A Mercy Case

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem

Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa aali Muhammad

al-salam ‘alaykum ya Aba ‘Abdillah al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali

I pledge my allegiance to you eternally, hoping in Mercy, fearing Justice, longing for the Garden, terrified of the Fire

I seek your companionship in this life and the next, O Sayyid Shabab al-Jannah

I testify before the sacred presence of the All-Knowing that you are one of the “ulu’l-amri minkum (the holder of authority amongst them)” to whom obedience is owed for the sake of Allah

I testify before the sacred presence of Habeeb Allah, blessings and peace be upon him and his family, that Allah loves those who love you.

I see no other epitome of love for you but following you on ‘Ashura.

In my heart and with my words, I make complete tawalli (allegiance) to you, and complete tabarri (opposition) to those who stood against you, at the head of whom was Yazid. You had the right to rule, and the one who sought your submission had no right.

I have so much still to learn about what it means to follow you, but I will follow you until the end of this world, with Allah’s permission.

My pledge to you is my pledge to your grandfather, the Best of Creation, blessings and peace be upon him and his family.

Ask Allah to make me one of your truest servants in history, for in the words of one of your servants, “it was here that I found the meaning of life, and every day after was in this meaning spent.”

Labbayka ya Husayn!

For the following of our Prophet
For the obedience to our God
You are the one I have been searching for all these years

You are my commander and what a blessed commander you are!

Your servant,

Robert David Coolidge

Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa aali Muhammad