Imam al-Husayn b. Ali (a): Difference between revisions

Al-Husayn (a) had the utmost respect for his brother. It is reported, for instance, that if Imam al-Hasan (a) was present in a session, al-Husayn (a) would not speak.<ref>Ibn Shahrāshūb, ''Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib'', vol. 3, p. 401; Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 1, p. 291.</ref> After the martyrdom of Imam Ali (a) a group of [[Khawarij]], who did not want to give up fighting against the Syrians, refused to pay allegiance to Imam al-Hasan (a) and came to al-Husayn (a) to choose him as their leader. He told them, "God forbid that I accept your allegiance while al-Hasan (a) is alive."<ref>Ibn Qutayba, ''al-Imāma wa l-sīyāsa'', vol. 1, p. 59.</ref> When Imam al-Hasan (a) made [[peace with Mu'awiya]], al-Husayn (a) defended his brother's decision against the people who opposed it.<ref>Dīnawarī, ''al-Akhbār al-ṭiwāl'', p. 221.</ref> He stated that al-Hasan (a) "is my Imam."<ref>Ṭūsī, ''Ikhtīyār maʿrifat al-rijāl'', p. 110.</ref> It is reported that when the peace treaty was made, Imam al-Husayn (a), like his brother, paid allegiance to Mu'awiya.<ref>Ṭūsī, ''Ikhtīyār maʿrifat al-rijāl'', p. 110.</ref> He remained faithful to the treaty after the martyrdom of Imam al-Hasan (a).<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Irshād'', vol. 2, p. 32.</ref> There are, however, some reports indicating that al-Husayn (a) did not pay allegiance to Mu'awiya and was not pleased with the treaty,<ref>Ibn ʿAsākir, ''Tārīkh madīnat Damascus'', vol. 13, p. 267; Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 5, p. 160.</ref> but, considering the evidence against such reports, scholars have regarded them as unreliable.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Ḥayāt-i fikrī wa sīyāsī-yi aʾimma'', p. 157-158.</ref> According to reliable reports, at the time of the treaty of Imam al-Hasan (a) and Mu'awiya, some followers of the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] asked al-Husayn (a) to oppose this political peace treaty and stand against Mu'awiya. However, he (a) firmly supported his brother's treaty. When [[Qays b. Sa'd]] asked al-Husayn's (a) view on the treaty, he (a) openly shared his support for Imam al-Hasan's (a) decision. After the peace treaty was signed, al-Husayn (a) returned to [[Medina]] and remained there.<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 5, p. 165.</ref>