Event 2
Dialogue between them prolonged. Muslim Ibn Amr Bahli got up to say: If the Amir allows I may talk to Hani in privacy. Both went aside in such a way that Ibn Ziyad could see them. When their talk became loud Ibn Ziyad also heard it.
Muslim told Hani: "O Hani, I administer oath of Allah to you. Do not kill yourself, and do not put your tribe in trouble. I am afraid you will be killed. This man, Muslim Ibn Aqil is the cousin of Ibn Ziyad. He will never be harmed or killed by them. Hand him over to them as this deed will not cause any disgrace or loss to you, since you will be handing him over to the ruler.”
Hani said: By Allah, it is disgrace on my part if I hand over my refugee, my guest, and the representative of the son of the holy Prophet to his enemy, shile my hands are powerful and I have many friends. Even if I were alone and without helpers, I would not hand him over until I sacrifice my life for him.
Bahli administered him an oath. But Hani declined emphatically.
Ibn Ziyad, who heard these words said, “Bring him to me. So he was brought near him.”
Ibn Ziyad said: “By Allah. I say, hand him over. Otherwise I will behead you.”
Hani replied: “Then light of the edges of swords will light up around your palace.”
Ibn Ziyad said: “Woe unto you. Do you threaten me with your sword?” Hani thought that his tribesmen had heard his voice. Ibn Ziyad said: Bring him close to me. Then he beat him up on his head, face, nose and cheeks with his whip so much that his nose broke and flesh fell off his face, and blood rolled over his clothes. The whip was also broken.
Hani stretched out his hands and took hold of the handle of the guard’s sword to snatch it and to attack.
The guard caught him. Ibn Ziyad shouted: Hold him.
They grabbed him and dragged and imprisoned him in one of the palace rooms, and closed its door. Ibn Ziyad also ordered posting of warders to watch him.
Asma Ibn Kharja or Hassan Ibn Asma rose up and said: "Deceptive in- deed was today.
O Amir! You asked us to bring this man to you. Now when he arrived you broke and disfigured his face, and colored his beard with blood and tried to kill him." Ibn Ziyad became angry at his words and said: You are also from him. On his order, they beat him up, chained him and jailed him in a corner of the palace. He exclaimed: Inna lillah wa inna ilaihi Rajeoon. O Hani! I offer you condolences.
The narrator says: Amr bin Hajjaj heard that Hani was killed. Raviha, daughter of Amr was Hani’s wife.
Amr came to government Palace along with the entire tribe of Mizhaj. He shouted: I am Amr Ibn Hajjaj,and all these are the warriors of Mizhaj, and its leading personalities. We have not left obedience and we do not want disintegration in the com- munity. We have got news that our chief Hani has been killed. Ibn Ziyad understood the reason of the assembly of those people. He asked (Judge) Shureih to call on Hani, and to inform the community about his being safe. Shureih (who was a liar Judge) did so, and the gathering became glad and returned.
Muslim Ibn Aqil got this news. So he stood up along with his friends to fight against Ibn Ziyad. They surrounded the palace of Ibn Ziyad. Ibn Ziyad was besieged in his palace. The battle began between the army of Ibn Ziyad and the army of Muslim.
The companions of Ibn Ziyad who were with him inside the palace, warned the friends of Muslim against war and asked them to fear the Syrian army. This condition continued till nightfall.
When night fell, the friends of Muslim left him and talked to one another: "What can we do for this sedition that has come on us so rapidly? It is better to remain in our houses, and leave these two parties to themselves until Allah improves their affairs." Except ten persons from his friends no one remained with Muslim. He went to the mosque to offer evening prayers. The last ten also dispersed.
When Muslim saw such a situation, he moved alone in the Bazar and streets of Kufa, until he reached and halted at the door of the house of a lady named Tooa. He asked for water and she provided it. Then he sought shelter which also she extended.Tooa’s son knew this and he in- formed Ibn Ziyad. Ibn Ziyad summoned Muhammad Ibn Ashath and sent him with soldiers to arrest Muslim. As Muslim heard the noise of the horse hooves, he put on the war dress, mounted a horse and proceeded to fight with the enemy. Muslim, who was a brave man, killed a number of enemies. The sword in his hand moved in such a way that people remembered the wielding of Zulfiqar in the hand of Haider Karrar Ali (a.s.).
Muhammad Ibn Ashath cried. “O Muslim. You are given amnesty.”
Muslim replied: "The amnesty offered by you liars, and misdoers does not have any value."
Then he renewed fighting and recited the lyric poem of Humran bin Malik Khasami:
I have vowed not to die but as a free man, even if death looks ugly.
I dislike cheat and fraud or the mixture of cool and palat able drink with hot and bitter substance. Every man must once m eet with hardship and trouble. I shall strike you, I am not afraid of harm and loss.
They said: “Our words are not deceitful.”
Muslim did not care. He continued his constant attacks. Then the enemy rushed to him collectively. He became very weak due to frequent wounds. A man hit him with his spear from behind, whereby Muslim fell down and was captured.
