Imam Husain (AS): A brief Description and Analysis

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            Imam Husain (AS): A brief Description and Analysis

Since we are approaching to the day of Ashura (10th of Muharram), the
anniversary of the martyrdom of al-Husain (AS), the grandson of Prophet
(PBUH&HF), we use this opportunity to give a short biography of Imam
Husain.

Al-Husain (AS), the second child of Ali and Fatimah, was born in the year
4 AH, and after the martyrdom of his elder brother, al-Hasan, became his
successor. Husain was Imam for 10 years which was mostly during the reign
of Muawiyah, except the last 6 month which coincided with the reign of
Yazid. Imam Husain lived under the most difficult conditions of suppression
and persecution. This was due to the fact that, first of all, religious
laws and regulations had lost much of their weight and credit, and the
edicts of the Umayyah government had gained complete authority and power.
Secondly, Muawiyah and his fans made use of every possible means to put
aside the Household of prophet and to move them out of the way. Above all,
Muawiyah wanted to strengthen the basis of future kingdom of his son,
Yazid, who because of his lack of principles and scruples was opposed with
a large group of Muslims. Therefore, in order to quell all opposition,
Muawiyah had undertaken more severe means until he died in 60 AH and his
son Yazid took his place.

Giving the oath of allegiance, was an old Arab practice which was carried
out in important matters like governorship. Well-known people would give
the oath of allegiance as a sign of agreement and obedience to their king
and showing their support for his future actions. Braking the agreement
after the oath of allegiance, was considered as a definite crime.

Muawiyah during his life time, had asked well-known people to give the oath
of allegiance to Yazid, but did not impose this request upon Imam Husain.
He particularly told Yazid in his last will that if Imam Husain refused to
give the oath of allegiance, he should take it easy because Muawiyah knew
the bad consequences of such enforcement. However because of his egoism and
recklessness, Yazid neglected his father's advice, and immediately after
taking over the power, ordered the governor of Medina to either take the
pledge of allegiance from Imam Husain, or send his head to Damascus.

After the governor of Medina informed this demand to him, Imam Husain
asked for a delay to think about the matter, and moved with his family
toward Mecca overnight. He sought refuge in the sanctuary of God in Mecca
which is official place of refuge in Islam. This happened at the beginning
of Shaban 60 AH. Imam Husain stayed in Mecca for nearly four month.

This news spread throughout the Islamic world, and many people who were
tired of inequalities during Muawiyah reign and were even more disturbed
when Yazid took over, corresponded with Imam Husain and expressed their
sympathy for him. On the other hand, a flood of letters began to flow,
specially from Iraq and particularly from the city of Kufah, inviting the
Imam to go there and to build up a government. Naturally such situation
was dangerous for Yazid.

The stay of Imam Husain in Mecca continued until the season of pilgrimage
when Muslims from all over the Islamic world came to Mecca to perform Hajj.
The Imam realized that some of the followers of Yazid had entered Mecca as
pilgrims with the mission of killing Imam during the ceremonies of Hajj
with the arms they carried under the special pilgrimage dress.

In order to safeguard the great sanctuary of Mecca, Imam Husain decided to
leave for Iraq before completing the ceremony of Hajj. When he was asked
the reason for the mysterious departure, Imam Husain said that he would
perform this year's pilgrimage in the desert of Karbala, offering the
sacrifice of not any animals, but himself and his family and friends.
Giving a short speech in the vast crowd of people, he announced that he was
setting for Iraq, and said he would be martyred. He asked people to join
him in attaining the goal of offering their lives in the path of God.

Imam Husain was determined not to give his allegiance to Yazid and fully
knew that he would be killed. But it was not the time to save the life.
That moment was the right time to water the faded lawn of Islam by his
blood. Some of outstanding people of Mecca stood in the way of Imam Husain
and warned him the danger of the move he was making. But he answered that
he refused to pay allegiance and to give his approval to a government of
injustice and tyranny. He added that wherever he would go, he would be
killed, so he would leave Mecca in order to preserve the respect for the
House of God, and not to allow this respect be destroyed by letting his
blood spilled there.

While on the way of Kufah, he received the striking news that under the
pressure of Yazid's agents, people of Kufa did not support his
representatives and turned back, and some of them joined the Yazid's army
to kill Imam's representatives in Kufah. The feet of those martyrs were
tied and they were dragged through the streets of Kufah. The city and its
surroundings were under very strict marshal law by countless soldiers of
enemy who where waiting to face Imam. There was no way for Imam to turn
into unless to march ahead and face the death.

Approximately 44 miles from Kufah, in a desert called Karbala, Imam and his
followers were surrounded by the army of Yazid.  They cut off the water
supply of the Household of Prophet and their companions and their families
among them were many women and children. For eight days they stayed in that
place under the heat of the sun, and the circle among them narrowed and the
number of enemy's army increased by a number of 30,000 fully equipped
soldiers of Yazid.

In the following night, Imam gathered his companions and gave the a short
speech saying that there was nothing ahead but martyrdom. He added that
since the enemy was concerned only with his person, he would free them from
all obligations so that any one who wished could escape in the darkness of
the night and save his life. Then he ordered the lights to be turned off,
and most of his companions who had joint him for their own advantages,
dispersed. Only those whose hearts were tested by Allah remained who were
about 40 companions and some from Bani Hashim (his relatives).

