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From
Medina to Karbala
When Imam Hassan was killed by Mu'awiya, shi’it
people of Iraq asked Imam Husayn to start a movement. They wrote
to Imam that they would support him toppling down Mu’awiya, but
Imam Husayn rejected and informed them that he was keeping his
promise to Mu’awiya and he would wait until his death. Mu’awiya,
on the other hand, broke the promise and announced Yazid as the
crown prince. After Mu’awiya’s death Yazid worte to Walid to
convince Husayn. He requested Marwan,b. Hakam to help him since
he had been the former governor of the city.
Marwan advised him to invite the people mentioned
in Yazid’s letter before they would have the time to leave
Medina and announce their disagreement. He advised Walid to kill
them before they start any movement.
When Walid sent Abd-Allah b, Uthman to inform
them, Imam and Abd-Allah Zubayr were in the mosque. Imam asked
Abd-Allah b. Zubayr to go and said that he would go later.
Abd-Allah left the city for Mecca during the
night and took refuge there; however, Imam Husayn took some
people from Banu-Hashim with him and said “ if I should call
you, you join me, if not, do not enter the place”. Marwan and
Walid were sitting there. Imam asked them “what do you want me
to do?” The governor answered we ask you to recognize Yazid
since people have accepted him and it is for the good of Muslim
world to do so”. Imam Husayn said “My agreement in this room is
of no worth, you want people to follow me recognizing Yazid,
don’t you? the governor said "O.K".
"It could be performed later” and asked Imam to
leave.
Marwan warned Walid that if Husayn left there he
would never pay allegiance to Yazid, he, then encouraged Walid
to kill Imam. Imam Husayn kicked him down and left the place. He
stayed in Medina for three other nights, visiting the prophets
memorial (tomb), praying and asking God to shed some lights. At
the 3rd night he falls asleep in the sanctuary and
visits the prophet in his dream, he sees the angels in his right
and left sides. The prophet hugs him and kisses his eyes, and
says “I will visit you very soon, you would be killed and
beheaded by the people for whom I would never ask forgiving in
the Resurrection. It’s tomorrow, Imam left Medina (it will have
been 27th or 28 th of Rajab). With his
family, brothers, children, nephews and nieces but Muhammad al-Hanafiyya,
who was sick and crippled.
He advised Imam to leave Medina for Yaman Since
he could find his fathers disciples there. “If you felt calm and
in ease stay there, if not take refuge in Mountains and deserts
and keep your time to see what happens” he said.
Imam Husayn declared; “I’ll never pay allegiance
to Yazid even is I can’t find any safe place on the world”. Both
men wept and then Imam indicated that he was free to stay in
Madina and the worte his will to him:
In the name of God the Compationate the Merciful.
This is the will of Husayn b. Ali to his brother,
MUhammed b. Hanafiyya. Husayn witnesses that God is the most
almighty and Muhammed (P.B.U.H) is his prophet appointed by God.
Heaven and Hell are right and the resurrection day would be met,
undoubtedfully God will raise everybody from their graves. I
didn’t leave Medina to hold showing off, bad wills, and
corruption or cruelty but also for the good will of people, I
did it to preach my religion and probed to do evil. I want to
follow my father Ali and his way. Those who accept the right and
recognize me have recognized God and those reject me, I will
wait for God’s judgement since he is the best of judges. This is
my will to you, brother.”
Then he folded the letter, sealed it, and gave it
to Muhammad and said good bye to him:
و
الا بالله علیه توکلت و الیه انیب
Imam Husayn left Medina for Mecca passing through
the Main road not via hidden roads. Some of his comrades warned
him of the dangers and probable hazards; but he said “I don’t
like to escape like rebels and riots, God is the greatest and
his will ordaines the world”. Rejecting the recognition of Yazid,
Imam Husayn raised a crucial movement which was more important
than the letters written to him. It took place in a stagnant
condition in which nobody dared reject or object Mu’awiya or
Yazid, his son who was young, proud, inexperienced and more
cruel than his father. During Mu’awiya’s the bought clergies of
the time damned Ali, the previous caliph and Imam, in the
mosques.
It was dangerous for people to talk about his
valuable sayings and anybody quoting him did it cautiously. In
such an environment, objecting Yazid was not an ordinary act to
be carried out. Never the less, Imam al-Husayn proclaimed “NO”.
When he entered Mecca lots of shi’it people came to him.
Add-Allah b. Zabyr was taking refuge in Mecca, too. He was
jealous to Imam and thoughtful whether people would recognize
and respect him when Imam- Husayn is in Mecca.
Kufa people, on the other hand, rejected Yazid
when they got informed of Mu’awiya’s death. They got happy that
Imam Husayn had not paid any allegiance to Yazid and Kufa
shi’its gathered together in Sulayman, b. Fard. Khazaei; He told
them “You are Husayn’s and his father’s shi’it. If you can’t
help him; never write him, and try not to deceive him”
They confessed that they would help Imam Husayn,
and would sacrifice themselves for him.(Such great boasts).
The letters were sent to Imam continually through
envoys, one of the most famous of whom being Ghays b. Musahar.
Saydawi,
Imam received all the letters in Ramadan. He read
all of them and asked Ghays about the real status in Kufa,
“people are waiting for you", he said. Imam said his prayer and
wrote answers of the letters and asked Ghays and Muslim b. Aqil
b. Abi Talib to leave Mecca for Kufa and Basra as his
ambassadors. He asked them to be cautious and hide the letters,
evaluate the situation, and in case of general agreement and
loyalty of people in Kufa let him informed as soon as possible.
In his letter lmam had said; "respected and great believers of
Kufa, your last letters were given to me by Hani b. hani and
Said b. abd-Allah Hanafi. You all believe that you need an Imam.
you have asked me to join you to find the way of prosperity.
I’ll send me brother and cousin Muslim b.Aqil to you. I’ve asked
him to write me if the reality is in line with what you have
written. If this is so, I’ll come to you very soon. God
willingly, i hope to be a just Imam and judge according to
Koran, and perform right religion and devote myself to Islam,
”.
Muslim b.Aqil left Mecca for Medina. He said his
prayer in Rasoul_Allah mosque (prophet’s mosque) there. He
visited friends and family, hired two guides; they missed the
road and both of his guides passed away because of hot weather
in Iraq. Muslim b.Aqil wrote a letter to Imam and asked Ghays to
take it to me. He had written what had happened and had asked
Imam to send another person to accomplish the action.
Imam answered,“I am anxious and afraid of your
resignation, do whatever I’ve ordered ”.
Muslim b.Aqil entered Kufa and settled in Mukhtar,
al thaqafi, and according to some, in Muslim, b.A.Asadi. He
visited lots of shi’it people. When he read Imam Husayn’s letter
they all cried. The first person announced his agreement and
allegiance to Imam was Ab’as b.Abi.shabib Shakeri, then
Hbib.b.Mazahir raised and 18000 people paid allegiance to
al.Husayn through Muslim. He reported everything to Imam. Since
shi’its visited Muslim too much, his presence was not preserved
as a secret. It was soon opened to the ruler of the city,
Nu’man.b.Subayr.
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