 Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem. I begin in the name of the Almighty God, the compassionate, the merciful, the one who has created everything in utmost perfection. And may the peace and blessings of the Almighty God be upon his pure and beloved messenger, the peak of his creation, the Holy Prophet Muhammad. Peace be upon him and his immaculate progeny of the Ahlul Bayt, especially the leader of our time, the awaited saviour, Al Imam Al Mahdi, Ajar Allah, ta'ala farajah. Allahumma salli ala maqam. Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala states in the Holy Qur'an, Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem. فما بكت عليهم السماء والأرض وما كانوا منظرين. The sky did not cry on them. Neither did the earth and they were not granted respite or a break. صدق الله العلي العظيم. Illuminate your hearts and minds with a very loud salawat. Allahumma salli ala Muhammad wa alim Muhammad. As we continue our exploration into the first general ziyarah of Al Imam Abiyabd Allah al-Husayn, in the previous passage that we explored last night, the Imam alayhi salam describes to us the special link between the blood of Imam al-Husayn alayhi salam and Jannah al-Khult and Arsh Allah al-Zawajal. Now the blood of Imam al-Husayn alayhi salam caused the shadows of God's throne to tremble and shake. In the following passage that we will analyze this evening, the Imam alayhi salam gives us a glimpse of the consequence of the throne of Allah trembling. What happened when the throne of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala shook and trembled? What impact did that have on God's creation in the universe? The Imam alayhi salam says in this ziyarah, وَبَكَ لَهُ جَمِيْعُ الْخَلَائِقِ For the blood of Imam al-Husayn alayhi salam, all the creations of God cried. وَبَكَتْ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرَضُونَ السَّبْعِ وَمَا فِيهِنَّ وَمَا بَيْنَهُنْ The seven skies or heavens cried for that blood. The seven earths cried for that blood. And everything that the heavens and the earths contain cried for that blood. وَمَنْ يَتَقَلَّبُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَالْنَّارِ Even the dwellers and the inhabitants of the paradise and the hellfire, they cried for that blood. وَمَا يُرَى وَمَا لَا يُرَى مِنْ خَلْقِ رَبِّنَا Everything cried for the blood of Imam al-Husayn. That which is visible and that which is invisible. Many Muslims around the world today, some from the school of thought of the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, some from other Muslim schools of thought, they find such statements to be exaggerations. A form of idolization or ghulu. We're exceeding our limits. What is this nonsense that we're speaking? How is it that inanimate objects which have no perception in the universe cry for Imam al-Husayn, alaihi salam? Everything in creation, the seven heavens, the seven earths, even the inhabitants of heaven and hell, how is that possible? Or we have narrations that tell us the creatures, all the animals, including the birds, that fly in the sky, they wept for Imam al-Abdullahi al-Husayn. Al-Imam Zayn al-Abideen, alaihi salam when he gave that amazing speech in the presence of Yazid in Damascus, he introduced himself, he said, Anabnum an-Nahat alaihi al-Tayr fel-Hawa. I am the son of the one whom even the birds of the skies, they wept and cried for him. Is this an exaggeration for us to truly believe that the entire universe responded to the killing of Imam al-Husayn, alaihi salam? The entire universe cried and wept for the blood of Abiyab al-Abdullahi al-Husayn, alaihi salam. Is there a basis for this in the Holy Quran? Can we substantiate such statements in this Ziyara and other Ziyaras and other narrations that the entire universe has the capacity to actually interact with what happened to Imam al-Husayn, alaihi salam? Let's take a look into the Holy Quran, the book of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala which contains nothing but the truth and it serves as the foundation for our beliefs. According to the principles that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala has given us in the Holy Quran, is it possible for the universe to respond to an incident that happens on the face of the planet? An incident that would occur for Imam al-Husayn, alaihi salam in this world? What does the Holy Quran say? We human beings sometimes, we become arrogant and we think as if we run our own affairs. We want to defy Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. Look at society around you. There are many defying people who are so arrogant they think they can control the universe and they believe that with technological advancements one day they will be able to control the universe. They do not realize that everything in the universe, every atom, every electron, every proton, every neutron, every subatomic particle in the universe is submissive to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. Why this arrogance? Over what do you have control? When everything, even every cell in your body is submitting to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. In Surah al-Isra verse number 44, what does Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala say? To sabbhu lahus samawatu sabbh wal ardu wa man fihin the seven skies or the seven heavens, they do tasbih, they glorify Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. And the earth and that which it contains, wa in min shayin illa yusabdhu bi hamdi wa lakin la tafqahuna tasbihahum and there is nothing in the universe except that it glorifies Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. We have one clear verse from the Holy Quran that everything in the universe glorifies the Almighty God. But you, O people, you simply do not comprehend this tasbih. You're not able to understand this tasbih. But everything in the universe is doing its tasbih. Now, this Holy verse brings our attention to seven skies. We hear this in many of our supplications too. Samawatu sabb, warab bil aradina sabbh, what are these seven skies and the seven earths? Scholars tell us that the word seven in the Arabic language usually denotes a large quantity. Seven, 70, number 70 is very popular in our narrations, right? Many of our ulama say, don't take this literally. This signifies a large number. So when the Prophet says, if you do this, you receive 70 hasana, that means you will receive a huge amount of hasana. The Arabs used to describe a large number using the number seven or the number 70. So when Allah is referring to the seven heavens, it is possible that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala is referring to all the stars, to all the galaxies that we see in the heavens, that we see in the skies. As for the seven earths, what does that represent? We have several opinions here. One opinion tells us that the seven earths is a reference to the seven continents. Another opinion tells us that the seven earths is actually a reference to the seven layers of the earth. For example, you have the crust, the mantle, the lithosphere, the inner core, outer core. You have seven layers. So this could be a reference to all of these layers of the earth. Or it could also be a reference to the planets that are similar to planet earth. Everything in the universe, including these seven skies and the seven earths, they have perception. The Holy Quran in Surah al-Isra, verse number 44, tells us that they do tasbih. They glorify Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. We have many more examples in the Holy Quran of objects in the universe which glorify and worship Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. In Surah al-Rahman, what does Allah say? Wa najmu wa shajaru yasjudan. The stars, the grass, the trees, yasjudan. What do they do? They do sujud. They submit to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. They worship Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. You think these objects are free of any perception. They have no perception, no understanding. But the Holy Quran tells us that they worship Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. In another verse, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala states, إِنَّا سَخْخَرْنَ الْجِبَالَ مَعْهُ يُسَبْبِحْنَ بِالْعَشِيْي وَالْإِشْرَاقْ When Allah speaks about Prophet Dawud, alaihi salam, Allah says we assign the mountains. They do tasbih with Him at night and early in the morning. The mountains, yes, which are composed of rocks and stones, they actually do tasbih of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. Another amazing verse in the Holy Quran, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says, أَلَمْ تَرَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يُسَبْبِحُ لَهُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَنْ فِي الْأَرْهُ Do you not see that everything in this universe does tasbih to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala? وَالْطَيْرُ صَافْفَاتِ And you even see the birds that have extended their wings in the sky flying, they also do tasbih. كلُّن قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَ هُوَ تَسْبِحَ Everything in the universe knows it's Salah and knows it's tasbih. There's only one category of beings that don't know their Salah. Everything else in the universe, brothers and sisters, know their Salah. It's we human beings who sometimes don't know our Salah. Every cell in your body knows it's Salah and tasbih. This is a verse in the Holy Qur'an. كلُّن الله says everything. The word kull in Arabic means everything. قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَ هُوَ تَسْبِحَ We have numerous verses in the Holy Qur'an which demonstrate to us that everything in the universe has perception. It worships Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. It has its own form of Salah and it also does tasbih. Except this one category, which is the human being. And one verse in the Holy Qur'an actually refers to us. