Hazrat Mohsin Ibn Ali (a.s.): A Victim of Oppression and Terrorism

The demise of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) triggered a chain of events that caught the Muslims unaware. Worse, they accepted these events as if that was the most natural thing to do and remained unmindful of the far-reaching consequences of their submission.

One such incident that stands out in the aftermath of the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) demise is the siege on Hazrat Fatimah’s (s.a.) house and the eventual attack that claimed two lives in its wake, one of them being Hazrat Fatimah (s.a.) herself. The other one being the martyrdom of Hazrat Mohsin Ibn Ali (a.s.), the subject of this article.

*Unbelievably True*

Mohsin Ibn Ali’s (a.s.) martyrdom is so unsettling and incredible that some Muslims have even gone to the extent of denying it.

To think of it, indeed the incident is unbelievably true. Not just the martyrdom of Hazrat Mohsin Ibn Ali (a.s.), the entire chain of incidents, the oppressors and oppressed ones, everything about the attack on Hazrat Fatimah’s (s.a.) house is unbelievable.

It is unbelievable that the slightest harm would come on Fatimah (s.a.), let alone her being inflicted with a fatal body blow. Especially, when the Muslims were served a crystal clear warning by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in this regard when he (s.a.w.a.) informed them that Fatimah’s displeasure was the cause of his (s.a.w.a.) displeasure, which in turn was Allah’s
displeasure and finally, driving one to Hell.

It is unbelievable that Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) who was anointed Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) publicly by the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) on divine command less than three months before his (s.a.w.a.) demise in Ghadeer-e-Khumm and was the unmatched choice of Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w.a.) as highlighted by every notable incident in Islam’s history should be subjugated by individuals who could not even compare to the dust of his horse’s hooves which incidentally Allah swears by in Surah Aadiyaat.

It is unbelievable that the perpetrators of this crime were none other than the so-called companions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his so-called successors who claimed proximity and brotherhood with the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and after whose names the Muslims invoke Allah’s satisfaction and mercy.

It is unbelievable that the atrocities meted out to Fatimah (s.a.) would eventually claim her life inducing Ameerul Momineen Ali (a.s.) to declare that she was like a flower nipped in the bud and expressing to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) his helplessness in safeguarding his (s.a.w.a.) trust.

All this within a few days of the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) demise and revelation of the Verse of Purification (Surah Ahzaab (33): 33) and Incident of the Cloak testified to by all the Muslims as being related to Fatimah (s.a.) along with her husband and sons.

It is unbelievable that Fatimah (s.a.) willed her burial to be carried out in the dead of the night deeming the companions in question unworthy to attend her funeral and in this way categorically refuting their claim to caliphate and so-called proximity to her father (s.a.w.a.) and inflicting a slap so hard on her oppressors that its reverberations will always be felt by her oppressors and their partisans.

Finally, it is unbelievable that the struggle launched by a few individuals for worldly power and status would mercilessly uproot the existence of a six-month unborn infant from the comfort of his mother’s womb.

Over here, the martyrdom of Hazrat Mohsin Ibn Ali (a.s.), the third son of Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) and Fatimah (s.a.) after Hasan (a.s.) and Husain (a.s.), has been analyzed in detail. Other events before and after the martyrdom, although very significant from the viewpoint of Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) and Fatimah (s.a.) in particular and Muslims in general, are referred to in lesser detail.

Despite claims to the contrary by misinformed and uninformed Muslims, it is well-documented by scores of scholars from both the sects – Sunnis and Shias

– that there was a full-scale attack on Fatimah’s (s.a.) house only a few days after the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) demise. The objective of the companions who assaulted Fatimah (s.a.) and Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) was to extract Ali’s (a.s.) allegiance for Abu Bakr, without which they knew Abu Bakr’s caliphate would lack any form of legitimacy.

*Timing of the Attack*

Although the exact day of the attack on Hazrat Fatimah’s (s.a.) house is a matter of some debate among historians, the broad consensus is that it all happened within three days of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) demise. This is concluded from the fact that Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) refused to leave the house when the mobsters demanded allegiance for Abu Bakr, citing the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) recommendation that he remain confined to the house until he had compiled the Holy Quran and Ali (a.s.) took three days to complete the task. (Tafseer-e-Furaat-e-Kufi p. 398-399 from Imam Muhammed Baqir (a.s.), which has been recorded by Ibne Nadeem in his book Al-Fehrist p. 30, Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 23 p. 249. However in some traditions the number of days for compiling the Quran has been narrated varyingly as seven days and nine days.)

