War of Karabala - Ultimate Story of Sacrifice, 72 Muslims agains 30000 Mushriks

[Soldier of Islam]

Think not of those who are slain in God’s way as dead. Nay, they live,
finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord. Holy Quran (3:169)

Hereby I am making a small effort to narrate the Whole episode of KARBALA on this forum
as posts. The matter has been taken from Books & Internet.

1. The events of Karbala reflect the collision of the good versus the evil..
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78375.html#msg78375

2. Beginning of Hijra Calendar  
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78377.html#msg78377

3. Marraige of Bibi Fatima and Birth of Imam Hasan & Imam Hussain
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78378.html#msg78378

4. Hazrat Ali - Martyred & Imam Hasan becomes Imam - Treaty with Muawiya.
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78379.html#msg78379

5. Assasination of Imam Hasan & widespread agitation among the faithful...
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78380.html#msg78380

6. The Call from the Governor of Medina
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78381.html#msg78381

7. Imam Hussain (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) decides to leave Madina
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78382.html#msg78382

8. Muslim son of Aqeel - the Holy Imam’s Deputy to Kufa
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78383.html#msg78383

9. Muslim son of Aqeel Arrested and Martyred...
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78384.html#msg78384

10. News had reached Damascus that Imam Hussain had left Madina for Makkah
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78385.html#msg78385

11. The Prophesied Desert of Karbala
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78388.html#msg78388

12. Imam Hussain (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) purchases the site for the Graves
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78390.html#msg78390

13. 3rd of Muharram - Arrival of Yazid’s Forces
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78391.html#msg78391

14. No room for any criticism left
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78392.html#msg78392

15. If you pay homage to Yazid, everything will go well for you..
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78393.html#msg78393

16. 7th Muharram - Water supply to Imam Hussain’s camp cut off
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78394.html#msg78394

18. 9th of Muharram - Enemy decides to attack
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78401.html#msg78401
   
19. The Holy Imam and Umar son of Saad confer :
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78402.html#msg78402
   
20. The night before the tenth Muharram
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78406.html#msg78406
   
21. Holy Seventy-Two (72) who stood fast by the Holy Imam ...
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78407.html#msg78407

22. Spent the night in prayers, reciting the Holy Quran & rejoicing approaching cup
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78409.html#msg78409

23. The night in the Yazidian Camp
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78507.html#msg78507

24. Battle Begns :It looked as if the thirst, hunger, heat & the wounds hd no affect
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78532.html#msg78532

25. Wahab got back fighting until he killed 19 knights and another twenty of the ...
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78536.html#msg78536

26. Aun and Muhammad were quite young, aged ten (10) and nine (9) years respectively
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78542.html#msg78542

27. “How can we kill someone whose face is shining like moon? - Son of Imam Hassan
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78544.html#msg78544

28. The knot at the mouth of the sack gave way to the pressure and the whole water
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78547.html#msg78547

29. Sakina : “Al Atash, Ya Ammahu! I am thirsty O my uncle Abbas!”
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78548.html#msg78548

30. Sakina : I will never ask for water again!’ and ran inside to her mother.
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78550.html#msg78550

31. The Hashimite Prince Ali Akbar’s Martyrdom
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78551.html#msg78551

32. Baby Ali Asgher (Abd Allah) comes into Battlefield
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78555.html#msg78555

33. Parting advice to Zainab and Kulthoom-Our camp will be plundered and set fire
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78557.html#msg78557

34. Imam Hussain in the Battlefield to offer the greatest sacrifice
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78558.html#msg78558

35. The unique unparalleled prayer (Namaz)
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78561.html#msg78561

36. More than Thirty Thousand (30,000), fought against an army of Seventy Two (72)
http://kgn786.com/forum/index.php/topic,20942.msg78562.html#msg78562

[Soldier of Islam]

The events of Karbala reflect the collision of the good versus the evil, the virtuous versus the wicked, and the collision
of Imam Hussain (the head of virtue) versus Yazid (the head of impiety). Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) was a revolutionary
person, a righteous man, the religious authority, the Imam of Muslim Ummah (nation). As the representative of his
grandfather Prophet Muhammad  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him), Imam Hussain’s main concern was to safeguard and protect Islam and guide
fellow Muslims. On the other hand, the staying power of the rulers (Muawiya and his son Yazid) depended solely on the
might of the sword. They used brute force to rule over the Muslim empire even by all possible illicit means.

