Muslim b. Aqil: Difference between revisions

Muslim b. ‘Aqil b. Abi Talib (مسلم بن عقیل بن ابی طالب) was the first martyr from [[Imam al-Husayn]]’s companions and also his cousin who was martyred in [[Kufa]]. After that Imam al-Husayn received numerous letters form the people of kufa inviting him to the city, he sent Muslim to Kufa as his representative to see if the conditions are ready for his presence and if the people are really supporting him. According to a report, 27 days before his martyrdom, Muslim wrote a letter to al-Imam Husayn and informed him that the people are ready and waiting for you. However, after that [[‘Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]] was appointed as the governor of Kufa and because people were afraid of him, they suddenly left Muslim alone. Thus, he was arrested and martyred in the day of ‘Arafa (Dhu al-Hijja 9th) in 60 (September 13, 680).

His father [[‘Aqil b. Abi Talib]] ([[Imam Ali]]’s (a) brother) was a genealogist and an eloquent speaker.

His mother was a slave woman, ‘Aqil had bought from [[Levant]], called “‘Illiyya (or according to [[Baladhuri]]’s report Hilliyya).

[[Ibn Habban]] (d. 354/965), one of the Sunni scholars, writes, “Muslim b. ‘Aqil al-Hashimi. His [[kuniya]] was Abu Dawud. He was the most similar person to [[the Prophet]] (s) among the sons of [[‘Abd al-Muttalib]]. He was contemporaneous with some of [[the Companions]] [of the Prophet (s)].”

Baladhuri has described him as the most powerful and brave son of ‘Aqil.

[[Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani]] writes, “ Muslim did not have (male) children.” Nevertheless, many historians have mentioned sons and daughters for him. [[Tabari]] mentions [[’Abd Allah b. Muslim b. ‘Aqil]], whom [[‘Amr b. Subayh Sada’i]] hit by an arrow on the [[day of ‘Ashura]] in [[Karbala]]. Then he was attacked by a group of soldiers and martyred.

He adds that ‘Abd Allah’s mother was [[Ruqayya bt. Ali]], whose mother was a slave woman. He continues that some have said that his murderer was [[Usayd b. Malik al-Hadrami]]. However, in another place he mentions [[Zayd b. Ruqad]], who was later killed by [[Mukhtar]]’s order.

Also, [[Qazi Nu’man al-Maghribi]] mentions a son for Muslim named ‘Abd Allah, whose mother was Ruqayya bt. Ali and was martyred in Karbala by ‘Amr b. Subayh or according to some reports by [[Asad b. Malik]].

Baladhuri reports that there was a young person in Karbala by the name ‘Abd Allah b. Muslim b. ‘Aqil b. Abi Talib, whom [[Zayd b. Ruqad al-Janbi]] hit on the forehead and heart by arrows and killed. However, in another place he says that ‘Amr b. Subayh hit him by arrow then a group of soldiers attacked him and killed him. Counting his children, he writes, “‘Abd Allah and Ali -who were born from Ruqayya bt. Ali- Muslim (b. Muslim) whose mother was from the tribe of [[Bani ‘Amir b. Sa’sa’a]], ‘Abd Allah, whose mother was a slave woman and Muhammad.” He did not give the name of the last one’s mother. Baladhuri adds that Ruqayya’s mother was called Sahba’ and her complete name “was Umm Habib bt. Habib b. Bujayz al-Taghlibi from the region of ‘Ayn ai-Tamr.”

[[Dhahabi]] mentions two son for Muslim named ‘Abd Allah and ‘Abd al-Rahman who were martyred in Karbala.

[[Tabrisi]] writes, “Ruqayya bt. Ali was Muslim b. ‘Aqil’s wife, who gave birth to ‘Abd Allah -who was martyred in [[Taff]] (Karbala)- Ali and Muhammad.

[[Ibn Qutayba]] writes counting Muslim’s children, “‘Abd Allah, Ali -who were born from Ruqayya bt. Ali- Muslim and ‘Abd al-‘Aziz.” He did not mentions the mother of the two last ones.

