When Hazrat Muslim bin Aqeel (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived in Kufa as the ambassador of Imam Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him), the people initially pledged allegiance with great enthusiasm. However, as soon as Ibn Ziyad’s tyranny intensified, everyone abandoned him. Hazrat Muslim (RA) was left all alone. He sought refuge in the house of Hazrat Hani (RA), but both of them were arrested and martyred.The two innocent orphaned sons of Muslim (RA) were also left to wander from place to place and were brutally killed in a cruel manner.
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This incident is a profound example of loyalty, sacrifice, and standing firm upon the truth — a legacy that continues to shake hearts even today.
The Preparation of Sayyiduna Imam Hussain (peace be upon him)
When the noble Imam began preparations to depart for Kufa, news of this began to spread throughout the entire city of Makkah, and cries of sorrow and grief arose from every corner. All the companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who were present in Makkah gathered and began to come to the blessed service of the noble Imam. Among them were Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), Ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him), and Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him). All the noble Companions, with utmost respect, humility, and heartfelt pleading, requested the noble Imam not to leave the city of the Prophet ﷺ. Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) and Hazrat Abdullah ibn Zubair (RA) said, “O Master! Stay in Hijaz and strive for the Caliphate from here. We will enter into your allegiance and offer you every kind of assistance. We will always remain obedient to you.”
Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) came into the blessed presence, embraced the noble Imam, and tearfully pleaded, “O reflection of Mustafa ﷺ! O embodiment of the Beloved of the Almighty! For the sake of Allah, do not go to Kufa, and completely abandon the idea of going there.” Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA), too, cried and requested again, “Please, by no means even mention the intention of going to Kufa.” Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (RA) also presented himself in the blessed court and forbade him from going to Kufa. In short, all the noble Companions tried their utmost to dissuade the noble Imam from proceeding to Kufa, and reminded him of the earlier betrayal of the Kufans — the disloyalty they had shown to Hazrat Ali (RA). Then once again, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) came into the noble service and said, “You are the son of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the beloved child of Fatimah (RA), a fragrant flower from the garden of Mawla Ali (RA). We know well that your journey is not for the sake of worldly gain, but outwardly, it seems to encompass all worldly ambitions and objectives.” Ibn Umar (RA) also offered an example from the life of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and said, “If you truly desire to leave your homeland, then instead of going to Kufa, go to Basra. Many Companions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ are present there. They will support you in every way.” Upon hearing all these heartfelt pleas, the noble Imam responded:
“All of this emotion, all of these pleas are true, But the will of the Almighty is something else entirely too.”
“These are the prophecies foretold by the King of Prophethood, Which this seeker of martyrdom has heard time and again, and understood.”
“These words were spoken by my grandfather, the Chosen One —The Beloved of the Almighty, Mercy to the Worlds, Muhammad, the Blessed One ﷺ.”
“Because of a single ram from the Sacred Sanctuary, there shall come dishonor,That ram shall be me in the wilderness — this is my destined dishonor.”
Upon hearing this, Hazrat Ibn Umar began to weep uncontrollably, And all the Companions who were present began weeping openly.
Wherever one looked, there was an outcry in the streets and alleys, Sadness had descended like a veil upon the buds of the garden of unity.”
After hearing these words, Abdullah ibn Abbas, with tears in his eyes, said, ‘Go, farewell — may God protect you, O grandson of the Prophet, ahead!’
Every action of yours is a living image of Divine Commands and decree, Your martyrdom is a manifest interpretation of Divine Destiny.”
These verses reflect the prophecy of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him), his acceptance and submission to the Divine Will, and the spiritual significance of his tremendous sacrifice. The Imam (AS) declares that although the words of the people are true, the Will of Allah is something entirely different — and whatever is about to unfold is in fact the manifestation of the prophecies made by the Prophet of Allah ﷺ.
The Imam (AS) likens his martyrdom to that of a ram — a sacrificial animal — who offers himself for the preservation of the religion of Islam. Upon hearing these words, revered Companions such as Hazrat Ibn Umar (RA) and Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) are overcome with deep emotion, and an atmosphere of mourning spreads through the streets of Madinah.
In the end, it is made clear that every action of Imam Hussain (AS) is a living reflection of Divine Command. His martyrdom is a manifest expression of the Divine Will — a timeless symbol of the triumph and exaltation of the true religion of Islam.
