A Journey without equal

Imam Hussain's one way journey from Medina to Karbala fourteen hundred years ago wasn't an ordinary journey. It was a journey of sublimity, enlightenment and deliverance for humanity. Imam Hussain (AS) treaded a path laden with challenges and difficulties but accepted the fate accompli with matching perseverance and absolute submission to the Will of God. His trial by ordeal brought the best out of him, his family and his matchless companions.                                                                       

Imam Hussain's journey from Medina to Mecca and then from Mecca to  Karbala is a unique journey of human perseverance and submission to the will of God that transcends the limits of time and geography.  Imam's caravan comprising also women and children of his family covered 1423 kms from Mecca to Karbala to draw his nation back to the ways of God.

                On 8^th Zul Hajj, Imam Hussain converted Hajj into Umra and moved out of Mecca. This must have been a very painful decision for the Imam but he preferred not to waste his life at the hands of unknown murderers as Yazid had sent his hirelings impersonating as pilgrims to kill him.

This did not fit into what The Imam had planned. He wanted to offer his sacrifice in a unique way so that its impact for the glory of Islam was far-reaching and permanent.

When Imam left Mecca, Yahya bin Said b Al-As met him with a group of men sent by Amr bin Said. This group ordered the Imam to return but the Imam refused to oblige. A scuffle ensued and the two groups came to blows and hit each other with whips. Finally, however, the Imam and his companions were able to continue their journey. It was a very tough journey through a barren, rugged terrain unsuitable even to sturdy, expert travelers which the Imam was to cover with his family. On the 1st of Muharram his journey was cut short at Karbala. The stopovers between Mecca and Karbala were:

1. Safah

This is the first place which is mentioned after his departure from Mecca. The Imam did not stay here. He passed by it and met Farzdouq poet here. Farzdouq mentioned the state of affairs in Kufa and told the Imam that Kuffan's hearts were with him but their swords were with the Umayyids. The Imam answered, 'everything is in the hands of Allah. He does what He wishes, Each day, He shows new miracles of His might. If the fate is according to our wishes we will thank him for that.'

2. Al Tanim

Here the Imam met a camel-train which had come from Yemen. The Imam hired some camels and other paraphernalia for his  companions and said to the owners, 'whoever  (of you) wants to come with us to Iraq, we will pay his hire and enjoy his company and whoever wants to leave some way along the road we will pay his hire for the distance he has travelled.' Some of the people went with him. This established that he had set out from Mecca in emergency and without much planning. It was at Al Tanim that Abdullah bin Jafar and Yahya bin Said bin al-As met him. Abdullah bin Jafar had come with guarantee of safety and security from Amr bin Said. Abdullah bin Jafar tried to persuade Imam Hussain to abandon his idea of going to Kufa but failed. The Imam answered, "I have seen the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, in my sleep and he ordered me (to do) what I am carrying out".

What was the vision?" they both asked.

"I have not told anyone of it", he answered and "I am not going to tell anyone until I meet my Lord, the Mighty and Exalted". When Abdullah bin Jafar failed to persuade him, he told his sons, Awn and Muhammad, to stay with him to go with him and to struggle on behalf of him. He returned with Yahya bin Said to Mecca.

3. Dhat Iraq

Imam pressed on swiftly and directly towards Iraq until he reached Dhat Iraq.

4. Batn Al-Rumma and AL-Hajiz

Batn-al-Ruma is the name of a valley and Hijaz is a place in it. From there the Imam sends Qays bin Mushir al-Saydawi, some say it was Abd Allah bin Yugtur, to Kufa. The Imam had not yet learnt the news of the fate of Ibne Aqil. He sent the following letter with him.

"In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate from AL- Hussain  bin Ali.

To his brother believers and Muslims, Greeting to you, I praise God before you, other than Whom there is no deity. Muslim bin Aqil's letter came to me informing me of your sound judgment and agreement of your leaders to support and to seek our rights. I have asked God to make your actions good and reward you with the greatest reward. I set out towards you from Mecca on the 8^th of Dhu al-Hajja, the Day of Tarwiya. When my messenger reaches you, be urgent and purposeful in your affairs, for I am coming to you within the (next few) days. Greetings and the mercy and blessing of God. (Kitabul Irshad)

5. Zarod

This is one of the watering place and Abd Allah by Mute al-Adawi was already camped there. In answer to an inquiry from him the Imam answered that he was heading for Kufa. He asked the Imam to change his course but the Imam insisted on continuing his journey. The Imam's troubles started from here. Two followers of Imam Hussain came to know about the death of Muslim bin Aqil but they kept the news with them and waited for some proper occasion.

