They are a sea of esoteric knowledge, from which everyone may draw.
The reader will notice that in this book we address the Christian religion more than others. We cite their esoteric and exoteric books, drawing comparisons and linking the event of al-Husayn's substitution with that of the Messiah, may their glory be exalted.
A question may naturally arise in the reader's mind about this focus.
We say that the event of substitution has occurred in most religions and civilizations, for the Creator is exalted above being killed in any of His manifestations, which have appeared to every nation. Indeed,
Our master al-Sadiq, may his glory be exalted, said: "Indeed, (al-Husayn) was outwardly slaughtered more than a thousand times according to the delusions of the people of disbelief. Truly, al-Husayn's example is the same as the Messiah's.”1
However, we cannot mention all these incidents in this book, as it would cause the topics to branch out excessively. This book is intended as an introduction and a starting point for raising these matters. We will expand on this topic in the future, if the Master wills.
Therefore, we concentrated on the incident of the Messiah, may his glory be exalted, because it is explicitly mentioned in the Holy Quran. It is a clear issue, accepted by all Muslims. Furthermore, Muslims generally have a greater familiarity with Christianity than with other religions.
Someone might also ask about the basis for comparing al-Husayn and the Messiah, may their glory be exalted.
We say the first reason is that Jesus is Muhammad, who is al-Husayn, who is Moses, Abraham, and Adam. They are the line of the Imams and represent the station of the Name; all of them are Muhammad. There are many narrations on this subject, which is also what we believe. Therefore, their characteristics are one; what happens to the last of them also happens to the first.