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Salaamu 'Alaykum, During my stay in Najaf al-Ashraf I was given the honor to reside with many 'Ulema and tulaba of the Hawza. One day a wakeel of Hafiz Bashir al-Najafi (HA) and Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi (HA) came to visit me (even though I don't deserve any visitation) and they started discussing with me in regards to Islamic history. For the 'Ulema, it is a source of interest to hear the point of view of American Shi'a Muslims. Moving on we discussed the Battle of Jamal and Ayesha's wrongdoings, when I out of habit said something inappropriate about az-Zubayr. I somewhat cursed him, due to my ignorance. Almost immediately the wakeel rebuked me with an IMMENSELY ANGRY tone that az-Zubayr, although originally on the wrong side, asked Amir al-Mo'mineen for forgiveness and left the battlefield. He, az-Zubayr, was ashamed of his wrong doing thus he attempted to return home to Madina. During his trip back an assassin from the camp of Ayesha deceived him and killed him whilst he was in prayer, thus az-Zubayr died a martyr. When Ameer al-Mo'mineen (A) received the news of this he wept significantly and made much Du'a for his forgiveness. After hearing this narrative from the wakeel I have been troubled by this very much so and I would like to know why do we, Shi'a, not give az-Zubayr similar treatment to Hur ibn Yazid? A general of an army in the midst of an eminent war realizes his mistake, and asks for forgiveness from the Ahlul-Bayt (S), and later is killed on this basis should be honored, but he is not. I look at myself as one who has been blessed with much study in history but even with all what I studied I never had a good impression of az-Zubayr. How can this be? And when I take the name of az-Zubayr in front of our Shi'a brothers, even learned ones, they tend to ridicule him. Why is this so? -Agha Shabbir Abbas

According to the Ahlul Sunnah, these will all be in Janah: 1)Imam Ali (as) , 2)Abu Bakr, 3)Umar, 4)Uthman, 5)Talhah, 6) Zubair. I know there's more but I just want to focus on these. Ok, so... The second and third cause the death of the first's wife. Also, the fourth and fifth tried to kill the first. Oh, I almost forgot, the second, third and fourth on that list stole the Khilafah from the first... but, all of them will be together in Janah. Could anyone from Ahlul Sunnah explain this?! And if any Shi'a would like to add to this they would be very welcome. ws