The 2nd of Muharram - Arrival of Imam Hussain(a.s.) and his family and friends in Karbala .
It was the 8th of
ZilHijjah when Imam Hussain(a.s.) converted his Hajj plan into Umra and left
Makkah just two days before the Hajj. He is the first haji to do so in the
history of Islam. He took along most members of his immediate family and some
steadfast friends and set off for Iraq
in order to avoid bloodshed in the Holy city of Makkah .
On his way, he was
confronted by one of the Lieutenants of Yazeed named Hur along with his army.
Hur asked Imam(a.s.) to abandon his plan to go to Kufa and that he should
accept the Caliphate of Yazeed or could opt to go to some other place which is
outside the Caliphate of Yazeed. Imam(a.s.) told him not to demand the acceptance
of Caliphate of Yazeed since it was not possible and because Yazeed was a
usurper and wanted to destroy the face of Islam.
Imam Hussain(a.s.)
started traveling again along with his family members and companions. Hur and
his soldiers accompanied them in order to make sure that they do not head
towards and arrive in Kufa. On the 2nd of Muharram, this group arrived at a
place where Imam(a.s.) picked up some sand and smelt it and after smelling
inquired from the local inhabitants as to what was the name of this place. Some
people said it was called NAINAWA, some said it was called GHAZARIYA and then a
group of old men mentioned that it was also called KARBALA .
On hearing this,
Imam(a.s.) ordered his men to stop and camp there and then said “This is the
place about which I was mentioned by my grandfather and my father. We will stay
here and our blood will be spilt here and our women and children will be made
captive here.” He then pointed out to
various places and indicated that “My son Ali Akbar will be killed here, my
nephew Qasim will be killed over there and my brother Abbas will be killed here
close by the river and at the end, I will be slaughtered here”. The womenfolk
and children of Imam(a.s.) were also listening to this sermon and finally when
Imam(a.s.) said “... and my son Ali Asghar will be killed by a spear over
here....” his daughter Sakina(a.s.) said “O my father, will the tyrants enter
our camps” Imam(a.s.) replied “not until I am alive, I will carry Ali Asghar
myslef into the battle field”.
The 3rd of Muharram
- Start of gathering of the army of Yazid(laeen) in Karbala.
From the 3rd of
Muharram troops of Umar ibn-e-Saad(la) started gathering in Karbala to fight Imam
Hussain(a.s.) and his handful companions on the direct orders and direction of
Yazeed ibn-e-Muawiya(laeen). The troops came in large numbers and started settling
around the river Euphrates (Nehr-e-Furat). Ibn-e-Ziyad continued sending troops
from Kufa and some troops were also sent directly by Yazid(laeen) from Syria.
According to historical counts the total Yazid army was between 30,000 and
120,000 men. This strong army against a handful (between 72 and 200) people –
including men and women – shows the level of fear that Yazeed(laeen) and ibn-e-Ziyad(la)
had from Imam Hussain(a.s.).
From the 3rd until
the 7th of Muharram troops kept on arriving and the children of Imam
Hussain(a.s.) camp were frightened by the thunderous noise of the horses and
soldiers. The womenfolk and children kept on asking on every arrival if they
came as the helpers of Imam Hussain(a.s.) and always the answer was a
heartbreaking NO. This continuously added to the fright of children and
womenfolk. Finally on the day of Ashura (10th Muharram), there arrived some
help for Imam Hussain(a.s.) as well - a group of 3 people – Hur, his son and
his slave – and then an old and trusted friend of Imam Hussain(a.s.) named
Habib ibn-e-Mazahir(a.s.). Although too little, but their arrival was so
heartening for the women and children of the camp that they sent personal
greetings and salutations to them and thanked them for coming to the help of
Imam and his family.
RasoolAllah said
Justice shall rule my Ummah until the first individual who shall destroy my Deen, from the Banu Ummayaa his name shall be Yazeed.
al Bidayah Volume 8 page 204:
Ibn Asakir in his history book states. When Husayn's head was brought before Yazeed, he recited the couplets of Ibn Zubayri: 'I wish my ancestors of Badr were here to see the fright of al-Khazraj (tribe) as the spears hit.
"It is already mentioned that he (Yazeed) killed al-Hussain and his companions through Ubaidullah bin Zyad"
Al-Muqadima by Ibn Khaldun, page 254:
It is impermissible to support Yazeed in the matter of killing Hussain, nay (Hussain's) murder is Yazeed's deed that proves him to be a Fasiq and Hussain a martyr.
The cruel people of Syria and Iraq upon orders of impure Yazeed and due to the efforts of chief of hatred and fitnah of Ibn Ziyad martyred Imam Hussain..
He (Yazeed) wrote to Ubaydullah Ibn Ziyad ordering him to march towards Madina and surround Ibn Zubayr in Makka. He (Ibn ziyad) replied: 'I can't give both these things to this Fasiq, after killing the grandson of Rasulullah (s)
Muhammad bin al-Dahak narrated from his father that he said: When Hussain marched, Yazeed wrote to his governor Ibn Ziyad saying: Hussain is marching to Kufa and he is a problem of your time not of other times, your state not of other states and you not for the other governors. At that time you might be free or be slaved. Therefore Ibn Ziad killed him and sent his head to him (Yazeed).
He also writes about the comments made by the Head of this delegation, Mundhir bin Zubair, upon his return from Basra, where he had gone to meet his friend, Yazid consumes so much intoxicants that he misses prayers!
Ibn Kathir writes about the delegation, comprising three citizens of Madina, going to Yazid. He says: When they returned to Madina, they made public their grave findings pertaining to Yazids perversities. They said: We are returning from that person who is irreligious, who is a wine-bibber and who is surrounded by singing girls, entertaining him with music.
Yazid was notorious for his love of music and liquors his illicit friendship with singing boys and girls There was not a single day that he woke up not intoxicated