Introduction
This article describes the events that led to the martyrdom of Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him). Soon after being chosen as the Caliph, Ali b. Abi Talib (ra) shifted the Caliphate from Medinah to Kufa in Iraq. The Kuffans were staunch followers of Ali. In 40 AH, Ali was martyred at the hands of a fanatical group called the Khawaarij. After the death of Ali, many of the Kuffan Shia joined the forces of Hasan ibn Ali (ra) and pledged allegiance to him. However, Hasan did not trust these Shia. The prominent Shia author Abu Mansur at-Tabarsi has preserved the following remark of Hasan: “By Allah, I think Muawiyyah would be better for me than these people who claim that they are my Shia.” [al-Ihtijâj vol. 2 p. 290-291]
Hasan b. Ali (ra) makes peace with Muawiyyah
In 40 AH Hasan made peace with Mu’awiyyah (ra) and gave him the Caliphate. This event which became known as the year of unity was foretold by the Prophet salalahu alaihi wa sallam: Al-Hasan (Al-Basri) said: I heard Abu Bakr saying, “I saw Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) on the pulpit and Al-Hasan bin `Ali was by his side. The Prophet (ﷺ) was looking once at the people and once at Al-Hasan bin `Ali saying, ‘This son of mine is a Saiyid (i.e. a noble man) and may Allah make peace between two big groups of Muslims through him.” (Bukhari).
The Shia protested at this peace treaty, and Hasan’s reply is preserved in the most important of the Shia books: “By Allah, I handed over power to him for no reason other than the fact that I could not find any supporters. Had I found supporters I would have fought him day and night until Allah decides between us. But I know the people of Kufa. I have experience of them. The bad ones of them are no good to me. They have no loyalty, nor any integrity in word or deed. They are in disagreement. They claim that their hearts are with us, but their swords are drawn against us.” [Al-Kafi, vol. 8 p. 288]
After this reconciliation took place between Hasan and Muawiyyah, the Shia’t Ali remained in Kufa. After the death of Hasan, his brother Hussain b. Ali remained loyal to Mu’awiyyah and rejected the request of the Kufans to revolt against Mu’awiyyah.
The Shias invite Hussain (ra) to Kufa
When Mu’awiyyah died in 60 AH, the Caliph was passed on to his son Yazid. Although Yazid received the bay’a (pledge of allegiance) from many prominent individuals including sixty Sahaabah, Hussain b. Ali withheld his bay’a and remained in Makkah.
In Ramadan 60 A.H the Kuffans began sending numerous letters from Kufa to Mecca where Hussain was staying. The Kuffans assured Hussain of their loyalty and allegiance to him and that they had not accepted Yazid as leader. Hussain decided to send his cousin Muslim Ibn Aqil to investigate the situation in Kufa. Muslim Ibn Aqil arrived in the month of Dhul Qada. The Kuffans met him and pledged the support of 12,000 Shia’t Ali of Kufa. They promised to fight with and to protect Hussain with their lives and their wealth. When the number who pledged support rose to 18,000 Kufans, Ibn Aqil felt confident enough to dispatch a messenger to Hussain informing him of the oath of allegiance of the Kuffans, and urged him to proceed from Mecca to Kufa.
Hussain proceeds to Kufa
Despite the pleading of many Sahaabah, who warned him against the treachery of the Kuffans, Hussain (ra) and his relatives began the fateful journey to Iraq. Abdullah b. Abbas was one of the Companions who advised Hussain with the following words:
“to whom are you heading out to? To those who killed your father and stabbed your brother?!” Musanaf Ibn Abi Shayba (7:477)
Rumours of what was happening in Kufa soon reached the Caliph Yazid in Damascus. He dispatched Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad to find Muslim Ibn Aqil and capture him. When Ubaydullah arrived in Kufa, Muslim Ibn Aqil called the Kuffans to defend him. Initially 40,000 men of Kufa rallied behind him. But upon hearing Ubaydullah’s threats they deserted Muslim ibn Aqil leaving him with only 500 men. Soon this number fell to a mere thirty men and eventually even these thirty men abandoned him. Completely alone, Muslim Ibn Aqil hid from Ubaydullah in the house of an old woman. However, the old woman’s son notified Ubaydullah of Ibn Aqil’s location. A detachment was sent to arrest Muslim ibn Aqil, but prior to his capture he was able to send a message to Hussain instructing him to go back.
Hussain’s (ra) representatives are betrayed.
Later that day–the Day of Arafah, Muslim ibn Aqil was taken up to the highest ramparts of the fort. His last words before being executed were: “O Allah, You be the Judge between us and our people; they deceived us and deserted us.” The people of Kufa witnessed his execution, and not a single one of them went to his aid.
