CHAPTER VIII
CONCLUSION
A noticeable space has remained among these gaps in history. The references we have are not able to fill this space with studies that suite those events.
Up to this topic, we have here, that Mu'awiya did not take care of the Peace Treaty with five items. In other words his care did not suite those covenants, agreements, and the oath with which he bound himself.
When Mu'wiya took the reins of goverment, he did not act according to the Book of Allah, the Sunna (ie, practices) of His Apostle, and the Practices (sira) of the Orthodox C'Aliphs, nor did he leave the authority after Him to the Consultative Committee or to the Owner of the right (i.e., Al-Hasan,), hor did he refrain from cursing 'Ali, nor did he give (Al-Hasan) the landtaxes, nor did he give security to 'Ali's Shi'ites and companions. In spite of these stipulations and pledges, he increased cursing 'Ali to the extent that he ordered his orators to curse Him everywhere. Moreover, he committed horrible crimes against the Shi'ites of 'Ali:
Thus the first head to be roamed in Islam was from them. He (i.e., Mu'awiya) ordered it to be buried alive.
The first man to be buried alive in Islam was from them. He ordered her to be imprisoned.
The first woman to be imprisoned in Islam was from. He ordered her to be imprisoned.
The first patient martyrs were from them. It was he who killed them.
( 346 )
Mu'awiya violated all the items of the Peac Treaty, broke his strong oath, and opposed his certain pledges which he made before Allah, the Most High.
Therefore I (ie, the author) wonder: Is this the religious succession?
Mu'awiya protected Himself from the the last stipulation in the Peace Treaty, for it was the most sensitive of all the the stipulations and the strongest of them all. If he had broken this condition, then he would have challenged the Koran openly and the Apostle of Allah, may Alla bless Him and his family, directly.
Thus Mu'awiya was patient towards this condition for eight years. Then he was unable to bear it. For his Umayyad lineage moved Him to make his children inherit the authority. In this way he underlined that he was b. (the son of) Hind and Abu Sufyan.
Wasn't there a great difference between b. Abu Sufyan (ie, Mu'awiya) and the Apostle of Allah? Wans't there a great difference between b. Hind (ie, Mu'awiya) and the Book of Allah?
Then it (ie, the pledge of allegiance to his son Yazid) was the first m'Alice that came to the Arabs, as b. Abbas, may Allah pleased with Him, said.
Rather it was the first m'Alice that came to the people, as Abu Ishaq al-Subay'i may All be pleased with him, said.
It (i.e., the succession to authority) was, in its nature, the farthest of all the items of the Peace Treaty from treason. Also it was, in its conditions, the worthiest of them all of care. It was the mst horrible crime in Mu'awiya's life full of crimes. For it (ie, the Peace Treaty) occurred when the soldiers were disarmed, the standard war wrapped, and the enemy bound Himself to fulfill the conditions.
Neither in Medina (the homeland fo Al-Hasan, peace be on Him) nor among the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt, peace be on them) nor among the Shi'ites of Al-Hasan and his relatives was a justification to make Mu'awiya fear for his life in this world.
Therefore what is this deception? What is the excuse?
Weren't those covenants, agreements, and oath the strongest and
( 347 )
the most certain words in the dictionaries of the Arabic language?
I (i.e., the author) wonder: Shall we apologize on befalf of Mu'wiya as those honorable ones how are attributed to Islam apologize on bahalf of his son Yazid who killd al-Husayn, the granddon of the Apostle of Allah, the best blessing and peace be on Him and his grandfather, when they said: "He (i.e., Yazid) was a self conceited young man. The monkeys distracted Him. Wine and dissoluteness controlled Him?
Therefore where were the exprience of Mu'awiya and his claimed cleverness? Where were his old age and his experience in the matter?
