Hazrat Mukhtar has been credited with the achievement of “Revenge of Oppressions of Karbala”.
After the tragedy of Karbala, the sacred women of AhlulBayt (s.a.) did not comb
their hair or put oil in the hair. After hearing that Hazrat Mukhtar had severely
punished the murders of Imam Hussayn (a.s.), his family and companions, they
resumed combing of 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 Hussayn (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-al-Zaynal
Abedin (a.s.), he prostrated and thanked Allah saying: “I am thankful to God
that You have taken revenge of the Holy blood of ours. 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 AH. He
met, Imam Ali (a.s.)’s companion, Maysam
Tammar in the prison. In the mean time, 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
Hussayn (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 “Khana-e-Ka’bah” 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 Ashter, a brave senior
army man, also joined him. The concerned and conscience Kufans felt the
need to erase the blot of treachery on them. These factors started to build the momentum to
avenge Imam Hussayn (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 Madina. 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 Omayyad’s and killed all senior commanders including Ubaidullah Bin
Ziayad and al-Hussayn bin Numair. Ibrahim al-Ashtar’s small army defeated the
huge Yazidi army.
Saving Madinah and
Alawids against Umayyad and Abdullah bin Zubair Caliphs: When Marwan sent a
big army to occupy Madinah, Hazrat Mukhtar sent a strong army of three thousand
fighters to save and protect the Prophet (s.a.w.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 Zubairids 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 Zubairid’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 army secretly
conspired with Hazrat Mukhtars 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
clashes but they disobeyed (because of their conspiracy). 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.
Reference: Behar-ul-Anwar by Allama Muhammad Baqir Majlisi
Labbaik ya Hussain
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