Section 2

The governor of Madina and Imam Husain(a.s)

(Kamil) When Yazeed had taken the oath of allegiance for the Caliphate from the people, he wrote a letter to Waleed bin Utba informing him of the death of Mu'awiyah. In a short letter he wrote, "Now then![1] Ask for the oath of allegiance from Husain, Abdullah bin Umar and Abdullah bin Zubayr, and do not give them respite until they do so." When Waleed read about the death of Mu'awiyah, he was alarmed and the news disturbed him, thus reluctantly he summoned marwan bin Hakam. marwan was the governor of Madina before Waleed, and hence when Waleed became the governor, he hated and abused him while seperating himself from him for a long time until the news of the death of Mu'awiyah and the demand of alle­giance from the people reached him. This being difficult for him, he called for marwan. When marwan came, Waleed read the contents of the letter to him. When marwan heard it he recited "Verily we are Allah's and verily unto Him shall we return", and he prayed for blessings to be bestowed upon Mu'awiyah. When Waleed asked his advice regarding the issue, marwan re­plied, "In my opinion, before announcing the death of Mu'awiyah, summon these persons this very moment (and ask them to swear the oath of alle­giance for Yazeed). If they refuse, cut off their necks before they learn about Mu'awiyah's death. For if they become slightly aware of this, each one of them will go away to different places and start revolting, and shall claim themselves eligible for the Caliphate."

Waleed called for Abdullah bin Amr bin Usman, who was just a lad, to summon Imam Husain (a.s) and Abdullah bin Zubayr to meet him. It was a time when Waleed usually did not meet anyone. Abdullah bin Amr saw them seated in the Mosque and conveyed Waleed's message to meet them. They told him to go back and that they would soon follow him. Abdullah bin

Zubayr turned towards Imam Husain (a.s) and said, "In your opinion what is the reason for Waleed to call us to meet him at this unusual hour"? Imam re­plied, "I presume that their leader of rebels has died and he has called us to swear the oath of allegiance to Yazeed before the news spreads among other people." Abdullah too consented to it and asked as to what he would do. Imam replied that he would go to meet Waleed accompanied by some youths. (Irshad)

Then he called for a group from among his relatives and said,

"Lift up your arms, for Waleed has called me at this hour and might force me to do that which I detest. I do not trust him, thus remain with me. When I go inside to meet him, you all sit at the door, and when you hear my voice raised, barge inside to defend me."

When Imam came to Waleed, he saw marwan sitting with him. Waleed gave the news of the death of Mu'awiyah to Imam Husain (a.s), and he recited: "Verily we are Allah's and verily unto Him shall we return." Then Waleed read the letter of Yazeed and his order to get the pledge of allegiance for him. Imam replied,

"I understand that you shall not agree if I swear the oath of allegiance in secrecy and privately until and unless I do so pub­licly so that people may be informed about it."

Waleed replied in the affirmative. Imam Husain said,

"In that case wait until dawn."

Waleed replied, "As you desire. You may go in Allah's refuge, until you come to me with the people." marwan said, "If Husain goes away from your midst without swearing the oath of allegiance, you will never have the power to ask the allegiance again until much bloodshed between him and you. Hence imprison him till he swears the oath of allegiance, or else cut off his head." Imam Husain (a.s) arose and said,

"O son of Zarqa! Will you dare to kill me? Verily you have lied and have sinned."

Saying this Imam Husain came outside and returned with his men to his house. Then marwan turned towards Waleed and said, "You disobeyed me? By Allah! You will never be able to lay your hands upon him." Waleed replied, "Woe be to your soul which is your own enemy O marwan! You have advised me regarding that which would ruin my religion. By Allah! I do not like to acquire the wealth and domin­ion over which the sun rises and sets if it involved the killing of Husain. Glory be to Allah! I should kill Husain simply because he refused to swear the oath of allegiance? By Allah! I am convinced that whoever is asso­ciated with the killing of Husain, on the day of Qiyamah

he (his deeds) will weigh less in scales near Allah." marwan said, "If this is what you think, then whatever you did is quite right." Then he returned dis­pleased with him.

Ibne Shahr Aashob writes in Manaqib that when Imam Husain (a.s) went to meet Waleed and read the contents of the letter, he said that he would not swear the oath of allegiance (bay'ah). marwan, who was present there said, "Swear the oath of allegiance to the Commander of the faithful (meaning Yazeed)." Imam Husain (a.s) replied,

"Woe to you! Verily you have attrib­uted falsehood to the believers. Who has made him the Commander of the faithful"?