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in one verse in the Holy Qur'an says أَلَمْ تَرَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُ مَنْ فِالسَّمَا وَاتِي وَاللَّمْ Do you not see that everything in the universe, in the heavens, on earth, does sojuud, prostrates, humbles itself to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala? What else? وَالْشَمْسَ The moon. وَالْقَمَرَ The sun. And the moon. وَالْنُجُومَ The stars. وَالْجِبَالْ The mountains. وَالْشَجَرَ The trees. وَالْدَوَابْ The animals. And then the Qur'an says And many people will also do sujuud to Allah. Allah doesn't say all people. When it comes to the sun, the stars, the moon, the plants, the trees, it's general. All of them. There is not a single tree in the history of this planet that has not done sujuud to Allah. But when Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala speaks about the human being, what does Allah say? Allah says, وَكَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسْ. Many people because not everyone submits to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Do you see how the human being can become lower than the animals? Doesn't the Qur'an tell us? بَلْهُمْ عَظَلْ. They're more misguided than the animals. Every animal worships Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. It's only one type of animal who doesn't worship Allah. And that's the human being. And that's how he can become lower than the animals. Because while they are worshiping Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, they are going with the system that Allah has given them, the human being tries to defy the system of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Yes, his body, his cells, his very essence worships God. But with his own willpower, he refuses to worship Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. The one who does not worship God in the universe is the black sheep of the universe. He's the only exception to the universe. He's disconnecting himself with everything in the universe. Now you see why it is ظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ. It is a great act of injustice for someone to reject Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. When everything in existence is submitting to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, you're effectively defying the laws of the universe, stubbornly. And you're disconnecting yourself from the source of all goodness in the universe. And this is a great act of injustice against your own self. When you disconnect yourself from the entire universe, you're the one who's at loss. You're missing out. You're losing out. And you're harming yourself by doing that. Therefore we see that the Holy Qur'an firmly, without the slightest doubt, establishes that everything in the universe has perception. Now how do we understand the tasbih of these objects? What does it mean when the Holy Qur'an is saying that these objects glorify Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala? What does that really mean? Scholars have two opinions here. The first opinion about the tasbih of objects says that everything in the universe, by virtue of existence, by its very natural physical existence, demonstrates that it has a Creator and therefore it is worshiping Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. In Arabic this is called the Sa'ad al-Haal. Let me give you an example. Let's say in the morning you see your friend and he has red eyes. You tell him like you don't need to speak anything. I know last night you did not sleep all night long because of your red eyes. The condition of your friend, the physical condition of your friend tells you a lot about the state of your friend. He doesn't have to say anything or some people when they're ill when they're sick they don't have to come out and shout hey I'm sick look at me you just look at them in the face you look at them in their eyes and you can tell they're sick. This is called the Sa'ad al-Haal. The Sa'ad al-Haal of the entire universe including every single cell and particle and atom points you to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Just like a beautiful painting which points you to an amazing painter and artist. This whole universe is a painting that directs you to a creator and that is Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Because the word tasbih in the Arabic language is when you negate any shortcomings from someone. When you purify something it has no shortcomings it has no flaws. That's what tasbih means. When you say subhanallah that means oh Allah I am negating any flaws from you. You are flawless, you are pure. This is the meaning of tasbih. So the objects in this universe do tasbih. They are essentially demonstrating to you that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has flaws. When you see the creation of God how precise it is. How concise it is which will be baffled at the amazing works of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. We see a lot of imperfections. How can you claim that your God is perfect when we see so many imperfections in His creation? This past subhanallah, the agitus of the month of Ramadan, I was on my way back to the holy city of Ramadan next to this Canadian person who was an atheist, who did not believe in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Wasn't sure about the existence when I see all these icy babies born with disease. If there was a God he should be perfect, meaning to guarantee the existence of God. I love that my daughter, you see those two nurses, they cry for two lives, they're very deep, they