The mission of Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) is distinctly unique, political and religious revolutionary movement in the history
of World. His was a tremendous undertaking which still reverberates throughout the Muslim nation. He has been a propelling
force and a seminal element in events throughout Islamic history, particularly in the sphere of Jihad (the holy
struggle in the way of Almighty God). Imam Hussain’s example has remained vividly alive for generations and centuries.
His uprising, movement and ideals still have a deep impact on the conscience and awareness of the Muslim empire.


The Holy Prophet  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) is reported to have said: “The best of Jihad is that of a word of right spoken to an unjust ruler.”

Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) witnessed the deteriorating political and social situation and clearly recognized that the general
policy of the authorities did not abide with Islamic principles. He was aware of the Ummah’s numerous and painful afflictions,
and was determined to exercise his religious duty, being the duly sanctioned leader & central figure capable of
restoring Islamic values. Thus he rose. His revolt is rich in lessons and divinely inspired attitudes. Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him)
embodied the sacrifice of self, money, family, social status and the challenge to terror and cruelty. He patiently traversed
hundreds of miles, moving both night and day. The epic protest he engendered came at the most critical political juncture.
In fact, the Prophet’s grandson had vowed to sacrifice himself.

Thus, Karbala proved to be a clash involving Islamic truths versus falsehood, belief versus disbelief, and the oppressed
versus the oppressor, faith against brute force. Karbala was about standing in the face of oppression, regardless no matter
the cost. In Karbala, Imam Hussain the fifty seven year old second grandson of Prophet Muhammad  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him), sacrificed
his totality and all he had, for one goal. This goal was to let the truth triumph over falsehood eventually, and he did that
brilliantly. His goal was to foil the plan of Yazid, which was to establish a permanent Umayyads (Banu Umayya)
ruler ship over the Muslim Ummah (even by sacrificing the Islamic principles), but doing it in the name of Islam. Brilliantly,
Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) succeeded in foiling this plan and he exposed the disreputable nature of Umayyads though this was
at the expense of his life.


Eventually he was martyred along with his sons, most of his household and all of his companions. The bodies were mutilated
and their heads were carried from Karbala, to Kufa and finally Damascus. His womenfolk were taken prisoners and
marched across the desert. He himself was expecting all that, but did not budge an inch.

An uprising led by the noblest and best accepted personality in the entire Ummah, is certainly one which is uniquely distinguished
as a movement abounding with spiritual, moral and religious ideals. Due to the importance of this personality,
we are honored to present this post ...Hereunder are related the most outstanding
incidents of the dynamic Hussaini movement, which stands unequalled in its greatness and fills pages upon pages of
history.

Such a sublime revolution has to be studied, dissected and fully understood. Lessons should be drawn from it. Here we
note that the backward and downtrodden nations must one day follow in the footsteps of Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) if they
are to challenge the despots.

We beseech the Most High and Almighty God to make this volume of enduring benefit to our esteemed readers and to help
us in disseminating benevolence and guidance. He is the Hearing and Answering.
[/size][/color]

Karbala garden of swords, blood and inspiration for innumerable pens.
Karbala is the word of right…the hymn on the lips of time.
Karbala is a poem…a rhyme of anguish and pain.
Karbala never passes away. Its sun never sets in the horizon of history. Its anguish can never be
effaced from the conscience of freemen by the collective conspiracy of tyrants.

At Karbala clouds of blood rained and generations of martyrs and revolutionaries took root and
sprouted. The sound of the fearless voice of Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) still echoes in the valley of Karbala,
ringing in the ears of time. It is a hurricane that chafes and shakes the tyrants. It is a volcano of blood,
violently jolting the despots’ thrones. It awakens free consciences and stirs within man the spirit of
revolution and Jihad. His voice is still echoing in the ears of mankind:

“By God, I will never give you my hand like a man
who has been humiliated, nor will I flee like a slave.”

Who actually is Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) ? What is the background of this exceptionally unique and great personality?

