Pin-drop silence prevailed in the mosque at Kufa where a large congregation
had gathered to offer evening prayers. Outside the mosque the town-crier was
reading out the proclamation. Every one of the congregation was straining his
ears to listen to every word with rapt attention.
At the top of his voice the town-crier was shouting: "Be it known to the people
of Kufa that Obeidullah, son of Ziad, has assumed the governor- ship of Kufa
under the orders of the Khalif. He has noted with perturbation that the people
of Kufa have extended their welcome to Muslim, son of Aqil, who has come from
Medina as an emissary of Husain, son of Ali, who has declined to owe allegiance
to the Khalif. It is hereby proclaimed for the information of all the citizens
of Kufa that any person found associating with Muslim, son of Aqil, will be
considered a rebel against the Khalif and, by way of punishment, he will be
hanged, drawn and quartered, his entire family will be put to the sword and his
property confiscated. In case of those who have hitherto extended their welcome
to him, if they now repent and desist from doing so, amnesty will be given."
With bated breath every one listened to the proclamation. It was this same
Muslim, son of Aqil, who was to lead the prayers that evening, and as the
proclamation ended he arose to fulfil his duty. A few exchanged enquiring
glances with their friends. Some others whispered some words to their
neighbours. At this moment the call for prayers was given and Muslim silently
rose to lead the congregational prayers.
When Muslim completed the prayers and turned back, he found the mosque empty,
except for one person only Hanee Ibne Orwah at whose house Muslim was staying as
a guest. The two looked at each other. No words were needed to tell Muslim why
the people of Kufa had deserted him. The people of Kufa, who had so persistently
asked Husain to come over to them and take up the responsibilities of their
spiritual amelioration had, on hearing the proclamation, got scared out of their
wits. These were the people who had in the past betrayed Muslim's uncle Ali, the
Commander of the Faithful, and shown cowardice in times of trouble and
tribulations. These were the people who had deserted Muslim's cousin, Hasan, son
of Ali, in his hour of need.
Muslim stood for a while motionless. His face was full of anguish. He was not
dismayed at tha fate that awaited him, because a fighting death was the heritage
of his family. He was only disconsolate at the thought that he had reposed
confidence in these people's sincerity and written to his cousin, Husain, to
come over to Kufa as their moral, mental and spiritual preceptor, to save them
from sinking into the depths of moral degradation. How he wished he had not been
hasty about judging these people!
A moment's reflection was sufficient to make up his mind. At least there was one
man with him who could be relied upon. If he could only send a message to Husain
through Hanee Ibne Orwah about the treachery of the people of Kufa!
With these thoughts Muslim turned towards Hanee. Before he could give expression
to his thoughts, Hanee Ibne Onwah anticipated his words. In low whispers he
said: "Muslim, my respected guest, I know what is uppermost in your mind. If God
enable me to leave this cursed town in time, I shall rush post-haste to warn our
master and Imam to turn back." He hung his head down and, in a tone which was
hardly audible, added, as if muttering to himself: "Muslim, my duty towards you
as your host demands that I should remain here to protect you and shed the last
drop of my blood in your defence. But I know that you would like me to attend to
the higher duty which we both owe to our Lord, Husain Ibne Ali. There is hardly
time to be lost and so I bid you farewell. May Almighty God protect you and your
innocent sons from the fury of these treacherous fiends."
Hanee Ibne Orwah rushed out of the Mosque. He knew that he had to act quickly,
if at all he was to succeed in his mission. Before leaving Kufa he had to do
something for the safety of the two young sons of Muslim who had not yet reached
their teens. He was quickly revolving in his mind how he could hide these
innocent boys and where. He could not think of anybody known to him who could be
trusted to give shelter to them. He hardly had any time at his disposal to make
arrangements because his paramount obligation was to convey Muslim's message to
Imam Husain. His quick-working mind decided that the children of Muslim must be
warned to get out of the house where they were no longer safe and leave the rest
to God.
On reaching his house, Hanee asked his wife to whisk the children out of the
house by the back door for their safety. He asked his servant to harness his
horse as quickly as he could. Hardly Muhammad and Ibrahim, the young sons of
Muslim, had been put on the road to face the world and its turmoil in a strange
and unfriendly city, the house of Hanee was surrounded by armed troopers sent by
Obeidullah. Hanee realised that the hope he had cherished to leave the town and
carry the message of Muslim to Husain was completely frustrated. He unsheathed
his sword and fell upon the hirelings of Obeidullah with the intention of
selling his life as dearly as he could. The odds against him were too heavy. He
was soon overpowered and chained and marched off to the court of the Governor.
After Hanee's departure from the Mosque, Muslim reflected for a while. At first
his mind was put at ease by Hanee's assurance that he would carry the warning to
Husain about the happenings in Kufa. But on second thoughts he realised that
there was every possibility of Hanee being captured before he could leave the
town. What if that happened? He had fullest confidence in Hanee's sincerity, but
how could he be so sure that Hanee would be able to make good his escape from
Kufa? Although Muslim was fully alive to the lot that would befall his innocent
sons on their capture, he realised that the right course for him was to find
some other person whom he could trust to carry the message to the Imam. Kneeling
down in prayer he muttered: "Merciful Allah, spare me for a while so that I can
send the warning to my Imam."
He came out of the mosque slowly. He did not know which way to turn He only knew
that the whole town had turned hostile to him. As soon as he stepped out of the
mosque, he saw groups of people collected hither and thither and engaged in
animated conversation. On seeing him coming out they scattered and walked away
as if they had never known him. Muslim realised that they were, one and all,
mortally afraid of the reprisals that would befall them if they stood by him.
Now he saw how difficult it was for him to find a single person who could fulfil
his purpose; where to look for him; where to find him?
With a heavy heart Muslim was now trudging the narrow by-lanes of Kufa. The sun
was fast descending and the dark narrow lanes of Kufa becoming darker every
moment. Making a hood of his gown, so as to cover his head to avoid
identification, Muslim was walking on and on, almost aimlessly ambling. The
deserted cobbled pavements were echoing his foot-steps. The only other sound to
be heard was of the horses' hoofs as the soldiers were patrolling the streets
and searching for him in all nooks and corners. Whilst walking aimlessly he was
furiously thinking how to find someone who could carry his message to Husain.
Soon darkness descended on the whole town. As curfew had been imposed by the
orders of the Governor, not a soul was venturing out. It became evident to
Muslim that, if he walked on there was every possibility of his being arrested
by the patrolmen and, if that happened, his last hope of finding a messenger
would vanish. The events of the day had made him tired in body and soul.
He sat on the doorstep of a house, hesitating whether to knock at the door and
ask for water. Whilst he was still wavering, he heard the opening of the door
against which he was leaning. An old lady stood there with a flickering candle
in her hands. From her enquiring eyes he could understand that she was wondering
why he was seated there. Muslim turned to her and requested a glass of water.
She asked him to wait for a minute and, going into the house, returned with a
tumbler of water. Muslim drank it to the last drop and thanked the lady
profusely. He again sat down on the doorstep. The old lady looked at him for a
while and then asked him: "My son, why do you not return to your house? Do you
realise how your wife and children must be worrying about you by your remaining
away from the house in such troubled atmosphere7 Don't you have a house with
wife and children?" A lump came into Muslim's throat with the recollection of
his family and home. Controlling his emotions and checking the tears which were
gushing from his eyes he said: "Good lady, I have a house, but in a distant
land. My wife and young daughters are at home and my sons are in Kufa but
perhaps they will wait for me for ever." After a brief pause he added: "In this
unfriendly town I have no home and nobody to whom I can turn for shelter."
These words of despondency moved the lady. Sympathetically she said: "From where
do you come and why are you here in there troubled times?"
