Who was Ziyad? Was he a Shia of Ali??

Ziyad was a very intelligent man, a good politician, wise and a shia of Alee (a.s), who made him a governor in Fars. When Muawiya joined Ziyad to himself (by saying that you are son of Aboo Sufiyan and my brother) he turned into the worst enemy of the family (of the Prophet) and Shi'ee of Alee (a.s) and he is the one who killed Hujr Ibn Adi and his people...

Source: Lisan al-Mizan Asqalani Vol 3, Pg. # 531

"Ziyad (لعنت اللہ) was always in search of the Shiites of Alee (عليه السلام) and killed them, when Hassan Ibn Alee (عليه السلام)  heard it he prayed to Allah (swt) and said: "O my Allah (swt) put his death soon, because death is his punishment". 

Source: Majmahul Zawahid Haithami Vol 6, Pg. # 408

This has also been recorded in: Mohjam al-Kabir Tabarani Vol 3, Pg. # 68, Siyar Ahlam Nobala Zahabi Vol 3, Pg. # 496, Tarikh al-Islam Zahabi Vol 4, Pg. # 210

Ibn Ziyad now as a governor for Yazid (la) set out spy's in order to seek out any loyal supporters of the Imam Hussain (a.s). It was brought to his attention Hani ibn Urwa (r.a) was among them. Ibn Ziyad (la) threatened Hani to give up the location of Muslim bin Aqeel to which he refused. Ibn Ziyad (la) remind him that he would not spare his life as it was not done so with Hujar ibn Adi and his friends. Hani ibn Uraw (r.a) refused to do so which later lead to him been murdered by Yazid (la) and his henchmen. The testimony of Ibn Ziyad to Hani Ibn Urwa also verify's that the loyal supporters of Ahlulbayt (a.s) were few in numbers.

(فقال عبيدالله : يا هاني اما تعلم ان ابي قدم هذا البلد فلم يترك احدا من هذه الشيعة الا قتله غير ابيك وغير حجر ، وكان مع حجر ما قد علمت ،)

"Don't you know Hani, when my father came to this land, he did not spare the life of any one of the Shi'ee except for your father and Hujr? (And) You know what happened to Hujr?!"

Source: Tarikh Al-Tabari Vol 5, Pg. # 361

On the acknowledgement of this letter Yazid (l.a) issued an order to Ibn Ziyad  (l.a) in which he ordered Muslim bin Aqeel (a.s) to be either killed or expelled.

ثم دعا مسلم بن عمرو الباهلي وكان عنده فبعثه إلى عبيد الله بعهده إلى البصرة ، وكتب إليه معه : أما بعد ؛ فإنه كتب إلي شيعتي من أهل الكوفة يخبرونني أن ابن عقيل بالكوفة يجمع الجموع لشق عصا المسلمين ، فسر حين تقرأ كتابي هذا حتى تأتي أهل الكوفة فتطلب ابن عقيل كطلب الخرزة حتى تثقفه فتوثقه أو تقتله أو تنفيه ، والسلام.)

"My followers among the people of Kufah have written to me to inform me that Muslim bin Aq'eel is in Kufah gathering units in order to spread rebellion among the Muslims. Therefore, when you read this letter of mine, go to Kufah and search for Ibn Aq'eel, as if you were looking for a bead, until you find him. Then bind him in chains, kill him!, or expel him."

Source: Tarikh Al-Tabari Vol 5, Pg. # 357

Before Imam Hussain (a.s) departed for Karbala, Ibn Abbas (r.a) advised him against it. Ibn Abbas found the invitation very suspicious as he was aware the people of Iraq who had loyalty towards the Ahlulbayt (a.s) had been none existent.

(أتى الحسين عبد الله بن العباس ، فقال : يابن عم إني أتصبر ولا أصبر ، إني أتخوف عليك في هذا الوجه الهلاك والاستئصال ، إن أهل العراق قوم غدر فلا تقربنهم ، أقم بهذا البلد فإنك سيد أهل الحجاز ، فإن كان أهل العراق يريدونك كما زعموا ، فاكتب إليهم فلينفوا عدوهم ، ثم أقدم عليهم فإن أبيت إلا أن تخرج فسر إلى اليمن ، فإن بها حصونا وشعابا وهي أرض عريضة طويلة ولأبيك بها شيعة ، وأنت عن الناس في عزلة)

“Cousin I invoke patience, but I do not have it. I fear you destruction and extirpation in this exercise. The Iraqis are a treacherous people. So don’t go near them. Remain in this land, for you are the leader of the people of Hijaz. If the Iraqis want you as they claim, write to them that they should drive out their enemies, and then you will come to them. If you insist on leaving, then go to Yemen. There, there are fortresses and gorges. It is a vast distant land. Your father had Shi'ee there and you would be remote from the people”.

Source: Tarikh Tabari Vol 5, Pg. # 383 - 384, Al-Kamel Fi Tarikh Ibn Athir Vol 3,  Pg. # 400, Al-Bedaya wa Nehaya Vol 11, Pg. # 469, Ansab al-Ashraf Balazari, Vol 3,  Pg. # 374

From this brief introduction it can be established the Imami Shi'ee during the Tragerdy of Karbala made the minority population. Now the question arises as to what was the creed of these people? and to whom was their loyalty with?. The so called 'Ahl Sunnah' have attempted to confuse people by suggesting these people had been Sh'iees of Ali (a.s) and thus present day Shi'ee are damned for neglecting the Imam (a.s). This concept is against the holy Qur'an itself as it has been revealed 'That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another', meaning every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin. If we was to exert the same logic with those of Kufa can we blame the present day people of Hijaz for been cursed in not aiding to protect Hamzah (a.s), Uthmaan (la), or even the martyr's of  Karbalah? Or the Prophet (saw) himself! in which many of the companions fled from battle leaving him (saw) stranded which resulted in his face been striked. Could anyone use such feeble logic?  Inshallah'tala in our next article we will be dealing with the creed of those who wrote the letter to the Imam (a.s).