This deed of the father (ie, Mu'awiya) urged the son (ie, Yazid) to follow his father's example to achieve his ambitions. Thus they cooperated with each othar to accomplish the greatest crime in the hostory of Islam. That was the killing of the two Lords of the youth of Heaven, the two ones of whom there was no third. Also they cooperated with each other to cut the only means of which the progeny of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless Him and his family, was limited. The crime, in this meaning, is direct killing to the historical continuity of the life of the Apostle of Allah, may 'Allah bless Him and his family.
Yes, nevertheless, the two killers were two c'Aliphs in Islam!
What a great loss Islam suffered from when its c'Aliphs were of such a kind!
It was the claimed cleverness that urged Mu'awiya to follow such a lind of killing which his son Yazid was unable to accomplish. Thus this (ie, Yazid) was "a self- conceited young man and that (ie, Mu'awiya) was experienced in managing the fairs!.
If Abu Sufyan had lived for a longer time, he would have been sure that these two sons of his (ie, his Mu'awiya and his grandson Yazid) were able to achieve the game which he hoped for the children of his father.
( 348 )
Accordingly, Mu'awiya ordered Marwan b. al-Hakam
1 to convince Ju'da bint al-Ash'ath b. Qays al-Kindi, who was one of the wives of Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, to give poison, which was a drink of honey mixed with Rome water, to drink. If Al-Hasan died, Mu'awiya would marry her to his son Yazid, and would send her a hundred thousand dirhams.
As Ju'da was the daughter of al-Ash'ath b. Qays, the known hypocrite who became Muslim twice and there was atrocious apostasy between them, she was the nearest of all people ot accept this abominable bargaining.
Imam Ja'far b. Mohammed al-Sadiq, peace be n Him said: "Indeed al-Ash'ath took part in killing the Commander of the faithful (i.e, Imam 'Ali), peace be on Him. His daughter Ju'da poisoned Al-Hasan. Moreover, his son Mohammed took part in killing al-Husayn."
I (i.e., the author) say: In this manner Mu'awiya accomplished what he wanted.
Through this plot Mu'awiya was able to control the affairs of all the community. Thus he subjected the community to many disasters. Moreover, he filled Himself and his children with spites so that they
____________
1. Al-Mas'udi (Hamish b. al-Athir, vol.5, p.198) and al-Bayqahi (al-Mahasin wa al-Masawi, vol. 1, p. 64) have mentioned: "Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, strove (to take) security for Marwan when he was captured at the Battle of the Camel. It was said that Marwan hid in the house of a woman in Basra."
In Nahj al-Balagha (vol.1, p.121), al-sharif al-Radi said: " When Marwan was taken prisoner at the Battle of the Camel, he asked al-Husayn, peace be on Him, to intercede for Him with the Commander of the faithful. Thus the latter released Him. Then they said: Commander of the faithful, he (i.e., Marwan) desires to pledge allegiance to you. Thus he, peace be on Him, said: Did he not pledge allegiance to me after the killing Uthman? I am in no need of his pledge of allegiance. For (his hand) is a Jewish hand. If he pledge allegiance to me with his hand, he would violate it after a while. Well, he is to get power (as short) as the dog licks its nose. He is the father of the four sons. The people will face hard days because of Him and his sons."
I (i.e., the author) say: Marwan was ungrateful for Al-Hasan when he tried to convince Ju'da to poison Him. He was as they say: "A tree is known by its fruit"
( 349 )
were liable to many battles and coups.
Through this plot Mu'wiya was able to abolish all items of the Peace Treaty.
When Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, was about to die, he said: "Mu'awiya's drink (of poison) has acted upon (me). He has obtained his wish. By Allah, he has not fulfilled what he promised, nor has he been truthful in what he said."
1
Marwan's letter concerning carrying out the evil plan came to Mu'awiya. So the latter said: "How wonderful! Al-Hasan took a drink of honey (mixed with) Rome water, so he died."
2
Then Mu'awiya was unable to restrain his happiness when Al-Hasan, peace be on him, died.
