Jan 12
Start of journey of Imam Hussain (RA) towards Karbala
Tuesday 28 Rajab, 2052
Jan 12
Tuesday 28 Rajab, 2052
After the death of Umayyad Caliph Muawiyah, his son Yazid became the next Umayyad Caliph in the year 680 CE (60 AH). Since Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ opposed this transition, which he considered contrary to Islamic principles, he refused to pledge allegiance to him. At that point in time, Hazrat Hussain was living in Medina with his family. Foreseeing the possibility of being forced to pledge loyalty and the chances of bloodshed among the Muslim Community, he decided to leave Medina, along with his family and other loyal companions.
This journey was, in fact, the start of one of the most heart-touching stories of early Islamic history. It was not an endeavor seeking power; it was the start of a struggle between the truth and the falsehood. It was a journey marked by sacrifice for faith and refusal to accept and submit to injustice and falsehood. Despite knowing that this journey is going to end up in his martyrdom, Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ willingly chose this path for the sake of upholding the golden principles of Islam, as taught to him by his grandfather, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. It was the start of a sacred journey, aimed at saving and reviving the religion of Islam.
Historical Background of Hazrat Hussain’s رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ Journey to Karbala
This journey was not just a journey; it was a sacred journey necessitated by political circumstances, religious and moral motivations, and, above all, the responsibility to revive the true spirit of Islam. Though the journey to Karbala was initiated to avoid possible bloodshed due to the conflict over non-pledging of allegiance with Yazid, it also had a long history behind it.
After the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, the fourth Rashidun Caliph, Muslims selected his elder son Hazrat Hassan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ as their next Caliph. Although he was selected as Caliph by a majority, a faction led by Muawiyah Ibn Abu Sufyan began opposing him. To avoid bloodshed and internal rift among the Muslim Community, Hazrat Hassan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ stepped down in favor of Muawiyah, after a written agreement between them, with the condition that Muawiyah would run the affairs of the Caliphate within the Islamic principles. An important clause of the agreement was that Muawiyah would not nominate his successor and would leave the decision to a council.
Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ honored the decision of his elder brother even after his death, but Muawiyah breached this agreement when he nominated his son Yazid as his successor. Despite clear opposition by some of the renowned Muslim leaders, including Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, Yazid took over the office of Caliphate after his father’s death in 680 CE (60 AH). As was the norm of the era, Yazid sought allegiance (bay’at) from the Muslim elites. Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ and some other notables, such as Abdullah Ibn Zubayr, refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid on the grounds that his nomination as successor of his father had transformed the Islamic Caliphate into a hereditary monarchy, which is against the Islamic principles of governance.
Above that, they believed that pledging allegiance to Yazid would legitimize his rule. Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ said that “My struggle is for the revival of the Ummah of my grandfather and I only want to enjoin good and forbid evil by following the way of my grandfather, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.”
After taking over as the new Umayyad Caliph, Yazid ordered the Governor of Medina, Walid Ibn Utbah, to take allegiance from Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ. When the Governor called him for this purpose, Hazrat Hussain firmly refused to do so, with the plea that a man like him cannot pledge allegiance to a person like Yazid. He was of the firm view that Yazid was a sinful person, hence not eligible to lead the Muslim Ummah. This was, in fact, not an act of rebellion against Yazid but a firm stance based on moral, ethical, and Islamic principles. It was a refusal to accept falsehood.
After that, it was clear that Yazid would react violently, and the life of Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ and his family and companions might be in danger, which may also result in armed conflict between him and Yazid. To avoid this unwanted situation, Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ decided to leave Medina.
In that scenario, Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ started his journey from Medina, which was destined to end up in Karbala. However, at that stage, he was aiming to move on to Kufa, Iraq, which had been the Capital and stronghold of his father, Hazrat Ali’s رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ Caliphate.
It was the month of Rajab of 60 AH, when Hazrat Hussain decided to leave Medina. On the 28th of Rajab, this heart-rendering journey started. He was accompanied by his family members, including his sister Hazrat Zaynab رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا. Ali Akbar and Ali Asghar, his two little sons, were also included in his group. Apart from family members, some of his close and loyal companions also accompanied him on this historic journey.
Since he was quite clear about his mission and almost certain about its fate, Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ talked to the people of Medina before starting his journey. He told them that those accompanying him in this journey are most likely to be martyred, but those who decided to stay back will not be victorious either. It was a clear message for everyone; declaring the severity of the upcoming situation, side by side warning the people that staying behind may save their lives, but they will lose the battle of truth. It was made clear that it was a journey that demands sacrifice in the way of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
Eventually, he left Medina with a small group of his family and companions. His destination was Mecca, the City of Peace, hoping to live there in a peaceful manner.
