"Sons of Abdul-Muttalib, I do not know any young Arab man who has brought to his people a thing better than that which I have brought to you. I have brought to you the goodness of this world as well as the world to come. Allah, Exalted is He, has ordered me to call you to accept this matter. Which one of you will support me in this regard and he will be my brother, successor, and representative?"
They all kept silent except me. I said, while I was the youngest, "Prophet of Allah, I will be your supporter in this matter." I repeated this statement three times.
The Prophet (s) then took me from the neck and said: "This is my brother, successor, and representative among you. You thus should listen to and obey him."
They left him laughing and saying to Abu-Talib: "He has ordered you to listen to and obey your son!"))
This narration is recorded in many reference books such as: At-Tabari's at-Tarikh; 2:319-21, Ibn ul-Athir's al-Kamil fit Tarikh; 2:22, as-Seerat un-Nabawiyya; al-Halabi (the Shafiite) 1:311-2, Kenz ul-Ummal; al-Muttaqi (the Hanafite), Mustadrak us-Sahihayn; Al-Hakim an-Nisapuri (the Shafiite) 3:133, ad-Durr ul-Manthour; As-Suyoutti (the Shafiite) 5:79, al-Musnad; Ahmed ibn Hanbal (the founder of Hanbalism) 1:111, Al-Bidaya wan-Nihaya; Ibn Kuthair 3:39, Tarikh; Abu'l-Fidaa 1:119, Shawahid ut-Tanzil; Al-Hasakani 1:485 H.514 and 580, Tarikh Dimashq: the life account of Imam Ali ibn Abi-Talib; Ibn Asakir (the Shafiite) 1:97-105 H.133-40, and Sharhu Nahj ul-Balagha; Ibn Abi-al-Hadid (the Mutazilite) 13:210 and 244.
26. After the polytheist Meccans' having defeated the undisciplined Muslim forces at Uhud near Medina, they persuaded a number of Bedouin tribes to join their cause. The Meccans brought a force of 10,000 men against Medina again. Prophet Muhammad (s) then resorted to tactics-he had a ditch dug around Medina. The Meccan horsemen were disconcerted and soon bored, and the coalition of Bedouin tribes started breaking up. After an unsuccessful siege, the Meccans dispersed. Amr ibn Abd-Wudd was the strongest horseman among the army of the Meccans. He could cross over that ditch to challenge Muslims. Facing this horrible situation that warned the ultimate defeat of Muslims, Prophet Mohammed (s) declared: "I guarantee Paradise for him who will face Amr." None of Muslims responded to the Prophet's call except Ali ibn Abi-Talib who faced and could kill Amr by one stroke about which the Prophet (s) said that statement.
27. Two campaigns led by Abu-Bakr and Omar against the Jews of Khaybar failed; therefore, Prophet Mohammed (s) declared that he would give the standard of leadership to a man who loves Allah… etc. Next day, the Prophet (s) summoned Ali to give him that standard, and Ali did attack and come back with victory.
28. See at-Tabari, at-Tarikh; 2/282.
29. See Nukat ul-Hayman; 200, as-Sirat ul-Halabiyya; 1/304, Tathkirat ul-Khawaas; 7, and al-Khissal; 1/38.
30. See Ibn Abi'l-Hadid's Sharhu Nahj il-Balagha; 3/82.
31. See al-Bukhari, as-Sahih; 3/50, al-Hakim, al-Mustdrak; 3/220.
32. See Abu-al-Faraj al-Isfahani, Maqatil ut-Talibiyyin.
33. See Ibn Zaydoun, ar-Risala; 1/130, Abu-al-Faraj, al-Aghani; 15/50, Bulough ul-Irab; 1/317, Simt ul-La'aali; 2/890 and others.
34. See Tanqih ul-Maqal; 2/128.
35. Such as at-Tabari, Ibn ul-Athir, and Abu-al-Fida.
36. Such as Ibn Shahrashub and others.
37. The Holy Quran; Sura of ash-Shura (42), Verse 23.
38. See al-Shahid ul-Awwal; al-Majmou'a.
39. See Keshf ul-Ghumma; 159.
40. See Sheikh as-Saduq, al-Khissal; 2/551 and Sheikh at-Tusi, al-Amali; 557.
41. See Sibt Ibn ul-Jawzi, Tethkirat ul-Khawaas; 167 and al-Khawarzmi, al-Menaqib;
134.