go very deep, I know some parents they cry when they see the same. You see those two nurses holding her, you know. This is the form of its tasbih. Therefore we see that everything in the universe points you to its creator and that is Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. So this group of scholars, they believe that when the Holy Qur'an tells us everything in the universe does tasbih, by their very existence they point you to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. That is their method of tasbih. A second group of scholars, they disagree, they say no, true. What you're saying is true. Everything points you to Allah, but the Qur'an is not just trying to establish that. The Holy Qur'an is saying something more than that. The Qur'an is actually demonstrating that everything has a level of perception. Everything in the world, including a cell can understand to a degree. For example, we have one verse in the Holy Qur'an says Allah speaks about the Bani Israel and he says their hearts are like stones. And then Allah backtracked. Allah says no, even the stones, some of them have khushoor. They can fall from the khashya, from the fear of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. What does that mean? That means a rock or a stone has some perception, right? In another verse, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, when he tells us how he created the earth and the skies Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala spoke to the sky and to the earth. What did he say? When Allah was forming them, creating them, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala asked them a question. Oh earth, oh sky, do you want me to create you willingly or unwillingly? This is the verse of the Holy Qur'an. They said no, Allah, we willingly will be created by you. We will embrace that. We will accept that you will create us. This means it has perception. That's why you'll find in another hadith, the Imam, alaihi salam says, do not harm the animals. Never hit an animal. Why? Because it is doing the tasbihah of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Everything therefore in the universe has a level of perception it can understand. And science can confirm this, brothers and sisters. Tientists throughout the past decades have been discovering that the entire universe talks. Every cell in your body talks. Everything in the universe generates vibrations at different levels, different frequencies of vibrations. The hearts, the cells that you have in your heart, the way that they vibrate and generate these sounds is at a different rate than, for example, the cells that you have in your arms, in your liver, in other parts of your body. The whole universe is talking. And that's why, interestingly, the Holy Qur'an doesn't say, Allah says everything does tasbih. Allah doesn't say, but you can't hear the tasbih because we can hear the tasbih. Using, you know, specific types of equipment, we can actually detect these vibrations. So the Qur'an doesn't say you can't hear it because we can't hear it. The Qur'an says, But you cannot comprehend that tasbih. You can hear it very well. Every cell, every atom is generating a sound. Even black holes generate these vibrations and sounds. But you cannot decode it. You cannot comprehend it. This is the greatness of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Now, this is the basis that we have in the Holy Qur'an, brothers and sisters. And then there are these ignorant people who will attack you and say, you're exaggerating. What do you mean the universe cries for the Imam al-Husayn? Are you surprised to hear that the entire universe and that which it contains and every creature and animal cries for the Imam alayhi salam? History has confirmed that the sky physically wept for Imam al-Husayn alayhi salam. This is Ibn Sirin. He narrates that after Yahya, the sky did not weep blood for anyone except Imam al-Husayn ibn alayhi salamullah alayhi. Look at the historians from other schools of thought. Tens of them confirming that when the Imam alayhi salam was killed, not only the universe invisibly cried, no visibly the skies cried for the Imam alayhi salam. This is Ibn Manzour. In his book, Muhtasar Dariq Tariq Dimashq, he says in Palestine, brothers and sisters, you know the distance from Jerusalem, from Palestine to Iraq. Hundreds or thousands of kilometers away, this man he confirms in his book that any stone, not a single rock or stone, was lifted in Palestine in Jerusalem on the 10th of Muharram for 40 days, except that there was boiling blood under it. This is what happened to this universe. And the Qur'an demonstrates that the sky can cry. Not only does it do tasbih, but it can cry. Because in Surat al-Dukhan, in verse 29, Allah SWT, when he speaks about the people of Saleh, Allah says we destroyed them, we took the revenge from them. Allah says the sky did not cry for them. The people of Saleh, when they were destroyed, neither did the earth cry for them. Scholars have analyzed this verse. What does it mean? If the sky does not have the capacity to cry, why is the Qur'an then saying this? Does it make sense? This is nonsense. You know, imagine if someone, his