How Wahab's Mother Convinced Him To Join Imam Husayn ('A)

The first lady Shahidah in Karbala. Who was the first woman Shahidah? Who can tell me? First woman to become martyred in Karbala? Ahsantum. Wahab's wife. I gave this story here before. Wahab's wife. Wahab Al-Qalbi. Narration did not mention her name.

Wahab took initiative by listening to his mom because he met Aba 'Abdillah with children and women. He asked him, 'Man, where are you going?' He said, 'No, there is leadership in Sham who is allowing injustice. I am going to administer justice'. He said, 'O man, good luck.' He prayed for him. Aba 'Abdillah began to walk slowly towards Ninawah. But then Wahab's mom has approached Wahab. 'Wahab, who are you talking to?' He said, 'I am talking to this man, he said there is a leadership allowing injustice, he is going to administer justice.'

See, I want you to see how important to take initiative. If you don't take initiative, habibi, in your religion, you remain where you are. Maybe in Dunya, you are taking a lot of initiative in your business, true. That I can't falter anyone. But in your religion, are we taking a lot of initiative? In your own personal religious development? Forget about coming to the mosque, that is not big deal to me. Are you taking initiative for yourself? To me, that is very important.

I was telling people in London on the weekend, you are a Muslim, 40 years. When last did you establish Namaz Al-Shab? Namaz al-Layl. Salat Al-Layl. Since last year, Ramadan, have you come up with a way of looking into Qur'an by your own? Because you have got all those smart ideas.

Mosque is boring, true. Majlis is boring, true. But you yourself, you are Muslim? Yeah, I am Muslim. What are you doing? Take initiative. Otherwise, life is tedious, Mu'minin and Mu'minat. Life is not easy. Today, the way life is moving, Wa Allahi, if you leave Allah behind, a time will come when you will stress over, and stress, and stress, and stress.

Wahab told his mother, 'this is the man.' Then the mother asked, 'What is the name of this man?' He said to her, 'his name is Husayn Ibn 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib.' Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa Aali Muhammad [Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa Aali Muhammad]. Then the mother said, 'Wahab, do you know the father of this man? I have been looking for the father of this man to reward him for what he did to us.' Wahab said, 'Mom, you have never told me anything.' She said,'You know, Wahab, if it was not because of the prayers of the father of this man, none of us was going to be alive. You and I were not going to be alive.'

Wahab asked his mother, 'how?' She said, 'When I conceived you, Wahab, when I was carrying you, I was falling ill now and then. Different healers could not manage. A man came to me and said, Go to Kufah. There is a man by the name of 'Ali, ask him to pray for you, I trust in his prayers. The mother of Wahab said, I went to Kufah. 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib did not even ask me whether you are a Muslim or Christian.' That is 'Ali. He just told me, 'raise up your hand, let us make du'a for you. We came back and today we are alive, Wahab and you are even married.'

And you remember, Wahab got married how many days? 17 days. What we call honeymoon was not yet done. Wahab looked at his mother, tears filled in his eyes. Mom, what do you want from me? She said, I need nothing from you but to help the son of 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib. Initiative, take initiative. The mother said, That is what I want.

But the wife, they are married seventeen days. Wahab looked at his wife, Are you coming or not? She said, I am coming. They joined Aba 'Abdillah. But you know what happened on the 10th day of Muharram.

It is the importance of taking initiative. Take initiative Mu'minin and Mu'minat. Don't fold your arms. Don't sit somewhere and give only advice. Be in the forefront. Companions of Aba 'Abdillah, they were in the forefront.

Wahab came to Aba 'Abdillah and asked for permission to go. Aba 'Abdillah looked at Wahab. He said, Wahab, stay behind and look after your mother. Wahab said, No, my mother said I should come and ask for your permission to go. Eventually, Aba 'Abdillah granted Wahab permission, isn't it?

The narration mentioned when Wahab began to head towards the battlefield, the wife was behind Wahab. Beginning, she called out, Wahab come back. Wahab continued to walk. Second time, she called out, Wahab come back. He continued to walk. For the third time, she said, Wahab go! Then Wahab stood and turned and looked at her. He said, Why first, second time come back, third time go? She said, Because when I look at the camp of Husayn, I see the children.

But the point I am trying to arrive is what? Wahab went to the battlefront. You know what happened? They beheaded Wahab. Wife rushed to the body of Wahab. And again, they beheaded the wife. Mother of Wahab was standing somewhere looking at them. They took the head of Wahab and threw to his mother. The mother took the head and said, if Allah will give me 20 of these heads, I will be proud to give it back to the son of Fatimat uz-Zahra'.

Initiative, Take initiative. There is no time!