Isam bin Mutlaqe Shaami says, that once when I went to Madina, I saw Imam Husain ibne Ali (a.s.). I was very much influenced by His conduct and manners, and thus envy overtook me. I thought of revealing the enmity that I bore towards his father. I went upto him and said, “Are you the son of Abu Turab? You should know then, that the inhabitants of Syria attributed this name to Ali (a.s.), and thereby ridiculed and insulted him. I again asked him, “Are you the son of Abu Turab”?
Imam (a.s.) answered,
“Yes, I am.”
Then I started abusing Imam (a.s.) and his Father.
He looked at me with kindness and said,
“Take to forgiveness and enjoin good and turn aside from the ignorant. And if a false imputation from the Shaitaan afflict you, seek refuge in Allah. Surely He is Hearing, Knowing. Surely those who guard (against evil), when a visitation from the Shaitaan afflicts them they become mindful, and lo! They see. And their brethren increase them in error, then they cease not.” (Surah-al-A’araf – 199-202).
In this verse, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)’s good conduct is discussed. Allah ordered the Prophet to bear patiently the bad behaviour of the people, and stopped him from taking revenge by bad attitude in exchange of their bad behaviour. And ordered Him to ignore foolish people, and to seek refuge of Allah from the temptation of Shaitaan.
Then Imam Husain (a.s.) said,
“(O Isam)! Remain silent and thus lessen your burden (of sins) and seek forgiveness for yourself and for me.”
If you seek my help, I shall give you a helping hand, if you are desirous of gifts, I shall present you. And if you desire consultation in any matter, I shall advise you.
Imam Husain (a.s.) by his knowledge of the unseen (Ghaib) and wisdom (Hikmah) understood that I was regretting my mistake and was repenting upon it. He therefore said,
“He said, (There shall be) no reproof against you this day, Allah may forgive you, and He is the most Merciful of the Merciful” (Surah-al-Yusuf: 92)
The above verse was said by Prophet Yusuf (a.s.) to his brothers who repented and were ashamed of their bad conduct towards him.
Imam Husain (a.s.) then asked me,
“Are you a native of Syria”?
I answered in the affirmative.
Then He said,
“Verily the people of Syria are accustomed to abuse and ridicule us, for Mu’awiyah has left this as his custom amongst them, may Allah keep them alive as well as us too. Whatever desire you may have ask of me frankly, that will surely be fulfilled, and you will find me the best in it.”
After hearing these words from the tongue of Imam Husain (a.s.), I was very much ashamed and was moved by the good treatment of the Imam (a.s.) in exchange of my insults and abuses, which I incurred upon him and his Father. I was so much abashed that I wished the earth would swallow me. I tried to sneakaway from his sight and hide myself amongst other people. But from that day onwards no one was more dear to me that Imam Husain (a.s.) and his Father (a.s.).