42. See Ibn ul-Atheer, al-Kamil fit Tareekh; 4/31.
43. See at-Tabirsi, Alihtijaj; 166.
44. Azan (Announcement) is the Muslim call to the ritual prayers.
45. Iqama is the prefatory statements of the ritual prayers.
46. See Qamar Bani Hashim; 2/5 and Anees ush-Shia.
47. However, some historians have reported another narration about the naming of Abu'l-Fadhl al-Abbas:
((Umm-ul-Banin swaddled her baby with a white piece of cloth and handed him to his father who held the Islamic ceremonies of newborns, kissed him, passed his hand on the baby's eyes, ears, and mouth, -so that the baby would see, hear, and say nothing but the right- and asked the mother, "Have you chosen a name for him?"
"We will never precede you in such a thing," answered she.
The Imam (a) said, "Well then, I choose for him the name of my
uncle; al-Abbas."
He then embraced the baby to the chest, took the two small hands, and kissed them warmly while he was weeping. He then said, "I predict these two hands will be cut!")) -See al-Kulbasi's al-Khassaiss ul-Abbasiyya; 71-2.
48. Ibn-Manzhour is the compiler of the most famous Arabic-Arabic dictionary named 'Al-Ayn'.
49. See Ibn Manzhour's al-Ayn; article: Al-Abbas.
50. See Muntaha al-Irab; article: al-Abbas.
51. See al-Munammaq fi Akhbari Quraish; 437.
52. See Sirr us-Salsala, Umdat ut-Talib; 356, and Maqatil ut-Talibiyyin; 84.
53. Ziyara is the words and practices said and done during the pilgrimage to the shrines of the prophets, Imams, and saints. Ziyara of al-Arbaeen is the first visit of Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari to the tomb of Imam al-Hussein (a) forty (Arbaeen) days after his martyrdom.
54. Al-Abbas also had other nicknames, such as Ibn-ul-Badawiyya (son of the Bedouin lady), Abu-Furja (source of relief), and Abush-Shara (owner of charisma).
55. See Qamar Bani Hashim; 21.
56. Excerpted from Oxford Talking Dictionary.
57. See Fursan ul-Haijaa and Abu'l-Faraj al-Isfahani's Maqaatil ut-Talibiyyin.
58. See al-Qummi's Muntaha al-Aamal as quoted from al-Mahaasin wa'l-Masaawi.
59. According to al-Kulbasi's al-Khassaaiss ul-Abbasiyya, this third time of al-Abbas's fetching water to the camp of Imam al-Hussein was not the last one which resulted in his martyrdom. Al-Abbas had a fourth time of fetching water, and in this very time he was martyred.
60. Such as Tarikh ul-Khamis and Ibn Idris's as-saraair.
61. The Holy Quran; Sura al-Fat'h (48), Verse (29).
62. See al-Kibrit ul-Ahmar; 3/24.
63. Jihad is religious warfare or a war for the propagation or defense of Islam.
64. Koreishites are sons and descendants of Koreish; the tribe to which Prophet Mohammad (s) belonged. The Umayyads also belonged to Koreish.
65. See al-Khissal; 1/35.
66. See Thakheerat ud-Darein, 123 (as quoted from Umdet ut-Talib).
67. See Muhammad ibn al-Mash'hadi's al-Mazzar.
68. The Holy Quran; Sura of al-Kahf, Verse 21.
69. At-Tabarani in his books al-Mu'jam al-Kabir and al-Awsat, ad-Darqutni in his book al-Amali, and Abu-Bakr bin al-Muqri in his Mu'jam mention a tradition narrated by Maslama ibn Salim al-Juhani, from Ubaidullah bin Omar, from Nafi, from Salim, from Ibn Omar that the Prophet Muhammad (a) and his family, said, "He who comes to see me, having no other desire than that of visiting me, of a surety I will be an intercessor for him on the Day of Judgment." He commented: "It was mentioned in ibn ul-Muqri's Mu'jam, "For him who comes to visit me, it will be incumbent upon Allah to make me an intercessor for him on the Day of Resurrection."
