The Verses in Qur’an about the Martyrdom of Ĥusain (a.s.) and the Avenging of His Blood

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: “We announced to the children of Israel in the book: ‘You will certainly make mischief in the land twice” (17:4). The first “mischief ” refers to killing the Commander of the Believers (a.s.) and the second “mischief” refers to stabbing Ḥasan ibn ‘Ali (a.s.). “And you will certainly become exceedingly arrogant” (17:4) refers to killing Ḥusain ibn ‘Ali (a.s.). “So, when the promise of the nearest to the two came” (17:5) refers to (the time) when the avenger of the blood of Ḥusain (a.s.) will come. “We sent over you Our servants who possessed terrible prowess; so they invaded the very inmost parts of your houses” (17:5) refers to a group of people who will rise before the time of the Qā`im (a.s.) and who will kill anyone who has participated in spilling the blood of the members of the family of Muḥammad (s.a.a.w.). “And it was a warning (completely) fulfilled” (17:5).

Abū Ja’far (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) recited the verse, “Verily, We help Our messengers, and those who believe, in this world and on the day the witnesses shall stand forth” (40:51). Then Imam (a.s.) said, “Ḥusain ibn ‘Ali (a.s.) is among those described in this verse who has yet to be helped!! I swear to Allāh that the killers of Ḥusain (a.s.) were killed but his blood has not been avenged yet.”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) explained the verse, “When the soul buried alive is asked for what sin it was put to death” (81:8-9) by saying, “This verse was revealed about Ḥusain ibn ‘Ali (a.s.).”

I heard Abā Ja’far (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) explain the verse, “Permission (to fight) is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been oppressed, and verily Allāh is potent to help them” (22:39). (The Imam (a.s.) said), “This verse was revealed about ‘Ali, Ḥasan, and Ḥusain (a.s.).”

I asked Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), about the verse, “And whosoever is killed unjustly, then We have indeed given his heir an authority, but let him not exceed the limits in killing, verily he is helped” (17:33). Imam (a.s.) replied: This is about the Qā`im of the family of Muḥammad (s.a.a.w.). When he rises, he will kill (many people), avenging the blood of Ḥusain (a.s.). Even if he kills everyone on earth, he will not have exceeded the limits in killing. “But let him not exceed the limits in killing” (17:33) means that he will not act unconscionably. I swear to Allāh that he will kill the descendants of the killers of Ḥusain (a.s.) for the deeds of their fathers.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said, “The verse, ‘There should be no hostility except against the oppressors’ (2:193) refers to the children of the killers of Ḥusain (a.s.).” The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chain: My father, from Sa’d ibn ‘Abdillāh, from Ibrāhīm ibn Hāshim, and from Muḥammad ibn Ḥusain, from ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Isā, from Samā’ah ibn Mihrān, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.).

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: “We announced to the children of Israel in the book: ‘You will certainly make mischief in the land twice” (17:4). The first “mischief” refers to killing ‘Ali (the Commander of the Believers (a.s.)) and the second “mischief” refers to stabbing Ḥasan (a.s.). “And you will certainly become exceedingly arrogant” (17:4) refers to killing Ḥusain (a.s.).