Personalities

Adopted from the book : "Mukhtar al-Thaqafi" by : "Kamal al-Seyyed"

In the month of Rajab, 60 A.H., Mu'awiyah died. He had ruled the Muslim countries for twenty years. He killed many companions of our Master Muhammad [s]. Hajar bin Ady al-Kindy, Amr bin al-Hamq al-Khazay and Rasheed al-Hajry were of them. He poisoned Imam Hasan (the Prophet's grandson), Malik al-Ashtar, Saad bin Abu Waqas and others.

In spite of the Muslim's dissatisfaction, Mu'awiyah appointed his son Yazeed caliph. So, the Caliphate became a kingdom.

The Muslims were angry with Yazeed, for he was a corrupt young man. Besides, he drank alcohol and amused himself with monkeys and dogs.

The Muslims in Kufa hoped that Imam Husayn would be the Caliph, for he was our Master Muhammad's grandson. Moreover, he was a good, God-fearing and believing man. And he treated the poor kindly.

So the Muslims sent Imam Husayn hundreds of letters. In their letters, they asked him to save them from persecution.

Imam Husayn [a] was in al-Madina al-Munawwara. He did not pay homage to Yazeed, for the latter behaved badly. In the meantime, he sent his cousin Muslim bin Aqeel as his envoy to Kufa.

Imam Husayn asked his cousin to stay with the most loyal person in Kufa.

Mukhtar al-Thaqafi

Mukhtar bin Abu Ubaid bin Masoud al-Thaqafy was born in Taif City, 1 A.H.

Mukhtar 's father loyally believed in Islam. He led the Muslim army to conquer Persia. An elephant killed him at the Battle of al-Jisr. So, his son Jubair led the Muslim army. He became a martyr, too.

Mukhtar 's house became headquarters. The Muslims went to it every day.

The spies told Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah about Mukhtar . They also told him about al-Numan bin Basheer al-Ansary's the ruler of Kufa's mildness with him.

Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah asked the advice of Sergon. Sergon was a spiteful Christian man. Sergon advised Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah to appoint Ubaidullah bin Ziyad, the ruler of Basrah, ruler over Kufa.

Ubaidullah bin Ziyad arrived in Kufa. He ordered his guards to arrest Muslim bin Aqeel.

Muslim bin Aqeel disappeared in a house in Kufa. Ubaidullah bin Ziyad's guards could arrest Mukhtar . They sent him to al-Tamura. Al-Tamura was a fearful prison underground.

Ubaidullah bin Ziyad filled the prisons with innocent people. Meanwhile he sent spies all over Kufa to look for Muslim bin Aqeel.

Muslim bin Aqeel was forced to announce a revolution. Many people supported him.

Muslim bin Aqeel's forces besieged the Prince's palace for several days.

Ubaidullah bin Ziyad was wicked. He spread a rumour that an enormous army from Damascus was coming. It would destroy Kufa and kill its people.

The people believed Ubaidullah bin Ziyad's rumour. They left al-Husayn's envoy alone. Muslim bin Aqeel was forced to disappear again.