What does history say?
Events of previous years are acquired from the scrolls of history. What occurred, which conditions, which personalities, where and during which age, what behavior was promoted and the kind of revolutions that took place can all be found in the books of history in a way as if each event is unfolding right before us.
Man is a social animal and lives his individual and social life in a society. This approach is called civilisation wherein the span of lives of different individuals overlap. Since the initiation of creation, this civilisation has had two sections, two tenures and two aspects.
One that man designed and established and promoted on the basis of his understanding and wisdom, his potential and might. The other was established on the basis of divine principles, led by the Prophets (peace be on them) who shouldered these responsibilities. This civilisation was established through their behavior, actions and rulings. The series of Prophets terminated with the Seal of the Prophets, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (peace be on him and his progeny) and its protection was entrusted to the successors (peace be on them).
These two civilisations have been in conflict since the very beginning due to vast differences and disagreements in their value systems. For example, in the cities of Babylon and Kledon, the prevailing rule of Namrud replete with ill principled orders, idol worship and evil was resisted by Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be on him). He was assigned the task of propagation that was assisted by the power of Allah. The fire of Namrud simmered down and under the fragrance of the garden of Ibrahim (peace be on him), the divine and monotheistic nature began to blossom in the conscious of the people.
The Conflict
Was it not for Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be on him), the Namrudi school of thought would have taken firm root in society; humanity would have been trampled by his oppression and thus the worship of one Lord, the foundations of humanity would have been torn apart in the way groups of beasts devour a prey in a jungle.
When Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be on him), all alone, called towards the worship of Allah the Almighty and brought about a change through his character, the world was liberated from the shackles of slavery, coercion, deprivation and exploitation. They began to recognize their value and of those close to them and gained strength and motivation to counter their oppression, assisted by the hidden power of Allah.
In short, these two forces have been at loggerheads since ancient times. One had the sword as it’s symbol while other had sacrifice, martyrdom and aim of creation, the nobility of human beings, the inheritance of the lineage of Ibrahim (peace be on him) displaying the charisma of entire Prophethood on the lands of Makkah at a time when ignorance was at its peak. Idol worship had entwined masses and the people of Makkah in a web of disbelief.
All the traps of this web were made of oppression, man-made customs and traditions. On one side, most of the people due to weak economic condition, did not consider the plundering of foreign traders as a crime and on the other hand, some rulers were known to be the most cruel and oppressive in the history of slavery. Amongst such, Abu Sufyan (may Allah curse him) was at the forefront and most of the poor and wretched ones, not only accepted his leadership but also looked upon him. This (Makkah) was the land where innocent daughters were buried alive by their fathers. This precedent cannot possibly be found in any community in the world or in any established system of that time.
In such an environment, the orphan of Abdullah (peace be on him) proved the purity of his character till forty years of his age with a pure, ethical and exemplary character, established his importance and then announced his Prophethood. This announcement led to an upheaval in Makkah. Probably, no house except that of Hazrat Abu Talib (peace be on him) was not tainted by thousands of years of idol worship, ignorant and oppressive beliefs. Their hearts had layers of obedience to idols, ignorance was their practice, obeying rulers was their manner and they were strangled with the chains of slavery.
Hence, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (peace be on him and his progeny), considered as the most beloved and reliable, the most knowledgeable and wise, was received with stones in the hands of the children when he passed by any of the lanes. However when they saw that the Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) is accompanied by Ameerul Momeneen Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be on both), they fled (implying, as per the divine orders, no separation between the Prophethood of Hazrat Mohammad (peace be on him and his progeny) and the successorship of Ameerul Momeneen Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be on both)).
The point is that the life of Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) in Makkah was always surrounded by his enemies bent upon killing him (peace be on him and his progeny) in a manner that he would be killed by his own companions and hence would be considered as one of the most powerful men by the people of Makkah. If history of this era is carefully studied, we will see that under the guidance of Abu Sufyan (may Allah curse him), idol worshippers, self-centered and those with political aims were opposing the leader of divine order Hazrat Mohammad Mustafa (peace be on him and his progeny) who was supported only by Ameerul Momeneen Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be on both) and some people from the weaker section of the society.
To summarize, the people of Makkah on one side, gathered under the flag of Abu Sufyan (may Allah curse him) supported by Shaiba, Hinda (the liver eater) and a group of people while on the other side was Hazrat Mohammad (peace be on him and his progeny), Ameerul Momeneen Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be on both), Janab Ammar Yasir (may Allah be pleased with him), Janab Summayya (the first lady martyr) (may Allah be pleased with her), Janab-e-Abdullah ibn Masud, Mus’ab (who broke the reigns of restrictions and joined the Prophet) and Janab Bilal Habashi while Ameerul Momeneen (peace be on him) held the standard, a visualization of the time when Prophet Mohammad (peace be on him and his progeny) propagated his apostleship.
Was it not for the courage of Ameerul Momeneen Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be on him) and the influence of Hazrat Abu Talib (peace be on him) or had Ameerul Momeneen (peace be on him) been martyred before the Prophet migrated from Makkah, he too would have been martyred. It is indicated from the initial martyrdom of Janab Yasir and Janab Sumayyah that the Makkans would have quashed the mission of Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny).