"Mu'awiya was at al-Khadra'. Thus he exclaimed: Allah is Great! The people of al-Khadra exclaimed: Allah is Great! with Him. Then the people of the mosque exclaimed: Allah is Great! when the people of al-Khadra did that. So Fakhta (Mu'awiya's wife) bint (daughter of) Qarza b. Amru b. Nawfa b. Abd Munaf came out of her wicked and said: 'Commander of the faithful, may Alllah delight you. What has made you happy? The death of Al-Hasan, he said. To Allah we belong and to Him is our return, she said. Then she wept and said: The Lord of the Muslims and son of the daughter of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless Him and his family, died. By Allah, what you have done is excellent. He was so. He is worthy of weeping over him, he said."
Apart from this, b. Qutayba said: "When the news (of the death of Al-Hasan) came to Mu'awiya, he showed rejoice and pleasure to the extent that he and those who were with Him bowed down. Abd Allah b. Abbas, who was then in Sham (syria), heard of that, so he came to Mu'awiya. When he sat down, Mu'awiya said: Bin Abbas, Al-Hasan b. 'Ali perished. Thus b. Abbas said: Yes, he perished. To Allah we belong and to Him is our return. I have heard that you showed rejoice
____________
1. Al-Mas'udi, Hamish b. al-Athir vol.6, p.55-56.
2. Ibn Abd al-Bir al-M'aliki, al-Isti'ab.
( 350 )
and pleasure when he died. Indeed, by Allah, his body has not taken the place of your grave, nor has the decrease of (the period) his death increased your life. He died while he was better than you. If we have been afflicted by Him, then we had been affliacted by Him who was better than Him, his grandfather the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless Him and his family. Thus Allah comforted his disaster and appointed the best succeesor over us after Him.
"Then b. Abbas wept. Those who attended the meeting wept. Mu'awiya wept. the narrator said: "I have never seen weepers as many as those who were present on that day. How old was Al-Hasan? Mu'awiya asked. Al-Hasan's birthday is very famous that everybody knows it, replied b. Abbas. He (i.e., the narrator) said: Mu'awiya kept silent for a while, and then he said: Bin Abbas, you have become the lord of you people after Him. (I am not the lord of my people) as long as Allah has kept Abu Abd Allah al-Husayn alive, said b. Abbas.
1
Al-Ya'qubi (Tarikh, vol.2, p.203) has mentioned description about the great sadness of the Kufans when they head of the death of Al-Hasan, peace be on Him. Thus the leaders of the Shi'ites there held a meeting in the house of their chief Sulayman b. Sirt al-Khuza'i. Moreover, they condoled al-Husayn through a painful eloquent letter.
The news of the death of Al-Hasan reached the ears of the people in Basra which Zyyad b. Sumayya governed. So the people wept loudly. Thus Abu Bakra, Zyyad's half brother (on his mother's side) who was then ill in his house, heard that and said: "Allah has relieved Him of the evil. The people have lost much good because of his death. May Allah have mercy on Al-Hasan."
2
His (i.e., Al-Hasan's) brother Mohammed b. al-Hanafiya praised Him when he stood by his holy body. The following is his praise: "Abu Mohammed (ie, Al-Hasan), may Allah have mercy on you. By Allah, indeed if your life was valuable, your death has undermined (us). The
____________
1. Ibn Qutayba al-Daynwari, (died 276), al-Imama wa al-Siyasa, pp. 150-60. al-Ya'qubi and al-Mas'udi have mentioned words similar to these.
2. Ibn Abu al-Haddid, Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, vol.6, p.57
( 351 )
excellent soul was that through which your body lived. The excellent body is that which your shroud had covered. Of course, you are so. For you are the descendant of guidance, the ally of the pious, and the fifth (person) of those who were covered with cloak (
ashab al-Kisa'). The hand of the truth fed you. you grew in the lap of Islam. The two beasts of belief suckled you. you are good whether you are alive or dead. Therefore peace and Allah's mercy be on you even though ourselves did not hate you nor did they doubt that the choice was for you."