6. Salbia

The Imam stayed here the next evening. The two Asadis, Abdullah bin Saleem and Nadhri bin Mashmal, broke the news of Muslim bin Aqil's death. The Imam ordered his companions to load a lot of water for the journey and they set out and reached Zubala.

7. Zubala

The news of Qays bin Mushir reached him. The letter of Muhammed bin Ashas contained the will of Muslim bin Aqil asking Imam Hussain (AS) not to come to Kufa also reached. Poet Ayas bin Ushel had brought it. The Imam did not like to deceive anyone. Those who had joined him with the hope of power and perks needed to be fully informed of the situation. He took out a written statement and read it to the people:

'In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate, News of the dreadful murder of Muslim bin Aqil, Hani B. Urwa and Abd Allah b. Yaqtur has reached us. Our friends have deserted us. Those of you who would prefer to leave us, may leave freely without guilt.'

The people began to disperse from him until there were left with him only those followers who had come with him from Madina as also a small group of those who had joined him. The Imam knew that most of the people who had followed him had thought that he was going to a land where the inhabitants' obedience to him had already been established. At dawn he ordered his followers to lead up water. They set out and reached Batn al Aqaba.

8. Batn al Aqaba

Some historians call it Batn-e-Aqiq. Here a Sheikh of Banu Idrima called Amr bin Lawdham met the Holy Imam. Upon knowing that the Imam was heading towards Kufa he implored the Imam to forsake his idea because he feared Imam's life was in severe danger. The Imam thanked him for his concerns but declined to accommodate his request.

9. Sarat

The Imam spent a night here.

10. Sharaf

Next the Imam stopped at Sharaf for the night. At dawn he ordered his men to get water for the journey. The travelled until midday when they had spotted the enemy army.

11. Dhu Husam

When the  Imam noticed that the enemy had also spotted them he said to the companions, "we can face them in one direction and we should put in our rear whatever place of refuge we can find." The companions suggested that there were Dhu Husam mountains to the left and added "if you reach there before them. It will be just the position you want." The Imam reached in time and took the position.

About one thousand horsemen under the command of Al-Hurr bin Yazid al- Tamimi came up. Dhu Hussam witnessed a strange spectacle. When Imam noticed the shriveled and dilapidated condition of the troops in the heat of midday, he ordered his people to provide them water. The Imam was in a position to crush the enemy but he chose to serve them. The whole army as also its mounts quenched their thirst.

12. Baiza

Here the Imam addressed the army of Hurr and his own companions and dwelt at length upon the Muslims' responsibility in opposing an atrocious despot.

13. 14.  Udhayb Al-Hyanat

At this place Imam Hussain abandoned Kufa as a destination and deviated toward his right. Hurr and his army travelled on one side of the road while the Imam traveled on the other until they reached Qasr bani Muqatil. Toward the end of the night the Imam ordered his companions to get as much water as they could. Then he set out.

15. Ninwa

The journey continued when suddenly there appeared a rider on a first mount, coming from Kufa. He had brought a letter from Ubayd Allah bin Ziyad to Hurr. The letter contained the order that Imam Hussain  was to be stopped in a desolate place without vegetation.

16. Karbala

Hurr pressed the Imam to camp at Ninwa but Imam asked him to allow him to go a little further. The Imam had al Ghaderiyya and Shufayya in mind. But Hurr replied that he did not have the authority to do so. The Imam asked him to allow him  to go a little further. The Imam had hardly moved some distance on his left when again Hurr's army blocked his way. The Imam inquired about the place. When he came to know it was Karbala he ordered his companions to camp there. He had reached the place where an epic fight was to take place to change the destiny of mankind.

Information

Imam Hussain (AS) treaded a path laden with challenges and difficulties but accepted the fate accompliwith matching perseverance and absolute submission to the Will of God. His trial by ordeal brought the best out of him, his family and his matchless companions. 

 Published on Oct 12, 2016