Aun ibn Abdullah and Muhammad ibn Abdullah

Aun and Muhammad were the sons of Abdullah ibn Ja'far and Zaynab binte Ali. They had not accompanied Zaynab binte Ali when she left Medina with third Shi’a Imam, Hussain ibn Ali. Just before Hussain ibn Ali started his journey from Mecca, Abdullah ibn Ja'far brought his two sons to Mecca and handing them over to Hussain ibn Ali said, "O Hussain ibn Ali, since you have decided to go and will not allow me to come with you, please take my two sons with you. Aun will represent his maternal grandfather Ali ibn Abu Talib and Mohammad will represent his paternal grandfather Ja'far ibn Abu Talib". He then went to Zaynab binte Ali and said, "I have brought to you our two sons to go with you. In the time of difficulty on the Imam of our time, give one son as sadqa from your side and the other one as sadqa from my side".

Aun and Muhammad were quite young. It is reported that Aun was about thirteen and Muhammad was a year or two younger. They had learnt the art of fencing from their uncle, Abbas ibn Ali.

On the night before Day of Ashura Zaynab binte Ali said to them, "My sons, tomorrow there will be a battle. I can not ask you to fight because you are young. But if anything happens to Hussain ibn Ali, while you are still alive, I will be filled with shame." Both the boys stood up and said "Mother, we have the blood of Ali ibn Abu Talib and Ja’far ibn Abu Talib in our veins. Our grand fathers were warriors whose fame will always be remembered. Do you think we can possibly shame them? More over we are the pupils of Abbas ibn Ali. Mother, unless you forbid us and stop us from fighting, we shall go to the battlefield and show the enemies of Islam how bravely the children of Islam can fight. All we want from you is a promise that you will never weep for us. Our souls will never rest in peace if you grieve for us after we are gone".

Tears of joy and pride flowed down Zaynab binte Ali's eyes as she embraced her two boys. In the morning during the general attacks from the enemy, Aun and Muhammad fought side by side with Ali Akbar ibn Husayn, Qasim ibn Hassan, and Abbas ibn Ali. Every time either of them succeeded in defeating an enemy, he would look proudly at Abbas ibn Ali who would smile and nod his approval. Hussain ibn Ali would not, however, give the two boys permission to go for single combat. They were very disappointed. They came to their mother for help. Zaynab binte Ali sent someone to request Hussain ibn Ali to come to her tent. When Hussain ibn Ali came to Zaynab binte Ali, she said, "Hussain, at the battle of Siffin Abbas was only eight years old. When he saw someone trying to attack you, he rushed into the battle field and killed the man. Do you remember how proud our father Ali was? Today I too want to be proud of my sons. I want to see them go out there and defend Islam. Will you not allow me that privilege?" Hussain ibn Ali stood there in silence. He looked at his sister. He saw the disappointment on her face. He saw tears forming around her eyes. He put his arms around the two boys and led them to their horses. He kissed them and then helped them mount. "Go," said Hussain ibn Ali, "Go, and show the world how those as young as you can fight the injustice and oppression of Yazid!" Then he turned round and lifted the curtain of the tent. The boys raised their hands and said "Fi Amaani-llah (farewell), mother!" Zaynab binte Ali replied, "Bismillah my sons. Allah be with you!"

The two boys rode out into the battlefield. They fought bravely. At one point Umar ibn Sa'ad asked, "Who are these two youngsters? They fight like I have seen Ali ibn Abu Talib and Ja’far ibn Abu Talib fight." When he was told who they were he ordered his soldiers to give up single combats and surround and kill the boys. Aun and Muhammad were attacked from all sides. Soon they were over-powered and brutally killed. Hussain ibn Ali and Abbas ibn Ali carried the two young bodies to a tent and laid them on the floor. Hussain ibn Ali walked to Zaynab binte Ali's tent. He found her in sajdah praying, "Ya Allah, I thank you for accepting my sacrifice. My heart is filled with pride because my two sons have given their lives for your religion."

ee also

* Islamic Prophet Muhammad
* Ali ibn Abu Talib
* Ja'far ibn Abu Talib
* Hussain ibn Ali
* Abbas ibn Ali
* Ali Akbar ibn Husayn
* Qasim ibn Hassan
* Muhammad and Ibraheem
* The Battle of Karbala

Correction,Muhammad, son of Abdullah ibn Ja'far and martyr of Karbala was not the biological son of Zaynab. He was the son of al-Khawsa the other wife of Abdullah bin Ja'far http://home.earthlink.net/~downloadquran/Maqtal_al-Husain.pdf Maqtal al-Husayn page 213 for more references.

External links

* [http://www.al-islam.org/history/history/youthsofkarbala.html The Youths of Karbala]
*http://www.dartabligh.org/months/muharram/Maqtal_al-Husain.pdf page 213