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Imam Husain (A.S.) leaves Madinah for Makkah
Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On 28th of the Islamic month of Rajab in 60 AH, Imam Husain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and his 3rd Infallible Heir, was informed by the Omayyad governor of Medina, Waleed ibn Otbah, of the death of the usurper Mu'awiyyah in Damascus and asked to give oath of allegiance to the illegal rule of his libertine son, Yazid – who was named caliph in violation of the terms of the treaty Mu'awiyyah had signed with the Prophet's elder grandson, Imam Hasan Mojtaba (AS), nineteen years ago. Imam Husain (AS) turning down the illogical demand said he would think the matter over, and the next night, along with his family he left for Mecca in order to avoid unnecessary tension and possible bloodshed.
The tyrant Yazid, however, tried to press his illegal demand of allegiance in Mecca as well, and the Imam anxious against the spilling of innocent blood on this sacred land, left some five months later for Iraq on the persistent invitation of the people of Kufa. He was tragically martyred along with the male members of his family and loyal companions on the plain of Karbala due to the treason of the Kufans.
On 3rd of the Islamic month of Sha’ban in 60 AH, Imam Husain (AS) arrived in Mecca after leaving his hometown Medina on the night of Rajab 29, following the demand of the Godless Yazid conveyed through governor Waleed ibn Otbah of Medina, to give oath of allegiance to his illegitimate rule.
The Meccans received the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) with great rejoicing and reverence as they had seen the Prophet openly showering his love and affection for him. They also remembered the Prophet’s oft-repeated words of praise for his two grandsons, including the famous hadith, “Hasan and Husain are the Two Leaders of the Youth of Paradise.”
They gathered around him, and in view of the approaching Hajj pilgrimage that brought more and more people from far-off places, such gatherings swelled as Muslims swarmed around him to clarify their doubts in matters of religion, science, commerce, rights, obligations, morals, ethics, etc. This alarmed the tyrant Yazid in Damascus, and he sent assassins in the garb of pilgrims, but to avoid any bloodshed in this most inviolable place, the Imam left for Iraq four months later on the 8th of Zilhijja, especially in view of the fact that he had received thousands of letters from the people of Kufa.
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