The Spy Plan of the Notorious Ibn Ziyad
On one hand, the noble Imam (may Allah be pleased with him) was preparing for his journey to Kufa; on the other hand, Ibn Ziyad had already spread a web of spies stretching from Kufa all the way to Makkah. The Companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them) who were present in Kufa would certainly try to deliver the news of the martyrdom of Hazrat Muslim (may Allah be pleased with him) to the noble Imam (may Allah be pleased with him). If the Imam (RA) were to learn of the martyrdom of Muslim (RA), it would become impossible for him to proceed to Kufa. Therefore, Zayd ibn Arqam Layli (may Allah be pleased with him), having recorded all the circumstances of Muslim’s (RA) martyrdom along with that of his sons, sent the written report with Qays ibn Mus-hir (may Allah be pleased with him) toward the sacred city of Makkah. Meanwhile, the spies of Abdullah ibn Ziyad were inspecting every traveler and every letter courier. Suddenly, Qays ibn Mus-hir (RA) was captured by Bakr ibn ‘Imran Tamimi, who, along with a few companions, seized Qays and brought him to Kufa, presenting him before Ibn Ziyad. The letter he was carrying was also placed before Ibn Ziyad. Ibn Ziyad looked at Qays with a wrathful gaze and said, “Qays, if you desire safety, then go to the rooftop and publicly curse Hussain ibn Ali.” At the command of this tyrant, Qays ibn Mus-hir climbed to the rooftop and addressed the people in the following manner:
“Hussain ibn Ali is the comfort of Fatimah’s soul.
He is the lion of Allah, the conqueror of Khaybar, the king among men.
Hussain ibn Ali is the beloved of the Creator, the cherished one,
To the people of faith, he is the light of their eyes.“
“Even Allah Himself praises Hussain ibn Ali.
In various places of the Qur’an, his virtues are clearly mentioned.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ raised him with the utmost love and tenderness,
Only the one with a blackened heart would speak ill of him.“
“Hussain ibn Ali is, by Allah, the leader of the Ummah.
He alone shall be known as the master of Paradise.
The friend of the grandson of the Prophet is a friend of Allah,
And the one who is an enemy of this son of Haidar is surely an enemy of God.“
“When the tyrant governor heard these words spoken in defiance,
He was consumed by rage and ordered Qays to be thrown from the rooftop.
Qays, who had sent curses upon Ibn Marjana,
Was granted in return by Allah the great honor of martyrdom.”
Those Who Accompanied the Noble Imam on the Journey to Karbala
Accompanying Imam Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him) on his journey to Karbala were:
Hazrat Abbas ibn Ali (RA), Hazrat Ja‘far ibn Ali (RA), Hazrat Abdullah ibn Ali (RA), Hazrat ‘Uthman ibn Ali (RA), Hazrat Muhammad ibn Ali (RA), Hazrat Abu Bakr ibn Ali (RA), Hazrat Ali ibn Hussain (RA), Hazrat Abdullah ibn Hussain (RA), Hazrat Zain al-‘Abideen ibn Hussain (RA), Hazrat Ali Akbar ibn Hussain (RA), Hazrat Ali Asghar ibn Hussain (RA), Hazrat Abu Bakr ibn Hasan (RA), Hazrat Qasim ibn Hasan (RA), Hazrat Abdullah ibn Hasan (RA), Hazrat ‘Aun ibn Abdullah (RA), the son of Hazrat Zainab (RA), Hazrat Muhammad (RA), Hazrat Ja‘far ibn ‘Aqil (RA), and the son of Muslim ibn ‘Aqil (RA).
All of these noble individuals belonged to the blessed household of the Prophet Mustafa ﷺ. In addition to them, forty-one other companions were also with the noble Imam. Thus, when the noble Imam prepared to depart from Makkah toward Kufa, it was the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, 60 AH, corresponding to September 681 CE. A deep atmosphere of sorrow enveloped the entire city of Makkah. During his final circumambulation (Tawaf) of the Ka‘bah, the Imam of Truth clung to the covering of the Ka‘bah and wept uncontrollably. The sun, as if mourning itself, slowly lifted the veil of night’s darkness from its face.
The Departure of Sayyiduna Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) from Makkah al-Mukarramah
Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him) was departing from the sacred city of Makkah. A wave of sorrow had engulfed the entire city. The hearts of the lovers of the Ahl al-Bayt were shattering under the weight of separation; the clouds of parting thundered with grief. Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him) held on to the covering of the Ka‘bah and declared, “O covering of the Ka‘bah! Today is my final glance upon you.” He repeatedly kissed the Hajar al-Aswad, gazed longingly at the Hatim, and when the caravan set out from Makkah al-Mukarramah, he looked back at the Ka‘bah again and again. The image of the circumambulation of the House of Allah lingered before his eyes. The magnetic pull of the Black Stone tugged at his heart; the sweet taste of Zamzam water repeatedly returned to his blessed tongue. The sights of Safa and Marwah left his heart restless; the memories of Mina tore his soul apart; the scenes of Muzdalifah disturbed his heart deeply.
In such a state of yearning and sorrow, as the caravan passed beyond the valley of Ramlah, Abdullah bin Muti‘—who had arrived from Iraq—heard that Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him) was on his way to Kufah. He stood in his path.
When the Imam of Truth reached there, Abdullah bin Muti‘ asked, “Why have you left the sanctuary of the Haram?” Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him) replied, “The people of Kufah have invited me.”
