Salam everyone,
Today we commemorate Hazrat Habib ibn Mazahir, a close companion of Imam Ali(AS), Imam Hasan(AS), and Imam Hussain (AS). He was a representative of Imam Hussain through Hazrat Muslim bin Aqeel.
When Yazid had become ruler after Muawiya, Hazrat Habib ibn Mazahir was part of the Kufans who sent letters to Imam Hussain (AS) inviting him to join them in their revolution against Yazid. In his place, the Imam sent Hazrat Muslim bin Aqeel, and Hazrat Habib ibn Mazahir became one of his representatives. However, Ubayd Allah bin Ziyad arrived in Kufa and threatened all those in allegiance with Hazrat Muslim, which made the people abandon him. He had only one option, and that was to get to Karbala in order to join Imam Hussain’s (AS) camp. In order to hide from Ubayd Allah bin Ziyad’s agents he moved at night and hid during the day. He joined Imam Hussain (AS) ranks on Muharram 7th.
Noticing the difference in the amount of people on either side, Hazrat Habib ibn Mazahir requested permission from Imam to go to a nearby tribe of Banu Asad and ask them to join Imam Hussain (AS). However, Umar ibn Saad stopped the tribe from joining the Imam. For the next two days, Hazrat Habib stuck by Imam’s side, even going to him at one point to reassure that he will support the family of the Prophet to the last drop of his blood.
On the day of Ashura, Hazrat Habib ibn Mazahir had been appointed commander of the left wing of Imam Hussain’s (AS) army. He wanted to fight but Imam Hussain (AS) stopped him. At noon, when it was time for the prayer, Imam Hussain (AS) told his companies to request the enemies to pause the war. An enemy said “God won’t accept your prayers!”, to which the 75 year old Hazrat Habib ibn Mazahir replied “You think that the prayer of Prophet’s household will not be accepted, Your prayers will not be accepted, you drunk.
When it was his time to go on the battlefield, despite his old age, Hazrat Habib ibn Mazahir reportedly was able to kill 62 of the enemy. Just then, someone attacked him and hit him on the head with his sword. Another enemy hit him with a spear, causing him to fall off the horse and down to the ground. Then, Budayl beheaded him. Habib had an underage son named Qasim, who killed Budayl after he came of age. He was first buried a distance of 10 meters away from Imam Hussain’s (AS) tomb by his tribe, but was later included.
