The Battle of Karbala is one of the most important battles in Islamic history. It serves as a reminder of strength and resilience in the face of oppression and reminds Muslims of the actual cost of saying the truth and walking on the right path. This battle was the reason for Hussain RA’s martyrdom, a believer who stands as a beacon of hope for the Muslims facing abuse and persecution. Keeping this at the forefront, this blog will delve deeper into the history of this battle and the most prominent figure who stands at the center of it all.
Who Is Imam Hussain RA?
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Husain is a part of me, and I am a part of Husain. Allah loves those who love Husain.”
Born in Shaban during the fourth year of Hijra, Hussain RA was from the lineage of the Prophet PBUH. He was the son of Fatima RA and Ali RA and the grandson of the Prophet PBUH. He was a man of impeccable character and unwavering faith.
His Name
Hussain RA was named by the Prophet PBUH. When he was born, the Prophet PBUH asked Ali RA, “What have you named him?” Ai RA replied, “I have named him Harb (war).” But the Prophet PBUH named him Hussain instead.
Note: This hadith is considered da’if (Darussalam)
About both of the brothers’ names, he also said, “Since the progeny of Adam AS, Allah has not given the name of Hassan or Hussain to anyone. These are the names he has kept for them (i.e., Hassan RA and Hussain RA).
His Childhood
Al-Hussain’s childhood was spent in the Prophet Muhammad’s household, where he received a profound spiritual and moral upbringing from his grandfather, Ali RA, and Fatima RA. It was surrounded by the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah. Numerous hadiths describe the state of his childhood, his relationship with his brother, Hassan RA, and the love the Prophet PBUH had for him.
It was narrated that some people had gone out with the Prophet PBUH to a meal they were invited to, and Hussain RA was there playing in the street. The Prophet came before the people and extended his hands. The child ran about playfully, and the Prophet made Hussain RA laugh until he caught him. He placed one hand beneath his chin and the other on his head, kissed him, and said, “Hussain is a part of me, and I am a part of him. May Allah love those who love him.
His Appearance
‘Ali (RA) narrated, “Al-Hasan most closely resembled the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) in the part between the chest and the head, while Al-Husain most closely resembled the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) in the part below that (i.e., from the waist to the feet).”
Commenting on his hadith, Sheikh Omar Suleiman said that the resemblance of Hussain RA to Prophet PBUH from the waist down denotes the strength of Hussain RA because he was the best of warriors.
Note: This hadith is considered da’if (Darussalam)
The Battle Of Karbala
Yazid & The Umayyad Dynasty
When the Rashidun Khilafat came to an end under Hassan AS, Muawiyah RA became the caliph and led the people with truth and justice. After Muawiyah RA came his son, Yazid, the second caliph of the Umayyad dynasty. When Marwan bin Hakam, a member of the Umayyad dynasty, announced in Madinah that the Ameer ul Momineen had decided to pledge allegiance to Yazeed, 3 people rejected this, including Hussain RA. Yazeed wasn’t a good person, and he wasn’t the best of them. Furthermore, this wasn’t the traditional process by which a caliph was selected.
This resulted in resistance to Yazid’s rule. But even with the opposition to it, most of the people decided that, for the sake of stability and continuity, they would accept this decision. But Ibn Zubair RA and Hussain RA left Madinah for Makkah without pledging allegiance to Yazid. Now, in this process, Hussain RA began to receive letters from Kufa. These messages asked Hussain RA to return to Kufa and stated that the people would appoint him as their leader. He received hundreds of these letters, and he took the most responsible decision in the situation.
People Of Kufa & Their Support
He sends his cousin out to see whether the people were serious about their support or not. His cousin, Muslim Ibn Aqeel RA, went to Kufa, and 12 thousand people came out to receive him. They pleaded for Hussain RA to come to Kufa and establish his leadership. After Hussain RA received a positive response, he decided to migrate to Kufa and left Makkah in Shaban.
This was where things took a more political and dangerous turn. The governor of Kufa was a noble companion, and he did not oppose what was coming from Hussain (RA). He knew what was happening but chose not to intervene. When Yazid found out, he decided to send the governor of Basra to Kufa to replace him. ‘Ubaydullah ibn Ziyaad, the governor of Basra, was a ruthless leader. While his ruthlessness had sometimes benefited the people, it was now directed against the family of the Prophet (PBUH).
Kufa’s Betrayal, Ibn Ziyaad’s Tyranny & Hussain RA’s Bravery
Hussain RA had already departed from Makkah, believing that he would find a base of support in Kufa. But when Ibn Ziyaad arrived there, he made it clear that his mission was to crush that support. As the number of supporters quickly dwindled, Muslim Ibn Aqeel realized that Kufa had once again chosen betrayal and that he was about to be killed. His primary concern then became to warn Hussain RA not to come. He dispatched a letter to inform him of the situation before he was executed publicly on the Day of Arafah in the year 60 after Hijrah.
Meanwhile, Hussain RA had also sent a messenger to Kufa, but that messenger was delayed, and unease began to spread among those traveling with him. Doubts arose that perhaps the situation in Iraq was not what they had expected. Hussain RA, therefore, dispatched another messenger, and by the time the news reached him, he was already near the border of Iraq. On hearing it, he gathered his companions and told them that whoever wished to turn back to Makkah was free to do so and that there would be no blame upon them. Yet his followers refused to abandon him; though they were fewer in number, they chose to stand with him. Together, they marched forward.
