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The Battle of Harra: Difference between revisions
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'''The Battle of Harra''' (Arabic: الواقعة الحرّة) took place in the sixty-third year of the Islamic calendar during the reign of [[Yazid]] ibn Mu‘awiya between the powerful armies of Sham under the commandership of Muslim b. 'Uqba and the people of Medina. In this event, many people | '''The Battle of Harra''' (Arabic: الواقعة الحرّة) took place in the sixty-third year of the Islamic calendar during the reign of [[Yazid]] ibn Mu‘awiya between the powerful armies of Sham under the commandership of Muslim b. 'Uqba and the people of Medina. In this event, many people including 80 of the [[Prophet Muhammad]]'s companions and 700 of Quran memorizers (hafiz) were killed, and people's property was plundered. | ||
==Meaning of Harra== | ==Meaning of Harra== | ||
Harrah literally means a rocky and uneven terrain full of black stones passage through | Harrah literally means a rocky and uneven terrain full of black stones which make passage through it quite difficult. This well-known event acquired its name because the assault, which the government armies of Sham made on the ordinary people of Medina, began in a rocky eastern region of Medina.<ref>Ibn Qutaybah, ‘Uyun al-Akhbar, vol. 1, p. 238.</ref> | ||
The event of Harrah | The event of Harrah which occurred during the reign of Bani Umayyah, is known to have been a horrible crime. Ibn Mushkuwiyyah narrates, “The incident of Harrah is one of the most dreadful and formidable events of history.”<ref>Tajarub al-Umam, vol. 2, p. 79.</ref> | ||
==Origins of the uprising of the people of Medina== | ==Origins of the uprising of the people of Medina== | ||
The uprising by the people of Medina occurred in 63 AH. | The uprising by the people of Medina occurred in 63 AH. It was more a peoples’ uprising against government policies as well as an uprising against Yazid’s authoritative reign and Bani Umayyah’s tyrannical sultanate. The uprising of the people of Medina was a popular and self-perpetuating social movement rooted in the people’s unanimous rejection of the rule of Yazid and Bani Umayyah. | ||
The group of the Helpers [ansar] had chosen ‘Abd Allah ibn Hanzala to be their army commander and leader in the confrontation with Bani Umayyah and the Quraysh appointed ‘Abd Allah ibn Matih to be their commander.<ref>Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 5, p. 106; Tarikh Tabari, vol. 4, p. 368.</ref> | The group of the Helpers [ansar] had chosen ‘Abd Allah ibn Hanzala to be their army commander and leader in the confrontation with Bani Umayyah and the Quraysh appointed ‘Abd Allah ibn Matih to be their commander.<ref>Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 5, p. 106; Tarikh Tabari, vol. 4, p. 368.</ref> | ||
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====Religious sentiments==== | ====Religious sentiments==== | ||
Medina has always been an exceptionally important city because it is the city of Allah’s Prophet and the land where the divine message grew, developed and flourished. It is the land where divine knowledge and wisdom where introduced. It was in Medina where the Prophet’s way of life was explained and people were instructed | Medina has always been an exceptionally important city because it is the city of Allah’s Prophet and the land where the divine message grew, developed and flourished. It is the land where divine knowledge and wisdom where introduced. It was in Medina where the Prophet’s way of life was explained and people were instructed based on that. | ||
Medina is the land where people learned Qur’anic commentary and interpretation of the divine message from the Holy Prophet himself. The Prophet’s distinguished companions, including the Helpers [ansar] and the Immigrants [muhajirin], had lived there since the Holy Prophet’s time. After the Prophet’s death, some of his most renowned companions preferred to stay in that city because of the fond memories they held about Allah’s Prophet. | Medina is the land where people learned Qur’anic commentary and interpretation of the divine message from the Holy Prophet himself. The Prophet’s distinguished companions, including the Helpers [ansar] and the Immigrants [muhajirin], had lived there since the Holy Prophet’s time. After the Prophet’s death, some of his most renowned companions preferred to stay in that city because of the fond memories they held about Allah’s Prophet. | ||
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Ibn Khaldun recounts, “When Yazid’s tyranny and the oppression by his deputies became widespread, and after he killed the Prophet’s son, the people of Medina started a rebellion and uprising.”<ref>Ibn Khaldun, Tarikh, vol. 2, p. 37</ref> | Ibn Khaldun recounts, “When Yazid’s tyranny and the oppression by his deputies became widespread, and after he killed the Prophet’s son, the people of Medina started a rebellion and uprising.”<ref>Ibn Khaldun, Tarikh, vol. 2, p. 37</ref> | ||
