28th Rajab - Start of Journey of Imam Hussain(a.s.) towards Karbala

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As Salam-o-Alaikum

Rajab 28th – Start of Journey of Imam Hussain(a.s.), his family
members and companions towards Iraq.

After hatching the conspiracy and achieving ultimate martyrdom of Imam
Hasan(a.s.), Moawiya started campaigning openly for the succession of
his son Yazid to the office of Caliphate. Until that time he had
always planned in secret about this intention. To materialize his
plans, he started his campaign among his most trusted people in Syria
where he had established his headquarters. Later on, his missionaries
took the message to other parts of the Islamic world and with the help
of lot of money and bribery he got support for the caliphate of Yazid
from a number of important Islamic cities. After his death on 15th
Rajab of the 60th Hijrah, Yazid sat on his throne and started the
campaign of getting Baiyat of all muslims so that they would accept
him as the Caliph. The materialistic personalities of that time came
forward and accepted his caliphate. Among them were mostly the people
who were known for their enmity towards the Ahl-e-Bait(a.s.) of our
Prophet Mohammad(sawaw). The other group was of the people who were
either coerced by force or treachery or their loyalties were bought
through material offers.

When the campaign crossed the borders of Syria, instructions were sent
to the Governor of Madina – Walid ibn-e-Aqba ibn-e-Abu Sufyan – as
well to get the baiyat of Imam Hussain(a.s.). According to some
historians, Yazid also mentioned that if Imam Hussain(a.s.) declines
his baiyat then Walid should kill him and send his head to Syria.
Walid invited the Imam(a.s.) to his court and gave him the orders of
Yazid and demanded his baiyat. Imam(a.s.) replied “A person like me
would never accept the baiyat of a person like Yazid”. In this
statement, Imam(a.s.) gave a clear guideline for all the future time
to come.

One of the advisors of Walid named Marwan bin Hakm incited Walid on
getting Imam(a.s.) killed right there but Imam(a.s.) was joined by a
few of his followers from Bani Hashim under the leadership of Hazrat
Abbas(a.s.) and returned safely from the court.

Within a few days time, the political developments made it very clear
that Yazid is going all out to either obtain the baiyat of Imam
Hussain(a.s.) or to get him killed. Imam(a.s.) had the sanctity of
Madina as well as the salvation of the religion of Islam in his mind,
therefore, he decided to leave Madina and go towards Iraq. He asked
for the preparation of a Caravan of his selected family members and
his trusted friends and set off for this long journey on the 28th of
Rajab.

Inshallah in future newsletters, details of the journey of Imam
Hussain(a.s.) and his caravan will be presented. Since it is a day of
grief and sorrow, I will relate some masaib of this event now.

Some words of Masaib
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Imam(a.s.) had made his decision to leave Madina, he went to the
grave of his brother Imam Hasan(a.s.) with a very heavy heart. There
he stayed for some time talking to his brother saying “O brother now
your killers are after my blood. It looks like time for my martyrdom
is near and I am leaving you now.”. I imagine that Imam Hasan(a.s.)
would have replied from his grave – O my brother I bid you farewell
and give you my son Qasim to become your sadqa in Karbala.

After that Imam(a.s.) went to the grave of his grandfather, the Holy
Prophet Mohammad(sawaw). He stayed there for a long time and wept a
lot until he went to sleep. He saw the Prophet(sawaw) in his dream and
said to him “O my grandfather, my salutations to you. The land of
Madina has become small for me. Tyrants among your ummah are after my
blood and I am leaving Madina with a heavy heart”.

Finally Imam Hussain(a.s.) came to the grave of his mother Hazrat
Fatima Zahra(s.a.). Historians write that Imam(a.s.) ran towards her
grave just like a child runs toward his mother and he fell on her
grave just like a child falls in the lap of the mother. Imam(a.s.)
said “O my mother accept my last salam. I am leaving the land of
Madina and would not come back. The prophecy of my grandfather is
about to come true”. I imagine that Bibi Zahra(s.a.) would have said
from her grave “O my beloved son, O the one whom I have raised by
keeping awake in the night, I would not let you go alone. From this
day I would not rest in my grave but I would accompany you throughout
your journey.”

Historians write that throughout the journey various people reported
to Imam(a.s.) that when everyone goes asleep during the night, we hear
feminine voices of weeping and a bibi’s voice crying “Ya Hussain, Ya
Hussain”. Imam(a.s.) told them “O my trusted companions this is my
mother Zahra(a.s.) who is with me ever since I have left Madina”.

Ala Laanatullahe ala qaum-iz-zalimeen (May Allah’s curse be on the
group that committed atrocities on Imam Hussain((a.s.) and his
companions and family members)

Note: The Gosha-e-Huzn section has been updated on the main page at
http://www.ziaraat.com with relevant Masaib of the time of departure
of Imam Hussain(a.s.) from Madina. Kindly visit and listen to the
short audios to pay homage and pursa to the Ahl-e-Bait(a.s.)

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