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'''Yazīd b. Muʿāwīya''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|یزيد بن معاویة}}), (b. [[25]]/645 - d. [[64]]/683) was the second Umayyad ruler by the order of whom, Imam al-Husayn (a) and his companions were martyred in Karbala and Imam’s (a) family members were taken captive. Yazid ruled for three years after his father Mu’awiya and three important events took place during his caliphate: | |||
*In 61 AH, he caused the tragedy of Karbala. | |||
*In 63 AH, he attacked Medina which led to the massacre of thousands of the companions of the Prophet (a) and those who had memorized the Qur’an. It became famous as the event of Harra. | |||
*In 64 AH, he attacked Mecca to suppress his dissidents and hit the Kaaba with fire balls shot from catapults. | |||
'''Yazīd b. Muʿāwīya''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|یزيد بن معاویة}}), (b. [[25]]/645 - d. [[64]]/683) was the second | |||
According to historical sources, Yazid openly drank wine and had a poetic taste. He was the first person who was appointed as the caliph in a hereditary manner by his father contrary to the tradition of the previous caliphs. His appointment was against the peace treaty between Imam al-Hasan (a) and Mu’awiya. Some hadiths explicitly cursed Yazid and the murderers of Imam al-Husayn (a). All Shi’a and a group of Sunnis refer to what Yazid did during his caliphate and consider him deserved to be cursed. | |||
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==Life== | ==Life== | ||
According to some sources, Yazid's mother, Maysun bt. Bahdal was a Bedouin, who married Mu'awiya and went to [[Damascus]]. But soon, she missed her family, and so Mu'awiya divorced her, and she returned to the desert. At this time, Yazid was either an infant or not yet born. Yazid spent his early childhood with the tribe of Maysun, whose people were of the tribes of Huwwarin (in [[Hums]] area) with a Christian or polytheist background before Islam. They also had literary and poetic inclinations. Some believe that growing up under the influence of these formerly Christian converts influenced Yazid and accounts for his later support for Christians and especially Christian poets, for hiring Christian consultants at his court, and for his peace agreement with Europeans. | According to some sources, Yazid's mother, Maysun bt. Bahdal was a Bedouin, who married Mu'awiya and went to [[Damascus]]. But soon, she missed her family, and so Mu'awiya divorced her, and she returned to the desert. At this time, Yazid was either an infant or not yet born. Yazid spent his early childhood with the tribe of Maysun, whose people were of the tribes of Huwwarin (in [[Hums]] area) with a Christian or polytheist background before Islam. They also had literary and poetic inclinations. Some believe that growing up under the influence of these formerly Christian converts influenced Yazid and accounts for his later support for Christians and especially Christian poets, for hiring Christian consultants at his court, and for his peace agreement with Europeans. | ||
After ‘Ashura, Lady Zaynab (a) made a speech and called Yazid, a son of Tulaqa’. In Ziyarat ‘Ashura, he is referred to as “the son of the liver-eater woman”. He had some children including Khalid, Mu’awiya, Abu Sufyan and ‘Abd Allah. His wives were Fakhta, Umm Kulthum and Umm Miskin. Some people mentioned that the cause of his death was too much drinking. Some others say that he died of pneumonia. He was buried in Damascus. It is reported that when ‘Abbasids took Damascus, disinterred him. | |||
===Death=== | ===Death=== | ||
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==Personal Characteristics== | ==Personal Characteristics== | ||
In many sources, Yazid has been introduced as an immoral and corrupt person. [[Al-Baladhuri]] (d. [[279]]/892-3), regards him as the first Islamic ruler who openly drank wine. [[Al-Mas'udi]] quotes [[Abu Mikhnaf]] that in the reign of Yazid, drinking and immoral acts were widely committed by his governors even in [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]]. Yazid's reputation for immorality was so widespread that some famous [[companions of the Prophet (s)]] and also [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] straightforwardly called him a [[Fasiq]] (grave sinner). Because of this bad reputation, figures like Imam al-Husyan (a), [['Abd Allah b. al-Zubayr]], and [['Abd Allah b. 