He preferred to sacrifice himself and his near and dear...

He preferred to sacrifice himself and his near and dear fellows rather than to surrender before Yazid. Imam Husayn (a.s.) was informed that under Amr ibn Sa’d ibn al-Aas, Yazid had dispatched a division of mercenaries with specific instructions to kill him wherever he might be found.[^4] Under pressure from Yazid, his governor al-Waleed sent his men to Imam Husayn’s house in the night when the Imam had gone to visit the Prophet’s tomb.

On the following night also, al-Waleed’s men could not find Imam Husayn (a.s.) in his house, as the Imam (a.s.) had gone to visit the tombs of his mother and brother. Al-Waleed expressed his glee that he was spared the blood of Imam Husayn (a.s.) whom he presumed had already left Medina. Imam Husayn (a.s.) was faced with two options; he had either to capitulate to the demands of Yazid or to leave Medina to prevent bloodshed.

He left Medina in the morning, two days before the new moon of the month of Sha’ban in the year sixty of Hijra. Imam Husayn (a.s.) followed the highway from Medina to Mecca, unlike ibn az-Zubair who took flight in the night and reached Mecca through desert routes. The contrast brings out the fact that ibn az-Zubair ran for fear of life, whereas Imam Husayn (S) had no such fear.

Secondly, the clandestine departure through secret routes shows that ibn az-Zubair had political aspirations, whereas Imam Husayn (a.s.) had no such intention. When Yazid learnt that al-Waleed did not carry out his orders and let Imam Husayn (a.s.) leave Medina, he replaced him with the notorious Marwan as the Governor of Medina and Mecca. On the way to Mecca, Imam Husayn met Abdullah ibn Mutee’ who inquired as to where the Imam (a.s.) was going.

The Imam (a.s.) replied that for the present he was heading to Mecca. On hearing this, ibn Mutee’ said, “ I was afraid that you may be heading towards Kufa [on account of the thousands of letters addressed by the Kufians]. Kufa is the place where your father Imam Ali (a.s.) was martyred. The Kufians are the most treacherous and untrustworthy. They deserted your brother Imam Hasan (S) when he was attacked by Mu’awiya’s men.

Do not go to Kufa but stay in Mecca, for once you are killed we will be annihilated .”[^5] The animosity of Yazid towards Imam Husayn was because of his inherent character and his denial of Islam, a religion ostensibly professed for political gain and just to stay in power. Yazid openly derided the Holy Prophet (S) and Islam.