In the month of Sha’ban, 60 AH (680 CE), the caravan of Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ reached Mecca. Here, he stayed in Ka’aba (House of Allah). The people of Kufa were in contact with him. They wrote hundreds of letters to him, requesting him to come to Kufa and lead them against the Caliphate of Yazid. While letters from Kufans continued to come in, Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was apparently convinced that they were loyal to him. However, he deputed his cousin, Muslim Ibn Aqeel, to go to Kufa to assess the overall situation and mood of the people there. He also wanted to evaluate the level of their loyalty to him. Accordingly, Muslim Ibn Aqeel left Mecca for Kufa.
When Muslim Ibn Aqeel reached Kufa, he was received there quite warmly. Soon, thousands of the Kufans pledged their allegiance to Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ. Apparently, this was an encouraging situation, as assessed by Muslim Ibn Aqeel. Hence, he sent a positive message to Hazrat Hussain in Mecca, suggesting that he may come to Kufa safely.
On the other hand, the Governor of Kufa, Numan Ibn Bashir Al-Ansari, was suddenly replaced by Yazid. The new Governor, Ubaidullah Ibn Ziyad, was known for his brutal attitude and strict behavior against those loyal to Hazrat Hussain. Previously, he was the Governor of Basra. When he was given the additional charge of Kufa as well, the situation in Kufa started tilting against the mission of Muslim Ibn Aqeel. The majority of the Kufans started breaking their allegiance with Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, as they were being threatened by the new Governor. Many of them were arrested and executed by him, which spread a wave of terror and fear among the Kufans. Resultantly, the people of Kufa practically betrayed Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ.
The Governor of Kufa, Ubaidullah Ibn Ziyad, arrested Muslim Ibn Aqeel and eventually martyred him. It was the 9th day of Dhul-Hajj, 60 AH, which was also the Day of Arafat in Mecca. However, Muslim Ibn Aqeel managed to convey the latest situation of Kufa and the betrayal of Kufans to Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, before his martyrdom.
The message from Muslim Ibn Aqeel reached Mecca well before his martyrdom. However, Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ decided to leave Mecca and travel towards Kufa.
The reason behind this decision was that he was not willing to pledge allegiance to Yazid. On the other hand, he did not want to harm the sanctity of the Holy City of Mecca and Ka’aba, as he was foreseeing a brutal bloodshed by Yazid’s men to forcefully get his allegiance. Moreover, the sacred month of Dhul-Hajj and the days of Hajj had already started. To avoid a possible bloodshed in the peaceful city of Mecca, and that too during the Hajj days, he finally decided to leave Mecca and proceed to Kufa.
On the 8th Day of Dhul-Hajj, just a day before the Day of Arafat, he left Mecca, along with some 72 family members and companions. Before leaving Mecca, he announced that whoever is willing to sacrifice his life in the way of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, he may join his caravan. That was the defining moment and actual start of his “Journey Towards Karbala”.
Accompanied by a small group of 72, including women and children of his family, and some of the loyal companions, Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, finally left Mecca on the morning of 8th Dhul-Hajj, 60 AH. All of them were very clear about their destiny, but it was the start of a journey for the sake of truth and justice, for which all of them were ready to sacrifice their lives, under the leadership of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.
After leaving Mecca on 8th Dhul Hajj, 60 AH, Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ and his caravan headed northward through the harsh desert to reach Kufa. On his way, he came across many travelers who informed him that the situation in Kufa is not favorable for him. A famous poet, namely Farazdaq, also met him and told him that "the hearts of the people of Kufa are with you, but their swords are against you". This was a clear message about the situation prevailing in Kufa. However, Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ stood firm on his faith in Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ and decided to continue with his mission.
While he continued his journey towards Kufa, the forces of Uaidullah Ibn Ziyad practically blocked every path heading towards Kufa. During this time, his caravan was intercepted by Hurr Ibn Yazid Al-Riyahi, who was deputed by Ubaidullah Ibn Ziyad. The purpose was to prevent him from reaching Kufa. Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ treated Hurr with great mercy and offered him food and water from his own supplies. This act of mercy and kindness impressed Hurr, who later on joined the group of Hazrat Hussain and eventually embraced martyrdom on the final day of the battle of Karbala.
While all paths leading towards Kufa were completely blocked by Ubaidullah Ibn Ziyad, Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was compelled to proceed towards Karbala, the plains alongside the River Euphrates (River Farat). When he was told that this land is called Karbala, he responded that “It is the land of sorrow and tribulation, and that, here our blood will be shed, and our women will be taken captive”.
This was the 2nd Day of Moharram 61 AH, when the small group of Hazrat Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ camped at the plains of Karbala. The historic but most heart-touching journey towards Karbala ended here. The next eight days were going to write a new chapter in the history of Islam, marked by extreme faith in Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, willingness to sacrifice for the cause of revival of true Islamic principles, and victory of truth over falsehood.