Hearts of Gold: The Inspiring Tales of the Sahaba RA

#24:;HUSSEIN IBN ALI (رضي الله عنه) ;THE TRAGEDY OF KARBALA..

The manipulation of historical facts and the distortion of the image of Islam is not a new phenomenon, especially with matters that rouse emotions in Islamic history. I am personally not aware of one that is more appealing to storytellers than the martyrdom of al-Ḥusayn. For his martyrdom was truly a tragedy that has caused tears to flow and uprisings to erupt.

However, another disaster is that the martyrdom of al-Ḥusayn has devolved into a Greek tragedy, one that pushes away those that are rational, due to the fabrications and distortions that have tarnished his great image. Does al-Ḥusayn need fabricators to make him great?! Is he not a leader of the youth of paradise?! If that is the case, then it is high time we strip ourselves from our subjective preconceptions and learn of his history through an academic lens.

This chapter,as short as it may be, shall be sufficient for the reader, for the lengthy versions are riddled with fabrications. If Allah wills, this chapter will provide the reader with a clear perspective of what exactly transpired.

Hussain Ibn Ali (RA) was one of the greatest leaders of his time. He was a grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a son of Ali ibn Abi Talib(ra) and Muhammad's (saw) daughter Fatimah. He is an important figure in Islam as he was a member of the Household of Muhammad(saw) (Ahl al-Bayt) ..

Hussain and his brother Hasan were reportedly the last male descendants of Muhammad living during his lifetime and remaining after his death. There are many accounts of his love for them which refer to them together.
Abu Sa'eed (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Al-Hasan and Al-Husain are the leaders of the youth of Paradise."

Narrated by Usaamah Ibn Zayd (Radi Allahu Anhu) who said: "I knocked on the door of the Prophet for a need and he said: "These (Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn) are my sons and my daughter's sons. O Allah, I love them, so love them, and love whoever loves them."

On 10 Muharram 61/10 October 680 in Karbala, near Kufa, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Hussein b. Ali, was killed along with the close male relatives who were accompanying him. Throughout Islamic history this event had an important effect on religious, political, social and cultural developments.

Mu'awiyah, who was the governor of the Syrian region under Caliph Uthman ibn Affan, had refused Ali's demands for allegiance, and had long been in conflict with him.After Ali was assassinated and people gave allegiance to Hasan, Mu'awiyah prepared to fight with him. The battle led to inconclusive skirmishes between the armies of Hassan and Mu'awiyah. To avoid the agonies of the civil war, Hasan signed a treaty with Mu'awiyah, according to which Mu'awiyah would not name a successor during his reign, and let the Islamic community (ummah) choose his successor.

Shortly after the death of Hasan, Muawiyah started efforts to ensure that his son Yazid was accepted by the people as heir apparent to the caliphate, breaking the treaty.

Muawiyah is quoted in History of Islam by Robert Payne as telling his son Yazid to defeat Husayn—because Mu'awiyah thought he was surely preparing an army against him—but to deal with him gently thereafter as Husayn was a descendant of Muhammad(saw), but to deal with 'Abd Allah ibn al-Zubair swiftly, as Mu'awiyah feared him the most.

In April AD 680, Yazid succeeded his father as caliph. He immediately instructed the governor of Medina to compel Husayn and few other prominent figures to pledge their allegiance.
The most serious opponent of Yazid's appointment as heir were the important names in the opposition in the Hijaz, Hussein b. Ali, Abdullah b. Zubeyr, Abdullah b. Omar and Abdurrahman b. Abu Bakr. These, as children of the first Muslims who had witnessed the time of Prophet Muhammad(saw), were important personages in the era in which they lived.