On the first day of the month of Safar in year 61 AH (680 AD) after the tragic event of Ashura, the family of the Prophet (PBUH) were taken as prisoners to the city of Sham; A city where poisonous propaganda had been carried out against Amir al-Mo’menin Ali (as) in and around this city for about forty years. Shamians hence, in gratitude for this victory and the arrival of the caravan of prisoners, decorated the city and celebrated.
It was said that the fourth Imam got the best opportunity on the day on which the official preacher mounted the pulpit and abused Imam Ali and his children and eloquently praised Mu’awiya’ and his descendants, and thereupon the Imam said to Yazid: “Do you permit me also to ascend these pieces of wood and to say a few things which may please Allah and also become the means of the hearers earning spiritual reward”. The people insisted that Yazid should accord the Imam permission, but he declined persistently. At last he (Yazid) said: “These are the people, who were fed on knowledge and wisdom while the others were sucklings and children. If I permit him to speak he will disgrace me in the eyes of the people”. Eventually, however, he had to accede to the demand of the people and the fourth Imam mounted the pulpit. He said things which made a serious impact on the minds of the people and they began to cry and lament:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِیمِ
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أُعْطِینَا الله سِتّا
أُعْطِینَا الْعِلْمَ وَ الْحِلْمَ وَ السَّمَاحَةَ وَ الْفَصَاحَةَ وَ الشَّجَاعَةَ وَ الْمَحَبَّةَ فِی قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنِینَ
O people!
We have been bestowed six qualities by Allah. Knowledge, forbearance, munificence, eloquence, valor and friendship in the hearts of the believers are present in us.
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
فُضِّلْنَا بِسَبْعٍ
وَ فُضِّلْنَا بِأَنَّ مِنَّا النَّبِیَّ الْمُخْتَارَ مُحَمَّداً وَ مِنَّا الصِّدِّیقُ وَ مِنَّا الطَّیَّارُ وَ مِنَّا أَسَدُ اللَّهِ وَ أَسَدُ رَسُولِهِ وَ مِنَّا سِبْطَا هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ
مَنْ عَرَفَنِی فَقَدْ عَرَفَنِی وَ مَنْ لَمْ یَعْرِفْنِی أَنْبَأْتُهُ بِحَسَبِی وَ نَسَبِی
O people!
We have been bestowed seven merits by Allah.
our merits are that the Prophet in Authority is from amongst us; the Truthful (Imam Ali) is from amongst us; the Flyer (Ja’far at Tayyar) is from amongst us; the Lion of Allah, and that of His Prophet, is from amongst us; while also the two Sibtain (Hasan and Husayn) of this nation are from amongst us.
Whoever recognizes me knows me, and whoever does not recognize, let me tell him who I am and to what family I belong:
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أَنَا ابْنُ مَكَّةَ وَ مِنَى
أَنَا ابْنُ زَمْزَمَ وَ الصَّفَا
أَنَا ابْنُ مَنْ حَمَلَ الرُّكْنَ بِأَطْرَافِ الرِّدَا
O people!
I am the son of Mecca and of Meena.
I am the son of Zamzam and Safa.
I am the descendant of the one who carried the Black Stone in his cloak and put it in its place( Abraham (as)).
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أَنَا ابْنُ خَیْرِ مَنْ طَافَ وَ سَعَی
أَنَا ابْنُ خَیْرِ مَنْ حَجَّ وَ لَبَّی
أَنَا ابْنُ مَنْ حُمِلَ عَلَی الْبُرَاقِ فِی الْهَوَاءِ
O people!
I am the son of the best man who ever made tawaf (the procession round the Kaaba) and Sa‘i (ceremony of running seven times between Safa and Marwa); I am the son of the best man who ever offered the hajj and pronounced talbiya (Here I am at your service); I am the son of the one who was transported on the Buraq.
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أَنَا ابْنُ مَنْ أُسْرِيَ بِهِ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى
أَنَا ابْنُ مَنْ بَلَغَ بِهِ جَبْرَئِيلُ إِلَى سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى
أَنَا ابْنُ مَنْ دَنا فَتَدَلَّى فَكانَ قابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنى
O people!
I am the son of the one who was made to travel from the Masjid al_Haram to the al_Aqsa Mosque,
I am the son of the one who was taken by Gabriel to sidrat al-muntaha and drew near to God at the nearest point.
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أَنَا ابْنُ مَنْ صَلَّی بِمَلَائِکَةِ السَّمَاءِ
أَنَا ابْنُ مَنْ أَوْحَی إِلَیْهِ الْجَلِیلُ مَا أَوْحَی
O people!
I am the descendant of the one who prayed with the angels of heaven,
I am the son of prophet whom the Almighty God give revelation.
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أَنَا ابْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُصْطَفَى أَنَا ابْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْمُرْتَضَى
أَنَا ابْنُ مَنْ ضَرَبَ خَرَاطِيمَ الْخَلْقِ حَتَّى قَالُوا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
O people!
