Bad news on the road: On the way to Kufa, Imam Husayn (as) learned that the people of Kufa had been frightened into silence, and that Yazid's army was coming to stop him. His cousin, Muslim ibn Aqil, whom he had sent ahead, had been killed in Kufa.
Family and companions with him: Still, he continued. He had his family with him — his wives, his children, his sisters, and his brother Abbas (as). He also had a small group of loyal companions, about seventy men.
Surrounded at Karbala: At a place called Karbala, in Iraq, Yazid's army blocked the road. They surrounded the camp and cut off the water of the river Euphrates. For three days, the children of the camp went thirsty in the hot desert sun.
Free to leave: Imam Husayn (as) could have given in, but he did not. He told his companions they were free to leave in the night if they wished. Not one of them left. They chose to stay with him.
Example
Standing together, knowing the cost: Imagine a small group of friends standing together against a huge crowd, because they believe in what is right. They know they will lose — but they refuse to walk away. That is the camp of Imam Husayn (as) at Karbala.
Key Terms
- Karbala (کربلا) — the plain in Iraq where Imam Husayn (as) and his companions were martyred
- Muslim ibn Aqil (مسلم بن عقیل) — the cousin and messenger of Imam Husayn (as), killed in Kufa
- Euphrates (فرات) — the river of Iraq, whose water was cut off from the camp
Quran or Hadith
None quoted in this topic.
Fresh diagram to be drawn: Simple map — Madinah to Makkah to Karbala, with the Euphrates river shown.
- The people of Kufa were frightened into silence, and Muslim ibn Aqil was killed.
- At Karbala, Yazid's army surrounded the camp and cut off the water.
- Imam Husayn's (as) companions were free to leave — not one of them left.