'Umar]], refused to pay allegiance to Yazid. It is reported that 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar said in this regard, "Shall we pay allegiance to a person who plays with monkeys and dogs, drinks wine, and commits grave sins openly?! What would be our excuse before God?" | In many sources, Yazid has been introduced as an immoral and corrupt person. [[Al-Baladhuri]] (d. [[279]]/892-3), regards him as the first Islamic ruler who openly drank wine. [[Al-Mas'udi]] quotes [[Abu Mikhnaf]] that in the reign of Yazid, drinking and immoral acts were widely committed by his governors even in [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]]. Yazid's reputation for immorality was so widespread that some famous [[companions of the Prophet (s)]] and also [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] straightforwardly called him a [[Fasiq]] (grave sinner). Because of this bad reputation, figures like Imam al-Husyan (a), [['Abd Allah b. al-Zubayr]], and [['Abd Allah b. 'Umar]], refused to pay allegiance to Yazid. It is reported that 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar said in this regard, "Shall we pay allegiance to a person who plays with monkeys and dogs, drinks wine, and commits grave sins openly?! What would be our excuse before God?" | ||
Most historical sources have mentioned that he was a poet and also was profligate and drunkard. Yazid was so shameless that in one of his poems he composed during the time of his father, he said that he does not care if Muslims die because of fever, small-pox, or cholera. | |||
===Dissipation=== | |||
Biladhuri considered him the first caliph who openly drank wine, kept women singers and players with himself and made dogs and roosters fight for his own pleasure. He had a monkey called AbaQays and gave it wine and laughed at its actions. Some believe that the beliefs of Maysun’s tribe who converted to Islam from the Christianity influenced the formation of his personality during his growth. They mentioned Christian advisers such as Sir John and Akhtal Nasrani in his court and his peace with Eastern Romans as evidences for this. | |||
===His Poetic Taste=== | |||
Yazid was a speaker and a poet. His book of poems is published and also translated to Persian as well. One of his poems which is narrated after the tragedy of ‘Ashura reads: | |||
“Give me a cup of wine to satiate my bones. Then, return and give Ibn Ziyad such a cup, whom is my confidant and trustee; and my caliphate was established by him.” Historians have reported that when Mu’awiya sent Yazid with the army of Islam toward Rome, the army went forth and were afflicted with pox and fever, but Yazid stayed back with his wife on the way and made himself busy with drinking and composed a poem, “fever and pox the army received and I have no worries, when in the abbey of Maran I lean on the couch beside Umm Kulthum.” | |||
==Taking Allegiance to Yazid by Mu’awiya== | |||
According to historical reports, when Mu’wiya decided to appoint Yazid as the crown prince, Ziyad b. Abih told him, “Yazid is a weak person who loves hunting more than being a caliph and he is not suitable for it.” To show a valiant figure of Yazid, Mu’awiya sent him to Rome with the army of Muslims in 52 AH and also gave him the management of hajjis to prevent him from drinking and to decrease criticisms about him. He postponed taking people’s allegiance for Yazid until after the martyrdom of Imam al-Hasan (a). | |||
In the peace treaty of Imam al-Hasan (a), it was mentioned that Mu’awiya should not appoint a successor for himself and must leave choosing of the caliph to Muslim community. After the martyrdom of Imam al-Hasan (a), Mu’awiya did not respect the peace treaty and ordered his governors and agents to praise Yazid and send groups from big cities to give allegiance to him. People of Medina opposed to the allegiance more seriously than other cities. Mu’awiya gave gifts to the poets who were against Yazid and changed their ideas. He also travelled to Medina to take allegiance of people, but he could not force Imam al-Husayn (a), ‘Abd Allah b. Zubayr and ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar and ‘Abd al-Rahman to give allegiance to Yazid. | |||
==Politics and Rule== | ==Politics and Rule== | ||
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The oppression and crimes that Yazid committed during his short reign marked the beginning of a series of uprisings and revolts against the [[Umayyad]] dynasty, and finally overthrew it. | The oppression and crimes that Yazid committed during his short reign marked the beginning of a series of uprisings and revolts against the [[Umayyad]] dynasty, and finally overthrew it. | ||
