[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:4] In every age there were people who believed in Allah and the truth, did good deeds and opposed tyranny and despotism, so the tyrants persecuted the righteous servants of Allah. In Arab tradition there is the story of Ibrahim whom Nimrud tried to burn to death (see Anbiya: 51 to 70). Another case cited is that of Zu-Nuwas. The true events concerning him and those whom he persecuted have been narrated by Imam Ali as follows: "Allah sent a prophet to the people of Abyssinia. Zu Nuwas, the king, was a pagan and asked the people to worship him as their god. The prophet prevented the people from worshipping him. The king killed many of the companions of the prophet and arrested him along with a few remaining believers. A huge pit of burning fire was prepared and it was announced that whoso believed in the God whom the prophet worshipped should jump into that pit. A believing woman came with a baby in her arms but stopped at the eleventh hour on account of her love for her child. The child cried (as Allah willed so): "Mother, jump into the fire with me. It is a test to prove our faith in Allah." She jumped and the prophet along with his remaining followers also jumped into the fire. By Allah's command all of them were saved from the fire. The words are no doubt general but the reference can very appropriately be construed to be the persecution to which the Ahl ul Bayt and their followers were subjected by the rulers who usurped power after the departure of the Holy Prophet. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: The Quran condemns not only the cruel persecutors but also those who witnessed the cruelties and did not take steps to prevent persecution, nor even said a word of disapproval. It was a warning to the pagans of Makka who were persecuting those who accepted Islam as their religion. It also refers to those who persecuted and killed the Imams of the Ahl ul Bayt and their followers. In Ziyarat Imam Husayn it is said: "O Allah, curse those who persecuted you, and also those who hear about it and remain agreeable to it, or rejoice." The persecutors who inflicted cruelty on men for their faith in Allah deserve to be punished in the fire of hell.