Saturday 8 October 2016

Jaun(John)-Exemplary Companion of Imam Hussain

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Dr. Mazhar Naqvi
Since the inception of blog under the title of Muharram Mirror about three years ago, not a single article has so far been posted on ‘Ashab’(companions) of Hazrat Imam Hussain. The blogger admits his mistake and considers his indifference towards them as a grave injustice to their contribution to Karbala revolution. Blogger seeks forgiveness for his folly and thank Allah and Imam Hussain for making him realize his mistake and offering an opportunity to rectify it. Companions of king of the martyrs deserve special attention from lovers of Ahle-Bait, for imam himself had stated that his ‘Ashab’ were the best and neither Prophet nor his father Hazrat Ali and also his elder brother imam Hasan had such companions. He said so because they stood with him against the most adverse circumstances and refused to desert him even though he asked them to leave him in the wake of certain death. None of them left them. One such companion was Hazrat Jaun(John).After seeking permission from Imam, he challenged yazidi soldiers with the following poem on his lips:
“I am a soul willing to die for Allah,

and have a sword thirsty of the blood of his enemies

Before I die I shall fight the enemies of Allah,

with my sword and my tongue serve the grandson of his prophet.”






He was Christian freedman. He had served as slave of Hazrat Abu Dharr (Zarr) al-Ghaffari. When his master was exiled from Medina by the ruling Caliph, he went to Hazrat Ali who allowed him to stay with him as one of his companions. Jaun stayed with Imam Hasan after the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali in the mosque of Kufa in 40 Hijri. He joined Imam Hussain when Imam Hasan too attained martyrdom. When Imam Hussain left  Medina after being asked to declare allegiance to Yazid on Rajab 28 in 60 AH, Jaun insisted on accompanying him and reached Karbala with his small band of followers.
At Karbala, Jaun  always  seen at the side of Imam despite his old age. He was respected for his profound knowledge and pleasant manner by one and all even though he was a  dark complexioned man with gray curly hair being an Abyssinian. On the night before Ashura, Imam urged Jaun  to go somewhere else, saying "You have accompanied us all the way but now you may go" .But Jaun asked a question in reply, stating “how is it fair that I benefit from your company and hospitality but abandon you in your hardship?" Imam listened to his words silently and did not pursue the matter further. 
He spent 'Shabe-Ashura' (Night preceding Ashura(10th of Muharram month) in sharpening his sword. On Yaum-e-Ashura, he was instrumental in repelling the first two attacks from Yazidi army. After the Zuhr prayers, Jaun approached Imam and stood silently. Imam then said  " I know why have you  come? I grant you permission to go to the battlefield. You have been a good and trusted friend. I will not deny you martyrdom for Islam. Go, Allah be with you!".Words of Imam filled Jaun with delight. He pounced upon the enemy ranks while reciting the above poem. He fought bravely and received severe blows but he kept on reciting the poem. When he fell from horse as a result of mortal blows inflicted on him and unable to face the assailants, he continued to fight with his tongue by reciting the poem till his martyrdom.( References available on request. Photo by Google images)


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