The
Revolution's Motives
The motives for revolution were numerous. Some were direct grievances of the general
people while others were ideological. The following were the most apparent:-
1. There were many defects and
drawbacks but the most urgent one was the attempt to distort Islamic concepts and ideals.
This aspect was of extreme importance and preoccupied the minds of responsible Muslims at
the time. The fabrication of Hadith was all too common, which had a poisonous effect on
the lives of Muslims. This, was giving the Umayyads for a while a free hand to carry out
their inhuman deeds and policies. The mask of religion which they used to hide their
un-Islamic conduct was extremely dangerous. In the long run, this could have changed
Islamic concepts of ruling and inverted social ideals. Thus, stripping off this mask and
exposing the true Umayyad's picture was of utmost necessity.
2. The State's structure was
built on an un-Islamic basis. Quraish was born to rule, Arabs were second class citizens,
and non-Arabs constituted the base of the society's pyramid. That was the general social
picture of the Muslim world under the Umayyads dynasty. Freedom of thought and expression
were denied. When one dared to express an opinion contrary to that of the Umayyad's,
prison became his home, his property was robbed, and even his life was at stake.
3. The Umayyads considered the
Muslim world to be their own property. The alms (Zakat) and other Islamic dues were
collected, but no-one knows or can question where that money went. Large gifts and
donations were given to few cruel governors and tribal chiefs in order to secure their
allegiance. Large sums of money were wastefully spent on racing, gambling, wine-making,
and buying slave women to entertain high-class people in power. Hence, the majority of
Muslims were left near starvation level while the ruling group all enjoyed the social and
material privileges.
4. The Muslims had apparently got
used to the un-Islamic rule of the Umayyads as time passed by. Their resistance slackened
arid some people began adjusting themselves to the new conditions. Hence, the
revolutionary spirit of Islam began to disappear gradually from Muslims' lives and
thoughts. Therefore, a new stimulant to their souls was necessary to activate their lives
and try to restore, Islamic conduct to the society.
Imam Husain made no doubt of his intentions to fight the regime of the Umayyads. The
speeches he delivered at Mecca were consistent. Besides, the will which he entrusted to
his brother Muhammad ibn Al-Hanafia who remained at Madina. That will, in fact, was a
formal declaration of the revolution. He (p.b.u.h.) wrote "I am not campaigning for
unwillingness to accept righteousness, or having intent to do mischief and suppress
people. Indeed, I have decided to reform my grandfather's nation. I want to enjoin what is
right and forbid dishonour. People who accept my call for being right, then God is the
Master of righteous people. Those who reject my call, then I shall be steadfast till God
passes His Judgement. Indeed, God is the best Judge".
During his travels to Karbala, he
never ceased calling people to strive for the Islamic ideals of social justice and
government, and to wage war against deviation from Islamic conduct. In his speech
(p.b.u.h) at Karbala, he quoted the Prophet (p.b.u.a.h.f.) saying "He who sees a
cruel governor violating God's law, breaking his covenant, acting in contrast to the
Tradition of the Prophet, mischevous and suppressing people, then he does not try to
change that ruler by action or speech; indeed God has promised with an appropriate place
in Hell. "O people those Umayyads have pledged allegiance to the Devil and left God's
obedience. They have spread corruption, suspended the application of Islamic laws, and
taken to themselves Muslims' wealth. Besides forbidding what is permitted and al lowing
what is forbidden."
Imam Husain's speeches were
aiming directly at stripping the religious mask of the Umayyad's regime. He was
introducing himself to people and explaining his message to the nation. Indeed, the
personality of Imam Husain and his religious reputation was beyond question or doubt.
Therefore, no wonder of carrying such a great task while many distinguished people were
not ready to raise a finger.
Any objective study of this great
revolution will show that something unique about its procedure and results. The leader
predicts his own death before even setting a foot in the march! But, he goes on carrying
out all necessary preparations for his campaign. Imam Husain's address to the people at
Mecca was this: "O people, as if my body be cut to pieces by spears and wolves
between Al-Nawawees and Karbala. . . . There is no question of the day which was already
written. God's satisfaction is our aim, we the family of the Prophet".
