Hazrat Muslim Bin Aqeel (A.S)

Brief outline of Hazrat Muslim (A.S)

Muslim Bin Aqeel (A.S) was the cousin of the 3rd Shi’a Imam, Hussain (A.S), and was the son of Aqeel Ibn Abu Talib (A.S). Muslim Bin Aqeel was sent ahead as an envoy to Kufa to see if the people could be trusted to be loyal. He sent word back saying that the people of Kufa were loyal but was murdered by the governor, Ibn Ziyad (L.A), who was loyal to Yazid Ibn Muawiyah (L.A).

Life In Kufa

Muslim Bin Aqeel, with his two children Muhammad Ibn Muslim (A.S) and Ibraheem Ibn Muslim (A.S) were killed in the city of Kufa where he was sent by Hussain (A.S) as an envoy to look closely the situation before Imam Hussain (A.S)’s arrival there.

Imam Hussain (A.S) received a letter from people of Kufa with these words:

“We invite you to come to Kufa as we have no Imam to guide us. Through you Allah (S.W.T) will unite us on the path of truth.”

A few days later the people of Kufa sent an emissary, a special messenger, to Hussain (A.S) to persuade him to go to Kufa. There followed hundreds of other letters and many special emissaries from the people of Kufa to Hussain (A.S).

Receiving so many petitions and messages from Kufa, Imam Hussain (A.S) decided to send Muslim bin Aqeel (A.S), who was a famous warrior, as his emissary to Kufa to study the situation there and report to Imam Hussain (A.S).

He wrote a letter to the people of Kufa and gave it to Muslim Bin Aqeel. In this letter Imam Hussain (A.S) said,

“I am sending my cousin and one of the most trusted ones from my family, Muslim Bin Aqeel (A.S), to report to me about your affairs. If his report agrees with what you have written I will soon be with you. You must be clear of the fact that the Imam is the only one who follows the book of Allah (S.W.T), and serves Allah (S.W.T) in all matters and affairs with justice, honesty and truth.”

Imam Hussain (A.S) also said to Muslim Bin Aqeel (A.S):

“Muslim, the whole world knows that you are one of the bravest warriors. It is just possible that seeing you in Kufa some people may think that our intention is to fight Yazid. Take your two sons Muhammad and Ibrahim with you. When they see you with such young children, they will know that our intentions are peaceful.”

According to reports Muslim Bin Aqeel (A.S)’s sons were too young that they could not even tie up the buttons of their shirts.

On reaching Kufa, more than 18,000 people appeared before Muslim Bin Aqeel and pledged their allegiance to Hussain (A.S) as their Imam. Seeing this Muslim Bin Aqeel reported to Hussain (A.S) that he should proceed to Kufa as situation is ok.

Amongst the people of Kufa there were many spies employed by Yazid to report to him direct. When Yazid heard from them of the invitations to Hussain (A.S) and the arrival in Kufa of Muslim Bin Aqeel Ibn Aqeel he was filled with fury. He sent a message to his Governor in Basra Ubayd-Allah Ibn Ziyad (L.A) to go to Kufa and take over the position of Nu'amaan Ibn Basheer, the governor of Kufa. Ibn Ziyad (L.A) was also told to arrest Muslim (A.S) and kill him.

Arriving in Kufa, he addressed the people of Kufa announcing his appointment as Yazid's governor. He then ordered them to surrender Muslim Bin Aqeel to him. Ibn Ziyad (L.A) sealed Kufa.

At this time Muslim Bin Aqeel was staying with Hazrat Amir Mukhtar. Then he moved to Hani Ibn Urwa’s house secretly, but Ibn Ziyad (L.A) found out where Muslim Bin Aqeel was. Hani was arrested and thrown into prison. Muslim Bin Aqeel (A.S) and his two sons left Hani's house leaving the children with Qazi Shurayb, a judge, and went into the desert to try to get back to Hussain (A.S) to warn him not to come to Kufa.

On the 8th (the day when Hussain (A.S) converted his pilgrimage (Hajj) into off-seasonal Pilgrimage (Umra) and started his journey from Mecca towards Iraq so to save the sanctity and honour of this sacred place (Kaaba), tired, hungry and exhausted Muslim Bin Aqeel (A.S) knocked at the door of a house on the outskirts of the city. A lady opened the door. Muslim Bin Aqeel (A.S) requested for a little water to quench his thirst. When the lady learnt who he was invited him in and offered him shelter for the night as she was a lover of Muhammad (S.A.W)’s progeny. But when her son learnt that the man Ibn Ziyad (L.A) was looking for was in his mother's house, he in greed of reward gave the information to a captain in Ibn Ziyad (L.A)'s army. Early the next morning, 500 soldiers surrounded the house and demanded Muslim Bin Aqeel (A.S) to surrender. Muslim Bin Aqeel (A.S) came out holding his sword. 3 times he drove the enemy away. Twice Ibn Ziyad (L.A) had to send in reinforcements.

When Muslim Bin Aqeel Ibn Abu Talib (A.S) was arrested, Ibn Ziyad (L.A) told Muslim Ibn Aqeel (A.S) that he would be killed and asked him if he had any last wishes. Muslim Bin Aqeel said:

“I owe a debt which should be discharged by selling off my sword and armour. Secondly I want my body to be given a proper burial. Thirdly I want a message sent to Hussain (A.S) advising him not to come to Kufa.”

Ibn Ziyad (L.A) agreed to the first request refusing the last two. He then ordered Muslim Bin Aqeel to be taken to the roof of the palace to be executed and his body thrown to the ground.

Immediately after Muslim's death, Hani Ibn Urwah was dragged to the rooftop and executed. Hazrat Muslim bin Aqeel (A.S)’s 2 sons, Mohammad and Ibrahim, also were killed in Kufa.

Shrine of Hazrat Muslim (A.S)

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