Yazid I
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| Yazid I | |
| Caliph of the Umayyad dynasty | |
| Reign | 680 – 683 |
|---|---|
| Full name | Yazīd ibn Mu‘āwīyah ibn Abu Sufyān |
| Born | 645 |
| Died | 683 |
| Predecessor | Muawiya I |
| Successor | Muawiya II |
| Dynasty | Umayyad |
| Father | Muawiya I |
| Mother | Maysun |
Yazid ibn Muawiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (Arabic: يزيد بن معاوية بن أبي سفيان) (July 23, 645 - 683) was the second Caliph of the Umayyad dynasty and ruled from CE 680 until his death in 683. His mother Maysun was Christian. He is notable as an object of animosity among Sunni Muslims and Shi'a Muslims, who reject his legitimacy and condemn his role in the Battle of Karbala which resulted in the death of Husayn ibn Ali. A lot of books have been written by prominent Sunni and Shi'a Scholars of whole Islamic history to condemn his role against the family of the Prophet Mohammad. He was specially condemned of his behavior during the Saga of Karbala.
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[edit] Accession to the caliphate
The issue of succession to the caliphate had proved divisive in the past (see Succession to Muhammad). After Ali, Muslims agreed to give the caliphate to Hassan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with both of them). After six months of tenure Hassan bin Ali Withdrew himself in favour of Muawiya,on the conditions that he does not fight him or any members of his family, and also when the time came to appointed a new caliph, then a public vote would decide who should be the next caliph . Muawiya tried to continue on the same way as The Rightly-Guided Caliphs (may Allah be pleased with them), but he was ruling a different generation of people.The caliph Muawiyah I took the controversial step of breaking with the Arabian and Islamic tradition of shura, consultation by the leading men of the community to choose the new leader. He founded the first Islamic dynasty by designating his son Yazid to succeed him. Muawiyah, a great pragmatist, realized that Imam Husayn certainly had better character than his son and Ibn az-Zubayr a wider following, but he realized also that Yazid had the army of Syria behind him, which could enforce peace and prevent civil war. He urged Yazid to avoid bloodshed as much as possible. When criticized for having people give their allegiance to Yazid in advance, Mu'awiya pointed out that Abu Bakr had named 'Umar as his successor before his death, and that the upheaval involved in an election could lead to another civil war, which would involve Muslim blood being shed and offer the enemies of the Muslims an opportunity to attack. It was not the desire for a dynasty which led Mu'awiya to have people offer allegiance to his son while he was still alive, but the desire to ensure peace and prevent civil war. Yazid was duly proclaimed caliph upon his father's death. However, he faced immediate opposition from other Muslims who rejected the dynastic principle or supported the claims of different lineages.
[edit] Battle of Karbala
Yazid was first opposed by the grandson of Muhammad, Husayn bin Ali. Husayn was the son of the assassinated former caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib. His older brother, Hasan ibn Ali, had briefly claimed the caliphate as well. Husayn, as a descendant of Muhammad, had a claim to the caliphate in the eyes of many Muslims. The Muslims of Kufa in Iraq, which had been the stronghold of Ali, assured Husayn that they would support him if he bid for the caliphate. Based on this support, Husayn decided to march. He started from Mecca and headed towards Kufa.
Husayn headed towards Karbala, from Mecca. While passing through the cities he asked one of his close companions, Zuhayr ibn Qayn, the name of each city he passed by hoping not to miss Karbala. There was a good reason for his questioning to Zuhayr. The reason was that, his maternal grandfather, the prophet Muhammad told him that the city of Karbala would be the place where him and his companions would be martyred. When arriving in Karbala Husayn asked Zuhayr, the name of the city. Zuhayr replied that the name of the city was Taf. Husayn asked Zuhayr if the city had another name. Zuhayr said that the other name of the city was Karbala. According to the book Karbala and Ahusra, by Ali Husayn Jalali, tears appeared on Husayn's face when Zuhayr informed him that the other name of Taf was Karbala. Husayn said: "I seek refuge for Allah in Karb and Bala. This is where we will be unjustly martyred. This is where the woman will be taken captive and will be transported to Kufa and later on to Damascus. This is what my grandfather, the messenger of Allah has told me". Karb means grief and Bala means tribulation, in Arabic. So Husayn was basically saying "I seek refuge for God in grief and tribulation". A detachment from Yazid's army, approximately 40 000 men led by ‘Umar ibn Sa’d, barred his way to the city and then pursued him when he veered away. Husayn's small group was surrounded, cut off from its water supplies, and then, on October 10, 680, all men were killed by the enemy forces, except Ali ibn Husayn. Despite the fact that Husayn's army were outnumbered, each man showed bravery and killed many enemies individually. Husayn split his army of 72 men into 3 sections. The left flank, the right flank and the Ahlul bayt, who were the family of the Prophet. Husayn put Habib ibn Muzahir in charge of the left flank and Zuhayr ibn Qayn in charge of the right flank. According to many shia, and a few sunni books Husayn's army, after starvation and thirst for 3 days, killed approximately 5000 men of the enemy forces. Outside his 72 men, a few people from the enemy forces were influenced by him and joined his side. Among these converts included a man called Hurr al Riyahi. According to the book Karbala and Ashura, by Ali Husayn Jalali, Hurr killed 41 men of the enemy forces before being martyred. When Hurr was martyred, Husayn wiped the blood off Hurr's face with his hand, and said to him, "You are Hurr, as your mother has named you". Hurr, in Arabic means free, so Husayn was saying that Hurr is free. Saying this statement, Husayn meant that Hurr was free from the chains of the devil, because he joined Husayn's forces. Husayn and his men performed miracles of bravery and defiance during this battle. However, Husayn and his men were all killed, except for Ali ibn Husayn, who was taken captive by Yazid's forces.
