Hussain Ibn Ali –Humanity’s Lore

By Mohammed Saleem 

Humanity is defined as the quality or state of being kind to others – humans or even animals. An approach derived from appreciation of human values and of  unique ability of the humans to express it. 

In Islamic sense, it primarily stems from the divine direction – inni akhafullaha rabul aalameen (Holy Qur’an, 59:16) “… Surely, I fear Allah , the Lord of the worlds”.  Precisely, the sense of humanity demands capacity of a person to offer care, respect, express hospitality, exhibit love and tolerance, extend forgiveness and express ability to promote equality. Philosophers say, that in lighter sense humanity means happiness and in wider sense it can be obtained by virtues, that is full understanding of our morals and strengths. But for the infallible Imams (a.s.), it is their divine fikr o amal and simple manifestation to guide us.

The lives of the infallible Ahlul Bayt, a.s., are not mere lives but a set of ideals – Eisaar, Sabr, Ehtiram, Ibadat, Ikhlaq, Insaaf, Haya, Masawaat etc. (sacrifice, patience, respect,prayer, manners, justice, haya, equality, etc.) to guide the adherents of faith to shape an ideal society based on these values. Remembering the martyrdom of Hussain Ibn Ali, a.s. at Karbala, guides us to follow the right path and to avoid the ignorant, for a just & fair social order signifying humanity.

While nurturing these virtues of humanity and sacrifice, the grandson of Prophet Muhammed (s.a.w.a) Hussain Ibn Ali (a.s.), avoided foreseeable bloodshed at the holy land of Madinah and moved towards Makkah and then to Kaufaturning Hajj into Umrah. To understand the aforesaid ideals and wisdom (hikmah) of Hussain ibn Ali (a.s.), a brief glance at the historical events would lend credence to it.  

The history goes –  Hussain Ibn Ali, a.s., left Madinah in a state of hope and apprehension like Prophet Musa, a.s., who in hope and fear, when unjust Bani Israelites were planning for his murder, had left Egypt as ordained by Allah (Holy Qur’an, Sura al-Qasas, 28: verse 21) – “ So he (Musa) left therefrom, fearing , awaiting (and) he said, My Lord ! Save me from the unjust people”. An acclaimed Islamic scholar, Tabri in his book Tareekh e Islam (vol. 6) writes that when Hussain ibn Ali (a.s.), left Madinah on 28^th Rajab, 60 Hijri, Sunday evening , in a similar state of hope and apprehension, same verse of holy Qur’an (28:21) was on his lips, seeking refuge of Allah from the unjust people to avoid foreseeable bloodshed at Madinah. A similarity of situation and the will of Allah. 

Hussain ibn Ali, a.s., in a state of loneliness and estranged world, never intended to stir conflict in the turbulent land of his grandfather but to remain silent, sensing the fragile and unjust situation, barely 50 years after the Prophet’s passing, so that blood of the innocents is not shed. He preferred silence over conflict & affliction, leaving no chance to the future historians to allege that Imam got into an avoidable conflict and wasted sanctity of Madinah. Simultaneously, by remaining silent, Hussain ibn Ali (a.s.), didn’t want to affirm the arrogance and unjust dictates of Yazid so that anti Islam barbarous acts would get unduly established. In this pursuit his other companions of Madinah like Abdullah ibn Abbas, Abdul Rahman ibn Abi Bakr and Abdullah ibn Zubair participated, being familiar with the habits and style of Yazid & thus wouldn’t consider legitimacy of Yazid. This made smooth sailing for Yazid difficult, threatening his fragile empire and empty grandeur.

Yazid sent a letter to Walid, his cousin, formally informing about the demise of his father, Muawiya, on 22^nd Rajab 60 Hijr. Then he wrote a second letter asking him to coerce Hussain Ibn Ali, a.s., and his companions for allegiance (baiyyat) of Yazid and in case of their defiance be harsh. He, as required by the so-called sovereign order, sought advice of Marwan, the former Governor of Madinah, who said that Abdullah ibn Abbas and Abdul Rahman ibn Abi Bakr will neither offend nor participate in khilafat. But a message be sent to Hussain ibn Ali ,a.s., and Abdullah ibn Zubair  and if they disagree for baiyyat, then kill them. Walid sent a young boy, Abdullah ibn Amr bin Osman, as messenger to Masjid e Nabvi and Hussain ibn Ali, a.s. Abdllah ibn Zubair heard the message and sensing the ill will of Marwan decided appropriate to migrate from Madinah. The Imam (a.s.) , didn’t sleep the whole night of 28^th Rajab 60 Hijri, offered fatiha on the grave of his brother, Hassan,a.s. (Jannatul Baqee), on the turbah of his mother, Hazrat Fatima Zehra, s.a., and the holy Masjid Nabvi, mausoleum of his grandfather, the Prophet Muhammad(s.a.w.a). Past twilight, by early dawn, the Imam (a.s.), sad and dismayed, bade farewell to his dear homeland and to the devout followers. 

