Life of First Arbaeen Pilgrim

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Ayatollah Mohammad Jafar Tabasi in an article has highlighted some major parts of the life of Atiyah ibn Saad al-Kufi, the first pilgrim of Imam Hussein (AS) in Karbala on Arbaeen.

 

Excerpts from the article are as follows:  

Atiyah ibn Saad al-Kufi was a prominent scholar and a Quran interpreter. He, along with Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari, had the blessing to be the first to visit the holy tomb of Imam Hussein (AS) on the day of Arbaeen.

Following are some of the highlights of his life:

- After his birth, he was named by Imam Ali (AS). His father Saad ibn Junadah went to Imam Ali (AS) in Kufa, saying, “God has gifted him a son. Please choose a name for him.” Imam (AS) said, “This is a divine Atyiah (gift). So his name became Atiyah.

- He was a Quran interpreter. He wrote a Quran exegesis covering five Juzes of the Holy Book. He says he has read the Quran to Ibn Abbas three times with Tafseer (interpretation) and 30 times in recitation.

- He was the narrator of the Fadakiya Sermon. He had heard it from a person named Abdullah ibn al-Hassan. The Fadakiya Sermon is a speech delivered by Hazrat Zahra (AS) at the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina in protest at the usurpation of Fadak.

- Atiyah was a credible source in narrating Hadith.

- Atiyah has narrated numerous Hadiths from Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari, an honorable companion of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), about the status of Imam Ali (AS) and Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS), including the Ghadir Sermon, the Hadith regarding Verse 67 of Surah Al-Ma’idah, and the Hadith regarding the Verse of Tathir (verse 33 of Surah Al-Ahzab)

- Atiyah was steadfast in defending the sanctity of Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS). He never agreed to follow the Umayyad rulers in insulting Imam Ali (AS). He went to Fars (Iran). Hajjaj ibn Yusuf Thaqafi ordered the ruler of Fars to give Atiyah 400 lashes if he refuses to curse Imam Ali (AS). Atiyah went through the harsh flogging but did not do what he had been asked to do.

- Atiyah, along with Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari, had the blessing to be the first to visit the holy tomb of Imam Hussein (AS) on the day of Arbaeen.

This pilgrimage was a very brave move and a source of pride for Atiyah and Jabir, given the atmosphere of oppression at the time.