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Yazid b. Mu'awiya: Difference between revisions
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==Lineage== | ==Lineage== | ||
Historians have recorded Yazid's genealogy, who is from the [[Banu Umayya]] clan of the tribe of [[Quraysh]], as follows: | Historians have recorded Yazid's genealogy, who is from the [[Banu Umayya]] clan of the tribe of [[Quraysh]], as follows: | ||
"Yazid b. Mu'awiya b. Sakhr b. Harb b. Umayya b. | "Yazid b. Mu'awiya b. Sakhr b. Harb b. Umayya b. Abd Shams b. Abd Manaf. [[Abd Manaf]] had two sons, [[Hashim]] and [[Abd Shams]], who were the ancestors of [[Banu Hashim]] and Banu Umayya respectively. There is not much information about Yazid's mother, except that her name was Maysun bt. Bahdal, she belonged to the clan of Banu Haritha b. Janab al-Kalbi. | ||
Yazid's grandfather, [[Abu Sufyan]], and his grandmother, Hind bt. 'Utba, were among the arch-enemies of the Prophet (s) of [[Islam]] before the [[conquest of Mecca]]. In the [[Battle of Uhud]], when [[Hamza b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]] was killed and his liver was taken out by Wahshi, Hind bit into Hamza's liver out of anger and hatred. | Yazid's grandfather, [[Abu Sufyan]], and his grandmother, Hind bt. 'Utba, were among the arch-enemies of the Prophet (s) of [[Islam]] before the [[conquest of Mecca]]. In the [[Battle of Uhud]], when [[Hamza b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]] was killed and his liver was taken out by Wahshi, Hind bit into Hamza's liver out of anger and hatred. | ||
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==Life== | ==Life== | ||
According to some sources, Yazid born in 26 AH, his father was Mu'awiya b. Abu Sufyan and his mother was Maysun bt. Bahdal. His mother was a Bedouin, who married Mu'awiya and went to [[Damascus]]. But soon, she couldn't live in Damascus and so Mu'awiya divorced her, 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 born in 26 AH,<ref>Ṭaqūsh, ‘’Dawlat-i umawīyān’’, p. 61.</ref> his father was Mu'awiya b. Abu Sufyan and his mother was Maysun bt. Bahdal.<ref>Dhahabī, ‘’Tārīkh al-Islām’’, vol. 5, p. 270; Ziriklī, ‘’al-Aʿlām’’, vol. 7, p. 329.</ref> His mother was a Bedouin, who married Mu'awiya and went to [[Damascus]]. But soon, she couldn't live in Damascus and so Mu'awiya divorced her, she returned to the desert. At this time, Yazid was either an infant or not yet born.<ref>Dhahabī, ‘’Tārīkh al-Islām’’, vol. 5, p. 271; Ziriklī, ‘’al-Aʿlām’’, vol. 7, p. 339.</ref> Yazid spent his early childhood with the tribe of Maysun,<ref>Ṭaqūsh, ‘’Dawlat-i umawīyān’’, p. 61.</ref> 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.<ref>Ṭaqūsh, ‘’Dawlat-i umawīyān’’, p. 61.</ref> 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. | ||
He had some children including Khalid, [[Mu'awiya b. Yazid|Mu'awiya]], Abu Sufyan and 'Abd Allah. His wives were Fakhta, Umm Kulthum and Umm Miskin. | He had some children including Khalid, [[Mu'awiya b. Yazid|Mu'awiya]], Abu Sufyan and 'Abd Allah. His wives were Fakhta, Umm Kulthum and Umm Miskin.<ref>Ṭabarī, ‘’Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk’’, 1352 Sh, vol. 7, p. 3123.</ref> | ||
==Death== | ==Death== | ||
After ruling for three years and eight months, Yazid died on [[Rabi' I 14]], ([[64 AH]]/683) at the age of 38 and was buried in Huwwarin. It is reported that when [[ | After ruling for three years and eight months, Yazid died on [[Rabi' I 14]], ([[64 AH]]/683) at the age of 38<ref>Balādhurī, ‘’Ansāb al-ashrāf’’, vol. 5, p. 354.</ref> and was buried in Huwwarin. It is reported that when [[Abbasids]] took Damascus, disinterred him.<ref>Nuwayrī, ‘’Nahāyat al-arab’’, vol. 22, p. 33.</ref> | ||
It has been said that the cause of his death was that he had put his monkey on a wild running donkey; Yazid himself was chasing the donkey while being drunk and riding on a horse until he fell off and broke his neck. | It has been said that the cause of his death was that he had put his monkey on a wild running donkey; Yazid himself was chasing the donkey while being drunk and riding on a horse until he fell off and broke his neck.<ref>Balādhurī, ‘’Ansāb al-ashrāf’’, vol. 5, p. 287.</ref> | ||
Some people mentioned that the cause of his death was too much drinking. Some others say that he died of pneumonia. | Some people mentioned that the cause of his death was too much drinking.<ref>Ibn ʿAsākir, ‘’Tārīkh madīnat Damascus’’, vol. 65, p. 397.</ref> Some others say that he died of pneumonia. | ||
==Personal Characteristics== | ==Personal Characteristics== | ||
In many sources, Yazid has been introduced as an immoral and corrupt person. [[Baladhuri]] 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 Aba Qays and gave it wine and laughed at its actions. | In many sources, Yazid has been introduced as an immoral and corrupt person.<ref>See: Ibn ʿAsākir, ‘’Tārīkh madīnat Damascus’’, vol. 65, p. 397; Ibn Athīr, ‘’al-Kāmil fī l-tārīkh’’, vol. 4, p. 127.</ref> [[Baladhuri]] 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.<ref>Balādhurī, ‘’Ansāb al-ashrāf’’, vol. 5, p. 297.</ref> He had a monkey called Aba Qays and gave it wine and laughed at its actions.<ref>Faqīhī, "Banī Umayya dar tārīkh", p. 34.</ref> | ||
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. | |||
