Karbala is the conflict of truth and falsehood, faith, and faithlessness. It was the battle between Abu Sufyan and the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). Abu Sufyan was the arch enemy of Islam and the Messenger of Allah, he fought many battles like Badr, Uhad and Khandaq and was defeated due to the bravery of the Lion of Allah, Imam Ali (a.s.). He realized that he cannot harm Islam as long as Imam Ali (a.s.) is alive. Ultimately, when Makkah was captured by the Islamic forces, he changed the strategy from confrontation to hypocrisy. He told all Polytheists to become Muslim but keep the fire of hatred alive. He and his son Muawiya converted to Islam and the Prophet, who was the Mercy for Universe, pardoned everyone and they were called “freed slaves” They belonged to the Umayyad clan bearing all the anti-social traits of character. They were materialistic, running after the world, disregarding the prohibitions in Islam.In short, they were on opposite poles compared to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)
Muawiya revolted against Imam Ali (a.s.), the fourth caliph
of Muslims. After the sad martyrdom of Imam Ali (a.s.), he continued to resist
Imam Hasan (a.s.). He played the old tricks of buying out the stubborn or
silence them by sword or poison. He succeeded in bribing Imam Hasan (a.s.)’s wife
to poison her husband. In the meantime, Muawiya weakened the Imam Hasan
(a.s.)’s army and forced him to abdicate the khilafah by sending a blank sheet
of paper and signed it and let the Imam write any terms or condition of peace
treaty he liked! Because he did not intend to abide by it. One of the
conditions the Imam (a.s.) mentioned was that after Muawiya’s death, the
khilafah will return to Imam Hasan (a.s.) or Imam Husayn (a.s.). But in total disregard
of the peace treaty, Muawiya appointed his profligate (fasiq) son Yazid. On becoming
the king, Yazid (l.a.) ordered the governor of Madinah to either obtain
allegiance or kill Imam Husayn (a.s.). As Yazid openly acted against the tenets
of Islam, it was obligatory on Imam Husain (a.s.) to refuse allegiance. Hence,
he left Madinah along with his entire family and went to Makkah. He (a.s.) sent
his cousin and confidant Muslim bin Aqeel (a.s.) to Kufa to verify the
thousands of invitations soliciting his guidance. Kufans first paid allegiance
to him but when new tyrant governor Obaidullah bin Ziyad arrived, they disowned
the commitment. Obaidullah mercilessly martyred Muslim and ordered to hang his
body for a year! Just before the Hajj, this caravan of Truth proceeded towards
Karbala. Obaidullah sent 1,000 strong army under Commander Hurr, to intercept the
Imam (a.s.). Hurr’s army was dying of thirst. The grandson of the “Mercy of Universe”
used their valuable water resources to quench their thirst and that of their
horses. On the Muharram 2nd 61 A.H. They reached Karbala, where
Yazid (l.a.)’s army began arriving which swelled to more than 30,000 men. The
enemy stopped water on the Muharram 7th. On the 10th of
Muharram, Ashura, Hurr deserted Yazid’s army and joined Imam Husayn and was the
first to sacrifice his life. The enemy attacked Imam Husayn (a.s.)’s camps and
later dual fights ensued when first the companions followed by Bani Hashim, sacrificed
their lives. Imam Husayn (a.s.) sought water for his infant Ali Asghar, who was
mercilessly killed by an arrow. Imam Husayn fought bravely and was martyred,
his body was trampled by enemy horses. People changed dramatically within 50
years of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) demise. Later, the enemy forces desecrated
the women and children, snatched their head-covers, looted their belongings,
and set it on fire. Imam Husayn (a.s.)’s young son Ali, Zaynal-Abidin (a.s.) was
the only male member of the Ahlul Bayt alive as he was sick and denied Jihad.
Next day, everyone was made captive, made to sit on camels without seating,
their hands were fastened behind the backs like slaves. They were first taken
to Kufa and later to Damascus, the evil capital of the Umayyads. Yazid was
sitting on a throne under which was placed the sacred head of Imam Husayn
(a.s.). He was hitting the teeth of Imam Husayn. The lion-hearted daughter of
Imam Ali (a.s.), Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.), still in chains with hands fastened
behind the back, thundered, and gave a long sermon addressing Yazid, while more
than 600 people were seated in his court. She introduced the Ahlul Bayt, her
grandfather, the Prophet, her father Imam Ali (a.s.) and disclosed the evil
chain of Yazid’s grandfather Abu Sufiyan, mother Hind, the liver-chewer, father
Muawiya. Imam Ali, Zayn al-Abidin (a.s.) also spoke making Yazid angry and
threatened to kill him, but his aunt Zaynab (s.a.) sacrificed herself and saved
him. There was lot of commotion and the crowd became hostile to Yazid (l.a.).
Imam Husayn (a.s.)’ beloved daughter, 4 years old Sakina died in the roof-less prison.
Like her father Imam Husayn(a.s.), she was also buried in the prison without
proper shroud, in her blood-stained clothes. Facing the hostile revolt of the people,
Yazid offered to release the Ahlul Bayt. Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) demanded a house
where she could properly mourn her brother Husayn (a.s.). Later, the Ahlul Bayt
consisting of the widows and orphans, were sent back in properly covered camels
under the supervision of Bashir, who first went to Karbala to commemorate the
Forty Days (Chehlum) of the martyrs and reconnect the heads to the head-less
bodies left behind. Sayyida Rabab, one of the wives of Imam Husayn (a.s.), had
lost the infant Ali Asghar, only daughter, Sakina buried in the prison of
Damascus!
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