The stirring sermon of Prophet Khizr (a.s.) on Ameerul Momineen’s (a.s.) martyrdom

Osaid b. Safwaan, the companion of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) narrates, “On the day that Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) passed away there was intense wailing and grief among the people (of Kufa). It was just like the day when the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) passed away.

Then a man came wailing and reciting ‘Inna lillahe wa inna ilaihe rajeoon’ and saying, ‘Today the caliphate of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has been severed’ until he reached the house of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.). Then he said, ‘May Allah have mercy on you, O Abul Hasan. You were the foremost among the people in Islam, the most sincere among them in faith, the most intense among them in certainty, the most fearful among them with relation to Allah, the Almighty, the greatest in suffering difficulties, the closest in proximity to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), the most trustworthy among the companions, the most superior among them in merits, the most noble among them in precedence, the most elevated among them in ranks, the most proximate to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), the most similar among them (to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)) in ethics, character and action, the most gracious among them in grades, the most noble among them in front of Allah. May Allah grant you a great reward concerning (your efforts towards) Islam, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and the Muslims.

Your remained firm when the companions showed feebleness and were evident when they were receding. Your rose (against the enemy) when they displayed laziness. You stayed your ground in the path of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) while others were sluggish and restrained. You were the rightful caliph (of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)). You remained unaffected and unflappable concerning the irreligiousness of the hypocrites, the wrath of the infidels, the disgust of the envious and the hostility of the transgressors. You rose when others were gripped by lethargy, you spoke (against evil) when others were struck dumb. Your tread the path of Allah’s Light when others had their feet stuck to the earth. If they had followed you, they would have been guided.

You were the most soft spoken among the people, the most distinguished among them (in stature), the most sparing among them in words, the most appropriate among them in speech, the most prolific among them in opinion, the bravest in spirit, the firmest in certainty, the best in actions and the most cognizant in affairs.

By Allah! You were, for religion, a leader; first when the people scattered and then when they turned lazy and idle. You were, for the believers, a merciful father. Since they were your family, you lifted the burden off their shoulders that they found too oppressive and burdensome to carry. You protected what they squandered, you safeguarded them when they were left isolated, when they united you supported them, when they were blissful you accepted them and when they offended you, you remained patient. You attained your objective, while they wandered away from it. Through you, they attained what they had not even imagined.

You were, for the infidels, an evident chastisement and for the believers a downpour of abundance and mercy. By Allah! You were bestowed with bounties and you gained precedence and acquired the merits. Your proofs were never exhausted, your heart never deviated, your vision never weakened, you never cowed down due to fear and you never betrayed the trust.

You were like the mountain that powerful winds could not move nor violent storms could unsettle. You were like the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said – weak in your body but firm in Allah’s affair, humble in person, esteemed in front of Allah, the Almighty, illustrious in the land, majestic in front of the believers. There was not even a trace of defect in you, nor did a blemish ever cast its shadow on you nor did greed and craving ever contaminate your person. The poor and humiliated were strong and powerful in front you, until you reinstated their rights. The powerful and strong were poor and humiliated in front you until you seized the unlawful property from them. The proximate and distant in relation were equal in front of you.

Your conduct was truthful, honesty and compassionate. Your speech manifested your wisdom and decisiveness. Your affair displayed your forbearance and integrity. Your opinion was nothing but knowledge and determination.

You uprooted (apostasy), cleared the path of its evil, transformed its difficulty into ease and in this way extinguished its fire. The religion was set right due to you and Islam and the believers went from strength to strength because of you. You have advanced far beyond.

After you, we are gripped with an intense weariness. Excruciating is the grief over you. Your demise is a momentous matter in the skies. Anguish over you has shattered the people. Then ‘to Allah do we belong and towards Him shall we return.’ We are satisfied with Allah’s Decree and we submit to Allah’s Affair. Then by Allah, the believers shall never be afflicted with a sorrow like your sorrow.

You were, for the believers, a sheltering cave and for the disbelievers an acute chastisement. Then may Allah unite you with His Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and may He not withhold Your reward from us and may He not deviate us after you.’”

Then the people became silent until the man finished his discourse. They cried along with the companions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). Then they tried to seek the man but could not find him. It appears that the man was none other than Prophet Khizr (a.s.)

• Amaali-e-Sadooq (r.a.) – Majlis 42, tradition 11