This story is not based on any fictional story, rather it is an account based on the evidence of authentic and historical Hadiths, which exposes the real truth and its background of 'Waqiya-e-Karbala', the most painful and important event in the history of Islam.
The Islamic calendar begins with the holy month of Muharram. It is one of the four months that Allah has declared to be highly respected and sacred. Any kind of war or bloodshed is considered strictly prohibited (haram) in this month. History is witness that on the tenth day of this month (Ashura), Allah freed Hazrat Musa (A.S.) and his community from the atrocities of Pharaoh and drowned Pharaoh along with his army in the river.
But, despite being completely prohibited for war, this month is remembered throughout the history of humanity for an extremely painful and great martyrdom—the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (a.s.). This incident of Karbala was not a sudden war, but it was the culmination of a deep political and ideological conflict that had been simmering for decades, which ultimately changed the sacred system that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) had established.
To understand this deep background of Karbala, we will have to go to the period when the foundation of Islam was being laid. The relationship between Rasulullah (S.A.W.) and Maula Ali (A.S.) was not just a family one, but it was a deep spiritual and unbreakable bond.
When Rasulullah (S.A.W.) returned from his last Haj pilgrimage and halted at a place called 'Ghadir-e-Khum', he raised Maula Ali's hand in the air in front of thousands of Sahabah and said: "Whoever I am Maula (friend/protector), his Ali is Maula." [Jamia Tirmizi 3713, Sahih Muslim 2408]. Similarly, when Rasulullah (SAW) was leaving from Madinah on the occasion of Ghazwa-e-Tabuk and he asked Ali (AS) to stay behind for the safety of Madinah, Ali (AS) had tears in his eyes. Then the Prophet (SAW) consoled him and said: "Are you not happy that you have the same relationship with me that Aaron had with Moses? Except that there will be no prophet after me." [Sahih Bukhari 4416, Sahih Muslim 6217].
Even during the difficult times of Ghazwa-e-Khaybar, when the fort was not being conquered, Rasulullah (SAW) had announced: "Tomorrow I will give the flag (Alam) of the Islamic Army to the one whom Allah and His Messenger love and who loves Allah and His Messenger." The next day that flag was handed over to Maula Ali (A.S.) and Khyber was conquered. [Sahih Bukhari 3701, Sahih Muslim 6222]. This love and respect of the Prophet (SAW) towards Ali (AS) was so clear that Rasulullah (SAW) himself had said that only a true believer would love Ali and only a hypocrite would hate or begrudge him. [Sahih Muslim 240].
Rasulullah (SAW) was well aware of the political changes coming in the future of his Ummah. He had clearly predicted how the political structure of the Ummah would change after him. Hazrat Safina (R.A.), the freed slave of the Prophet (S.A.W.), narrates that Rasoolullah (S.A.W.) had said: “In my Ummah, the Khilafah (Khilafat-e-Rashda) will last only for 30 years, and after that the period of Malukiyat (the Reaper Kingdom) will begin.” [Musnad Ahmad 18596, Sunan Abu Dawood 4646, Jamia Tirmizi 2226].
When Hazrat Safina was asked the account of these 30 years, she enumerated:
During the golden period of Khilafat-e-Rashda, when Hazrat Umar Farooq (R.) became the Caliph after Hazrat Abu Bakr, he greatly strengthened the Islamic Empire. But Hazrat Umar had already forewarned that with his death a period of internal rebellions would begin in the Ummah. Hazrat Huzaifa bin Yaman (R.) had said that Hazrat Umar himself was like the 'closed door of Fitna', after breaking which that door would never be closed till the Doomsday. [Sahih Bukhari 7096, Sahih Muslim 7268]. Hazrat Umar had received an indication of his death through a dream, after which he formed a Shura (committee) of six prominent companions to choose the next Caliph. [Sahih Bukhari 3700, Sahih Muslim 1258].