[edit] Revolt in Arabia and death of Yazid
Many Sahaba gave pledge alligiance to Yazid ,including the great sahaba like abdullah bin umar and ubdullah bin abbas. Other Arabs, who were used to choosing leaders by consultation rather than heredity, refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid. A group of companions of Muhammed (Sahaba), including Abdullah ibn Zubayr opposed Yazid's position as Caliph. Abdullah bin Zubayr launched an insurgency in the Hejaz, the heartland of the Islam, where Mecca and Medinah are. Yazid sent armies against him in 683. After the Battle of al-Harra, Medina was captured and Mecca was also besieged.
During the siege, the Kaaba was damaged, reportedly causing significant resentment, even hatred, among the inhabitants of Mecca as well as many Muslims throughout the Islamic empire. The siege ended when Yazid died suddenly in 683 CE. The exact place of Yazid's burial is believed to be at a place in Damascus which is now a steel factory. He was briefly succeeded by his son, Muawiya II.
[edit] Sunni view of Yazid
What follows is a list of some of the scholars who held various opinions about Yazeed ibn Mua’wiyyah.which nulifies the shia's claim that all sunni scholars curse Yazid
1. Imaam Qaadhee Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabee Maalikee (d.543H) He did not hold permissible the cursing and abusing of Yazeed nor declaring him to be a disbeliever. He said, “If it is said justice and knowledge are from the conditions of Khilaafah and Yazeed neither had justice or knowledge, then we will say what is the thing by which he have to come to know Yazeed had no justice or knowledge.” (al-Awaasim Minal Qawaasim (pg.222) He also said, “Where are those historians who wrote against Yazeed in mentioning alcohol and open sinning, do they not have any shame?” (al-Awaasim Minal Qawaasim (pg.222)
2. Shaikh Abdul-Mugeeth Hanbalee (d.583H) He was not in favour of cursing Yazeed nor declaring him to be a disbeliever, rather he authored a biography of Yazeed with the title of, “Fadhal Yazeed.” “and his (Abdul-Mugeeth’s) book ‘Fadhal Yazeed bin Mu’awiyyah’, in it he has mentioned strange incidences.” (Hidaayatul A’aarifeen Asmaa al-Mu’allifeen Wa Athaar Musannifeen (5/623), al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah (12/328). Haafidh Ibn Katheer said about him, “He was from the righteous Hanbalee’s who the common folk referred to.” (al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah (12/328). Imaam Ibn al-Jawzee said, “I hope from Allaah that me and Abdul-Mugeeth will be together in Paradise. Muhib ud deen Abul-Baqaa said from this we find (ibn al-Jawzee) knew Abdul-Mugeeth was from the righteous worshippers of Allaah and may he have mercy on both of them.” (Dhail Tabaqaat Hanabillah (1/356) of Ibn Rajab.)
3. Allaamah Abul-Khair Qazwainee. (d.590H) Imaam Ibn Katheer said, “After he left Qazwain he went to Baghdaad where he became a teacher in Madrassah Nizaamiyyah and he would admonish and deliver lectures to the people. So on the day of Ashoorah he sat on the minbar to admonish the people, it was said to him to curse Yazeed bin Mu’awiyyah. He replied, “He was but an Imaam Mujtahid.” (al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah (9/13), Risaalah al-Mustarfah Lee-Bayaan Mashoor Kitaab as-Sunnah al-Musharfah (pg.132).
