B iography of Amir mukhtAr Bin ABu uBAydA BY: S a J hamim BBaS eSSa Composed by: T h Z aliB uSSain aidi Published by: Peermahomed Ebrahim Trust 139, Faran Housing Society Off. Haiderali Road, Karachi-75800 COPYRIGHT 1999 All rights reserved. This book is sold subject to the condition that no part thereof shall by way of trade or otherwise be translated, or reproduced, lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than what is published in, without the prior written permission of the PEERMAHOMED EBRAHIM TRUST. by SHAMIM ABBAS JESSA Composed by TALIB HUSSAIN ZAIDI CONTENTS Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Childhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Heart Breaking Tragedy of Kerbala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 The Teacher of Hamdan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Kaseer Conveys the Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Yazid’s Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Reign of Terror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 The Exploits of Sulayman bin Surd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Musayyab’s Bravery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 The Valor of Khalid bin Sulayman bin Surd . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Mukhtar in Hijaz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Violation of Promise by Abdullah bin Zubayr . . . . . . . . . 24 Conference of Enemies of Mukhtar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Mukhtar’s Rule in Kufa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Massive Confrontation of the Syrians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Mukhtar’s Growing Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 The Loyalty of the Governor of Nasiben to Ibrahim . . . . 40 Plot to Overthrow Mukhtar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Minhal’s Report About Supplication of Imam Zayn al Abidin (a.s.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Abdullah bin Zubayr’s Stern Reprisal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Arbitration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Breach of Promise by Abdullah bin Zubayr . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Friends and Foes Among the Desert Genii . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 The Mystery of The Gigantic Bird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Ibrahim Confronts Ibn Ziyad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 War Between Mukhtar and Masab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 PREFACE Amir Mukhtar was born on the day the Holy Prophet went to Tabuk with his men to stop the expected march of Heraculius towards Madina in the middle of 9 hijra. Abu Ubayda bin Musud, a Thaqafi, was his father. Hilya was his mother. Hilya, in her pregnancy, heard a voice, saying: “Take care of your child. He is the friend of Ahl ul Bayt. He shall kill many a foe of the holy family.” Abu Ubayda Thaqafi was killed in the battle of Marwaha in 13 hijra. Hilya and her brother-in-law brought up 4 years old orphan Mukhtar with utmost love and care, taught him the holy Quran and trained him in martial arts. He did not take part in usual pastime normal boys of his age would enjoy. Riding and swimming were his favourite sports. One day, after the departure of Imam Ali, Imam Hasan paid a call upon him. As soon as Mukthar saw the Imam on his door he bowed down before him and from that day on he lived in his company as his devoted disciple. Abu Ubayda’s daughter, Mukhtar’s sister, was married to Abdullah bin Umar, the son of the second caliph; his other sister was the wife of Umar bin Saad, the commander of the army which killed Imam Husayn, his relatives and friends in Karbala. Strange it is that Abu Ubayda was a staunch i adherent of Umar, but Mukhtar made a choice to go into the camp of the sons of Sayyida Fatima Zahra. He gave his daughter in marriage to Imam Ali bin Husayn Zayn al Abidin. Mukhtar played a pivotal role in the movement launched against the Umayyads in order to give just and due punishment to the killers of Imam Husayn, his relatives and friends in Karbala. Mukhtar was killed in Ramazan 67 hijra by the army of Masab bin Zubayr. After his death the arch enemies of the Ahl ul Bayt, the Umayyad, fabricated a number of baseless stories to malign him because of his sublime love for the Ahl ul Bayt and the just punishment he meted out to the prime culprits from among the killers of the Ahl ul Bayt. In Ziyarat Ashura we say: “Peace be on you (Imam Husayn) whose blood claimer is Allah”; so He, through Mukhtar punished the killers of Imam Husayn in this world and will condemn them with eternal damnation in the hereafter. Mukhtar arrested many culprits, tried them before a large number of witnesses, and when they confessed their sins, punished them according to Islamic laws. Among the killers brought to book, were Shimr, Sinan bin Anas, Umar bin Saad, Kholi and Hakam et al. In fact he was a brave warrior, general, politician, just administrator, and above all a true and devoted friend of the Ahl ul Bayt. PEERMAHOMED EBRAHIM TRUST ii THE BIOGRAPHY OF AMIR MUKHTAR (Avenger Of Imam Husayn’s