Muslim bin Awsaja al-Asadi

Muslim bin Awsaja al-Asadi

The Manaqib records that in Kufa, he was the agent of Muslim bin Aqeel, collecting funds, purchasing arms, and receiving pledges of allegiance on behalf of Imam Husayn.

When that collapsed and Kufa betrayed its promise, Muslim bin Awsaja did not retreat. He arrived at Karbala and stood in the front line.
When ‘Amr bin Hajjaj attacked the right wing from the direction of the Euphrates, Muslim bin Awsaja was the first companion of Imam Husayn to be martyred.

He fell reciting:
“If you inquire about me, I am a male Lion, from the chiefs of Bani Asad. The one who oppresses us has deviated from the Right Path and from the Religion of the Self-Sufficient, Omnipotent Lord.”

When the dust settled, he was found still breathing, smeared in blood and mud.
Imam Husayn walked to his side. He recited Quran:
“Of the believers are men true to what they covenanted with Allah, of them is he who fulfilled his vow, and of them is he who awaits, and they have not changed in the least.” (33:23)

Then Habib bin Mazahir came and knelt beside him.
“It is very unpleasant for me to see you like this, O Muslim. Receive the glad tidings of Paradise.”
Muslim replied in a fading voice: “May Allah give you glad tidings of fairness too.”

Then Habib said something remarkable, he said that if he did not know he would soon follow the same path, he would have asked Muslim to express his final wishes so that Habib could fulfill them on his behalf.
Muslim’s last words were not about himself. He pointed toward Imam Husayn and said:
“I recommend this Master to you. Ransom your life over him.”
Habib replied: “By the Lord of the Ka’bah, I shall surely do that.”
Muslim bin Awsaja then died. A slave girl was heard crying out: “O son of Awsaja! O master!”