Imam Husain(A.S.)-The Chief of Martyrs

In previous posts we proved that during the twenty-year long reign of Muawiya, three groups resided in Kufa: 1) Shia of Uthman – mainly comprised of the Banu Ummayah, who openly cursed and abused Ahlulbayt and used to aid Yazid. They believed in the caliphate of the first three caliphs but did not believed in the caliphate of Maula Ali bin Abi Talib [as].  Ibn Taimiyah stated in Minhaj al-Sunnah, Volume 1 page 174: “The Shias of Uthman used to openly curse Ali from the pulpits” 2) Common dwellers of Kufa who to distinguish or oppose from the Shias of Uthman were called as Shias of Ali. Contrary to the first group [Shias of Uthman], this group affirmed belief in the four caliphs. This group was in majority in Kufa. 3) Those Shias that believed Imam Ali (as) was the divinely appointed legitimate Caliph after the Prophet (s). This group was the Kufan minority. The disliking and frustration of the majority Kufans from the oppressions of Bani Umayah The common people of Kufa were inc

We will present some historical facts to understand how this despot attained power. Dr.Zakir Naik supported Yazid ibn Muawiyah in one of his Speech Certainly not preserving the Deen did not even come into the equation. The truth was one of Muawiya’s cohorts Mughira bin Shuba nominated his name in order to gain favor from his father to save his own seat of power. Ibn Jareer quotes from Shubi that when Mughira bin Shuba caught wind of plans to have him relieved of his governorship:- "al-Mughirah then went to see Yazid, and proposed the acknowledgement to him. When Yazid conveyed that to his father, Muawiyah reappointed al-Mughira to al-Kufah ordering him to work for Yazid’s acknowledgement". History of Tabari, Volume 18 page 184 The beginning of this allegiance was through bribery Prominent personalities were offered bribes as Ibn Katheer writes: According to Zaid bin Bakkar, Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin AbdulAziz Az Zahari quotes from his father who quotes from his fathe

Why did the Kufans that believed in the legitimacy of the three Caliphs aid Imam Ali (as) and Imam Hussain (as)? As we have mentioned above during the leadership of Imam Ali (as) the majority of Kufans believed in the leadership of the first three caliphs. If they sided with Imam Ali (as) against Muawiya it was based on the principle that he had acquired powered via the same principles and pre-conditions that were applied to the first three caliphs. The same principle was adopted by the inhabitants of Medina, which is why despite their upholding the legitimacy of Uthman bin Affan’s Caliphate, they chose to fight under the banner of Imam Ali (as) in Jamal and Siffeen against the seditious elements.. Now the question arises why did the Kufans help Imam Hussain (as) when the ascribed to the legitimate caliphates of the first three Caliphs but not that of Imam Hasan (as)? There are some reasons for that: 1) The Kufans had already turned against the governors of Bani Ummayah during the

The majority of Kufans were avid supporters of the Khilafat of the Shaikhain. The famous Sunni scholar Allamah Shibli Naumani in his world famous book Al-Farooq had credited the second caliph Omar for the construction of city of Kufa by writing: "When a number of cities were conquered, Saad bin Waqqas wrote to Omer that Arabs are becoming spoiled (with all the successes), Omer wrote back to find a spot that has both land and sea strategic importance. Hence Suleiman Hazeefah choose the land of Kufa and named it such.  Kufa in Iraq    The city was founded in 17 AH and, as Omar had expressly commanded, houses sufficient to lodge forty thousand persons were constructed. Arab tribes were allotted separate quarters under the supervision of Hayaj ibn Malik. Omar had given explicit instructions with regard to the planning of the city as well as its construction....... The Jami Masjid was built on a raised squared platform and was so spacious that forty thousand persons could pray

The political Shias who believed in the caliphate of Shaykhain versus religious-Imami Shias  Shias mourning Martyrdom of Imam Husain(a.s)  It has being part and parcel of postmodern Nasibi propaganda to insist that the ‘ancestors’ of the Shi’a were a treacherous people that consistently abandoned Imam Ali, Imam Hasan, Imam Hussain and the remainder Ahlulbayt Imams (Peace be upon them) and in some cases killed them. They seek to corroborate their claims by citing unknown texts by unknown authors as a mechanism for duping ordinary unsuspecting Muslims that do not possess a strong background on Islamic history. The shameless people lack the capability to direct these foolish allegations to us, the Shia of Ahlulbayt directly because as they are fully aware that the definition of the term ‘Shia’ did not carry same meaning back then as it does today.  This was an all-encompassing term that referred to everyone including those who are called Sunnis today. The reality is the term Sh

Preface The following pages are based on a report of an Address which I delivered in London at an Ashura Majlis on Thursday the 28th May, 1931 (Muharram 1350 A.H.), at the Waldorf Hotel. The report was subsequently corrected and slightly expanded. The Majlis was a notable gathering, which met at the invitation of Mr. A. S. M. Anik. Nawab Sir Umar Hayat Khan, Tiwana, presided and members of all schools of thought in Islam, as well as non-Muslims, joined reverently in doing honour to the memory of the great Martyr of Islam. By its inclusion in the Progressive Islam Pamphlets series, it is hoped to reach a larger public than were able to be present in person. Perhaps, also, it may help to strengthen the bonds of brotherly love which unite all who hold sacred the ideals of brotherhood preached by the Prophet in his last Sermon. A. Yusuf Ali. Imam Husain And His Martyrdom Sorrow as a Bond of Union I am going to talk this afternoon about a very solemn subject, the martyrdom of Imam H