Writes Shahzad Hussain Hamdani
Yazīd ibn Mu‘āwiya ibn Abī Sufyān, commonly known as Yazeed, was the Caliph as appointed by his father Muawiyah.
It has been noticed that some people in their indirect or even direct hatred for Ahlul Bayt (Family of Prophet – Peace be upon him) try to cover the acts of Yazeed and in this process they try to paint him into a great personality. With the Grace of Allah we shall see how this traitor to Islam (i.e. Yazeed) got Imam Hussain (R.A) martyred and how he ransacked Madina al-Munawwara and committed heinous crimes therein
Firstly we would like to present this beautiful sahih hadith of Prophet (Salallaho alaihi wasalam) regarding people who “Ransack” our beloved sanctuary called Madina al Munawara.
Imam Ahmed narrates this report from Sa’ib bin Khalad (RA) that the Prophet of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: Whosoever spreads injustice and frightened the people of Madina, then Curse (Lanah) of Allah, his Angels and all the people is upon such a person.
[Reference:Musnad Ahmed bin Hanbal as narrated by Imam Ibn Kathir in Al Bidayah Wal Nihayah Vol 8 Page No. 274]
The Holy Quran states: Those who annoy Allah and His Messenger, Allah has cursed them in this World and in the Hereafter and has prepared for them a humiliating Punishment (33:57)
The first incident relates to the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (R.A). Undoubtedly he ventured out, at the call of the people of Iraq, to destroy the throne of Yazeed, and the regime of Yazeed also regarded him as a rebel. He (Imam Hussain) was not being accompanied by an army. With him were his sons and daughters, other family members, 32 riders and 42 on feet. No one can characterize this as a military expedition, especially when the strength of the contingent from Kufa under the leadership of Omar ibn Saa’d ibn Abi Waqqas was 4,000. There was no need for such a disproportionately large contingent to engage that tiny, essentially non-military, caravan; of course, there was no justification to kill him. They could have easily surround and seize this tiny caravan. Also, Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) was not ready to surrender to Ibn Ziyad, because he was fully aware of how he treated Muslim ibn Aqeel. At last, Hazrat Imam Hussain (r) was fought. Even when all the companions of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) were martyred and he was alone in that field, these people deemed it necessary to attack him. When his body fell to the ground, he was decapitated. Everything from his body was removed; even clothes from his body were also removed. Then, his body was mauled under the feet of horses. Then, his station was looted and the coverings of the women belonging to the Family of Prophet Mohammad (SAW) were removed. Then, his as well as the severed heads of other martyrs of Karbala were taken to Kufa. Ibn Ziyad not only displayed all these in public, standing on the minbar of the Jame Masjid, he proclaimed: “All praises to Allah, who has distinguished the truth and its adherents, granted victory to Yazeed and his army, and has killed the liar’s-son-liar Hussain ibn Ali and his supporters.” After this all the severed heads were sent to Yazeed in Damascus, where Yazeed put up a pompous display.
If Imam Hussain had pledged allegiance to a tyrant ruler, he could have saved Himself, and would have most likely given a high post and who would have allowed him to do his prayer, fasting, and other ritual acts of worship. But he was the grandson of a Prophet who said, “One of the greatest jihad is to stand up to a tyrant ruler, and say a word of truth.” Therefore, Imam Hussain in one of his speeches on the way to Karbala said,
” To live with an oppressor is a crime in itself”
The second tragic incident occurred during the battle of Harrah. It was during the end of Hijra year 63 and toward the end of Yazeed’s life, this battle occurred. In summary, the residents of Madinah revolted against Yazeed, labeling him as Fasiq/Fajir and Zalim. They dispelled the governor of Madinah. After learning about this, Yazeed wrote to Ibn Ziyad that he should attack Makkah and besiege Abdullah Ibn Zubayr (RA); but he refused to do so and said: By Allah I will not combine two things for a Fasiq (i.e. Yazeed). I have already killed the Grandson of Prophet (salallaho alaihi wasalam) (on his order) and now (he asks me to) wage war on Bayt ul Harram-The Homeland of Prophet Mohammad (SAW)?
Yazeed then sent Muslim ibn Uqba al-Murbi with twelve thousand soldiers to attack Madinah. He instructed them to give the Madinians three days’ respite to give allegiance. If they do not, then fight against them, and if you are victorious, let Madinah be permissible (halal) for the soldiers for three days. According to his instructions, the soldiers attacked/entered and conquered Madinah. Then, he (Muslim ibn Uqba), in accordance with Yazeed’s commandment, instructed the soldiers to do whatever they liked in Madinah for three days. During these days there was wanton looting everywhere. The residents were subjected to wholesale massacre. According to the reports of Imam Zuhri, almost 700 nobles and 10,000 commoners of Madinah were killed. The barbaric army also subjected the women of Madinah to indiscriminate rape. Hafiz ibn Katheer reports: “It is reported that during this time one thousand women became pregnant due to rape.”
Abdullah Bin Khazlatal Ghusail (a Sahabi) that he said: By Allah we did not revolt against Yazeed until we were sure that “WE WILL BE SHOWERED WITH STONES FROM SKY”. The Yazeed gave legitimacy to do Nikah with their mothers, sisters and daughters, they started to drink openly and neglected prayers! Imam Dhahabi (rah) said: When Yazeed did such things with people of Madina although “ he was indulged in drinking and other evil deeds even before” then the people of Makkah also revolted against him and rose against him from 4 sides and then Allah did not put Barakath in life of Yazeed .
[Reference: As-Suyuti, Tarikh ul Khulafa, Page No. 167]
The third incident has been mentioned in the above report from Hazrat Hasan Basri; was the Battle of Harrah. After rampaging the city of the Prophet, the same contingent went to fight Abdullah ibn Zubayr (r.a) in Makkah and catapulted stones over Kaa’ba. As a result, one side of Kaa’ba collapsed. History reports that they even set fire to Kaaba Sharief. The siege ended when Yazeed died suddenly in 683 CE. Yazeed was killed by his own horse after it lost control.
Now there is a General View spread by some People who call themselves as Scholars that the Hadith compiled by Bukhari states the “FIRST ARMY” to wage Jihad against Constantinople is forgiven. This Hadith clearly did not refer to Yazeed as he did not take part in the first battle of Constantinople in 42 Hijri, YAZEED WAS BORN IN 25 Hijri and it was his father Mu’awiya during the reign of Caliph Uthman(R.A) therefore this verse did not apply at all to Yazeed. In fact according to the scholar Ibn Khaldun; Yazeed was unwillingly to take part in the 1st 7 Jihads against Constantinople, and was eventually forced to attend the 8th by his father. Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari records under the year 49 Hijri (or 669-670 CE) during the reign of Muawiyah I, a number of forces, attacked Constantinople. However Yazeed was not in the first army that attacked Constantinople and it was the 8th attack in which Yazeed participated, the first attack being in 42 Hijri. This First Arab siege of Constantinople was a naval assault lasting through the years 670-677.
Finally In Tafseer Ruh al Maani “Allamah Alusi stated, The treatment that he meted out to the people of Makkah, Medina and the family of the Prophet proves that he was a kaafir”.
Once in the gathering of Ummar Bin Abdul Aziz [R.A] people talked about yazeed, someone among the people said ( Amir Ul Mominein to Yazeed ) Hazrat Ummar Bin Abdul Aziz [R.A] replied in anger,” you call Yazeed ( Bad Character Person ) as Amir Ul Mominein? Than Hazrat Ummar Bin Abdul Aziz [R.A] gave order of 20 lashes to the person who called Yazeed Amir Ul Mominein
[Reference: Tahdheeb Al’Tahdheeb Vol 1 Page 361]
All these incidents clearly demonstrate that this Unislamic and Lanti ruler used to hold his power and protect it above everything else. He did not hesitate to cross any boundary or commit any wrong for his power.
I appeal to the Ummah that The Crime of Yazeed was not just limited to the incident of Karbala, but history shows his unislamic Character after the Tragedic Event of Karbala; the Attack on the city of Prophet Mohammad (SAW) and followed by another attack on Makkah. So every Muslim should refrain from so called Islamic Scholars who propagate wrong information and present a Wrong Islamic history, because sending Praise to such people is disrespect to the Prophet Mohammad (SAW). And Quran says. “O you who believe! Be not forward in the presence of Allah and His (Prophetic) Messenger, and be in reverential awe of Allah. Surely, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud when speaking to him as you shout one to another, lest your deeds become worthless while you perceive not. Surely, those who lower their voices in the presence of the (Prophetic) Messenger of Allah, those are they whose hearts Allah has tested for piety. For them is forgiveness and an immense reward. (49:1-3)