Concerning the Special Characteristics of the Qualities, Morals, and Acts of Worship of Imam Husain (a.s.) on the Day of Ashura

در خصوصيت صفات و اخلاق و عبادات آن حضرت در روز عاشورا

و آن عباداتي است كه جامع جميع عبادات بود، از بدنيه‌ي واجبه، و مندوبه، ظاهريه، و باطنيه، و قلبيه‌ي واجبه، و مندوبه، به أكمل و اشرف افراد هر يك، پس عبادت نمود آنحضرت به جميع انحاء عبادت، از مفردات و مركبات در آنروز، و ظاهر نمود مكارم اخلاق، و صفات حميده و پسنديده بأسرها، از مندوبه، و متضاده.علاوه بر آنكه متحمل گرديد انواع اعظم ابتلا را، و صبر نمود به اكمل انحاء صبر، بلكه شكر مي‌نمود بر اينها به أشرف وجوه شكر، پس رسيد به سبب اين عبادت به مقامي كه جامع تمام فضل است، و حاصل شد از براي او در اين باب خصوصيتي در عبادت، كه از برايش شريكي نبوده، و به همين سبب مخصوص گرديد به خطاب: يا ايتها النفس المطمئنة ارجعي الي ربك [221] [اي نفس آرام و مطمئن به سوي پروردگارت برگرد.]. و مختص شد برضا و گرديد راضية مرضية و مخصوص شد به عبوديت مخصوصه و بهشت خاص، كه فرموده: فادخلي في عبادي و ادخلي جنتي: [در ميان بندگانم درآي، و در بهشتم درآي.]حال تفصيل اين عبادت مخصوصه جامعه را بيان نمائيم بعون‌الله سبحانه.پس مي‌گوئيم كه خداوند متعال تكليف نموده است بندگان را، از روي مصالح ايشان به تفاوت درجات، و مقامات و اعصار، پس از براي هر پيغمبري شرعي و راهي مقرر نموده، و از براي هر يك خصوصيتي و امتيازي قرار داده، و اين شريعت سهله غرا را از براي يپيغمبر ما قرار داده، و از براي خود آن سرور خصايصي مقرر ساخته كه از بيست متجاوز مي‌شود، و از براي اوصياء آنجناب نيز، احكامي مخصوص قرار داده، در آن [ صفحه 112] صحيفه كه دوازده مهر بر آن بوده از مهر طلا كه آتش نديده، و جبرئيل آن را بسوي حضرت رسول آورد قبل از وفاتش، و گفت: اين وصيت تو است، به سوي نخبه‌ي اهل بيت، فرمود: كيست نخبه‌ي ايشان؟ گفت: علي بن ابي‌طالب و اولاد او، پس داد پيغمبر، آن صحيفه را به اميرالمؤمنين (عليه‌السلام)، و امر كرد او را كه يك مهر را باز كند و عمل نمايد به آن، پس آن حضرت چنين نمود، و داد ان را به حضرت حسن، او نيز يك مهر را باز كرد و عمل نمود به آن، پس داد آنرا به برادرش حضرت سيدالشهداء (عليه‌السلام) پس گشود مهري را پس ديد نوشته است بيرون رو با اصحاب خود به سوي شهادت، و بفروش نفس خود را از براي خدا، پس چنين نمود آن سرور و داد آنرا به علي بن الحسين (عليه‌السلام)، پس گشود مهرش را ديد نوشته است ساكت بنشين در منزل خود، و عبادت خدا كن تا مرگت در رسد.. الحديث [222] .و چون تكليف حضرت حسين (عليه‌السلام) آن بود كه خود را بخدا بفروشد در روز عاشورا، پس آن جناب جمع نمود در آن روز بين جميع عبادات بدنيه و قلبيه، از فعليه و تركيه، واجبه و مندوبه، به تمام انواع، و اصناف، و اقسام و اشخاص آن، از مشتركات و مختصات، تا اينكه معامله‌ي كليه با خدا نمود، و مستحق گرديد كه خداوند به او عطا نمود آنچه را كه ممكن است به مخلوقي داده شود، از عطايا، والطاف جليه و خفيه.و تفصيل اين معامله، و بيان اين عبادات جامعه موقوف است بر اينكه عبادات و مسائل اخلاقي را يك يك عنوان نمائيم، به ترتيب كتب فقهيه، پس ذكر كنيم كيفيت ادا نمودن آن جناب آن را، پس بيان نمائيم بعضي از خصوصيات جمع و تركيب آنها را: كتاب العبادات البدنية الواجبه، و در آن چند باب است:

