In the tragedy of Karbala, one of the key responsibilities of the survivors was to expose the enemy and strike a blow against the Umayyad regime by explaining the events that transpired in Karbala. Perhaps one of the reasons Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) brought women and children along on his journey from Medina to Mecca and then to Karbala was so that they, as witnesses to the crimes and the oppression of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), could recount their experiences to the people, ensuring that these events would not remain shrouded in ambiguity.
The roles of Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him) and Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) in this context were significant. After burying the body of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and the martyrs of Karbala, Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him) wrote on the grave of his martyred father: “This is the grave of Hussein bin Ali, the one who was killed thirsty and alone” (This is the grave of Hussein bin Ali, the one who was killed thirsty and alone.)[1]. He could have mentioned other qualities of the Master of Martyrs, but by emphasizing how he was killed in such a manner, he revealed the truth of the oppression. In a sermon in Kufa, he also said, “I am the son of the one who was killed by ‘death through patience,’ and that alone is enough for me to be proud of” (I am the son of the one who was killed with patience, and that alone is enough for me to be proud.)[2]. Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him) could have listed many other honors, but he chose to highlight his father’s tragic martyrdom and the oppression faced by his family. In his address in Kufa, he introduced himself not by listing his own qualities but by recounting the crimes committed against the Prophet’s family, which served as a denunciation of Ibn Ziyad and Yazid’s regime.
Furthermore, in his impassioned and exposing speech in Yazid’s palace, before a large crowd of Yazid’s officials and guests, Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him) pulled back the veil of concealment. Starting with the words “I am the son of Mecca and Mina, I am the son of Zamzam and Safa” (I am the son of Mecca and Mina, I am the son of Zamzam and Safa), he enumerated the virtues of his father, his grandfather Ali bin Abi Talib (peace be upon him), his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and the entire noble lineage of his family, detailing their services and virtues. So moving were his words that the sound of weeping filled the room, and Yazid, fearing further disgrace and the potential for a rebellion, ordered the muezzin to call the Adhan, hoping to change the atmosphere of the gathering. Even during the Adhan, Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him) continued to expose Yazid[3].
Yazid himself had anticipated such a situation. When Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him) requested to speak from the pulpit, Yazid initially opposed it. His entourage argued that the sick and captive young man should not be allowed to speak in the presence of the ruler. However, Yazid refused, saying that if the Imam went on the pulpit, it would only be to disgrace him and the Umayyad family[4].
Also, when Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him) entered Medina, after the people gathered to hear the truthful report of what had befallen the Prophet’s family, he began by praising and thanking Allah and then said: “O people! God has tested us with great calamities, and a great breach occurred in Islam. They killed Abu Abdullah al-Hussein (peace be upon him) and his family, took his women and daughters captive, and carried his sacred head from city to city on a spear. There is no greater calamity or mark of shame than this”[5].
Thus, the survivors of Ahl al-Bayt, especially Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him) and Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her), became the messengers of Karbala. After the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and his companions, they exposed the plots and crimes of the Umayyads, ensuring that the events of Karbala would not remain hidden. Their actions shook the foundation of the Umayyad caliphate, especially in the capital, Damascus, and played a crucial role in enlightening and mobilizing the people against falsehood throughout the Islamic world. The caravan of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), by some reports, entered Karbala for the first time on the fortieth day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), holding mourning ceremonies that would become a symbol of Muslims’ connection to the movement of Ashura for years to come.
(Excerpted from the book “Messages of Ashura,” written by Hujjat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen Jawad Mohaddethi, with edits and abbreviations)
Footnotes:
- Hayat al-Imam Zayn al-Abidin, p. 166
- Manaqib Ibn Shahr Ashub, Vol. 4, p. 115
- Maqtal al-Husayn, Khwarazmi, Vol. 2, p. 242
- Hayat al-Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him), p. 175
- Hayat al-Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him), p. 173