The way Imam Husain and his
Companions fought was a glorious record of bravery and nobility. They were only seventy
fighting men against thousands of the Umayyad's Army. Even with this imbalance of fighting
power, the Umayyad's Army used the most vicious and ignoble methods in fighting this tiny
camp. The Umayyad's Army went to the extent of preventing them drinking water and kept
them for three days tortured in the burning heat of the desert. But, the firm faith of
Imam Husain and his followers in their cause was never shaken. Thus they set an
ever-shining torch of Jihad against deviation from Islamic conduct and smashed the myth of
the Umayyads of keeping allegiance to deviated regimes.
What had Imam Husain's revolution meant in history? Some people who are not familiar with
its motives, innocently inquire about its results. Others have even questioned its wisdom
that striking at a mighty force like the Umayyad's was fatal.
Although the revolution's motives
were already discussed, but a brief review of the changes in the Muslim World after Imam
Husain's revolution is appropriate at this stage.
1. Murdering Imam Husain
(p.b.u.h.) the grandson of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.a.h.f.) was a great shock to the whole
Muslim world. This is not to mention the way he was murdered or the treatment given to his
family who had the highest esteem and respect of all Muslims. Consequently, all Muslims
dissociated themselves from the Umayyad's deeds and policies. Indeed, who want to share in
the certain curse upon those who murdered the family of the Prophet? Thus, this revolution
had done the task of unveiling the Umayyad's un-Islamic character to the general public
and left no doubt in any person's heart about the Umayyad's substance. Therefore, the
concepts which the Umayyad's were propagating in order to distort the ideals of Islam
found no listening ear any longer. Hence, diverting the Umayyad's mischief of changing
Islamic concepts and ideals.
2. Imam Husain's revolution set a
lively example as to the duty of Muslims in such conditions. It had deeply penetrated
peoples' hearts, and produced great pains for not doing their Islamic duty. This feeling
which pained people all the time transformed into repentance and then to an open revolt
against the Umayyad's regime. Thus, the revolution provided the stimulant to move their
spirit and set it in a dynamic movement. Indeed, the Islamic movement was put to a new
gear throughout the rest of the Islamic history. A series of revolutions manifesting Imam
Husain's revolutionary spirit and reforms emerged at successive intervals. Tawabeen's
revolution took place immediately after Karbala's tragedy. Another revolution at Madina
was aiming at doing away with the Umayyads deviated regime Al-Mukhtar Al-Thaqafi led
another revolution which stormed the Umayyad's regime in Iraq. He was able to punish all
principal collaborators in the campaign against Imam Husain in Iraq. Mitraf ibn
Al-Mughira's revolution against Hajjaj and Abdul Malik was another result. However, there
were a chain of revolutions in all parts of the Muslim world which eventually had done
away with the Umayyad's regime. Imam Husain's revolution was the principal slogan of the
revolutionaries against the Umayyad's.
The Abasides came and soon their
conduct was exposed as nut that which the family of the Prophet were advocating. They
realized that the revolution results were stolen and before they could do anything, the
main personalities which carried the revolt through were treacherously eliminated by
murder, poison and imprisonment.
The attempts to restore Islamic
conduct were never ceased throughout Islamic history. Bitter experiences and intermittent
material failures are natural results of struggle. Most important is the triumph of the
Islamic spirit against intimidation and attempts to obscure its shining face and glory. A
ceaseless revolution in Muslim lives is a reality, which the enemies of Islam failed to
extinguish. The secret key of this blessed revolution lies in the firm faith in God. The
unshakable conviction which puts material supremacy and gain in an inferior position to
God's satisfaction. These ideals were demonstrated by Imam Husain when the Muslims were in
need of such an example most.
The revolution of Imam Husain was
not solely for changing a government. If it was so, then it would be wrong to call it a
revolution. Imam Husain was advocating a drastic change in the social set up, the economic
and political structures, and refining Islamic concepts from foreign ideas which had crept
into Muslims' minds and thoughts. In other words, Imam Husain wanted to change the life of
Muslims to be in conformity with Islamic laws and ideals. Indeed, this explains one main
reason for why Imam Husain was let down by the tribes of Kofa after being promised
support, and his call was ignored by the rest of the Muslim world. Hence, a revolution
means a drastic change in one's life or the collective life when applied to a large scale.
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