Hazrat Mukhtar has
been credited with the achievement of “Revenge of Massacre at Karbala”.
After the tragedy of Karbala, the sacred women of AhlulBayt (a.s.) did not comb
their hair. After hearing that Hazrat Mukhtar had severely punished the murders
of Imam Husayn (a.s.), his family and companions, they resumed combing the hair.
It is narrated that Imam Jafar al-Sadiq
(a.s.) said: “Never say a bad word for Mukhtar as it is thanks to him that the
killers of Imam Husayn (a.s.) were punished for their deeds.” Similarly,
when the heads of Ibne Ziyad and Umer-e-Sa’d were brought in the presence of Imam Ali Zayn-al- Abedin (a.s.), he
prostrated and thanked Allah saying: “I am thankful to God that You have taken
revenge of our Holy blood. May my Lord grant Mukhtar for this good deed.”
He was born in 1 A.H.
at Ta’if and was martyred in Kufa. He was 12 years old when his father died. He
was raised by his mother and uncle, Sa’ad Ibn Masud. He was arrested by Ubaid-ullah
ibn Ziyad in 61 A.H. He met, Imam Ali (a.s.)’s companion, Maysam Tammar in
the prison. In the meantime, the tragedy of Karbala occurred and Ubaidullah bin
Ziyad brought Hazrat Mukhtar and showed him the sacred head of Imam Husayn
(a.s.). After seeing Imam Husayn (a.s.)’s head, Hazrat
Mukhtar determined to avenge his martyrdom. He was later released on the
recommendation of Abdullah bin Umar, his brother-in-law. He bravely defended
the Ka’ba” against the Yazidi army. He was again imprisoned in Kufa. He was in
contact with the Shias of Kufa who were preparing to revolt against Yazid after
the “Massacre at Karbala”.
Hazrat Mukhtar
Announces the Revolution: After release from the
prison, Hazrat Mukhtar announced that he will punish the perpetrators of “The
Massacre at Karbala” and started inviting the likeminded Muslims to get united.
Hazrat Muhammad bin Hanafiya, one of Imam Ali (a.s.)’s sons,
sent his message of support. Ibrahim al-Ashter, the son of Malik-e- Ashter,
a brave senior army man, also joined him. The concerned and conscientious
Kufans felt the need to erase the blot of treachery on them. These
factors started to build the momentum to avenge Imam Husayn (a.s.)’s martyrdom.
Hazrat Mukhtar ordered his supporters to make fires, a sign of revolution.
Street clashes started in Kufa, the ruler’s forces and police surrendered
and the ruler himself escaped to Hejaz.
The Yazidi forces
advanced towards Kufa. Hazrat Mukhtar sent three thousand fighters under Zayd
bin Anas, they defeated the Yazidi forces but Zayd died of
natural death. As usual, the Umayyad propaganda machine spread rumors that
Hazrat Mukhtar’s fighters were defeated, and the commander was killed! They
tried to stir up chaos in Kufa but failed. The Mukhtar’s fighters
captured and executed every murderer of Karbala including Hurmala bin Kahil,
Sanan bin Anas and Umar bin Sa’ad and executed all of them and sent their
impure (najis) heads to Madinah. Shimr bin Zil-Jaushan escaped but
the fighters of Hazrat Mukhtar chased him and executed him also. After
controlling the situation in Kufa, Ibrahim al-Ashtar’s brave fighters reached
al-Khazar River, where he met Ubaidullah bin Ziyad’s army. The
righteous army attacked the Umayyads and killed all senior commanders including
Ubaid Ullah Bin Ziyad and al-Hussayn bin Numair. Ibrahim al-Ashtar’s small army
defeated the huge Yazidi army.
Saving Madinah and
Alawids against Umayyad and Caliph Abdullah bin Zubair: When Marwan sent a huge army to occupy Madinah, Hazrat Mukhtar
sent a strong contingent of three thousand fighters to save and protect the Noble
Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)’s Madinah. Abdullah bin Zubair declared himself
a caliph and sent two thousand men apparently to protect Madinah
but their real aim was to attack Hazrat Mukhtar’s fighters. When his brave
fighters were protecting Madinah, the Zubair ds attacked Hazrat Mukhtar’s
army. They killed some of them and brought the rest near Makkah. Hazrat
Mukhtar sent five thousand fresh fighters and defeated the Zubair d’s army.
The Last stand: Abdullah Bin Zubair appointed his brother Musaiyyab as governor of
Basra who formed a huge army and surprised Hazrat Mukhtar. They besieged him in
the palace for four months. Musaiyyab’s cowardly army secretly
conspired with Hazrat Mukhtar’s forces inside the palace and offered a deal
that if they cooperated with these hypocrites and open the gates,
they will pardon them. Hazrat Mukhtar ordered his men to make street fights,
but they disobeyed (because of their treachery). At last he came out with
seventeen supporters and fought bravely and died as a martyr of Islam.
The conspirators who
were promised pardon were slaughtered by Musaiyyab’s army and paid the price
for treachery.
Source:
Behar-ul-Anwar
by Allama Muhammad Baqir Majlisi (a.r.)
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