This prominent man of history, the legend of epics, the word of pride and honor was no less the
Grandson of Prophet Muhammad  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) the son of his daughter Fatimah Zahra  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) and her
cousin and husband the Commander of the Faithful, Ali son of Abu Talib son of Abdul Mutalib son of
Hashim.

Hence the only fact remains: There never was a Hussain before him, there has been none after him.

The object of this work is only to present with extreme brevity the great historic event of the matchless
sacrifice of the King of Martyrs Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him), in the seed of Abraham  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) through
the Holy Prophet Muhammad  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him), offered to save the Truth and humanity from getting lost to
falsehood forever, for the apostleship had been concluded with the revelation of the Holy Quran, the
Final Word of God. If anything had to be done or could be done, to save the Truth, it was only through
the Imamate which was destined to do it, and Imam Hussain was the divinely chosen one for it.[/b]

[Soldier of Islam]

Holy Prophet Muhammad  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) started preaching to the people of Makkah at the age of forty (40)
years. If anyone goes through the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him), he will not be able to
resist shedding tears for the tortures, the miseries and calamities which the great godly soul suffered
at the hands of the people. Any intelligent reader would find that all the sufferings which every one of
the preceding apostles of God had suffered, had been inflicted on the Last Apostle of the Lord, along
with other additional tortures and miseries which none else had ever experienced and he suffered all
the calamities with ideal patience, matchless fortitude, unparalleled steadfastness and unshakable
determination to fulfill the covenant established with the Lord.

Conspiracy to Assassinate the Holy Prophet  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him)
The Makkan’s alarmed at the growing impact of Islam and their abject helplessness to contain its
radiant rays conspired to assassinate the Holy Prophet. Moreover, the death of Abu Talib that
devoted guardian of infant Islam, had removed an obstacle from their path, embodying the
haughty ignorant to plot Muhammad’s  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) assassination.

Beginning of Hijra Calendar
As per the command of Almighty God, the Holy Prophet migrated to Medina at the age of fifty
three (53) years. This epoch-making night which marked a turning point in the message of
Islam, also marks the start of the Muslim Lunar Calendar (Hijra).

[Soldier of Islam]

In the second (2) year of Hijra, the Prophet’s cousin, Imam Ali  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) married the Prophet’s
daughter Fatima; the Lady of Light  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) in the simplest possible manner. A divine lady like
Fatima  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) could not have been the wife of any ordinary man, and more particularly when she
was destined to provide the Divine Plan with the godly characters suitable to be the Universal Guides
to mankind as a whole. They had four children, Imam Hassan, Imam Hussain, Zainab and Kulthoom.

Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) was born on the 3rd of Shabaan in the fourth (4) year of Hijra. The Holy
Prophet  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) came to Fatima  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) and taking the baby in his lap, mysteriously placed his tongue
in the mouth of the baby, and the baby began sucking it and thus the Holy child was first fed by the
Saliva of the Apostle of God, as the first sustenance of his Holy body in this world. After giving the
Holy baby the first feeding by his Saliva, the Holy Prophet  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) said:
“Hussainun minni wa ana minal Hussain (Hussain is of me and I am of Hussain).”

The Holy Prophet  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) loved all his grand children very much. One day, when he was in prostrate
(Sajdah) while praying in the  Masjid, Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) climbed on his back. The Holy Prophet
remained in prostrate until Imam Hussain came down by himself.

The Holy Prophet  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) used to carry Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) and his elder brother Imam Hassan
 (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) in his arms and declare expansively in front of his companions.
“O God, I love them and love those who love them.”

The Holy Prophet  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) expressed his deeply felt love for Imam Hassan  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) and Imam Hussain
 (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) in these words:

“These two sons of mine are my two plants of sweet basil in this world.” “Whoever loves
Hassan and Hussain then he loves me and whoever dislikes them he dislikes me.”
Also, said that both “Hassan and Hussain are the chiefs of the youth of paradise.”


Also, said that both “Hassan and Hussain are the chiefs of the youth of paradise.”

