Yazid b. Mu'awiya: Difference between revisions

In many sources, Yazid has been introduced as an immoral and corrupt person. 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.[[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?"

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. Most historical sources have mentioned that he was a poet and also was profligate and drunkard.  

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.”