ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Nafasul Mahmum, Relating to the heart rending tragedy of Karbala' Ubaydullah in Kufa In the preceding chapter we have seen that when Ubyadullah bin Ziyad intended to go to Kufa from Basra, Shareek bin A’awar was along with him. Shareek had a very strong inclination towards Shi’aism. He was along with Ammar bin Yasir (a.s.) in the battle of Siffīn (Kamil, Tabari) and his debate with Mu’awiyah (Manaqib) is quite renowned.

When Shareek left Basra (with Ubaydullah), on the way he pretended to be exhausted and uneasy. He intended that Ubaydullah might stop along with him and thus Imam Husayn (a.s.) may reach Kufa before him, but Ubaydullah paid no heed to him and proceeded further. When Shareek reached Kufa he resided at the house of Hani bin Urwah and constantly encouraged him to support the cause of Muslim bin Aqeel and his leadership.

Shareek fell ill, and because Ubaydullah (Kamil, Muhammad bin Abi Talib) and the other nobles respected him, he sent him a message that he would come to meet him that night. Shareek told Muslim, “Tonight the wicked man will be coming to meet me, and when he sits down you may come from behind and kill him. Then you may go to the palace and take the reins into your hands while no one will stop you from doing so.

And if I am cured of this illness, I shall go to Basra and straighten the affairs for you there.” (Abul Faraj) At night Ubaydullah came to visit Shareek. Earlier Shareek had told Muslim, “When that man enters herein, let him not escape from your clutches.” Hani stood up and said, “I do not consent to it that Ubaydullah should be killed in my house” and despised this idea.

Thus, Ubaydullah came and sat down and inquired from Shareek regarding his health and asked him as to what illness was he inflicted with. When their conversation became lengthy, Shareek noted that no one had come out, and fearing that the desired objective may not be achieved started reciting the following cou­plet: “Why anticipate in bestowing gifts to Salama, to him and to the one who bestows upon him, spill the cup of death into his throat.” He repeated it twice or thrice.

When Ubaydullah heard it he could not understand and said that he was uttering vain under the influence of ill­ness. Hani said, “Yes it is true, may Allah amend you, he has been in this state since yesterday.” Ubaydullah arose and left. (Tabari) Furthermore it is said that Ubaydullah had come accompanied with his retainer Mehran.