The First Crossing of the Bridge-10

to obey Siyyid Kázim but added: “To your greatness we bear witness. Such is our confidence in you, that if you claim to be the Promised One, we shall all readily and unquestionably submit.” “God forbid,” exclaimed Mullá Husayn. “Far be it from His glory that I who am but dust, should be compared to Him.” Mullá Husayn addressed each of Siyyid Kázim’s disciples individually and impressed upon them their duty to carry out his instructions. Most, however, made excuses as to why they couldn’t leave Karbalá’ and search for the Promised One. .

Mullá Husayn and his companions begin their search

Mullá Husayn decided that he couldn’t wait any longer for the others. Without another word, he set off with his brother and his nephew. Their first destination was the special mosque in Kúfa

which is about 45 miles south of Karbalá

. This mosque holds special significance for the Shí’a, as it was in this mosque that in January 661, the Imám Alí had been killed by a poisoned sword. At this mosque, Mullá Husayn and his companions commenced a forty-day spiritual retreat called an i’tikāf

in which they fasted and prayed from sunrise to sunset. They had taken the first step of their quest to find the Promised One, readily crossing the first part of the metaphoric Bridge of Sirát.

Mullá Husayn and his two companions become the first group of seekers to set out in search of the Promised One. We will shortly see [next chapter] that they will soon be followed by a few others, who will with them become the first eighteen souls to make it across the first part of the Bridge, recognizing the Promised One.

Prominent Siyyid Kázim disciples who do not make the First Crossing

History documents a diverse array of outcomes among Siyyid Kázim’s disciples as they confronted the challenge of crossing the symbolic Bridge. While some successfully traversed this initial phase, demonstrating profound insight and

⁸⁴ Dawn-Breakers Chapter 3, p48

⁸⁵ Kúfa is besides Najaf. In January 661 CE, Imám Alí was killed by a poisoned sword while he was praying at this mosque in Kúfa. He is buried in neighbouring town of Najaf.

⁸⁶The mosque is Kúfa holds special significance for the Shí’a because this is where the Imám ‘Alí was assassinated with a poisoned sword in January 661 CE. The Shaykhi’s had the practice of special spiritual retreats called an i’tikāf in which they go into isolation and fast and prayed from sunrise to sunset usually for 40 days, and these are believed to have special potency when conducted at certain holy sites. One of these holy sites for an i’tikāf is this mosque in Kúfa.

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