1
The texts denoting that Mu'awiya poisoned Al-Hasan are very obvious in history. These tests have been mentioned in the following books: al-Isti'ab by Abd al-Bir al-M'Aliki, al-Isaba fi Tamyiz al-Sahaba by Ahmed shahab al-Din al-Asqalani, Maqatil al-T'Alibiyyin by Abu al-Faraj al-Asfahani, al-Furuq bayna al-Abatil wa al-Huquq by al-Shaybani, Tarikh Dimasheq by b. Asakir, Asad al-Ghaba fi Tamyiz al-Sahaba by b. al-Athir, Muruj al-Dhahab by al-Mas'udi, sharh Nahj al-Balagha by b. Abu al-Haddid, Tanzih al-Anbiya by al-Murtada, al-Am'Ali by al-Tusi, al-Diwan by al-Sharf al-Radi, al-Mustadrak by al-Hakim, al-Irshad by al-Mufid, Tadhkirat al-Khawas by al-Dhahabi, Dala'il al-Imama by al-Tabari, and the like.
In his book 'al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya b. Kuthayr said: "Al-Hasan died in the year 49 A.H Ju'da bint al-Ash'ath poisoned Him with what Mu'awiya had sent to her. He arranged for her to marry his son Yazid. Then he broke her promise."
In his book al-Tabaaqat b. Sa'd said: "Mu'awiya poisoned Al-Hasan several times.
Al-Mada'ini said: "Al-Hasan was given poison to drink four times."
In his book al-Mustadrak,' al-Hakim said: "Indeed Al-Hasan b. 'Ali was given poison to drink several times. He was safe during these
____________
1. Al-Ya'qubi, Tarikh, vol.2, p.200. al-Mas'udi, Hamish b. al-Athir, vol.6, p.57.
( 352 )
times except the last time when he died. Indeed he spewed his live."
1
Al-Ya'qubi said: "When death was close to Al-Hasan, he said to his brother al-Husayn: 'My brother, these are the last three times when I have geen given poison to drink but I have never been given poison like this time. I will die on this day of mine. When I die, then bury me beside the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless Him and his family. For there is nobody worthier of Him than me. When you are prevented from that, then do not shed blood into the cupping glass in (carrying) it (out)."
Ibn 'Abd al-Bir said: al-Husayn came to Al-Hasan. Thus Al-Hasan said: My brother, I have been poison to drink three times but I have never been given poison like this. I am going to spew my liver, So al-Husayn said: 'Who gave you the poison to drink?" Why do you ask about that? Do you want to fight againt them?" asked Al-Hasan. "Oppose them before Allah."
Al-Tabari said in Dala'il al-Imama: "The cause of the death of Al-Hasan was that Mu'awiya poisoned Him seventy times. However, the poison did nt act upon Him. Then he sent (someone) to his (i.e,Al-Hasan's) wife Ju'da bint Mohammed b. al-Ash'ath b. Qays al-Kindi and gave her twenty thousand dinars, and ten estates from Iraq. Also he ensured her to marry her to his son Yazid. Thus she gave Al-Hasan poison to drink. The poison was (mixed with) sweetened fine flour in a gold bowl."
2
Allah, the Great and Almight said: "However, if you held command, you were sure to make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship!"
____________
1. Al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak (Kufa), vol.6, p.5.
2. Al-Tabari, Dala'il al-Imama, p.61.
( 353 )
CHAPTER IX
EPILOGUE
COMPARISON BETWEEN THE CONDITIONS OF AL-HASAN
AND THE CONDITIONS OF AL-HUSYAN
Many people think that the Hahimite pride, which always resulted from honorable attitudes, was more appropriate for the attitude of al-Husayn, peace be on Him, than attitude of Al-Hasan, peace be on Him.
This is a primary viewpoint that suffers from the paucity of an innermost analysis and accuracy.