[Soldier of Islam]

Abdur Rahman son of Muljim’ martyred the Commander of the Faithful ‘Ali son of Abu Talib’ by striking his head with a poisoned sword,
during the dawn prayer at Kufa  Masjid, on the 19th day of the month of Ramadan in the year 40 Hijra. Imam Ali  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him)
attained martyrdom on the 21st day of the same month, at the age of sixty three (63) years.

After the martyrdom of Imam Ali  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him), Imam Hassan  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) his elder son was chosen by the
people of Kufa as their Caliph

Imam Hasan makes a Treaty with Ameer Muawiya :
The salient points of the treaty are:
1. Muawiya should rule strictly according to the Holy Quran and the Sunna of Holy Prophet.
2. Muawiya should not appoint or nominate anyone to the Caliphate after him but that
choice should be left to the Muslims.
3. The people should be left in peace, wherever they are in the land of God.
4. The persecution of the companions of Imam Ali should immediately be stopped;
their lives, properties and families guaranteed safe conduct and peace.
5. The cursing of Imam Ali from the pulpit should stop immediately.
6. No harm should be done secretly or openly against Imam Hassan and his younger brother
Imam Hussain or any of the Ahlul Bayt  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him).


Thus the rightly guided Caliphate came to an end with the abandonment of the Caliphate by Imam
Hassan  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him). He returned to Madina after administering the people’s affairs, following the martyrdom
of his father, Imam Ali  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him), for a period of six (6) months.

[Soldier of Islam]

YAZEED (son of Muawiya) carried out his ambition of keeping the power in his family by nominating himself as the ruler of the Kingdom.
after his fathers Death.

This demanded that Imam Hassan should predecease him, an unlikely event considering their discrepancy in their ages.
Hence Yazeed bribed Ju’ada daughter of Ash’ath (wife of Imam Hassan), to poison him. He also promised to marry her and so
Ju’ada poisoned Imam Hassan in 50 Hijra. Imam Hassan died with the effect of poisoning on 28th of
the month of Safar, at the age of forty seven (47) years.

When Imam Hassan  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) died, the followers of Imam from Iraq began to make plans. They wrote
to Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) concerning removing YAZEED and giving the pledge of allegiance to him.

However, he refused and chooses to abide by the treaty between Imam Hassan and Muawiya, which
he could not break until the period came to an end.

But the decision of Yazid becoming a ruler, stirred widespread agitation among the faithful,
particularly amidst prominent personalities such as Imam Hussain son of Imam Ali  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him), Abdul-
Rahman son of Abu Bakr, Abdullah son of Omar, Abdullah son of Al-Zubayr and other well-known,
leading figures.

After the death of Muawiya in 60 Hijra, Yazid succeeded his father to the throne. Imam Hussain was then fifty seven years old.

He was not properly educated with the teachings of Islam. And he used to drink alcohol, gamble, and commit all other sins according to historic sources.

[Soldier of Islam]

The Call from the Governor

On receipt of the letter from Yazid, ‘Al-Walid son of Utbah son of Abu Sufyan’ the Governor of
Madina immediately called his servant (Abdullah son of Omer son of Uthman) and sent word
inviting Imam Hussain and Abdullah son of Al-Zubayr, to visit him. Imam Hussain and Son of
Al-Zubayr were in the  Masjid at night time, when Walid’s servant came to them with the message
inviting them to the Governor House. The moment Imam Hussain heard the call from the Governor;
he suddenly exclaimed that Muawiya had died.

In reply to the call Imam Hussain sent word to the Governor Walid saying, it was too late and he will
visit him the next morning.

The next day Imam Hussain accompanying around thirty (30) Hashimites courageous youths visited
the Governor, but reaching the entrance of the Governor’s house, he told the Hashimites to stay at the
door watchful and if they hear Imam Hussain talking unusually aloud they may get in to him.

Walid received Holy Imam with all respect and regard. Offered him the seat besides him and read out
the letter he had received from Yazid and when he reached the matter asking him to send the severed
head of Hussain, if Imam Hussain refuses to pay allegiance. Imam Hussain smiled and said:

“O Walid! Pledge of allegiance cannot be given secretly. Invites the Muslims of Madina tomorrow and
ask them if they say that I should pay allegiance to Yazid, let us then decide.”