I am the son of Muhammad al-Mustafa;
I am the son of ‘Ali al-Murtada;
I am the son of the one who fought against the disobedients till they said:
There is no God but Allah.
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أَنَا ابْنُ مَنْ ضَرَبَ بَیْنَ یَدَیْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ بِسَیْفَیْنِ وَ طَعَنَ بِرُمْحَیْنِ وَ هَاجَرَ الْهِجْرَتَیْنِ وَ بَایَعَ الْبَیْعَتَیْنِ وَ قَاتَلَ بِبَدْرٍ وَ حُنَیْنٍ وَ لَمْ یَکْفُرْ بِاللَّهِ طَرْفَةَ عَیْنٍ
O people!
I am the son of person who fought against enemies with two swords. He emigrated twice, pledged allegiance twice (to the prophet), fought the disbelievers in the battles of Hunain and Badr and didn’t disobey God for a moment.
(أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أَنَا ابْنُ صَالِحِ الْمُؤْمِنِینَ وَ وَارِثِ النَّبِیِّینَ وَ قَامِعِ الْمُلْحِدِینَ وَ یَعْسُوبِ الْمُسْلِمِینَ وَ نُورِ الْمُجَاهِدِینَ وَ زَیْنِ الْعَابِدِینَ
O people!
I am the son of the best of the believers, the heir of the prophets, the destroyer of the unbelievers, the Commander of the Muslims, the light of the mujahidin, the ornament of the worshippers.
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ )
أَنَا تَاجِ الْبَكَّائِينَ وَ أَصْبَرِ الصَّابِرِينَ وَ أَفْضَلِ الْقَائِمِينَ مِنْ آلِ يَاسِينَ رَسُولِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
O people!
I am the crown of the weepers, the most patient one, and the best of the steadfast from among the family of prophet.
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أَنَا ابْنُ الْمُؤَيَّدِ بِجَبْرَئِيلَ الْمَنْصُورِ بِمِيكَائِيلَ
أَنَا ابْنُ الْمُحَامِي عَنْ حَرَمِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ قَاتِلِ الْمَارِقِینَ وَ النَّاکِثِینَ وَ الْقَاسِطِینَ وَ الْمُجَاهِدِ أَعْدَاءَهُ النَّاصِبِینَ
O people!
I am the descendant of the one who was approved by Gabriel and Michael helped him,
I am the descendant of the one who defended the Muslims and fought with Mariqin (those who had come out of religion), Naqithin (those who had broken their oath), and Qasitin (those who were oppressors and did not accepted the right) and fought with his enemies.
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أنا ابن أَفْخَرِ مَنْ مَشَی مِنْ قُرَیْشٍ أَجْمَعِینَ وَ أَوَّلِ مَنْ أَجَابَ وَ اسْتَجَابَ لِلَّهِ وَ لِرَسُولِهِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِینَ
O people!
I am the descendant of the best member of the tribe of Quraish,
I am the descendant of the one who first responded to the invitation of God and the Prophet (Peace be upon him and his family).
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أنا ابن أَوَّلِ السَّابِقِينَ، وَ قَاصِمِ الْمُعْتَدِینَ و مُبِیدِ الْمُشْرِکِینَ وَ سَهْمٍ مِنْ مَرَامِی اللَّهِ عَلَی الْمُنَافِقِینَ وَ لِسَانِ حِکْمَةِ الْعَابِدِینَ وَ نَاصِرِ دِینِ اللَّهِ وَ وَلِیِّ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ وَ بُسْتَانِ حِکْمَةِ اللَّهِ وَ عَیْبَةِ عِلْمِهِ
O people!
I am the descendant of one who believed before all, broke the spines of the assailants and the annihilated of the polytheists, “the arrow of God” to the hypocrites, the tongue of wisdom to the believers, the defender of the religion of God and its representative, the garden of divine wisdom and the bearer of divine science.
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أنا ابْنُ مَنْ سَمِحٌ سَخِیٌّ بَهِیٌّ بُهْلُولٌ زَکِیٌّ أَبْطَحِیٌّ رَضِیٌّ مِقْدَامٌ هُمَامٌ صَابِرٌ صَوَّامٌ مُهَذَّبٌ قَوَّامٌ
O people!
I am the descendant of the one who was courageous, generous, good looking, possessed all the goodness, Sayyid (Master), noble, Abtahi (Hachimi), satisfied with the divine will, faced the difficulties, patiently, constantly in fasting, pure of all filth and prayed a lot.
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أَنَا ابْنُ قَاطِعُ الْأَصْلَابِ وَ مُفَرِّقُ الْأَحْزَابِ أَرْبَطُهُمْ عِنَاناً وَ أَثْبَتُهُمْ جَنَاناً وَ أَمْضَاهُمْ عَزِیمَةً
O people!
