Yasser and Zahra Meet The Saviour of Islam

By Ibn Ali and Binte Abbas

Yasser loves Muharram because it means he can stay up late and chill with his friends at the mosque. Zahra hates Muharram because it means all the parties are cancelled and everyone is sad. Grandfather takes them both to their prayer room. He sits on his favourite chair, sighs deeply and says in a warm, loving voice,

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sun Behind The Cloud Publications Ltd
• Release date: Jul 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9781908110671

Book preview

Travelling Back in Time

It was a bright and sunny Sunday morning. Yasser and Zahra had woken up early to go to Islamic School. When they arrived, they saw the walls were draped in heavy black cloth, making the school feel very solemn. Grief was in the air. Zahra looked at Yasser, What’s going on? Who died? I don’t know why, but I just feel my heart sinking, like someone special died. Yasser shrugged his shoulders and pulled his sister as he bolted through the hallway, We are going to be late to assembly! Quick before the bell rings.

DING DING DING! Just as the bell rang, Yasser and Zahra plonked themselves down near their friends. They had made it just in time.

Salaamun alyakum students of The Awaited One’s Academy, Mrs. Muntazir greeted the students, and then continued, The Holy Prophet (S) has said: Surely, there exists in the hearts of the believers, when it comes to the martyrdom of Husayn (AS), a fire that never subsides. she cleared her throat and continued, we are now approaching the end of Dhul Hijjah and the New Year for the Islamic calendar is fast approaching. Remember my dearest lovers of Ahlul Bayt the first two months of the year, Muharram and Safar are a time to mourn Imam Hussayn (AS) and learn to apply the lessons from the tragedy of Karbala. Let’s end our assembly by sending our salaams to Imam Husayn."

The students of the Awaited One’s Academy stood up and placed their hands on their hearts and repeated after their teachers. Yasser rolled his eyes and started chatting with his friends instead. Zahra’s reaction couldn’t have been more different; she looked as if she had heard something truly terrible!

The day was soon over and before they knew it, it was time to go home. Yasser and Zahra ran towards their white minivan, jumping in and slamming the car doors after themselves. The entire ride home Yasser was bubbling with joy, while his sister Zahra looked dejected.

When they arrived at home, they went to greet their Grandfather. Grandfather could sense sadness in Zahra, Zahra my beloved what’s grieving your precious heart? Zahra fell into Grandfathers arms and burst into tears.

It’s not fair, she exclaimed gasping for air, when it was the Chinese New Year, we made dragons at school and on the first of January, fireworks filled the sky for hours! Why don’t we celebrate the Islamic New Year? Instead we have to go to the mosque every day wear black clothes, and we can’t have any parties at all!

Yasser disagreed. What are you talking about!? We get to meet our friends every night and play outside during the majlis. It’s the best time of the year!

Grandfather took them both to their prayer room. He sat on his favorite chair, sighed deeply and said in a warm, loving voice,

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY.

Those six little words transformed Zahra’s mood immediately. She glanced up at Yasser who looked back with a knowing grin; they were unable to contain their excitement. There was no doubt about it; they were about to go on one of their Grandfather’s marvellous adventures.

They eagerly gathered around his chair where he told them to climb onto the special rug and close their eyes, together they would travel back in time to the land of Medina to the year 4 A.H. on the 3rd of Shabaan.

With a blink of their eyes,

WHOOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHHH!

The rug started to move and they were up in the air.

The Magnificent Birth

The rug made a soft landing on the streets of Medina. Zahra, Yasser, and Grandfather were invisible!

They loved their adventures with Grandfather and couldn’t wait to explore Medina, the land where Prophet Muhammad (SAW) lived.

Shh, whispered Grandfather, Let your eyes and ears do all the work.

The sun was shining brightly as if it was beaming with happiness. The air smelled sweet, the trees looked crisp, and the branches on the palm trees were heavy with succulent dates ready to be picked and devoured. Everything looked like something special had happened and they were all celebrating and glorifying Allah (SWT).

Grandfather saw the curiosity in Zahra and Yasser’s eyes. He confirmed that something special had just happened and told them to stay close, as he turned quickly on his heels and began walking briskly away. Zahra and Yasser instantly followed their Grandfather, not wanting to fall behind, and eager to find out where they were going.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the house of Lady Fatema (AS), the daughter of Prophet Muhammad, who had just given birth to her second child. To their amazement, the house glowed with light. Zahra’s heart tickled with glee as she looked at the baby. He was the most adorable and angelic baby she had ever seen.

Zahra and Yasser were captivated by everything that was happening inside the house. To their surprise and delight, they could actually see the angels coming down from Heaven to congratulate Prophet Muhammad on the birth of his grandson.

A light shone from Heaven onto the Earth, and an angel even more glorious and magnificent than the rest, descended into the house. It was then that they heard their beloved Prophet Muhammad speak,

"Angel Jibrael has come to congratulate me and to tell me that Ali’s position to me is like that of Harun to Musa, so we are to name the baby with the name of Harun’s son. In Arabic, it is HUSAYN!"

The Prophet cradled the baby in his arms, as he tenderly stroked his face and whispered the adhan into his ears. Yasser and Zahra could see this was a special moment, and that the Prophet’s heart was filled with love for Imam Husayn. His love was so intense it felt almost contagious - the children too felt as though their hearts were overflowing with love for this tiny infant. With beaming grins on their faces, they watched as the Holy Prophet let Imam Husayn suckle from his tongue.

The Prophet’s Love for Imam Husayn

Yasser, Zahra and Grandfather left the house and walked through the hot streets of Medina. As they turned the corner, sand blew through the air, and as it cleared they saw a boy playing with his friends in the shade. Although it had only been a matter of seconds, Zahra instantly realized they had travelled a few years ahead in their magical time-line.

That boy is Imam Husayn! Zahra exclaimed, recognizing his graceful features. He was laughing and playing with his friends.

Just then, the Holy Prophet arrived and joyfully greeted the children. He bent down to scoop up Imam Husayn, lifting him high in the air and kissing him on his tummy.

They followed the Prophet to the mosque where he climbed the pulpit and started to give a speech.

While the Prophet spoke to the people, explaining the verses of the Holy Qur’an, he kept glancing over at Imam Husayn. Finally he picked him up, placed him softly on his lap and said to the companions, This is Husayn, look at him and remember him.

Just then, another little boy walked into the mosque, approaching the pulpit.

Who is that? asked Zahra captivated by his radiant face.

I don’t know replied Yasser but he looks a lot like Imam Husayn!

No sooner had the boy reached the pulpit when the Prophet picked him up and placed him on his lap next to Imam Husayn. He wrapped the two boys tightly