Upon hearing this, Abdullah sighed deeply and said, “Do not head towards Kufah. There you will surely be martyred.”
The Imam responded, “If this is against the Divine Will, I will not go. But if it is in accordance with the pleasure of Allah, then I will surely go.”
Abdullah said, “All this will happen according to Allah’s Will and His pleasure.”
The Imam of Truth said, “Then why should I act against the Will of my Lord, when what He has decreed shall surely come to pass—without addition or omission.”
At that very moment, ‘Amr bin ‘Abd al-Rahman, who was also coming from Kufah, approached the Imam and said, “Are you going to Kufah? I fear that those who have invited you and promised to support you will themselves turn against you in battle.”
The Imam asked, “Will all of this happen by Divine Will or against it?”
‘Amr bin ‘Abd al-Rahman replied, “All of it shall occur under the Will of Allah, and not even a speck will happen outside of it.”
The Imam said, “Then what is the duty of a Muslim?”
‘Amr responded, “To be content with Divine Decree and Fate.”
Upon hearing this, the Imam of Truth declared, “Then what can I do? I am not going of my own accord. Rather, it is the Divine Will that is taking me there. And can the information given to us by my noble grandfather ﷺ be false?”
‘Amr bin ‘Abd al-Rahman said, “Whatever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, he said by the revelation of the Lord.”
(Imam Ibn al-Athir, Volume 4)
The Imam of Truth then said, “Then farewell!”
When the caravan of the Ahl al-Bayt of the Messenger ﷺ passed beyond the boundaries of Makkah and reached the place called Zarood, there was Zuhayr bin Qays, who had completed his pilgrimage and was encamped, intending to go to Kufah. Upon learning that the household of the Prophet ﷺ was journeying with the longing for martyrdom, Zuhayr bin Qays immediately came to the Imam and sought permission to accompany him. The Imam of Truth granted him permission.
Zuhayr’s wife was also with him and tried to prevent him from joining the Imam on this path of martyrdom. Zuhayr, driven by love for the truth, divorced her immediately and joined the Imam on his journey.
After traveling some distance, they encountered a caravan carrying a significant amount of wealth and goods. Upon inquiry, it was discovered that this caravan was carrying gifts and wealth for Yazid, sent by government officials. The Imam of Truth confiscated the caravan and deposited all its goods and wealth into the public treasury (Bayt al-Mal), and continued his journey.
By now it was evening, and the Imam made camp at the next stage. During this time, the famous poet Farazdaq arrived. The Imam asked him about the condition of the people of Kufah.
By this second station, the Imam outwardly came to know all the conditions of Kufah. Inwardly, of course, he already had this knowledge. He had also become aware that the tongues of the people of Kufah were with him, but their swords were with Yazid. Those coming from and going to Kufah were trying every possible means to dissuade him from continuing his journey. But the Imam was content with Divine Decree and Fate.
Wherever his blessed gaze would fall, he would see military patrols stationed. There was not a single route or destination where Yazid’s troops were not already present. The presence of troops at every stage made it clear that the situation was extremely dangerous, and that Yazid truly was thirsty for the blood of the Prophet’s household ﷺ.
Those who utter baseless things about the journey of Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him) should feel ashamed when they reflect upon these conditions. If the Imam had any concern for his life or worldly matters, he would have turned back upon witnessing these ominous signs. But he undertook this journey purely for the pleasure of Allah—to protect the religion from evil innovations.
The caravan of Ahl al-Bayt had not yet moved beyond the fourth station when Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Muti‘ again came to the service of the Imam. Tears flowed from his eyes as he said:
“For the sake of Allah, abandon the intention of going to Kufah. It has become a hotbed of conspiracies and sedition. Every route is filled with danger, and the winds of corruption blow from every direction. The sword-bearing Yazidis of Kufah, loyal to Banu Umayyah, are thirsty for the blood of Banu Hashim. Every moment, plots for your martyrdom are being devised. Yazid has been forcefully imposed as caliph.”
After hearing all these warnings, Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him) silently heaved a sigh. No complaint crossed his lips. Instead, he remained a model of patience and submission. This silence itself was a testament to the fact that Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him) was content with the Will of Allah and was heading towards martyrdom as the decree of the Almighty.
The journey is still underway
For me, this journey is a message: Sometimes the path to truth is lonely, but that same path changes history. The Imam (a.s.) showed that sacrifice is not only for the body, but for the survival of an ideology.
To Be Continued Soon
This informative and spiritually enriching blog is the result of the compilation and authorship of Hazrat Pir Abu Nauman Rizvi Saifi Sahib, who continues to guide the Muslim Ummah with sincerity and devotion on matters of faith and spirituality. If you found this article beneficial and insightful, we humbly request you to share your valuable thoughts in the comments below. Kindly share it with your friends, family, and others, so that this message may reach as many hearts as possible. If you would like to see this blog series continue, please let us know in the comment section below—we would love to hear from you.
