The martyrdom of al-Husayn and the general atmosphere of mourning amongst the Shia during the month of Muharram bears testimony to its importance in the Shi’i calendar. To the Shia, ‘Ashura’ is probably the most important day of the year.
In this partial account of what actually happened at Karbala’, which conveniently draws attention away from the other guilty party in the ‘Ashura’ tragedy, lies another tragedy in itself. For while al-Husayn’s martyrdom has been oft commemorated, and his physical opponents and killers identified, cursed and eliminated, no one has spared a moment’s anger for those who deserted him at the crucial hour. It is these men in the shadows, who squarely deserve to be called the real villains of Karbala’, upon whom this article seeks to cast light - the Shia of Kufah.
Shia authorities, historians and writers confirm that it was the Shia of Kufah, after deserting al-Husayn, and acting treacherously even though the pledge of allegiance they had given was still around their necks, came to kill him and take his family captive. The following quotes are all from Shia authorities.
O my brother, you already know the treachery of the people of Kufah towards your father and brother. And I fear that your affair will be the same as that of he who has already passed." ]al-Malhoof of Ibn Tawoos (p. 39), Aashooraa of al-Ihsaa'ee (p. 115), al-Majaalis al-Faakhirah of Abd al-Husayn (p. 75), Muntahaa al-Aamaal of Abbaas al-Qummee (1/454).]
O Allaah, judge between us and between a people who requested us to aid us, but who then killed us. [Muntahaa al-Aamaal of Abbaas al-Qummee (1/535)]
The people of Kufah did not suffice with splitting from al-Imaam al-Husayn, but the result of their changing their colours led to a third position which is that they began to prepare to depart to Karbalah in order to wage war against al-Imaam al-Husayn (alayhis salaam). And in Karbala they would hasten (racing each other) to take up their positions, those which pleased Shaytan and which anger al-Rahmaan (Allaah). For example we find that Amr bin al-Hajjaaj who only yesterday was prominent in Kufah as if he was the guardian of the sanctuary of Ahl al-Bayt, and a defender of them, and the one who led an army to save Haani bin Urwah, went on to stomach (gulped) all of his apparent position(s) in order to accuse al-Imam al-Husayn of exiting from the religion, let us reflect upon the following text: "And Amr bin al-Hajjaaj used to say to his companions, 'Fight the one who exited from the religion and separated from the jamaa'ah (meaning al-Husayn)...'." Fee Rihaab al-Karbalaa (pp. 60-61)
And we find another stance indicating the hypocrisy of the people of Kufah, Abd Allaah bin Hawzah al-Tameemi came in front of al-Imaam al-Husayn (alayhis salaam) and shouted, "Is Husayn amongst you?" Yet he was from the people of Kufah and only yesterday was he from the Shia (party) of Alee (alayhis salaam) and it is possible that he was from amongst those who wrote to al-Imaam (al-Husayn) or from the group of Shabath and others who wrote (to al-Husayn from Kufah)... then he (comes and says) "O Husayn, receive glad tidings of the Fire..."! [Fee Rihab al-Karbalaa (p. 61)]
And the answer is the awe and fear which had taken root upon the people of Kufah in general since the time of Ziyad and Mu'awiyah, and which increased and grew to alarming proportions upon the arrival of Ubayd Allaah [bin Ziyaad] who upon arrival immediately killed Maytham al-Timaar, Rasheed, Muslim and Haani ... [al-Malhamah al-Husayniyyah (3/47-48)]
The army that set out to wage war against al-Imaam al-Husayin (alayhis salaam) were 300,000 (in number) all of them were from the people of Kufah. There was not amongst them any Shaamee, Hijaazee, Hindee, Baakistaanee, Sudaanee, Misree, or Afreeqee. Rather, all of them were from the people of Kufah and they had gathered together from many diverse tribes. [Aashooraa (p. 89)]
Al-Qazweenee said: And from that which for which scorn was shown to the people of Kufah was that they reviled al-Hasan bin Ali (alayhimaa as-salaam), and killed al-Husayn (alayhis salaam) after they themselves had invited him (to be their leader). [Taareekh al-Kufah (p. 113)]
Then 20,000 from the people of Iraq who had given the pledge of allegiance to al-Husayn acted treacherously to him, revolted against him whilst their pledge of allegiance was around their necks, and killed him.
And Imaam al-Hasan was faced by them with treachery, and Muslim bin Aqeel was killed unjustly whilst in their midst and al-Husayn was killed whilst languishing in Karbala, close to Kufah and at the hands of the army of Kufah.
