Page 43 - The Revolution of Imam Hussein

The Revolution of Imam Hussein

believer who wishes to die and righteously meet his God.”

“To me, death is nothing, but happiness, and living with
tyrants is nothing, but abject” (10).
When Imam Hussein (as) was warned by al-Hurr b. Yazid
al-Riyahi (d.61A.H/680) (11) that he would be killed, Imam
Hussein (as) replied that he could not be frightened of
death (12).
When Imam Hussein (as) reached Karbala, he received
a letter from Yazid’s governor ibn Ziyad (28A.H/648/-
67A.H/686), in which Yazid had ordered that Imam

Hussein (as) should pay homage to him or he would be
killed. Imam Hussein’s reply was “Do not obey a creature
against his creator” (13).
Facing the army of Yazid Imam Hussein (as) made a
clear statement, that Yazid is a cruel ruler, disobeying
Allah and His Messenger, acting against the Divine
Law (Shari‘a) and must be deposed by force. “O Men;

verily the Messenger of Allah has said: He who sees an
oppressive ruler permitting what has been forbidden
by Allah, annulling God’s covenant, turning away from
the way (Sunna) of the Messenger of Allah, and acting
amongst the servants of Allah sinfully and aggressively,
and that person does not do anything in action or
speech to change that situation, then it would be right
for Allah to place that person on the day of judgment
alongside the tyrant ruler” (14). Therefore, he did not

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