Muslim b. Aqil: Difference between revisions

'''Muslim b.  ʿAqīl b. Abī Ṭālib''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|مسلم بن عقیل بن ابي طالب}}), cousin of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] and one of his companions in his movement against [[Yazid b. Mu'awiya]]. He was [[martyr]]ed before [[the day of 'Ashura]] in [[Kufa]].<ref>Isfahani, ''Maqatil al-talibiyyin'', p.52</ref> [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] 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 Imam al-Husayn (a) and informed him that the people are ready and waiting for you.<ref>Tabari, ''Tarikh'', vol.4 p.297</ref> 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 l-Hijja 9]]), 60 ([[September 13]], 680).<ref>Amin, ''A'yan al-shi'a'', vol.1 p.593</ref>

 

His birthday is unknown. He was martyred at the age of 28<ref>Shahidi, ''Pazhuhishi tazi piramun qiyam Imam Husayn'', p.122</ref> in [[Dhu al-Hijja]] 9th 60 in [[Kufa]] (September 13, 680).

He was buried next to [[Mosque of Kufa]].<ref>Sayyid al-Buraqi, ''Tarikh al-Kufa'', p.98</ref>

Tabari mentions [['Abd Allah b. Muslim b. 'Aqil]], whom [['Amr b. Subayh al-Sada'i]] hit by an arrow on the [[day of 'Ashura]] in [[Karbala]]. Then he was attacked by a group of soldiers and martyred.<ref>Tabari, ''Tarikh'', vol.4 p.341</ref>

He adds that 'Abd Allah's mother was [[Ruqayya bt. 'Ali (a)]], whose mother was a slave woman. He continues that some have said that his murderer was Usayd b. Malik al-Hadrami.<ref>Tabari, ''Tarikh'', vol.4 p.359</ref> However, in another place he mentions Zayd b. Ruqad, who was later killed by [[Mukhtar al-Thaqafi|Mukhtar's]] order.<ref>Tabari, ''Tarikh'', vol.4 p.534</ref>

Also, Qadi 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.<ref>Qadi Nu'man, ''Sharh al-akhbar'', vol.3 p.195</ref>

Counting the martyred companions of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]], [[al-Shaykh al-Tusi]] has mentioned a son for Muslim with the same identity as the preceding reports.<ref>Tusi, ''Rijal'', p.103</ref>

al-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.<ref>Baladhari, ''Ansab al-ashraf'', vol.6 p.407-408</ref> However, in another place he says that 'Amr b. Subayh hit him by arrow then a group of soldiers attacked him and killed him.<ref>Baladhari, ''Ansab al-ashraf'', vol.3 p.200</ref>

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.<ref>al-Baladhari, ''Ansab al-ashraf'', vol.2 p.70-71</ref> al-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."<ref>Baladhari, ''Ansab al-ashraf'', vol.2 p.192</ref>

Dhahabi mentions two son for Muslim named 'Abd Allah and 'Abd al-Rahman who were martyred in Karbala.<ref>Dhahabi, ''Siyar a'lam al-nubala''', vol.3 p.320</ref>

[[al-Fadl b. al-Hasan al-Tabrisi|al-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.<ref>Tabrisi, ''I'lam al-wara'', vol.1 p.397</ref>

Ibn Qutayba writes counting Muslim's children, "'Abd Allah, 'Ali -who were born from Ruqayya bt. 'Ali- Muslim and 'Abd al-'Aziz."<ref>Ibn Qutayba, ''al-Ma'arif'', p.204</ref> 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.<ref>Ibn Makula, ''Ikmal al-kamal'', vol.6 p.235</ref>

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.<ref>Saduq, ''al-Amali'', p.143-148</ref>

{{see also|Two Sons of Muslim b. 'Aqil}}

==Imam Husayn's Representative in Kufa==

Muslim accompanied [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] when Imam departed [[Medina]] toward [[Mecca]]. But when Imam received [[Letters of the Kufians to Imam al-Husayn|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.<ref>Ibn Qutayba, ''al-Akhbar al-tiwal'', p.230</ref>

According to another report Imam (a) sent [[Qays b. Mushir al-Saydawi]], [['Amarat b. 'Abd al-Saluli]] and [['Abd al-Rahman b. 'Abd Allah al-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.<ref>Mufid, ''al-Irshad'', p.295-297</ref>

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.<ref>Ibn Qutayba, ''al-Akhbar al-tiwal'', p.231</ref> In another report, Mas'udi says that he entered the house of 'Awsaja,<ref>Mas'udi, ''Muruj al-dhahab'', vol.3 p.54</ref> or as Ibn Jawzi recorded Ibn 'Awsaja.<ref>Ibn Jawzi, ''al-Muntazam'', vol.5 p.325</ref>

Ibn 'Asakir writes, "12000 people pledged allegiance to Imam al-Husayn (a) by swearing allegiance to Muslim". Some recorded 18000<ref>Ibn Qutayba, ''al-Akhbar al-tiwal'', p.235</ref> and some reported more than 30000.<ref>Ibn Qutayba, ''al-Imama wa l-siyasa'', vol.2 p.8</ref> 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.<ref>Ibn Qutayba, ''al-Akhbar al-tiwal'', p.231</ref>

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, [[Madhhij]], 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 guest.

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.<ref>Mufid, ''al-Irshad'', p.53-63</ref>

After Muslim's martyrdom, Ibn Ziyad also gives his orders of killing Hani b. 'Urwa. Then he sent their heads to [[Yazid b. Mu'awiya]] in [[Damascus]].<ref>Ibn A'tham, ''al-Futuh'', vol.5 p.62</ref>