The tragedy of Karbala stands as the most heart-rending event in the history of Islam, where the sanctity of the Prophet’s household was violated, and his beloved son, Imam Husain (a.s.), was mercilessly slain. The traditions in this section elucidate exactly why believers are urged to mourn him. They recount the magnitude of the oppression, reminding us that even the pagan Arabs honored the sacred month of Moharram, yet the Umayyads chose it to massacre the Prophet’s family, set their tents ablaze, and take their women captive. Because of this unparalleled cruelty, the heavens and the earth, along with thousands of angels, continue to weep over him
The Imams (a.s.) demonstrated this eternal sorrow through their own lives; Imam Sajjad (a.s.) cried for his father for decades, comparing his overwhelming grief to that of Prophet Yaqub (a.s.). Furthermore, mourning Imam Husain (a.s.) connects the believer directly to the grief of Lady Fatemah (s.a.), whose own intense lamentation shakes the foundations of Hell and the heavens. Ultimately, crying for the “martyr of tears” is a profound act of devotion that purifies the soul, forgives major sins, and guarantees a place in Paradise alongside the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his Progeny.
Below are the traditions outlining why we cry for Imam Husain (a.s.)
Rayyan bin Shabeeb (the maternal uncle of Mo’tasim), who says that I went to meet Imam Ali Reza (a.s.) on the first day of the month of Moharram. Imam Ali Reza (a.s.) asked me, “O son of Shabeeb! Are you in the state of fasting today?” I replied in the negative. Imam continued,
“This is the day when Prophet Zakariyyah (a.s.) prayed to his Lord thus “Lord grant me from unto Thee a good offspring, Verily Thou art the Hearer of Prayers”1 Then Allah accepted his Prayers and commanded His Angels to go and give him glad tidings regarding the birth of his son Prophet Yahya (a.s.). The Angels came and called out to him while he was engaged in Prayers in the niche. Hence the one who fasts on this day and asks for his desires from Allah, his prayer will be answered as was of Zakariyah (a.s.).”
Then Imam (a.s.) said,
O son of Shabeeb! Moharram is such a month that the Arabs of the age of ignorance (pre Islamic) too respected its sanctity and forbade oppression and blood-shed in it. But these people (the Umayyads) did not honor the sanctity of this month nor of their Prophet. In this month they killed the son of the Prophet and imprisoned the women-folk after looting and plundering their belongings, verily Allah will never ever forgive this crime of theirs.
O son of Shabeeb! If you wish to mourn and lament over anyone, do so upon Husain bin Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.) for he was beheaded like a lamb. Eighteen persons from among his family, who were unparalleled in the earth, were also killed along with him. The heavens and the earth lamented the death of Husain. Four thousand Angels descended from the heavens to aid him, but when they reached there they saw that he had already been martyred. Thus, now they all remain near his blessed grave with disheveled hair covered with dust until the rising of the Qaem (Imam al Mahdi). Then they will all aid him and their slogan will be: Vengeance for the blood of Husain.
O son of Shabeeb! My father (Imam Moosa al Kazim(a.s.)) has related from his father (Imam Jafar Sadiq(a.s.)), who has related from his grandfather (Imam Zainul Abedeen(a.s.)), that when my grandfather Imam Husain (a.s.) was martyred, the sky rained blood and red sand.
O son of Shabeeb! If you weep over the afflictions of Husain (a.s.) such that tears flow from your eyes and fall upon your cheeks, Allah will forgive all your sins whether big or small and less or large in number.
O son of Shabeeb! If you desire to meet Allah the Glorified in a state purified of all sins, then go for the pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.).
O son of Shabeeb! If you desire that you may abide in the palaces of Paradise in the company of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his Progeny, then invoke Allah’s curse upon the murderers of Imam Husain (a.s.).
O son of Shabeeb! If you desire to earn the reward of those who were martyred along with Imam Husain (a.s.), then whenever you remember him, say: I wish I had been with them, then I too would have attained the Great Triumph.
O son of Shabeeb! If you desire to reside in the exalted status of Paradise along with us, then bemoan our sorrows and sufferings and rejoice in our happiness and remain attached to our love. For even if a person is attached to a stone in this world, Allah shall make him arise with it on the day of Qiyamah.