4. Allaamah Ibn as-Saalah (d.646H) He was also not in favour of cursing Yazeed or saying he was a disbeliever. Ibn Hajr Makkee writes, “Ibn Salaah who is from our jurists and scholars of hadeeth, I have seen in his Fataawa that when he was asked concerning the individual who would only curse Yazeed because he ordered the death of Hussain. Then in answer to this he said, according to us Yazeed ordering the death of Hussain is not correct and cursing and abusing Yazeed is not the sign of a believer…..” (as-Sawaa’iq al-Meharqah (pg.222).
5. Shaikh ul-Islaam Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) He was neither in favour of cursing Yazeed nor declaring him to be a disbeliever. He says, “And the people who curse Yazeed and other such people like him then it is UPON them to bring evidence, Firstly: that he (Yazeed) was an open sinner and an oppressor and therefore prove he really was an open sinner and an oppressor. As allowing them to be cursed also needs to be proven that he continued this open sinning and oppression to the end up until his death. Secondly: Then after this they must prove that it is permissible to curse specific people like Yazeed.” He goes onto say, “and the verse, “May the Curse of Allaah be upon the oppressors.” Is a general verse like the verses concerning punishment.” He goes onto say, “And the hadeeth of Bukhaari states the first army to wage Jihaad against Constantinople is forgiven and the first army to do Jihaad against Constantinople, their Ameer was Yazeed ibn Mu’waiyyah and the word army entails a specific number and every member of this army is included in this forgiveness………..” (Minhaaj as-Sunnah an-Nabawiyyah Fee Naqdh Kalaam ash-Shee’ah Wal-Qadariyyah (2/252), al-Muntaqa Minhaaj al-Ei’tidaal Fee Naqdh Kalaam ar-Rafdh Wal-Ei’tizaal (pg.290).
6. Haafidh Imaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (d.751H). Haafidh Ibn Qayyim writes in his book al-Manaar al-Muneef, “ALL the narration’s that mention the censure of Yazeed bin Mu’awiyyah are lies.” The he goes onto say on the same page, “ALL the narration’s that mention the censure of Mu’awiyyah are lies.” (al-Manaar al-Muneef Fis-Saheeh Wadh-Dha’eef (pg.220).
7. Haafidh Imaam Ibn Katheer (d.774H) After mentioning the position of al-Haraasee (of the permissibility of cursing) he mentions his statements and says, “Imaam Ghazzalee has opposed the attribution of open sinning and tyranny to Yazeed and has prohibited from abusing Yazeed because he was a muslim and it is not established he expressed happiness or joy on the death of Hussain….” (al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah (12/173).
8. Haafidh Ibn Rajab (d.795H) Haafidh Ibn Rajab also did not hold the opinion of cursing and declaring Yazeed to be a disbeliever. On the contrary he refute the allegation on Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal that he cursed Yazeed. So he writes in clear words, “The statement of Imaam Ahmad only establishes cursing on all of the oppressors and there is no clarification or specification for the permissibility of cursing Yazeed only.” (Dhail Tabaqaat Hanabillah (2/356).
9. Mulla Alee Qaaree (d1014H). Mulla Alee Qaaree said, “The majority of the Scholars have prohibited cursing Yazeed and Hajjaaj.” (Mirqaat Sharh Mishkaat (4/52).
10.Ibn kathir in his famous book Albidaywanihaya quotes Mohammad bin Hanfia Hussain brother ,that yazid was a pious person and he denied the acusation against him.
[edit] Shi'a view of Yazid
For Shi'a Muslims, Yazid is the worst tyrant, who will always be remembered for his murder of Husayn and persecution of his family. He is said to have been fond of wine and friends with al-andre fuller of damascus he also is said to have enjoyed the company of courtesans, and completely careless of his religious duties.[citation needed]
The events at Karbala figure as fundamental in Shi'a thought, and many Shi'a Islamist movements liken their causes to Husayn's struggle against Yazid. Leaders of the 1979 Iranian Revolution that overthrew the Pahlavi government frequently drew such comparisons. The 10th of Muharram (also known as Ashura), the Islamic calendar date on which the Battle of Karbala occurred, is commemorated as a day of mourning by Shi'a Muslims around the world. Shi'a rituals on Ashura' usually involve public processions during which the Shi'a Muslims reject Yazid's caliphate and recite poems commemorating Husayn and his death. Shi'as around the world refer to Yazid as "the tyrant."
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Muawiya I |
Caliph 680–683 |
Succeeded by Muawiya II |
