A group of Muslims seek to exonerate Yazid b. Muawiyah of all his
crimes. As a matter of fact, these Muslims do not even acknowledge the
crimes and for the most evident crime of killing the son of Allah’s
Prophet — Imam Husain b. Ali (a.s.), they are quick to gloss over it
with the most weird claims including the ridiculous one of Shias
themselves having killed Imam Husain (a.s.)!
To such Muslims, it is fitting to point out that not every crime
perpetrated by Yazid is easy to sweep under the carpet. Although no
crime can parallel the killing of Imam Husain (a.s.), Yazid is
responsible for many crimes that are evident even to the most biased
historian and no one doubts even for a moment that Yazid is the
perpetrator of these crimes. If the most biased historian was to ignore
Imam Husain’s (a.s.) killing under one pretext or another, there is no
way for him to ignore Yazid’s other crimes. The incident of Harrah is
one such crime and all Muslims regardless of their sect are unanimous
that the responsibility for Harrah lies at the doorstep of Yazid b.
Muawiyah.
But first an interesting comparison to underscore Yazid’s antecedents.
Who is most despicable, Yazid or Firaun?
Yazid is often referred to as the Firaun of the Islamic nation. But
this comparison is not entirely fair to Firaun. Yazid was far worse than
Firaun and he dared to commit some of the most heinous crimes in the
history of mankind that even Firaun hesitated from committing.
A very interesting incident that occurred in Yazid’s court
highlights how he was far more wretched than Firaun. After the incident
of Karbala, the women of Imam Husain’s (a.s.) household were brought
in Yazid’s court devoid of their veils. Along with the women was
Allah’s Proof — the son of Imam Husain (a.s.) — Imam Zainul
Abedeen (a.s.). Yazid began gloating over his success in front of his
courtiers and sought to belittle the exalted status of Imam Husain
(a.s.) and his father — Ameerul Momineen (a.s.). However, Zainul
Abedeen (a.s.) despite being fettered in heavy chains and shackles was
not intimidated and gave a fitting reply to Yazid’s taunts. This
sparked off a dialogue between Yazid and Zainul Abedeen (a.s.) in which
Imam (a.s.) as expected, held the upper hand and crushed Yazid’s
arguments with utter disdain. This did not go down well with Yazid and
he turned to his advisors to counter Zainul Abedeen (a.s.). His advisors
advised him to condemn Zainul Abedeen (a.s.) to death.
When Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.), who was merely two years and some
months old at the time, heard this suggestion made by Yazid’s
advisors, he addressed Yazid, ‘They have recommended to you as opposed
to the recommendation of the courtiers of Firaun. When he (Firaun)
asked their opinion regarding Prophet Moosa (a.s.) and Prophet Haroon
(a.s.), they said: Give respite to him and his brother, while these
people recommend that you should kill us, whilst there is a reason for
this.’
Yazid was confused with this argument and sought the reason for
Firaun’s benevolence towards Prophet Moosa (a.s.) and Prophet Haroon
(a.s.) in this matter.
Imam Baqir (a.s.) clarified, ‘The reason why Firaun did not kill
Moosa (a.s.) was because he (Firaun) was of legitimate birth, while a
Prophet and his children are only slain by the illegitimate ones.’
When Yazid heard Imam’s (a.s.) explanation he became silent and hung
his head in shame. (Nafasul Mahmoom, Section 13, from Isbaat al-Wasiyyah
of Masoodi)
It is apparent that Yazid was subdued by Imam Muhammad Baqir’s
(a.s.) arguments and his silence only affirms his guilt. His sending the
captives back to Medinah is further admission of this guilt. What is
ironical however is that even though Yazid had accepted that he was
wrong in slaying the son of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), he still finds
widespread support from his ardent fans who 1,400 years after Karbala
insist on affixing his name with the reverential suffix ‘May Allah be
pleased with him’ something that is reserved for the Holy Prophet’s
(s.a.w.a.) choicest companions like Hazrat Salman Muhammadi (r.a.),
Hazrat Abu Zarr Ghaffari (r.a.), Hazrat Miqdaad (r.a.), etc.
Yazid’s reign lasted for three years and nine months. In a short
period of just 45 months, Yazid perpetrated crimes that would make even
the most oppressive tyrants shudder. In the very first year of his reign
(61 AH), he dispatched a huge army to murder the son (according to the
verse of Mubaahelah) of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) — Imam Husain
(a.s.). The army was given explicit orders to show no mercy to Imam
Husain (a.s.), to cut all water supply to his tents, to surround him and
his women, to kill the men mercilessly, to take the women captive and
parade them on the streets without their veils.
Yazid stands exposed
After Imam Husain’s (a.s.) martyrdom, news of Yazid’s
transgressions spread far and wide. The people of Medinah dispatched a
delegation to Syria to get first-hand information of Yazid’s offenses.
As was expected the delegation was disgusted with Yazid’s corrupt
ways and returned to inform the Medinites of his innumerable vices —
alcoholism, chess addiction, seeking entertainment with singing girls,
dogs and monkeys, indulging in intercourse with mehram women (mother, sister), abandoning prayers, and topping all this by murdering the grandson of their beloved Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
The Medinites were appalled to hear that the Caliph of the
Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) nation indulged in such unmentionable
indecencies. They began cursing Yazid openly and finally drove out his
governor — Usman b. Muhammad b. Abi Sufyan, along with Marwan b. Hakam
and other members of Bani Ummayyah from Medinah. They appointed
Abdullah b. Hantala as the governor and gave him their allegiance.
Yazid retaliates
Obviously a man of Yazid’s status and tyrannical temperament would
not take such a rebellion lying down. He immediately dispatched a large
army towards Medinah under the command of Musrif b. Aqbah Muri (also
called as Mujrim). When Musrif approached Medinah, he camped at a place
called Harrah-e-Raqim (Sangistaan), which is at a distance of one mile
from the mosque of Suroore Ambiya. Seeing Yazid’s army camped outside
their city, the Medinites came out to fight the army. Yazid’s army was
equipped with lot of ammunition and overwhelmed the Medinites in every
department. Consequently the Medinites were no match against this army
and a large number of them were killed in the ensuing battle. The
accursed Marwan b. Hakam was constantly inciting Yazid’s army to
attack the Medinites. Finally the Medinites realized that they could not
successfully counter the army and retreated to Medinah and sought
shelter in the shrine of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
Medinah under attack
However, Musrif was not satisfied at overcoming the Medinites in
battle. Being Yazid’s associate, he wanted to complete their
humiliation and wished to be remembered in history for this. So he
entered Medinah with all pomp and splendour at the head of his massive
army. This incident became famous as the incident of Harrah and occurred
in Zilhajj 63 A.H., three months before Yazid’s death.