Who martyred Imam Hussain?

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Syed Hafeez Hussaini has been viewing Muharram Mirror for quite sometime. Initially, he had no problem with the blog but he suddenly developed hatred against Shias after the execution of Sheikh Baqar Al Nimr. As his killing evoked widespread protests, Mr. Hafeez also became more vocal in his criticism of Iran and Shias. In the process, he started behaving like those Muslims who defend Yazid’s role in killing of Imam Hussain. Mr.Hafeez has repeatedly been claiming in his posts that Shias themselves killed Imam Hussain after inviting him to Kufa. His assertion is nothing but a lame excuse. His contention that Imam Hussain attained martyrdom due to treachery of Kufis only reminds how Yazid’ father Amir Muawiya had deflected the blame of Ammar bin Yasser’s killing. When Amir found himself cornered in the battle of Siffin because of killing of Ammar ,a fact prophesied by Prophet Muhammad, Muawiya simply passed on the blame to Ameer-Ul-Momneen on the plea that the latter brought him to Siffin and hence, responsible for the killing of Ammar- one of the greatest companions for whom Paradise was assured, But this rationale can’t be accepted or else Prophet will be held responsible for killing his own uncle Hazrat Hamza in the battle of Ohad, for it was Nabi Kareem who had instructed his uncle to be in the battlefield.(MA).Apparently, Mr. Hafeez ranks among those who shift the blame from the perpetrators of the crime to those who have nothing to do with it. Can anyone deny that the responsibility for killing Hamza lies with the infidels of Mecca who waged war against the Holy Prophet? Likewise, it is also a lame excuse that Imam Hussain was ditched by Shias of Kufa. In fact, he was not supported by companions and taabaeens who were aware of his exalted status and misdeeds of Yazid. Yet they preferred to remain silent even though it as in their knowledge that the Prophet  had often declared that Imam Husain as the Lamp of Guidance and the Ark of Salvation. That Imam and his brother Hasan were the Chiefs of the Youths of Paradise. And that both of them were his sons according to the Verse of Mubahelah in Surah Aale Imran (3): 61 when they along with the Prophet  and their parents Ali  and Fatima confronted the Christians of Najraan for malediction and drove them into submission. Pro-Yazidis claim that the companions stayed away from Karbala citing confusion between truth and falsehood and to avoid bloodshed. But they have no answer when asked why did not they remove their confusion by referring to holy Quran, stating ‘…so ask the People of the Reminder if you do not know.’ (Surah Nahl (16): Verse 43).It is a common fact that Sunni commentators of the Noble Quran have ranked Imam Husain among the People of the Reminder (Ahle Zikr).Further, even prophet had urged Muslims to support Imam Husain  as evident from the narration of his  companion Anas b. Haaris.” I heard Allah’s Prophet  say: ‘Verily my son, (Husain), will be killed in a land called Karbala; whoever amongst you is alive at that time must go and help him.’ Tarikh-o-Damishq vol 14 p 223

Those who defend Yazid can deny that Umar b. Saad b. Abi Waqqas, who led Yazid’s army was not among the leading taabaeen and the son of a leading companion or he had never heard of Imam Husain’s  virtues? Then why did he fight Imam Husain (a.s.)? Is it not treachery by the companions and taabaeen? These companions had resorted to treacheries in ample measure in Ohod and Hunain despite the Prophet’s  presence in their midst. Apart from dubious role of companions and Tabaeens, Yazid’s role is unmistakable. He is the one who sought to subjugate Imam Husain and wrote : ‘Force Husain, Abdullah b. Umar and Abdullah b. Zubair to give allegiance and don’t spare them”. Those who defend Yazid forget that a person is judged from his current inclination and not on the basis of his previous belief. Having disobeyed Allah, Iblis is no longer referred to as Allah’s worshipper although he was once an angel. Nor do common Muslims refer to companions  as infidels although they were the leading idol-worshippers  before the advent of Islam.

Likewise those who abandoned Imam Husain  in Kufa and joined Yazid’s ranks cannot be called as Shias. They  ranked alongside Yazid’s forces and all attributes used for Yazid’s forces applies to these so-called Shias also. Surprisingly, these pro-Yazidis  do not utter even a single word against  Talha and Zubair for  severing their allegiance and waging war against Hazrat Ali.(The blogger wants to make it clear that this article does not aim at hurting the sentiments of any  Muslim and has posted it solely because of the praise heaped on Yazid by a regular viewer.The blogger believes that no true Muslim would praise Yazid not because what he did with Imam Hussain but also for ransacking Medina and burning holy Kaaba.The blogger strongly believes in Muslim Unity and offers apology if anyone finds the contents of the article against his beliefs.)