Walid readily accepted the Holy Imam’s reply but ‘Marwan son of Al-Hakam’ the old enemy of Islam
who was expelled by the Holy Prophet out of Madina, seated there, addressing Walid said:

“Let not Hussain go out of the grip now, lest the fox is out of the four walls of the court you will not
approach the dust behind it. Cut off his head now and let not this unique opportunity go for, you will
never get it again.”

Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) stood up to depart from the Governor and hearing the insulting words of
Marwan, Imam Hussain the son of Ali the Lion of God got angry and retorted aloud: “Woe to you, O
son of a foreign women, will you cut my head off? By God, you have told a lie and showed your base
origin.”

Then he turned to al-Walid and said to him:
“O Walid! We are the household of the Prophet  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him). We surely are the centre of the message, and
to our house the angels descend from heaven. By us God sent his first Apostle and by us He sent the
seal of the Prophets. Yazid, on the other hand, is a corrupt man, who imbibes wine, puts to death the
soul which God forbids to be destroyed and declares his debauchery in public. A man like me would
never give a vow of loyalty to him. But we will see about that in the morning, so will you. We will see
and so will you, who is more entitled to the office of Caliphate and to receive the pledge of allegiance.”

Marwan immediately got up and ran away and the Hashimites youth who stood restless and anxious,
hearing the voice of the Holy Imam, rushed into the court with drawn swords. Imam Hussain immediately
commanded restraint and had not Imam Hussain controlled the situation, the matter would
have been settled then and there. The meeting came to an end. Imam Hussain returned home.

[Soldier of Islam]

Imam decided to rise to his religious responsibilities as the lawful Imam and the leader of the Islamic
nation entrusted with the task of preserving its divine message.

He went to his grandfather’s grave, and recited the following prayer: “O God, This is the grave of your
Prophet, Muhammad  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) and I am his daughter’s son, and I have come to know what you
undoubtedly know. O God, I like to enjoin the good and reject the evil. I ask you O Almighty God by
this grave and by who is in it to choose for me what would please You and Your Prophet.”

Thus Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) pledged that he would defend the message whatever the cost, as long as
it would lead to God’s satisfaction. He declared his first revolutionary communique which took the
form of a will he wrote to his brother,

Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyyah:“...I did not revolt for the cause of evil tyranny or corruption, but to reform my grandfather’s [Prophet
Muhammad  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him)] nation. I want to enjoin the good and denounce the evil, and take the course of
my father and grandfather.” This eternal communique was the official declaration of his revolution.

Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) decides to leave Madina
In the month of Rajab; exactly four months remained for Hajj. During the time of Hajj.
people from every corner of the country would come for pilgrimage to Makkah. He could then easily convey his
message to the people, Imam Hussain knew that if he were to start his Qiyam and struggle from
Makkah, all the world of Islam would become aware of his objectives and then it would not be so easy
for the regime to deceive the people about him and his aims.

Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) determined to leave Madina for Makkah at the earliest opportunity before the
Governor and related officials had any knowledge of his intentions of departure.

[Soldier of Islam]

The Holy Imam commanded his cousin Muslim son of Aqeel, to proceed to Kufa which used to
be the capital of Iraq at that time. And to report from there, after studying the bona fide of the
call from the people of the place. In the middle of Ramadan 60 Hijra Muslim son of Aqeel left
Makkah with two of his young sons Muhammad and Ibraheem. It is said that Muhammad was just
ten (10) years old and Ibraheem was eight (8) years old.

After reaching Kufa, he stayed in the house of Al-Mukhtar son of Abi Ubayda. The Kufees gave
Muslim son of Aqeel a very warm reception and eighteen thousands (18,000) of them paid their
‘Allegiance’ to the Holy Imam on the hands of Muslim son of Aqeel. Poor Muslim son of Aqeel,
impressed with and guided by the enthusiasm of the deceitful Kufees and not knowing what would
befall him the very next day, wrote a letter to Imam Hussain to come over to Kufa. When the letter
inviting the Holy Imam had gone with a favorable report about the situation at Kufa, Muslim son of
Aqeel learnt of the treachery, i.e., the turn of the tide of the situation

[Soldier of Islam]

Ubayd Allah son of Ziyad called his men and commanded Muslim son of Aqeel to be taken on the roof
of a Castle to be beheaded and his body to be thrown down from the top, to the ground.

