The Tragic Tale of the Six-Month-Old Hero of Karbala

In the shadow of the grim tragedy that unfolded on the desolate plains of Karbala, there lies the heart-wrenching story of Ali Asghar, the youngest martyr of this heart-rending saga. Born on the 10th of the Islamic month of Rajab in the year 60 AH, Ali Asghar was destined to become an eternal symbol of unmatched sacrifice and innocence of Hussain (a.) on the 10th of Muharram in 61 AH (October 10, 680 AD).

The Grief of Ashura

Ali Asghar, an infant of only six months, a mere cradle of innocence, was the beloved son of Hussain (a.) and Umme Rubab, and the great grandson of Prophet Muhammad (s.). His mother, Rubab, a daughter of the noble chief of the Kinda Imra al-Qays tribe, was blessed with two precious children, Sakina and Ali Asghar. Together with their mother and the rest of Hussain’s (a.) relatives and companions, these innocent souls accompanied Hussain (a.) on the fateful journey to Karbala.

As the sun reached its zenith on the day of Ashura, the companions and friends of Hussain (a.) were martyred one by one, leaving behind a heart-rending silence. Aun and Muhammed, his sister’s sons; Qasim, his brother’s son; Abbas, his own brother; and Ali Akbar, his cherished son, bearing a striking resemblance to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.), all went forth valiantly to meet their fate on the battlefield. By afternoon, Hussain (a.) stood alone, bracing himself for the inevitable.

The moment arrived when Hussain (peace be upon him) had to bid his final farewell to all. With Zulfiqar, his sword, fastened at his side and astride his faithful steed, Zuljanah, Hussain (a.) advanced to a small knoll. There, he issued a heart-rending call, “Is there anyone to help me? Is there anyone to assist the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.)?” This call was a final plea to the very men who professed to be Muslims, followers of the teachings of the same Prophet they had forsaken. Hussain (a.) sought to remind them of his illustrious lineage as the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (s.), a lineage that the Holy Prophet himself held in great affection for his beloved grandsons, Hussain (a.) and Hassan (a.). Yet, no response emerged from Yazid’s army, except for the haunting sound of crying echoing from Hussain’s (a.) camp. He retraced his steps to the tents.

There, he encountered his sister, Zainab (s.a.), who wept profusely. Inquisitively, Hussain (a.) asked her, “Zainab, why do you weep when your brother still lives?” Zainab (s.a.) replied, “Brother Hussain, when you cried out ‘Is there anyone to help me?’ Ali Asghar fell from his cradle.” Ali Asghar, a mere six-month-old infant, stood as the youngest member of Hussain’s (a.) family in Karbala. Understanding the unspoken message conveyed by this incident, Hussain (a.) approached his child’s cradle, where Umme Rubab, the infant’s mother, also stood, her heart heavy with foreboding. The baby was nestled in her lap, crying inconsolably. With a gentle touch, Hussain (a.) took the infant into his arms and whispered soothingly in his ear. Miraculously, Ali Asghar ceased to cry, gazing up at his father with a serene smile.

Turning to Umme Rubab, Hussain (a.) spoke, “Umme Rubab, I shall take Ali Asghar with me to the battlefield, that I may procure water for him.” The whispered words that comforted Ali Asghar were, “My son, Ali Asghar, would you like to join me on the battlefield? Would you demonstrate your valor, my little warrior, Ali Asghar?”

A Father’s Heartbreaking Plea for Water

Umme Rubab swiftly changed Ali Asghar’s attire, preparing him for the arduous journey ahead. Hussain (a.) cradled the infant and approached the battlefield, shielding him from the scorching sun with his cloak. Observing this, the soldiers of Yazid assumed that Hussain (a.) was brandishing the Quran as a gesture of surrender. In response, they mocked, “Behold, Hussain approaches, clutching the Quran. He stands bereft of allies and hopes to win through divine intervention.” Hussain (a.) approached the soldiers and unveiled Ali Asghar, exposing the helpless child. He pleaded, “Soldiers of Yazid, do you deem this infant a threat? His mother’s milk has withered, and he has not tasted water for three agonizing days. I beseech you, extend mercy to this innocent child.”

Yet, not a single soldier from Yazid’s army offered a drop of water to Ali Asghar.

Hussain (a.) made a final appeal, saying, “If you fear that I would share this water with the child, I shall lay him on the ground, and you may quench his thirst yourselves.” Gently placing Ali Asghar on the scalding sands of Karbala, Hussain (a.) stepped back. The baby lay still, silently gazing at the soldiers of Yazid.

But still, no water came for Ali Asghar.

Addressing his son, Hussain (a.) said, “My son, Ali Asghar, you are too young to wield a sword or a spear. My little warrior, you are the grandson of Ali (a.). Ali Asghar, wage your battle with your tongue. Show them your thirst!” At those words, Ali Asghar turned his head towards the soldiers, offering a sweet smile. He extended his parched tongue and moved it over his dry lips, all the while beseeching Yazid’s men with his wordless plea. This innocent act struck a chord in the hearts of those soldiers, many of whom had children of their own. Restlessness spread, tears welled up, and they conversed amongst themselves, questioning the cruelty of their actions and the plight of this innocent child.

Shimr, one of Yazid’s most ruthless commanders, interjected with harsh words: “Beware, soldiers! Hussain seeks to exploit your compassion. Do not forget Emir ibn Ziyad’s decree that no water must reach Hussain or his family. Disobedience invites immediate punishment.”

