Al-Hurr b. Yazid al-Riyahi: Difference between revisions

==Meeting Face to Face==

In Dhu Husam, the army of Hurr arrived at the campsite of Imam Husayn's caravan. Historical sources have explicitly mentioned that Hurr had been dispatched, not to start a war with the Imam but to take him to Ibn Ziyad; that's why he lined up his army before the campsite of Imam al-Husyan (a).

"When we departed from the region Shiraf, at the middle of the day, we noticed the scout of an army from far away, the Imam asked his companions: is there a safe haven nearby so that we can get stationed in it, and confront this army from one direction? They replied: yes, to the left, there's a campsite called Dhu Husam. Taking the left direction of the road, the Imam moved toward Dhu Husam; likewise, the opposite army hurried toward that position. However, Imam al-Husayn's caravan reached that site earlier and Imam ordered his companions to camp there. Hurr along his soldiers arrived there at noon and were thirsty. Although they lined up in battle stations, the Imam's reaction was not confrontational. He ordered his companions to give water to the army of Hurr, both soldiers and their horses. Then Hurr requested to pray the noon prayer, along his soldiers, behind the Imam; Imam al-Husayn (a) accepted and they prayed their noon prayer with the caravan of Imam al-Husayn (a), the Imam being the leader of prayer. Hurr told the Imam about his mission. Imam al-Husayn (a) emphasized on the fact that the people of Kufa have invited him to Kufa by sending frequent letters and requested him to take over the affairs; however, the Imam explicitly stated that if the Kufans regret their decision, he would return.

Hurr said he had been unaware of such correspondence, neither he nor his soldiers sent no letters and that he has the mission to take the Imam to Ibn Ziyad in Kufa.

When the Imam decided to continue his travel, Hurr stopped him from either heading toward Kufa or going back to [[Hijaz]], he suggested him to take a third route, neither to Kufa nor to Hijaz, so that he can ask Ibn Ziyad for further instructions. Hurr told the Imam: "I have not been ordered to battle against you, but I am ordered not to let you go and take you to Kufa; yet if you refuse, take a third route rather than Kufa and Hijaz, so that I write a letter to Ibn Ziyad. If you wish, you can also write to Yazid; that might help the situation end in peace. To me this seems better than getting involved in a battle against you."

After this, Imam al-Husayn (a) and his caravan took the route of 'Udhayb and Qadisiyya; and Hurr, along his army, followed them.

Although Hurr did not have the order to start a war with the Imam, the possibility of military confrontation had been worrying him from the start. It is even reported that he warned the Imam about the fatal result of such a war. Frequently and whenever suited, he would tell Imam al-Husayn (a): "by God please save your sacred soul, for I am sure if a war takes place, you will be killed." To this concern the Imam replied by reciting a poem, saying he is not afraid of death and martyrdom for the sake of God.

In 'Udhayb, four Shi'a from Kufa joined Imam al-Husayn (a). Hurr intended to arrest or send them back to Kufa, but the Imam prevented him. They told the Imam about the tense situation in Kufa, the martyrdom of [[Qays b. Musahhar al-Saydawi]] (Imam's envoy to Kufa) and the preparation of a great army to confront the Imam.

[[Muharram 2]] was the deadline of Hurr's agreement with Imam al-Husayn (a). Both Imam's caravan and Hurr's army had arrived at a village called [[Naynawa]] when Hurr received a letter from Ibn Ziyad, ordering him to pressure the Imam and stop him and his companions in a plain area that has no water or tree. It was written in [[Ibn Ziyad]]'s letter to Hurr: "upon the arrival of my messenger and receiving my letter, take it hard on al-Husayn and never let him camp unless in a dry and treeless land. I have commanded my messenger not to leave you alone till he brings me the news about the fulfillment of my order. End." Hurr came to Imam al-Husayn (a) and read Ibn Ziyad's letter for him. Imam said: let us camp in Naynawa or [[Ghadiriyya]]."

Being caught in a dilemma and feeling the surveillance of Ibn Ziyad's messenger, Hurr stopped Imam's caravan and refused their suggestion to camp in the nearby village Naynawa (or Ghadiriyya or Suqayh). Having no exit, the Imam's caravan camped in [[Karbala]] (according to some reports, close to the village 'Aqr) near the [[Euphrates]]. [[Zuhayr b. Qayn]] told Imam al-Husayn (a): "by God I feel that after this, it turns even harder on us, O' son of Allah's Apostle! Now fighting this group (Hurr and his soldiers) is easier for us than fighting those who come after this group, I swear by my own life that there will come a group after this whom we can't stand against." The Imam replied: "you are right Zuhayr, but I won't be the one who starts the war."

Imam al-Husayn (a) moved with Hurr and reached Karbala, Hurr and his soldiers stood against Imam's caravan and stopped them from any further move. Hurr said: "camp here, for the Euphrates is close by." Imam asked: "What's the name of this land?" they replied: "Karbala..." Imam al-Husayn (a) came down from his horse. Hurr and his soldiers camped nearby. Upon the settlement of Imam's caravan in Karbla, Hurr wrote to Ibn Ziyad and informed him about their situation.