Muslim murmured in reply: "I am from the city of the Prophet. I came on the
invitation of the people of Kufa as their guest. Though thousands welcomed me on
my arrival, there is now not a soul who will admit me into his house."
The venerable old lady was taken aback by this reply. She raised the candle she
was carrying to bring it nearer Muslim's face. With an exclamation of
recognition she bent down on her knees and said: "My God, you are Muslim, the
emissary of my Imam, my beloved Husain, who is hunted by Obeidullah's soldiers.
How did I not recognise you at the first glance when your words, your accent,
your demeanour, all had the stamp of people of the Prophet's House?" Sobbing
bitterly and overcome by contrition she added, "How will I face my Lady Fatima
on the day of reckoning when she will ask me: "Taha, my Husain's emissary came
to you, friendless and shelter less, but you callously and relentlessly turned
him out!" What reply will I give to her? The least that I can do for you is to
give you shelter in my house till an opportunity arises for you to make good
your escape from this cursed city whose people are steeped in perfidy."
Muslim felt reluctant to accept her offer for fear that the god fearing old lady
might be victimised for giving him protection. But on second thoughts he decided
to stay in her house with the hope that, if he could avoid arrest for some time,
he might be able to find some one to carry his message to Husain .
Taha asked Muslim to remain in the attic of the house. She gave him whatever
food there was in the house but he could hardly partake of anything. How can a
person in his predicament relish food7 He decided to pass the night in prayers
as he had a premonition that this would be his last night.
Before retiring into the attic, Muslim told Taha about his desire to send a
message to the Imam not to come to Kufa in view of what had transpired. She
assured him that when her son, who was in the Government armed forces, returned
from his beat, she would take him in her confidence and enlist his support in
finding some reliable person for this mission.
Hardly a few hours had passed when Taha's son returned home. He looked tired and
worn out. When Taha enquired from him the reason for his coming home so late, he
told her that, along with other soldiers he was patrolling the streets in search
of Muslim. She was aghast at the thought that her son, of all people, should be
in the party searching for Muslim, when she herself was so devoted to the House
of the Prophet. She strongly protested to her son at the role he was playing.
That cunning man turned round and assured his mother that, though he had in the
course of his duty to pretend as if he was searching for Muslim, in reality he
was as much devoted to Muslim, and the House of the Prophet, as she was. His
disingenuous assurances carried conviction to the simple old lady and, after
making him swear by his faith, she took her son into confidence and told him
everything about the happenings of that evening. The crafty son of Taha was
inwardly elated at the thought that he would be able to collect the prize placed
on Muslim's head. His first thought was to behead Muslim achieved in his sleep
but, coward that he was, he got scared at the fate that would befall him if
Muslim would wake up before he accomplished his purpose. He thought furiously
for a few moments and then decided to go and inform Obeidullah Ibne Ziad that he
had Muslim in his house and he could be easily captured. His warped mind quickly
invented an excuse for going out in the dead of night, without arousing the
suspicions of his noble mother. He told her that, as in his presence, Hanee Ibne
Orwah, at whose house Muslim and his two sons had been staying, had been
beheaded and as the two young boys were roaming the streets of Kufa, he thought
it his bounden duty to search for them and bring them home so that the father
and sons could be reunited. He told Taha that he would also see one of his
trusted friends and through him arrange to convey Muslim's message to the Imam
for which he was so anxious. Taha was taken in by the guiles of her perfidious
son. She felt elated that her son was so keen to do the good work that he could
not wait till daybreak.
The avaricious son of Taha hastened to the Governor's house and lost no time in
getting himself admitted to his presence. In fact Obeidullah was awake waiting
for the news of Muslims's arrest as he was mightly afraid that, if Muslim
remained at large, he might succeed in rallying round him a few persons who
could offer very stiff opposition to his forces and even upset his ugly plans.
He felt relieved and overjoyed at the tidings brought to him by Taha's
treacherous son. He immediately ordered one of the commanders of his forces to
get together a well-equipped contingent for Muslim's arrest.
