندارم، و مأيوس شده‌ام از مردم، و بيعت خود را از شما برداشتم، هيچيك از شما مكلف نيستيد به جهاد با من، پس هر كس خوشدل است به كشته شدن با من، پس بيايد بر اين معني بيعت كند، و الا سر خود گيرد، و در اين شب به هر جا خواهد برود، كه اين قوم مقصودي به جز من ندارند، پس اصحاب هر يك سخني گفتند: كه بيايد (ان شاءالله) در عنوان شهداء، و بيعت نمودن به اين معني. [942] . [ صفحه 315]

Seeking Support During the Siege

The seventh instance of the Imam's (a.s.) seeking support occurred after thirty thousand men had surrounded him and cut off access between him and the water.

At that time, Habib ibn Muzahir came to the Imam (a.s.) and said:

“There is a tribe of Banu Asad dwelling nearby. Do you permit me to go and call them to your support? Perhaps they may be of some benefit in repelling the enemy.”

The Imam (a.s.) granted him permission.

So Habib went to them during the night and said:

“I have brought for you the good of this world and the Hereafter.

Come and support the son of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), who is accompanied by a group of believers, each one of whom is better than a thousand men, and who are completely willing to sacrifice their lives for him.

Now Umar ibn Saʿd, the accursed, has besieged him.

You are my people and my tribe.

Accept my advice so that you may attain the honor of this world and the Hereafter in the highest ranks of ʿIlliyyin.”

Then a man named Abdullah ibn Bashir stood up and said:

“I am one who responds to your call.”

He then recited verses of rajaz poetry.

After him others stood up until their number reached ninety men.

They set out intending to support the Imam (a.s.).

However, one man from among them hastened to Ibn Saʿd and informed him of what had happened.

The accursed man then dispatched Azraq with four hundred horsemen against them.

They met near the Euphrates and a fierce battle took place between them.

Habib called out to Azraq:

“What concern do you have with us? Return and leave this burden of misery for someone else to bear.”

But that wretched man refused.

When Banu Asad saw that they could not withstand the enemy, they fled and returned to their tribe.

Out of fear of Ibn Saʿd, they departed from that place during the same night.

Habib then returned to the Imam (a.s.) and informed him of what had occurred.

The Imam (a.s.) said:

«لا حول و لا قوة إلا بالله»

“There is no power and no strength except through Allah.” [941]

This was the final request for support made by the Imam (a.s.).

Thereafter he despaired of finding any helper or supporter.

He knew that no one else would come to aid him.

He also knew that the type of jihād whose objective is victory and triumph over the enemy was no longer applicable in his situation.

What remained was a unique form of jihād whose sole purpose was martyrdom itself.

He then gathered his companions and delivered a sermon expressing his certainty and despair regarding worldly assistance.

He said:

“You see what has come to pass.

The world has turned its back.

Goodness has vanished.”

Until the end of the sermon, the essence of which was:

“I no longer hope for any helper.

I have despaired of the people.

I release you from your pledge of allegiance.

None of you is obligated to fight alongside me.

Whoever is content to be killed with me, let him come and pledge himself upon this understanding.

Otherwise, let him depart wherever he wishes during this night, for these people seek no one but me.”

Then each of the companions spoke words of loyalty, which will be mentioned, Allah willing, in the section concerning the martyrs.

Thereafter they renewed their pledge upon this basis: to remain with him and embrace martyrdom. [942]

[ صفحه 315]