father dies, and at the funeral you go to this person's funeral, he'll tell you, you know what? When my dad died, all the oceans of the earth did not turn into orange juice for people to drink. Do you consider this person to be the same person? You'll tell him, Habibi, the ocean does not turn into orange juice for anybody to drink. What do you mean that did not happen for your father? He's like, but it's true, it didn't. I know it's true, it didn't, but the ocean does not have such capacity. So when the Qur'an says that the sky did not weep for the people of Saleh, that means the sky has the capacity to weep on someone, but it did not on the people of Saleh. Otherwise, this would be nonsense in the Holy Qur'an, and Allah is above any nonsense. Those who firmly state the sky cannot cry for anyone, they're accusing the Holy Qur'an of saying nonsense. How do you explain this verse? This verse demonstrates that the sky does have the capacity, and that's why we have all these historians which confirm that the sky wept blood for the Imam, alaihi salam. The whole universe, brothers and sisters, was impacted when the Imam, alaihi salam, was killed. Everything in the universe, submit to the Imam, because when you cry, you submit yourself. You have this humbleness in your heart. That's why if you're in an angry, arrogant state, you can't cry. The tear doesn't come out. You have to humble your heart in order for the tears to come out. So, the essence of crying is humbleness. And when the universe cries for the Imam, alaihi salam, it is humbling itself before because the existence of the universe is by the blessings of the Imam. So, it humbles itself before the Imam, alaihi salam. Absolutely, because if it weren't for the sacrifices of the Imam, alaihi salam, the religion of Islam would have been annihilated. And if God's religion is annihilated on earth, there is no reason why the earth and the universe would continue to exist. Allah would have annihilated all of creation. One thing kept the creation alive till this very day. And that's the blood of the Imam, alaihi salam. Therefore, the entire creation submits and humbles itself to Imam, alaihi salam. And that it, that's its form of crying for the Imam, alaihi salam. That is why you'll see that every prophet of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala cried for the Imam. See, if you don't cry for the Imam, you're disconnecting yourself from the universe. The entire universe is crying except some human beings. Can you imagine the act of injustice? Can you imagine how miserable and lonely those human beings are who don't cry for Imam, alaihi salam. They're truly miserable and lonely. You know why? Because they're the only beings in the universe that are not crying. Imagine if Allah gives you glasses and you could see everything in the universe crying. Everything, every cell in your body, the billions and trillions of cells, the atoms, the stars, the galaxies, everything in crying. What would happen to you? What would happen to you when you see everything around you is submitting to Imam, alaihi salam by crying. And you're the only one, you feel left out, you feel miserable, you feel lonely. Those who don't cry for Imam, alaihi salam are the most miserable of God's creation. And that's why Imam, alaihi salam in this ziyarah when he was telling his companions that everything cried, he said, except three did not cry. The people of Basra, the people of Sham, and the family of Uthman. These were the only three who heard about the message of Imam al-Hussain, alaihi salam, and they did not cry. They accepted it. These were the exceptions to the universe. Everything else in the universe cried for the Imam, alaihi salam. All prophets of God, brothers and sisters, because all prophets of God can see the reality of the universe. Therefore, they must sync themselves with the universe and cry for the Imam, alaihi salam. One narration tells us that once Prophet Adam, alaihi salam, when Allah brought him down to this earth, he separated between him and his wife, Eve, or Hawa. For many days or some narration say years, he was searching for her. He was looking for Hawa. Until one day, he passed by a land. As he was passing by this land, he felt the sadness and the depression in his heart. And he fell to the ground. He tripped and he fell to the ground. He injured his leg and the blood came out of his leg. He looked to the sky. He told him, he said to Allah, oh Allah, have I done something wrong that you're punishing me for? Have I committed a sin? Why is it that when I pass through this land, something strange happened? I'm traveling on earth for so many days or years. Nothing similar to this happened to me. The minute I pass by this area, by this land, I feel the pain in my heart and I fall to the ground and the blood comes out of me. What is it, oh Allah? Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala ta'la ta'zim, oh Adam, here in this land, someone from your progeny who is al-Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of my greatest messengers. He shall be massacred in this land. And this is why you felt this. Adam says, oh Allah, who is the one who will instruct him to be killed? Allah will tell him Yazid ibn Muawiyah and he begins to curse Yazid ibn Muawiyah. All the prophets of God, when you look at their seerah, Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Musa, Prophet Isa, all of them cried for Imam al-Husayn, al-Husayn, al-Husayn. The one who rejects crying for Imam al-Husayn, al-Husayn. The one who rejects crying for Imam al-Husayn is not only rejecting the system of the universe as we've established, but he is rejecting the seerah of all the prophets of God, including the most important one of them. And that's the Holy Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. On countless and countless occasions, the Holy Prophet peace be upon him, cried for Imam al-Husayn. Ahmed ibn Hanbal in his book, Musnad. He narrates a hadith, he says once Imam al-Ibn Abi Talib al-Islam was going to Safin in Iraq and he passed by Nainawa. Nainawa is another name for Karbala. As he was passing by this land, Imam al-Ibn Abi Talib al-Islam begins to cry and he says three times, sabran ya Aba Abdullah. Have patience, oh Aba Abdullah al-Husayn. One of his companions asked him, oh Ali, why? Are you crying and telling Hussain to be patient? What happened? The Imam says, I'm crying because Hussain shall be killed ala shattil frat by the banks of the Euphrates river. Because one day I remember I went to see Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wa alih when his eyes were overflowing with tears. I told him, ya Rasulullah, what's wrong? Why are you crying so much? What happened? The Prophet told me just now, Jibrail descended upon me and he told me, ya Rasulullah, your grandson Hussain shall be massacred in the land of Karbala. Do you want to see the soil of it? I said yes, Jibrail went, he got me a chunk of the soil and I just saw it and I smelled the, and I was able to smell the fragrant aroma of the land of Karbala. This is why I'm crying, ya Ali. Ahmad ibn Hanbal narrates this, brothers and sisters. Al-Hakim an-Nasaburi in his book Al-Mustadrak, very prominent Sunni scholar, accepted by Sunni schools of thought. He narrates a hadith from ummin falbint al-Halith. She was a woman, one of the companions of the Prophet. This woman says, one day I had a dream in which I saw a part of the Prophet's body in my house. So she wakes up, she panics, she cries, she goes to the Prophet. She tells him, ya Rasulullah, I had a bad dream. The Prophet says, no, don't say this is a bad dream. This is a good dream. This means Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will give my daughter Fatima a son and you will carry the son in your lap. Al-Hakim an-Nasaburi narrates this, brothers and sisters. We're talking 61 years before Al-Imam al-Hussein al-Islam was born. 60 years before he was born. Many years before he was born. This is what happened. So she says, one day Fatima al-Islam gave birth to a baby. I went and I carried this baby, Hussein, and the presence of the Prophet. When the Prophet saw me carrying this baby, he broke into tears. I told him, why do you cry, Rasulullah? He's saying, just jubail right now came and he told me what will happen to my grandson. My own mother shall kill him. Subhanallah, you know one thing that's amazing, brothers and sisters. It seems on every occasion, when the Prophet was having a good time with Al-Hussein, jubail had to remind him of him. I don't know what the secret is. What is this about Al-Hussein and Karbala? That every time jubail had to make the Prophet cry, by reminding him of what would happen to Al-Hussein al-Islam. On so many occasions, this is what has reached us in history. God knows how many times the Prophet had to cry. Sink yourself with the universe, brothers and sisters, by crying for Abi Abdullah al-Hussein. It is the best form of ibadah, because you know what the essence of ibadah is? It's khushu'ah. The essence of Islam and ibadah is khushu'ah. When you're in that humble state where you humble your heart, where you soften your heart for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. All of our deeds without khushu'ah are meaningless. Crying, especially for Al-Hussein al-Islam, creates that state of khushu'ah in your heart, brothers and sisters. Don't underestimate the tears on Abi Abdullah al-Hussein. These tears will transform you, which can change you, which bring you closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. None of this is an exaggeration. When the hadith says, one drop of tears on Imam al-Hussein al-Islam will extinguish fires of Allah's anger and will have your sins forgiven. You realize what crying is when you're crying? You're participating in a universal event where you're crying with everything. You're following the sunnah of all the prophets of God, of the holy prophet of Islam, peace be upon him. And you're surprised why? This is your way of standing up for Imam al-Hussein al-Islam and rejecting what happened to him, because what happened to him is the greatest act of injustice in history. We will never stop crying on you. Oh, Abu Abdullah al-Hussein. One day, one of the servants of Imam Zayn al-Abideen al-Islam, he know Imam Zayn al-Abideen for 35 years, he would mix every cup of water that he would drink with his tears. And he would cry