" Zuljanah - A Brief Inroduction"

By Sister Mrs Hur-Ul-Ein Teja

Contents
Introduction Miracles about Zuljanah
History of Zuljanah Juloos Procession - First Incident
Next Reason for Zuljanah being known as the Juloos Procession - Second Incident
Holy Prophet’s (s.a) Horse

Introduction p

Zuljanah is associated with the name of God and with that of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a)

The original name of Zuljanah was Murtajiz who was purchased by our Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a).
Muslims revere everything, which is associated with the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) i.e his shoes/sticks/
turban etc., so it is possible that they should misbehave towards his horse (because Shia used
him in the procession of Kerbala).

As the enemies of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) /Ahlulbayt (a.s) and the antagonists of the
Azadari were always against it, they were busy deriding and opposing the processions of Zuljanah.
They were so negative of the procession that if only the view of it is done or a single glance of
Zuljanah, "automatically the wife is divorced" what a ridiculous ideology is this.
In accordance with the Islamic point of view, idol worship is a symbol of the kufr and polytheism,
but is not this way with divorce. And that also the horse of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) was faithful
in full way in the battle of his Grandson.

● a ram from paradise was sent for sacrifice in the place of Prophet Ismail (a.s) and thus the
latter was saved. To commemorate this grand occasion, thousands of animals are
sacrificed every year, and nobody speaks but follows it.

● the grand dromedary of lady Aisha, on which she rode to lead the battle of camel is
commemorated by Hedjazis and Egyptians in a very grand manner, they decorate it
fully and take out the procession toward Mecca with extreme pomp and pageantry, walk
with respect in the is procession with all the soldiers, chiefs erudities, they even kiss the
she camel and the saddle.

So then why only at the time of processions of Zuljanah or Kerbala they are against and they
remain silent this was also Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) and his grandson (a.s) faithful horse.

The Muslims or their maulvis might have the point to ponder if they think about the issue such
verdict in respect of the dromedary of lady Aisha or see the idols or go against divine orders. But
only for Imam Hussein (a.s) are their nightmares; perhaps they don’t have the light of Allah (swt) -

“Intend they to put out the Light of God with their mouths! But God will perfect His Light,
though averse may be the disbelievers” (61;8). Ref. Pooya Ahmed Ali Translation.

History of Zuljanah p

Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) bought Zuljana from an Arab named Haris. Just after the transaction of
buying was over the Arab demanded the payment once again. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said:
“I’ve already paid you once so why do you demand it again?”

The Arab argued and told the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) to bring witnesses about his payment, but the
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) told him that there was nobody present at the time of payment except we
two were present.

“So how can I bring to you a witness?”

Suddenly a companion name Hazima came there when he knew about the matter. He affirmed that
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) had done the payment and he was his witness, but the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.
a) told him that he was not present at the time of payment so how do you conform the matter?

So he said:
“Oh Prophet my parents be sacrificed for you, we confirm everything you said, your prophethood,
the descent of archangel Gabriel, the divine decrees and all other things. So it is impossible for us
to imagine that you are lying for such a trifling matter. That is why I declare with confidence that
you have paid”.

The Holy prophet (s.a) was pleased with the faithfulness of Hazima, and said:

"Oh Hazima, from now onward your one witness will be considered equal to two witnesses"

From that time Hazima was given the title “Os Zul- Shahdatain” (a man of double testimony).

So the Arab repented and waived his false claim.

Now the question arises as to why the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) validated the witness of one person
while the Sheriat recommends of two and conform Hazima as two to one?
The answer to this question is first the claimant himself accepted his fault and waived his false
claim, so according to a Persian proverb:

"mudda-ee-soost gawah choost"

The plaintiff weak and hence the first argument against claim becomes null and void and Hazima’s
conformation was also appropriate in it’s place because a Prophet is always right and Hazima
conformed it, strong witness. He was pleased with the sincerity and faithfulness of his
companion and praised him, so how can a Muslim doubt such a truth full a man. Once the Prophet
(s.a.w.a) chooses someone, we can’t doubt, and no Muslims should doubt the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a)
words or faith.

Next Reason for Zuljanah being known as the Holy Prophet’s (s.a)
p
Horse

There must be some mystical significance in the event which occurred during the purchase of
Zuljanah (Murtajiz). It was the divine will that the news of the quarrel of the Arab and the title
bestowed upon Hazima should spread among the Muslims so that they should know about the
purchase of Zuljanah. That it was now the property of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a).
The divine knowledge was that a gigantic task was to be fulfilled by Zuljanah (Murtajiz) and it
should act as an argument against those who had gathered to slay Imam Hussein (a.s).
The reason for naming the horse as Murtajiz is that the sound of his neighing was very loud and
sweet which distinguished him from other horses, and the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) himself used to
ride that horse.