I am the descendant of the one who conquered the enemies and the clan of the disbelievers. He had a firm heart and steadfast will.
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أَنَا ابْنُ أَشَدُّهُمْ شَکِیمَةً أَسَدٌ بَاسِلٌ یَطْحَنُهُمْ فِی الْحُرُوبِ إِذَا ازْدَلَفَتِ الْأَسِنَّةُ وَ قَرُبَتِ الْأَعِنَّةُ طَحْنَ الرَّحَی وَ یَذْرُوهُمْ فِیهَا ذَرْوَ الرِّیح الْهَشِيم
O people!
I am the descendant of one who was brave like a lion, broke the arrows that rained on the battlefield and scattered them like the wind scatters.
(أَیُّهَا النَّاسُ)
أَنَا ابْنُ لَيْثُ الْحِجَازِ وَ كَبْشُ الْعِرَاقِ مَكِّيٌّ مَدَنِيٌّ خَيْفِيٌّ عَقَبِيٌّ بَدْرِيٌّ أُحُدِيٌّ شَجَرِيٌّ مُهَاجِرِيٌ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ سَيِّدُهَا وَ مِنَ الْوَغَى لَيْثُهَا وَارِثُ الْمَشْعَرَيْنِ وَ أَبُو السِّبْطَيْنِ الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ
ذَالكَ جَدِّي عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ
O people!
I am the descendant of the lion of al-Hijaz, the great man of Iraq, Makki, Madani, Abtahi, Tuhami, Khayfi, ‘Uqbi, Badri, Uhdi, Shajari, Muhajiri, the Lord of the Arabs, the Lion of war, the inheritor of two Mash‘ar, the father of the two grandsons (of the Prophet) Hasan and Husayn,
he is my grandfather, ‘Ali b. Abi Talib”.
ثُمَّ قَالَ
(أیُّها النّاس)
أَنَا ابْنُ فَاطِمَةَ الزَّهْرَاءِ
أَنَا ابْنُ سَيِّدَةِ النِّسَاءِ
أَنَا ابنُ خَدیجهَ الکبری
Then he said:
O people! I am the son of Fatima Zahra (Peace be upon her) the best women of the world,
I am the son of Khadija Kubra (Peace be upon her).
(أَيُّها النّاس)
أَنَا ابْنُ الحسين القتيل بكربلا، انا ابن المرمل بالدماء
انا ابن من بكى عليه الجن في الظلماء
انا ابن من ناح عليه الطيور في الهواء
فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَقُولُ أَنَا أَنَا حَتَّى ضَجَّ النَّاسُ بِالْبُكَاءِ وَ النَّحِيبِ
O people!
I am the son of Husayn, the one killed at Karbala. I am the son of the one who was smeared in blood and sand. I am the son of the one who was lamented upon by the genie in the darkness of the night. I am the son of the one who was mourned by the birds.
so continued this glorious epic that people cried.
فَلَمَّا قَالَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ الْتَفَتَ (عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ) مِنْ فَوْقِ الْمِنْبَرِ إِلَى يَزِيدَ فَقَالَ
مُحَمَّدٌ هَذَا جَدِّي أَمْ جَدُّكَ يَا يَزِيدُ فَإِنْ زَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُ جَدُّكَ فَقَدْ كَذَبْتَ وَ كَفَرْتَ وَ إِنْ زَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُ جَدِّي فَلِمَ قَتَلْتَ عِتْرَتَه
When the muezzin announced: I certify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, Imam Sajjad (Peace be upon him) addressed Yazid in these terms:
“Yazid, this Muhammad (referred to in the call to prayer) is my ancestor or your ancestor ?! If you say he’s your ancestor, everyone knows you’re lying and you’ve become an infidel, and if he’s my ancestor, then why did you kill his family ?!
The Sermon of Imam Sajjad (as) in Sham Mosque was one of the most sensitive words of Imam Sajjad (as) that created a great change in the people’s view of the Umayyads and upset Yazid’s equations. The effect of the speech was so powerful that everybody in the court began to weep, their hearts trembled, and they started to blame Yazid. Yazid was afraid that the Imam continued his speech, there would be a revolution and revolt. At the same time, Yazid could not stop Imam and get him down from the pulpit.
He, therefore, ordered a caller of prayer to give Azaan, knowing that this would automatically cut the Imam’s speech. When the Muazzin said “Allahu Akbar”, the Imam testified Allah’s greatness. When the Muazzin said, “Ash hadu anna Muhammadan Rasoolullah”, the Imam stopped the muazzin from going any further. He then turned to Yazid and asked him,” Tell me O Yazid, was Muhammad (pbuh) your grandfather or mine? If you say he was your grandfather, it would be an open lie, and if you say he was my grandfather then why have you killed his son and imprisoned his family? Why have you killed my father and brought his family to this city as prisoners”?
Editor: Banoo Saeed