==Caliphate of Yazid== | |||
After the death of Mu’awiya, Yazid became the ruler of Medina. He was the first person who reached caliphate by the appointment of his father in a hereditary manner contrary to the tradition of previous caliphs. According to historical sources, Yazid suppressed any objection during his rule. On the first day, he wrote a letter to the governor of Medina and informed him of the death of Mu’awiya and ordered him to force Husayn b. Ali (a), ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar, ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Abi Bakr and ‘Abd Allah b. Zubayr to give allegiance and to behead anyone who refused. | |||
==Tragedy of Karbala== | ==Tragedy of Karbala== | ||
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Of the most horrible crimes in Islamic history for which Yazid was responsible were the catastrophic incidents that marked the [[tragedy of Karbala]]. On [[Dhu l-Hijja]] [[60]]/680, after receiving many letters from the people of [[Kufa]], promising allegiance and support, [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] together with his family and companions started traveling to [[Iraq]]. Yazid commanded his governor [['Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]] to stop the Imam (a) and make him pay allegiance to the Yazid or kill him. The Imam (a) refused to pay allegiance to Yazid, and the people of Kufa, fearing the consequences of supporting the Imam (a), left him alone. The army of Yazid's governor, 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad, killed Imam al-Husayn and his companions and took their women and children as captives. | Of the most horrible crimes in Islamic history for which Yazid was responsible were the catastrophic incidents that marked the [[tragedy of Karbala]]. On [[Dhu l-Hijja]] [[60]]/680, after receiving many letters from the people of [[Kufa]], promising allegiance and support, [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] together with his family and companions started traveling to [[Iraq]]. Yazid commanded his governor [['Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]] to stop the Imam (a) and make him pay allegiance to the Yazid or kill him. The Imam (a) refused to pay allegiance to Yazid, and the people of Kufa, fearing the consequences of supporting the Imam (a), left him alone. The army of Yazid's governor, 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad, killed Imam al-Husayn and his companions and took their women and children as captives. | ||
==The Event of Karbala== | |||
According to sources, when Yazid reached the power, ordered the governor of Medina, “force Husayn (a) to give allegiance and if he (a) refuses, send me his head.” Imam al- Husayn (a) did not give allegiance to Yazid and went to Mecca with his family and some of Bani Hashim. Kufis sent many letters to Imam (a) and invited him to Kufa; so, Imam (a) moved toward Kufa. Yazid appointed ‘Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad as the governor of Kufa and he could make people give up supporting Imam (a). After Kufis broke their promise, Imam (a) went toward Karbala. On Muharram 10th, he (a) encountered the army of ‘Umar b. Sa’d who was appointed as the commander. | |||
In this battle, Imam al-Husayn (a) and his children, his brother ‘Abbas (a), 17 people of Bani Hashim and more than 50 of his companions were martyred. After the battle, the horsemen of Yazid’s army trampled the bodies of the martyrs, attacked the tents of surviving ones, took anything which were left as booty and set fire to the tents. Due to illness, Imam al-Sajjad (a) could not fight and survived. He (a) and Lady Zaynab (a) together with other women and children were taken captives by the army of Kufa; who put the heads on spears and took them with the captives to Kufa to ‘Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad and from there to Sham to Yazid. | |||
==Behavior of Yazid toward the Captives of Karbala== | |||
When the captives entered Sham, Yazid ordered to decorate the city. He also ordered to decorate the palace and summoned famous personalities of Sham. He put the head of Imam al-Husayn (a) in a golden basin in front of the eyes of the captives and hit it with a whip and repeated this poem of Ibn Zaba’ri, “how good was that if some of the great ones from my tribe who were killed in the battle of Badr were now alive to see the griefs of the tribe of Khazraj. They would then rejoice and say, ‘Thank you O Yazid!’ Bani Hashim only played with the power, while, no news or revelation had come.” | |||
