Page 41 - The Revolution of Imam Hussein

The Revolution of Imam Hussein

Hussein (as) received a letter which was signed by

prominent leaders of Kufa informing him of the political
situation that existed in Kufa, where people considered
Mu‘awiya as a tyrant usurper who allowed the wealth of
God to pass into the hands of the powerful and the rich.
Since they did not recognise the (bay‘a) of Yazid, they
invited Imam Hussein (as) to come to Kufa as they had
no Imam to guide them. They hoped that through him,
God will unite them on the path of truth. They also said
that they did not attend Friday congregational prayers to

pray with al-Nu‘man b. Bashir (2A.H/623 -65A.H/684), the
governor of Kufa, nor did they assemble with him at the
occasion of (Eid) (festival). If Imam Hussein (as) agreed
to come to Kufa they would oust the governor from
their city (5). In another letter they urged him to respond
urgently as they had no Imam other than him (6).
In Imam Hussein’s reply to the people of Kufa, he

explained the duties of the Imam and the nature of the
Imamate on the basis that “The Imam is the one who
follows the Book of Allah, practices justice whose conduct
is marked by honesty, and devotes himself to the service
of Allah” (7).
According to historical resources Imam Hussein
(as) wrote a will before leaving Mecca and gave it to
his brother Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya (21A.H/642
-81A.H/700), in which he declared the principles of his

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