5. The Consequences of Karbala
TheeventofKarbala,thecaptureofthewomenandchildrenoftheAhlu
‘l-baytoftheProphet,theirbeingtakenasprisonersfromtowntotown
andthe speechesmadebythedaughterof‘Alī,Zaynab,andthefourth
Imamwhowereamongtheprisoners,disgracedtheUmayyads.Suchab-
use of the family of the Prophet annulled the propaganda which
Mu’āwiyahhadcarriedoutforyears. Thematterreachedsuchpropor-
tionsthatYazidwascompelledtopubliclydisownandcondemntheac-
tionsofhisagents.TheeventofKarbalawasamajorfactorintheover-
throw of Ummayad rule although its effect was delayed. It also
strengthenedtherootsofShi’ism.Amongitsimmediateresultswerethe
revoltsandrebellionscombined withbloody warswhichcontinued for
twelveyears. Amongthosewho wereinstrumentalin the deathof the
Imam not one was able to escape revenge and punishment.
Anyone who studies closely the historyof the lifeof Imam Husayn
andYazidandthe conditionsthat prevailedatthattime, andanalyzes
thischapterofIslamichistory,willhavenodoubtthatinthosecircum-
stancestherewasnochoicebeforeImamHusaynbuttobekilled.Swear-
ing allegianceto Yazid would have meantpublicly showing contempt
forIslam,somethingwhichwasnotpossiblefortheImam,forYazidnot
onlyshowed no respect for Islam andits injunctions butalso madea
publicdemonstrationofimpudently.treadingunderfootitsbasisandits
laws. Thosebefore him, even ifthey opposed religious injunctions, al-
waysdidsointheguiseofreligion,andatleastformallyrespectedreli-
gion.TheytookprideinbeingcompanionsoftheHolyProphetandthe
otherreligiousfiguresinwhompeoplebelieved.Fromthisitcanbecon-
cludedthatthe claimof someinterpreters oftheseeventsisfalse when
they say that the two brothers, Hasan and Husayn, had two different
tastesandthatonechosethewayofpeaceandtheotherthewayofwar,
so that one brother made peace with Mu’āwiyah although he had an
armyoffortythousandwhiletheotherwenttowaragainstYazidwith
anarmyoflessthanahundredpersons.ForweseethatthissameImam
Husayn,whorefusedtopayallegiancetoYazidforoneday,livedforten
yearsunder therule ofMu’āwiyah,in thesame mannerashis brother
whoalsohadenduredfortenyearsunderMu’āwiyah,withoutopposing
him.