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Hussain ibn Ali: Difference between revisions
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'''Hussain ibn Ali''' was [[Muhammad]]'s grandson and son of [[Fatima]], the Prophet's daughter. His father was [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]], Muhammad's cousin and devoted follower, who became the fourth Muslim caliph and the first [[imam]] of the Shi'i branch of [[Islam]]. The Shi'i revere Hussain as their third imam and as a martyr. | '''Hussain ibn Ali''' was [[Muhammad]]'s grandson and son of [[Fatima]], the Prophet's daughter. His father was [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]], Muhammad's cousin and devoted follower, who became the fourth Muslim caliph and the first [[imam]] of the Shi'i branch of [[Islam]]. The Shi'i revere Hussain as their third imam and as a martyr. | ||
After Ali's assassination in 661, Hussain's older brother, [[Hasan]], became caliph and second imam. Soon Hasan was forced to | After Ali's assassination in 661, Hussain's older brother, [[Hasan]], became caliph and second imam. Soon Hasan was forced to abdicate, however, in favor of [[Mu'awiya]], a powerful clan leader and political rival who established the [[Umayyad]] caliphate. While Hussain reluctantly recognized Mu'awiya's rule, he refused to pledge allegiance to him. Hussain believed that, as direct descendants of Muhammad, Ali's sons were the rightful heirs to the caliphate. When Mu'awiya died in 680, the caliphate was passed to Yazid, Mu'awiya's son and chosen successor. Hussain refused to recognize the legitimacy of Yazid's rule and again withheld his allegiance to the Umayyads. [[Yazid]], however, threatened to kill anyone not loyal to him, prompting Hussain to flee to Mecca seeking sanctuary. | ||
Shi'i Muslims in [[Kufa]], a city in Iraq, asked Hussain to lead them in a revolt against Yazid and to claim his rightful position as caliph. Hussain's cousin, [[Muslim ibn Aqil]], verified that he had strong support in Iraq. Hussain then set out for Kufa with family members and followers. The governor of Iraq, a supporter of [[Yazid]], sent 4,000 men to intercept the caravan. At [[Karbala]], this force trapped Hussain's small band, which numbered less than 100. He refused to surrender, however, and led his men out into battle, where they were massacred. The Iraqi governor displayed the heads of Hussain and his followers in Kufa as a warning to other Umayyad enemies. | Shi'i Muslims in [[Kufa]], a city in Iraq, asked Hussain to lead them in a revolt against Yazid and to claim his rightful position as caliph. Hussain's cousin, [[Muslim ibn Aqil]], verified that he had strong support in Iraq. Hussain then set out for Kufa with family members and followers. The governor of Iraq, a supporter of [[Yazid]], sent 4,000 men to intercept the caravan. At [[Karbala]], this force trapped Hussain's small band, which numbered less than 100. He refused to surrender, however, and led his men out into battle, where they were massacred. The Iraqi governor displayed the heads of Hussain and his followers in Kufa as a warning to other Umayyad enemies. | ||
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The death of Hasan in 50/670, apparently by poisoning, strained the relationship with [[Mu’awiya]] further. Hasan refused to name his suspect, probably Mu’awiya, to his brother since he did not wish to obligate him to retaliate. He asked to be buried with his grandfather [[Muhammad]]. If this demand were to provoke a danger of blood-shed, however, he wished to be buried next to his mother [[Fatima]]. When Marwan b. Hakam opposed Hasan’s burial near Muhammad on the grounds that ‘Othman had not been buried there, Hussain appealed to the helf al-fozul, a solidarity pact of several clans of Qoraysh, to back the right of the Prophet’s family against the Banu Umayya. His brother Muhammad b. Hanafiya and others, however, prevailed upon him to heed Hasan’s wish to avoid bloodshed and to bury him next to his mother. At the same time the Kufan Shiʿites shifted their allegiance to him. Their leaders met with the sons of Jaʿda b. Hobayra b. Abi’l-Wahb Maḵzumi, grandsons of ʿAli’s sister Omm Haneʾ, in the house of Solayman b. Sorad Khozaʿi and wrote Hussain a letter of condolence on the death of his brother in which they assured him of their loyalty. The Banu Jaʿda informed him of the high esteem of the Kufans for him, their longing that he would join them, their loathing of Mu’awiya, and their dissociation from him. Hussain wrote them that he was still bound to keep the peace concluded by Hasan as long as Mu’awiya was alive and asked them to conceal their feelings. If he were still alive at Mu’awiya’s death he would inform them of his views. | The death of Hasan in 50/670, apparently by poisoning, strained the relationship with [[Mu’awiya]] further. Hasan refused to name his suspect, probably Mu’awiya, to his brother since he did not wish to obligate him to retaliate. He asked to be buried with his grandfather [[Muhammad]]. If this demand were to provoke a danger of blood-shed, however, he