Translator’s Preface (English)
Translator’s Preface (English)
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Blessings and peace be upon our Master, Hazrat Muhammad (s.a.w.a.), and upon his pure and immaculate Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.), especially our Master, Imam al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s.).
With humility and gratitude, we thank Allah for granting us the opportunity to contribute this modest effort in the service of the remembrance of Sayyid al-Shuhada, Imam Husain (a.s.) ibn Ali (a.s.). We dedicate this translation of al-Khaṣāʾiṣ al-Ḥusayniyyah to Imam al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s.), the living inheritor of Karbala, the promised avenger of Imam Husain (a.s.), and the one whose grief for his grandfather continues to this day.
In Ziyarat al-Nahiyah al-Muqaddasah, Imam al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) addresses Imam Husain (a.s.) with the words:
فَلَأَنْدُبَنَّكَ صَبَاحًا وَمَسَاءً، وَلَأَبْكِيَنَّ عَلَيْكَ بَدَلَ الدُّمُوعِ دَمًا
"I shall mourn for you morning and evening, and I shall weep for you with blood instead of tears."
No one understands the tragedy of Karbala more deeply than the Imam of our time. The tears shed by the lovers of Imam Husain (a.s.) throughout history are but a reflection of the sorrow carried by Imam al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s.), whose mission is to establish justice and fulfill the divine promise connected to Karbala.
This book is a translation of al-Khaṣāʾiṣ al-Ḥusayniyyah, one of the most remarkable works of the renowned scholar and preacher, Hajj Shaykh Jaʿfar Shushtari (r.a.). Rather than merely recounting the events of Karbala, the author explores the unique virtues, distinctions, and spiritual realities associated with Imam Husain (a.s.), his sacrifice, his remembrance, his visitors, and his mourners.
Through this work, readers gain a deeper appreciation of the central place of Imam Husain (a.s.) in the religion of Islam and the profound connection between his remembrance and nearness to Allah.
This translation forms part of the efforts of TwelverBooks.com to make classical Arabic and Persian works accessible to English readers. The goal is not to produce a perfect academic translation, but to make the teachings of these valuable sources available to a wider audience. Since this translation has been prepared with the assistance of ChatGPT and other modern tools, readers are encouraged to consult the original text where greater precision is required.
We pray that Allah hastens the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s.), grants us the honor of being among his sincere helpers, and blesses us with hearts that grieve for Imam Husain (a.s.) and remain steadfast upon the path of the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.).
May Allah accept this humble effort despite its shortcomings and make it a means of nearness to Him and service to His Proof upon the earth.
اللهم عجل لوليك الفرج