Concerning the Special Characteristics of the Qualities, Morals, and Acts of Worship of Imam Husain (a.s.) on the Day of Ashura

These were acts of worship that encompassed all forms of worship: obligatory and recommended bodily acts, outward and inward acts, and obligatory and recommended acts of the heart, in the most perfect and noble form of each.

Thus, on that day, Imam Husain (a.s.) worshipped Allah through every mode of worship, whether individual or composite. He manifested all noble moral virtues and praiseworthy qualities, both recommended virtues and even those qualities that appear opposite to one another.

In addition to this, he endured the greatest varieties of tribulation and affliction, and he displayed the most perfect forms of patience. Rather, he expressed gratitude for those afflictions in the most excellent manner of gratitude.

Through this worship he attained a station that encompassed every virtue. In this regard, a unique characteristic in worship was granted to him, in which he had no partner. It was for this reason that he was specifically addressed with:

«يا ايتها النفس المطمئنة ارجعي الي ربك»

“O tranquil and content soul! Return to your Lord.” [221]

And he was singled out for divine pleasure, becoming راضية مرضية (well-pleased and pleasing), and was distinguished with a special servitude and a special Paradise, as Allah says:

«فادخلي في عبادي و ادخلي جنتي»

“Enter among My servants, and enter My Paradise.”

Now let us explain, with the help of Allah, the details of this unique and comprehensive worship.

We say that Allah, the Exalted, has obligated His servants according to their interests and welfare, in accordance with their differing ranks, stations, and eras.

For every Prophet He appointed a law and a path, and for each He established a particular distinction and excellence.

He designated this noble and easy religion for our Prophet (s.a.w.a.), and He established special characteristics for that noble Messenger, characteristics exceeding twenty in number.

Likewise, He established particular commands for the successors of the Prophet (a.s.), contained in that document which bore twelve seals of gold untouched by fire.

Jibra'il brought that document to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) before his passing and said:

“This is your testament for the chosen ones of your household.”

The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) asked:

“Who are the chosen ones among them?”

He replied:

“Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) and his descendants.”

The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) then gave that document to Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (a.s.) and instructed him to open one seal and act according to what was written therein.

He did so and then passed it to Imam Hasan (a.s.), who likewise opened one seal and acted according to its contents.

He then handed it to his brother, Imam al-Sayyid al-Shuhada', Imam Husain (a.s.).

When Imam Husain (a.s.) opened his seal, he found written therein:

“Go forth with your companions toward martyrdom, and sell your soul to Allah.”

Thus that noble Imam acted accordingly.

He then passed it to Ali ibn al Husain (a.s.), who opened his seal and found written therein:

“Remain quietly in your house and worship Allah until death comes to you.”

...and so continues the narration. [222]

Since the duty of Imam Husain (a.s.) was to sell himself to Allah on the Day of Ashura, he gathered on that day all bodily and spiritual acts of worship, both active and passive, obligatory and recommended, in all their types, categories, classes, and individual forms, including those acts common to all and those uniquely assigned to particular individuals.

In this way he completed a total transaction with Allah and became deserving that Allah grant him everything that could possibly be granted to a created being, from both manifest and hidden gifts and favors.

The explanation of this transaction and the description of these comprehensive acts of worship require that we mention the various acts of worship and moral virtues one by one, following the arrangement of the books of jurisprudence.

We shall then describe how that noble Imam (a.s.) fulfilled each of them, and afterwards explain some of the unique ways in which he combined and united them.

The Book of Obligatory Bodily Acts of Worship

And in it are several chapters: