Chapter 501 - 355: Ali’s Followers (Part 2)

"This is the Quran, handwritten by Imam Zaiyin," Master Musa said reverently.

He raised the book high, the jewels on its cover glittering in the dim light.

The Muslims placed their hands on their chests or shoulders, palms facing the sky. The Sufi Practitioners, however, prostrated themselves fully on the ground, touching their foreheads, noses, hands, knees, and toes to the floor.

Then, Master Musa handed the heavy book to a trembling reciter.

The reciter tremblingly opened the first page and began to chant aloud the words he had recited thousands upon thousands of times before.

"[In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Lord of all worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path—the path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your grace, not of those who have earned Your anger, nor of those who have gone astray...]"

"Allah is the Greatest!"

"Allah is the Greatest!"

"..." the crowd cried out.

Master Musa bent down and opened the lid of the second, smaller box. Inside lay a rusted Curved Saber of a unique design, its tip split to form two points.

"This is Zulfikar. The great Allah revealed this Sword to the Prophet Muhammad, who used it to defeat Amr ibn Hisham in the land of Balder, striking fear into the Ghulais Tribes. The power of Heresy has waned ever since. The Prophet later gifted this treasured Sword to his nephew, our first Imam, Ali.

"It is the source of Ali’s Power and the symbol of legitimate rule over all Muslims." His voice trembled with emotion.

He then walked to the last and largest, heaviest box.

The Mosque fell silent.

The Shiite Believers, of course, realized that by revealing these Relics, Master Musa was summoning the powers of Heaven to bear witness to an oath. Even the Turkic People, who did not fully understand what was happening, were awestruck by the Magic of the moment.

They all sensed that a greater, more potent Magic was about to unfold. The Sufi Practitioners were now all prostrate on the ground, while Master Musa prayed silently beside the final box. His hands were crossed, his lips moved unceasingly, and his eyes were turned upward to the rafters, where sparrows flitted about.

Finally, he undid the two heavy bronze locks on the box and slowly lifted the large lid.

Shansi could not help but let out a groan of disgust, fearing it was Witchcraft, and grabbed Eric’s right arm.

Master Musa opened the lid of the box. Inside, resting in plain sight, was a severed head.

Eric saw Shansi give an unhappy grunt and take a step back in disgust, thinking it was some kind of Witchcraft as he clutched Eric’s right arm tightly.

"This is the most sacred Imam Hussein, son of Ali," Master Musa said. "Once the caliph of all Muslims, the most beloved soul of the supreme Allah and His Prophet.

"The leader of all the youths of Heaven." His voice, thick with emotion, trembled.

Shansi instinctively took a step back, repulsed by the head, but Eric stepped forward to gaze at it.

He had been the heir of the Hashim Clan and the caliph of all Muslims—that was four hundred years ago.

He died in battle fighting against the son of the Umayyad Caliph, Muawiyah.

After Ali’s death, Hussein refused to submit to the Umayyad clan. He accepted an invitation from the people of Kufa to lead the Iraqis in an uprising against the Umayyads.

However, by the time Hussein arrived, the new Umayyad Governor had already crushed the resistance in Kufa. In the end, Hussein’s forces were utterly defeated by the Umayyad army at Karbala, just outside of Kufa.

Hussein was killed by the swarming soldiers and beheaded. His clothes were stripped, his Sword, shoes, and baggage were taken, and his body was trampled by a Warhorse. The head was sent to the Umayyad Court to be humiliated.

The head’s cheeks were sunken and its skin was dull, but it appeared otherwise unblemished.

Its hair was long and matted, and the neck was covered by a piece of yellowed linen.

A gilded bronze circlet served as a golden headdress, indicating his Identity.

"The merciful and just Hussein had accepted the peace treaty between Ali and the Umayyads, but the corrupt Umayyad Caliph broke this promise through deceit. Though vastly outnumbered, Hussein, who hoped to restore the path of the Prophet, still refused to yield. In the end, the Umayyad Caliph had him brutally murdered by the most despicable means," Master Musa declared loudly. "Imam Hussein, bless us, guide us, and pray for us."

The lips of ’Imam’ Hussein were withered, revealing three yellow teeth like brass nails.

The Sufi Practitioners closest to the ’Imam’ rose and fell in silent prostration, praying with silent Devotion.

"Imam Hussein, the most exalted and noble of holy descendants," Master Musa announced. "He is Allah’s Warrior. Be with him, and Allah will guide us."

He bent down again, looked at the ’Imam’, and said, "Oh, most sacred Ali, merciful Hussein, bless us and lead us to glory. In the supreme name of Allah, whose authority rules over all. At His right hand, you now sit with Him in everlasting splendor. Amen!"

"Amen!" the Sufi Practitioners responded in unison.

Those closest had already risen from the ground, ready to see the immortal Imam with their own eyes, many with tears welling up.

Master Musa looked at the crowd again, his voice filled with infectious power, "In this Mosque, here lies the soul of the northern Holy Land. Here are hidden our miracles, our treasures, our glory—the very means by which we beseech Allah for protection. As long as these precious Holy Relics are safe, we will be sheltered. And yet, there was a time," he stood up, his voice turning stern, "a time when the Heretics came, when our practitioners were slaughtered, and when the believers of the true path cowered in the valleys, enduring the humiliation of Heresy. But now, things are different! The Mahdi commanded our brothers and sisters to find them—these Holy Relics, through which Allah is watching over us."