Although there is no place left in this world for sheltering me...

Although there is no place left in this world for sheltering me, I shall never ever swear the oath of alle­giance to Yazid.” Hearing this Muhammad ibn Hanafiyah concluded his speech and started weeping and the Imam too wept. Then he said, “O Brother! May Allah reward you favorably, for you have advised me and have opined righteously. As regards yourself O dear brother!

You may stay behind in Madina and be alert and keep informing me about the affairs of the enemies.” Then Imam Husayn (a.s.) asked for paper and pen and wrote the following recommendation for his brother Muhammad bin Hanafiyah: “In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. This contains that which has been willed by Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib to his brother Muhammad re­nowned as Ibn Hanafiyah. Verily Husayn bears witness that there is no Lord except Allah Alone.

And bears witness that Muhammad (S) is the Slave and the Messenger of Allah, who has been righteously chosen by Him. And that Paradise and hell are truth, and without doubt the day of Qiyamah will come. And Allah will arise all those who are buried inside their graves. I have not risen to spread evil or to show off, nor for spreading immorality or oppression.

But I have left for the betterment of the ummah of my Grand­father and I desire to propagate the Religion and forbid against evil, thus following the footsteps of my Grandfather and Father Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.). Thus the one who accepts truth through me, will have received truth from Allah, while the one who betrays me, I shall forebear until Allah judges between myself and the oppressive creed and verily Allah is the Best Judge. This is the testimony to you from me O brother.

And my favors is with Allah Alone on Whom alone I rely, and my return is towards Him.” Then he folded the letter and affixed his seal on it and gave it to his brother Muhammad ibn Hanafiyah and bade him farewell and left in the darkness of the night.

Muhammad bin Abu Talib says that Muhammad bin Ya’qoob has related in Wasael from Muhammad bin Yahya, from Muhammad bin Husayn, from Ayyub bin Nuh, from Safwaan, from Marwan bin Isma’il, from Hamza bin Humran who says that we questioned Imam Ja’far as Sadiq (a.s.) regarding the uprising of Imam Husayn (a.s.) and the lagging behind of Muhammad ibn Hanafiyah in Madina. Imam replied, “O Hamza! I shall relate to you a report after which you will never put forward such questions to me in any gathering.