70. See al-Fadhil al-Qizwini, Tadhallum uz-Zahraa; 118.
71. See ad-Dam'at us-Sakiba; 337.
72. See al-Kibrit ul-Ahmar; 1/158, as quoted from Ixeer ul-Ibadat.
73. Al-Haair, in Arabic, is any low place in which rainfall waters are gathered. This word however is dedicated to the place of the holy shrine of Imam al-Hussein ibn Ali (a). Some scholars have made a relation between this word and the occurrence of the stoppage of the water that al-Mutawakkil, the Abbasid caliph, released for covering the tomb of Imam al-Hussein, intending to efface its signs. This event is very famous. It has been narrated uninterruptedly by a great number of narrators such as ash-Shahid ul-Awwal in his ath-Thikra, Sheikh at-Turaihi in al-Muntakhab, and Sheikh al-Muhaqqiq in al-Jawahir. The word, al-Haair, however was mentioned by Imam as-Sadiq and Imam al-
Kadhim, peace be upon them, and, hence, this proves that it was used before the reign of al-Mutawakkil.
74. See the following reference books:
At-Tabirsi, I'lam ul-Wara, 147
Sayyid al-Jazaairi, al-Anwar un-Nu'maniyya, 344
Sheikh at-Turaihi, al-Muntakhab
Sayyid ad-Dawoudi, Umdat ut-Talib, 349
Riyad ul-Ahzan, 39 (as quoted from Kamil us-Saqifa)
Ibn Idris, as-Saraair
Al-Muntaha
Ash-Shahid ul-Awwal, Mezar ud-Durous
Al-Ardabili, Sharh ul-Irshad
As-Sebzwari, ath-Thakhira
Sheikh Agha Redha, Misbah ul-Faqeeh.
75. See al-Kibrit ul-Ahmar; 2/112.
76. See al-Lahouf, 81.
77. See Nafas ul-Mahmoum; 253 and Riyad ul-Ahzan; 155.
78. Tahmasp was the shah of Iran from 1524.
79. Fath Ali was the shah of Persia (1797-1834).
80. See Sheikh Abbas al-Qummi, Mafaateeh ul-Jinan.
81. The Holy Quran; Sura of Aal-Imran, Verse 169.
82. Rakaa is unit of prayers.
83. See Ziyarat ul-Arbaeen.
84. See Mezar ul-Bihar; 180.
85. Illiyyin is the highest point of the heavens.
86. This Ziyara is quoted from Sheikh Abbas al-Qummi's Mefateeh ul-Jinan.
87. The Holy Quran; Sura of an-Nisaa (5), verse 35
88. The Holy Quran; Sura of an-Insaan (76), verse 29
89. See Sheikh al-Ansari's as-Salat, and al-Kibrit ul-Ahmar; 3/50.
90. See Asraar ush-Shahada; 325.
91. Shahada is the Muslim profession of faith, La ilaha illa (A)llah, Muhammadun rasul Allah (There is no God but Allah, [and] Muhammad is the messenger of Allah).
92. Quoted from Sayyid Abd-ur-Razzaq al-Musawi al-Muqarram's al-Abbas.
93. See I'laam un-Nas fi Fadhaail il-Abbas.
94. Al-Muhammara is the Arabic name of Khorramshahr; the famous city and port on the Shatt al-Arab southern Iran.
95. See Maqaatil ut-Talibiyyin, 84, Sheikh at-Futouni's Hadeeqat un-Nasab, Ibn Qutaiba's al-Me'aarif, 96, and Hadaaiq ul-Uns.
96. See al-Majdi.
97. See al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi's Tarikhu Baghdad; 2/63.
98. See Abu-Nasr al-Bukhari's Sirr us-Salsala.
99. See Abu-Nasr al-Bukhari's Sirr us-Salsala.
100. Ilm ur-Rijal is that field of Islamic knowledge that studies the manners and qualifications of the narrators of Hadith. Ilm ul-Hadith is another field of knowledge that classifies the words, deeds, and confirmations reported to be said, done, and made by Prophet Mohammed (s) on criteria of authenticity.
101. See, for instance, Sheikh at-Tusi's ar-Rijal, an-Nejashi's al-Feherest, al-Amali, Sheikh as-Saduq's Ikmal ud-Din, and Sheikh Abbas al-Qummi's al-Kuna wal-Alqab.
102. See Fulk un-Najat, Allama an-Nouri's Tahiyyat uz-Zaair, and Sheikh Abbas al-Qummi's al-Kuna wal-Alqab.
103. See, for instance, Umdat ut-Talib, at-Tabari's at-Tarikh, Tarikhu Baghdad, al-Hujjatu ela ath-Thahib, Thakhirat ud-Darain, Murouj uth-Thahab, al-Isfahani's al-Aghani, and many others.
