Ya Qasima! Ya Qasima! Ya Qasima!
On the night before Ashura when Imam Hussain (as) was passing by Umm-e-Farwa’s tent he heard Qasim say to his mother, “Mother, tomorrow Uncle Abbas, Ali Akbar and I will defend Imam Hussain. Mother, if I get killed please do not weep for me.“ Umm-e-Farwa replied, “My son although I dearly love you, I shall not weep for you. Nothing will make me prouder than to see my son give his life for Islam”. When Imam Hussain (as) heard this conversation he prayed to Allah to bless Hazrat Qasim and Umm-e-Farwa.
On Ashura day after Aun and Muhammad (as) had fallen in the battlefield, Hazrat Qasim came to Imam Hussain (as) and begged for permission to go and fight. Twice Imam Hussain (as) refused saying “Qasim you are young and your mother’s only son. I have promised my brother to look after you. My darling Qasim, you are the image of my brother. You remind me of Hassan. No, Qasim, no. I cannot allow you to die”.
Hazrat Qasim was very disappointed. He went to his mother. Qasim was very disappointed. He went to his mother for help. His mother reminded him of the taveez his father had tied to his arm.
Qasim opened the taveez, and placed inside found a letter for Imam Hussain. Qasim was pleased to see the letter. He took the letter to his uncle, Hussain.
Imam Hussain read the letter from his brother, Hassan:
“Brother Hussain, a day will come when Islam will need to be saved by sacrifice. Hussain, I will not be alive on that day, however my son, Qasim will be there. It is my wish that Qasim should represent me on that day.”
“My dearest Qasim how can I stop you now. Go, Qasim, go.” He took Qasim to Sayeda Zainab (sa).
”Zainab, bring me Hassan’s abaa and his turban.” Imam Hussain dressed Qasim with Imam Hassan’s abaa (cloak) and turban.
“Zainab! Look at Qasim, doesn’t he look handsome? He looks just like our brother Hassan.” Tears flowed from Imam Hussain’s and Sayeda Zainab’s eyes as they remembered their brother.
Husayn then dressed Qasim with the battlefield uniform and gave him the weapons.
As Qasim (as) was riding out, Imam Hussain said “Inna Lilla-hi Wa Inna Ilai-hi Raji'oon”. Hazrat Qasim said “O my uncle - Do not be upset. I do not fear death. Death for Islam will be sweeter for me than honey”.
Hazrat Qasim came to the battle field. He was a very handsome boy. When the enemy saw him, they began to murmur, “How can we kill someone whose face is shining like moon?”
In a loud and a clear voice Hazrat Qasim introduced himself and cried out a challenge for single combat. He killed several famous warriors who came forward.
He was the young son of Hasan, the grandson of ‘Ali and he was trained by ‘Abbas.
Every time he felled an enemy Qasim would stand on his stirrups, look behind and wave to Hazrat Abbas, just as a pupil would seek approval of his teacher on any assignment, Hazrat Abbas would proudly wave back.
When the enemy saw his bravery and realized that they could not possibly over power him in single combats, they came from behind and one of them hit Hazrat Qasim on the head with a sword.
Hazrat Qasim was covered in blood. He tried to go on fighting but alas he was so young and he was so very thirsty! He could not take it anymore. He fell from his horse. As he fell he cried out;
“O, Uncle! Come Quickly! Help me, Uncle!”
Imam Hussain and Hazrat Abbas (as) rushed to the battlefield. The enemies of Islam thought that Imam Hussain and Hazrat Abbas were coming to attack them. They got scared. There was confusion.
Horses ran from one side to another, from here to there! From there to here!
The horses ran over Qasim, who was lying wounded on the ground. He got trampled on.
Imam Hussain and Hazrat Abbas were searching for Hazrat Qasim.
“My darling Qasim, where are you? Qasim! speak to your uncle. Qasim! Qasim! Where are you my son?”
When the enemies withdraw, what did Imam Hussain (as) see?
Hazrat Qasim was not in one piece. The horses had trodden on him and torn him to pieces.
Imagine Imam Hussain’s feelings! His brother, Hasan’s son lying trampled into pieces.
Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!
Hazrat Abbas was so angry when he saw this that he began to shake with fury. He took out his sword and wanted to attack the enemy.
Imam Hussain restrained him saying “Abbas, have patience, dear brother. Do not give them an excuse for saying that we attacked them first”.
What shall Imam Hussain do now? Hazrat Qasim torn into pieces! His arms and legs scattered on the sand of Karbala.
Imam Hussain took off his abaya and spread it on the ground. He gathered the pieces of Qasim’s body as one gathers flowers from a garden, and placed them on his abaya.
He then tied the abaya into a bundle.
Hazrat Abbas helped Imam Hussain carry Qasim’s trampled body.
When Imam Hussain reached the camp, he cried out:
“Z-A-I-N-A-B! Help me Zainab. My heart is broken, Zainab. I have no strength left to carry Qasim’s body to the tent. Zainab, ask Amma Fizza to help you take Qasim to the tent.”
The ladies cried and did matam for Qasim.
“Ya Qasima! Ya Qasima! Ya Qasima!”
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaih Raja’oon!
We are from Allah and to Him we will return!