Under the decision of this Shura, Hazrat Usman Ghani (Reg.) was elected the third Caliph. The political scenario started changing in the last years of Hazrat Usman's reign. Some of his Umayyad governors (such as Waleed bin Uqba, the governor of Kufa, who was found guilty of offering prayers under the influence of alcohol and who was sentenced to flogging by Maula Ali himself) [Sahih Bukhari 3111, Sahih Muslim 2964])'s unethical and biased behavior started spreading dissatisfaction among the people.
Another serious case was that of Abdullah bin Sa'ad bin Abi Sarh, who was ordered to be killed by Rasulullah (SAW) on the day of the conquest of Mecca, but Hazrat Usman gave him shelter in his house and later recommended forgiveness and bay'at for him to Rasulullah, which was accepted by the Prophet (SAW) with extreme dislike. [Sunan Nasai]. In later years, similar decisions and the attitude of some people of the Umayyad dynasty led to a revolt in Medina.
The rebels surrounded Hazrat Usman's house. Although Maula Ali (a.s.) tried his best to resolve the matter through dialogue and also deployed his sons Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain to protect the house of Hazrat Usman, but the Fitna had increased so much that the rebels entered the house of Hazrat Usman (raj) and martyred him in a very painful manner. [Sahih Bukhari 7046]. This was the time when the prophecy of the Prophet (S.A.W.) was fulfilled in which he had bequeathed to Hazrat Usman to be patient during a great trouble and test. [Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim].
After the martyrdom of Hazrat Usman (R.I.), the Ummah was plunged into a deep crisis. In such critical circumstances, after immense pressure from the Sahabah, Maula Ali (a.s.) took over the reins as the fourth Caliph so that the soul of the pure Islamic system and Khilafat could be saved.
But Hazrat Muawiya, the Umayyad governor of Syria (Sham), refused to accept the caliphate of Ali (a.s.) and rebelled demanding revenge (Qisas) for the blood of Hazrat Usman. Amidst this political tug of war, due to some misunderstandings and conspirators, a tragic incident like 'Jang-e-Jamal' took place, in which Ummul Momineen Hazrat Ayesha (Regd.) also got involved unknowingly. However, when Hazrat Ayesha's camel reached a place called 'Hawab' and hearing the barking of the dogs there, she remembered the prophecy of Rasulullah in which he had warned his wives about the barking of the dogs of Hawab, Hazrat Ayesha wanted to return immediately. But after being persuaded by some people, she went ahead in the hope of peace, which ultimately led to a huge human loss. [Musnad Ahmed, Majma-uz-Zawaid]. Hazrat Ayesha regretted this 'Itihadi Khata' (mistake of decision) throughout her life. [Sahih Bukhari].
Soon after this, due to the open rebellion of Hazrat Muawiya, the field of 'Jang-e-Siffin' was declared. The biggest proof of who was right and who was wrong in this war was the famous hadith of Rasoolullah (SAW) which he said about Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (R.A.) during the construction of Masjid-e-Nabavi. The Prophet (s.a.w.) had said while shaking off the dust from Ammar's head: "Alas! Ammar will be martyred by a 'rebel gang' (rebel group). Ammar will call them to Heaven and they will call him to Hell." [Sahih Bukhari 2812, Sahih Muslim 7320].
Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir was martyred at the hands of Hazrat Muawiya's army while fighting on behalf of the army of Maula Ali (A.S.) in the Battle of Siffin. When Ammar bin al-Aas, a close companion of Hazrat Muawiyah, came to know about this, he was horrified because he had heard from Rasulullah himself that the murderer of Ammar would go to Hell. When they told this to Mu'awiya, Mu'awiya tried to avoid this reality by saying: "It was not us who killed Ammar, but he was killed by Ali who brought him with him to the battlefield." When Maula Ali came to know of this argument of Mu'awiya, he gave a very logical answer: "If it is so, then did (Nauzubillah) Rasulullah martyr Hazrat Hamza because he took him to the battle of Uhud?" [Musnad Ahmed 16818].
After the battle of Siffin, when there was talk of agreement (Tahkeem) between the two sides, a fundamentalist group separated from Maula Ali's army, which was called 'Khawarij' (those who left the religion). Rasulullah (SAW) had already predicted that at the time of division in the Ummah, a group would emerge which would read the Quran but it would not go down their throats, and that group of the Ummah which would be closest to the truth would fight them. [Sahih Muslim 2459].