Based on this, it is apparent the attack on Fatimah’s (s.a.) house was executed within a maximum of nine days of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) demise.

Many narrations that mention the attack and compilation of the Quran mention two days and three days and it is likely that the two events have been mixed up by narrators. At any rate, it is most probable that the attack on Fatimah’s (s.a.) house was engineered by the government-backed mob within two-three days as opposed to a more prolonged period of seven or nine days.

A quicker attack also appears more plausible given the alacrity and keenness with which this group had moved within moments of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) demise on 28th Safar to select a caliph amongst themselves. Since Ali’s (a.s.) allegiance to Abu Bakr was very important to lend legitimacy to their scheme, it is unlikely they would have delayed the move (to force Ali’s (a.s.) consent) as with every passing day the danger of tables turning on them increased manifold. Also, once the entire Madinah (save the Bani Hashim and Ali’s (a.s.) select companions) had pledged allegiance, they realized they had to move fast to acquire Ali’s allegiance which was conspicuous by its absence. (Kitab-e-Sulaim Ibne Qays pp. 82, 249)

If one considers the attack three days after the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) demise then 1st Rabi al-Awwal is the fateful day in the lives of Ali (a.s.) and Fatimah (s.a.) and their Shias that altered the course of Islam forever. It marked the subjugation of the Ahle Bait (a.s.) at the hands of the unworthy creatures and laid the foundation of other heinous crimes like the battle of Karbala and the martyrdom of all Imams (a.s.) ending in the occultation of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.). All these events were triggered by that single attack on the house of Fatimah (s.a.) and if anyone believes otherwise, then he has undermined the significance of Ali (a.s.) and Fatimah (s.a.) and/or not fully comprehended the consequences of Karbala and other calamities that befell the nation.

It is for this reason that Shias across the globe observe 1st Rabi al-Awwal as the date of Mohsin Ibn Ali’s (a.s.) martyrdom. The idea is not so much to observe a specific date as it is to observe the martyrdom of someone who by giving his life invalidated the efforts of those who forcefully attempted to legitimize their caliphate by illegitimately entering Fatimah’s (s.a.) house despite her pleas and lamentations to be left alone.

*Who is Mohsin Ibn Ali (a.s.)?*

Mohsin Ibn Ali (a.s.) is the third son of Ali (a.s.) and Fatimah (s.a.) after Hasan (a.s.) and Husain (a.s.). He is also referred to as Mushabbar which is also the name of Prophet Haroon Ibn Imran’s (a.s.) third son. He was no more than six months fetus at the time of the attack. (Al-Hidaayat al-Kubra, p. 407, Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 53 p. 19)

Mohsin Ibn Ali (a.s.) was the least involved in the business of politics and machinations which the attack on Fatimah’s (a.s.) was all about. He was not concerned with anything that transpired on that day and no one who had any grouse with Ali (a.s.) and Fatimah (s.a.) had an argument against Mohsin Ibn Ali (a.s.). Even those who debate about the infallibility of Ali (a.s.) and
Fatimah (s.a.) fall silent when the infallibility of an unborn child is raised because they have no answer.

Therefore, although the entire attack on Fatimah’s (s.a.) house was illegitimate, the attack on Mohsin Ibn Ali (a.s.) in many ways was the most illegitimate part of the attack.

Just like this vicious attack laid the foundation of another murderous attack 50 years later in Karbala, it is perhaps Mohsin Ibn Ali’s (a.s.) martyrdom to safeguard the infallibility of his parents (a.s.) that inspired his nephew Ali Ibn Husain (al-Asghar) to wage a battle against the enemies in Karbala to safeguard the infallibility of his father Imam Husain Ibn Ali (a.s.). Imam Husain (a.s.), of course, is unique among the oppressed ones as he is the only one present on the scenes of both the attacks – one on his parents and brother and the second on his children, nephews and another brother.

It is perhaps the powerful influence of Mohsin Ibn Ali’s (a.s.) martyrdom that has led some Muslims to deny his death in the attack, attributing it to other causes. This is clearly a campaign based on misinformation or lack of information that is similar to the campaign to deny the attack on Fatimah’s (s.a.) house altogether. The attack on Fatimah’s (s.a.) house has no
justification whatsoever and therefore the only way out is to deny it altogether.

