Janabe Qasim
By Raziqueh

It was the 7th Muharram and I remember asking my mother what all the candles and heena were doing in a majlis as mehendi is donned on happy occasions? My mother replied, “This is the mehendi of Janabe Qasim who was martyred in Karbala immediately after his aqd or wedding to Imam Hussain’s (as) daughter janabe Kubra.”

Janabe Qasim, the son of Imam Hassan (as) was only a teenager when he laid his life for the cause of Islam. I immensely respect and adore him for the one quote of his:

“Death is sweeter than honey for me.” In the battlefield of Karbala where there are inspirations for all ages, I feel Janabe Qasim is role model for teenagers. He is the one to look up to and say that, yes when crisis arises I will fight for my religion.

I’ve heard many stories of valour, but Janabe Qasim’s bravery is worth emulation. Just imagine a youngster killing so many single-handedly in dire hunger and thirst. The way he fought the battle and his final moments have always made my heart cry out in pain. I’m accident-prone and I know how much it hurts for a single bruise, I can’t even imagine the pain that he must have gone through when horses trampled him underfoot and he cried out to his uncle for help.

Every year I see lots of young girls and boys doing nazar in Janabe Qasim’s mehendi to help them meet their soulmates. He’s there helping youngsters complete their social responsibility, too. And I hope and pray that in the sadqa of this great martyr each of us finds our ideal Islamic partners. Me too and I’ve already decided what I’m going to name my son when that happens…