These Khawarij declared both Maula Ali and Hazrat Muawiya as infidels. Then Maula Ali (A.S.) sent his cousin Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (R.A.) to talk to them. Ibn Abbas (reg.) reached the hideout of the Khawarij, where about 6000 people had gathered. He gave historical answers to the three main objections of the Khawarij in his wisdom and in the light of the Quran:
Hearing these wonderful arguments of Ibn Abbas, 4000 out of 6000 Khawarij repented and returned back to the right. When the remaining 2000 stubborn Khawarij started war and riot, Maula Ali fought with them in 'Jang-e-Naharwan' and eliminated them. However, Maula Ali was so big-hearted that he never called the Khawarij infidels or hypocrites, but called them "his brothers who had set out on the path of rebellion." [Musannif Ibn-Abi-Shaiba 39097].
After the martyrdom of Maula Ali (A.S.) in the year 40 Hijri, people pledged allegiance to Imam Hassan (A.S.). If Imam Hassan wanted, he could have fought a big war against Hazrat Muawiya and he also had huge armies like mountains. But Rasulullah (SAW) had given a great prophecy about Imam Hassan in his childhood itself. The Prophet (SAW) held his grandson Hasan in his lap on the minbar and said: “This son of mine is a Sardar (leader), and I hope that Allah will bring about peace through him between two very large groups of Muslims.” [Sahih Bukhari 2704].
To fulfill this prophecy of his grandfather and to save the blood of Muslims from being shed, Imam Hassan (A.S.) made a historic peace agreement (reconciliation) with Hazrat Muawiya in the year 41 Hijri and handed over the Caliphate to him. The main terms of this agreement were:
But alas, history is witness that these conditions were not followed during the reign of Hazrat Muawiya. Rather, the process of sending curses on Maula Ali (a.s.) from the pulpits of the mosques which started during the period of Banu Umayya, continued for the next 60 years, which was later stopped only by Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz (r.a.) by including the Quran's verse (16:90) in his sermon. [Tarikhul Khalifa].
In this environment of political and ideological differences, Imam Hassan (a.s.) was betrayed and martyred by poisoning. At the time of his death, Imam Hassan had made a will to his brother Imam Hussain that he should not indulge in any bloodshed to avenge his murderer and leave the matter to Allah. [Musannif Ibn-Abi-Shaiba 38514]. When Hazrat Muawiya received the news of Imam Hasan's death in the evening court, Miqdam bin Ma'adikarb (R.A.) expressed his utmost sorrow and recited "Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun." On this Muawiya asked him whether he considered Hasan's death a big problem? So Mikadam gave a befitting reply and said: "Why should I not consider it a problem, when Rasoolullah himself used to make Hasan sit in his lap and say, 'Hasan is from me and Hussain is from Ali'!" [Sunan Abu Dawood 4131].
In the last days of Hazrat Muawiya's rule, there was a turning point in the history of Islamic Caliphate which crushed the spirit of Islamic democracy forever. Hazrat Muawiya, during his lifetime, declared his characterless and incompetent son Yazid as his successor and started a campaign to forcibly take bayat (oath of allegiance) from the people.
When Marwan bin al-Hakam, the governor of Medina, stood up from the pulpit of Masjid-e-Nabawi and claimed that nominating Yazid was the Sunnah of Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq's son Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakr (R.) stood up and interrupted Marwan and roared: "This is Abu Bakr and It is not the Sunnah of Omar, but it is the royal system of Caesar (Emperor of Rome) and Kisra (Emperor of Persia), where the son sits on the throne after the father!” [Sahih Bukhari 4827].
Rasulullah (SAW) had warned long ago about this dark period of Banu Umayya and the rule of Yazid. Hazrat Abu Huraira (R.A.) narrates that Rasulullah (S.A.W.) had said: "The destruction and destruction of my Ummah will be at the hands of some foolish boys of Quraysh." [Sahih Bukhari 7254, Sahih Muslim 7325]. Hazrat Abu Huraira often used to make this supplication while walking in the markets of Madina: "O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the beginning of the year 60 Hijri and from the rule of these ignorant boys." History is witness that Hazrat Muawiya died in the year 60 Hijri and Yazid ascended the throne.
