Qasim ibn Hasan

Al Qasim ibn Hasan ( _ar. قاسم بن حسن) (Seventh of Sha'aban, 47th A.H. - Tenth of Muharram, 61st A.H.) was the son of the Second Shī`a Imām, Hasan ibn Ali, and grandson of the First Shī`a Imām, Ali ibn Abi Talib. He was born in 669, three years before the death his father.

When Hasan's brother Husayn prepared to leave Madinah in 670, Qasim's mother Umm Farwa asked Husayn to take her and Qasim with him. Husayn agreed. Qasim, although only 14 years old, had, like his cousins Aun and Muhammad, learnt fencing from his uncles Abbas and his cousin Ali Akbar. Abbas ibn Ali was very fond of Qasim ibn Hasan.

At the Battle of Karbala

On the night before the Battle of Karbala, Husayn was passing by Umm Farwa's tent, he heard Qasim saying to his mother, "Mother, tomorrow Uncle Abbas, Ali Akbar and I will defend uncle Husayn. Mother, if I get killed please do not weep for me." Umm 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 Husain heard this conversation he prayed to Allah to bless Qasim and Umm-e-Farwa.

On the day of Ashura, when Aun and Muhammad had fallen in the battlefield, Qasim came to Husain and begged for permission to go and fight. Twice Husayn refused saying "Qasim you are young and your mother's only son.", which disappointed Qasim very much.

According to Shi'a tradition, he went to his mother, who at this sight remembered that just before her husband Hasan had died, he had written a letter, giving it to Umm Farwa saying, "“If ever you find Qasim in difficulty then give him this letter." She gave Qasim the letter, which said: "My son Qasim, a day will come when my brother Husayn will be facing an enemy army of tens of thousands. That will be the day when Islam will need to be saved by sacrifice. You must represent me on that day." Having read the letter, Qasim rushed to Husayn and gave him the letter and Husayn replied," "O my brother's son, how can I stop you from doing what your father wanted you to do?"

Husayn tied Hasan's turban on the head of Qasim and helped him mount his horse. Qasim said, "O my uncle, please do not be upset. I don’t fear death. Death for Islam will be sweeter for me than honey." When Qasim came to the battle field, the enemy remarked "How can we kill someone whose face is shining like moon?", as Qasim was a very handsome boy.

In a loud and a clear voice Qasim introduced himself and cried out a challenge for single combat. He killed several famous warriors who came forward.

Every time he killed an enemy, Qasim would stand on his stirrups, look behind and wave to Abbas, just as a pupil would seek approval of his teacher on an assignment, and 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 Umar ibn Nafyl al-Azdi hit Qasim on the head with a sword.

Qasim tried to go on fighting but since he was so young and very thirsty, he could not carry on fighting. After a while he fell from his horse crying out to Husayn, "O uncle, Accept My Last Salam." Husayn and Abbas rode out. The soldiers tried to stop them, when finally they came to where Qasim had fallen they saw a dreadful sight. Qasim's body had been trampled by the horses of the soldiers who had tried to stop Husain and Abbas. Husayn was extremely angry and shaken by this, he immediately took out his sword and struck Umar ibn Nafil al-Azdi who had hit Qasim with a sword and caused him to fall to the ground. Husayn's blow cut Umar ibn Nafil al-Azdi in half from the middle and caused the rest of the enemy forces to flee.

ee also

* Azadari

External links

* [http://www.jafariyanews.com/articles/2k4/23sept_hazratqasim.htm jafariyanews.com]
* [http://www.ashura-e-karbala.20fr.com/hazrat%20Qasim%20(A.S).html ashura-e-karbala.20fr.com]