In the meantime, Yazid had ordered Ibn Ziyaad to resist Hussain RA. In response, Ibn Ziyaad sent a thousand soldiers to intercept him. Their commander approached Hussain RA and urged him to return to Makkah. Negotiations dragged on for three days, until Yazid reinforced his command with another army of four thousand men, led by ‘Umar Ibn Sa’d, who was tasked with preventing Hussain RA from entering Karbala.
But when he finally arrives in Karbala, Umar Ibn Sa’d goes to him and asks, “What brings you here?” In reply, Hussain RA states, “The people of Kufa have asked me to come and lead them, but since they are no longer supporting me, I have no need for them.” Ibn Sa’d again asks, “What should I say to Yazid?” Hussain RA replies, “You give him three options. First, you let me go back to Makkah. Second, you let me go to Sham and meet Yazid directly. Third, let me go to a remote place with the Muslims and be amongst the people.”
Before these negotiations even had a chance to take place, Ibn Ziyaad had already ruled out an order for Hussain RA to come to his castle and give allegiance to Yazid through him. When this news reaches Hussain RA and he is informed of what Ibn Ziyaad expects from him, he refuses. He once again tells his family and the people with him that whoever wants to leave can leave. And once again, his people stand with him.
His Army & Ibn Yazid
Hussain RA’s army included some of the most prominent figures of Islamic history. Such as Abu Bakr Ibn Ali, Muhammad Ibn Ali, Jafar Ibn Ali, and Uthman Ibn Ali. His sons, Ali al-Akbar ibn Husayn and the younger Ali (also known as Zayn al-Abideen), who was the only survivor of Karbala because he was severely sick on the day of the battle and was in the tents with the women and those excluded from the war.
Before the battle started, Hussain RA lit some fires behind the women and children to protect them against the army, as all the men able to fight would be with him. He stood up and tried to reason with the people. And as he spoke, Al-Hurr ibn Yazid, the one who led the 1000-soldier army, approached Hussain RA, asked him for forgiveness, and said, “I was given the choice between paradise and Jannah, and I choose Jannah.” Saying this, he went to Hussain RA, with a few of his people behind him.
Start Of The Battle
On the 10th of Muharram, 680 CE the battle began; it lasted for hours instead of mere minutes, given the significant difference in soldiers between both armies. Hussain RA arranged his men. On the right, he placed Zuhair ibn Qain, on the left was Habib ibn Muzahir, and in the center, he gave the flag to Abbas RA. Umar Ibn Sa’d shot the first arrow. The first person to be martyred in the Battle of Karbala was Muslim ibn Awsaja.
It was Friday, and when the time for the Zuhr prayer arrived, Hussain RA sent a message to the army, asking them to stop fighting until after the prayer. However, the opposing army completely rejected this and continued its tyranny. Even in times like these, Hussain RA gave an order for the call to prayer. One half of the army prayed while the other half fought, and then the other half fought while the others prayed.
Ahl e Bait & Abdullah Ibn Hassan
One by one, the companions of Hussain RA were martyred until only the noble Ahl e Bait—the family of the Prophet PBUH—remained. They were eighteen in number, and the first to fall among them was Ali Akbar RA. After him, one by one, those dearest to Hussain RA gave their lives on the battlefield.
Amidst this wave of sacrifice, a child stumbled out of the tent. A soldier from the opposing army raised his sword to strike him down, but instead of the child, his blow struck an arm, detaching it from the body—this was the hand of young Abdullah Ibn Hassan. He collapsed, crying out for his uncle. Hussain RA rushed to him, lifted him into his arms, and gently cradled his head. Placing him among the other martyrs of the Ahl e Bait, Hussain RA returned to his camp, grief heavy upon his heart.
The Youngest Martyr Of Karbala
Since most of his family was with him, that also included his son Ali al-Asghar ibn Husayn, who was two years old at the time of the battle. His son came to him (or he called for him), and he settled him on his lap. As he caressed the child, the opposing army shot an arrow that struck the child in his throat. Seeing this, Hussain RA cupped his palms, the blood of his child filling his hands, the cruelty of the army clear as day.
The Martyrdom of Hussain RA
With his heart heavy and his strength fading, he rose to his feet, carrying both grief and thirst.
But since the army had cut off their access to water three days before, he had nothing to quench his thirst. He walked through his army and went to the Euphrates River. Cupping his hand in the water, he brought his palm upwards, but before he could take a sip, an arrow, shot by Husayn ibn Numayr, hit him in the neck. When he took a step back, people surrounded him from every angle. Never one to back down, he raised his sword one last time and swung it with all his might, killing several of the army. One soldier struck his sword on Hussain RA’s shoulder, while Sanan bin Abi Anas drove a spear through his chest. After brutally injuring him, Shmir gave an order to decapitate him. Sanan stepped ahead to fulfill the command but trembled as he came close. And in that moment, Khawli came forward and decapitated Hussain RA, martyring him and putting an end to one of the most gruesome battles ever recorded in Islamic history.