The Third Infallible Imam of the Prophet of Islam’s Household, Imam Hussein (Peace be upon him), maintained an eloquent rhetoric. He was outspoken in expression of righteousness and truthfulness. His remarks highly influenced others, such that whenever he spoke of the main factors behind the deviation of the community, people were motivated to stand up against wrongdoings.

Today, we study the period of Imamate of Imam Hussein (AS).  The mantle of Imamate rested on the shoulders of Imam Hussein, after the martyrdom of his infallible brother, Imam Hassan (AS). Prior to the study of Imamate of Imam Hussein, we mention some of this Infallible Imam’s ethical virtues and characteristic traits.

Imam Hussein, like his infallible brother, Imam Hassan, was brought up next to his infallible grandfather, Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny), and his infallible parents, Imam Ali (AS), and Hazrat Fatemeh (SA).  Imam Hussein’s childhood was filled with memorable moments in the company of his infallible grandfather, Prophet Mohammad. He lived next to the Prophet of Islam for six years. He maintained an elevated status before God Almighty, and the Prophet of God.

Prophet Mohammad noted: “Hussein is a part of me, and I am a part of Hussein. God likes whoever likes Hussein.”

This remark of the Prophet of God shows his strong bond with Imam Hussein. Prophet Mohammad admired Imam Hussein. Prophet’s kind behavior towards Imam Hussein shows the elevated status of this infallible Imam, and his close bond with the Prophet of God. At times, the Prophet of Islam carried his infallible grandson, Imam Hussein, on his shoulders and also embraced him. Undoubtedly, the kindness of the Prophet toward his infallible grandson went beyond the conventional behavior of grandfathers toward their grandsons. Everybody knew that this is a divine kindness, which conveyed a number of messages for the future.

Imam Hussein maintained a highly prominent character. His soul and body were filled with the love of God and His worship, turning Imam Hussein into a unique figure. Imam Hussein’s ethical virtues and praiseworthy behavior toward people are prime examples of the elevated status of Imam Hussein. He was generous and hospitable. He provided clothing and food for the poor and needy and interacted with them. He paid the debts of debtors and supported the disadvantaged. He treated orphans gently and kindly; assisted the weak; and financially helped the deprived people.

Masses of people highly respected Imam Hussein, as the valuable legacy of the Prophet of Islam, while the Infallible Imam always interacted with people. He did not own any palace, and never lived like obstinate individuals, who are unaware of people’s hardships and woes. The Infallible Imam’s courage was known to all. He attacked enemies courageously in the battlefield. He maintained an indomitable resolve and an elevated spirit, and never submitted to humiliation.

Imam Hussein maintained an eloquent rhetoric like his infallible father, Imam Ali. The remarks of Imam Hussein were so influential that whenever he disclosed the agents of corruption throughout his powerful sermons, he motivated people to stand up against wrongdoings and falsehood.

The mantle of Imamate rested on Imam Hussein’s shoulders in an era in which the Islamic Ummah grappled with seditious plots, discord, and deceit. Imam Hussein led the Islamic Ummah for ten years. Meanwhile, 9.5 years of his leadership was concurrent with the rule of ungodly figure, Moavieh, and another six months of his leadership of the Islamic Ummah was concurrent with the rule of Moavieh’s corrupt son, Yazid.

Moavieh, who was an ambitious individual, refused to accept Imam Ali’s instruction to step aside from the rule of Shaam, during the caliphate of the Infallible Imam, while fanning the flames of war under baseless pretexts. After the martyrdom of Imam Ali (AS), Moavieh pursued the same policy against Imam Ali’s infallible son, Imam Hassan (AS).  Suppression of people was one of the principles of Moavieh’s rule. As of the very beginning of his rule, Moavieh adopted a hostile policy toward the Prophet of Islam’s Infallible Household (Peace be upon them). In an instruction to governors-general and congregational prayers leaders, Moavieh ordered them not to speak a word of Imam Ali’s ethical virtues. Moavieh also tortured and martyred Imam Ali’s disciples and supporters.

After the martyrdom of Imam Hassan, the people of Kufa sent a number of envoys and letters to Imam Hussein (AS), announcing their preparedness to confront Moavieh. However, given the conditions and circumstances of that era, Imam Hussein was not ready to neglect the peace agreement between his infallible brother, Imam Hassan (AS) and Moavieh.

Imam Hussein was well-aware of the deceitful policies of Moavieh. Hence, he made every effort to safeguard his forces for the coming fateful years so that with their cooperation he would save the divine religion of Islam and would reveal the deceitful policies of Omayyad Dynasty.

This doesn’t mean that Imam Hussein had accepted the rule of Moavieh. Whenever an opportunity was raised, Imam Hussein, in his enlightening speeches, revealed the suppressive policies of Moavieh, and was in fact the main opponent to Moavieh’s corrupt rule. However, at that phase in time, Imam Hussein avoided any confrontation with Moavieh.

In that era, Shia movements against Moavieh and the suppressive Omayyad regime continued in different forms and shapes. Meanwhile, Omayyad Dynasty’s policy was to pursue, torture, and martyr opponents. Hojr Ibn Oday was one of the prominent figures and disciples of Imam Ali, who organized a number of movements against Omayyad rule, winning the support of a number of people. However, after a while, Hojr and a number of his advocates were detained. Moavieh’s agents urged them to openly resent Imam Ali (AS). But, they refused to do so. Thus, the ungodly soldiers of Moavieh martyred them and this uprising was ultimately suppressed by Moavieh’s corrupt agents.

In this manner, tension simmered between Imam Hussein and his companions, and Moavieh’s corrupt agents; until Moavieh, in violation of his peace agreement with Imam Hassan (AS), demanded to instate his corrupt son, Yazid, as his crown prince. At that point in time, confrontation of Imam Hussein with Moavieh entered a new phase, and the Infallible Imam openly opposed the corrupt figure, Moavieh. Undoubtedly, content or muted reaction of Imam Hussein toward instatement of Yazid as Moavieh’s crown prince was of importance for Moavieh. Therefore, Moavieh traveled to Medina and tried to win the agreement of a number of prominent figures in that city, including Imam Hussein (AS), for instatement of Moavieh’s corrupt son, Yazid, as Moavieh’s crown prince. In his meetings, Moavieh praised his corrupt son, Yazid, and tried to display his son as a merited candidate for instatement as caliph.

 Meanwhile, Imam Hussein did not remain silent and continued to reveal the satanic characteristic traits of Yazid, and in this manner declared his resolute opposition to instatement of Yazid as Moavieh’s crown prince.

Ultimately, in the year 60 AH, Moavieh went to Mecca and called for allegiance with Yazid, while Imam Hussein and his companions were strongly against instatement of Yazid as ruler. Moavieh knew this fact and realized that Yazid’s insistence on allegiance of Imam Hussein with him, would beget dangerous consequences for Yazid’s rule in the future.  Thus, in the waning years of his life, Moavieh advised his son, Yazid, to let go of Imam Hussein, even if the Imam refused to swear allegiance with Yazid. Finally, in the month of Rajab of the year 60 AH, Moavieh died, and Yazid succeeded his corrupt father, Moavieh, in accordance to Moavieh’s will. Yazid, who was a selfish, corrupt, and power-thirsty individual, instructed the governor of Medina to force Imam Hussein to swear allegiance with Yazid. Otherwise, Yazid threatened to martyr Imam Hussein (AS).

MR/ME