When they took him to Ibn Ziyad, Muslim did not salute him. The guard said: Salute the commander.
Muslim replied: You shut up. Woe unto you. He is not my commander.
Ibn Ziyad said: Salute me or not, you will be killed.
Muslim told him: “It is no wonder if you kill me, as there were people worst than you who killed men better than me. If you cut my body in the worst way, it would only expose your inner dirt and meanness;
as such crimes have been imbibed in your nature.”
Ibn Ziyad said: "O disobedient and mischief-maker! Having left the chief, you have broken the power of the Muslims and are now creating trouble." Muslim: "O Ibn Ziyad! You have lied. It was Muawiyah and his son Yazeed who broke the strength of the
muslims. With regards to trouble, it is you and your father Ziyad, bondsman of Bani Allaj of Thaqeef43,
who is the real germ of every hypocrisy and mischief. I hope Allah will grant me martyrdom through the
hand of the most corrupt person!”
Ibn Ziyad said: You desired something which Allah withdrew it from you and granted it to the deserving one.
Muslim asked: "O son of Marjana! Who deserves it?"
Ibn Ziyad: "Yazeed bin Muawiyah."
Muslim replied: "Thanks to God! I am pleased with Allah’s Judgment between you and us." Ibn Ziyad
said: "Do you think that you have a right in caliphate?"
Muslim replied: "No doubt, I am certain of it."
Ibn Ziyad: "Tell me, why did you come to this peaceful city and caused conflicts among its residents and disturbed their affairs?"
Muslim said: "I did not come to do any- thing like that. But it is you who uplifted evils, buried virtues, and imposed yourself on people without their consent. You dragged people against Allah’s commandments.
You are ruling the people like those dictators. We came to order good and prohibit evil, and make people to follow the Book of Allah and, as averred by the holy Prophet (S) this responsibility suits us."
Ibn Ziyad (may God’s curse overtake his soul) began to curse Muslim, Ali, Hasan and Husayn.
Muslim said: "It is you and your father who are the worst of the people. O enemy of Allah! Do what ever you like."Ibn Ziyad ordered Bukair Ibn Umran, the malicious and the accursed one, to take Muslim to the top of the palace and kill him.
They took Muslim upstairs, who engaged himself in words of prayers and seeking Allah’s rewards for the holy Prophet (S). Then they decapitated him and came down fearful and trembling. Ibn Ziyad asked:
"What is happening to you?"
He said: "While killing him, I saw a black colored and ugly faced man standing in front of me, who was biting his nails - or biting his lips -I was not afraid like that ever before."
Ibn Ziyad: "Perhaps you are frightened." Then he ordered for killing of Hani Ibn Urwah. They took him for
execution while he was shouting: O Mazhaja, where are Mazhajis? And where are our tribesmen and relatives?
The executers said: Raise your head. Hani said: I am not generous in giving away my own life and will not help you in assassinating me. Ibn Ziyad’s slave, Rashid, hit at his neck and killed Hani.
About the martyrdom of Muslim and Hani, Abdullah Ibn Zubair Asadi44 (according to another statement, Farazdaq45 recited thus:
If you do not know what death is, then look at Hani and the son of Aqil in the market field;
That brave man whose face was disfigured with a sword and another one who was fell from the top of a wall;
These two were crushed under the feet of oppression and yet their names are on the tongues of everyone;
You see a body that death changed its color and blood that continues to gush from it;
This is the young courage ous man, whose modesty is higher than the modesty of a chaste young girl; His power strong er than the power of a double edged sharpened sword;
Is there anyone else who sits so comfortably on a horse? Now Mizhaj forgets him totally;
The one whom everyone was ready to obey; If you have no guts to avenge the blood of your brothers;
Then play music for a while, with the bastards.
The narrator says: Ubaidullah Ibn Ziyad conveyed to Yazeed the news about Muslim and Hani. In response, Yazeed appreciated his job and thanked for it. He also informed Ubaidullah about Husayn's
intention of moving towards Kufa, and ordered him to arrest, imprison and kill any suspicious person.
Imam Husayn (a.s.) left Mecca on Tuesday, the 3rd or 8th of Zilhajj 60 A.H., that is, on the day of
Muslim’s martyrdom. Abu Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Jurair Tabari Imami46 in his book Dalail Al-Imamah47 says: "Abu Muhammad Sufyan Ibn Waqee48 from his father Waqee,49 from A’mash50 (his uncle), from Abu Muhammad Waqidi and Zurarah Ibn Khalaj51 - We met Husayn (a.s.) three days prior to his movement towards Iraq52. We informed him about the weakness of the Kufians, and that their hearts were with him, but their swords were against him."
Imam Husayn (a.s.) pointed his blessed hand towards the sky. The gates of the sky opened and innumerable angels, whose number is not known to anyone except the Almighty Allah, came down.