104. See at-Tabari's Tarikh, 2/337, Ibn Kathir's al-Bidaya wen-Nihaya, Muslim's as-Sahih; 3/106, al-Bukhari's as-Sahih; 5/1-5-6, Ahmed's al-Musnad, and many other reference books of history.
105. See Ibn Katheer's as-Seera; 3/691 and Husham's as-Seera; 4/46.
106. See Hadith ud-Dar (pages 26-8)
107. See Mohammad Baqer Ansari's What Happened in Ghadir?
108. See Menaaqibu Aali Abi-Talib; 2/239, and Sharif al-Murtedha's Tanzeeh ul-Anbiyaa; 167.
109. See Abu-Dawoud's as-Sunan; 1/611, al-Hakim's al-Mustadrak; 2/138, Majmaa uz-Zawaaid; 9/134, and Kenz ul-Ummal; 13/174.
110. The incident of Omar ibn al-Khattab's preventing the Prophet from dictating his will in the last hours of his life is very famous. It is recorded in almost all books of hadith of Sunnis and Shiites. See, for example, al-Bukhari's as-Sahih; 1/37, 2/132, 4/31, 4/ 65-6, 5/137, and 7/9, Muslim's as-Sahih; 2/16, 5/75, 11/95, and 3/16, Imam Ahmed's al-Musnad; 4/356- H. 2992, Ibn Abi'l-Hadid's Sharhu Nahj il-balagha; 6/51, Ibn ul-Athir's al-Kamilu fit Tareekh; 320, and al-Ghezzali's Sirr ul-Aalemeen; 21.
111. In other reports of this incident, the word 'we' is replaced by 'The Koreishites.'
112. See Ibn Abi'l-Hadid's Sharhu Nahj il-Balagha.
113. See at-Tebirsi's Alihtijaj.
114. All historians, referring to the Battle of the Camel, have recorded the Prophet's prediction addressed to his wives in general and Aisha in particular: "Which one of you will ride the red camel and will be barked by the dogs of 'al-Haw'ab' (a place taking to Basra where the battle of the Camel occurred)? Aisha: Do not be the one intended."
115. It is well known that Aisha used to name Othman as 'Naathal- a non-Muslim person' and say: "Kill Naathal for he has converted to atheism."
116. See Tathkirat ul-Khawaass and Ibn Kuthair's al-Bidaya wen-Nihaya; 9/38.
117. See al-Kibrit ul-Ahmar; 3/24.
118. See al-Kibrit ul-Ahmar; 3/24.
119. See Sayyid Mir Al al-Hindi's Rouh ul-Islam; 296.
120. See Ibn Qutaiba's al-Imama was-Siyasa; 1/189 and al-Kheshi's ar-Rijal.
121. Muhajirs: The emigrants. The early Muslims of Mecca who had to flee their homeland to Medina.
122. Ansar: The supporters. The people of Medina who received, welcomed, and protected the Prophet (s) and the Muhajirs.
123. See Baqir Sharif al-Qarashi's Hayat ul-Imam il-Hussein; 2/228-9.
124. See Baqir Sharif al-Qarashi's Hayat ul-Imam il-Hussein; 2/255.
125. Marjana, Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad's mother, was such a notorious prostitute that everybody all over the Islamic State had heard of her name.
126. See at-Tabari's at-Tareekh; 6/230.
127. See Mr'aat uz-Zaman fi Tawarikh ul-Aayan; 89.
128. See Ansab ul-Ahsraf; 3/181.
129. See Ibn ul-Atheer's at-Tareekh; 4/26
130. See Ansab ul-Ashraf; 3/181.
131. See Ansab ul-Ashraf; 3/181.
132. See al-Bidaya wan-Nihaya; 8/177.
133. See at-Tabari's at-Tareekh; 6/43.
134. See al-Kamil; 2/288.
135. See Hayat ul-Imam il-Hussein; 3/203.
136. See Ansab ul-Ashraf; 3/192.
137. See Ibn ul-Atheer's at-Tareekh; 3/291.
138. See al-Muqarram's Maqtal ul-Hussein; 297.
139. See al-Khawarzmi's Maqtal ul-Hussein; 2/30.
140. See Hayat ul-Imam il-Hussein; 3/249.
141. See Sheikh al-Mifid's Kitab ul-Irshad; 269.
142. See Maqaatil ut-Talibiyyin; 82.
143. Abu-Turab is one of the names of Imam Ali Amir ul-Muminin.
