In 61 AH, on the land of Karbala, a conflict arose between Husayn ibn Ali with 72 companions and an army supporting Yazid ibn Muawiyah. This confrontation stemmed from Husayn's refusal to pledge allegiance to Yazid, whom he saw as unjust. The narrative recounts the early Islamic history, highlighting the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) challenges in Mecca, the spread of Islam, and subsequent distortions of its teachings after his death.
The account details Husayn's journey from Mecca to Kufa, invited by supporters seeking reform but ultimately betrayed. It describes the tragic events leading to the Battle of Karbala, where Husayn and his companions were martyred, emphasizing themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and resistance against tyranny. The aftermath includes the survival and mourning of Husayn's family members and the eventual downfall of Yazid.
The text also touches on the significance of Ashura and Arbaeen in commemorating Husayn's stand for justice and the enduring legacy of his sacrifice.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. In the early days of Muharram in the year 61 AH, an army of 35,000 people, led by Yazid ibn Muawiyah and Umar ibn Sa`d, stood against Husayn ibn Ali and his 72 companions on the land of Karbala.
2. Muhammad (PBUH) was chosen by God for prophethood at the age of 40 in Mecca.
3. The elders of Mecca saw Muhammad's prophethood as a threat to their interests and tried to kill him and his followers.
4. Muhammad (PBUH) left Mecca to build a new society and spread Islam outside Mecca.
5. Mecca was conquered by Muslims in the eighth year of migration.
6. The Prophet of Islam (PBUH) passed away four years after the conquest of Mecca.
7. Islam spread beyond the Arabian Peninsula, but distortions crept into the religion and teachings of the Prophet (PBUH).
8. Imam Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet and father of Hussein, went through a difficult period after the Prophet's departure.
9. Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan seized the Caliphate with his ingenuity and promises.
10. Yazid bin Muawiyah became the Caliph after Muawiyah's death and tried to maintain his rule by force and coercion.
11. Yazid waged a war called the Hurra war to suppress his opponents.
12. In the Hurra war, more than 10,000 people were killed, including 80 companions of the Prophet (PBUH).
13. Imam Hussein did not intend to pledge allegiance to Yazid and instead wrote a will to his brother Muhammad ibn Hanafiya.
14. Over 12,000 letters of invitation were sent to Imam Hussein from the people of Kufa.
15. Imam Hussein sent his cousin, Muslim bin Aqeel, to Kufa to assess the circumstances and verify the authenticity of the messages.
16. Imam Hussein left Mecca on the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah and set out for Kufa.
17. Ibn Abbas and other sheikhs of Islam in Mecca and Medina disobeyed Imam Hussein's decision to go to Kufa.
18. Ubayd Allah bin Al-Hurr Al-Jaafi met Imam Hussein before he entered Karbala.
19. Omar bin Saad was sent to intercept Al-Hussein (peace be upon him) and was promised the king of irrigation if he succeeded.
20. Imam Hussein asked to speak to Omar bin Saad, but Omar's greed for the king of irrigation took him away from the conversation.
21. The Commander of the Faithful, Yazid, praised Omar bin Saad in a message and sent him 4000 dinars and 200,000 dirhams.
22. Ibn Ziyad made a deal with the people of Kufa and bought them easily, leading them on his way.
23. Shammar bin Dhi Al-Jushan, Sinan bin Anas Al-Nakh’i Nasr Al-Mazini, and Shabbath bin Rabi’i were ordered to go to Karbala.
24. Hurr bin Yazid Al-Riyahi cut the road to Imam Hussein and stopped his convoy in Karbala.
25. Hurr chose to join Imam Hussein and became a name according to his name.
26. Omar bin Saad surrounded the Euphrates River with 500 fighters to prevent Al-Hussein and his family and companions from accessing the water.
27. Imam Hussein ordered the digging of a trench behind the tents to prevent sudden enemy attacks from behind.
28. Abbas, the son of Ali and brother of Al-Hussein, was the standard bearer and water bearer of the Imam's camp.
29. On the tenth night, known as The Night of Ashura, Imam Hussein gathered his companions and left them free to choose between staying or leaving.
30. The Imam's request for support in such a situation was likely a call for the support of the religion after his martyrdom.
31. After the martyrdom of the companions of Imam, the turn of Bani Hashim came, and Ali al-Akbar, the eldest son of Imam, was the first of Banu Hashim to be martyred.
32. Imam Sajjad, the son of Imam Hussein, was the only man who survived the battle of Karbala.
33. Zainab and Umm Kulthum, the two sisters of Imam Hussein, were taken captive after the battle.
34. Yazid was forced to allow the survivors to mourn exactly where the order was given to fight.
35. Jaber bin Abdullah Al-Ansari was one of the greatest companions of the Prophet (PBUH) and was the first to visit the master of martyrs, Imam Hussein.
36. Mukhtar Thaqafi took a strong revenge against the killers of Imam Hussein and the martyrs of Karbala.
37. Ibn Ziyad was killed on the day of Ashura, 7 years after the Ashura incident, at the hands of Ibrahim Ashtar, one of the leaders of the Mukhtar Revolution.
38. The shrine of Imam Hussein was built by his followers and Shiites over the centuries.
39. Shiites believe that whoever visits Karbala and takes its arduous path should leave himself behind.
40. The love of Hussein bin Ali is still remembered and celebrated by his followers, and Ashura is considered an epic manifestation of the uprising, while Arbaeen is a manifestation of another aspect – love and kindness.