Yazid takes power: In the year 60 AH (680 CE), Muawiyah died, and his son Yazid took power. Yazid demanded that Imam Husayn (as) accept him as the leader of the Muslims.
Refusing a corrupt ruler: Imam Husayn (as) refused. Yazid was known for drinking, for breaking the rules of Islam openly, and for ruling through fear. Imam Husayn (as) said that a person like Yazid could never lead the community of the Prophet (saww).
No allegiance to Yazid: He said, "A person like me does not give allegiance to a person like him." He would not say that wrong was right, even to save his own life.
Leaving for Kufa: He left Madinah for Makkah, and then set out toward Kufa in Iraq. The people of Kufa had written to him, inviting him to come and lead them. He went to answer their call — knowing the danger, and trusting in Allah.
Example
Refusing to sign: Imagine a teacher who is told to sign a paper saying that cheating is good. He refuses, even if refusing costs him his job. That is what Imam Husayn (as) did — he refused to call wrong "right," no matter the price.
Key Terms
- Allegiance (بیعت) — a pledge of loyalty to a leader
- Yazid (یزید) — the son of Muawiyah, who took power in 60 AH and demanded Imam Husayn's allegiance
- Kufa (کوفہ) — the city in Iraq whose people invited Imam Husayn (as) to come
Quran or Hadith
Imam Husayn (as) is reported to have said: "A person like me does not give allegiance to a person like him." — to be checked.
Fresh diagram to be drawn: Simple map of the journey — Madinah to Makkah to Karbala.
- In 60 AH, Yazid demanded Imam Husayn's allegiance.
- Imam Husayn (as) refused, because Yazid's rule went against Islam.
- The people of Kufa invited him, and he set out toward Iraq.