wished to be buried next to his mother [[Fatima]]. When Marwan b. Hakam opposed Hasan’s burial near Muhammad on the grounds that ‘Othman had not been buried there, Hussain appealed to the helf al-fozul, a solidarity pact of several clans of Qoraysh, to back the right of the Prophet’s family against the Banu Umayya. His brother Muhammad b. Hanafiya and others, however, prevailed upon him to heed Hasan’s wish to avoid bloodshed and to bury him next to his mother. At the same time the Kufan Shiʿites shifted their allegiance to him. Their leaders met with the sons of Jaʿda b. Hobayra b. Abi’l-Wahb Maḵzumi, grandsons of ʿAli’s sister Omm Haneʾ, in the house of Solayman b. Sorad Khozaʿi and wrote Hussain a letter of condolence on the death of his brother in which they assured him of their loyalty. The Banu Jaʿda informed him of the high esteem of the Kufans for him, their longing that he would join them, their loathing of Mu’awiya, and their dissociation from him. Hussain wrote them that he was still bound to keep the peace concluded by Hasan as long as Mu’awiya was alive and asked them to conceal their feelings. If he were still alive at Mu’awiya’s death he would inform them of his views. | ||
His supporters from Iraq, however, kept visiting him in Medina in large numbers, and ʿAmr, the son of the caliph ‘Othman, warned the governor Marwan. The latter informed [[Mu’awiya]], who instructed him to leave Hussain alone as long as he would not display any hostility to him but also to withhold any sign of friendship from him. Marwan wrote Hussain a menacing letter, warning him against sowing renewed discord in the community. Hussain answered him | His supporters from Iraq, however, kept visiting him in Medina in large numbers, and ʿAmr, the son of the caliph ‘Othman, warned the governor Marwan. The latter informed [[Mu’awiya]], who instructed him to leave Hussain alone as long as he would not display any hostility to him but also to withhold any sign of friendship from him. Marwan wrote Hussain a menacing letter, warning him against sowing renewed discord in the community. Hussain answered him, enumerating Mu’awiya’s offences, such as his recognition of Ziad as his brother in violation of Islamic law and his execution of Hojr b. Adi, and rejected his threats. Mu’awiya complained to his entourage about Hussain, but refrained from further threats and continued to send his regular subsidy and gifts.<ref>Baladhori, II, pp. 458-60</ref> Jointly with the sons of several other prominent Companions of Muhammad, Hussain resisted Mu’awiya’s demands that they pledge allegiance to his son Yazid, whom he had appointed as his successor in breach of both his treaty with Hasan and ʿOmar’s principle of election by the consultation (Shura). | ||
==After the Death of Mu’awiya== | ==After the Death of Mu’awiya== | ||
After Mu’awiya’s death on 15 Rajab 60/22 April 680, [[Yazid]] immediately instructed the governor of Medina, Otba b. Abi Sofyan, to compel Hussain, Abd-Allah b. Omar, and Abd-Allah b. Zobayr to pledge their allegiance. Abd Allah b. Zobayr and Hussain left separately for Mecca to seek asylum. The account of Waqedi <ref>apud Tabari, II, pp. 222-23; tr., XIX, pp. 9-10; Ibn Saʿd, p. 56</ref> that the two left together is unreliable. Hussain was accompanied by his household, his sons, brothers, and the sons of Hasan. Muhammad b. Hanafiya did not join him and urged him not to move to Iraq before receiving the oath of allegiance there. Hussain should rather stay in Mecca or hide in the desert and mountains until the sentiments of the people became clear. Hussain traveled the main road to Mecca, refusing to avoid being pursued by taking a side road. Otba b. Abi Sofyan, in spite of Marwan’s prodding, did not wish to use violence against the grandson of the Prophet, and Yazid replaced him for his inaction. In Mecca Hussain stayed in the house of Abbas b. Abd-al-Mottaleb <ref>Ibn Saʿd, p. 56</ref> and remained there for four months. | After Mu’awiya’s death on 15 Rajab 60/22 April 680, [[Yazid]] immediately instructed the governor of Medina, Otba b. Abi Sofyan, to compel Hussain, Abd-Allah b. Omar, and Abd-Allah b. Zobayr to pledge their allegiance. Abd Allah b. Zobayr and Hussain left separately for Mecca to seek asylum. The account of Waqedi <ref>apud Tabari, II, pp. 222-23; tr., XIX, pp. 9-10; Ibn Saʿd, p. 56</ref> that the two left together is unreliable. Hussain was accompanied by his household, his sons, brothers, and the sons of Hasan. Muhammad b. Hanafiya did not join him and urged him not to move to Iraq before receiving the oath of allegiance there. Hussain should rather stay in Mecca or hide in the desert and mountains until the sentiments of the people became clear. Hussain traveled the main road to Mecca, refusing to avoid being pursued by taking a side road. Otba b. Abi Sofyan, in spite of Marwan’s prodding, did not wish to use violence against the grandson of the Prophet, and Yazid replaced him for his inaction. In Mecca Hussain stayed in the house of Abbas b. Abd-al-Mottaleb <ref>Ibn Saʿd, p. 56</ref> and remained there for four months. | ||