The Martyrdom of Hussain Ibn Ali (a.s) :- Hussain Ibn Ali (11 or 13 January 626 CE – 13 October 680 CE) (3rd / 5th Shaaban 4 AH – 10th Muharram 61 AH) was the Son of Ali ibn Abi Ṭalib (a.s) the Last Rashidun Caliph and First Shia Imam and Fatimah Zahra (s.a) Daughter of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the Younger Brother of Hasan ibn Ali (a.s). Hussein (a.s) is an important figure in Islam, as he is a member of the Ahlal-Bayt (the household of Prophet Muhammad) and Ahl al-Kisa, as well as being the Third Shia Imam. Hussein is highly regarded by Shia Muslims because he refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid I, the Umayyad Caliph because he considered the rules of the Umayyads unjust. As a consequence, he left Medina, his home town, and traveled to Mecca. There, the people of Kufa sent letters to him, asking his help and pledging their allegiance to him. So he traveled to Kufa. There, his caravan was intercepted by Yazid’s troops. He was killed and beheaded in the Battle of Karbala in 680 (61 AH) by Shimr Ibn Zil-Jawshan, along with most of his family and companions. The annual memorial for him, his family, his children and his Ashaab (companions) is called Aashoora (Tenth day of Muharram) and is a day of mourning for Shia Muslims. Obaidullah Ibn Ziyaad (Governor of Kufa) appointed Umar Ibn Saad to command the battle against Hussein Ibn Ali (as). At first Umar Ibn Saad rejected the leadership of the army but accepted after Ibn Ziyaad threatened to take away the Governorship of Rey City and put Shimr Ibn Zil-Jawshan in his place. Ibn Ziyaad also urged Umar Ibn Saad to initiate the battle on the Sixth day of Muharram. Umar Ibn Saad moved towards the battlefield with an 80,000 strong Army and arrived at Karbala on Muharram 2, 61 AH (October 3, 680 CE). Ibn Ziyaad sent a brief letter to Umar Ibn Sad that commanded, Prevent Husain and his followers from accessing Water and do not allow them to drink a drop [of Water]. Ibn Saad followed the orders, and 5,000 horsemen blockaded the River Euphrates. One of Husseins followers met Umar Ibn Saad and tried to negotiate some sort of access to water, but was denied. The Water blockade continued up to the end of the battle on Muharram 10th (October 10, 680 CE). Umar Ibn Saad received an order from Ibn Ziyad to start the battle immediately and not to postpone it further. The army started advancing toward Husseins camp on the afternoon of Muharram 9th. At this point Hussein (a.s) sent Al-Abbas ibn Ali (as) to ask Ibn Saad to wait until the next morning, so that he and his men could spend the night praying. Ibn Saad agreed to the respite. On the Night before the battle, Hussein (a.s) gathered his Men and told them that they were all free to leave the camp in the middle of the night, under cover of darkness, rather than face certain death if they stayed with him. None of Husseins men defected and they all remained with him. Hussein (a.s) and his followers held a vigil and prayed all night. On Muharram 10th, also called Aashoora, Hussein ibn Ali (a.s) completed the Morning Prayers with his companions. He appointed Zuhayr Ibn Qayn (a.s) to command the right flank of his Army, Habib Ibn Muzahir (a.s) to command the left flank and his Half-Brother Al-Abbas ibn Ali (as) as the Standard Bearer. Hussein Ibn Alis companions numbered 32 horsemen and 40 infantrymen. Imam Hussein (as) rode on his horse Zuljanah. and called the people around him to join him for the sake of God and to defend Prophet Muhammads family. His speech affected Hurr, the Commander of the Tamim and Hamdan tribes and General in the Ummayad Army who had stopped Hussein (a.s) from his journey. He abandoned Umar Ibn Saad and joined Husseins small band of followers. Hussein ibn Ali (a.s) told Yazids army to offer him single battle, and they gave him his request. He killed everybody that fought him in single battles.He frequently forced his enemy into retreat, killing a great number of opponents. Imam Hussein (a.s) and earlier his Son Ali al-Akbar Ibn Hussain (a.s) were the two warriors who penetrated and dispersed the core of Ibn Saads Army, a sign of extreme chaos in traditional warfare. Imam Hussein (a.s) advanced very deep in the back ranks of the Syrian army. When the enemies stood between him and the tents he shouted: Woe betide you oh followers of Abu Sufyan ibn Harbs dynasty! If no Religion has ever been accepted by you and you have not been fearing the resurrection day then be Noble in your World, thats if you were Arabs as you claim. Then his enemies invaded back toward him. They continuously attacked each other, Until his numerous injuries caused him to stay a moment. At this time he was hit on his forehead with a stone. He was cleaning Blood from his face while he was hit on the Heart with an arrow and he said: In the name of Allah, and by Allah, and on the Religion of the Messenger of Allah. Then he raised his head up and said: Oh my God! You know that they are killing a Man who is the Son of the Daughter of the Holy Prophet on the earth, accept him. He then grasped and pulled the arrow out of his chest, which caused heavy bleeding. He became very weak and stopped fighting. The soldiers approaching him gave up confrontation, seeing his position. One soldier, however, walked up to Imam Hussein (a.s) and hit him on his head with his sword. Imam Hussein (a.s) got on his horse and tried to leave, but Yazids army continued pursuit. According to Shia tradition, a voice came from skies stating: We are satisfied with your deeds and sacrifices.Imam Hussein (a.s) then sheathed his sword and tried to get down from the horse but was tremendously injured and so the horse let him down. He then sat against a tree. While Imam Hussein (a.s) was resting against the tree, Shimr knew that Imam Hussein (a.s) was unable to fight and sent one of his men to go and kill him. The man went and seeing Imam Husseins eyes, he got extremely scared and ran back to his camp. When Shimr asked why he had not killed Hussein (a.s), the man replied that looking into his eyes he saw Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Angrily, Shimr sent another man. This one was so frightened that he dropped his sword and ran back to his camp. This time when Shimr asked him why he had not killed him, he said he saw into his eyes and saw the angry look of Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s). Shimr was angry, said that he would have to do it himself and wearing his armor, he went to where Imam Hussein (a.s) was. Using his iron boots he kicked Hussein in the ribs.Imam Hussein (a.s) fell to the ground, when Shimr sat on top of him. Using a blunt knife, he removed Husseins head from his body. The Army of Ibn Saad rushed to loot the tents. The Daughters of Prophet Muhammads family were expelled from the tents, unveiled and barefooted, while weeping and crying for their slain relatives. The army set all the tents on fire. Umar Ibn Saad called volunteering horsemen to trample Husseins body. Ten horsemen trampled his body such that his chest and back were broken. Anger at Imam Hussains (a.s) death was turned into a rallying cry that helped undermine and ultimately overthrow the Umayyad Caliphate. Imam Hussains body is buried in Karbala, near the site of his death and has become the most visited place of Ziyarat(Pilgrimage) for Shias. The Imam Hussain Shrine was later built over his grave.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 22:54:22 +0000
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