Martyrdom of Muslim Ibn Aqeel:
Martyrdom of Muslim Ibn Aqeel: On 9th of the Islamic month of Zil-Hijjah in 60 AH, Muslim Ibn Aqeel, the nephew and son-in-law of Imam Ali (AS), was martyred in the city of Kufa in Iraq. He was sent as emissary by his cousin, Imam Husain (AS), to assess the degree of devotion and loyalty of the people to the cause of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), following receipt of numerous letters from the notables who had claimed that in accordance with Islamic teachings they had refused to acknowledge the illegal rule of the tyrant and debauchee, Yazid Ibn Mu’awiyya, and needed the just and pious leader to guide them.
Muslim was warmly welcomed by the people, but when Yazid sent the callous and ruthless Obaidullah Ibn Ziyad as governor of Kufa, almost all people, deserted the cause of Islam, deceived either by hollow promises of reward or threats to their life and property. As a result, Muslim, after a brave fight was betrayed, taken before Ibn Ziyad and brutally beheaded.
Among the few martyred with him, was Hani Ibn Orwah, whose shrine lies opposite Muslim’s golden-domed shrine, beside the Grand Mosque of Kufa.
Imam Husain (AS), left Mecca via the plain of Arafaat for Iraq