Of course, the biggest blow to the deniers is the martyrdom of Fatimah (s.a.) and Mohsin Ibn Ali (a.s.) in the aftermath of the attack. It is widely documented that both (a.s.) were martyred as a result of the attack; Mohsin Ibn Ali (a.s.) instantly and Fatimah (s.a.) a few days later.

*Documentary evidence of Mohsin Ibn Ali’s (a.s.) Martyrdom*

There are several well-documented narrations to establish Mohsin Ibn Ali’s (a.s.) martyrdom from the attack on Fatimah’s (s.a.) house. Those interested in seeking the truth of the matter should not be surprised to find scores of scholars and historians from across eras and predispositions (Shia and Sunni) record the martyrdom of Mohsin Ibn Ali (a.s.) in a manner that puts the issue beyond doubt.


Mohsin Ibn Ali’s (a.s.) Martyrdom from Sunnah and History*
 
**

1. Allamah Muhammad Baqer Majlisi (r.a.) records in Behaar al-Anwaar vol. 43 p. 171 on the authority of Abu Baseer who relates from Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.), ‘*Fatimah’s (s.a.) death resulted from being pierced by the sword which claimed (the unborn) Mohsin’s life. The perpetrator of this crime was Qunfuz, who was acting on his master Umar’s explicit command…*’

2. Ibn Shahr Aashob al-Sarvi al-Mazandarani in vol. 3 p. 132 records from Al-Maarif of Ibne Qutaybah al-Dainoori (reputed Sunni historian) – “The following were Fatimah’s children – Hasan, Husain, Zainab, Umme Kulsum and Mohsin Ibn Ali who was killed by Qunfuz Adawi (i.e. from Bani Adi, the same tribe as Umar Ibn Khattaab).”

3. Masoodi records in Isbaat al-Wilaayah p. 142 – “They attacked Fatimah’s (s.a.) house. They crushed the Chief of All Women behind the door so violently that it resulted in the miscarriage of Mohsin.”

4. Muhammad al-Shahrastaani reports in Al-Milal wa al-Nehal vol. 1 p. 57 (Beirut Edition) – “Umar struck Fatimah violently in the abdomen (on the Day of Allegiance) so much so that she fell on her abdomen (resulting in the infant’s death).”

5. Abu Abdillah Shams al-Deen al-Zahabi records in Mizaan al-Etedaal vol. 1 p. 139 – “Undoubtedly Umar kicked Fatimah so much so that it led to Mohsin’s miscarriage.”
 
6. Allamah Khalil Ibn Aybak al-Safadi in Al-Waafi be al-Wafiyyaat vol. 6 p. 17 records – “The Motazelah sect is of the view that on the Day of Allegiance Umar undoubtedly struck Fatimah so much so that Mohsin was killed.”

7. Abdul Qadir al-Tamimi al-Baghdadi in Al-Farq bain al-Faraaq p. 107 records on the same lines as above.

8. Sadr al-Deen Ibraheem Ibn Sa’d al-Deen Muhmmad al-Hammuee in Al-Faraaed al-Simtain vol. 2 p. 35 records on the authority of Ibne Abbas who heard the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) prophesize – ‘*…it is as if I see grief and anxiety entering my daughter’s house, her respect being violated, her rights being usurped, her inheritance being denied to her, her unborn being miscarried and (in this moment of distress) she will call out – O Muhammad, but no one replies to her pleas.’*

*Bibliography of References Documenting Mohsin Ibn Ali’s (a.s.) Martyrdom *
 
Mohsin Ibn Ali (a.s.) martyrdom has been recorded by the following scholars/historians:

I) Sunni Sources

1. Al-Milal wa al-Nehal vol. 1 p. 57 (Beirut Edition) by Muhammad al-Shahrastaani exp. 548 AH

2. Mizaan al-E’tedaal vol. 1 p. 139 by Abu Abdillah Shams al-Deen al-Zahabi exp. 748 AH

3. Al-Waafi be al-Wafiyyaat vol. 6 p. 17 by Allamah Khalil Ibn Aybak al-Safadi exp. 746 AH

4. Al-Farq bain al-Feraq p. 107 by Abdul Qadir al-Tamimi al-Baghdadi exp. 429 AH

5. Al-Faraaed al-Simtain vol. 2 p. 35 Sadr al-Deen Ibraheem Ibn Sa’d

By Syed Aelia Rizvi

Categories: English