The calamity of Karbala is etched in Islamic history forever with some peculiarities. One of these includes the weeping of skies over Imam Husain (a.s.). But some reject this as an exaggeration by the Shias to magnify the Imams (a.s.).
The tragedy of Karbala and related events and peculiarities are widely documented in books of leading Muslim scholars. Also documented by these scholars are certain strange events on the death of other individuals / kings. Oddly, the skeptics have no problem in accepting these strange events on the death of others but accuse the Shias of exaggeration when the same is recorded for the infallible Imams (a.s.).
One such event is the weeping of skies on the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.), which as we see is evidenced by the Noble Quran.
It is narrated that once an enemy of Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.a.) passed by Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) upon which Imam (a.s.) recited the verse:
فَما بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّماءُ وَ الْأَرْضُ وَ ما كانُوا مُنْظَرِينَ
So the skies and the earth did not weep for them, nor were they respited. (Surah Dokhan (44): 29)
Then Imam Husain Ibn Ali (a.s.) passed by upon which Ali (a.s.) remarked:
Now here is the one on whom the skies and earth will weep.
Ali (a.s.) continued: The skies and the earth did not weep on anyone except Yahya Ibn Zakariyya (a.s.) and Husain Ibn Ali (a.s.).
Shia references under Surah Dokhan (44): 29
- Tafseer al-Qummi (r.a.)
- Tafseer al-Safi
- Tafseer Noor al-Saqalain
- Tafseer al-Burhan
Ahle Tasannun references under Surah Dokhan (44): 29 with variation
- Tafseer Tabari (Muhammad Ibn Jurair)
- Tafseer Qurtubbi
- Tafseer of Muhammad Abdul Rahman Ejee
If the skies and earth do not weep or cannot weep, it would be pointless saying they do not weep over them (enemies of Allah). Specifying them in the verse, means that there are certain people over whom the Holy Quran does weep like Imam Husain (a.s.) as Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) informs us.
There are many reports by the Ahle Tasannun of the skies weeping over others. So it’s surprising why an exception should be made for Imam Husain (a.s.)
Skeptics claim regarding the Umayyad king, Umar Ibn Abdil Aziz:
Skies weep over Umar Ibn Adil Aziz!
It is documented in the Torah that most certainly the skies and earth wept for 40 days and nights over Umar Ibn Abdil Aziz…
- Seyar Aalaam al-Nobala v 5 p 142
- Tarikh al-Khulafa v 1 p 245
Skies weep over Ibn Asakir!
As if outrageous claims about the Sahabah and rulers was not enough, we see even scholars elevated to exaggerated levels.
It is reported regarding Ibn Asakir (exp. 571 AH) the author of Tarikh Dimishq, which spans 80 volumes:
It rained heavily in the year (he expired) and rainwater flowed so abundantly that it rose as high as his bier. It was as if the skies were weeping inconsolably over his death.
- Al-Wafi bi al-Wafiyyaat v 20 p 217
- Mojam al-Udaba v 4 p 41
Skies turned red on the killing of Imam Husain (a.s.)
Not only did the skies weep over Imam Husain (a.s.), they turned red as if in anger over his killing.
Muslim historian Ibn Saad documents in his book Al-Tabaqaat:
The skies never turned red before the killing of Husain (a.s.).
Abul Faraj Jauzi in his book Tabserah explains the phenomenon:
A man’s face is red when he’s enraged, and this is a sign of his anger. Since Allah does not possess a body, He has conveyed His Anger against the killers of Husain (a.s.) with redness of the skies. This is the sign of their great oppression.
- Tazkerah al-Khawaas p 273 (Ahle Tasannun)
The double standards of the skeptics is shocking when it comes to accepting the merits of Ahle Bait (a.s.) because they are more than willing to accept the same for the Sahabah, Tabe’een and Tabe tabe’een and even scholars. With regards to the weeping of the skies, the event shows that not only humans, even skies wept over Imam Husain’s (a.s.) tragic martyrdom. So, objections on mourning (azadari) over Imam Husain (a.s.) are baseless in the face of such natural events like the weeping of skies.