Accompanied by mounted soldiers, the traitor returned to his house for Muslim's
arrest. Muslim was at that time engaged in prayers. When he heard the beating of
several horses' hoofs on the paved roads, he understood that the soldiers had
come for his arrest. He snatched his sword which was lying by his side and
rushed out. Taha stood at the threshold of her house flabbergasted to see that
her son had brought the soldiers for the arrest of her revered guest. She fell
on Muslim's feet and cried: "Muslim, my prince, how can I explain to you that I
have not betrayed you but my cursed son, whom I trusted and never suspected of
such blatant treachery, has ruined me. I shall not let them cross my threshold
except over my dead body." Muslim did not require to be told that Taha's
averments were sincere. He gently told her, "My benefactor, I know that you have
been very kind and considerate to me and the thought of betraying me cannot even
cross your noble and pious mind. I do not in the least blame you for the
treachery of your son. As your guest, who has partaken of your hospitality, I
cannot allow you to be killed by these merciless brutes and let your house be
reduced to a shambles. Let me go out of the house and sell my life as dearly as
I can."
Muslim gently pushed aside Taha from the threshold and walked out sword in hand.
By this time the soldiers had reached the house. They were taken by surprise at
seeing Muslim emerging from the door like an enraged lion. The lane was so
narrow that two horses could not come up abreast. This gave Muslim the best
opportunity for single combat. Though he was on foot and the soldier opposite to
him was mounted, he possessed the prowess which was the heritage of Ali's
family. One after the other the soldiers were tasting the sword of this warrior
and falling down from their horses. In the process they were getting crushed and
trampled under the hoofs of horses of their own men.
The leader of the band of soldiers, who had discreetly kept himself behind his
men, sent word for more men. Though more and more soldiers were pouring in, the
topography of the scene of this street battle was such that they could not
attack en masse. Heads of enemy soldiers were falling like nine-pins. Hours
passed but still Muslim was fighting his defensive battle most courageously.
When Obeidullah Ibne Ziad's couriers, who were bringing to him the news of the
fight, informed him that Muslim was giving a fight the like of which had not
been seen since the days of Ali, the Khalif, he got infuriated. He tauntingly
asked his generals how many thousands of warriors they needed to capture one
solitary person. One of them angrily retorted to him that he was forgetting that
the person to be captured was not an ordinary home-keeping youth or shop-keeper
but a renowned warrior of the House of Ali. He even suggested that if Obeidullah
had no confidence in the generals, he could himself demonstrate his skill with
the sword by offering combat to Muslim. This suggestion scared the wits out of
Obeidullah. He, of all people, knew what it meant to cross swords with Ali's
nephew. Swallowing the taunt, he replied: "My good general, I fully know what it
means to fight with a person so desperate who finds himself at bay. Instead of
letting our men die by his sword in such large numbers, why cannot some one
adopt some stratagem to make him leave his vantage position so that it may be
easier to attack him from all sides?"
This suggestion appealed very much to the cowardly soldiers of Kufa. After some
consultations amongst themselves, they decided to send soldiers to the top of
the roof of an adjoining building and from there to hurl stones, burning embers
and missiles at Muslim. It did not take them long to carry out their strategy.
With showers of arrows, stones, fire and missiles, Muslim was so much wounded
that he decided to give up his vantage position. He charged on the soldiers in
front of him and they fell back. He went forward, wielding his sword, and in the
process, sending those who were within its reach to the perdition and doom which
they merited.
Once again hasty counsels were held among the captains of the army. Some one
suggested that, since Muslim was now desperately moving forward, a trench could
be dug on the road and covered up with straw so that it was completely
camouflaged. The idea was to trap Muslim as he marched forward. It was realised
that, without such subterfuge, Muslim could not be killed or captured without
sacrificing the cream of the army.
The treacherous ruse proposed by Obeidullah's mercenaries worked as planned.