There is a hadith from Imam al-Rida (a), that Yazid put the head of Imam (a) in a basin and put a food table over it. Then, he and his companions began eating and drinking beer; then, they replaced that table with a chess table and began playing chess. When Yazid made a good move in the game, drank beer and poured the remaining beer beside the basin on the ground. Yahya b. Hakam objected to this behavior of Yazid, but Yazid punched him on the chest. Abu Barza Aslami objected too, and Yazid ordered to throw him out of the gathering. It can be understood from historical and hadith sources that first, Yazid placed the captives in roofless ruins which were known as Kharabeh-ye Sham [“ruins of Sham”]. After the speeches of Imam al-Sajjad (a) and Lady Zaynab (a), the captives were moved to a house near the palace of Yazid. Muslims’ Views about Yazid | |||
==Incident of Harra== | ==Incident of Harra== | ||
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During the reign of Yazid, due to internal conflicts, the expansion of Muslim territories stopped. Yazid put aside confrontational policies with European Christians; he even retreated from some of the lands that had been conquered at the time of [[Mu'awiya]]. He summoned his soldiers from Cyprus in return for money. He commanded Yazid b. Janada to destroy the Muslim fortress in Arwad Island and come back to [[Syria]], and summoned his forces from Rhodes. However, in [[61]]/680-1, he sent Malik b. 'Abd Allah al-Khath'ami to war with Romans; a war which was later called the Battle of Syria. In the East, Sogdia and Bukhara were conquered. In Africa, some conquests took place by 'Uqba b. Nafi'. | During the reign of Yazid, due to internal conflicts, the expansion of Muslim territories stopped. Yazid put aside confrontational policies with European Christians; he even retreated from some of the lands that had been conquered at the time of [[Mu'awiya]]. He summoned his soldiers from Cyprus in return for money. He commanded Yazid b. Janada to destroy the Muslim fortress in Arwad Island and come back to [[Syria]], and summoned his forces from Rhodes. However, in [[61]]/680-1, he sent Malik b. 'Abd Allah al-Khath'ami to war with Romans; a war which was later called the Battle of Syria. In the East, Sogdia and Bukhara were conquered. In Africa, some conquests took place by 'Uqba b. Nafi'. | ||
==Shi’a View== | |||
The event of Karbala during the rule of Yazid made him one of the most hated individuals in the view of Shi’a. Shi’a considered Yazid deserved to be cursed and regarded denouncing him and other enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) among the essential beliefs of their school of thought. In Shi’a hadith sources, there are hadiths from the Prophet (a) and the Ahl al-Bayt (a) in which Yazid and the murderers of Imam al-Husayn (a) are cursed. In Ziyarat ‘Ashura, there is a statement which curses all Umayyad caliphs. Moreover, in the famous version of Ziyarat ‘Ashura, the phrase, “O God, curse Yazid, the fifth [of them] and curse ‘Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad…” explicitly curses Yazid. | |||
==Sunni Views | |||
Some Sunnis including Ahmad b. Hanbal, Dhahabi, Ibn ‘Imad Hanbali, Ibn Jawzi and Ibn Khaldun believe in cursing Yazid. Ibn Khaldun claims that all Muslims agree on dissipation of Yazid. In al-Radd ‘ala al-muta’assib al-‘anid al-mani’ min dhamm Yazid, Ibn Jawzi, the Sunni scholar, has discussed the reasons for cursing Yazid and says that in addition to breaking the sanctity of the sanctuary of the Prophet (a) (Medina), Yazid killed Imam al-Husayn (a) against the order of the Prophet (a) for [loving] him, and even afterwards, disrespected his head and also his family. | |||
Some other Sunnis including Ghazzali do not consider cursing any Muslim, including Yazid, permissible. Some others say that the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a) was made by the order of Ibn Ziyad and because of the relationship Yazid had with Imam al-Husayn (a) and they were both from Quraysh, Yazid was not happy with fighting and killing him. Taftazani too says that Yazid deserved to be cursed, but in order to avoid extension of cursing to other companions of the Prophet (a), he should not be cursed. | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
* The material for this article is mainly taken from | * The material for this article is mainly taken from in Farsi Wikishia. | ||
{{Event of Karbala}} | {{Event of Karbala}} | ||
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