Hearing the verdict, Muslim son of Aqeel replied: “I am ready to pass on in the way of the Lord” and
then turning to the audience in the court asked, if there was any Quraishites among them there to hear
his last desire in this world and execute it. Omar son of Sa'd, a Quraishites, replied: “Yes! I am here!
Say what you have to say!”

Muslim son of Aqeel said: “Look O’ son of Sa’d! The first thing I request you to do is to write to the
Holy Imam or send a message at once to him never to think of coming over to Kufa!”

Secondly, “I owe seven hundred dirhams to the people here in Kufa. Here is my horse and my armor.
Sell these two things and disburse the dues.”

And finally! “Bury my body out of my own money raised by the sale of my belongings without any obligation
from any one of the Kufees.”

Omar replied we will act as deemed desirable by us. The people seated around in the court wept but none spoke
a word against the brutal behavior against Muslim son of Aqeel.

When Muslim son of Aqeel was taken on top of the Castle, asked respite of the executioners to offer his last
prayer to the Lord. After the prayer he turned toward Makkah and cried:

“Pardon me O’ Holy Imam, for misleading you. But think not to come towards Kufa!”

No sooner Muslim son of Aqeel had finished his prayer, and his cry to the Holy Imam, fell the stroke
of the sword from the executioner. His head was taken and the body was thrown down on the ground.
The heads of Hani son of Urwa and Muslim son of Aqeel were despatched to Yazid as a token of the
faithful execution of his orders by his Deputy Ubayd Allah son of Ziyad.

[Soldier of Islam]

News had reached Damascus that Imam Hussain had left Madina for Makkah. Yazid became so
worried that he decided to send ‘Amr son of Saad son of Al-Ass’ as delegate of the Caliph to the
Hajj pilgrims and that among his duties was to kill Imam Hussain wherever they found him
and whatever the costs. Yazid hired thirty men to guide themselves as pilgrims (Hajjis) with daggers
hidden in their pilgrim garbs to murder the Holy Imam even while performing the pilgrimage rites,
be he even in the very precincts of the Great Sanctuary of the Holy Kaaba.

Imam Hussain had received the letter from his Deputy Muslim son of Aqeel in Kufa to proceed
towards Kufa without any delay, the letter which Muslim son of Aqeel had written before what befell
him later. Imam Hussain only waited for the pilgrimage to start, so that he can proceed towards Kufa
thereafter. But he got intelligence about the plot to kill him even in the Holy Sanctuary.

[Soldier of Islam]

At a place near the Euphrates, the Holy Imam’s steed suddenly stopped and in spite of the unusual
spurring, the animal did not move; but raised its head towards heaven, as if to say that it was
helpless and could not step forward any more. Imam Hussain changed six (6) horses one after
another but none of the animals moved from the spot.

Gathering the people in the neighborhood, the Holy Imam
enquired the name of the place. Some said ‘Maria’ some said
‘Nainawa’ and some said ‘Shattul Furat’ but the Holy Imam
was not satisfied and continued his enquiry asking if there
was any other name for the place. An old man stepped forward
and said “O’ Son of the Apostle of God! I have heard
from my ancestors this plain being called also as ‘Karbala’.”

The moment the Holy Imam heard the name of Karbala, he smiled, thanked God and said:
“Surely this is the plain I was in quest of. This is the place where my holy Grandfather had prophesied
that I, with all my faithful companions, will lay slain after suffering three day’s hunger and thirst. Here
will the Garden of Fatima be cut and destroyed. I cannot and I will not move an inch from this place,
I have reached the destined destination.”

Saying this, the Holy Imam ordered the caravan to be stopped and declared that the journey had
ended as he had arrived at the desired destination. Tents were ordered to be pitched but Bibi Zainab,
Hussain’s sister, hearing of the Imam’s decision to camp there, wept and sent for Hussain and
requested him saying:

“Brother dear! Do not camp here! Some how my heart is restless and does not consent. Brother dear!
Since our arrival on this plain, I distinctly hear the lamenting voice of our dear mother, wailing somewhere
nearby in this desert.”