While rushing on and wielding his sword dexterously, Muslim fell into the
trench. Now those who were avoiding to come within the reach of his sword
swooped down on him. With gushing blood Muslim could not regain his feet. He
toppled over and lay unconscious in the trench. It was now a matter of minutes
to capture him and soon he was chained and bound.
When Muslim regained consciousness, he found himself a captive. His wounds had
accentuated his thirst. The dawn was now breaking and the call for prayers was
raised in the mosques of Kufa. Muslim requested his captors to give him some
water to drink and for ablution. Instead of acceding to his request, they mocked
and jeered at him. Muslim was extremely surprised and pained to see that the
people of Kufa, who were claiming to be the followers of the Prophet, were
flouting the injunctions of Islam for kindness to all in a helpless predicament.
Little did Muslim know that these same people would behave with utter
callousness and beastliness towards Husain and his children in the not too
distant future.
Before being marched off to the Court of Obeidullah, Muslim was paraded through
the streets of Kufa with heavy chains on his hands and feet. The people of Kufa,
who only a few days before were vying with one another just to have a glimpse of
him, were now watching him from their windows with perfect equanimity, as if he
was an utter stranger to them. Some devils amongst them were hard-hearted enough
to pelt stones at him.
When Muslim was presented before Obeidullah he stood erect with dignity. The
Governor asked him whether he knew the fate that awaited him and his master
Husain Ibne Ali. With utter disdain Muslim replied "O mercenary of Yazid, I do
not care what you do to me, but I do not like to hear your cursed tongue
mentioning Husain's name."
Obeidullah Ibne Ziad felt crest fallen at this bold rebuke of Muslim. With
intention of creating an impression of his magnanimity on the people who were
gathered in his court, he said to Muslim, "According to the age-old Arab custom
I want you to mention your last desire before you are beheaded so that I may
fulfil it."
A glint of hope came into Muslim's eyes. Could he take this man at his word and
ask him to send the message which he wanted to be conveyed to his master? Like a
drowning man who catches at a straw, Muslim decided that, if at all, this was
his only chance. He immediately replied: "Obeidullah, if you are true to your
word, fulfil my last wish and send a message to my master Imam Husain, asking
him to go back to Medina and abandon the idea of his visit to Kufa."
Obeidullah had never expected this request from Muslim. He had thought that
perhaps Muslim might request him to spare the lives of his two young sons when
they were captured, as they were sure to be. For a while he was nonplussed; he
was at a loss what to say. He knew that he could not fulfil this wish of Muslim
without incurring the displeasure of Yazid; but to decline this request would
betray him in his true colour. His crooked mind did not take long to find a
solution to this problem. He beckoned to his executioners to take Muslim to the
top of the Government House and to behead him. He immediately dismissed his
court and hurried back to his apartment.
When the sword of the executioner was swaying over Muslim's head his last
thoughts were with his master, Husain, whom he had loved and cherished more than
anything in life. His only regret was that till the end he could not do what he
wanted most, to warn Husain against the treachery of the people of Kufa. As the
sword fell on his neck he silently muttered a prayer to God to so ordain that
Husain might come to know of the happenings in Kufa. This was the last prayer of
the brave warrior who stood steadfast in death as in life.
Merciful God did not allow Muslim's last prayer to go in vain. He who listens to
the prayers emanating from the hearts of sincere devotees like Muslim, enabled
one witness to the ghastly enactments of that day, who had some sparks of faith
in him, to go riding out of Kufa at the earliest opportunity. He reached the
camp of Imam Husain a few days after Muslim's martyrdom. He conveyed the sad
tidings to Husain who wept bitterly as if his heart would rend. He called the
young daughter of Muslim, who was travelling with him, and told her that
henceforth she should regard him as her guardian. He gave one pair of earrings
to her and one to Sakina. When the messenger asked him whether he was turning
back and returning to Medina in view of what had happened to Muslim, he replied:
"I am going forward to meet my destiny; to fulfil the purpose of my life. My
death is beckoning to me and so there is no question of my retracing my steps."
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