Imam (a.s.) said: If it was not for the causality in this world and had not the fixed time (death) arrived, I would fight them with these powers. But I know, with certainty, that the place of the martyrdom of me and my companions is there, from where none, but my son Ali would be saved.It is mentioned in narrations that when Imam Husayn (a.s.) wanted to proceed towards Iraq, he stood up and gave a sermon and said:
All praise is for the Almighty Allah, and only His will prevails; power and strength is not available except from Allah (sustenance too is only from Him); may Allah’s mercy be upon His revered messenger (and his progeny), may Allah shed His peace on him. The adoration of death on the son of Adam is like the adoration of a necklace on the neck of a maiden.
My longing to meet my predecessors (my grandfather, father, mother, and brother) is like the longing of Jacob to meet Joseph. A place for my killing has already been selected where I must reach. As if I see those wild wolves tearing apart pieces of my body between Nawawees53 and Karbala.
How many stomachs shall be filled with me [my flesh and blood] and how many leather bags stuffed with my stuff?
There is no escape from what has been inscribed on the state of destiny. We, the holy Ahlul Bayt have considered the happiness of Allah as our happiness, and we per- form His tests patiently. He grants us the reward of the patient ones. Part of the prophet gets separated from him but that it returns to him in Hazeerat-ul-Quds, whereby his eyes become bright and His promise fulfilled.
Whosoever wished to shed and sacrifice his life on our path and feels gratification of soul in meeting Allah may get ready to march with us, as we are to move next morning, Insha’Allah.54
Muhammad Ibn Dawood Qummi55 narrates from Abi Abdullah (a.s.) who said: During the night by the end of which Husayn (a.s.) decided to leave Mecca, Muhammad Ibn Hanafiya56 went to the Imam and said: O my brother! The disloyalty of the people of Kufa to your father and your brother is known to you. I am afraid they will do to you what they had done earlier. If you stay in holy city- Mecca- your respect, honor, and magnanimity would be apparent. Imam replied: “My brother! I fear that Yazeed Ibn Muawiyah may assassinate me in the limits of the holy
Sanctuary, thereby violating its sanctity.”
He said: “In view of it you may go towards Yemen or proceed towards the desert. As your dignity is higher than everyone, nobody will touch you.”
He replied: “I consider your proposal.”
Next morning Husayn (a.s.) became ready to move. Muhammad Ibn Hanafiya got the news. He rushed to Imam, and held the rein of his camel saying: Didn’t you promise to think over my suggestion?
He said: "Yes, I did." He submitted: "Then why are you so hurry for moving?"
Imam said: When you left, the holy Prophet (S) appeared to tell me, "O Husayn! Leave this place. Allah
certainly Wills to see you slain."
He exclaimed: "Inna lillahe inna ilaihe rajeoon. If it is so what is the use of taking the womenfolk with you?" Husayn (a.s.): "The holy Prophet said: Allah desires to see them in the apparel of captives. Then he said farewell and departed."57
Thereafter Husayn (a.s.) continued his journey until he reached Tanim.58
There he came across a caravan led by Baheer Ibn Ressan Hamiri, the governor of Yemen, who was
carrying gifts for Yazeed. Husayn (a.s.) took the gifts in the authority of Wilayat and told the cameleers:
Whoso- ever wishes may come to Iraq with us and enjoy our company. We will completely pay his fare.
Those who do not want (to accompany us) their fare will be paid [by us] up to this place.
A group accompanied the Imam. The rest of them refrained from doing so. Imam (a.s.) went on until he reached Zat-e-Irq59 and saw Boshr Ibn Ghaleb60, who had arrived from Iraq and inquired about the situation over there.
He said: "When I left them their hearts were with you while their swords were serving Bani Umayyah."
The Imam (a.s.) said: O brother Asadi! You are right. Verily Allah does what He wants, and He commands what He intends. The narrator says, "Imam continued to move till he reached Thalabiya61,and it was noon time. Imam put his blessed head down, took a light sleep and got up and said: I dream that a secret voice was telling me, "You are en route and death will take you to Paradise." His son Ali said: "O dear father! But are we not on the right path?"
He replied: "Why not my son? By the One to Whom all have to return, we are." He replied: "Then we have no fear from death."
Husayn (a.s.): "May Allah gives you the best reward, which He gives to every child from his father." Imam passed that night there.
Next morning a Kufian man, Abu Hirra Azdi, came to Imam and saluted him. Then he said: "O son of the Prophet of Allah! What did bring you out of the Sanctuary of Allah and the Sanctuary of your grandfather,the Prophet of Allah?"
Husayn (a.s.) said: "O Aba Hirra! When the Umayyides grabbed my property I remained patient. When they demanded my blood I fled. By Allah, this traitor and rebel group will definitely kill me, and Allah will surely make them wear clothes of disgrace, and will make the sword rule over them."
We will continue
- Freedom Fighters Ng
From the book “Al-Lohoof ala Qatla al-Tofuf” written by Sayyid Ibn Tawus, translated by Asar Husayn S.H Rizvi