The Martyrdom of Muhsin ibn Ali (p)

وَإِذَا الْمَوْؤُودَةُ سُئِلَتْ ۝ بِأَيِّ ذَنْبٍ قُتِلَتْ

“And when the buried-alive girl is asked: For what sin was she killed?”

Surah al-Takwir, verses 8–9

The martyrdom of Muhsin ibn Ali (p) was a profound tragedy. According to narrations, these verses of the Holy Qur’an have been interpreted as carrying a deeper meaning connected to the tragedy of Muhsin ibn Ali (p).

Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (p) explained that the deepest and fullest meaning of al-Maw’udah (الموؤودة) refers to Muhsin ibn Ali (p), the blessed unborn child from the family of the Ahl al-Bayt (p), who was martyred when the sacred command of love and respect toward the Ahl al-Bayt (p) was violated.

Imam al-Sadiq (p) said regarding this:

يَا مُفَضَّلُ وَالْمَوْؤُودَةُ وَاللَّهِ مُحَسِّنٌ لِأَنَّهُ مِنَّا لَا غَيْرُ فَمَنْ قَالَ غَيْرَ هَذَا فَكَذِّبُوهُ

“O Mufaddal! By Allah, the meaning of ‘al-Maw’udah’ is Muhsin, because he is from us, the Ahl al-Bayt, and no one else. Whoever says otherwise, reject what they say.”

Allah, the Almighty, says in the Holy Qur’an:

قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَىٰ

“Say: I do not ask you for any reward for it except love for my near relatives.”

Surah al-Shura, verse 23

According to this narration, al-Maw’udah (الموؤودة) is connected to al-Mawaddah (المودة) — the love and devotion commanded toward the family of the Messenger of Allah (p).

Imam al-Sadiq (p) asks: Is this special closeness and love toward the Messenger of Allah (p) meant for anyone other than his Ahl al-Bayt (p)?

Imam al-Sadiq (p) also says in a narration:

وَلَا كَيَوْمِ مِحْنَتِنَا بِكَرْبَلَا وَإِنْ كَانَ كَيَوْمِ السَّقِيفَةِ وَإِحْرَاقِ الْبَابِ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَفَاطِمَةَ وَالْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ وَزَيْنَبَ وَأُمِّ كُلْثُومٍ وَفِضَّةَ وَقَتْلِ مُحَسِّنٍ بِالرَّفْسَةِ لَأَعْظَمُ وَأَمَرُّ لِأَنَّهُ أَصْلُ يَوْمِ الْعَذَابِ

“There is no day like the day of our tragedy in Karbala. However, the day of al-Saqifah, the burning of the door of the house upon Amir al-Mu’minin (p), Fatimah (p), Hasan (p), Hussain (p), Zaynab (p), Umm Kulthum (p), and Fiddah, and the killing of Muhsin ibn Ali (p), was even greater, more painful, and more bitter, because it was the beginning and root of the day of our suffering.”