Invitations and Letters from Kufaa- 6- The Events of Karbala

Invitations and Letters from Kufaa
 

As soon as he reached Makkah many invitations and letters were sent to him from the residents of Kufa. In a little while after his arrival he received over 150 letters from Kufa. Some scholars have documented that 1200 letters were sent. However very authentic scholars have agreed on 150 letters. In that age when letters were sent over long distances via an envoy on horseback, it was a matter of urgency to have received 150 letters. The gist of the contents of the letters was as follows:

‘O [Hazrat] Imaam Husaien ! We are followers of your father [Hazrat 'Alee, رضی اللہ عنہ] ; and Ahl-e-Baiet. We will not accept son Yazeed. We are the followers of the Commander of the Faithful, your father, Hazrat 'Alee/Ali رضی اللہ عنہ  and your brother Hazrat Imaam Hasan رضی اللہ عنہ .We have refused to accept Yazeed as the Caliph and we accept you the rightful Caliph. So please come to Kufaa so that we may take oath on your blessed hand. We will defend your Caliphate with our lives and property and spend our lives serving you. So please come over to Kufaa and bless us with your esteemed presence.’

Letters were received from noble families and clans. Some had even written that if Hazrat Imaam Husaien رضی اللہ عنہ did not come to Kufaa then they would have to pledge allegiance to Yazeed out of desperation and neglect, since they did not have the power to challenge the ruling power. They said that on the Day of Reckoning when Allaah Almighty would question them as to what made them swear allegiance to an unfit ruler like Yazeed, they would say that they wrote letters and sent messengers, to the grandson of the Holy Prophet ﷺ pledging their lives and property, but he did not come. When he did not accept our invitation, being unable to challenge authority, we pledged allegiance out of desperation. They stressed to Hazrat Imaam Husaien رضی اللہ عنہ that he would carry the responsibility of their actions. These types of statements made Hazrat Imaam Husaien رضی اللہ عنہ think seriously as to what action should be taken according to Islamic Law [Shariah].