[[Ibn Makula]] reported that Muslim had a daughter named Umm Hamida who was married to ‘Abd Allah a. Muhammad b. ‘Aqil b. Abi Talib (her cousin) and had a son from him named Muhammad.

It has been mentioned in some historical sources that Muslim had two sons who were captured after the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a) and imprisoned in Kufa by the order of ‘Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad. They fled from the prison; but were martyred later. (main entry: [[The two sons of Muslim]])

Muslim accompanied Imam al-Husayn (a) when Imam departed [[Medina]] toward [[Mecca]]. But when Imam received numerous invitation letters form people of Kufa, he sent sent Muslim to Kufa to check if they are honest in their letters and also if the conditions are ready for his presence. According to another report Imam sent [[Qays b. Mushar al-Saydawi]], [[‘Amarat b. ‘Abd Saluli]] and [[‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Abd Allah Arhabi]] along with Muslim and ordered him to be wary of God, hide his mission and tolerate people and get along with them; then if he sees that people are united and have unanimous opinion, inform the Imam immediately.

When Muslim arrived in Kufa, he entered the house of [[Mukhtar b. Abi ‘Ubayda]]. [[Shi’a]] came to the house and Muslim read the Imam al-Husayn’s letter for them. In another report, [[Mas’udi] says that he entered the house of [[‘Awsaja]], or as [[Ibn Jawzi]] recorded [[Ibn ‘Awsaja]].

[[Ibn ‘Asakir]] writes, “12000 people pledged allegiance to Imam al-Husayn (a) by swearing allegiance to Muslim.” Some recorded 18000 and some reported more than 30000. Having witnessed the warm welcome of people for Muslim, spies wrote a letter to [[Yazid]] and said if you want Kufa, hurry up because the current governor of Kufa ([[Nu’man b. Bashir]]) is weak or pretends weakness. When Yazid received the letter, appointed [[‘Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]], who was the governor of Basra, as the governor of Kufa as well.

After the arrival of ‘Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad in Kufa, Muslim left Mukhtar’s house and went to [[Hani b. ‘Urwa]]’s. Although Muslim was hidden and has secret connections with Shi’a, ‘Ubayd Allah find his hiding place by recruiting spies. ‘Ubayd Allah summoned Hani and asked him to surrender Muslim. Hani refused and as a result was arrested.

When Hani’s tribe, [[Midhhaj]], heard the news, they gathered in front of the governmental palace ([[Dar al-Imara]]). But, ‘Ubayd Allah scattered them by deception. He asked [[Shurayh al-Qadi]] to bear witness that Hani was his quest.

When the news reached Muslim, he prepared 4000 people by the motto “O Victorious! make them die” (Ya Mansur, Amit!)and surrounded the palace. ‘Ubayd Allah asked some heads of kufa to scatter them by giving them money or frightening them from the Levant’s army. His plot succeeded and people left Muslim gradually. By night, Muslim was alone and did not even have a place to sleep. Finally, he asked a woman named [[Taw’a]], whose house he was standing next to, for some water. When the woman recognized him, asked him to stay at her house for the night. The woman’s son realized that Muslim was in the house, so in the morning he went to [[‘Abd al-Rahman b. Muhammad b. Ash’ath]] and told him that. When ‘Abd al-Rahman told his father, Ibn Ziyad give [[Muhammad b. Ash’ath]] 70 soldiers and asked him to arrest Muslim and bring him to the Palace.

After a fight between Muslim and the soldiers, Muhammad b. Ash’ath said to Muslim that if he surrenders, no one will harm him. Thus, Muslim surrendered and was took to the palace. But, Ibn Ziyad refused Muhammad b. Ash’ath’s words and after a struggle between Muslim and him, he ordered to take Muslim to the roof of the palace and to behead him.

After Muslim’s martyrdom, Ibn Ziyad also gives his orders of killing Hani b. ‘Urwa. Then he sent their heads to [[Yazid b. Mu’awiyya]] in [[Damascus]].