Imam Hussain, hearing his mother’s name, shed tears and said: “Zainab! We need not fear when God
is with us. It is immaterial, sister, where we camp. This is the place, sister dear, I was in quest of, and
thanks to God I am at it and now sister dear, I cannot move from here.” Imam Hussain, set up camp
by the banks of the river Euphrates known as the Al-Qama.

[Soldier of Islam]

Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him) purchases the site for the Graves

The Holy Imam gathered the people of the surrounding places, the owners of the plain of Karbala, and
purchasing the land from them gifted the same to the people of Banu Asad.

Addressing the males among them he said: “On the Tenth day (Ashura) of this month (Muharram)
you shall see us lying here slain, our bodies lying on the plain with our heads severed and taken away.
I request you to kindly bury us, and when our devotees come to visit our graves, hold them in honor
as your guests and point out to them the places of our burial.”

He then addressed the ladies :
“O virtuous ladies! If your husbands, fearing the wrath of Yazid do not bury us, you kindly encourage
them to do it or do it yourselves.”

The Holy Imam then turned to the young children in the gathering and addressing them said:
“O innocent ones! If your parents, out of fear of the wrath of the Ruler, do not bury us, you may, by
way of playing bring some mud in your laps and throw it upon our bodies and hide them.”
The appeal was so touching that the whole gathering wept.

[Soldier of Islam]

The Brute Ibn Ziyad at Kufa got the information of Imam Hussain’s getting out of the control of Hurr
and also learnt that Imam Hussain had camped near the river Euphrates known as the Al-Qama.

On the 3rd of Muharram Ubayd Allah son of Ziyad sent an army counting four thousand led by Umar
son of Saad Abi Waqqas were the first to move towards Karbala. His orders were to get Imam Hussain
to surrender to Yazid. When Imam Hussain refused, Umar son of Saad told Ubayd Allah son of Ziyad
to send more troops. Ubayd Allah son of Ziyad ordered all the men in Kufa to come out and join the
army to fight against Hussain. Anyone not doing so would be killed. Whoever brings the head of
Hussain will get a great prize and I will make him the Governor of Al-Ray province.

Regiment after regiment began to pour in on the plain of Karbala from all sides until they were
(30,000) thirty thousand and ultimately the enemy’s forces compelled Hussain to shift his camp from
the bank of the river to the interior of the burning desert. Hussain’s brother, the lion-hearted Abbas,
objected to this demand from the enemy, claiming priority of occupation and the right of the son of
the Holy Prophet, the Holy Imam, to stay where he had first camped. When the enemy wished to
march towards the Holy Imam’s camp, the brave Abbas at once drew his sword and stood firm and
shouted to the men: “If you advance one step forward, you shall lay headless there.”

Knowing the bravery, valor, and prowess of the valiant son of Ali, the Lion of God, none cared to step
forward. But Hussain called his Brother saying:

“Brother Abbas! Let not bloodshed be initiated from our side. Let them occupy any place they like.
They call themselves my Grandfather’s followers. Let them enjoy every comfort they want. We shall
suffer for them, being away from the water. When God is with us, Brother, what if, the river is far away
from us.”

With these words, Imam Hussain  (Choicest blessing and peace be upon him), in order to avoid bloodshed, issued orders to shift this camp
several miles into the interior of the burning desert and it was immediately done. Also Imam Hussain
did not want the people to think that the battle in Karbala was about water.

[Soldier of Islam]

If the Holy Imam had stayed at Madina and got slain there, it would have been said, why did he not
migrate to Makkah to take shelter in the Great Sanctuary there? He did go to the Kaaba and if he had
stayed there to be killed by Yazid’s agents, it would have been said why did he not leave the holy place
to avoid bloodshed in the Great Sanctuary? Imam Hussain left Makkah too, even though it was the
very eve of the pilgrimage. And if he had gone to Kufa it would have been said why he went to a place
where his Deputy Muslim had been killed, and when he knew the situation there. Imam Hussain
avoided going to Kufa. Imam Hussain also availed of the opportunity given by Hurr. Now when the
enemy became cruel, heartless and aggressive, he avoided bloodshed by shifting his camp into the
interior of the desert, abandoning the bank of the river to the enemy.