[^1]: This Sharbano is not the daughter of Yazdjurd, the...

[^1]: This Sharbano is not the daughter of Yazdjurd, the mother of Imam Zainul Abedeen (a.s.), for she had died during childbirth as related in authoritative reports. Thus it goes to say that if this report is true, she has to be another woman named Sharbano, for the mother of an Imam can never commit a grave sin of suicide. [^2]: One cannot expect such mercy from Abdul Malik bin Marwan, who himself was no less a tyrant than the Bani Umayyah.

Abdul Malik was all for violence and acknowledged openly that his policy was usurpation by force, although he violated the principles of religion. When the news of his appointment (upon caliphate) reached him, he was seated with the Qur’an in his lap, he closed it saying, “This is our final parting” (Abul Fida). In fact, it was at his instant that his lieutenant and governor Hajjaj bin Yusuf carried out whole-scale massacre in Makkah and Madinah.

Catapults were directed towards the Ka’bah and burnt, while Abdullah ibn Zubayr was killed within the limits of the ‘Sacred Sanctuary’. The slaughter of it’s inhabitants continued for three successive days, and numerous companions of the Prophet (S) and Imam Ali (a.s.) were put to sword in the holy twin-cities. One cannot also forget the brutal massacre of such eminent personalities like Kumayl ibn Ziyad, Qambar etc. in contempt of their affection towards Imam Ali (a.s.).

The number of persons slain by Hajjaj is put at 120,000, and it is said that there were 50,000 men and 30,000 women in his prison (Mas’oodi) all Hashimites or the Shi’ah. While Abdul Malik was even more ruthless than Hajjaj and even more prepared to break faith and violate amnesties. His enmity with the Prophet (S)’s family is well-known in history. Previous…