Hearing this marwan arose and unsheathed his sword and said, "Call the executioner and tell to behead him before he leaves from here, and the responsibility of his blood will be on my neck." When voices were raised, nineteen men from among the family of Imam barged in with daggers and Imam Husain (a.s) went away with them.

When this news reached Yazeed, he deposed Waleed and appointed marwan as the governor of Madina. After this Imam Husain (a.s) and Abdullah bin Zubayr left for Makkah, and Abdul Rahman bin Abu Bakr and Abdullah bin Umar were left untouched.[1]

As regards Abdullah Ibn al-Zubayr, when he received Waleed's message he replied that he would soon come, then he went to his house and hid himself. Waleed followed him thereafter and saw that he had gathered his friends and had segregated himself. Waleed pressed him but Abdullah said that he wanted respite to think over. Then Waleed sent his slaves to Abdullah who went and abused him saying, "You will have to come to us or else he will slay you." Abdullah said, "I am wary because of your compulsion. Give me respite, so that I may despatch one of my men to the governor to ask what he wants from me." Then he sent his brother Ja'far bin Zubayr. Ja'far went to Waleed and said, "May Allah's mercy be upon you! Lift your hands off Abdullah for you have frightened him. Tomorrow he will come to you Allah willing, hence command your envoys to return back." Waleed sent someone to call back his messengers who returned. On the same night Abdullah, accompanied by his brother Ja'far, left for Makkah taking the road of Fara', and no one else accompanied them.

(Irshad) In the morning when Waleed was informed about his flight, he sent a slave of Bani Umayyah with eighty horsemen, who galloped behind him, but could not trace him hence returned. And that day they remained busy in the affair of Imam Husain (a.s) and dispensed with him until the night approached.

In the morning Imam Husain (a.s) came out of his house to hear the reports from the people, when he came across Marwan. Marwan said, "O Aba Abdillah! I desire your goodwill, thus accept what I say until you reach the road of righteousness." Imam told him to say what he wanted to. marwan replied, "I say that you swear the oath of allegiance to Yazeed, for it will be better for your life of this world and the hereafter." Imam Husain replied,

"Verily we are Allah's and verily unto Him shall we return. Peace upon Islam if the nation gets trapped in the leadership of Yazeed, for I have heard my Grandfather say that Caliphate is forbidden upon the children of Abu Sufyan."

Thus they started talking to each other and their correspon­dence increased, in the end marwan was offended and left.

On the same day Waleed sent some people to the presence of Imam Husain (a.s) so that he may come to swear the oath of allegiance. Imam replied,

"Let morning dawn and we shall see and you too shall see."

When they heard this they did not force him and returned. On the same night he left from Madina, and it was the night of twenty-eighth of the month of Rajab. He left accompanied by his sons, brothers, nephews and his family members except Mohammad ibne Hanafiyah. Mohammad was not aware as to where he would go and hence said, "O brother! You are most dear and

beloved near me and hence you are most worthy for the gift of advice. Keep away from Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah and from the renowned cities as far as you can. Scatter your messengers around and invite people towards yourself. If people obey your command and swear fealthy to you, offer Praise to the Almighty, and if they leave you and gather around someone else, your intellect and religion will not be lessened. And your valour and mercy will not diminish. I fear lest you go to a renowned town wherein a group of people supports you while the others may rebel and thus you may fall prey to their lances. At that time, the one who is the best person among all the people with regard to himself and his parents, his blood may spill and his family be humiliated."

Imam Husain (a.s) replied,

"O dear brother! Where should I go to"?

Moham­mad replied, "Go to Makkah, and hault there. If you find relief, settle there for that is what you seek. And if the climate does not suit you, go towards Yemen. If you find safety therein, stay or else take refuge in the deserts and mountains. Then go from one place to another until you find out the position of the affairs of the people. At that moment your decision will be the best opinion." Imam Husain (a.s) replied,

"O brother! You have adviced rightly and I wish that your advise may be firm and trium­phant."

Then he went to the Mosque and recited the following couplets of Yazeed bin Mufarri': "Neither will I offend the grazing cattle in the morn­ing, nor shall I be called Yazeed. There will never come the day when I will yield submissively, and death watches me to back off."