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Following the Battle of Karbala, Allah Ta’ala punished every single Yazeedi and every single supporter of the Yazeedi army. This teaches us how Allah Ta’ala manifests His Wrath upon those that have enmity with His Beloveds, especially when it comes to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and his Ahle Bait. Hereunder we will discuss a few examples of their punishment.
After Yazeed died, Mukhtar Ibn Obaid was handed the command of Kufah and he announced that he would not allow any of Hazrat Imaam Hussain’s (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) killers to roam on the earth. The following day Mukhtar announced that he planned to kill such a person, which would please all the believers and angels. Hatheem Ibn Aswad was present at this time and he understood that Amr Ibn Sa’d would be killed the following day. Hatheem returned to his home and during the night, he sent his son to inform Ibn Sa’d that he should protect himself as Mukhtar wanted to kill him the next day. Ibn Sa’d refused to believe that Mukhtar would kill him because in the early period of his reign, Mukhtar used to converse kindly with Ibn Sa’d.
The following morning Mukhtar sent a man to call Ibn Sa’d. Ibn Sa’d sent his son, Hafs, to Mukhtar. Mukhtar asked Hafs, “Where is your father?” Hafs replied that his father had now retired and did not leave his home. Mukhtar asked rhetorically, “Where is the governorship of Rai for which he shed the blood of the grandson of Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)? Why has Ibn Sa’d rejected this post and sat at home? Why did he not retire on the day of Imaam Hussain’s martyrdom?’’ Mukhtar ordered his chief police officer, Abu ‘Amrah, to cut the head of Ibn Sa’d and bring it to him. Abu ‘Amrah went and brought the head of Ibn Sa’d hiding it in his garment and placed it before Mukhtar. Mukhtar asked Hafs if he recognised the head. Hafs recited, “Inna lillaahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raaji’oon.” Then he explained that this was his father’s head and that there would be no excitement in his life without his father. Mukhtar said to him, “You spoke correctly and you shall also not live.”
Mukhtar ordered that Hafs also be killed and explained that the execution of Ibn Sa’d avenged the murder of Imaam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) whilst the execution of Ibn Sa’d’s son was revenge for the murder of Hazrat Ali Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). Mukhtar admitted that these two could never be equal to Hazrat Imaam Hussain and Sayyiduna Ali Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhuma) and he swore by Allah that even if he was to kill three army divisions of the Quraish, they could not be equal to even the fingers of Hazrat Imaam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh).
Khawli was that wretched individual who had separated the blessed head of Sayyiduna Imaam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) from his body. Mukhtar sent his soldiers to capture Khawli and they surrounded his house. Khawli hid and ordered his wife to act as though she was unaware of his whereabouts. Ever since Khawli had brought the head of Hazrat Imaam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), his wife hated him and believed him to be her enemy. When she was asked where her husband was, with her mouth she replied that she did not know but with her hands she pointed out where he was hiding. The soldiers went to the hiding place and found him with a basket over his head, clinging to the ground. The soldiers arrested Khawli and according to Mukhtar’s command, Khawli’s entire family was invited and he was executed publicly. Thereafter he was burnt and Mukhtar remained besides his body until the entire body turned to ashes.
When the Yazeedis were being captured and executed, Shimar Dhil Jawshan and Muslim Ibn Abdillah sat on their horses and fled from Kufah. Mukhtar’s servant, Dharbee chased after them and even though Shimar and Muslim attempted to hasten, Dharbee drew closer to them. Shimar ordered Muslim to establish distance from himself as it seemed as though Dharbee was pursuing Shimar. Eventually Dharbee reached Shimar and attacked him but Shimar eventually killed him.
Thereafter Shimar fled and reached the village of Kaltaaniyah which is situated on the bank of a river. Shimar called a farmer from the village and beat him up and forced him to send his letter to Mus’ab Ibn Zubair. On this letter was written, “From Shimar Dhil Jawshan to Mus’ab Ibn Zubair.” The farmer took the letter and set off. On the way, he passed a large village in which Abu ‘Amrah had set up a station with his soldiers. The farmer met another farmer and was explaining to him how Shimar had oppressed him when a soldier passed by. When the soldier saw the letter with Shimar’s name written on it, he asked about Shimar’s whereabouts. The farmer told him where Shimar was, which was about 15 kilometres away from the village. Abu ‘Amrah immediately departed towards Shimar along with his soldiers.
Muslim Ibn Abdillah states that he was with Shimar during the night in which Abu ‘Amrah’s army was coming towards them. Where they had stopped, were a lot of bears. A large portion of the night was remaining and Muslim was not able to sleep. At this time, Muslim heard the sound of horses. In his heart, he thought that maybe bears were running around but when the noise increased, he stood up, began to rub his eyes and thought that it was impossible for this to be the sound of bears. The army arrived and after saying Takbeer, they surrounded the hut in which Muslim and Shimar were hiding. Muslim and Shimar fled on foot leaving their horses behind and the people tore upon Shimar who was wearing an old shawl and the whiteness of Shimar due to leprosy was apparent from above his shawl. Due to to the leprosy, he was not able to wear clothes or wear his armour and he began to fight the soldiers using his sword whilst covered by the shawl. Eventually he was killed and Abu ‘Amrah’s soldiers then cut his head off and left his body to be eaten by the dogs.
Other names of Yazeedis provided to Mukhtar were Abdullah Al-Jahni, Malik Al-Baddi and Hamal Al-Mohaarabi. They were arrested and brought before Mukhtar, who addressed them, “O enemies of Allah, His Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and the family of this Rasool! Where is Hussain Ibn Ali? I want to see Hussain Ibn Ali! You have killed that sacred soul to whom we have been ordered to send salutations within the Salaah.” The men stated, “May Allah have mercy on you. We were forcefully sent to compete against Imaam Hussain; we were not willing to fight against him. Please do a favour upon us and forgive us.” Mukhtar replied, “You never did any favour upon the grandson of Allah’s Beloved (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and you never had compassion upon him. You left him and his children restless due to thirst as you did not allow them to have access to water. Yet you desire that I have favour upon you!”
Mukhtar turned towards Al-Baddi and asked, “Are you the one who took off the hat of Imaam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh)?” Abdullah Ibn Kaamil replied that this was indeed the same man. Mukhtar ordered that the hands and feet of Al-Baddi be cut off and he be left to die restlessly. Thus Mukhtar’s command was obeyed and fountains of blood were flowing from the hands and feet of Al-Baddi until he eventually died. Thereafter, Al-Jahni and Al-Mohaarabi were also killed.
May Allah Ta’ala save us from showing animosity towards the Blessed Sahaabah and the Ahle Bait, Allahumma Ameen.
[Compiled from Khutbaat-e-Muharram by Faqeeh-e-Millat Hazrat Allama Mufti Jalaaludeen Ahmad Amjadi Rahmatullah Alaih]