A small caravan, comprising of women and children left on that common highway to Makkah which Abdullah ibn Zubair skipped and rather chose some uncommon route. The Imam (a.s.) accompanying the decedents of Abu Talib, including women and children, conveyed that none should perceive that he has left for war and none should say that he fled deceptively. That is why he chose the highway. 

The Imam (a.s.), left from Madinah to the sacred land of Makkah where Hajj had to be performed after some months and possibility of meeting entire Muslim ummah on this sacrid & peaceful land. On 3^rd Shaban, 60 Hijri, Thursday, the Imam, a.s., reached Makkah and stayed at Shaab e Ali. And people came in groups to meet and thus Imam attained focus and by then Abdullah ibn Zubair had also reached. Already having seen, sensed again the insensitivity of time, the Imam didn’t let anyone know in advance about his migration. On arriving at Makkah, the Imam, a.s.,remained silent. But faraway from Makkah, in Kufa public were in ferment on Yazid’s unruly and cruel behaviour demeaning religious obligations and the like.  They invited the Imam, a.s., in one voice and one heart, writing most affectionate and benevolent letter, delivered through Abdullah bin Asabi Hamdani and Abdullah bin Dhal to the Imam on 10^th Ramazan. Then followed the invitations in hundreds. In the meantime, some kind-hearted Governor of Kufa, Numan bin Bashir, was unceremoniously removed by Yazid and replaced by Abdullah ibn Ziyad. Then strangely, those Kufans who wholeheartedly invited the Imam (a.s.), overwhelmingly stood against him at Karbala, a twist apparently unperceivable. But all was designed.

After 150 days of tiring journey that saw his caravan cross over 900 miles, the Imam (a.s)., finally reached Karbala, also called Nainawa, Ghazarya and Shabte Furat, on 2^nd Muharram 61 Hijri (2^ndOctober, 680 AD), Thursday. 

Wrote a letter to Habib ibn Mazahir , who along with Muslim bin Aqeel joined on 5^th or 6^th Muharram. Then followed initial defiance & subsequent martyrdom of Hurr, who by some accounts, was the first martyr. In the small army of the Imam, a.s., comprising around 70 persons , were very elderly like Muslim ibn Owsaja and Habib ibn Mazahir.  The army of Yazid would number between 35,000 to 1,00,000 by many accounts. On the eve of 10^th Moharram, the Imam, a.s., and his companions, including children and an African  Kaneez, Hazrat Fiza (r.a.), all showed gracious contentment. Hussain ibn Ali (a.s)., put off the candle during the Ashura night, so that anyone desiring to leave could do so. But none left. The night passed in prayers. The dawn of Ashura saw the gloomy sky, the day saw the offering of sacrifices one by one. From six month old Ali Asgar ibn Hussain, a.s., to 75 year old Habib ibn Mazahir. Then came Zuhur (noon time) when Hussain ibn Ali (a.s.), stood for the prayer and lost his devout companions shielding him and finally around Asr (afternoon) the Imam was martyred most inhumanely with hundreds of body wounds with noble head severed. Thus began another epoch of trail and tribulations for the surviving  Bani Hashim women, children and ill ones to cross numerous cities from Karbala to Syria and finally to Madinah, covering nearly 1414 miles. The legendary daughter of Ali ibn AbiTalib (a.s.), sister of Hussain ibn Ali, a.s., Hazrat Zainab, s.a. delivered sermons enroute and at theYazid’s Court in Syria (Shaam) which shook the tyrant. The faith that once was groomed and nurtured after centuries of age of ignorance in the Arabian peninsula, saw its doomed canvass painted with blood of the pious and saintly, which renewed the Islamic message of humanity & peace.

Historically seen, Hussain ibn Ali, a.s., could have sought the support from the neighbouring kingdoms “and even escaped to a fortress in the desert that had defied the power of Caesar and Chosroes and confided in the fidelity of the tribe of Tai, which would have armed ten thousand warriors in his defence”, writes Edward Gibbon in Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire. But the Imam (a.s.), never wanted war but something beyond before the will of Allah. He chose victory of right over wrong, of fair over unfair, of just over unjust, of devout over deviated, of compassion over arrogance, of sacrifice over escape, of benevolence over greed, of knowledge over ignorance.  The message of humanity lives on even after 1400 years with its beauty of intention & expression.

• The author is former Commissioner/Secretary to J&K Government. Email: [email protected]

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