Zeeshan Rasool Khan
Karbala is not just an event. It is an institution of guidance and inspiration. It guides us on many fronts, including firm belief in Allah, strong character, courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. Along with distinguishing truth from falsehood, belief from disbelief, and authoritarianism from selflessness, it shows us how a person’s world can change in a single moment through a single decisive choice. The Ahl al Bayt (Alaihimus Salaam) were already revered, but their steadfastness in the Battle of Karbala elevated their position to a much higher level. Their opponents were not infidels, yet they became eternally condemned in the eyes of history. In all of this, a single choice played a crucial role. Even among those opponents, a man named Hurr scripted a remarkable story of loyalty at the very last moment. Initially part of the army opposing Imam Hussain, he eventually had an epiphany, chose the path of truth, and attained honour for eternity.
Al Hurr ibn Yazid al Riyahi was a greatly admired, noble, and high ranking military commander in Kufa, Iraq. He belonged to the prominent Banu Tamim tribe. His association with the Banu Riyah branch gave him tribal influence and elite status. He was well known throughout Kufa for his chivalry, military discipline, and prowess. He was a professional soldier dedicated to his duties. When Yazid demanded allegiance from Imam Hussain and the Imam refused, the Kufan governor, Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad, commissioned Hurr. He was explicitly ordered to stop the Imam’s caravan and prevent it from returning to Madina or entering Kufa. At a place called Dhu Husam, Hurr and his thousands of horsemen intercepted the caravan of Imam Hussain. Hurr’s army was dehydrated after its desert march. The Imam ordered his companions to provide water to Hurr’s men and even their horses, despite knowing the purpose of their mission. Hurr and his army were deeply moved by this act of kindness and chose to pray behind the Imam, accepting him as their prayer leader when the time for prayer arrived.
Following military orders, Hurr did what he had been commanded to do. He denied the Imam free passage. As the Imam protested, Hurr struck a compromise. He escorted the caravan along a middle route that led neither to Kufa nor Madina. This route eventually brought them to the barren plains of Karbala on the 2nd of Muharram, where a massive Umayyad army under Umar ibn Sa’d arrived shortly afterwards and surrounded them. After that, a period of severe trials and tribulations began for the Ahl al Bayt.
Hurr carefully observed every development and actively investigated the intentions of the Yazidi forces. He realised that Ibn Sa’d and Ibn Ziyad harboured sinister plans. Hurr began to tremble violently. He was overcome with guilt and lost all military enthusiasm. When a fellow soldier asked whether he was afraid of fighting, Hurr replied, “By Allah, I see myself between Heaven and Hell. I will choose nothing over Heaven, even if I am cut to pieces and burned.”
This decision determined Hurr’s fate and transformed him forever. He then spurred his horse towards Imam Hussain’s camp. He approached with his shield reversed, a sign of surrender, bowed his head humbly, and sought forgiveness, asking, “Is there repentance for me?” Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet and the intercessor for sinners (peace be upon him), forgave him immediately and embraced him. Hurr quickly rode back to face his former army and delivered a passionate speech exposing the political manoeuvres of Ibn Sa’d, Ibn Ziyad, and Yazid. He condemned their deceitful betrayal of the Prophet’s family, fought valiantly, and became one of the first martyrs in the Battle of Karbala, enrolling himself among the Hussainis. As Hurr attained martyrdom, the Imam rushed to his side, wiped the blood from his face, and said, “You are Hurr (free), just as your mother named you. You are free in this world and the Hereafter.”
Hurr’s shrine stands a few kilometres away from the main shrine of Imam Hussain in Karbala, Iraq, and serves as a place of devotion for millions of pilgrims.
Our classical Sunni historians, such as al Tabari, Ibn al Athir, Ibn Kathir, and al Dhahabi, have mentioned him, yet sectarian compartmentalisation prevents many of our orators from speaking the truth. We, too, need to make a choice. We can choose to represent a sect, or we can choose to represent religion itself. It is better to break the shackles of sectarianism and become the voice of a religion that upholds the truth. Only then can we pass righteousness on to the next generation. Otherwise, corrupt intellectualism will corrupt our entire system once and for all.
Writer: Zeeshan Rasool Khan is a student of Science and Islamic Studies. He writes on socio political and religious issues.
