It is narrated from Ibne Abbas that when Almighty Allah decided to make Lady Fatima Zahra (s) bear Imam Husain (a) the latter was born on the 12th of Rajab3. When the time of his birth approached, Almighty Allah revealed to Laiya to go and help in the delivery of the Prophet’s daughter. Laiya is the most beautiful Hourie of Paradise and Allah has housed her in the loftiest and the grandest palace of Paradise. When she looks out of her balcony, she can see the complete Paradise and when she looks out the light of her face illuminates the whole Paradise.
Apart from Laiya, Allah also revealed to Rizwan, treasurer of Paradise to decorate Paradise properly as a valuable child was to take birth that day. Then Almighty Allah ordered Jibraeel, Mikaeel and Israfeel to take along groups of angels and descend to the Earth.
So as per the divine command the three proximate angels descended to the Earth along with many groups of angels and each group has a thousand angels.
The entourage of the angels was descending from the heavens when they saw on the fourth sky an angel, Sarsaeel who was lying there suffering divine chastisement for dereliction of some duty. God had bestowed 70 thousand wings to this angel and his wings spanned from the East to the West. Once he thought to himself whether God was aware of the creatures that move through the oceans and that crawl on dark nights? As soon as this thought struck him Almighty Allah revealed to him that he must stop praying immediately as Allah was depriving him of his bounty because he had entertained such a thought.
Thus, Laiya came to Lady Fatima Zahra (s), greeted her and inquired how she was feeling.
“I am all right by the grace of Almighty,” replied Lady Fatima Zahra (s).
Lady Fatima Zahra (s) was wondering where to make this Hourie sit as there was no proper carpet in the house. Almighty Allah sent another Hourie with a luxurious carpet of Paradise, who spread a carpet for Laiya.
Imam Husain (a) was born at dawn and Laiya rendered all the services of a midwife; she distended the umbilical cord and wiped her with a napkin from Paradise. She also kissed the child’s forehead and remarked,
“O perfect newborn, may God send His blessings on you and your parents.”
As soon as Imam Husain (a) stepped into the world the angels congratulated Jibraeel and the latter congratulated Messenger of Allah (s). Jibraeel continued to congratulate Messenger of Allah (s) for a whole week. After a week was over Jibraeel said, “Messenger of Allah, please bring your infant here for us to see.”
Messenger of Allah (s) came to the house of Lady Fatima (s) and took Imam Husain (a) from the arms of Lady Sayyida (s). Imam Husain (a) was wrapped in a yellow cloth. Messenger of Allah (s) brought him to Jibraeel. Jibraeel unwrapped the infant, kissed his forehead and said,
“O the slain one of Kerbala, may God bless you and your parents.”
Then Jibraeel began to look at Husain and began to weep, and on seeing him weep, Messenger of Allah (s) also started crying; when the other angels observed that the Prophet was crying they also started weeping.
Jibraeel Amin said, “O Messenger of Allah (s), please convey my greetings to your daughter and ask her to name this child Husain as Almighty Allah has named him as such.”
We should know that he was named Husain because at that time there was no one as elegant as him.
Messenger of Allah (s) said, “Jibraeel, it is odd that on one hand you are congratulating me and on the other you are grieving?”
“May God reward you on his martyrdom,” replied Jibraeel.
Messenger of Allah (s) said,
“My dear Jibraeel, at least tell me who would martyr this child of mine?”
Jibraeel Amin said, “Some people from your nations would slay him and at the same time they would be hopeful of your intercession, but God will not allow them your intercession.”
Then Jibraeel Amin said, “Such fellows would be away from divine mercy and would be eligible for divine chastisement.”
Messenger of Allah (s) came to his daughter and told her that Jibraeel sends his greetings to her and requests her to name this child Husain.
Lady Fatima (s) said, “Also convey my greetings to Jibraeel.” Then the Prophet congratulated her for the birth of her son and then he started crying.
Lady Sayyida (s) asked, “Father dear, it is odd that you are congratulating me and at the same crying?”
Messenger of Allah (s) said, “My daughter, may God bestow patience to you at the martyrdom of this son.”
When she heard this, she screamed and then began to weep incessantly. Laiya and her companions consoled her.
Then Lady Fatima (s) said, “Father, who would martyr the apple of my eyes?”
“Some people from my nation would martyr him and after such a deadly crime also would hope for my intercession, but God would not allow it to them,” said the Messenger of Allah (s).
“Such people would be remote from divine mercy and would be eligible for divine chastisement,” added Laiya.
Lady Fatima (s) said, “Father dear, please convey my Salaam to Jibraeel and ask him where my son would be slain?”
Jibraeel said, “He would be slaughtered at a place called Kerbala and before the martyrdom, he would seek help, but no one would offer him any support. And those who after hearing his call for help fail to help him would be cursed by God, the angels and all human beings. As recompense of his martyrdom Almighty Allah would appoint nine Imams from his descendants.”
Jibraeel then mentioned them all by their names and added, “The last of them would one, behind whom Prophet Isa (a) would pray. The Imams from Husain’s generations would be the lamps of the Beneficent God and the strong rope of Islam; love for him would go to Paradise and hatred for him would take one to Hell.”
After that Jibraeel and the angels, who had descended with him, went up to the heavens and after their departure, Laiya also went to Paradise. When Jibraeel Amin was flying from the Earth and heading to the heavens on the way he met Sarsaeel. He said, “Has the Judgment Day arrived for the folks of the Earth?”
“No,” replied Jibraeel, “Husain is born and we had gone to congratulate Muhammad Mustafa (s) for his birth.”
Sarsaeel said, “Please go back and request Muhammad Mustafa (s) to pray for me that Almighty Allah becomes satisfied with me and forgives my mistake. I am sure that if Muhammad Mustafa (s) supplicates for me, Almighty Allah would overlook my error, because Allah has made Muhammad the owner of intercession.”
Jibraeel again descended and beseeched to the Holy Prophet (s) to pray for Sarsaeel. The Holy Prophet (s) lifted Imam Husain (a) in his hands and prayed in the court of the Almighty:
“O God, I adjure by this newborn child, please forgive that angel.” As soon as the Prophet said this, a call arose from the divine throne (Arsh).
“Muhammad, I have forgiven him because you have lofty rank in My court.”
Ibne Abbas said, “By that rightful being, Who sent Muhammad Mustafa (s) as the Messenger, Sarsaeel boasts in the rows of angels saying that he is the freed slave of Husain and Laiya boasts over all the Houries of Paradise for having served as the midwife for Imam Husain (a).”
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