When Bashir ibn Jadhlam brought the news of the [[martyrdom]] of Imam [[Hussain ibn Ali|al-Hussain]] and the taking of captives, it seemed in Medina as though the trumpet had been blown announcing the Day of Resurrection. The women of Medina came out of their homes and marched towards the city gates. Men, women and children, came out of their houses barefoot | When Bashir ibn Jadhlam brought the news of the [[martyrdom]] of Imam [[Hussain ibn Ali|al-Hussain]] and the taking of captives, it seemed in Medina as though the trumpet had been blown announcing the Day of Resurrection. The women of Medina came out of their homes and marched towards the city gates. Men, women and children, came out of their houses barefoot shouting, “O Muhammad! Alas Muhammad! O al-Hussain! O al-Hussain! O al-Hussain!” It was very similar to the day the Holy Prophet passed away.<ref>Maqtal Abi Mukhnaf, p. 200</ref> | ||
Imam [[ʿAli b. al-Hussain|al-Sajjad]] made a sermon and his words had a strong effect on the people of Medina. In addition to that, [[Zaynab]] and other women, all mothers who had lost children in the battle of [[Karbala]], gave public speeches and detailed what had occurred at [[Karbala]]. Each of the survivors was explaining the event of [[Ashura]] and what had transpired at Karbala. They also gave comprehensive accounts of what had taken place for the captives on the way from [[Kufa]] to Sham and their meeting with Yazid. All this news had a deep impact on the community of Medina. | Imam [[ʿAli b. al-Hussain|al-Sajjad]] made a sermon and his words had a strong effect on the people of Medina. In addition to that, [[Zaynab]] and other women, all mothers who had lost children in the battle of [[Karbala]], gave public speeches and detailed what had occurred at [[Karbala]]. Each of the survivors was explaining the event of [[Ashura]] and what had transpired at Karbala. They also gave comprehensive accounts of what had taken place for the captives on the way from [[Kufa]] to Sham and their meeting with Yazid. All this news had a deep impact on the community of Medina. | ||
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Later, Yazid relieved Walid ibn ‘Aqaba of his post and replaced him with ‘Uthman ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Sufiyan. ‘Uthman, too, was an arrogant and vain youth who lacked experience.<ref>Ibid</ref> It was during his time as governor of Medina that the event of Harrah took place.<ref>Al-Ma‘arif, p. 345</ref> | Later, Yazid relieved Walid ibn ‘Aqaba of his post and replaced him with ‘Uthman ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Sufiyan. ‘Uthman, too, was an arrogant and vain youth who lacked experience.<ref>Ibid</ref> It was during his time as governor of Medina that the event of Harrah took place.<ref>Al-Ma‘arif, p. 345</ref> | ||
The accumulation of the mentioned factors laid the groundwork for an explosion; the only thing that was needed was a spark and it came as follows: Ibn Mina, Yazid’s financial representative and the man responsible for collecting tax, | The accumulation of the mentioned factors laid the groundwork for an explosion; the only thing that was needed was a spark and it came as follows: Ibn Mina, Yazid’s financial representative and the man responsible for collecting tax, decided to take all the wealth he collected from Harrah to Sham for Yazid. | ||
A group of protesters from Medina blocked his way. They confiscated all the tax and wealth which Ibn Mina was carrying. Ibn Mina reported the issue to ‘Uthman ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Sufiyan, the governor of Medina. ‘Uthman reported the issue to Yazid ibn Mu‘awiya in a letter he sent to Sham. As a result of this, Yazid was incited against the people of Medina.<ref>Tarikh Ya‘qubi, vol. 2, p. 250; Al-Imamah wa al-Siyasah, vol. 1, p. 206</ref> | A group of protesters from Medina blocked his way. They confiscated all the tax and wealth which Ibn Mina was carrying. Ibn Mina reported the issue to ‘Uthman ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Sufiyan, the governor of Medina. ‘Uthman reported the issue to Yazid ibn Mu‘awiya in a letter he sent to Sham. As a result of this, Yazid was incited against the people of Medina.<ref>Tarikh Ya‘qubi, vol. 2, p. 250; Al-Imamah wa al-Siyasah, vol. 1, p. 206</ref> | ||
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==Direct confrontation== | ==Direct confrontation== | ||
‘Abd Allah ibn Hanzala invited the people for the ultimate confrontation with Yazid ibn Mu‘awiya and the whole of Bani Umayyah. His good public standing was the reason the people trusted him and | ‘Abd Allah ibn Hanzala invited the people for the ultimate confrontation with Yazid ibn Mu‘awiya and the whole of Bani Umayyah. His good public standing was the reason the people trusted him and gathered around him. They even elected him to be the governor of Medina and paid their allegiance to him and deposed Yazid ibn Mu‘awiya from the caliphate.<ref>Ibn Sa‘d, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 5, p. 47</ref> | ||
After this, the people expelled Yazid’s agent, ‘Uthman ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Sufiyan, from the city of Medina. This happened on the first day of the month of [[Muharram]], the year of the Islamic calendar (hijrah). | After this, the people expelled Yazid’s agent, ‘Uthman ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Sufiyan, from the city of Medina. This happened on the first day of the month of [[Muharram]], the year of the Islamic calendar (hijrah). | ||