Al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafy

In the month of Rajab, 60 A.H., Mu'awiyah died. He had ruled the Muslim countries for twenty years. He killed many companions of our Master Muhammad. Hajar bin Ady al-Kindy, Amr bin al-Hamq al-Khazay, and Rasheed al Hajry were some of them.
He killed with poison Imam Hasan (the Prophet's grandson), Malik al-Ashtar, Saad bin Abu Waqas, and others. In spite of the Muslims' dissatisfaction, Mu'awiyah appointed his son Yazeed caliph. So, the Caliphate became kingdom.
The Muslims were angry with Yazeed, for he was a corrupt young man. Besides he drank alcohol and amused himself with his monkeys and dogs. The Muslims in Kufa hoped that Imam Husain would be the Caliph, for he was our Master Muhammad's grandson. Moreover, he was good, God-fearing, and a believing man. And he treated the poor kindly.
So, the Muslims sent Imam Husain hundred's of letters asking him to come to save them from persecution. Imam Husain (A.S.) was in al-Madena al-Monawwara. He did not pay homage to Yazeed, for the latter behaved badly. In the meantime, he sent his cousin Muslim bin Aqeel as his envoy to Kufa. Imam Husain asked his cousin to stay with the most loyal person in Kufa.

Kufa
The people of Kufa were waiting for Imam Husain's coming. They were tired of the Umayyads' persecution. Meanwhile, they longed for Imam Husain's justice. Muslim bin Aqeel arrived in Kufa and stayed with al-Mukhtar.
The people of Kufa heard about his arrival. The people crowded around al-Mukhtar's house to see Imam Husain's envoy. And they wanted to pay homage to establish Allah's government.
Muslim bin Aqeel read the Kufians Imam Husain's message: In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful From al-Husain bin Ali, To the believing Muslim people, Hany and Saeed brought me your letters.
They were your last two messengers. I have understood all that you have written. The majority of your letters have showed that there is no Imam other than me. You have said:
Come. May Allah bring us together with you to follow Guidance and truthfulness. So, I have sent you my cousin Muslim bin Aqeel. I have ordered him to write me about your attitude. If he writes me that your good people are all in agreement, I'll come, Allah willing. By my life! The Imam must conform to the Book and Justice.
The Muslims were full of hope when they heard Imam Husain's message. Al-Mukhtar paid homage to al-Husain's envoy. He promised to establish the Muslim government. He also promised to revolt against the unjust. Besides he promised to support the persecuted. Al-Mukhtar was the first to pay homage to al-Husain. Then thousands of people paid homage. Their number was eighteen thousand people.

Al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafy
Al-Mukhtar bin Abu UbAld bin Masoud al-Thaqafy was born in Tayif City, 1 A.H. Al-Mukhtar's father loyally believed in Islam. He led the Muslim Army to conquer the Persian country. An elephant killed him at the Battle of al-Jisr. So, his son Jubair led the Muslim army. He became a martyr, too.
Al-Mukhtar's house became the headquarters. The Muslims went to it every day. The spies told Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah about al-Mukhtar. They also told him about al-Numan bin Basheer al-Ansarys' mildness, the ruler of Kufa, with him.
Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah asked the advice of Sergon. Sergon was a spiteful Christian man. Sergon advised Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah to appoint Ubaidullah bin Zyyad, the ruler of Basrah, ruler over Kufa. Ubaidullah bin Zyyad arrived in Kufa
He ordered his guards to arrest Muslim bin Aqeel. Muslim bin Aqeel disappeared in a house in Kufa. Ubaidullah bin Zyyad's guards arrested al-Mukhtar. They sent him to al-Tamura. Al-Tamura was a fearful prison under the ground. Ubaidullah bin Zyyad filled the prisons with innocent people. Meanwhile he sent spies all over Kufa to look for Muslim bin Aqeel. Muslim bin Aqeel was forced to announce the revolution. Many people supported him. Muslim bin Aqeel's forces besieged the Prince's palace for several days. Ubaidullah bin Zyyad was wicked. He spread a rumour: The Shamian enormous army will come. It will destroy Kufa and kill its people. The people believed Ubaidullah bin Zyyad's rumour. They left Imam Husain's envoy alone. Muslim bin Aqeel was forced to disappear again.

Taua's House
The spies found Muslim bin Aqeel in a house which belonged to a good old woman called Taua. Ubaidullah bin Zyyad sent the police to arrest Muslim bin Aqeel. When the police asked him to surrender, he refused and began fighting alone. Muslim bin Aqeel was badly wounded. The police promised to treat him kindly. So, he handed over his sword.
The police arrested and took him to the Prince's palace. Ubaidullah bin Zyyad was full of spite. He hated Ahlul-Bait and their supporters. So, he ordered his guards to kill Muslim bin Aqeel. Besides he ordered them to kill one of his companions. The companion's name was Hany bin Urwa.
He was a leader in Kufa. Ubaidullah bin Zyyad ordered his guards to throw Muslim bin Aqeel and his companion down the palace. Ubaidullah bin Zyyad began killing and imprisoning the people in Kufa for any accusation. So, the people there were afraid.

The Battle of Karbala
Imam Husain left al-Madina al-Monawwara. He went to Mecca to perform the Hajj. Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah knew about al-Husain's travel. He sent some spies to kill him. So, Imam Husain decided to leave Mecca. He said:
"I don't want them to violate the Holiness of the Kaaba
Imam Husain headed for Kufa. On the way, he heard that Ubaidullah bin Zyyad's guards killed Muslim bin Aqeel, Hany, Qais bin Muzahir al-Saidawy, and others.
A thousand horsemen surprised Imam Husain's caravan. They prevented it from advancing towards Karbala. Then the military battalions came successively. Their number was four thousand fighters. Seventy persons came with Imam Husain. They were his family and his supporters.
When Ubaidullah bin Zyyad's army asked Imam Husain to surrender and to pay homage to Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah, he said his famous words:
"Abasement is far away from us!"
Imam Husain was ready to die a martyr for Islam. In the morning, Muharram 10th, the Battle of Karbala took place. Thousands of fighters launched a savage attack against Imam Husain and his companions.
They faced the attack bravely. Strong fights took place. They astonished the enemies. Only seventy fighters were fighting from the early hours of the morning till afternoon. All of Imam Husain's companions passed away. Imam Husain was alone. Still he attacked Ubaidullah bin Zyyad's army. He was fighting bravely. Ubaidullah bin Zyyad's Army killed Imam Husain. It beheaded the martyrs, tied their heads to the spears, and burnt the tents. Then it took the women and the children prisoners.

Al-Husain's Head
Al-Shimr beheaded al-Husain and gave his head to Ubaidullah bin Zyyad. The people saw Imam Husain's head. They felt pain because they did not support him. Ubaidullah bin Zyyad ordered some guards to bring al-Mukhtar. Seeing al-Husain's head, al-Mukhtar said with pain:
"Alas! Alas!"
Then he thought about a revolution to punish the criminals.

Maitham al-Tammar
Maitham al-Tammar was a good man. He was one of Imam Ali's companions. From the Imam's knowledge, he learnt a lot. Maitham al-Tammar was in the same prison with al-Mukhtar. One day al-Mukhtar said to him:
"Ubaidullah bin Zyyad, the unjust man, had killed the Grandson of Allah's Apostle so, he will kill us!"
Maitham al-Tammar said:
"My dear Ali (A.S.) has said to me:" 'They will tie you to a date-palm trunk. Then they will kill you. They will release al-Mukhtar from prison. He will kill the unjust tyrant. He will kick his face with his leg.' "

Safyyah
Safyyah was al-Mukhtar's sister. She was the wife of Abdullah bin Umar bin al-Khattab. Abdullah bin Umar bin al- Khattab had good relation with Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah. So, he asked him to release al-Mukhtar. Ubaidullah bin Zyyad decided to kill al-Mukhtar. But Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah sent a man quickly to him. He ordered him to release al-Mukhtar.
Ubaidullah bin Zyyad read Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah's message. He obeyed him. So, he released al-Mukhtar. He said to him rudely: "You must leave Kufa within three days. If you do not leave it, I will kill you."
So, al-Mukhtar headed for Mecca.

Abdullah bin al-Zubair
Abdullah bin al-Zubair appointed himself caliph. The people paid him homage. Some people liked him. Some disliked the Umayyads. Al-Mukhtar knew that Abdullah bin al-Zubair was ambitious. Anyhow, he paid him homage because he hated the Umayyads. Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah had killed Imam Husain and captured his family.
So, the people of al- Madina al-Monawwara, the majority of the Prophets companions were with them, revolted against him. Muslim bin Akkaba, whom the people called Mujrim bin Akkaba, headed the Shamian army.
He attacked al-Madina al-Monawwara and the Prophet's Holy shrine. He committed massacre. The number of the killed was more than fifteen thousand people. He violated the women. Then he put them in the markets for sale. After that massacre, Yazeed's Army headed for Mecca to occupy it.

Al-Mukhtar defends Allah's House
Mujrim bin Akkaba headed the Shamian Army. On the way to Mecca, a scorpion stung him. He died. So, al-Husain bin Numair, who took part at Karbala massacre, headed the army. The Shamian Army besieged the Holy Mecca.
The soldiers occupied the nearby hills and mountains. The soldiers placed their Majaneeq (in ancient times, machines for throwing fire in war). Al-Husain bin Numair ordered his soldiers to attack Madena:
"Throw fire at them!"
A soldier said:
"Leader, they are meeting in the Kaaba!"
The leader commanded the soldiers with spite:
"Throw fire at the Kaaba!"
The soldiers did. The fire dropped on the houses and the mosques. The walls of the Kaaba caught fire. After the heavy fires, al-Husain bin Numair ordered the horsemen to break into Mecca. He also ordered them to kill the passers-by. The infantry, heavily armed, followed the horsemen.
They advanced towards Mecca. Violent fights took place in the Kaaba. Al-Mukhtar was defending Allah's House against the invaders. He forced them to retreat. A horseman came from Damascus while the violent fights were going on. The horsemen met al-Husain bin Numair. He said to him:
I've sad news." "Say." "Caliph Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah has died! "What?"
Al-Husain bin Numair was surprised to hear the news. He asked the horseman to keep silent. But the news quickly spread among the Shamian soldiers, who were tired of the siege. They were displeased with attacking the Kaaba, Allah' House, because they turned their faces toward it when they said their prayers.

Al-Mukhtar comes back to Kufa
Al-Husain bin Numair withdrew his forces. He headed for Damascus. So, the siege was over. After four years' stay in Madena, al-Mukhtar decided to come back to Kufa. After Yazeed's death, Ubaidullah bin Zyyad escaped to Damascus.
The people of Kufa took advantage of the situation and supported Abdullah bin al-Zubair. Abdullah bin al-Zubair appointed Abdullah bin Mutea, ruler over Kufa. Some rulers who took part at Karbala massacre supported the new ruler.
One day, one of them said: "
Your Highness, the Prince, al-Mukhtar is more dangerous than Sulaiman. Sulaiman went out to Kufa to fight the Shamian people, but al-Mukhtar wants to announce his revolution in Kufa. He wants to get revenge on Imam Husain's killers."
Another said:
"I think you have to imprison him."
The Prince accepted their ideas. Thus, he imprisoned al-Mukhtar.

Sulaiman bin Sird
Sulaiman bin Sird was a good companion. He and the Kufians felt pain because they did not support Imam Husain at the Battle of Karbala. For this reason, he asked them to turn to Allah in repentance.
Four thousand Muslims followed him. He formed an army. He announced his revolution against the Umayyads, who killed Imam Husain and captured his family. Although the soldiers were few in numbers, they were very eager to start the fight. First, they visited Imam Husain's tomb and wept very much.
Then they headed for Sham. Ubaidullah bin Zyyad formed an army of eight thousand soldiers. Violent fights took place. The two armies met at Ain al-Warda on the borders between Iraq and Sham. Sulaiman bin Sird passed away during the fights. Ryfaah bin Shaddad headed the army after Sulaiman bin Sird. Then he decided to withdraw the army to Kufa.

Al-Mukhtar sends a Message
From his prison, al-Mukhtar sent a message to Ryfaah and his companions. The message was as follows:
"Allah has made your reward greater. He has decreased your sins for fighting the unjust. Allah will reward you."
Ryfaah answered al-Mukhtar's message. In it he said:
"We are ready to break into the prison to release you!"
Al-Mukhtar ordered them not to do that.

Al-Mukhtar announces Revolution
Abdullah bin Umar bin al-Khattab interceded for al-Mukhtar again. He was released. Having left prison, al-Mukhtar began calling up the people to punish the persons who committed Karbala massacre. In the meantime, he received a letter from Muhammad bin al-Hanafiyah, Imam Ali's son. In his letter, Muhammad announced his support to al-Mukhtar.
Muhammad's attitude encouraged people to stand by al-Mukhtar. Ibraheem al-Ashtar, a brave senior army leader, joined al-Mukhtar. The revolutionaries fixed time to announce the revolution. The time was Thursday night, Rabi al-Awwal 14th, 66 A.H. The spies were reporting about al-Mukhtar's movements. Meanwhile, the police were roaming through the streets in Kufa.

The Revolution breaks out
On Tuesday night, Rabi al-Awwal, namely two days before the revolution, on the way to al-Mukhtar's house, Ibraheem al-Ashtar and some of his friends came across a patrol. The Commander of the patrol said:
"Who are you?"
Ibraheem al-Ashtar answered:
"I'm Ibraheem al-Ashtar"
The Commander of the patrol said:
"Who are those with you? Have you permission to go out at night?" "No." "We must arrest you!"
Ibraheem al-Ashtar was forced to attack the Commander. He killed him. The rest of the patrol ran away. Ibraheem al-Ashtar and his friends hurried to al-Mukhtar. They told him about the accident. Ibraheem al-Ashtar said to al-Mukhtar:
"You must announce the revolution at once!"
Al-Mukhtar said:
"What has happened?" "I have killed the Commander of the patrol. It's important to announce the revolution at once."
Al-Mukhtar became cheerful and said:
"May Allah make you happy! This is the beginning of the conquest!"

The Revenge
Al-Mukhtar ordered his followers to make fires. The fires were a sign of the revolution. At midnight, the Kufians woke. They heard the revolutionaries repeating slogans. The revolutionaries went to al-Mukhtar's house. Street clashes took place in Kufa. The Ruler's soldiers and the police surrendered. Then the Ruler himself escaped to al-Hejaz.

In Kufa Mosque
Al-Mukhtar went up the pulpit. He announced the aims of the revolution:
"I'll conform to Allah's Book and to His Apostle's Sunnah. I'll take revenge on Imam Husain's killers I'll fight against those who have broken Allah's laws. I'll defend the weak against the strong."
Al-Mukhtar wanted to follow Imam Ali's just policy. So, the people were full of happiness. The Umayyads were racists. They preferred Arabs to non-Arabs. For this reason, al-Mukhtar abolished racial discrimination. He adopted justice instead.

The Victory
After the Battle of Ain al-Warda, the Umayyad Army went on advancing towards Kufa. It occupied Mousal City. Then it headed for Kufa.
Al-Mukhtar formed an army of three thousand fighters. Yazeed bin Anas, a brave, good, old man headed the army Reaching Mousal suburbs, al-Mukhtar's Army met the Umayyads' one at two battles. It won the two battles. Then Yazeed bin Anas died. His death affected his fighters' spirits. They were afraid of the Umayyads' Big Army. Thus, they decided to come back to Kufa.

The Rumours
Imam Husain's killers rumoured that al-Mukhtar's army was defeated. They also rumoured that Yazeed bin Anas was killed at the battle. So, al-Mukhtar formed an army of seven thousand fighters. He ordered Ibraheem al-Ashtar, a brave leader, to head the army.
The army left Kufa. Al-Mukhtar's enemies took advantage of the situation. They plotted against al-Mukhtar's government. The rebels besieged the Prince's palace. In spite of the siege, al-Mukhtar sent a horseman to Ibraheem al-Ashtar. The horseman told him to come back.
After three days' siege, the rebels were astonished to see the army coming back. The army could end the Mutiny quickly. It arrested some plotters. And some escaped. The army executed Harmala bin Kahil, who killed Imam Husain's baby. It arrested and executed Sanan bin Anas, who took part in Imam Husain's killing. And it executed Amr bin Saad, who led the Umayyad Army at Karbala massacre. Shibth bin Riby escaped to Basrah. Shimr bin Zil- Jawshan also escaped. The army chased him. It found him at a village in Wasit and executed him. Al-Shimr himself had beheaded Imam Husain. He took his head to Kufa and Damascus.

Al-Mukhtar thanks To Allah
Al-Mukhtar was a good man. He fasted to thank Allah for His blessings. Allah granted him victory over the Prophet's enemies, who killed his grandson and robbed his family of their possessions. Al-Mukhtar thought that Allah's blessings are countless. Concerning this, Allah, the Glorified, said:
"And if you count Allah's favours, you will not be able to number them."
So, al-Mukhtar fasted for most days of the year.

The Battle of al-Khazar
Ibraheem al-Ashtar's Army reached al-Khazar River. There he met Ubaidullah bin Zyyad's Army. Violent fights took place between the two sides.
The Kufian Army fought bravely. Some commandos made a brave attack against the Umayyads' headquarters. They killed senior leaders such as Ubaidullah bin Zyyad and al-Husain bin Numair. Anyhow, Ibraheem al-Ashtar's Army defeated Ubaidullah bin Zyyad's. Al-Mukhtar's victory spread all over the Muslim cities. The Muslims became happy when they heard about Ubaidullah bin Zyyad's killing.
The Battle of al-Khazar suited Allah's Words:
"How often has a small party vanquished a numerous host by Allah's permission"
Ibraheem al-Ashtar's small army defeated Ubaidullah bin Zyyad's big one.

Abd al-Malik bin Marwan
Al-Mukhtar made peace with Abdullah bin al-Zubair to unite efforts against the Umayyads, the enemy of Islam. Still Abdullah bin al-Zubair was ambitious. He was afraid of al-Mukhtar's increasing power and popular base, for he could end the persons who committed Karbala massacre. Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah died. His son Mu'awiyah succeeded him.
Mu'awiyah bin Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah was a believing young man. He admitted that his father was bad. Therefore, he resigned from the Caliphate.
Marwan bin al-Hakam was ambitious. He took advantage of the situation. So, he became the ruler. He ruled for six months. He died. Then his son Abid al-Malik succeeded him. Abd al-Malik bin Marwan sent a big army to occupy al-Madina al-Monawwara. Al-Mukhtar heard about the army.
He formed an army of three thousand fighters to save the Prophets' City. Apparently, bin al-Zubair sent an army of two thousand fighters to defend Madina against Abid al-Malik's Army. Abdullah bin al-Zubair's real aim was to attack al-Mukhtar's Army. Al-Mukhtar's soldiers were busy fighting. Bin al-Zubair's army took advantage of the situation.
It attacked al-Mukhtar's soldiers. It killed some soldiers. The rest escaped to the desert. They died of hunger and thirst. Bin al-Zubair disliked the Alawids. He brought them together near a mountain outside Mecca. He prevented them from leaving that place. Besides he demolished their houses. Al-Mukhtar sent five thousand fighters to raise the siege. He released the Alawids and rebuilt their houses.

Musab bin al-Zubair
Abdullah bin Al-Zubair thought about a new, strict ruler to appoint over Basrah. He chose his brother Musab to carry out the task. Musab bin al-Zubair arrived in Basrah. He addressed its people: "Some people have told me that you surname your rulers. Before you surname me, I have surnamed myself al-Jazzar (Butcher)." Some persons killed innocent people. They escaped from al-Mukhtar's justice. They began urging Musab to fight al-Mukhtar.

The Martyrdom
Musab formed a big army and headed for Kufa. He took al-Mukhtar by surprise. Ibraheem al-Ashtar was in Mousil City. Al-Mukhtar faced Bin al-Zubair with his small army.
The two sides won victories during the first fights. Bin al-Zubair's Army launched a strong attack. It forced al-Mukhtar's army to come back to Kufa. Musab's Army followed al-Mukhtar to Kufa. It besieged his palace.
The siege went on for four months. Al-Mukhtar tried to raise the siege. He ordered the Kufians to make street clashes. But they disobeyed him. On Ramadhan 14th, 61, al-Mukhtar decided to leave his palace. He said to his companions:
"The siege will weaken us more and more! Let's go out to die martyrs."
Only seventeen persons obeyed al-Mukhtar. They went out to fight the big army that surrounded the palace. Al-Mukhtar was sixty-seven years old. He fought bravely. Then he died a martyr for Islam. Musab cheated the persons who stayed in the palace. He promised not to harm if they came out. When they opened the gates of the palace, he ordered his soldiers to kill them all. Meanwhile, he executed seven thousand people on one day. It was a horrible massacre. The Kufians had never seen it before.

The Believing Women
Musab ordered his soldiers to arrest al-Mukhtars wife. Her name was Umra. Her father's name was al-Numan bin Basher al-Ansary. She was a believing woman. Musab asked her to disown her husband. She said:
"I won't disown him. He fasted at day. He said his prayers at night. He sacrificed himself to Allah and His Apostle. He took revenge on Imam Husain's killers."
Musab said with a threat:
"I'll kill you."
The believing woman said:
"To die a martyr for Allah is better than this world. I'll die and enter the Paradise! I prefer Imam Ali's to everything!"
Musab decided to kill her. In the dark, a person took her to a place between Hira and Cuba. In that desert the person beheaded her. She died a martyr for Imam Husain's aims. Al-Mukhtar and his wife passed away. They wrote a bright page in the history of Jihad. The page has illuminated the way for generations

Kumail bin Zyyad
On Thursday night the Moslems finish the night prayers. They sit down in lines. They implore Allah, the Merciful Creator, to forgive them their sins. They ask him to be pleased with them. Sweet words flow out of the mosque minarets. The words fly high in the clear sky full of stars:
Allah, I implore You with Your mercy that has included everything. And with Your power with which You have overcome everything, And every thing has.yielded to it...
Whose supplication is this?
It's Kumail's.
What's the story of this supplication?

Who was Kumail?
He was Kumail bin Zyyad al-Nakhay. He was one of Imam Ali's companions. He was a noble man. His people obeyed him. He came from Yaman. His family inhabited Kufa during Imam Ali's Caliphate. Abid al-Rahman bin al-Ashath led a revolution against alHajjaj. Kumail joined the revolution. He led the Koran Readers' Battalion.

The Beginning
Our Master Muhammad said:
I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate.
Imam Ali (A.S.) was a great scholar. He said:
Allah's Apostle has taught me a thousand doors of knowledge. Each door leads to a thousand doors.
He also said:
The Zakat (alms) of knowledge is to publish it.
So, Imam Ali (A.S.) taught his companions whatever they wanted. One day, he took Kumail with him outside Kufa. It was night. The sky was full of stars. Northern fresh breeze was blowing. Imam Ali (A.S.) said to his companion: Kumail, these hearts are containers (of knowledge). The best of them are those that best preserve the knowledge. Therefore, preserve what I say to you:
There are three classes of people. The first class knows Allah. The second learns knowledge as means of salvation. And the third is rabble, - followers of every crower, who bend with every breeze. These men do not seek to be illuminated by the light of learning, nor do they resort to any authority. Kumail, knowledge is better than wealth. Knowledge guards you while you guard wealth. Wealth is diminished by expenditure while knowledge is increased even by giving it away. Kumail, those who amass wealth die even as they live, while those who have knowledge will continue to exist for as long as time lasts.

Al-Khidr's Supplication
Imam Ali (A.S.) was sitting with a group of his companions. One of them asked him about the explanation of the following Holy Verse: "Therein every wise affair is made distinct"
The Imam said:
It is on Shaban 15th.
Then he added:
By Allah, man faces his fate on Shaban 15th. So, man must implore Allah at such a night He must read Al-Khidr's supplication. Certainly, Allah accepts it.
The meeting was over and the Imam went home. The evening came. Then it got dark. People went to bed. At that hour, Kumail got up. He went to Imam Ali's house. He had a question. Kumail knocked at the door. Imam Ali (AS.) said:
Kumail what has brought you?
Kumail, politely said:
Amirul-Momineen, Al-Khidr's supplication
The Imam kindly said:
Kumail, please sit down.
Then he added:
I'll read you a supplication. Read it on Thursday nights.
The Imam began reading the supplication. Kumail was writing it. Nowadays, millions of Moslems read the supplication. They call it Kumail's supplication. Thursday night, when you are free, then read Kumail's supplication. Faith will shine in your heart. It will illuminate the way of your life as it had illuminated the way of Kumail's life.

Al-Hajjaj
Imam Ali (A.S.) passed away. Maawyyah became a Caliph. Unjust rulers succeeded him. Kufa lived unbearable life. The rulers imprisoned and killed the God-fearing followers of Ahlul-bait. Zyyad bin Abeeh ruled Kufa. Then his son Ubaidullah succeeded him.
The latter killed the Prophet's grandson. Besides he killed seventy of his companions and his family. AI-Hajjaj did his best to please the Umayyad rulers. He filled his prison with innocent men and women. In his prison, there were fifty thousand men and thirty thousand women.
The prison was roofless. The prisoners were subjected to the sun heat in summer. And they were subjected to rain and coldness in winter. In summer their faces became as black as Negroes. A person had been in prison for months.
One day his mother went to the prison to visit him. She was astonished to see him. She said:
He's not my son. My son is white. This young man is a Negro. I don't know him
The young man reminded his mother of some marks. The mother became certain of her son. She burst into tears. Then she died of sadness.

The Revolution
AI-Hajjaj hated Ahlul-Bait and their followers very much. So, he filled the prisons with Shias. They had no guilt but had loved Muhammad's family.
AI-Hajaj was unjust. People hated him. They asked Abid al-Malik to remove him from office. Abid al-Malik refused because al-Hajaj wanted to strengthen the Umayyad rule with fire and sword. AI-Hajaj was wicked. He sent people to fight and occupy lands. He forced them to join the invading armies.
He wanted them to get the booty of the conquered lands. In the meantime, he wanted to get rid of them.

Abid al-Rahman bin al-Ashath
King Ratbil ruled Turkey. AI-Hajjaj sent Abid al-Rahman bin al-Ashath to Turkey to invade it. Abid al-Rahman went deeply into the Turkish lands. He won victories at some battles. So, he sent al-Hajjaj a letter.
In the letter he asked him to stop fighting to refresh his fighters. AI-Hajjaj's answer was full of abuses. Meanwhile, he ordered Abid al-Rahman to go deeper into the Turkish lands. Abid al-Rahman and his fighters knew al-Hajjaj's wicked aims. So, they decided to revolt against al-Hajaj and Abid al-Malik. After Abid al-Rahman had announced the revolution, he came back from Turkey. Many people supported him. The Koran readers were the first to support him. The Koran readers formed a battalion. Kumail bin Zyyad led the battalion
Because the Kufians suffered from persecution, they also supported the revolution. The number of the revolutionaries was over one hundred people. This number included the Koran readers, worshipers, poets, religious jurists, and the common. Half the number were foreigners,. They suffered from racial discrimination. 'Me Umayyads preferred Arabs to non-Arabs.
Saeed bin Jubair, the most famous jurist, was among the revolutionaries. He made the people eager to start the revolution. Poets urged Abid al-Rahman to go on revolting to end persecution

