I would like to make an humble attempt to list the historical events that led to the tragic battle of Karbala and the Shahadat of Imam Hussain (A.S). I wish to clarify here that I don't want to get into un-necessary debates over rights and wrongs. If there are any factual errors in the details, I would be happy to be corrected.
Of-course all of this was pre-destined to happen as per the command of ALLAH Subhanu wa ta’ala. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had predicted this during his lifetime. There is a Riwayat which is also authenticated in some of the Hadiths that Gibrael (A.S) visited Prophet Muhammad (SAW) one day. Gibrael (A.S) handed over some sand to the Prophet and told him something, hearing which tears started flowing from the Prophet’s eyes. Maula Ali (A.S) visited the Prophet shortly after and saw that the Prophet was still crying, his beard soaked in his tears, and was kissing the sand given by Gibrael (A.S). Maula Ali (A.S) enquired about it to the Holy Prophet and he said that Gibrael (A.S) had told him that one day his beloved grandson, Imam Hussain (A.S), would be martyred along with his entire family, including his Children, in the scorching heat of Karbala fighting the oppressors to save his Deen – Islam. Gibrael (A.S) also told the Prophet that the sand handed over to him was the same sand over which his Ahlul Bayt’s holy blood would be spilled and their holy bodies desecrated. This was pre-ordained by ALLAH to happen and this would be a turning point in the history of Islam – to show the Ummah what is right from wrong, and to demonstrate that no worldly deed is as important or significant as being on the path of righteousness and following the path shown by Muhammad (SAW).
When Maula Ali (A.S) became the 4th caliph of Islam, the people of Kufa were highly inspired by him. He was just, always caring for the poor, and demonstrated an ideal way of living as was prescribed in Islam by ALLAH. We all know his qualities, so there is no need to elaborate on this further (I can go on and on and yet never be able to do justice to his grand stature). However this is important to note here because Kufa plays a critical role in the events to occur later. So, the people of Kufa believed in Ali (A.S) and started calling themselves Shi’ite Ali (followers of Ali). This is the origin of the word ‘Shia’. However one important point to be noted here is that at this stage Shia-ism was just a political movement (or ideology) and didn’t have any theological perspective to it. The people of Kufa specially had this high regard to Maula Ali’s family and preferred Maula Ali’s progeny over any other.
This becomes apparent during the time of Imam Hassan (A.S). Imam Hassan (A.S) was the Caliph of Kufa and Muawwiya ibne Abu Sufiyan was the caliph of Shaam (Damascus in Syria). This was the only period in Islam when there were 2 Caliphs at the same time. Muawwiya belonged to the Bani-Ummayyad tribe which was dominant in Syria at that time. It is important to note that before Islam and even during the early days of Islam, the Arab world was divided into different tribes who were usually very hostile towards each other and were always fighting. One of the major achievements of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was also to unite all these warring tribes under a common religion and thus reduce the hostility between them. However this was not totally eliminated and there were still battles fought between them. The power struggle between Imam Hassan (A.S) and Muawwiya became more and more intense and to diffuse the situation and prevent any further loss of lives of his Muslim Ummah, Imam Hassan (A.S) signed a pact with Muawwiya and much to the resistance of the people of Kufa, resigned as the Caliph of Kufa.
Imam Hassan (A.S) along with his family (including Imam Hussain A.S) then returned to Medina. Imam Hassan (A.S) spent the rest of his life before he was poisoned there.
In Shaam, Muawwiya died and he appointed his son Yazid ibne Muawwiya as the next caliph. Muawwiya argued that as Maula Ali (A.S) appointed his son Imam Hassan (A.S) after his death as the next caliph, in the similar manner he can appoint his son as the next caliph without the need of any local consensus. Not everyone was happy with this decision as Yazid was the least suitable man for the job. He was rude, arrogant, and led a lavish lifestyle – contrary to the preachings of Islam. He drank, gambled and definitely was not a fit for the caliphate. However the Bani Ummayyads were very powerful and nobody dared to go against the appointment of Yazid.
At this time there was increasing pressure on Imam Hussain (A.S) in Medina to give the oath of allegiance (Bay’t) to Yazid. However Imam Hussain did not agree to this and was determined to not accept Yazid as the next caliph. Pressure was mounting on Imam Hussain (A.S) and his family in Medina as the Bani Ummayyads had a stronghold in Medina. Hence Imam Hussain, along with his entire family, shifted to Mecca, which was relatively peaceful and didn’t have many Yazid supporters.
However the people in Kufa who were being oppressed now under the rule of Yazid started writing letters to Imam Hussain (A.S) asking him to come to Kufa. They promised Imam Hussain (A.S) that they would support Imam Hussain (A.S) and help him fight against the tyranny of Yazid.
Upon receiving these letters from the people of Kufa, Imam Hussain (A.S) asked his cousin Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S) to go to Kufa and check the situation there, and to assess if there was truth in the letters and if the people of Kufa really want him to visit Kufa.
Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S) reached Kufa (sometime in Zilqad-al Haraam 60 A.H). He took shelter in the house of Hani who was at that time one of the important person in the administration of Kufa - however in his heart he was a supporter of Imam Hussain (A.S). The Governor of Kufa at the time was a moderate man. After a few days news reached Yazid in Shaam that Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S) is in Kufa and he is assessing the support from the people of Kufa towards Imam Hussain (A.S) and that the people of Kufa have asked Imam Hussain (A.S) to visit Kufa so that they can declare him as their caliph.
Needless to say Yazid was agitated when he heard this news of the internal rebellion in Kufa. To control the situation, he sent his most ruthless and shrewd commander – Ibne Ziyaad – to Kufa. Ibne –Ziyaad was a young (28 years) and ruthless man who was politically very shrewd and manipulative. He reached Kufa along with just 17 of his men. When they entered Kufa, Ibne Ziyaad had covered his face with his headgear. When the Kufans saw Ibne-Ziyaad, they mistook him to be Imam Hussain (A.S) and started rejoicing and welcoming him and declaring openly that they would want him to be their caliph as opposed to Yazid. Ibne Ziyaad, being the shrewd man that he was, didn’t say anything then and neither did he remove his mask. However he understood immediately that the news that had reached Yazid is true and there is indeed an internal rebellion brewing in Kufa.
Ibne Ziyaad retired the then Governor of Kufa and established himself as the new Governor. Now his next task was to find Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S). Again with his shrewdness, he asked one of his soldier to disguise himself as a supporter of Imam Hussain (A.S) from a neighboring province and carry a bag of coins to be handed over to Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S) and keep enquiring the people of Kufa to take him to Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S). The spy did this and finally found out that Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S) is staying in the house of Hani. He immediately informed Ibne Ziyaad about it and Ibne Ziyaad called for Hani at the Governor’s house. When Hani reached the Governor’s house, Ibne Ziyaad started asking Hani about Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S) to which Hani initially refused. However soon the spy came in the court and Hani realized that he is now trapped.
Ibne Ziyaad started beating Hani with his sword/stick trying to get the information out of him. However by this time the news had spread in Kufa that the men of Ibne Ziyaad have captured Hani and that they know that Muslim Ibne Aqeel is in Kufa. Hearing this Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S) along with the supporters of Imam Hussain (A.S) went to the Governor house and asking for the release of Hani. There were thousands of people who had gathered and Ibne Ziyaad understood that it is not possible to fight them. Hence he came out of the house and declared to the crowd that Hani is safe inside and that they are just questioning him about few things. The crowd was pacified – however they all still stood outside the Governor house.
Ibne Ziyaad now started calling the leaders from different tribes one by one inside the house and started negotiating deals with them to forego support to Imam Hussain (A.S). There were various techniques that he employed – to some he offered bribes, to some he threatened about the huge Yazid army and what they would do after they reach there, etc. However the Kufans started deserting Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S) one by one until the point where he was the only man standing outside the Governor house.
Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S) had by this time already sent a letter to Imam Hussain (A.S) stating the people of Kufa would support him and give their Bay’t to him and that he should leave immediately from Mecca towards Kufa. However now the situation was completely changed and the people of Kufa had betrayed Imam Hussain (A.S) and deserted Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S) all alone.
Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S) found shelter with an old lady that night who allowed him to stay at her house. However the next day when the old lady’s son came home and he got to know that it was Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S) whom his mother had provided shelter to, he immediately went to Ibne Ziyaad and informed him about it in the greed of getting money from Ibne Ziyaad.
Ibne Ziyaad immediately sent his men and arrested Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S) and brought him to the Governor house. Muslim Ibne Aqeel (A.S) achieved Shahadat – May ALLAH have HIS Rehmat on his soul!
Imam Hussain (A.S) by now had already started from Mecca towards Kufa. In the meanwhile Ibne Ziyaad had informed Yazid in Shaam to send his army to fight Imam Hussain (A.S). Yazid’s army was already on its way for a different battle – however after getting Ibne Ziyaad’s message, Yazid ordered this army to march towards Kufa.
On 1st (or 2nd) Muharram 61 A.H, Imam Hussain (A.S) reached Karbala where he was stopped by Yazid’s army. Ibne Ziyaad wanted Imam Hussain (A.S) to give Bay’t to Yazid through him – which Imam Hussain denied outrightly. And the rest is history!
As-salaam o alaikum Ya Hussain – truly you showed us Mumineen what is right and how important it is to pursue the path of righteousness even at the cost of one’s life. May ALLAH grant us all Taufeeq to follow the true path of Islam and to keep the Gham-e-Hussain alive in our hearts forever.
Koi Abbas, Koi Salmaan toh koi Abuzar nikle,
Joh bhi nikale woh Muqaddar ke Sikandar nikle,
Yeh joh Asghar ke liye maang raha hai Paani,
Maar de Khaak par thokar toh Samandar nikle,
Maal Islam ne baata toh hazaaron maujood,
Khoon Islam ne maanga to sirf 72 nikle
Historical Events leading to Karbala
Re: Historical Events leading to Karbala
Truth seeker you have made a beautiful compilation of the events related to Karbala. I appreciate your effort in this regard. Islam me daaman mae aur iss ke siwa kiya hae.......... Ik zarb e Yadullah ik sajda e Shabbiri.