Meanwhile, Hussain had dispatched a messenger – Qais ibn Mushir, to inform the Kuffans of Hussain’s arrival. He was captured by Ubaydullah, who ordered him to mount the walls of the fort and publicly curse Hussain and his father. Instead, Qais ibn Mushir praised Ali and Hussain telling the Shia of Kufa that Hussain was on his way, and he exhorted them to defend him. Upon that, Qais ibn Mushir was executed.
Treachery in Iraq
On reaching Iraq, Hussain found out to his surprise that the Shia of Kufa had joined the army that was sent out to stop him. He therefore changed direction from Kufa to Syria. Hussain had only eighty people with him. The army from Kufa intercepted him at Karbala. As stated in multiple Shia sources the same Kufan Shias who had pledged allegiance to him, were now preparing to fight him. He addressed the Kufan army saying:
“I did not come to Kufa without being asked to come. I received numerous letters from you stating you had no Imaam and you asked me to come. So it was obligatory upon you to stick to your promise and to obey me, but you broke your promise and your pledge of allegiance to me. This is not something strange or new to us, as you people proved disloyal and treacherous to my father, my brother (Hasan) and my cousin Muslim bin Aqil. If you did not wish for me to come, then I will return back to where I came from.” [Taareekh al-Umam Wal-Malook (2/228-229)].
When the Kufans heard this, they denied that they had written to him. Hussain called out some of their names, took out their letters, and read it to them, adding: “now when I have arrived here, you are adamant on killing me”. (Najeebabadi: The History of Islam, volume two, p. 77).
Hussein addressed a number of prominent Shia who were now preparing to fight him:
“didn’t you write to me telling me that the fruits have ripened, and the fields have turned green, and that I would be arriving to an army set [to be under my command]”. (Muntaha Al-Aamal, Volume I p.485.)
Failed negotiations at Karbala
In Karbala, Hussain met Umar b. Sa’d, the representative of Ibn Ziyad. Hussain said to him:
“Give me the right to three things, either let me go to the borders (of the Islamic lands), or let me return back to Madeenah or let me go directly to Yazeed ibn Mu’awiyyah so that I can give him my pledge of allegiance! So Umar (ibn Sa’ad) accepted this from him.” (al-Asaabah Fee Tamayyiz as-Sahaabah 2/71).
However, Ibn Ziyad refused all three options as he wanted Hussain to surrender to him. Hussain rightfully refused. Thus Ibn Ziyad ordered a 4,000 strong army to attack Hussain and his family. Forced to defend himself against overwhelming odds, Hussain was martyred along with many of his family members. Amongst those who were killed at Karbala were Abu Bakr bin Ali, Umar bin Ali, Uthman bin Ali, Abu Bakr bin al-Hasan bin Ali and Umar bin al-Hasan bin Ali. (note the names that the ahl-bayt chose to give their sons). Hussain b. Ali was 58 years old when he was martyred. The calamity occurred on Friday 10th Muharram in the year 61 AH. Allah honoured him with martyrdom and disgraced and dishonoured his killers.
Who were the killers of Hussain?
Hussain was killed at the hands of two evil men: Sinaan b. Anas and Shimr bin Thil-Jawshan. The latter was from the Shia of Kufa. (Al-Qummi, “Safinatun-Najaat”, vol.4, p. 492).
The famous Shia scholar, Mullah Baaqir Majlasee narrates that Hussain (ra) said: May Allaah’s curse be upon you and your intentions, you tyrannical, disloyal and treacherous Shia, you have carved my chest with a dagger.” (Jalaa al-A’ayoon, p. 468).
Baaqir Majlasee said: “In the end it was these disloyal Shia who martyred Hussain” (Jalaa al-A’ayoon, p.68).
As-Sayyid Muhsin Al-Amîn wrote, “Twenty thousand people in Iraq swore the oath to al-Husayn, but (they) betrayed him and rose against him. They turned their backs on their pledge and murdered him.” (As-Sayyid Muhsin Al-Amîn, A`yân As-Shî`ah, 1:34)
Shia sources that blame the Kufan Shia for the martyrdom of Hussain
A’yaan Al-Shi’ah Volume I, p. 26 by Muhsin al-Amin
Al-Malhama Al-Husseiniya Volume I, p. 129 by Murtada Al-Mutahari
Nafs Al-Mahmoum p. 263 by Abbas Al-Qumi
‘Ashura p. 89 by Kazem Al-Ihsaei Al-Najafi
Al-Ihtijaj Volume II, p. 92 by Abu Mansur at-Tabarsi
Having explained the events that led to the martyrdom of Hussain, in the next article we examine the religious and political consequences of Hussain’s martyrdom.