Blood) INTRODUCTION Amir Mukhtar was a dynamic personality who played a heroic role in taking the revenge of the martyrs of Karbala. He belonged to the noble Thaqafi tribe. His father’s name was Abu Ubayda bin Masood Thaqafi and his mother’s name was Hilya. Abu Ubayda was the brave commander of the Muslim army which invaded Iran during the rule of the second caliph Umar. One of Ubayda’s daughter was married to Abdullah bin Umar, the son of the second caliph. Another daughter of his was married to Umar bin Saad, the murderer of Imam Husayn (a.s.) Ironically, while Abu Ubayda, the father, was an ardent adherent of Umar, Amir Mukhtar, the son was deeply inclined towards the Ahl ul Bayt. He gave one of his daughters in marriage to Imam Zayn ul Abidin (a.s.). Amir Mukhtar was a supreme personality who towered over the vast multitude of humanity. He was a distinguished general, a great tactician and strategist, a just and generous ruler and above all a true adherent of the family of the Holy Prophet. 1 About five years after the tragedy of Karbala in Rabi-ul- awwal 66 A.H., Amir Mukhtar rose in revolt against the Umayyads to avenge the blood of the martyrs of Karbala and within a short period of about one and a half year, he had killed nearly eighteen thousand Yazidites who had taken part in killing Imam Husayn (a.s.) and his companions. This spectacular campaign of Amir Mukhtar was like a shooting star, brief but dazzlingly bright. In this mammoth endeavor his tactical grandeur and strategic acumen guided him over myriad obstacles while his profound and sincere faith in God Almighty and his mission, sustained him through the long and arduous march to his goal. During this campaign the awe inspiring name of Amir Mukhtar became a nightmare for the Umayyads. CHILDHOOD Amir Mukhtar was born on the day when the Holy Prophet started for the battle of ‘Tabook.’ The mother of Mukhtar is reported to have said that during her pregnancy she heard a mysterious voice cautioning her to protect the child in her womb, who was a great friend of the Prophet’s family and would one day exterminate many foes of the Holy family. Mukhtar’s father died when he was about three years old. He was brought up by his mother and his uncle. Parallel to the Holy Quran and religious knowledge, he acquired mastery in horsemanship, archery, wrestling, swimming and allied 2 martial arts. Mukhtar never reveled in childish games being sombre and serious by nature. He continued his studies till the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali (a.s.). Thereafter, one day a man brought Imam Hasan (a.s.) to his house. Mukhtar was on the terrace of his house. As he saw the divine leader approaching, he raced downstairs and bowed his head at the Imam’s feet and remained in his revered company until he was poisoned by the enemies. HEART BREAKING TRAGEDY OF KARBALA The rise of the tyrant Yazid to power seemed a catastrophe to the faithfuls on account of his limitless licentiousness. As soon as it was known that Imam Husayn (a.s.) had refused to pay homage to Yazid, the Kufis invited him to became their leader. The divine leader was forced by circumstance’s to leave Madina. In reply to this invitation he sent his cousin Muslim bin Aqil to Kufa. The people of Kufa welcomed Muslim with great enthusiasm but soon displayed their proverbial disloyalty - a heinous trait. Due to their fickle and wayward behaviour, the noble envoy of Imam Husayn (a.s.) was isolated and brutally murdered by the troops of Abdallah bin Ziyad. Amir Mukhtar was out of town at that time and he heard the tragic news on his return in Kufa. On the instigation of some mischief mongers, Ibn Ziyad arrested Mukhtar and threw him in prison. In course of time, on the 10th of Muharram Imam Husayn 3 (a.s) and his beloved family members were ruthlessly slaughtered on the burning plains of Karbala. The scorching sun, oblivious of the horrendous spectacle had remained overhead all day. Even when it set a blistering, motionless heat hung and than sank deep into the blood soaked sand. The dull silence of the night was shattered by the wails and cries as frantic mothers searched for their offspring amidst the burning tents. Pain was manifested all around as they sat huddled together on the desolate sand. Their silent groans and cries vibrated through the air. Then the grief stricken, helpless women and children of the family of the Holy Prophet were enchained and brought to Kufa. Umar bin Saad, the commander in chief of the Yazidi army, presented the heads of the martyrs to the governor of Kufa - Abdullah Ibn Ziyad with great pomp and pageantry. The despotic tyrant ordered the guards to bring Mukhtar to the court. As Amir Mukhtar was ushered into the court an eerie silence descended. The helpless captive, bound in chains and fetters looked at the decapitated heads of his beloved Imam and his family members and than his eyes moved on to the prisoners huddled together in shackles with head bent low. A flash flood of pain surged through Amir Mukhtar’s body. It broke down every defense and ripped his heart. He wept hysterically while Ibn Ziyad gloated in sadistic pleasure and chided “Weep! O Mukhtar weep!”.” The whole court reverberated in silent harmony with 4