Jul 06
Arrival of Hazrat Hussain (RA) in Karbala
Wednesday 2 Moharram, 0741
Jul 06
Wednesday 2 Moharram, 0741
Many Glorious moments have been presented in the History of Islam in which the explanation of Hazrat Imam Hussain (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) is the most sensational one. This was a horrific event that has and will continue to rock millions of lives around the world. They offer unique na'uh, mourn, and perform charity annually in memory of the sacrifice of Hussain Ibn Ali.
People of every religion take inspiration from the story of Karbala and the courage of Hazrat Hussain (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) to oppose oppression. Karbala stands for the values of truth, justice, and dignity. This post includes the background behind the arrival of Hazrat Hussain in Karbala and the causes for attendance, and the true facts about the event.
A peace pact was agreed between Muawiya Ibn Abi Suffyan and Imam Hassan Ibn Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) in 661 AD. Imam Hassan in that treaty had explicitly given up guiding the Muslim ummah under the condition of peace with Muaqiya at the end of the killing and war. The kernel conditions of the treaty were that Muawiya may reign by the rule of Islamic law, and he would not nominate any successor. After his death, the Caliphate was to revert to Imam Hassan or Imam Hussain (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ).
But Muawiya violated this term and nominated his son, Yazid, as the heir. He transformed the caliphate into a hereditary monarchy, culminating in the tragedy of Karbala. When Yazid ascended to the throne, he carried on the propaganda and divided the Muslim community. He drove the Islamic ideas away and distorted the religious signs.
Since he was not a crown prince chosen by the people but by monarchs, other governors and rulers did not accept him, including Imam Hussain ibn Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Yazid at once asked for the allegiance of such notable personalities as Imam Husayn ibn Ali, Abdullah ibn Zubayr, and Abdullah ibn Umar.
He was an oppressive and tyrannical leader who used to drink openly and kill peaceful Muslims who rebelled against him during his rule. This crime of Yazid drove the Kufans to write letters to Imam Hussain to come and save them from Yazid.
When someone among the people of Kufa was informed that Imam Hussain was opposed to Yazid, he started writing thousands of letters to Imam Hussain, inviting him to join them in rising against the oppression of the Umayyad. The Kufians felt that only Imam Hussain (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was the right leader for them and that they would follow him according to the Islamic laws, so they fully supported him.
As the situation was so serious, Imam Hussain dispatched Muslim bin Aqeel to investigate the position in Kufa and to give his report. But once Muslim bin Aqeel reached Kufa, the political tides changed quickly. Yazid commanded the governor of Kufa, Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad, to execute Muslim bin Aqeel to demoralize the Kufans.
Sayyedina Imam Hussain (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) initially, with his group of women, children, and elders, was to proceed to Mecca for pilgrimage. But because of Kafan's letters, when Muslim bin Aqeel was martyred, he changed his direction toward Kufa.
Imam Hussain (A.S.) reached the plains on the opposite side of the river Euphrates on the 2nd day of Muharram along with his entourage.
Imam Hussain’s entourage arrived at the army of Yazid, commanded by Umar ibn Saad. No doubt, the army of Yazeed was very large, but it was very frightened to take the first course of action because they were terrified of the spiritual aspect of Hussain. It is said that Shimr started abusing Hussain as well.
Umar sent a person to ask him why he had come to Iraq. To which Imam (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) replied that thousands of men of Kufa wrote letters and called him You come to this place. Umar bn Saad wrote a letter to Ibn Ziyad and informed him of the events, he being the governor (wali) of the Ummayad regime at that stage.
Ibn Ziyad wrote back to Ibn Saad that he should not be sympathetic with Imam Hussain (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) until he swore allegiance to Yazid. So, he commanded Ibn Saad not to give even a sip of water to the army of the Imam (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) from the river.
‘Umar ibn Saad prevented the people of Imam Hussain from reaching the water of the river. He appointed 4000 men to keep themselves between the troops of Imam Hussain (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and the riverbanks. At that time, the weather was boiling in the land of Karbala. People were thirsty, and for days they were denied the bare necessity of water.
The Imam wrote Ibn Saad to come to him in person. They met in the dark, and Imam Hussain proposed some conditions in writing to enter into an agreement. As Umar ibn Saad entered his camp late at night, he penned a letter to Ibn Ziyad explaining the situation and agreement. Ibn Ziyad was prepared to accept the offer of Imam Hussain, but Shimr bin Zil Jawshan was also among them. He informed Ibn Ziyad that this is a golden opportunity and he must not lose the opportunity to retrieve Imam Hussain (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ).
Ibn Ziyad accordingly wrote a harsh letter to Ibn Saad, on the advice of Shimr. He declared, “I have not dispatched you so that you may adopt lenience for Hussain Ibn Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) with (regard to) you, or on behalf of me (in talking) to him or his safety.” And remember that if Hussain (رضي الله عنه) and his followers surrender, you should hand them over to me. And if they refuse, you should confront and kill and mutilate them, like cutting their noses and ears off, as indeed they deserve the seconds. “But Hussain bin Ali is a pernicious, hot-tempered, thankless fellow.” “So when he is killed, you should cause horses to be trampled over his back and chest.”