Umar ibn Sa’ad, the commander of Yazid’s army, felt unease at the prospect of his soldiers rebelling. Ali Asghar’s silent battle had a profound impact. It seemed that Ali Asghar was winning hearts in his confrontation with the might of Yazid. Umar ibn Sa’ad, fearing the tide of sympathy, commanded his most skilled archer, “Harmalah! What are you waiting for? Silence Hussain! Silence the little child! Don’t you know he is a grandson of Ali? Hurry, shoot your arrow, before it is too late.”.

Harmalah, preparing to shoot his arrow, did not employ a typical arrow but one with three sharp prongs, typically used for killing horses. With three sharp prongs, he launched this fateful arrow across the desolate expanse of Karbala. Its target was Ali Asghar. Hussain (a.) saw the arrow’s trajectory and instinctively shielded Ali Asghar with his arms. As Hussain (a.) looked down at Ali Asghar, he beheld the arrow lodged in the infant’s fragile neck, pinning him to Hussain’s (a.) ribs and arm. Hussain (a.) began to feel faint. Everything went dark and Hussain (a.) could not see for a while. Ali Asghar’s life was extinguished in an instant.

Hussain (a.) gently withdrew the arrow from Ali Asghar’s tiny neck, an image of a father’s unimaginable anguish. As you, dear readers, place your hand on your heart, envision a father extracting an arrow from his child’s neck—a scene of indescribable tragedy. Blood flowed from Ali Asghar’s neck, and Hussain (a.) collected the crimson tears of his beloved son on his palm. Gazing heavenward, then earthward, Hussain (a.) finally besmeared Ali Asghar’s blood on his own face.

According to an account, Zainul Aabidin (a.), Hussain’s (a.) eldest son and the sole survivor on the day of Ashura, was asked about Hussain’s (a.) actions with Ali Asghar’s blood on his face. Zainul Aabidin (a.) revealed, “My father was saying, ‘Before God, I swear that these wretched people are cruel even to an infant. If I throw the blood of this innocent martyr toward the sky, no rain will ever fall anywhere on the earth, and if I throw it on the earth, it will become parched and unproductive forever. Therefore, I am applying it to my face so that I may complain to my Creator about the cruelty of these people.'”

Hussain (a.) began his journey back to the tents, where Ali Asghar’s mother, Umme Rubab, stood in anxious anticipation. A mother’s heart, yearning for her child’s return. Hussain (a.) pondered, “How can I face Umme Rubab? What words can I offer her? How can I convey the news of her baby’s martyrdom due to thirst?” Seven times he ventured forth and retreated, repeating the words, “INNA LILLAHE WA INNA ELAIHE RAJEOON” – “From God we come and to God we return.”

The Unspeakable Burial

Finally, he reached the tent where Umme Rubab stood. “Rubab, come and take your Ali Asghar. Rubab, your little warrior has given his life for the sake of Allah.” Umme Rubab beheld her husband’s blood-soaked visage and cried out, “What have they done to my son? Did they even give him a drop of water before they took his life?” Hussain (a.) replied, “I implored them to quench his thirst, but instead, they quenched their swords with his blood.” Gently, Umme Rubab received her precious child, Ali Asghar. She cradled him, weeping inconsolably, and entreated Hussain (a.), “Please, bury Ali Asghar with your own hands.”

Hussain (a.) and Umme Rubab made their way to the rear of the tents. There, Hussain (a.) knelt down to prepare a small grave in the searing desert sand. With his trusty sword, Zulfiqar, he dug the modest resting place for his baby son. Hussain (a.) covered Ali Asghar’s body with the hot sand of Karbala and started staring at the beautiful face of Ali Asghar with tearful eyes. Umme Rubab moved forward and tenderly covered Ali Asghar’s flower-like face within the shallow grave.

Dear readers, have you ever heard of a father and mother digging their own child’s grave? Where could Hussain (a.) find water to sprinkle upon Ali Asghar’s final resting place? There was no water to be found. As Hussain (a.) sat beside the grave, tears flowed unceasingly, and Ali Asghar’s sepulcher was moistened by the tears of a heartbroken father.

Soon after Ali Asghar, Hussain (a.) met his Creator. Umar ibn Sa’ad offered a reward to anyone who could bring him the severed heads of Hussain’s (a.) companions. Ultimately, all the severed heads were presented, except that of the six-month-old child whom Harmalah had killed. It was then revealed that Hussain (a.) had buried his own son.

Upon Umar ibn Sa’ad’s order, his soldiers scoured the vicinity of Hussain’s (a.) camp, thrusting their swords and spears into the earth until they located Ali Asghar’s grave. Once discovered, they severed his head from his fragile body, raising it aloft alongside the head of Hussain (a.) and heads of his companions. The imprisoned women, including Umme Rubab, and Hussain’s (a.) daughter, Sakina (s.a.), were forced to witness this macabre display.

Hussain’s (a.) Sacrifice Inspires Millions

Hussain’s (a.) sacrifice, epitomized by Ali Asghar’s ordeal, continues to resonate with humanity. Only God comprehends the depth of patience and fortitude granted to Hussain (a.) as he endured an unbearable series of tragedies. His steadfastness in the face of such calamities serves as an enduring lesson for those undergoing suffering in their lives.

Hussain’s (a.) journey, marked by the presence of a newborn child, exemplified his intent to protect Islam from corruption, innovation, and distortion at the hands of the corrupt Umayyad rulers. His refusal to pledge allegiance to the tyrannical ruler Yazid affirmed the principle that believers should never align with falsehood and tyranny. His sacrifice inspires us to stand unwaveringly for truth, justice, compassion, and positive societal change, even in the face of insurmountable odds.