Once again, Imam gathered those who remained to put them on the test. He
addressed his companions and Hashimite relatives, repeating that enemy was
only concerned with him and they could escape the danger in the darkness of
night. But this time the faithful companions answered each in own way that
they would not deviate from the right path and would never leave him alone.
They said that they would defend the Household of Prophet to the last drop
of their blood as long as they could carry a sword.

The enemy intended to start the war in the eve of the ninth day of the
month, but Imam asked for a delay till next morning to worship all over the
night for the last time. During the night, some 30 soldiers of enemy joint
Imam, among them was Hurr who was one of the Generals of the army of enemy.
They finally chose their way to be with Imam, and Imam accepted their
repentance. In this way the number of his followers became close to 90
people consisting of 72 companions and 18 male members of his family and
relatives, while enemy was more than 45,000 by then.

On the tenth of Muharram of the year 61 (680) That inequitable war began.
That day, they fought from morning till their final breath, and all the
companions and the relatives were martyred. Among those who were killed
were two children of Imam Hasan, only thirteen and eleven years old, and a
five years old child of Imam Husain.

When Imam himself was ready to fight, he saw his six-month-old baby is
dying from thirst. Imam brought his infant near to enemy demanded some
water for baby, saying: You want me but not this baby so take him and give
him some water. The words of Imam has not been finished that the thirst of
the baby was quenched by a deadly poisoned arrow from enemy which pinned
the baby's neck to the arm of his father. Imam threw some of his blood
toward sky saing: "O' Lord! Your Husain has offered whatever You have given
him. Bless me by acceptance of this sacrifice." Finally Imam came to the
field and fought for a long time and was finally martyred. The army of
Yazid having killed Imam Husain, cut his head and raised it on a lance.

The army of enemy, after ending the war, burned the tents of women and
children accompanying Imam and his companions, and plundered those helpless
women. They decapitated the bodies of the martyrs, denuded them and threw
them to the ground without burial. Then they moved women and children along
with the heads of the martyrs to Kufah. The bodies of the martyrs were
under the sunshine for three days till a tribe passing that place found
them and performed the burial.

The event of Karbala, the capture of women and children of the Household of
Prophet, their being taken as prisoners from town to town, and the speeches
made by Zaynab, the daughter of Ali, who was one of the prisons, became a
scandal for Umayyah Kingdom. Such abuse of the Household of Prophet
nullified the propaganda which Muawiyah had built up for years. The scandal
reached to the extent that Yazid denounced the action of his agents in
public. That was what excactly Imam Husain wanted to do, otherwise he would
not bring women and children with him and sacrifice some, and let the
rest to become captives. That was the only way to make a wave in order to
awaken the Muslim nation.

The event of Karbala was a major factor in the overthrow of Umayyah kingdom
though its effect was delayed. Among its immediate results were the revolts
and rebellions combined with bloody wars which continued for twelve years.
During those riots non of the important elements in Karbala could escape
revenge and punishment, including Yazid.

Muhammad Iqbal (from Lahore, Pakistan) said:

     "Imam Husain uprooted despotism forever till the day of Judgment. He
     watered the dry garden of freedom with surging wave of his blood, and
     indeed he awakened the sleeping Muslim nation. If Imam Husain had
     aimed at acquiring a worldly empire, he would not have traveled he
     did. Husain weltered in blood and dust for the sake of truth. Verily
     he, therefore, became bed-rock (foundation) of the Muslim creed; There
     is no God but Allah."

Charles Dickens had said the following about Imam Husain (AS):

     "If Husain fought to quench his worldly desires, then I do not
     understand why his sisters, wives and children accompanied him. It
     stands to reason therefore that he sacrificed purely for Islam."

Thomas Carlyle has relayed this about the Tragedy of Karbala:

     "The best lesson which we get from the tragedy of Karbala is that
     Husain and his companions were the rigid believers of God. They
     illustrated that numerical superiority does not count when it comes to
     truth and falsehood. The victory of Husain despite his minority
     marvels me!"

The famous, Dr. K. Sheldrake on Imam Husain (AS) said this:

     "Husain marched with his little company not to glory, not to power or
     wealth, but to a supreme sacrifice and every member of that gallant
     band, male and female, knew that the foes were implacable, were not
     only ready to fight but to kill. Denied even water for the children,
     they remained parched under a burning sun, amid scorching sands yet no
     one faltered for a moment and bravely faced the greatest odds without
     flinching."

World famous Arab historian al-Fakhri has said this about Imam Husain's
sacrifice:

     "This is a catastrophe whereof I care not to speak at length, deeming
     it alike too grievous and too horrible. For verily, it was a
     catastrophe than that which naught more shameful has happened in
     Islam...There happened therein such a foul slaughter as to cause man's
     flesh to creep with horror. And again I have dispersed with my long
     description because of it's notoriety, for it is the most lamented of
     catastrophes."

The previous four quotes have been taken from "The Martyrdom of Imam Husain
(AS)" - Yousuf Lalljee