Rasulullah (SAW)'s love for Imam Hussain (A.S.) was well known. He used to say: “Hassan and Hussain are the leaders of the youth of heaven.” [Jamia Tirmizi 3781]. In another Hadith the Prophet (SAW) had said: “Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain, may Allah love the one who loves Hussain.” [Jamia Tirmizi 3775].
The martyrdom of Imam Hussain in Karbala was not an unknown incident. When Maula Ali (a.s.) himself passed through the land of Karbala (Nainawa) during his journey to the Battle of Siffin, he started crying bitterly after seeing the soil there. He called out: "O Abu Abdullah (Husain)! Be patient on the banks of the Euphrates, O Abu Abdullah be patient!" He had told his companions that once Hazrat Jibril (a.s.) had informed Rasulullah (s.a.w.) that his younger grandson Hussain would be martyred on the banks of the Euphrates and Jibril had also brought the red soil of Karbala to Rasulullah. [Musnad Ahmad 648, Al-Mustadrak 822].
On 10th Muharram of 61 Hijri, when the cruel army of Yazid surrounded Imam Hussain and a handful of his loyal companions in the plains of Karbala, keeping them hungry and thirsty for three days, it was a soul-shattering incident. On the same day at noon, Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (R.A.), who was present in Madinah, saw a scary and true dream. He saw Rasulullah (SAW) standing covered with dust and in a very sad state and holding a vial filled with blood in his hand. When Ibn Abbas asked what it was, the Prophet (SAW) said in a very heavy voice: “This is the blood of Hussain and his companions, which I have been collecting since the morning.” Ibn Abbas noted down the date and time, and later learned that Imam Hussain was martyred on the exact day and at the same time in the plains of Karbala. [Musnad Ahmed 2165].
After martyring Imam Hussain (a.s.), when the head of the Imam was brought in a plate before Ubaidullah bin Ziyad, the Governor of Yazid, the wicked man started scratching the Imam's lips and teeth with his stick. Seeing this, the senior Sahabi present there, Hazrat Anas bin Malik (R.A.) cried and said: "O oppressor! Remove your stick, I have seen Rasulullah kissing these lips, and Hussain's face most resembled Rasulullah's." [Sahih Bukhari 3748, Jamia Tirmizi 3778].
Yazid's atrocities were not limited to Karbala only. He committed some of the most heinous crimes in Islamic history during his short reign:
But Allah's justice also came very soon. Ubaidullah bin Ziyad, the main culprit of Imam Hussain's murder, met a very dreadful end. When Ibn Ziyad was killed during the revolt of Mukhtar al-Saqfi and his head was placed in the mosque of Kufa, people saw that a big snake came and moved through the crowd and reached Ibn Ziyad's head. That snake entered the nostril of Ibn Ziyad, stayed inside for some time and then came out of his mouth. This process was repeated again and again, due to which Allah showed the world how dreadful is the fate of the enemies of Ahl-e-Bayt. [Jamia Tirmizi 3780].
Imam Hussain (a.s.) thought it better to sacrifice himself and his entire family rather than bowing before a tyrannical ruler like Yazid. His sacrifice was not to gain any power, but to keep alive forever the true religion, the democratic spirit of the Khilafat and the human values brought by Rasulullah (SAW). This immortal story of Karbala even today encourages the entire humanity to raise its voice against Yazidis of every era and for their rights.
The main reason for this was Yazid forcibly becoming Caliph and crushing Islamic principles (principles), which Imam Hussain (a.s.) flatly refused to accept and chose martyrdom for the truth.
On the day of Ashura, Imam Hussain (a.s.) and his 72 companions sacrificed their lives to protect Islam in the field of Karbala. On this day Moses (a.s.) also got freedom from Pharaoh.
Karbala teaches us that no matter how big and powerful the oppression is, we should always stand firm for truth and rights and never bow down to the oppressor.