Rajab 28th - Start of Journey
of Imam Hussain(a.s.), his family members and companions towards Iraq, (via
Makkah). After hatching the conspiracy and achieving ultimate martyrdom of
Imam Hasan(a.s.), Maria 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 in Rajab of
the 60th Hijrah, Yazid sat on his throne and started the campaign of getting
Ba'yat 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(saww). 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-Aqua ibn-e-Abu Sufyan - as well to get the ba'yat of Imam Hussain(a.s.).
According to some historians, Yazid also mentioned that if Imam Hussain(a.s.)
declines his ba'yat 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 ba'yat. Imam(a.s.) replied "A
person like me would never accept the ba'yat of a person like Yazid". In
this statement, Imam(a.s.) gave a clear guideline to all believers.
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.
The political developments made it very clear that Yazid was going all out
to either obtain the ba'yat 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 Caravan of his selected family
members and his trusted friends and set off for this long journey on the
28th of Rajab.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since it is a day of grief and sorrow, some masaib relating to this event
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 the enemy is 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. His eyes closed and 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 the Ummah are after my blood and I am leaving Madina with a heavy
heart".
'SHABBIR NE SAR NANAKE SINESE LAGAYA, ROKAR
KAHA JIS DIN UTH'HA AAP KA SAAYA.
NANAKI QASAM CHAYN KABHI HUMNE NA PAAYA, AB
LE CHALO SAATH APNE, KE UMMAT NE SATAYA.
JANE NA DO SAFARME, REHNEDO WATAN ME, HUM
TUM RAHE EK QABR ME AUR EK KAFAN ME.
WOH BOLE KE KYA WA'ADA WAFA KAR CHUKE
SHABBIR, SARKO MERI UMMAT PE FIDA
KARCHUKE SHABBIR,
KYA LAASHAE AKBER PE BUKAA KARCHUKE
SHABBIR? NEZEKE TALE SHUKRE KHUDA
KAR CHUKE SHABBIR?
KYU UUNTH'H SE LASHEPE TERI GIRCHUKI
ZAYNAB? KYU QOOFEME SAR KHOLE
HUE FIRCHUKI ZAYNAB?"
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 salaam. 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".
