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 a 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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