Not that I want to hurt him when he’s gone. But I have sworn that if I kill him, the horses shall trample him.’ If you do as I have instructed, I will reward you, but if you refuse, then hand over the command of the army to Shimr bin Zil Jawshan, as I have given him the necessary instructions.
Shimr finally arrived at Karbala and handed over the letter to Ibn Saad, and he decided to go at the Emir's orders. Then Umar Sad placed his foot in the stirrup and, standing on the back of his horse‚ addressed his forces: "O Allah’s horses! And mount, for Paradise is your home.” This is the same words Holy Prophet(ﷺ) had used when he had summoned his companions to protect Islam in war, and, Ibn Sad on being faced by the son of the Holy Prophet(ﷺ) and his right heir, and his sons and loved ones, had used these words on the 9th of Muharram.
Imam Hussain then sent Abbas bin Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) to get a military report on the same. He returned and reported the incident to him. Imam Hussain dispatched him and said, “Request one more night, so that we may offer prayers.” Strangely, they let Imam rest until the next morning. It had the advantage of giving him time to prepare himself to die for his faith.
He then sat among his friends and told them that the following day would be the day of death, so they should return and not trouble themselves any further. “He said that the (enemy) was targeting him alone and so will also return to their town and Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) will forgive him for it!” They heard it all, but they remained firm behind the Imam.
Even in such trying circumstances, Hazrat Imam Hussain remained unruffled and articulate. He addressed the army of Yazid and delivered a khutbah to prevent a massacre. His positions were clear: he wanted to return in peace and cross the border to meet Yazid face-to-face. However, his demands were rejected. By orders from Damascus, Yazid had commanded the people in that region either to acknowledge him as their caliph or to be put to death.
There is a story about how Imam Hussain (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) would not bow to these commands. So he continued to preach to the army, the lessons of Islam and the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho-alaihe-wasallum), in the hope that they would take a lesson.
He addressed the enemy in remarkably collected terms. He was both hungry and thirsty, yet he kept on talking, speaking to the army from the opposite side, ready to murder him with 30000 spear tips. He spoke logically and firmly, though he could be fearing thousands of things, but wa’allas, there were no such expressions of his fears while in that place where one could have actually taken him by panic and asked Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) for help at this hard time.
The Day of Ashura (10 Muharram) is considered to be one of the most gruesome and barbaric incidents in the annals of Islamic history. Hussein (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and his forces (of 72 men) started to fight against the enemy. Imam set his brother Abbas ibn Ali at the flag (standard), Zuhayr ibn Qayn at the right flank, and Habib ibn Muzahir at the left wing.
He addressed his last sermon to the enemy, and thereupon Ibn Saad addressed him with peace on a false pretext and asked him to surrender to him unconditionally before Yazid. He rejected, as he knew Yazid was a tyrannical ruler.
That was the beginning of the battle, and Umar ibn Saad threw the first arrow to open the battle, saying: I shall be the first to shoot so that I will be a witness against the governor for my having started the battle. According to Arab custom, the companions of Imam Hussain (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) came out one after the other in single combat and encountered death with courage. The most famous of these early martyrs were Ali Akbar ibn Hussain, Habib ibn Mudhair, and Muslim ibn Aswaja.
The enemies became overwhelmingly and ceased to fight for the single and attacked in groups.” The companions of Imam Hussain gathered around him in a protective circle. They have saved their lives for the safety of the Imam and have been martyred in the most graceful manner.
Children and youth did not retract from Jihad in the path of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Qasim ibn Hasan, the 9-year-old son of Imam Hassan, bravely fought in the battle despite his youth, and he is also reported to have died. Imam Hussain had to take out a thirsty six-month-old infant, Ali Asghar, even to ask for water. Yazid’s men fired an arrow and murdered the baby as he lay in the lap of Imam Hussain.
By the time noon came, very few people were left by Imam Hussain's (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) side. Imam Hussain later in the day also achieved shahadat. There is no grief as grave as the grief of Karbala. Imam Hussain (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and his companions fought so that Islam stays; they didn’t fight for any personal or worldly interest, they fought for the Muslim ummah to serve the religion the way they wanted to.
Karbala wasn’t a defeat. It was a triumph of truth over falsehood and of sacrifice over submission.
The entry of Hazrat Hussain (RA) in Karbala is a universal message. His legacy is still fresh in the hearts of those who believed in him. Hussain accepted to this offer and every year people observe 9th and 10th Muharram calling it Yaumi Ashura Urs and the big time events take place all around the world where Shia community exist and remember the pain of Hussain (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) as they believe that he is true successor of Prophet Muhammad and his companions who were 72 in total faced draught and then followed by a hunger and thirst for three days and then were martyred by Yazeed.
Karbala is about a stance for truth and human dignity over an unacceptable, unsurpassed despotism. It is a lesson that a single man who has faith and moral clarity can begin a movement that would help define the future of Muslims. His shrine is built in the city of Karbala so that it should serve as proof that the truth exists and the name of the believers will remain till the last day.