Battle of Karbala

Battle of Karbala
Date	May 31, 680
Location	Karbala
Result	Umayyad victory
Belligerents
Umayyads	forces of Husayn ibn Ali
Commanders and leaders
Yazid I	Husayn ibn Ali
Strength
30,000	72
Casualties and losses
29,700	72

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Template:Totally disputed

The Battle of Karbala, sometimes known as the "tragedy of Karbala", was a skirmish that took place on 10 Muharram, 61 AH (October 10, 680) in Karbala, in present day Iraq.

The battle saw the large and professional army of the Umayyad Caliph Yazid, around 30,000 strong, surrounding the family and supporters of Husayn ibn Ali, which consisted of 72 men and boys. The battle ended with Husayn's entire army, including himself, falling as casualities.

Before the battle

Governor ibn Ziyad sent additional military units to Karbala upon learning his army had succeeded in surrounding Husayn's camp. Husayn opened a dialogue with Umar ibn Sa'ad and convinced him to lift the siege so that he, his family, and his companions could leave Iraq. Umar ibn Sa'ad liked Husayn's proposal and sent a message to ibn Ziyad, notifying him about the talks with Husayn. Ibn Ziyad also found Husayn's proposal acceptable. However, before agreeing to it officially, Shimr ibn Dhil-Jawshan opposed it strongly. As a result, Ziyad wrote a letter to Umar ibn Sa'ad commanding him to either go to war with Husayn or be relieved of his duties as commander of the army. If this happened, Shimr would not only replace ibn Sa'ad, but also dispatch his head to Kufa.

Umar ibn Sa'ad received the letter. After pondering over the consequences, he decided to fight Husayn. On the 7 Muharram 61 AH, he moved his troops closer to the camp and began to surround Husayn's positions. Ibn Sa'ad laid a blockade around the camp to cut them off from access to the Euphrates river, to deprive them of water, and force a surrender.

Two days later, on 9 Muharram, the Yazid's forces closed in on the Husayn's camp. Husayn asked his brother, Abbas, to talk to ibn Sa'ad and request a delay of the attack by one night. Umar ibn Sa'ad agreed to the demand. He ordered his troops to delay till next morning.

The battle

After the morning prayer, Husayn's followers took turns to come forward and address Yazid's army. Many had relatives and friends in the enemy camp and they tried to convince them to cease hostilities. Finally, Husayn came forward himself and addressed the enemy. On hearing his speech, one of Yazid's generals, named Hurr, joined Husayn's army.

Seeing the result of the words of Husayn, Umar ibn Sa'ad, became concerned that the morale of his troops would be affected. He therefore declared that all should witness that he was casting the first arrow in battle and he shot an arrow towards Husayn, beginning the battle.

Husayn had only 72 soldiers in all. He had fortified his camp by locating it so that it was enclosed by a chain of hills on three sides in an area known as "Haa-yer". They pitched their tents close together and dug a ditch at the exposed rear. The ditch was filled with firewood which was set on fire when the enemy attacked the camp. After a few single combats, there was a general attack. Although the enemy was repulsed, most of Husayn's army was killed.

In the afternoon, Ali Akbar was the first to go amongst the descendents of Muhammad and within an hour, no adult male remained alive in Husayn's camp except his ill son Ali Zainul Abideen and himself. The mother of Ali Asghar, Husayn's six month-old son, requested Husayn to ask Yazid's army for some water as the infant had been thirsty for three days. Husayn held the child in his arms and brought him infront of Yazid's army. Instead of providing him with water, Hurmala ibn Kahil, on orders of Umar ibn Sa'ad, shot the baby with an arrow, killing him in the arms of his father.

After burying the baby, Husayn entered the battlefield. He gave his last speech, once again urging the enemy to consider their actions. However, Umar ibn Sa'ad ordered his men to attack. Husayn continued fighting, but he was surrounded and eventually succumbed to his injuries. It is said his body was decapitated and his head was brought back to Yazid.

Observances

Muharram 10 is remembered by Muslims as Aashurah, and Shi'a Muslims further elevate the date to remember the battle. They mourn the death of Hussain which is frowned upon by many Sunnis. There have been a debate going on among the Shi'a as well upon the mourning of a martyr. Yazid's actions in regards to Husayn and the battle have made him a controversial figure, detested by Shi'a Muslims. On the other hand the Salafi/Deobandi who follow Abdul Wahab al-najadi and Ibn Taymiyah (1263-1328) have claimed that he did not order Husayn's death and attribute the tragedy at Karbala to overzealousness on the part of Yazid's generals. This sect of Islam considers Yazid among the righteous muslims.

List of casualties

Shi'a Muslims believe that Husayn and those killed with him are martyrs. They have made a concerted effort to sift accounts of the battle and make a full list of those who should be honored as having supported Hussayn.

Numbers 1 to 19 are from the Banu Hashim, the clan of Muhammad.

Husayn
Abduallah Bin Muslim
Muhammad Ibn Muslim
Jafar Bin Aqeel
Abdul Rehman Bin Aqeel
Abduallah Ibn Aqeel
Moosa ibn Aqeel
Aoun bin Abdullah bin Jafar-e-Tayyar
Mohd. bin Abdullah bin Jafar-e-Tayyar
Abdullah Al-Akber bin Al-Hassan
Qasim ibn Hassan
Abdullah ibn Al-Hassan
Abdullah bin Ali
Usman bin Ali
Jafar bin Ali
Abbas ibn Ali (Husayn's half brother)
Ali Akbar ibn Husayn
Muhammad Ibee Saeed bin Aqeel
Ali Asgar
Hurr - The general that changed side.
Habib ibn Mazahir

Shi'as say that there were 72 victims in all (see [1], [2]).

External links

Before the battle

The battle

Observances

List of casualties

See also

External links