Miracles about Zuljanah p

When Imam Hussein (a.s) was a mere child and learning to crawl, he used to go frequently to the
stable of Zuljanah (Murtajiz) and look at him. Once the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said that his
grandson (a.s) was looking curiously at the horse as if some mysterious conversation was taking
place so he said:

“My dear Hussein, do you want to ride the horse? ”

And he replied:

“Yes! Grandfather I do.”

The horse was saddled on the order of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) and the Imam (a.s) came near to
him with a wish to ride, so suddenly the horse sat on the ground and the Imam (a.s) mounted on
him.

In this incident two points are proven as a miracle:

How did the horse know that a little boy wants to ride, as nobody directed him and he sat down for
his rider? A rider (Imam (a.s)) mounts a horse by lifting the other one; position himself astride in
the saddle, so it is proven that the horse had a divine inspiration. And the prime reason is the merit
and excellence is thine main owner Imam (a.s), as a token of respect for him, than sit down and
express the obedience and love for him, and so the noble horse followed the divine decree and
pleased God’s Prophet (s.a.w.a) and 3rd Imam (a.s).

Secondly, the child going near a horse expressed his desire to mount him, usually children fear big
sized animals and keep away, but here the miracle of the Imam’s (a.s) child hood becomes
manifest. The Imam (a.s) knew one day he had to ride this noble beast in his last battle at Kerbala.
As all the companions who were present saw the incident and were pleased to see the Imam (a.s)
mount the horse and the horse too was considerate for his rider. When the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a)
saw this coincident, serious tears began to flow on his cheeks. At once the meeting transformed
into a sad gathering and the companions also began to weep. One of them asked the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a):

“Today it is the occasion of festival seeing your grandson on horse back but why are you
weeping?”

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) replied:

"You are not aware of what I foresee" (the
scene becomes alive before my eyes as this grand
"Muratjiz" has borne my dear grandson on his back with
care by stooping down on his four legs). “A day will
come when my grandson will not be able to keep
himself in the saddle due to his extremely wounded
condition and this very horse "Murtajiz" will then
dismount my grandson on the burning sand of the
“Desert of Kerbala” with same and
consideration, stooping on his four legs and sitting on the ground as he has just done here.”

Hearing this sad narration all the companions began to weep loudly.

And the Holy Imam Hussain (a.s) is quoted as having said on the day of Ashurah:

“Wilt thou my dear Zul’jinah kneel down a little to enable me to roll myself down to the ground? I
know thou hast also been hungry and thirsty along with me. Pardon me my dear Zul’jinah for
Hussain is helpless. May the Lord bless thee.”

The faithful animal, which was itself hungry, thirsty and wounded, spread its legs in such a way
that the godly soul, one of the most brilliant stars of the heaven of divinity, slid himself down. Ref.
“Hussain, The Saviour Of Islam”, by S.V. Mir Ahmed Ali, pg. 186-187.

Now the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) himself narrated the sad event of Kerbala to his companions, he
himself wept and made others weep. It is essential to express practical sympathy towards the Holy
Prophet (s.a.w s) to console him and to follow the Sunnah of Azadari. So those who criticize this
noble custom of our Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) are cowards and idolatry closes their eyes which prove
the facts. The same with Murtajiz which Imam Hussein (a.s) mounted in the battle of Kerbala on
the day of Ashoora and this fact has been repeatedly affirmed in many traditions of the Holy
Imams (a.s.).

Scientific minded people and the pretending philosophers can question the possibility of how a
horse of Ziljanah’s age could perform the duty in Kerbala in the state of hunger and thirst. As the
maximum life of a horse is thirty years, so how come Murtajiz in Kerbala can perform his duty in
his old age?

The first reason is to consider that Murtajiz was bought on 9 a.h and he was 4 yrs old.
Then according to this estimate, he must be 55 yrs on the day of Ashoora. So even if such an old
horse was still to live to that age, he must be quite useless for his duty, so we can reply to that
question by proposing that it is sheer folly to compare the age limit of the present day with that of
1300yrs ago because formerly human beings used to enjoy a life span of 300 - 400 yrs, while the
average age of human life at the present is less than 100yrs.
The second reason to consider is that the Arab historian Damesna quotes Jahiz in
his Hayatul Haywaan that the lifespan of an Arab horse is as long as ninety years and force
youth remains up to forty years, so according to the master horse men the year of a horse life is of
eighteen months, thus sixty solar years count as forty years in horse life and thus in 61 a.h the age
of "Murtajiz", according to the lunar calendar, it must be 55 years so that the horse was quite
young. This argument will convince those who do not believe in religion and search of scientific
answers.
But for the believers, they know and believe that the divine leaders also have power to work in
miracles. So even a dead horse can become alive again.

