The Unexpected Demise
On that tragic day the city of Baghdad was engulfed completely with pain, anguish, and sadness. The people were sad, worried and surprised because a terrible tragedy had struck their entire existence making them restless. It was such a terrible and bitter blow which no one expected to occur so soon and therefore, was unbelievable. No one ever imagined to be struck with such a heart rendering tragedy. But whatever it was it bad already occurred. There was no escape except for its acceptance.
While encountering with each other in a sad and unbelievable manner, people said: Sayyid Radi is expired!
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
“Lo! We are God's and Lo! Unto Him we are returning” (Sura al-Baqara, 2:156).
Sayyid Radi expired in the month of Muharram 406 A.H. at an early age of forty-seven years leaving the world of knowledge and Shi’i in sadness and lamenting.
Sayyid Murtada the pillar of knowledge and piety, in facing this unexpected tragic demise of his brother was so much affected with this heart-rending blow that he could not dare even to take a look upon his brother's dead body, and in order to escape from this intense sorrow took shelter into the holy shrine of Kazimayn. The huge crowd of mourners attended the funeral ceremonies,1 and the Minister Fakhrul-Mulk lead the congregation funeral prayer.
His body was temporarily buried inside his own home located near the “Ambar Mosque” in the Karkhey locality of Baghdad and was later on transferred and buried in the Holy Shrine of Imam Husayn (‘a) at Karbala.2 After that Fakhrul-Mulk went to Kazimayn and brought Sayyid Murtada back to home.3