Nafasul Mahmoom, Chap. 1, Section 2, Tradition no. 1
Ibrahim bin Abi Mahmood says that Imam Ali Reza (a.s.) said
Moharram is a month in which bloodshed was considered unlawful by the pre Islamic pagan Arabs, but our blood was shed in this month. Our sanctity was violated and our children and women-folk were made captives. Our tents were set ablaze and whatever was found therein was looted. And they did not even honor the relation, which we share with the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.a.). The day on which Imam Husain (a.s.) was martyred has injured our eyes and our tears are constantly flowing since then. Our dear ones were dishonored on the plains of grief and trials (Karbo bala) making way for sorrows and sufferings until Qiyamah. Thus, sorrowful people should mourn over it (the martyrdom of Imam Husain), for weeping upon it nullifies the major sins
Nafasul Mahmoom, Chap. 1, Section 2, Tradition no. 15
Abu Basir says: I was speaking with Imam Sadiq (a.s.) when one of his sons entered. Imam (a.s.) said: May Allah bless you; and then embraced and kissed him. Then said: May Allah degrade those who dishonored you. May Allah avenge those who oppressed you. May Allah disappoint those who deserted you. May Allah curse those who slain you. May Allah be your guardian, protector and helper. Prophets, truthful ones, martyrs, angels of the heavens and our ladies have been weeping on you. Then Imam (a.s.) began to weep and said:
Abu Basir, when I look at the children of Imam Husain (a.s.), grief overcomes me when I remember what was meted out to them and to their father. Abu Basir, Fatemah (s.a.) weeps and laments over Husain (a.s.) as a result of which Hell sighs so intensely, that if the keepers of Hell who also hear her voice did not prepare themselves to restrain it, it would burn all the inhabitants of the earth with its blazing fires and sparking fumes. So the keepers restrain it and hold its doors tightly closed as long as Fatemah (s.a.) laments. Because they fear for the inhabitants of the earth. But Hell is not pacified until Fatemah’s lamentation ends. Abu Basir, the seas almost split apart and collide with each other. There is a dedicated angel for every drop of water and they prevent every drop from boiling with their wings; keeping it together because of their fear for this world and everything in it. The angels remain in fear and cry for her crying. And they pray to Allah and beseech Him, after which the inhabitants of the Arsh and those around it beg Allah. Then their voices are raised in glorification of Allah, all because of their fear for the people of the earth. Even if one of their voices reached the earth, all the inhabitants would swoon, mountains would crumble and the earth would shake with its inhabitants. Abu Basir said, “May I be sacrificed on you! It is really a serious matter.” Imam (a.s.) said, “That which you have not heard is greater. Abu Basir! Don’t you want to be of those who support Lady Fatemah (s.a.)?” When I heard this, I cried so much that I could not speak nor could the Imam (a.s.) do, because he was crying so intensely. Then he went to his prayer room and began to recite a supplication. So I left the Imam in that state. I could not eat or sleep that night. The following morning, I was fasting and was in extreme fear when I went to Imam (a.s.). I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw that he had calmed down; and I praised and glorified Allah, because no chastisement or calamity had befallen me.
Kaameluz Ziaraat, Chap. 26, Tradition no. 7
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said:
Imam Sajjad (a.s.) cried over his father, Husain bin Ali (a.s.), for twenty or forty years – and whenever food was brought to him, he would cry over Imam Husain (a.s.).One day his servant said, “May I be sacrificed on you, O son of Allah’s Messenger! I am afraid that you will die of grief.” Imam (a.s.) replied, “I only complain of my distress and grief to Allah and I know from Allah what you don’t know. Whenever I remember the killing of Fatemah’s children, I am choked with tears for them.”
Kaameluz Ziaraat, Chap. 35, Tradition no. 1
One day, a servant of Imam Sajjad (a.s.) saw him in his private chamber, crying in prostration. He said, “Master, is it not time for your grief to end?” Imam (a.s.) raised his head and said:
Woe be on you, may your mother lament you. By Allah, Yaqub (a.s.) complained to his Lord of a matter less painful than that which I have seen and he said: ‘Alas for Yusuf!” He had only lost one son, but I saw my father and some family members slaughtered before me. The narrator says: Imam Sajjad (a.s.) used to especially sympathize with the descendants of Aqil. Hence some people asked, “Why do you have more sympathy for the children of Aqil than the children of Jafar?” He replied, “I remember what sufferings they bore with Imam Husain (a.s.) and I sympathize with them.”
Kaameluz Ziaraat, Chap. 35, Tradition no. 2
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said:
Imam Husain (a.s.) said, “I am the martyrs of tears. I will be slain in anguish. Anyone who performs my Ziyarat in anguish would be eligible of being returned to his family with his heart pleased and satisfied.”
Kaameluz Ziaraat, Chap. 36, Tradition no. 7
Whenever Imam Husain (a.s.) was mentioned in the presence of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) during the day, he would not be seen smiling until nightfall. He (a.s.) used to say,
“Imam Husain (a.s.) is the (cause of shedding) tear of every believer!
Kaameluz Ziaraat, Chap. 36, Tradition no. 2
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said:
Imam Husain said, “I am the one who was made to weep before killed. No believer remembers me without weeping.”
Kaameluz Ziaraat, Chap. 36, Tradition no. 3
As the traditions illustrate, shedding tears for the tragedy of Karbala is not just a sign of personal sorrow, but a means of spiritually supporting Lady Fatemah (s.a.) and standing with the angels, prophets, and Imams in their eternal grief. Whether it is mourning the eighteen unparalleled members of his family, or reflecting on how his martyrdom turned the sky red with blood, this boundless lamentation acts as a powerful intercession for believers. Let us continually ask Allah to protect our hearts from hardening so that we may never cease to weep for Imam Husain (a.s.).