Martyrdom of Hazrat Muslim's young Sons

Actual Shrine of Tiflan-E-Muslim in Iraq. 

Shrine dedicated to Hazrat Muslim's Sons at Hyderabad -India 

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Hyderabad is perhaps the only place in Indian Sub-continent with an exclusive shrine dedicated to Hazrat Muslim’s two sons who too were martyred. The shrine is known as ‘Yateemon Ka Alawa’ and located in outer DabirPura. It contains  a replica of the Sarcophagus of the orphan sons of Hazrat Muslim, the cousin and emissary of Imam Hussain, who were slain in Kufa, is kept here. The construction of the shrine dates back to the period of 7^th Golconda King Abdullah Qutub Shah. On ‘Yaum-E-Ashura’ (the 10^th Day of Muharram) a large number of mourners visit the shrine of Muhammad and Ibrahim, two young sons of Hazrat Muslim after dusk. They pay tribute to the sons of Hazrat Muslim, the cousin and Emissary of Imam Hussain and recall their martyrdom in the saddest and moving circumstances. It is also narrated that Sarcophagus(a stone coffin) used to be taken out in an imposing procession with a Standard carried as an advance guard on an elephant when kings ruled Hyderabad. But now the procession is not taken out and sarcophagus remains within the shrine. Devotees place sand, sea shells and coins under the Sarcophagus and carry home with them a small part of their offerings, believing that these would bring prosperity to them.

Narrators and historians have given different accounts about circumstances leading to the martyrdom of Hazrat Muslim’s sons. There is difference in opinion over the exact date of their martyrdom too. But majority of the people believe 20^th Zil Hijj as the day of their martyrdom. There is no unanimity even about their whereabouts after the martyrdom of their father Hazrat Muslim. One version reveals that they accompanied their father when he proceeded to Kufa to ascertain the stand of those who had invited Imam Hussain through thousands of letters. The other version Says that they did not accompany Hazrat Muslim and were imprisoned after the tragedy of Karbala on the orders of Ibn Ziyad.   

It is also narrated that young orphans of Hazrat Muslim spent about one year in prison under extreme hardship. Ibn Ziyad had given strict orders to the prison staff to offer only two pieces of barley bread with a cup of water each evening. A kind hearted Jailer upon coming to know about their association with the Prophet’s family released them. He told them to travel at night only or else they might once again land in the custody of Ibn Ziyad’s soldiers. Jailer also told them about the direction of Medina. Being in their pre-teens, the two brothers lost direction and became tired and exhausted after sometime. They asked an old woman to give them shelter for the night. She treated them with kindness upon coming to know about their linkage with the family of Holy Prophet. As her son-in-Law, Haris was a supporter of Ibn Ziyad, she placed the boys in a dark room. But Haris somehow came to know about their presence in the house. He discovered them and bound their feet together.

    

The following morning, Haris asked his slave  Fatih to kill the boys on the bank of the river. But slave fled as he did not wish to kill boys belonging to the Prophet Muhammad’s progeny. Haris then wanted his son to kill Hazrat Muslim’s sons but he too refused and left. Finally, Haris himself took  the boys to the bank of river Euphrates to kill them. The brothers pleaded with him to sell them as slaves. They also requested him to present them before ibn Ziyad but he flatly refused. Then, they sought permission to offer Namaz. Haris granted them permission and killed them even as they   looked up towards the heaven and prayed after the Namaz: “O’ Thou alive, O’ Thou wise, O’ who is the best of all the judges; Thou judge us and him with justice.” Haris wrapped their heads and approached ibn Ziyad with the hope of a generous reward. When Ibn Ziyad saw their heads , he  exclaimed, “Woe upon you! Where did you find them?” Haris told the whole story. On being asked as to why did he not bring them alive , cruel Haris replied “my heart did not allow me, except that by spilling their blood I should seek your nearness. Then, Ziyad asked about the last words of the slain brothers. Haris repeated their prayer seeking Justice of Allah. Upon listening to their last prayer, Ibn Ziyad said, “Allah has done justice between you and those children.” Then he ordered that Haris should  be executed at the same place where he had killed  the two children. Thus, the prayers of the innocent victims were answered. The actual shrine of Hazrat Muslim’s sons is in  Musayyib area about 10 Kms from Karbala and is visited by a large number of devotees every day.(The article has been posted to mark the martyrdom day of Tiflan-E-Muslim i.e.20th Zil Hijj)

References :

1-“Nasak-ut-Tawarikh,”

2-Qazvini’s  “Roda al Shod’a”

3- The story of Karbala by Ali Nazari Munfarid

4- “Muntahal Amaal” by Sheikh Abbas Qummi.

5-Website of Salman Book Depot, Hyderabad India) .