These two honorable Imams (AS) are brothers of each other and are the sons of Imam Ali (AS) and Fatimah (AS). According to the authentic Islamic Traditions, the Holy Prophet (SA) had deep affections towards these honorable grandsons whom he called his own sons.
The Holy Prophet (SA) was not able to endure their slightest pain and dissatisfaction and used to state: "These two sons of mine are Imams and leaders, be they rising or sitting".
The terms ‘rising’ and ‘sitting’ are used symbolically and signify taking charge of leadership and rising to fight with the enemies of Islam and non- acceptance of superficial khilafah (Ruler of an Islamic State) and rising against it.
The Holy Prophet (SA) also said "Hasan and Husayn are the two leaders of the youth of the Heaven."
Rulership and Imamat of Imam Hasan (AS)
On the basis of his honorable father’s will, Imam Hasan (AS) was chosen for khilafah. The people also promised their allegiance to him. He ruled as a khalifah in Islamic countries, excluding Syria and Egypt, which were under the reign of Mu’awiyah, and conducted the affairs just as his great father did.
In the period of his ruling, Imam Hasan (AS) mobilized an army to put an end to the trouble of Mu’awiyah, but he finally discovered that the hearts of the people were lured by Mu’awiyah and that the leaders of his own army had correspondence with Mu’awiyah and were waiting for him to issue an order to kill or arrest the Imam (AS) and surrender him to the enemy. For this reason, the Imam (AS) had to agree to the peace offer.
Peace Treaty with Mu’awiyah
Imam Hasan (AS) entered into peace negotiations with Mu’awiyah under specific terms, but Mu’awiyah did not keep up his promise and, after the conclusion of the peace agreement, he went to Iraq and ascended a pulpit in the presence of the Muslims and said:
"I was not fighting with you for the cause of religion, so that you would recite prayer or observe fasting; rather I wanted to rule over you and now I have achieved my goal" Mu’awiyah added: "I disregard all the promises that I have made to Hasan."
Martyrdom of Imam Hasan (AS)
After the peace treaty, for nine and a half years, Imam Hasan (AS) lived under the domination of Mu’awiyah in a gloomy atmosphere and under the most bitter and unpleasant conditions. The Imam (AS) had no life security even in his own house. Finally, at the instigation of Mu’awiyah, the Imam (AS) was poisoned by his wife (Ja’dah) and became martyred.
Imamat of Imam Husayn (AS)
After the martyrdom of Imam Hasan (AS), his honorable brother, Imam Husayn (AS), succeeded him by the order of Allah and according to the will of his brother Imam Hasan (AS). He began to guide and lead the people, but the conditions and circumstances were similar to those existed at the time of Imam Hasan (AS). With his full control over the situation, Mu’awiyah had seized all the work potentialities available to Imam Husayn (AS).
Monarchy of Yazid
Mu’awiyah died after about nine and a half years and the position of khilafah, which had turned into monarchy, was transferred to his son, Yazid.
Unlike his father, Yazid was a young man intoxicated with conceit and displayed interest in revelry, obscene acts, and lack of discipline. As soon as this proud young man took the rein of the affairs of the Muslims he ordered the governor of Madinah to ask Imam Husayn (AS) to promise his allegiance to Yazid or else send. the Imam’s head to him.
Imam Husayn’s Denial to the Allegiance of Yazid
When the governor proposed the subject of allegiance to Imam Husayn (AS), the Imam (AS) denied his allegiance at the meeting and asked him to request for this allegiance in front of public.
Imam (AS) left Madinah overnight for Makkah along with his companions. He sought refuge in the sanctuary of God which is an official protection in Islam. But after residing in Makkah for a few months, he realized that Yazid would by no means leave him alone and that he would definitely be killed if he did not promise his allegiance to Yazid.
Letters of Invitations from Iraq
On the other hand, during this period, the Imam (AS) had received several thousand letters from Iraq promising their cooperation and assistance and inviting him to rise against the oppressors of Banu Umayyah.By observing the prevailing general conditions and circumstances and the symptoms Imam Husayn (AS) realized that his movement would not have an outward progress.
Decision of a Great Sacrifice
Nevertheless, having denied his allegiance, he decided to offer his sacrifice and get killed with a decision of his uprising, Imam Husayn (AS) left Makkah for Kufah with his companions in the course of his travel, he encountered the massive troops of the enemy in Karbala (nearly 70 km away from Kufah).
While traveling, the Imam Husayn (AS) invited the people to assist him and informed his companions of his decision to be killed giving them the option to stay with him or to leave him.
Therefore, from the day they encountered the troops of the enemy, no one had remained with the Imam (AS) other than only a few people who were devoted to him and who were willing to give their lives for the cause .
Karbala -A Great Battle of Imam Husayn, His Family and His Companions
As a result, they were easily surrounded by the large number of enemy soldiers. They were even prevented from having water. In such a situation, Imam Husayn (AS) was compelled to choose between offering his allegiance to Yazid and his martyrdom.
Imam Husayn (AS) did not resign himself to his allegiance to Yazid and became prepared to be killed. A day came when he fought the enemy from morning to evening along with his companions. In this battle, he himself, his children, his brothers, his nephews, his cousins, and his companions, who were totally about 70 people, were martyred. Only his honorable son, Imam ‘Ali al- Sajjad (AS), who was unable to fight due to serious illness, survived.
After the martyrdom of al-‘Imam Husayn (AS), the enemy troops plundered his properties, took his family as prisoners, and took them from Karbala to Kufah and from Kufah to Damascus along with the decapitated heads of the Martyrs.
Sermons of Imam Ali al-Sajjad (AS) and Lady Zaynab al-Kubra
In the process of this captivity, Imam ‘Ali al-Sajjad (AS) in his sermon delivered at Damascus and also Zaynab al-Kubra (the great sister of Imam Husayn (AS)), in her addresses delivered in public gatherings in Kufah, in the court of Ibn Ziyad, the Governor of Kufah, and in the court of Yazid in Damascus, unveiled the truth and revealed the oppression and cruelty of Umayyads to the people of the world.
The Tragedy of Karbala – The Survival and Revival of Islam
In any case, this movement of Imam Husayn (AS) against the oppression, tyranny and indiscipline – which ended with the bloodshed of Imam Husayn (AS), his children, his relatives and his companions together with looting of his property and imprisonment of his women and children – is a special event with its important characteristics and details, which has no parallel in the pages of history of world movements.
It can definitely be said that this event serves as the basis for the survival of Islam. Had this event not taken place, Umayyads would have totally wiped off Islam.
References
The following sources are used to prepare the above article.
1. Ayatullah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba’I, Islamic Techings in Brief, Ansariyan Publication