on Abi Abdullah al-Hussein. One of his servants told him, oh grandson of the messenger of God, you're taking it too far. 35 years you cry on your father al-Hussein. Isn't this too much? You know what Imam Zayn al-Abideen al-Islam told him? He told him, do not blame me. Let me tell you something, oh my servant. Oh man, I want you to know that Yaqub was the prophet of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala gave him 11 sons. And Allah caused him to be separated from one of his sons, and that was Yusuf. He had 10 sons with him, but he was separated from one of his sons. What happened to Yaqub? Because of that separation, he cried and cried until his eyes became white. He almost lost his eyesight. He cried and cried until his hair became white, and his back became bent. And as for me, it's not that I was separated from my father or from my brother. I had to see my father and 17 members of my family massacred around me in the plains of Qarabella. Now, do you blame me for crying for 35 years? Yaqub cried 40 years for Yusuf, and he was separated from him, and he knew he was not killed. But I had to see my father, Hussain, killed in that brutal way. Don't blame me for crying, oh man. We'll never hold back our tears on Al-Imham al-Hussain, alaihi salam. The Prophet ﷺ tells us on the day of judgment, every eye will cry, every eye, no exception, except that eye which cries in this world on Al-Imam al-Hussain. Only this eye which cries for Hussain shall not cry on the day of judgment. This eye will be a joyful eye. It will be a very happy eye. In another Hadith, Al-Imam al-Raza, alaihi salam, he says whoever cries for Hussain, or he makes other people cry for Al-Imam al-Hussain on the day of judgment when all eyes will cry, his eyes will not be crying. And then the Imam says, every medjless, every gathering, this is applicable to us, brothers and sisters, realize the greatness of these gatherings. He says, all the hearts will die, except the hearts that have participated. And the gatherings of Al-Imam al-Hussain, alaihi salam, Allah ﷻ will keep these hearts very alive. Know the value of all of these gatherings. In a third Hadith, Al-Imam al-Sadiq, alaihi salam, he tells one of his companions, whenever you feel the pain in your heart and you cry for my grandfather Hussain, let me tell you something, let me give you some good news. When you're dying, my grandfathers including Ali ibn Abi Talib will be by your side, and they will speak to the angel of death. They will tell him, oh angel of death, be gentle with him, for he cried on Al-Hussain ibn Ali, alaihi salam. And then the Imam says, the angel of death will be more gentle with you than a mother that is gentle with her child. Realize the tears that you shed for Abi Abdullah al-Hussain. Do not underestimate it. In this ziyarah, the Imam says, everything in creation cried. And then he says, the seven skies, the seven earths, even the inhabitants of Hell, Allahu Akbar. These are the words of Al-Imam al-Sadiq, alaihi salam. Even the people of Hell will cry for Abi Abdullah al-Hussain when they realize what happened to him. This is the greatness of the Imam, alaihi salam. Let's use these nights. I know many of you are busy, you have a work schedule, you have school, but make sure that you do not abandon the programs of Al-Imam al-Hussain, alaihi salam. Wherever there's a program dedicated for the Imam, be the first to attend brothers and sisters. Because these tears have the power, not only to shake the universe, but to transform you, oh brothers and sisters. Just like they transformed a warrior in Karbala, and that is al-Hur ibn Yazid al-Riyahi. This man was an amazing warrior. He was so brave. Omar ibn Sa'ad dispatches him with 1,000 soldiers. And he tells him, your mission is to block Al-Imam al-Hussain from reaching Kufa. He was a warrior, but he was misguided. He was brainwashed. He did not know what the message of Al-Imam al-Hussain, alaihi salam, was. As the Imam, alaihi salam, was heading towards Kufa, he intercepts the caravan of the Imam. And he tells him, oh Hussain, I shall not let you go. I will not allow you to reach Kufa. And he had 1,000 soldiers with him. The Imam, alaihi salam, may your mother grieve you. Why do you do this to me and my family? What have I done to you? Let me go. Had any other person said this to me, my mother grieving me, I would have insulted him. But how can I insult you when your mother is Fatima? I can't say anything. Scholars say that this respect he gave to Al-Imam al-Hussain was a primary reason why Allah guided him eventually to the Imam, alaihi salam. He blocked the Imam from reaching Kufa until in the following days, Umar ibn Sa'ad arrives Karbala with 4,000 more troops. Now you had 5,000. The 1,000 that were with Al-Hur and the 4,000 that Umar ibn Sa'ad came with. On the day of Ashura, Al-Hur realizes something strange. Al-Hur thought that Umar ibn Sa'ad simply wanted Al-Imam al-Hussain not to get to Kufa. That was the mission. But he realized that something more serious was going on. He realized that they wanted to kill Al-Imam al-Hussain and all of his companions. He walks up to Umar ibn Sa'ad. He tells him, are you determined to kill this man? He