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.<ref>Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, ‘’al-Aghānī’’, vol. 17, p. 301.</ref> 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.<ref>Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, ‘’al-Aghānī’’, vol. 17, p. 301.</ref> | |||
===His Poetic Taste=== | ===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 [[Event of | 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 [[Event 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." | "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."<ref>ʿAbbāsābādī, ‘’Pazhūhishī sizā’’, p. 92.</ref> | ||
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." | 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."<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ‘’Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī’’, vol. 2, p. 160.</ref> | ||
==Taking Allegiance to Yazid by Mu'awiya== | ==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)]]. | 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."<ref>Ṭabarī, ‘’Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk’’, vol. 5, p. 302-303.</ref> To show a valiant figure of Yazid, Mu'awiya sent him to Rome with the army of [[Muslims]] in [[52 AH]]<ref>Balādhurī, ‘’Ansāb al-ashrāf’’, vol. 5, p. 86; Yaʿqūbī, ‘’Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī’’, vol. 2, p. 160.</ref> and also gave him the [[management of hajjis]] to prevent him from drinking and to decrease criticisms about him.<ref>Ṭaqūsh, ‘’Dawlat-i umawīyān’’, p. 61.</ref> He postponed taking people's allegiance for Yazid until after the [[martyrdom]] of [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]].<ref>Ṭaqūsh, ‘’Dawlat-i umawīyān’’, p. 34.</ref> | ||
In the [[Peace Treaty of Imam al-Hasan (a) with Mu'awiya|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), [[ | In the [[Peace Treaty of Imam al-Hasan (a) with Mu'awiya|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.<ref>Balādhurī, ‘’Ansāb al-ashrāf’’, vol. 5, p. 86; Yaʿqūbī, ‘’Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī’’, vol. 2, p. 160.</ref> People of [[Medina]] opposed to the allegiance more seriously than other cities.<ref>Ibn Athīr, ‘’al-Kāmil fī l-tārīkh’’, vol. 3, p. 250.</ref> Mu'awiya gave gifts to the poets who were against Yazid and changed their ideas.<ref>Ibn Athīr, ‘’al-Kāmil fī l-tārīkh’’, vol. 3, p. 503.</ref> He also travelled to Medina to take allegiance of people,<ref>Ṭabarī, ‘’Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk’’, 1352 Sh, vol. 7, p. 2867.</ref> 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.<ref>Ṭabarī, ‘’Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk’’, 1352 Sh, vol. 7, p. 2867.</ref> | ||
==Caliphate of Yazid== | ==Caliphate of Yazid== | ||
After the death of Mu'awiya, Yazid became the ruler. 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)]], | After the death of Mu'awiya, Yazid became the ruler.<ref>Ṭabarī, ‘’Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk’’, 1352 Sh, vol. 7, p. 2904.</ref> 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.<ref>Ṭaqūsh, ‘’Dawlat-i umawīyān’’, p. 32.</ref> According to historical sources, Yazid suppressed any objection during his rule.<ref>Masʿūdī, ‘’Murūj al-dhahab’’, vol. 3, p. 67.</ref> 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.<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ‘’Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī’’, vol. 2, p. 177.</ref> | ||
The short reign of Yazid was a period of great unrest, in which he tried to mercilessly extinguish any disagreeing current. Social and political freedom at his time was so limited. [[al-Mas'udi]] wrote, "The conducts of Yazid was the same as those of [[Pharaoh]]; rather, Pharaoh was more just than him among his people and more fair to the elite and masses". Yazid in the first year of his rule, killed [[al-Husayn (a)]] and the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] of the Prophet (s); in the second year, he disrespected the sanctuary of the [[Messenger of God (s)]] in [[Medina]], and made it permissible for his soldiers to do what they wanted with its people; and in the third year, he attacked [[Ka'ba]] and burned it. | The short reign of Yazid was a period of great unrest, in which he tried to mercilessly extinguish any disagreeing current. Social and political freedom at his time was so limited. [[al-Mas'udi]] wrote, "The conducts of Yazid was the same as those of [[Pharaoh]]; rather, Pharaoh was more just than him among his people and more fair to the elite and masses".<ref>Masʿūdī, ‘’Murūj al-dhahab’’, vol. 3, p. 68.</ref> Yazid in the first year of his rule, killed [[al-Husayn (a)]] and the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] of the Prophet (s);<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ‘’Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī’’, vol. 2, p. 253.</ref> in the second year, he disrespected the sanctuary of the [[Messenger of God (s)]] in [[Medina]], and made it permissible for his soldiers to do what they wanted with its people;<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ‘’Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī’’, vol. 2, p. 253.</ref> and in the third year, he attacked [[Ka'ba]] and burned it.<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ‘’Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī’’, vol. 2, p. 253.</ref> | ||
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.<ref>Ṭaqūsh, ‘’Dawlat-i umawīyān’’, p. 75.</ref> | ||
===The Event of Karbala=== | ===The Event of Karbala=== | ||