O people, we implore you by Allaah, do you know that you wrote to my father and you deceived him and you gave him the pledge, the covenant, and you killed him and deserted him? So may you perish for what you have sent forth for yourselves, and for your evil opinionn. With which eye will you look towards the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam) when he says to you, "You killed my family, and you violated my sanctity, so you are not from me." [Al-Tabarsee in al-Ihtijaaj (2/32), Ibn Taawoos in al-Malhoof (p. 92), al-Ameen in al-Lawaa'ij al-Ashjaann (p. 158), Abbaas al-Qummee in Muntahaa al-Aamaal (1/572), Husayn Kawrani in Fee Rihaab al-Karbalaa (p. 183), Abd al-Razzaaq al-Muqrim in Maqtal Husayn ((p. 317), Murtadaa Iyaad in Maqtal Husayn (p. 87) and Ridhaa al-Qawzeenee in Tadhlim al-Zahraa (p. 262), Abbaas al-Qummee in Nafs al-Mahmoom (p. 360)]
You wail and cry for us, so who are the ones who killed us? [Maqtal Husayn of Murtadaa Iyaad (p. 83), Tadhlim al-Zahraa of al-Qazweenee (p. 257) and al-Malhoof of Ibn Taawoos (p. 86), Nafs al-Mahmoom of Abbaas al-Qummee (p. 357)]
Are you wailing and crying for us? Who are the ones who killed us? [Abbaas al-Qummee in Muntahaa al-Aamaal (1/570)]
These people cry over us but who killed us other than them? [Al-Ihtijaaj of al-Tabarsee (2/29)]
O people of Kufah, disgrace upon you. What is with you that you deserted Husayn and killed him and you plundered his wealth and inherited it, and you took his women as captives, and you caused him distress. May you perish and may you be annihilated ... what burden have you carried upon your backs and which blood have you shed ... you killed the best of men after the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa aalihi) and mercy has been snatched from your hearts. [Nafs al-Mahmoom (p. 262), Maqtal Husayn of al-Muqrim (p. 316), Lawaa'ij al-Ashjaan (p. 157) and others.]
أما بعد يا أهل الكوفة، يا أهل الختل والغدر والخذل .. إنما مثلكم كمثل التي نقضت غزلها من بعد قوة أنكاثاً، هل فيكم إلا الصلف والعجب والشنف والكذب .. أتبكون أخي؟! أجل والله فابكوا كثيراً واضحكوا قليلاً فقد ابليتم بعارها .. وانى ترخصون قتل سليل خاتم النبوة
To proceed, O people of Kufah, O people of deception, treachery and desertion ... your example is like she who spins (yarn) only to break it after its strength. Is there anything in you but bragging, amazement, rank hatred and lying ... do you cry for my brother?! Yes, by Allaah, cry much and laugh little, for you have been put to trial through its infamy ... and how do you consider cheap the killing of the descendant of the Seal of the Prophethood. [Ma'al-Husayn Fee Nahdatihi (p. 295)]
Zahar bin Qays, he participated in the [battles] of al-Jamal and Siffeen with Ali (alayhis salaam), and Shabath bin Rub'ee and Shammar bin Dhil-Jawshan al-Diyaabee also witnessed [the battle] of Siffeen with him. Then they waged war against al-Husayn (alayhis salaam) on the day of Karbalaa, so it was an evil end (soo' al-khaatimah) for them and we seek refuge in Allaah from the evil end.
وأصبح عمر بن سعد في ذلك اليوم وهو يوم الجمعة وقيل يوم السبت، فعبأ أصحابه وخرج فيمن معه من الناس نحو الحسين عليه السلام وكان على ميمنته عمرو بن الحجاج، وعلى ميسرته شمر بن ذي الجوشن، وعلى الخيل عروة بن قيس، وعلى الرجالة شبث بن ربعي، وأعطى الراية دريدا مولاه
And Umar bin Sa'd arose that morning, and it was the day of Jumu'ah (Friday), and it is said it was Saturday and he mobilized his companions, and then set out with those people who were with him towards the direction of al-Husayn (alayhis salaam), and on his right was Amr bin al-Haaj, and on his left was Shammar bin Dhil-Jawshan, and in charge of the horsemen was Urwah bin Qays and in charge of the infantry was Shabath bin Rub'ee and he gave the flag to Durayd, his mawlaa.
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