Al-Hasan was a Hahimite with high glory during all his attitudes. He was similar to his father and his brother in glory. Thus they were all an example to the original reformers history. However, each one of them had special jihad (armed struggle), message, and attitudes which he derived from the the core of the conditions that surrounded Him. These conditions were early examples of jihad, glory, supporting the usurped right to authority.
Al-Husayn faced death through killing during his conditions, and Al-Hasan retained his life through making peace (with Mu'awiya) during his condition. With these two ways they were able to continue their doctrine and to condemn their enemies. In the meantime these two ways were the necessary logical solutions for the problems of both conditions. These solutions were the best means which Al-Hasan and al-Husayn followed to please Allah, the Most High, not to win the life in this world. They (i.e., the solutions) are the real victory that last throughout history though Al-Hasan and al-Husayn were
( 354 )
apparently deprived of their rights succession to authority.
The two sacrifices (i.e, al-Husayn's sacrifice in his life, and Al-Hasan's sacrifice in his succession) are the utmost degrees to which the original leaders aspire during their human revolutionary attitudes.
The time factors accompanied both Al-Hasan and al-Husayn during their succession. They created for each of them a private conditions towards his supporters, and a private condition towards his enemy. In other words the two brother had two different conditions. As their conditions were different, their ways of jihad were different. Therefore their ends were different.
The following are conditions their supporters and their enemies caused:
1. The Conditions their Supporters Caused
For al-Husayn, peace be on Him, he suffered from the treason of his Kufan compaions. Such a kind of treason helped al-Husayn take a step to pave the way for his glorious success in history. That is because the people had broken their pledge of allegiance to al-Husayn before he declared war mobilization. Thus his little army was empty of any tratorous person on the day when he stood to fight against his enemies to achieve his ideal objetives.
However, the treason from which Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, suffered at the Camp of Maskan and the Camp of al-Mada'in was quite different from that which al-Husayn suffered. That is because Al-Hasan declared war mobilization, and then his army moved to the mentioned camps. However, the enemy rumors played an important role in scattering the army. Thus chaoas, plots, and treason pread all over it. Accordingly, Al-Hasan was unable to wage holy war (jihad) against his enemies. In other words this was the army through which Al-Hasan lost hope of winning victory in that war.
From here we understand that Al-Hasan's supporters pledge allegiance to Him, and accompanied Him to his camps as holy fighters (mujahidin). However, they broke their allegiance to Al-Hasan,
( 355 )
disobeyed him, and joined his enemies. Thus they were worse than those who had broken their allegiance to al-Husayn before he met his enemies.
In this manner al-Husayn paved the way to fight against his enemies when the evens of treason before the battle helped Him form the most wonderful army in history in loyalty and obedience though his army was few in number.
As for Al-Hasan, he was unable to retain supporters even from his sincere Shi'ites. For he was not sure that he would gather them and direct their movements because of the chaos which his enemies spread.
Therefore, isn't there a great difference between their two conditions towards their supporters?
2. The Conditions their Enemies caused
The enemy of Al-Hasan was Mu'awiya, and the enemy of al-Husayn was Yazid b. Mu'awiya. History is full of differences between Mu'awiya and Yazid. For example, the son (i.e, Yazid) had plain dullness, while the father (i.e, Mu'awiya) had a deep viewpoint which the people regard as smartness.
The enmity of these two men (i.e, Mu'awiya and Yazid) towards Al-Hasan and al-Husayn did not result from an accidental condition. Rather it was a past historical enmity between banu Hashim and banu Umayya.
The Umayyads did not match the Hashimites one day. Rather the Umayyads showed enmity towards the Hashimites, for the former feared that the latter would take their authority. This is the reason why the people and the historians mention the Umayyads face to face with the Hashimites. Now we have the right to ask: Isan't there a great difference between those who follow desires and those who follow ideals? Isn't there clear difference between those who had corrupt lineage and those whom Allah purified completely as it is in the Koran? Isn't there an obvious difference between the corrupt people
( 356 )
and those who intellectual talents, good manners, pure race, and sciences that have played an important role in developing man in all cultural fieds? Such were the Hashimites who brought light to the world.