We have put forward the situation of Makkah before migration (books of history can be referred for details) to understand the aim of the enemies and their focus, for whom were they sharpening their swords and the message they were attempting to confine was that of Holy Prophet (peace be on him and hid progeny) which was evident on the eve of migration. Had Ameerul Momeneen Ali (peace be on him) not occupied the resting place of Holy Prophet, he would have been martyred. His sword broke their strength and his awe led to the success of the migration.
After the night of migration, all the defeats of the enemies were at the hands of Ameerul Momeneen Ali (peace be on him). In the battle of Ohud, he received ninety wounds. Had he not been the conqueror, the Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) would have been martyred and the fugitives would have only been the silent spectators. It was after the battle of Ohud that the tables turned. Here we want to draw the attention of the readers that the protection of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) by Ameerul Momeneen (peace be on him) is like the links of a (successive) chain.
Turn the pages of history to analyze the pure life of the Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny). In the tenure of the ten years the Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) achieved huge milestones in propagation while traversing difficult pathways which, barring him, none could have achieved. Both men and jinn together were unable to bring just a verse, not to mention the onerous task of propagation. This furor travelled from Makkah to Madinah, with the only difference that in Makkah the enemies were out in open while in Madinah the enmity was hidden.
Plots to kill the Allah’s Messenger (peace be on him and his progeny)
The plot of the night of migration and sharpened swords to kill the Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) are mentioned in the noble Quran, traditions and history and cannot be denied by the Muslim nation. How could have they killed the Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) when Allah had already appointed Ameerul Momeneen Ali (peace be on him) the successor for the protection of the Prophet?
The same plot came forth in Madinah and in the darkness of the night, when some people concealed themselves and tried to attack the Prophet at one occasion (for details refer history). Allah ordered thunder to strike and illuminated the darkness and the perpetrators had to bite the dust. The conspiracy to kill by poison is also mentioned by some historians whom we are not delving into as the narrators are prejudiced.
On one hand, the Prophet brought the real approach of Islam in such a manner that scholars and truth seekers from outside the city started to incline to the door of knowledge in the city of knowledge. On the other hand, the credit of the victorious battles went rightly to Ameerul Momeneen Ali (peace be on him). Also, the descent of revelation in order to sustain the mission of the Prophet till the day of judgment was constant and Hazrat Jibrail (peace be on him), on divine orders, frequented to explain important and necessary means for propagation to protect Islam. He continued to introduce Ahle Bait (peace be on them) to the people of Madinah in the most eloquent manner. The virtues of Ameerul Momeneen (peace be on him), the reverence of Janab Zahra (peace be on her) and her virtues and the incident of asking of the cloak of Yemen, Allah showed the importance of Janab Zahra (peace be on her) in such a way that it is Janab Fatima (peace be on her) below the cloak, her revered father, her husband and sons Imam Hasan and Imam Husain (peace be on both). On the day of Eid he made Hasnain (peace be on both) to sit on his shoulders as if they were riding a camel.
He in short, demonstrated to the Muslim nation that Husain is from me and I am from Husain. These statements were not only understood by the conspirators of the time but also a volcano of enmity erupted in their hearts. But truth however is truth and the One whose most beloved religion is Islam and on whose saying of ‘Be and it is, the world came into creation, and He who wants to perpetuate the acts and sayings of the initiators of Islam and the readings of Quran and the family of the Prophet (whose character encompasses Islamic method), how can the corrupt historians subdue them.
Muhaddise Dehlawi – who has discussed greatly against Imamat – writes that the Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) did not attain martyrdom by the sword nor with poison but due to the martyrdom of Imam Hasan (peace be on him) by poison and the martyrdom of Imam Husain (peace be on him) through sword, both were beloved of the Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) and on this ground he (peace be on him and his progeny) was martyred by poison as well as the sword. Why do those whose pens have been in discussion by people and scholars of all times fall short of naming the killer or the killers? In fact, the reality was clear but had it not been for prejudice, these deficient minds would have been forced to do so or else truth would have been manifested. The thought that Imam Husain (peace be on him) was killed in Saqifah itself is also doing the rounds. How many a deeply coordinated politics, wicked, deceptive plans to kill the Prophet were plotted so that his mission could be destroyed. The killing of the Prophet is obliterating his mission which is clear by the sermon of Yazid (may Allah curse him) in his palace. The head of Husain (peace be on him) is in front and Yazid is proud about it. Husain has ingrained the same in the minds and has clarified the truth.
Justification
Islam is alive, Quran is amongst us and Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) and his family (peace be on them) are interconnected like the series of a chain. This is the distinction of the divine system which every fair minded, person of understanding and wisdom, seeker of knowledge and truth has accepted and it is the protection of the two martyrs the first and the last.
Killing Husain is killing Holy Prophet
The clouds of doubt will pass away and the sun of guidance will gleam, one Mohammad (Imam Mahdi (peace be on him)) in occultation is waiting the order of Allah. He will reappear and will promulgate the rules of Holy Quran. Many curtains drawn on the reality will be torn and it will be announced:
The killing of Husain is the killing of the Prophet and all the killers shall meet their fate.