Die Free like Al-Hurr
One of the unique companions of Imam Hussain ʿalayhi as-salām, Ḥurr ibn Yazīd al-Riyāḥī, enjoyed some unique characteristics. He was not proud of his past.
Hurr, prior to the morning of Karbala, brothers and sisters, he was going towards Hell. Allāhu Akbar. As you know, he was one of the commanders of the army of Ibn Ziyad. Hurr ibn Yazīd al-Riyāḥī, in the morning of Ashura, he says himself, one of his very close friends, he says, Hurr came to me and said “Don't you want to water your horse?” I said, “well, I don't think so.” He went to ʿUmar ibn Saʿd and said, “Do you really want to fight Hussain Ibn Ali?” ʿUmar ibn Saʿd says, “The least that is going to happen today is I am going to behead them”. Hurr ibn Yazīd al-Riyāḥī, his friend says that, I realized that he is now doubtful. And with the excuse of watering his horse, he stepped away from the army, and I saw him shivering and shaking. His name is Muḥājar ibn ʿĀṣ, his friend. He's the narrator.
He says, I went up to him, said, “Hurr? If in Kufa, they had asked me that who is the warrior of Kufa? I would say, Hurr ibn Yazīd al-Riyāḥī. Are you scared of fighting? Are you scared of death?” He says, “Allahu Akbar, lucky those young men, women, old, young, whoever, that at the time of committing the sin becomes God conscious and is shaking, shivering and sees that we are between Hell and Heaven”. Hurr ibn Yazīd al-Riyāḥī turned and on and said to his friend, “No, I'm not scared of this, but ana 'uchhayyirun nafsi' baina 'l-jannate wa'n-nar.” I see myself between Hell and Heaven.
“Wallah, la akhtar al-jannata ʿala shay’” By allah, I'm not going to choose anything over Paradise. “wa ʾin kutiʿtu wa ḥurikt” Even if they cut me into pieces and even if they burn me, I'm not going to choose anything over paradise. By saying so, he rode his horse and is going towards ʿAbbā ʿAbd al-Ḥussein. The scene is so beautiful, really.
Hurr ibn Yazīd al-Riyāḥī, he's riding his horse towards the camp of ʿAbbā ʿAbd al-Ḥussein, and he is saying, he's greeting Imam al-Ḥussein with a greeting. He's greeting Abbā ʿAbd al-Ḥussein, “Oh, you the one who is the gate holder or you are the gate of the mercy of God, Yā Hussain Mazlūm, is it possible for Hurr to be forgiven?” Imam Hussain alayhi al-salām opened his arms and he says, “Naʿam, taballāh ʿalaik”, of course, come down, my dear brother. May God forgive you. Imam Hussein pray for his forgiveness. But Hurr ibn Yazīd says, “Aghā (my master), I'm embarassed to come down and sit with you. I'm embarassed of bibi Zeinab. I'm embarassed of your family. I'm a good horseman and I'm a good fighter. Allow me to go back and fight. I want to be among the first who sacrifices their life for them.”
I found only one person among the Martyrs of Karbalah that Imam Al-Ḥussain alayhi al-salām recited Marsiye for, and that is none other than Hurr ibn Yazīd al-Riyāḥī. Imam is reading Marsiya and is reciting Majles for Hurr ibn Yazīd.
Hurr is going back fighting, a bravery fight he presented. First they came, javelined him, and then they realised that they cannot fight him. And therefore from all corners, they were shooting one body, as ordered by ʿUmar ibn Saʿd. Suffice is to tell you that Hurr found himself on the plain of Karbala. He cannot see anymore because he's bleeding from all his wounds. But hanīʾan laka yā Ḥurr (Blessed be for you, O Hurr!). All of a sudden, he opened his eyes and he's at the bossom (chest) of his master, Imam Al-Ḥussain alayhi al-salām.
Ya Allah, brothers, sisters, pray that, InshāʾAllāh, we also die at the bossom of our Imam Zaman. Imam Al-Ḥussain alayhi al-salām is hugging Hurr ibn Yazīd and he's wiping the blood from his face. He looked at the holy face of Imam Al-Ḥussain alayhi al-salām and he says, “Aghā, are you pleased with me?” His forehead is also bleeding.
Imam Al-Ḥussain alayhi al-salām had a cloth and is trying to stop the blood and the imam says “Nāʿam, kamā samiʿtuka ummuka, anta ḥurrun fī al-dunyā wa al-ākhira” (Yes, just as your mother named you, you are Hurr (free) in this world and the Hereafter)
I want to finish with this. Yā Abā ʿAbdullāh al-Ḥussein, Hurr ibn Yazīd and many of your companions at the time of their death, they departed this dunya (world) while their heads were at your bossom. But bewail him, no one was there for Imam Al-Ḥussain alayhi al-salām. When he was in the ‘ghodal of God (God's decree), only a painful cry gave him consolation. Ya bunaya ya Husayn.