Indeed ''Murtajiz' Zuljanah has been given such a excellent merit that his name will
ever remain fresh in this world.

His remembrance is still commemorated by bringing out a remembrance of him in Moharram in

many cities and village of indo -Pakistan subcontinent.

According to God's wishes and Zuljanah was in Kerbala, then we take out procession to spread the
message of Imam Hussein a.s by taking out a procession in Ashoora of Juloos. So must be olden
times used to start to hold alam flags banners same they must be keeping horse also as Zuljanah.

Juloos Procession - First Incident p

.
Here is story, of Oudh province India.

In the town of Behrich usually on tenth Moharram, a horse was

usually brought out to represent Zuljanah. Once this horse
become ill and a defect developed in his foot.

A Sunni Muslim began to treat and nurse that horse to be well

again before Ashoora but those who used to a carry out the
procession were unaware of the horse and brought another horse
in the Azakhana. But the Sunni man brought them the original
horse telling them that he was quite healthy for the procession.

The people of Azakhana refused the proposal thinking that he was not fully well and removed him.
While they were taking him away he was crying inside his heart he was pleading:

”Please do not take me away from here.' it is my right to replace Zuljanah.”

But people could not read the feelings of the dumb animal. They not only disappointed him but
they unknowingly killed him, had they tried to be considerate to the poor animal then he would
have been saved.

When the horse reached the place where he was customarily kept, his condition become worse. He
began to shed tears and groan in a melancholic tone as if he was invoking Imam Hussein a.s

“O master help me these people deprive me from my old right'.

Then the Sunni man tied him to his house but the disappointed horse shunned food and drink and
remained in a state of disgust and melancholy.

On the day of Ashoora, the Azadaris led the other horse in the procession on the very evening that
the condition of that horse worsened to such an extent that he died.

Hundreds of Shias, Sunnis and Hindus of that locality witnessed this event.

There are many history of Zuljanah. It must happen that we all follow the old traditions of
commemorating our Ashoora and taking out Juloos and in olden times there must be many
events taking place and so we follow up to now. But it true if you keep any animal that animal
should also have that feeling of Zuljanah. That’s why in Indo-Pak they feed that horse from their
infant.

Juloos Procession - Second Incident p

This was narrated by Sadaats of an Indian village named Barahara.

Once they used to carry procession of Zul-janah through an unusual route, there was a horse of
a Maulvi Sahib on our usual route where womenfolk of the village gather at that horse to observe
the procession of Zuljanah; so women folk came to know that the procession has change the route,
they became very disappointed and the locality resounded with their breast-beatings and
lamenting.

"Now let us see what happened to the procession."

On the other road the procession was going on and suddenly the horse stood still.

After much struggle the horse refused to move. People were puzzled by the behaviour of the horse.
At last some one from the procession suggested:

"Leave the bridle free and see what the horse does."

The bridle was left free and horse began to run and people also ran after him. Passing the
narrow and zigzag byelanes the horse reached the Maulvi Sahib where the womenfolk
gathered and stood amidst them with eye shedding tears. The dumb animal’s automatic action had
a profound effect on the hearts of the people and they surrounded the horse and began to weep and
beat their chest with more fervour and vigour.
The site was very emotional one.

In the same manner as Murtajiz had given the tidings on the martyrdom of Imam Hussein a.s to the
ahle-bait a.s. This horse stood between the ladies and the scene was such that the tragedy of
Kerbala being repeated.

Certainly this event exhibits a merit of Zuljanah that will never be manifested by any other
horse. As this anticipation has never been seen before. As how did this horse direct by itself
towards the house of Maulvi Saheb and stand there among the womenfolk with nobody
having directed him? It was none else than Almighty Allah (swt) wanted that the customs of
Azadari should be preserved in this world. He was infused the
miraculous automatic action in the horse to gratify the aggrieved heart of the women.

Sources:

● Pooya Ahmed Ali Translation of the Holy Quoran

● "Hussain, The Saviour Of Islam", by S.V. Mir Ahmed Ali, pg. 186-187.
● "The Book Of Light, Knowledge and Truth", by Marhum Haji Gulamali Ismail (Haji naji)
The author requests that readers recite al-Fatihah for Marhum Haji Gulamali Ismail