A.T.M. Nurun Nabi :
Imam Hussain (Ra), son of Hazrat Ali (Ra) is the symbol of Justice and Truth. He fought for the cause of Islam and for implementation of the treaty signed between Imam Hasan and the Syrian Governor Muawiah that Imam Hasan will step down in favour of Muawiah, son of Abu Sufian transpiring that Muawiah will become the caliph of the Damascus based Umayyad Caliphate, after his death Imam Husayn will be the Caliph of Islam.
But sadly Muawiah betrayed with Imam Hussain and the treaty he signed. In the year 679 he nominated his drunkard and devil son Yazid, Caliph of Umayyad dynasty to abolish democratic values, which the Prophet Muhammad (Sm) and his four caliphs practiced.
William Muir said, Muawiah’s ascension to the throne of Damascus ended the Islamic Caliphate and sowed the seeds of Umayyad dynasty.
The Umayyad ruler abolished Majlish-us-Shura and established dictatorship and autocracy, which are still practiced in many an Arab and non-Arab countries. Although the first four caliphs were not elected by the adult franchise, the Majlish-us-Shura followed democratic ideals. The Shura members discussed any issue with one another to take a decision. The Caliph respected them and their opinions.
Historian Hitty said, Muawiah became the father of Umayyad dynasty by nominating his son Yazid. The people of Iraq and Syria supported the decision, but the people of Mecca and Medina disagreed. Abdullah ibn Zubair, Abdullah ibn Umar and Muhammad bin Abu Bakr openly opposed it, but stayed from supporting Imam Hussain’s peaceful march towards Kufa with about 72 unarmed men, women and children.
In 680 A.D. Imam Hussain left for Kufa almosr unarmed. He had no plan of resorting to adventurism declaring with Yazid. Yet, Yazid’s men intercepted the fleet from Medina at Karbala in Iraq. At first the people of the ethnic group of Tamim stopped Imam Hussain. Thereafter Omar bin Saad and Obaidullah seized Imam Hussain. To avoid bloodshed, Imam Hussain gave three proposals. 1. He and his people should be allowed to return to Medina, 2. or be he allowed to stay in a fort inside Turkiye border, 3. or be he sent to Damascus for talks with Yazid.
Sadly none of his proposals was accepted by Obaidullah.
On October 10 in 680 A.D. (Muharram 9), the troops loyal to Yazid sealed the water of Euphrates. It was really extremely painful for Imam Hussain to see the children and the women to remain thirsty for hours. As such, Hussain proceeded towards the river for water. When he was targeted, his nephew Kashem stood in defence and was martyred.
Thereafter Imam Hussain and his son Asghar embraced martyrdom. One by one all the members of the House of the Prophet followed him.
Apparently Yazid won the battle. In fact he lost every thing. The true Muslims except the hypocrites love and respect Imam Hussain (Ra), the symbol of justice and truth. The Imam did not resort to adventure; he just led a peaceful unarmed procession with an intention of executing treaty signed between Imam Hasan (Ra) and Muawiah. Yazid and his men were killers. About the killer, the Prophet said, he or she has no rescue. Punishment is must.
In his three years administration as Caliph of Damascus, Yazid committed three grave crimes. In his first year i.e. in 679, he killed Imam Hussain and other male members of the family of Prophet (sm), in the second year i.e. in 680, his troops plundered the city of Medina, and deflowered every female, and in the third year i.e. in 681, his troops torched the Holy Kaaba.
We should take lessons that we shall not compromise with the unjust for the worldly pleasures. We shall work for the welfare of the people.
Sura As Saffat, Ayat No.107 says, “And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice.” Renowned Commentator Abdullah Yusuf Ali says, the word ‘Sacrifice’ may be understood both in a literal and figurative sense. In a literal sense, it implies that a fine sheep or ram was substituted symbolically. The figurative sense is more important. It was indeed a great and momentous occasion, when two men with concerted will, ranged themselves on the ranks of those to whom self-sacrifice in the service of Allah was the supreme thing in life. This was a type of the sacrifice, which Imam Hussain performed many years later in 60 A. H. Allah wants our will and devotion.
Imam Hussain sacrificed himself and inspired his company in the love of justice and truth. He showed the way, which was about to sink.
(The writer is a senior journalist).
