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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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