ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Caliphate and Imamate Yazid's Reign and the Martyrom of al-Husayn b. 'Ali Mu'awiya died in Rajab 60/680, while his son Yazid was in Hawran, on a hunting trip. Yazid wrote a letter to al-Walid b. 'Utba, the governor of Medina, asking him to take the allegiance of the people of Medina by force if necessary. He added, “Take the allegiance of 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar, 'Abd al-Rahman b. Abi Bakr, 'Abd Allah b. al-Zubayr and al-Husayn b.

'Ali, allowing them no excuses, if anyone of them refuses, have him beheaded and send me his head.” When al-Walid received the letter, he called for Marwan b. al-Hakam to consult with him concerning al-Husayn and Ibn al-Zubayr. Marwan advised him to send immediately for them and ask them to give their allegiance at once, if they refused, he should murder them before the news of Mu'awiya's death spread in the city. Late in afternoon, he called for al-Husayn and Ibn al-Zubayr.

He read Yazid's letter to al-Husayn b. 'Ali reporting the death of Mu'awiya and asking the people of Medina to acknowledge him as his father's successor. Al-Husayn answered that the governor would surely prefer to have him give his allegiance not in secret but rather openly with the rest of the people the following morning. Al-Walid agreed that al-Husayn should come with the rest of the people, but Marwan advised that he should imprison al-Husayn either until he would agree, or be executed.

Al-Husayn, however, confronted Marwan with angry threats and left the governor's house. That same night Ibn al-Zubayr fled secretly to Mecca, taking by-roads in order to avoid the pursuing forces. Al-Husayn headed towards Mecca by night, accompanied by his sons, his brother's (al-Hasan's) sons, and his brothers, except for Muhammad b. Hanafiyya, two days before the end of Rajab. Unlike Ibn al-Zubayr, however, he followed the main road refusing to hide his intensions of opposition and revolt.

Al-Husayn left Medina repeating the Qur'anic verse, ﴾So he left the city, fearful and vigilant. He said, 'My Lord, deliver me from the wrongdoing lot.'﴿ (Q: 28/21). As he arrived in Mecca, he recited this verse, ﴾And when he turned his face toward Median, he said, 'May be my Lord will show me the right way'. * ﴿ (*Q: 28/22).[^1] Before his departure, al-Husayn wrote his final will and entrusted it to his brother Muhammad b. Hanafiyya at their last meeting.