1
How different they are!
What Al-Hasan b. 'Ali anticipated was likely. For if he had waged a hopless war against his historical enemy Mu'awiya b. Abu Sufyan b. Harb, the war would have led to the greatest disaster against Islam. Also it would have destroyed all Shi'ites of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. In this condition Mu'awiya had excellent abilities to carry out this plan to end that long historical enmity towards 'Ali, his sons, and their Shi'ites.
We have already mentioned his subject. Thus there is no need to mention it again.
However, such a possibility was enough for al-Husayn when the young man (i.e, Yazid) antagonized Him. That is because Yazid was Luxurious. He was unable to solve problems nor was he able to mobilize the trends nor was he able to make plans. Moreover, his ambition was to be a king with many treasuries, even though he faced al-Akhtal the poet whose words al-Bayqahi has narrated:
"Your religion, indeed, is like the religion of the donkey
Rather you are more unblieving (person) than Hurmuz."
This possibility was sufficient for al-Husayn when the sword of terrorism (i.e., Yazid) began to chase the Shi'ites everywhere, made them homeless and imprisoned those great figures who followed the
____________
1. In reply to Mu'awiya, the Commander of the faithful said: Inspite of our old established honor and our well known superiority over your people, we did not keep away mixing with you and married and got married (among you) like equals although you were not so, How could you be so when (the position is that) from us is the Prophet while from you is the liar, from us the Lion of Allah while from you is the Lion of the allies, from us is the two Lords of the youth of Heaven while from the you are the children of the fire, from us is the mistress of the women of the worlds while from you is the bearer of firewood, and there are many distinctions between you and us.
( 357 )
doctrines of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), and to whom these doctrines were entrusted to convey them to the generations after them.
Thus al-Husayn though that it was better for Him to go on carrying out his decision. He was sure of his plan, his objectives, and their future towards his enemies.
As for Al-Hasan, he was not as sure as his brother al-Husayn. That is because Al-Hasan suffered from the spiritual backgrounds of his army. Moreover, among his enemies were Mu'awiya and his fearful servants who made spiteful hostile plans.
Finally, al-Husayn made use of Mu'awiya's mistake such as his attacks against the peaceful Muslim cities, his attitude towards the conditions of the Peace Treaty of Al-Hasan, his killing Al-Hasan with poison, his pledge of allegiance to his son Yazid, and so on. All these errors of Mu'awiya, in addition to the support of the Muslim public opinion urged al-Husayn to take steps against the Umayyads.
In the meantime al-Husayn made us of the errors of Yazid, Mu'awiya's successor, who was fond of monkeys and wine. All these things were appropriate factors for al-Hysayn to carry out his plan.
Al-Husayn's conditons towards his enemies, and his conditions towords his supporters agreed with each other on supporting his movement, carrying out is task, and leading Him to the glorious victory through which he succeeded with Allah and in history.
As for Al-Hasan, as we have already mentioned, he was tired of the conditions which his companions caused. Thus these conditions prevented Him from obtaining martyrdom. Also he suffered from the conditions which enemies caused. So these conditions prevented Him from waging war against them though he was aware that such a kind of war would destroy his doctrines.
For this reason Al-Hasan thought that it was necessary for Him to develop his way of jihad, and to start his battle through making peace with Mu'awiya.
The objectives which Al-Hasan wanted to accomplish through his Peace Treaty with Mu'awaiy forced Mu'awiya and his party to face a
( 358 )
quick failure in history.
Indeed, after this study, it is difficult for us to distinguish which od the two brothers (i.e, Al-Hasan and al-Husayn) peace be on them, had a greater effect in his jihad, more intense influence on his objectives, and a more careful opinion in defeating his enemies.
It is obvious that hte Umayyads faced many hardships after the Peace Treaty. That was because of Al-Hasan's plans and his directions. Indeed all these hardships took place due to this successful plan which Al-Hasan's enemies supported, whether they knew that or not.
