The background of the Battle of Karbala

 

The background of the Battle of Karbala

 

[Yazid wanted Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) to accept him as the caliph - in spite of all the gaping flaws in his character.  The Imam didn't agree to it.  Read on to find what happened next]

 

Orders upon orders came from Yazid to the governor of Madina that the pledge (Ba‘yah) should be taken from Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) as soon as possible.  If he refuses to give the pledge to me, he should be executed and his head should be sent to me.  I will be generous with you.  The governor of Madina called Hadhrat Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) and told him:  I am getting orders to kill you.  I am bewildered as to what I should do.  I can’t think of anything. 

 

Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  Yazid is an innovator in religion and a drunkard.  How can I give my pledge to him?  Let us take the view of all Muslims.  I will not shun the opinion of the populace.

 

Then Yazid sent a stern command that pledge or execution, one of the two must happen immediately.  The governor was a good person.  He informed Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) of this as well.

 

Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) visits the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and supplicates

 

Hadhrat Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) went to the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), clung to the grave and cried so much that even the walls wept.  Hadhrat Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:

 

Grandfather!  May Hussain be sacrificed for you!  This is the same Hussain, your grandson, whom Yazid desires to kill.  This is the same Hussain who used to mount your shoulders.  Now wherever one sees, only his enemies are to be seen.  Grandfather!  How long should I bear the oppression of the enemies?  You have left me alone.  My mother is not here that I can share my sorrow with her.  My father is not here that I can be in his protection.  You have called my brother as well.  Now I am left alone and helpless.  There is no friend and confidant to share my troubles with.  Did you raise me for this day?  Did my mother nurse me for this?

 

Dream of Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) and the words of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)

 

Crying, he slept with his head on the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  He dreamt that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has come with an huge army of angels and has placed the head of Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) on His chest with the words:  Dear Hussain!  The time is near when, in Karbala, people of my Ummah will starve you for water, will rain arrows instead and will give you the drink of martyrdom.  Son!  There are great stations in paradise.  Unless and until you sacrifice yourself, you can’t get those stations.  Your father and mother are restless to see you.  Your brother is yearning for you.  In the dream itself, Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  Grandfather!  Then why should Hussain go back into the world?  You take me into your blessed grave.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Dear Hussain!  Be patient.  Prepare for journey.  Sacrifice yourself.  Be content with the will of Allah.

 

After listening to these glad tidings, Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) forgot all his troubles.

 

Journey to Kufa

 

Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) went to Makkah from Madina.  When he resolved to go to Kufa from Makkah, the people of Makkah tried to stop him, but Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) didn’t stop.  On this, Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with him) wept and requested:  O Imam!  If it is necessary for you to leave Makkah, then go to Yemen.  There the enemies will not be able to harm you.  Hadhrat Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  All this is true, but what can I do?  There is a secret in this journey, which the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) told me which I cannot reveal to anybody else.  Neither can I refrain from going to Kufa.  Very soon, that secret will be unveiled.

 

Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) said:  O Imam!  If you must go, go by all means, but at least leave the women and children here.

 

Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  Even this cannot happen, because the will of Allah is in taking everyone with me.

 

Arrival at Karbala and the tribulations there

 

Traversing the leagues, Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) came to Karbala.  The enemies had already occupied the River Euphrates.

 

Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) put up his tents in the desolate plain of sand where there was no water and no tree.  Wherever one could see, it was lonesome and forlorn.  Alas!  That hot sand at noon, a whole nightfall of dew, that state of loss, that thirst, those sad faces, those hot days, those small thirsty children, there is neither milk in the bosom, nor tears in the eyes, the tongue has become prickly because of the thirst.  Small children are writhing like fish (out of water).  Hadhrat Ali Asghar (May Allah be well pleased with him) is just an infant, Hadhrat Zain Ul A’abideen is ill, in which even a small difficulty seems great.  This is but an illustration of the difficulties of Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him).  What cruelty is this!  On one side, the grandson of the master of the Houz-e-Kauthar is kept thirsty.  On the other, the enemies fill their pitchers with water, taunt them, then drink and laugh.

 

This is the same Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) about whom the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had said that he is the leader of all young people of paradise.  In childhood, if Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) wandered away somewhere, angels would take them in their wings and protect them.  Alas!  Today he is surrounded by enemies.

 

O Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him)!  What beauty did you possess!  If you sat in a dark place, it would be lighted up by your radiant face.  Alas!  72 wounds on such a face!

 

Friends!  Understand the love which the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had for Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) with the fact if the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) chanced upon the kid would played frequently with Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him), the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would kiss that boy as well and would say:  He plays with my Hussain.  I will intercede for him and his parents as well.

 

When paradise learnt that it was a place for the poor, it became sad, Allah Most High said:  Are you not satisfied that I am making Hasan and Hussain your members?  Then paradise started priding itself on this.

 

If it is paradise, then its members are Hasan and Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with them), if it is ‘Arsh, then its supports are Hasan and Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with them), if it is the hearts of the Muslims, then its light is the love of Hasan and Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with them).

[Excerpted from "Shahadatnama" of Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan]