KUFIANS’ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO HAZRAT MUSLIM BIN AQEEL- 8-The Event of Karbala-

KUFIANS’ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO HAZRAT MUSLIM BIN AQEEL

 رضی اللہ عنہ-The Event of Karbala-8

KUFIANS’ PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE TO HAZRAT MUSLIM BIN AQEEL رضی اللہ عنہ

Muslim arrived in Kufa on 5 Shawwal 60 AH/ 9 July 680

On arriving in Kufa, Hazrat Imaam Muslim رضی اللہ عنہ went to the house
of a person by the name of Mukhtar bin ‘Ubaieda, a lover of the household of
the Prophet the Ahl-e-Baiet. The people of Kufaa on hearing that Imaam Muslim رضی اللہ عنہ had arrived
flocked to the house in large numbers to swear allegiance at his hands. About thousands
swore allegiance. They showered him with much love and reverence.

Seeing the emotional exuberance, respect, and love of the
people of Kufaa, Hazrat Muslim sent an envoy with this message to the Hazrat
Imaam Husaien  رضی اللہ عنہ informing him
of the situation and saying that 18,000 people already pledged allegiance with
him. He advised Hazrat Imaam Husaien رضی اللہ عن to definitely come to Kufaa so that the Muslims would
become safe from the torment of Yazeed’s takeover and pledge allegiance to a
worthy and just leader—all for the Religion [Deen] of Truth to be supported.

As soon as the letter carrier was dispatched the situation
changed.

The governor of Kufa, Nu’man ibn Bashir, was told of
Muslim’s arrival, but refused to attack him. Ibn Bashir was a mild man and did
not want to harm the members of the family of the Prophet, so he did nothing to
stop Hazrat Imam Muslim رضی اللہ عن.

YAZEED IS INFORMED:

Some followers of Yazeed also lived in Kufa. They informed
Yazeed of the show and support for Imaam Husaien رضی اللہ عنہ and the thousands pledging allegiance at
the hands of Imaam. They told Yazeed that he was oblivious of the rebellious
situation in Kufaa and if he did not tackle it immediately it would go out of
control. They urged him to crush this rebellion with force. When Yazeed
received this news, he became worried and realizing the danger to his seat of
power.

Yazeed then deposed Bashir and replaced him with Ibn Ziyad.
Ibn Ziyad was a resourceful and a cruel politician who spared nothing in order
to attain political ends. His strong and ruthless character was exactly what
the caliph was looking for in order to gain control in Kufa.

Yazeed also wrote to him that he should retain his
governorship of Basra but should also assume the position of governor of Kufa.
Yazeed ordered him to crush the opposition to his Caliphate with all the power
at his disposal. He gave him the power to act as he sees fit as long as the
rebellion is crushed.

Yazeed wrote to him, “Go to Kufa, capture Muslim Bin
Aqeel and see what is appropriate to imprison him, send him to exile or kill
him.”

GOVERNERS WARNING TO THE KUFIAN’S:

Ibn Ziyaad arrived at Kufaa with full authority from Yazeed,
the first thing he did on arrival was to arrest and prison them at the city
governing offices, all the influential persons who had given allegiance to
Hazrat Imaam Muslim on behalf of Hazrat Imaam Husaien رضی اللہ عنہ .The news of these arrests quickly
spread around Kufa and people became afraid that if such influential people had
been jailed what would be their own fate. Ibn Ziyaad in the meantime was
thinking of approaches to arrest Imaam Muslim رضی اللہ عنہ .

He soon after his arrival gathered the people at the grand
mosque. There he delivered a speech warning them against mutiny and promised
them generous rewards for conforming.

He gathered all the influential persons whom he had arrested
and said to them that if they wanted their families to be safe then they should
listen to him. When they asked him what he wanted, he said that every one of them
has a relative in this crowd around the governing offices, so they should stand
on the roof and explain to them to leave the side of Imaam Hazrat Muslim Bin
Aqeel رضی اللہ عنہ.

He threatened them that if they did not act as he orders
then they would be killed and the approaching army of Yazeed would destroy Kufa,
their houses would be burnt, and their children killed, and they will be crucified
on the door of their own houses”.

So, he pressured them to act as he orders if they desire
their safety and the safety of their families.

They climbed onto the roof and called out to their dear
ones. They said that power and rule was in Yazeeds hand and although Hazrat
Imaam Husaien رضی اللہ عنہ
was the grandson of the Holy Prophet ﷺ he could not stop the Yazeedi
administration.

Slowly the people began leaving the side of Hazrat Imaam
Muslim in groups. Initially he had surrounded the government offices with his
many followers and between ‘Asr Salaah and Maghrib Salaah only 500 followers amongst
thousands were left with the Imaam.

Until here by the Evening Prayers [Maghrib Salaah], only 30
supporters of Hazrat Muslim remained! When Hazrat Muslim saw this betrayal and
disloyalty of his supporters, he was deeply sad and disappointed. After the
Prayers, with these 30 supporters he proceeded to the Kunda neighborhoods area,
and by the time he reached there, even the 30 who stood with him, left one by one
and was lessened to zero. Hazrat Muslim ضی اللہ عنہ was now left alone.

How disheartening and miserable was this state? Whichever
lovers- supporters door he would go to… found the door close on him.

In such a populous city, there was nowhere he could safely
spend the night. These were the very people who claimed to be lovers of the household
of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and called themselves Lovers of Hazrat ‘Alee رضی اللہ عنہ.

Ahh! These people of Kufa were the same people who claimed
to be lovers of the Holy Prophet’s family who had sent thousands of letters and
delegations and demonstrated much love and enthusiasm in calling him. These
were the same ones who had made major big promises while giving oath of pledging
of sacrificing their life and wealth and not leaving their support. And today
this is the condition that after hearing a simple warning they got impressed
and influenced all for the greed of this worldly wealth and positions and they
abandoned him.

Along with this anxiety there was another thought
predicament which was agonizing his heart was that he had already written a
letter to Hazrat Imaam Husaien رضی اللہ عنہ.

 In which he had persuasively
requested him to come to Kufa. Hazrat Muslim knew that the Prophet’s grandson
trusted him and would not decline his request. He would surely come to Kufa
with his family and friends—but what adversities would they face and experience
under the disloyalty deception and treachery of the Kufīan’s?