t is narrated that imam Husain (a.s.) dozed off during the journey. After
sometime he opened his eyes and recited “Indeed we belong to Allah and
to Him we shall return.” Everybody started asking each other why Imam
Husain (a.s.) has recited this? They thought perhaps a new issue had
arisen. Imam Husain (a.s.) loved his son Ali Akbar very much and
expressed his love for him often because he looked like the Prophet,
Imam Husain’s grandfather. (You can imagine what a father goes through
when such a son is surrounded by dangers). His Eminence, Ali Akbar
comes forward and asks. “O father! Why did you recite the verse of
return?” Imam replied, “I heard the voice of the unseen caller in my
dream saying: This caravan is being ushered by death. After hearing that
voice, I understood that our destination is death. We are moving towards
our certain destination of death.”1 Here, the conversation was similar to
that between Prophet Ismail (a.s.) and Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.).
His Eminence, Ali Akbar asked Imam Husain (a.s.), “‘Are we on the right
path?” Imam said, “O son! Why do you ask? The only thing is that we are
going where our aim is taking us. Whether we are going towards death or
life does not matter.” His Eminence, Ali Akbar said, “That is right but are
we on the right path or not?” Imam Husain (a.s.) became glad on hearing
this. His face lit up with joy. It could be noted from the supplication that
he recited at this moment. Imam said, “O son! I do not have anything to
reward a responsible son like you at this moment. However, I pray that
may God reward you on my behalf whatever you deserve.”
Irshad, Shaykh Mufeed, Pg. 226.