The Fights
In 81 AH., Abid al-Rahman advanced towards Iraq. Violent fights took place there. The revolutionaries defeated al-Hajjaj's army. They freed many cities such as Sajestan and Kirman (in Iran), Basra and Kufa (In Iraq).
Abd al-Malik sent a man to Abid al-Rahman to hold talks with him. He accepted some conditions such as removing al-Hajjaj from office. People rejoiced at freedom and victory. So, they insisted on removing Abd al-Malik from the office, for he appointed al-Hajjaj ruler over them. Abid al-Malik sent military supplies to support al-Hajjaj. The army in Khurasan joined him, too.

The Battle of Deer al-Jamajum
The two armies met at Deer al-Jamajum. A violent fight took place between the two sides. AI-Hajjaj defeated Abid al-Rahman. Abid al-Rahman's army scattered. Some fighters escaped. Some passed away. Abid al-Rahman himself took refuge in Turkey. Some revolutionaries such as Saeed bin Jubair and Kumail bin Zyyad disappeared. AI-Hajjaj began looking for the revolutionaries. He executed some of them. And some were afraid of him.

The Martyrdom
After Deer al-Jamajum Battle, Kumail bin Zyyad was far away from spies. The police were looking for Kumail everywhere. AI-Hajjaj used a new way to arrest Kumail. He ordered the police to annoy Kumail's followers. He deprived them of money. So, their economic condition was bad. Kumail heard about that. Thus, he decided to surrender. The police took him to al-Hajjaj.

Kumail's Memories
Kumail bravely walked with the police. In the meantime, he recalled the beautiful days with his teacher and leader Imam Ali (A.S.). Kumail remembered the days when he was a soldier in the Imam's Army. He remembered his fights against the disloyal, the unjust and the apostates.
Kumail remembered the day when he led an army of four hundred fighters to face a raid by Maawyyah's Army. Kumail remembered the day when he chased the invaders in Kirkeesya. He remembered the Imam's scolding letter because he left the borders of his country without soldiers.
The Imam's letter read as follows: Certainly you have deeply gone into Kirkeesya. And you have left the positions without protection. The idea is incorrect You have become a bridge for your enemies to attack your friends.

Why did Kumail surrender?
Kumail believed in Allah and the hereafter. He loved all people. He loved his family and his tribe. AI-Hajjaj mistreated Kumail's family and tribe. So, Kumail surrendered to save them from persecution. Kumail remembered Imam Ali's (A.S.) words:
Kumail, order your family to do good. Order them to help people at night ..
Before Al-Hajjaj Kumail's face was bright. His beard was white. His heart was certain. Kumail came into al-Hajjaj's palace. He saw al-Hajjaj sitting and his guards standing around him.
He saw a headsman carrying a sword. Kumail new that al-Hajjaj would kill him, for Imam Ali (AS.) had told him about that. Paying not attention to al-Hajjaj, Kumail said:
My master Imam Ali (A.S.) has told me that you will kill me. Allah's enemy, do whatever you like! And know that the Judgement Day will be after killing.
Al-Hajjaj said:
Disown Ali to save your soul.
Kumail said:
Show me a religion better than Ali's.
AI-Hajjaj ordered the headsman to behead Kumail.

Kumail Shrine
Nowadays, the visitor sees Kumail shrine on a hill at Wadi al-Salam in Holy Najaf. Sweet perfume spread in Kumail shrine. On Thursday nights, sweet words fly high in the sky full of stars. The words remind people of that great martyr whose name has connected with the supplication. So, his name will be immortal