tells him, yes, I swear by God we will have a grand battle where the arms and the heads will be flying. He tells him, why can't you just let him go back? Why do you want to kill him? He says, these are the instructions of ibn Sa'ad, the governor of Kufa. I have to obey him. And he told me, don't come back except with the head of Hussain. When Al-Hur realizes that this is serious and they want to kill Al-Imam al-Hussain, he begins to shake. He hesitates. One of his friends sees him. He tells him, oh, do I see you shaking, hesitating? If I was asked who was the most courageous warrior from the Arabs, I would have said it's you. But I see you shaking on this day. What's happening? He tells him, I swear by Allah, I see myself between hell and heaven. And by Allah, I shall not choose anything over paradise. How can I choose anything over jannah? He begins to shake. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala opens the window of Hidayah in his heart. If Allah could do it in the heart of Al-Hur, He could do it in your heart, brothers and sisters. On this night, ask Allah to open that window of forgiveness in your heart. And remember that's Al-Hur. He caused, he blocked the Imam from going to Kufa. What happened in Karbala? He was partially responsible for. Had he let the Imam go to Kufa, maybe this would not have happened. You see the grave act that he committed? Yet Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala knows how to guide the people. He mounts on his horse. He goes towards Abi Abdullah al-Husayn alaihi salam on that other camp. And he's speaking to Allah. He says, Oh Allah, I spoke fear into the heart of the daughters of Imam al-Husayn alaihi salam. I blocked them from going into Kufa. Oh Allah, please forgive me what I have done. He goes, he marches towards Imam al-Husayn alaihi salam. He comes down from his horse, but he was shameful. He, his head was onto the ground. He could not look at the Imam in his eye. He proceeds to the Imam alaihi salam. He falls on his knees. Look at the humbleness that Allah gave him. He falls on his knees and he tells him, Oh Husayn, I am that sinner who blocked you from going to Kufa. I am the one who frightened your family and your daughters and your children. But, Oh Aba Abdullah, I swear by God, I did not know that they wanted to kill you, Oh Husayn. I just thought they're blocking you from going to Kufa. I really did not know that they had serious intentions of killing you. As soon as I found out they're killing you, I rejected what they've done. Oh Aba Abdullah, is there room for Tawba? The Imam alaihi salam tells him, Intub tataab, Allah will forgive you. He tells him then, Oh Aba Abdullah, because of what I've done, allow me to be the first one who dies in your way and sacrifices his soul for you. He goes out to the battlefield and he calls out to the enemies. He tells them, May God curse you. How did you betray Al Husayn? You invited him to come to Kufa now. This is what you've done to him. Come and defend your master, Aba Abdullah Al Husayn. He fights like a brave warrior. He kills 40 or so of those evil men. But then the arrows come raining down upon him. Oh believers, he falls to the ground. As salamu alaika ya Aba Abdullah. Al Imam al Husayn alaihi salam rushes to him, but it was too late. Al Hurm, he had spent his final moments and his soul has left his body. The Imam alaihi salam falls to the ground. He takes the head of Al Hurm and he wipes the blood and dust from the head of Al Hurm. And he tells him, Rahimak Allah, ya Hurm. Anta Hurrun fid dunya wa saeedun fil aakhir. May Allah have mercy on you, Al Hurm. Your mother gave you this beautiful name. Hur means you are a free man. Yes, in this world you were free, but on the day of judgment you shall be happy. But oh believers, after the battle was over, let me tell you what happened. The family of Al Hurbani Riyaah, they came, they took his body and that's why he's buried away from Karbala. Some distance between him and the shrine of Al Imam al Husayn, they said no one will desecrate the body of how he belongs to us and no one will cut off his head. He had a family to protect him, to honor his body, to protect his head from being slaughtered. But oh believers, the very grandson of the Holy Prophet, the best family Allah has ever created. He had no family to protect him. They desecrated his body and they severed his head. Brothers and sisters, raise your hands in dua with broken hearts and tears. Allah has promised that he would answer our prayers. All those who are going through difficult times, either through an illness or through a tragedy or through a problem, this is the moment of dua, brothers and sisters. Everyone raise your hands and recite this five times with me. Everyone with one voice. O Allah, make us amongst sincere and dedicated servants. O Allah, forgive us our sins. O Allah, bring us closer to your path. O Allah, open our hearts on this evening for your guidance and repentance. O Allah, grant us the ziyarah of Al Imam al Husayn. O Allah, grant us the shafa'ah of Al Imam al Husayn. O Allah, grant us the souls of believers and believers. Guide us to the right path. Ma'sbukatam al-salati ala Muhammad al-Rali Muhammad.